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It's slightly more complicated than just skipping flour. For instance, many people report gas issues with onions (this was heartbreaking to me, because I'm a onion fiend!) Some people go lactose intolerant. i think I saw avocado on one list. Fried foods. Some people say any and all carbs will do it, but I seem to be able to tolerate corn and potatoes. I've even drank a full sugar can of Coke. Bottom line, there are certain common trigger foods that you see mentioned again and again on these boards, but we're individuals, so I'm using these lists as guidelines, and basically playing guinea pig. The one thing I go ham on is meat. Meat meat meat. And I don't worry about fat, so rib eyes and bacon are good to go. In fact, full DS's actually are supposed in purposely eat more fat that a normal person. The jury is still out on if this advice applies to SIPS, but so far so good.

Hi everyone, I’m supposed to have my gastric bypass next week on June 5th. I’m currently in school and can only take the two days off for my hospital stay. I’m gonna be on my feet a lot which is good to avoid post op complications but I’m afraid I’m going to get dehydrated or become too tired. I was wondering if anyone went right back to work after the surgery? Any tips, how the pain was, how you dealt with it? Any information would be great! Thanks!

I was banded October 2011 and had complications from day 1. I had a very large hiatal hernia that needed to be repaired, and it wasn't. It took me 5 years and 3 months and 4 doctors later to find one that would remove it December 2016. It then took me another two doctors to make the hernia repair and do the gastric bypass for me on June 18.

I was banded October 2011 and had complications from day 1. I had a very large hiatal hernia that needed to be repaired, and it wasn't. It took me 5 years and 3 months and 4 doctors later to find one that would remove it December 2016. It then took me another two doctors to make the hernia repair and do the gastric bypass for me on June 18.

Hey y’all. It’s been slightly over a year since I had the sleeve. I’m 5’6”; my highest weight was 266 (size 20 pant, 2x tops), surgery weight was 259, and my current weight is 183. I currently wear size 12 pants, a large in tops (sometimes a medium) . Although I still have some lbs to go, I’m am VERY grateful and thankful for the surgery. I had the surgery for prevention purposes, had no complications either. I changed to a plant based diet and have been very happy and healthy with it. I take a multi vitamin, calcium, b12, and probiotics. I walk and do some home strength workouts. Thats just a tid bit of my journey, I hope it inspires and encourages others. Enjoy my before and after!

Hi All, Finally decided to look into weight loss surgery after no energy to work out, feet are killing me because of weight and recent photos at a wedding someone posted of me on FB. I have no idea how I got here! Yeah I know. It was cupcakes. Wanted to get Balloon but doctor said he had a better idea. He suggested Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty . He said better results, less complications , less invasive than cutting and less costly. After a lot of research I decided to go ahead with procedure. My doctor made it seem that it was a super quick recovery . I haven’t met with nutritionist yet but saw on forums all the no no’s! Yikes I love coffee, occasional wine Is it painful? When can I have my coffee and occassional wine? Thanks in advance

First, congrats on starting your WLS journey. Second, Please do not take this as anything negative, but please do some research into the band, it's being phased out due to overhyped marketing and overwhelming under performance. Even the top 2 manufacturers are no longer making replacement parts, one company sold that portion of their business completely. There are far greater numbers of people that have had issues, complications or performance that was so subpar that they required revision to another WLS. I'm one of those revisions. I was banded in November of 2011. Lost 70lbs or so, but that was it, I was stuck bounding back and forth between 300 - 310 (and sometimes a little higher) nothing I did would break that plateau. I got stuck on foods that should have been fine, I had issues with leafy greens... in the end I revised to RNY and wish I went that route from the start. I got lucky, I didn't have any symptoms of major complications, but my band was 100% encapsulated with scar tissue and took my surgical team over 3 times longer to remove than it should have... I don't even want to know what would have happened if I didn't have it removed. Just a heads up, be informed and get all the information up front. Whichever you choose, understand it's not going to be an easy ride, WLS is not the short cut fast track to a skinny you. It all takes time, effort, patience and practice. Good Luck!

Seeing the new posts to this thread, thought I would add an update. Thanks to those who posted. ME/CFS & fibro are real. It’s so great when we can come together and share our experiences. As anyone with these diseases knows, we are dealing with illnesses of isolation. If you haven’t seen it, make sure to watch Jennifer Brea’s documentary UNREST about ME/CFS. She’s created a movement that is actually making some progress in getting adequate funding for ME/CFS research. I am now almost 10 months post op. Surgery date was 8/7/17 HW 223 SW 209 CW 140 i can only speak from my experience... my recovery was pretty easy. No complications. My doctor at Stanford is quite conservative and cautious (former head of American Bariatric Society), so I seemed to have more rules around surgery and food than other friends that I met online through this site who had surgery at the same time. I embraced the guidelines, understood they were there for a reason, and radically surrendered to the process. I was prepared for the worst, but expected the best. Felt pretty awesome (for me) even the week after surgery. I was prepared for a massive crash, so I was grateful when that didn’t happen. I felt pretty great for a couple of months. Then started to have serious issues due to a tumor on my adrenal gland that has likely been there for years. In fact, the bariatric surgery probably helped bring this to light, as I was getting frequent blood work and we noticed a concerning trend. So, I have been quite ill for months as other drs tried to figure what was going on with this adrenal issue. Will have surgery for that later in June. And it complicates the picture. That said, my surgery was a complete success. I feel like the obsession with food has been lifted completely (I’ve done a lot of work with this over the years). A year ago, due to bone on bone knee and excess weight, I was barely able to walk to the bathroom and was ready to get a walker at the ripe old age of 46. I now move around the house and can do errands with little to no pain in my knees. I can even took a 2 mile hike a few weeks ago. I paid for it after a bit, just with knees, but it was possible. My energy levels have been better. I still feel exhausted if I stop to think about it, but I have been able to get out of bed most days and get out of the house, which helps so much. My body feels like a friend now, rather than my foe. It has been amazing to have the experience of losing weight this easily. It’s always been a horrible struggle for me. Especially in the last 10 years. Couldn’t lose. Only lost 1.8 lbs on 2 week pre-op liquid protein diet. At that point, the dr even admitted that he couldn’t guarantee that this would work, but said “we hope that cutting out the stomach will change your hormone profile and your metabolism.” And it feels as if that is what happened. At my 6 month post op, when I told him I haven’t had any improvement with chronic pain (I also have a cluster headache syndrome and damage to neck and back from multiple accidents when young), he said that he is hopeful that around a year my inflammation levels should drop and, hopefully, I will start getting some pain relief at that point. I feel lighter not just in body, but in mind and spirit as well. And, even though my decision to have surgery was 100% based on improving my health and being able to walk and postpone knee replacement, there have been other benefits as well. I am smaller than I was at my wedding 25 years ago. I can put on clothes and basically everything I try fits. I’ve been doing a lot of shopping at the fancy local thrift shop since my sizes keep changing. The other day I bought a beautiful size 4 designer dress and it fit! That’s a number I never thought I’d see. This part is just one of the fun perks. But, something that is smooth and fun for me now, rather than a struggle to find something that would button over my 38G chest. I’m so grateful my knee replacement dr started me on this journey. I was at the point where I loved myself and embraced my curves. But, I can love myself thin as well. If anyone has specific questions or wants to connect, please PM me. I am happy to answer any questions, either on this thread or privately. Good luck to you all on your journey of healing! 💖

I am June also, but I am a conversion. I am new here so I didn’t see if there are any conversion stories. I had the sleeve in 2014 and had a lot of complications but came out successful. Unfortunately, my reflux has gotten bad and my endoscopy showed quite a bit of damage. I am converting to bypass on 6/26, two days before my 40th birthday 🤦🏻‍♀️

17 days post op; surgery was May 10. ended up being dehydrated at 1 week post op check up & got an IV bag of fluids. No complications after that. Doc has me on 3 week liquid diet so I am still on that. Have 3 week post up in 3 days, after that I move to soft foods and I am sooo looking forward to some crabs. Living in Maryland and it is the season for crabs! i am getting bored being home for this long but doc said it’s mandatory that RNY patients stay out of work for 3 weeks; hoping to go back June 4th. I am getting in more than 70 ounces of fluids but only about 40 grams of protein only because it takes so long to drink the protein drinks & having to wait 30 minutes before and after. Highest weight was 264 lbs. Surgery weight was 242 lbs. current weight is 229 lbs.

Here are some links: https://renewbariatrics.com/gastric-sleeve-ulcers-stricture/ https://www.obesitycoverage.com/uncomplicating-gastric-sleeve-complications/ https://bariatric.stopobesityforlife.com/obesity-surgery/correcting-obesity/bariatric-surgery-risks/ulcers-or-strictures/

You are right dear. Many surgeons have decided to stop offering this option due to the complexity of the technique. However, I feel like (as Creekimp 13 mentioned) if the surgeon has experience in this particular procedure and has mastered it I can rest assured. As I mentioned, worst case he’ll perform a traditional sleeve on me with more incisions which as many have mentioned heal quite nicely. Thanks for that input though. I would agree with you if the surgeon I’m going with had not completed several single incision sleeves. Experience is extremely important. I appreciate you replying and expressing your concern. It really shows that you cared enough to warn me or at least give me a heads up. 🤗 I’m curious though if the surgeon is struggling, why wouldn’t they just add an additional incision to get a better angle? Did any of these surgeons you mentioned tell the patient beforehand that a single incision may not be possible if he or she ran into any complications? I feel like that should have been discussed. Thanks again.

I’m still taking my Bariatric vitamins, but plan to go on the YLEO ones when my supply has depleted. I also have used NingXia after I knew my stomach was completely healed. I knew it would not do damage, just didn’t want to have a complication and have that blamed. I also used Digize for digestive issues a month out. I love my YLEO!

Help!! I am wondering if anyone has any experience with Highmark after having a revision. I am looking to have a band to sleeve revision but I am concerned that it may possibly not be covered due to my current BMI which is 35. According to my plan coverage it states it will be covered at 35 with at least 1 co morbidity if there was failure to lose weight or complications which I fit. My concern is the co morbidities. I have had sleep apnea when I was diagnosed prior to banding 5 years ago but unsure if I do currently .. although my husband and kids say I am snoring really loud now again.. but I haven’t had and new sleep studies. I really need to get this surgery done and I don’t want to disqualify myself for insurance payment. I really don’t want to gain weight ..any suggestions or input on what I should do!!!!! HELPPPPPP!!!!!!!

I have the same question and am glad you posted this. My issue is that I have reflux and diabetes, so on that hand bypass looks like the choice, but... I take antidepressants which might not absorb well after bypass, making the sleeve look like a better choice. So, surgeon says my case is complicated. We've tentatively settled on the bypass. But I'm just starting this journey and things could change. I am about 120 lbs over my ideal weight with a BMI 43. Sent from my SM-N950U using BariatricPal mobile app

This is my impression, too. The location of the spleen scares the hell out of me, too. That said....if the surgeon has a TON of experience doing surgery this way, they can get very good at it and do it very safely. I'm encouraged to see the OP's doc discloses that there might be additional ports/incisions if there are complications...I think that's a very important disclosure and also a prudent thing to do if the angle isn't working.

I have looked it up on YouTube and the technique is basically the same as the traditional except the portion of the stomach that is being removed will come out through the one incision which is done through the belly button. You are right the one incision will be slightly larger than the one that is made during the traditional one but keep in mind, either way one incision is larger than the rest because they have to remove the stomach from the larger incision. In any case the surgeon I’m using has a great reputation and has been doing WLS for over 20 years. I trust his expertise and he did advise me that there may be an extra incision or two if he runs into complications with the single incision method. They only offer this technique if you have a BMI of less than 40. Some practices will require a BMI of less than 37 I think. I’ll just trust in my surgeon. I’ve been researching for months and I think he’s qualified to do this procedure the best way possible. Worst case scenario I’ll end up getting a traditional gastric sleeve which isn’t so bad at all. Thanks for caring enough to give me your input. I appreciate your advice!

Thank you for the feedback. My surgeon said he would do his best to offer the single incision but if he finds that it is too complicated he will add another one or two incisions to ensure that the surgery is properly done. I had the same concerns as you expressed but the surgeon I’m using has a great reputation and I trust his judgement. Thanks again for taking the time to give me your opinion. I have read studies done comparing the two and according to those studies and the research available the results in terms of weight loss are almost identical.

I chose bypass for myself because my starting BMI was above 50. My surgeon thought either procedure could work well for me and did not try to steer me in either direction. He performs both types of these surgeries and has done them for years with very few complications. He did caution me against choosing bypass with the intention that dumping syndrome would stop me from eating sweets. Dumping syndrome does not affect everyone that has gastric bypass, and he said that as a bypass matures it can stop as well. I have never dumped since my surgery. There is also evidence that as a bypass matures, the malabsorptive properties of the surgery are compensated for by the body. In the end, it is possible to “eat around” both of these surgeries and that is many times what leads to weight regain and failure. People on here that seem to be successful long term, regardless of surgery type, are those that have followed a sensible diet and incorporated permanent lifestyle changes. In the end you have to research what you feel comfortable with, and choose what’s best for you.

This. Ask your surgeon how many single incisions he's done and what the complication rate was compared to multiple incision surgeries. He should be able to show you the data. Also ask the length of the single incision compared to the length of each of the multiples. Before making a decision, watch this surgery being done on Youtube.

Overall weight loss is statistically a little better with Bypass. (that said...both procedures can effectively help bring people to goal weight and both can fail) Overall complication rates are higher with bypass, though. More leaks, more malabsorption issues. Both surgeries carry some risk, but in the grand spectrum of things, both are pretty safe surgeries these days. The safety of a surgery is dependent, also, on the surgeon's experience. You want a surgeon who does a LOT of your procedure and feels very comfortable doing it. That expertise...is crucial to safety and a good outcome. I chose sleeve because my surgery was quick, it's my surgeon's favorite, and I don't want to have dumping issues. I was on the table less than an hour, and was up walking laps around the ward within just a few hours after surgery. If you currently have problems with GERD, you might want to lean toward bypass. Before surgery, my endoscopy revealed chronic gastritis and this concerned me a little (but we figured it was due to multiple daily doses of ibuprofen and a couple of my other meds)...but I went ahead with the sleeve because I don't want to dump. I have not had any problems with acid reflux. I'm off my omeprazole (antacid PPI that you take for a while after surgery) and i've still not hand any problems with acid. (thank goodness!) If you're a vegetarian (I'm not, but I lean that way quite a bit) you might want to consider the sleeve. A big part of my diet is complex carbs, fruit, and lower glycemic index whole grains....I wanted to be able to continue to eat a healthy vegetarian-leaning diet without concerns about dumping. I'm a fruit-bat. I don't eat a lot of refined sugar, but I do eat a lot of fructose in whole fruits. Talk about the pros and cons with your doctor. Either way you go....you have good odds.

Yearly for me forever! Lab work to make sure vitamin levels are up to snuff. Support if I regain or want diet advice. My surgiversary is December so I’ve met my max out of pocket by then most years anyhow so whatever. Even if I hadn’t it’s a $20 copay. Totally worth it for the resources available to me. I had the sleeve and no complications and have been at a normal BMI for going on four years (five since surgery)

25 months out and recently had my 2 year follow up with my surgeon. He said he wants to see me again next year. I asked how many years does he want me to follow up. He said forever. Huh!? Really? No complications. No issues from surgery. Anyone else doing a one year follow up with their surgeon for the rest of their life?

I took 6 weeks off, but I also had to recover from getting shingles during my hospital stay. Everyone thinks they can go back after a few weeks if they have a desk job, but its easy to forget that blood clots, pulmonary embolisms are one of the most common post surgical complications. If you do go back to a sedentary job, make sure you are up walking every hour for at least 10 mins for the first 6 weeks. The risk doesn't go away once you stop the blood thinners.

My kiddo sprained her ankle at college and found one of those wheeled book bags really helped. LL Bean makes a sturdy one. Maybe something like that would help in early days after surgery? When traveling, plan for medical complications. It's rare, particularly in someone young and healthy, but strictures happen...margin leaks happen...obstructions happen. Have a plan in place, find a bariatric doctor where you're going to at least have a phone number, and traveler's health insurance for emergencies. I would be extremely careful with alcohol and run the experiment at home first to know how you react.