Last week I went to my three year surgery follow up at Kaiser Fremont. It was a group appointment that took a couple of hours and included talks by our Bariatric Medical Doctor, Bariatric Psychologist, Bariatric Nutritionist, and Bariatric Surgeon. If you needed one on one appt, they scheduled those after. Kaiser does a great job with education. There were a lot of good handouts and good information shared.

Some highlights:

From the Surgeon:

• When people get a revision, weight loss is only around 10 lbs., which the surgeon credited to the liquid diet followed before and after surgery. He said they don’t know why there is not substantial weight loss with the revision surgery, but he theorized that whatever was reset during the first operation was a one time thing.
  
• He also showed an image of stomach and how blood flow to the stomach is decreased with each operation. I hadn’t realized how many veins and arteries were connected to the part of our stomach that is removed. A lot!
  
• The stomach can only stretch so much. It does not continue stretching once it gets to maximum capacity. People may think they are eating more at one time because the brain adapts.
  
• Ulcer is leading cause of death in long term complications. Ulcers are caused by too much alcohol, smoking, and some drugs, including SSRIs, immunosuppressors and the usual suspects. Not spicy or acidic foods.

From the medical doctor:

• Kaiser Vitamin recommendations have changed. For the latest, along with the latest Kaiser Bariatric Surgery Guidebook, see:
  Iron in Ferrous Sulfate form can cause stomach upset, that’s why they recommend Ferrous Fulmanate or Ferrous Gluconate. Take with stool softener if needed.
  
• Watch for birth control pill malabsorption.
  
• For those that don’t like pills, she offered the following schedule:
  • Morning: Wellese liquid Calcium or calcium citrate chews, multi with iron
  • Evening: Wellese liquid calcium or calcium citrate chews, multi with iron
  • Weekly: 5000 mg B12, 250 mg B1, Iron with Vitamin C
  • Once per month: 50,000 iuVitamin D

From the Psychologist:

• Tip for eating less: Do not put serving plates on table. People eat more then. Serve from kitchen so people don’t see extra food and have to get up to have a second helping.
  
• Cross addiction is more common in year two than year one post op.
  
• She had a whole list of books for us, but strongly recommended Mindess Eating by Brian Wansin.
  
• She had a handout from AmiHungry.com for Mindful Eating After Bariatric Surgery. Download it here:
  Water, etc.

From the Nutritionist:

• Eat 20-25 grams of Protein per meal (70 grams per day). 3-5 planned meals per day, 1200-1500 calories per day, limit carbs to 30 per meal (15 carbs average in 1 starch, dairy or fruit).
  
• Eat protein first, then up to ½ cup veggies, then carb such as whole grain, fruit or dairy.
  
• Eat protein with any foods with higher sugar content. For example, have some cheese with grapes.

went to my three year surgery follow up

@@lsereno

not going to ask how you are doing - cuz the answer is obvious

there you are standing pretty at 3 year PO

how great are you??

newbies et al love/need to hear success stories from people like you that are anywhere PO from 1 to XXXX .....years

thanx for "paying it forward" with this great post, and all the other posts you make

Watch for birth control pill malabsorption????.

hmmmmm, hubby and i agree that the only "problem"/situation we could have would be a reproduction of grand-kids!!!

whats wrong with that??

3 years +??? you are aces bud

keep up the great job for the rest of your healthier, happier longer life!!!

I know you will

celabratory (msp?) huggs

meet you at the Water cooler - i'm buying!!!

kathy

congrats

Edited May 4, 201412 yr by proudgrammy

Maybe the issue is going from RNY to DS OR the issue is 10% more, not 10 pounds more?

Surgeon did say specifically 10 lbs., not 10%. That's the average they see with revisions. But Kaise only does revisions for complications such as GERD and ulcers, not for unsatifactory weight loss. However, some people getting revisions have had unsatisfactory weight loss, in addition to the complication that led to the revision surgery. I don't think they do band to sleeve revisions. It's more sleeve to RNY to treat GERD or revision of an existing sleeve or RNY to treat ulcers.

Lynda

Ah ok. That would make some sense then. I'd have to look up to see what happened with Obesity Surgery if there is anything in there.

Great information!! Thanks for sharing;)

Thank you, Lynda for the great post. I've been away from BP for awhile and hopped on to do some research regarding ulcers. I was also sleeved through Kaiser but changed insurance. I didn't know they did revisions for ulcers, nor did I know that ulcers were a long term effect. OR I did know and simply forgot. Either way- thanks for the post!

three year surgery follow up

@@lsereno

great info you sent

its been a while since you did this post

if my math is correct............which of course it is

you are now 3.5 years PO

that is so great!!!

update, update, update please???

newbies et al love to hear from "old timers" like you

i also enjoy reading success stories

hope all is well

maintenance can be/is hard sometimes

take care bud

kathy

Edited November 29, 201411 yr by proudgrammy

Yes, I am 3.5 years out! Wahoo! I am struggling a bit after regaining some weight over the summer and slacking off over the recent holdiays. I'm 10 lbs. over goal. I'm still in the normal BMI range, but I'm trying 5:2 to get rid of the regain.

I'm also still wearing the same jeans, but with the extra pounds, they are snug!

Looking forward to getting back to goal. You can follow my progress on the 5:2 thread in the Vet's Forum. I'll be posting there every Monday with a weight check and report about the previous week.

I love life post-op. Still feeling great!

Lynda

Congratulations! You can get back to goal and have the power to do it. Thanks for checking in . It is wonderful to hear from people who are years post op and doing well. It inspires us newbies and those considering surgery to keep on track and it can be done!