GingersnapMI

Thanks! The bit of quick googling I did also didn't turn up any differences but I thought it best to ask. I guess the writers/publishers are just trying to capitalize on the prevalence of certain surgeries.

So I'm browsing the bariatric cookbooks and find that many specify in their title whether the recipes are for Sleeve or Bypass patients. Just what is the difference in diet after Sleeve vs. Bypass? Does it actually matter which type of cookbook I buy? Thanks!

Thank you, your words are very helpful!

Newbie question: What is HW, SW, and CW? I assume the "W" is weight but haven't figured out the other letters. So many beautiful people here! I look forward to adding my own photos one day. Just had my surgery May 11, 2021.

Just checking in, thought I'd share my experience thus far... RNY surgery with hiatal hernia repair was May 11 at 1pm. I don't recall waking up until about 8pm... then the next thing I know it's 6am May 12. I was very tired/sleepy throughout May 12. My foley catheter was removed about 10am May 12 and I was waking and getting up to pee about every hour and a half. Apparently, the fluid drip I was on was quite a lot. I managed to eat a sugar-free popsicle, have a few bites of sugar-free jello, and a few sips of broth that day. My belly felt like I'd done a 1000 sit-ups! I was able to walk the hall about three times. Received dilaudid once and norco three times throughout the day. Also had an upper GI done: drank a little contrast while they took pictures... all good, no leaks. Sleep, sleep, sleep. May 13 I woke still feeling woozy, tired, and belly was still painful, but not too bad if I didn't move. Felt slightly more awake as the day went on. Had a SF popsicle and some SF jello. Still peeing every hour and a half! Went home about 1pm. Slept through most of the day, waking only for bathroom use and sips of clear protein drink (Protein2O from Costco.) Took total of four doses of norco throughout the whole day and managed a BM in the evening. Today, May 14, I feel alive again! Sipping Isopure coconut-flavored protein water with Crystal Light lemonade added, not bad. Took a norco this morning but that will likely be my last one. Belly only feels like I did 100 sit-ups now instead of 1000. Been wearing a "binder" since May 12 and have decided to wear it for at least the first week, though I was given no instructions about it. A few other comments about my journey thus far: have been using infant's simethicone antigas drops every six hours as instructed. Occasionally pass gas, occasionally burp. NO nausea at all during this entire experience, YAY! Was asked by the curious Nurse Practitioner if I drink alcohol much (I don't) because the anesthetic had such a surprisingly long effect on me. Apparently my body just isn't used to depressants and didn't clear it very quickly. And I'm not too worried about getting in an appropriate amount of liquids yet because just one look at my hands shows that I'm still full of the IV fluids they were pumping into me, LOL. Feeling optimistic!! (EDIT: Don't know why that QUOTE box is there at the beginning of my post.)

Just got rescheduled from April 20 to May 11 due to the COVID surge. Of course, May 11 date is very tentative. Sooooooo disappointed! I had all my ducks in a row and was mentally prepared... I was even in the middle of my pre-op diet. 😫

My bypass was scheduled for April 21 and I was doing my pre-op diet... then today I got a call from the surgical scheduler, all surgeries have been cancelled due to the COVID surge here in Michigan. 😭 Honestly, I get why it had to be done but I've been waiting six months for this, I was mentally prepared, and had work time-off all arranged... I'm tempted to drown my sorrows in pizza!

I'm an introvert with few friends but in my smallish 15-person department at work, three people have had bariatric surgeries within the last two years so I get a lot of support/guidance there. My one close personal friend is also very supportive, as are my three adult children. My two siblings, both of whom are bigger than me, are the voices of doom and gloom and tell me I'm making a big mistake. I think it's just because they aren't brave enough to do something about their own situations.

These things are more dictated by your medical insurance rather than being the physician's requirements (assuming you expect coverage by your insurance company). Naturally, any reputable doctor should only take on patients that he/she believes will be successful but the actual hoops you have to jump through prior to surgery are mainly based on insurance requirements. You physician's office will check into what your particular insurance requires and guide you along the way. For example, many patients have to: have a psych eval, have a sleep study/use CPAP, have nutritionist/dietician appointments, get a cardiac eval, and show some weight loss prior to insurance approval for surgery. The length of time to do these things is also dictated by insurance. Some only require 3 months of effort, but most seem to require 6 months of effort. I started in October 2020 and my surgery is scheduled for April 20, 2021. It's all doable and the time passes more quickly than you think it will!

I expected to start to feel nervous in the weeks leading up to my April 20 surgery but I don’t. What I’m actually feeling is sadness... sadness about the loss of my old lifestyle. I am quite the foodie and truly enjoy eating, I am not a stress eater. But I know that in the years to come I will still be able to eat some/many of the delicious things I’ve eaten in the past, just much smaller portions. Reminding myself of that is helping me get through. Anyone else feeling this way? (I’ve been reading about “food funerals“ but it’s just not for me.)

I started this process in October 2020 and I just got scheduled for surgery April 20, 2021. Woo-hoo! EDIT: Just found an April 2021 surgery group was already started in the Gastric Bypass forum. 🙂 No way to delete this post?

My weight is mostly carried in my belly and I'm definitely planning on a tummy tuck... in fact, I've already started saving for it and I don't even have my bypass surgery until April 20, 2021. Hopefully... maybe 2 years post-op if all goes well...

This is not a requirement for me because I had a BMI over 40 at the start of my bariatric journey. However, as a respiratory therapist that has worked in the CPAP business, I can offer some info. For bariatric patients with a BMI of 35-40, most insurances require that the person have other weight-related issues prior to approving surgery, and sleep apnea (you periodically stop breathing when you sleep) is often at least partially weight-related. Most people who lose significant weight can have their CPAP pressure reduced and some even no longer need CPAP. (These things would be determined by your sleep specialist after your weight loss.) Even for people who are NOT contemplating bariatric surgery, insurances require proof of "compliance" within the first three months in order for them to keep paying the rental fee. (As of 2017, I know that insurances would pay a monthly rental fee for 13 months, and then the unit was considered "paid off" and owned by the patient.) "Compliance" is generally considered to be a minimum of 4 hours of use per night for a minimum of 75% of the nights during a 30-day period within the first 90 days of having the unit. Therefore, many doctors tell a patient to shoot for 80% usage, just to be on the safe side. In general, for bariatric patients, most insurances want to see some sort of progress in the months leading up to surgery, prior to approving payment for that surgery. There should be some weight loss, as well as compliance with medical guidance on other weight-related issues (ie: sleep apnea), in order for them to consider the patient a good "risk" for spending the money on bariatric surgery. All that said, if you have sleep apnea, DO do your best to use your CPAP! Without it, your body's sleep habits are actually unsafe. Without it, your body is under stress EVERY NIGHT, which has negative effects on your heart. Though rare, some people HAVE died from sleep apnea and non-CPAP use. With regular use, you should feel more awake and more energetic during the day, whether or not you lose weight. There are many styles and brands of masks on the market, browse them on the internet. If your current one is very uncomfortable, call your CPAP provider for another. Try to use it for two weeks before moving on to a different type. The company I used to work for would provide free mask refits as often as necessary within the first three months (after that, it could only be done every six months due to the insurance schedule for payment on new supplies). It's quite an adjustment but keep trying! 🙂

April 20, 2021 for me. Woo-hoo!

I had horrible dry mouth pre- and post-endoscopy. The anesthetist said it's due to a medication they put in your IV to reduce saliva. It's usually given anytime someone has surgery or a procedure during which a breathing tube is used down the patient's throat. Definitely going to bring me some spray for my surgery!