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Hi all, I am writing this for the >1% of gastric bypass patients who have the unusual complications that I had and, like me, couldn't find any information about it online to ease your mind. I had my gastric bypass surgery on September 7, 2022. I chose gastric bypass over the gastric sleeve specifically after months of research because of the higher rate of successful weight loss, particularly in women. My first week post-op went great, but after day 8 or 9 when I tried progressing my food intake from full-liquids to pureed foods I began vomiting and feeling really nauseous at every meal. I let my surgeon and dietitian know immediately and stepped my food intake back down to full-liquids. Pretty soon, I couldn't even take in full-liquids and was limited to hydrating fluids and chicken broth. I could keep down hydrating fluids and broth about 80% of the time, full-liquids 50% of the time, and everything else came back up. My surgeon was very responsive and had me get an endoscopy. Under general anesthesia, the endoscopy explored my new stomach pouch and roux limb connections that make up my new tummy system. Typically, gastric bypasses can result in constriction of the connection between the stomach pouch and roux limb, and my gastroenterologist was prepared to use a balloon to inflate the area to ease that restriction. In my case, however, that area looked fine, but further down the roux limb there was a stricture that was almost impassable for the narrow scope. This is what was causing my problem. I had an external compression on my roux limb that was making it impossible for anything more viscous than water to pass through. My layman's understanding of what had happened is that my surgeon brought my small intestine / roux limb up to meet my new stomach pouch through the transverse mesocolon. This involved cutting a hole through the transverse mesocolon to put the roux limb through and then stitching it up a little on either side to make sure nothing else will slip through the hole and cause a hernia. Apparently, this is typically sufficient and there is space enough in the hole in the mesocolon for scar tissue to form but still allow the roux limb to operate appropriately. Not in my case! xD My body and over-active immune system saw a hole and decided that hole must. be. fixed! The scar tissue that formed to close the hole closed tight enough on the roux limb and it was tight enough that barely anything could get through. I had a second laparoscopic surgery on October 12, 2022 to remove the scar tissue and loosen the compression on the roux limb. My surgeon decided to remove the small stitches on either side of the hole in the transverse mesocolon to reduce the chance that any new scar tissue will close the hole up as completely again. Immediately after this second laparoscopic surgery, I felt tons better! I stayed overnight in the hospital and was put straight on full-liquids, which I was barely tolerating before! The reason I am writing all of this out is because, in the month-long interim between surgeries, I couldn't find anything in my online research to figure out what was wrong, or what I could try, or what the next steps looked like, or how long, or why this was happening. I went for more than a month on little to no substantial nutrition, and I found so little information on what to expect or how long I would have to live like this. I even looked in these forums to see if anyone had asked about symptoms that are similar to mine and I didn't find very much information. So, I'm writing about my experience and using as many of the keywords I can think of that I've been searching for over the past two months! So! If you had gastric bypass and you start experiencing nausea and vomiting after what seems like typical food progression, please speak to your surgeon. It could be an internal stricture of the roux limb or the connecting bits, or in my case an external compression of some sort. From the very few resources I could find online, my type of external compression of transverse mesocolon on the roux limb seemed to occur in 0.9% of gastric bypass patients and it seems to happen within the first month. My surgeon pretty much immediately knew what was wrong, and her PA said she had seen it before, but not often, and it was new for my insurance caseworker. The inability to eat made it very difficult to complete normal daily tasks like my job, housework, walking the dog, etc. I wasn't in pain, I just couldn't get enough energy to do anything! My doctors moved quickly to get me back in for surgery, but it still took 4-5 weeks from starting to vomit at each meal to waking up from my second surgery feeling much better. I am so thankful that my surgeon was able to fix what was wrong with the scar tissue compressing around the roux limb; it made a world of difference! I'm not out of the woods quite yet, however. Six days after the surgery to repair the hole in the transverse mesocolon, I had a bad food day and nothing stayed down. I immediately reached out to my surgeon's office and today went in for an upper GI in which I intake contrast dye while a doctor observes how it flows through my new gastrointestinal system with an X-ray. That doctor said it looks like the connection between my stomach pouch and roux limb looks stenosed now. I am grateful that they found something and that there is an explanation for why everything I put in my mouth makes me nauseous and that there's a reason why I don't want to eat anything. I will be having another endoscopy in the following couple of weeks and, as ever, I am hopeful that this will be the last surgery that I need for my gastric bypass.

Stalls are the worst. Frustrating & demoralising but also a perfectly normal occurrence. You lost a lot of weight in the first two weeks, your body is likely playing catch-up. Maybe check in with your dietician to review your diet & portion sizes. Also ask for recipe ideas. What carbs are you eating? I was allowed rolled oats from purée but apart from the carbs in dairy, legumes & other vegetables I ate no other carbs: no bread, no rice no pasta. But I ate so little of them it wasn’t a lot of carbs at all. If eat your protein first & then vegetables it’s unlikely you’d be able to eat anything else. While some plans do encourage people to reach 1200 calories quickly, 7 weeks seems too quickly. But check with your team.

@Melissa56 - me too I only really have to do two days of liquids but I decided to start on the first because I have a friend who did the surgery and she said that it helped her to do it a week before.

I have almost the exact same stats- started at 240, now at 175 a year later. Still losing very slowly - less than a pound a month. While I’m not unhappy with where I’m at, I did hope to lose a little more. And my surgery team would like to see me at a bit lower bmi. At my one year appt Tuesday, they gave me a sample of Mounjaro to try. I am surprised at how much appetite suppression it gives- I feel like the first weeks after surgery, when eating was a chore. I’m pretty sure this is going to kick start the process all over and I would not be surprised to see it become a standard adjunct in bariatric practices as we get further out, stall, slow or regain.

Hello, I am scheduled for ESG on Monday and I'm getting nervous. I previously had VSG about 8 years ago and have regained about half of what I lost....Anyways, I am so nervous for the two weeks of the liquid diet and feeling hungry through that time. Did you guys experience hunger? I'll get shaky and a little hypoglycemic so I'm dreading this part. Also, did you have to sleep sitting up and any restrictions with stairs, etc? It gives me comfort to read your experiences and am thankful to have this platform to ask questions on! Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

Three c sections and a lap chole here. VSG by far the easiest recovery.

Looks good! I eat bananas once every few months. But when I do it usually all in the same week (because no one else wants bananas all of a sudden)

Hi! I am having my bypass on 11/4. Very nervous & very excited. Looking forward to a new, healthier life. I am one week into my liquid pre-op diet, and I have to admit, I am struggling. Food that I don't even like is looking real appetizing right now! Lol

My nutritional plan has "moderate" carbs, but I am nevertheless in deep maroon keto at three weeks post-op. I was curious, so I bought some keto sticks (cheap ones, $8 at Walmart). I think the low calories we consume, even if they include carbs, just aren't enough to cover what we burn daily. So the body starts using fat for fuel. If I can help this process along by eating less carbs, that's what I plan to do!

snack (or second dinner? lol) im on an oatmeal love-fest these days after having it for the first time in YEARS last week! another first: eating raw bananas. i've had banana bread, cooked banana desserts, but i haven't had an actual as-is banana since before surgery four years ago. verdict: its kinda filling and im afraid the amount i ate, combined with the brown sugar i added to the oatmeal, may be enough to send me on a minor dumping episode shortly. oh well. 331 calories for the bowl, i ate pretty much all the oatmeal, and about 1/2 the banana. given the way im feeling now, bananas are off the menu again.

Part of it, besides being in a stall, is that you're eating too many carbs. That's definitely something you have to watch. Stick to the diet very closely, make sure you're exercising, drink plenty of fluids, and the stall will break. They happen a lot, and they suck. But you GOTTA watch the carbs.

Yup... You will be in a stall multiple times throughout this journey. They can last from a few days to a month or more. My 3rd month stall lasted 3 weeks. My 5 month stall lasted 1 month. Its annoying. Just keep eating how you are suppose to, and stick to the program.

Hi all! Wondering wondering if anyone else has gone through this. I had surgery in September on the 15th I lost 20 lb immediately the first two weeks now I'm on week 7 and have not lost any more weight still just the 20 lb from the first two weeks. I am getting enough protein but am having a hard time not getting in too many carbs with it too I don't like protein shakes and I am lucky enough that nothing I've tried so far has irritated my stomach so I can eat anything. I stay away from greasy and high fatty foods and pop and sugar. But I am still getting around 700 to 1200 calories per day I walk like 30 minutes per day if not more. But I am not losing anything. I am so nervous or should I say worried that because I can eat anything I won't be losing any more weight any ideas from any of you? Anyone else have this long of a stall this soon after surgery ? Sent from my SM-G991B using BariatricPal mobile app

It's only been about 3 weeks for me, but the swelling in my hands and feet has really gone down. It's inflammation from early arthritis. To my utter delight, I was able to wear my late mother's favorite ring today! I got a little teary-eyed when I realized it fit again. (And now I am getting a little teary-eyed just typing this...sorry.)

Well right now there isn’t much to be jealous about. I’m grounded to the recliner for 3 weeks and walking around like I am a 90 year old woman!! But it will be worth it in the end.

Hi, I’m going have my surgery in less than two weeks November 7 - looking for a few pals with the same surgery date or month. I’m going to have the bypass.

Hang in there girl. You're almost there! I'm 3 weeks post op and things are looking up. I'm still on a pureed diet, but still really not that hungry anyway. This too shall pass 💜

Thank you. I will check with the diet team just emailed them. They told me to stay away from carbs, but I feel like I’m running on fumes. It’s even hard to focus at work. That surge of energy around week 2/3 from surgery is definitely gone. Thank you for the input ❤️

So sorry that your exhaustion is so bad. The only thing I can tell you is what my dietitian told me and he said to eat at least 30g of carbs per meal and that would help with energy levels. I wasn't having energy issues and I'm still not eating that many carbs but if you are eating low carb, then maybe try increasing your carbs and see if it does give you energy. Also I don't know if your calories are too low or if you are doing too much exercise. adjusting those types of things might help. Hopefully your team has some better ideas next week, good luck!

Hi everyone/ I need everyone’s tips regarding beating exhaustion. I’m at my wits end. I cried earlier… I am taking in about 70-90g of protein. Not making 64 oz of water yet but getting there- probably average 50 or so which doc said was fine. I’m taking the vitamins. And this week has just been brutal. I’m 5 weeks post surgery and I just can barely keep my eyes open even though I’m sleeping 7-8 hrs a night. I have my next appointment next week but I am just literally on the verge of exhaustion and don’t know what to do in the meantime. Pls tell me this is normal and I’m not the only one.

With stage three are you counting clear protein drinks as fluids, for fluid intake? I was told protein supliments don't count as fluid anymore and I am finding that getting my fluids in is super hard without my isopure made with water and the clear drinks. Scared but excited.

It does sound like an endocrinologist is the place to go. A few years ago in the Rabkin/Keshishian group in Ventura there was some discussion about such things and there was an endo down there who was DS knowledgeable that several patients had seen. There was a discussion about osteoporosis, calcium, etc. a couple of weeks ago on Rabkin's monthly Zoom meeting, so that would also be a place to check out to get some general knowledge on these topics, and certainly a consult with the doc can zero in on specifics. From your other thread, it does seem like Prolia is the treatment of choice today - my wife (DS class of 2005) is on that and it seems to help.

I've had a c-section, a very large ovarian cyst removed, and various other abdominal procedures in addition to VSG. VSG was hands down the easiest and least painful recovery. The first few days the gas pain was pretty uncomfortable, then it sort of turned into general abdominal soreness, then it was just when I moved funny or did too much. By week 2 I really didn't have any pain at all. Of course, this varies WIDELY from person to person, but for me it really was not terribly painful.

I am wondering about reading this here since my university professor of philosophy has said nearly the same this week. It is not about acceptance of being fat but about accepting being yourself, no matter what makes you different from others. And this idea encourages me indeed to cope easier with bullying and harsh words. Additionally, https://studyhippo.com/essay-examples/bullying/ helps in the struggle with bullying at the school or university and supports the self-acceptance process. So, Allen, it could help your best friend and offer good essay examples of motivation and support.

Well I guess there is always gonna be some risk short of putting you and your team in isolation for weeks before the surgery but cutting your exposure lessened the risk quite a bit. I am guessing that’s the point. It’s Interesting to see what the precautions are for COVID for the different parts of the world. I didn’t even have a COVID test. And I was told I didn’t need a mask in my hospital room either. I wore one cause I didn’t want to do COVID while recovering from surgery but that was my choice. Everyone else wore one so I was probably just fine realistically but It made me feel better.