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My sense of taste was out of whack for a few months post-op. And I've seen the question about changes in the way food tastes come up quite often on the board. This article was posted on WebMD - a UK hospital has evidence that it is pretty common to experience changes in the way things taste and smell after bariatric surgery. My personal theory is that since we are literally forced to give up sugar (between the pre-op diet and going through the food stages post-op), our sense of taste is reset and we're no longer under the influence of sugar and processed foods. Taste Changes Reported After Weight-Loss Surgery Sense of smell also altered for some patients in British study WebMD News from HealthDay By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter FRIDAY, April 18, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- After weight-loss surgery, many patients report changes in appetite, taste and smell, a new study says. One positive aspect of these changes is that they may lead patients to lose even more weight, the researchers suggested. The study included 103 British patients who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, in which the stomach is made smaller and the small intestines is shortened. Of those, 97 percent said their appetite changed after the surgery, and 42 percent said their sense of smell changed. Taste changes occurred in 73 percent of the patients, especially when it came to sweet and sour tastes, the researchers found. They especially noted changes in the taste of chicken, beef, pork, roast meat, lamb, sausages, fish, fast food, chocolate, greasy food, pasta and rice. Nearly three-quarters of patients said they developed a dislike of certain foods, especially meat products. One-third avoided chicken, minced beef, beef steak, lamb, sausages, bacon or ham. About 12 percent had an aversion to starches such as rice, pasta, bread and pastry and for dairy products such as cream, cheese, ice cream and eggs, 4 percent to vegetables, 3 percent to fruit and 1 percent to canned fish. The researchers also found that patients with a newly developed distaste for certain foods lost an average of nearly 18 pounds more after their surgery than those whose taste wasn't affected, according to the study recently published online in the journal Obesity Surgery. Although the study found an association between weight-loss surgery and sensory changes, it did not establish cause-and-effect. The taste and smell changes experienced by many patients after weight-loss surgery may be due to a combination of gut hormone and central nervous system effects, according to lead author Lisa Graham, of the Leicester Royal Infirmary. She noted that patients considering weight-loss surgery are typically told about the possible loss of taste and smell. http://www.webmd.com/diet/weight-loss-surgery/news/20140418/appetite-taste-changes-reported-after-weight-loss-surgery

Yeah I tend to be a sceptic sometimes. I remember asking my surgeon that if the bypass is considered malabsorptive, how will I be assured my vitamins will be enough. He just smiled and said not to worry, just take them. Of the 4 doctors in that office he's the only one that does the RNYs. All the rest do the sleeve. I guess it's the popular choice nowadays. I'm looking forward to that day myself. And I've seen your pics. You look fantastic!

Some doctors are not able to do the procedure. You'd want an actual revision surgeon for it. It's not that it can't be done, it's that they can't do it. ;o)

I had my revision surgery yesterday. I’m surprised how easily I drink fluids.

Sounds like it is one day at a time So glad you seem to be doing well! I hope that journey continues and the pain gets less frequent every day for you. Thanks for the information though. I woke up this morning thinking i was crazy for doing this surgery... why would i do this again... i had a Vertical banding put on about 4 years ago and it slipped early on and i have not had good results, so i am "revising" it now.. finally with approval and switching to the sleeve... anyway i just had lots of doubts today, not sure why.. but then i went shopping at kohls to get some new PJ's for when i get home after hospital next week.. and the mirror said it all.. that is the answer... i need to get healthier and this surgery will give the restriction and discipline needed to get there!! i will sip my water and take my pain pills and hope for the best results possible. Keep me posted on how you are doing if you care too keep up the good work!

It's really difficult to stretch your pouch to the point that it will make a big difference. Or so I've read. I think the more common reason for weight re-gain is grazing, snacking, and slider foods. Of course do your own research, that's just what I've seen. I chose bypass because its been around longer and because the weight loss is slightly higher than with the sleeve. I also like the idea of possibly dumping. I feel I might need a little more incentive to eat right occasionally... Also because if all goes horribly wrong you still have all your parts floating around, and I assume they can put it back together if needed. Granted it still won't be the same as it was. but it makes me feel better to have all my pieces.

She did sum it up perfectly! I did contact my insurance company and the bypass and lapband are their two options. I just don't understand it. I've seen others have the same insurance as I do, and have the sleeve. Ugh. I just don't know what to do, but more research. Thanks for your input. Much appreciated to both you and Tiff. JJ

DO THE MATH 164 Studies, 161,756 Patients Over Nearly 10 Years: What Does This Add Up To? BARIATRIC AND METABOLIC SURGERY IS EVEN MORE EFFECTIVE THAN PREVIOUSLY REPORTED AND GETTING SAFER! A new meta-analysis of studies carried out between 2003 and 2012 shows higher remission rates of diabetes and high blood pressure and a lower mortality rate than previously reported. The study, published online in JAMA Surgery, is an update to a meta-analysis of studies conducted between 1990 and 2003 and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA, Buchwald et. al.) back in October 2004. Researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis reviewed outcomes from nearly 162,000 patients in 164 studies (37 randomized clinical trials and 127 observational studies), over almost 10 years. They discovered 92 percent of patients in randomized clinical trials experienced diabetes remission after surgery, slightly higher than the 86 percent remission rate found in observational studies, but significantly higher than the 76.8 percent remission rate found in the 2004 JAMA study. Remission rates for hypertension were about 75 percent in both the randomized clinical trials and observational studies, while the remission rate in 2004 was 61.7 percent. Body Mass Index (BMI) loss five years after surgery ranged from 12 to 17 in the new study. Before surgery, patients had an average BMI of 45.62. "With the 2004 study, we now have 22 years worth of data from over 180,000 patients and 300 studies," said study co-author J. Esteban Varela, MD, MPH, MBA, Fellow of the ASMBS. "The data continues to prove bariatric surgery is not only safe and effective in providing significant and sustainable weight loss, but is the most effective treatment today for diabetes, hypertension and an array of other diseases and conditions in people with obesity." In the new study, 30-day mortality rate was 0.08 percent, down from the 0.3 percent reported in 2004. Complication rates ranged from 10 to 17 percent and the reoperation rate was about 7 percent. Complication and reoperation rates were not reported in the previous meta-analysis. By procedure, gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy resulted in the greatest weight loss, but had a higher rate of complications and mortality than adjustable gastric banding. Gastric banding had the highest reoperation rate (12% in randomized trials), while gastric bypass had the lowest at 3 percent, followed by sleeve gastrectomy, which had a reoperation rate of 9 percent. The new meta-analysis included sleeve gastrectomy, which was not available in the 1990s. Of note, sleeve gastrectomy had comparable weight loss to that of gastric bypass at 5 years. "This is but the latest study to validate the high degree of safety and effectiveness of bariatric surgery," said Ninh T. Nguyen, MD, FACS, President of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and Vice-Chair of the Department of Surgery at UC Irvine School of Medicine. "Today we are performing operations that are as safe or safer than gallbladder and hernia repair surgery." According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 78 million adults were obese in 2011–2012.1 The ASMBS estimates about 24 million people have severe or morbid obesity. Individuals with a BMI greater than 30 have a 50 to 100 percent increased risk of premature death compared to healthy weight individuals as well as an increased risk of developing more than 40 obesity-related diseases and conditions including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer.2,3

I also have Carefirst insurance ( the open access and not the PPO) and they do not approve you for surgery without a BMI of 50 or up. For the sleeve that is. My friend and I were doing this together, both of us planning on the sleeve. Insurance would not approve her because of her BMI being too low. They will however approve the band or the bypass. I say go for it. They may make a rule change or if you have other issues they may approve it. It doesn't hurt to try.

I had open gastric bypass on November 13. I am still on liquids and don't advance to soft purée till next week.

I chose bypass because of the dumping, I needed that sense of secuity. Also I want my diabetes to go away. And with the malabsorbation period will help me the most.

Sorry If I was blunt. I'll give him the benefit of doubt but as I said before, you dont need Viagra for your own pleasure. Sorry to know you are going through this...Somehow I know you had the band done for you first and for him as well. I dont believe in plolygraphs. they can be bypassed. All he has to do is wiggle his toe while he is answering and it will never record. believe me when I tell you this little secret I learned in the service. I dont know how much fate you have, but a priest or a pastor might be your easier solution. No one will lie at church

To trll you the truth i'm one of the few on here that was 50/50 on the two surgeries. I actually changed my mind to the bypass , but the coordinatator said it was too late. The one area my Drs. office failed me was allowing me to ask questions and decide with the Dr as opposed to having to know before even seeing him.

I go in this Thursday 5/21 for my gastric bypass, and I have had a few slip up on this liquid diet, happen to anyone else and if so how did it go for the surgery?

I agree with the addiction transference theory(ies). A friend of mine that had bypass transferred to shopping. However, I don't think it's only bypass-related. I'm sure that's why we also go through the psych eval - to make sure that we don't have a past with drug or alcohol abuse so we don't transfer to former bad addictions!

4/18 for bypass same feeling tummy is huge lol Sent from my LG-M322 using BariatricPal mobile app

You're referring to the DS (sleeve was originally the first part of the DS). Although there are people who do sleeve-to-bypass revisions, too.

This is a picture of just my 3 of my lap sites from the band surgery. This was taken around April 2009 (so 6 months post band placement). I have 7 other scars/lap sites 3 from the sleeve revision, and from the 4 drains being placed. I scar really easily. I did buy some Mederma, but I gave up on using it.

I just had my revision surgery on 10/5 and my first week I lost 7.7 pounds. My bmi was 37.5.

I had the lap band and only my husband knows, not even my kids. I'm having the lap band removed due to some serious complications, and at the same time revising it to the sleeve, and again the only person that knows is my husband, and my co workers that will be on my team, I work in the OR. Maybe in time I'll tell others but don't see why I need to. Sent from my XT1254 using the BariatricPal App

Fedz, We need to talk ASAP!! You and I almost have the same exact story!! Dr. Geiss banded me in July 2007 and I have lost 56 lbs. He implanted the 4cc band at that time. That 56 lb weight loss came with exercise, weight watchers, weight gain and loss, etc. I'm not going to give up so I decided to have a revision done in November because my band is maxxed out to 4cc. I got fill after the fill with some restriction but I never got that "sweet spot" feeling that many banders talk about. There's no room for anymore fills with my current band. We REALLY need to talk. I want to give you my phone number.

I’m having a bit of an episode tonight.  This hasn’t been an easy journey so far.  I got revised 5/27 and was in the hospital another 3 nights this week. One for a huge hematoma, it happens. 2 nights to repair some scar tissue, a very fast healer the doc said as it was twisting and I was vomitting bile and had a sour stomach. He went and repaired it.  I feel gassy today being home. Trying to drink as much as I can but I just can’t do it. Even with the sleeve I had an issue with liquids. Especially water.  Tonight I took two gas pills and within an hour now I vomited them right up. Omg! So scary. Here we go again. I’m so afraid.  Did I make a mistake by getting the RNY.  Will this be my life now moving forward.  I recall the sleeve being easier.  I’m so anxious tonight so excuse me if I’m rambling. I’m so sad. Why did i do this. Was it worth it. Should I have lived with the constant daily nausea and heartburn  :-((  I

@CammyC: I had my revision 26th February and I am convinced I am eating way more calories than you. I still don't feel that good, walks and grocery shopping are exhausting and I'm honestly not really expecting being able to jump around. We all should keep in mind that we had abdominal surgery and general anesthesia. It takes time, at least for most people. Tbh, I can't relate at all to the patients talking about "brimming with energy" shortly after surgery.

I wouldn't suggest doing the band over VSG... in my opinion. I first was going to do the band and changed my mind after seeing how many people decided to do a second surgery to revise from LAP band to VSG. I did tons of research before making my decision, and although I have gone back and forth about whether to go through with it (I am def. going to do it at this point... only 1.5 weeks away!!! so excited), I NEVER veered from what procedure after I decided on VSG.. Remember, it's just my opinion based on my research. I know someone personally who had LAP band with not so good results, but I also see that many have had success with it if they didn't have much to lose. I think it is totally up to the person's preference. One reason I chose VSG is that I wanted really good results (I have a lot to lose), but I didn't want a foreign object in my body (LAP band - my fears = band slipping, body rejecting, band growing into body tissue, going through a procedure and not seeing big results) and I didn't want my body functions altered/re-routed (Bypass - my fears = basically I wanted something a little less invasive and VSG was a good compromise)... The middle road was VSG. VSG, although only recognized as a procedure in and of itself in last several years, was part of the DS since the 80's. Many patients would get the VSG part done as a precursor to the DS, but it was realized that the VSG on it's own was successful for losing weight and became a stand-alone procedure. So, it has been around for awhile. There is not vitamin malabsorption issues. Your body parts still function as normal - no rerouting. No foreign objects placed. Can tolerate NSAIDS better than some other surgeries (although it is recommended you don't take them at all if you don't have to). Etc... Many things influenced my decisions, and those are some of the reasons. I wish you the best in whatever decision you decide on. Remember, this is your decision - not your sisters' or kids'. Whatever makes you and your hubby feel comfortable doing, do that. If it is LAP, then do that. If not, then don't choose what someone else wants for you. I hope I was able to help some... Best wishes on your decision! I know each procedure has it's pros and cons, and you just have to decide which is right for you. :-)

Seems like there are a lot of band to bypass folks out there. My surgeon doesn't even want to do the bands anymore. Think positive. I know some of the post op boards are scary but more of the information is positive.