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I weaned myself off regular coffee a couple months before surgery. Per Kaiser bariatric’s guidelines, after surgery we cannot drink beverages with carbonation (due to gases), caffeine (acid/risk of ulcers), alcohol, and sugary drinks (liquid calories). Since I started the pre-op program (July 2019) I haven’t had alcohol or surgery drinks. I DO have half-caff coffee every morning. ;-) and throughout the day water, diet Snapple, and herbal tea. I don’t miss alcohol or carbonated beverages.

You betcha. I'm 56 and get this, I had a partial hysterectomy 10 years ago! But about 6 months post-bariatric surgery, I started having a "pseudo-period" - cramps and spotting on the same cycle my period would have been. No one can figure out what's going on, not my bariatric team, not my GYN and not my primary doctor. I don't even have the anatomy anymore for a true period, but my body is obviously trying to do *something* period-like. I think this is an effect of drastic weight loss that hasn't been studied and isn't well-understood. Fortunately, it's just light spotting, so it's not a huge issue (even if it is a huge mystery).

I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a January surgery date. I’ve been released for surgery by my bariatric center/dietitian and I’ve had a COVID test (negative.) My endoscopy is in four days by my surgeon and then I get my surgery date! Can’t wait!!! 😁

Hi All, new to the site. I had my bariatric surgery Sep. 21, 2020. So far I’ve lost 45 lbs, give or take the the new one day per week, 5-6 lbs of excruciating BM blockade that has become my life since surgery. My poor husband, I think he has brought home every fiber gummy, BeneFiber, stool softener, MiraLax, etc. that he can find at Walmart or CVS.... Before surgery, I never had BM constipation issues - every morning, like clock work... Post Surgery..., a once a week major headache, literally! Irritability in overdrive, bloating, excruciating back pain and constipation with no relief ... Until, bring on the suppository, followed by a full day of the exact opposite... BM URGENCY and DIARRHEA, UHG! Just like the gobs and gobs of hair shedding from my head daily (good thing my hair is thick and course) my doctor says “this too shall pass.” You just have to experiment with the different OTC products, until you find what works for you.

You're probably fine - there is a lot of variation in how quickly people recover and are able to eat more of a variety of food. But it would be good to mention this to your surgeon because there is a complication that can occur and results in the symptoms you describe. Here is a description of it: Strictures are a problem unique to the Bypass and Sleeve patients. Basically, it is a narrowing preventing food to pass normally through your digestive system. With the Bypass, strictures occur at the gastro-jejunal anastomosis (the top connection where the small bowel is attached to the gastric pouch). Sleeve patients can have a stricture anywhere along the length of the stapled stomach. A stricture will almost always occur within the first three months after surgery. Generally, a patient will complain of not being able to advance their diet beyond liquids. They may have frequent vomiting episodes, or even night time regurgitation/reflux. https://alohasurgery.com/strictures/ I doubt this is what's going on, but you are in that 3 month window when it's most likely to occur and it would be good to rule it out. Whatever is going on (even if it's just a normal slower recovery), your bariatric team can help you figure it out. Hope you feel better soon. Hugs. 🤗

Hi, it looks like you have gotten alot of responses, but I thought I'd add mine to the mix. I am 42, 5'11 and was at the beginning 334lbs. When I scheduled my first appointment with my dr, they sent out a packet and it specifically pointed out calling my insurance to make sure that bariatric/weight loss stuff was covered. I called my insurance and they asked me if I had diabetes, and I said no. They said without being diabetic, it wouldn't be covered. <Insert tears and breakdown here> I was so frustrated because my first memories are of being fed diet jello, sugar free kool-aid, things like that, I have always been the chubby kid. I did richard simmons deal a meal, jenny craig, weight watchers, calorie restriction, keto.......i lost some weight, but always gained that but more back. I called my drs office and asked them if this is true and what other questions I should be asking. I have no 'comorbidities' aside from being morbidly obese and have been obese pretty much my entire life. I called back and talked to another agent who asked about diabetes again, then about high blood pressure and sleep apnea. I have none of them. Eventually they told me that if the doctor decided that my BMI put me int he morbidly obese category and that I had tried other diets etc and had a long history of being unable to lose weight, they would approve it. In the end, I had to go through my entire history of what diets/plans/meds I had tried, my weight history, etc and I was approved. I had my bypass surgery on 12/18/2020. I hope you are able to get it approved because it is frustrating. I know what would be waiting for me if I didn't get this weight off now, all of the comorbidities that they ask about, and i am hopeful that with this tool, I will be able to avoid all that crap. Best of luck to you and happy holidays <3

I’m no braggart. This was the first time I shared unprompted about my progress except for with my boyfriend, counselor and the bariatric groups. I kinda figured since she’d asked several times about my progress she would have been happy for me...... pretty much what you guys are saying is just don’t tell any one and refuse to talk about it with any one. It’s kinda bullshit if that’s how we have to behave. Why can’t our loved ones just be happy for us?

My wife and I both had surgery last month and did have a learning curve to start moving towards the new food stages. I bought a few bariatric cook books and we have been cooking out of them to help us with the transition and it has gone really well. The Gastric Sleeve Bariatric Cookbook is the one that we have been using and it has helped us to try to meal plan easier and the food (other than the pancake recipe) have been amazing and not too terribly difficult either. It also lists the stages so that you know if a recipe can be done at a certain stage.

Yes, I take my bariatric vitamin/mineral supplements every day. My former roommate had WLS ten years ago and has had a lot of dental problems, too, including the loss of two teeth, but that could be due to other factors.

Well, I’m so sorry that has happened to you, I’m sure that was/is frustrating and expensive on top of the life changes you’ve had with the WLS. Are you still taking all your supplements you took right after surgery? I know some have opted to just take a regular or even children’s chewable vitamins, but I’d hate to take the chance. There have been a few who say they have had severe teeth problems since their surgery, so you are not alone, but thankfully it doesn’t seem to be a big problem. I’m going to ask about it when I go to my family dr and the Bariatric dr again in January.

I drink protein 2o Bariatric fusion unflavored, elevation. Sent from my U693CL using BariatricPal mobile app

There is a Kaiser FB forum you can check out. I had my surgery 3 years ago in October. I think you will really like this forum. KP Bariatric Support Group (Oregon/SW Washington)

Here in the US, the MGB is not a common option, though it has been adopted by bariatric groups in other countries. When my wife and I were first investigating WLS some twenty years ago, the MGB was kicking around the sidelines of the bariatric field trying to find its place, but it never did here, failing to gain acceptance of either the ASBS/ASMBS or the insurance industry. In the meantime, both the DS and VSG have gone mainstream. There may still be a few isolated practices that offer it on a self pay basis, and there are several groups in Mexico that offer it, mainly as a cheaper, but not necessarily better, alternative to the RNY. The main bugaboo that I recall with it has been a greater propensity toward bile reflux, which is easy to understand if you look at its anatomy. As for a revision to counter regain, It doesn't make a lot of sense to me, as its metabolic strength is so similar to the RNY - much the same as switching between the VSG and RNY, or vice versa, for weightloss/gain reasons, doesn't make a lot of sense. To counter a regain problem, one should look to a stronger procedure, which in the current world is the duodenal switch (DS). Unfortunately, that is a very complex revision which only a half dozen or so surgeons around the country are capable of doing. That would be your best shot at losing a major part of your regain, but also the hardest. There is the newer SIPS/SADI/"Loop DS" that is a simpler and more accessible procedure that seems to sit between the RNY/VSG in DS in effectiveness, but it is still working on gaining acceptance from the ASMBS and insurance industry, but it doesn't seem far off now; that would be a compromise worth looking into, but it's not an easy revision, either, as it is sleeve based procedure, so the stomach first needs to be but back together before proceeding with the revision. The RNY, overall, is a difficult configuration to work with if it's not working right. The "simple" regain fixes such as re-doing the pouch, tightening the stoma or putting a band over the pouch don't seem to work all that well - figure on losing maybe 20 lb, on average, mostly from having to go through all of the restrictive diets around surgery time again, but beyond that it is mostly individual effort (which is what one does without surgery.) The other major option may be offered is to change it to a distal RNY (as opposed to the familiar proximal RNY) which dramatically increases the malabsorption component, with the trade off of the expected increase in supplement needs and potential for more significant nutritional problems. It is not usually approved by US insurance as a primary WLS procedure, but sometimes can be justified for special circumstances. Revisions are not a simple thing - research them carefully to fully understand what is involved, and what the potential risks and benefits are. Good luck,

I've never heard of anyone losing all their teeth to it, but I've read some (albeit not very often - maybe a couple times a year on internet forums?) of people who've had issues with decay (moreso than they had before surgery). My take on this is although it can happen, it's not very common. I asked my dentist about it before I had surgery, and he said although he'd read about it, he's never seen it in any of his patients who've had WLS. My bariatric clinic doesn't know of any patients who've had that, either (of course, not all patients do their follow-ups through their bariatric clinic, though - so it could be that they just don't personally know of any patients). my dentist told me that the problems are likely due to excess acid, either from vomiting or unmanaged GERD. I don't have a problem with either, but he said he'd have the hygienist do a fluoride varnish on my teeth twice a year, and he also gave me a prescription for a super-high fluoride toothpaste that I use before bedtime. He said those should go a long way toward preventing any type of decay. I don't know if I necessarily needed it because I have regular dental checkups, so he may have done it just to placate me since I was so worried about it. But that's fine - I'd rather have all the extra protection! so long story short - I've never heard of anyone losing all of their teeth. We do see maybe one or two posts a year on people have more decay issues than they did prior to surgery, though - but I would think if it was a common issue, we'd see a lot more posts like that.

Thanks so much for the info! I've never heard of Built Bars, but will look into them. I have a bunch of Premier Protein shakes onhand, but was told they're off-limits as they're not on the "recommended" list for my specific bariatric program. Sucks because they are 30g of protein and I figure it's better than nothing. I follow the protein first rule as well, but as I mentioned, I can only eat so much of it before I'm full/very uncomfortable. BTW....glad I'm not the only one who can't stand Unjury! LOL! I keep getting told by my dietician and doctor that it's not that bad...YES, it is! LOL!!!

Kempner, TX but working out of the Killeen office with the Texas Bariatric Specialist group. Sleeved December 2018 and had revision to Roux-en-x-y gastric bypass on October 7th, 2020 per GERD/Acid reflux issues causing damage to my vocal chords and creating a cancer risk. Lost 20 more lbs since revision and am happy with results as I was only able to get to 173 with sleeve and now I am 8 bs from goal weight ( Now weighing 153) and finally within reach. I have had no complication and no longer any problems with GERD or reflux and am very happy thus far.

Hi! I just got done going through using Renew Bariatrics. They were fantastic! It is a company based out of the US that connects you to doctors in Mexico. They have payment plans available (no need to put everything down immediately), but require it be payed in full 10 days prior to surgery. I actually had to change my day of surgery and my coordinator was extremely flexible and helpful. There is Renew Bariatrics staff on sight to help with any issues, they check on you daily. I had Dr. Perez and the total came out to be $4199.00, and he is amazing as well as the staff. I did have someone come with me, but there were a number of people there who came alone. I was up and walking very quickly after surgery which helped tremendously with the pain and gas. Hope this helps

Yes I totally understand where everyone is coming from. My issue has always been the sweets and whenever I begin eating sweets again I regain and I’m so disappointed in myself. I will say I Started a vegetable and protein diet reboot back in March of 2020 and by June I was down the 40 lbs that I had gained as well as I had finally gotten below my smallest size. When I first had the surgery I stalled at about 243 and then maintained for four years at around 250-260. When I started this reboot diet March of 2020 ( five years post op) I was about to get down to 229 and that’s lower than I had ever been. So I say from my experience that you can do it if your body will respond! Go for it and if it doesn’t work that’s when you may need to reach out to your Bariatric doctor for redirection. I honestly thought that I wouldn’t be able to get the weight off again. I feel so blessed! I have recalls struggled these past few years after having my kids with keeping myself on track and caring for my sleeve. I want to make it my focus again! Who’s with me?!!!

Hey I’m just finding this post from October 27th 2014. I had my surgery on this exact date and I have not used this website yet. I wanted to reach out to any of you who still frequent Bariatric pal for some support from people who had the sleeve back when I did. I was very young and didn’t have a support group and I wish I had one then. I’m hoping to get back on track and to have help from people who are just a far out as I am! God bless and I hope to chat with all of y’all soon. Jess

140 pounds at 5'4" gives you a BMI of 24.0 which is in the normal range, so I wouldn't say you did badly with the surgery. It's good that you're trying to turn your regain around before it's gotten too large. Why not go back to eating the way you did soon after surgery? For me that was protein first, then veggies, no carby foods like rice, potatoes or bread and of course no sweets. My doctor's eating plan is moderately low carb, so I limited starchy veggies like sweet potatoes, carrots and corn. Although I can eat more than I could in year 1, I still don't eat nearly as much as I did before surgery (either in amount or variety), so I do still take a bariatric multivitamin. As far as types of protein, I eat lots of different things: yogurt, chicken, beef, a pork chop, Italian sausage, firm cheese like cheddar or jack, soft cheese like Ricotta, cottage cheese (I like large curd), lunch meat if I'm on the go and can't get anything else, turkey (whatever parts you like), beans of various kinds and on and on. I used to eat protein bars but they slowed my weightloss so I stopped, but you might not have that issue. When eating out I usually order a Cobb salad or Chef salad and focus on the protein (I generally can't eat much of the greens). Because you've lost 50 pounds, you might need to track your calories closely. I've lost 120 and I definitely eat fewer calories to maintain that than I did at my top weight. It's kind of trial and error to find the sweet spot where you don't gain or lose. As far as motivation, everyone has different ways of coping with the COVID-19 blues. I'm high risk for COVID-19 so I'm pretty much stuck in the house. It helps me to go for a walk every day. I get fresh air, exercise and sunlight that way and it's helped me keep my mood stable. I've also bought a few new clothing items that I really like. I'd hate to get too big for them so that motivates me to weigh myself regularly and adjust as necessary. I inherited a BEAUTIFUL dress from my Mom and if I gain any significant weight I won't be able to fit in it. Sometimes I just take it out and try it on again to remind myself of how awesome it is that I can wear it now. Maintaining the habit of weighing helps because you'll see any gain early on. I've set myself a "break the glass" weight of 135 and if I get to that weight, I will cut back immediately. At one point I did get to 133 so I cut back and lost 5 pounds to get to 128. I just find it so much easier to deal with a few pounds rather than a lot. You're in good shape since you've only gained 15. Go back to basics, get your protein, stay hydrated, try to find a physical activity you can do regularly and those pounds will be gone in no time. Hugs. 🤗

I'm almost 2 years post surgery and never hit my goal weight. I didn't have that much to lose, weight before surgery - 190, 5"4 but I only got down to 140. Covid has hit, I'm a bit blue and I'm up 15 pounds. I'm disgusted with myself. I'm going back to protein shakes in morning, any suggestions? I've continued to take bariatric multivitamins, do I need to continue for the rest of my life? What kind of protein do you eat on a daily basis? I can only eat so much chicken and eggs. I need some variety. I have no energy and probably down due to the pandemic. What are you doing to stay motivated? Thanks!

I have seen such devices being developed to treat diabetes, which makes sense as they emulate the surgical changes done in the biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) part of the BPD/DS bariatric procedure which yields exceptionally good results on resolving type II diabetes. It makes some sense that there will be some interest in trying to develop the concept for weight loss, but I suspect that they are climbing a very tall tree to get significant results. At best, I would expect it to be no better than the existing restrictive balloons and bands. Back in the 1960's and 70's one of the common weight loss procedures was the jejunoileal bypass (JIB), which was a purely malabsorptive procedure that resulted in pretty good weight loss performance, but at the cost of significant nutritional problems and other significant complications. It was largely supplanted by the RNY gastric bypass, which is highly restrictive, with a minor malabsorptive kicker, and that overall works well. Subsequently, the duodenal switch (the BPD/DS of above) came along which combines a more moderate amount of restriction with a moderate level of malabsorption, which has shown to work even better overall, but at the cost of being more complicated to perform. The lesson that I get from all of this is that for there to be enough malabsorption to yield the weight loss that we see in the current mainstream bariatric procedures (the VSG, RNY, SIPS/SADI and BPD/DS) it would probably have similar metabolic complications of the old JIB. Something with lesser malabsorption, such as these proposed sleeves, would likely yield relatively poor weight loss results - on the order of what is seen with other implantable weightloss devices (balloons, bands, etc.) and would likely have similar lifespan and foreign body issues. The other concern that I would have with these is how do they handle the bile and pancreatic enzymes that are released in the duodenum? presumably they flow down outside the sleeve to be introduced to the food flow at the end of the sleeve (perhaps that is the source of the pancreatitis and liver issues that Foxbins noted?) Overall it does seem like a neat idea, at least for some cases, but is not yet ready for prime time (and probably won't supplant the existing surgical weight loss interventions.)

I've heard of the 3 week stall. But I stopped losing weight at 1 week. I lost 10lb during my 1 week pre op diet and 10 lb the week after my surgery. My surgery was 11/30. I haven't lost anything since 12/7. I use a Bariatric app to track all my food/water/vitamins. My calories have gone up over the past 2 weeks (as expected) from around 300 to 600 and my carbs are higher than I would like (around 35 avg), but I'm finding soft foods are limited. I am not meeting my water goals of 64 oz. I'm getting about 30 oz. If I do too much moving around, my incision sites get really sore so I have not started walking but I do a lot house work and go into my office a couple days a week (not just a couch potatoe, like week 1). Anyone else experience this? Sent from my SM-N975U using BariatricPal mobile app

Let your bariatric nurse/med team know can be complications. For me I get that nausea thing. It helps me if i preportion the amount (you can use a scale or little cups marked 1-2oz on amazon). It's less nausea if I eat under that amount. But I then need 4 meals a day to get the protein grams which cuts into water consumption. However, there are some foods that cause a complete hurlfest in any measure. My surgeon said that it can be this way if you have a very sensitive stomach. Basically its like mini food intolerances, alot of them. She set me up an appointment with the dietician again so we can go over my foods and see if we can eliminate common culprits of stomach upset post bypass. See what your surgeon has to say about it they might have helpful suggestions.

A friend of mine who is scheduled for surgery next year was recently experiencing anxiety, maybe because of the covid isolation. Is it okay to push thru with the surgery even if she has anxiety or could weight loss surgery help her?