Smanky

Hi Edward, The original thread starter left the forum ages ago, but I'll try to answer being veteran MGB patient now well into maintenance. Regarding "bad things". Honestly, EVERY bariatric surgery option comes with issues from mild to (thankfully rarer) serious. It's worth remembering that people on forums like this mostly ask questions when they think things are going wrong or are looking for reassurance. Stalls are common for ALL procedures. GERD is common in the sleeve but not everyone gets it. Pain? Well yeah, it's major surgery so expect it to hurt. Your body has to recover from about five deep stab wounds, being inflated, and then having the stomach cut apart and intestines rearranged. That will take time to recover from! What I think is surprising is how FAST the body recovers considering what it goes through. And if, like me, you have a hiatal hernia repair at the same time, it's another level of pain to wade through, but it does improve. And I take ibuprofen and aspirin. I was never told "never again". I don't take it frequently, but when I have to, I take it. Nothing horrible has happened, and I AM prone to ulcers. To combat my ulcers, I take Pantoprazole. No biggie. As for the hunger, it seems different for everyone across all procedures. My hunger came back about six months in. The restriction remains though, and some things have remained permanently off the menu, like coconut milk/cream and more than one bite of bread or potatoes. It's different for everyone, but I really am glad I got the MGB/Omega Loop. Worked a treat, I lost almost 120% of my excess body fat, and my lab results are all great so the vitamin intake hasn't been an issue.

I have a philtrum piercing, and did have a labret, but when I took it out for a medical procedure, it closed over so quick I decided that after ten years I was ok not getting it re-pierced. Love my philtrum piercing, though. Piercings are great, tattoos are great, I'm pro-body mods. Don't care what anyone else thinks, and don't care what someone else chooses to do so long as they're happy. Nose piercings are a great choice - they're pretty low on the pain, look fantastic, and don't close over as fast as mouth piercings do if you need to take it out for any reason! My recommendation is go to a dedicated body piercing place, do not let anyone near you with a piercing gun, those things are horrible and don't pierce clean. Surgical steel is the standard, and your piercer will be able to recommend the right jewelry. Once it's healed, you can swap the jewelry out whenever you feel like a change.

I often wonder how different I feel to my partner. He had decades of cuddling a chubby-to-obese partner in bed, to now cuddling what I can only imagine feels a bit like a human-shaped collection of broomsticks. I mean he was on the gradual journey with me, so it's not an overnight change, but still. Gotta be wild!

That is excellent, Summerseeker! I honestly think we're just so hard-wired from years of obesity to expect the worst when it comes to scales, even when there's no need. And I agree with Catwoman, I think on holiday the activity portion is way higher than our day-to-day activity, and because it's on holiday, you don't notice because you're so distracted by fun stuff. I know I came back from a week at an interstate festival that felt like I'd eaten loads and was prepared for the scales to show it... and yeah, rather than gaining I'd lost a little more. It's wild!

I lived on protein water in the first few months when I couldn't eat more than two mouthfuls of anything. Kept me hydrated and got protein into me. Nothing bad happened and I still get a lot of my protein from protein water.

I expect it's very common. Post-surgery, I can no longer eat coconut milk, coconut cream or anything coconut based. I used to love laksas and thai curries, but now they'll make me sick. Can't tolerate more than a small bite of bread or potato. None of these things has improved even a smidge and I'm almost two years out, so I've accepted that they're pretty much off the menu for good.

The burning you're describing sounds like an ulcer. I'm prone to them and will develop one quickly if I stop taking Pantoprazole. So it could be that, but with the vomiting complication and severity of the burning sensation you're having I'd be going to the ER. This needs checking out!

It'll be over before you know it. The early weeks can be a challenge, but it's a drop in the ocean time wise. Just distract yourself with everything you can to get your head off food.

My symptoms (both with my gallbladder and post-gallbladder removal) when I have an attack is a gradual (usually within two minutes) increase in pressure just under the ribcage on my right side, right where my gallbladder used to be. It's not sharp, or instant like yours is, but It IS unbearable once it's in full swing, and I'm usually rolling around on the bed or the floor groaning, swearing and breathing it out until it mercifully goes away. So what you're describing sounds different to a gall attack, or like in my case : a post-gallbladder removal duct blockage that lasts around a minute or two. Does your surgeon's office have someone they can pass you on to until your surgeon returns?

There were clothes that I liked that I never got to wear because as I dropped the weight, I missed the window of time to fit them properly. So in terms of clothes, yeah, I do get that. HOWEVER. I do not miss one gram of the fat I've lost and the joy of thrifting and looking good in standard size clothing far outstrips any disappointment I ever had at getting too small for old clothes I liked.

My surgeon set my goal weight at 80kg. My personal goal weight was 75kg, because my aim was to be the same size I was when at my smallest back in 1997, which I vaguely recalled being around 75-78kg. When I hit that goal I then had a new goal of 65kg, so I have a buffer in case of the common regain a couple of years post-surgery. I like having a weight goal, it's motivating and I find it useful. I also take what size I am and how my clothes fit into account.

Oh yep. I'm coming up on my two year post-surgery milestone, and there's been no abating in my sensitivity to cold. I don't have that fat insulation anymore, and my body struggles to regulate my temperature, so I'm hot, then cold, then hot, then cold and am constantly doing the dance-of-the-layers. Guessing that my body will eventually work that part out. But I'm ok with being a wimp with the cold now - with the summer that's coming for us down here in Australia, I'm going to be grateful NOT to have much body fat.

I had raging GERD pre-surgery, and while the GERD has pretty much gone post-op, I'm so prone to developing ulcers that I'm still on 40mg of Pantoprazole almost two years out. The plan was for me to wean off Pantoprazole, but when I do, I get a fresh ulcer. I have a pooling of bile in the bottom of what's left of my stomach, which I suspect is at least contributing to it (and I still get "gallstone attacks" despite no longer having a gallbladder). Unfortunately, it's not a sure thing that a bypass will cure GERD, which sucks. 100% feel for you. It's just relentless complications. Hope your surgeon has some idea.

I had raging GERD pre-surgery, and while the GERD has pretty much gone post-op, I'm so prone to developing ulcers that I'm still on 40mg of Pantoprazole almost two years out. The plan was for me to wean off Pantoprazole, but when I do, I get a fresh ulcer. I have a pooling of bile in the bottom of what's left of my stomach, which I suspect is at least contributing to it (and I still get "gallstone attacks" despite no longer having a gallbladder). Unfortunately, it's not a sure thing that a bypass will cure GERD, which sucks. 100% feel for you. It's just relentless complications. Hope your surgeon has some idea.

To this day I don't enjoy swallowing large pills, and so opt for chewable where available. Large tablets and supplements can make me feel sick for a good half hour or so after taking them. (Obligatory YMMV disclaimer)

You said it's a little over a week. This is super-early days after MAJOR surgery, especially since you had a hital hernia repair as well. I had a hernia repair with mine and felt like I'd been hit by a truck for a solid two weeks. But it comes with the territory, it's gonna hurt and it's gonna take a few weeks to settle. Complications suck, but the difficult early months and boring food restrictions are short lived. Try distracting yourself, and most of all, be patient let your body heal. It's been through the ringer!

I wasn't to take anti-inflamatories for the first few months because it's a stomach irritant, and with my GERD and propensity to develop stomach ulcers, that would have increased the risk of things getting stirred up. However it wasn't a "never again" thing. I take them now. I'd ask your team why they've permanently taken them off the table for you. As for swallowing pills - yeah, post-surgery seems to have permanently made it unpleasant. Never bothered me before, but now I avoid large tablets if there's a smaller option. I also opt for whatever chewable supplements I can get. I still have some I must swallow, so I just go slow. Can't speak for the revision weight-loss rate, but I hope all goes well for you now! You've certainly earned it!

We've all been here, and we've all proven just how unsuccessful that route is. None of us would have had WLS if if it were as easy as just complying with the pre-surgery program - it's too restrictive and meant to be temporary. When you're not mentally ready for a change like this, your head is absolutely going to be throwing up every reason not to do it, so I'd consider seeing a bariatric therapist to help you before starting the program. As for on-the-go nutrition, there's nothing wrong with taking a packed lunch, or indeed a fanny-pack of nutritious snacks. I take a handful of small apples and individual high-protein yoghurts with me to work, which I snack on whenever I get a second (my second job, which is a cook in a cafe with barely a break over a day's shift - so I'm surrounded by food I shouldn't and don't touch - hence my little pile of apples). And as Tomo said - vitamin supplements are essential, for both bypass and DS, though I think DS requires more. But it's just a matter of adding it to your daily routine. I take mine every evening before bed.

I absolutely feel you. If I had the financial means, I'd get my loose skin removed. I do not feel confident out of clothes, and have absolutely developed a whole different body insecurity. So I know how you feel! Because plastics are out of my reach, I just have to keep my sense of humour about it, and know that I'd still much rather be skinny with loose skin than morbidly obese again. Also, and I think it's important to remember this: you can't become morbidly obese and expect no scars. We've come from one extreme to another and while it would be lovely to achieve our "dream body", the truth is you don't get things for free. There's a price, even if that price is the scars of loose skin. But it's a price I ultimately am happy to pay. Have to look on the bright side, and every time I try on a new item of clothing and look fabulous, or run without breaking a sweat, or catch my reflection and *still* marvel that it's really me (this one doesn't get old!) - I know I actually got a bargain.

You had your surgery on the 7th? So not quite a week ago which is very early days. This is major surgery, so it can take a while for the pain to ease and we all heal at our own rate. I felt like I'd been hit by a bus for a good two weeks. Can't say if it would have been the same if I'd had a sleeve, but the Mini Gastric Bypass/ Omega Loop is a shorter operation than the RNY but still took me a while to recover.

My recovery was longer than expected because of the surprise hiatal hernia repair (a surprise to both myself AND my surgeon), so that made my recovery more painful and longer. I agree with Arabesque - it's hard to answer and it's best to just have a plan to ease yourself back into it.

Hair loss is temporary, and foamies can be controlled by being mindful of what/how you eat. Neither are terrible "complications" when it comes to the benefits of WLS vs staying morbidly obese and suffering much worse health issues down that road. Post surgery, I've been very prone to developing stomach ulcers which are 100% no fun at all, but can be controlled by Pantoprazole which I was taking pre-surgery for GERD anyway. I consider that a post-surgery complication, but it's no disaster, and like Summerseeker said - I'd do this all again in a heartbeat because even with the constant ulcer threat, my life and health now is so much better. I also went in armed with as much knowledge as possible about what might go wrong and what to honestly expect and I was still so ready because living the way I was had me on a downhill trajectory. I was FAR more concerned with the complications that lay ahead of me if I didn't have the surgery.

I barely lost in the first two weeks post surgery and promptly stalled at the end of week 2, where I proceeded to stall frequently throughout the entire first year. My rate of weight loss post surgery was the same as my rate of loss doing calorie counting pre-surgery. I never had the big-loss-numbers some others have. But it still worked, I reached goal at around month 13/14. Despite not losing fast, it worked. It's done what I needed it to do, it stopped me self-sabotaging and continues to be the adult in the room when it comes to me and food. Losing slowly and steadily is ok! So long as you stick to the plan, the weight comes off. If you're an emotional eater, get yourself a bariatric therapist who can help because the primary thing this surgery does is help with portion control. Everything else is down to us, the calorie counting, the staying on plan, and getting on top of any mental issues that have contributed to obesity and may cause trouble down the line.

Hunger also came back gradually for me, along with my sweet-tooth - so gradually that I can't even pinpoint the time when I really noticed. I was just very slowly and steadily able to eat a little more. My weightloss was also a steady, slow thing, so I didn't have the big-loss numbers in the first five months others can have, I had constant stalls and a rate of loss no different to pre-surgery diet efforts. My loss did slow down closer I got to goal, but reaching goal also snuck up on me because the slow weightloss had me take my focus off the scale for a month or so because I just assumed it was going to take ages. That whole a-watched-pot-doesn't-boil thing. These days I try to keep my calories around 1500, which I'll always have to be super mindful of because it takes so little to go over. Grazing is the enemy. Protein keeps me satisfied the longest, so that's always got to be the priority. The plan is for life.

Definitely doesn't sound normal. I do get some of the cramping/pain and general sensitive gut issues, especially when I have an ulcer developing, but what you're describing sounds extreme. I'd be going to the ER, and letting your surgeon know to move that July appointment forward. They need to investigate this.