Gastric Bypass Advice/Info

Well, I am not a bypass patient. But I recently found a documentary called "Fat Doctor" on Youtube, which follows gastric bypass patients in England. It shows actual surgeries, and is a documentary for bypass patients.

It's very good that you've done some research on the topic. Gastric bypass is a pretty serious and and almost always a permanent surgery (unless the pouch is stretched back out). You may become intolerant to a lot of foods, you'll be living with smaller portions and lower calorie intakes, and it'll require a life long lifestyle change.

If you are required to do a 6 month pre-op diet, I would honestly reconsider before making this decision. If you can follow the 6 month plan, then it is possible to relearn new habits and avoid a surgical procedure. Try not to think of it as a "diet", but moreso a lifestyle change. Diets are temp fixes, but relearning how to eat, employ portion control, and making better food decisions are something that can follow you for a lifetime. I'm also not a doctor (and don't know your height), but bypass for someone who is around 237 seems a bit unusual to me. Most of the people who I have read about/seen pursue bypass are super morbidly obese, and with BMIs well over the 50-60 mark.

Regardless, I wish you luck in whatever you decide to do.

I just had gastric bypass surgery on March 10th this year. It depends on your insurance company if you have to do the 6 month diet program before surgery, it's mainly to see if you can lose a decent amount on your own in that time. If you lose like 40-50 pounds in that time, then they'll turn you down. I started my journey in October last year (seminar) and from then until March I lost 17 pounds. I've lost 40 pounds in the 11 weeks since surgery, and 57 pounds total. I feel AMAZING. The first 2 weeks after surgery are the worst, from your body healing and getting used to it. The whole second month you will feel very tired & exhausted because you are having malnutrition, but that comes with the surgery... It's definitely a struggle, not the "easy way out" as a lot of people think, but I have to say it's very worth it!! Just remember that it is a tool, not just a "boom your skinny" kinda thing. Your body will have to get used to a lot of different things. You can add me if you want, to see how it's been for me. Just do plenty of research!!

Some people will say it is taking the "easy" way out. However you have to be mindful of taking supplements all the time not just occasionally. You have to keep track of your protein intake, carbs, water. etc.

So true!!!! You do have to take vitamins for life after surgery. I have had difficulties with this but I'm getting passed it. And I use MFP every day to log my food--the easiest way to keep track of your protein intake & carbs! And I hate when people say it's the easy way out---it definitely isn't. We're really working as hard as anyone else would.

12 years post gastric bypass. Had I known at the time what I know now, I would never have done it. If you are unable to maintain the lifestyle changes needed to lose weight, you will regain after your bypass anyway. I started at 250, supposedly had gotten to 150 at one time. When I got back up to 198, I decided it was time to finally be accountable for my actions and join MFP. I wish I had been motivated to do that at the time. It would have saved me 2 major surgeries (because I had an obstruction and had another open surgery 2 weeks after the first) and a ton of wear and tear on my body.

I don't regret having the surgery. Just wished that the hospital would have given us more of the realistic aspects of life after the surgery.

What province did you have the surgery in? I'm in BC, and i'm part of the West Coast Bariatric program. I haven't had surgery yet, i'm still going through all of my classes, tests etc

I had my surgery in Hamilton, Ontario. The center was great, but there is no such thing as to much information. IMO

What I learned from other bypass patients and my own experience is your body will shed all of the weight you are going to lose within the first 18 months (18 months is the max, the weight loss can stop earlier). Once you hit that lowest weight, you immediately gain 5-30 pounds and stay at that weight. The key to losing the most weight during the first few months is to mentally change your attitude about food and exercise. During that time get counseling to understand and address any issues that led you overeating. Make sure you keep exercising even if you lose every pound you want. If you do not do these things you will begin to regain over the years because you will naturally slip back into old habits because of not making permanent lifestyle changes. Over the years you will build a tolerance to foods you were not able to eat in the first years following the surgery.

I have over 20 real life friends who are 5-20 years out from R & Y gastric bypass. I am 11 years out. I went from 310 to 190 in 6 months. I was 190 for less than a week went up to 200 and stayed for 5 years. I gained 60 pounds over the next 6 years. I could blame that on 2 pregnancies and a severe broken leg but wouldn't be exactly true. I lost weight during each pregnancy and gained weight after I stopped breast feeding because I didn't ramp down my eating after the demands on my body were gone.

The ONLY way to lose regained weight post op is the dreaded old fashioned way... caloric reduction with exercise. The only exception to that is if you have had weight gain from pouch failure. In those cases a surgical revision may be an option.

In my case my pouch works just fine. I just regained my tolerance for sweets and would rather fill my pouch will a cupcakes vs. meat. I didn't realize I was consuming so many calories until I started tracking them here. So now I am losing by making better food choices. The one good thing is similar to people who drink alcohol, when you quit eating the foods that built up a tolerance to you lose the tolerance. I'm experiencing this now with sweets. I have tried almost every day this week to each some type of cupcake and while my mind is saying yes my pouch is having no part of it!

Even with the weight gain and complication (esophageal stricture) I don't regret the surgery one bit! I would do it over in a heartbeat. I just would take my own advice if I could go back and do it again.

Understand there are other options as well...

Drugs -- Several on the market now that work.

There is also the band vs the bypass... Just do all your research and do the bypass as the absolute last resort. It will absoltuely require you to change your habits in life...I want to be able to cheat once in a while ...do that on the bypass and you very will can have bad things happen to you.

Feedback from Sarasota - I had the Rouex-Y back in 2001 - thirteen years ago. Back then there were no surgeons in Florida, thus had it in Atlanta, GA. I have mentored many folks in making the decision since there are pro's/con's. My key point is the the surgery is a tool. The surgery is not a solution. Many failures now since folks think the surgery is the solution, and have the surgery and then go back to the unhealthy style of eating - which ends up compounding the problem - and making you health worse. I highly recommend doing healthy/clean eating for one full year (like Weight Watchers) and watching/tracking on FitnessPal - Since this is not dieting - this is the style of clean eating for the rest of your life. If exercise is the problem now, try swimming. If you enjoy running and have the feet challenge, there are the eliptical bicycles (and another one) that are great. Be creative. Barbara

I had my initial bariatric surgery appt May 30th & my preference would be to have the gastric bypass. However my surgeon states that because my BMI is so high I would have to have the gastric sleeve or lose 80-100 lbs to have the gastric bypass. I am adamant to have the bypass so I have to lose at least 80 lbs by October 24th. I've cut my cals down to 1200 per day & with that I'm "expected" to lose 6 lbs per week. I'm gonna see how this week goes for me.