Search the Community

I actually didn't find out that I had Gastroparesis until I was already in my 6 month program to get gastric bypass. But I was told that it would help. Although my first 2 months were a bit rough with the nausea and vomiting. Sent from my SM-N920P using BariatricPal mobile app

My cook books are all vegetarian except for my ancient copy of The Joy of Cooking. I did just find a Vegan blog run by someone who had bypass that made me really excited. I know I need to stay vegetarian at least until I hit maintenance, but I would like to go vegan one day. The cook book I like is called Vegan Soul Kitchen by Bryan Terry

I started the process about a month ago. I went for a consult to see Dr. Artuso. 1st time meeting him. He answered all my 20 questions I had and said if this was want I want to do then I would be a perfect candidate. Leaving his office the receptionist who are amazing told me there was a openings to the needed consults the next day. I got my cardio and pulmonary consult done the next day. Received my letter of necessity from my primary on Friday of that week (talk about timing, when I called his office he was leaving that saturday for 3 weeks out of the country dr's without borders. ) I had my CXR that weekend. I had the echiogram done on Tuesday and a stress test on Wednesday. Saw my cardiologist on Wednesday and he said all is go and given his approval. Saw the nutritionist on Thursday and after a long chat she said I was an excellent candidate. I expressed a concern not getting approved as I do not have any comorbities. Not to steal someones quote but I too seem to be a healthy fat person. My BMI is 46.9 percent. My knees and feet hurt all the time. Even at night when I have them elevated. I work 2 jobs. One is a supervisor in a group for the state home. I often work over 8hours a day. Sometimes I am on my feet all day running around. My other job is a work as a LPN for a nursing agency doing per diem work. That is a 8 hrs of nonstop go go go. I barely get a chance to sit down to eat or even go to the bathroom. My decision to get the band came after a long thought of over 5yrs. I have had this dr. number for that long. I have talked to nurses who have had the gastric bypass. I dont know anyone personally who has had the lapband. I went 2yrs ago to a seminar at Westchester medical center sat thru it. Walking out feeling like you know what.. "I put this weight on by my own hand and mouth I need to take it off" I joined a gym days later. I would go to the gym 5-6 days a week and pound the hell out of myself. 2yrs later I had made little dent. I had gone to my primary and had routine bloodwork. Hoping my thryroid was to blame.. NOTHING. Back to the gym I go. Fast forward to this summer. In June I was at my sisters house. Wihin a matter of 1 hour I broke the stairs to her pool, and inflatable floatation device and 1 stair going up a set up steps. Thank god I was amongst family. I was humiliated. That was a breaking point for me. I am tired of living life not to the fullest. I would rather now sleep then go out shopping or stay at home watching tv. My feet hurt more often than not. So now I wait...:confused2:

So, I've posted comments about making broth-bases in a few threads.This is a correction/ revision to what I've posted about making beef broth from bones. I posted that I don't skim the fat off the broth after boiling, because there's a negligible amount per serving in the finished product (Soup or au jus) if you make a big vat. It's been a long time since I've made beef broth, so I thought since I've been posting about it and it's that time of year, I'd make some. I do save and freeze steak bones and when making beef broth from these bones, it's true, the total fat is negligible per serving when making big vats from these. Since I don't eat that many steaks and my household has shrunk with the kids on their own, there's just not enough bones to make beef broth with- so I buy marrow bones. *HERE'S THE CORRECTION: I'd forgotten, marrow bones do have a LOT of fat that leeches into the broth. I definitely recommend skimming off the fat at the end of beef marrow-bone, broth-production, before freezing. Sorry if I misled anyone. It wasn't intentional.

Hi all I'm down 24kgs and three and a half months post op, feeling obsessed with loose skin on arms and legs, any exercise suggestions and did you notice big difference in weight loss when exercising regularly, I'm battling to get motivated or started, I do heaps around the house and garden aswell Sent from my HUAWEI TAG-L22 using BariatricPal mobile app

Well, what do you know, I am now a blogger. 24 hours from now I should have been banded and in recovery. My feelings at this time are all over the place. Anxious, brave, excited, scared. You name an emotion and I have felt it. If I'm not ashamed of using this tool, why are there so many people that are? I feel it is no different than any other tool, less bypass. I've been thru that surgery with my ex, a cousin, a sister, and a good friend, I only know 2 people that have been banded, 1 is an absolute star student, 1 who only lost 20 pounds she said as she had a hot dog in 1 hand and a slurpie in the other. I'm pretty much on my own, I think I must like it that way. I think my fear is change, with change usually comes chaos, and Lord knows I have had enough of that. I have decided to do this after losing 65 pounds on my own and gaining it back over 2 years. That's what pisses me off the most. That I thought I had the battle won, when in fact it had just begun.

Hello Heyyou! I will be having lapband on April 13, but my mom had gastric bypass- she doesn't have any problems with the wafers but she does get ill feeling after having the juice. She has a hard time with sugars and her chruch must use a sweetened juice. With the lapband you wont have those kinds of issues.

I had an open band that needed to be done due to scar tissue from previous gastric bypass 9 yrs ago. Dr. Bhesania in Port Huron also repaired a small hernia. I was cut over 12 inches and had 39 staples. I've been back to work three days and really struggling. Struggling for more protein, tired, hungry and anxious to get my first fill on MLK day. I'm two weeks and two days post-op and started on Cream of Wheat w/skim milk to help get me over this hump along with Slim Fast. I've lost 20 lbs since I've started and hit a bump where I'm not losing now. A little worried... any ideas or encouragement would be really helpful for me. I'm not good at asking for help.

I'm having the Mini Gastric Bypass. You felt good enough to go back after a week? That gives me hope! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am late with this but I will some of the suggestion. I am 1 week today with my bypass and I too am experiencing the pain with sipping. I asked around to people in my support group and no one knows what I'm talking about so it feels good to know that I am alone. I think I'm dehydrated because the pain keeps me from wanting to put anything in my mouth but I will try harder.

I went for my first consult today for the sleeve. It went great. I wanted to know if most people need the second surgery (bypass) to achieve their goal weight. Can you achieve your goal weight with just the sleeve surgery?

Momof3armybrats - congrats on getting your surgery date, that is so exciting! I'm glad to hear the liquid diet isn't too bad! I actually live alone right now (moving in with my boyfriend in June) so that could be a good or a bad thing - good because I don't have to watch anyone else eat, except at work, bad because I'm home all alone with no one watching But I've been practicing with my Protein shakes every day and I'm actually so excited to start the liquid diet, since that means it's finally really happening. I would love to hear how it goes after the 5th! Kristi Twisti - that's great to hear from another person with PCOS that had lap band! I actually saw a lot about WLS on the PSCOS boards at soulcysters, but it seems like a lot of the people over there have had gastric bypass and seem to be very in favor of that surgery, so I came over here looking for more lap-band specific info. I will definitely look for that forum. I feel the same way about the fertility, I definitely want to have children, and with the state of my PCOS I probably won't be able to get pregnant without in vitro, and then if I do there's the miscarriage risks. So I'm very excited that dramatic weight loss can help reverse the PCOS. I actually work at a hospital so I went with the surgical group affiliated here, and I know a lot of people at work who have had it done, so I do feel good about the group/doctors/nurses. I feel good about having the surgery here because I'm so familiar with the hospital. They actually require two monthly support group meetings before surgery (which I went to) and recommend attending for the rest of your life. I'm thinking about going, but it's such a large group of people, the majority of them pre-op and mixed between lap band and gastric - so I'm thinking about looking for a more specific support group for after, maybe a smaller group of post-op people. Just have to figure out how to find one Kristi - how long ago did you have your surgery?

I am 5 weeks post op revision tomorrow and am suffering the same thing all of a sudden. DId you happen to find out what it was?

Hello and welcome I too had the band lost some weight had issues eating anything healthy. 3 years ago I had the sleeve lost more weight but am having troubles keeping it off. I am now going to revise to the gastric bypass; I guess I should have had this surgery in the first place!! You are doing the right thing in tackling your weight issues and revise to another one. I think the band was a bad idea for most and you will read here that many revise. Best wishes to you

Hello there! I was wandering if anyone has been diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagus and, if so, what impact it had on your choice of procedures. I have GERD and a hiatal hernia and during a scope prior to gallbladder surgery, it was discovered I also had Barrett's Esophagus (a pre-malignant condition where the cells of the esophagus begin to change and become more like the cells in your stomach). I have chosen to have the sleeve even though the bypass is still considered the preferable treatment when you have Barrett's. I was just wandering if anyone has been faced with Barrett's and what, if any, information you might be willing to share about your experience. I feel alone in this regard but I know that can't possibly be the case. I'm fairly new to this site, but I have learned so much from everyone already! Anything you can add would be greatly appreciated!

Hi I am new just joined up. My name is Roxxie and well my Lap Band is almost 4 years old now and due to some problems I am now seeking a revision from the band to Gastric Bypass. I will be turning 60 in a few months and it is harder for people my age to lose weight or to keep it off. I lost over 100 pounds and re gained 16 back in a year, not good but who knows why for I sure don't

Did you have bypass or sleeve? GB leads me to believe you had bypass but this is in the sleeve forum so wanted to be sure. Do you have a nutritionist? If so I would be really surprised if they said breads & rice were okay to eat this early out. For most people those things are big no-nos. Mainly because they are carbs, they're pretty much devoid of nutritional value, and they typically do not sit well in the stomach so close to surgery. Everybody is different in their weight loss, and while you may not be able to prove that the carbs you are eating are directly related to that I would get rid of them pronto.

I have seen the long list for bypass/sleevers on what to pack for the hospital. However, sometimes a bander doesn't stay overnight in the hospital. What do you pack? What is suggested?

My surgery was on 8/21/2013 with Dr Rodriguez in Tijuana, MX. I arrived bright and early in San Diego where my coordinator picked me up (she did not have to do this but was worried because I was getting there so early). We went into MX across the border.....it was nothing like I'd been warned by all my naysayer friends, by the way. The Hospital (Hospital Angeles) was beautiful with marble floors (literally) my room seemed more like a resort. TV was sketch only because there were few channels, but I never even watched it at all...it was only background noise. There was even a TGIF's across the street for those who come along for the ride. I have to say they (belightweight) took care of everything from start to finish. I never even had to stand there to sign all the paperwork, it was done and brought to me to sign. It all began with the best looking and smelling Dr. (Dr Raynes) greeting me and telling me what all was going to happen. I was nervous because I'd never been under general anesthesia. First it was to imaging where they took x-rays of my lungs. Then right up to my room....very nice too. Very quickly a gal came and did an EKG. I settled in and a little bit later they came in to take the blood and start my IV....(I knew it would be difficult because I am a hard one to get for IV's) Five sticks later and a bleed out on my bed... they finally had an IV in place. I did not find this as a negative for the staff because it's happened to me everywhere I've ever been. Dr. Rod came in with Dr. Elmo about 15 mins later and told me once the blood work came back I would be his 2nd surgery right after my neighbor. This came about all too soon..... I was still reeling from the stress of all the IV sticks. I did NOT want to go into surgery!!!! waaaahhh. But in I went....a couple of the staff introduced themselves and pretty soon a pretty gal came at me with a mask saying what I thought was "Dees ees some Oxygen....breath" next thing I knew, I was trying to take off that mask she was giving me....but I suddenly realized my midsection did not feel right at all! That's when it hit me the surgery was OVER!!! Goodness what had happened??? Well apparently I don't come out too swift from General because I felt awful.....really awful. It probably took a couple hours for me to even think I'd live. But I did live....and got better and better moment by moment literally. I pretty much just internalized everything...I'm not one for crying and complaining.... I just get quiet and lock and load. I rested the rest of the evening and slept when I could. Lots of people checking on me and doing this and that. The next morning my daughter had visited with the neighbor. She was already showered, up and walking!!! AND she was a revision from plication to sleeve! My daughter at this point decided for herself I was being a wussie. So this 16 year old marched me into the shower.....helped me into fresh hospital garb....and MADE me walk!!! How dare her!!! But it worked!! before too long I could do a couple of laps with no problem (not saying you won't be sore) later on that evening a few more gals showed up and before you knew it, we were all congregated in the hall yapping like women do. lol We even ticked off another gal trying to sleep, so we went back to our rooms. I had some pain meds every so often in my IV but never felt woozy) I had a tiny.... dry heavy thingy almost like little stomach spasms but it went away quickly. Saw my neighbor again and saw she had broth and jello.....WHAT!!!!???!!! I was starving! Took about 3 hours for me to get up the proper sign language for "Where's my FOOD" lol but I did get my stuff....disappointing....I couldn't eat anything but a tiny sip and bit of jello. Next thing you know The sweet smelling Dr. Raynes came by to grab me for the leak test....(uh, yuk is the right word, but you'll live) I passed with flying colors....and I'm not eating anything out of order I do NOT want to develop a leak. They brought by all my test results (full film and all.... for me to take back with me to the states...even the little tag from the serial number on my staples!) Everything else from here on out was resting, joking, and getting up the gumption to leave the next day. Friday came too soon. Alberto came to the room to let me know he'd be by around 2:30 to get us to the airport. We got packed and waited... Dr. Rodrigues came by with Dr. Elmo again....Dr Raynes was with us the most as he is a sort of liason, I think. My Coordinator had been with me on and off all along. 2:30 came and it was time to go we went downstairs to meet Alberto with the van... nice van!!! Now we got to see the Tijuana I'd heard of. He drove like a banshee and was funny as heck! Even stopped at the border to buy an ice cream for himself and my daughter. Almost had an altercation with another person crossing the border....Alberto was NOT giving up his spot...but the wife got out of their car and put herself between us and them... so they got ahead....wow!!! after that everything was uneventful....we got to the airport and I asked for a wheelchair because I could'nt imagine hurrying between gates even though I felt ok for slow stuff. Now....fast forward to today....I'm home, safe and sound. My husband is treating me like a queen and I can get a bit more down....I'll put more posts at 10 days etc... because I know I loved reading this stuff when I was pre-op. Thanks everyone for your stories....

Yes I have been taking them for years. Continued with them last year with my sleeve and now with my bypass as well.

Hi, I haven't written on RNY for awhile now but I need some advice I will be 1 year post op on my birthday September 24 the whole reason got the rny was because my obgyn said I was too over weight to conceive a child and I had irregular cycles. She tried putting me on different meds such as hormone balancers and even birth control to regulate my cycles but nothing seemed to work. Her only suggestion was to loose weight and eat healthy and to take vitamins which I did and is why I go gastric bypass. My hubby and I are trying to conceive and have been trying or quite some time and my cycles are regular now but nothing seems to work am I doing something wrong when I went to the obgyn in he first place she said my ovaries are beautiful :/ so what's the problem anyone else having this issue ??? :( :(

I just had my revision surgery from a Lapband to a Gastric Bypass. I am 11 days out and have lost 8 pounds. Is this normal?

My wife had a bypass 10 years ago. I had a sleeve 6 weeks ago. The sleeve was a much better choice for me. I am living a very normal life at this point and losing almost a lb a day. My wife was not nearly as successful with the bypass, and she has regained much of her weight. The real world is more complicated that the summary weight-loss charts in the medical journals. I hate to say it, but surgery is driven as much by personality as it is by science. If you read this forum a while you will see there is enourmous variation in procedures and follow-up care between surgeons. It would not be surprising if your surgeon has a bit of a preference for the familiar and proven bypass procedure, but at least he is giving you the choice. You are thinking about the right issues. Your success depends on how well your procedure fits the life you plan to lead. The absence iof dumping, absorption issues, and fewer problems with good getting "stuck" were a big deal for me. I have lived up-close and personal with the alternative for years. I would not have had WLS if the sleeve procedure was not available. The studies show that the average weight loss for sleeve is less than the average weight loss for bypass. But these studies also show enourmous variation in the amount of weight loss between individuals. That shows that the outcome has more to do with the individual's approach to the weight loss surgery, than the type of surgery chosen. The bottom line is that you can do really well or, rather badly with either procedure. Make the decision with all the best information, realizing that the people advising you are human too. Once you make the choice, commit to the change and do not look back. If you do that you will be OK either way. Sent from my iPad using VST

There are some types of medication that can cause erosion in the stomach. NSAIDS do. So depending on what type of arthritis med, it can be contraindicated in people who have had the band or bypass surgery. Our doc told us to always avoid those, and time-release type medications. (they stay in stomach too long and you get too much medication) That's why it's best to talk with your surgeon and if that isn't possible, to your prescribing doctor. There may be a different form they can prescribe, or have specific dosing instructions to give you to minimize risk of ulcerations etc.

There are a number of very good products on the market that contain protein blends. I have no idea why anyone would be against whey protein but that said, whey, soy and milk proteins are all excellent and all have the highest possible 1.0 PDCAAS digestability score. Casein protein is also very high quality but not recommended for bypass patients because it's a "slow release" protein - exactly the opposite of what you want following gastric bypass. Stay away from collagen (aka "gelatin") protein. PDCAAS score is 0.08 which makes it pretty much worthless. You'll often find collagen protein in the products marketed as "shots" or "bullets". Very high protein numbers but it's useless if you can't digest it. If you can get the product name that the guy is recommending and post it here, it should be easy to get the nutrition information and the type of protein it contains. Some suggest that there is a limit to the amount of protein that your body can absorb from one "meal" - usually stating 30g to 40g but I have yet to find a reputable source to confirm that. Virtually all doctors recommend high protein intake for bypass patients so I wouldn't worry too much about your body not being able to utilize it.