SleeveToBypass2023

Do you have any updates on how things have been going?

Holy smokes!!! The leak test, for me, was done while I was still in the OR. By the time I woke up in my room, I was allowed water. And I was definitely allowed to get up as soon as I felt able. The catheter and keeping you in bed part really threw me. It's required that you get up and walk around, so them forcing you to stay in bed was super weird to me. With my sleeve, I was kept on the IV the entire time because I hard a hard time drinking more than 2oz of water at any given time. With my revision to bypass, they took me off the IV the same day as the surgery because I was able to drink an entire 20 oz of water in an hour. I did that twice and they said "yep, you're good, the IV can come out". And I was able to go to the bathroom in the toilet from the jump because they wanted to be able to measure how much urine output there was.

I did chewable with the sleeve for the first 6 weeks, then switched to the regular pill. With the revision from sleeve to bypass, I started off with liquid for the first 2 weeks, then was able to jump in and take the regular pill. Ironically, I had a harder time with the sleeve than the bypass. Who knew?

Try to focus on NSV (non scale victories). That helps me when I'm in a stall, or I'm not losing as much as I think I should be. So for example... with my first surgery (I had the sleeve in May 2022) I lost 30 pounds in 30 days. It was insane. Then I hit the mother of all stalls. Each time I hit one, I would gain 3-5 pounds and sit there for WEEKS. I would come on here nearly in tears. Then I learned to look for things other than the numbers on a scale. I saw that I was off some of my meds. My clothes were starting to get a little looser. I dropped a ring size pretty quick. I was able to walk around more with less stops. As time went on and I was further out from my surgery, the weight loss slowed a lot. I was still losing, but at a much slower rate. But I paid attention to the NSVs and I was thrilled. I was able to work out longer, do more intense workouts, dropped another 2 sizes in clothes, ring and necklace sizes went way down, I could go up and down stairs, I was off all blood pressure, anti-inflammatory, and diabetes meds, I could sit in normal chairs with arms on them COMFORTABLY, I could cross my legs..... So many things to look at when the scale is being stubborn. I ended up having several complications from the sleeve around month 8 or so post op, and had to have a revision to bypass in June of this year. Right from the jump, the weight loss has been soooo slooooow. But my bmi and weight were a LOT lower than when I had my initial surgery (when I had the sleeve, I was 388 pounds, 5'6", bmi 63). When I had the revision, I was 275 with a bmi of 43). Also, weight loss is lower and slower with revisions. But I mostly wanted my life back because I couldn't do ANYTHING with the complications (I had 6 surgeries in 6 months). Now I'm back to working out BEAST MODE, I can live my life, properly stick to my diet, and watch my NSVs (the scale creeps along at a snail's pace, but I'm still seeing NSVs so I'm happy). Things will happen for you in the time, and in the way, they are supposed to. Just know that even when the scale isn't cooperating, other things in your body are. Just look for those, keep doing what you're doing, and you'll get there in the end.

Sounds like you might just be a little bit of a slower loser, and that's ok. As long as you're losing, and following your plan, and exercising, and changing your eating habits you're doing everything right. If you were at a lower bmi and weight than others on here, you will also lose slower. But again, as my surgeon says, "as long as you continue in a downward trajectory, you're doing great". Stalls happen, everyone's journey looks different, and you're still early in yours. Your body is only like 4 weeks post op. It's still healing. Give yourself some grace, and time, and you'll see the results you want.

I'd be interested in hearing how you like it. I've never heard of it before. I have hated all of the "alternative" pastas so far. Shirataki, heart of palm, zoodles, etc... No thanks.

It depends on the fruit. 6 weeks, typically, but some fruits are off the table. In moderation, you can do strawberries, raspberries, blackberries. Apples and bananas are a no go. Blueberries are healthy but should be very limited. No pineapple, peaches, pears. Mango, papaya, grapes are also no. Coconut is ok but should be in limited quantities. This is all according to my nutritionist. I tend to stick to strawberries, coconut, and rarely I add in some blueberries. But mostly strawberries and coconut. And I don't have those all that often, either. In general, fruit has a lot of carbs and sugar, so there's not a lot that are technically ok for bariatric diets.

That really depends on your insurance. I have BCBS and for my initial surgery, I was approved a month after my initial consultation. For my revision, it took less time. Medicaid takes MONTHS. Other insurances have other timeframes. It really just depend on what you have.

I don't worry about women being good to me, I worry about ME being good to me. Someone will always have something to say. I love the progress I'm making, but I've had some tell me I look sickly, or like I have "Ozempic face" (I didn't even know what that means until my cousin told me...I've never taken any kind of shot or med for weight loss), or that I took the easy way out, or that I ruined any chance I have to just live a normal life and eat what I want. But you know what? They don't live in my body, they don't pay my bills, they don't live my life, and they don't cut me a check every 2 weeks. So what they say or think is irrelevant. I'm happy, I'm healthy, I'm finally starting to live my best life, and I really don't care what anyone else thinks about how I got here. The point is, I'm here.

That's AMAZING!!!! Congratulations!!! I know you must be so thrilled right now. That's awesome!!!

Thank you!!! I'm so close to my goal and I'm getting impatient to get there lol I know it'll happen, but I'm just ready NOW lol

For the first time in 24 years, I'm below 260. I don't even have words......

I take Flonase and Singulair. I stopped taking Zyrtec for that same reason, and Claritin never really worked for me.

Awww thank you so much!!!

Taken about 20 minutes ago..... and peep the size I'm in now (from a size 30!!)

I had this. Turns out, after my sleeve, I developed polyps all through my entire stomach. The GERD (which I had never had pre sleeve) became so bad it turned into gastritis and esophagitis. I had to take 80mg of Nexium daily and Pepcid for breakthrough GERD (and sometimes that didn't even help). The pain and burning were excruciating. Sent me to the ER more than once. 4 endoscopies and 1 revision to bypass later, and I'm doing great. Stay on top of this. Cut out anything tomato based, avoid any kind of fruit juice, spices (even the ones that aren't hot). Hummus helped a lot, keto bread also helped, and drinking protein shakes literally saved me on days when I couldn't keep anything down at all. The bariatric diet went out the window until this was under control. I had to stop working out because it would set things off. In the ER the first time, I had a barium swallow to confirm there were no leaks. Then I was referred to a GI specialist, who did an endoscopy and found I had A TON of polyps in various sizes. Once they were all removed, I had my revision to bypass and have had to stay on Nexium. But it was lowered to 40mg for 5 weeks, then 20mg for weeks 6-8, then I'll go off them completely. Definitely stay on top of this. It won't resolve on it's own, and if left untreated, it will absolutely get worse.

Thank you!!! You guys sure do know how to make a girl feel loved

Thank you

I did, but I wasn't done with my weight loss when it became obvious I needed to have the revision. I lost 116 pounds in 9 months and was still losing when the complications slammed into me and I was told I had to have the revision. I never would have gotten it and would have continued to work my sleeve, my diet, and my working out had I not had so many insane issues happen.

Thank you so so much ❤️

Thank you ❤️

Thank you so much!!!

Thank you!!!