[MINI GASTRIC BYPASS THREAD – PLEASE CONSIDER YOUR SURGERY AND EXPERIENCES MAY NOT APPLY TO MINI GASTRIC BYPASS PATIENTS]

Hi all BP’ers and lurkers out there; especially hi to everyone who had the mini gastric bypass (AKA the one-anastomosis gastric bypass/single-anastomosis gastric bypass/omega loop gastric bypass)

It’s my surgiversary!

I can’t believe it’s already been a year. But what a year it has been. Man. I wanted to share a lot of thoughts about my journey – there’s not a ton of MGB patients out there yet, and especially not in the US.

I’ll admit I’ve been working on this for a while, because I want to share the good word about the MGB and contribute some of the things I simply cannot find out there. Well, now I know, at least how it’s been the first year for myself. So that’s my small contribution.

Below, I’ll post the following posts individually so it’s easy to browse for anyone new:

• The surgery: what is it, how does it work, what does science say about weight loss and complications with MGB?
• My journey to weight loss surgery
• My weight journey for a year after the mini gastric bypass
• My diet and calories – stages + what does a typical day look like after a year?
• Exercise – what and when and how much?
• Alcohol and MGB
• What I wish they had told me prior to surgery
• Setting a goal
• Why I think you should consider the MGB
• What it’s like being a mini gastric bypass patient on BariatricPal – what I found useful, and why I needed a pause from participating on the forum
• What now?

I hope you’ll find some of this enjoyable.

Edited December 7, 20214 yr by Guest

Thanks for all the information on your experience with the mini! It’s nice to see some more about this surgery! I had mine done end of august and am very happy with it. ?

14 hours ago, Summermoose said:

Thanks for all the information on your experience with the mini! It’s nice to see some more about this surgery! I had mine done end of august and am very happy with it. ?

Awesome! Again, interested in how long they made your bypass (if you know)?

COVID-19 SPECIAL UPDATE

So, the 'rona found me. How does that affect our anatomy?

Hello, toilet
Well, some people experience symptoms in the gastro-intestinal tract, and I sure did as well. Actually my first symptom was likely constipation, which - to say the least - ended abruptly on day 5 after infection, which was my second day with other symptoms.

Hello again, toilet
I really missed the ability to take ibuprofen / NSAIDs, because it would've helped. I was doing not-so-hot for a few days there. Tried a low-dose aspirin with acetaminophen, and weirdly, it sent me barfing immediately. Didn't give it another shot.

Goodbye, appetite
Immediately getting my positive test result, I decided to go to what I am sure would be maintenance calories - 2600/day. In reality, it is almost impossible for me to eat more than 1500. I just don't feel like eating. I know getting protein in is super important for my body, especially now. Protein cereal has helped, so has the protein mac n' cheese.

Hello, insanity
Seriously, what's this weirdo disease? Suddenly my ears are ringing, then I have a full-body rash, then I can barely cough to save my life, then I'm fine for half a day, then running a high fever again. Most of all, I'm tired. So, so tired.
I've been more sick with other stuff, but the variety of weird symptoms is something else with this.

I lost a pound, which wasn't the plan, and I feel weak for obvious reasons. So not really celebrating that loss. I'd rather be at the gym

Oh well, hopefully it gets better soon.

Btw: I made the personal decision to get fully vaxxed more than half a year ago. I don't consider other people's health decisions any of my business. I can say, though, a lot of the first days with symptoms felt like the day after the vaxx (J&J), so I think it did indeed help. Worth keeping in mind.

Edited December 19, 20214 yr by Guest

WOW, that’s a tremendous amount of info. I had the sleeve so not all applies to me but I’m sure that will be extremely helpful to people out there that have the mini bypass as an option. Congratulation on your success and best of luck keeping it off.

3 minutes ago, ShoppGirl said:

WOW, that’s a tremendous amount of info. I had the sleeve so not all applies to me but I’m sure that will be extremely helpful to people out there that have the mini bypass as an option. Congratulation on your success and best of luck keeping it off.

Thank you so much!!! And yeah, don't worry if I bang on about the sleeve too much, it's just sometimes hard to us non-sleevers, and especially for those of us with primarily malabsorptive procedures, to navigate the advice here because everything is so sleeve-sleeve-sleeve

On 12/12/2021 at 11:39, MiniGastricBypassDude said:

Awesome! Again, interested in how long they made your bypass (if you know)?

I think my surgeon said mine is 150cm! That’s about 5 feet ?

On 12/19/2021 at 02:35, MiniGastricBypassDude said:

COVID-19 SPECIAL UPDATE



So, the 'rona found me. How does that affect our anatomy?

Hello, toilet

Well, some people experience symptoms in the gastro-intestinal tract, and I sure did as well. Actually my first symptom was likely constipation, which - to say the least - ended abruptly on day 5 after infection, which was my second day with other symptoms.

Hello again, toilet

I really missed the ability to take ibuprofen / NSAIDs, because it would've helped. I was doing not-so-hot for a few days there. Tried a low-dose aspirin with acetaminophen, and weirdly, it sent me barfing immediately. Didn't give it another shot.

Goodbye, appetite

Immediately getting my positive test result, I decided to go to what I am sure would be maintenance calories - 2600/day. In reality, it is almost impossible for me to eat more than 1500. I just don't feel like eating. I know getting Protein in is super important for my body, especially now. Protein cereal has helped, so has the protein mac n' cheese.

Hello, insanity

Seriously, what's this weirdo disease? Suddenly my ears are ringing, then I have a full-body rash, then I can barely cough to save my life, then I'm fine for half a day, then running a high fever again. Most of all, I'm tired. So, so tired.

I've been more sick with other stuff, but the variety of weird symptoms is something else with this.



I lost a pound, which wasn't the plan, and I feel weak for obvious reasons. So not really celebrating that loss. I'd rather be at the gym



Oh well, hopefully it gets better soon.

Btw: I made the personal decision to get fully vaxxed more than half a year ago. I don't consider other people's health decisions any of my business. I can say, though, a lot of the first days with symptoms felt like the day after the vaxx (J&J), so I think it did indeed help. Worth keeping in mind.

I hope you feel better soon!!?

20 minutes ago, Summermoose said:

I think my surgeon said mine is 150cm! That’s about 5 feet ?

I think this is the standard nowadays, and a lot of studies show it gives great weight loss while reducing malnutrition issues, so that sounds perfect

Thanks for the well wishes. If the stupid rash would just leave so I could start counting down to getting out. I miss the gym (yeah, me, missing the gym. I also don't know who the h*ll I am ).

MINERALS AND MALNUTRITION UPDATE (SPOILER: 13 months later, barely any deficiencies)

Had my bloodwork done at 12.5 months. The MGB is often accused by RNY surgeons of inducing too many deficiencies (not quite duodenal switch territory), and yes, it's something you want to stay on top of.

I'm by no means perfect when I comes to supplements, but I'm doing ok. I stopped taking iron pretty much after month 2 because of the horrific constipation it induces, I try getting iron in through natural sources.

Minerals
I'm a little low of folate, still, but otherwise everything is normal. Vitamin D trending downwards, but still in normal range. This is always a concern for those of us in regions with darker winters.

Remember that iron I stopped taking? Yeah, my ferritin levels are increasing. So whatever I'm doing, I am doing it right.

Blood sugar
My blood sugar is on the lower end (I was never a diabetic and I sure am not one now), with an A1C of 4.4, but unlike the Spring, I don't feel hypoglycemic at all, so that's probably just as it should be.

Blood
I had high triglycerides pre-surgery, it's below normal now. Cholesterol healthy and obviously going even more in the right direction.

For me at least, MGB doesn't seem to induce immediate malnutrition. Except you know, the weight loss. But that was planned

On 12/6/2021 at 7:38 PM, MiniGastricBypassDude said:

Didn’t consider what other people might think of the fat guy walking there because, well, I’m not fat. I’m free.

The best feeling ever eh after struggling with weight almost all our lives and the same daunting feeling of being watched.

Seriously you look great, feel great. What else is there to it. Congrats on your journey.

It's funny how this section is right in the corner. ??‍♀️

On 12/6/2021 at 7:39 PM, MiniGastricBypassDude said:

we lose as much or more than the RNY’ers

Didn't know this info. It sounds weird considering both RYN and miniRYN have similar routing of the digestive track. ??‍♀️

But from some of reviews out here, it does seem like mini has been doing great work. In Canada, surgeries are covered under our medical insurance, but we only have an option of Sleeve or RYN. Not sure why this isn't on the table yet when RYN is. Regardless, I was kinda confused with sleeve vs RNY. But given my PCOS history and ofc GERD associated revision, I ended up choosing RYN. And I think I am glad I did that cuz having gone through post-Op, I don't think I ever want to go back to an OR unless for extrutiating circumstances.

Again, well done with your journey ??

Your advises and posts have been very helpful out here. ?

On 12/6/2021 at 7:38 PM, MiniGastricBypassDude said:

Amazing transformation dude. ?e

We can see those dimples shining through ?

BTW, how did people around you react? Like your colleagues or people you may have stumbled into after years?

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Amazing transformation dude. ?e

Thanks Hope your journey is going forward nicely!

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It sounds weird considering both RYN and miniRYN have similar routing of the digestive track. ??‍♀️

It's almost certainly because of the longer bypass. The small intestine varies greatly in length among individuals, so for some, the MGB bypass will be almost similar to a SADI-S (loop duodenal switch).

Generally, bypass length with the MGB has decreased, though - they find people lose weight great with 150 cm bypass, but with less chance of mineral deficiencies.

Mine is 220 cm, but I'm lucky (so far) I'm doing better on all minerals now than pre-surgery except folate.

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Not sure why this isn't on the table yet when RYN is

It truly is baffling. It's a shorter surgery, it uses a mechanism known to general surgeons, and the surgery it is based on is time-tested (it was discovered treating a gunshot wound).

I wonder if the people who would have to introduce and approve this are people who are comfortable with - and skilled in performing - the RNY.

Quote

BTW, how did people around you react? Like your colleagues or people you may have stumbled into after years?

Hmmm ... it's actually kind of weird. Some people know me from when I was at a healthier weight (but not in a healthy relationship with food, either) in my early 20s, and they're kind of ... relieved? Which is annoying.

Those that know only fat me are more straight-forward celebratory. But many people just don't comment on it. People who know me well say it's funny how I still look like me, just a lot lighter.

You know what the weirdest thing is? People you know passing by you on the street, not recognizing you. It has happened more than ten times now.

Thanks for putting down your progress again. I see you said your MGB was 220 cm although they are usually around 150cm. Mine is only 90 cm and I don’t understand why so short. Doesn’t seem like that is long enough to bypass all the part that absorbs the fat and calories, etc. wonder why he didn’t go further down to hook me up? Surgery was November 19, 2021. I be only lost 38 lbs, but have had Covid for last 2 weeks and my appetite is zero so haven’t been taking in the 60 grams of protein or the 64 oz. of water as I was… just had a new infusion of a newly released antibody so hopefully that will help get me well again.

Edited January 29, 20224 yr by Jerald180

Hi Jerald, thanks for reading all that I hope you'll get over COVID and back to good health soon.

1 hour ago, Jerald180 said:

Mine is only 90 cm and I don’t understand why so short. Doesn’t seem like that is long enough to bypass all the part that absorbs the fat and calories, etc. wonder why he didn’t go further down to hook me up?

So a few things on this. First of all, there can be numerous reasons for making a shorter bypass (see below), and a 90 cm BPL is still longer than many RNY'ers bilio-pancreatic limb bypass (it turns out their afferent limb still absorbs calories).

However, while the RNY ends up being almost only a restrictive surgery, the MGB remains a malabsorptive surgery. Most MGBers can eat all kinds of food at reasonable volume pretty quickly.

So if we have a malabsorptive procedure, more malabsorption is better, right? Well, generally it's not the malabsorption that helps us. Sure, it's nice to not absorb 300-400 calories or whatever, but it's primarily the fact that the food gets to the lower intestine really fast that makes us lose weight.

You know that feeling of 'oh man I had a big meal' you get pretty much immediately after eating anything a little heavier? At least many MGB'ers describe this as tool #1.

Why a shorter bypass?
Some surgeons want to make sure older patients don't get malnourished (I don't know how old you are). Some surgeons believe a shorter bypass is almost as effective (again, the difference between 150 cm and 250 cm in the studies is pretty small in terms of weight loss. It's the fact that there's a bypass that helps).

What if it is too short?
Well, then enjoy you had a surgery that's easily revisable. It shouldn't take more than 10-15 minutes in general anesthesia to move your connection further down.

Your weight loss seems fine, btw! But if you need to, the inventor of MGB, Dr Rutledge, is very responsive on Facebook and even does free consultations for MGBers as far as I've seen. He really is in it for the health and for the surgery.

PROTEIN!
Btw: really, really, really try to get that protein in. Especially with a surgery like ours.

I also completely lost my appetite during COVID but 60g isn't a lot. Get some of the hot protein cocoa on the BariatricPal Store, the protein muffins, the quest protein chips, the oatmeal ... something.

At any age over 40, you want to preserve as much muscle mass as humanly possible. Even a week of atrophy (wasting away muscle tissue) will measurably lower your burn rate. You will regret that later.

Edited January 29, 20224 yr by Guest

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I am 68 so that may be why he only bypassed 35”. Don’t think it’s a big issue. But seemed way less than the norm so I have been curious. When I go back for my 6 mos visit in June I plan on asking the surgeon. Thanks for you info. Very helpful and reassuring.