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Advice needed - VSG Failure
PlanetHopper replied to rulooking4me's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
yeah, I suppose this is true. I have been listening to the BariatricPal podcast and one of the speakers that does research in bariatric surgery and why it works has a lot of interesting and informative things to say about why some people lose a lot of weight very easily after surgery and some people dont. I highly recommend the podcast. -
What’s your weight loss after 6 months and what was you starting weight?
catwoman7 replied to Abcdefg's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
charts can give you a ballpark idea, but they may not be true for you. They tend to deal with averages - and I think the average bariatric patients loses about 70% of their excess weight. But as with any average, there are people who lose more or less than that. There are people out there, including on this site, who have lost 90-100% of their excess weight, so it can be done... -
I am really proud of you that you are able to know this is the best choice for you no matter what anyone else says. I know it can be very hard without family/friend support. I highly recommend going to the bariatric support groups available in your area and seeing a psychologist/counselor regularly.
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Guess who reached one-der-land today? I did! Highest weight: 371 Weight when I started Bariatric Program (6/4/19): 314 Surgery day (12/16/19) weight: 258.6 Today’s weight: 199.6
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Newbie considering surgery. Help with negative thoughts?
NovaLuna replied to Kam1177's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
WLS is not failure or taking the easy way out, TRUST me! It's difficult no matter what you do, but WLS is a LIFE choice! I struggled with my weight my entire life. I was 130 pounds at 11, 230 at 14, 303 at 17, and at 31 I was up to my highest weight of 389 and that's when I made the decision to do something about it. At my first bariatric appointment I weighed in at 385 and that's why I count from that. I had tried SOOOOO many diets and nothing worked. Turns out I had an issue with my thyroid all along that every time they had tested it they'd missed it because the test weren't thorough enough, but the bariatric surgery clinic required a more thorough test. I had six months of weigh-ins required to be approved for surgery via my insurance and it took an extra two months to schedule me due to them being over scheduled so it was an 8 month process. I went on an elimination diet where each month I cut out something that I wouldn't be able to eat after (soda, rice, pasta, bread, potatoes, beans, etc) simply because I wanted to mentally prepare myself because I didn't trust my willpower and I shocked myself by loosing 64 pounds before my surgery on my own. It's been 4 months since I had my surgery and I've lost an additional 65 pounds and I'm really happy about it and don't regret my choice of having surgery because it's helped me get down to 256 pounds, a number I haven't seen since HIGH SCHOOL (I was 15 the last time I saw that number)! So yes, it's not an easy choice, but if you're making it for the right reasons and have the determination to work for it, you will definitely succeed! I only wish I'd done this ten years ago and most people will tell you the same. -
Revision completed
Tracyringo replied to Tracyringo's topic in Revision Weight Loss Surgery Forums (NEW!)
I live in Mo and go to Mercy. Dr. Edwards did my sleeve and my revision. Their bariatric center is really good. -
Losing my hair! Anyone else, and what can help??
mary77450 replied to IAmGrace's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I had a lot of super thick long hair. It started falling out at an alarming rate in month four post op. Like handfuls when I washed it, and them more in the brush. I was sure I was going to be bald if that kept up. I went and bought all kinds of extra vitamins (a hair skin and nails formula with biotin in it) b12, collagen, & D. I started taking those after three weeks of increasing scary hair loss, and it's been a month now I have been taking them. I confess I stopped taking the bariatric vitamin in month three because it was so foul smelling every time I open the bottle I just wanted to hurl. As soon as my hair started falling out I started taking them again, religiously every day along with all the other vitamins I bought. My hair is no longer falling out by the handful, and seems to have tapered off, but my ponytail holder now wraps around three times instead of two. No bald or obviously thinning spots, but I had super thick hair before which is good because it was seriously falling out at an alarming rate. Not sure if the extra vitamins helped but I will keep taking them just in case and I will take the foul smelling bariatric vitamin every day no matter what because I don't want to be bald. -
Needing a pep talk!
catwoman7 replied to It's time.'s topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I don't know that many people have their surgery a month after their first appointment, unless they're self-pay. Many insurance companies require a six-month supervised diet with a physician or nutritionist, and several bariatric clinics require classes plus a whole slew of requirements (e.g., sleep studies) that seem to take forever to get into. So at minimum six months for a lot of us. Fortunately, most of us didn't have to deal with the pandemic, though, so I can totally empathize with that. You'll get in, though. Most people seem to once their states start opening up. I know Michigan has been having a particularly tough time with the virus, so I can see why they're locked down longer than most - but I'm sure they'll get you scheduled as soon as they can. -
"Get ready nutrition pack" ?
tarotcardreader posted a topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
So my nutritionist said I would need to order this the day of my prop apmt but didn't mention cost yet. It has 35 meal replacement protein 1 bottle multivitamin 1 package calcium citrate. Anyone know the cost its bariatric advantage brand but not on their website. Doesn't seem like insurance covers because was told would have to buy out of pocket (united healthcare quest). So insurance doesn't pay for vitamins etc? -
I agree with this - we hear about that on bariatric forums fairly often.
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I started looking into this surgery because I was pre-diabetic and starving all the time. Like I just finished a huge meal, and my stomach hurt, but I still wanted to eat and eat and eat. My hunger has been increasing and getting worse over the past 10 years, along with gradual increases in my fasting blood sugar and other symptoms of metabolic syndrome like skin tags. My dad has diabetes (and got it when he was about 5 years older than I am now), so I knew what was coming. The thing that really excited me about the surgery was that it provides a mechanism to reset your metabolism, to actually CHANGE your hormonal balance and your set point so that you naturally feel satisfied at a lower weight, and eating less food with less hunger. Now I am 2.5 months out, and I really feel it working - with the smaller stomach, it gets full faster, so ghrelin (a hormone that your stomach makes when it is empty that makes you feel hungry) starts to DECREASE quickly after you take your first few bites. Studies show that ghrelin levels are about 50% lower after bariatric surgery than before. And that has an effect - you really, seriously, truly feel much less hungry, even though you are eating way less. In contrast, normally when you go on a diet, your ghrelin levels INCREASE compared to when you started. Studies show that after a 3-6 month diet without surgery, your ghrelin levels will increase by 50%. And that has an effect - you are much more hungry and so you want to eat even more and gain the weight back - it may even make you feel like an addict! Since before my surgery, I would often feel hungry even when my stomach felt full, I can totally see why you'd be scared that you'd still feel really hungry even when your new small stomach is full. And I can tell you from experience - being hungry with a full stomach feels miserable! I can see why you'd be scared of that! But I really want to assure you - the surgery works as advertised. You will feel satisfied, even when you are eating way less food than before. For me, the change in my hunger is like night and day - it's amazing!
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Did you keep surgery a secret? What did you tell people?
assya1685 replied to FinallyLosingIt20's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I just started the bariatric journey (got a couple of appointments with different surgeons). While in the past I’ve kept weight loss struggles and attempts private, this time I’m telling a lot of people ahead of time. There’s no shame in saying I’m having surgery. If somehow it doesn’t work out I don’t owe anyone explanations. But I don’t think abstaining from social events because I don’t want to explain my lack of eating or forgoing support that is readily available will get me anywhere. I wasn’t able to do it alone before, so I’m trying to change my rules hoping for a different result -
Anterior Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome (ACNES)
Susie Taake posted a topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
I can not wait to go to the neurology appt... The area right next to the belly button is the spot, plus my whole left side to under my ribs, to my pelvic area... I have had this issue since at least 2007, It has gotten way worse then when it started, I pray to God I am right with the problem...Anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome... this can cause different issues as well... biggest problem is people get diagnosed with all sorts of stuff.. I have complained and complained through the years, have had a million scans with nothing found,... looking for a reason and a fix... for 13 yrs has not been fun, and most Dr's just look at you like your nuts, or a hypochondriac, or a liar. I can guarantee you this ... I am not lying, and what I have called spasms for yrs... is exactly that... irritating that nerve ! So glad I went back to the Bariatric who took out my band... because he is the first one to say nerve damage. We shall see...... This has plagued me since 2007 ... 3 years after band placement. My lapband broke twice, got it fixed early 2008 ... and then again it broke in 20013, I believe it caused this damage to my stomach, as the spasms used to happen when the port was still in, they thought by putting a new smaller port in that it would fix it. IT DIDNT.... then we discovered in 2013 that it broke again... and the hose was wrapped around my spleen causing this damage. I really regret getting the Gastric Lapband. -
1300 calories is maintenance level for a lot of us. I can maintain on 1700 calories, but that seems to be on the high end for female bariatric patients. I just checked my records, and at 10 months out I was averaging 1000 kcal/day. Maybe try eating closer to the bottom end of your current range for awhile (1000 kcal) and see if you start losing again. If you're walking 4-4.5 miles a day, than you're probably about as active as I was, so that part should be OK.
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Of course, but my mindset is like so even if I’m eating at the higher end of my diet at 1300 cal and burning 500 a day walking, on top of my BMR/TDEE I should without a doubt be in a deficit? But the scales should project that. So I’m wondering am I not eating enough? It’s hard because all Over the internet they say it’s nowhere near enough calories but when your a Bariatric patient like we are, it’s what we get programmed to do and what our bodies can cope with. So I’m just stuck in a rut. I will try and decrease the cals more and see if it makes a difference. Out of curiosity what cals were you on at 10 months post op and what exercise? I’m just trying to grasp what worked for other people (even though I know it may be different for me). I mean I walk over 4 - 4 1/2 miles a day so I would consider myself fairly active right now. Thankyou for your help I will take it all on board and play around with my cals etc. Why does it have to be so hard towards your goal 😩
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Pregnancy before or after a revision
gomezk2 posted a topic in Revision Weight Loss Surgery Forums (NEW!)
Need the opinion of those who are planning or have planned to start a family with a bariatric procedure.. my spouse currently has RNY that was done in 2015 but she has regained about 100 plus pounds out of the 155 pounds she dropped after getting RNY. Now she wants to start a family but i don’t know of it is safe or unsafe to plan for pregnancy now that she has regained all the weight. Would it be better for her to get a revision done to correct the weight and then plan pregnancy or should we have a baby and then do a revision? My overall concern is my spouse’s well being and i know how obesity plays a major role in pregnancies and the high risk it carries which can be very harmful for a unborn baby. Any advise would be appreciated as i am at a crossroads but don’t know what to do. -
My bariatric center doesn't give any narcotics to control pain immediate postop. They use combination of acetaminophen and Celebrex. I can't take Celebrex because previous reaction with sky high blood pressure (220/120). So not sure what they will provide for immediate postop pain. Hoping I will have a chance to talk with surgeon before surgery. Don't think acetaminophen will be enough after having 75% of stomach removed. Sent from my SM-T580 using BariatricPal mobile app
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Corona delaying weight loss surgery dates? Anyone?
GataAnime replied to MaybeMeow's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
So frustrated. Right before everything went to Corona Hell, I was supposed to get a psych eval. I had been asking about it for months prior to thiat, and the place where I regularly see a doctor kept putting it off and putting it off, citing the fact that I "didn't want to get it too soon". Initially, I was scheduled for April 8th, and my psych eval was scheduled for March 25th. A week before that appt. I get the call from my surgeon's office that everything is on hold until June 10th. Okay, acceptable, considering. Frustrating af, but I completely understood. I got a call a few weeks ago from the surgeon's office asking if I was still interested. I said yes, and they reminded me that they still need my psych eval if I wanted to do it by June, otherwise they'd have to push me back to August. I had a telemed appt with my psych coming up, so I said I'd ask then. Of course, since elective surgery hadn't had a restart date as of then for my state (New Jersey), she balked and basically said "Ain't nobody got time for that." Last week the governor announced that elective surgeries in NJ are scheduled to begin on the 26th of this month. So, naturally, I call to ask about the psych eval, and am again denied--and by the temporary receptionist, no less, who didn't seem to be listening when I told her I wasn't a new patient ("They're not accepting new patients right now"). She checked and said my psych isn't doing any evals by telemed or otherwise. I'm done, yawl. I think what's exacerbating my frustration is the fact that I also recently had a conversation with my PCP and learned that I am pre-diabetic. Lovely. So I'm feeling a bit put out and dismissed by my psych people. I was hoping to avoid something like this; this was the point of going through this process to begin with. I feel alone. I get the sense that they're taking this attitude of it's not important due to it being elective, never mind that it's extremely life-altering and could possibly help me save my health. I think there's this stigma attached to it as if bariatric surgeries are considered frivolous; for instance, the reaction to people who opt for cosmetic surgeries. It's not the same thing. So here I am searching online for someone who might be able to help, perhaps another mental health provider in my area who does these by telemed. Sorry for bxtching. I...I just dunno what to do at this point. -
Have you looked into high-protein, sugar-free sweets? There are quite a few of them right here in the Bariatric Pal store. I'm also really fond of Jello sugar-free chocolate pudding. I've also found that having a cup of coffee with skim milk and artificial sweetener in the afternoon keeps me from snacking when I'm tempted. You don't have to eat "prohibited" foods to satisfy your sweet tooth!
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I don't - but I've read about several WLS patients on this and other bariatric forums who do. Sometimes they have to adjust the dosage, but people DO take them after surgery.
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Is it possible that my body isn't keeping electrolytes?? I feel sick daily and my surgeons office can't figure it out ... Is it possible to become dehydrated quickly after bariatric surgery ? Sent from my moto g(7) supra using BariatricPal mobile app
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My story so far
Darktowerdream replied to SARAH-ANNE's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
I too took a very strict approach, especially going up against metabolic disorders and inability to exercise. I note daily my weight, food intake, protein and calories. As a general rule I get minimum 0.36 grams protein per 1lb body weight. I started very low calorie and low carb never more than 5 grams of sugar as per my nutritionist. I was very slow to enter purée phase. I had protein shakes. it took me a while to find one I could tolerate. For me I used PEScience Select protein powder and 6 ounces of Ripple milk (pea protein milk plain unsweetened which added protein for practically no carbs) which was 160 calories, 30 grams protein and no more than 3-4 carbs. They did a lot of work to get the healthiest protein blend and best taste. I now mix it with Greek yogurt either plain nonfat Fage or TwoGood yogurt and half a scoop (I measure everything on a scale though) and it mixes to a frosting like texture. link for PEScience http://rwrd.io/c6uus2e I couldn’t do bariatric vitamins. I needed ones without added iodine. But I personally recommend Whole Foods based vitamins. It’s tough to budget in but I preferred Garden of life Whole Foods multivitamins (prenatal) my nutritionist approved of them and any sugar (below 5 grams) came from natural foods ingredients. I take a separate calcium with vit d, hair skin and nails formula, omegas, and some people take b12 and vitamin k. Your doctor should do bloodwork to check vitamin levels to recommend any extra supplements. I know the hardest part is getting your head in the right place and working on food addiction. I had fought this years before having gastric bypass surgery. My lifelong chronic illness fought me in other ways. The biggest battle I think is the sugar addiction. Once you realize there are healthy versions of sweet things and that small portions of protein can satisfy you and that we eat to live rather than live to eat, it’s one step ahead on the journey. Like Superman84 said. It’s time to get strict with yourself. Cut out sugar, carbs and soda. It’s a hard addiction to kick. But if I did it, anyone can. You can too. Remove temptations from your reach as well. And ... just keep taking it one step at a time. -
Thanks for sharing as I am now awaiting insurance approval for the Bypass. I’m a fellow sleever too; I know the sleeve works but had I really understood the chances of getting acid reflux the first time I think I probably would have just got the bypass. I have regained about 55 lbs but life ya know. I finally made an appointment to see a Bariatric Dr in March who told me my options for getting rid of the reflux. Water is a trigger for me at this point...yeah I’m ready to try something else now.
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Did you keep surgery a secret? What did you tell people?
mi75 replied to FinallyLosingIt20's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I am just about 6 years post VSG! I told my immediate family- spouse, kids, parents. I told my immediate co-workers because my job is such that nobody could cover me and there were many inquiries about why I was taking 5 weeks off. I didn't tell anyone else. Not siblings, close cousins. Nobody. No old friends, nobody. I still don't freely share the info unless I'm asked by somebody who heard it elsewhere. I have an extended family that is VERY judgmental, who live through the eyes of female value is ranked by looks, hair, clothes, car, etc. Never mind that I have 2 master's degrees, and half way done with a doctorate and am a practicing Nurse Practitioner. Didn't matter. So even now, it is still an identity that I have- a bariatric patient- but not something I yell from the rafters. -
I still drink a protein shake every day at five years out because we discovered early on that I malabsorb protein. I also did (and still do) a lot of experimenting with shakes to keep them interesting...same kind of stuff you did - and more! if you want a bunch more ideas, check the blog http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/ She's a long-term WLS vet and loves cooking - she has lots of recipes on her site for all phases - including protein shake recipes. There are also a bunch of protein shake recipes on pinterest, however, the ones on pinterest aren't all necessarily appropriate for bariatric patients (although at minimum, you may get some ideas from them)
