Newbie questions

[Jd101 12]

Hi all. So I have been looking at and reading over this forum for a couple months now. When graduated high school I was around 330, biggest was 348. I lost down to about 270 but have gained most of that back now at 320. I am 26 and have been contemplating possibly being sleeved but have tons of questions and the fear of something going wrong(I know this is with any surgery). So here are some of my questions:

1. I know you have to take Vitamins after surgery, but how long do you have to take them? Just a certain amount of time or the rest if your life?

2. I don't have a big issue with sweets.. My thing is I love real food, like home cooking. So with that being said, I'm not a big veggie eater. I can tolerate a few things but not many. Is there anyone else like this? If so what is the advice you gave gotten from your nutritionist?

3. How long before you were able to go back to work? I don't have a strainious job but am on my feet just a bout all day. Minimal lifting.

4. How long before you get back into the gym?

5. Do you know of anyone who has had the surgery with long term results?(5+ years)

sorry for such a long initial post. Just so many questions before taking that leap. I have an aunt(11/2105)and a cousin(2/16)who have both had the surgery. Both have seemed to do great as far as weight loss goes. Both had the bypass surgery. My aunt, who is mid 50's, has seemed to have more colds than normal since the surgery but my cousin has seemed to do great. Any and ank feedback is greatly appreciated.

[ChaosUnlimited 559]

29 minutes ago, Jd101 said:

1. I know you have to take Vitamins after surgery, but how long do you have to take them? Just a certain amount of time or the rest if your life?

For the bypass or duodenal switch it's lifelong Vitamin replacement because the changes made with surgery alter the way your body absorbs Vitamins. The sleeve is restrictive, limits the amount of food intake. I was told sleeve patients have to take vitamins, but I don't know if that's life long since I imagine the amount of food you can eat increases with time.

2. I don't have a big issue with sweets. My thing is I love real food, like home cooking. So with that being said, I'm not a big veggie eater. I can tolerate a few things but not many. Is there anyone else like this? If so what is the advice you gave gotten from your nutritionist?

The nutritionists at my bariatric center teach a cooking class once a month, and you can taste what they make at the end of class. I think there are probably things you can do to make veggies tastier, or do more with the ones you do like.

3. How long before you were able to go back to work? I don't have a strainious job but am on my feet just a bout all day. Minimal lifting.

I've been told 2-4 weeks, depending on the surgery, and depending on your recovery.

4. How long before you get back into the gym?

Sorry, not sure about that.

5. Do you know of anyone who has had the surgery with long term results?(5+ years)

I know a lot of people who have had gastric bypass or the sleeve. I work at a hospital and as a health incentive our insurance offered bariatric surgery (Sleeve, gastric bypass, and band) at no cost for those who qualified for several years, so a lot of people took advantage of it. I think the majority of them have done well at keeping the weight off (not quite 5 years out though), but there are a few who have gained some back. One person who had the sleeve said she never quite got to goal even though her loss was very significant, but she also admitted not being completely compliant with the diet. She's trying to get back on track now.

My surgeon went over all of the surgeries and talked about statistics for eventual weight regain with all of them, and that made up my mind. Most places that do the surgery have free info sessions regularly, you should see about attending one, you can get a lot of questions answered to help you make a decision.

[Berry78 4,259]

As for Vitamins, everyone in the US needs a Vitamin supplement. Our food supply is wholly deficient. Plan to need it long term (but 1-2 flintstones chewables will work, so it's really not a big deal for sleevers.)

The general recovery is 6-8 weeks. You take a couple weeks off work, but the gym should wait longer. You won't be eating enough to fuel gym workouts.

I'm 8 weeks postop and have lost so much strength and stamina. Have to start from scratch. Not sure if things would be better if I'd started at the gym earlier. Danged if you do, danged if you don't.

I don't know any long term patients, other than one bypass patient that has kept the weight off for 10 years but has malabsorption issues.

[BigTink2LilTink 723]

Sorry you double posted this question. But I did answer you here