Born in Missouri

I wish I was bold enough to ask (not that any doctor would be forthcoming about this information) for the percentage of each type of procedure the surgeon performs. Also, how many revisions has s/he done in which s/he was the original surgeon? I was a little taken aback by Matt's statements about doctors who tend to do the surgery of THEIR preference without a patient's best interests in mind. I can believe this, but it's nevertheless shocking. Doctors are often no different from the rest of us when it comes to shady motives. When the information out there is overwhelmingly dubious, I'd be a little suspicious if a doctor paints a well-documented outcome a different color. I think it's still hard for those of us who've had bypasses to sit clamly* by when someone opts for a sleeve when they actually have a choice. As I mentioned before, our forum friend @macadamia had no choice. He was missing key parts of his digestive system because of his Crohn's disease (something he already shared with everyone; I'd never pass on what wasn't already shared by Andy first...). Anyway, @macadamia had no choice. A sleeve was all he could have. It's just hard to reason how permanently removing a body part could be considered less radical than merely repurposing what's already anatomically there. *I noticed this typo and thought about correcting it, but I found the typo amusing so I left it as-is. I'm currently picturing myself sitting clamly.

I was told by my surgeon (who trains other surgeons to do bariatric procedures) that one can develop GERD and or acid reflux post-sleeve despite no current history. I have no history of reflux but I was afraid that with a sleeve, I might develop GERD since it's possible. Talk about an unwelcome side benefit! GERD, however, was not my main aversion to the sleeve... but it was certainly near the top of my list. As for having my insides rejiggered, I was more comfortable knowing that nothing would be permanently removed from my body. What if too much of my stomach was removed? I am three-months post-op. I have never experienced what is referred to as "dumping syndrome". I don't struggle with hunger either. The downside for me is that I have no appetite, but I'm hoping that will change. I need the protein and the calories. I'm glad that you feel confident with your decision since you are the one who will be living in your body. No one can or should make this decision for you. Others can give their (often unsolicited ) advice, which in my case and I'm sure in Matt's case, is offered in good faith. The number of people on this board who are happy with their decision to have a sleeve seem to greatly outnumber those who ended up regretting their choice or who upgraded to a bypass. I hope you will be one of the happy majority. I look forward to your post-op visits. But in the meantime, HEY INSURANCE COMPANY! GET ON THE BALL. TEENYSHELL IS WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!

I was thinking the same thing, Matt. Not sure what was meant by not being comfortable with what the RNY entails... This morning I literally met a woman in the lobby of the hospital where I had my bypass who was there to meet with a bariatric surgeon to discuss getting a bypass. Apparently, her sleeve turned out to be nothing she had hoped it would be. Reflux, weight gain. She expressed regret (to me) that she didn't get the bypass from the beginning and was upset that her surgeon hadn't steered her in that direction. I know I'll always be grateful to my surgeon for persuading me to get the bypass even though I thought the sleeve was what I needed (based on what I had read at the time). This was before I joined this board. I doubt I would have ever considered the sleeve if I had joined several months prior.

I'm with Matt. Always curious why one chooses one procedure over the other. Some people don't have a choice (my buddy macadamia comes to mind because of his Crohn's). So happy that you've reached this point in what has no doubt been a long and arduous road. My experience was a quick turnaround with insurance approval. Hope your experience is the same. Stay positive. Keep reading all you can. Mental preparation and knowledge is everything. You'll be able to conquer things ahead of you that you never thought possible. We've all faced these obstacles and somehow found the fight in us in order to take on all sorts of unforeseen experiences. Remember, we'll be here for you. Now that you've made the plunge with your first post, don't be a stranger.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/2701812?widget=personalizedcontent&previousarticle=2698683 Lack of correlation between gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms and esophageal lesions after sleeve https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29571635 Conclusions: Overall GERD symptoms are not more common in patients who have had LSG versus LGB, however, those who have had LSG reported having worsened GERD symptoms when lying down, after meals, and reported to have to change their diets in order to prevent GERD symptoms. https://www.sages.org/meetings/annual-meeting/abstracts-archive/laparoscopic-sleeve-gastrectomy-does-not-worsen-gastroesophageal-reflux-disease-symptoms-in-morbidly-obese-patients/

"Most people before their surgery, their favorite foods are just what you'd expect -- ice cream, French fries, burgers, pizza," said Patricia DiLorenzo, professor of psychology at Binghamton University. "But afterward, their favorite food was salad, for example. Twenty percent of people said that their favorite foods were vegetables. Those people -- the ones who said they changed their taste preferences -- lost the most weight." Mainstream article: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/09/180916152716.htm DiLorenzo and her team also found that people who liked coffee more post-surgery were also the people that lost the most weight. Coffee and vegetables share a bitter flavor, indicating that post-RYGB surgery, some patients' taste preferences shifted from high-fat and sweet foods to ones where bitter tastes were less aversive. Patients who experienced this effect lost the most weight and had lower BMIs in the long run after surgery. Original study: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0199508

I had my gastric bypass in June and I have yet to experience a single day in which I've felt actual hunger. No appetite whatsoever. I remember recalling (and rolling my eyes) back in the day when "skinny" people would say things like, (insert annoying voice) "Oh, I forgot to eat today." I'd roll my eyes at myself today. Eating isn't something that I enjoy anymore, so, yeah, I forget to eat. When I can barely eat little more than a few bites, there's not much to work myself up about. I went to Chipotle's recently (hoping to eat something with a memory of enjoyment attached) and I couldn't even finish ONE hard-shelled chicken taco. I remember when three tacos were barely enough.

For decades, the medical community has ignored mountains of evidence to wage a cruel and futile war on fat people, poisoning public perception and ruining millions of lives. https://highline.huffingtonpost.com/articles/en/everything-you-know-about-obesity-is-wrong/ author: Michael Hobbes "Growing up, my mother's weight was the uncredited co-star of every family drama, the obvious, unspoken reason why she never got out of the car when she picked me up from school, why she disappeared from the daily photo album for years at a time, why she spent hours making meatloaf then sat beside us eating a bowl of carrots." ---- "Doctors are supposed to be trusted authorities, a patient's primary gateway to healing. But for fat people, they are a source of unique and persistent trauma. No matter what you go in for on how much you're hurting, the first thing you will be told is that it would all get better if you could just put down the Cheetos."

What topic are you searching for?

(Reuters Health) - People who have weight-loss surgery for extreme obesity may lose more weight with an older operation known as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass than with a newer sleeve gastrectomy procedure, a small U.S. study suggests. Article link: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-weightloss-surgery/type-of-weight-loss-surgery-matters-for-people-with-severe-obesity-idUSKCN1LM314 Study link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0039606018303180

I take back what I said about not having any enoxaparin shots after my bypass. I had one in the hospital, and none after I was discharged (the next day).

What is this... The National Enquirer? Your title suggests that these are big, deal-breaking secrets that were hidden for some reason. Both are less than earth-shaking and have logical explanations behind them. I didn't have time to read the comments below your post, but I'm almost certain that others have addressed both concerns. I didn't notice any putrid smells following my surgery. I also didn't need to have any enoxaparin shots after my bypass, but I did have them after my full-knee replacements. The needle is so thin, you can barely feel it. I gave myself a week's worth of injections once home.

I've struggled with getting enough protein since my surgery. I'm hoping to finally be able to get what my body needs. I found this drink at Sprouts. Brand: Shamrock Farms 19.7 fl oz (582ml), Rockin' Protein Builder Max Protein Shake, lactose-free, available in vanilla and chocolate. 50g of protein per bottle. Found in the dairy section, must be refrigerated. I'm not a fan of vanilla or chocolate (wish they had coconut). Sprouts was out of chocolate, so I tried the vanilla. It tasted (to me) like melted vanilla ice cream. No horrible aftertaste either. Completely tolerable.

I've had a barium swallow test before, which is how I know about my allergy. It wasn't that bad. You have to drink something chalky and then they watch the liquid (via technology that I can't recall the name for) run its course in your body. No salad tongs involved. You are my hero, Frustr8! You, go, big sister! (big as in older, not big as in big).

I was never required to have a swallow test. Maybe it's because I'm allergic to contrast media with iodine. Then again, it was never even mentioned as a post-surgical requirement. I probably had one of the most hands-off bypasses ever.

I have several unused containers of good whey protein. I just can't down that stuff anymore. It was easy BEFORE my surgery (during my pre-surgery fast), but now... can't do it. I'm going to concentrate on meat.

Thanks, Matt. Statements like "the body can only handle..." rarely sit well with me. There are too many unanswered questions associated with something so absolute.

Do you have a link to a study or a scientific reference to support this statement? (I'm not being sarcastic; I'm just curious if it's documented.)

I ended up drinking less than half a cup. I thought this would be the answer to my problem. It wasn't. Protein by way of drink just doesn't work for me. Back to square one.

Do exemptions exist for medical reasons? It sounds risky for you this time around, not the food fasting... but the no fluids.

It could be referred pain.

I accidentally double-posted another topic so I thought I'd erase that duplicated content and put something else in its place. Is this the best I could do? Apparently. Did I put much effort into thinking of something else to post? Not really. Anyway... in case you've forgotten how to update your stats (all the information under your username) try following these steps. Make sure your dog, cat, or bird is watching so you can impress them. 1. Go to PATIENTS (top of page). 2. Select MY SURGERY. 3.a. Update the information under SURGERY 3 b. Select PROGRESS (see squiggly arrow on left side of screen) to update even more! 4. Paste a gold star in the middle of your forehead. Good job! While you're at it.... upload a photo or an animation above your username. If there's anything else you don't know, ask someone else. Just kidding. No, really. Ask someone else. I probably don't know.

I hope you might find something here. Because these are holistic approaches to flatulence, they may be cheaper to treat since many involve cures like apple cider vinegar and certain types of tea. https://www.naturalfoodseries.com/13-home-remedies-flatulence/ . https://www.positivehealthwellness.com/pain-relief/the-complete-guide-to-stop-farting-fast-using-natural-remedies/ . https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321604.php . https://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/remedies-for-gas/ . https://www.liverdoctor.com/got-gas-natural-solutions-for-flatulence/

Obesity-Related Proteins Several obesity-related proteins are being studied for their role in migraine. Two of the most important are orexin and adipokines. With orexin (which is also considered a hormone), studies in animals and humans indicate that it may be involved in many aspects of migraine. But study results have been inconsistent. Researchers, from Harvard University, now think they may have better luck with drugs that have been fine-tuned to work on orexin. Adipokines are proteins found in fat cells called adipocytes. A few studies have shown that, in some migraine patients, levels of certain adipokines (e.g., adiponectin, leptin, and resistin) are elevated during and between attacks. ------- Currently, migraine is not an appropriate indication to pursue bariatric surgery. But if you qualify for other reasons and have the procedure, three studies suggest that you may end up with fewer and less intense migraine attacks. While these findings are encouraging, more studies are needed to clarify the possible benefits of bariatric surgery in migraine patients. https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/understanding-migraine/the-skinny-on-obesity-and-migraine/ Obesity increases the risk of migraine and this risk increases with increasing obesity status from normal weight to overweight to obese to morbidly obese. Several neurotransmitters, proteins, and molecules that participate in maintaining energy appear to be involved migraine. Aerobic exercise is effective for migraine prevention, and low-fat or ketogenic diets may be effective; while not indicated for migraine alone, bariatric surgery may also be beneficial in reducing attack frequency and severity. Overall, and as for good health in general, it is important for those with migraine to maintain a healthy weight and to maintain healthy lifestyle choices in terms of both diet and exercise.