BabySpoons

Have you had a liver function test done? Excess copper is excreted from your body in your bile by your liver. While we’re losing, it’s not uncommon to have odd liver function results (processing our fat out of our body strains it). Maybe if your liver isn’t functioning effectively or being stressed by your weight loss may mean it’s not processing the copper out of your system & it builds up. I don’t really know either. Just wondering. Worth a deeper conversation with your doctors as to why it might be happening & what can be done to help reduce your levels.

Just curious, are you on a mainly vegetarian or vegan diet, because its common for copper levels to increase with a lack of meat. Foods that commonly have more copper include shellfish, beef liver, whole-grain products, nuts & seeds, avocados, chickpeas, tofu, potatoes, mushrooms. So if you eat a lot of these, this may be the cause.
I'm not a doctor or nutritionist, just some random guy on the internet, but from what I can find on the matter, it sounds like it can be caused by eating a diet mostly consisting of those things I mentioned, but also from a deficiency in other minerals like Zinc and B & C Vitamins, as well as other metals needed in a diet, which copper will take the place of in their absence. It may be worth looking into a Multivitamin that's lower in copper but has other metals in safe levels.
It can also be environmental, so check to see if there's anything you're around frequently that could expose you to copper, such as copper plumbing for your Water, copper cookware, jewelry, and IUDs. I have a similar issue with Nickel, and have to be careful which metals I handle, since its common for steel to have nickel in its alloys.

A little back ground with me. I had gastric sleeve 10 years ago because of my over weight issue I wasn’t getting my period and I wasn’t able to get pregnant. After the sleeve I loss total of 60 lbs, and got pregnant. The first pregnancy ended in miscarriage. I was very depressed about it. So my next 2 pregnancies I made sure I eat and gave enough nutrients for my babies. Also I didn’t keep up with the weight loss after I gave birth.

Now after 10 years of the surgery I regained almost all my weight. My issue with pcos such as no having period came back… didn’t have period for like 2 years. Also have other issue like cholesterol, foot pain and Gerd. I thought about having revision for almost 3 years and I took action and had gastric bypass about a week ago.
I am feeling some emotional up and down…been crying for the last few days. I feel such a failure of having to have to get the revision when the doctor gave me a chance. My surgery also didn’t go perfect. I was under the anesthesia for over 4-5 hours, (I didn’t get an exact time from the doctor when I came out from surgery. Family was inform about the equipment issue and didn’t see me untill the afternoon) because one of the equipment broke and the medical team had to wait for the replacement. I went into surgery 7am and woke up 4pm.
when I woke up they had me take a walk and tried drinking sips of Water. I vomited right back with 2 big chunks of clogged blood. And I tried drinking again but kept vomiting dark brown color liquid out, like old blood. ( sorry if it’s too much description) it was quite a lot of it even I didn’t drink so much water.
The nurse informed the doctor and they said it’s normal and they did just literally cut my stomach. So some amount of blood is normal, but because I was under the anesthesia for so long maybe I am feeling sick from it. So they told me not to drink anything for the first day and started me on liquid the next day. The next day I was fine and went home. I felt horrible the first day and the pain in my stomach is there everywhere probably gas.
The feeling after the revision surgery is completely different than how I felt the first time. I am aware it’s a bigger operation, but I just didn’t expect it to be like that.
When I return home my stomach pain was still there, but eventually it did get better, but after a few days my whole stomach was so itchy, I thought the incisions were healing and that why I am feeling this way. The next day all my incisions were swollen red. BTW I had 6 big incision and 2 small needle punctures. When it got swollen, red and itchy it was at night and I waited another day and called my doctor asap in the morning. They told me I am having an allergic reaction to the dermabond.
I am just feeling itchy, my incisions are raised and lumpy, it’s been over a week and I lose only 5 lbs. ( comparing to other people who loss 10-20lbs, i think to myself why am I not loss it?) and when I look at scars from the mirror I just broke down and cried. Thinking what did I do to myself….
I know I should stop being so bitter, and stop complaining. But I just feel like such a failure because I failed the first surgery, and I put myself in this journey again and things are not going so great… there are the positive side that I should look at, but I just can’t help it.
*note-
goal weight 150lbs
pre op weight 273lbs
started liquid diet 258lbs
I had a stall during liquid diet for 1 week. Most people loss 10-15 lbs during liquid diet. I loss 8lbs. I followed everything my nutritionist told me and had 1 lean Protein 3oz and 3 oz vegetable for lunch for 2 weeks.
i w so hungry that the morning of surgery the nurse told me my blood pressure was actually very low.
Surgery day 250lbs
1week post op 245lbs


I don’t know what type of response I am waiting to get here. Maybe I am just venting and hoping to feel better.

I worked for almost a year toward my gastric surgery. My husband had a sleeve two years ago and everything went perfect. He feels so much better and has improved his health. But my story didn’t go as planned! I had a gastric bypass on 12/5, but I developed complications immediately. The very next day it was discovered that my small intestines had decided to close off completely. Evidently this is a super rare occurrence . I had to go into emergency surgery to remove the blockage. During the second surgery, I aspirated and my lungs filled with Fluid. I developed pneumonia. I came out of that surgery on a vent! It got worse when my body went into sepsis and I developed ARDS! I ended up on that vent and medically paralyzed for 11 days! I ended up spending 21 days in the hospital with most of that being in ICU fighting to stay alive. Now, I’m home, but I’ve had to regain strength in order to walk and to use my arms and hands. It’s been a long road and still not back on my feet. It’s hard for me to look back and think this surgery was worth all I’ve been through, all my family has been through! I still can’t work or function completely independently. Has anyone had any such complications?

I didn't have issues with the surgery but had the same because of Pneumonia. To make matters worse I was abroad with a language barrier. I had to learn to sit, stand, walk and feed myself again. Even talking was difficult because of all the time the ventilator was in. I was in hospital 5 months. I had a long time to think about things. It was very tough on my family.
So with bariatric surgery you get the natural regret for the first weeks of recovery because its a massive new learning curve and then you have all this other stuff that has happened to you, and oh boy its scary. Give yourself time to let your brain process what has happened to you. Yes it was a lot BUT you have survived. You cant go back and change your actions so look to the future and embrace every new day you have been given.

Me too. My hair is wild and curly, so I use hair gel to try to keep them in line. When I was a kid we used to call them the frizzies. LOL
I just had my hair cut today. Mine's in a long shag a bit below shoulder length and so the layers help to create fullness.
Glad to hear yours is growing back. I feel bad for those who lost their hair in clumps. Yikes!

I would agree that it's possible you just need to allow yourself more calories considering your rapid weight loss.
Congratulations on your success!

I just wanted to tell someone: I'm finally below 200lbs! <does the happy dance>
I finally weigh less than my husband - whew! Thank you everyone for being on this forum and sharing your wisdom with others. Its helped at low stressful points and at times made me laugh on this lifelong journey.

I had mine in May of 2023. I'm doing great , thanks for asking ! I've been eating low carb ,very small portions and except for a months long stall, everything is going a-ok I haven't had any carbonated drinks or alcohol so far, but I don't miss it. My stomach handles everything good with no problems. I'm down 2 sizes and couldn't be happier ! All my lab work have been perfect and I'm off 3 meds that I took for a long time. Diabetes is no longer in my future ! How have you been since your surgery ? You lost a ton !!!!!

So I read in todays newspapers that a beautiful young girl of 20 went to Turkey for Bariatric surgery and became very ill on the airplane home. She paid Dr. Bayil of Global medical care, £2500. Eye wateringly cheaper than the out of pocket cost in UK. I paid £12000. two years ago. They diverted to Serbia but sadly she died. The surgeon had nicked the intestine. He is saying he did nothing wrong. He said 'It was an embolism caused by the plane. ' An autopsy found the intestinal laceration.
I wish bariatric surgery was easier and cheaper to get in our own countries. RIP Morgan Ribeiro

I sleep good no issues there 😴😴😴😴 since my hiatal hernia repair I feel alive back to my old 30 something self. I’m active again, I eat well, I get good sleep and I have no more pain.

i think many people on here will tell you any revision surgery results in a much slower rate of weight loss than the first time around.

Hi! I was banded with a Realize band in 2008. Went from 235 to 150 and I've been between 150 and 165 for years.
I'm now having serious complications with the band. Lots of complications but the worst is an "oozing sore" around 75% of my Esophagus.
I've had such great success with the band and I'm nervous about going to a RNY.
I really don't want to weigh less than 150. Is a revision just going to put me back into rapid weight loss?
Any revision weight loss/gain stories are greatly appreciated. I need someone to hold my hand!

I surpassed my goal weight by 2pounds! in March is my 9 month follow up. I was just thinking back to two weeks after my surgery when I ended up in the hospital with dehydration and not hitting my Protein goals. Here a I am kicking ass and taking names.

My incident of hair loss was very similar to yours. It started about 3 months post surgery and continued to about 8 months. I cut my hair to shoulder length and that helped restore some fullness. I am now noticing hairs about an inch long growing all over my head! Good news, its coming back!!!

Thank you for understanding as a GERD patient. My doctors never wanted to fully check what pain i was going through all these years and it had me pissed off. I wanted bypass, but yes what you said the dr felt by repairing my hernia it would subside. I feel since i've been on these meds for so long my body and stomach got use to it. Eventually I will get the bypass cause i'm still on meds and I still watch what i eat as a GERD patient.......no grease, hot or spicy foods. I do cardio, running and weight training and mix it up. My belly is the hardest to lose. Once again thank you for understanding me as others really dont understand what we go through its not weight that causes us pain, and we gained weight because we couldnt exercise due to the pain.

Hi All,
First Post
I'm female in the UK and nearly 59 years old. I have been a fat toddler, a fat child, a fat teen and a fat adult. I have yo-yo dieted all my life, with each yo-yo lasting for a shorter period and resulting in a new high-point when I would inevitably bounce back. In July '23 I reached a new all time high 24st 9lb (345lb) I was about to start the diet again, about to go through the same loop but just couldn't face it. I made an appointment with a bariatric surgeon, discussed my history and options and agreed that a gastric sleeve was a good fit for me. I was told I was too heavy for their practice and I needed to lose 56lb before I could have the surgery. The surgery was booked for Jan 2nd '24 and I started dieting.
As is the practice here I had an assessment with a psychologist who confirmed I was a suitable candidate and a dietician who again confirmed I was a suitable candidate but in the process managed to make me feel like I had already failed, in her words I was "Much heavier than most people who come to us" As she was a gate keeper and I needed her approval to progress I did not complain. That time will come.
Following my initial consultation on the 8th Aug I started dieting to get down to the target weight. I have never had difficulty in losing weight I simply cannot maintain any losses. My normal pattern is if it takes me 6 months to lose the weight I will regain it and 10lb in the following 12-18 months. By the day of surgery I had lost 75lb and was already feeling so much better. I considered carrying on with just dieting and not having the surgery but I was already beginning to see my discipline weaken and I knew it would be the same old story.
Surgery went well, I had very little pain or discomfort and by and large I cannot complain. I'm currently on the pureed stage of the diet and doing OK managing to keep Protein and Fluid levels up though I struggle with the fluids some day. I have lost 13lb in the last 21 days but have hit the dreaded 3 week plateau.
Early days but I have no regrets - to be without hunger for the first time in my life is such a relief, I feel good and am doing more and more each day. I am already starting to live the life I want and i can see so many more benefits ahead and believe they are attainable and retainable.
I wish I knew why I have struggled so much with my weight - there is no one trauma or set of childhood issues I can point at. It is not that I have a compulsion to eat everything in sight there are so many foods I can just ignore, I have no interest in sweet foods of any kind or greasy deep fried foods. But I cannot resist bread, Pasta , rice etc and my down fall has always been the second or even third portion of these carbs. For this reason if no other I hope the VSG will not only prevent that behaviour but I also hope it will give me enough time to re gain control before considering a second helping.
My parting thought for this post is that as I have gone through my journey thus far the one thing I have found is that my story is not that unusual, my problems are not unique and most importantly that they are not the result of some moral failing or fundamental weakness. There is more to life long obesity than can simply be solved with "diet and exercise" and having finally found medical professionals who believe that is the case I see this year and this journey as a new lease on life that I am going to grab with both hands.
Koshk - newbie

I saw a few relatives over the Christmas holiday that hadn't seen me since WLS in April. All were very supportive and complimentary of my 100+ weight loss.
One gal who is overweight, was very interested and asked many questions, considering WLS for herself. Then she said, "I don't know... I'm not really ready to take the easy way out." 🙄 Uhhhh
I didn't get mad because I knew she was just being ignorant, but I did say... "Honey... it's far from easy."
No one had been rude or called me fat when I weighed 320 lbs. at my heaviest. But they didn't have to. The look of shock, to those who knew me before, said it all. Strangers all treated me like I was invisible.
But now? I read someone on here say, if I wasn't good enough for them when I was overweight, I'm too good for them now. Kind of agree with that.

.......... I "think" I broke the stall ! * knock on wood* 😁 Yes! I've been at 192 for months and nothing I did would break it. Finally ....I am gradually going down and as of today I am 185 ! It's the weirdest thing - all summer I was exercising and walking and the scale wouldn't move. Now that it's winter in Wisconsin , I haven't been walking at all except for grocery shopping and the weight loss started again. The only reason I can think of why I was stalled is,I must have been gaining muscle . Well - I'm not going to question it .... I'm just going to enjoy it I'm so happy to be a "loser" again..... LOL

One of the things I sorely missed when overweight and homebound was thrifting. I had plenty of old clothes in various smaller sizes I held onto that I have been fitting into over the past 9 months since WLS. I have been having the best time buying new to me used clothing and bagging up the ones now too big and donating.
I'm just so happy to finally fit back into stylish clothing again instead of tent dresses and elastic waistbands. I love vintage clothing and have no qualms wearing used except underwear. LOL
I guess the thrill for me too is finding expensive items for practically nothing. Also it's just not practical to pay full price for clothing you will outgrow in a few short weeks.

I was told drinking before a meal took up space that should be reserved for food. That never made much sense to me since liquids usually move quickly through. But in the beginning, I still waited 30 minutes before and after eating. Nowadays I wait anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour but only after a meal. Depending on the meal. It is quite painful otherwise if I don't.
I would forego the Snacks if I had to choose between them and staying hydrated.
GL

Walking after surgery helps prevent blood clots and also to help dissipate gas pains. I made myself get up every hour and walk at least 5 minutes after I got home. I didn't have the bad gas pain many others experience but I was afraid of getting a blood clot.
I can't imagine the pain you describe after WLS. I have read a few others mention waking up screaming from pain. It almost sounds like you weren't given the right amount of pain meds. Sorry that happened to you and glad you are feeling better now.
I had some kind of nerve block shot administered by an anesthesiologist, directly into my stomach, right before they wheeled me into the operating room. He said it worked similar to an epidural. Also, while prepping me, they put a pain patch behind my ear and told me to leave it on for 3 days. That's not counting the meds thru my IV and the liquid codeine they sent me home with. Needless to say, that first week was a blur.
I know nothing about spitting, but I did have dry mouth from hell for a couple days after my surgery.
I wish you the best going forward!

So i promised i would continue posting after surgery. My first post to the site was during my liquid diet. I had surgery on the morning of the 18th. Everything was going smoothly. When i woke up from surgery thats when all hell broke loose. My stomach felt like it was literally on fire im screaming and crying for help, pain medicine, etc. I blacked out after that or they gave me a sedative one or the other. I swear the pain of it felt worse than childbirth and i could never imagine anything more painful that until that day. I ended up staying 2 nights ( wouldve been 3 if i didnt choke down water) im home now and although the pain isnt as bad as the first day its still bad. This is day 2 going on 3 ill post again soon.

I was told drinking before a meal took up space that should be reserved for food. That never made much sense to me since liquids usually move quickly through. But in the beginning, I still waited 30 minutes before and after eating. Nowadays I wait anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour but only after a meal. Depending on the meal. It is quite painful otherwise if I don't.
I would forego the Snacks if I had to choose between them and staying hydrated.
GL