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Hi everyone 🩷 posting here as well as in the revision surgery forums in hopes to get a discussion going. I’m considering having revision surgery and have an appointment with my doctor next week. I’d love to hear some of your experiences with revision surgery, what surgery you ultimately went with for the revision, the process and road to your actual surgery date, post op experience - anything you’re willing to share ☺️… soo lay it on me ! The good, the great, the bad, and the ugly! I had gastric sleeve surgery and lost about a 100 lbs and kept it off for about 4 years but since having a baby about 2 years ago I’ve really been struggling with my weight again. Gastric sleeve to bypass seems to be the most popular route however I also see that some people have had other surgeries done such as a duodenal switch. Just curious as to how you and your doctor decide which surgery is best for you. TIA 🩷

I remember you!!!! We had gastric sleeve the same day lol. You've done very well with your progress. I see you had to go to a bypass after the sleeve. I got really discouraged because with my sleeve I lost 52 lbs and that was it. I couldnt budge off that. I didnt want to have the bypass done as well so I just bummed around and got discouraged. Gained like 12 lbs and by January 2024 I was seeing another Dr to see if Zepbound would be beneficial for me or not. I started Zepbound by the end of Jan 2024 and so far I have lost an additional 72 lbs so its working better than the sleeve did. So much so I have all this loose skin now to deal with lol. Good to see your posts again!

Lately, I've been eating quite comfortably, and honestly, it's scaring me. I had a week where the scale didn’t move, and just when I started panicking, boom – down 1.7 kg the next week. But here’s the thing... every time I feel confident in my weight loss, I start getting too comfortable, and that makes me so uneasy. And the weirdest part? I’ve become a sweet girl! Like, I actually crave sugar now, which I never used to before. WHY?! 😭 There are no actual signs of regain, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be worried, right? My brain is panicking even though nothing bad is happening (yet). I have a friend who also had gastric bypass, and she keeps telling me: 👉 “Don’t worry, you will lose weight no matter what – that’s what bypass does.” But how true is this??! 😭😭 I feel like I can’t fully trust it, and I don’t want to get too relaxed and regret it later. Someone please tell me I’m not losing my mind. 😣

P.S. the amount of vitamins recommended are often just a starting point. It's common to have quarterly blood tests the first year, and then annual tests thereafter. I think being allowed to go off all supplements isn't all that common (although it's true for some people), and I'd be surprised if it's true of ANYONE who had bypass, since that surgery has a malabsorption component. At any rate, vitamins and amounts of vitamins required are sometimes adjusted depending on the test results. For example, I require more protein than most patients because we discovered early on that my pre albumin level tanks unless I average 100 g a day. Also, I had to quit taking calcium a few years after surgery because it was clear I had no trouble absorbing it from my food and regular multivitamins, and the overage by taking additional supplementation was not only unneeded, but was also putting me at risk for kidney stones or damage. So your particular needs may change as time goes on - that's why it's important to keep up with any required testing.

Hello everyone, just wanted to post an update about me. I had my Gastric bypass surgery August 16, 2023. My heaviest weight was 260 lbs, documented weight starting the bariatric program was 249lbs and weigh in on day of surgery was 235.6 lbs. I managed to drop down to 176lbs and I stopped losing between the 6-9 month mark fluctuating between 183-186 lbs and now I did a weigh in at 189lbs. I noticed now I am experiencing more digestive issues like everything I eat is causing bloating, indigestion, heart burn, hyperglycemia episodes and feeling lost of coordination some days. I don't have medical insurance to get a thorough check up from surgeon but the only thing I can account for is me not taking my vitamins, not being as active, still snacking and mentally always ready to eat even when I don't want to because I will feel stomach cramps or light headed, How are you all during your journey?

I had gastric bypass almost 6 years ago & I lost over 60 pounds! This past December my best friends both got me tshirts. The shirts were very thoughtful, I was touched by both of the shirts they got me & how meaningful they would be to me, BUT I just realized that both of the tshirts are a size 2xl! They still have body dysphoria of me 6 years later!!!! It’s hard enough for me to deal with but it’s a whole other ballgame when your best friends don’t see it!!!! Sorry, I just had to rant & I don’t have anyone else to rant about this too since my best friends obviously don’t see me for the size I am now!

I'd try to get your insurance company to pay for both. Gastric bypass is sometimes performed for reasons other than weight loss. Most commonly that would be for severe GERD and/or issues with gastric emptying. This happens even in patients that are not overweight and never had a previous sleeve procedure. My point is that I'd be willing to bet those procedures are covered by your insurance company since it's being done for strictly medical reasons. (Technically so is weight loss surgery, but insurance companies are stupid.) In your case it seems pretty obvious there's also medical need, so your insurance should pay for it. They'll probably deny it at first, so be prepared to fight them.

I had my bypass March 2022. I recently went for a endoscopy and it failed as the doctor could not insert the scope either adult or pediatric size. He said he couldn’t insert because there was a ledge/block that prevented insertion. Now I have to get a barium swallow. I have complained about abdominal pain in September 2022 after my gastric bypass. I was simply told that I was one the people that would have to take omeprazole/Prilosec for the rest of my life. No explanation -no further testing just that! At that time all the news was stating the dangers of taking these drugs, I took as prescribed meds and the pain subsided. I stopped. He was so vague and unwilling to investigate or hear me out. I stopped the omeprazole. Then I had reoccurring pain. I was out with my family and I told them they had to take me to the ER! I was so incredibly sick with nausea, and abdomen pain. I couldn’t take the medicine for the contrast dye without throwing up. It was concluded I had a gallbladder attack….no scope no stomach or gastrointestinal intestinal testing. I wonder if this all was a coincidence and I had a GI issue. I had my gallbladder removed Dec 2022 and still had pain. Now three years out I am still having pain. My Bariatric team was the worst aftercare. I had a friend go through same practice and also horrible aftercare. I understand he is a surgeon first but even the nurse and nutritionist was horrible. My pain was dismissed and I thought dumping was normal and pain.My organs are all rearranged and now a missing gallbladder I had no comparison. I still can’t eat meat, eggs, pasta as it feels stuck and dry and hurts later on. MY PCP has been very good and I trust him so that has been my go to person. I don’t want to worry that’ll get me nowhere. I am thinking I have an esophageal stricture from reflux. Since I can’t get scoped I am having a barium swallow I guess to look at the motility of my esophagus to my pouch. I know that there is ways to treat this with ballon’s inserted to widen esophagus and I might have to have another because they don’t do it all at once. I’m just surmising based on what I know now. My barium swallow is going to be the beginning of August. I’m so mad because I have been stating how bad I felt and Prilosec and famotidine were the answer without any further testing. My surgeon is now retired and the practice has a new name. Has anybody had any of these symptoms? I am the healthiest I ever been despite… I run 3 miles at least 4 times a week(started this summer) mostly plant based protein due to meat aversion, no sleep apnea, high blood pressure. I am a good patient-and I kept the weight off. I monitor my food (My Fitness Pal) and have always exercised.

I agree with sticking to the portions you are permitted by your team. . I had a sleeve in 2021 and then revised to SADI recently and because they didn’t operate on my stomach this was particularly hard. It wasn’t that I was physically hungry and wanted more. It was just that my brain couldn’t get past how tiny the portions looked because my stomach was never operated on for the revision and it did not feel full. Probably Similar to what yours may feel now without everything healed quite yet but just because it doesn’t immediately hurt doesn’t mean it is not hurting your healing insides. We don’t want any Emergency Surgeries on Thanksgiving for sure. ❤️

I can't respond to the particular complications you have (only a doctor can) or how bypass might affect them (ditto), but major complications are pretty rare with bypass. The most common complication (and it's considered minor) is dumping, which 30% of patients get (I've never had it - and neither have a lot of others I know), but that can be controlled by not eating a ton of fat or sugar at one sitting, which none of us should be doing anyway. The next most common complication (also minor) is stricture, which is easily fixed by doing an upper endoscopy and using a balloon-like tool to stretch it out. This happens to about 5% of us, and as being the second most common complication, it gives you an idea how common complications are (I had a stricture, btw). You probably hear about them more because people are more likely to post or talk about them because they're looking for advice or support. People generally don't mention that things are going great unless someone specifically asks them how things are going. So it might appear that complications are more common than they actually are. Other than that stricture early on (and they happen very early on, if they're going to happen at all), I've had zero issues, and I had my surgery ten years ago. we were told that it was OK to take NSAIDs on a very limited and very occasional basis, but I haven't taken any since my surgery. I've taken Tylenol for any pain, and when I had hip replacement surgery two months ago, they found a non-NSAID alternative to aspirin for me since I had to be on some kind of blood thinning agent for six weeks. As far as your other prescriptions, it could be that there are non-extended release versions available - but again, a doctor would know that. Sounds like you'll be having a long conversation, and hopefully it'll provide some answers to make a decision. as far as having the surgery "late in life", there are many of us who had it in our 50s and 60s (I was 55 when I had mine), so you're definitely not an anomaly! I wish I would have had mine years earlier than I did. The thing probably saved my life (I weighed almost 400 lbs). I am grateful every day that I had it. good luck with your appts and decision.

I did the TORE revision to my RNY and have had good results. Just got approved for Saxenda yesterday, so hoping to kick the weight loss into high gear in the new year!!

YESS!! Been there with codeine..exactly as you described..also in hidden stuff like certain cough mixtures,so read the label. I also (in the past 16yrs since my bypass) have had the same reaction to Zydol, pai killer and Macrodantin,an antibiotic. What will sort it within about 5mins,is a 40gm tablet of Losec...also,my Surgeon maintains that you can take NSAIDS short term if you take a 40gm losec with it.As I suffer from a crippling back, I do this so I can get some sleep. Hope this helps☆

Congratulations on your loss. I was a savory girl Lee bariatric world and post sleeve I became a sweet girl too. Then post SAFI that went away but has started to come back. I think MAYBE it’s just our bodies wanting carbs and sweet food is usually the absolute highest in carbs so the quickest way to get them. I did not have the bypass but I don’t think your friend is correct about eating whatever you want. I know that was for sure not true for the me with the sleeve. I started at 235, lost down to 168 then gained it all back plus some to 258 and was still gaining when I started the preop diet for my revision. I have also heard plenty of regain stories on here about the bypass. Now, does it malabsorb some of your food, absolutely. So if you were like 900 pounds before it’s possible you would stay a bit smaller just because you pretty much already ate all you wanted volume and calories wise before and the malabsorption would in theory make you weight a bit less if you ate the same exact food, but it would only be a bit less anyways and who of us wants that. . As far as a more common starting weight I really don’t think so because even at our high weights we still weren’t eating absolutely all we would have liked to or we could have and if we ate any and everything we wanted, even with some calories not absorbing that’s still probably giving our bodies more than we were eating before. I do know from experience that what fuel I put into my body changed how I feel, though, so even if I could get away with eating anything I wanted cosmetically, I know that I wouldn’t feel as good as I do when I eat a balanced diet and keep up my activity. That processed junk that most of us used to eat all the time is not good for us and it doesn’t give your bodies what it needs to run efficiently. Another thing to keep in mind is that we are still pretty early out to be relaxing too much. Most people have a 10–15 pound bounce back even if they keep working at it. I don’t know about you but I’ve still got more that I want to lost. I definitely don’t want to be bouncing back!! for the sweet cravings try the sugar free popsicles again. They can trick my brain sometimes and others i Have fruit. I figure calorie wise they may be more calories but at least it’s not added sugar. I try to avoid that as much as possible because that makes me have more cravings the next day and for like a week.

I really appreciate the details because it helps to know what others have done post-op. Glad you're back home and doing well. My surgery this Thursday is a gastric bypass but I think the lot of the post-op stuff is similar.Keep us posted on how you're doing. Sorry to hear that you're dealing with your father-in-law's situation too. Tough to have both at once -- one at a time would have been enough 😵‍💫

Hi everyone 🩷 I’m considering having revision surgery and have an appointment with my doctor next week. I’d love to hear some of your experiences with revision surgery, the process and road to your actual surgery date, post op experience - anything you’re willing to share ☺️… soo lay it on me ! The good, the great, the bad, and the ugly! I lost about a 100 lbs and kept it off for about 4 years but since having a baby 2 years ago I’ve really been struggling with my weight again. TIA 🩷

I did get pain meds with my sleeve and my SADI revision. I told them right away with the sleeve to take me off right after surgery, but for the SADI I did need them (I also had my gallbladder removed but I’m not sure if that was the difference). When I was released from hospital I only took 1/2 of one because my husband forgot to buy Tylenol though. That was because I finally passed gas and when I did that a few times I felt such relief. I honestly don’t know that the pain meds were doing anything for my pain given that it clearly was just really really bad gas with the revision. Some people do need them though. I would ask to make sure if you really need it that they will give you something. Maybe even a stronger Tylenol. That may just be the typical plan but they have to have alternatives if your situation is different. If not, that would be a little concerning to me as well.

Thank both you. The problem is that all surgeons claim they do both, but some recommend one over the other possibly because they feel more comfortable with one of the two. And wierd as it is, I could find any good surgeon around San Francisco for the mini bypass. How come people on this forum from the U.S. don't tend to do the mini by pass?

This is my first time posting here, but I’ve scoured forums for so many of my questions. I’ve read lots of your stories and have found encouragement and new fears. One demographic of people I haven’t seen much from are those that are at the lower end of the BMI for bariatric surgery. I am 5’6” and at 35 BMI. I juuuust barely qualified for surgery. I will get my surgery date this Wednesday and my fears are at an all time high. I am relatively healthy and qualified based on one comorbidity which is mild sleep apnea. My question is to those who had similar situations as my own. Do you regret getting the bypass, or are you happy you did it? Did you form more problems after the surgery than you had before? Please give me your insight! I know I want the bypass rather than the sleeve due to GERD issues. Like many of you, I’ve struggled with my weight and portion control my entire life. But I am so scared that I’m going to have regrets and it’ll be too late to turn back. Another question I have is for those on antidepressants/anti-anxiety meds. For the first time in my life, my anxiety is well controlled on Prozac and I’m worried that the surgery will completely mess that up. Can I hear your experiences with meds post-op?

I'm 60, but I think you may be asking the wrong question? Although safety is a potential concern at any age, this is something only your surgeon can properly determine. I can say plenty of people in their 70's have had bariatric surgery. I think the real question should be: what are you expecting to be different this time if you have a revision? Would it still be worth it to you if you once again gained all the weight back? In my opinion, the fact that you've gone back up you your pre-surgery weight means that there are other things going on here that you need to address first. If I had to guess, I'd think there are 2 things you need to address before considering revision surgery, GLP-1 meds, or even fat loss diets: Your mental health. My personal opinion is that the virtually all obese or formerly obese people suffer from an eating disorder, or at least disordered eating of some sort. If you don't address this first, you're really likely to out eat any revision surgery you may have. Your activity level. The fact is that most people that are able to successfully lose weight and keep the weight off (surgical or not), are really active. In fact, some studies show that formerly obese people have to be even more active than someone that was never heavy to maintain the same bodyweight. The reasons for that are complex, but if you don't address this, the likelihood of at least regaining a significant amount of weight are pretty high. Best of luck whatever you decide.

Sounds like you are doing awesome. So glad to hear it. My only advice would be to incorporate some activity as you are able with the extra energy. I have done this twice and the first time I didn’t add exercise and with my revision I did and I’m telling you that made the energy I felt triple. Plus if you are more active you get to add in some healthy carbs. Congratulations on your loss.

I had a pre-existing problem with acid reflux. The gastric sleeve has a tendency to cause or worsen reflux, so my surgeon said he never does the sleeve on people like me. I have been more than happy with my results from the gastric bypass and NO acid reflux. It just disappeared, as my surgeon said it would. And I've changed my whole way of looking at food. It's been a wonderful experience.

Many surgeons repair the hernia during the sleeve surgery. Was there a reason your surgeon didn’t? Of course once you’ve had one hernia there’s always a chance of it recurring. Are they doing a bypass to reduce your risk of a recurrence versus just repairing the hernia alone?

As @SpartanMaker said don’t compare yourself to others. Doing so can lead to much angst as it messes with your head. But being human I get that you might want to have a bit of an idea of what you might expect. Your team can advise you on this too. if you use a calculator to try to predict your weight loss and you understand it’s based on averages and only gives you an idea of how much you MIGHT lose then it’s okay. A calculator is not a guarantee of how much you WILL lose. So don’t use it against yourself and you don’t match those numbers especially those giving time frame losses. For example I’ve done a couple of those calculators & I beat them on both weight loss (more) & time frames (faster) but that was me. Generally the average weight loss after a sleeve or bypass is around 65%. Averages for other surgeries are higher (70-75%). Of course factors like age, gender, height, medical history, current medical status, genetics, lifestyle, activity levels, etc. will influence your final weight loss. And even those aren’t guarantees. My advice is to count every pound you lose as a blessing & celebrate their loss.

As of this morning, I'm down 71 lbs. from my revision surgery.

Hi lovelies, I hope you’re all doing well? You were all so supportive with the question I asked a few weeks ago that I thought I would come here and see if you have any advice for me now! As of tomorrow I am eight weeks out from the gastric bypass procedure. I have lost quite a bit of weight (2 stone) which I’m absolutely delighted about (and people are starting to notice which has been a really good feeling). However, I must have THE most stubborn self sabotaging streak because I have started to drink alcohol again (and not just on special occasions) as well as not following the food rules and not exercising. I can’t understand why I’m being like this because my family are so happy that I’ve done this and have been so supportive, and my friends (even though they don’t know about the operation are really starting to notice) so WHY am I doing this to myself? I just wondered if you guys knew of a reason I may have hit the wall so early (I really do not want to fail) and especially if you have any advice, book recommendations apps or anything that I might be able to do to help me get back on track and find my way again. Really appreciated as always thank you xx