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Hello,

I wanted to know as much as I could about gastric bypass surgery and gastric sleeve surgery that I think I've scared myself right out of surgery. I've read three books and watched everything I could on the subject on YouTube.

I also have PMR therefore I'm not sure if I can even have this surgery. I am 5'5 and weigh 226 pounds. I was 120 pounds when I was started on bipolar meds. I've been very thin all my life so I'm am very upset about all this weight that I'm carrying on a small frame.

I have a question about food. I'm not big on food but I do love sugar some of this sugar addiction is caused by the meds. and some is just a natural craving. What's the point of getting a gastric sleeve if I'm still going to crave sweets? Thanks for any feedback.

Minnie

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I’ve taken a couple classes with Kaiser and the surgery will change your hormones. I’ve also read a lot that things you use to like or crave won’t taste the same after surgery. There’s also something called dumping syndrome caused by certain foods you eat. I haven’t had surgery but I’ve also tried to gather information before I make any decisions

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^^^^^

only about 30% of RNY patients have dumping syndrome, and far fewer sleeve patients have it - so it's not something to count on. A lot of us definitely have to work on our sugar addictions after surgery (me included - there are times I've wished I was a dumper!!)

Edited by catwoman7

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Part of the process of getting approved from surgery is a psyc evaluation. If you are upfront about the sugar addiction during that process it is likely they will suggest that you continue to do visits for a while until you get to the bottom of why you have that addiction and are better prepared for success after surgery.

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I had sleeve, I love sugar. I can eat about 200 calories of pure sugar an hour without any issues. If I try to eat more than 200 calories of sugar in an hour, I will feel kinda gross and nauseated.

But there are a lot of hours in a day. It's very easy to eat yourself fat on sugar with a sleeve if you don't address the issues behind your disordered eating and get control of it.

While weight loss surgery DOES help you slow down and have more reaction time to your bad habits....Weight loss surgery doesn't fix your head. Fixing your eating habits will still be up to you.

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I also gained a ton of weight from my bipolar meds (100 lbs in two years, more in the years after that). However, both the surgeon and the psychopharmacologist said that I should do sleeve to ensure I can still absorb the psych meds fully, rather than bypass. I do occasionally have reflux, so I'm a bit worried and I'm trying to get a second opinion, but think about that, especially since you don't have that much to lose.

The meds made me crave sugar like crazy, but I find that when I don't have sugar, I stop craving it. See if you can do that before surgery, because the surgery won't fix that and you can just gain the weight back if you're head's not in it, since you'll still be on the psych meds.

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    • 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
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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!
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    • 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!

    • 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. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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