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I am 10-months post op, gastric bypass. How much I eat, depends on what I'm eating. If I'm eating leafy greens, I can eat quite a lot. If I'm eating a drier meat, I can't eat much. A typical salad for me would be one leaf of iceberg lettuce, 5 grape tomatoes, about 2-3 ounces of protein, and a little over a tablespoon of salad dressing. If I'm eating a burger, it will usually be one 1/4 pound patty, served with a slice of cheese and condiments, on a fajita-sized low-carb tortilla. I generally eat about 3/4 of this. My usual breakfast is 1 whole egg and two egg whites, scrambled with cheese. Sometimes I can eat the whole thing and sometimes I can't. I have hungrier days and less-hungry days. I've learned that overeating is unpleasant. If I eat too fast, food gets stuck in my chest and hurts. And that cuts my meal short, which is annoying. Do I still eat too fast? Yes - especially when I've waited too long to eat and I'm hungry. When I eat slower, the meal is more satisfying. With what I'm eating, I'm basically in maintenance mode. My weight bounces between 166 and 170. Though I haven't hit goal, Both my nutritionist and I are okay with where I'm at, right now.

at over eight years out, no one would be able to tell I had bypass surgery by looking at what I ate. At most they'd think I'm a "light eater". I'll usually order a salad - or an appetizer - or else an entree and have them box up half of it to take home. Same as most of my female friends who've never had a weight issue. I do, however, order "bariatric friendly" meals - entrees with protein and vegetables. I very rarely order things like pasta or dishes that feature heavy cheese or cream sauces (well, pretty much never). Although again, that's what my non-obese friends typically order, too. Like summerseeker, I check out online menus (most places have them) and decide what I'll order before I go. the first few weeks you'll be eating microscopic amounts, but that doesn't last forever.

oh - and yes - ChunkCat is correct - bypass is more effective at resolving metabolic issues than sleeve. I don't know how SADI does with this - SADI wasn't done when I had my surgery, so I didn't research it.

another comment re: dumping. About 30% of bypassers dump. I never have, and I know plenty of others who don't, but about 30% do. It's caused by eating too much sugar or fat at one sitting - so the way to control it is to, of course, limit the amount of sugar or fat you have at one sitting (which we should be doing regardless, even if we don't dump!) I don't know much about SADI so I can't really comment on it, although generally speaking, the more powerful the surgery, the higher the risk of complications. But that being said, none of these surgeries have a particularly high risk of complications - and most are minor and preventable (or "fixable", like strictures) I lost over 200 lbs with my bypass, so it can be done - but the average person tends to lose more weight with the DS (not sure about SADI, again, I'm not familiar with it, but since it's a modified DS, and given your surgeon's comment, I'm assuming that's true of the SADI, too).

a couple of corrections and comments on bypass. Strictures only happen to about 5% of bypass patients and they're very easy to fix (I had two of them). If they happen, it'll be during the first three months after surgery. They almost never occur after that. there are no food restrictions with bypass after about the first six months. Zero. Fruit with seeds and/or skins, dry meat, etc - all fine. Those are only restricted during the first few weeks or months after surgery.

The SADI and the Duodenal Switch (they are different) are the two surgeries with the highest percentage of excess weight loss, the lowest rate of regain and the best reputation for significant weight loss in people with high BMIs. You can read studies about this. That said there are plenty of people with high BMIs that go with Gastric Bypass instead and plenty of them do keep the weight off. Both surgeries have restrictive and malabsorptive components, though their malabsorption is rather different. The bypass tends to be better for people with GERD issues but has a higher risk of ulcers and strictures. The SADI-S tends to be better for people at risk of developing ulcers, for those that smoke or vape and plan on going back to it after surgery healing is complete, and for those that may need to take NSAIDS in the future. The bypass involves a modified stomach with smaller capacity (about that of an egg) while the SADI has a sleeve stomach (banana shaped) so will eat bigger portions. Both still restrict enough calories for weight loss. The SADI is pylorus sparing so the stomach still has the valve in it that keeps food in so digestion happens in a more normal way, the bypass has no pyloric valve so you have to be extra mindful to chew thoroughly as things pass through the stomach differently. Both have to supplement vitamins but do so in a different way--but they are not optional. If you stop taking the vitamins you run a high risk of nutritional deficiencies. The diets are a bit different for the two. I believe bypass patients need to be mindful of seeds, skins, and meat that is overly dry. They need to be more particular with lean protein as they don't have malabsorption of fats to the same degree a SADI patient will. There is some conflicting data that suggests fat absorption in SADI-S patients normalize in the second year post surgery so they need to be careful about not eating too much fat, but the studies are by no means conclusive at this point. SADI patients need a bit more protein than bypass patients since the SADI bypasses a larger amount of the small intestine. Dumping syndrome is more common with bypass. Diarrhea may be more common with SADI-S though I've been told most tend towards constipation like with the bypass. SADI people may have more gut issues with carb consumption but don't tend to have dumping syndrome. SADI-S is a much newer procedure and we don't know as much about it as the bypass. That doesn't mean it is bad and it isn't considered experimental by many insurances anymore, but the fact remains we still don't understand as much about it as we do the Gastric Bypass or Duodenal Switch. In the end it is very much a matter of preference and which patient profile you fit best. You have to pick the surgery that works best for you! I wish you much luck in deciding, I'm debating the sleeve vs DS myself. ETA: The SADI has a bit better chance of resolving metabolic conditions like diabetes and other co-morbidities. Though the bypass does a good job of resolving those too compared to the sleeve!

I'm being offered both options but my surgeon is recommending sadi over gastric bypass because my BMI is 60 I'm so confused any help? Thanks

I was wondering what your portion sizes look like if you’re 6 months or longer out of surgery. Are you able to go to dinner with friends? How is your life affected by food now?

I don't know the specific hoops that need to jump through with Kaiser as I have never been with them, but your PCP is the primary gatekeeper, and they do have an incentive to keep things cheap, while keeping you alive, so the system does make it difficult. There should be some form of appeal process that lets you go around the PCP without endless doctor changes, and there is an ultimate appeal to the state department of managed healthcare to override insurer's decisions when appropriate, but you aren't there yet. My surgeon is (or was) contracted to Kaiser Norcal to do the DS for them when they lost those appeals, as they don't do that procedure in-house, but it is part of the accepted standards of care for obesity, so they are obliged to cover it (they just don't make it easy.) A bypass will be more straightforward to get as they do those in-house, but they're hoping that all the hoop-jumping will get you to lose enough weight that they don't have to do it! Good luck and perseverance.

Yeah, right now you still have swelling in your sleeve. Then you have to account for scar tissue forming. I waited 3 months to swallow capsules. Most likely, you won't have to take them so often. For example, the Bariatric Fusion is 4 tablets a day for bypasses, but for sleeves it's only twice a day. Definitely consult your team, or ask for blood work to see what, if any, modifications you have to make to your vitamin routine.

What type of surgery did you have? I got sleeved 14 years ago, and was revised to a bypass 56 days ago. You're best bet immediately after surgery is chewable vitamins. They have everything chewable now (no gummies for me, because they don't get as well absorbed with a bypass). I take Bariatric Fusion multivitamin 3 times a day because the bypass is a malabsorptive surgery. I take a calcium chew once a day, and an Iron once a day. The Iron I take isn't chewable, but I'm 3 months out now so, I'm feel ok when I take it. It really all depends on your surgery and how far out you are from it.

2 weeks post op today. I am seeing that I am VERY fortunate to not have to have dealt with a bunch of crazy crap from my insurer. I had a LapBand in 2009. Went to surgeon to have removed/replaced discussion, he ordered and did an endoscope, said all clear. His office sent request and a couple hours later literally my insurer called me, 2 days later, I had an approval letter to remove band and do a gastric bypass. Since I paid cash for my initial LapBand surgery, I didn't have to go through it all with the 6 mos trials and psychologists, etc. and there weren't any requirements. Had scope in July and Aug 1 did bypass. I had a 10 day low carb pre-op diet only and 24 hours liquid preop diet. I've been on liquids for two weeks now and he wants me to do a third week! urgghhh.... I cannot imagine doing a 10-14 day preop liquid followed by a 2-4 week post op liquid. This 2 weeks diet has been brutal. Let me say this as well, and it isn't meant to scare you but rather to prepare you: IT HURTS! IT IS VERY PAINFUL. Never had kids but I'd put the pain up against a Cesarean. Don't let anyone try to convince you it doesn't hurt or that it is "mild" because it isn't. The hospital was less than stellar. I was ordered morphene which doesn't work for me. Then switched to Dilautin, which only works about an hour then wears off. Since I have major back injuries (part of why I'm overweight to begin with) I take pain meds for chronic pain. Hospital finally said they would give me my pain pill every 6 hours along with the Dilautin shot every 3 hours. IF you take pain meds, bring them to the hospital. Yeah, I know they say don't but give them to a friend/family member because I PROMISE YOU that you don't want to be begging/waiting for someone to bring you something and honestly, I'd strongly advise you to buy some liquid Acetamenaphen to have in your bag as well. I actually had one old crotchety nurse who thought she would hold my pain meds over me as an inducement to get me up and moving. I told her pretty much that I'd move when I had my shot and was out of pain (otherwise a few obscenities were about to fly but hubby said she could give me my shot now and I'm so very grateful he was there) and other craziness. I rotated my own pain pills in with their meds, some may not agree with this but I don't think I could have stood it otherwise. Given the prescription my dr gave me to come home with, it was exactly it, a pain pill every 3-4 hours. I'm not a lightweight I assure you and I've had several surgeries (tubal, gall bladder, appendix,stents, etc) but this one DOES HURT so I'm saying BE PREPARED FOR IT! IF at all humanly possible, HAVE SOMEONE STAY WITH YOU FOR AT LEAST THE FIRST NIGHT OR AS LATE INTO THE NIGHT AS YOU CAN GET THEM TO STAY WITH YOU! Again, most hospitals are understaffed and I nearly pissed myself one night trying to get out of bed after my sister had left and when I couldn't get a nurse to come help me get up (they remove the catheter after 24 hours or so). Even little stuff is very hard to do when you're in pain. Bring and charge a phone and zip tie it to your hand if need be because I nearly called my husband to come get me. And when I got no answers about when I was expected to get my barium xray, I called to radiology over & over. No phone in the room (ICU) to call out. Yes, I'd do it again in spite of the awful pain but I think I'd have gone to a bigger city. I also was never told that I would come out of surgery and have to wait until the next DAY to get a barium xray before I'd be allowed anything to drink. I thought I would die of thirst so avoid a first thing am appointment if you can bc if you're in a room at 4 pm you have a lot less time to go thirsty. I'm down 23 lbs since my July dr visit. I'm pleased with that. But it hasn't been easy. I do enjoy the support here in this forum. Good luck.

Did anyone who has revision from sleeve to bypass have Aetna insurance?

Hi Steve. I will be having Bypass on 08/31 and i have this fear that wont go away about me not being able to get my fluids in. Tips please. Thanks so much

Waiting for insurance company to approve my revision surgery from sleeve to bypass due to severe reflux.

I had bypass on 8/11. Stayed one night in hospital. Feeling ok today. Was able to do a ten minute walk this morning. Not too much pain.

I am having a T.O.R.e procedure on the 6th. I was wondering if anyone here has had one or even heard of it (lol). Any advice would be helpful!! I had my bypass 11 years ago and made some bad choices which led me here.

I’m scheduled for Gastric Bypass on 8/23/23.

Gastric bypass September 1st

Hello. I am 2 1/2 weeks post op. It's been a rough couple of weeks - severe allergic reaction on abdomen and a bad UTI. But I really didn't expect to have almost constant heartburn. I might have expected it with a sleeve, but this is horrible. Anyone else have persistent heartburn with gastric BYPASS? What have you done for it?

It's been a fight. However, I am just waiting for a call from the doctor's office. I pray that the years of pain, throwing up, and uslers related to GERD will at the very least lesson! I know it will be a two to three week wait after next Monday. I believe this is the best thing to improve my quality of life! I am scared, excited, and blessed! From sleeve to bypass here, I come. Sent from my SM-G996U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

Hey everyone. Question for those greater than 8mos out. Is there a stall period with Gastric Bypass before your 12-18mos window of opportunity or was weight loss consistent with a slowing down period? I’m 8mos out and the weightloss has slowed down. I’m actually happy at this weight, 70lb loss and 5’11. But wondering if I should expect more weightloss through the 12mos period? My surgeon stated that he expected me to be around 205-220 as a good weight. I’m currently at 222. Any information is appreciated

I’m on day 17 post op, and I’ve regretted it (bypass) pretty much everyday since it was done. I don’t think I was truly prepared for this. And if given the chance I would reverse it. I’m so depressed. I’m scared my life will never go back to normal. I feel like it’s a mistake I just have to live with now, and that’s really hard. I cry everyday.

Congrats and welcome. Heartburn/reflux was one of the reasons I chose the bypass over the sleeve. Happy you are able to continue your journey in more comfort.

Congratulations on doing so well. I had a bypass over 5 years ago & I still weight my food at home. I never go over 3.5 oz. I do 2 oz of protein & the rest in veggies or fruit. You have a great attitude & will do well.