Search the Community

I had a revision from Lapband to gastric bypass on Nov 11. I’m on liquids for two weeks but I’m so hungry and advice?

I had a revision from Lapband to gastric bypass on Nov 11. I’m on liquids for two weeks but I’m so hungry and advice?

I saw this on another forum and thought it worthy to share as it has all the great information and advice we all need for the journey! it is written by Mellissa Gangi and what I had wished I had been told from the very beginning. Sleeve Tips: I'm 10 months post op today and along this journey, so far, I've seen a lot of the same questions or concerns from many. I thought these tips could help! 1. Take preop photos... you'll want them! 2. Protein shakes...I used isopure protein powder and scooped it into 2 oz. of water (u can add ice and blend too) to drink in my immediate postop period. It was much less to drink at a sitting and you still got in your protein. It would take me over an hour to drink each one, but way easier to me. Plus, isopure has multiple flavors and it was reasonably priced. I bought off Amazon. Also, Genepro is an unflavored protein powder that is very popular. It can be added to pretty much anything. The scoop is tiny and it gives 30g of protein per scoop. I use it daily in my morning coffee but if adding it to hot liquids you have to add creamer 1st to cool it down or it will clump up or dissolve in a little warm water 1st then add... the directions are on the bag. It is not completely unflavored and it has a smell to it, but most of us get used to it quickly. Your body can only absorb up to 30g of protein per serving, so anything more than that at once will be wasted and it doesn't count towards your daily goals! 3. STALLS happen...stick to your plan and the scale will move again! You most likely will be losing inches during that time. They can last a few weeks...especially the 3 week stall. The further you are out they may even last longer and at that point you may have to shake things up a bit, maybe a day or 2 most increase your carbs then go back to your plan. Don't get discouraged and try to just be patient. 4. No NSAIDS (aspirin, ibuprofen, aleve, motrin, etc...) they can cause ulcers...tylenol products are ok and Excedrin Tension is ok (great for headaches) it has tylenol and caffeine in it, no aspirin like the other excedrin products. Also, peppermint oil rubbed on your temples help for headaches. 5. Fluid intake...atleast 64 oz of non caffeinated, non carbonated, sugar free fluids but the rule of thumb is drink half of your body weight in ounces. 6. Caffeine and alcohol...follow your surgeons orders. They both can dehydrate you and cause ulcers in the beginning of your journey. And alcohol may affect you differently postop, so be careful. Absorbtion changes postop. 7. Transfer addictions...a lot of bariatric patients give up food for other addictions like shopping and alcohol. Be mindful. 8. Increased chance of pregnancy after surgery. You can be much more fertile. Even if you had problems with it preop. 9. Increased divorce rates postop...I have looked into this because I was curious as to why. I have found that it does indeed increase, but the majority of the couples that do have had issues preop and the spouse that had surgery loses the weight, increases their self esteem and simply won't stand for the same behavior anymore. 10. Sugar/Carbs...1st and foremost, follow your plan. There are reasons why your surgeon and/or nutritionist gives you one, especially while healing and it takes approximately 6 weeks for your tummy to heal. After you are advanced to a "regular" diet, usually about 2 month postop, yes you can eat some sweets or carbs but in moderation. Always try to get your protein in 1st, though. I have chosen to stay away from sugar and certain carbs. I don't crave them, so why reintroduce them. I know me, and moderation is hard for me. 11. Everyone's weightloss journey is different. Try not to compare yourself to the next person. It's hard not to, I know! But their weight, height, sex, medical history all plays a part of it. If you do what you should be doing, you'll lose! 12. Dumping and The Foamies... Dumping occurs when your new tummy just doesn't agree with something you consumed. Dumping occurs more in bypass patients but it can occur with sleeves, also. Symptoms can include sudden vomiting, diarrhea, and increased heart rate and last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. The Foamies... you'll know what this is if you get it. It's a lot of phlegm that is produced in your esophagus all of a sudden. It can happen if you eat or drink too fast, or take in too much, or drink right after eating...wait to drink atleast 30 minutes after eating. Plus, if you drink with eating or too close afterwards you flush the food through your belly too fast and you're not absorbing nutrients. 13. Take your vitamins and get in your protein daily! This will not only help your weightloss and prevent vitamin deficiency but it will help with the sunken in look when you lose weight. I was told 60-90g of protein daily, but follow your drs orders. I take 2 flintstones with iron chewables a day because I couldn't tolerate the prescribed multivitamin, in addition to calcium with d3, and magnesium and b12. 14. Gas ex chewables, heating pads, and walking help big time for your gas pains. When I woke up from this surgery I thought I was having a heart attack because the gas was causing chest pains. Also, use the incentive spirometry in the immediate postop period. Anesthesia affects your lungs and it takes 72 hours to completely wear off so the breathing exercises help strengthen them and prevent pneumonia. 15. Heartburn...omeprazole works so well for me. My surgeon prescribed it from day 1 and I love it. 16. Postop hormones... your body almost goes into shock in the 1st 6 weeks or so after surgery from the major changes to it. You may feel different mentally...it does get better but if it's bad talk to your dr about it. 17. Medications... your body can change postop. The same medications you were on preop may be absorbed differently postop so if you notice changes talk to your dr. They may need to be adjusted. And extended release meds may not work as well. 18. Tracking your intake keeps you honest. I love the baritastic app. It also has recipes for all the stages and reminders. 19. Head hunger vs real hunger. This is a lifestyle change, your body needs much less calories postop but you have to retrain your brain. It may take time and that's normal. If you fall off the wagon one day...oh well...get back on it the next. We are all human. Don't get discouraged. Just pick yourself back up. 20. Complications can happen. If your body starts feeling different...new onset pains, nausea, vomiting, passing out, food feeling stuck in esophagus, etc...call your surgeon. You're always better safe than sorry. 21. Abbreviations... HW your highest weight SW what you weighed on your surgery day GW your goal weight CW what you weigh currently NSV non scale victory Nut nutritionist VSG vertical sleeve gastrectomy (sleeve surgery) RNY roux-en-Y (gastric bypass) DS duodenal switch surgery 22. Hair loss or thinning happens. But, it will grow back. I thinned starting at about 4 months. It can last months. Many take biotin supplements for it, I didn't. 23. Get ready to be cold! You're body is changing, it's almost in shock so invest in a Comfy, like me, or electric blanket to keep warm lol. 24. What to bring to the hospital for your surgery stay...a long phone charger, chapstick, your phone, comfy pjs, slippers, a robe, earbuds, and a list of your medical history, surgeries, allergies, and medications with dosages. Others add gas ex chewables but I'm an RN and don't recommend taking any meds from home without the nurses or drs knowledge. Some also say a heating pad to help with gas pains, but walking is best. Also, remember to hug a pillow if you cough or sneeze. It will help! 25. Constipation! It is a part of this journey, unfortunately. The only thing that helps me, and this is not conventional, is sugar free hard candies. A few of those babies (no more than 5 or you'll hate me) and you'll be going within 12 hours. The sugar alcohols do it for me. But, more conventional approaches are benefiber packets, smooth move tea, or miralax. And there's diarrhea in the beginning...liquids in, liquids out. But your 1st bowel movement may take awhile...its all normal. 26. Ketosis...when you cut out sugar and go low carb you're body goes into a state of ketosis. This is a metabolic state that now uses fat for energy, instead of carbs. It aids in weightloss, but has some side effects like bad breath, body odor, bowel changes, fatigue at 1st but then increased energy the longer you're in it, and insomnia. Those side effects will decrease over time so just invest in mouthwash for the meantime! I know this is a lot, but hopefully it helps! If I missed anything, feel free to chime in. Best of luck to everyone!

I would love to follow you on your journey. I also was banded 2009 and am starting the process of a revision surgery to bypass

Bypass recovery was a little sore the first few days but now I'm 3 weeks out I'm having np issues with fluids at all and no pain

I just had my revision on October 24 and honestly, it was no more difficult than the band surgery. My surgery even ended up being more complicated than they thought it would be and it was still pretty easy. I was able to manage my pain with Tylenol and the pain completely resolved pretty quickly. I still have one incision that is being hateful, but that's been the worst of it for me. I work a desk job and went back 6 days after surgery, but probably could have gone back sooner. I have been having complications from anesthesia, so that's been a pain in the butt. All that said, I handle pain very, very well, so your mileage may vary.

I hope you dont mind i have a few questions as I am trying to decide on GB or GS...Did you regret getting bypass in the beginning? ALso, how long did it take you to recover? is one week too soon to go back to work? What about two? How bad is dumping and does it happen a lot? Thanks!

So I’m a month out from my revision today! Losing very slowwwwly... I’m looking for some advice, so I’m on purée foods and I got asked on a date for tomorrow! I really like this guy but he has no idea of my revision, I do want to go on this date and I asked him to send me the name of the restaurant so I could scope out the menu... besides soup there was only one other thing that I think would be ok for me to eat, it’s Tilapia in coconut sauce with white rice... I’m thinking of skipping the sauce and asking for mashed potatoes in replacement for the rice. Any thoughts? I’m nervous and kinda want to cancel... I asked to just go to the movies lol but he is not having it...

That's going to be super individualized and no one can predict what it will be like until after.(But I personally don't dump often because I'm careful- sidenote I was revised from VSG to RNY for GERD) Ask about the statistics on GERD remission/recurrence after VSG from your Surgeon or research it yourself But really It will all come down to what the surgeon (and you) determine is the best course of action Good Luck 💙

How hard is the recovery with bypass? How is the "dumping" ? Do you find you are sick a lot?

@onmyway11I had the exact same experience with the band. Then I was revised to the traditional DS two years ago. No regain at this point. The doctor who did my DS is located in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Anyone have GERD and get the sleeve and it improved? I am really hesitant to get the bypass because it is more invasive but want my gerd to get better not worse.

@HP62442I can't speak of the differences between the recovery of the MGD and the DS because I've only had the DS after a revision from a band. However, recovery wasn't bad at all for me. My BMI was about 39 when I received my DS. You might not be heavy enough for the DS with a BMI of 36, but your surgeon would know. Not many surgeons have been trained to do the DS, so that might be a factor for your doctor too.

I had the band to sleeve revision this week. Once my stomach healed I never felt full / satisfied from the band. The full-o-meter never worked like it was supposed to. I am hoping for better from the sleeve - I can’t keep gaining because I am taking years off my life.

I think what happens is that the body learns to adjust. The ghrelin hormone that gets short circuited with stomach removal (bypass and sleeve) seems to find a way to rewire to some degree. With bypass, the remaining small intestine learns how to absorb nutrients, The overall metabolism resets, and restriction is not as prohibitive. So unless new habits have been hardwired during the first year, it is way too easy to fall back into bad patterns.

Welcome! I had my bypass at the end of March 2019, and the folks on here have been very helpful and supportive. Look around and read what you can. You'll learn a lot. Good luck on your journey! Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

I have question to people had this done . How different from the lap band to gastric bypass and how long did take to heal? I'm in the process of and I'll the surgery sometime March 2020 Sent from my SM-G930P using BariatricPal mobile app

You mentioned appetite will return. I've seen numerous people mention this too. Is this for sleeve only or gastric bypass too?

I had my bypass surgery on the 12th this month and I've started to drink the protein water I could tolorate it before surgery and now I can't. I also cannot tolorate any of the milk or powder I'm very worried to get malnourished I don't know what to do.

Gastric bypass is done as metabolic surgery on patients with hard to treat T2 diabetes, even with a BMI that is relatively low. You might want to gather information specifically about gastric bypass as metabolic surgery and not so much as bariatric surgery.

Your stats seem similar to mine. My band is out, gained, and now revising to sleeve in 2 weeks. How’ve you been feeling since the sleeve?

Hi. 👋 I’m 11/29 revision to sleeve.

I think the bypass was easier than the sleeve. With the sleeve I didn't even want to drink and I didn't let myself get to worried about the surgery because I think that makes you think it's gonna be worse than it really is. I'm able to sip slowly and the broth and Jell-O help ! I'm so farveru happy I did the revision hopefully my acid reflux never comes back. That's the only reason I revised. Praying it helps. Sent from my SM-J337P using BariatricPal mobile app

A revision is when the change you from one type of weight loss procedure to a Gastric Bypass. A VBG is a Vertical banded gastroplasty, that isn't very popular.

wut is a revision and a vbg? Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app