NeonRaven8919

So glad I found this forum as I'm looking to calm my nerves. My procedure is scheduled next week and my anxiety is BEYOND. 3 years ago I made it until the night before my surgery where I had a total meltdown and canceled the procedure. This time around the process was shorter (less nutrition visits) and I feel like I'm on the speed round, while that may have seemed helpful at first... the countdown has me so frazzled. I'm open to any feedback, tips, suggestions... anything to get me through these next 6 days.
Thanks in advance

I love skechers and I keep going back to them even after trying others (asics, new balance, nike).

it's 50% of EXCESS body weight - not total body weight. Also, a 10-20 lb rebound weight gain after hitting our lowest weight is VERY common - it happens to the vast majority of us, usually in year 3. In fact, that's why I intentionally went under my goal, to account for that very common 10-20 lb bump up. (and like you, for most of us it just kind of happens without much "effort" on our part - it's basically your body settling in at a weight it's comfortable at)
so everything you said is completely normal, and certainly not indicative of failure. That said, if you DO want to lose more weight, then yes, a revision or something like a GLP-1 would likely help. But you certainly didn't fail the surgery.

I would definitely recommend staying away from platform training shoes like converse and vans as they will not support your feet enough. If possible I recommend what someone said above and find somewhere where they'll measure your feet and take into account your arches and foot width. I ended up going with New Balance running shoes as they suited my foot measurements, and boy are they comfortable to walk and run in.

Do I think it is alright? No. I don't think it is. Seeking approval to cheat is doing yourself a massive disservice. Either cheat and own the fact you cheated, or don't cheat. To cheat and seek validation is really not taking responsibility for your own choices. If you are going to have the best possible outcomes post surgery then you need to be able to be responsible for your own choices, even when those choices are poor.
'I had a dill pickle even though i am meant to only be on shakes but it was just a pickle so its okay' is no different to post op 'I had a chocolate shake but it is still a full liquid so its okay because I was really tired and needed energy'. Sure, the calories and fat between a dill pickle and a shake are different and one is clearly better than the other but that's not the point.
This surgery is a tool and for you to use that tool effectively you need to learn to take responsibility for your decisions, actions, and choices over what you put in your mouth. So own the fact you had a dill pickle, you broke your diet, you learnt from it, and you won't have another dill pickle and instead choose to ride this hard part of the pre OP diet out as it will all be worth it in time. If you seek validation for your bad choices, you won't learn to take that responsibility.
I know this seems really harsh in response to a dill pickle, but for me, personal responsibility and honesty have been what has led to my own success.

It’s unfortunate you are experiencing some issues!
D Mannose works well for UTIs and is available in almost every Vitamin sections in stores.
For the skin issues, have you considered a specialized soap? Also you can keep reinfecting yourself through clothing that is infected. Definitely see a dermatologist if you can.
You said you are in remission now but your fasting issues may be connected to your diabetes. Do you monitor you blood glucose levels while fasting? I can still dry fast for over 24 hrs with no issues and wet fast for over 36hrs but I don’t have diabetes. Everyone is different so take that with a grain of salt.
Some things may improve for you the further out from surgery you get or with continued weightloss.
Good Luck!

Below is a recap of the positives and negatives of my gastric surgery one year after the surgery.
Positives:
I am no longer a diabetic after 15 years of being a diabetic. I do not take any anti acid medication, I was on daily anti acid medication for 20 years. I no longer have GERD or Barrett’s Esophagus. I look good, I feel good, I lost 100 pounds and I am able to do things that I was unable to do before. Negatives:
Lactose Intolerance: I inherited a lactose intolerance after the surgery and will never be able to enjoy dairy products like ice cream. Alcohol Abstinence: I will never be able to have a beer or a glass of wine, due to the high alcohol concentration in the body, so I have prohibition of alcohol consumption for life. Medication Absorption Issues: Significant Challenge: Post-surgery, the stomach processes medications differently, resulting in varied absorption rates. This issue is under-researched and poses a significant opportunity for further medical studies. Example: Treatment of infections such as UTIs can be complicated. Ineffective antibiotic absorption can lead to persistent infections and increased risk of complications. I had severe challenges with antibiotic absorption. I had repeated UTI incidents due to ineffective medication absorption that necessitated trying multiple antibiotics before finding an effective one that absorbed appropriately. Due to lack of research in this area, doctors have almost no knowledge of this and you have to become your own subject matter expert. Reduced Immunity: Increased susceptibility to infections, including: Cold Sores: Post-surgery imbalance in lysine and arginine levels resulted in frequent cold sores. Daily lysine supplements were recommended to manage this issue. This is one additional supplement I need to take daily. Fungal Infections: Significant weight loss altered skin physiology, leading to recurrent fungal infections in skin folds. Preventive measures include having antifungal prescriptions on standby. Nutritional Imbalances: Vitamins and Minerals: Maintaining a balance of essential nutrients is a constant challenge, truly a daily full time job. Taking Vitamins, minerals and being able to change the amount based on blood test results is a life long commitment. Anemia: Despite taking supplements, anemia can still occur, this is a constant struggle for me. Mineral Toxicity: Excess minerals like phosphorus can lead to osteoporosis, indicating the fine line between deficiency and toxicity in nutrient management. This has been a challenge for me, my blood tests have consistently showed high phosphorous levels and nobody has an answer to this. I consulted several physicians including endocrinologist, nephrologist and my family doctor, with no answers thus far. Severe Hunger: Increased Hunger: Somewhere between 6 months and a year post-surgery, hunger pains became more intense than pre-surgery. The luxury of not being hungry all the time went away. Nobody talks extensively about this but lack of hunger goes away for all gastric surgery patients, hunger comes back and it is up to the individual to eat properly and not gain the weight back, which is very easy to do. Inability to Fast: Unlike before the surgery, fasting for even a day can cause severe physical reactions including shaking and an overwhelming feeling of malaise. I was unable to resolve the Atrial Fibrillation. This was the main reason for which I had this surgery since Australian studies were showing promising results curing AFib with weight loss. While the episodes are less frequent my AFib is still there. Conclusion: Gastric surgery offers weight loss benefits but comes with lifelong challenges that require constant vigilance and management. Thorough consideration and consultation with healthcare professionals are essential before proceeding with any gastric surgery.

There's no shame in postponing or calling off the surgery if you're feeling uncertain about it.

It's a big step to take, and there's no un-doing it. It can change your life for the better, but there's also lots of changes that become necessary that are difficult. Not to mention, any surgery carries risks associated.
Maybe take this weekend to think about why you decided to get the surgery to begin with. Everyone's reasons are different, but for the most part I think a lot of us have had the up-down fluctuations, the diets that works and then the weight came back, the diets that never worked to begin with, etc. Is the weight loss your only goal, or do you have other obesity related health conditions that this would improve? Do the benefits to your life outweigh (hehe) the potential drawbacks?
Also, question your uncertainty now. Is it because you think you haven't given other weight loss attempts a fair shot, and feel like you now can? Is it because you think the pre-op weight loss will continue at a similar rate, or do you feel like this jumpstart of weight loss has given you a better starting point to continue with other diet/exercise methods to lose the rest? Or is it because the surgery itself / risks / post-op side effects / etc are giving you reason to doubt?
Like @SleeveToBypass2023 said, the pre-op diet isn't meant to last long term. It's basically a cleanse / crash diet to reduce complications prior to surgery. I don't know what your specific program had you on during this stage, but I had two weeks of 'medical shakes' that basically amounted to a starvation diet in terms of calories. My pre-op diet program definitely would not have been healthy to continue long term -- and honestly, it reminded me of other diets I tried in the past (looking at you 1990's slim fast) that would help you shed some quick initial pounds but came back ridiculously easily just trying to stay in 'maintenance'.
There's no right or wrong answer here. No matter what choice you make, you'll be making in your own best interest.

I think if funding for gym memberships was available that would be really helpful. TBH I've never looked into it.

I just noticed that you are talking about a revision. With the revision there really are more than just the main options. They will most likely do a few tests beforehand to get the best picture of what’s going on inside. I had a endoscopy, a barium swallow study and. A gastric emptying study.done before we decided for certain that the SADI was right for me. Some doctors will convert a bypass to Sadi I believe but they can also do something to revise only the pouch. I forget what they call that. Honestly when I comes to revision I know this isn’t exactly true but it almost seems like they make it up as they go 😆 they really do get a good look at your very unique circumstances and take all the knowledge they have from all the procedures they can do and come up with a plan that will work best for you. The names for the surgery get really difficult at that point because really what they actually do from one revision to the next is going to vary depending on the patient and the surgeon. Some surgeons for instance would’ve made my pouch smaller during the revision. Mine doesn’t think it’s worth it given the risks it brings. I would really recommend that you get started with a surgeon and see what options they even offer you and if you don’t love them maybe even get a second opinion because not all surgeons will approach it the same way and some don’t perform all of the procedures there are to offer either.

The SADI is a modified version of the DS where when they bypass a portion of the bowels they only need “Single Anastmosis,” which means connection and is the first two letters of the acronym SADI, instead of two anastomosis that the DS uses. They are both almost a combination or the sleeve and bypass to simplify it. They combine the sleeved stomach for restriction with the bypassed intestine for malabsorption. In terms of least to most aggressive it’s sleeve, bypass, SADI, then DS. The SADI is fairly new and is considered to be a relatively safe option with that single connection lessening the risk for leaks by at least half and overall risks are less than the DS considering the weight loss is not a lot less. Like the DS it can be done in one surgery or in two steps beginning with a sleeve first and then completing the bypass portion In a second operation later (often after a patient loses enough weight to make the bypass portion safe or as in my case if they do not lose adequate weight or experience regain after the sleeve). You may also see the SADI referred to as the modified switch or SIPS surgery. And the -S in SADI-S just means with sleeve as in when the two components are done at the same time in one operation.

I have to admit, I'm also unaware of revisions that can be done with bypass. I was under the impression your options are fairly limited after bypass, though I'm no expert. Reflux after bypass can certainly happen, but it's highly unusual, as is stretching out your pouch to an abnormally large size (aside from the regular increase in capacity that is normal). I would think a visit to your primary care doctor would be your first step, or an appointment with your surgeon's office if that's possible (I know it's been a long time, so maybe that isn't possible). You're going to want to determine if something has gone wrong that can be fixed surgically, or if it's something that medication or lifestyle changes could better address.

I'm in Ireland and our healthcare system is totally different. Might your first port of call be your GP? They should know what is allowed on the NHS and what isn't.
Also I had a sleeve and I know that can be revised to bypass but not at all sure what the options are for a revision of bypass. But someone more knowledgeable will be along soon.
I'm so sorry that having stuck to the rules and lost so much weight your medical condition has contributed to a regain. This is every bariatric surgery patient's worst nightmare. I hope you can get back in control.

Hi @ indianlight, I had Gastric sleeve in a private hospital two and a half years ago and it cost £11600 with all the pre appointments. Gastric bypass was £2000 more at the time.
I really wished I had gone the bypass route because I have wicked reflux but that boat has sailed and I have to deal with it. I have never heard of people getting a second operation on the NHS but why not try and keep on trying different doctors. Sometimes persistence does work.
I have Fibromyalgia too and the surgeon told me that the surgery would not change this, it didn't. Have you tried Aquafit, it really helps. Its low impact and you can go at your own speed.
I hope you get your help

I had a bypass over 15 years ago and at first it was successful over 10 stone loss and I felt amazing.
My mobility has decreased dramatically nd I've been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I've gained all my weight back and more.
My pouch im sure is huge, I get terrible reflux and I'm thinking a revision.
Has anyone successfully had a NHS revision? What was criteria? What did the op entail?
Also, anyone gone private for this in uk? What was the cost?
Im so confused but I know to help my mobility I need to lose weight 😩
Any help is appreciated

Hello and welcome. I am three weeks post sleeve revision to SADI and doing well. I’m sure people will be happy to hear your experiences and will be here to cheer you on during this phase of your journey as well.

Welcome! I had my RNY last August (2023) and continue the journey. People on here don't give medical advice, they do offer suggestions or insight/experiences they've themselves have gone through. So no worries, no one will ask you to give medical advice.
I personally have noticed I get more in-depth knowledge here than my bariatric surgeon or the bariatric clinic, probably because here people have gone through it and understand and are less likely to chalk it up to "women" or "obese people" complaining or imagining things or...its something other than the bariatric surgery causing ______________ (fill in the blank). We've all experienced some of the same things and some unique signs and symptoms.
We all know surgery outcomes and side effects can be unique to each patient. Welcome to the forums!

I would ask about the GLP-1 first and if that doesn’t fit for whatever reason then consider revision to Bypass or SADI. I am 3 weeks post sleeve to SADI revision and down 29 pounds. We had similar starting weights although I’m a bit taller than you. I was 235 when I did my sleeve and i gained it all back plus some so you are in a better boat than I was. Since you have alot less to lose that I did and you have kept a big chunk of the weight off I personally would try the GLP-1 first if it’s medically appropriate but that’s a decision your doctor will be able to help you make.

I'm not sure where you found the 50% body weight number, but I had my 6-month appointment with my surgeon today and was told that losing 20% of your starting weight and keeping it off is the definition of "success" from a medical perspective. So, if you started at 252, that would be a 50 lb loss. Prior to gaining weight, you were at 65lbs lost, making your initial results within the successful range and if you are currently at 205, you're just slightly out of that range for longterm success.
I think you may have confused the percentages of "body weight" and "excess body weight." To determine your excess body weight for a woman, you start with 100 lbs and add 5 lbs for each inch over 5 feet tall. So for you, that would be 120 lbs. (That's not a goal weight, but rather an "ideal" for a person your height who has never been overweight.) You would then subtract that from your starting weight, giving you 132 lbs of "excess" body weight. 50% of that is 66 lbs, which is essentially what you lost after surgery.
Current research is showing that gastric sleeve surgery is not as durable for weight loss for some people. The Pound of Cure podcast has a lot of episodes that address this (you can find it on Youtube). It's certainly worth talking to your doctor about your options, which may include revision or GLP-1 medications. You'll want to find out your insurance coverage options, too. Of course, the first thing you'll want to do is make sure you are following your nutrition plan and exercise guidelines and cutting out bad habits to see if that helps you reverse some of the gain. If you haven't had a physical lately, definitely go in for that as any number of things can crop up, especially during perimenopause, that can cause weight gain.
Wishing you luck! I'm 50 and I'm definitely nervous about reaching my goals and keeping the weight off at this age.

When I buy mine, which is rarely Lol!, I usually go to Foot Lockyer as they do the assessment on your feet and recommend the best to suit your needs. Like I tend to pronate & get shin splints pretty easily & I only use them for walking. I had Brooks a few years ago which I liked though the last pair I bought are a different brand (has an A logo but I can’t recall what brand). My foot was smaller & narrower because of the weight loss which also influenced what brand was best too.

I am only 3 weeks post surgery but I am hoping that the weight loss will allow me to handle the heat a bit better and I can get out and walk some around the neighborhood. I need some good sneakers for walking though. Any suggestions.

I have to hand it to you that doesn’t sound fun but if you can do this, you’ve got this once you are back to normal food for sure!! It will all absolutely be so worth it!! Just keep reminding yourself just how much you deserve this. And check out the “weirdest non scale victories” thread if you haven’t already. Some inspiring changed to look forward to that may help keep you motivated. You’re doing awesome. You’ve got this.

Well done on getting to this point 👏👏👏 Just keep reminding yourself that it’s a teeny-tiny blip of a way of eating that will be over before the end of the year, and that you will be eating different foods and textures while getting in to smaller sized (no cute puppies or kittens) clothing and shocking yourself at the continual changes and healthier feelings.
Cheering you on!

Leslie Sansone walking videos are good. You can find them on YouTube. You can start with her 1 mile video or her 15 minutes videos. It’s more like walking aerobics using a few basic steps. I do 60 minute hikes 4x a week. Once a week I do her 3 mile American Heart Association video because I find the side movement is great for my hip joints. Good Luck!

Ah…run by people who don’t have the first idea then? I just know that occasionally they offer funding for gym memberships and didn’t know if it was something that was offered to you. It is bloody offensive though that we have to jump through hoops just to prove our ‘worth’ before being offered WLS 🤬