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I had been considering surgery for years.. At 5'3" and 393 pounds I was super morbidly obese and knew it. Overall, I was still pretty healthy though, and our insurance doesn't cover wls, so I didn't seriously consider it. Then, my liver enzymes started to elevate, and got higher each year I had them done. So I was scheduled to see a liver specialist in February 2020. In January 2020 I had my gallbladder removed and mentioned that I'd be seeing a liver specialist to the surgeon. He said while he was in there he'd biopsy my liver. When I went for follow up he said my liver looked really bad and he didn't see me living past 60 if I didn't lose weight. I'm 49 and was 48 then. He recommended surgery. He was very concerned and compassionate and just the way he said it really impacted me. So I made an appointment to see a bariatric surgeon that day. I had to pay out of pocket for the surgery, but it was worth every penny. My liver enzymes were close to normal last time I had them done. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

Hey everyone! I’m coming to ask out of desperation. I’m almost 3 years post op gastric sleeve (in July). I had my second child (the only post op child I have— my first was preop) in November 2020. Previous to pregnancy I had been maintaining a comfortable weight for myself and was so happy with where I was. I did great throughout the pregnancy and had only gained 25 pounds and then on week 37 my weight shot up SO fast.. to 44 pounds gained! Turns out I had to deliver immediately due to blood pressure (which I had never had an issue with in my entire life). fast forward to two weeks postpartum I had lost 22 pounds. Great.. so 22 pounds to get back to my comfort weight. Easy peasy! NOT. I’m now 6 months postpartum and STILL have 22 pounds to lose. I have been tracking my intake meticulously. I even bought a new food scale thinking maybe my old one was wrong. I measure in grams mostly. I am eating 1200-1400 calories a day (I’m not breast feeding). I’m making sure to get at least 10k steps a day. And I am losing the same 5 pounds over and over again! I’ve tried basically eliminating carbs and intermittent fasting. I’ve tried adding more calories. I’ve tried eating less than 1200. And this dang weight is NOT budging. I don’t even know what else to do. It’s laughable at this point. If being meticulous and tracking every gram of food isn’t working— wtf is wrong with me?! I do have a 3 year follow up with my bariatric team in July.. but I’d like to be closer to my maintenance weight by then so they don’t freak out on me 🙄. has anyone experienced anything like this? I should note: I DO have an autoimmune thyroid disease— but according to bloodwork, it’s in my normal range. HALP!

Hi all, new here! Wish I found this before I had surgery. I had my RNY done at a military hospital, an they are crazy full, so my first surgery date of April 6th was canceled due to lack of beds, it was quite frustrating, but I just told myself if the hospital is full of Covid patients, I would rather not be there. But, I had my surgery May 6th along with ventral hernia repair. I was not the typical patient it seems. The anesthesia kept me quite out for a very long time, I don't even recall when I woke, but my surgery was about 8 AM and the first time I have clear memories of being awake was 3 AM the following morning. On top of that I developed a large blood clot in my new little pouch. It kept me nauseated for a day and nothing helped. As my stomach was already full, every time I tried to sip at something I just threw it back up. It lasted about 24 hours until I violently expelled it all. It was gross, like something out of a horror movie. The nurse in charge of my care that day told me he'd not seen anything like it, then told me how the surgeon and he thought it interesting enough to poke at the clot before disposing of it... ewe! So I guess it's a rare thing as the Army hospital I had mine done at does a lot of bariatric surgery. Once my stomach was clear however recovery was on track. I had already been up and walking, and peeing eve when I had the clot. I was able to progress from clear liquid to full liquid that day. Though I was kept for observation and repeat labs the next day to ensure there was no more clotting. Everything looked good and I was sent home on the 9th in the evening. Happy Mother's day. >_< I am currently still on full liquid diet, have zero appetite, though when my son cooks up something yummy I do wish I could join in in eating, but it does not make me hungry. I have two adult sons who love to cook. The weight is falling off daily, since I have been home from the hospital I went from 231 on the 9th to 216 today. Pain is still constant but not too intense, energy is low as I do not really take in more than 500 calories a day and unfortunately I was unlucky enough to have the entire lower part of my stomach turn into one large bruise, which is finally lightening. Over all it was not too bad, though the moment I woke I had instant regrets, but that is because those first few hours were just miserable. I am absolutely pleased now and am amped for healing and recovery to be over and just getting on with life!

I meant to post back in March but been busy with life. I hope all of you are doing well and staying safe. For those who got sick with the virus or lost loved ones, I offer my deepest thoughts and sympathies. I was part of the group who got the by-pass done just before everything went on lockdown last year. It's been quite the journey. I've been fortunate to have been able to work from home all of this time, although I do expect to return to the office sometime later this year. To date, I have lost 92 lbs. since the start of my bariatric journey and 104 lbs. from my highest weight. I had the surgery at 62 years of age and I was pre-diabetic, with high blood pressure and a BMI of over 44 and Stage 2 kidney disease. My highest dress size was 24 and I had severe acid reflux, back, knee and feet problems. At present, I can likely get into a size 18 and my bust size has gone from DDD to DD. I absolutely have no regrets getting the surgery -- it likely saved my life in many ways. Pre surgery I did a lot of reading on here as I wanted to know as much as I could about what to expect and I appreciated those who were 6-12 months out from surgery coming back to talk about their experiences, so I wanted to pay it forward. I will begin by breaking this into 4 sections: How I feel, What I think about myself, What I appreciate about myself now, and My work in progress. How I Feel: Physically I feel great and I consider that a blessing. I still have problems with my feet but that is mainly due my falling arches more than anything (although I did strain my ankle a few weeks ago attempting to do HIIT exercises -- don't ask). I've been most frustrated not being able to go to the gym to workout so my main exercise is walking long distances and doing online sculpturing classes. I do plan to return to the gym soon to step up the weight training. Walking up a flight of stairs without gasping for air is just simply divine! Having blood pressure that avg. 117/75? Lovely! I do still have to sleep somewhat elevated as I do have occasional bouts of reflux but nothing like before the surgery and I can't sleep on my right side for too long. But I can now sleep on my back without having severe back pain (the draw back is that my mouth is always open when I do). My blood work for the most part shows most areas in the normal ranges and my kidneys are functioning well. What I think about myself: When I was still in my 20s, I managed to lose 80 pounds and I gained it all back and then some. What is different about me now vs. then is that I still saw myself as fat, even though at that time, I was 16 pounds away from my goal weight. When I look at the pictures of me then, I couldn't see what I see of myself now. Even if I never lose another pound, I am so very cool with me being at this size right now. We are all different, especially us women, but yet we compare our bodies to an image that is not necessarily natural or realistic for most of us. Now I look in the mirror and I 'see' skinny and that's only because I'm tall and can carry more weight without 'looking' fat. That's also why the bottom line for me will always be the numbers on the scale, the volume of food I eat and the calories I ingest because the numbers don't lie. But poor body imagery can screw your mind up every time. What I appreciate about myself now: I think that it's so important to note the things that most folk who are thinner often take for granted. I try to keep a mental list of the things I can do now vs. before: Crossing my legs! I so love doing this! I can cross my legs without needing to hold my leg in place with my hand. I can keep my legs crossed for long periods of time without leg cramps; I can get a 4.5 mile walk in within 1 hr, 15 min vs. the 1 hr. 45 mins. in the past. I was able to work up to 10 miles in one session last year; Love having a resting heart rate in the 50s-60s; I can actually go to Costcos and buy some clothes! I haven't yet done so, but I will be able to start shopping for clothes in the non plus size section (that will still feel weird though); I like the fact that it can take me 2-3 days to finish a meal that I would normally eat in one meal. Volume control is a major game changer for me. I can't believe that I don't miss ice cream! My Work in Progress: The weight loss is slooooooooooooooooooooow now. I'm so close to that major milestone of onederland that I can taste it! Drinking enough water is still a struggle; Yes, sometimes I do overeat (and yeah, I pay for that!) Some foods that I like I can't really eat that much of anymore. I have to remind myself to make sure I get in enough protein. The protein drinks really helps even now. I still feel somewhat guilty when I have to throw food away because I'm full. I still snack a lot and I will on occasion, have that one sweet item that I want. I don't crave sweets and I'm so very grateful about that. Interesting that I want more savory things now. Being consistent is what I have to constantly work on. So ask me anything and I will check in from time to time to answer your questions. I would love to hear from others who had the surgery just prior to the great shutdown of 2020. Whatever you do, stay true and focus on your journey. It doesn't matter when you get there, only that you do in your time.

Lying or choosing just not to tell others? My life, my body, my choice. I am not a poster child for bariatric surgery. The reactions - It's like telling someone you're vegetarian. They think they have to go out of their way to accommodate you. No, just cook what you normally cook and I'll choose what I want to eat and how much I want to eat. Then there's the doubters. "Do you really think that's necessary, can't you just diet? Such a drastic thing to do! You're putting yourself at risk going under anesthesia!" Blah, blah, blah! At a business dinner one time a coworker told the waiter, "I've had bariatric surgery so I can't eat much. The table dinner conversation following was all about her and the surgery. She kept the conversation going even though the rest of the table was well done talking about it which was real quick. This is a business dinner not an all about me and my bariatric surgery dinner. Well, she gained all the weight back she had lost plus a few more. Maybe she should have kept that information about her bariatric surgery to herself? Now, if I want to tell and talk about it with a friend or acquaintance who seems could benefit and it comes up in conversation I will tell them and talk about it and ask for their confidentiality. Long term weight loss is not guaranteed so let's not sugar coat it. Some people fail. A lot, well most of us have eating disorders. Or relationship with food is the problem. It's like a drug it calms and sooths us until after we're done eating too much. We don't listen to our bodies. You can't necessarily fix a mental problem with a physical solution. So, you be you and let others be them.

Has anyone else having trouble with constipation from eating the calcium chews? I get the bariatric pal vanilla ones.

I too feel great hunger pangs since days after my surgery...when I feel the pangs I check the time and see what and when was last time I ate. If it has been longer than 2 hours I will grab a snack that I have planned out for the day. I always have my meals and snacks planned so that I do not eat something I shouldn’t. I also use a bariatric app on my phone to track all my foods and fluids. This is the only way I can stay on track. Do not beat yourself up, this is just a small hiccup. Look at your success rather than your failure, you have dropped and broke up with 12 pounds! You got this and you have support here.

Different insurances have different rules mine required working with a bariatric doctor for weight loss. Mini me in TN required her to work with her primary care doctor( she’s on YouTube).

Look for online exercise programs for people with mobility issues you can do at home. You don’t have to walk to exercise nor do you need a gym membership. Buy some resistance bands to help build your strength. I’m not an exerciser at all. Never been in a gym in my life. I walked on my treadmill only for a couple of months after surgery & I was able to lose weight & to maintain so far. (I do try to be more active in my general everyday life.) I keep my calories low to compensate for my lower activity rate. Are you tracking what you’re eating,: portion size & calories? Also, check the nutrition panels to see how much fat, sugar, carbs, salt the food you’re eating has - you may be surprised. Same with comparing the recommended portion size with the portion size you are actually eating. If you’re struggling to lose, your calorie intake must be about equal to the calories your body is burning. To lose weight your calorie intake must be less than your body is using. Contact your dietician/nutritionalist to help you. If you haven’t got one, ask your surgical team to recommend one with experience with bariatric patients.

So I'm browsing the bariatric cookbooks and find that many specify in their title whether the recipes are for Sleeve or Bypass patients. Just what is the difference in diet after Sleeve vs. Bypass? Does it actually matter which type of cookbook I buy? Thanks!

Yes, I am taking acid reducers, I will try to get more water in. I use the bariatric app and I’m getting more than 64 oz of water a day. But I am am struggling to get my 60-90 grams of protein, shakes make me sick...anything thick anymore make me nauseous these days.

Hey there! I'm right there with you. I'm scheduled for surgery on June 3rd, so I don't have post-surgical experience yet, but my husband and I are foodies who love to pair meals with the perfect wine. This is something we definitely enjoy as a couple, so I'm very interested in the responses to this thread! To be honest, the first time I brought up bariatric surgery, he was pretty negative about how it would affect our lifestyle. After about 2 years of continuing to watch me struggle to lose weight only to gain more - and continue to develop co-morbidities, he finally came around to the idea and is now supportive. Although, I think he's still worried about how it will affect us. This board has really helped me explain to him that with the sleeve, eventually I should be able to eat regular food and have the occasional glass of wine, just in much smaller amounts.

I actually put off surgery at first because I was so afraid of complications. I ended up going ahead this time because I was insured for bariatric coverage and I knew at least that protected me financially. I remember looking at myself in the mirror after I had my surgery date scheduled and being like “what the heck are you doing”. But I went forward and I’m glad every day I did. For me it was reminding myself that risks aren’t only present with action, but also inaction. Sometimes we assume that we are safe if we stick with the status quo but there are medical risks with staying overweight as well. They may not be as obvious as surgical risks but they exist nonetheless.

Bariatric pal has a lot of chips you can purchase, they have bbq, ranch, salt & vinegar, pizza crunch. They are a little like rice cakes but better for you.

I've been battling my weight since I was 6 years old. I've been big for as far back as I can remember. I did just about every diet there was and not a single one worked. Eventually I just gave up. I had looked briefly into WLS in my 20's but I didn't think I'd be able to change my eating habits so drastically. I didn't think I had that kind of willpower. Plus, potential complications scared me and the permanence scared me. So I stopped looking into it. When I was 21 in May of 2009 my eldest niece was born. I was still in pretty good health despite being over 300 pounds. So I didn't really have the determination to go through with WLS. However, when her sister was born in February 2019 my health was very bad. I was 389 pounds, I have two permanent back injuries (one caused by my osteoarthritis), high blood pressure, tachycardia, hypothyroidism, the aforementioned osteoarthritis, I was pre-diabetic, have EoE (an autoimmune disorder), and I'd had brain surgery in May 2017 for my trigeminal neuralgia. When I held my new niece I was hit with the realization that if something didn't change, if I didn't find a way to get myself healthier and lose weight, then I likely wouldn't be around to watch her grow up. I cried, because watching my eldest niece grow up has been my greatest joy. It broke my heart that I may not be around to watch her sister grow up. That made things more real for me, I suppose. It pushed me into making that change and taking it seriously. I was referred to a bariatric surgeon and had to do a 6 months of monitored weigh-in's per my insurance. I didn't actually have to LOSE weight. I was just told not to GAIN weight. But, I took the initiative to try and make myself as successful as possible by using that time to prepare myself for a new way of eating. I used the first month to cut out seconds and cut my portion sizes down. The second month I cut out soda. The third month I cut out rice. The fourth month I cut out pasta. The fifth month I cut out bread. The six month I cut out potatoes and beans. The last two months before my surgery (they were overscheduled and pushed me back) I just maintained that diet and on my surgery date I was 321 pounds, meaning I'd lost 68 pounds on my own. I'm still very proud of myself for that. For me, the final push was my family. My family is my strength. They are what pulled me through the absolute worst time in my life (August 2016-May2017 when I had a 10 month TN flare that led to my brain surgery) when I KNOW I would have given up without them. Since my weight loss surgery? I have a new niece (from my brother and his wife) and my first and only nephew (from my sister and her husband). Now that I've lost over 200 pounds I don't worry so much that I won't be there to watch them grow up. And when I see my 2 year old niece light up when she see's me I know I made the right choice, the best choice, to have this surgery because now I get to watch her and her brother grow up just like I've got to watch her 12 year old sister grow up and just as I'll get to see her cousins grow up. Everyone has a different reason for why they do this. Sometimes it's for family, like myself. And sometimes it's personal. Every person who goes through this has a different journey, different experiences, and a different story to tell. And I wish you the very best on your own journey.

So I am only at Day 10 and don't start puree until next week but my dietician gave me a list of bariatric approved canned soups and I was going to throw them in the blender. That way you get protein and veggies etc and pureed.

Hi! I'm revised Bypass to Bypass. I would only recommend a revision if your surgeon is 100% knowledgeable about bariatrics. As I understand it there are some unique challenges to a revision surgery - but maybe that is more in my case since I had a Bypass already. When they do a sleeve, do they distallize any of the connection to your intestines? In any case, if you do have the revision - weight loss appears (8 weeks out) to go much slower than before, but steady. I feel better this time around - and as you say, I'm treating it like a do-over as I'm older and wiser now - and much better able to keep up with the costs of vitamins and proteins. And - there are a million bypass friendly things on the market now - so many more shake choices - high protein snacks and things. I suspect the hernia can be repaired at the same time if your insurance will approve the bypass - that's the trickier part. Good Luck!

Sleeve & PCOS diets compliment each other really easily. PCOS diets usually recommend consuming lots of lean meats & seafood, fibre rich vegetables (leafy greens & cruciferous), legumes, berries all of which are also usually on recommended food plans post sleeve. Foods to avoid for both are processed carbs, (bread, rice, pasta, etc.), sugary foods & drinks, high fat foods, processed meats. Are your medical team for recommendations to a dietician who has experience with bariatric patients. Most of us are advised to see a dietician pre surgery & whose services you can access as needed post surgery.

check out "The World According to Eggface" blog. She had weight loss surgery several years ago and loves cooking (she's also very active in the bariatric community - including on the board of the Obesity Action Committee). She's got recipes for all stages on here: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/

Well dang I don’t remember signing on to become a lifelong bariatric surgery counselor when I got surgery. I’m a private person and I don’t discuss my medical issues with people I’m not very close with. There’s a huge difference between me just living my life and not sharing my personal medical information and someone positioning themselves as a weight loss expert/influencer and not disclosing it. I’ve had some comments on how great my skin looks at my age as well, and for some people I offer a thanks, and for others I offer information on my Botox provider. It’s almost like I’m an adult who doesn’t owe every human I meet my life story. Do you think I should put a sign on my door that outlines my various surgeries and medical procedures on the off chance it influences someone? Oh maybe I should also list any marital/child rearing difficulties I’ve ever had and information on my bowel habits too. Or do I maybe have the right to decide who I share what information with? Let people live their lives and worry about yourself and your own decisions.

there's some malabsorption involved with bypass (not so with sleeve), so you have to take vitamins for life to avoid deficiencies (you will also have to take vitamins for life with sleeve, but the consequences aren't as severe if you're not diligent with them). But the malabsorption is also part of the reason people tend to lose more weight with bypass, because you malabsorb calories along with nutrients. However, malabsorption of calories with bypass only lasts about two years. Malabsorption of nutrients is permanent, so you really have to be diligent about keeping on top of your supplements. Dehydration isn't an issue with bypass. You have to drink at least 64 oz of fluids a day with either surgery, but I've never read about any dehydration issues with bypass (I've been on this and other bariatric forms for about six or seven years - that issue has never come up that I'm aware of) as far as why I chose bypass: 1) my surgeon recommended it because I had GERD pre-surgery (sleeve can make GERD worse in about 30% of people. Bypass tends to improve if not outright cure it) 2) I went along with his recommendation because I didn't want to risk my GERD getting worse 3). I weighed over 300 lbs, so I wanted the most powerful surgery I could get (if my insurance covered the DS (duodenal switch), I might have gone for that instead. But it only covered sleeve and bypass) 4) At the time I had my RNY, the sleeve was still relatively new. It was in the process of replacing the lap band as the major non-RNY weight loss surgery option. The lap band turned out to be a not-so-great surgery (to the point where most surgeons refuse to do it now), and I didn't want to risk the sleeve becoming "Lap Band 2". However, that was a few years ago. The sleeve has been around long enough at this point that it's proven itself, so I would no longer have this particular concern if I had to make the decision today. HOWEVER, due to my GERD issues, I would still choose the bypass if I was facing that decision now. If not for that, I'm not sure which one I would go with. They're both good surgeries, and you'll find a lot of success stories with both.

Ghost Protein Powder. Has anyone heard of it? Not sure if it's new or not but recently I've seen some videos from other bariatric patients who were able to get their hands on some. They all swear it tastes so good. They have all sorts of flavors too such as............. Nutter Butter Chips Ahoy Peanut Butter Cereal Milk Pancake Batter Banana Pancake Batter Chocolate Cereal Milk Blue Raspberry Sonic Cherry Limeade Original Greens Sour Patch Kids Redberry Warheads Sour Watermelon Welch's Grape Blueberry Acai That's all I've seen thus far. I looked on Amazon and they are trying to rob people for like $70 a canister. But GNC online has it for like $40. They also have a website and a FB page but I haven't really checked them out yet. I'm really interested in that Chips Ahoy and Nutter Butter ones. LOL They sound amazing which is why I was wondering if anyone has been able to try them yet. https://www.ghostlifestyle.com/?fbclid=IwAR3h-Vj1UozGt1TbKN5hFRSsMeHZqtZRKNwU9QtqXjGH6tKaV9APjOhWJKE

Have you tried the cooking the chicken breast various ways? I ask because my nutritionist said many of her bariatric patients come to her with that same complaint but when she asks them if they tried cooking if in different ways they tell her no. She then sends them home to try cooking it different ways and she claims that like 90% of them are then successful eating it. She said lots of times it just depends on how it's cooked, how dry it is because of the way it's cooked, seasonings etc. So, who knows. Haven't been there yet myself to test it out but you may want to try cooking it in other ways if you haven't already.

I wish I could have done my nutrition classes once a week instead of once a month - I would have paid more for that! Mine are group classes and they are so unhelpful. They don't focus on bariatric eating at all, just like "did you know french fries are unhealthy?" On the other hand, I've been able to lost 31 lbs since I started working towards the surgery in January, and I'm really starting to get used to the eating habits I'll need long term, so I am telling myself it's worth it. Anyway, surgeries were stopped until April at the center I'm using due to COVID.

I don’t tell everyone I have had surgery. I’m not lying to anyone. I’m just not telling them. It’s no one’s business but mine. I have told people that I know who have had the surgery. But in all honesty, lost almost 20 pounds in 2 months before the surgery just following the bariatric nutrition protocol my doctor prescribed to me. So if I can lose weight just doing that then others can too. I had the surgery because I needed my body to hold me accountable. The surgery is a necessary tool to keep me focused on NOT eating too much and to keep me from binge eating junk food. My sleeve is keeping me on track and focused. Not telling everybody because it is nobody’s business.