catwoman7

things can go wrong with the sleeve, too. Or with tonsillectomies. Or with wisdom tooth extraction. It's just one of those risks of any surgery... Overall, bypass does come with somewhat more risk since it IS more complicated, but the difference isn't that significant. And it's super low for both surgeries.

some people say they've worked for them and others have said they haven't. I think the jury might still be out on these. And like the person above said, sometimes it can take months or even years for deficiencies to start showing up. I never tried them because I figured I'd be one of the people they didn't work for. Plus some people's surgeons and dietitians are telling them not to use them since it's not clear that they work. They haven't been around long enough for much long-term research. I've considered getting some for when I'm traveling overseas, though, so I don't have to lug two or three weeks' worth of vitamins with me, but for regular use, I stick to regular vitamins.

I just added some more stuff to my message - (I accidentally saved it before I was done saying what I wanted to say!!) - so go back and check out the updates.

the closer you get to a normal BMI, the slower it goes. Those last 20 lbs were a BEAR for me to get off. Took forever. We're talking like 2 lbs a month the last three or four months. But I hung in there and finally made it. The reason being, your calorie requirements at that weight are MUCH lower than they were when you started. It takes about 1600 calories for me to maintain my current weight. I would have lost weight like CRAZY if I ate 1600 calories when I weighed over 300 lbs. For me to lose 2 lbs a week (which I could have done NO PROBLEM when I weighed 300 + lbs), I would have to eat 7000 fewer calories that week (well, I would have when I weighed 300+ lbs, too). That's 1000 fewer calories a day. When I was scarfing up 3500 kcal/day, that means I would have had to cut back to 2500 kcal/day. Now I would have to cut back to 600 per day. Ah...no. I could do that the first couple months out of surgery, but 600 calories a day at seven years out? No way. Plus it wouldn't have even been healthy. So I basically lose a couple lbs a month when I'm trying to lose weight. 8-10 oz portions - would depend on what it is. Greek yogurt, yes. Steak - no. Stretching your stomach - probably not. You'd have to really overeat, day after day, every day, to do that. you are hungry because physical hunger does come back for the vast majority of us sometime during the first year. And that's when things get a lot harder. I've never counted fats. And I wasn't on an ultra-low carb plan (mine was balanced), but the first few months, I rarely ate over 80 carbs a day since I had to get in so much protein. There wasn't room for more than about 80 carbs. Now i probably get double that - but I limit the "bad" ones. Mine mostly come from whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. exercise isn't that effective in helping you lose a bunch of weight unless you're talking swimming mega laps or running marathons. But it's great for your overall health, and you should do it regularly if you can. It CAN help you maintain once you get to goal, though.

you're not likely to notice the restriction until you move to solid foods. Once you eat something like a chicken breast, you'll notice it! (I still do at seven years out) however, do keep in mind that your "full" cues may be different. I don't feel "full" the same way I used to. Instead, I have this uncomfortable feeling in my chest - like a pressure. I know when I start feeling that, I'd better stop eating or I'm going to be sorry. Other people have even weirder cues, like sneezing or a runny nose. So it can take awhile to figure yours out. Although again, it may be too early for you to even feel those. It will come..

they scheduled me way out but when I said I was having surgery on such-and-such a date, they put me on a cancellation list and I got in a lot earlier (before my potential surgery date) -I think given the situation, they put me at the top of the cancellation list (this was for the sleep study - but still, the same would probably apply to your situation...)

I agree with the people above - there's really not that much difference. Post-op diets are the same. As far as vitamin regimens go, some clinics have the two groups of patients on the exact same vitamin regimen (and some clinics have the sleeve patients on fewer vitamins - but still, everyone is on vitamins). Recovery time is about the same. I also went with bypass because of reflux. I've been very happy with my bypass and would choose it again if I had to make the decision today (had mine almost seven years ago)

almost all of us have our first stall sometime during the first 4-6 weeks after surgery. It's USUALLY the third week, but not always. Mine was weeks 2 & 3. Scale didn't budge. Just stick to your program and stay off the scale. Maybe just weigh yourself once a week until the stall breaks And as long as you stick to your program, it WILL break, and you'll be on your way again. oh - just wanted to add that I agree with one of the above people who said that this might not even be a stall if it's only been three days. But if it goes on longer, then yes, it probably is - and it's not uncommon at all!

we were also told to shoot for 60 grams of protein and 64 oz of fluid. I was able to meet that right away, but I know it takes some people awhile to get up to that level. If you can only meet the requirements of one or the other (although definitely try for both as your body needs both to heal!), the fluids are more important. You can end up back in the hospital pretty quickly if you're dehydrated.

also - there's a good blog that's been used by the bariatric community for several years. The woman who does it had her surgery several years ago and she loves cooking - she has lots of recipes for all different stages. (she's quite well known - she was on the board of the Obesity Action Coalition (may still be for all I know...). Anyway, it's just another good place to check for recipes) https://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/

Bypass patients have to take B12 via either sublingual tablet or injection (although the vast majority go with the sublingual tablet) because we don't have enough intrinsic factor to absorb it in any other form. I don't think sleevers have that issue - I think you can take regular tablets (if you even need B12 in the first place - maybe so (I'm not a sleever, so I'm not sure about this)) it could be these people are thinking of giving you different doses (the twice a year one might be a much higher dose), but that's just a guess. And they should be going by your lab work. I've had to cut back - and then increase - my B12 supplementation a couple of times based on my labs (I'm several years out, though)

^^^^ I agree with lizonaplane. People have been known to come out of the hospital up to 10 lbs heavier than when they went in.

you're right - Keto isn't the best idea for RNY people. We have a high protein requirement (well, as do sleevers), and many can't handle large amounts of fat. Plus it isn't sustainable for a lot of folks. not sure if you were sort of responding to my comment above yours, but I meant I could handle MCT oil or butter in my coffee - NOT a complete Keto diet. For one thing, my protein requirements are even higher than most WLS patients' - 100+ grams a day. It'd be hard to do that - plus Keto - while staying within my calorie range. Plus my pouch doesn't like fat-laden meals.

you're probably just in a stall. They typically last 1-3 weeks. I had several on my journey, especially as I got closer to my goal. Frustrating - but as long as you stick to your plan, they eventually break. the above poster is correct - exercise doesn't really help that much with weight loss (it's helpful for weight maintenance, though), but it's great for your general health. I wouldn't give it up, even if it seems it's not doing anything. Because it most likely is. you're where a lot of people are calorie-wise at the six-month mark - although some are a little higher. Depends on your program.

Like Arabesque said, slow release versions are known for not absorbing well after WLS. I really haven't heard about absorption issues with other meds - but if you feel you're not getting the full dose, I'd definitely bring it up with the prescribing physician.

depends on the person. I had RNY, and I could handle that... P.S. I just googled "Bang Keto" - it's just a brand name

it's really common. Sometimes it goes away, sometimes it doesn't. I was like that the first few months, but not anymore - but it seems to be permanent with some people.

I pretty much didn't give a flip about food for the first five months. I was never hungry and rarely craved anything. I had to actually remind myself to eat most of the time! BUT...that all usually comes back sometime during the first year, and things get a lot harder after that. Mine all came back at five months out. I wish it never did - it was SO much easier to lose weight when I was never hungry and could give a rat's behind about food! So I know this sounds weird to say, but enjoy it while it lasts! It'll never be easier to lose weight than it is right now. I had regrets maybe the first month. But I'm so glad I had the surgery and I'd do it again in a heartbeat! as far as not feeling normal and not being able to eat normally - that's really only the early months. I felt like myself at maybe two months out. As far as eating normally, once you're a ways out there are no more food restrictions. There may be some foods you'll have difficulty tolerating, but your surgeon isn't going to limit anything as you get further out. I was able to add more and more foods as time went on - and it six months out, they said I could eat whatever my system could tolerate (which for me is pretty much everything except for really fat-laden meals). I eat normally now - the only difference is I probably only eat half the amount I did before surgery. When I go out to eat, I'll usually order either an appetizer, or I'll order an entree, eat 1/3 - 1/2 of it, and take the rest home. To be honest, that's how a lot of my never-been-obese women friends eat all the time. No one would be able to tell anymore than I've had bariatric surgery - they'd just think I was a "light eater", if they even noticed at all.

actually, only about 30% of bypassers dump. I, unfortunately, do not ("unfortunately" because it'd keep me from eating a bunch of sugar!). But you're right, most people who dump can have SOME sugar - just not a lot (or at least not a lot at one sitting) or they'll set off the dumping "feature".

thanks. If you'd had bypass I would have suspected a possibly stricture, but those are pretty rare with sleeves. I agree with the others - I'd contact your clinic. Something isn't right here...

I would get a handle on that ASAP or you're going to undo all the work you've done so far. I agree with the commenters who suggested seeing a therapist. This is your once-in-a-lifetime chance to lose a TON of weight - don't blow it.

which surgery did you have?

yep...

when I had my surgery (in 2015), my only choices were sleeve and bypass - so lap band wasn't an option. I'm grateful for that now!! (I think it was around the time when I had mine that sleeve started to replace lap band as the non-bypass alternative...)

you're in what we call the "three week stall" (it doesn't always happen the third week - it can really happy any time within the first six weeks or so after surgery, but most of us have it the third week, hence the name). Probably 90% of us experience that early stall. Just keep following your plan and stay off the scale if you need to. It typically lasts 1-3 weeks, but I've heard of some cases where it's gone longer. Just know that as long as you follow your plan to a "T", the stall will break and you'll be on your way again. if you want to read more about it, do a search on this site of the "three week stall" Last time I checked, there were over 17,000 posts on it. And no, I am NOT kidding...