Search the Community

on 8/19/2018 I will be 8 months post op and I am so grateful I made the decision to undergo gastric bypass. The journey post op started out with many regrets, but 92 lbs later and I am rejoicing. Started out with a 44.5 BMI and am now down to 29.6 HW:270 SW:265 CW:178 GW:160

You said you weren’t happy that your wife went forward with this from the beginning. Is it possible that you are unconsciously looking for physical changes in your wife to support that feeling? Maybe even a “I-told-you-so” feeling because you’re not happy with her appearance now or maybe because she proceeded with her surgery despite your feelings? I’ve come to accept what she has done… I don’t think you’ve accepted it at all. Why were you opposed to her decision to have this done in the first place? Is there something deep inside of you that resents her for having this surgery even though you were opposed to it? (I don’t know you, but some men have a problem with women making their own decisions, including decisions about their own bodies.) She used to be… she is now… she is starting to look… She also looks like…. These sound like mourning words. You’re in mourning for the body your wife used to have. I’m starting to worry… Starting? No, you're in full-blown worry mode, except it’s not really worry. I still think it’s mourning for what was. I’m afraid I’ve lost my wife… Afraid? No, in your mind you’ve lost her. But have you lost her? Really? Your wife is happy. And the doctor’s office doesn’t seem worried. His office pretty much ignores my concerns… Are you sure that they’re just disagreeing with you and not ignoring you? This surgery killed my aunt…. WLS is not a murderer with a sawed-off shotgun. Your aunt had a rare and unfortunate complication. I hope you didn’t bring up your aunt's complication as one of the reasons for not wanting your wife to have her surgery. Or did you? If I come across as terse, it’s only because men tend to understand things better when those things are presented bluntly or in black and white. Lastly, it’s only been 10 months. Your wife's body is still trying to find a happy balance. Has your sex life changed? Is that something you’re also unhappy about? (My husband has always enjoyed my big, soft body.) Please do not interpret anything I’ve said above as lecturing or patronizing because that is not my intent. This is just my take on things from a woman's point of view. Not every woman's point of view. Just mine. We're not all the same, you know. You sound like a loving and caring husband. No one here wants you to be unhappy, including me. Your wife, I’m sure, doesn’t want you to be unhappy. But guess what? It’s okay to be unhappy sometimes, except you need to figure out if your unhappiness and fears about your wife’s new body are rational or irrational. If they are irrational fears, and you still can’t come to terms with it all, maybe a therapist might help. Maybe joint therapy. And there is, of course, absolutely no shame in that. None.

I hope someone can help me while I wait to see my doctor tomorrow. I woke up on Saturday with right side flank pain. Pain level at 10/10. I waited a bit but then decided to go to the ER. I explained to them that I was 2 months post op and down about 30lbs. They did blood work and gave me a CT scan. Everything looked normal so they said it could either be early stages of kidney stone, appendicitis or a muscle strain. Because the CT scan didn’t show anything they sent me home with muscle relaxers and lidocaine pain patch. The medication made me sleep for these past two days but I’m still in extreme pain. I had my surgery in Mexico so my surgical team is not available to me. I’ll go see my doctor but does anyone know what this could be? Anyone experience the same after vsg?

My wife underwent gastric bypass and gal bladder removal 10 months ago. She started at 255lbs and she now fluctuates from 147-155. My main concerns are she used to be fairly strong. Could give me a challenge in a wrestling match. She is now weak AF. She is starting to look emaciated. Her legs have very little muscle and she pretty mutch has only skin and chubs left. She also looks like she has aged about 15-20 years on her face. Dr. Todd in anchorage had her on a fairly strict protein diet but yet she still lost damn near every bit of muscle she had. I wasn’t happy she went forward with this from the beginning and I’ve come to accept what she had done but I’m starting to worry. This surgery killed my aunt two years after her surgery about 12 years ago when the stomach that was isolated died and turned sepsis and killed her fairly quickly. Im afraid I’ve lost my wife and the nurses and assistants at his office pretty much just ignore my concerns. Any help here would be hot.

Left was day of surgery (May 10, 2018) and the right was taken on August 2, 2018. Not quite 3 months. A total loss of 93 lbs.

I was put on a very strict 2 week diet that involved four protein drinks plus a normal meal every day. While not required, the bariatric coordinator did recommend drinking a bottle of magnesium citrate to "clean me out" before surgery. She said that she found that it makes it easier post-op. No bowel movements of (larger) proportions, and also less gas. If you're going to do it though, do it tomorrow morning. It took me several hours to kick in, and I was up most of the night. Doing it now makes sure you're not still in the "cleaning" stage when you come in for your procedure. BTW, I was a band to RNY myself. It is so nice not to choke and clear my throat every 10 minutes!

I got off the phone with my surgeon's office Nurse Practitioner and he asked me a lot of questions. At the end, he told me that I'm still healing and so long as everything is okay, not to worry about it. He told me if the pain doesn't get better within a couple of days they would make an appointment for me so I wouldn't have to go to the ER, I was also told to slow down on my drinking and he reiterated the 10# weight limit until 6 weeks. I'm very glad he got back to me when he did, I was about 90 minutes away from going to the ER. Thank y'all for helping me out. It's so strange that this pain kind of came from nowhere.

Sounds good, I had a choice of 2,3 or even 4 weeks, I started mine 8/01 because I wanted the most "bang for my buck" and actually mine is not too rough, 3-4 shakes,2 snacks , 1 frozen entree under 300 calories and 30 grams of carbs. So I'm on Day#6.no real bad headaches, my BMs are weird, rather light yellow-briwn, infrequent but not real hard. Oh I'll take it , some people said they got diarrhea but not me 64 oz of non-sweet, non- calorie drinks and water. If you get hungry you can eat unlimited raw or cooked vegerables, no corn, peas or potatoes, even yams and sweet potatoes. And my vitamins, A,D, prenatal one for the iron and other goodies, Calcium citrate, I use a liquid called Wellesse, it tastes just like melted orange push-up sherber. I also take Magnesium to steady my nerves and prevent cramping,especially in my legs.Then I have assorted other pills, I now keep them in my Nike shoebox. I'd like to stop taking Lasix , I have lymphedema in both lower legs, the left,the worse. So Lasix minimizes the swelling, I just hate the constant urination, you know how things are good for you and you want to tenet? That's me and the blasted water pill.

Hi! Love you crazy kids. Anyhow. How serious is the no caffeine thing? Is one espresso really going to kill me? Had my surgery 10 days ago and I can tolerate literally hundreds of ounces of water per day. I'd be happy to drink extra water to make up for any dehydration as a result of my caffeine intake. But seriously. I need some zing to do my job. Thoughts? Sent from my SM-N950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Going on 8 weeks out this coming Wednesday. Still stuck at 19 pounds lost since surgery. I say stuck because I hit 19 pounds lost 2 weeks ago. I’ve been stalled since then. *shrug*

Hi all Just wanted to see if I'm the only one who is getting super tired after eating ? I'm 7 days post op and it seems like every time I eat I am super tired within 10-15 min.. . I'm doing broth Yogurt ,pudding and is happening with anything i eat[emoji30] Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

I was revised from band to the bypass March 21st, I was in the hospital until the 23rd. My wife was around for a while, but honestly I didn't need any help at all at any time after leaving the hospital, for most things at least. I was told not to lift more than 10 lbs for several weeks, so I just didn't lift anything too heavy. So I couldn't help out everyone else, but I didn't need help with my own day to day stuff.

Hello, all.... After extensive research, I've decided to revise from band to sleeve in Mexico. I was banded in 2005, and want to know about the issues with scar tissue. I have read some posts here where some people had a lot of scar tissue, but the surgeon completed the revision. While other surgeons didn't complete the revision because of scar tissue. For those of you who had your band over 10 years, and revised to sleeve, what was your experience with the scar tissue? Does it develop because of he length of time the band is in place? Or does it develop based on the person's body? Any insight is appreciated.

You are doing great. 41 pound since surgery is a great accomplishment and 133 total! MY surgeons office said that on average you can expect to lose 10 pounds per month and you are exceeding that so don't get down. You should also keep track of your measurements, I find this extremely motivating. There have been weeks where the loss is slow but I have lost several inches and can start fitting into a smaller size (yay)!

The scale can be one of your most important tools on your weight loss journey, but only if you use it right. Surprisingly enough, using the scale right can take more than a bit of planning, just like many other aspects of your weight loss surgery journey. The number you see can jump around and start to drive you crazy if you do not know the reasons behind the blips. These are some reasons for some ups and downs on the scale, and how to prevent or at least accept them. Hint: It is probably not yet panic time! Up: Salt (Sodium) Did you have a salty meal last night? Did you snack on pickles, top your chicken with salsa, season your turkey burger with soy sauce or another salty condiment, or help yourself to a big salad with fat-free dressing? Those are all great choices for weight loss, but not for today’s weight. Are you confused? Here is the explanation. Sodium, which we mainly get from salt in foods, has no calories and is one way to add flavor without fat or sugar to food so you can keep calories down for weight loss, But, sodium attracts water. Eat a high-sodium meal or snack, and your body can retain water. You may feel bloated and notice your ankles or fingers swelling. That water inside of you is heavy, and the scale will tell you so. Tip: Do not eat a high-sodium or salty meal or snack the day before your weigh-in, or keep in mind that you did. Up: Stress Long-term, stress eating can add fat to your hips and pounds to the scale. Short-term stress can bump up your weight, too, without overeating. Stress hormones lead to water retention and (see above) water is heavy. Tip: Don’t stress out! Easier said than done, but being aware of stress can help. So can exercising, laughing with friends, and meditating. Up: Big Meal, Day, or Weekend Remember the part about how sodium attracts water? So do extra sugar and carbohydrates. It takes an extra 3,500 calories to gain a pound of body fat, but y you are likely to see your weight jump if you eat a big meal, or have a cheat day, or get out of control on the weekend. That sodium and those carbs can add up more quickly than you expect. A single restaurant meal with rolls or breadsticks, a burger and fries, and a small dessert can have over 5,000 mg of sodium and 200 grams of carbohydrates. That amount may “only” include 2,000 calories (barely over ½-lb’s worth of body fat), but it is enough to bump the scale up as much as a few pounds the next day. Tip: Do not eat too much! If you do have a cheat meal or day, do not weigh in after it. Most people consider Mondays to be a bad day for a weigh-in because weekend diets are often less strict than weekday eating patterns. Up: Lack of Sleep Do you ever feel groggy and heavy when you do not get enough sleep? The scale will confirm that it is not your imagination. You can retain water due to hormonal shifts when you do not sleep enough. Over the longer term, sleep deprivation can make you gain “real” weight (body fat) because lack of sleep: Increases ghrelin, which is a hormone that makes you feel hungry. Increases cravings for sugar and carbohydrates. Reduces your ability to resist cravings. Tip: Get enough sleep. It is not a luxury that is beyond your control. It is an important part of your weight loss lifestyle, so make it a priority. Down: Dehydration Weight loss is one motivation to exercise, but losing too much weight with a single workout just means you are dehydrated, not that you burned off pounds of fat in an hour or so. The scale can show you a low number because you sweated a lot. It can be motivating, but it is not healthy. Dehydration can lead to fatigue and to later water retention – and a bump up on the scale! Tip: drink 8 oz. of water every 20 minutes while you are exercising intensely. Weigh yourself before and after your workout, and drink 16 ounces of water for each pound that you lost during your workout. Down: Sudden weight loss Have you ever started a diet and seen the pounds come off quickly at first before the weight loss tapered off? It may have even happened after WLS if you were one of those patients who lost 10 or 20 lb. within the first weeks. A good portion of that weight was water weight. It happens when your body shifts from gaining weight (or being stable) to losing weight. What happens is that your body loses carbohydrates that were stored in the form of glycogen. Glycogen holds water. When you lose the glycogen suddenly by going low-carb or low-calorie, you lose water, too. So, your scale weight drops fast. Tip: Celebrate those first pounds lost, but keep working hard. Stick to your diet and stay hydrated so the pounds keep coming off for weeks and months to come. Now that you know that the scale can be fickle, you can concentrate on finding the balance between trusting the scale and trusting your diet. If you stay on track with your eating and workout program, and take care of the “little things” such as getting enough sleep and managing stress, you can outlast any bumps on the scale and come out stronger and lighter than ever.

I was never on a liquid pre- surgery diet, just a no carb/low fat diet 10 days pre-op and I still had a slice of pizza in the middle. A liquid diet x2 weeks is old school, don’t beat yourself up too much pre-surgery if u are on it....

Headed to the hospital for my bypass this morning. I’m nervous, but I know I’m doing the right thing for my health and my family. Can’t wait to spend more quality time with my friends and family unrestricted by my weight. Can’t wait to ride roller coasters with my 10 year old daughter for the first time. Cant wait to have sex with my wife again. I’ve missed out on so much because of my weight and now I’m on my way to never missing another day or another experience again with those I love. Can’t wait to start my new life. I’ll let you all know how it goes. Rick Z HW 339 SW 337 CW 318 GW 200

Hi guys, I am getting my surgery this Tuesday unless I chicken out, the gastric bypass. One of my biggest concerns is the bathroom issues. How many have bowel issues after surgery, even a year out, the idea of my intestines having a blockage scare me too. I had a friend 10 years after her surgery have that happen, is that because of gastric bypass? Any advice would help or information. Thanks again

@geminisky I’m guessing it depends on starting weight, activity, and what kind of diet you’re cleared for. I'm wrapping up day 6 of post-op and I’ve lost 7.3 lbs since morning of surgery but I’m having only one protein shake spread out over the day and then water, crystal light, and broth. All of my “eating” is just 1 ounce per 10-15 minutes, total of 64 ounces by the end of the day (most of that is water...). I’d guess my calories have been 200-350 tops per day...

Granted it's only been 6 weeks since my revision to bypass (because of reflux) but I've only lost about 5 lbs and I was 10 lbs from goal at the time of surgery. My doctor said the same thing as yours. Actually what he said was "you're not going to dwindle down to nothing." Weight loss is slower with revisions especially if you don't have much to lose. If you haven't had any issues regarding eating disorders, I wouldn't worry about it. Yes there are people who develop this problems after surgery but you are near your target weight.

I would do it again in a heartbeat. And yes, I questioned my decision several times after having it but only because I was scared and nervous. This is the best I've felt in 10 years and I've only lost 35 pounds. (Current weight 236) I'm hoping when it cools off a little bit I can start jogging. I couldn't even imagine doing that before surgery and didn't even want to.

Your post gives me so much hope!!!! We are the same height and had the same starting weight. I had my surgery on 6/20 and have lost 35# thus far. If I could lose 78 pounds in 5 months I'd be in heaven!!! And I feel better today than I have in 10 years. Thank you for posting! Hugs!

I'm in this camp, too. 19 days out and OK for the mushy soups, cottage cheese, applesauce, etc - which is wonderful. But I can't achieve satiety or sense of fullness and satisfaction. Maybe I need to get over that hope/expectation? The cravings have never stopped. I thought the key to staying ahead of cravings would be high protein intake, but so far that isn't the case for me. I've analyzed real hunger vs head hunger but haven't found much difference.

I wont be eating 10 pounds in a month, that would be excessive. I might have 3 or 4 dates a day. Ill refrigerate them. They should last awhile.

I was going by what you said ... you would eat the 10 lbs over a month. If you do so, that would be 5 1/3 oz a day, and it would contain 96 g of sugar