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I am 10 weeks post op. Down 36 pounds and couldn't be happier. I can not compare this to VSG other than the down time is considerably shorter and there are less risk with ESG. There is an ESG facebook group that has great information and people that can give you advice (Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty Support Group USA). Fierce.esg.diva has a great IG and YouTube page that give you her perspective on ESG. She is almost 1 year post op. Hope this helps.

I am scheduled to have the Duodenal Switchnon August 10, 2021. I'm a type 2 insulin dependent diabetic on lots of meds. Just want to know if anyone was type 2 diabetic before the DS and no longer have it? My surgeon and primary care doctor both said the DS gives me the best chance (90%) at the diabetes going into remission. If you were a diabetic before the DS, did the diabetes go away? Is it still there but off a lot of the meds? How long did it take? Please tell me your DS/Diabetic stories!

I came here to ask if diarrhea was an issue but toward the end, you said you are looking to get it reversed. I did not know that was an option! I am scheduled for the Duodenal Switch on Augut 10, 2021. I still don't think I quite understand what they will be doing for my surgery. I did schedule a call with my surgeon for June 24, so I can easily ask him for more detail, but is the intestine not cut and shortened in this surgery? If it truly is reversible, that would be great! I hope things get better for you soon! ❤

I started having non-cardiac chest pains less than 14 months after sleeve surgery. (surgery was June 2010) I was told I was having some sort of spasms. Medication prescribed did nothing. Fast forward to 2015, I'd gradually worked myself up to 8 - 10 Tums EVERY day. I had them in the console of the truck, next to my bed so I could turn over and get a couple in the middle of the night, almost every single night, I had another bottle in the medicine cabinet. I had NO idea it was bad to take that many. I finally went to the doctor after reading this is not good. He did a endoscopy and I have a hiatal hernia, I had a stricture and an ulcer. He put me on a prescription PPI. That was Nov 2019. It worked immediately, but only lasted about 2 months and I started needing Tums again occasionally. Now I'm eating them more often. I've had the bloating for years and occasionally have trouble swallowing. I made an appointment with a bariatric surgeon, clearly this other doctor isn't too familiar with bariatric surgery. I am hoping this new doctor will be able to help me. I've vomited every so often in the prior years, but in the past two or three weeks I've thrown up 4 times. Always in the evening after dinner. Any idea why this would start now?

Two days from now will be one month until my surgery, July 9th. My insurance process was relatively easy, with almost exactly one month between my initial consultation with my surgeon (April 21st) to insurance approval (May 20th.) I have Cigna, so no six-month diet/nutrition evaluation required. But I do find myself having those "food funerals" mentioned above, partly because I need to eat through the food I bought prior to realizing how quickly the process would go for me, and also as a way to have my "last hurrah" with foods I won't eat again for a long time, or probably ever. So though I'm grateful my insurance process was relatively short, I think I would have found some value in having had more time to adjust my eating habits before surgery. My nutritionist wants me to lose 10-15 lbs before surgery, and only put me on a two-week pre-op diet of replacing two meals a day with protein shakes, and one meal must be light, protein-focused, and have little to no carbs/starchy vegetables. I'm going to do it for three weeks instead to make sure I actually lose those 10-15 lbs. Right now, I'm preparing a grocery list for pre- and post-op shopping trips I'll have to make, so that I have most of everything I need for the pre-op diet and not find myself wandering the aisles in the grocery store, longingly looking at my favorite snack foods before surgery.

I'm happy to have gotten down to my wedding weight a little over 2 months post op but I'm noticing that clothing that I fit at the same weight is too tight requiring 5-10 more pounds loss before it fits the same (my guess). I am assuming this is because I might have less muscle and more fat than prior. If any of you experienced this how did you workout to remedy or were you not able to? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

I'm in my post op stage 4 days out when I start eating solid foods when my family and I go to restaurants same of them don't let you do kids menu it like 10 and under so what do you do i don't want to buy a big plate if I can't eat all is thier a medical card or something yu a get and from where?? I don't won't to upset my family from going out Sent from my SM-A125U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hey. My surgery is scheduled for 8/10/21. I am to start my pre-op diet on July 27. I'm starting to weed out my sugary and carbonated drinks for water and 0 calorie/0 sugar drinks. Here is a list of what I have already tried for flavored stuff: ICE Sparkling water (yes I know it's carbonated. That's just to help me make the switch off Soda for the next couple weeks) Clear American (same reason as ICE) Propel (not a huge fan but will drink it if I have no other desirable options Different sugar free powdered juice mixes including Crystal Light (the Great Value version which is 0 calories/ 0 sugar) I am planning on trying Splash water today when I buy a bottle I also have heard of Hint but have not looked at the nutritional info and I have not run into it at the store yet. I remember one called Fruit²O but have not seen it in years. I looked it up on Amazon and it's priced at over $40/case. I don't remember liking it THAT much! Please tell me what other 0 drinks you like! I will still be drinking regular water and even regular water with lemon, lime or Cucumber in it. Just wanting to know what other less boring alternatives are out there! Would love to hear what else you all drink besides water and the things I have already listed!

Wow! 10 pounds already. Great job!! Thanks for your encouragement. Sending some back your way, too!! Hope you continue to heal and feel good!

I had to remove the band after 10 yrs. I did lose over 50 lbs but only when stayed on the diet and lived at the gym. Moving stopped the contact with my surgeon and slowly it all came back. It was removed after a year of throwing up every night several times a night. It had slipped after a bad stomach bug. Pandemic slowed the actual surgery until this April. Had a huge hernia as well. Now have IBS and hope to get that under control and hope it’s just shock from the surgery n no gall bladder. I’ve lost 25 lbs which is good, but when will I be free of my stomach issues. Not sure if it’s the IBS or not, but my appetite has changed, and can go with out meals easily. Going to a digestive center the 24th. I do not think it worked for me because of my lifestyle of stress n not exercising.

I am 10 days out and REALLY struggling with this pre-op diet. 2 shakes a day and one meal. It's killing me. Last night I fell off the wagon and had crackers and Philly cream cheese and today I had a spoon full of macaroni cheese! I don't even like macaroni cheese! I have to get through the rest of this day and 9 more. Thankfully I'm not hungry right now but this is hard. If I could do this diet, I wouldn't need surgery!

I’m feeling much better than I anticipated. For me, the pain was not bad at all. If I was laying perfectly still, I could not feel a thing. The strongest pain meds I took were Tramadol and I only took those for the first 12 hours and then just at night for the first two nights. For me, the key was getting up and walking. Also getting my back pounded on to get rid of gas pains. I had a companion traveling with me but the patient staying in the room next door to me took advantage of the companion care and it was a really great experience. Out of towners all stay on the third floor of the hotel and you’ll see several walking the halls at all hours. Also the hotel rooms all have a section separate from the bed area that has sofa, etc. so there is some space. The visit from Nurses the evening after surgery for IV of fluids and anti nausea drugs was the best thing ever. I don’t know how long your journey home is, but I had two flights — 4 1/2 and then 1 hour — and I believe the timing was about right. It was really good to shower in my own bathroom and sleep in my own bed. my BMI was not as low as yours I think it was at 38, and I’m only 5’ 2” so I wasn’t expecting to lose much. I lost about five pounds from the time I started two week pre-op diet and the day before surgery. I was happy with that and as of today have lost a total of 10 pounds. WARNING - Blossom will weigh you the day after surgery when you go in for IV and final visit. I gained a pound but totally expected that because of all the IVs I got from surgery. feel free to ask any other questions and I’ll be happy to share my experience. So far it’s been great!

I am 20 years post-op and have maintained my weight loss. I took all of the vitamins and B-12 but neglected the calcium. Well, after 5 broken vertebrae, collar bone and toe, I was diagnosed with osteoporosis. 10 months ago I started taking calcium citrate and extra D3 twice a day, and daily injections of Tymlos, I am close to normal with bone density. TAKE YOUR CALCIUM and VITAMINS!!!!

also, I don't think most patients end up with a sick look. Some do, but I don't think most of us do. And like I said, most patients never even make it to normal weight let alone get too thin - they end up "overweight" or "class I obese" (which is, of course, infinitely better than being super morbidly obese....). Here's me at my lowest weight - and where my body naturally stopped losing. I was at a normal BMI (still am), which if you'll look at stats, only 10-15% of WLS patients are able to make it to. So there'd be a pretty small percentage of people become too thin - smaller than the 10-15% who make it to a normal BMI. Again, yes, some - but chances of that are pretty low. I'd focus on losing as much weight as you can during the early months - but of course, while eating according to your plan. You need the nutrition.

I’m 10 days post op. SW 279 CW 250.4. I’m struggling with being able to consume more than 2-3 bites. My concern is the “sick look” most surgery pots have. I want my weight loss to look natural and healthy. I have a family member who had surgery last year she’s lost a lot of weight but it looks sick on her. I’m focusing on nutrient dense vitamin packed foods. I walk 7-8000 steps a day and have been eating Smoothie King mostly n chicken strips. Stay optimistic ❤️

I sincerely believe that we, as consumers of weight loss surgery, because we are or were grossly obese; need to be our own best supporters, and we need to advocate for ourselves, because no one else is going to do it for us. That means for me: 1. Find out everything about each possible surgical procedure and find the one that you can LIVE with - not the one that a particular surgeon likes to perform, or the one that your neighbor had, or the one that has a girl on Tic Toc. Or the one that a TV surgeon does. 2. Weigh the risks and benefits of each surgery and add in your PERSONAL medical and mental health history, support systems, possible issues 10 months out and 10 years out. 3. Work on the mental health part of it BEFORE surgery. Surgery only fixes tummies and intestines; not mindsets, and we should NOT expect it to have any effect on depression, anxiety, or anything else. And those of us who obsessed about being overweight will continue to obsess about it, or how imperfect we still may be. 4. Most people, who have a particular surgery expect to be "cured". Unfortunately this is not always the case. Just like treatment for any physical illness, not every medication works for every person , and not every surgical procedure for weight loss surgery will fix every patient who has it. That does not mean giving up. It means being stubborn and going back to your doctor or finding a different one and figuring out the next step. Be PRO-ACTIVE in your own care. Pre -Op, Post Op, and 10 years or 20 years down the line. Just MY thoughts today

It will be ok! 😀 My 3-week stall lasted 10 days. Stick to the plan and you will see the weight decrease! Good luck and enjoy the next phase.

How long does weight stall last. Or should I go back to the puree stage. I on l y need 10 more pounds for my goal weight. Surgery was 3 21 2021. 250lbs today and for last week and a half. Its 180 and 184. I go to gym 2 to 3 days a week. Cardio and light workout. Is this a stall or did I reach my limit.. Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

UPDATE: So today is day 4 of my puree stage. I gotta be honest, I have seen others speak about how on puree stage they ate mac & cheese and mashed potatoes (something I can have starting this coming week in soft foods stage) but yesterday I DID try some mac & cheese and I chewed it up really well before swallowing. The problem is, I ate more than my 4oz portion recommendation, probably closer to 8 or 10 oz, and didn't really feel that full feeling at all. I actually stopped myself from having more thinking, hey, that should have been my threshold, don't overdo it. Not sure what to think about that. Why was it so easy to, not only have pasta.....something many claim they couldn't eat until many months out.....but also a relatively large portion of it (at least 10 oz)? I also tried several bites of pizza (another food many claim they couldn't do until months out) with no fullness or issues either. It wasn't a full piece but probably half of one, and of course I chewed the **** out of that too but still, HOW? How was I able to eat so much and no even be phased? This worries me going forward. And no, I didn't eat the two together but still.

I’m almost done with the dreaded 10 days of liquids and about to start the puréed phase. As others have said....surgery is a change to your body, not your mindset. I find myself dreaming about all the little cups of puréed foods I can make as others have suggested here: tuna salad, little taco/refried bean cups, Buffalo chicken dips (wout chips of course). A i’m just so scared that once I start eating real food and not just proteins shakes and yogurt I’m going to see the scale stall! I try not to weigh myself every day because obviously as I’m sure you guys can relate it becomes obsessive if it doesn’t go down! Any advice on how to overcome this and be able to eat in peace when I am finally allowed to have some thing other than liquids and yogurt! 😔

Hi there liz!While I know everyone is different, for me at 35 I was not comfortable with a permanent surgical option. Perhaps if I still need help in 10-20 years time I would opt for surgery, but for where I am in my life currently, the balloon is most suitable. Alongside that, the cost for surgery was well and truly out of my budget (Just doing quick conversions, around 20-22k US for surgery here in New Zealand, not including initial appointment costs or extra and hidden costs, compared to about 7500 US for the 2 balloons back to back that I have). To do something now it has to be this otherwise it would probably take me a decade to save up for surgery, and as I don't even own my own home... well. Money definitely was a huge consideration for me. While I do hope to lose more in the long term, getting below 100kg is my goal for the year while I am using the orbera balloon and it is a milestone that I feel I will be comfortable with if I am unable to lose any further weight. I say a year because I opted for the orbera b2b - back to back. One balloon for 6-8 months, then a second balloon immediately after which can have more liquid in it if you have reached a plateau with your weightloss at that point. I was a very active person when I was younger so I feel that for me the balloon is a way to kick start my health journey and regain control of my health and my life - I am excited to feel physically able to get moving again, perhaps return to martial arts which I loved as a teenager. I've lost almost 20 pounds now in just over two weeks (about 9kg. Constipation has been a recent problem and my usual bloating during my period, but I am glad to still have lost weight despite those things!). This means if I lose 1 pound per week over the next year I will be on track to reach my goal! Getting below 100kg is, I feel, a realistic goal for me, and it's also one that will allow me to shop in regular clothing store sizes again. If I am able to continue my journey beyond that, I will certainly try to, but I will reevaluate after the balloon phase of my journey is complete Thanks for your questions! Sent from my SM-G965F using BariatricPal mobile app

I had band done 8 years ago and lost 50 pounds. Slowly went back up to starting weight of 332. Had bypass done on May 19. Lost 10 pounds during liquid pre-op and another 14 pounds since bypass. I had no complications from surgery, no pain after and feel great! I am supposed to be on puréed food until Wednesday, but the site of puréed food makes me gag. I’ve been eating mushy turkey and chicken breast and have handled it well. I had reflux from the band and major swallowing problems but that seemed to have disappeared. I do take omeprezole and something so I don’t get gallstones along with multivitamins. Keep us posted on what you decide.

Novo Nordisk’s newest injectable drug Semaglutide (Wegovy) is now approved as a treatment option for obesity. It was previously approved and marketed (at lower doses) as Ozempic in 2019 for diabetes. Novo Nordisk is the same company that offers Saxenda (liraglutide). The CDC states 42.4% of all adults in the U.S. suffer from obesity, defined as having a body mass index at or above 30. A 2019 study in the New England journal of medicine predicts that 1 in 2 adults will be obese by 2030. This could be a step forward in fighting obesity because of the modality. According to Dr. Anastassios G. Pittas, chief of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Tufts Medical Center, “Semaglutide is a paradigm shift from other obesity medications, because it targets the gut as opposed to the brain." (Sounds familiar?) As with all new treatments the hurdles to access includes: steep price tags, insurance approvals, imbalanced clinical trail demographics, medical gatekeepers and lack of long term outcomes. sources: https://www.novonordisk-us.com/products/chronic-weight-management.html https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMsa1909301 https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/novo-nordisk-s-semaglutide-snags-hotly-anticipated-greenlight-obesity https://www.google.com/amp/s/abcnews.go.com/amp/Health/newly-approved-drug-heralded-game-changer-growing-national/story%3fid=78065574 https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/novo-nordisk-semaglutide-gets-us-fda-approval-obesity-treatment-2021-06-04/ https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.detroitnews.com/amp/7549263002

that's really odd. Those who give you a goal (and not all do) often give you one that's right around the average weight loss (which is about 70% of excess weight - which, statistically anyway, is about where you'd expect to end up). There are definitely people who make it to a normal BMI, but my surgeon said only about 10-15% of his patients do, and the statistics I've read appear to back that up. Your surgeon giving you that number as a goal seems unrealistic. Possible, of course, but not terribly realistic.

A protein shake can do the trick before or after weight loss surgery, or any other time you need a boost of protein beyond what you can get from your foods. How do you find one that has the amount of protein you need, tastes great, and is low enough in carbohydrates to be good for any weight loss diet? Stop looking, because BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein is a match! BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein delivers 25 grams of high-quality whey protein in each scoop. It is made with real Dutch-process cocoa or classic vanilla and it tastes rich and creamy, but it has only 1 gram of sugar. The total carb count is 1 carbohydrate, meaning this shake can be part of your low-carb or keto diet. BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein Highlights: 110 calories 25 grams of protein from Grass-Fed Whey 1 gram of carbohydrates 500 million CFU Bacillus Coagulans Patented Aminogen® protein-digesting enzyme 10% of the daily value for calcium Suitable for gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, gastric band, and BPD-DS patients Suitable for pre-op and post-op liquid, pureed (mushy), semi-solid, and solid foods diets Gluten-Free Lactose-Free Non-GMO Each tub of BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein contains 15 servings. BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein has other advantages. It contains patented Aminogen®, an enzymatic blend to support the digestion of protein. Plus, the shake has 500 million CFU of Bacillus coagulans, a probiotic which can promote a healthier gut environment. BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein can be used anytime. Start the day off with a low-sugar burst of protein for breakfast, or have a quick shake for a snack or small meal later. Just mix a scoop with water or your favorite beverage, such as milk for extra protein, or almond milk for creaminess. With BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein, you can get the protein you need to tide you over, without taking in excessive carbs. What exactly is Aminogen® and how is it beneficial? Aminogen® is a special patented protein-digesting enzyme blend that can help you get the most out of your whey protein while eliminating any bloating or constipation. The addition of Aminogen® to whey protein, such as is done in BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein, is scientifically proven to improve digestion and retention of protein within the body. Another benefit of Aminogen® is that it reduces some of the gas, bloating, cramping, and constipation that can occur when some people eat a higher protein diet and include whey protein products. As some people know, this protein “gassiness” is not a pleasant side effect, so Aminogen® is a sought-after addition. Overall, Aminogen® is a valuable component to whey protein products, like BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein. It can help you digest and absorb more amino acids, which will then assist you in building and repairing your precious hard-earned lean body muscle. Available online at The BariatricPal Store https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/bariatricpal-clean-whey-protein