MarinaGirl

I don’t know how much I lost per month (after mini gastric bypass) but I lost 100 lbs in less than a year. The key is to eat the right food, small portion sizes, don’t drink your calories, and consume MORE than 64 oz of water a day. I also abstain from artificial sweeteners as they have no nutritional value and I think they impair weight loss as they cause you to crave sugar.

If your surgeon sees any hernias while operating, will he repair them? I’d ask that question at your pre-op. And if after surgery you still feel awful, perhaps you should get a second or third opinion on next step(s). Good luck. We’re all pulling for you.

An expression you sometimes hear is that VSG is just a diet with a smaller stomach, which means you may have to be more disciplined with what you eat long term than RNY or DS. It is very easy to eat around any bariatric surgery so to be successful you will need to work on your head issues and not expect your new pouch/sleeve to do all the work. If you’re a food or sugar addict pre-op, you will probably still have challenges post-op. However, the difference will be positive changes to your metabolism and a real opportunity to maintain weight loss long term, assuming you eat healthy and appropriate portion sizes. A risk of VSG is development of or worsening of GERD, which can lead to a need to revise to RNY. This could be a challenge financially if your insurance company will only pay for 1 bariatric surgery per lifetime. But for RNY and DS, you must be committed to taking your vitamins and getting labwork done at least once a year to monitor development of any deficiencies. If you can’tcommIt to this for the rest of your life then a malabsorptive surgery may not be a wise choice. Deciding which type of surgery to have is a big deal so please conduct your own thorough and accurate research on the pros & cons of each and select the one that will work best for YOU. Good luck.

Doubtful that it is a stricture this far out from WLS. You need to see an experienced gastroenterologist to get a proper diagnosis. They may perform a variety of tests, such as EGD endoscopy, upper GI, Bravo pH, manometry, etc. GERD/heartburn/reflux is a known risk of VSG and it can occur even in people who didn’t have it pre-op. This is one of the main reasons people have revision surgery from VSG to RNY, to resolve or improve GERD/heartburn/reflux. VSG is contraindicated in people with pre-existing GERD. Because of my history of GERD prior to bariatric surgery, my surgeon would only perform gastric bypass on me, not sleeve gastrectomy.

No good scientific research showing vitamin patches are effective. My docs are against them, especially because once the deficiencies show up, it can be hard to get levels back to normal. You’re better off waiting 4 weeks until you can take normal vitamins.

Post-op, I had problems with chewable vitamins and powdered vitamins mixed in water; caused nausea and vomiting. Most likely due to sugar alcohols in them. Solution: I waited until 4 weeks post-op then used a pill cutter for the larger vitamins until I could swallow them whole. No problems and my labs have been great.

No issues with plain water pre-op or post-op (21 months). I hate artificial sweeteners as they’re not healthy and may impede weight loss so I don’t consume them, especially in my water.

Approximately 30% of gastric bypass experience dumping, so it is not common. It can usually be controlled by avoiding the food (almost always sweets) that causes dumping.

Have you discussed the results with your doctor yet? What does s/he say?

Dr Ungson or any of the other surgeons at Mexicali Bariatric Center; hands down.

Pouch reset is a fad diet and doesn’t work. Liquids and mushy food slide through our pouches so just consuming them won’t do or prove anything. And 5 days is not enough time to make lasting changes, diet or otherwise. Just clean out your cupboards, stop drinking with meals, weigh and track every morsel you eat, and most importantly eat dense protein first followed by non-starchy vegetables. Your weight gain is most likely due to eating sugar, processed food, simple carbs, junk food, desserts - you know why. Stick with meat and veggies only for 5-7 days and that will help curb your cravings and get you back on track.

I was alone in the hospital after WLS and again after other abdominal surgery this past summer. I would have felt so guilty having someone sit around watching me sleep or get up to go to the bathroom or walk the halls. The nursing staff were great with providing assistance if I needed it. The biggest help was me cleaning the house prior to surgery and having things ready for my discharge from the hospital. I came home and rested comfortably, watched TV, walked, took naps, sipped water all day, browsed the Internet.... OP: You can do this. Good luck.

Be wary if something seems too good to be true. And don’t fall for false promises from companies that just want your money. I wouldn’t believe the hype about shakes containing thyroid medication and would not consume any products containing them. The supplements industry is unregulated with lots of products that could be harmful to your body. Taking thyroid medication when it hasn’t been prescribed by a physician is very risky. And the assumption that taking extra T3 will result in weight loss and improved energy is false. That’s not how the endocrine system and thyroid gland work.

Have you asked your bariatric surgeon and the docs at urgent care what you should eat and drink right now (e.g. saltines & regular Gatorade)? What were their recommendations?

Yes, you can have a glass of champagne on NYE; however, it may not taste as great as you remember and the bubbles may cause a burning sensation, or at least that has been my experience post-op. YMMV

I hate when people use the term, skeletal, to refer to one’s appearance. The only people who do that have body image issues themselves, imo, so their opinion is clouded and should not be considered. My experience is that people who have met me since I lost all my weight think I look great, but some people that knew me when I was obese think I’ve gotten too thin. They’re wrong. They’re just used to me as the fat lady and don’t want to change their image of me. Don’t let anyone other than a trusted doctor (if warranted) influence how much weight you lose or what your goal weight should be. To be frank, wearing a size 14 is not indicative of someone that is skeletal or too skinny. Only you can decide what is the healthiest weight for you. It may be in the normal BMI range (low, mid, high), or it may not be. Your body, your decision.

You may not dump. Only 30% of gastric bypass patients experience it and it can usually be managed by not eating the offending food (e.g. candy, dessert, sugar, processed food), which is typically not good for you anyways.

I traveled to Europe from the US, 3 months after gastric bypass, and was away for 3 weeks. I had no issues and ate out the majority of the trip. I lost weight, felt great, and had an awesome trip! The only things I brought with me were some protein bars and UNJURY Protein Single-Serve Packs, and a refillable water bottle. Bon voyage!

Omeprazole (Prilosec) did not resolve bile reflux, which I developed 8 months after MGB and was confirmed via EGD endoscopy.

I would pass on all sodas (flat or bubbly) as they contain phosphoric acid, which impairs magnesium absorption. Gastric bypass patients are already at risk of magnesium deficiency due to rearranged intestines so don’t make that risk more likely.

It is not so much that we have to “diet forever” but that we need to eat correct portion sizes and type of food for proper weight management. The amount we ate pre-WLS was not appropriate so we need to rediscover what normal/healthy portions are. This is what normal-sized people do too, that did not have bariatric surgery.

I’m suspicious that you just joined this site to post this review of these doctors;?therefore, I don’t think your “experience” is legitimate. Do you work for them? I suspect you do.

Topical NSAIDs still pose a risk as the drug is absorbed through the skin, then the capillaries and into the bloodstream, and eventually into the mucosa of the GI tract.

Brand name: Fioricet Contains: Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Caffeine

Aspirin is an NSAID so is contraindicated after gastric bypass. Do not take it as it may cause ulcers.