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I actually seem to be on the opposite spectrum of everyone else... My sister had the surgery first (hers was bypass due to medical necessity of throat and stomach issues, mine is elective sleeve) My sister and my mother were the ones who pushed ME into getting the surgery... I didn't want to at first, just because I knew how grueling it was for my sister and I felt too lazy/too scared to live a life where EVERYTHING would change... finally, I sorta gave in to their pushing and said "Fine, I'll do it" and it's been the best decision of my life so far. I finally had my surgery in January of this year... was supposed to be July of 2020, but Covid 😡. I told EVERY person on my Facebook page back in January of 2020 that I was going through with it, and (knock on wood) every person has supported me through it. I'm 2 months into the post surgery, and down 44 lbs from surgery, 70 from January of 2020. - I still have about 100 lbs to go before I hit my goal weight, but the fact that I'm at 265 already has me FLOORED! - And I actually do little "Updates on my Life" on my facebook about every month or so updating all of my family and friends about where I am in my post surgery life. I hate seeing so many people who have had to feel like they've got to hide it due to the stigma that society has created for obese people but frankly - I don't give a damn who knows. - To me, it's definitely not cheating... could I have technically eaten the same thing I am now? - Sure.... would I have without being forced into it by tinier stomach? - No.... The push of being forced into doing something "Against my will" was EXACTLY what I needed to keep me on this path. Even if I went back in time, and told my old self "you 100% want this" I wouldn't believe me.

232lbs to 150lbs feeling confident n Beautiful [emoji7][emoji3059][emoji3059][emoji3059] Sent from my SM-G975U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

Hello, My name is Shannon but everyone calls me Shani. I am 34 years old and my start weight was 335 as of January 09, 2020. I didn't get to have my surgery until January 11, 2021 due to Covid and other medical issues... I'm sure a lot of people have had frustrations over that... I could've had it in July, but sadly, that didn't happen. Instead, I had my surgery January 11th, 2021 at which time I weighed in at 309. - I'm a 5'8 female, so I'm kinda tall... built more like my father than my mother... I don't have another appointment with my doctor until mid-April, but my family keeps freaking me out saying I'm losing weight too fast. I'm down to 265.4 as of today's date. - I've been watching the scale every day (not as a bad thing, just to check every day... if I lost, I lost, if I didn't, oh well) and I've noticed my weight can range anywhere from .80 of a pound to 2.0 pounds in a day.... so, like I said, I've lost about 44 lbs as of this conversation... Obviously, I'm only 2 months (and a couple days) out from sleeve surgery so I'm still in soft food diet area... and I know my ideal weight is gonna be somewhere around 160-170 most likely... At the rate I'm going, if I didn't plateau somewhere, in six months, I'd be at my goal weight. I am the pickiest eater to begin with, so when the doctor told me I'd have to go on a strict diet, I had no issue with this... I told him, just give me one to three things I'm allowed to eat, and I'll be fine... he said, eggs, canned chicken, soft veggies... so, that's exactly what I do. My meal every day consists of 2 handfuls of frozen peppers/onion mix, 1 egg, and a third to a quarter can of chunk chicken, mixed together like an omelette, with a few dollops of salsa on top for the spicyness of it and two tablespoons of spicy sauce (only 25 calories per 2 tablespoons). I eat that in a bowl twice a day RELIGIOUSLY - nothing else. If I eat a third bowl (like for dinner) I start gaining weight. ( tried eating 3x a day for 4 days, I gained 5 lbs). I can only get down 2 bottles of water (16.9 oz) every day, else wise I get nauseous from the water intake. I gym 2 times a week, basically because I don't have a car, and my mother or sister have to take me but I do simple things at home to try to exercise as well... Gym days I plateau. I don't lose weight. Like at all... and yes, I know muscle weighs more... so it's a non-issue for me... But my family makes me wonder if I'm losing too fast, too soon... My sister had the bypass, ( she only had to lose 70lbs though, where as I have to lose 170 to get to my ideal weight.) When I first spoke to the doctor back in February, he saw no issue with my weight loss amount... Said he sees it more in men than in females but it's not uncommon (ergo why I said I'm built more like my father than mother) and that each person is different... Should I be worried that I'm not eating that third meal? I'm not hungry for it, so I don't feel like I need it... not to mention the weight gain it gives me that I don't like... I've even tried just doing some hummus and carrots as a third meal, and still gained weight... so I dropped it back down to 2 meals, and boom, I'm back to dropping 2 lbs a day for 3 days straight... today I lost .8 lbs... which brings me to 265... Any thoughts?

Kojima-San, I would go with the bypass. Hardly any doc will do lap bands anymore. I am going lap band to bypass. I wanted the sleeve at first but because the lap band caused problems with my esophagus and gave me a hiatal hernia, the surgeon refused to do the sleeve. She said I would probably have GERD problems sleeved, that will be avoided with the bypass. I’m too old to keep getting major surgery. I still plan to get ride of all my hangs - tummy, arms, legs and boobs. I’ll be lucky if I can get it all done before I’m 70, remembering that every year brings slower recoveries and healing and of course higher chances of complications.

There's a really interesting paper published on this topic, it is currently in press. I can send you the full paper PDF if you'd like. You can see abstract etc here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33483233/ I have been having "BARF Syndrome" as they describe in the paper, and my 1-month post-sleeve barium swallow showed a recurrence of my hiatal hernia (it was repaired during sleeve). My surgeon also wants to convert to bypass. This paper shows improvement of symptoms with even just HH repair.

I've talked with many people who had this experience but they differed from you in two significant ways: 1. They were all type 2 diabetics 2. They all had the bypass I don't know if the sleeve gives that immediate resolution or you have wait to see improvements over time.

I was having gastric sleeve but after doing my research. I found out that the bypass would benefit me better considering my condition. I talked to surgeon who also advised me gastric bypass would be more beneficial.

My wife and I are officially in Onederland and I have lost 108 lbs so far during the last year (20 before surgery and 88 during preop until today). I have never posted a picture of myself here so here are a few pictures of when I was near my peak weight and a picture from last month. After the last picture my wife and other family made me go get clothes that actually fit. The shorts I wore to surgery were over 10" too large when I bought the new ones. I had to buy a couple of pair to get the correct sizing and the same with shirts. Since I wasn't able to try things on, I had to return some that were too large. When I have a chance, I will try to post a picture of my wife and her progress as well as she is not currently on this forum. In total, my wife and I have lost 188 lbs since our peak. She only has 20 lbs more before she has over 100 lbs lost as well and is well on her way towards her goal weight. October 2018 March 2019 November 11, 2020 - Surgery Day February 27th, 2021

I was considering sleeve, but am getting gastric bypass a week from tomorrow, During the process I had an endoscopy and they found a hiatal hernia that was causing heartburn. Therefore bypass was better. Also, if I’m doing this, I want the weight loss to be worth it. My BMI is right under 38 today (198.5 lbs). I got two opinions from bariatric surgeons at different practices and both recommended bypass.

I really wanted the bypass, but it turned out that it was medically contraindicated for me. I even got a second opinion and that doctor agreed that the bypass was not safe for me. So I had the VSG as my second choice. I started with a BMI of 47 and 118 pounds to lose. VSG worked out very well for me - I lost all my excess weight and had no major complications. The surgeries have pros and cons but both can be effective.

This may seem like an odd question but I don’t know so I’m picking your brains... so I was talking to my brother and his wife’s sisters and mother had WLS but afterward, at some point they all had to have their gall bladders removed!!! I freaked out because of course I just had surgery and my doctor had never mentioned that side effect. But here’s the kicker, we all had the same surgeon by coincidence (Gasp!) There is one difference, they had gastric bypass and I had the sleeve...Should I worry????

I started this process originally thinking I wanted the bypass. But it wasn't until I spoke to my surgeon for the first time that he suggested the sleeve because I am anemic and also because I take Diclofenac (NSAID) for my back twice a day every day. He said if I even THINK that I will continue to need them that he will not do the bypass and instead the sleeve. Which in the end is ok by me.

I joined this forum in 2012, but wasn't really active. One friend who I connected with on here and she vanished, so I just never really came back. I just had a revision from sleeve that was done Nov. 2012, to bypass on Tuesday. I had some GERD, but not severe, but full weight gain. I also was 30 pounds from goal weight at my lowest. I knew the sleeve wouldn't work for me, because it's not about how much I eat, but what I eat when I feel like eating. You guys, this is HARD. Before sleeve, I didn't eat much, even less after. Now, I'm freaking dying to eat. Really, I just want coffee with my creamer and I'll be good. I've always said, I could drink coffee all day and be fine. I can't get comfortable. I handle surgery really well, like shopping the day after hysterectomy, appendectomy, etc, but this?! I'm still on pain meds & anti nausea. I could really use some encouragement, cuz I'm miserable. I need to know there's light even in a week. I'm really struggling. For those who have done this, any words of encouragement?

So i guessed i worried 4 nuthin. I got my pre approval letter to day in the mail. Which is good considering i met with surgeon on 03/02 . Plus the fact he had to send documents for gastric bypass being medically necessary. Now i guess ill find out wats next. Im so excited!!!

My surgery was March 4 a Rivision Gastric Bypass. I had my GBP 15 yrs ago Can't wait for my postoperative Doctors appt March 17 have so many Questions Had alot of scar tissue , Hiatal hernia, inflammation and twisted intestine

I had the sleeve done on November 24th 2020 and I'm 49 pounds down Sent from my SM-S357BL using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi all!! Checking in! I had bypass on March 3rd and then a freak reaction to the Levonox shot had me back in surgery on the 4th. It was pretty scary there for a bit so I didn’t get to home until the 7th. I’m onto puréed foods now and everything seems to be back on track ! Glad to see my fellow Marchers doing well! For those coming up, good luck!

Hi Cara Mia, I had the band and converted to Bypass in Dec 2019. The "full" feeling will never be the same. I'm actually really glad about that as with my band I had all types of issues. I would get food stuck or throw up on just a small amount when I was filled. Then, I had terrible reflux and had to be unfilled for years, and even then, would wake up choking on acid. With the bypass, I rarely get either hungry or full if I eat according to plan (for me, 3 meals a day). If I'm off plan, I can get full, but only if I eat more than I need. I am able to measure my food and don't need more than about 6 ounces (over a year out) as long as I eat 3-4 Oz solid protein as part of that. If I am eating something carb heavy I can eat a lot more so I try to focus on protein like the program says. Lori

Hi All, I am considering having mini gastric bypass surgery with Dr Chris De Bruyne at Belgium surgery services. I am quite nervous about having to travel to Belgium for the surgery and wanted to know if I would be in safe hands with the surgery and after care. Can anyone please tell your experience with the Surgeon? and also your personal experience with the surgery - if there was anything that you weren't aware of pre-surgery. I do have my heart set on having this surgery and I have done quite a lot of research into this, I would love to hear peoples own experiences to help nudge me in the right direction. I'm based in N.Ireland and I'm aware that there are no surgeons here that carry out this procedure so I will have to travel regardless I'm just wondering if England would be a better option? Any Advice on this would be much appreciated as I am sure you all know how I am feeling at this moment information melt down!!!

Hi All, Not sure if i'm in the right place here sorry if not!!, I am considering having mini gastric bypass surgery with Dr Chris De Bruyne at Belgium surgery services. I am quite nervous about having to travel to Belgium for the surgery and wanted to know if I would be in safe hands with the surgery and after care. Can anyone please tell your experience with the Surgeon? and also your personal experience with the surgery - if there was anything that you weren't aware of pre-surgery. I do have my heart set on having this surgery and I have done quite a lot of research into this, I would love to hear peoples own experiences to help nudge me in the right direction. I'm based in N.Ireland and I'm aware that there are no surgeons here that carry out this procedure so I will have to travel regardless I'm just wondering if England would be a better option? Any Advice on this would be much appreciated as I am sure you all know how I am feeling at this moment information melt down!!!

Thanks everyone!! After a good night's sleep and coming on and seeing these comments, I do feel better. Just makes me want to work that much harder for it. We already discussed which surgery I will have weeks ago. Doc said he wanted to do the sleeve because 1. I have a history of being anemic and 2. I currently take Diclofenac (NSAID) for my lower back and he said if I even think I'm gonna need them in the future then he does not recommend the bypass. So, sleeve it is!! OAGB, I thought anything beyond 6.5 for A1C and you were considered diabetic? I tested at 6.7.

Everything varies by the individual so YMMV. The explanation that pureed digest better than food makes no sense to me. Pureed is only slightly finer that chewed food and that difference would not affect digestion or absorption. RNY bypasses a small portion of your intestines, the part that does some of the heavy lifting of nutrient absorption. So you absorb less calories, pureed or chewed the malabsorption is pretty constant. You leave a lot of information out that would make giving a specific guess at an answer for your situation. You say you lost 130 on the band, but don't indicate how much more (if any) you have to lose. The smaller the weight you have to lose the slower the weight loss generally is. Fullness is going to feel different than with the band. The band was at the top of the stomach, so food backed up basically in your esophagus. With RNY you have a small pouch that dumps directly into your intestines, so 'full' will be lower than you are used to, and it will empty out a bit quicker, or perhaps more correctly, easier. Follow your plan. I would doubt your plan says 'eat until you feel full' but rather 'eat this much of this' or 'eat these many calories, grams, whatever of that'. Feeling full is a cue to stop before you've completed the meal. For me, feeling full happens when my pouch isn't thrilled and says enough is enough before I've eaten my meal completely. Most often I complete the meal without feeling full. Eating constantly to fullness (and beyond) is what got me to needing RNY. Bottom line is you have to learn your new situation, the new sensations. Your new reality.

Hi so glad I found you. I converted from 10 years of a lap band (lost 130 pounds) to bypass late January. (Medical necessity to remove lap band - eroded esophagus/lung aspiration). Lap band stops one from eating too much and I always felt full. Does the feeling of “fullness” (not dumping) ever exist with bypass??? I was told that I may not be losing ANYTHING and even have days when I gain because I am on purées and EVERY calorie/food I eat goes down. It was suggested that when I take the plunge to “real, chewable food”, my body will only take in a small amount (like the said in all the brochures “that you may not be able to eat more than a fistful of food at a time”) and so I will lose weight instead of gain. Does that sound remotely right??? I am starting to wonder if this was worth it. I would love some suggestions from people are “getting it done”. Hugs to all - Cara Mia

I bought a couple orders of turkey chili from Panera and I get the regular chili from Wendy's. I'm 4 months post-op bypass and both taste great, have high protein and work within my daily calorie goals. Since I'm not a great cook, I've found that buying from restaurants provides foods that I actually like and will eat.