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Ah now that’s a complicated question & there is no definitive answer. There’ll be those who tell you sleeve is the best or bypass is the way to go, etc. The thing to remember is that was the surgery that was best for them. And yes there’ll be those who say they wished they’d chosen another surgery. There are some issues that can make one surgery a much better option over another. For example if you have pre existing reflux/gerd sleeve is not for you or you have a lot of weight to lose bypass may be a better choice. There are other pre existing conditions that may need to be taken into consideration too. As well as factors like your weight loss & gain history, lifestyle, eating style & preferences, etc. Best advice is to do lots of reading & gather information like this yourself & then have a long conversation with your surgeon & see what they recommend based on your medical status, general health & with consideration of the factors mentioned above & then make your decision. As for the long term effects of, I presume maintaining your weight, it really comes down to you. The changes you’re willing to make to your eating, how compliant you are in the long term with your new way of eating, the activity you choose to add to your lifestyle, etc. The surgery is a tool & it’s success depends on how you use it & the sustainability of the changes you make. My surgeon recommended a sleeve after going through everything with me & answering my questions. I was leaning that way anyway as I didn’t want as major a change as with bypass. My weight had only become a serious obese issue with menopause before that I bounced between a BMI of 23 healthy & 29 overweight). I had some existing food sensitivities. I dislike taking medications. Didn’t have any co morbidities - my general health was good. Was fairly controlled about a lot of my eating & was aware of food choices, portion sizes, etc. Didn’t want the increased possibility of dumping (already had random episodes of hypoglycaemia) or absorption issues (especially calcium & iron as a menopausal woman). And yes, it was the right choice for me & my situation & needs. I lost all my weight & more. I’m only 3.75yrs out but have pretty much maintained my weight except for a very fast 2kg (4lbs) gain after my gall was removed in June 2021 which reduced my absorption of protein (so made a dietary change) & we also recently discovered my HRT. I had lost about 0.5kg of the 2kgs over almost a year but since I went on a HRT patch 3 months ago I’ve lost a kg without trying (Damn hormones - or lack of in my case.) Will be interesting to see if the last 0.5kg goes too & I end up where I was at 49kg. That’s my story anyway. All the best whichever surgery you choose.

I echo the above - it’s likely a stall. As for not for not being able to eat all your advised portion, that’s okay & something we’ve all experienced at times. At the moment you’re still healing & early out so it’s not unusual to not feel hungry, not interested in eating, not wanting to eat all your serve, or to become temporarily sensitive to certain tastes, textures or smells which can effect what or how much you eat. The bigger concern would be if you were eating more than your portion. As long as your meeting or being close to your protein goal you’ll be okay. You’ll find it all gets easier as you progress. As for drinking, is it the taste or texture of what you’re drinking that upsets you? Or do you have discomfort on swallowing? Many of us found warm drinks easier to drink initially - more soothing than cold drinks. I found plain water almost too heavy to drink at first. Try varying what you drink throughout the day. Try a flavoured water (or just add a little lemon or lime juice), protein water, green or herbal tea, yoghurt drinks (make your own by adding milk to your preferred yoghurt), etc. I used to open bottles of sparkling water & let them go flat & drink them too. And ensure you are sipping slowly enough for you. At 3.75yrs I still have leftovers in my fridge from meals I couldn’t finish a few times a week. Last night I had the leftover vegetables & a lamb cutlet I didn’t eat from the night before. Just added another cutlet so I met my goals.

there aren't many surgeons who are placing lapbands these days because there were so many complications with them. A lot of people have had them removed and have had the sleeve or bypass done instead. I suppose there are some still out there who might place a lapband, but it might be hard to find one who does. The lapband has largely been replaced by the sleeve as the non-RNY option. You might want to chat with a bariatric surgeon - let him/her know your concerns and see what they recommend. If the person you talk to doesn't work with lapbands anymore and that's what you really want, they may know of someone who still works with those. Or they may reassure you about your revision options. At any rate, it'd be good to talk to a specialist about all of this.

I have been researching sleeve vs gastric bypass. I also take Methotrexate for inflammatory arthritis and was concerned about being able to continue taking it if I go with the bypass option. In my research I found that it’s possible to switch to the injectable form rather than the pill form (which I understand cannot be taken after bypass because it’s in the NSAIDs class). I did read also though that some say it can still be damaging since it still goes through the bloodstream. I’m also interested in hearing from anyone who has chosen the bypass option and how they manage their rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory arthriis.

anyone getting sleeved on the 27th of this month? If so how is it going with you?? what kind of pre-op diet are you on?? I am the 3 protein drinks with a small 3oz cooked protein meal with 2 cups of raw veggies which is cucumbers, tomatoes and all colors of bellpeppers!!

Please be gentle with yourself ! Having any surgery is a shock to the body and to your brain ! Your body is telling you that it was cut into and it hurts ! Your body doesn't know that you needed this, or that in the long run, you will be healthier for it. I am glad you have a therapist to help you through the "thinking" part, but do not listen to anyone including yourself that tells you "it was JUST a few holes" or "it isn't a big deal" . NO ONE ELSE lives in your body except you. I have had some major surgeries, and I can tell you waking up from weight loss surgery VSG was the most painful experience I have ever had. Lasted all of a half an hour when I insisted on speaking to a doctor and getting a different pain med. Problem solved. Do you need to get in more protein ? Are you dehydrated ? Need more sleep ? Be proactive in talking to your doctors and your team. Expect to feel lousy. Let yourself heal. Be assured that this feeling and recovery will progress and you WILL feel better than ever soon !!!

Hey y’all, it’s my second week post op and I’m progressing well towards my fluid intake. Sadly, I’m getting sick of all the water and juice. I tried Whey Protein shake but couldn’t handle the taste. I managed 1 once only. I would love mor fluid variety but not sure what I can drink

7 days in on my liquid pre-op diet...... I'm making it! I find that I hate bullion, ice pops, pudding, jello..... I'm drinking Premier Protein Clear- mixed with water- its got 20 grams of protein- for a "snack", tea- de-caf, with skim milk, and Premier Protein 30 gr. protein shake for meals. I drink water, water, water. I feel sloshy inside weak!!!! but surgery is in 7 days- at this point, that's all I can think about- liquid diet, smiquid smiet- who cares! Soon it will all be over!

Hi everyone! had a couple of rough weeks dealing with a cold and a family member in ICU, but we are finally home and I'm back on track with my protein and fluids. Had to get an IV twice, I was getting leg cramps, but all should be moving towards the goal from now on. I do have a business trip next week but expect to follow plan since I'm now in the stage where I can basically eat up to 4oz of protein, salads, veggies and fruits, of course my intake is less than that, but it gives me variety.

Hi everyone! had a couple of rough weeks dealing with a cold and a family member in ICU, but we are finally home and I'm back on track with my protein and fluids. Had to get an IV twice, I was getting leg cramps, but all should be moving towards the goal from now on. I do have a business trip next week but expect to follow plan since I'm now in the stage where I can basically eat up to 4oz of protein, salads, veggies and fruits, of course my intake is less than that, but it gives me variety.

Leftover southwest salad, boiled egg and sweet potato medallions (that fell apart). I did not finish this especially the egg which was an afterthought for protein sake. Funny if these were frozen waffles, I would have attempted to eat 2 even though they are more calories. 😐

You’re absolutely right, especially when it comes to traditional foods. It’s like that in a lot of the places in the Caribbean TBH. It was substantially easier to go sugar free in Europe. When I was in Puerto Rico, I resigned myself to exclusively drink water when out and eat whole protein (no substitutes) and vegetables/legumes.

Ahh my family is planning a trip to a Latin American country & I'm worried about those exact same things! I assume I'll have to take half of my protein snack stock & live off of pre-cooked frozen chicken breast from the grocery store. I'd have to stick to the basics. I'm happy to hear you fit in the seat better! That has to be an amazing feeling

It can certainly be challenging to maintain a low-carb or sugar-free diet while traveling, especially in places where those options may not be widely available. However, it's not impossible to make healthy choices while on the road. One strategy that can be helpful is to plan ahead and research the area you'll be visiting to identify any grocery stores or markets that may have healthier options. You can also bring your own snacks and meals with you, such as protein bars, nuts, and low-carb meal replacements. Another strategy is to focus on ordering high-protein, low-carb options when dining out. For example, a grilled chicken breast with a side of vegetables, or a salad with protein like grilled fish or chicken. It's also important to remember that weight loss is a journey, and it's important to be kind to yourself. You can always get back on track once you're back home. It's good to hear that you were able to fit comfortably in the coach seat, which is a great reminder of the benefits of your weight loss journey.

Did they give you a list of things that constitute, "protein"? Is it just meats? Maybe try spicing it up different ways..?

So i just got back from a trip to Puerto Rico (work trip) and man that place is not for people who had weight loss surgery. 1st there is no sugar free anything. especially drinks. No sugar free gatorade, powerade ect... Nothing low carb. Bread is a huge huge part of everything. I even went to a walmart and nothing. just some protein bars and such. Only protein shakes i could find were just regular ensure and some other strange brand i have not seen. Best part was i finally fit in a coach seat without issue. before i would spill over to the next seat or be so tight it would be so uncomfortable. Now i fit perfect with plenty of room to spare. Got to say i am happy to be back.

I had endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty.... they sewed it tighter from the inside using an endoscope. They dont cut anything so they dont call it surgery. Its outpatient. It kind of looks like a corset or shoelaces and cinches it up so the diameter is what is was after the first sleeve and it also makes it a little shorter too so you are full quicker and stay full longer. Its a great option for a revision if you have stretched it a bit and are holding more food now and eating more often. I am almost to goal 4 months post op from this revision of my sleeve.

So my diet is either 3-4 protein drinks or 2-3 protein drinks with a small protein meal 3 oz cooked and 1 cup cooked veggies/2 cups raw veggies I usually snack at work but Friday I had a extra cup of cucumbers!! With 3 oz chicken and a cup of mixed cooked veggies Yesterday i had 3 oz of steak, 2 cups of mixed veggies which was good. What else would yall eat

Here's what my Kaiser handbook says you should be in terms of calories, protein & water intake!

I had my sleeve on 12/13/2022 and after 30 days I have lost 25 pounds. Where should I be with calories in? Right now I am averaging 400 to 600 calories a day with protein target 61 GMs (I don’t always achieve) fat 33 GMs and carb max 33 grams (which I never achieve). Water intake 32 oz daily. I just can’t eat or drink more. I know I know 25 pounds in 30 days is good but I guess I thought weight loss would be quicker especially at first. HW 255. SW 237. CW 211.6

I ghave two cats so had to hold a pillow day and night to protect tummy from their pounce. Recliner or bed. My son stayed with me three days after 2 nights in hospital. The fifth day I no longer took pain meds. Having your sippy cup, timer, liquids, protein drinks ready for the liquid diet. When getting groceries for puree stage fatigue hit. Get just a few groceries at a time due to low food input-low energy reserves. I was so shocked at the low level. Bonus was more chances of exercise, walking around store.

January 2023 I got very ill in September of 2022 - had a tear in my hiatius - a hiaitial hernia tear - that was bleeding into my chest area. No symptoms until I was so weak and tired that I couldn't function well. Ended up needing transfusions and emergency hospitalization to figure out what was wrong. 5 days in patient with no food or water, just IVs. Lots of testing and then came home on lots of iron pills and vitamins. Three weeks later had a gastric bleed.... more hospital stay of 4 days and endoscope and found out that I have some, well, a lot of issues in my "normal sleeve anatomy" - lots of areas that were bleeding. No actual ulcers, just ... issues. Now will be doing weekly iron infusions - no more oral iron; and meds to help heal my stomach lining. I lost 10 pounds in the hospital, but was warned to eat well and drink lots of fluids and to put back at least 2/3 of what was lost in the hospitalizations as a good portion of that is blood building. I craved macaroni and cheese. Not something I even usually like much ! So I ate that and high protein, lots of water and saw my doctors on a weekly basis. I, of course gained weight back as I healed. But decided to be VERY VERY careful in what I ate as directed by my doctors to not piss off my gut - and then added in what I knew to do for my over all health. My 13 year old tool was still there and of the appropriate size - I had NOT "stretched out" my sleeve in 13 years. I was assured by the gastro doc that it was fine ! So I took the 2 total pound weight loss from surgery and then post op required gain.... and have lost 6 more pounds in 3 months. I am out of the 30s BMI for the first time in ...... more than 40 years. Yes, BMI of 29 on the Smart BMI for my age. I am doing much better, will probably need monthly iron infusions on a regular basis; as the oral iron is not working for my irritable gut. But I am a seemingly healthy almost 67 year old, now wearing a size 14 petite slacks to work ! The last time I did that .... I was about 23 years old.... I have almost lost half of me.

How is everyone doing? I am 4DPO and feeling pretty good. I never had an real pain, just soreness which is still there but decreasing. I'm getting about 54oz of water and 30g of protein in so far each day. I was sent home on 3L O2 at night; hoping it's just temporary.

Welcome! You know yourself best. Hopefully your passion doesn't burn brightly for a few months and then wane in time. This is a long game and it's nearly all mental. I had 6 months of visits and I'm glad for it. The delay gave me time to start therapy, time to read all the books I could get, time to research complications and treatments, time to gather supplies, and time to prepare my loved ones. It also gave me time to try to lose weight on my own, fully cementing the conviction that I cannot. Take advantage of this time - as short as it is. Learn about yourself. Learn all you can about your issues with food and learn ways to correct them. Learn new coping skills - you'll need them when you can no longer turn to food. And you'll need to keep practicing them, so that when food becomes a viable coping option again - later on - you won't go down that road.

I had the sleeve in 2016 & take 2 Dulcolax every other day. High protein diet & iron in my vitamins. 🤭 Not sure if your can swallow the tiny tablets just yet, but it’s a gentle laxative.