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I have a sleeve, and when I was experiencing severe acid reflux in the beginning, I had some regrets about not going for bypass. At over a year out I seem to have less difficulties with various foods than my friends who had bypass (I can more or less eat whatever I'd like in reasonable quantities), and I feel like in my own particular situation, I may have had even more difficulty than I already do with keeping what weight I have left ON...I have been attempting "maintenance" for about 4 months now and still am losing 2-3 pounds a month, and I am done actively trying to lose. It's actually hard to eat enough to maintain my current weight.

P.S. weight loss does slow down a lot the further out you get from surgery. After i hit the year mark, my weight loss slowed down to a crawl - some months I'd lose like a whopping 2 lbs. But I kept at it, and it did eventually come off. The issue is, the smaller you get, the fewer calories your body needs to function. If at your previous weight your body required say, 3000 kcal/day to function, and you were only eating 1000, you're going to lose weight fairly quickly. But if at a lesser weight it only takes 1600 to maintain that weight and you're eating 1000, you're still going to lose weight, but it's going to come off slower.

to gain 4.6 lbs in a week, you would have had to have eaten 16,100 extra calories - that is, calories above and beyond what your body needs. So unless you've eaten that many extra calories this week, then the "gain" is likely due to water retention or very full intestines. In either case, it should be gone in a couple of days. and yes - you do have to monitor your food intake for life, unfortunately. I gradually put on 10 lbs over the course of a year because I wasn't monitoring myself as closely as I usually do. Working on taking that off now (have lost 7 lbs of it it so far - YAY!). This is a lifelong battle.

I cant read that but I have cigna open access plus and it was covered, minus meeting your deductible and all. It will of course depend on your specific plan (not all are the same) and I know that we have EXCEPTIONAL insurance. With my plan, you have to have a BMI over 40 or if under 40 but over 35, at least one comorbidity. In my case, the arthritis in my back and hip was my comorbidity (BMI was 39). I dont have high BP or diabetes, or any of the common ones. My plan did not require a period of attempted weight loss, but did require a letter from my PCP stating I had multiple attempts to lose and would not lose or lose/regain.

For those getting ready for your surgery (YAY!) I just wanted to pop in with my experience (I am 2 weeks post op tomorrow). I see a lof of 'problems' and sometimes I think its easy for us to talk about negative or 'not great' things trying to help others, but then it makes it seem like everyone has those issues, when im not sure thats the case. For ME.... no nausea. not once. no vomiting. no tiredness. no dizziness. I did have more pain than i expected, but it lasted less than a week. Food wise.... I am eating around 700-800 calories a day. hitting protein goals on puree/ semi soft diet. Struggling to get in enough water, but doing my best. Not back at the gym yet but thinking probably next week, based on how i feel (obviously no weights yet lol). My tastes in foods have not changed at all. I have not had any bad reactions to any foods. All in all.... sometimes i wonder if i HAD surgery, aside from I can't eat much at a time. But, really.... I kind of think thats ideal LOL I haven't lost much weight yet but I remind myself that my body is still healing, With a (relatively) low BMI, I will lose slower anyway, and the slower you lose, the less loose skin you have. so.... #perspective All of yall are amazing and strong! ...............................

oh sweetheart..... the surgery has NOT failed, I PROMISE! put ALL the scales away. old ones. new ones (which by the way, those things are not as accurate as they would like you to think). Lets look at this from a SIMPLE SCIENCE AND MATH viewpoint, okay? Lets say you are eating 700 calories a day. That is not MAINTENANCE for ANYONE. Not even my 5' self who has a below average metabolism. Add on to that, our bodies are retaining water and hoarding fluids, to HEAL our bodies. We had MAJOR SURGERY, even if it doesnt look or feel like it. That takes WEEKS AND WEEKS to heal. Theres a reason we are on exercise and lifting restrictions as long as we are. So we can HEAL. That healing takes a lot of water and a lot of our bodies energy. Add on to that, depending on your age, you may be holding on to water due to your cycle. Hormones, which go all kinds of out of whack with surgery, also can make us hold on to weight. Think about it this way... No one who went into concentration camps came out big. not even average. not even thin. Right? Our bodies WILL FIGHT to hold on to weight as long as they can. its life support at its most basic. but it can only do that so long. I know it is hard. I am in a very similar spot to you. I too, and looking at the scale not moving and sticking my tongue out at it. But heres the thing.... it WILL move. BE PATIENT. FOLLOW YOUR PLAN. Get in as much water and protein as you can. move move move. and know it WILL come off. We are BOTH doing everything right... and it WILL come off. ((((hugs))))

I decided to buy myself new scales that included fat/bone/water mass etc, and found out that my water percentage is 35%, meaning I’m incredibly dehydrated. I don’t know if it is water weight I’m holding onto, as my water weight is so low already. I’ve always found it incredibly difficult to consume liquids, especially water as my stomach can only hold so much - even before the surgery. At the moment it takes me about 10-12 hours to drink a litre at most and I’ve tried things like fruit juices and teas etc…I just feel like I’m constantly forcing myself - on top of forcing myself to have protein shakes and soups and all the purées, I spend most of my time having to think about food and drink - planning my days around it - this was the opposite of what I wanted out of my surgery. Anyway, today I hit the 3 week mark and excluding the weight loss from the liver shrinking diet, I’ve lost a grand total of….. 1.1lb. Thank you all for your kind messages of support, but I think it’s safe to say that maybe this sleeve has failed me. I guess it won’t work for everyone, and I’m annoyed at how much money I’ve wasted on this procedure that could have gone towards a house deposit. Apologies for the negativity, I’m just incredibly frustrated and disappointed in myself.

Over the past year, I have truly enjoyed BariatricPal Ready To Shake Instant 15g Protein Drink. They have assisted me with my 75lb weight loss. My question is why are there sometimes clumps of powder in my shakes? I insist that I am doing the same prep every time but not every shake comes out clump free. Anyone have any suggestions?

It depends a lot on your situation. I chose the sleeve because I don’t have as much weight to lose and didn’t want the risk of dumping. I also still hope to have kids, and the sleeve is favorable for that. Part of why the bypass is recommended for those with a higher BMI is because of the malabsorptive factor. It’s not a “bad” thing it’s simply one of the facts about the surgery. The body has less time to absorb and use the calories consumed. There are definitely pros and cons to both surgeries, so discuss with your surgeon what would be best for you.

I am not criticizing you. People do not become morbidly obese if they have an adversion to food. If you never had a "love affair" with food, how did you reach a weight of 372 pounds? You may CURRENTLY have no interest in eating as a result of WLS but; as all of us who are in the process or have had WLS, we have or had an unhealthy and excessive consumption of food. The majority of obese individuals suffer from addictive and/or compulsive disorders. The energy from one activity (in this case, eating) has to be transferred to another to fill the void previously occupied by food and eating. This is why therapists encourage adding new healthy activites and interests to shift our focus on not what we have lost but what we are gaining.

I had Gastric Bypass. I did it for the malabsorption and the dumping. Never had GERD, never cared about GERD, don't have GERD now. But I did have more than 1/4 ton to lose. The only consideration is what one surgery could give me the best chance of success. I didn't want a do over. In fact my surgeon made it clear, no do overs. Malabsorption is one of those things you don't know if you have any or too much until you get blood work done. Generally my labs are great, aside from some anemia that comes and goes, but nothing that can't be dealt with. I take plenty of serious meds that my medical team were not worried about in the slightest. They knew they could adjust whatever would be needed whether from malabsorption or weight loss. Fortunately, when it comes do dumping I lucked out. I dump like, well, a big dumping dump truck on sugars and fats. It's amazing how few times you need to dump to learn to stay away from certain foods. And stay away. For 20 years, so far. I've also maintained my weight loss for 20 years. Not a single regret about my surgery choice. Having said the above, my choice fit my priorities. Make sure your choices fit yours. Good luck, Tek

Hi, I am scheduled for sleeve to bypass in March. I Am doing this because of severe GERD but also I gain over 50 lbs. I had a revision from band to sleeve due to complications with the band. I stopped working in 2018, I was very depressed and I didn’t do anything. Then COVID and the isolation and depression caused me To go from 170 - 235. So basically I’m having surgery for the GERD and I am afraid of this surge. If I had been told about the reflux I probably would’ve had the bypass first. good Luck

Hello, So, I just called, and they stated that they didn't require the weightless medical plan, nor does where I am getting my surgery done. I am nervous! Just waiting on my EDG to get sent over.... I'm hearing from people that the policy plan for weight-loss surgery states they don't need weight-loss diet plans, and are finding out last minute even if they actually need one..

Welcome! You have some very good questions, and the fact that you are thinking about these things is great. Weight loss surgery isn't for everyone, and I think it's really important to make the decision with your eyes wide open and be prepared for the good, the bad, and the ugly. This forum is a great place to read about other people's experiences with WLS so you can know what to expect. Pay particular attention to catwoman7's posts -- she is a great example of a WLS success story, who lost all of her excess weight and has kept it off long-term (and she is a true bariatric guru with lots of excellent advice and insight). Just about all of us have had many failed weight loss attempts in the past. Most insurance companies require evidence of failed weight loss attempts before they'll pay for surgery, because surgery is a pretty drastic solution and few people would want to go through it if they could lose and maintain weight loss without surgery. But many of us who have failed so many times before have been successful with WLS. It is true that some people gain back some or all of the weight (or don't lose as much weight as they need to) after WLS because, as you've figured out, WLS isn't magic. It still takes a lot of work and commitment and (as much as I hate the term) lifestyle changes. I get the impression that in the early years of WLS, the emphasis was on the restriction (and, to some extent, malabsorption) of surgery -- the physical limitations that made it impossible to overeat and/or that made the patient ill from eating too much fat or sugar. Patients mainly relied on eating smaller quantities to lose weight. This works in the short term, but the restriction loosens up over time (so you can eventually eat more in one sitting), and if you continue eating high-calorie foods and/or get in the habit of eating around your surgery by eating smaller portions more frequently, you can easily increase your calorie consumption back to the point of regaining weight. For me (and many others), WLS made the initial weight loss much easier than dieting alone because I had no hunger for several months after surgery, but I do get hungry now and it's a challenge to stick to my plan. I think that these days, most WLS clinics have a more comprehensive approach and provide more guidance on dietary changes. After WLS, you pretty much reboot your eating patterns, almost like a baby. You go back to consuming only liquids, then pureed and mushy foods, and tiny bites of soft foods before you get back to eating like an adult. I think this process is the turning point for your long-term path after WLS. You can either take advantage of this opportunity to get into good habits of eating nutritious food, or you can get back into your old eating habits once you are physically able to eat normal foods again (which can ultimately lead to regain). As far as how WLS affects mental health, that is very dependent on the individual and not necessarily predictable. I think it's safe to say that most people's mental health benefits greatly from weight loss because living with obesity is incredibly difficult, but of course there are instances of unexpected negative results. If you have a history of mental health issues, that's something to discuss with your provider as part of your decision (and most insurance companies and clinics require a psychological consultation to make sure you are mentally/emotionally prepared for surgery). I did my surgery completely alone. I'm 2.5 years post-op and haven't told any family, friends, or coworkers about my surgery. I live alone and had no help after my surgery. I was fortunate to have a pretty easy recovery, so I had no problems taking care of myself (although I later developed bradycardia due to the rapid weight loss and had to get a pacemaker). In a way, I think living alone makes the post-op life easier because I have complete control over the food purchasing and preparation in my house. I simply don't buy foods that don't fit in my plan, so it is easy to avoid temptation. I encourage you to continue to research WLS and read about other people's experiences as you make your decision. Good luck!

So much of that is likely water if you weren’t eating right. When I was closer to that weight I could easily fluctuate by 5lbs of water. Just reset your course and it should be off by Thursday this week if you stick to your advisements and avoid sodium.

Hi all, I had my VSG surgery in April. I started off at 410lbs and am currently 300.9. I just weighed in today, last week I was 296.3lbs. But I will say that for this last week it was my husbands birthday and I didn’t go to the gym so I wasn’t exercising or eating well. So I expected some weight gain. But I’m really worried about the way I gain weight back so quickly. Just one week off and I gained 4.6 lbs back. Is this normal? And will I have to deal with this the rest of my life? I’m already slightly disappointed because in the beginning I was losing so well but for this past few months I can barely lose 5lbs a month if that! I know weight loss slows over time and that I’m literally a month and a few weeks away from making my year…but somehow I feel like I’m not doing something right and should have lost way more weight by now. And that my weight gain comes back so quickly! I go back to the doctor on April 19th…my goal weight for then is 280lbs. I’m praying I can make that, if I don’t I feel like my doctor will be disappointed. Better yet I feel like I’ll be disappointed in myself.. I just hope it’s enough.

I found an article about a woman with similar weight and issues I have in Health magazine. I read that multiple times, and thought about it during pre-op at the hospital. It really helped to change my thinking from this is an elective surgery to this is a necessary surgery. Sending positive thoughts for your surgery!

My surgery date is tomorrow too! We got this! Surprisingly I’m not scared yet.. more-so anxious and ready to get it over with to start the next phase! This sounds crazy BUT my biggest fear is that it won’t work! I know that sounds crazy but it’s a real fear I have. Foe the pre-op all liquid diet I have not cheated, did everything by the book and my weight loss has stalled. I haven’t kiss weight in the past 3 days. So now I have the “what if this doesn’t work” thoughts…. Much luck you tomorrow! Would love to have a buddy and we can check in and support each other since we’re surg twins!

Thanks friend I can’t wait to reach those numbers congratulations on your weightloss im in a weird spot where I’m trying to figure out a workout routine and sometimes I mess up with the foods I eat so I’ve been at this weight for a few weeks now any suggestions?

that's a super fast lost! We started out at about the same weight, and it took me almost a year to lose 100 lbs (I lost 200 altogether, but it took me 20 months to lose the whole 200+ lbs)

Your fears are normal! I would think it is safe to say we have all felt this way. I have lost 100+ lbs multiple times! I always know how to get it off but I haven't been able to master KEEPING it off. Which was my deciding factor for surgery. I was hoping that the smaller stomach would help me. I had the same worries, if I couldn't do it before what is the difference. I know of a few people that gained most or all plus some of their weight back. So I had the constant fear of why bother if I will just fail here too. I did it, and although I can't officially say I have been successful because I am not even a year post op. I can tell you that unless you eat non stop all day then you just can't enough enough. That is what I needed to help me. I can eat healthy but never felt full or satisfied. I hope to be one of the people here 5/10 years from now, encouraging people and inspiring them from my success alone. I wish I had done this years ago! You got this, you can do it with the help of your tool and a new mindset. I (we) are rooting for you!!!

I forgot to mention my number sorry new here but my highest weight was 355lbs my Sx was 10/25/22 today im at 265lbs so close to the 100lb mark in less than 4 months

I had Cigna when I had my surgery. They required all of that, PLUS 4 month medically supervised weight monitoring. This was 6 classes I had to take through my surgery center. The center requires a minimum of 6 months regardless of insurance requirements, but I still had my surgery within 5 months. The woman at my surgery center told me that Cigna is one of the easiest insurance companies to work with and the quickest and easiest process for WLS approval. I had no issues.

You are more than welcome in check back in with the surgeon now rather than continuing to gain. They would much rather see you now than waiting too long and reversing all the good you have done. Your dietician would also rather see you now. Sometimes a few words really can help turn things back around. Talk to some-one who is rooting for you. Kick those old and failing habits back to the curb, 😊

I remember when I brought up surgery to my husband for the first time. He was saying how I did not need it and diet and exercise would do the trick and that it could be very expensive. I have done diet after diet, at my job, I was walking about 20,000 steps a day so I was getting plenty of exercise but no weight was dropping. I knew I needed help. After that conversation, I called my insurance to see what all was covered, (in my case almost everything was covered... amazing!) I then scheduled my first consultation without telling my husband. I started doing all of the prerequisites per my insurance. I eventually did tell my husband, and he knew there was no stopping me so he got on board. I did not have diabetes or any other comorbidity/health risks, however I explained to him that it could eventually happen if I did not get on the right track soon. I did feel bad for somewhat going behind his back and doing it, but after talking with my insurance I thought, why not?! I recommend, like many others are, bring your wife to a doctors appointment with you. Help her understand what you are feeling. Best of luck!