Search the Community

Sorry. I have to change that. I had gastric bypass in Oct 2022

I really tested myself tonight. I order Chinese on Fridays. I usually order meat and veggie dishes like Broccoli Beef/no rice since surgery in April. Tonight, they got my order wrong, and I ended up with Kung Pao Chicken. It's deep fat fried and contains sugar. But I didn't want to deal with going back and well... I was curious. I decided to try it to see how my body reacts. I stopped before getting full and so far, no dumping. I guess I'm not part of the 30% who dump with bypass. Not sure if that's good or bad but I don't plan to continue testing it. I'm enjoying watching the numbers on the scale going down way much more.

I lost my hunger and didn't give a flying flip about food for five months. I loved it. Food no longer ruled my life!! I wished it would last forever - I found it so liberating - but unfortunately, it did not (last forever). Five months later, back it came, and everything became a lot harder. But no - I didn't grieve at all. I was surprised by that - but I honestly lost interest in food. It was a wonderful feeling. Only a small minority of us lose their hunger forever, but I unfortunately was not one of them. I suppose different people have different experiences, but that was mine. I had bypass because I did have heartburn issues before surgery and didn't want to risk it getting worse. I love my bypass and would make the same choice if I had to choose today. I could never figure out why so many people find it so invasive - cutting out 80% of your stomach and throwing it in the garbage sounds just as invasive to me. Plus RNY is reversible (although it's usually only done if people have severe complications that can't be resolved any other way - which of course is pretty rare)

Hi just had a revision from Sleeve to bypass! So far so good. June 13 th was my date

Question 1- I struggled. There was a time right at the beginning of the pandemic (1st surgery was Dec 2019) where all I could drink besides hot tea was grape powderade zero (hated artificial grape pre-op) and everywhere was out. I distinctly remember crying in my car, like full on grief crying. I had buyers remorse for several weeks after that wondering if I’d ever be normal again. Be prepared with emotional/ therapeutic support if you’re already battling disordered eating. Question 2- A dry cough is indeed a symptom of gerd. For me, it’s now hiccups. If you’ve ever heard those honking plastic chickens just know that’s what I sound like. I did end up having a revision to RNY and hiatal hernia repair. They don’t remove your stomach, it’s still in there, they just bypass most of it and attach it in a y shape to another part of the intestines while keeping a small portion attached. The only reason I have hiccups again is because I have another hiatal hernia that needs repaired. Would I do it all over again knowing the journey I’ve been on? Absolutely. Would I also be more prepared mentally? Also, absolutely.

Hello all! I'm pre-surgery. waiting on a surgery date - I have been approved by insurance but will be out of the country for two weeks in July and told them I'd like to wait until back. I have lots of questions but two of them are below. I'm hopeful someone can wrap their brain around what I'm asking because I have struggled to find anyone who is able to really answer it for me. It's not that they are telling me what I don't want to hear, it's just not addressing the crux of the question. I'm hopeful this will make sense: Once you have WLS, in the first couple of months post op - what is your mind doing? I know people struggle to hit their protein and water goals a lot. I know it's a huge learning curve to adjust to the new stomach and relearn your limits and to feel full faster. But for those of us with food addictions who are looking at this as tool to get us through therapy and really force change - what is your mind doing?? when you realize you can't anymore - are you ok with that? are you angry? are you still craving the food? are you sad? are you relieved? are you satisfied? what is your brain telling you and your heart feeling in those moments as you adapt to not eating foods you used to crave, or if you can eat them how does it feel to limit those portions? I understand this is a tool. I KNOW this is necessary for healing and retraining and to make it through therapy successfully but I'm really wanting to try to know what to expect my mind and heart to feel when this massive part of my life is just ripped away. I am probably to equating it (albeit maybe not fairly) to a drug addiction rehab where they make you go cold turkey... i know i won't have physical withdrawls (aside from minor, potential repercussions while i learn to adapt to the new food intake) but what is my mind going to feel? what will i tell myself? what was your experience? does this question make sense? Also - i've never had problems with Heartburn or GERD beyond any sort of one-off meal once in a blue moon that may have caused a smidge of heartburn but it didn't last long and those instances are few and far between. BUT - I started taking Omeprizole because i clear my throat a lot and a nurse friend of mine told me it's likely acid reflux. I've not really noticed a difference in taking omeprizole so maybe it's not acid reflux and is just a weird habit. Anyway - should I be concerned about developing heartburn? My biggest fear with this is worrying that they might have to revise to bypass and i don't want a bypass. i'm fine with losing 80% of my somach but i'm not ok with bypassing it altogether... any thoughts or experiences anyone can speak on?

Congrats on date, my bypass is also scheduled for 7/5. I go tomorrow to sign my consent and the 26th for preop testing.

Hi NanaNette. I'm 62, and I feel the same. Lots of prayers here as well. My surgery is July 27th. It's nice to connect! Are you getting the sleeve or gastric bypass (or other)?

Not a sleever, but a bypasser. I had surgery at age 55. I was a slow loser the whole time, but there are so many things that factor into that that I'm not sure how much of it was due to age - but probably at least some. It also depends on your gender, your starting BMI, how muscular you are, how active you are, genetics, whether or not you lost a lot of weight before the surgery, etc. If you really stick to your program, you'll lose the weight - whether fast or slow

I had the roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery in 2018. My beginning weight was 290 and in less than a year I was down 100 lbs. I got pregnant at the end of 2019. I gained 30 lbs during that time and lost it all after 2 months of breast feeding. I breast fed until my son was 11 months and he was ON DEMAND. I had to increase my intake to produce more milk. I now have gained over 70 lbs since I stopped and tried intermittent fasting, Golo, high protein low carbs and nothing has worked. I go to my bariatric surgeon tomorrow and hope to get a green light on a revision as I know my pouch has increased in size as I can eat more than I used to. My energy level is at a 2 and I'm burnt out with my soon to be 3 yr old who is full of energy. I was on no medication after my surgery and now I'm taking 6 different prescriptions daily and its wearing me down mentally as well. My PCP and Psychiatrist are supportive as long as my bariatric surgeon is as well. I pray this goes well tomorrow. I hope to return with good news.

I had bypass, but recovery time is similar. I took three weeks off but could have gone back after two (but having that third week was nice!). I had a desk job (now retired)

I too had a lap band for 18 years no success and many complications. New doc sent me to Bariatric surgeon, many tests, counseling and he said, let’s get the band out and do an RNY bypass. Wonderful doctors here in Temple Tx. Woke sore and in a bit of pain, but not horrible. The constant pain from the band was gone! I feel so much better.

Good luck to all of you having surgery today and to those who have returned to work, stay strong; you have this. I had my surgery on 1st June and am still feeling pretty good; not in any pain, am driving and can move around easily. I commenced a pureed diet right out of surgery and it will be this way for a full month - its ok but would like some texture! Over the last coupe of days, the very thought of food has left me feeling nauseous as has some smells. I have been advised this is not uncommon for bypass patients. we're doing great xx

I think it depends more on the person - how quickly you tend to recover, etc. I had a bypass, and honestly I felt like I never even had surgery! (well, other than when I transitioned - from lying down to sitting up, or standing to sitting, or whatever - I could feel it in my abs - but then, I've heard sleevers say the same thing)

Hi everyone, I'm 53. Standard yoyo dieting over the last 30 years...each time I gain, it's more than I lost. I have a lot to live for, so I'm getting the RNY gastric bypass. I don't have a surgery date yet, but it's looking like it will be in August. I live with my son, dil, and 2 grandkids. I want to live a long time to be a part of the family for years to come. The only weight related diagnoses I have (shockingly, with a BMI of 59!) are high blood pressure and sleep apnea. My labs are great: Cholesterol is 176 with an HDL of 57, Triglycerides are 114, A1c is 5. We attribute that to having good genes, and boy, am I grateful for them! I have chronic, severe, treatment-resistant, depression, so everything is harder than it should be. Even when I don't feel like I have a lot to live for, I make myself do it anyway. I take baby steps until I can see progress and then take bigger steps. This decision, though, to get surgery, is different. I actually have hope, and it feels strange because it's been a long time. I feel motivated, and that's new too. I'm hoping that being able to move and be active will help to decrease the depression, because I would like to avoid ECT if at all possible. I also have a hip problem and am on bedrest 90% of the time, per my orthopedic surgeon's orders. I can't have this fixed until I am down to 200#, so that's another motivator for me. I hope to get and give lots of good info here, and look forward to reading ya'll!

You had your surgery on the 7th? So not quite a week ago which is very early days. This is major surgery, so it can take a while for the pain to ease and we all heal at our own rate. I felt like I'd been hit by a bus for a good two weeks. Can't say if it would have been the same if I'd had a sleeve, but the Mini Gastric Bypass/ Omega Loop is a shorter operation than the RNY but still took me a while to recover.

I had a question ❓. I've noticed that people that have the sleeve are up and at um fairly quickly. Yet I had the bypass and I'm walking like the hunchback of Notre Dame. Anyone else have the bypass and still not fully functioning?

I had hernia repair too. And I guess the bypass is worse because the first few days I dropped f-bombs everytime I moved, breathed, or thought. And coughing......man My soul left my body. The gurgling is probably gas, or your food settling in your pouch. I got that too. We are gonna make it. It's up from here.

One of my concerns about WLS has been taking sips vs gulps, especially since I typically need extra fluids to swallow pills. I appreciate this post and all the feedback. I hope I fall into the category of being able to drink more water, although it sounds uncommon. In March during an upper GI where they ruled out Barrett's Esophagus and reflux issues, they dilated my esophagus. Two weeks later my esophagus returned to its previous slightly narrow state. I was cleared for surgery - my choice of either sleeve or bypass, so that's good. I plan to get some chewable supplements, but the extra gulps would certainly help. (Sleeve surgery scheduled for late July.)

HELLO! I go on a lot of vacations, even if just a quick weekend. Point, we do eat out a lot and my first vacation was about a month after my bypass. I did take shakes and a few protein things I keep on hand. My first go, was to just eat what I have already had at home because I was afraid of getting sick. So I had a crab cake but just picked the jumbo lump crab chunks out and ate that with like 2 green beans. Someone in my family ate the rest. haha Now, (over a year out) and back to a normal eating diet and can eat anything. I usually try to just make a good decision. But, rarely eat an appetizer or just a bite or 2. Never finish a meal and whenever possible (and we can agree) I will share a meal with just about anyone I am with. When you eat so little and restaurants give you so much food, eating a few bites of someone else's isn't a big deal. My people don't even notice. haha Another tip I have heard a lot of people doing, ( I don't personally) is to ask for a TO-GO box right away and pack up at least half of or meal before you even start eating. Keep in mind when you eat out everything is drenched in butter or oil. I literally just add a serving of oil to my food logs when I order out, unless I straight up eat junk like a fried piece of chicken or something like that. But, even if I order grilled chicken I add the oil serving. Ask for things without butter, it will still be cooked with it but won't be lathered in it again before it is served. Just take it slow, you will be eating so little that you will be ok!

I'm not hungry but my 🤬 is thinking about food. I had a dream about it. Lol. The gastric bypass is supposed to be the "gold standard" for weight loss surgery. Apparently you lose more weight and keep it off.

Haha I can imagine! What’s the difference in a full bypass? Also how has your hunger been with your new stomach?

Boredddddd???? I've been bored chica. Lol. And of course who doesn't want new pals? How are you feeling about the surgery? And questions. I had a full bypass though.

Thanks 🙏🏾. I have. However I had oral surgery right before my bypass so I have two bottles. 🫣😏. They kinda make me dizzy though so I try to grin and bear.

🎉 Congratulations and welcome 🤗. Nope I'm 4 days post op. Full bypass.