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I'm 68 and had revision from a 1984 surgery, VBG, to R&Y on February 15th this year. I've lost 55 pounds. Food doesn't taste right but many say that will improve with time. Right now it helps with the weight loss because I only eat for nourishment. I've had no complications other than food tasting different but that's pretty much par for the course.

I really wanted the bypass, but it turned out that it was medically contraindicated for me. I even got a second opinion and that doctor agreed that the bypass was not safe for me. So I had the VSG as my second choice. I started with a BMI of 47 and 118 pounds to lose. VSG worked out very well for me - I lost all my excess weight and had no major complications. The surgeries have pros and cons but both can be effective.

For me it helped to Look at percentages of those complications. For the most part you are more likely to die in a car accident than from this surgery. Yes you are a little more likely to have one of the scary complications but it is something you have and you go to hospital and you get through it and then it’s in the past. But so are whatever health reasons you had for having this surgery to begin with and if you look at percentages there you are at a WAY higher risk to do nothing. Hope that makes sense and helps a little. It is scary and normal to have doubts. I had them all the way to the operating room. But my excitement for my new life outweighed my fears and as long as that’s true I knew it was the right choice for me.

My wife and I chose VSG because we didn't have excessive heart burn. We also have the ability to transition to RNY if an issue did occur. We also know that the recovery/complications from VSG are slightly less than RNY. You can find studies that RNY does result in slightly more weight loss than VSG does but since my wife and I are working together we are working with each other to get to maintenance weight. I am almost at maintenance weight already after having surgery on 11/11 last year and my wife is well on her way there too.

Hey guys so I am three days postop my surgery was on March 9, 2021 so far the issues that I’m having are a lot of gas pressure bloating any of Domino area I didn’t have a bowel movement until yesterday and it was like straight of diarrhea sorry TMI I also am having hunger like not had hunger like actual hunger or my guts are making that sound so I’m just trying to figure out if that’s normal also every time I have a set of any liquid I hear gas bubbles in my stomach and I burp it’s super uncomfortable/kind of Painful and I just wanted to make sure that this is not like some weird complication any information is helpful

The best thing you can do for yourself right now is listen to your body and rest if you need Rest!! You are recovering from major surgery and your doing it on very limited calories. I have been on the couch or in bed watching tv aside from the required walking around to prevent blood clots. Your doctor will tell you when you are ready to do more, but the worst thing you can do is cause a complication by overdoing it which will only set you back. Also if it helps, I think they tell us not to weigh ourselves right now for a reason. I did just out of curiosity and I didn’t lose anything for four days and then the next I lost 3 pounds overnight. You will lose it, don’t worry.

Yours is almost identical to mine. My Dr said I was in perfect health except for my weight. And I could see my blood pressure slowly rising. Also I want my mom to see me at my peak, I’ve been overweight my whole adult life and I wanted her to see me healthy as she is always concerned about my health (never mean! Ever! Just heart health and things like that). Also I’m tired of paying so much extra for plus size clothes and my knees aching! Plus, of course, if you are obese your risk for complications of COVID are higher too.

Hope this helps some folks. One thing I read not too long ago (and I can't recall where exactly) are the reasons why we do the things we do. This is why I love this topic and thread. Intrinsic vs extrinsic. Saying things like "I want to drop 50lbs so I can get into my old jeans" would be extrinsic whereas "I just want to be at a healthy weight and avoid the long term complications due to excessive weight" would be more intrinsic. These are the things we really have to ponder.

I am 18 days post op from gastric sleeve surgery recovering nicely. However, after taking my multivitamin last night, my left shoulder suddenly started hurting. It has hurt all night. It is different than normal muscle soreness. I have no other symptoms. Is this a serious complication from surgery? Any suggestions?

What an amazing story I'm so happy for you. My fiance suffer with cellulitis and gout and it can be very painful. He would get the edema with that as well. He was also diabetic. he passed away in November of 2019 from complications of his weight loss surgery unfortunately. But when he died his diabetes and his CPAP prescription numbers were down to a healthy amount. ironically enough when he died he was the healthiest he'd ever been and he had lost 140 lb in 4 months.

So I had my post op appointment and told my surgeon every complication I was having and she said sounds like something went wrong and the only way to fix it is to have another surgery. She instructed me to go back to the hospital. I told her I will in the am once I dropped my bf off at the airport( he has no one else. On my way home I started having horrible shoulder bed could barley walk upright it’s just so much I’ve been in bed since I got home.

I should also mention that we had two separate surgeries. I had the duodenal switch surgery and my fiance had the gastric sleeve. I had very few medical complications pre-op and he had a lot of medical complications pre-op so every surgery is different.

Thank you he actually passed away four months after his gastric sleeve from complications of the surgery. But he was in rough shape pre op.

Did anyone experience any complications post-op

My wife and I had an extra pillow for a short time but that is it. We didn't have to sleep upright and had surgery on the same day. We also had no complications and have lost over 80lbs each since surgery on 11/11. This is the best decision we have ever made and we are doing so much more than we were able to previously.

Thanks. I thought about no more reading as well. I am now skipping posts when I can kind of tell it will be a negative story. But, I dont want to stop reading everything because I'm still learning about all this. Like today was the first time that I've heard that you have to sleep upright for weeks after surgery? Is that true? I haven't researched that a lot yet, but it surprised me because that was just the first time that I had heard that. I mean I will do it to make sure I dont have complications, but it just makes me wonder what else do I not know. My pre-op appt is next week. So, maybe the clinic was going to tell me that next week. It's not a complication of course, I just like to have information when in doing this so I can set myself up for success and not mess up something during recovery.

Wow, you are so brave! Thanks for such a great response. I totally get it about negative postings. I love traveling and I see negative comments a lot on travel forums, but some of them make me shake my head. But, I had seen a discussion thread on here that said that it's kind of the culture here to steer to the positive and not be honest about some things. So, after I read that and read a series of postings about lots of complications, I was like 'oh shoot, if I'm only seeing just some people be honest about complications, then there must be a ton more who just aren't saying anything.' Oh, that messed me up. Also, I should have clarified my comment about pushing the surgery back two weeks. That's due to something that's happening at work during the beginning of April which is when i will have my surgery. I'm usually the lead for that project every year. But, if I'm out for my surgery, I won't be the lead. And that will stick out a ton to folks and they will wonder where am I and why am I MIA during a peak time for me at work. I'm really trying to fly under the radar about this surgery because some people can be super nosey. I'm a very private person so I won't answer personal questions at work. But, after reading the replies here to my post, I'm feeling like 'whatever, I'm going to have my surgery and just won't be there'. I'm planning to take 3-4 weeks off. I want to be home when I'm going through the initial phases and trying to figure out how my new tummy will respond to liquids then pureed food, then soft, etc. At work I'm really busy so I'm concerned that if I go back to work when Im trying to learn my new pouch, I won't be as mindful and eat enough or when I need to. I don't want to mess this up. But, if I find that I'm ok, I will return to work sooner than planned. Sorry for the novel. Again, thanks so much for the message.

I'm a statistics girl. Am I statistically more likely to die of surgery complications, or of health complications from being morbidly obsese? I crunched those numbers and decided the benefits pretty clearly outweigh the risks. Whatever you choose, you have to live with the consequences....and both decisions carry risk. Which risk is worse? Whatever you decide...best wishes to you!

Major complications aren't very common. Many (I would say most) of us have no complications at all - or only minor ones that are "fixable". The above poster is right in that people are far more likely to post when they have a negative experience than a positive one, so it gives the perception that problems are a lot more widespread than they actually are. I read horror stories a couple weeks before surgery, too, and they scared the crap out of me, so I made myself stop reading them. I'm very grateful that I had my surgery and would do it again in a heartbeat. I was afraid if I stayed at almost 400 lbs I wouldn't live to see my 60th birthday. But here I am - 60th birthday come and gone - and healthier and more active than I've been in years.

Postponing it won’t change anything, will just give you more time to be worried. Part of the problem with these forums is it gives an unrealistic picture of potential problems. Very few people post “hey this has been easy and I have zero complications… what do I do?” It’s a little like reading product reviews… people are far more likely to leave a review if they have a bad experience vs an expected normal experience. But here’s a positive “review” of my surgery experience that is true…. I had vsg and had zero problems. I drove to Mexico with a pocket full of cash during a pandemic and had a surgical procedure performed and had to use Google translate to communicate. I had zero complications, the results have been amazing. it was so easy that I sometimes feel like I took the easy way out but I don’t give a damn because I’m healthier and happier about myself than I have been since I was in elementary school in the 80s. I haven’t thrown up, I haven’t had any issues with food not agreeing with me. I haven’t exercised or walked any more than a typical adult and the weight just fell off with no effort. I’m now considered healthy, my doctor is happy my family is happy and I’m happy. I wish I did it sooner and I’m glad I didn’t postpone it. I had some of the same worries many of us do. “This is going to be forever. Do I really need to do this to my body. Once it’s done there’s no going back. What if x y or z happens.” Those are typical thoughts. What is not typical? Having serious complications. It’s exceedingly rare. It is a common procedure and I’d bet your surgeon has done it 1000s of times, I bet his assistants have helped 1000s of times, and I bet everyone who is there to support you in the hospital has seen and dealt with 1000s of people who were worse off and pulled through because of their care and dedication. And I’d also bet that when it’s all finished, a year from today you’ll think “I wish I did this sooner.” It’s normal to be scared, YOU haven’t done this 1000 times, but the people around you that you need to get through this have. We have too (collectively), and post op we will be here to help with any bumps and bruises and worries and anything else you may have questions about. Not having problems is certainly not a guarantee anyone can give you. Having complications from being too big is also not a guarantee. But the odds speak for themselves… you’re far more likely to have serious complications from being too big vs having gastric surgery. It’s your call to choose which set of potential problems you wish to live with though. Either way we’re here to help you as you decide.

A lot of the people around you are uninformed around weight loss surgery. Go to an information session, then chat to a surgteon about your circumstances and what surgery may work well for you, discuss with the surgeon complications rates, risks etc and go from there. It's not to say that some people don't have significant issues following weight loss surgery and indeed some have passed away, but usually there are extenuating circumstances.

I hear you most definitely... I remember the same thing yet I know nothing would have deterred me from surgery. Yes info like this would have and did make me fearful a bit, but nothing would have nor did stop me. In saying that I don’t think anyone truly knows the prevalence. I’ve been struggling for 4 years and this is the first bariatric surgery group I have sought community and possible answers. I understand a balanced perspective yet most things on here are of newbies who are posting all great advantages.... there isn't a lot of balance either, like you said all people well into their journey have dropped out... who knows why... no one... it took for years to look for any possible answers in a bariatric forum... so it’s not like I got right on here and this is where I started looking.... but it does make me a little frustrated and sad that because I am asking tough questions because my life medically is radically different since surgery... it’s not met with anything but challenges, redirection, and basically we are all good, don’t rock the boat and ask somewhere else because what I’m apparently saying could not possibly be related, yet has anyone done the thorough research? I sure didn’t before! I was so grateful and focussed on one thing, saving my life... and assuming like they said just a small minority have complications.... so there’s no way that could happen to me... but guess what... I am on that small (?) minority... and now it does matter that I’m looking for answers to save my life.... just like before bariatric surgery when I was seeking a solution to save my life then... if you don’t have people on here years out post surgery... how does anyone know why they aren’t on here (the assumption they are well can’t be assumed as is they could be ill)... so if these questions rattle to people maybe that’s ok? Maybe they, like me were only told one side... maybe having people like me and the others who posted who have experienced first hand very difficult complications or knew of others with complications ... maybe that’s worth listening to as well as the benefits, maybe that is the balance? I was hoping to find community, some support and hopefully maybe some direction or something, connection, and not feel so alone in all this.... and even though I have tough things going on... even though I said I wasn’t saying don’t have surgery, my questions were enough to cause intense reactions.... maybe those fears already existed? Maybe hearing someone tell their story hits too close... but this IS my story... this is my life... if everyone is only looking to hear about all the triumphs and a few struggles and not the minority because it won’t happen to them... that’s what I thought too! anyway... I looked, I asked, the answers aren’t here, I’m moving on.... I do wish everyone in the community all the best, much success, a long and healthy life they have dreamed of, desire and deserve. sincerely, charlotte

not fear. i just remember reading posts like this a week or two before I had surgery, and they frightened me so much I almost canceled it. So I'm just trying to provide a somewhat more balanced perspective. Yes - I know these issues exist for some. But they don't for everyone. I just don't know how prevalent they are. We've been told they're not common - but I honestly have no idea. There are very few long-time vets on internet forums, and I suspect most come back because they're having complications and are looking for advice or support. Most people who don't have issues seem to drop off after a year or two, and we never hear from them again.

So sorry that you are dealing with these problems. I have dealt with GERD of various intensities since I had the lap-band many years ago (and since I switched to the sleeve) so I can sympathize with how terrible it can be. I hope that the nodule results come back benign. Here's what I have been able to learn about the situation of post-sleeve GERD: Switching to an RNY is the best-studied option and therefore that is what many people will tell you to do, because we know it works to get rid of acid for MOST people (some people will still have problems even then, but most do not). The Linx procedure is a newer one and there isn't yet a lot of great data on how post-sleeve people do with it. However, it is supposed to be reversible, so I think the main risks you run with getting the Linx is that #1: if it doesn't work well, you then have to go through another surgery to remove it and get the RNY and #2: there is a chance of having to deal with an erosion or scar tissue that might make the removal more complicated. If you do get the Linx, I'd definitely try to find someone who has done a lot of them and is confident about doing it. Since it is a new option not every surgeon will have done a lot of them. Another option you may want to ask your doctor about is this procedure called a "ligamentum teres cardiopexy". Basically, they just take a ligament hanging off your liver and loop it around your esophageal sphincter to strengthen it in order to try to stop the GERD. This is something new that some surgeons are doing for sleeve patients who have GERD (since we can't have a fundoplication like "normal" people and many of us don't want the RNY). To me it seems like a less complex and easier surgery than the other options, so I am going to ask my doctor about it. Here are some articles about it if you want to show them to your surgeon: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S000296102030814X https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31175555/ Good luck with finding an answer.

I think we definitely need to be honest that these surgeries can cause problems and I encourage long time surgery vets to be open about what they have dealt with. I started out getting the lap-band in 2003. I read a ton of patient experiences on email lists, ObesityHelp, and online forums. I read medical journal articles about it. I read about how it had been used in Australia with good results for some time before that. I thought I knew what I was getting into. Most people at the time really thought that the band was a low-risk, easily reversed surgery. By the time I had my band removed over 10 years later, it was clear that it is NOT a good surgery for most people and that the majority of people end up having problems from it. What seemed like the safest option at the time ended up being probably the worst option for most of us. Now most surgeons no longer put bands in at all. When I had the band removed, I switched over to the gastric sleeve, because again it seemed like the lowest risk option. Now I am dealing with a hiatal hernia and learning that it is pretty common to tell sleevers who have GERD or hiatal hernias after surgery that they should just get an RNY. I never wanted an RNY because I was scared of the potential complications. I am still hoping and praying there will be another option, but it is scary to think that I might be forced into yet another surgery with yet more possible complications. While I know many people do great with the RNY for many years, I also know people who ended up with awful complications and have suffered. I am tired of taking these risks. Having 5 year data on patient outcomes is great for a research study, but for the patient that is not necessarily enough. When it is a permanent surgery that you have to live with for the rest of your life, it is not much consolation to know most people do great at 5 years if you are one of the unlucky ones who has problems 10 or 15 years later.