Search the Community

So now once again my Surgery, revision, has been CANCELLED. was postponed for 3/18 to 4/25 now cancelled all together. ;-(

I can't help myself, I find this statement more and more irritating the longer I'm out of WLS, especially that one about "the window of weight loss closing". It puts patients into an unnecessary state of anxiety and builds up equally unnecessary pressure. I wonder if surgeons and dietitians sometimes are being misinterpreted here or - if they're interpreted correctly - if they're aware of the consequences they provoke. My first surgery was 2001. The MGB was almost 4 years ago. After my latest revision 4 weeks ago my weight went down again during the liquid phase (i. e. eating less calories than my body is used to) and I'm in the middle of a normal BMI range. My findings are: if I'm in a calorie deficit (screw the macros) I'm losing weight. I doubt I'm the big exception. However, creating this calorie deficit is definitely harder for some people! (Think age, height, gender etc.).

I had my revision to bypass three weeks ago but did not have to do any bowel prep. In fact, I was told to eat a carb rich meal for dinner the night before surgery (which I did). Surgery went well and other than gas pain on the first day post-op, haven’t had any problems since. (Ahhh...that’s not true. Now that I’m soft foods constipation has become an issue, but that’s another topic...)

I’m having this same revision done, it was scheduled for 4/1/20, but has been postponed. Have u lost more weight after getting the bypass compared to the sleeve?

I am scheduled to have a sleeve to RNY revision on 4/6/20. Have you had the revision yet? I'm curious on what to expect post surgery.

I wish I had better news. I had sleeve surgery October 6. Shortly thereafter I developed a severe case of meraglia paresthetica, and they put me on all kinds steroids and nerve pain medicine. It completely STOPPED my weight loss for months, and brought on hunger with a vengeance. I have only lost 53 pounds, which has been disheartening. However, it is still 53 pounds gone. Have another 50 to go. ( I am also a revision patient so that can also account for a slower loss. ) My restriction is still there, but like most of us, I have to be careful and resist the urge to "graze". I take one day at a time and hope for the best. My nerve condition will be lifelong but fortunately not nearly as severe and I decided to stop the meds and manage it naturally. . It is wonderful to read how everyone is doing. Congrats to all on your successes.

Ok. Please just try this out! I have the same insurance through my husbands job. They kept telling me 6 month diet requirement. But one day I actually pulled up their policy for it and saw that they had revised their policy at the end of the year 2019 and removed the 6 month requirement. I called them back and spoke to several representatives who said no that’s not true, we require 6 months. Well I had my first consultation with my surgeon dec 23. The nurse told me that sometimes policy gets updated but the representatives on the front end are not always aware of the changes. She suggested sending in the prior authorization at the beginning of the year and just see what they came back with. She sent the prior auth on Jan 2. On Jan 6, they let me know that I was approved. I had no diet followed by a physician. They hadn’t even received my medical records from my primary doctor yet. All they had was my first consultation with the surgeon and my psych eval(which is not bad at all). I had surgery feb 19 (I could’ve had it sooner but my schedule hindered it) So please see if your doctors office would do the same thing. They have changed things under that plan but unfortunately they are still giving out the old information.

Gosh! Such burden! ((hugs)) I can't waive a magic wand and keep you from feeling the things you are feeling, but if I could, I would. You are a strong productive person and you've done things you never thought you could do before and have succeeded SO WELL! You've been an inspiration to many here! I BELIEVE. Choose to believe. Even if you don't feel it in your heart. Choose to believe that this WILL end and that we will all rebuild! Escape if that helps you for now. But also plan or schedule time to do things that are constructive. For instance, I love the idea of being a "super cleaner." Maybe research what it takes to be a plague cleaner?! I know my niece has passed a cold around her house and asked the other day if there were any cleaners who would come in and deep clean...like DEEP clean. Clean toys. Sanitize. Etc. So research it! Charge a premium for it cuz you will become a front liner. You would be able to hire people. People are desperate for work. And you would be able to pay well. It would be pre-pay or pay on completion so no waiting for invoices to be paid. Also, there will be tax extensions, and tax forgiveness. This is being planned. There will be bailouts. I just believe that this is the beginning of a forced change for us all. And you WILL get to revise and conquer. Remember to deep breath. And start thinking creatively how to repackage your business to adjust to this changing need. People will still need to have cleaning!!! Businesses too.

I feel your pain! I had the sleeve done three years ago, lost over 100 pounds in about 10 months, then gained about 60 back through bad food choices and/or just plain overeating (even healthy foods). I'd go on reset diets which would work for a while, but then I would plateau for a long time and start to gain weight again. Part of the problem was trying to deal with my food addictions that came back once I fell off the bariatric diet wagon. After a while it was just too hard to get back on again. Eventually I decided to have a revision to bypass, which I had done 2.5 weeks ago. Hopefully that's not something you'll have to do - if you have support groups around you and people that you can work with, it should be possible to lose the weight you regained.

I'm just a little confused as to why you had to have revision surgery. It seems your original surgery was done correctly. ??

I went through the same experience as you as I recovered from the sleeve - I was way ahead of the curve in terms of what, and how much, I could eat. Here's the thing - it takes a long time for your stomach to heal completely - not days, but weeks, even months (it is a major amputation if you think about it). So it may not be sending you the signals you need to stop eating. As someone who's sleeve failed, partly because after 6 months, and especially after a year, I could a proper dinner plate of food again (at least 2 cups), I would say follow your dietary guidelines. If it says half a cup, eat half a cup. How many calories (and other macros) are you allowed in a day? Are you staying within them? Just because you CAN eat more, doesn't mean you SHOULD. The guidelines are there to help us get into the habit of portion control, because the honeymoon period of easy weight loss/no hunger only happens for 6-18 months (depending on the person). After that, if you overeat, you may regain, even with healthy foods, as it may encourage you into the same bad habits you had before surgery. Also, how long is it taking you to eat? If it's more than 30 minutes, then you are definitely overeating. When are you drinking liquids? If it's too soon from eating it could make the food slide faster through your stomach making it easier to eat more. I'd also be worried about the asparagus - it seems too early to be eating such a fibrous and low protein vegetable. They are really hard to digest and can form clumps in your stomach, especially early on. In any event, I'm not trying to make you feel bad about this - as I said at the beginning, I went through exactly the same thing after my sleeve, and I had the belief that the surgeon made it too big which is why I could eat so much. However, on my recent revision surgery, my (new) surgeon said that the sleeve was perfect and small, so I know that my weight regain had less to do with my stomach, and more to do with me. Some of us can eat more, and don't feel pain (others are the complete opposite). In that case, you have to be vigilant about what, and how much, you are putting into your body.

Do you want to spend the rest of your life getting bigger? Wait until you are 50 BMI (with probably more co-morbidities) to qualify? I think most people will say the earlier you do it, the better. You are young so don't wait for 20 years letting things pass you by that you couldn't do because of your weight. Get the surgery. Compared to all other weight loss methods, cutting out part of your stomach will "reset" your body - metabolism gets boosted, most people with diabetes no longer have it within weeks (sometimes days) of having the surgery, and for many women, the PCOS issue also gets resolved. There are a lot of medical journal articles about this, easily found on the internet - and I imagine, since you are at nursing school, you probably have even more resources to access that support these claims. Another benefit to your youth is that your skin is still pretty elastic and will probably bounce back a lot better than those of us who are older and are already dealing with sagging skin, not just because of the weight. If you haven't already seen her videos, Clusie L has a ton of great videos explaining her process of getting through gastric sleeve surgery, food, plastic surgery, etc. I know she has multiple videos explaining why she got it and her struggles trying to get her family on board while she was still a teenager, but I can't find it at the moment. However, this video is a good substitute, geared towards teens, but maybe it will help you in making a decision. Edit: my first surgery (sleeve) was done at 42, I just had a revision (45). I wish I had done this 10 years ago when my weight really started ballooning up beyond Obese (class 1) into 2, then 3, then beyond.

March 3rd 2020 i had sleeve conversion to RNY with hiatal hernia repair. I had lost 90% of my weight, but had really bad reflux and food getting stuck and stabbing chest pains. I can say that the sleeve i felt restriction, and still did until the revision. But with the GBP i really don't. My PA said that since liquids and pureed foods are "slider" foods, they will slide right thru without much feeling of fullness. We lost that pyloris that held things in to fill up the sleeve. but, once I start to eat normal foods, i will feel the restriction. She also agreed with the cutting of the nerves and that will come back. My new concern is i am 15 days post op and on day 13 i started getting bad stomach cramps when i drink water. the first day i had really bad gas, and thought that was it. took simethicone to no effect. But any time i drink it starts to hurt almost immediately. Been going on a few days now. I force my water down but an lying on my side in the fetal position most of the time since that is the only way it won't hurt. I read in one of these forums that this is normal, and to try warmer fluids. Anyone experiencing this? Thoughts?

I just spoke with a friend who has a friend going through the Kaiser Options classes (Pre-op requirement in So. Cal). All classes have been postponed and her friend was informed that her surgeries (elective) have been postponed until further notice. I'm praying for those of you who are on the journey and awaiting your surgery. Don't forget the reason why you are on this journey and remember why you are doing this. When you finally cross the finish line, you are going to appreciate your journey even more. We are going to stay united on our journeys rather it be pre or post-op, this is a real test for each of us. Even those of us who are recently post-op, we have to assure that we stay healthy and keep our immune systems healthy. I had a post-op appt via telephone today, I have to hope that I'm doing the right thing because without direct contact with your medical team it's not clear. Hopefully we all stay complication free, hydrated and mentally healthy. There are also those who need a revision due to complications from their first procedure, the list can keep growing. This is a domino effect that we are in together. Sending positive vibes, prayers and blessings to each of you. Practice patience and keep your peace as your guides as we navigate through this.

I'm sorry, ask your surgeon. My Bariatric team said this was common for some patients post-op. This was also discussed in our classes required before surgery. My friend is post-op 2 years and has been revised to rny for almost 1 year, her stomach is a talker. She named her stomach, Tiny Tummy aka TT.

I think you're doing really well! I've only lost 3.8 kgs since surgery and that was two weeks ago. Some people lose weight really quickly post-op, for others it's more of a slow burn and then really gets going a few weeks in. Also, in regards to your friends, I find that a lot of people don't understand how weight loss works. Most people think it's a matter of less calories in + more exercise = weight loss. But our bodies are really complicated, much more so than a 2+2=4 equation, and most people who are obese or morbidly obese have other issues, like insulin or leptin-resistance, which can really hinder weight loss. In addition to that we have lower metabolic rates that are difficult to change. There are two contradictory actions when we diet and start an exercise regimen at the same time. The exercise will give a boost to our metabolism, but the diet will slow it down. So in effect they cancel each other out which is why most people plateau after a few weeks and can't figure out why. The body doesn't like change and will always try to get back to where it was, especially metabolism. Also fat cells like being fat and will use any opportunity to fill themselves up again - something to remember when you are 1 or more years post-op. Going back to any old habits will be a very happy reunion for your fat cells, which is what happened to me and why I needed revision surgery. Fat cells never disappear, they are always there, just much smaller than before. Which is why people who were obese before will always struggle with food compared to people who have always (or mostly) been at a healthy weight. And of course most of us probably have real addictions to food, which is difficult to deal with. Compared to drugs or alcohol, none of which are needed to survive, we need to food to live, so have to deal with our addictions every time we eat, go shopping, or are in any other situation involving food. It really is a hard mental game to keep up with. Anyway, I'm just saying this because if you think of losing weight as a race, obese people do not start at the start line with regular (mostly healthy, maybe overweight) people. We are handicapped by our obesity, our metabolism, our brains, our resistance to different hormones, our food addictions, our co-morbidities, etc which puts us way back behind the start line. So we never get a fair "race" compared to our healthier counterparts. But when we get surgery, the loss of part of our stomach basically resets the entire body back to zero, and now we have a more even playing field. We still still have to work at it, and be vigilant with our food choices, but at least we are no longer handicapped by everything else that was preventing success in all the years we were trying to lose weight. I was reading an recent medical journal that says a) obesity is a disease, just like cancer, and should be treated as such, and b) gastric surgery should be renamed metabolic surgery since it has so many positive effects on the body. Honestly, it's now even being considered as a treatment for diabetes, since it has been so successful in eliminating that problem with obese people who had it pre-gastric surgery, but not afterwards. A good book to read (if you haven't already) is "Fat Chance" by Robert Lustig (M.D.) who goes into really good detail about what I explained above. I find educating ourselves with facts is the best way to counter people who will dismiss what we are doing as a "scam". Most people who think that probably have a very limited idea of what weight loss really entails. Finally, you don't need to prove anything to your friends. The only person you need to prove anything to is yourself! Good luck! Stick to the program, don't worry too much about the scale when it doesn't move fast enough or stalls (because that will happen). When it does, focus on non-scale victories, like clothes fitting better, or moving down in size, being more comfortable in a seatbelt, needing to fill the bathtub with more water since you don't displace as much as before (!), finding your collarbones and cheekbones again, etc. You got this!

I will be heading to the hospital in about five minutes, and I thought I would start a thread where I would post my experience and updates with an ESG revision/conversion to gastric sleeve. I had an endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) nearly 18 months ago- more about that another time. An endoscopy last month verified that all but one suture had come undone. Time for a conversion. As expected I am a bit nervous this morning but am grateful that surgery hasn't been cancelled in these trying times. I don't have bariatricpal set up on my tablet or mobile so will be updating in a few days as I won't be carting my old big laptop to the hospital.

Mine was 5.5 hours as a revision but that was due to excessive scar tissue from other surgeries.

I think for the most part, the diet we follow post-surgery (whether sleeve or bypass) is what is known as protein-prioritized keto (there's a FB group if you are interested). Keep protein high, fats low to moderate, and carbs low. In fact, I really don't understand the (traditional keto) focus on high fat since the reason most people lose weight is because of low carbs. And of course protein is better for you than fat. That said, some people may be more sensitive to fatty foods after bypass (I just had a bypass revision myself and this is something I'm concerned about). I would talk to your doctor/nutritionist to see what they think.

I suggest you do a little homework first. Call your insurance company and ask what are the requirements for WLS. Back in 2009 (lapband) the insurance i had the requirements were..... 35 bmi with 2 co morbids OR over 40 bmi with no co's. I quilified for the 40 bmi. I am also 5'2".... (this is one time where being short pays off). I was 232lbs so my bmi was around 42 i think. WLS was a life saver for me in so many ways. Because i had the LB my weight loss was so, but i stuck with it and followed the rules. Got to 143lbs and stayed there for nearly 8 years. Then in March of 2017, after years of zero problems, i got sick and for a week i threw up violently, slipped my band and had to have her removed. Over the next 2.5+ years (and starting menopause) i put back 30lbs of the 89 i lost. Which was still great.... but i hated how i felt. I also hated that no matter what i did.... diet, diet pills, not eating, tracking food, crossfit,.... nothing stopped it. After about a year without her i realized i wouldn't be able to keep all the weigh off with out some intervention. So i started looking for a Dr. to do a revision. My plan was to get the MGB, but no one would do it..... all i kept hearing was... You don't weigh enough.... ughhhh. I started plans to go down to Mex and have it done there.... then on a last ditch effort i called a local Dr. and had a meeting with him. He agreed that had i NOT been a previous WLS patient he would never do anything.... BUT because i was he could get me in as a "revision". So on Aug. 28, 2019 i went in for the Sleeve. No, it's not what i wanted, but i grabbed the chance and ran with it... that and 14K. Mex was about 9-10k i think. Yes i would have saved a few thousand, but it was worth the extra to have my dr. 10 min from me and not in Mex. Today, i happy at my current weight of 131lbs. The day i was sleeved i was 173.5lbs. Worth every cent of that 14k.

I'm also short (5'3") and for my first surgery was 150 pounds overweight, for my most recent revision, 100 pounds overweight (which put me at 41 BMI). I had no other co-morbidities at the time of either surgery. However, I was self-pay for both, so did not have to go through insurance at all. Unfortunately I think insurance companies have more say than doctors do, but if you meet the minimum requirement I can't see why they wouldn't accept you for surgery. Just don't lose any weight until you get approved!

Had revision, hernia repair and bowel resection on Thursday. Initially, I felt great but 5 hours after discharge I thought my insides were gonna fall out. Tylenol-Cod elixir doest not help much. 18 yrs ago, when I was very young I had a gastric bypass. It went well! Lost 180 Ibs ( lowest wt 126 Ibs, 4’11). Three years later I developed a vertical hernia that was repair. About 10 years in I developed strictures and could not hold any food down. A GI doc at my university dilated by esophagus and gastric pouch. I was furious with him but in hindsight he probably saved my life. The hernia repair was done with mesh which became painful. Due to Change insurances several time I was unable to find a bariatric doctor I felt comfortable with until now. I’m petty sure if your thyroid levels are controlled, gastric bypass will assist in weight loss. Probably remaining on a low carb, lean meat, low dairy diet and exercise 4-5 days a week may also help. That’s my plan!

Well after being denied and appealing the surgery and waiting 7 weeks for a surgery date which is 3/18, I believe they are canceling my revision due to the virus. Because it’s elective.  I hope I’m wrong. I am in so much pain from the heartburn. I’ve been on a liquid diet for 2 weeks.  I’m so upset. 

I had a revision from a lap band to RNY and I know for the first 4 days I had terrible "buyers remorse". But around day 5 I felt like I was gonna make it, and every day was better than the day before. It's totally normal to think "what the hell did I just do to myself???" Almost everyone of us have thought that right after surgery. Your doctor should have you on a PPI for a few months after your surgery. I had heartburn for about a month after mine. Be patient with yourself on the fluid drinking and don't force it. It will get easier. Hang in there, YOU GOT THIS! It WILL bet better, I promise...

@asnirak I had bypass as well (revision) and I also question why it’s so easy for me to drink liquids! That said, I know from my last surgery that liquids go right through you, but also in the first weeks after surgery your stomach is quite swollen and sore, so it may not be able to indicate to you if you are having too much. Which is why it’s important to try to stick to recommended doses if possible. Another reason to do so is to prepare us in getting used to eating smaller portions, and to eating and drinking more slowly. Interestingly, my program has a more realistic liquid intake progression - 1.2L the first two weeks (about 5 cups), then 1.5 the next two, and then 2L (64 oz) once one month post-op hits. I found no problem getting my liquids in in the beginning, but now that I’ve added purées and soft foods I find it a bit more challenging.