Search the Community

Hello. I had both an upper endoscopy and colonoscopy done earlier today. The upper endoscopy is for the surgeon who will do the sleeve procedure. They found a hiatal hernia and I am wondering if this will effect whether or not I can have the weight loss surgery. On another note, they found three polyps during the colonoscopy which makes me a little nervous. That seems like a lot and I'm only 46. Thank you.

Yes! Check out the Plastic Surgery forum. Lots of us have had plastic surgery post weight loss surgery. I had a breast lift and augmentation, tummy tuck with muscle repair, and arm lift in January. Here are my before & after pics. Absolutely no regrets. WLS was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and I’m loving my PS results too.

Hi sammygirl111, I still have more to lose but can already see that my arms and legs will need skin removal. My stomach isn’t too bad yet but it may get there with continued weight loss. Even so, no regrets, it’s been completely worth it for me.

Gerd. No issues with my sleeve stretching and I was able to maintain my weight loss. It was just severe uncontrollable GERD.

rate of weight loss depends on so many factors, many of which you have little or no control over (like age, gender, starting BMI, metabolic rate, genetics...). The two factors you DO have a lot of control over are your activity level and your level of commitment to your food plan, so if you're good with those and your overall weight trend is downward, you're good. I lost 16 lbs the first month, and I started out at over 300 lbs. I don't know you're starting BMI, but based on your profile picture, I'd guess that you started at a much lower BMI than I did. you don't necessarily need to exercise to lose weight, although it does help a bit (and of course it's great for your health). But being tired all the time is a common problem the first month or two after surgery. I do know people who rarely/never exercised after surgery and ended up losing a lot of weight regardless, so it's not really necessary to lose weight. Just do it when you can and stick to your clinic's plan and the weight WILL come off, whether fast or slow.

As far as weight loss goes I constantly struggled to keep myself under 175 with the sleeve and I was only eating around 1000-1200 calories a day. I lost 131 lbs with sleeve and I stuck to the plan that first year. I revised because of GERD weighing in at 180 in 5/2020 I lost an additional 28 lbs and my weight is stable for once !!!! The best part about this bypass so far is my weight is stable and I dont struggle to stay at this weight which is 13lbs less then I got with VSG. Good luck to you.

It’s what I do now. My stylist commented on how thick my hair had become. I’m getting PRP treatments for thinning around the edges. My derm also suggested a lot of greens and exercise. Good luck!

Hi there! I'm an RN and having a revision surgery (sleeve to RNY). I'm currently being seen at the UCSD bariatric dept but have had nothing but problems with them. I had insurance approval, but without explanation they literally refused to let me make an appointment for almost 6 months. I finally called them and said that I've been getting railroaded for 6 months and that I wanted to speak to someone who could actually help me. That worked and I got an appointment, but not until after they told me that my original approval had expired and that I needed to get another one from my primary doc!!! Anyhow, I've been through the entire pre-op process and weekly classes etc. a few times. Once when I was considering a lap-band. Once with my ex-husband, and the third time when I had my sleeve. Needless to say, I know what to ask and was very upfront and direct with my doctor. He ended up lying to me about the pre-op weight loss requirements at every single visit (3 in total), and then refused to refer me to the surgeon (When I saw him 6 weeks prior he said that he would write the order to see the surgeon). And no, I didn't gain weight. Lol... I'm just curious if anyone else has had a negative experience with UCSD and if you were able to get it resolved? When I asked for a different doctor I was refused, but after I put in a formal written complaint they decided to let me see a different doctor. In the meantime, my insurance has approved another bariatric group and surgeon. Yay! Hopefully my experience with UCSD is just an anomaly.

Hey all! My surgery was on 5/12. I can hardly believe it hasn't even been 3 months yet. I've had good days and bad, and feel like they've all been great learning experiences (today's a good day though... ask me tomorrow, hah) Until recently many foods - even the sight of them - would make me feel nauseous. Tastes and textures I'd loved seemed foreign. I've come to understand that happens with a percentage of people who've had weight loss surgery. I feel like it is improving and my diet is as well. I know this is the "honeymoon" phase of WLS, and the real challenge for me will be maintaining good eating habits, but I'm thrilled with the weight loss and am having fun shopping in my closet I'm down 51 lbs since starting my pre-op diet in April and 36 since surgery. Cheers to all you amazing results! It is always inspiring and informative checking in with you all.

Good luck on your revision. If I had known what I know now, back then, I would have gone straight to bypass. Both the lap band and sleeve gave me many issues. Weight loss was good but the band cause esophagus issues so I had to switch to sleeve. Weight gain of course, when they removed the fluid for months to heal... And now the sleeve caused severe GERD and now I am revising to bypass. Sent from my SM-N986U using BariatricPal mobile app

46 year old male here, 13 months post op. BMI was just over 40, now it’s under 25. Starting weight 334, currently 195. Short answer: I wish I did this years ago, it’s been stupid easy for me. 1) It depends. I had no problem drinking water right away. Cold water bothered me for a few weeks but room temp water was fine. I was a chugger and drink in my sleep, I was worried about this but I’ve adjusted. I know exactly how many mini sips I can take (8) in a row and do it instinctively. 2) I’m a year post op and I haven’t thrown up. I’ve been close I think. Twice I ate way too fast without thinking. I said I’d never do it again after the first time…. and the second. Never had nausea or “x food doesn’t agree with me.” I can literally eat anything I used to with no difference in taste, smell or tolerances. Just less. Much much less. 3) I was given a giant antibiotic pill in the hospital right after my surgery. It was an inch long and thicker than a pencil. It caused no issues (took one each day for ten days). I also had no problem taking my regular BP meds, which now I no longer need anyway. 4) possibly. I probably had a two weeks or so after where I felt just tired but very shortly after my energy levels went way way up and I feel like I can work harder and longer each day. I haven’t had this much energy since I was a kid, and my calorie count is still around 1000-1500 a day depending on what I eat. 5) I’ve never dumped and now that I’m trying to find my maintenance calorie levels I’ve been eating high calorie foods (to keep volume minimal) without issue (peanut M&Ms). 6) I never had heartburn in my life. Until after surgery. They put me on… omeprazle or something like that… right in the hospital. It’s a PPI and I stopped taking it after a couple weeks (I’ve never had heartburn, didn’t after surgery so why keep taking it?) I got heartburn!! It sucked, I was scared, omg my first negative side effect!! so I took it again and it went away. When I stopped taking it it came back… so I took it again. Turns out it can have a rebound effect for some people. Once I read about that I just stopped it altogether and the heartburn went away after about five days or so and I haven’t had a single reoccurrence since. Am I unusual because I’ve had a really easy go of this? I don’t know. I know there ARE others out there who have also said it was easy. I do know is this (and I’ve said this before… sorry for repeating to those who have read my previous posts)… this forum is a wonderful resource for people to get info pre op, and to get help post op. That second part is a blessing and a curse. It’s easy to read all these posts where people having issues are trying to find help…. and to get a false impression of how frequently serious problems arise. Not too many people create a new thread to say “hey I’ve had no problems, this was so easy and I’ve been wildly successful beyond my even most optimistic goals… ok carry on.” But we are out there. Most people who fall into this category are probably just out in the wild, living their best life, this forum not anything they think about because they don’t need it. I’m sticking around to make sure people in your situation know that we’re out here. It can be easy, problem free, life changing, exciting, etc. On the flip side my wife also had the sleeve and has had a hell of a time. No problems from the procedure, no gerd or vomiting… just near zero weight loss but you can read my other posts for the specifics. Then there are those who do have medical issues from this, do have problems of all sorts of things. They’re real and I’m so sorry for them, and they do need this forum for advice and comfort and just to vent. I am in no way knocking them for doing what they have to do, but their collective voice is much louder then people like me and it skews perception. No one can tell you where on the spectrum you’ll land. If you take it seriously, know that it’s a just a tool to help you lose weight, make better choices, and are ok with the idea that you may have some ups and downs to cope with, you’re off to a great start. Me? I’d do this 100 times over just to feel the way I do today. I wish you the best. No matter what you decide. From a purely statistical point of view problems from being obese far outweigh problems related to getting sleeved. And unfortunately with statistics there are the outliers. But it isn’t a coin flip.

I will forever and always stick by the LLysine and iron study (I lost very minimal hair)

Thanks. Do you have any experience with this? Do you know if it (PRP) is a long-term solution or will the procedure need to be done again in the future? It's so strange, and so sad, how much hair I have lost and I am very nervous about losing more after the surgery. The texture has also changed. It's a little frizzy and coarse. Thank you again for replying.

Surgery Status: Post Op - surgery July 14th, 2021 Phase: 1 week post op as of yesterday! Recovering well so Dr said I could move on to soft foods 😊 Highest known weight: 218 Starting weight: 214 Current Weight: 193.2 Inch loss: I’m actually waiting for a new tape measurer because somehow the current one is telling me I gained more than when I was 218. Makes no sense . NSV: It’s only been a week so I haven’t noticed much yet. I will say on FaceTime calls and photos my face looks much slimmer and family has asked if I’m losing weight cause I look slimmer. Good luck Everyone!!

Surgery Status: 2 weeks post op (13th July surgery date) Phase: Post-Op: 2 weeks into a 4 week full liquid phase Highest Known weight: 213lbs Starting weight: 210lbs Surgery weight: 200lbs  Current Weight: 192lbs Inch Loss: haven’t checked, still very swollen around the tummy 😞 NSV: people have mentioned my face looks slimmer and my acne has almost disappeared 👍🏻

Update: I'm now down 36 pounds on the liver reduction diet. I am actually a bit stricter than that. After reading several books about Food Addiction I concluded it was true for me. I'm not binger, but I do "graze". Therefore I am on an abstinence diet, which they say is the only way to overcome addictions. I abstain from all sugar, wheat flour and processed food. After about two weeks, I no longer had any cravings. My calorie intake has dropped from 1200 kcal to 1000 or less without intention. It just happened when I no longer felt the urge to graze between meals. I record everything I eat on the Baritastics app. My nutritianist OK'd me for surgery, and so did the psychologist. I hoped to get a surgery date in August. Then 10 days ago I had bad fall and fractured my right arm. It is a non-displaced compression fx at the shoulder. No surgery or cast, but I must wear a sling for 8-10 weeks. I can't continue aquatic exercises or use the machines at the YMCA, and my knees hurt too much for walking {although I am trying.} The orthopedic doctor says I must postpone surgery until I can use the arm to lift myself. I am aiming for September or October. In the meantime, I will continue with the abstention diet. Food Junkies: Recovery from Food Addiction by Vera Tarman Weight Loss Surgery Does NOT Treat Food Addiction by Connie Stapleton Bright Line Eating: The Science of Living Happy, Thin and Free by Susan Peirce Thompson A Pound of Cure, Change Your Eating and Your Life, One Step at a Time by Matthew Weiner The Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients 3rd Edition by Colleen Cook

Surgery - July 4th phase - 2 1/2 weeks post op highest known weight 112.5kg starting weight 112.5kg current weight 103.4kg inch loss 20ins NSV nothing yet

Surgery Status: 1 week Post Op Today (surgery July 15). Feeling good, on Full liquids Phase: Post-Op: Phase 2: Full Liquids Highest Known weight: 283 lbs Starting weight: 245 Surgery weight: 223 Current Weight: 214.2 Inch Loss: Haven't taken measurements but will start now. NSV: wearing shorts today that I could not even zip up prior to surgery '

Hey, July Surgery People! For those that want to share-Let's do a stats check! ✔📉⚖ How is your progress going? (NSV, inch loss, weight loss, pre or post op, phase.) Good luck everyone! Hope things are going well for you! I can't wait to see everyone's updates! 😊 _________________ Surgery Status: Pre Op VSG (July 26th) Phase: pre op diet week 2 Highest known weight: 291 Starting weight: 280 Current Weight: 271.7 Inch loss: (doing once a month, so I don't know loss yet) NSV: not much yet, but some clothes seem a little more comfortable

Hello everyone. I am in the pre-op stage and am already experiencing hair loss. I'm 46, without a thyroid, but all thyroid hormones are within range. My question is, what kind of hair restoration services are out there??? Can anyone speak from experience? I know that I am going to lose more hair post-surgery and I am terrified. Thank you.

how did you find the surgery, did your hair fall out? i'm worried about after the surgery and how i will handle food after

Hi I am 3 months post op, and I have lost 36lbs. I started at 245. I’ve been feeling discouraged with the weight loss after I had one month stall, but it’s started coming off again. I run 30 Min four to five times a week. I eat 1000 calories daily. Protein intake is 70-80 grams daily. I hope things work out for us ladies and maybe it’s just a waiting game now :) we didn’t put the weight on over night :)

My out of the blue suggestion would be to return to your post-op nutritional plan as generally they are intended to be 'Forever.' So, when you slide away from the plan and suffer the consequences, it makes sense to return to the plan that resulted in positive results post-op as long as we stuck to it. Don't fall back on the old ideas of returning to diet after diet trying to lose the excess weight that may have been regained. Rather the WLS you had allows you to return to the new lifestyle eating plan you learned and followed post-op. You've done it before. Don't expect the same results you enjoyed in the first few months post-op. Return to the plan and stick with it through the slow but consistent weight loss you will achieve. Stick with it after you've succeeded. Good luck, Tek

What have you tried so far? My suggestion would be calorie counting, there are lots of apps which will calculate your daily calorie allowance for weight loss, you could track for two or three months see how you go. If you don't fancy calorie counting maybe check in with a dietician. Other than that there is weight loss revision surgery once you've given some of the options a go, if you are inclined towards a revision.

I'd call the company and ask. Even if that insurance company covers more than one weight loss surgery per lifetime (and some don't...), your employer may not have wanted that coverage included in the policy they offer their employees. Also, even when places approve revisions, some of them will only approve them if there's a medical reason for it - something like severe GERD or some kind of malfunction. But I'd ask - you never know.