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I also can't speak to co-morbidities other than some arthritis in my hips and knees. That's definitely better now but it wasn't my main motivation to have my surgery. I wanted not to become diabetic or develop any other weight-related disease. There's a definite risk of developing reflux after a gastric sleeve whereas that risk isn't there with bypass so you need to take that into consideration. We all react to surgery in different ways and it can be impossible to predict accurately in advance so do discuss bypass with your surgeon too. They'll have up to date stats about the likely relative effects on your diabetes for sure. The sleeve has been everything I wanted and more. My only regret, as we often say here, is not having it done 20 years earlier. I hope your surgeon can help you decide whether it's best for you.

I am just over two weeks away from having surgery. I was diagnosed with PCOS in my 20s and have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and am prediabetic. Because I wanted the best shot at having those specific co-morbidities resolve, and because I have a family history of GERD, I decided to go with the RNY gastric bypass. But gastric sleeve is also a good surgery. Overwhelmingly, you will find that people who have these surgeries have no regrets other than wishing they had done them sooner. A small number will have complications, but even among those, most will have no major regrets. My brother had the sleeve 15 years ago and says without a doubt it saved his life. This is a risk calculator that will also help show you the chances of various conditions resolving within 1 year for the various surgeries: https://riskcalculator.facs.org/bariatric/ This is a video from a bariatric surgeon that looks at both surgeries and how to decide: I suggest watching all of Dr. Weiner's YouTube videos. He's very trustworthy and knowledgeable, and a much better source of information than TikTok videos! (Although I watch YouTube channels for several bariatric patients and do really love hearing the stories).

I'd really love to hear from other men who have had plastic surgery following weight loss. I am a year and a half out from my bypass now and for the most part am pretty happy with the results. My weight has held pretty steady for the last six months and I've been working with a personal trainer for a few months now and happy with the results, especially in my arms and shoulders. However, as is to be expected there is a lot of loose skin around my middle. I have tried wearing my trousers higher than I used to and for the most part it's okay, but still feeling pretty self conscious about taking my shirt off - especially when I lean forward and the skin drapes off my torso. I've been thinking a lot about surgery to remove excess skin - definitely around my stomach but possibly my upper arms, inner thighs, and butt. I'm trying to find more information, but a lot of first hand accounts here in the forums tends to be from women, and when I look on surgeons' websites they tend to feature before and after photos and testimonials from women. Are there any men here who would be up for sharing their experiences of surgery after WLS? I'm especially interested in the procedures you had, the recovery process, and photos of the results if you'd be willing to share. Also, any recommendations for surgeons in the UK would be really appreciated!

May I ask if the reason for revision was for gerd or acid reflux? Just curious because after my sleeve o developed gerd, and I also need to loss some weight. One week post the RNY which is when I introduced soft food, I can feel the reflux at night when I lay down. It’s like something in the back of my throat and my chest feel tight. I don’t know if the reflux is a imidiate fix or not. I have to ask my doctor when I see him again. And how long was the bypass was never discussed. I didn’t know there is actually the length that I can discuss… I feel like there is a lot I could have ask and didn’t. At my one week post op visit, I had many questions, and maybe I was showing some anxiety, and of course the doctor and nutritionist sensed it. They just told me to keep clam? Let my body heal and don’t think about the weight loss right now.

Just a little 10-15lbs mostly because of the stressor of surgery itself (but I regained it and lost it again) My surgeon was keen on me staying in the 26-28 BMI range so he suggested to not make the bypass length his standard 150 cm but 120-130 cm instead.

I'd contact your surgeon, especially since you were "fine" beforehand. It might not or might be stricture, I'm not a doctor so contact your surgeons office. Stricture presents symptoms that can "include nausea, vomiting, trouble swallowing, feeling fullness in the upper-middle abdomen, and trouble eating" "The patient may also experience pain when swallowing or experiencing difficulty swallowing." ** This is what you're describing!? "Generally, when a patient complains of feeling like food is getting stuck, or they are throwing up, we immediately assume it is an anastomotic stricture. An anastomotic stricture after gastric bypass is the most common complication. "Near 60% [of patients] present a mild stricture (with a diameter between 7 and 9 mm), [with] 28% asymptomatic. This complication is easily treated by endoscopic procedure if it is diagnosed early (3 to 4 weeks) after surgery. Routine endoscopy 1 month after surgery is the only objective scientific way to determine the real true incidence of this complication." You are better off directing your concerns to your doctor just to be safe!

What kind of BCBS coverage do you have? When I had my initial sleeve surgery (and my revision an year later to bypass due to complications) I had BCBS (the highest Diamond plan) and they approved my initial surgery in 48 hours once it was submitted and 72 hours for my revision once it was submitted. I know some plans don't offer a lot of coverage, or require a thousand hoops to get an approval.

Peer to Peer BCBS also denied. Had appointment with primary care and she formulated letter in support with various reasons that stated I met all the criteria required after the peer to peer now waiting on appeal. I have hear that these tend not to go well. Looks like BCBS will avoid meeting their obligations to subscribers. I am so disappointed. I been forced to wait though out this process 1st 6 months of requirements by the Cleveland Clinic (6/4/2023 - November 29, 2023) to get Denied. Then for peer to peer (December 30, 2023) of which I have received nothing in writing about results. Just a email from Cleveland Clinic saying it was again denied. I let them know I wanted the Appeal that they submitted in January and now I will not have a result for another month 2/17/24. In the mean time still getting fatter went to annual appointment primary care 1/8/2023 and it is official BMI 41.2 with high blood pressure, joint issues and overall just not feeling well. OSU primary care wrote letter supporting me having procedure and yet BCBS still continues to make me wait. I was told decision will be available on a Saturday 2/17/2023 and that too seems a little off to me to make decision available on a Saturday. In mean time I am held hostage to this appeal process. I was told by BCBS I could yet appeal again to another outside agency if I am unhappy with their findings. This sucks and this should not be the health care insurance companies treat not just their insured clients but the hospital that support their plans. This is so out of wack. If somone qualifies for treatment by their provider (my doctors) and through the terms of my health care policy (BCBS) I should not have to go through this mountain of red tape and still yet possible be denied the care in which I pay for every month. This sucks.

Peer to Peer BCBS also denied. Had appointment with primary care and she formulated letter in support with various reasons that stated I met all the criteria required after the peer to peer now waiting on appeal. I have hear that these tend not to go well. Looks like BCBS will avoid meeting their obligations to subscribers. I am so disappointed. I been forced to wait though out this process 1st 6 months of requirements by the Cleveland Clinic (6/4/2023 - November 29, 2023) to get Denied. Then for peer to peer (December 30, 2023) of which I have received nothing in writing about results. Just a email from Cleveland Clinic saying it was again denied. I let them know I wanted the Appeal that they submitted in January and now I will not have a result for another month 2/17/24. In the mean time still getting fatter went to annual appointment primary care 1/8/2023 and it is official BMI 41.2 with high blood pressure, joint issues and overall just not feeling well. OSU primary care wrote letter supporting me having procedure and yet BCBS still continues to make me wait. I was told decision will be available on a Saturday 2/17/2023 and that too seems a little off to me to make decision available on a Saturday. In mean time I am held hostage to this appeal process. I was told by BCBS I could yet appeal again to another outside agency if I am unhappy with their findings. This sucks and this should not be the health care insurance companies treat not just their insured clients but the hospital that support their plans. This is so out of wack. If somone qualifies for treatment by their provider (my doctors) and through the terms of my health care policy (BCBS) I should not have to go through this mountain of red tape and still yet possible be denied the care in which I pay for every month. This sucks.

I'm hoping to get a revision to a bypass for gerd and sleep apnea if that is a possible. I called tricare and the lady said that they only cover 1 weight loss surgery in the lifetime or the person. Any experience with getting approved with tricare select?

I got the sleeve done in 2010, lost a hundred pounds and then had 2 babies which basically stopped my weight loss. I have gone back to the yoyo effect between 200 and 245. I'm currently 243 and just want to get the weight off. I have severe sleep apnea and gerd that wakes me up sometimes from stuff in my throat.. Has anyone who has tricare select be able to get a full bipass after getting the sleeve? I had tricare prime for the sleeve. I called and they told me that one 1 biariatric surgery is allowed. Thank you in advance!

I have to be on a liquid diet for two weeks before my bypass. I’m on day 9 and if I’m not constipated I have diarrhea! Who knew? I’m only having extra protein Slim Fast, broth, jello, water and occasionally a sugar free popsicle. I think my GI system is out of wack!

I just had bypass as a revision as well about 10 days ago. The last two morning I woke up with feeling something in my throat accompanied with sore throat feeling? But no acid taste. I really hope it’s not reflux!

I was fine after the sleeve as far as the surgical glue goes. But after my revision from the sleeve to bypass due to a lot of complications, I developed a major allergy to the glue. So when I had my hernia surgery, they had to do a lot of internal stitches, which was A LOT more painful. But overall, even though the first week or so after your revision has been rough, I promise you it WILL get better.

A little back ground with me. I had gastric sleeve 10 years ago because of my over weight issue I wasn’t getting my period and I wasn’t able to get pregnant. After the sleeve I loss total of 60 lbs, and got pregnant. The first pregnancy ended in miscarriage. I was very depressed about it. So my next 2 pregnancies I made sure I eat and gave enough nutrients for my babies. Also I didn’t keep up with the weight loss after I gave birth. Now after 10 years of the surgery I regained almost all my weight. My issue with pcos such as no having period came back… didn’t have period for like 2 years. Also have other issue like cholesterol, foot pain and Gerd. I thought about having revision for almost 3 years and I took action and had gastric bypass about a week ago. I am feeling some emotional up and down…been crying for the last few days. I feel such a failure of having to have to get the revision when the doctor gave me a chance. My surgery also didn’t go perfect. I was under the anesthesia for over 4-5 hours, (I didn’t get an exact time from the doctor when I came out from surgery. Family was inform about the equipment issue and didn’t see me untill the afternoon) because one of the equipment broke and the medical team had to wait for the replacement. I went into surgery 7am and woke up 4pm. when I woke up they had me take a walk and tried drinking sips of water. I vomited right back with 2 big chunks of clogged blood. And I tried drinking again but kept vomiting dark brown color liquid out, like old blood. ( sorry if it’s too much description) it was quite a lot of it even I didn’t drink so much water. The nurse informed the doctor and they said it’s normal and they did just literally cut my stomach. So some amount of blood is normal, but because I was under the anesthesia for so long maybe I am feeling sick from it. So they told me not to drink anything for the first day and started me on liquid the next day. The next day I was fine and went home. I felt horrible the first day and the pain in my stomach is there everywhere probably gas. The feeling after the revision surgery is completely different than how I felt the first time. I am aware it’s a bigger operation, but I just didn’t expect it to be like that. When I return home my stomach pain was still there, but eventually it did get better, but after a few days my whole stomach was so itchy, I thought the incisions were healing and that why I am feeling this way. The next day all my incisions were swollen red. BTW I had 6 big incision and 2 small needle punctures. When it got swollen, red and itchy it was at night and I waited another day and called my doctor asap in the morning. They told me I am having an allergic reaction to the dermabond. I am just feeling itchy, my incisions are raised and lumpy, it’s been over a week and I lose only 5 lbs. ( comparing to other people who loss 10-20lbs, i think to myself why am I not loss it?) and when I look at scars from the mirror I just broke down and cried. Thinking what did I do to myself…. I know I should stop being so bitter, and stop complaining. But I just feel like such a failure because I failed the first surgery, and I put myself in this journey again and things are not going so great… there are the positive side that I should look at, but I just can’t help it. *note- goal weight 150lbs pre op weight 273lbs started liquid diet 258lbs I had a stall during liquid diet for 1 week. Most people loss 10-15 lbs during liquid diet. I loss 8lbs. I followed everything my nutritionist told me and had 1 lean protein 3oz and 3 oz vegetable for lunch for 2 weeks. i w so hungry that the morning of surgery the nurse told me my blood pressure was actually very low. Surgery day 250lbs 1week post op 245lbs I don’t know what type of response I am waiting to get here. Maybe I am just venting and hoping to feel better.

I worked for almost a year toward my gastric surgery. My husband had a sleeve two years ago and everything went perfect. He feels so much better and has improved his health. But my story didn’t go as planned! I had a gastric bypass on 12/5, but I developed complications immediately. The very next day it was discovered that my small intestines had decided to close off completely. Evidently this is a super rare occurrence . I had to go into emergency surgery to remove the blockage. During the second surgery, I aspirated and my lungs filled with fluid. I developed pneumonia. I came out of that surgery on a vent! It got worse when my body went into sepsis and I developed ARDS! I ended up on that vent and medically paralyzed for 11 days! I ended up spending 21 days in the hospital with most of that being in ICU fighting to stay alive. Now, I’m home, but I’ve had to regain strength in order to walk and to use my arms and hands. It’s been a long road and still not back on my feet. It’s hard for me to look back and think this surgery was worth all I’ve been through, all my family has been through! I still can’t work or function completely independently. Has anyone had any such complications?

Have they tested you to see if you are having issues with reactive hypoglycemia? This usually kicks in 1-4 hours after a meal, but since you've had a bypass it is possible it could kick in faster for you if your food is transitioning faster. I've seen FB groups for bariatric patients that have this issue. I've noticed it often happens years out from surgery... I used to have issues with this before bariatric surgery, even on a low carb diet. Eating small meals often with fat and protein paired with your carbs is usually what they advise to treat it, along with other dietary adjustments. Personally if I don't eat every 2-3 hours, I aggressively crash energy wise. It is very pronounced. I have to carry snacks with me everywhere to prevent me going past that 3 hour mark or I look like the Energizer Bunny without his battery! LOL

I had heard about the honeymoon period at the start of it all. Didnt really think much about it at the time. But this has smacked me hard.The honey moon period is well and truly over. Reality is kicking back in. I had the RNY back in May 22. Since then I have lost 60 kg or 132 pounds. I had Covid for Christmas. I have managed depression and anxiety for decades now. In the last month my anxiety and depression have flared up something chronic and I am stuffing food into me as if I had never had the bypass. I am loathe to weigh myself and I can feel my body change again. Food addiction is real and I am terrified that I am going to regain all the weight I had lost. I dont want to be trapped in my own body again. I want my muscles to be strong. I dont want the panic attacks to dominate me again. Right now I feel distended and hopeless. Has anybody else tackled this point. I dont want to be overtaken by a Tsunami of food and shame and guilt. Who eats food off the floor? Who eats food out of a bin? I want the control back. Is it too late now that the honeymoon is over. Has anybody else tackled this time and won? Anybody? Anywhere?

So my surgery date is tomorrow! I don't know how i feel, excited and nervous at the same time , I'm having the gastric bypass, any advice welcome 😊

Hi, everyone! New to this. Just had my gastric bypass on the 17th. Struggling with the water & shake intake. And the Fusion vitamins are the worst!! I gag every time I take them. I don't know how I'm going to eat from here on out

Yeah, that sounds 100% within the normal range of early post-op calorie consumption. I am having gastric bypass in 3 weeks, and my program suggests 3 meals and 3 protein supplements per day for the first several weeks. In the beginning, the word "meal" is used very loosely. This is basically limited to yogurt, cream soup, cream of wheat, pudding, and applesauce. The expectation is you can maybe have a few bites. All the protein is coming from those 3 shakes (20-25g per shake). Calories are pretty much irrelevant, at least for now. Your entire metabolism has been rewired. If you follow what you're told to do, you will lose weight on a wide spectrum of calorie intakes. My program suggests no more than 200 calories per protein shake serving, with a limit of 5 grams of sugar and at least 20g protein each. So, if I had the recommended 3 shakes and went with the max calories, I would consume 600 calories in those daily supplements, plus another maybe 100-200 in "meals" depending how much of the yogurt/cream of wheat/pudding I manage to swallow. My shakes actually only have 90 calories each (23g protein), so during my pre-op liquid diet, I won't feel at all guilty if I drink 4 or 5 of them, or even 6 if needed. Post-op, I doubt that will be possible, but even then, I wouldn't see an issue with having that many if I could physically manage it. All of which is a longwinded way of saying you're doing fine! Congratulations!

Jan 22, now one week out and still in significant pain. I had revision sleeve to gastric bypass.

Hi I am new to this app Im 10 year plus sleeve but are waiting fir a date for mini gastric bypass

So I am almost 13 months post OP (mini gastric bypass). Posting in gastric bypass forums as mini gastric didn't seem much active. I have lost close to 162 lbs and now at 166 lbs. Achieved close to 100 % loss for my excess weight. I also have very good muscle build now due to strength training and all bones show up. But one thing is, my hunger is back. I am trying to keep meals small, like I was taking couple of months back. I eat slowly, even stop at times and then continue. No dumping syndrome or diarrhea, infant I get constipated at times. Use bathroom like once in 1 or 1.5 days. So I think I am not eating too much, as I am always scared to stretch my pouch. But unlike earlier, nowadays within 1 or 2 hours I start to feel hungry. Generally, I substitute that with a fruit, tea (milk one and green tea), make protein shake (whey and casein in night), raw tofu or low-fat cottage cheese. Earlier I could eat small meal and remain hungry for hours. But not anymore. The flipside I feel is constantly feeding every 2 hours, even with healthy options might raise insulin level that further impacts hunger hormone? I keep hydrated all the time, still but stomach growls every 2 hours. I think since I no longer have any fat reserves, and I have lot of muscle mass now which requires calories. Maybe thats the reason? What do you think? Thanks

You are welcome!! I'm one of those people that really want to know WHY I'm being told to do something. The dietitians at our practice do apply a lot of rules to everyone instead of differentiating between the surgeries, which is annoying, so I'm glad they differentiated in this respect, because type of surgery makes a big difference in a lot of things!! And yes, it is frustrating when they have a mark on a paper you are supposed to reach, but they don't take into account where you were vs where you are and the improvements you've made! Everyone's restriction is different and this is hard for a non-bariatric patient to understand. Our fullness is not like the fullness pre-op. That fullness post-op can be painful and really exhausting if we ignore it and try to push to finish something! And each person's restriction relaxes at their own rate. Some people have high restriction all the time, others it depends on the protein. 3/4 of a cup is a lot of food for any surgery a year out, but especially could be uncomfortable for a bypass because your tummies are so much smaller than even a sleeve patient. And even for those of us with sleeved stomachs, some keep high restriction permanently... I'm glad in that respect you went your own way, You are the expert of your own body, no one else can know exactly what you feel. And you are the only one who can advocate for you in that way and if the doctors and nutritionists aren't listening, you just have to research and find your own best practices... You are the one who has to live with them in the end!