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Sleevers are already losing the weight much quicker than regular dieting. Plus, the faster you lose the more loose skin you have when you're done. Malabsorption is neat in that it helps people lose weight, but you also lose a significant part of your intestines that help you absorb important Vitamins. That means you will likely have to increase the number of supplements you take. It's a personal decision, and RNY may be right for some people, but I guess the big points for me were: 1. No intestinal rerouting with VSG 2. Decreased ghrelin production - no hunger makes things a lot different 3. Generally no dumping with VSG - this sounds like it would make me miserable at work/school 4. Intact pyloric sphincter - this takes away the risk of stoma stricture/dilation 5. Fewer long term food/medicine restrictions 6. Delayed reactive hypoglycemia in RNY patients - scares me! 7. Losing weight fast can mean looking unhealthy even though you're skinny - someone called them "fat skinny people" on a thread the other day, which seemed to fit. People who lose weight but a lot of it is muscle, not necessarily the healthiest thing. I guess #1 is the biggest for me. Apparently I'm okay with the doctor taking out the majority of my stomach, but I really don't want them touching my intestines (Is that silly? =p). Maybe make a list of pros and cons for each and see how you feel about it after you lay out your options? You are not forced to have the surgery on the date you're scheduled if you are not sure/aren't ready. If you need to, give it some time. Maybe it is just nerves - I was scared as crap before the surgery and second guessed myself on and off, and now that I'm post-op, I'm really happy I did it. Feel better!

Hello, November peeps! How are you all doing? I'm frustrated and struggling. I've been stuck at 69 lbs down for 3 weeks. I've only lost 5 in the past 6 weeks. I know it's partly my fault because I've not been faithful go my diet. I can do good while at work during the day, but the evenings are my worse times of temptation. Now my thyroid is fluctuating from hyper to hypo and the doctor is trying to adjust my Synthroid dosage. I've been tearful, moody, had horrible hair loss, and tired. I'm sure it's a mix of thyroid trouble and changes overall. I've found that I don't always get sick after eating poorly, which I wish I'd never found out. I need to get my rear in gear and get back to the gym. I had some pretty bad center abdominal pain twice last week and I called my surgeon's office. The oncall doctor suggested possible hernia and to see my surgeon. I'm honestly embarrassed to go in without losing more weight first. Aahh! I'm babbling, what thoughts do y'all have? Thanks!

Thank you everyone,yes I will keep you updated. My body is in constant overdrive and I have been on bp meds for years. I am hoping to get off of them but I guess not until I get my thyroid levels stabilized. I used to wake up with extreme night sweats but it has been better, but I'm always hot. I'm concerned about going hypo if I get on meds or gaining weight back and they have run all kinds on tests on me. They did a mri to check my pituitary gland, checked me for nodules, checked me for graves (though graves unfortunately does run in my family) and so far it's all been negative. Don't know what's causing the extra low tsh.

Thanks, your reply definitely gave me some reassurance. We are really similar when it come down to losing weight while having hypo or PCOS. That was actually one the main reasons why I wanted to get the sleeve, because I knew I wouldn't be able to lose the amount of weight i need to, to be considered ''normal'' bmi. Thanks!

Whenever I go to see the surgeon's office, even though I am 27 months post-op, the word obesity appears on the forms. This threw me for a loop because I am no longer obese. It dawned on me that this is all about insurance. They have to code my visit for insurance billing purposes and since I had WLS, this is the best coding they can use. I was wondering about your hypoglycemia. There is one form that is tied to meals which is called reactive hypoglycemia. Reactive hypoglycemia (postprandial hypoglycemia) is low blood sugar that occurs after a meal — usually within four hours after eating. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) usually occurs while fasting. Signs and symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia may include hunger, weakness, shakiness, sleepiness, sweating, lightheadedness, anxiety and confusion. Someone told me that it is like a spike in blood sugar followed by a crash. If this is the type you have then you have a bit of control because you can time your meals.

Hi; I have not read about this topic on here and so I thought I would share my latest health issue. I found this article on it and thought others might find it interesting because it does happen to WLS patients more then you think! What is reactive hypoglycemia? After bariatric surgery you may experience reactive hypoglycemia: • Hypoglycemia means low blood sugar • Reactive hypoglycemia is having low blood sugar after eating a meal or snack This may happen after eating foods that are high in sugar or simple carbohydrates. It is thought to be related to dumping syndrome. How do I know if I have reactive hypoglycemia? You have reactive hypoglycemia if you have: • any symptoms listed below a few hours after having a meal or snack and • these symptoms go away after eating or drinking What are the symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia? You may feel one or more of these: • hungry • sweaty • shaky • anxious • dizzy • weak • sleepy • confused What should I do if I think I have reactive hypoglycemia after having a meal or snack? Having low blood sugar is not good for your overall health and can be life-threatening. • If you think you have reactive hypoglycemia, check your blood sugar. • If your blood sugar is less than 4 mmol/L, you need to treat it to bring your sugar above 4 mmol/LWhat is reactive hypoglycemia? After bariatric surgery you may experience reactive hypoglycemia: • Hypoglycemia means low blood sugar • Reactive hypoglycemia is having low blood sugar after eating a meal or snack This may happen after eating foods that are high in sugar or simple carbohydrates. It is thought to be related to dumping syndrome. How do I know if I have reactive hypoglycemia? You have reactive hypoglycemia if you have: • any symptoms listed below a few hours after having a meal or snack and • these symptoms go away after eating or drinking What are the symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia? You may feel one or more of these: • hungry • sweaty • shaky • anxious • dizzy • weak • sleepy • confused What should I do if I think I have reactive hypoglycemia after having a meal or snack? Having low blood sugar is not good for your overall health and can be life-threatening. • If you think you have reactive hypoglycemia, check your blood sugar. • If your blood sugar is less than 4 mmol/L, you need to treat it to bring your sugar above 4 mmol/L. Follow the steps on the next page. If you do not have a meter, talk to your family doctor, health care provider or the diabetes educator in the Bariatric Clinic to get a meter. When your blood sugar is less than 4 mmol/L: 1. Take 15 grams of a fast acting carbohydrate right away. This will raise your blood sugar quickly. Examples of fast acting carbohydrate include: • Chewing 3 to 4 dextrose or glucose tablets (read the label) or • Drinking ¾ cup (175 ml) of juice 2. Wait 15 minutes and check your blood sugar again. 3. If your blood sugar is still below 4 mmol/L treat again with one of the fast acting carbohydrates listed above. 4. Repeat these steps until your blood sugar is above 4 mmol/L. 5. If your next meal or snack is more than 1 hour away, you need to have a snack that contains carbohydrate and Protein that fits into the stage of diet you are at. Examples of Snacks are listed on the last page. You may feel like eating sweet foods like Cookies, cake and candy. Even though these foods are high in sugar and can raise your blood sugar, your blood sugar will go too high too fast which is not safe. This can then lead to another low blood sugar because too much insulin is released. How can I prevent reactive hypoglycemia? You can help prevent reactive hypoglycemia by following your diet guidelines for bariatric surgery. • eat 3 healthy meals and 2 healthy snacks each day • space meals and snacks 2 to 3 hours apart • eat protein at each meal and snack time • avoid skipping meals andsnacks • avoid or limit alcohol depending on what stage of diet your are at • avoid or limit caffeine depending on what stage of diet your are at • avoid sweets like cookies, cakes, candy, pop, juice and sweet drinks Instead of sugars and simple carbohydrates, eat complex carbohydrates because they release less sugar over a longer period of time. Having a complex carbohydrate with protein will slow this release even more. Try putting any of these together when they fit the stage of bariatric diet you are at: Complex Carbohydrates • whole wheat crackers • whole wheat bread • whole wheat pita • whole grain rice • potatoes • cereal Protein • nuts • cheese • meat • lentils • peanut butter • eggs • yogurt Here are some snack ideas to have after treating a low blood sugar: • crackers and cheese • pita and hummus • nuts and yogurt • melba toast and Peanut Butter

It expands your stomach and since we have little room it can cause some serious issues. Also it is a big red flag as there is no nutritional value to it at all and pushes the need for artificial sugars or the refined sugar to the extreme. My nut told me that if she sees a patient who drinks soda of any kind it means they are doomed. I took that seriously. I do not drink soda of any kind. Others can handle it. Me nope, and now that I have hypoglycemia (reactive) It is no longer even a thought.

Thank you all for the kind words. I generally try to avoid being reactive and angry on these kinds of threads, but I know I was a little extra raw here. This week....wasn't my best week. Has been a bit stressful. Sorry how much that showed. In addition to the car impound/salvage yard/doctor appointments added to my schedule, I'm also taking the kiddo to and from work.....and have my inlaws as house guests for the next two weeks. (grateful to be sharing a few days with other family and friends).....and trying to find and purchase another kid car. It's a lot. On the plus side, I'm averaging about 18,000 steps a day between cleaning and chasing a million errands...and now, entertaining family, cooking, doing activities, etc. Have my period now, but am bound to have a nice weight loss at the end. That's way too much information. But yeah....this whole mess should be helpful on the scale. I'm exhausted. I'd take tomorrow off....except that it's kiddo's birthday, and her new roommate at college is ALSO coming for a visit and plans to stay the night tomorrow. And all these visitors would have been great if not for having my prep time grossly cut by the tree accident. Hubby is chipping in, but has crazy unexpected issues at work to deal with, too. It's just been nuts. Won't say I'm sorry about how I feel.....but I will say I'm sorry about my lack of tact and extreme reaction. Was extremely honest, but perhaps not my finest moment.

there are different kinds of hypoglycemia. the only way to know what kind you have is to get a monitor and start checking your BGL and see how food and eating and not eating is affecting you. you might just need to adjust how and when you are eating, you may have reactive hypoglycemia, or something else. the only way to know is to track and get info.

Yes it is called reactive Hypoglycemia. If this is true then it certainly would make me feel a little better, somewhat, maybe. I have to say though. I really really hate that word!

Thanks so much. I do plan to do exactly what the Dr tells me to do. I really need to do this. I was scheduled to do surgery in 2008 and at the last minute my thyroid test came back Hyperthyroid. I had been having issues with my heart rate and BP going up but not much weight loss. The Drs couldn't believe I had Hyper thyroidism (Graves Disease) and not hypo since I was a big girl. I had to have it ablated with radiation and now I'm on meds the rest of my life for HYPO thyroidism. After having it ablated, I gained another 50 pounds. I'm devastated by the weight gain and I just can't lose on my own. This really is my last option. I keep praying for GOD's guidance and I have to have faith that whatever happens God is in control. Thank you for your comments. It helps alot.

I saw this and I couldn't stop laughing. Though, my thyroid has issues with not producing ENOUGH, so maybe there was a coup d'etat my body failed to let me in on. ETA: Oh wait, I found the one about Hypo! -- It cracks me up just as much.

Have you had any medical evaluation of your GERD other than just what you are feeling - an upper GI or endoscopy to see whats going on in there to cause it? Self diagnosis is not a good start toward a revision. The VSG has a predisposition toward GERD owing to the stomach volume being cut down much more than the acid production potential along with its high pressure character (much like the RNY is predisposed toward marginal ulcers, dumping and reactive hypoglycemia owing to its specific quirks.) If your GERD is a simple result of the above VSG factors, then revising to a DS won't help the situation; an RNY is the more typical solution. However, if your GERD is caused by a hiatal hernia or a malformed sleeve (strictures and the like) then it is not unreasonable for surgery to correct that particular problem will do the trick; a DS in itself will not do anything for GERD as it will use your existing VSG as a starting point - a re-sleeve may be done at the same time depending upon need. Revising to the DS will help some with losing some regain but mostly will help avoid future regain, but revisions in general are typically only marginally successful in treating regain. I can't speak for your specific insurance, but generally insurance will cover any medically necessary revisions for treating complications.

I was diagnosed hypo back in 2014 when my daughter turned 3 months old. I haven’t had my 100mcg of Levo since surgery 11/16/20. I struggled to eat and drink for the first 6 weeks or so, and adding ground up pills was even worse. It made me so sick. So when i asked my doctor for a thyroid panel around 9w post op (since my surgeon didn’t) they discovered that i most likely have hashimoto’s. I had an ultrasound done and it showed that i was riddled with nodules, goiters on both sides, and possibly an adenemoa on my left side. I’m finally seeing an endocrinologist but it will be the end of March before i get in. We are limited in specialists in my area so i have to wait or go to the bigger town 2 hours away. my TSH has gotten much better since surgery, though. So I’m just thankful for that because it could be way worse! I’m down exactly 40lbs today and an 12w post op. Hopefully things get better for me. Oddly i feel normal. I used to be so tired before surgery so I’m happy that I’m not exhausted 24/7. 🤣

I am hypo and have PCOS. So far I am 3 weeks post surgery and down a little over 27lb. Prior to surgery, the only way I was able to drop any weight at all was to starve myself to the point where I would fast for a day a week. The pre op diet my Nutritionist put me on made me GAIN weight despite my pleas that it was not working. Per my insurance I was not allowed to go over my starting weight for a 6 month period. The frustration and restriction for so long was horrible. Now, it feels like I am finally free! Keep in mind that everyone’s bodies react differently to surgery. If you are on thyroid meds, be sure not to take within two hours of iron or calcium supplements, and 4 hours of antacids, otherwise they will not be absorbed correctly. I would also highly recommend follow up labs for thyroid at 2 months post op to see how your hormones are responding.

I'm on Synthroid .075 daily. I got diagnosed officially about 5 months ago, although my level has been elevated for years but hadn't tipped over into the danger zone until recently. I take it every morning and literally count the minutes down until I can eat! I wake up starving! Glad to find a thread with hypo folks.

If you are getting late dumping...or reactive hypoglycemia, keep something quick on hand to raise your blood sugar. I keep fairlife chocolate milk in my fridge. It is higher in sugar and carbs but also has some protein in it. I drink it as soon as I start getting heavy sweats, which is my first sign of low blood sugar. Once I drink some I feel better in 15 minutes.

Christina, Dr. Pleatman is one of the doctors that feels that NSAIDS are fine on a sort term basis. The is no real PROOF of them causing band erosion, just the mental flow of logic that some NSAIDS are hard on a stomach if taken in high doses and over long periods of time, and that it may cause problems with the stomach lining thereby possibly causing erosion of the lining near the band. Also if a person is properly adjusted with the band there, many of the pills are to big to be taken and would lodge into the stomach stoma that is formed with the band. A liquid form of the NSAIDS would be a better alternative from the physicality problem part, however infrequent use of nsaids--especially if taken with with milk- should not be a problem or concern towards erosion. If a person is taking large dosages or taking them over weeks of time--then it could become a problem with the stomach in general. Right now it seems that the largest body of evidnece of erosion is that it is caused by surgeon technique in securing the band and if the surgeon removes the "fat pouch" around the stomach. The more body tissue cut into and/or removed the greater chance of the body forming a reactive surface to the band. That was one reason the larger band was created was so that the fat pouch could be left in tact with the band merely placed around the fat pouch and stomach while leaving enough room in the band unfilled. Another "thought" as to why erosion was caused was that sometimes surgeons closed (latched) the band on the stomach--in effect, pinching it partially in the band. This would cause an irritation that could "fester" into an erosion- hence another reason for the larger band. I don't think there are any definative answers as to what really causes erosion as erosion is a very small number--like 1-2% of all banded people and falls into the mainly non-event category of complications. Statistically speaking, the number is small enough that it could even be just due to different body types and chemistries having a reaction with the band or the material. Also these bands are placed on not the most healthiest people-many with other health complications and/or medicines and these could be causing some of these erosions as well. I am just glad that the numbers are as small as they are. If I remember the statistics right you had a greater chance of dying or became physically incapacitated from surgery than getting erosion. T

Oh, don't misunderstand, Heidi--- I'm not regretting my decision at all. I wouldn't even consider the GB surgery and this was my ticket to finding a healthier me. I know others have had different experiences than that but the reality remains the same--if you don't decrease caloric intake, you won't lose weight. It's all in the Math that I refuse to do. :ohmy: I realize that it's simple for "normal" people, but not for us. We're not wired like them--none of us would have gone to this extent if it were that simple! It's about behaviors---nearly 38 years for me to change. It won't happen overnight, but if I can change some of the, even if only for a limited time, then I have a fighting chance. At 315 pounds, I didn't have that chance.... We all have bad days when we think we've made a mistake. We're on this journey for a reason. It's something we have to figure out on our own, for ourselves.... Hope you all enjoyed the long weekend. I had PIZZA for dinner last night with my family. Could only manage one piece and really ended up getting rid of most of that--no milk required! Regardless, I enjoyed it immensely. As a side note---I think we all need to find a way to accept responsibility WITHOUT using it as an excuse to beat ourselves up. Most of us are guilty of doing far too much of that. Truth be told, the way we talk to ourselves can strongly influence how we function. It's easier to put ourselves down for making bad choices than to force ourselves to make good choices. It makes me so sad when I think about all of the negative self talk we do---but it really keeps us in that horrible, non-reactive place and prevents us from progressing. Just for today, I'm going to be better to myself--treating myself the way I'd treat my friends.

Dr. R. talked with me today, about seeing a pulmonologist and finding a window to have surgery where my asthma is not so reactive. I totally understood, this is what any good surgeon would recommend. He told me that all of the other M.D.'s that think I can proceed in this condition, do not see what happens when things do not go well... I have also gained another 4 lbs from the asthma meds... time to adjust my stupid weight ticker :drool:

It's also the same thing as Reactive Hypoglycemia, per my doctor. I don't experience the runs at all, ever. http://diabetes.about.com/od/whatisdiabetes/qt/reacthypoglycem.htm http://www.reactivehypoglycemia.info/2009/05/the-reactive-hypoglycemia-diet/ Read up, learn it, live it. Having it kept under control makes a huge difference. It sucks, but it is what it is.

There are two types of dumping, and late dumping is usually also referred to as reactive hypoglycemia. I wouldn’t recommend riding out a blood sugar of 35 or so. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dumping-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20371915

For what its worth. Last year my bmi was 3o. I weighed170. Mind u ive been obese always...205 at age 21. Ik 5 ft 4. But menapause has reactivated my weight gain with a vengeance..yep im on thyroid meds...so i go a year ago and talk to a Doc hear in Va who says why to thin,,,,great. Could go to mexico. But just not for me...so here i am a yera later now 185 still being told u r too thin to qualify. So 12,000 later and a trip to NC and Im sleeved..for me it was the only option.,! At worst Ill stop gaining at best ill get healthy under 150 Keep tuned in

You might want to see an endocrinologist ,a doctor that diagnoses hypo/slow thyroid on symptoms as well as on blood work... Mary Shoman has a great book on thyroid and a website ,thyroid.com, i think it is called. Her website has links to recommended doctors on it too. I was diagnosed with a slow thyroid a year ago and since taking the medication [armour thyroid] feel a million times better; did not lose alot of weight but i notice that my metabolism is working now. Before i was on a strict diet and working out hard with weight training and cardio 6 days a week with very limited results. I plateau-ed about 29 pounds down and stayed there for months and months. Now i notice that i can eat more and get more results with less. I would say to definitely go and see a Endocrine Specialist; that could very well be the problem. Laurie

if it's RH (reactive hypoglycemia), it wouldn't be that you drank it too fast - it's most likely the sugar in the whipped cream. Or some other sugar you ate within an hour or two before you had the symptoms. I'd run it by your surgeon or your PCP. It could be something else - but it does sound a lot like RH.