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The Second Time Around



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Hey Guys, greetings from Australia.

I'm having Gastric Bypass surgery on 6th November, so 1 week to go for me.

I previously had Stomach Stapling (Vertical Banded Gastroplasty) 29 years ago. The year was 1985, and I was 21 years old. This was back in the Dark Old Days of weight loss surgery, and the procedure was very new. Also, the Surgeons in Australia didn't have a lot of experience with this type of surgery........... I am sorry to say that the operation was not successful.

The Staple line leaked while still in hospital, and an abscess formed requiring Two more operations, and 3 months stay in the Hospital. The worst of it was that the surgery was not successful. The pouch was too large, so all this for nothing . Bummed to say the least.

So , it's taken 29 years for me to get the courage, I suppose, to go ahead with this type of surgery again. It's way safer, and I have a very experienced Surgeon this time, so I feel more excited than scared. I won't be around for long if I don't do something, so i'm really happy to try this again, and hopefully " Get Livin' ".

Good luck to everyone, Greg.

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Wow...good for you! I can imagine it would take some time to be willing to try any sort of weight loss surgery again. I know it will go great, like you said...much safer now! Congrats on your bravery!

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It takes a lot of guts to come back after a bad experience and try again. I know you want to regain your health bad enough that you will be successful. Good luck on the surgery. It is a ton safer now so I know you will be just fine.

Best of Luck,

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Best of luck to you, awesome courage to try again. Way safer now. Keep us informed on your journey!

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Thanks for the support. It means a lot. I have found Bariatric Pal a great place for information and resources, and you guys all very caring and generous with your time and experience. Glad I found you all. Cheers, Greg. :D

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I'm in Perth Australia n having gastric bypass same day as you if you ever want a buddy don't be afraid to send a msg my way

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Hey Alumace, will be great to talk as our journey's progress. I have actually been bumped up two days now, so getting done on Tuesday 4th. I'm well prepared, so more excited than nervous now. I will be glad to get off this Pre Op diet a few days earlier. It's been hell.............The wait is over. Good luck on the 6th. :)

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I am going through a second time around as well.. I had a lap band in 2009 that flipped twice and was taken out in 2013. I was admitted from the ER. It took me awhile to get over a genuine fear of setting myself up for another procedure that would possibly make me sick all over again. But I did and went for the Roux n Y, Oct 21, 2014. I did the pre op pretty religiously and seem to be healing well. Not keen on the gruel I am eating, but seem to be okay liquefying real food to eat. I have lost about 20 pounds already, which is nice. I was at 285 before the pre op flush.

The weird part is I seem to be eating all the time... making a huge effort to get Protein so my stomach can heal well. Be prepared for the post surgery gas attacks. Ucky but they do pass...no pun intended, Good luck!

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Hey filmgal, like they say, what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. You gotta look for positives I guess. Sounds like you're back on track now, so good luck with everything. Keep me posted.

Thanks for your advice about the gas attacks. I'm prepared for anything and everything. hahahaha.............Actually, they brought my surgery forward 2 days, so getting done on Tuesday, 4th now, so getting very excited. This journey is 30 years in the making, so feet don't fail me now !!!!!!! :)

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Thanks for the support. It means a lot. I have found Bariatric Pal a great place for information and resources, and you guys all very caring and generous with your time and experience. Glad I found you all. Cheers, Greg. :D

Just went through same revision in same time frame It's like night and day, you should be very happy The only thing I might "warn" you about is adhesion/scar tissue from 1st procedure, I was 8.5 hours on the table but all came out well email any questions I can help with Tomas090@hotmail.com

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    • LeighaTR

      Four days post surgery. I am sipping as fast as I can and getting NO WHERE near the goal of 60 - 80 grams of protein or the 64 oz of liquids. I just feel FULL. I don't know if it can still be the gas build up (I would think by now that would be gone) but it is a struggle to drink. And so far I have not had the nausea or spasms and don't want to wander into that territory by pushing too hard with liquids. I about passed out today as it was my most "strenuous" day. Went from second story to basement for shower and I was sure I was going to pass out. Looking back on my last few days I have had a total of less than 1000 calories. Am I just not getting enough nourishment in me? Once again a friday where I can't get ahold of the doc until Monday rolls back around so I am hoping maybe someone here has some experience on how to keep energy going. I do have fibromyalgia too and that may be where some added fatigue comes into play. How did you all fair with the goals the week after surgery?
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 3 replies
      1. Phil Penn

        Good Luck this procedure is well worth it I am down to 249.6 lb please continue with the process..

      2. Selina333

        I'm in Houston so kind of near you and had the sleeve in Dec. Down 61 lbs. Feeling better. Was definitely worth it. I hope the everything is going well for you. Update us when you can!

      3. Doughgurl

        I am back home after my bypass surgery in Tiajuana. I'm post op day 4. Everything went great! I guess I'm one of the lucky ones who have not encountered much pain at all, no nausea thus far and I'm having no problem keeping down broths and water. Thank you for your well wishes. I cant wait to keep up this journey and have a chance at better health and simply better quality of life. I know there will be bumps in the road ahead, and everything won't be peaches and cream, but at least I have a great start so far. 😍

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
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    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

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