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Pre-Surgery

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Lori B

Member
Hello, I'm pre-surgery. Have my second visit with dietician in two weeks. Started shakes last week. Struggling to keep them down because they are so sweet. Wanted to speak with people who have had the surgery. Are you happy, any regrets? What has your diet been like since the surgery? :)
 
Hi, Lori. Welcome to the group. I had the gastric bypass in June of 2020. I've lost a total of 108 lbs, since the beginning of the program. 2 years later, I pretty much stay within a 5 lbs range. I feel amazing, my diabetes is gone, my arthritis is SO much better and I can climb stairs and breathe at the same time. lol

I can now eat pretty much anything, as long as I watch portion sizes and make healthy choices most of the time. It is pretty easy to start packing on pounds when I go on my popcorn for dinner kicks. Meaning the surgery really isn't a magic cure. What it DOES do is give you and your body a reset. You can lose weight without your hormones screaming at you that you're starving. You can start making healthy changes and choices.

The pre-made protein shakes are super convenient. But, you can buy protein powder and mix up your own shakes to your own tastes. I always threw mine in a blender with ice, which tones them down. You can also use flavorings to mix them up.

I have no regrets although I do wish I'd have done it sooner.
 
That's amazing! Good for you. Can you tell me why you choose Gastric Bypass? Originally I was interested in the bypass but then decided on the sleeve. I heard horror stories about people having this type of surgery and then struggling to eat. So hearing that you can now eat what you want within reason makes me feel a bit better. Thank you for sharing. :)
 
I have Barretts Esophagus, which is basically a precancerous condition due to acid reflux damage. The sleeve can worsen acid reflux and actually cause it in many cases. Also, I personally do not know a single person who has had long term success with sleeve surgery. Although, my husband had the sleeve and is doing amazing 6 months out. So, I hope he proves me wrong!!

Most of the people I know who got the sleeve did so because they felt it was easier and they wouldn't have to give up eating everything they loved. If you go into it unwilling to make all the healthy changes you need to, you are destined to fail.

I do not wish to discourage you from your choice. But you asked, and I try too be100% honest on this site, since it has helped me so much.
 
missyinacage said:
I have Barretts Esophagus, which is basically a precancerous condition due to acid reflux damage. The sleeve can worsen acid reflux and actually cause it in many cases. Also, I personally do not know a single person who has had long term success with sleeve surgery. Although, my husband had the sleeve and is doing amazing 6 months out. So, I hope he proves me wrong!!

Most of the people I know who got the sleeve did so because they felt it was easier and they wouldn't have to give up eating everything they loved. If you go into it unwilling to make all the healthy changes you need to, you are destined to fail.

I do not wish to discourage you from your choice. But you asked, and I try too be100% honest on this site, since it has helped me so much.
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Thanks for sharing your experiences honestly. I’m having the sleeve bc it feels like a better option for me and bc my surgeon thinks it’s a better choice for me if I get cancer again. Interesting how diverse our reasons and experiences are.
 
Lori B said:
Hello, I'm pre-surgery. Have my second visit with dietician in two weeks. Started shakes last week. Struggling to keep them down because they are so sweet. Wanted to speak with people who have had the surgery. Are you happy, any regrets? What has your diet been like since the surgery? :)
Click to expand...
I had my gastric bypass July 12th 2021. I had the option of rny or the sleeve. I also had some past issues with acid reflux. My research on both procedures convinced me to have the bypass to avoid a worsening of my GERD.

I thought I would have to give up all or most of my favorite foods. Sure, I no longer want a bunch of fried greasy fast food. I rarely have a craving for sweets, and my daily protein shake takes care of that. I have eliminated most simple carbs from my diet. These include mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, bread, rolls, pasta, white rice, and corn. These quickly turn into sugars in the bloodstream, and if I don't burn them off by lots of exercise, they are stored as fat. Ugggh!

I still have a little bit of some of my cravings, but I don't have them day after day. Each day is a completely brand new start. I started at 234 lbs, and I have lost about 72 lbs, so I weigh around 162 right now. My 1st goal is 150, and my ultimate goal is 135 lbs. I plan to be at 150 by Christmas, and 135ish by next spring.

This surgery is life changing for me. I still had to eat smaller portions, drink 64-80ozs of water daily, "exercise"/ movement regularly, to reach my current weight. I didn't have to fight my body & head hunger constantly after WLS, which finally allowed me to be successful. No regrets, except wishing I had done it 10 yrs ago. Good luck with your journey.
 
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