Hi All,

its been a long long time since I’ve been on boards as I’m almost 5 years post gastric bypass.

the surgery was the best thing I ever did and I would never change it. I did get gallstones and gave my gallbladder out but other than no complications.

While i am some what happy with my weight (I’m about 50kg lighter than before surgery) , one thing I’ve noticed consistently is the frequency of how often I get sick.

before my bypass I didn’t get sick often st all!! Afterwards I started getting sick way more often but the past 8 months of my last I barely make it a week without getting a new bug.

I do work with children who go to child care and kids in school so I know I must get germs from there, but honestly it’s ridiculous.

I try the immune boosters and I’m always getting b12 injections and on different vitamins.

Nothing works and I’m so so sick of being sick. I wanted to know if anyone else post bypass gets sick very frequently? It’s really affecting my life, not being able to work and study and feeling so horrible. At the moment I’ve just finished antibiotics for chest infection and 2 days ago I got horrible gastro which I still have.

Anyones thoughts would be appreciated!

Thanks

liz

Hi Liz

I am 5 years post-op RNY gastric bypass and I rarely become sick anymore. Part of this is due to the strict vitamin regiment that I was directed by my surgeon to follow. Also, I have undergone extensive blood testing once per year to fine tweak any deficiencies in my vitamins.

One thing to be aware of is that antibiotics destroy not only bad bacteria but also the good gut bacteria. So it is extremely important to reestablish these colonies of good bacteria after you complete any antibiotic treatment. This is done by taking probiotics.

I have also experimented with essential oils and found them to be useful. I have developed a formula that makes me almost bullet proof for the common cold and the flu.

Hi there,

How often do you see your bariatric team and primary doctor? How often do you take antibiotics?

There could be a number of things in play but only medical practitioners can diagnosis. You may need pre and probiotics as suggested but also have a look:

https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2009/msu-professor-studies-links-between-gastric-bypass-immune-system/

Do your own research, Check in with your physicians and ask them to run more extensive testing.

Safe journey!

Edited August 2, 20188 yr by GreenTealael

correlation does not equal causation.

there are a million other reasons you might be getting sick more often that have nothing to do with gastric bypass. but we as patients tend to blame anything and everything that happens post-op on the surgery.

On 8/2/2018 at 7:35 AM, James Marusek said:

Hi Liz

I am 5 years post-op RNY gastric bypass and I rarely become sick anymore. Part of this is due to the strict Vitamin regiment that I was directed by my surgeon to follow. Also, I have undergone extensive blood testing once per year to fine tweak any deficiencies in my Vitamins.

One thing to be aware of is that antibiotics destroy not only bad bacteria but also the good gut bacteria. So it is extremely important to reestablish these colonies of good bacteria after you complete any antibiotic treatment. This is done by taking Probiotics.

I have also experimented with essential oils and found them to be useful. I have developed a formula that makes me almost bullet proof for the common cold and the flu.

I would love to hear what your regimen of essential oils and vitamins are. I’m very new and been doing research on best practices so I can stay as healthy as I can.

One book that I found very helpful is called "Essential Oils, Pocket Reference". It is a good primer. I have written a short article about the approach that I use and here is a link. http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Experiments_with_Essential_Oils.pdf

Have you thought about seeing an immunologist?

I would also keep a written record of your "sick days" that includes symptoms (runny nose, aches, coughing, hoarseness, etc.). Also, include the severity of those symptoms and what they prevent you from doing. Are you fatigued, have no appetite. You've heard of the ubiquitous: Location! Location! Location!. In this case, it should be Details! Details! Details!

Do your symptoms typically occur during a particular time of the year? Note what the weather is like during your peak symptoms. Rainy? Snowy? Hot and dry?

I don't know much about the climatic regions of Australia. I think of hot and dusty everywhere, but there must be variation. Do you live in the same area now that you grew up in? My husband didn't develop any allergies until he moved to my hometown climate.

Be your own detective-advocate. Even if you see a doctor about this change in your health, you still need to be the one who needs to document what is going on. Is it winter where you are?

I've always found it interesting that those of us in the Americas base our flu shots on the strains of flu that hit Australia during their winter season (since your winter precedes our winter). Sometimes our flu-shot makers predict the correct strains, sometimes they get it completely wrong, which is why some people who get a flu shot still end up getting the flu (they weren't inoculated against the strain that they were exposed to!)

Edited August 9, 20188 yr by Missouri-Lee's Summit

@James Marusek My daughter, the pharmacist, swears by essential oils. She uses them daily. My youngest son, who is more than a decade younger, is often heard saying something straight out of Goldilocks and the Three Bears after his sister visits:

"K---- has been sitting in my chair...ugh... it smells like essential oils!"

7 hours ago, Missouri-Lee's Summit said:

@James Marusek My daughter, the pharmacist, swears by essential oils. She uses them daily. My youngest son, who is more than a decade younger, is often heard saying something straight out of Goldilocks and the Three Bears after his sister visits:

"K---- has been sitting in my chair...ugh... it smells like essential oils!"

When my mother was in the nursing home before she passed away. Alzheimer's was beginning to take hold so I tried to treat the condition with essential oils. I requested the nurses administer the oil to her once per day. And then when I visited her, I sometimes asked the nurses if that was being done. Their response was rather surprising. They would say the name of my mom and say "Oh! sure we remember her. She is the one who always smells so nice."

Now in a nursing home, the smell can become very bad. Sometimes, it is almost like smelling death. And I can imagine that the nurses and aids that have to work in that environment day in and day out can get overwhelmed by the odors. Now I could not detect that the essential oil blend helped my mother's memory improve. But I decided it was a very good idea to continue treating her with oils because it brought a bit of sunshine into the lives of the nurses and aids that had to care for her. And if it brightened their day, they would go the extra mile to brighten her day.

@James Marusek I read your pdf. I loved it!! Your Superman Formula. Your Anti-Dog Tumor Blend. Fascinating. I need to borrow some of my daughter's books and read more about essential oils. I know there has to be a blend to help me with something. I have chronic pain (for which I take morphine). I would love something that would help to distract me from that pain.

From what career did you retire, if I may ask?

Edited August 9, 20188 yr by Missouri-Lee's Summit

40 minutes ago, Missouri-Lee's Summit said:

@James Marusek I read your pdf. I loved it!! Your Superman Formula. Your Anti-Dog Tumor Blend. Fascinating. I need to borrow some of my daughter's books and read more about essential oils. I know there has to be a blend to help me with something. I have chronic pain (for which I take morphine). I would love something that would help to distract me from that pain.

From what career did you retire, if I may ask?

Nuclear physics and engineering

@James Marusek

Weather history, pattern mathematics, why cats naturally like to be petted, the log cabin playhouse for your grandkids, how pneumonia was the real killer during the 1918-19 flu pandemic, etc. So much to enjoy on your site.

I was able to relate to your battles with your insurance carrier. In all fairness, though, I eventually received help from someone from our university system (of Missouri) who was able to jump over various gatekeepers and talk directly to the higher-ups and resolve everything in a day.

Also and, of course, thank you for your service.

This thread is interesting,

I use essential oils in my hair for years and years just because I like it.

OP forgot to ask were you recently tested for autoimmunes and the other culprit...

22 minutes ago, GreenTealael said:

OP forgot to ask were you recently tested for autoimmunes and the other culprit...

No, not tested, unless it is part of by bariatric surgery blood workup each year.

3 minutes ago, James Marusek said:

No, not tested, unless it is part of by bariatric surgery blood workup each year.

The OP should look into that... I never rule out the unexpected...