Gastric Bypass & Weight Loss Surgery

rnlamar455
rnlamar455 Posts: 3 Member
edited November 12 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone! My name is Rachel and I'm currently going through the process of having the RNY Gastric Bypass surgery. So I decided to create this discussion topic for everyone who is interested in WLS (Weight Loss Surgery), are going to have WLS, or veterans of the surgery themselves! Happy typing (:
«1

Replies

  • jkramsey42
    jkramsey42 Posts: 22 Member
    I had WLS (sleeve) in December of 2013 and I've lost 145lb. Best decision I ever made.
  • sandradickie
    sandradickie Posts: 40 Member
    Hi Rachel! I am a veteran of WLS. I had the RNY gastric bypass on 12/20/2002. My Daughter is currently preparing and going through the process to have the surgery this summer. Things have definitely improved since my WLS and I am learning much along with her. Feel free to add me as a friend or to ask me ANY questions. My highest recorded weight was 486 but that was a month before my surgery date. I am SURE that I weighed much more as I treated EVERY meal as my last up until the surgery prep. I am not advising that! I wish you well on your journey. :)<3
  • LunaGuido
    LunaGuido Posts: 115 Member
    Hi Everyone! I'm Jen and I'm having the RNY surgery on 2/19/15. I am going through the liver reduction diet right now and having a bit of a hard time. It's not being hungry, it's more the emotional side - missing certain foods, etc. Any advice from the veterans would be much appreciated! :)
  • rnlamar455
    rnlamar455 Posts: 3 Member
    edited February 2015
    Congratulations to you all for making this difficult decision! All of us are fighters!(: my highest weight was 471. So far I have lost 13 pounds. I'm very excited for June of this year! Much love to you all!
  • Maria544
    Maria544 Posts: 21 Member

    I'm also having bypass on 4/28/2015.
  • Hi everyone
  • 01megar
    01megar Posts: 10 Member
    Veteran, I had gastric bypass and have lost 250 lbs, and have kept it off, best decision I have ever made, went from a very tight XXX, DD bra, to a loose size 12, I am currently trying to tone up my muscles.
  • weetasmom
    weetasmom Posts: 2 Member
    I am a Verteran of WLS. Me and my husband had the RNY Gastric Bypass Surgery on the same day. We had our surgery on March 28th, 2014. I am 10 months out and to date I have lost 126 lbs. It is the Best decision I have ever made! I have not having any problems. I went from a couch potato to working out at the gym 5-6 days a week! I have been at a plateau for about 1.5 months now. It is normal to plateau but it is very frustrating!! Good Luck to all who are going through or thinking about taking the journey!!
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    edited February 2015
    LunaGuido wrote: »
    Hi Everyone! I'm Jen and I'm having the RNY surgery on 2/19/15. I am going through the liver reduction diet right now and having a bit of a hard time. It's not being hungry, it's more the emotional side - missing certain foods, etc. Any advice from the veterans would be much appreciated! :)
    Had my surgery this past June. Treat these couple weeks as a science experiment. You want that liver small for a low risk surgery. You will be able to eat the foods you love again in time. I have few intolerances though my portions have changed.
  • 01megar
    01megar Posts: 10 Member
    After 10 years since having my gastric bypass, I still have some intolerances, I can not eat too much protein all at once, I used to like chicken, not so much now. Little bites thats all I can do.
  • bakesb73
    bakesb73 Posts: 81 Member
    edited February 2015
    :\
  • hollym73e
    hollym73e Posts: 5 Member
    Hi everyone. I'm new to MFP. I came across this discussion and am glad I found you all! I had gastric bypass 12/11/2013. I've done well but am now struggling with eating enough calories to account for working out. I can use all the help I can get! And maybe I can help some of you all as well. :smile:
  • Barbsnow
    Barbsnow Posts: 6 Member
    I am also starting the process of GBS. I need to loose 20lbs in 6 months before surgery is approved. Looking for support.
  • eorel72905
    eorel72905 Posts: 4 Member
    LunaGuido wrote: »
    Hi Everyone! I'm Jen and I'm having the RNY surgery on 2/19/15. I am going through the liver reduction diet right now and having a bit of a hard time. It's not being hungry, it's more the emotional side - missing certain foods, etc. Any advice from the veterans would be much appreciated! :)

    I had RNY on 1/19/15 and am already down 40lbs. I was on a two week liquid only diet leading up to my surgery and it was hell. Had all sorts of cravings, but if you tough it out believe me you will be happy after you have the surgery. I am just 3 weeks out and I feel so much better.
  • LunaGuido
    LunaGuido Posts: 115 Member
    eorel72905 wrote: »
    LunaGuido wrote: »
    Hi Everyone! I'm Jen and I'm having the RNY surgery on 2/19/15. I am going through the liver reduction diet right now and having a bit of a hard time. It's not being hungry, it's more the emotional side - missing certain foods, etc. Any advice from the veterans would be much appreciated! :)

    I had RNY on 1/19/15 and am already down 40lbs. I was on a two week liquid only diet leading up to my surgery and it was hell. Had all sorts of cravings, but if you tough it out believe me you will be happy after you have the surgery. I am just 3 weeks out and I feel so much better.

    Thank you so much for the encouragement! Today is the best I've felt. I was shocked to weigh myself and see I dropped 13 pounds from Thursday. That's a real motivator!
  • LunaGuido
    LunaGuido Posts: 115 Member
    Barbsnow wrote: »
    I am also starting the process of GBS. I need to loose 20lbs in 6 months before surgery is approved. Looking for support.

    Hi Barb! It's hard at first but it's already getting better for me. I went through some wicked caffeine withdrawal and sugar withdrawal. I did it cold turkey, but you have the time to do things gradually, which is great! (I ate like a field hand right up to starting my liver reduction diet last Thursday - LOL! Not a good move!) You will do it!
  • LunaGuido
    LunaGuido Posts: 115 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    LunaGuido wrote: »
    Hi Everyone! I'm Jen and I'm having the RNY surgery on 2/19/15. I am going through the liver reduction diet right now and having a bit of a hard time. It's not being hungry, it's more the emotional side - missing certain foods, etc. Any advice from the veterans would be much appreciated! :)
    Had my surgery this past June. Treat these couple weeks as a science experiment. You want that liver small for a low risk surgery. You will be able to eat the foods you love again in time. I have few intolerances though my portions have changed.

    Thank you! I am really trying to focus on the long term. It's great to have your insight!
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    I've heard about prospective patients having a "last meal" before surgery. That idea just didn't appeal to me. A giant meal would not satisfy; I would be stuffed afterwards. It just doesn't honor the food IMO. I indulge by eating slowly, and I can continue to indulge after surgery, as long as the portion is small enough.

    Besides, you want that liver shrinkage before surgery to make it as risk free as possible.
  • ldobkins0513
    ldobkins0513 Posts: 2 Member
    I just had lab tests done thru a Vitality Program at work last Thursday. The results came in today and it really made me stop and wake up. I knew I was unhealthy. I have diabetes that doesn't seem to stay in healthy ranges no matter what I do, I'm severely overweight (obese), I knew my cholesterol had to be bad. But actually SEEING the numbers made it all seem so real. After fasting 12 hours, my blood glucose was still 290! My cholesterol (both good and bad) were at alert levels. I really HAVE to do something and change. I have 3 children at home that NEED me, I can't let them down.
    My sister and I have been talking about going to a seminar for the gastric bypass surgery and seeing what it was about for months. Well, we ARE scheduled to go this Wednesday. I really hope I am able to do this.
    What are some of the requirements in order to get the WLS? Did you have supportive spouses/family that helped make the life changing decision easier? Any thoughts/comments are appreciated. Thank you.
  • jenny0599
    jenny0599 Posts: 4 Member
    I had gastric bypass surgery 9/22/14. I am down 60 lbs and couldn't be any happier with my life changing decision. I am 39 and had uncontrolled type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease...I was not going to be around for my son, if I didn't make some changes. This is a major surgery and along with that comes risks. You hear about people that can't physically tolerate the changes to their body and systems to the people that are thrilled with their results...it's a 50/50 chance. I am happy with my results so far and not bothered by the things that are happening with my body and diet. The things I have sacrificed is well worth the exchange of being healthy and feeling alive. It's the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life. I've heard people say "you took the easy route"...they are so dead wrong!!! I have to have more self control now more than ever before my surgery. I can't drink carbonated drinks, certain meats/veggies/fruits, etc., if I do, I will get physically sick. Before surgery, yeah I could intake these things and run the risk of gaining weight. I would just tell myself, "I'll start eating and exercising better Monday", well Monday would come and go and no changes. After surgery, you learn to adjust and figure out what foods work for you. I have more will power now than I've had my whole life. The surgery is not a fix, it's a tool to "jumpstart" your weight loss journey. You have to make the permanent diet changes and you must eventually start exercising and once you've made the changes, you must stick with them the rest of your life or you can go back to your pre-surgery weight, and then some; I've witnessed this first hand with people around me and it scares the crap out of me!!!

    I had a major strep infection on one of my incisions a week after my surgery and it set me back a month. Pre-surgery, my family and I always ate out, we would eat fast food and go to regular sit down restaurants. This was one of the harder things to change in my family, they still wanted to eat fast food and go out to eat but in time, they've learned that I can't and don't want to eat the things outside my home that I choose. I can go to a sit down restaurant on special occasions. I pretty much have my usual tolerable meals at each of the restaurants now. My new body doesn't tolerate alcohol that well (I have dumping) so I limit my intake to only a few when out with friends on special occasions. I have been exercising the last two months and find myself feeling very guilty and missing my workouts if I miss a few days in the week (used to NEVER workout before this and had chronic leg and back pain, still do but it's minimal now). With all this, you learn to adjust the small things in your everyday life and it is so worth it!!!
  • MKEgal
    MKEgal Posts: 3,250 Member
    There are groups for this sort of topic.
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/groups
    .
    jenny0599 wrote:
    I had gastric bypass surgery 9/22/14. I am down 60 lbs and couldn't be any happier with my life changing decision...
    I have to have more self control now more than ever before my surgery. I can't drink carbonated drinks, certain meats/veggies/fruits, etc., if I do, I will get physically sick.
    Before surgery, yeah I could intake these things and run the risk of gaining weight. I would just tell myself, "I'll start eating and exercising better Monday", well Monday would come and go and no changes. After surgery, you learn to adjust and figure out what foods work for you. I have more will power now than I've had my whole life.
    So you couldn't have figured out what foods "work for you" without surgery?
    You didn't have the ability to control your intake before surgery?
    You couldn't have taken control of your life, stopped procrastinating getting healthy, without surgery?
    :confused::hushed::angry: :unamused:

    At my last checkup, my doctor introduced me to an intern who was doing his endocrinology rotation, a young doctor who'd never seen anyone succeed at losing weight without surgery, apparently didn't believe it was possible.
    It is.
    Doesn't take permanently wrecking my body for me to exercise willpower, learn to eat less & exercise more.
    .
    51637601.png
  • sliverqueen
    sliverqueen Posts: 13 Member
    Hi all. I had RNY 4 years ago this coming March. I lost 170 pounds, got pregnant gained 20, lost it, then regained 20 due to house selling issues. I'm getting back on track and have lost 12 of the 20. I would like to lose 65 more to be at my goal weight. I'm wearing the vivofit daily, exercising, and counting calories, protein, etc. Happy to help anyone with any questions and also looking to continue learning.
  • tat2cookie
    tat2cookie Posts: 1,899 Member
    I had the gastric sleeve 1/13/15. At my heaviest I was 249.9lbs I'm now down to 203.8lbs. It was a super hard choice, it took almost a year to get and its been a lot of hard work but I love my sleeve!
  • Hi everyone my name is Shannon and I'm in the beginners phase of everyone journey. I pray that all goes for me and all is well with everyone on the there journey.
  • CEK0220
    CEK0220 Posts: 171 Member
    Hey everyone. My surgery will happen on March 9th. I plan to have the RNY. It's taken me almost 15 years to get to the point where I was satisfied with my choice to have the surgery. I've tried so many tines to lose the weight, and have done just about every program out there. But I always manage to put it back on and then some. I am looking forward to having a tool that will assist me in a way that nothing else has. I have type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, which I pray will be resolved with this surgery. In addition I have a hiatal hernia that will be repaired at the same time. No more GERD!! I am currently in the liver shrinking diet stage. 900 calories, 30 grams of carbs, a day, but amazingly, I am not hungry at all. The only problem I've had was a little low energy the first couple of days. I'm excited for my journey!
  • Congratulations on your new journey. I know you'll be great.
  • meganjcallaghan
    meganjcallaghan Posts: 949 Member
    MKEgal wrote: »
    There are groups for this sort of topic.
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/groups
    .
    jenny0599 wrote:
    I had gastric bypass surgery 9/22/14. I am down 60 lbs and couldn't be any happier with my life changing decision...
    I have to have more self control now more than ever before my surgery. I can't drink carbonated drinks, certain meats/veggies/fruits, etc., if I do, I will get physically sick.
    Before surgery, yeah I could intake these things and run the risk of gaining weight. I would just tell myself, "I'll start eating and exercising better Monday", well Monday would come and go and no changes. After surgery, you learn to adjust and figure out what foods work for you. I have more will power now than I've had my whole life.
    So you couldn't have figured out what foods "work for you" without surgery?
    You didn't have the ability to control your intake before surgery?
    You couldn't have taken control of your life, stopped procrastinating getting healthy, without surgery?
    :confused::hushed::angry: :unamused:

    At my last checkup, my doctor introduced me to an intern who was doing his endocrinology rotation, a young doctor who'd never seen anyone succeed at losing weight without surgery, apparently didn't believe it was possible.
    It is.
    Doesn't take permanently wrecking my body for me to exercise willpower, learn to eat less & exercise more.
    .
    51637601.png

    of course it's possible without surgery. I lost over 170 in a fairly short period of time without...but bashing people for choosing an alternative route? preeeetty sure that's not what this thread is for ;)
  • LunaGuido
    LunaGuido Posts: 115 Member
    MKEgal wrote: »
    There are groups for this sort of topic.
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/groups
    .
    jenny0599 wrote:
    I had gastric bypass surgery 9/22/14. I am down 60 lbs and couldn't be any happier with my life changing decision...
    I have to have more self control now more than ever before my surgery. I can't drink carbonated drinks, certain meats/veggies/fruits, etc., if I do, I will get physically sick.
    Before surgery, yeah I could intake these things and run the risk of gaining weight. I would just tell myself, "I'll start eating and exercising better Monday", well Monday would come and go and no changes. After surgery, you learn to adjust and figure out what foods work for you. I have more will power now than I've had my whole life.
    So you couldn't have figured out what foods "work for you" without surgery?
    You didn't have the ability to control your intake before surgery?
    You couldn't have taken control of your life, stopped procrastinating getting healthy, without surgery?
    :confused::hushed::angry: :unamused:

    At my last checkup, my doctor introduced me to an intern who was doing his endocrinology rotation, a young doctor who'd never seen anyone succeed at losing weight without surgery, apparently didn't believe it was possible.
    It is.
    Doesn't take permanently wrecking my body for me to exercise willpower, learn to eat less & exercise more.
    .
    51637601.png

    of course it's possible without surgery. I lost over 170 in a fairly short period of time without...but bashing people for choosing an alternative route? preeeetty sure that's not what this thread is for ;)

    Thank you.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    @ldobkins0513 What are some of the requirements in order to get the WLS? Did you have supportive spouses/family that helped make the life changing decision easier? Any thoughts/comments are appreciated.

    Each clinic will have it's own requirements. Mine takes patients with a BMI of 35 or higher, and there can't be serious mental health issues that might interfere with the discipline of aftercare. I was also required to take a series of nutrition classes and demonstrate that I could lose weight from diet restriction alone.

    My family's reaction was mixed, and my daughter was opposed to it. My husband simply let me do what I wanted and over the months I have come to value that more and more. This is a life-changing surgery so don't be surprised if it changes relationships. Because you will be a changed person. You may no longer be a wallflower or a doormat for instance. The great people in your life will be thrilled for those changes, and the unhealthy people may have to go by the wayside.
    @jenny0599 You hear about people that can't physically tolerate the changes to their body and systems to the people that are thrilled with their results...it's a 50/50 chance
    I can guarantee the risk ratio is much lower than 50/50 otherwise the medical community would never go through with this sort of radical surgery. Of the hundreds of patients in my city that I've met, there's several rejects from the program and one failure from surgery. The failure will need to go on a feeding tube soon.

    @meganjcallaghan, thank you

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/637-gastric-bypass-vsg-lapband

    @‌ MKegal :confused::hushed::angry: :unamused:
    You realize your questions sound like a drill sergeant's? Few people undertake this solution without fully exploring their options. I am the most sober of women, mature, in my fifties. If "will power" alone would have done it, I'd have followed that route long ago. You are welcome to follow your path to full success. Allow me and these fine people to follow theirs.
  • EvanKeel
    EvanKeel Posts: 1,904 Member
    People aren't very aware of their biases sometimes. There seems to be an underlying perception that WLS is taking the "easy way out." While I have not had WLS, I have researched it, including listening to people who have had it. Generally people don't describe the recovery and life changes afterwards as being "easy."

    For most people, going down the WLS path still takes effort even to get the process started.

    I'm not sure we should really be judging people harshly for taking steps to improve their health just because it's not the choice that works for other people.
This discussion has been closed.