Bariatric Surgery & Weight Loss: Meet others & Share

@nova1976 I’m finally going to talk to someone in the Bariatric dept. about surgery. They will likely recommend RNY. I’ve been trying to research as much as I can but what do you mean when you say “ Lots of adhesions intestinal resections loss of appendix Gall bladder”? Are these all complications from your surgery?

@cindykk2 Some people have scaring more than others
Most of the time not a problem
In my case they banded around appendix and gallbatter
As well as area of intestines. This caused a blockage The doctors did a resection
To avoid trying to remove adhesions and accidentally nicking intestestines causing a leak
Being thin for the first time of my life was worth it
I had the RNY a bypass 10 yrs already and am 155
Best of luck to you

My name is Kim and had bariatric surgery in 2019. Lost over 200 pounds and gained some weight. I would like to receive and share support experiences.
Thank you 😊

@gualkeml1 - Hi, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. That is a huge weight loss of 200 pounds after your surgery! Going up some in weight following the initial loss is something other members have mentioned in the Bariatric Surgery & Weight Loss group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/bariatric-surgery-weight-loss/.

I moved your post to this discussion where others have introduced themselves related to their experience with bariatric surgery:

- Bariatric Surgery & Weight Loss: Meet others & Share https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/bariatric-surgery-weight-loss-meet-others-share/

I did this so you could meet some of the other members and they can share any input they have about the surgery and how things went for them afterward. Fellow members such as @cindykk2 @nova1976 @updoosie and others here may have some information to share about their surgical experiences.

Have you gotten to speak to your bariatric surgeon about how much you lost and about gaining some weight back? If so, what has your surgeon suggested for keeping your weight where you want it?

Good morning,

Thank you for taking the time to introduce yourself and reply to me. I haven't discussed this with my bariatric surgeon yet, as I am currently preparing for double knee replacement surgery.

Surprisingly, even after losing weight, my knees which bore so much heavy strain over the years—have deteriorated to the point where surgery is necessary. My plan is to speak with my surgeon after I recover. In the meantime, I would welcome any advice you have, as my severe knee pain prevents me from exercising and I am very concerned about gaining weight back.

Hi my name is Teri and I am from LaCrosse Wisconsin. I am 63 years old and recently filed for divorce. I have been overweight since I started having kids at age 20 and for the first time in my life I am living life for me. I want to get off all of the Diabetic medicines and shots. I would love to lose 75 lbs., and a real moment will be when I can lose 27 and finally be under 200. I look forward to going through this journey with all of you.

@lacla12

Hi Teri from LaCrosse. I’m 62 and live in Eau Claire. I know how beautiful your area of WI is and I have good friends who live there. I want to personally welcome you to this support group. I know it has really helped me and I hope it will help you too.

We are in a similar life stage. I want to encourage you with an “ah ha” moment I had when I heard this explanation on TV program “Aging Untold” =

After a certain age we may feel a change of life coming on where we need to “reset priorities and boundaries”. It’s not a crisis. Our friends and family may not understand or accept this “new you”.

I’ve reset my priorities = I’ve prioritized my health (mentally and physically). Versus in the past I was always giving that to others and putting myself last.

I’ve reset my boundaries = I’m spending time on relationships which lift me up and less time trying to salvage and explain away any problems in a relationship.

It sounds like you are “putting the oxygen mask on yourself first before helping the person next to you”. This is what flight attendants instruct us to do on airplanes. As women, we don’t do this in our everyday life.

I pray your new priorities and boundaries will set you free to lose weight and gain your health and quality of life. 🙏

Hi im terri 47 now kids grown and left at my heaviest i was 465 ended up in a diabetic coma on Thanksgiving with a blood sugar of 2640 its a miracle im alive I walked every day untill I lost enough weight I could ride my trike lost 200 in 8 months but after the coma and low blood sugar scares I like food and ive gained 60 back im at 318 looking for a better way to live a healthier one and I have Bing eating issues if any one can share how to fight that

Hi Terri, thank you for sharing your story. What you have been through is incredible, and losing 200 pounds in 8 months while continuing to walk and eventually ride your trike shows tremendous determination. ❤️

Please don’t look at the 60 pounds you regained as a failure. After experiencing a diabetic coma and frightening episodes of low blood sugar, it makes sense that food and fear could become emotionally connected. Your body and mind have been through a lot.

With binge eating, I’ve found that being overly restrictive or treating food as the enemy can sometimes make things harder. Instead, try focusing on regular, balanced meals, learning what triggers your eating episodes, and practicing self-compassion when they happen. A therapist or dietitian who specializes in binge-eating disorder and diabetes could also provide personalized strategies and support.

Most importantly, you don’t have to do this perfectly. You’ve already demonstrated that you can make meaningful changes. Maybe the goal now isn’t simply losing weight, but building a healthier and more peaceful relationship with food while taking care of your health.

Wishing you continued strength on your journey, Terri. Keep riding that trike! 🚲❤️

@terriwilcox

Welcome to Mayo Connect. What a scary journey you had and then success. But like many of us, after some success, we have slips/relapses. That is why it is lifestyle changes.

Even though I have lost weight as a result of surgery, I still have times when I want to eat everything. If I overeat, I get sick, so I have consequences. I try to identify triggers; in my case, it is usually at night when I am bored. My dietitian also mentions that dehydration or insufficient protein can cause hunger later in the day.

Mayo has an article about Binge eating with suggestions:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/binge-eating-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353633
What have you tried to control the binge eating?