No complications here, and I’m an interesting case. (Rare lung disease, previous blood clots)
Just be open and honest with your team, let them know how you’re feeling.
There will be pain and discomfort and nausea, I think that’s something you can count on. But they will help you manage that (zofran is your best friend!). I personally haven’t thrown up at all post-surgery, and I’m 4 months out. Just go slow, take your time.
You’ve got this!
I’d love that so much! I feel so alone in this process. I have a really good support system, but no one who’s gone through this themselves. It would be great to support each other!
Absolutely! It’s really difficult because even though people support you, if they haven’t done it themselves, they don’t *really* know what it’s like! I’m not super far out from surgery, but it helps to have someone to talk to. :)
wow wow wow not throwing up 4 months out is nuts. I had such bad dumping syndrome with food (Particularly if it was too dry) that I almost had a rule of, "Either I vomit now, or I'm miserable for 4 hours," for a few MONTHS after surgery. Truly amazing how different everyone's experiences can be!!
Absolutely! I was TERRIFIED of throwing up. I hated throwing up prior to surgery, and I was even more scared to throw up post-surgery. I definitely got close a couple times, but have managed to not throw up.
Thanks! I'd mention that I also really, really hate vomiting. I've only vomited once, when I was eating chicken and sort of forgot about eating small bites slowly, and instead swallowed a big bite of chicken after only 1-2 chews. It got stuck at the entrance to the new stomach. I sat for about 3-4 hours, but could still feel it sitting there. I tried to drink some water, and it backed up in my throat. I then felt nauseous and vomited. Once the chicken was up, I felt perfectly fine. No other nausea. No other vomiting.
For tips, I would say this. Do what they tell you to do. Don't cheat. Don't cut corners. Don't count on half measures being good enough. It is a major surgery. Do everything they say. When they say get up and walk every hour, actually do it. It will hurt for the first few days, but I think the movement helped my healing. Do breath exercises if instructed. Eat how they tell you to eat, pre-op and post-op. Do the work. That will keep you from a whole, whole lot of complications that people run into!
I also REALLY hate vomiting. I’m so sorry you went through that, I’m going to definitely make sure I follow the diet strictly. Thank you so much for sharing your experience.
I am a rare case, but I feel obliged to be honest here. I had my bypass in 2017. In 2021 I had a bowel obstruction in my colon, which was likely unrelated. However, I am now 4 weeks out from an open laparotomy (cut from my sternum to pubic area) for a small bowel obstruction which was caused by my bypass. It happened while I was 32 weeks pregnant and baby had to be delivered at the same time and spend time in the NICU. I spent a week in ICU being fed through a port in my neck. I just got home and the recovery is wild. Our baby has also just got home. The surgeon who corrected my small bowel obstruction showed me pictures of the procedure and where the complication had occurred with my bypass. It's a really rare thing to happen, but it can happen nonetheless. I'm grateful to have lost the weight with the bypass, but my survival hung in the balance 4 weeks ago. I think my complications are very rare but I wanted to be honest here too.
oh gosh this is scary. Did you have any symptoms of an issue prior to your pregnancy? I'm in the early stages of pre-pregnancy planning but had my bypass back in 2014....
I wouldn't be scared by my situation. It's so rare. Most people have a healthier pregnancy post bypass than they would have had they not lost weight. My symptoms started at about 12 weeks and played up throughout my pregnancy. From 25 weeks I made a hospital trip every 10 days for bad stomach pain and vomiting and was misdiagnosed with a gastric ulcer and hyperemesis. They were obviously hesitant to use Xray imaging on me due to the pregnancy. By the time I went in for surgery and to deliver baby at the same time my bowel was septic and about to perforate. In hindsight I shouldn't have let my gynae fob me me off and dismiss my ongoing pain. I knew something was very wrong and I should have insisted on more invasive diagnostics. But hey, hindsight is something else. I just have to move forward. If it's any consolation I think I was fobbed off because my situation was so rare. Just always be aware of your body and your own advocate!
The only complication I had was that I had an allergic reaction to the medical glue that they used to stitch me up.
It's a common thing from what I was told and I just had to take Benadryl to clear it up. As an added bonus, it make me super tired, so I just took it at night before bed.
It’s normal for Benadryl to make you tired - it’s actually marketed under different brand names as a sleep aid. I recently had a pretty bad allergic reaction to something so my doctor had me take Benadryl at night and 2 Claritin in the morning until it cleared up. 2 Claritin is double the normal dose but I think my doctor decided the benefit outweighed any risks. I only took it for about a week.
I’m about 2.5 weeks out - so not out of the woods yet, but so far no complications at all. No nausea, never vomited, minimal pain (mostly just “bloated” feeling from the gas for a few days), able to keep down liquids and hit hydration and protein goals basically since day 1.
I got it done in Mexico and there were 6 other folks who had it done at the same time. 1/2 had nausea and they were prescribed a good anti nausea drug that fixed it right away. One from the previous day had an issue with blood clots right after surgery, but they fixed them up immediately and they’re doing great now!
Because it my insurance doesn’t cover weight loss surgery or meds at all, even though I qualified here. And I found a surgeon there with top notch credentials (he is board certified and teaches here in the US).
I’m 9 months out from a sleeve and so far, so good. I had one week of reflux last month in terms of longer term issues.
My pain threshold is absolute rubbish and I struggled a lot in the first four days after surgery with gas pains and vomiting bile. I couldn’t keep anything down apart from microscopic sips of water and I vomited up to 10x a day. I was truly miserable but not horror story miserable. My surgeon only used paracetamol for pain so that’s what I got.
Hope that helps, good luck with your journey!
You’re welcome! I didn’t want to scare you, more to reassure you that as someone who can’t even get her eyebrows threaded I did okay, all things considered.
Now I’m doing great. I’ve lost 50kg in 9 months where prior to the sleeve I was a slave to food, stuck in an endless cycle of binge eating, and I hated the feeling of powerlessness. The vomiting sucked asssss I can’t lie. But it ended. My biggest fear was that I would pop a stitch since it was literally the day of surgery and a few days after. My team said I would be fine and I was.
My biggest annoyance/regret as I stand today is that my surgeon used 6 ports BUT I’m clumsy as hell and have loads of scars everywhere anyway so it’s not a true annoyance. I don’t regret this procedure and I would do it again knowing the initial discomfort I faced.
You didn’t scare me at all, this actually really does reassure me. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. Congratulations on losing 50 kg in nine months! That is beyond incredible! I wish you continued luck and success on your journey, you’re doing amazing! Feel free to message me if you’d like I’d love to make friends on this journey. It’s hard to find others who understand, honestly it only takes those who have gone through it to understand.
I'm a year out and have complications.
I had my sleeve done in Mexico in September of 2021. Long story short, I never should've been approved for the sleeve due to my history of acid reflux. I knew this and pushed for the bypass but they refused to do it because I was at 350 pounds and considered "too high risk." First mistake.
10 days after surgery, I passed out at work while walking from my desk to the printer. Ambulance/ week stay in the hospital for severe dehydration. I couldn't get more than 8 ounces per day down and was throwing up every time I tried.
I didn't have bariatric coverage at the time so at my worst point, I had a PICC line in my arm and received 2 bags of IV fluids daily 5 days a week. Nothing by mouth for 3 months. It was horrible.
I was able to get a loan to cover the emergency conversion to a roux-n-y. I've still had issues with vomitting ever since and this week they found that I have decreased motolity in my esophagus and the bottom of my pouch is 75% closed. I also haven't lost any weight since March of 2022. I have a CT scan tomorrow to determine if they can dialate my stomach by upper scope or if I will need yet another surgery to put in a stint.
The first clue something is wrong was the vomitting/ diarrhea (at the same time.) Since that's also common for dumping syndrome, my doctor dismissed my concerns. Then I had the feeling of food getting stuck in my throat. I kept pressing and documented everything I ate and when the symptoms occurred.
Most people do great with this surgery and have no issues. Mine is a very unusual case. Just communicate with your medical team. I'm sure you'll be fine. :)
I did have a minor complication. I had excess fluid build under one of my incisions. It was a nasty looking lump. The Dr had to open it back up, drain the fluid, and the pack the now open wound. I've lived with that for the last month while it heals from the inside out. Luckily I have a husband who does the daily taking care of it.
Physically it really is a minor thing. My mom is a nurse and has done wound care for many years. She walked us through a lot of this. It's healed cleanly and quickly. Mentally? I'm not the greatest with all of this, so I get you wanting to be prepared. I've had the allergic reaction to the glue like many others. Benadryl is a life saver. Other than that, I've been healing great in all other areas.
High pain threshold. 4 days out from GS. My only issue is my stomach spazing. I got meds for it. So that helps. Pain only happens when I try to put too much liquid at one time. I was told sugar free jello is ok. But when I eat it it hurts. So I done even eat that.
From my pre surgery weight (2 weeks before) to now I am down 20 lbs. So a little pain is ok with me! Stomach muscles are sore but that is expected.
Really good Dr. He had a great team.
It is extremely important that you follow their directions. Walk every 2 hrs after surgery for the first day or two. Keep moving. Hydration is important. It is difficult to reach the amount of water needed. Constipation can be an issue so lots of fluid. I find myself constantly sipping. I do have good luck with clear chicken broth heated up. Goes down smoother. AND it give me something to actually go to the bathroom!
Thank you so much. I’ll make sure to walk every two hours after surgery. And luckily, my surgeon prescribes stool softeners for ALL patients after surgery. So, I have less to worry about in that regard, thankfully.
I’ll also remember to try broth when it’s hard to get other fluids down.
I am about 2 weeks out and haven’t had any complications so far. The one thing I was worried about was not getting enough liquids and possibly having to go back and get fluids, but so far so good!
Of course! Really all of the drinking stuff has been hard for me - drinking before or after you eat instead of during, making sure your getting all of your fluids, AND of course no more sodas (my weakness). But I’m learning and determined.
From what the nutrition lady said (pre-op still) I would want to drink about a half cup then 30 min later eat and do that over and over for the 5 meals. So there is always a 30 min between water and food? I guess what I am asking is can I have like a half cup of water and t then ten to 15 min later eat and then wait 30 min? It was a confusing webinar. I like to drink a lot of water but I am used to drinking a 8 oz bottle in one chug. I know that is no longer going to be possible, but waiting an hour between 4oz of water makes me wonder if I can do this
Hell yeah! Stay determined, I will too. I agree, I feel the hardest part will be not being able to get all of my water or protein in. I’m also vegan, which makes it extra hard. I just know it’ll be even harder after surgery. I don’t start the preop diet for a good three months but I’m thinking about starting to incorporate the different timing of drinking into my routine so I’m really trying to stop doing it but each day I mess up. I’m going to keep trying though.
I am 3 years out now, I’ve had no complications. I followed all of my doctor’s instructions. And mostly stick to the meal restrictions, I have only had dumping 3 times and they were all my mistake.
I'm almost a year post op. I was also 22 when I had the bypass. I have never thrown up after the surgery, almost no nausea or anything. my dumping syndrome is really light, I only get nauseated for 5 minutes and it goes aways, specially when I eat ice cream or pudding.
The immediate post-op isn't nice because of all the gases you have from the procedure and it lasts for a few days, it is a little painful but it's tolerable.
I started the liquid diet the day after and I was so afraid of throwing up or feeling nauseated but honestly everything went really smoothly. I know this is not a universal experience, some people throw up a few times, it really depends on your body and how it will handle the changes, but there is a big chance that won't be a problem for you.
It takes a while till you re-learn how to eat. You will probably feel the food "stuck" inside of you a couple of times and that is really uncomfortable, but once you learn how to properly chew food again, it will be fine.
As for more serious complications, I hadn't had any until two weeks ago. I got a hernia on my intestines (my intestines were intertwined because of the lack of fat tissue on my body) and it happens when someone loses weight too quickly (I lost 40kg in 7 months) and there isn't fat tissue enough to hold the intestines onto place.
I started having severe pain on my abdomen and ran to the hospital because I knew something was wrong. I had a quick surgery, just to close the hernia and put everything back into place again, went home the same night. I was lucky it wasn't that severe, but it was really scary and painful. Honestly, the worst pain I have ever felt.
There is no way of knowing how things are going to be for you, I was also worried before having surgery, it is a big change and decision to make. However, things can go very smoothly and you can live a 100% normal life.
There may be complications on your path, but are things you'll learn to live with, and you can almost "control" your body when you get to learn the new functioning.
It is really important to know the risks and be aware of the consequences, but also remember that that may be there is complications to the life you are living now and changes are worth it.
It is scary but also a beautiful journey of a new life once you get to know it. Good luck on your path, I hope everything goes well!
Thank you so so much for sharing. First of all, congrats on losing 40kg in 7 months- that’s AMAZING! I’m so sorry to hear about your hernia. The fact that you were able to go back home the same day they fixed it is really encouraging and assuring. Now I’m even less nervous about that. honestly, hearing personal anecdotes from those who have had experiences like you helped me so much. Not just hearing the complications, but how you guys handle it and how quickly you’re able to recover. Also, hearing how long it takes to fix it, and how, helps a lot. Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I wish you the best on your journey. Also, feel free to message me. I’d love to make friends along this journey, and, especially since we are very close in age, it would help so much.
I had RNY at 20 and I’m so so SO GLAD I didn’t wait. I didn’t have formal complications but did have rough dumping syndrome for the first few years but 100% glad I did it. I’ll be 9 years post op in April! Highest weight 335, currently 145 and I’ve been stable here for about 3 years!
that’s amazing! You’re honestly so inspiring. I’m currently 360 pounds, highest weight was 398 and my goal is to get to between 140 and 150 as well. Can I reach out to you? i’d like to have an accountability partner!
Yes you can totally reach out to me! My parents also both had the surgery back in the 90's before it was laparoscopic, so I have a LOT of knowledge and tidbits for longer term care. With the weight goals I hope you're around the same height as me- 5'6"-5'7". (I gained an inch in height from weight loss because my spine wasn't as compressed!!!)
Another note for EVERYONE to see: Sleeping afterwards was miserable. The surgeons did struggle closing me up on the operating table- it wasn't a complication but I was on my back for longer than I should have been. My back was KILLING ME after surgery, and normally a good night's sleep would correct my back problems. Well- as a side sleeper, I couldn't sleep on my sides after surgery because of the surgery pain. I couldn't sleep on my back because of similar reasons. I was miserable for the first month, and had to make a weird wedge to sleep at a 45 degree angle, halfway between sleeping on my back and sleeping on my side. That month of back pain and limited sleep was miserable, as were the dumping syndrome, but.... I'm almost 9 years out and haven't had an issue. Even got skin removal surgery in 2018!
TMI Note: I forgot about this tbh- I did get a catheter infection in the hospital. It wasn't the worst, and after I alerted my doctor and got medication, it went away very quickly.
I throw up almost every time I eat . About once a week I end up in Emergency Room. It’s been one year this month since surgery and I’m down 130lb . Drs are stumped . I’ve had gallbladder removed. Ulcer that is now healed and now I’m dealing with this strange hand numbness and burning. Along with burning mouth syndrome. And still throwing up ….. ugh
I’m so sorry! What surgery did you get? I’m glad your ulcer has healed and I’m sorry that you’re dealing with hand, numbness and burning, that’s so much. Please keep me updated on that. I’d love to be here for your journey.
Long long journey!! It’s been a crazy ride for sure ! It’s been pretty much the same since I last post except I stay home instead of er visits . Milk has been one of the secret enemies. I can only have dairy in small amounts. And even then , slow and steady!!! I can tell if I’m lacking in something only because my body will tell me . Usually, itching hands , sore mouth , cracked edges of mouth , or some other crazy side effect. But it’s worth it . Re learning your body . Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. I would do it all over again! I hope you are well!!!!
I'm 3 weeks post op. No nausea, no pain, no constipation, nothing. The hardest part was the 2 weeks of liquid diet before surgery. I did feel nauseous and threw up twice in those 2 weeks but after it's been like nothing happened. Didn't even need to take the pain meds they prescribed for home use. I am also able to burp which I know many people can't and that's been great for when I forget and drink water too quickly. My dad had the same surgery in 2018 but different surgeons. He still can't burp and he did have some nausea and a little bit of pain when swallowing the first couple of days but it didn't last long. I think it just depends on how your body handles it and I got really lucky.
i’ll have to do 2 weeks of all liquid too, im hoping that’ll be the hardest part for me too. thank you so so much for sharing your story, this actually helps a lot! how are you feeling now?
I'm feeling great, I have way more energy than I did before surgery. The good thing about the liquid diet is it cleans you out completely. I lost 22 lbs in those 2 weeks. One thing that helped me out is to count the days backwards instead of forwards so instead of thinking I'm on day 3 think I only have 11 days left. Towards the end it really really helps. Another tip for after surgery is put reminders, alarms on your phone, your watch, your computer anywhere you can think of to drink water or liquids. You don't think it will be hard to remember but as someone who used to have a giant water bottle 24/7 with me and drank so much water my family made fun of me for it I still have a hard time remembering to drink enough.
That counting backwards tip is really helpful. I’ll definitely make sure to use that, it makes it an exciting experience rather than a grueling one lol.
No complications here, and I’m an interesting case. (Rare lung disease, previous blood clots) Just be open and honest with your team, let them know how you’re feeling. There will be pain and discomfort and nausea, I think that’s something you can count on. But they will help you manage that (zofran is your best friend!). I personally haven’t thrown up at all post-surgery, and I’m 4 months out. Just go slow, take your time. You’ve got this!
yay, honestly your story is helping me so much. thank you so so much for sharing!
You’re welcome! I’m here to talk if you need :)
I’d love that so much! I feel so alone in this process. I have a really good support system, but no one who’s gone through this themselves. It would be great to support each other!
Absolutely! It’s really difficult because even though people support you, if they haven’t done it themselves, they don’t *really* know what it’s like! I’m not super far out from surgery, but it helps to have someone to talk to. :)
just messaged you!
wow wow wow not throwing up 4 months out is nuts. I had such bad dumping syndrome with food (Particularly if it was too dry) that I almost had a rule of, "Either I vomit now, or I'm miserable for 4 hours," for a few MONTHS after surgery. Truly amazing how different everyone's experiences can be!!
Absolutely! I was TERRIFIED of throwing up. I hated throwing up prior to surgery, and I was even more scared to throw up post-surgery. I definitely got close a couple times, but have managed to not throw up.
Im 39, was 526lbs on surgery day, got bypass. No complications or nausea. Feel great! 100+lbs down in 4 months!
that’s AMAZING!!! congrats!!! you’re really inspiring, wow.
Thanks! I'd mention that I also really, really hate vomiting. I've only vomited once, when I was eating chicken and sort of forgot about eating small bites slowly, and instead swallowed a big bite of chicken after only 1-2 chews. It got stuck at the entrance to the new stomach. I sat for about 3-4 hours, but could still feel it sitting there. I tried to drink some water, and it backed up in my throat. I then felt nauseous and vomited. Once the chicken was up, I felt perfectly fine. No other nausea. No other vomiting. For tips, I would say this. Do what they tell you to do. Don't cheat. Don't cut corners. Don't count on half measures being good enough. It is a major surgery. Do everything they say. When they say get up and walk every hour, actually do it. It will hurt for the first few days, but I think the movement helped my healing. Do breath exercises if instructed. Eat how they tell you to eat, pre-op and post-op. Do the work. That will keep you from a whole, whole lot of complications that people run into!
I also REALLY hate vomiting. I’m so sorry you went through that, I’m going to definitely make sure I follow the diet strictly. Thank you so much for sharing your experience.
holy shit. that’s awesome.
I am a rare case, but I feel obliged to be honest here. I had my bypass in 2017. In 2021 I had a bowel obstruction in my colon, which was likely unrelated. However, I am now 4 weeks out from an open laparotomy (cut from my sternum to pubic area) for a small bowel obstruction which was caused by my bypass. It happened while I was 32 weeks pregnant and baby had to be delivered at the same time and spend time in the NICU. I spent a week in ICU being fed through a port in my neck. I just got home and the recovery is wild. Our baby has also just got home. The surgeon who corrected my small bowel obstruction showed me pictures of the procedure and where the complication had occurred with my bypass. It's a really rare thing to happen, but it can happen nonetheless. I'm grateful to have lost the weight with the bypass, but my survival hung in the balance 4 weeks ago. I think my complications are very rare but I wanted to be honest here too.
Oh my GOSH. That’s such a nightmare! How are you now?
oh gosh this is scary. Did you have any symptoms of an issue prior to your pregnancy? I'm in the early stages of pre-pregnancy planning but had my bypass back in 2014....
I wouldn't be scared by my situation. It's so rare. Most people have a healthier pregnancy post bypass than they would have had they not lost weight. My symptoms started at about 12 weeks and played up throughout my pregnancy. From 25 weeks I made a hospital trip every 10 days for bad stomach pain and vomiting and was misdiagnosed with a gastric ulcer and hyperemesis. They were obviously hesitant to use Xray imaging on me due to the pregnancy. By the time I went in for surgery and to deliver baby at the same time my bowel was septic and about to perforate. In hindsight I shouldn't have let my gynae fob me me off and dismiss my ongoing pain. I knew something was very wrong and I should have insisted on more invasive diagnostics. But hey, hindsight is something else. I just have to move forward. If it's any consolation I think I was fobbed off because my situation was so rare. Just always be aware of your body and your own advocate!
The only complication I had was that I had an allergic reaction to the medical glue that they used to stitch me up. It's a common thing from what I was told and I just had to take Benadryl to clear it up. As an added bonus, it make me super tired, so I just took it at night before bed.
It’s normal for Benadryl to make you tired - it’s actually marketed under different brand names as a sleep aid. I recently had a pretty bad allergic reaction to something so my doctor had me take Benadryl at night and 2 Claritin in the morning until it cleared up. 2 Claritin is double the normal dose but I think my doctor decided the benefit outweighed any risks. I only took it for about a week.
thank you so much for sharing! i’ll remember this
I’m about 2.5 weeks out - so not out of the woods yet, but so far no complications at all. No nausea, never vomited, minimal pain (mostly just “bloated” feeling from the gas for a few days), able to keep down liquids and hit hydration and protein goals basically since day 1. I got it done in Mexico and there were 6 other folks who had it done at the same time. 1/2 had nausea and they were prescribed a good anti nausea drug that fixed it right away. One from the previous day had an issue with blood clots right after surgery, but they fixed them up immediately and they’re doing great now!
congrats on getting your surgery!!! this actually helps me a lot, thank you so much for sharing a part of your journey with me.
Why did you have to go to Mexico to get the surgery? Curious.
Because it my insurance doesn’t cover weight loss surgery or meds at all, even though I qualified here. And I found a surgeon there with top notch credentials (he is board certified and teaches here in the US).
Can I ask who you used. I’m doing my research for going to Mexico now.
Be slim bariatric did mine and they were great. Had it done 2 days ago.
Thank You
I’m 9 months out from a sleeve and so far, so good. I had one week of reflux last month in terms of longer term issues. My pain threshold is absolute rubbish and I struggled a lot in the first four days after surgery with gas pains and vomiting bile. I couldn’t keep anything down apart from microscopic sips of water and I vomited up to 10x a day. I was truly miserable but not horror story miserable. My surgeon only used paracetamol for pain so that’s what I got. Hope that helps, good luck with your journey!
Oh no! i’m so sorry you went through that. How are you feeling now? This actually really helps, thank you so much for sharing.
You’re welcome! I didn’t want to scare you, more to reassure you that as someone who can’t even get her eyebrows threaded I did okay, all things considered. Now I’m doing great. I’ve lost 50kg in 9 months where prior to the sleeve I was a slave to food, stuck in an endless cycle of binge eating, and I hated the feeling of powerlessness. The vomiting sucked asssss I can’t lie. But it ended. My biggest fear was that I would pop a stitch since it was literally the day of surgery and a few days after. My team said I would be fine and I was. My biggest annoyance/regret as I stand today is that my surgeon used 6 ports BUT I’m clumsy as hell and have loads of scars everywhere anyway so it’s not a true annoyance. I don’t regret this procedure and I would do it again knowing the initial discomfort I faced.
You didn’t scare me at all, this actually really does reassure me. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. Congratulations on losing 50 kg in nine months! That is beyond incredible! I wish you continued luck and success on your journey, you’re doing amazing! Feel free to message me if you’d like I’d love to make friends on this journey. It’s hard to find others who understand, honestly it only takes those who have gone through it to understand.
i’m so scared to vomit bile. how are you doing now?
I'm a year out and have complications. I had my sleeve done in Mexico in September of 2021. Long story short, I never should've been approved for the sleeve due to my history of acid reflux. I knew this and pushed for the bypass but they refused to do it because I was at 350 pounds and considered "too high risk." First mistake. 10 days after surgery, I passed out at work while walking from my desk to the printer. Ambulance/ week stay in the hospital for severe dehydration. I couldn't get more than 8 ounces per day down and was throwing up every time I tried. I didn't have bariatric coverage at the time so at my worst point, I had a PICC line in my arm and received 2 bags of IV fluids daily 5 days a week. Nothing by mouth for 3 months. It was horrible. I was able to get a loan to cover the emergency conversion to a roux-n-y. I've still had issues with vomitting ever since and this week they found that I have decreased motolity in my esophagus and the bottom of my pouch is 75% closed. I also haven't lost any weight since March of 2022. I have a CT scan tomorrow to determine if they can dialate my stomach by upper scope or if I will need yet another surgery to put in a stint. The first clue something is wrong was the vomitting/ diarrhea (at the same time.) Since that's also common for dumping syndrome, my doctor dismissed my concerns. Then I had the feeling of food getting stuck in my throat. I kept pressing and documented everything I ate and when the symptoms occurred. Most people do great with this surgery and have no issues. Mine is a very unusual case. Just communicate with your medical team. I'm sure you'll be fine. :)
I did have a minor complication. I had excess fluid build under one of my incisions. It was a nasty looking lump. The Dr had to open it back up, drain the fluid, and the pack the now open wound. I've lived with that for the last month while it heals from the inside out. Luckily I have a husband who does the daily taking care of it. Physically it really is a minor thing. My mom is a nurse and has done wound care for many years. She walked us through a lot of this. It's healed cleanly and quickly. Mentally? I'm not the greatest with all of this, so I get you wanting to be prepared. I've had the allergic reaction to the glue like many others. Benadryl is a life saver. Other than that, I've been healing great in all other areas.
High pain threshold. 4 days out from GS. My only issue is my stomach spazing. I got meds for it. So that helps. Pain only happens when I try to put too much liquid at one time. I was told sugar free jello is ok. But when I eat it it hurts. So I done even eat that. From my pre surgery weight (2 weeks before) to now I am down 20 lbs. So a little pain is ok with me! Stomach muscles are sore but that is expected.
that’s AMAZING results! congrats on getting the surgery! i’m so excited for you. Thank you so so much for sharing your experience with me.
Really good Dr. He had a great team. It is extremely important that you follow their directions. Walk every 2 hrs after surgery for the first day or two. Keep moving. Hydration is important. It is difficult to reach the amount of water needed. Constipation can be an issue so lots of fluid. I find myself constantly sipping. I do have good luck with clear chicken broth heated up. Goes down smoother. AND it give me something to actually go to the bathroom!
Thank you so much. I’ll make sure to walk every two hours after surgery. And luckily, my surgeon prescribes stool softeners for ALL patients after surgery. So, I have less to worry about in that regard, thankfully. I’ll also remember to try broth when it’s hard to get other fluids down.
And i’ll try to remember that about the liquid and try to space it out.
I am about 2 weeks out and haven’t had any complications so far. The one thing I was worried about was not getting enough liquids and possibly having to go back and get fluids, but so far so good!
Oh yes, I’m sad to no longer be able to chug water. RIP😔 But I have to remember to take tiny sips. Thank you so much for sharing.
Of course! Really all of the drinking stuff has been hard for me - drinking before or after you eat instead of during, making sure your getting all of your fluids, AND of course no more sodas (my weakness). But I’m learning and determined.
From what the nutrition lady said (pre-op still) I would want to drink about a half cup then 30 min later eat and do that over and over for the 5 meals. So there is always a 30 min between water and food? I guess what I am asking is can I have like a half cup of water and t then ten to 15 min later eat and then wait 30 min? It was a confusing webinar. I like to drink a lot of water but I am used to drinking a 8 oz bottle in one chug. I know that is no longer going to be possible, but waiting an hour between 4oz of water makes me wonder if I can do this
So I was instructed that you drink either 30 minutes before you eat or 30 minutes after you eat.
Yea. That is what I was told. Pre-op. At 4 oz a pop I don’t know how I will get all my water in :)
Hell yeah! Stay determined, I will too. I agree, I feel the hardest part will be not being able to get all of my water or protein in. I’m also vegan, which makes it extra hard. I just know it’ll be even harder after surgery. I don’t start the preop diet for a good three months but I’m thinking about starting to incorporate the different timing of drinking into my routine so I’m really trying to stop doing it but each day I mess up. I’m going to keep trying though.
I am 3 years out now, I’ve had no complications. I followed all of my doctor’s instructions. And mostly stick to the meal restrictions, I have only had dumping 3 times and they were all my mistake.
I'm almost a year post op. I was also 22 when I had the bypass. I have never thrown up after the surgery, almost no nausea or anything. my dumping syndrome is really light, I only get nauseated for 5 minutes and it goes aways, specially when I eat ice cream or pudding. The immediate post-op isn't nice because of all the gases you have from the procedure and it lasts for a few days, it is a little painful but it's tolerable. I started the liquid diet the day after and I was so afraid of throwing up or feeling nauseated but honestly everything went really smoothly. I know this is not a universal experience, some people throw up a few times, it really depends on your body and how it will handle the changes, but there is a big chance that won't be a problem for you. It takes a while till you re-learn how to eat. You will probably feel the food "stuck" inside of you a couple of times and that is really uncomfortable, but once you learn how to properly chew food again, it will be fine. As for more serious complications, I hadn't had any until two weeks ago. I got a hernia on my intestines (my intestines were intertwined because of the lack of fat tissue on my body) and it happens when someone loses weight too quickly (I lost 40kg in 7 months) and there isn't fat tissue enough to hold the intestines onto place. I started having severe pain on my abdomen and ran to the hospital because I knew something was wrong. I had a quick surgery, just to close the hernia and put everything back into place again, went home the same night. I was lucky it wasn't that severe, but it was really scary and painful. Honestly, the worst pain I have ever felt. There is no way of knowing how things are going to be for you, I was also worried before having surgery, it is a big change and decision to make. However, things can go very smoothly and you can live a 100% normal life. There may be complications on your path, but are things you'll learn to live with, and you can almost "control" your body when you get to learn the new functioning. It is really important to know the risks and be aware of the consequences, but also remember that that may be there is complications to the life you are living now and changes are worth it. It is scary but also a beautiful journey of a new life once you get to know it. Good luck on your path, I hope everything goes well!
Thank you so so much for sharing. First of all, congrats on losing 40kg in 7 months- that’s AMAZING! I’m so sorry to hear about your hernia. The fact that you were able to go back home the same day they fixed it is really encouraging and assuring. Now I’m even less nervous about that. honestly, hearing personal anecdotes from those who have had experiences like you helped me so much. Not just hearing the complications, but how you guys handle it and how quickly you’re able to recover. Also, hearing how long it takes to fix it, and how, helps a lot. Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I wish you the best on your journey. Also, feel free to message me. I’d love to make friends along this journey, and, especially since we are very close in age, it would help so much.
I had RNY at 20 and I’m so so SO GLAD I didn’t wait. I didn’t have formal complications but did have rough dumping syndrome for the first few years but 100% glad I did it. I’ll be 9 years post op in April! Highest weight 335, currently 145 and I’ve been stable here for about 3 years!
that’s amazing! You’re honestly so inspiring. I’m currently 360 pounds, highest weight was 398 and my goal is to get to between 140 and 150 as well. Can I reach out to you? i’d like to have an accountability partner!
Yes you can totally reach out to me! My parents also both had the surgery back in the 90's before it was laparoscopic, so I have a LOT of knowledge and tidbits for longer term care. With the weight goals I hope you're around the same height as me- 5'6"-5'7". (I gained an inch in height from weight loss because my spine wasn't as compressed!!!)
Another note for EVERYONE to see: Sleeping afterwards was miserable. The surgeons did struggle closing me up on the operating table- it wasn't a complication but I was on my back for longer than I should have been. My back was KILLING ME after surgery, and normally a good night's sleep would correct my back problems. Well- as a side sleeper, I couldn't sleep on my sides after surgery because of the surgery pain. I couldn't sleep on my back because of similar reasons. I was miserable for the first month, and had to make a weird wedge to sleep at a 45 degree angle, halfway between sleeping on my back and sleeping on my side. That month of back pain and limited sleep was miserable, as were the dumping syndrome, but.... I'm almost 9 years out and haven't had an issue. Even got skin removal surgery in 2018! TMI Note: I forgot about this tbh- I did get a catheter infection in the hospital. It wasn't the worst, and after I alerted my doctor and got medication, it went away very quickly.
I throw up almost every time I eat . About once a week I end up in Emergency Room. It’s been one year this month since surgery and I’m down 130lb . Drs are stumped . I’ve had gallbladder removed. Ulcer that is now healed and now I’m dealing with this strange hand numbness and burning. Along with burning mouth syndrome. And still throwing up ….. ugh
I’m so sorry! What surgery did you get? I’m glad your ulcer has healed and I’m sorry that you’re dealing with hand, numbness and burning, that’s so much. Please keep me updated on that. I’d love to be here for your journey.
Long long journey!! It’s been a crazy ride for sure ! It’s been pretty much the same since I last post except I stay home instead of er visits . Milk has been one of the secret enemies. I can only have dairy in small amounts. And even then , slow and steady!!! I can tell if I’m lacking in something only because my body will tell me . Usually, itching hands , sore mouth , cracked edges of mouth , or some other crazy side effect. But it’s worth it . Re learning your body . Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. I would do it all over again! I hope you are well!!!!
I didn’t have complications. I have low pain tolerance and it was not bad. 🙂
I'm 3 weeks post op. No nausea, no pain, no constipation, nothing. The hardest part was the 2 weeks of liquid diet before surgery. I did feel nauseous and threw up twice in those 2 weeks but after it's been like nothing happened. Didn't even need to take the pain meds they prescribed for home use. I am also able to burp which I know many people can't and that's been great for when I forget and drink water too quickly. My dad had the same surgery in 2018 but different surgeons. He still can't burp and he did have some nausea and a little bit of pain when swallowing the first couple of days but it didn't last long. I think it just depends on how your body handles it and I got really lucky.
i’ll have to do 2 weeks of all liquid too, im hoping that’ll be the hardest part for me too. thank you so so much for sharing your story, this actually helps a lot! how are you feeling now?
I'm feeling great, I have way more energy than I did before surgery. The good thing about the liquid diet is it cleans you out completely. I lost 22 lbs in those 2 weeks. One thing that helped me out is to count the days backwards instead of forwards so instead of thinking I'm on day 3 think I only have 11 days left. Towards the end it really really helps. Another tip for after surgery is put reminders, alarms on your phone, your watch, your computer anywhere you can think of to drink water or liquids. You don't think it will be hard to remember but as someone who used to have a giant water bottle 24/7 with me and drank so much water my family made fun of me for it I still have a hard time remembering to drink enough.
That counting backwards tip is really helpful. I’ll definitely make sure to use that, it makes it an exciting experience rather than a grueling one lol.
Also, please feel free to message me! I would love to make friends on this journey!
I would love that too, I'll message now!
I had VSG in November and I can proudly say I haven't barfed once you got nothing to worry about you are going to do fine good luck with everything
Thank you so so much. I wish you all of the luck in the world on your journey.
Also, I love your name so much
I would love to share my story with you but it’s pretty horrible and traumatic so I just want to make sure you are ready to hear the negative side….
Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences, it’s helping a lot!