Recap of positives and negatives one year after gastric surgery

[MarisAthena 61]

Below is a recap of the positives and negatives of my gastric surgery one year after the surgery.

Positives:

1. I am no longer a diabetic after 15 years of being a diabetic.
2. I do not take any anti acid medication, I was on daily anti acid medication for 20 years. I no longer have GERD or Barrett’s Esophagus.
3. I look good, I feel good, I lost 100 pounds and I am able to do things that I was unable to do before.

Negatives:

1. Lactose Intolerance:
   • I inherited a lactose intolerance after the surgery and will never be able to enjoy dairy products like ice cream.
2. Alcohol Abstinence:
   • I will never be able to have a beer or a glass of wine, due to the high alcohol concentration in the body, so I have prohibition of alcohol consumption for life.
3. Medication Absorption Issues:
   • Significant Challenge: Post-surgery, the stomach processes medications differently, resulting in varied absorption rates. This issue is under-researched and poses a significant opportunity for further medical studies.
   • Example: Treatment of infections such as UTIs can be complicated. Ineffective antibiotic absorption can lead to persistent infections and increased risk of complications. I had severe challenges with antibiotic absorption. I had repeated UTI incidents due to ineffective medication absorption that necessitated trying multiple antibiotics before finding an effective one that absorbed appropriately. Due to lack of research in this area, doctors have almost no knowledge of this and you have to become your own subject matter expert.
4. Reduced Immunity:
   • Increased susceptibility to infections, including:
     • Cold Sores: Post-surgery imbalance in lysine and arginine levels resulted in frequent cold sores. Daily lysine supplements were recommended to manage this issue. This is one additional supplement I need to take daily.
     • Fungal Infections: Significant weight loss altered skin physiology, leading to recurrent fungal infections in skin folds. Preventive measures include having antifungal prescriptions on standby.
5. Nutritional Imbalances:
   • Vitamins and Minerals: Maintaining a balance of essential nutrients is a constant challenge, truly a daily full time job. Taking Vitamins, minerals and being able to change the amount based on blood test results is a life long commitment.
     • Anemia: Despite taking supplements, anemia can still occur, this is a constant struggle for me.
     • Mineral Toxicity: Excess minerals like phosphorus can lead to osteoporosis, indicating the fine line between deficiency and toxicity in nutrient management. This has been a challenge for me, my blood tests have consistently showed high phosphorous levels and nobody has an answer to this. I consulted several physicians including endocrinologist, nephrologist and my family doctor, with no answers thus far.
6. Severe Hunger:
   • Increased Hunger: Somewhere between 6 months and a year post-surgery, hunger pains became more intense than pre-surgery. The luxury of not being hungry all the time went away. Nobody talks extensively about this but lack of hunger goes away for all gastric surgery patients, hunger comes back and it is up to the individual to eat properly and not gain the weight back, which is very easy to do.
   • Inability to Fast: Unlike before the surgery, fasting for even a day can cause severe physical reactions including shaking and an overwhelming feeling of malaise.
7. I was unable to resolve the Atrial Fibrillation. This was the main reason for which I had this surgery since Australian studies were showing promising results curing AFib with weight loss. While the episodes are less frequent my AFib is still there.

Conclusion: Gastric surgery offers weight loss benefits but comes with lifelong challenges that require constant vigilance and management. Thorough consideration and consultation with healthcare professionals are essential before proceeding with any gastric surgery.

Edited June 25, 2024 by MarisAthena

[kristieshannon 1,681]

Not sure of your age, but if you are in the age of being pre- or post-menopausal vaginal estrogen cream is shown to be an effective preventative treatment for UTIs. There is even research showing it to be safe for those who have had breast cancer. Ask you doctor if this applies to you!

[ms.sss 15,813]

wow, you really got the short end of the stick statistically. i'm sorry you have all these issues! hopefully you find a way to manage them satisfactorily.

while i don't have suggestions for all your ailments (plus i an NOT a medical professional) i can at least offer a possible resolution to your Lactose Intolerance: i was lactose intolerant before wls, but it seemed to get a little worse (i.e., i got a little more sensitive) AFTER wls. taking a lactose pill just before having any dairy works wonders though.

good luck!

[Tomo 1,196]

Wow. I concur with @ms.sss. You did get the short end of the stick. I had the sleeve for years and then I had a revision to RNY (~3 years) and I don't have any of those issues. In fact, I can't even think of any negatives. Except if I eat too fast, it may cause the foamies.

I'm so sorry you're going through all that. I have no problem with my Vitamins, I wear a MV patch and sometimes I'll take high ADEK chewable. My Vitamin A was slightly low so that's why I started taking the high ADEK a few times a week. I also never heard of cold sores lower immunity and fungal infections... Etc. after WLS. I sure hope things and improve for you.

[BlueParis 118]

2 hours ago, kristieshannon said:

Not sure of your age, but if you are in the age of being pre- or post-menopausal vaginal estrogen cream is shown to be an effective preventative treatment for UTIs. There is even research showing it to be safe for those who have had breast cancer. Ask you doctor if this applies to you!

I just want to +++ this re vaginal estrogen cream for UTI prevention @kristieshannon your comment made me think of https://x.com/mvankuikenmd on twitter who I love !

[kristieshannon 1,681]

On 06/25/2024 at 15:31, BlueParis said:

I just want to +++ this re vaginal estrogen cream for UTI prevention @kristieshannon your comment made me think of https://x.com/mvankuikenmd on twitter who I love !

Ashley Winter is another doc who is very pro vaginal estrogen. She used to work for the org I work for in Portland, now is in LA. She makes a very good case for it for a multitude of reasons!

[MarisAthena 61]

Thank you so much everyone for your comments, advice and good wishes! I was talking with my husband the other day and he stated “ Not everything after gastric surgery is roses! Maybe you should post something so others understand that this is a very personal decision that can have perfect or not so perfect results.” I did not have access to this type of information prior to my surgery and I think that others should. Thank you again and good luck on your individual journey!

[GreenTealael 25,579]

It’s unfortunate you are experiencing some issues!

D Mannose works well for UTIs and is available in almost every Vitamin sections in stores.
For the skin issues, have you considered a specialized soap? Also you can keep reinfecting yourself through clothing that is infected. Definitely see a dermatologist if you can.

You said you are in remission now but your fasting issues may be connected to your diabetes. Do you monitor you blood glucose levels while fasting? I can still dry fast for over 24 hrs with no issues and wet fast for over 36hrs but I don’t have diabetes. Everyone is different so take that with a grain of salt.

Some things may improve for you the further out from surgery you get or with continued weightloss.

Good Luck!