Search the Community

Did anyone have gastric bypass and at the same time fix a hiatal and umbilical hernia. I have been fighting like crazy to avoid surgery and I know in my heart this is the surgery that will probably be the best thing in the world for me. FEAR has led me to believe it will be me who gets a stricture or me who has gallstones or me who has nausea and vomiting everyday or any other random negative thing. I suffer from anxiety and panic disorder and this is probably the 3rd time I have been in a Weight Center and every time the topic of bariatric surgery comes up, I fly right out the door. I was told today I have a small hiatal hernia and I feel like I have been given the final sign that it's time for me to "Grow Up" and realize it's what is best for me to do and have the surgery. I developed high blood pressure and chocked it up to "ok a pill will help," developed being pre-diabetic and put on metformin which does a job on my stomach and said "ok, this will prevent me from being diabetic(full blown). Now after being in the ER Monday night for a kidney stone, I was shown on the CT-Scan, a small hiatal hernia along with an umbilical hernia I developed a year ago. Sorry for the novel but I am at my lowest point and I needed someone to tell me "you can do this and come out ok". I know recovery is a tough road and it will require everything I have to not scare myself to death but I truly don't want to live this way anymore. I'm from Boston and will be at Mass General with some of the best doctors in the world yet the fear doesn't leave me, I'm sorry to vent and write a novel but I needed to write down what I'm feeling

And i feel so good that all my november 19 girls are together in this. Good luck on your journey girls!

I had my bypass 8/25 and when I started solids it was painful too. But I have learned to eat slower and have figured out when to stop. It's a process but trust me that uncomfortable feeling will pass and don't think u made a mistake! Give it time! Hang in there. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hey everyone! I'm looking for advice and encouragement. I had my weight loss surgery in December 2016, so I'm 3.5 years out now. I dropped around 160 pounds, from my biggest being 360 and my smallest being 187. I was so blessed to lose so much in about 14 months. Maintenance was relatively easy at first. I purposefully gained 15 pounds because being 6'2 with a large build, 187 started getting me questions about being sick. 200-205 is my personal goal and sweet spot, where I feel the best and think I look the best. Fast forward to September 2019. I was having my first endoscopy since my surgery, as a follows up to Barrett's esophagus that was found when I had my bypass. What I thought would be routine, turned worst case scenario when I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Apparently I'm in that 2% that has Barrett's that actually progresses to cancer. Luckily we caught it very early stage and I have been able to have ablation therapy treatment versus the typical chemo and radiation. I've developed recurrent esophageal stricture due to scar tissue from ablation therapy, causing me to choke frequently. Needless to say, it's all been very scary, and my eating got out of whack for a while. I've quickly gained weight and I'm at 220.2 today. I need to lose 20 pounds ASAP. The current COVID-19 situation and working from home, having access to food 24/7 coupled with stress eating is proving difficult to overcome. I thought I'd post here to see if anyone has words of encouragement or advice to help me get back on track quickly. 3.5 years and I was very proud to be maintaining at my goal weight of around 200, and now I'm scared the scale will continue to creep up on me.

So I’m coming up on my three year mark. I had my gastric bypass March 27,2019. I started above 330lbs and got down to 214lbs. Found out I was pregnant a month before my one year post op. During my pregnancy I could tell my pouch was “more relaxed” to allow me to eat more to make sure my baby got what he needed. I got rid of my diabetes and high blood pressure before pregnancy and developed gestational towards the end so I was induced and I gave birth September 30, 2020 and I tried breastfeeding which made me always hungry still. I stopped because I was unable to produce but I am still so hungry. My weight has stayed at 224-227lbs since birth. But I wanted to do a pouch reset. I tried it before but my stomach would burn and I’d feel nauseous and uncomfortable. I didn’t know if anyone else has experienced that. I stopped after a couple days because it was a terrible feeling. I didn’t know if I should “push thru” it and keep going because it’s normal or not.

Hi all I had my gastric bypass on the 10th of May and lost 6kg (13lb) in the 1st 10 days post op and was over the moon. I have stuck to the dietitian's guidelines to the letter but in the last 10 days I have only lost a further 1kg (2.2lb). So total in 20 days 7kg (15.4lb) I've started to exercise have exercised 5 out of the last 7 days, I'm doing a 12km (7.5 mile) walk / jog each morning before work. Have just progressed from 3 optifasts with added fat free, low carb powder a day to 2 optifasts with added fat free, low carb powder a day plus one small puréed fish meal. Small meal, about 4 tablespoons. Takes about an hour to get down. No real restrictions with fluids. Good restrictions with the pureed fish. Taking sugar free liquid Multivitamin daily, 2 x chewable Calcium and vit d tabs. Taking a liquid sugar free Biotin supplement (just prophylactically) for skin / hair / nail health. No sugar, just stevia. Fat free added calcium milk in tea. 2-3 litres of fluids a day. Is this small amount of weight loss normal? Is this just a stall? Is this all I'm going to lose? If it is a stall, has anyone else had stalls this early on? Any advice would be gratefully received. This is may average daily intake: Total Fluid 2400ml Protein - 92gm Fat - 14.8gm Carbs - 64gm Cals - 738 Thanks :-) Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I agree that some people will require plastic surgery after major weight loss but I have found an alternative that is absolutely awesome. My friend had the gastric bypass and lost in excess of 100+ lbs which left her with saggy, baggy skin. I was getting lap banded and was kinda scared because my insurance doesn't cover plastic surgery because it is considered cosmetic!! She searched everywhere for something to help her and she started using these all natural body wraps at home and she lost over 30 inches in a little over 90 days and has maintained the elasticity in her skin on her lower abdomen, inner thighs, arms, front of knees! I started using them before being banded because I couldn't wait and immediately lost 3 1/2 inches off my lower abdomen in 2 hours. Talk about being sold oh my gosh I was blown away so I took one and cut it in half and put it on my chin and neck and cut the other piece in two and put it on my cheeks guess what I actually have cheek bones underneath the fat! No kidding my double chin was nearly invisible it tightened up my neck in an hour! I want to mummify myself ) I am soooo happy I am using them and will continue to use them through out my weight loss and lap band journey. I have told all my friends even the "skinny" ones LOL and one of them lost four inches off her lower abdomen above her c-section scar she said she had a "saggy pooch" for 8 years and it's gone now! They are about 2ft by 1 ft in size so they cover a large area (I even used it on my back fat!) I am still losing weight with my lap band tool but this is a real motivator when you can see instant results that last it targets fat and toxins not water weight!! They are affordable and easy to use check out www.wraptodaylosetoday.com they run about $49 for four large wraps if you agree to do the 90 day challenge and have autoship but if not they are $89 for four which is still an excellent deal because I have had a seaweed wrap before that cost me $120 and it only dehydrated me and targeted water so poof it came right back! These are well worth it and a great alternative and an affordable alternative to plastic surgery! :scared2: Love them!!

Thanks for the info. I hope it goes that fast for me. My BMI is 33, but I have some co-morbidity's. Several women at work have had gastric bypass since this was added to our insurance. I heard that one was banded and it didn't take long.

I have been preparing for my surgery for months, and my little sister has been very supportive. She is also very heavy, and has been taking Phentermine for a few months. She had a check in with her primary doctoday and told the doc the meds aren't doing anything for her. She asked for information about bariatric surgery and was told by her doctor that it is a cosmetic procedure that most insurance won't pay for!!!! I'm utterly shocked! When my sis said she isn't interested in a bypass but a sleeve, the doc then told her it's not called a sleeve, it's called a lap-band. I told my sis I would be looking for a new doctor. That shocked me!!

I originally was to be sleeved in August. I too failed my sleep study and I also have mild sleep apnea. I ended up getting sleeved in November. At the time I was really discouraged, but I look at it as a blessing in disguise because it allowed me to really evaluate and appreciate the sleeve. I got my head in the game and here I am now.

Hello RNYers! After initial consultation with my surgeon, he highly recommended that I pursue gastric bypass rather than sleeve given my high starting BMI. I had gone into the meeting set on the sleeve; needless to say, I am now looking at RNY as I trust his medical opinion and evaluation of my health. I am curious about those of you who have had RNY, specifically your starting weight/BMI and your progress to date. So...I invite those of you who feel comfortable to share your before and after RNY pics and progress. Thanks to you all! Dev

SLEEVE TO BYPASS REVISION. I apologize in advance if this is not where I post this at. I have been sleeved for 21 days now....and now I may have to have the bypass within 2 weeks. I never had actual GERD before but have had GERD ever since the surgery. I don't have any vomiting at night like others have mentioned...but it restricts me from now getting any food but cottage cheese in and only about 20 ounces of water. I'm not talking like the tiny acid I used to get with eating a whole pizza and then laying down ...I'm talking like punch you in the stomach pain & sizzling noises all day long in my throat. I boil acid all day long. It's not excruciating...Its just not good on a sleeve and I'm scared It will eat through my staples or hurt my small pouch even more. I was 270 day of surgery and weighed this morning at 238. I'm losing weight like a champ but it's because my intake is super low. I saw my surgeon on Friday and he raised my Nexium but said that if in 2 weeks I was still having the Gerd that he was going to do a sleeve to bypass revision. Has anyone had a sleeve to bypass revision? If so I would love to hear about your experience. Good or bad. I've googled many posts but can't get straight forward answers. How was the pain? Did you have complications? And how is your quality of life now? Tia

I had a lap band in 2007. It developed scar tissue around it to the point where it was closing up so I had it removed in 2014. A year later I had gastric bypass. The surgery was a success but I have terrible pain where they removed my port. Mostly it is after I do strenuous exercise like a hundred sit-ups or go heavy on my bench press. I know someday I will have a tummy tuck and I hope they can remove the scar tissue that clearly has formed around where the port used to be but in the meantime I'm not sure what to do. Has anyone else had this experience? I also had Port pain when the port was in from the lap band.

Hi There, This was a VERY helpful article posted by another Bandster on here yesterday. It started happening to me 2 weeks ago and I am 3 months post op. <a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"><img border="0" src="http://tickers.myfitnesspal.com/ticker/show/909/6236/9096236.png" /></a><p style="text-align:center;width:420px;"><small>Created by MyFitnessPal - <a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com">Free Calorie Counter</a></small></p> See this article for a full explanation... Everyone experiences hair loss on a daily basis. Normal hair loss is barely noticeable, amounting to less than 100 hairs per day. However, the stress of a major surgery can cause hair loss to accelerate up to three times as much in both men and women. It's the body's way of reacting to the trauma of the operation. The Facts During a normal hair growth cycle, hair grows, then enters into a resting or "telogen" period and eventually sheds. According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, "telogen effluvium" is a term used to describe hair that has been rushed into the resting state after the body suffers a shock due to major surgery. As resources are redirected to help heal the affected surgical area, the body temporarily shuts down hair production because it is not necessary for survival. Identification Telogen effluvium related to surgery can be distinguished from other forms of hair loss in several ways. Individuals typically begin to notice the increasing hair loss two to three months after the surgery. Hair loss after surgery is uniform, noticeable on the scalp but never excessive enough to cause a patchy appearance or complete baldness. In addition, the shed hairs all exhibit a specific pattern at the root, which resembles a white bulb. Time Frame Hair usually resides in the telogen phase for a period of two to four months before growth resumes. Individuals don't begin to notice the increase in hair loss when showering or brushing the hair until about three months post-surgery. Although the resting hair is being pushed out of the scalp by new hair that is already growing, it can take anywhere from about six months to a year for the hair to return to its normal fullness. Gastric Bypass Surgery Individuals who have undergone gastric bypass or other operations of the digestive tract designed to reduce obesity are more prone to hair loss post-surgery. This is due to the reduced intake of food in the weeks and months immediately following these procedures. The body needs an adequate amount of Proteins and Vitamins to maintain hair production. Protein-enhanced shakes are often recommended for these patients as a substitute until solid food can be better tolerated. Proper Diet Hair loss related to surgery typically reverses itself without any medicinal intervention or the need for over-the-counter hair loss tonics or treatments. However, maintaining a diet rich in Protein and Iron is believed to help promote and speed up healthy hair growth. Suggested foods include salmon, Beans, eggs, spinach, broccoli, nuts and whole-grain cereals. Avoid foods that can inhibit hair growth, such as those that contain high levels of caffeine and fat. Read more: Losing Hair After Surgery | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/...l#ixzz1QtFeANl3

I agree with Nyseness, I went back and forth on which procedure i wanted to go with. I'm 99.9% on Gastric Bypass. I did a ton of research via the web, books speaking with others whose been through both Sleeve and Bypass surgeries. My Dr. said that I am a good candidate for either. Due to my current conditions, diabetes, high blood pressure and artiritis in both knees, I decided that GB would be the best choice for me. I'm currently in the pre-op stage. I wish you the best in your decision.

Oh wanted to add have two friends one had bypass one had the sleeve. Bypass friend has hit goal and maintained for three years. Sleeve friend hit goal but has gained ten but says she's happy there. So that probably didn't help lol. I'm sorry! I think they're both great choices!

I totally agree with your NUT, either Bypass or the Duodenal Switch (DS). I see too many people end up doing revisions to Bypass after doing the sleeve. This was one of the reasons why I changed my mind as well. This surgery is a huge deal and I didn't want to go under the knife more than once. After all the Bypass is the standard of all WLS. The sleeve only gives you restriction, but with the Bypass you get both the restriction and malabsorption (not as much as the DS though). I say do your research speak with ppl that did both.

No I think that is the misconception was the Bypass. Only 30% of patients get dumping, but I do get queasy if I eat too fast and don't chew my food good enough. I had surgery July '16, I'm 10 months out.

Anyone from Ireland on this forum, with experience with Irish service for gastric bypass surgery ?

Im getting revision on November 14!!

Just realized that I posted this in the bypass forum and I'm a sleever... Oops!

He ordered Prilosec for me should be getting that soon....could be acid since I did suffer from it prior to gastric bypass. ..but I read it can cause ulcers in pouch :/

Had my surgery in November at Lawrence Hospital. Great experience; no regrets. I live in Yonkers. Good luck to you!

How are you doing? My recovery from the bypass was easy. I dare say easier than mine from my band. Only thing is I had an ulcer form on my bowel 6 weeks later, and start bleeding. It was because of adhesions. I lost 6 cms of my bowel because of it. They cleaned up what they could of adhesions, and I've been good since. Other than the constipation. That is a big issue. But I don't eat much at all. Most days I can't even get two ounces of meat/food at a time. My body is often in starvation mode. well my dog is yelling to go out. So I'll go now. teri

So i went to the doc not to long ago and i Have to get two opts in one! they found stones in my Gall bladder and now they may have to take the whole thing out ALONG with gastric bypass -__- (sighs) ughhh this entirely too much u guys.