catwoman7

that's a question only your insurance company can answer...

I had a desk job (retired now) and took three weeks off. If necessary, I could have gone back after two - but I appreciated that third week to sleep and get used to the food progression.

your PCP's records of your weight for the last five years should count for that five-year requirement. For supervised diet, usually people work with their PCP or a registered dietititian (although some insurance will accept things like Weight Watchers, if it's documented - you'll have to ask them). You shouldn't need to have any co-morbidities at a weight of 360. Most insurance companies don't require you to have co-morbidities to approve the surgery unless your BMI is under 40.

you're only six months out, so still in the "honeymoon" stage. Try to get back on track ASAP because it's never in your life going to be easier to lose weight than it is right now. I'd call your clinic for help - that's what they're there for! They may have you work with the dietitian or the psychologist (if they have one on staff - our clinic did...)

the two week thing is the infamous "three week stall". Almost everyone experiences it. Here are the 17,501 posts on it on this site (and no, I am NOT kidding): https://www.bariatricpal.com/search/?q=three week stall weird color poop isn't uncommon the first month or two after surgery. I think paleness usually indicates fat malabsorption, which isn't a huge surprise. I think mine was normal colored after about the first month. as for the pain thing, I'd run that by your clinic. I'm not sure what that is- could be a lot of things, I think. They might want to do a scope or something to see what's going on.

I think I had to be at the hospital at 7:00 am. I had the second surgery of the day (by the same surgeon) - I think it was scheduled for 10:00 am.

sounds like it might have been the same test I took...

it's really common. Something about the surgery evidently affects your inner thermostat. I had that issue the first few months after surgery, but I don't any more. For some people, though, it's permanent.

same here. Although like the person above said, not everyone is required to give up caffeine. There seems to be zero consensus among surgeons on this issue.

I had to take a test online. It's been a few years, but I think it was similar to what jeanniebug said - I had to circle a number from 1-5 according to how much I agreed with whatever the statement was (or felt it or thought it or whatever). It took forever - at least 1.5 hours - and maybe 2 hours - and a lot of the questions seemed repetitive. I THINK it was the MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory). I think they're just looking to see if you have some serious mental health issues (and I mean serious - there are lots of people who have garden variety anxiety or depression issues, and those usually won't stop you from having the surgery). They also want to make sure you know what you're getting into and are realistic about it. After I took the test, the psychologist chatted with me for about a half hour - asked me how much I expected to lose, etc. Can't remember what else. It wasn't a big deal - it was just that test drove me crazy after awhile. Too long and repetitive. But you may not get the same test...

someone at your clinic will probably let you know before you're discharged from the hospital (or maybe even before you have the surgery) - but in my case, all I was supposed to do for the first four weeks was walk (and they really encouraged that). At the four week mark, I was cleared to do everything EXCEPT strength training. I had to wait eight weeks, I think, to go back to that.

it's the infamous three-week stall. It happens to almost everyone. It's not always the third week - it's sometimes the second or fourth - but it's most often the third (hence, the name). It'll last 1-3 weeks (sometimes longer - although that's unusual - 1-3 weeks is pretty standard). Just follow your plan and stay off the scale for a few days. It'll break and you'll be on your way again. here are past posts on this site about the three week stall. All 17,501 of them (and no, I am NOT kidding): https://www.bariatricpal.com/search/?q=three week stall

this isn't normal. You really need to contact your team.

I didn't like bananas for several years after surgery. Too cloying. I can eat them again now, though.

this is all temporary. You'll eventually be able to eat most of the foods you love again. I assume you have to wait until April before eating solid foods because of the bowel obstruction, not the bypass. My mother-in-law had surgery for a bowel obstruction a year or so ago (she never had weight loss surgery, though - it just happened), and she was on fluids and purees for quite awhile, too, as I recall. you've been in a very down mood for quite awhile now - since weeks before your surgery. I hope you'll start feeling better soon emotionally, too. If not, does your clinic have a therapist? You might find it helpful.

I'm in my 60s and had my bypass at age 55. There are lots of us who've had surgery in our 50s and 60s (even a few in their 70s)

I had mostly protein shakes the first couple of weeks. We were told to use those that were 100% whey protein isolate - I don't think many - if any - brands of that contain any beef byproducts.

only about 30% of bypass patients dump - and it can be controlled by limiting the amount of sugar or fat you eat at one sitting (which we should be doing anyway, to be honest...). I had my bypass 7.5 years ago and have never dumped - and I know lots of other bypassers who aren't dumpers, either. meds might have to be adjusted due to the malabsorption, but they're used to having to do this. Bypass has been around for a long time. GERD can get worse with sleeve, but it's not inevitable. Some people don't experience this - and some even claim theirs got better. But the percentage of people whose GERD got worse was a little too high for me to take the risk, so I went with bypass. But others are willing to take the risk. P.S. I've been very happy with my bypass and would make the same decision if I had to make it today.

for stalls, just stick to your plan and stay off the scale for a few days. It'll break as long as you stick to your food plan.

I haven't taken aspirin or ibuprofen since I had surgery 7.5 years ago, but the PA at my clinic said taking a dose or two once in a great while for something that Tylenol wasn't doing anything for should be fine. They just don't want us taking NSAIDs as our regular pain reliever, since they can cause ulcers.

25 lbs in six weeks is actually really good. I didn't lose that much until the end of month 2, and mine was a virgin surgery. as far as losing more, some people do lose quite a bit of weight with a revision, but it's more difficult and a lot slower than it was the first time around. Someone (maybe on here? I can't remember) once explained that it's likely due to fact that you went from a large stomach to a small stomach during surgery #1 - and now you're just going from small to small, so the loss will be a lot slower going. It kind of made sense.

they're both good surgeries and you'll find people on here who have been very successful with both (and also some not-so-successful with both - but that is usually due to bad habits sneaking back in - so you have to really watch that!) as others have said, both have their pros and cons. There are some health conditions that would make one or the other more appropriate for you, but barring that, it really comes down to personal preference. I went with the bypass because, like jeanniebug, I had GERD before I had surgery. There's a decent risk of that getting worse with the sleeve (although it's certainly not inevitable). Some people are willing to take that risk; I was not - so I went with bypass. I've been very happy with my bypass and would choose it again if I had to make the decision today.

I've heard of this before - and I've heard some of the meds they have now are more effective than they used to be. Not sure what I'd do - but if you and your surgeon think they'd help, it could be worth a try. But then, that's totally up to you.

oh wow - no wonder you were feeling like crap! That is A LOT of stuff! I'm so sorry to hear this - I hope all of that is fixable or at least treatable!

Honestly, the thing that keeps me here is that I never, ever want to be morbidly obese again. NEVER! Everything is so much better now! I don't know that I'd say it's necessarily difficult, but I know I will have to monitor my weight and my eating for the rest of my life so the pounds don't creep up.