catwoman7

I've ordered several things through the Bariatric Pal store - never had a problem. I think it's mostly been protein powders and calcium citrate chews. I pick up a lot of generic vitamins at Walgreens or CVS.

I had GERD so it was a no-brainer: RNY. If it weren't for that, I would have been comfortable with either one. They're both good surgeries, and there are many success stories with both. If you really want RNY, though, I wouldn't let someone push me into another choice unless there's some medical reason for doing so (which sometimes there is....). I think a lot of surgeons prefer doing VSG because it's an easier surgery - but YOU'RE the one who'll have to live with whatever you get...

if it keeps up, call your surgeon's office. It could be nothing - or it could be a stricture. You're in the right time range for one (they almost always occur 1-3 months post-op). I had two of them - one at four weeks and the other at eight weeks. It's an easy fix, and you feel better right away.

you might be entering the infamous "three-week stall", and your weight might be up slightly because of water retention or full intestines. Just stick to your plan - it'll pass and you'll be on your way to losing again!

I'm very sorry for the loss of your uncle. I had similar thoughts as you - I didn't want to die at 65 (or earlier!) a burden to my family because of my weight. It was time to do something drastic...

I suppose just like in the US, there are surgeons who will do it if your BMI is over 60, and those who won't. Just be upfront with the surgeons you're considering before you proceed. Of course, like someone said, you could have some other (unknown) issue that might keep them from doing the surgery, but that could happen here as well. Those cases aren't that common, though. Just mention your BMI when you contact them to see what they say. If they're OK with that, then proceed...

a lot of surgeons don't even do the band anymore because so many people have had problems with them. And I'd be a little leery of the balloon just because it's so new. Bypass is technically reversible, but they won't do it unless you have some severe medical problems with it, which are rare. If it were me, I'd go with one of the tried and true surgeries (bypass or sleeve), but then, I'm not you, so....

at a year out I was eating in the 1000-1200 calorie range (I'm now in maintenance and am eating 1500-1700 calories). I could eat most anything but, as the above poster said, in smaller portions. It was (and still is) basically a high protein, moderately low carb diet (I never did the ultra-low carb thing that a lot of post-ops do - but then again, I'm not particularly carb sensitive, either). Mostly protein, vegetables, and fruit with an occasional complex carb like grains or beans.

you won't always have stomach discomfort, either. The first few weeks are admittedly rough, but after that, you'll feel like yourself again. The only time I have stomach discomfort is when I overdo it or eat a lot of things that I shouldn't - but then again, I shouldn't be doing that in the first place!!

the three-week stall usually lasts a week or two, but I've known of a couple of people who had it last for 3.5 weeks. Mine lasted for two weeks and after it broke, I settled into a pattern like you described - a half pound to a pound a day. I lost at that rate for the first six or seven months, then it slowed down even more (actually, after the first month or two, it was more like a half pound a day, if that...). It adds up over time, though. I've lost a total of 236 lbs. Just stick to your program and be patient and the weight will come off..

I gained and lost the same 50 lbs for years and years and had over 200 lbs to lose. I knew I'd never be able to do it if I couldn't even lose and maintain a 50-lb loss. Plus I wasn't getting any younger (I was already in the 50s). Luckily the only obesity-related issue I had was early onset arthritis, but I knew if I didn't get the weight off, all those other issues would be just around the corner. Plus I had visions of having a massive heart attack or stroke when I was far too young to die just because of all that excess weight. At some point I realized surgery was the only way I could get it off once and for all. I did a lot of research before I had it - plus I attended several orientation sessions and post-op support groups to get as much information as I could. I also joined forums, as you did, and read everything. By the time I had surgery (two years ago), I was very comfortable with the idea and eager to proceed. I have lost 236 lbs and now have a normal BMI for the first time in my life. I have not felt this good in years. I am SO happy I had this surgery and would do it again - in fact, I'd do it every year if I had to. It's given me my life back. Yes - you will have to restrict your eating for the rest of your life. That's the only way to get weight off. You need to be OK with that before consenting to surgery. You will have to make some significant changes to your lifestyle, or it's not going to work for you. Complications are not common with either surgery, and most are minor and/or preventable. These surgeries are now so commonplace and so many advances have been made over the years that they are among the safest surgeries out there - safer than a knee or hip replacement, for example. Mortality rate on the bypass is 0.3%; it's even lower on the sleeve. That means you have at least a 99.7% chance of surviving - those are some pretty good odds! I cannot recommend this surgery enough to people who need it - but I also know that you need to be in the right place mentally to do it. It involves work and a radical change in your eating habits. There are also rules you need to follow for life. I sometimes say I wish I'd had this surgery 20 years ago, but then again, I'm not sure if I was in the right mindset to be successful back then. I think I had the surgery at the right time *for me*. Read forums, read books, read things on the internet. Become very informed about the surgery and "talk" to people who've had it. You're doing the right thing by joining this forum - join even more, and read, read, read. I read everything I could get my hands on before taking the leap. And I am so glad I went through with the surgery. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

you kind of have to play around with the dose to see what works for you. Too much and you get the opposite problem - diarrhea. I take 2000 mg a day, but that's a magnesium blend (citrate, oxide, and something else). Supposedly too much magnesium can hurt you, but the PA at my bariatric clinic said the main kind we can absorb is magnesium citrate. So he told me to get magnesium oxide or a magnesium blend. We don't absorb the other kinds, but you still get the laxative effect, so it's not dangerous. You might want to start with about 400 mg and go from there. As in try it for a week or two and if it doesn't do the trick, increase it a little. Rinse and repeat.

your weight loss sounds fine to me..

I use Bariatric Advantage chews for my calcium. For multivitamins, I just use Centrum Senior chewables (or the CVS equivalent, which go on sale a lot) protein - if you ask 100 different people you're bound to get 100 different answers, but I personally like Syntrax and Unjury products since I can't taste the protein in them

RNY = Roux-en-Y It's just another name for the bypass. Just like VSG is another name for the sleeve

yes - I've heard of people having blood in their stool the first couple times they went. Probably because they were cutting your intestines. I'm glad you called the doctor just in case (I would have done that, too), but i wouldn't worry about it unless it continues

go back to the basics. Eat protein first, then non-starchy vegetables. Then if you have room, fruit or complex carbs (like grains). No drinking until at least 30 minutes after you eat. Weigh, measure, and log everything you put in your mouth. Unfortunately, it's the only way..

p.s. I'm two years out and have lost 236 lbs (*all* my weight). I didn't increase calories to break stalls. I just kept doing what I was supposed to do. They always always broke. Just stick to your plan.

I wouldn't increase calories. 600 is fine for 2.5 months out. Just stick to your plan - the stall will break.

you don't want to get into that habit because that's one of the reasons some people gain a bunch of their weight back (that, and not waiting long enough after they eat to drink). Eat meals of dense protein (like meat) whenever you can - it tends to hold you over a lot longer.

btw - the vast majority of RNY'ers who develop vitamin deficiencies don't keep on top of their vitamins (or don't take them at all). If you're good about taking your vitamins every day, your chances of developing deficiencies are pretty small.

I had GERD, so it was a no-brainer for me: bypass

they're both good surgeries. Most RNY'ers do not dump (the statistic that gets repeated on these boards is that 30% dump - not sure if there's any research behind that, but suffice it to say, a lot of us don't dump and never have). Dumping can be prevented by watching what you eat. You'll lose faster with RNY, but by two years out, the results are about the same. Certain medical issues may make one or the other surgery a better choice for you (e.g., if you have GERD, go with RNY). I don't know why it would matter if you switched other than they might have to submit it to insurance again to have the other surgery approved - which may or may not delay you by a bit. But if that's what you want to do, then go for it.

I do that occasionally when I eat too much or too fast. I don't think it's dumping - most RNY'ers don't dump. Dumping (when it happens) is when you eat too much fat or sugar.

there's really not a lot you can do about it other than plastic surgery. Some people claim their fat shifted around after their weight stabilized, and they started to look a bit better, though....