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I wasn't to take anti-inflamatories for the first few months because it's a stomach irritant, and with my GERD and propensity to develop stomach ulcers, that would have increased the risk of things getting stirred up. However it wasn't a "never again" thing. I take them now. I'd ask your team why they've permanently taken them off the table for you. As for swallowing pills - yeah, post-surgery seems to have permanently made it unpleasant. Never bothered me before, but now I avoid large tablets if there's a smaller option. I also opt for whatever chewable supplements I can get. I still have some I must swallow, so I just go slow. Can't speak for the revision weight-loss rate, but I hope all goes well for you now! You've certainly earned it!

I had the sleeve and loved it.....until I didn't. I lost 116 pounds in 10 months. I was working out 5 days per week. I was doing weight training, core and strength training, and cardio. THEN I started having major GERD symptoms. They were insane. I was put on 80mg of Nexium daily and still had break through GERD. Also has gastritis and esophagitis. 4 endoscopies and 1 colonoscopy later (and upwards of 30 polyps removed) I was scheduled for my revision from sleeve to bypass. I just had it done on the 28th. And while the recovery SUCKS majorly, I know once I'm past this, I'll have my life back. Oh, and I never had any reflux or GERD before, which is why I chose the sleeve to begin with.

And I have a couple of questions. Why are we not allowed to have any kind of anti-inflammatories? I was told never again. I can't even take turmeric. Also, were you ever able to take pills comfortably? I was told no pills for the first 8 weeks (except for 2 of my MS meds because they can't be opened or crushed and don't come in liquid form) and I absolutely struggle with those 2 pills. They're hard to swallow and they hurt. Will it always be this way? And finally, I know there's a lot of different answers for this, but I just want to get a general idea. How much weight did you lose if you had a revision to bypass? My surgeon said I could expect to lose about 60 pounds (but he also said I stay really strict with my diet and exercise so I could actually lose 70 or so, since I lost more with the sleeve than he initially thought I would) so I'm just trying to see if it's realistic to think that I could lose 60-70 pounds in a year if I stick to the diet and working out.

I am 54 and had the sleeve done on 4/12/2023. I am 2.5 months post op and have lost 43lbs. I was concerned with age as far as losing weight as fast as some of the people who are younger, but i seem to be right on track. I was also concerned that menopause might cause slow weight loss. I like many people on here will say I wish i had done the surgery sooner!!!! Best decision ever to have the surgery! I do not regret it one bit.

5'2" female here, 235 lbs at the beginning of my 2 week pre-op diet. which put me at a BMI 43 I am including BMI here because asking about total pounds lost to a group of people with a wide range of starting weights and heights doesn't really give a good "view" for "comparison" (and we all know we shouldn't compare ourselves to others as it may lead to angst, but i also know that we all do anyway 😕, i just hope that people don't give in to any angst it may cause...which is why i *think* @Arabesque responded they way she did.) with that said, i reached goal at 7 months, but continued to lose more weight for a few more months. To your question though, at 8 months, i had lost 116 lbs, which put me at a BMI 21.9 at the time. you are much taller than me, and according to your stats, your starting BMI is/was 46.5, so my 116 lbs loss would be equivalent to a loss of 157 lbs for you (i.e., for you to reach a similar 8 mnth BMI of 21.9) as im writing this i am already reconsidering pressing "Submit Reply" because i already know my experience is not the same as many on here, and I really dont want to endorse comparisons because i have seen/read how it makes people spiral. at the same time, you asked, so.... hopefully others will respond with the reality of the VERY varied results we all experience and you will see that everyone's experience is soooooo different. so there you go. do with this information as you will. Good Luck ❤️

Hi everyone. Sorry it took so long to update you guys, but I've been in A LOT of pain. Took a while to get the regimen right, but now it's good. My surgery took longer than anticipated. Instead of 2 hours, it was 2 hours and 45 minutes. I spent 2 hours in recovery before coming back to my room. I go home later today, and I can't wait. For some reason, my doctor didn't go in using the same place/scars from my sleeve. So now I have scars from my gall bladder removal in 97, scars from my sleeve in 2022, and now scars from the bypass in 2023. Definitely won't be wearing any bikinis anytime soon. I haven't had any trouble with water or taking tiny pills. But larger pills are a no no for me. At least for right now. I've been able to get up and walk around a bit, but I have to time it right with my pain meds. I take them every 6 hours, but they seem to wear off after 5, so that last hour SUCKS. Been dealing with a lot of dizziness, weakness, trouble keeping my balance. But my hubby has been here with me, helping me when I have to go walk, so that's been good. I'm very excited to be on the other side of this. I'm excited to heal, start working out again, and hit my weight loss goal. No matter how much pain I'm in right now, I have ZERO regrets.

I'm 8 months post op. I have lost 53 pounds since surgery. However, I was a low-BMI patient and now I'm only a few pounds away from my surgeon's goal for me (160), so the weight is being quite stubborn. Heavier people tend to lose weight faster. You have a higher starting weight than I did, so you'll probably lose more than that. But, every body is different.

I'm not arguing against weight loss meds... Everyone is different. As I said, if I could have continued taking the Ozempic, I might not have gotten the surgery.

Once you’ve lost or almost lost your weight you’ll start exploring what you can or can’t eat, how much of it & how often. It may be you can have ice cream once a week or maybe once a month. It’s all about discovering what works for you, & balancing maintenance of your weight while still enjoying your life. Yes, dumping is a possibility which will restrict your ability to tolerate sugar or fats. But it doesn’t affect everyone - less than about 30% I believe for bypass & less with sleeve. Some even work out how much they can eat without dumping or find non sugar or low fat alternatives.

There’s no answer to that question. Too far out to predict & too many factors that influence our rate of loss. I can tell you what I’d lost by 8 months but that’s not really indicative of what you may achieve especially as I’d reached my goal before then but continued to lose albeit very slowly for many more months. You may even end up being frustrated & disheartened if you don’t achieve what others do. However, you may be able to make a guess based upon your weight loss tends when you’re around 6 months. Celebrate every pound you lose & don’t try to put a timeline on when you may lose your weight.

This too will pass. Stalls are a normal & important part of your weight loss. It’s when your body shuts down & takes time to reassess your new needs because of the weight you’ve lost. It resets your digestive hormones & enzymes, your metabolism, etc. You’ll start losing again when your body is ready. Just stick to your plan. If the non moving scale makes you anxious, I agree, put it away while in a stall. Try taking some body measurements every couple of weeks instead as many see a reduction in body measurements during a stall.

The loose breast skin you end up with isn’t from gravity. It’s not new droopiness. Your skin has already been stretched from gravity & the weight of your breast. That’s been happening for years. They won’t be hanging down any further than they were before surgery. Maybe a little less because you’ll be smaller. My breasts droop the same as they did before surgery but they are empty in the top section because of the fat that’s been lost. The bottom of my breasts are still relatively full. I went from a 18E to a 10E for the base of my breasts but I sometimes stuff the upper part of the cup with tissues because of the pleating from having more fabric in the upper cup than I need. Plastic surgery will be your only solution if it ends up bothering you because they’ll remove your excess skin & lift your breasts. I do recommend getting yourself properly fitted as you lose weight & drop down bra sizes. I had upper back pain because I continued to wear my old bras for too long. It was fixed by buying bras that actually fit. I had to do it three times before my weight stabilised (18E-12G-10F/G-10E). I did buy some cropped bralet styles from Bonds (your Haynes) for around the house after the second refit.

Most bariatric patients should avoid sugar six months to one year after weight loss surgery. Many stick to this plan because they have experienced the impending sensation of doom. (aka dumping syndrome) Depends on which procedure you have done and even then, some don't even experience it. Also, there are a lot of sugar free ice cream options out there too, but I prefer to add those type of things after reaching my weight loss goal and during maintenance. I do allow myself the SF popsicles for now when I feel a need for a sweet treat.

That's exactly the point. Most WLS patients will take supplements and/or meds for life, so why is this an argument against weight loss meds? I'm 100% a believer in realistic expectations. As I mentioned I've taken taken GLP meds, to control regain. But I disagree that everyone will necessarily have to be on GLP meds for life, you said "That much ... is known". Some people have a smaller amount of weight to lose and can manage maintenance once it is lost IME.

Just wondered if there were any similar Stature men in here? Would love to hear about your Journey. My surgery is July 6th! Starting Weight 267 and 6 Feet tall.

I am finally considering weight loss surgery. I just had a wonderful small ice cream cone out on my deck on a perfect summer evening. It was really delicious and I wondered if I’d be able to have such a treat after surgery. Without any judgement regarding equating food with happiness etc, can any experienced bariatric patients tell me if I’ll be able to enjoy a small cone post surgery? It’s probably not a deal-breaker, just trying to wrap my head around expectations.

It's a serious decision, for sure. My plan was to try the meds first. While waiting for insurance to approve, I continued to further my research. I realized there really aren't solid empirical/blind studies that show potential risks with long term use. Some of these meds are new, and others still don't have reliable studies long term. I realize the meds work for many, but once discontinued the weight returns. I know a few people who had to stop the meds; one in particular was on Wegovy for several months and couldn't stop vomiting. In the 1990's, I used phen-phen for weight loss. Later, studies revealed that drug was linked to serious heart issues. So I've learned to be pretty careful about weight loss meds. Everyone can choose their line in the sand. For me, this surgery is solely to stop my complex health issues from progressing by addressing persistent inflammation (the weight loss will be an added plus!). We're all different, and I respect everyone's decision for their journey. For me, this decision has been a 7-month process, and I needed every bit of it to research and feel comfortable with it all. I'm hopeful for the future, but I also know that the surgery doesn't end my obesity. It's just the beginning of a lifelong journey for however long I have left on this planet. I wish you all the best! 😊

My surgeon told me that in January of 2022. It's not like it was 30 years ago. He said that "obesity is like cancer, it wants to come back." My surgeon's words, not mine. Are there exceptions to every rule? Of course! But, in general, for most people, obesity is going to be a lifelong battle. Weight loss medicine has come a long way and I expect it will only get better and better. But, it's not perfect. Heck, my surgeon told me that I might regain my weight and need to go on meds to get the weight back off. There's nothing wrong with having realistic expectations.

Get rid of your scale. It doesn't help with weight loss. Worse, it messes with your mind and causes you not to trust your plan. You will hear an unbidden voice in your head suggesting you change things up just to get the scale to move. I guess I was lucky because I was too large to fit on a home scale. I had no choice about weighing at home. Talk about trusting your plan, I had no choice. Then I discovered I never saw a stall. Not a single one, so I was never tempted to change things to please the scale. I didn't vex about a number on a scale. The scale had no power to make me happy or sad. The whole thing was an education and wonderfully freeing. Trust your plan, not your scale. Good luck, Tek

I have a work vacation planned in january. I will be 8 months post op and was wondering how much weight everyone lost within that time. I know everyone is different but im just trying to get an idea. HW: 325 SW: 296 5'7 Surgery date was 6/9/23

I had19 teeth extracted 2 bone graphs and a bone removed from my pallet. last year (2022) on April 25th and was fitted dentures. The bottom plate has never allowed me to eat with them, and it took 9 months for my gums to heal before I could eat (chew- or gum) again .I lived for 9 months on Ramen noodles, rice and multi vitamins. So when it came time for my pre-Bariatric surgery "diet" it wasn't a big deal. Because I had just lived through a 9 month what I called "Denture Diet" My peak weight was 245, In Nov 2021 I was referred for Bariatric surgery. Due to the fact that I suffered from Insufficient veins in my calves, causing edema in my legs and feet. Spondylosis in my L 3-4-5, Osteoarthritis in my SI joint where the sacrum and sacroiliac meet at the pelvis and the anterior cart edge in my left knew was gone. I was fit for compression socks, heavy duty knee brace and at times I had to use a cane to get up and down and to catch myself if my knee buckled.( I fell getting out of bed, 3x in 6months) I developed hyperlipidemia, and was Pre-Diabetic. I couldn't stand for more than 10 mins , squat, bend, lift, ( making the bed, sweeping or vacuuming was torture.) or walk more than a block or shop for more than 30 mins. Because of Covid everything was severely backed up, once all of my pre-surgery testing and procedures were completed, it was Feb of this year( 2023 ) . I was cleared as a perfect candidate, but again -back log. At the time they said it may be June to sometime in August before the surgeon would available , and maybe longer to find a clear OR. It took so long to get scheduled there were a couple of procedures and test I had to repeat. On April 20 (23) they called me, there a was last minute cancellation for May 22, 2023, was that doable ? Oh heck yeah ! So on the 25th they had me starting my Pre-diet, All liquids except for Cottage cheese, At almost 3 weeks in, they were concerned my weight wasn't dropping as it should be ,and asked if was following the liquid diet, I was like what ?. NO .I wasn't told to. She said yeah on the 25th. Ok well this may mean we have to re-schedule. I was so upset. She said she was going to get ahold of my Case nurse to see what to do. A couple of hours later, I was like wait a minute. I called her and said I think there was a mis-communication. I have a copy of the diet, it didn't say Liquid . Just that I was suppose to start this diet on the 25th, and on the 20th right after she called I went and stocked up on EVERYTHING, and had the receipt to prove it. I asked when you said liquid did it include Cottage cheese. She said yes, Thank goodness. Yes I HAVE been on that diet since the 25th. I am very fortunate, I am a crazy fast healer,. I had all of this trepidation about healing right, and being able to get around ASAP. I am almost 60 and everything had been falling apart. My roommate is a very empathetic, compassionate , and a generous person, but what she is not, is a caregiver. So I was concerned about that. So I had my surgery on May 22, at 9 am. Woke up later in a hospital room, I had a horrible pain in my shoulder and it felt like someone kicked me in the gut. Tuesday morning I woke, still a little sore in the tummy ( like a pulled muscle) but other than that I was fine. At 3pm she came into discharge me, and told me to call my ride ( roommate) I ended up having to walk down to the nurse's station, because she said she would be right back to get my IV out ,but she didn't return, so I hunted her down. After I got it removed , she said she was going to go get a wheelchair. So I got out of bed, got dressed, gathered my things and sat on the bed and waited, and waited, my roommate called , I am here what's going on. I said she had to get a wheel chair. So I waited some more ,after like 30-45 minutes . Once again I walked down to the Nurse's Station hunting for her and pulled a "Karen", some guy showed up with my wheelchair, quickly. My roommate had been waiting in the Patient Pick-up zone for almost an hour and a half, she was fuming. I get home, go to bed, my roommate goes and picks up my pain meds it was liquid Tylenol and Liquid Gabapentin and Celebrex. When I took the liquids I almost threw up...WTH ? Out of curiosity, I looked up the ingredients. Freaking FAKE sweetener. I cannot tell you how many times I informed them I could NOT use any fake sweeter, because it gave me severe cramping stomach aches, vomiting, or IBS. Just two days before the surgery they tried to give me three Ensure to drink ,which I already knew had the fake sweetener, and said no can do, Keep them. And now my pain killers had them. I was like do you feel actual pain? Not really, just some tenderness. So I threw them out. The rest of the day I was up and around, doing things. And the next day it was like I never had the surgery. I live at a Studio Apartment complex with 16 units. My roommate is the on-site manager. So as I went back to my normal on the 4th day, ( with the weight lift, carry, push-pull restrictions), and the tenants were all like " I thought you were having surgery this week ?" I said " I did. On Monday." None of them could believe it. So that is my story. I am disappointed with my weight loss so far, ( it's been a month) as I have only lose 17lbs since the surgery. But I also considered, due to my 9 month "Denture Diet"( I lost 25 lbs,but once I was able to eat again I got back up, so, it may have changed the immediate weight loss factor. I have lost 45 lbs. So maybe that is why. So below is my pre-food, my favorite a plate FULL of (Foie de Veau Lyonnaise) Calf liver in onions. and my new diet. 4oz ( with a total of 2oz of food) containers with liver, mashed potatoes and broccoli.

For inquiring minds: https://time.com/6284941/mounjaro-weight-loss/ https://time.com/6284941/mounjaro-weight-loss/ https://time.com/6289928/new-weight-loss-drugs-orforglipron-retatrutide-tirzepatide/ https://time.com/6290294/weight-loss-drugs-ozempic-demonization-essay/

Hey yall! Im 3 weeks out tomorrow and im on a stall today is day 4. Now im overthinking about is this it? is this all im going to lose? Im down 30lbs since my 1 week pre op diet and Im kinda doubting everything. I know everyone says "Trust the process" and im trying to!

Thankfully the 1980's was 40 years ago. There has been much progress since then. I think comparing these new GLP meds to the ones mentioned above is like comparing a Tesla to a Datsun. The arguments against these drugs sound similar to what most of us heard about WLS. That someone knew someone who had horrible complications. That our stomachs are altered forever. That we will have to take supplements or meds forever. That they didn't need WLS to lose weight, so you shouldn't either. I have personally taken a GLP med. And I have known a number others who have as well. This is an option for people who aren't WLS candidates, or may just not consider that an option for them. It's also far fewer hoops to jump through and is not as life altering as WLS. I have known several people who have maintained their loss for over 6 months while being off the med. All the fearmongering seems unnecessary and unfounded IMO. The more options and less stigmatization for medically assisted weight loss the better.

I am 7 days post op. From the moment I woke up I was livid with myself for doing this! I was miserable for every single day in some way. I cried and raged and regretted. Then today I wasn’t super enthusiastic but the regret as I feel some hunger symptoms and don’t need pain killers all while liking the taste of water again, is definitely subsiding! I went from a 10 to a 2 on the regret scale! I wish this would be changed from being classified as elective surgery to restorative. Heck, if a woman needs to have her breasts repaired and replaced after a mastectomy it isn’t called elective, but reconstructive surgery. Palliative care in the weight loss surgery world needs to improve for sure. So we don’t all wake up immediately angry at ourselves. We could wake up proud for taking steps to restore metabolic function, cute diseases, and add health to our longer lives.