Gastric Sleeve to Bypass revision

[teachkdz0507 7]

Hi Friends-

I am so grateful for this community and the friends I made along the way when this journey first started. I should have reached out when all the trouble became serious but I hunkered down and surrounded myself with blame and embarrassment. I am glad I reached out because I have found out WE ARE NOT ALONE!

People that I knew from my initial surgery support group (7 years ago) are having the same issues! It is a relief to know it isn't just me on the struggle bus. The reflux and malabsorption are huge for way more than I ever thought. The regain of 50% or more is quite a common story. We all admit that we fell off the ride but we also maintain that our tool wasn't all that it was cracked up to be.

My personal opinion is that we all were on the early end of the adoption of using the sleeve as a stand-alone procedure. It used to be a step before RNY for the heaviest of patients. I think they are finding out that many of us need to do the RNY, after all, to meet our weight goal and get rid of those pesky side effects. Honestly, making goal does sound good but fixing the way I feel daily is a much bigger incentive. If I get some weight off along the way then that is a nice benefit.

My one "down" side is that my new surgeon is part of a practice that I am getting the feeling likes to do a lot of suggestive selling. I think they make you do things before they will get the insurance done. I am an avid tennis player. Seeing their exercise person is not what I need but they are going to make me lift weights. I would much rather spend my money to buy tennis clinics to help me shape up at something I enjoy doing. They do have monthly nights with local chefs to learn how to cook healthy and bariatric friendly meals. I can get behind that 100%. Teach me how and I can do it. I will try my best to get on board with their plan. The old plan obviously didn't work for me.

Finally on the calendar for my first visit on June 6. Wish me luck at the appointment.

I did want to ask them about what a functional doc said to me. Tell me if any of you have heard this before. The functional doc believes my issue (and other gastric patients) is LOW acid not too much acid. He said it will mimic the same feeling as heartburn because my food isn't digesting properly due to a lack of acid and breaking down naturally as it should. Thus the malabsorption. He believes that in turn causes inflammation of the stomach and intestines which makes eating even that much harder. Enter the gas, belching, feeling full too soon, diarrhea issues... IF he is right, he wants me to add a supplement that will increase the acid in my stomach. I am so afraid to do that because I feel so awful now. Has anyone else heard this explanation? Did you try this? He said any brand of Betaine HCL Pepsin will work. I might try it this weekend to see if it works.

Heads up...we can turn our ships around and be victorious. I am so glad I am not the sole person on this journey.

Happy Memorial Day!

Teachkdz0507