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I was taking venlafaxine (Effexor) years before my surgery. After my surgery it has been difficult finding the correct dosage and I've experienced some really tough days with extreme depression and anxiety. I hope some day to find the right balance. Good luck. With gastric bypass, my extended release meds don't have the same effect.

I wish I would have known that having gastric bypass really wasn't going to be anything like I thought it would be. My journey has been very different than the youtube videos I binged watched and it's been significantly easier than I thought. Easy is probably not the right word, but problem free. Basically I can eat anything, nothing makes me sick except maybe eggs and sometimes anything with too much oil like salmon. I have only experienced dumping in terms of a rapid heartbeat with upset stomach but NOTHING like I read about. I am almost 1.5 years out and have never thrown up, not once. I can eat steak, rice, pasta, bread, no problem. I just dont have any of the scary problems I read about. So if I would have known I would have done it 10 years ago!! I had severe acid reflux before the surgery and NONE after. So yes it's been the best thing I ever did for myself. As far as skin, sure you'll have saggy skin but it sure as hell beats being 100 pounds overweight.

I've been very lucky with bypass haven't had to adjust any of my doses of medication but I am glad to be rid of alot of meds I no longer need.

Guess measuring and weighing food will be my guide with the revision if I lose this restriction I have.

@summerset how are you doing with your revision ? You are almost 3 months out and had the by pass if I remember correctly ? How is your strength at this point ? Are you able to eat solids well and how much are you eating at one time ? Do you feel like you have restriction if you are eating Beef, chicken, seafood, pork ect ?

It is very important to do your research and learn about healthy food options before surgery it is bad to get surgery without preparation. I went for the bypass as my first surgery and for 8 months I lost 154lbs which is an average of 19lbs a month I was strict from day 1 but I had no craving or even desire to eat for months, I rarely get hungry and I feel amazing like a new person.

Over weight all my life got to 3015 only 5'2 instagram is rrina.k_

Due to my cancer and other drugs I take, the doctor did not think a bypass was the right choice for me.

Just had a revision VSG on May 15th. I was having problems with a foamy phlegm blocking my throat. It seems to be a lot better today. It had been rather painful to swallow. So now I need to work on my hydration. I haven’t been hungry.

I know this is an old posting but it’s the most recent on the subject. I haven’t seen much activity on the forums lately. I’ve actually scheduled plastics for June that includes belt Lipectomy / butterfly lift, thigh lift and ... why I’m on this topic, augmentation. im torn in some ways and it’s hard to ask without a long story. Short version. Or not so short ... I’ve battled my weight forever. I’ve never been the weight I’m at today as long as I can remember, heck I could have been 9 years old for all I know. My chest size was problematic. I’d swear they grew overnight at a young age and were massive dense breast tissue that sagged terribly and were painful. (I was also bullied) When I was finally old enough to seek out reduction surgery my weight had skyrocketed due to metabolic disorders. I went from what the school called mildly obese 135lbs to 180lbs practically overnight. It was a very stressful time. I’m grateful for the clinic I went to and the surgeon that fought for me who knew losing weight wouldn’t fix the problem. I guess When I first lost weight I only managed to maintain 134lbs I would say my bra size was 30H/30FF UK ? I never reached goal for my height until now. Until I finally had the tool of gastric bypass surgery. I’d say I’m 28D at best. (I haven’t bought new bras I’m just wearing cheap sports bras) But my right side has a kind of um ... dent In it. Although I don’t need a lift the skin is deflated. I was never full on top so now it’s rather bony. (It was even at my heaviest now it’s more noticeable) it’s hard to talk about. I’m not the most feminine person. I’ve always been rather neither here nor there. I only recently bought a few old navy Jersey swing dresses. Mostly for comfort during recovery. Part of me can do without boobs and bras and all that. The other is like wow I could Finally fill out a nice bra without having a ski slope or having to wear a moulded cup bra ... Talk about split personality. ive planned on it, it’s silicon implant up to 575cc. I just haven’t thought about it. I have no idea what size I’d go. ive got my flight booked and I’m trying to prepare yet at the same time I haven’t had the head space to think about it. The other two procedures are priority this is the I’m there why not part. I don’t know, the women here are beautiful and have reason to want to have the surgery to feel good. And have great results. But I’m not and im also alone. I question am I even worth it. I am doing this because I fought like hell to lose 105lbs and want the ugly wrinkled excess skin gone. But I guess I’m dealing with issues I can’t verbalize or process. Or talk through. I hesitate to post. I’m juggling some things that have been delayed due to Covid. While planning this. I did write a post about it. I didn’t go into detail about this aspect. One part of these forums that bothers me is if I am uncomfortable about my post I can’t remove it. Hopefully I haven’t just said a lot of nonsense ...

I too took a very strict approach, especially going up against metabolic disorders and inability to exercise. I note daily my weight, food intake, protein and calories. As a general rule I get minimum 0.36 grams protein per 1lb body weight. I started very low calorie and low carb never more than 5 grams of sugar as per my nutritionist. I was very slow to enter purée phase. I had protein shakes. it took me a while to find one I could tolerate. For me I used PEScience Select protein powder and 6 ounces of Ripple milk (pea protein milk plain unsweetened which added protein for practically no carbs) which was 160 calories, 30 grams protein and no more than 3-4 carbs. They did a lot of work to get the healthiest protein blend and best taste. I now mix it with Greek yogurt either plain nonfat Fage or TwoGood yogurt and half a scoop (I measure everything on a scale though) and it mixes to a frosting like texture. link for PEScience http://rwrd.io/c6uus2e I couldn’t do bariatric vitamins. I needed ones without added iodine. But I personally recommend Whole Foods based vitamins. It’s tough to budget in but I preferred Garden of life Whole Foods multivitamins (prenatal) my nutritionist approved of them and any sugar (below 5 grams) came from natural foods ingredients. I take a separate calcium with vit d, hair skin and nails formula, omegas, and some people take b12 and vitamin k. Your doctor should do bloodwork to check vitamin levels to recommend any extra supplements. I know the hardest part is getting your head in the right place and working on food addiction. I had fought this years before having gastric bypass surgery. My lifelong chronic illness fought me in other ways. The biggest battle I think is the sugar addiction. Once you realize there are healthy versions of sweet things and that small portions of protein can satisfy you and that we eat to live rather than live to eat, it’s one step ahead on the journey. Like Superman84 said. It’s time to get strict with yourself. Cut out sugar, carbs and soda. It’s a hard addiction to kick. But if I did it, anyone can. You can too. Remove temptations from your reach as well. And ... just keep taking it one step at a time.

I went into gastric bypass surgery with chronic illness and many medical issues, I also had my gallbladder removed at the same time. It’s been a rough road and it took me a lot of trial and error to find things I could tolerate and I took it slow. Right of the bat I was sick and had a lot of problems with getting into purée foods. I found a protein powder that worked. It’s quite possible that you were consuming things that you were allergic or had sensitivity to. Not all protein shakes are equal either. For me I did best with PEScience protein powder. I stuck to very simple things , very low carb as well. And always protein first. I got protein soup mixes from BariatricPal. Protein shots for when I could barely tolerate anything. Instead of purée meat I started mixing protein powder with Greek yogurt. Even eggs at that point were a no go. Eventually I slowly added a soft boiled egg here and there. Until it’s become fairly regular. A Low calorie low carb protein bar for breakfast with tea. My lunches are simple even now I’m a year in. I started with some BariatricPal protein pasta, then slowly changed it over to adding veggie burger with an egg on top. Dinner well that’s almost always Greek yogurt with protein powder. And some sugar free topping. And a baby banana. It took things extremely slow. I still struggle and have issues. I always will that’s just me personally. But I think you shouldn’t be afraid. Things are probably different now, the surgery has improved, you can have a better nutrition guide. Maybe the dietary guidelines included something causing you to dump too often. Or you were not mindful of portions and eating slow. A lot of times surgeons don’t give proper nutrition guidance and that leads to problems. My nutritionist was very helpful. Although for me I’d already been following low carb for years I needed the added tool of bypass to help me. Learn to be mindful of your body and what your pouch doesn’t like. And take it slow and easy. As long as you get protein there’s no race to eating solid food or even purée. I find it helps to take daily note of weight, food intake, protein and calories. Protein should be based on weight starting at 0.36 grams protein per 1lb body weight. And also no more than 5 grams of sugar in a meal. Especially starting out. I guess to some it might seem obsessive but it’s helped me and yes I’m ocd and on the Autism spectrum. I use the notes section on my iPad and the same format each day and note if I see a doctor and any health issues that come up. For me it was fight to get the tool of gastric bypass surgery to help against weight gain from metabolic disorders and inability to exercise, a fight that’s exhausted me most of my life ... or just give up. it sounds Like this is very important to your wellbeing. There really is no choice here but to take that step forward. I wish you all the best in your journey.

Thanks for sharing as I am now awaiting insurance approval for the Bypass. I’m a fellow sleever too; I know the sleeve works but had I really understood the chances of getting acid reflux the first time I think I probably would have just got the bypass. I have regained about 55 lbs but life ya know. I finally made an appointment to see a Bariatric Dr in March who told me my options for getting rid of the reflux. Water is a trigger for me at this point...yeah I’m ready to try something else now.

I take vitamins because I got the bypass the doctor will tell you what you need to take. I was able to lose 156lbs in 8.5 months and I wasn't doing anything that drastic just following a good clean diet with NO cheating.. Low calories. Low carb. High protein.

I have to tell you mate I've lost and gained 100lbs before surgery I've lost 50lbs and gained it back before surgery only after the bypass have I lost over 150lbs and maintaining it now for a few weeks feeling great; yes the first few months you may feel not hungry and you may not be able to eat much but now I'm over 6 months out from surgery I can eat most things mate. Just have to take small bites. So it's not a problem forever just for a short term you can't eat alot.

To the men I just want you to believe in yourself again. I know what is like to live a life off obesity and always be in the friendzone. "Oh your personality is amazing" basically means you're too fat to date. Anyway after a lot of research I chose the bypass and I have blown all my goals from 322lbs to now 166lbs and maintaining 166-170lbs. Feeling amazing looking like a new man.

I'm amazed they even did a sleeve usually they go for the bypass revision

I'm 6.5 months post op and can eat most things obviously if I try sugar it will make me feel bad but in general I can tolerate most things with little issues and the bypass has been amazing I've lost over 150lbs

WoW!!! I've heard of horror stories and sure sounds like you had a bad experience with this process!!!! From the beginning the doctor advised me that this is a tool and you need to treat it as a tool. 100% of the responsibility was on me and I acted accordingly. So I am a year out and I only have good things to say about my process. Maybe speak to your doctor about a revision. But, I was also told that if VSG didn't work you only have about a 1% chance of the bypass working so those are not good odds.. Good luck to you and keep us posted....

Interestingly enough some people never seem to lose that feeling of hunger. Nobody will ever know if these patients never lost physical hunger at least temporarily in the first place or if they're confusing "head hunger" with "physical hunger". There is no test that can differentiate between the two. Acid reflux is the devil. Bile reflux is the devil's big fat mother. I got two revisions because of these issues, both times associated with hiatoplastic because of hiatus hernia. My second revision was on 26th February and this time eating is more "problematic" so to say. The MGB seems to be more "forgiving" than the long limb RNY in some way. Or maybe I just don't remember several issue I had in the first months after MGB, not sure. In general dense foods tend to give me stomach ache and sometimes sit in the stomach like a brick and I hate this feeling so I understand not wanting to eat heavy/dense foods. It's always hard to tell via internet. Regarding the vomiting after dense food it might be that you're eating too fast or too much or don't chew well enough or a combination of this. However, this is something only you can tell. Maybe you could try a denser food, chew the heck out of it, stop after a few bites or set a timer to e. g. 20 min and take your time. Regarding the reflux you could play around with different foods. I'm sensitive to e. g. dairy, dry red wine and in general very fatty foods, with nuts and nut based foods being an exception. The combination of high protein and fat is the worst regarding my stomach issues. It also can help having a time span of about 2 h between last meal and going to bed. However, if your reflux is that bad you might consider revision to RNY anyway regardless of weight.

Thank you...yes, this is my second opinion. The first surgeon was Dr. Allen Wittgrove (the grandfather of bypass) and my current surgeon is internationally renowned Santiago Horgan. I wish there was another way. I was very sick and dumped constantly. I can’t believe it that with all the technology, there’s no other choice.

Hello. I will be having the gastric bypass for a large hiatel hernia (also a mass and an ulcer within the hernia sac). I’m very sad and upset because I had bypass 17 years ago and was so sick I had to reverse it. Doc says no choice at all but to do it again or hernia cannot be repaired.

Hello, just wanted to share my story. It’s quite unique, and I’m hoping I hear some positives because I’m so depressed. 17 years ago I had a gastric bypass. I was 345 lbs and due to terrible back, I decided to do the surgery. The bypass went well, no complications. When it was time to introduce solids, I simply couldn’t. Everything made me dump..soups, eggs, everything including shakes. I stopped eating and ended up having a reversal to save my life. The reversal happened 5 months after bypass. Since then I’ve suffered every single day with gerd. Now I have a hiatel hernia that’s 4 mm with a benign mass and an ulcer. I just saw a surgeon and he said no other option than to do a gastric bypass. It’s that or I could die from the growth of the mass and hernia. I think I’m most scared about food not agreeing with me again. Can those of you out at least 6 months and up to a couple of years share your diets with me?