SleeveToBypass2023

Every once in a while I think about how I have to fight for every pound and deal with so many stalls and I think the bypass would have been better. BUT...even though my surgeon was willing to do either one and let me pick, I had to do the sleeve because I have lupus and MS and have pills I have to take (and there's no liquid forms of the pills and they can't be crushed or broken) so I knew sleeve was my only option (no pills with bypass and I have to take them). Some of the things I was told to expect with the sleeve didn't happen for me (hunger hormone gone, food aversion, must chew slow and have small bites or stomach hurts and food feels like it's not going down, restriction, etc...) so there's times it feels like it was a waste of time and effort and money. But I HAVE had success, and I AM making healthier choices with my food. So it's still a win, even if it's a way bigger struggle than I thought it would be.

I have MS and had to have my neurologist sign off on the surgery, which he happily did. My PCP was very supportive because she knew I tried different things, including keto. She knew my health issues and was fantastic and proactive. If your doctor is really dragging things out for you and causing all kinds of problems, I would look for another doctor. Is your neuro ok with the surgery? How long will it take for your insurance to approve your MRI? Will your neuro insist on a MRI in order to send over a note approving you for the surgery? Your PCP can't insist your neuro do testing you may not need.

I hit my first at 2 1/2 weeks and my 2nd at 3 months. They are normal, they suck, and they will (unfortunately) keep happening, especially the further out you get from your surgery and the closer you get to your goal weight.

Everything I've seen on here about getting a revision from sleeve because of GERD has been to the bypass. I've heard the bypass actually greatly diminishes or even eliminates GERD. And gives additional weight loss (although less than initial surgery, it still gives some). It might take another year, but you should be able to get that last 65 pounds down with the bypass, and have relief from the GERD. I would talk to your doctor again, and if he still won't budge from the ESG, find another doctor.

I can feel my neck and under my chin now!!! No more double and a half chin. Now I have an actual chin. Just one. I keep looking at my face and touching under my chin LOL I literally can't remember the last time I had just one chin!!!!

May 3rd

Oh I already know I'll be blubbering like a baby LOL It's been 17 years since I was under 300, so when it happens, I know I'm going to have a HUGE celebration lol With lots of tears. I can't wait!!

I've had 2 stalls already, and my weight loss has slowed considerably. I've had to train myself that if I see ANY loss when I do my official weigh ins each Tuesday, it's a win and to celebrate it. Keeping it off is also a HUGE win. I'm so excited to get under 300. I can't wait!!!

Ooooh, I'll take the flank steak and the chicken!!!! Those look really good.

WOW. The point of being here is for help. If you want a basic answer, Google is your friend. The attitude isn't necessary or needed. The people here are amazing and helpful and sweet. There's many things that can affect the answer you might need. Go ask your surgeon, or Google it, or ask some rando on the street and hope you'll get an answer instead of a weird look.

Awww thank you!!!!!!

I finally hit 50 pounds lost today!!!! It's exactly 3 months since my surgery and I'm down 1 clothing size, 1 ring size, and 50 pounds!!!! It seems like my body likes to do a 2-3 week stall every month and a half or so, so it's been slow going. But it FINALLY happened today. WooHoo!!!!!

Thank you!!! I'm actually at 58 pounds lost now. 2 more and I'm at the 60 pound milestone!!!!!

Been there lol I get hiccups and my stomach feels like it's overly full and I can't even drink because it doesn't go all the way down for a while. It just sits there.

I was told that it was less likely to happen with sleeves, but I can attest that my tastes are DRASTICALLY different. I can't tolerate pickles anymore, can't eat salt because it's so intense I can't stand it, I have ZERO sweet tooth and actually am turned off at the idea of eating sweet stuff. Sour and tart stuff now tastes sweet to me. I don't like bacon anymore. Cottage cheese is HORRIBLE now. It tastes like it went bad to me, even when it's new (used to LOVE it). Lettuce doesn't sit well with me. It tastes fine but my stomach doesn't like it. Feels very heavy and uncomfortable. I used to be obsessed with fried foods, now I don't even think about it. I didn't go out of my way to avoid it, I just don't want it. I used to kind of be "meh" about hummus, but now it's literally my new obsession. Avocado was something I really liked, now it's "meh". My husband thinks it's so weird lol And now, before we buy anything I used to like that I haven't had since my surgery, he gets a tiny bit for me to try first because there's no guarantee I'll still like it lol

If you find you are having a hard time not restricting with the smaller portions you have to eat with the sleeve, add a higher calorie meal replacement shake in between meals (don't actually replace a meal, but if you eat 3x a day, have the full calorie meal replacement as a 4th meal). Also, maybe add a snack in there somewhere if you haven't already.

I opened up my capsules and I crushed my other pills for the first 2 weeks. My stomach was EXTREMELY sensitive for a few weeks after surgery. Around week 3 I was able to take everything without opening or crushing anything, but I had to take only 2 or 3 pills at a time. By week 4 I could take all my pills at once again. So since you're only 4 days out, it makes perfect sense that you're having pain taking pills. You're still recovering from major surgery and your stomach needs time to heal.

Definitely MyFitnessPal. I swear by it.

I had to find a therapist to help me because after I had my surgery I swapped one type of disordered thinking (over eating obsessively) for another (being so afraid of eating and gaining weight that I was severely restricting what I ate). You definitely need to find a therapist for it (it's really helping me so much). The surgery is a tool to help us get healthy. If we use it as a way to punish ourselves physically and mentally, we're doing just as much (or even more) harm than before we had the surgery. Definitely find a therapist and be vulnerable, open, raw, and honest in therapy. It's the only way to start to get back on track and get healthy. I still struggle every day. But I'm getting better every day, little by little.

I didn't have this after surgery, but I did have it when I would have to strain to poop. Usually when I would be constipated. For me, it was a tear from straining too hard too often. My doc also said as long as it's bright red, it's not a major concern. If it's dark red or even black, that's a serious problem.

Thank you!!! I don't see a difference when I look in the mirror, but when I see the before and after pics, I finally saw a little bit. I was so happy I just had to update my profile pic on here lol

Same!!! Or with avocado spread.

According to this: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31620913/ "The incidence of EE (Eosinophilic Esophagitis) 1 year after SG (sleeve gastrectomy) is greater than GBP (gastric bypass). Moreover, not only GBP seems to improve this condition, but also SG tends to worsen EE. These results are to be associated with GERD disease." So it looks like your doctor may want you to switch to the bypass instead of the sleeve.

recliner, cane, warm fluids for when home. Honestly, very little for the hospital. Phone and charger, slide on shoes/sandals, something loose with elastic waist to go home in. I actually wore the clothes to the hospital that I was wearing home. I wore my sandals and I had my phone and charger in my purse. Super easy.

Thanks, guys Even though all of us are HELLA sick right now, it feels good to have something to celebrate. 39 pounds and I'm under 300!!! I now have less weight to lose to get to my first goal than I've already lost. That feels REALLY good to say Edited to add: I'm averaging 16.66 pounds per month lost. That's 5.55 pounds per week. Average weight loss is roughly 2-3 pounds per week, and I'm double that! When I break it down like this, it really helps me recognize and celebrate my accomplishments. Especially when it sometimes feels like it's taking soooo loooong.