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Aug 4 2021 had a mini gastric bypass. Down 75 pounds. Hoping to stay around this weight and not lose much more. Health wise doing great. How’s everyone else doing?

Hello gang, I had WLS in 2004. I was one of the early lap band recipients in Australia under Prof. Paul O'Brien. I did great and lost 46kg (101lbs), but then life set in and I had two kids and a suicidal husband so I let the weight creep back up. I had a revision in 2013 due to a hiatus hernia so large I was having esophageal spasms. So now, I'm at the heaviest I've ever been, and I've got a ventral hernia that goes from my navel to my sternum. My surgeon said he won't even try to fix it if my BMI is over 30 because it will just come right back. He then talked to me about how the lap band has fallen out of favor because it was not as effective as the original studies promised. He suggested a revision to a VSG, and set me up in my insurance's approval program for WLS. The first step is the removal of the band and port and recovery from that. Surgery is scheduled for July 7th. After that I'll progress through the "hoop-jumping" to qualify for the VSG, which providing everything goes smoothly, I'll qualify for in October. So far no one has stated any pre-surgery weight loss requirements, but I have been studying the various plans and doctor's programs I've found online, as well as reading personal stories from support forums like this one, so I can get an aggregate view of the entire procedure both pre and post-op. I must admit that the pendulum swings widely across what I've seen, both in program execution and in individual responses. Of course, I realize that there are outliers on every scale, and I'm averaging what I see. I got this little binder from the program introduction meeting (Dignity Health), and I've been adding my own research to it, things like print out of appropriate bariatric (or equivalent) vitamins based on their recommendations, worksheets for tracking eating and drinking, pre and post-op protein shakes, mixes, and recipes, motivational type posters, and text documents on things like how digestion works, how protein is used by the body, etc. Note, all the research is stuff from actual university or journal studies, I'm not taking answers from Reddit or Quora as facts! I've decided the biggest issue I've seen is the grief process that hits people after the surgery when they suddenly realize they can't eat what they want. I've read a lot of threads (not just here) of people rebelling and hating themselves and hurting themselves because of this. I do not want to deal with this. I'm already working on changing my eating habits, albeit slowly. I want to be more in control of this transition than I've seen, So, if you've read this far, my questions to you are: Did you make any effort pre-op to really change your eating habits? Did you experience grief or regret post-op if you didn't? Did you regret your surgery for any reason OTHER than the food restriction/complications? Thanks for discussing!

I'm 3 1/2 + yrs post gastric bypass and I don't have much interest in food. I don't care about cooking it or eating it most days. I live alone so boring stuff like salads or yogurt or soup work just fine for me. When I go out to restaurants I usually order so I have leftovers for another day. I'm so glad Whole Foods reopened their hot food bars. I go there and shop for a couple days at a time and then I don't have to cook.

I have a few regrets, none of which have anything to do with my Gastric Bypass. Good luck, Tek

I recently had my bypass surgery and wondered how soon after did you start working out? I was very active prior to surgery..trained 3 days a week and worked out 5. I anxious to get back but don't want to rush anything. When did you get the go ahead to exercise and what did you safely start with? Sent from my SM-G996U using BariatricPal mobile app

hey everyone. i had gastric bypass on march 3rd. I noticed that ever since surgery, every 3rd week I would stop losing weight for an entire week and then it would start dropping again. I am down 40 lbs so far but the last 3 weeks I havent lost a thing. Is this normal? I am getting nervous that Im doing something wrong

I'm not a VSG patient, but I have RA and like you, hoping for symptom improvement and remission would be absolutely amazing. There's a few others on here with RA scattered around on here. There's a few threads about RA and weight loss if you search the topic in the search tool. I did have lap band previously and I can tell you that symptoms did improve markedly as I lost weight with that surgery. I'm hoping for more improvement with revision to RNY soon. Best wishes on your journey!

I had my surgery on tuesday May 24th. I was scheduled for a sleeve but as my reflux was bad and I had gained weight from having a lap band (I lost a lot at first) The doctor recommended the Gastric Bypass. I'm still coming in terms with such a huge gastric surgery but I hope I'll be happy with it. Recovering has been horrible. Yesterday I had massive labor pains all day and today I had ups and downs. I couldn't drink anything. So water only for me for the next two days I think.

dumping syndrome happens to about 30% of bypass patients. It can happen with sleeve patients, too, but it's much less common than it is in bypass patients. if you eat a lot of sugar or fat in one sitting and then start getting sweats, chills, heart palpitations, dizziness, and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting, and it goes on for hours, then you'll know you get dumping syndrome. But again, it's not that common in sleeve patients.

A revision is any kind of rework on an original (or revised) surgery. I had a lap band in 2006, I had a revision in 2013 due to it ripping my diaphragm open. Now I'm going to have a revision later this year when my surgeon first removes my lap band, lets me heal, and then does a VGS. You can have a revision to plastic surgery, say fixing a lopsided boob job, or something like a revision to a circulatory bypass. Bariatric revision is usually done because the initial procedure didn't produce the desired results. Sometimes they modifiy the original procedure or other times they change to an entirely new procedure.

Unfortunately I put some weight back on and am considering revision surgery. I have it nailed down to a mini bypass in Mexico or a kind of newer procedure involving endobariatrics in North Carolina. I am not sure what's better for me long term. It seems like the doctors are competing and trying to sell me something.

Thanks. Both doctors are close to me. If I want a doctor associated with my hospital to do the DS, then I need to go to a hospital 3 hours away. The doctor who is close to me and in my hospital system only does the bypass.

A lot of people look at revision surgery due to severe Gerd and reflux. Many report that don't get a lot of extra weight loss. So I was thinking if it's just weight loss for you why wouldn't you try to go back to basics with the tool you already have ( your sleeve)?

I had the bypass done almost 6 months ago and it's been working for me I'm not sure what the ds is like I haven't talked to anyone who had it I did do some research on both I hand never really considered the sleeve. Honestly I would choose the one closest to you and in your network for the record aspect and if you need your surgeon for something they are close and access to your info Sent from my SM-A716U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi had my bypass April 29. Still in the soft food phase . Having hard time getting protein in .

Is the only reason you are looking at revision surgery for weight loss ?

I had a sleeve done about 10 years ago when I was 40. I went from about 280 to 160 and have put the weight back on. I have seen two surgeons in my area in the last couple of months. One does DS and says I am kinda halfway through a DS procedure. The other surgeon does not do DS so she is recommending bypass. If I really want, she can refer me to a surgeon in the hospital system who does DS but that is 3 hours away. I've had some friends use the DS surgeon and recommend her but her office staff is a hot mess. An overall lack of organization and I send info to the person I am told to but then someone else calls and says I wasn't supposed to send to that person. The by pass surgeon is in my hospital system and therefore has access to all my doctor's records since nearly every one of my doctors is in that hospital system. By pass doctor said that DS wasn't fully "approved" (my word not hers) and is still considered experimental but she wants to learn how to do it and expects it will be much more common in the near future. My husband is asking me what will I do differently after this surgery that I didn't do before. Great question. I am moving through all the insurance required hoops for both doctors at this point but still not sure I want to do either. Anyone have any words of wisdom? Not sure how to proceed. Thanks so much!

We are surgery buddies!! Same here Im 53 Ive had some but I also have thyroid disease so i “shed” a few times a year lol. I take a Vitamin 2 x a day just for hair, skin and nails. Im down 51-52 pounds my Surgeons goal was to loose 70. My goal is 80-100 so im close to his expectations. I find that taking that extra vitamin as soon as you can tolerate them is a game changer. My sister had bypass 25 years ago she refuses to take any Vitamins. She is nearly bald. I did the sleeve, I took vitamins before surgery so it isnt a nee habit for me just what I take changed. I have always taken in what I am supposed to for protein and water it is a vitamin deficiency because we eat so little food - especially in the beginning which is probably why people see it slow down as they are out more. So get a good hair nail and skin vitamin youll be happy you did!!

I had the bypass almost 6 months gas pain was awful after and the gas pills may as well have been Flintstone vitamins. I had a hard time walking because of complications and having to go back in for surgery 4 days after my bypass as funny as this sounds car rides help also the seat need to be in an up right position though. No more constant gas pain after a few weeks. But I still get burpy alot Sent from my SM-A716U using BariatricPal mobile app

I agree with what @LookingForward22 said regarding finding the right program. I also switched programs and even though it really extended my timeline, I am so happy I did. I would also say: research all options (bypass, sleeve) but don't get railroaded or let others convince you of which one is right for you. I always preferred the sleeve, but tried to convince myself that a bypass was better. I was doing all the mental gymnastics for it - it would be faster weight loss (not necessarily true), more weight lost (also not necessarily true) - when in my heart I was not comfortable with re-routing my insides so much and I wanted to still have a pyloric valve. It was so liberating when a surgeon reminded me it is simply a tool and will be as successful as you make it. He wasn't trying to tell me what to do, just to make sure my decision fit my needs and comfort level. That was so important. I personally have no preference for others, just make certain you are an informed recipient of the surgery you get and are 100% on board with the decision and the inherent risks for both (as there are differing risks for each type). Sleeve brings risks of GERD (and is contraindicated for anyone with GERD already) but bypass has other risks. Neither set of risks makes one inherently better or worse - you just need to be aware and ready to accept those risks. And don't get surgery until you are mentally ready for it. That's just good advice across the board. You need to be in the right mindset to make it work. Good luck!

Congrats! I had revision (lap band to bypass) on 5/18. Best of luck on your journey!

I had my gastric bypass a week ago (may 16th) and Immediately after my surgery my vision started to get blurry, very blurry and still now. Anyone else with blurred vision?

Hi, I'm new here. I'm actually looking to connect to veterans of the surgery. I had my surgery 18 years ago and at the time it was great. Doctors said I should of lost more weight. Starting weight 407 and lowest was just under 300 but I'm now up to 340 and I'm looking to get another procedure because I just can't seem to find a diet (way of eating) I can stick with. My knees are shot so I need to lose weight to get knee replacement surgery. I had my gallbladder taken out. Has anyone had pain in the upper abdomen when your bend over for about a minute? What about a side pain (my right) almost feels like I bruised a rib. Thanks gang. Look forward connecting with someone that is going thru the same thing I am. I appreciate it.

Totally been there. Had a lapband for 11 years and kept off about 60 lbs. Started aspirating at night, and my surgeon determined that my band had to come out. I had the band deflated and my surgeon had me start a supervised diet at the same time while we started jumping through the insurance hoops to try to get a revision to gastric bypass. My bmi was 33 at this point. I'm sure he knew I'd gain weight, and I did -- about 30 pounds, which easily pushed my bmi up into the range for revision surgery. I just got approved today to have a gastric bypass at the same time that the lapband comes out. It took me about 6 months from when I went in with problems to get to this point and jump through all the insurance hoops. July 6 can't come soon enough. And yes, I agree that it's insane that you have to raise your bmi to qualify. It was the first weight loss surgery that allowed me to get my bmi down in normal range in the first place!!! It would have been SO MUCH BETTER to just have gotten the revision right away when the doctor determined the lapband needed to come out instead of gaining the weight back. It's a ridiculous policy. I constantly reminded myself that while I was gaining weight temporarily, that my first weight loss surgery was successful and the revision will be as well, so it's a temporary pain in the rear in order to get a permanent solution. I feel your frustration and fully understand.

Woohoo! I have insurance approval and a surgery date of July 6! Lapband coming out, fixing a hernia, and getting revised to a gastric bypass. Should be $0 out of pocket. I've been working toward this since November. So relieved, excited, and ready.