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I think the most appalling thing to me was the last bit about surgery being the easy way out. It certainly makes weight loss easier, but it's definitely not the easy way out. Best example I have is that my sort-of Sister also had the Gastric Sleeve a year ago, and she ate around her sleeve and maintained roughly the same weight she'd been at pre-op, and is now having a revision done. Meanwhile, I'm sticking with it and my weight loss is still dropping. She'd veered off her path as early as one week post-op, and kept at it. So you can definitely eat around the surgery if that's your goal. Meaning it can't be the 'easy' way out, because it takes so many lifestyle and diet changes to maintain proper weight loss and really take advantage of the surgery. That's a really bad message to give to post and pre-op people who want to have/have had this done. If they underestimate the changes necessary for these types of things to be really effective, they're going to go to their doctors thinking it's a quick fix, and it isn't. It really isn't. That said, there are a lot of valid points in the article about eating, and types of foods, but it feels like, especially two of the points up there really undermines the achievements and hard work that post-oppers put into losing weight and keeping it off, and all of the work we go through before and after the surgery. Especially the emotional/mental stuff that factors into our weight loss. I just can't agree with those bits.

I had diabetes and had the gastric bypass surgery and haven't taken a med for it since the day of the surgery. I just had my A1C done this past week and it was 4.7 I know that it is scary to make this decision but I'm glad I did in the long run. At first I was going to have the sleeve but I also had Gerds and with the sleeve it can get worse so I didn't want to take that chance and also diabetes doesn't go away with the sleeve like it does with the bypass. I know that you are thinking about the lapband and all I can say about it is that I know people that had it and wand up changing afterwards to bypass. The final decision is yours and I wish you all the luck in the world in whatever you decide.

Hello James, Thank you so much for sharing that information. It was very informative and you look great. It has been 10 months for me since I had gastric bypass and have many challenges. I am definitely going to keep this maintain a phase in mind. I am in my goal weight due to TPN that I receive because before I was underweight due to all my complications. I have gained a few pounds but I am where I am suppose to me. I still having problems keeping food down most of the time. I wonder if I am doing something wrong.

Wow, I'm not hapf as interesting as you guys!! 1. Personal goal this month is first to learn what i can/cant do post surgery, also figure out how I'm going to go New Orleans for my birthday without indulging! 2. Surgery type - 1 week post surgery - Gastric bypass Revision to Partial Duodenal Switch (no shrinkage of stomach), 3. Weight and BMI - i have my 1 week post op appointment tomorrow so will know my weight then 4. Fun fact - Well apart from me turning 50 on 8/31, so looking forward to it! I guess, I'm a Candy crush fanatic and am currently at level 5405... I was also a gifted student when i was younger, not sure what happened 😁 but in 1988, i won the Y.T.S (Young Training Scheme) award for all of London and was given an award by the Lord Mayor of London and had to make a speech. At the time The Bank of Nova Scotia was a Sponsor, they asked me to come work for them, i started the following Monday and spent the next 18 years working for them, the best years of my life 😊😊

Someone shared this article from bariatriceating.com that I wanted to share here: Don’t eat bread! That latte has 35g sugar! No macaroni salad. NO tortillas. No rice. It won’t last without change There is no delicate way to say this. We have always set ourselves apart from other bariatric groups in that we don’t look the other way while post ops continue to eat the bad carbs. We try and bring them back to the bariatric reality. We coax you to knock off the Pasta, rice, tortillas or bread and often people get mad or try and justify it. For years we’ve watched people blow through this surgery and they all have the same story. Everyone thinks they are ‘Different’, that they can handle the bad carbs and the sugar (they don’t get sick!) and ‘because they have lost 100 pounds in 7 months they must be doing something right’. The first hundred pounds is the surgery Hate to keep making the same point, but your surgery did it, not you. Remember that you are not driving the car for the first year. Eating the same foods that grew you to 300 pounds, but in smaller amounts is not a good long term plan as eventually you will be able to eat larger portions. Ask yourself why eating the same bad carbs would be a good plan. No doctor has advised you to eat the same way post op as you did pre op. Post ops pick this up somewhere, latch on to it and defend it, often to the bitter end of a total regain. No one fights for broccoli carbs! It’s not that the bagel will kill you, it’s that these carbs make you hungry. They rapidly turn to glucose and burn… poof, gone, #Lookingformore. They don’t give you any nutrients. They don’t create a feeling of satiety or lasting fullness. The empty carbs work against what you are trying to achieve. If you were arguing for eating salad or green bean carbs, more power to you… but people are trying to hang on to foods without value. If this big argument was for VEGETABLES… well it wouldn’t be a debate as vegetables didn’t make us fat, it was those ‘other’ carbs. Did you ever meet an obese vegetarian and wonder ‘HUH?’… how’d they get obese if they are vegetarian? Same deal… its not the vegetables, its the other stuff… the carbs… the potatoes, bread, macaroni, rice, tortillas and sugar! Square peg… round hole Stop looking for slightly better substitutes for bad choices and find new healthier foods to love instead. We keep trying to force that square peg into that round hole. Stop EATING crackers and chips… don’t find ones that you can justify because they have fewer carbs. Enough with the terrible fishy shirataki tofu noodles. Learn to live without bread and pasta so it will not call your name. We aren’t changing the behavior or trend if we continue eating them, just slightly shifting it. Before long you’ve got your hand back in the Doritos bag & fork in the Mac and cheese. Look It’s Protein Cheesecake! Don’t add protein to muffins and convince yourself they’re good for you. Stop with the Starbucks Creme Brûlée Lattes because ‘they’re your one indulgence'; they have 500 calories and thin people don’t even drink them. Stay the heck out of Wendy’s. I read an article the other day touting all the ‘good choices’ in fast food restaurants. How about stay out of them. That’s the best choice of all! Why go to the place where you know there is danger. Before you know it, oops… there are fries in your bag! You know people gain back weight, right? In our first month of new Facebook Support group I have cried for new members who have gained back all their weight. I am not immune either after fourteen years, three bariatric books and knowing better. When life hit the fan, I comforted my bruises in the way I knew best and it has taken me ten months to lose fifty pounds of it. People are having revisions, a lovely sounding word for a second serious body damaging operation. What will change? Unless there is major change along with that new surgery, won’t it have the same result? Step away from the bagel! Own that there was and maybe still is something wrong with your food picker! Use surgery as an opportunity to change, not cheat. I used be bothered by the ‘word on the street’ that we were the carb or food police, but am now proud of it. If you want to promote the virtues of Everything in Moderation while eating half a Subway, there are plenty of groups that will help you do it. If you want to eat right and learn new behaviors to make the feeling of slipping on those skinny jeans last… we have a support group that’s a healthier fit. Bariatric Surgery IS the easy way out It’s a personal food cop that is always with us, that helps us push away from the table. We make it hard when we don’t live by the bariatric rules we’ve been given. There is nothing harder then gaining weight back after surgery. There is nothing better than losing it a second time. Control is empowering. If you need to pick up and start losing again… If you need to work off a regain… it’s not too late and your pouch works just fine if you choose the right foods. Clean those lethal carbs from your life and go back to Bariatric Eating – protein first and lots of fresh salad and vegetables. We’ve got the support for you to make that change!

Thanks Chelly, I really think I need to do what's best for my diabetes which is bypass, and I suppose I'll have doubts right up until they knock me out! My endo really is pushing for bypass....

Kristina I think everyone has opinions like navels but I don't necessarily want to keep reading the same drivel about which WLS is best. If you are happy with your Bypass or whatever good, otherwise don't tell me that the Lapband is bad.. I am tired of the "know it alls" telling everyone else the horror stories or whatever. I signed up for lapband discussions and that is why I don't go on the other sites and tell them I think it was wrong for them to have their stomach's rearranged or cut out.. I say whatever works for you is just fine... don't care if you think I"m right or wrong.

I'm right there with you. I went to my first support group meeting yesterday. A gentlemen that had gastric bypass a few years ago was one of the speakers. He looked amazing, He started out at 500lbs and is now 210lbs. so I was like dang, he looks really good! and i was inspired at first... what scared me the most was hearing his experience. He didn't fully listen to the physician and take his vitamins, and neglected to take his calcium. well he said ALL of his teeth fell out. I was sitting there like damn!!... I never heard of that happening before, and it was all due not having calcium!... and he said he mainly suffered from dehydration because you literally have to sip, or it really hurts and it came back up for him... unfortunately i haven't gotten to meet anyone who had been sleeved. I too am having doubts.... part of me want to do it for the same reason you mentioned... its scary... because there is no way of knowing what will happen the day of or after... part of I think just needs to stop thinking... I think in the end it will be worth it as long as we listen to the physicians and follow what they say to a T..

Hey guys, I'm wondering how long after my bypass I should wait before I can start to do some mild upper body work with dumbbells? I've had a personal trainer for years up until about 9 months ago (when I had an illness AND moved country) so my technique is pretty good. I just want to do bicep curls, some tricep work, shoulder presses, some vertical rows - even with light weights. Any experience or tips from you gents? Cheers, J

Hi! Congratulations on your upcoming surgery! I'm 7 weeks out from my RNY gastric bypass. You don't need too much on the hospital. Chap stick, phone charger, tablet and charger if you have one. A pillow for the ride home. The bumps in the road will hurt. Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm only 3 weeks out and I feel great! I know everyone's experience is so different and you never know where you will fall on that scale. I had read both extreme's before surgery and because I'm in my mid 50's I was worried I would not bounce back as quick as some of the younger ones. But I have been blessed. The worst pain was the headaches in the hospital that first night after surgery. I assume it was from the anesthesia or caffeine withdrawal, or both! I never even took any of the morphine they offered because I was afraid it would make me nauseous and I had not had any nausea. I still haven't. Not once. I am just starting soft foods and I've not had any trouble tolerating any thing I've tried. I've eaten Beans and shrimp and stewed tomatoes. I've always drank a ton of tea and coffee and I continue to do so. I drink 24 oz of coffee in the morning then switch to earl grey tea for the rest of the day. Most days I will have another 12 oz cup of coffee after dinner also. No it's not decaf. No it doesn't keep me up at night and no it doesn't bother my stomach. I take no PPI. Like I said, I've been truly blessed. I had a lapband put in 2.5 years ago and went from 233 to 183, then slowly started gaining it back as the band was either too loose or too tight. My doctor recommended revision to sleeve which he did all in one surgery. This is usually a little more in depth and so he did leave me with a drain for a week after surgery. The drain caused some discomfort when I walked. I wasn't sure what it was until he removed it. It wasn't painful, just kind of a weird tugging feeling. Kinda worrisome until I knew what it was! But the drain and the pain are all gone. I don't have the sluggishness described by others after the first week or so. I've been meeting all my Fluid and Protein goals from about day 3. Will this be your experience? I have no idea. But I do think it's true that most of the posts on the forum are people looking for answers to questions or people having problems. The rest of the people having no problems and no current questions are off living and enjoying their new lives. For me, I think this was the right move. I hope you are as happy with whatever your decision, as I am with mine.

I figured I'd follow up on my post. I got the call today that the revision is covered. The only things I need to do are the Nutritional Counseling, Psych Eval and get a letter of medical necessity and medical clearance from my PCP. I do still have to have a BMI of 35+ with a co-morbidity or just a BMI of 40. Which means I technically need to gain 8 lbs. But someone on another page recommended that I just wear some 10lb ankle weights to my weigh in appt. lol. I'm starting college on Monday so I'll be shooting for mid March, during my spring break from school, to get the surgery done. Just wanted to let ya'll know what happened with it.

While specific insurance policies may differ, typically the industry standards of 40BMI (or 35 with co-morbidities such as hypertension or sleep apnea) still apply. I have seen some that cover the revision with lower BMI if there was a mechanical problem with the band - slippage, erosion, etc. Any chance that you have developed any of those co-morbidities since your last surgery? It would be a shame and counterproductive to have to gain weight to qualify to lose weight, but that is sometimes how the game has to be played (ankle weights, anyone?) The psych evaluation is pretty much a standard provision, though the requirements for nutritional and exercise programs vary widely. Somebody in the process (the hospital or surgeon's practice typically) will usually want the deductible up front and sometimes an estimate of the copay as well.

Hello everybody thank you for taking your precious time to read my posts. I am 4 months out of having laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery and in the last 2 days have had at times an icky taste in my mouth as well as a feeling of acid indigestion and mild tummy pain. I am on Prevacid once per day. I also have to take Miralax every day to stay regular. I am currently eating between 800-900 calories per day and 75-85 grams of protein and hydrating very well. Could it simply be acid indigestion? Anyone else experience this? Any input is welcomed...

I am 13 months post revision band to bypass and lately nothing seems to taste right. Meat in particular tastes weird. I don’t have an issue eating it, it doesn’t get stuck or make me sick but it tastes and often smells weird. For example the lamb mince we ate tonight tasted very gamey. I used to love pork and would often order it when we went out but the last couple of times that hasn’t tasted right either! At this rate I am going to end up vegetarian which could be a problem as there are a heap of veggies I hate ( the bitter ones) , don’t really like eggs ( I can do the yolks so long as they are runny) and only eat small quantities of cheese. On top of that if I try to turn my hubby veggie he will rebel! I can’t live on yogurt nuts and seeds! Has anyone else been through this and how did you deal with it?

Just an FYI, aug62012 (from here) is starting a February 2021 Gastric Bypass Supoort group on Facebook On another note, did my Covid test Fri and tomorrow I start my liquid only diet. Surgery is Thursday at 12:30

I'm sorry it didn't work for you. As with all WLS, none of them work for everyone. I've met many people on here that absolutely love their bands and a couple that it simply didn't work for. Likewise, I've known people to love other WLS and some who've gained back literally hundreds after a radical procedure like Gastric Bypass. I hope the Sleeve works for you. It definitely seems like the next logical step to me- I'd do the same in your shoes.

Ok, see? This is why I need reading comprehension lessons. I read this title as "Dumping. Masturbation. After Bypass Surgery." And I was like, finally! Now this is gonna be a fun one in the General Discussion Area!

Other than your personality and desire for privacy, it really does depend on your workplace. Is it a small, close collaborative environment or a snake pit? The kind of place where people talk about you behind your back and office gossip leans towards the mean spirited. By all means, if you want, tell your work friends but assume that everyone will eventually find out. Also, while this is a big deal to us, does anyone else really give a crap? It’s not lying, you are losing weight through diet and exercise. Only if someone flat out asked you if you had WLS and you told them you didn’t, would it be lying. I’d be happy lying in those circumstances! I don’t know if anyone else remembers that host on the tv show, the View, Star Jones who had a bypass, denied it, viewers started to hate her and then she got kicked off the show. If you host a tv show, you should definitely tell your viewers. The other day, I was buying a salad and got to chatting with the girl behind me. She mentioned that she had had WLS. She was willing to tell a perfect stranger. By contrast, I haven’t even told my father and some of my siblings. its really all about your personal comfort level. You do you!

I was revised to mini gastric bypass on 2/23. I had to have it do to developing Barrett’s Esophagus from my sleeve which I had 12/20/15. This was the hardest surgery I have ever had. I am home one week as if today and finally feel human again. Looking for someone to share ideas, recipes, goals and ups and downs. Preferably someone who had surgery around same time as me.

Definitely a long road, but it gave me a chance to make a lot of necessary changes. I also had a chance to read info on this site, listen to WLS podcasts, watch many episodes of 600 lb Life, so Ive seem the good and bad sides to surgery. It's a lot to think about. But I feel ready. Which surgery are you having? I originally was hoping to get sleeved, but my bariatric rn is a bypass patient herself, and she convinced me to get rny too. Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

I really need some support right now. This is long, so I apologize in advance. This board was just the best place for me to turn to. I have 2 best friends - I've been friends with both of them for 26 years (since I was 5). One ® is obese, the other (K) has basically been a size 6 or 8 her whole life, and is just trying to lose the last 10 lbs from her pregnancy. My obese friend ® is the one who invited me to attend the lapband seminar with her. Afterwards, with the information, I was much at ease and begin considering it, especially since it was much less dangerous than gastric bypass, and I know at least 5 people who have successfully had gastric. It turned out R's insurance excluded the surgery, but I've been approved and am having it Dec 28th. So far, only my mom, dad, and my friend "R" who invited me to the seminar know that I'm having lapband surgery. Out of the blue today, my skinny friend "K" asked if I ever went to that seminar with "R" and what she thought of it. I told her it wasn't covered under her insurance, and she said "Good" and then started talking about how she didn't think people should have surgery just to lose weight, etc. So I'm sitting here, knowing I'm having it in 3 weeks listening to this (which reaffirmed my decision not to tell her because she obviously won't be supportive). I did make a comment to her that when people have 100-150 lbs to lose, its practically impossible to lose it on your own and keep it off. She said yeah, I've been trying to just lose 10 lbs. To make a long story short, now I am doubting myself. Wondering if I am putting myself at risk of dying "just to lose weight" when I could leave my 15 year old son without a mother. He will be out of town with my father when I have the surgery. He sees his dad, who doesn't even pay child support or attend his birthday parties or sports events, etc 2 days a month. His dad lives a totally different lifestyle - its always been just the two of us (me & my son). I couldn't forgive myself if I elected to do something that caused my son to lose me (even though I guess I would be dead I wouldn't even know). As you can see, my state of mind is not good right now...I don't know why I am letting my friend affect me like this. Now I'm thinking about death. Something that I hadn't really worried about after I saw the video of the actual surgery. I've always had a fear of dying and leaving my son to end up living with his father. It took a lot for me to be strong enough to undergo this surgery. Its not a decision I took lightly. I've had surgery before (cesearean when I had him) and that was much more invasive, and I was up taking care of him the next day, and obviously I lived. I don't know what I'm looking for in writing this post......maybe just letting my fears out, maybe asking if others had the same fear, or dealt with the same situation with a friend. I should be able to tell my best friend that I'm having surgery, but she has always been a very judgemental person. Thanks in advance for any wise words....

Who needs OH when you have lapbandtalk.com?? lol. This site gives me everything I need to be successful with my band. And it's funny that they would say that crap, because the three or four personal friends I have that got the bypass all gained their weight back and then some and are completely miserable in their life because they have the "dumping" syndrome they say. But even then, I wouldn't call them failures. They are food addicts. Food is yummy and that's why I understand how anybody could gain their weight back. My friend who is now back up to about 375 after her bypass told me it started with a french fry from Mcdonalds and then she started eating more and more of them everyday and somehow her pouch just stretched out. She had successfully gotten down to like a size 12. my band probably wouldnt' let me have a fry, nor would I ever want to try.

I am having a little issue with my port site, of course, I am a nurse and have been uh, treating myself, ahem. :lovechoc: Anyway last week the scab was catching on my clothes, so I revised it, trimmed it back some ect. Then I got a tiny amount of pus, no big, maybe didn't dry well from the shower, right? Dried it moved on... Last night scab catching again, sigh, I was revising it again and it came up, 1 cm open area at the end of my insicion, scant amount of pus, cleaned with saline, dabbed dry and secured with a butterfly. My follow up is on the 16th. Anyone else had a problem with the larger incisions healing? The three smallest are good.

Thank you for sharing your story. I am not sure that the plication is showing very good results so far overall, no matter who does it or what country. You know this, but I am saying this for any newbies that may be reading this - the plication is a totally unrelated and different surgery then the gastric sleeve. I hope your revision goes very well. I am a band to sleeve revision patient... it is disappointing when your first surgery doesn't work as advertised.