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If I have anything scheduled in the morning, I now wake up an hour early. That gives me time to have my cup of coffee then 30 minutes for morning bowel movement. It's clockwork since bypass surgery.

Dr David Joseph did my sleeve he also does bypass, his office is in Newtown and from memory works out of about three private hospitals in NSW. I only had one recommendation but after my initial consult I felt quite assured by him. He also does liver transplants and I figured anyone who has the patience and skill to do that is going to do a good job of my conversion from a ESG to a VSG, and he did. Minimal pain (there was some discomfort from the incisions), very little gas, etc. Not very communicative in the months following the surgery but his office does answer questions if I have any, and I know from various reviews that if I had any issues he responses well. I travelled interstate and his office could haven't been more helpful in ensuring appointments lined up (particularly the initial appointment with him and the dietician, as well as the extra endoscope I needed because of my ESG. Assuming you have private insurance? I think out of pocket for bypass was about $4000, may have gone up by now though. Here is his weight loss clinic https://www.bodyfree.com.au/

Hi, Rob--and welcome! All of that makes perfect sense! Just about everyone here has a very similar story of yo-yo dieting over the years and then gaining all the weight back--and then some. It's also quite common for our friends and family members to be very skeptical (or downright hostile) toward surgery and think that we could lose the weight for good if we just put our minds to it. We know better, of course. I'd say the best thing would be for your wife to learn as much about bariatric surgery as possible. Do you already have a surgeon in mind? Many of them have classes and information sessions that families can attend. My surgeon did, and that was very useful for my spouse to better understand the process and why it was right for me. If you don't yet have a surgeon, perhaps your wife could accompany you to the doctor who recommended the surgery. My primary care physician also recommended the gastric bypass for me, and I was quite skeptical at first because it seemed so extreme. He explained that I was very unlikely to lose a meaningful amount of weight and keep it off due to my history of yo-yo dieting. It sounds like your wife is not necessarily opposed to surgery, just uninformed. If you haven't already, you might want to explain to her what your journey has been like and why you think surgery might be the best option. It's really difficult for those who have not struggled with their weight to understand what we go through. Ultimately, you need to do what is best for you, regardless of what others think. It's wonderful if we can get the support and buy-in of all of our friends and family, but that doesn't always happen. You need to decide for yourself what will give you the best chance at a living a long and healthy life. Please keep us posted!

Hi Everyone, I am eligible for a gastric bypass surgery (Diabetic with BMI> 35%). I struggled my whole life with yo yo dieting and my doctor has asked me to consider the surgery.. I am really excited but my lovely wife is not very supportive. I read about the weight regain and I shared my findings with her. Here's how the conversation went: Me: "After the first 12 months (honeymoon period), the weight loss will stop and eventually I need to purely rely on the lifestyle changes to maintain the weight. I need to eat healthy (no junk food), exercise, drink my 2L water, sleep early ... otherwise, I might regain all the weight back!" Her answer was: " so if eventually you will have to adopt a healthy lifestyle, then why don't you do that now? .. Sure you will need more time to lose the weight but you will have to change anyway and this must be easier than going thru the pain and risk of this surgery" I am not good at making lifestyle changes (that's why i am obese !) .. if it were simple, then i would have lost the weight already .. i am afraid I do the surgery, lose the weight and then simply regain everything again .. Do I make any sense? .. Any advice? ☹️ Rob

no - although I've heard of bypassers with diarrhea, constipation is WAY more common. It's a chronic problem for a lot of us. do you think it might be something you're eating that your system may be rebelling against? Like some kind of artificial sweetener or certain carbs or something?

I have started a support group on facebook for all of us February 2021 gastric bypass peeps. Message me and I will add you. My surgery is 2/8/21.... tomorrow😀

I have started a private group on Facebook for all of us February revisions to connect and support each other. Message me and I will add you.

I am almost in my 6th month of post surgery for the bypass. I have noticed that my bowel movements have changed a lot since before the surgery. I used to be constipated all the time. Now I barely eat anything, and I have to go. Sometimes even in the morning when I haven't eaten anything I have to go. Has this happened to anyone? It is to the point where I can't even leave my house, because I am afraid I am going to have an accident.

Welcome to the February Bypass club @Sandramarie1986, @aug62012 and @M4rlene ! Good luck to upcoming surgeries this week: 2/8: @Mrs A B. @Tink22, @aug62012 2/10: @conniejoy529, @LOLove 2/11: @mwd GOOD THOUGHTS AND CROSSED FINGERS FOR ALL OF YOU!

Congrats Pkump! Glad you made it through... keep us posted on tips and tricks as the rest of the February Bypassers make it into surgery.

I am almost 7 years out. I lost 148lbs now I’ve gained about 40 back. So I’m desperately trying not to sink.... I have also been thinking about a revision however I would like to try fitness and back to calorie counting.

Anyone know of a reputable surgeon in the Raleigh area. Original surgery was completed in NJ in 2014

Please bear with me while I ramble and get something off my chest. I started this journey with a gastric sleeve surgery July 2019 things went bad quickly I was vommitting uncontrollably and very rapid weight loss I started losing my mind and had little to no muscle control by September. After a severe fall I was put into a rehab hospital and they decided to change the sleeve to a bypass. The revision was done 2/2020. After the revision I was discharged to my home. I’ve started regaining memories and muscle control. By June 2020 I was able to walk independently (with a walker for balance) by September I was able to forgo the walker unless it was long distances. Even with this crazy pandemic I’ve been pretty upbeat and happy I am literally half the size I was when I started this weight loss journey. Yesterday I went to my obgyn appointment they were complimentary and saying how I don’t even look like the same person. Then I got my after office report. I always read over them in case there is something I forgot or missed. The first line goes this is an obese female.... damn I’ve seen that word with ever dr appointment for more than 30 years but it has never bothered me like it is this time. I mean I’m literally half the person I was before and almost died to get to where I am now what else do I have to do to get rid of that word?

Hello!! I just had my bypass on 2/3/2021!!

I had my revision to RnY on Wednesday

It is always based on YOUR anatomical structure, now, after your first surgery, but I actually HAVE had a TRUE RNY bypass, in 2003, that was "reversed/revised" 20 months later, due to a non healing ulcer, and major malnutrition. I ended gaining about 100 lbs back, and LOTS of gastric problems. I finally found a surgeon (actually in same practice as my original surgeon), that agreed to take a chance on me. He "bypassed my bypass" 8/17/2020. Said it was first one like that he had ever done. That was 50 lbs ago. So, YES, IT CAN BE DONE- IN SOME CASES. SEEK OUT PROFESSIONAL HELP. GOOD LUCK.

OMG! I can't believe I found another "me"! I had first RNY in 04/2003, highest weight EVER was at least 275. Surgery weight was 255, maintained at 145ish, after plastics, UNTIL, I developed an ulcer at the anastomosis of stoma site. Long story short- couldn't eat/drink, ended up in hospital for almost 4 months, on IV Nutrition, lost down to 98 lbs. Had to have ulcer removed, bypass site was "altered"- 1/2005. Sooo many gastric issues developed over the next few years- histamine hernia, gastroparesis, severe GERD, adhesions, scar tissue, gained about 100 lbs- up and down, extreme PAIN. FINALLY, after 17 years, found a doctor that said he thought he could help. 8/2020 I had my bypass BYPASSED. Surgeon said that he'd never done a procedure exactly like mine, but, he felt like the bypass would give me the best chance at real relief. He was right. Im now down to 157 lbs, and feel great!! It CAN be done. Hasn't been easy. Definitely worth it!

I am having bypass surgery March 3rd through insurance approval and when my coordinator called to schedule my consents. She said I didn’t have to pay a deposit to my surgeon because my deductible was met. When the scheduler called to schedule my appointment and pre op paperwork appoint for 2 days before surgery she did not mention I would have to pay anything. I just don’t want to get to the hospital and they want 4,000.

Hi everyone I had my bypass on 1/28. So one week into the liquid postoperative diet. I'm feeling pretty good trying to get my walks in with 18" of snow. I've lost weight before and after surgery. My biggest issue is wanting to taste real food but it is only a week away to pureed food. Chocolate is good but every meal over does it. I get hungry but I think it is mental, old habits from boredom and stress. I'm just glad to have a group to identify with.

I am so excited for you. I have not scheduled revision surgery yet. But would love to follow your journey. I was sleeved in 2010.

Anyone having revision surgery this month?? I am Monday, 2/8 and would love to get a group to help accountability like I had in 2012 when I had the sleeve done. Let me know!!!

Sadly, it happens - more frequently a few years ago (6-10) when most bariatric surgeons were still learning how to do sleeves than more recently, but I guess that there are always some who are still learning! The sleeve tends to want to bend in the middle, or form an hourglass shape, if it isn't done quite right, it may not yield a total blockage type of stricture, but it can leave the narrowing that can impede the flow and/or exacerbate reflux problems. While most surgeons in the US are now far enough up the learning curve to usually avoid this problem, knowing how to fix it can be beyond their experience, hence many prefer to go with a bypass instead. It may be possible to correct your sleeve, but you may need to find a surgeon who is very well experienced with the care and feeding of the sleeve construction. My suggestion, if you want to go for a second opinion (which I think anyone should do when considering a revision,) is to book a virtual consult with Dr. Ara Keshishian, who happens to be on the wrong coast for you, out in Pasadena, CA, but he has been doing virtual initial consults for years before Covid as he has patients all over the country. This will at least give you a reading as to whether this is a viable option in your case, or give you confidence that the RNY approach is the best. If a resleeve is an option, then you can decide whether to travel across the country, or seek out another surgeon closer to you who can do it. I would suggest looking for one who routinely does the duodenal switch (DS) procedure, as they tend to have the longest and most extensive experience with sleeves. I believe that there are at least a couple in FL, and several further north along the East Coast. If you do choose to proceed with the RNY route, do discuss things carefully with your surgeon, as there are tradeoffs in how he proceeds. Limb lengths, as suggested above, are a compromise as if they are too short to minimize malabsorption, you can be more prone to bile reflux. There are several Facebook groups that cater to total and partial gastrectomy patients (primarily for cancer or gastroparesis) and bile reflux is one of their common complaints. When I was considering such a thing a few years ago, the surgeon I was dealing with said that as long as he kept the limb over a certain dimension (80cm, IIRC) then they saw no problems with it. Hopefully, the surgeon that you are dealing with has enough experience on both the WLS and non-WLS side of it to know those tradeoffs. Bariatric programs that are associated with major cancer center hospitals readily "swing both ways" on that, but one that only specializes in bariatrics may not. I wouldn't worry too much about the malnutrition issue, as the RNY is very well understood; it is somewhat fussier than your sleeve in supplement needs but things are pretty straightforward on it if you keep up with labs and change things up as those dictate; it can be problematic for those who get overly casual about such things and let it slide - then you can get into trouble. If you fall into that camp, then I would try to do everything to preserve your sleeve and its greater flexibility; otherwise, the RNY is a good alternative. My personal preference, as I was faced with some similar decisions, is/was to stick with the sleeve if it is viable, as the RNY (or something different) is always an option for the future, but once one has an RNY, changing things gets more difficult, so options are fewer. Also on the option front, with the bypass, there remains a "blind" remnant stomach along with the duodenum and upper intestine which are unavailable for endoscopic evaluation or treatment (things much be done surgically.) As there are an increasing number of procedures that can be done endoscopically these days, and into the future, and I have already had one lifesaving endoscopy this is an option that I am keen to preserve, if at all possible. Short term, you may lose too much as you go through the high level of restriction that comes in those first few months after surgery. In that case, there are ways to "eat around" your pouch by basically doing all of the "wrong" things for your WLS - drinking calories, eating slider foods, higher calorie options particularly fats as tolerated. The tricky thing is to avoid making too much of a habit of it as the restriction does diminish over time and you can naturally eat more of conventional foods to maintain your nutrition

Today is one of those days where I am so happy with the outcome of not one, but two bariatric surgeries. I had a gastric sleeve in 2014 and most recently a gastric bypass in October 2020. I found the 2013 picture in my Google photos and figured it was time for a comparison photo! This is the first time I've worn jeans, with a shirt tucked in and a belt, since 2015. I bought the belt in 2018 and yesterday my husband had to cut off 7 inches!!

malnutrition with bypass is pretty uncommon as long as you keep on top of your supplements.