Search the Community

I originally thought that I would have Gastric Bypass, but after meeting with the doctor and discussing it with him, we thought that the sleeve was a better choice for me as it was less invasive. Like you, I had high blood pressure, PCOS, and already had my gallbladder out years ago. I was pre-diabetic. I did not get heartburn/acid reflux and that was one of the criteria that would have made him suggest RNY instead. I think that he also looks at diabetes & A1C levels to help determine which surgery to recommend. It may be helpful to discuss your options again with your doctor after all your testing comes back & after you continue your research on both surgeries. Asking people on here about their surgeries is a great way to hear about personal experiences. I wish you success with whichever surgery you choose! Lots of luck!😁🍀

I read a couple of posts from people who were told by Kaiser that skin removal and other post bariatric plastics are not part of their plan. I don't want anyone to suffer for years as I did because of being told the wrong information! I'm learning to push back when told NO since often times the people on the other end of the phone tend to not have all the answers or are told to derail people with questions from learning the real truth in order to save $ Anyway, there was a class action in 2015 against Kaiser sparked by post WLS denials. And as it turns out this can have repercussions for insurance that systematically deems skin removal as an elective surgery that isn't covered in cases of extreme weight loss. Link https://blog.cvn.com/kaiser-ordered-to-broaden-reconstructive-surgery-coverage-after-class-action-trial https://legalnewsline.com/stories/510629463-calif-judge-rules-that-insurer-at-center-of-class-action-over-skin-removal-surgeries-must-broaden-coverage When I went to be evaluated for plastic surgery in 2017, we were told we could have one procedure. Dr said I didn't qualify for a panni because it didn't quite hang low enough, just to clarify...their measurement is 'abdominal skin must cover pubic region entirely'' which is BS with the years of skin rashes I have had. He said I just barely qualified for breast reduction surgery which I had 5 months later, the waiting list was long. He said I would be a C cup (from a DD) and I wasn't happy when I ended up a B but worse things could happen. I'm 16 years Post Gastric BP and should've had a revision 4-5 years ago when weight gain started creeping up, no longer going down... about 15 lbs a year since 2018. I could never break past 170 to reach goal of 155 but I'm goin to pursue the distal revision as of this week. It's now or never, I have to get a social life! The rule is you have to be at your goal and stable for months before a skin removal surgery will be covered by insurance so I'll have to wait longer even longer for that as consequence of procrastinating on a revision! I've been disabled with an autoimmune illness so I never returned to the job I enjoyed after the WLS. I didn't put much effort into pursuing solutions for skin removal after research showed it would be very costly out of pocket expense and not covered by insurance. So I haven't really felt the freedom of losing 140 lbs because I still cover up my body! No swimsuits, no sleeveless anything or clothing that accentuates the possibility of a waist, LOL. I wish I had the confidence of those who wear what they want, no matter their size! I've wanted to leave Kaiser to return the awesome Dr I previously had who actually listened and treated me like a human being. Staying with Kaiser only until these surgeries are done and I'm out of there! Kaiser ruling.pdf

I had a revision from sleeve to RNY and from my 10 day pre-op diet plus the first month after revision, I have lost 26 lbs. I will be 61 soon and am in One-derland to give you a little background. Everyone is different but that is my current story. Sent from my SM-N986U using BariatricPal mobile app

While this is classically a bypass problem (look up the "Al Roker White House Shart" story - yes, it happened to him at the White House) it can certainly happen to sleevers early out. This is mostly due to the radical dietary changes and the body working to adapt to it. I had both diarrhea and constipation at the same time for a while. It passes (so to speak) fairly quickly for us as out diets and GI tracts get to know each other again. Probiotics may be helpful in helping the gut flora adapt to the changes.

I think it's very introspective that you are asking yourself that question! I had a gastric bypass and I regained 55 pounds from the 100 I lost. I stopped my support group meetings, and stopped using many of the tools I learned before I had surgery. For me, stopping the carb intake is huge. Eating carbs I am constantly hungry. I went back to see the weight management people, I am seeing a dietician again, and I started Ozempic for appetite suppression as well as treatment for diabetes. Don't despair, you have sooo many options available to you. I think if you can get the carbs under control, you will see you still have the tool of the RNY available to you! You've just learned to eat around it. Much luck to you!

Hi KittyHawk, I can honestly say everyone is different. I know most will say 20 pounds is the standard number for losing after revision but there are cases where you can lose more. My original sleeve surgery needed to be revised for a couple of reasons and I regained about 30 pounds of the 60 I had lost. I went into the RNY revision weighing 181 pounds after losing around 9 or so during pre-op. I had the revision in February and I now weigh 143 pounds and the weight is still coming off. I also weigh 12 pounds less than what I was on the sleeve. It is definitely true about slower loss: I've stalled a couple times and this last one lasted almost 2 months. But it will come off. Good luck!

I live and work in the Bronx. I’m almost 9 months out from gastric bypass and I’ve eaten out a few times while on vacation. My restriction varies day to day. I’ve eaten salads, sushi even a cheeseburger. But I try to plan my meals by looking at the menus ahead of time. If I’m treating myself to a burger then I will skip the toast for breakfast and stick to eggs and a mandarin orange. Sometimes I eat a bun less burger. I always order unsweetened iced tea and ask for Stevia. I try to find balance.

When I told my dr that I thought I wanted bypass he asked me if I had gerd and if I was a big sugar eater. I guess either of those things would justify the higher risks (which are still VERY low). The answer to both of those questions is no. I decided because absorption issues were less with sleeve that I would have less issues to work through with my bipolar meds and probably need less extra vitamins in the long run plus it had the lower risk so I went with it.

Hi ready for new me…I am also new to this forum. My surgeon has set my date of November 9th. I will have one week clear liquid diet before surgery. I have chronic gerd so I am having the gastric bypass. I have been jumping thru hoops since March 2021 so glad to have a date set. Covid is really bad here so dates may shift..but I am glad to just be in the rotation.

Hey Friends, I saw a few posts about sleeve to RYGB but not as much discussion as I thought there’d be. I’m having revision this month due to some weight regain (partly my fault and partly due to having a baby). In addition to the the regain I also have a twist in my stomach which is cutting off blood supply to that section of stomach (due to previous sleeve surgery) this has to be rectified. My surgeon says while weightloss is slower he believes I will loose more than my original sleeve surgery. Anyone that has been through this with good or bad results I would love to hear your story. I’m worried that I won’t have the weightloss I’m looking for within a reasonable timeframe. Looking for support, thank you!

I’m Education Class told me not to drink or drugs like pot and no baby aspirin etc ., I wish a lot of people’s took this education classes it’s very helpful and prepare you., I never get or have the Sleeve was never explained anything like I’m learning now going in for bypass and alot more Education in general

I had the lap band before and it didn't work. It didn't do anything to stop my hunger, it didn't change my metabolism, it didn't stop me from absorbing everything I ate... all it did was put a little speed bump from my esophagus to my stomach. Sometimes that speed bump would get stopped up and cause me crazy pain, sliming, and barfing. Usually healthy foods did that to me (chicken breast, broccoli, carrots, celery, lean steak, etc.). Unhealthy foods went down like a breeze so I could eat greasy cheeseburgers, cakes, cookies, milkshakes, cheese fries, etc. without a problem. The lap band, essentially, trained me to eat junk food and avoid healthy food. Then I got it revised to RNY and it has been a TOTAL game changer. There are a number of reasons it's working way better for me. 1) My physical appetite is gone. And I mean, GONE. Even if I swim (I'm always starving after I swim) or walk all day or do heavy manual labor... I just never want to eat. 2) Sugar is repulsive now. I don't want anything to do with ice cream, cakes, or cookies. Those used to be my favorite. I tried to take a sip of regular orange juice (because I remember how refreshing I used to find it) and gagged because it was just way, way too sweet. 3) I crave nutritious foods, mostly seafood and vegetables. Which is weird because I was never much of a veggie lover before. I only ate them because I felt like I had to. 4) I only absorb 75% of the food I eat, and I don't eat much to begin with so I've been dropping weight like crazy. 5) I get full, quickly. 6) If I try to eat something I shouldn't (like something high in fat) I'm immediately punished with a wave of nausea and I won't try it again. All this factored together has made RNY a very powerful weight loss tool. If you are an emotional eater or food addict RNY would be torture. The head hunger definitely doesn't go away. While physically I don't want to eat, mentally I wish I still could. It's not because I eat to cope but because I just always loved food. I'm a foodie and I love cooking, baking, restaurants, trying new foods, etc. I can't have it anymore and it makes me a little sad but I've been killing myself from my "hobby" so it's time to let it go. But if you're someone who is determined to eat because you feel like you HAVE to (like an emotional or addictive issue) you'll want to get therapy before having surgery. For me, that pain from over-eating is NOT worth it at all. It's very unpleasant and I eat very slowly to avoid it. But for some folks, the pain is worth it to eat what they want, and that's where re-gain/failure comes in. That and mindless snacking on simple carbs. You've gotta say no to the chips, crackers, and popcorn.

Elless, have you considered a revision? My story is the same as yours (lap band didn't help me lose weight at all, only lost 20 pounds in 6 months, regained it quickly and then gained extra weight) except I resorted to slider foods after I realized the lap band wasn't helping at all. I revised to RNY and I've lost 43 pounds in less than 2 months. It's a total game changer and I'd recommend it to anyone. Skinny3, if you have 100 or more pounds to lose I'd definitely look into gastric bypass!!! It's not what it used to me. About a decade ago (and before) it was an open surgery with more risks but now it's done laproscopically. Definitely recommend it.

OMG I'm 3 weeks post surgery (bypass) and have been having issues with this dry mouth thing too. I've been taking esomeprazole for years and I'm taking much less now so I don't think that has to do with it. I do have Biotene and will use it more often. It's painful! Woke me up a couple of times!

I also think it's mainly because of the mental impact of drinking. After few glasses, you could lose the knowing of limits, so. Besides, it depends on the alcohol you want to consume. In cases of dry red wine - it's totally fine to drink 1-2 glasses. But beer, sweet cocktails, or even strong alcohol are prohibited not only after a bypass but for a healthy person too. Believe me, you don't want to know what alcohol addiction is or other kinds of it. All of the Scottish Inpatient Treatment Services know me personally (at least they did). I haven't been drinking any type of alcohol for 2 years now.

After my bypass, for about three months, I would get sick and throw up if I ate something that didn't agree with me (like meats, hot or spicy foods, fried foods). I would get an awful feeling of pressure in my stomach and then get the foamies and throw up mostly saliva. One time the foamies and throwing up lasted an entire miserable night. But now I can eat anything I like with no problem. So I wouldn't worry about your stomach turning and the foaming. It happens to a lot of us!

I understand what you are saying. I always called my VSG my sleeve or stomach, not pouch. I can kind of understand the pouch idea with the gastric bypass because things get stuck in our "pouch", which is the size of an egg, and not our stomach. Thank you for your response. I only threw up once with my VSG in many years. Then again, I had a very conservative surgeon who made it 10 ounces instead of the 3 - 5 ounces. I wish I could say the same thing that I never foamed or threw up about my revision to RNY. 😆

Thank you all for responding!! That is one less thing for me to stress about. All this time I kept thinking something was wrong with my new revision because my stomach actually "turned" twice. One person I know in real life scared me and told me that she couldn't throw up no matter what since she had her gastric bypass and something must be connected wrong inside me 😅. I think she had her surgery back in the 90s. Not sure if the procedure changed.

Well, it was for ten days. Today's my first full day with no cheating. I plan to do it. I'm having a band removed then bypass, so I need this pre-op. Thanks for the encouragement! I need it. Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using BariatricPal mobile app

I’m a sleever & I’ve found vomiting is different too. I wonder if it’s because we have fewer stomach muscles as well cause, on the handful of occasions I have vomited, it doesn’t feel like all my muscles are heaving. A win is I don’t have sore muscles after like I used to either. Plus I only need to throw up a small volume of food to empty my tummy. I hate the foamies! I get them if my food is too dry, too coarse or fibrous. Begins with my restriction being more severe, followed by hacking & then spitting up small amounts of that foamy, gunky saliva. Can occur up to an hour after I’ve eaten. My dad was told the same thing about the flattened cola with his chemo. It’s also useful for getting rid of the bad taste & reducing the coated tongue after chronic vomiting with chemo. Best of luck with your continued recovery, @Jacks133. PS - Personally, I’ve never understood the whole ‘pouch’ description thing. Our tummies are exactly the same organ as they were before the surgery. They function in the same way as they did before (maybe a bit fussier). They are only smaller & for bypass have had a little shortcut rerouting to the intestines. They’re still stomachs.

Some of us do throw up, some of us foam and some of us do both... I've done both. I've had gastric Bypass and had a lot of times when I did that... It was during the process of when I was learning what I could and couldn't handle.

I just wanted to say, "never stop fighting for your life." I'm truly on the road to revision after over two years. I have completed 1 of 3 months of dietary counseling. I am scheduled for an exam on 9/17 to check my sleeve and throat. I have two other medical appointments (psychiatric and cardiac). Funny thing, I am still not excited. I haven't changed my mind. I am just a little scared! I plan to share my journey because it helped me to read other's stories. Its one day at a time! Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

I’m talking the Flintstones with iron until my blood work says otherwise. I loved the sunshine brand from the Vitamin Shoppe while I was prego and nursing or just heavy flow. It wouldn’t work for my bypass now.

You will hear all sorts of stories because none of us is exactly the same…. My daughter had her bypass 10 years ago and she can throw up - she also gets things lodged. It’s common to ‘foam’ first before retching. I had my bypass 8 years ago and I don’t get things lodged; I also couldn’t actually throw up for nearly 8 years, but would foam (that would be the first indication something hadn’t agreed with me) and then retch, but not bring anything up. After my first radiotherapy session for cancer (they blasted my whole abdomen) I came home and tried to eat something and threw up and retched for 3 hours until my family got hold of a nurse on the phone and she recommended flat Pepsi or coke…. Must be flat. It worked. It’s been my go-to drink ever since (Pepsi Max Cherry, completely flattened, with ice 😆). Since then I threw up medication also with the treatment, but not since. The important thing is to know yourself. As I understand it the stomach, when it’s very small, is often not muscular enough to actually throw up, but now I know it can be done! 🙄 - not that I wish cancer treatment on anyone… I’m sure you’re connected alright - you also know now that you can get clogged and chewing things properly is really important. I used to foam at the mouth and feel I was going to throw up every time I tried peas in the first year - I think because I didn’t chew them properly and they were rattling round like little bullets… 😜 x

I have read ((and heard from friends who had the surgery) that people with gastric bypass do not throw up, and that their stomach doesn't turn since it's a pouch now. I just ate something that didn't agree with my stomach. and I started foaming. The stoma was plugged, I believe due to a piece of egg due to improper chewing. I'll try better next time. After I spit out all the excess saliva, my stomach "turned" twice and it forced me to empty my pouch. I didn't get nauseated at all, it just kind of happened on it's own but my stomach definitely "turned" both times. Can someone please explain to me if this is common for gastric bypass patients? I'm sincerely confused about it all. I hope I'm connected alright & nothing went amiss in my surgery lol. Thanks!