Search the Community
Showing results for 'Complications'.
Found 17,501 results
-
Discomfort/pressure while eating?
Jaelzion replied to WickedPissah529's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
Yes, what you're describing is very common and for most people, it does go away as the tummy heals and swelling goes down. It's usually just a matter of waiting it out, but occasionally, people develop a complication called a "stricture". This is a narrowing in the digestive tract that doesn't allow food to pass through and it sometimes requires treatment to widen it and relieve the problem. But most commonly, when the swelling goes down, that feeling of everything getting stuck goes away on its own. Hang in there, and if it doesn't improve, check in again with your surgeon's office. -
Hi everyone! I'm new to the forums and so excited to be starting on this journey. I have my consultation scheduled for May 5. I was leaning toward the sleeve for several reasons - less complicated, less expensive (I'm doing self-pay) - but as I've been learning more about different procedures it looks like gastric bypass is the surgery of choice if you have reflux. I experience reflux infrequently, maybe once a week. It's usually pretty mild but occasionally it can be pretty bad and I experience food regurgitation. Just wondering if anyone here had reflux prior to surgery but went ahead with the sleeve and what your post-op experience has been. Thanks so much!
-
Scared of losing weight
kristieshannon replied to APJPollett's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
I’m down nearly 140 lbs. I was also afraid of loose skin, and boy did I have it. However, my only regret is that I didn’t do the surgery sooner. I’d take very flap of skin any day over the health complications I had from being overweight. I had a tummy tuck, arm lift, and breast lift/augmentation in January. It was more affordable than I thought, I found an amazing surgeon in Florida where PS is less costly than much of the country. -
I’ve been taking it for about 5 years now & no side effects that I’m aware of. I still have odd break through hot flushes usually in summer when I’m hotter all over anyway. My emotions are more stable too. My mother at 81 still takes HRT. If she goes off it all the menopausal symptoms return. She’s been on it for 30+ years. The only side effects she has had was a small benign uterine polyp which may have been from one prescription she was on (they changed it just in case). I remember three women in my town had strokes in the same year as complications from severe menopausal symptoms - two died. I decided then & there I would take HRT if I had symptoms.
-
Severe Gerd/esophogeal dysmotility. Revision vs nissen or just hernia repair?
starladustangel posted a topic in Revision Weight Loss Surgery Forums (NEW!)
I posted about this on the sleeve forum before. I developed GERD after my sleeve and was able to control it with one PPI a day until the end of 2020 where it's increased to two PPIs, 1 H2 and tums all day. Had issues with vomiting, nausea, stomach and chest pain. Difficulty swallowing. Sore throat since December. Had an endoscopy 3/3. Lax LES causing GERD, gastritis and a nodule in the antrum of the stomach that appears to be benign but will be removed in an endoscopic ultrasound in June as a precaution as it has a small risk of turning cancerous later on. Gastroenterologist referred me to my bariatric surgeon believing revision is needed. My surgeon wasn't sure on revision because I have lost all my excess weight with no regain. I have only been in maintenance for 4 months though. He sent me for a barium swallow. Had the barium swallow and the radiologist found esophogeal dysmotility and a hernia that the endoscopy had missed. Radiologist said I will either need a nissen fundoplication or revision to bypass along with hernia repair When I called my surgeon's office to schedule a follow up the nurse said something about maybe a hernia repair would be enough which left me feeling confused. I told her I want do whatever has the best chance of not having more complications or needing more surgery in the future. I had my galbladder out June 2020 after sleeve June 2019 and really just want to be healthy with no more surgery. My follow up is on Tuesday. I am not sure what my surgeon is going to recommend. From posts here it seems nissen isn't the best option for sleeve patients. Would hernia repair be enough or is revision to bypass the best option? I just don't want to be getting hernia repair and then still have reflux be a problem due to my esophagus and end up needing a revision later on. -
What was/is your greatest fear?
SoulGardener replied to Smitty74's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
my fears are complications and failure. but I now have mild heart failure so if I want to live I must be successful. -
What was/is your greatest fear?
SoulGardener replied to Smitty74's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
jaelzion, those were also my fears. Fear that I could end up with a permanent colostomy from complications, or failure. I had two family members who talked me out of surgery twice. But I decided they probably didn’t understand much about it. As I got older I began to have heart problems. So this time it’s a GO! I want to live! -
I have surgery on April 26th at 8 am. But I have a story to tell. I had the lap band back in 2013. It was successful and I lost 30 lbs. I had to really exercise to keep my weight in check but I looked and felt great. Then, unfortunately, I had serious complications and I had to take it out the band last year during COVID. I had been thin for so long that I felt very in control. I was exercising as a lifestyle and not to lose weight. I truly enjoyed it. Then in one year, I gained 45 lbs because I was having other health issues that prevented me from exercising my normal routine. The doctor said it was perimenopause, it was the steroids I took, etc... I was so down I cannot even begin to tell you. Then I became a bit depressed and literally hid from the world and gained yet another 15 lbs. I did not understand what i was doing wrong. I did everything to lose weight. Jenny Craig, street rider bicycle, Noom, you name it I tried it and nothing. Every time I stepped on the scale I went up. so awful. I have decided to do this with the clear understanding that i have to work at it again to stay slim. You really have to put in the leg work. This is a great tool and I pray I lose the now 60 lbs I have to lose. I will try my hardest but diet is everything and I am reaching menopause which will only make it even harder. So here I am looking for support and enjoying hearing other people's success stories.
-
What was/is your greatest fear?
blackcatsandbaddecisions replied to Smitty74's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I was just thinking about this thread the other day. Reporting back almost six months post surgery to say, 1. I didn’t die! Obviously. 2. I didn’t have any complications. Easy recovery, feel totally normal now but just get full super quickly. 3. It is working and I have 120 lbs of missing fat to show that’s true. 4. Insurance approved! Best advice is to find the requirements and make that your exact goal. Insurance wants you to drop out, so stick it to them and make em pay! 5. Regain will always be a fear, but I’ve grown more confident that I can use this tool to control my regain down the road. No matter how you lose weight, keeping it off will be a lifelong struggle. Basically I just wanted to check back in because I keep reading threads about people presurgery who are scared and have a lot of fears. It’s totally normal to have a ton of fear but please know that for the vast majority of us, it all ends up fine in the end. -
I really wanted the bypass but it was medically contraindicated for me. I was super disappointed, but I went ahead with the sleeve. It's worked out well, I lost all the weight I needed to lose and had no major complications. The sleeve turned out to be right for me. So if GERD is an issue for you, the bypass may be the better option. Just do your research so you understand the pros and cons.
-
Chronic stomach pain after WLS ?
catwoman7 replied to Michele 2021's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
there are fewer complications with sleeve, but on the other hand, complications with either surgery aren't very common. And if you do have them, most (for both surgeries) are minor and "fixable". I personally would not let that make or break your decision because most of us sail through these surgeries just fine and don't experience complications. However, since you have GERD and choose the sleeve, know that you have about a 30% chance of that getting worse. That was the reason I went with bypass instead (and I've been very happy with that decision). Of course, you may be one of the 70% for whom it does NOT get worse. I wasn't willing to take the chance, but you might be. -
I’ve been second guessing getting the bypass vs the sleeve .I originally wanted to get the sleeve procedure since it seems less complicated. I have about 70 lbs to lose to reach my goal weight. On my preop appt they noticed I had some gerd. I was unaware of this. The surgeon advised I have a bypass vs a sleeve since gerd is a common issue that develops with sleeve patients and assured me that the bypass will resolve these symptoms. I’m noticing a lot of people in these message boards who have gerd and still opted for the Sleeve. It was such a long process to get approved for the WLS I never thought abut getting a second opinion as I’d probably be waiting another 6 months! I’d love to hear others experiences when making this decision!
-
AM I MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION 😩
Arabesque replied to ErikkaJ's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
@Jaelzion is correct. The ultimate decision to proceed or not is up to you. And feeling unsure or questioning your decision is not uncommon. Sure, people do struggle in those first couple of weeks. They just had surgery & are recovering & healing. Plus their digestive system has been altered which is a shock to the body. The initial diet, which is to support the healing & recovery, is pretty restrictive. The new digestive system can be pretty delicate to begin & it may be difficult to find foods it will tolerate. This can be very confusing & although people may be aware it occurs the reality can still be a shock. But it does all improve & it becomes easier. Yes, some people have complications. All surgeries have the risk of complications. Bariatric surgery risks are pretty low. Much lower than surgeries you may need if your excess weight impacts your health: cardiac, joint replacement, kidney or liver problems, etc. Same with issues that may arise in the years post surgery. You’ll likely read about them, on forums like this one, because people want to share their experiences &/or are seeking support & advice. In reality they are minority & it is very sad to read about their complications. As with all things, you should be aware of the possibilities. Personally, I haven’t had any problems. Sure, my orthostatic hypotension (drops in blood pressure) occurs more frequently but it was a pre existing condition. As was the mild gerd I had before surgery. I still have it. It manifests differently now but it’s easy to manage. Every day, I’m glad I decided to have the surgery. Good luck making your decision what ever you decide. -
AM I MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION 😩
Jaelzion replied to ErikkaJ's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
No one can answer that question for you. Only you can decide whether you're up for a permanent change in your relationship with food. But we can share our experiences. Like many people, I had a tough first week after surgery, but by week 3, I was much better. I had no major complications and I lost all my excess weight. I have no regrets or complaints of any kind. There are lots of people on here just like me. The thing is, people are more likely to post about unusual or negative experiences, so you won't see a lot of folks logging on to post "Everything is still fine." So reading the posts can kind of skew your impression of how the surgery goes for most people. Complications happen, but it's more common to come through the surgery just fine, with no major problems. I wish you all the best in making your decision! -
AM I MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION 😩
Jnfinney replied to ErikkaJ's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
I think it’s pretty common for a lot of people to get cold feet the closer they get to surgery. I know I did. The first 2 weeks or so after surgery can be pretty tough, but you’re also putting your body through a major surgery. I know complications are not very common and a lot of people who have had the surgery do not regret it. Most people say their only regret was waiting so long to do it. I am about 4 1/2 weeks post op and the first week was tough for me, but I feel great now. I think the “aftermath” you are seeing on here are from people who are really early out from surgery (1-2 weeks). Ultimately it is your decision, but I definitely don’t regret doing it. Best of luck to you! -
For the consult, he/she will ask questions like you'd expect at any doc's office - history, probably questions about your eating, health issues, and will probably ask you what procedure you're interested in. I went in asking about the sleeve, but after the consult and research, I had the bypass on 3/3. I wouldn't think you'd come home with oxygen unless there was some kind of complication. As for the diet, your insurance might not require it, but your doctor's office might. If it's one thing I've learned from being on these boards, it's that EVERY surgeon is different in their requirements. It might even vary from person to person. I'm in a group of folks from my own surgeon's office, and some of us had to do the two week pre-op diet and some didn't. Your doctor's office will probably recommend some vitamins and such to you, plus some people tolerate pills while others need chewables. I am a HUGE fan of early prep work as I lingered on here for 6 months before my actual surgery, and I think what I learned on here really made this process so much easier. I don't regret it. I wish I would I have done it sooner though!!
-
No regrets, I had the band for about 5 years and then had it out due to complications. I have absolutely no regrets!
-
As @catwoman7 said there is always a risk of complications, and each of us is so different that while I might have had gas, you might have very little. I think the best thing you can do is educate yourself on the possibilities so that you're prepared. If you do have bad gas pain, what are the remedies that people suggest? If you have hair loss, what can you do? (Not much BTW except wait it out) If you can't drink cold water, what do other people suggest? I learned so much from lurking around on these boards, that I felt really prepared for anything - including the inevitable stall. Good luck!!!
-
Foods and supplements for major constipation
Zom B replied to outofusernames's topic in Food and Nutrition
How long can the Miralax go on for? I was 5 months post op and my surgeon was very worried about me being on it any longer so he took me off but then I became constipated and have had to use a plethora of things to keep regular. Smooth move tea (worked for a month), prunes (worked for a week), psyllium fiber (made things worse), flax seed (did nothing), milk of magnesia (worked far too well), colace (didn’t work), probiotics (didn’t work), and fleets enemas (works well but quite a production and after care). Now I get cotton mouth and feel dry all the time even though I’m always on the toilet for a pee because of all the fluids. I’ve been struggling with an anal fissure due to the constipation for the better half of three months and my Bari team is not super invested in helping me figure out what’s going on. I hear the same thing, up my water and eat more fiber. I’ve done both but I still have dry mouth and hard BM’s. Feeling pretty low right now. Other than the usual calcium and a multi V with iron I’m only on one other thing, my PPI acid blocker. I exercise regularly and sleep well but my bathroom stuff is making me crazy. I was not prepared for this type of complication. -
as with any surgery, there's always a risk of complications, but most are minor and "fixable", and many of us don't experience complications at all. there's not much you can do about hair loss. It can happen after any major surgery - or even giving birth - but it seems to be more common with bariatric surgery because in addition to the shock to your body from the surgery, you're also taking in very few calories afterward. Keeping on top of your protein and vitamins may help it from getting any worse than it is, but you still might lose hair. Most of us do (not all - but most), but for the majority, we're the only ones who notice it. I had some hair loss during months 5-8, but it was just light shedding, so no one would have noticed it. Hair coming out in big, noticeable clumps isn't very common. anxiety before surgery is very common - I kind of freak out before any surgery. But I'm sure you'll do fine!!
-
if you stick to what the dr says exactly, is there any complications? extra gas? more hair falling out? ect. Im getting labs this week and hopefully my date for May, and its just now starting to sink in all the changes that i have to make, which i know os for the better. anxiety is getting to me i suppose. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app
-
Any April 2021 surgeries?!
Alejandra G replied to KidaandRoux's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
Sorry to hear about your complication but I’m glad to know that other than the gas part you are doing well! I’m super nervous about my surgery on the 26th!! -
I’m 95% sure I want to move forward with sleeve surgery but, I’m scared. The bulk of my fear is that I’m going to do irreparable damage to my body... or that I’m going to go through all of this and nothing will change, I’ll fail and still be this heavy (or will lose very little weight). 1. Did you feel the same way? Absolutely. I really didn't have confidence that the surgery would work for me. I wasn't overly afraid of complications, but I did fear that I would have the surgery and lose only a few pounds. 2. Are you glad you did it? I'm super-glad I did it. I had no major complications. I haven't had any real problems adjusting to my new way of eating. Best of all, I lost all my excess weight, reaching a normal BMI for the first time since I was 10 years old. 3. Do you have any regrets? I regret waiting so long. However, for various reasons, I know the time was right when I did it. I might not have been as successful earlier because my circumstances were different. 4. What’s one thing you wish someone had told you before you had surgery? "Hey, it's really going to suck for the first week or two after surgery. Don't worry, almost everyone has a tough time at first. But your tummy will heal and before you know it, your new way of eating will be second nature."
-
I did. I had an extremely weird after surgery complication but other then that everything has been going well. I had almost no pain but was very gassy...I still help haha
-
How Long before you feel normal again 17 Days Post-Op
chiquitatummy replied to Lorey_a's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
Oh man, I'm so sorry that anxiety is sitting with you right now - it stinks. I too have heard that mood swings can be part of the early stage post-surgery for a variety of reasons, including hormonal fluctuation, sleep disturbance, or loss of food as a comfort and coping tool. During my pre-surgery phase, I got more aware of how I have used food to manage and numb anxiety. Post-surgery, as my hunger/food desire has started to return I've had some unpleasant reminders of this old habit. I also really and truly get having fear around moving from one food stage to the next. with each food stage "graduation" I have been so afraid of what might happen. Go figure that by following my program I have been fine. Like catwomen said complications are rare, and even rarer if you're following the recommendations of a reputable program. Not to go into advice mode too much, and knowing our experiences might be different (maybe you are having panic attacks rather than generalized anxiety?), I will say that I have found therapy to be a big help. With my therapist I know I can unload my anxious build-up. saying my fears out loud to someone else helps me put them in perspective. Therapy also gives me a non-food outlet that instead of numbing helps me identify what might be contributing to anxiousness and give it less power by helping me to put it in perspective. Not all therapists are skilled, so it can take some shopping around, but might be worth it.
.thumb.jpg.da59dd318b247cdda542a3f62b880d2f.jpg)
