Pre-bariatric surgery questions

Posted by sarah1017 @sarah1017, Apr 1, 2023

Good morning everyone, I am one week away from my surgery date, okay well 10 days 🙂 here are some of my questions..
What did you bring to the hospital with you, was there anything you did not bring you wish you would have?
For those that work how long were you out of work, I am a counselor so I don't do any manual labor.
While healing at home, where there things that made your healing more comfortable? or things you wished you had and did not? Things you found that worked better than others?
Well I think that is all for now, I am sure there will be more as I get closer or as I get answers.
Thank you everyone for your time
Sarah

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Bariatric Surgery & Weight Loss Support Group.

Profile picture for hope2lose23 @hope2lose23

Was just approved by insurance and waiting for surgery date, ready for anything, but would love to know the goods and bads, and what type of weightloss surgery to are having or had! Great to see people to talk to to take away alittle of the nerves!

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@hope2lose23

Glad to hear your surgery has been approved. The type of surgery will be discussed with you and your surgeon. There are pros and cons of all types, and they have changed a lot since I had my Roux-en-Y gastric bypass 13 years ago,

This page gives a good overview of the different types of bariatric surgery:
https://asmbs.org/cp_type/procedure/
Do you know what type of procedure the surgeon plans, or is this appointment to discuss options?

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Profile picture for joysmiley64 @joysmiley64

My name is Joyce. I had the Roux NY surgery back in August 2024, and weighed 270 pounds. I lost 30 pounds before the surgery and have lost a total of 129 pounds since then. I am currently off all Insulin injections, and my A1C is down to normal. I am currently at 140 for my weight, and feel wonderful. I just wanted to quickly share my success, and hope this will be an encouragement to others. Have a Merry Christmas!! Click on photo to enlarge.

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@joysmiley64 Thank you all for the compliments! I thought I would update my progress as of today. I have continued to lose weight and feel good physically. I am currently at 134 pounds with a total weight loss of 136 pounds. The only thing that I am conscious about is how I see myself in the mirror after my weight loss with the extra skin around my waistline. I am currently getting things lined up for what they call a Panniculectomy. I will be having the extra skin and tissue removed from my lower stomach. I won't be having it done until July, so I might change my mind by then. I am quite nervous about doing it. I am only doing this procedure do to it is what my insurance will cover. To do the upper part of my stomach is considered cosmetic, and insurance will not cover that. I keep telling myself that as long as I feel good, what you see, you are still beautiful inside and out. I hope this is an encouragement to you and stay POSITIVE! God Bless!

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Profile picture for joysmiley64 @joysmiley64

My name is Joyce. I had the Roux NY surgery back in August 2024, and weighed 270 pounds. I lost 30 pounds before the surgery and have lost a total of 129 pounds since then. I am currently off all Insulin injections, and my A1C is down to normal. I am currently at 140 for my weight, and feel wonderful. I just wanted to quickly share my success, and hope this will be an encouragement to others. Have a Merry Christmas!! Click on photo to enlarge.

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@joysmiley64 You look so cute and little!

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Profile picture for joysmiley64 @joysmiley64

My name is Joyce. I had the Roux NY surgery back in August 2024, and weighed 270 pounds. I lost 30 pounds before the surgery and have lost a total of 129 pounds since then. I am currently off all Insulin injections, and my A1C is down to normal. I am currently at 140 for my weight, and feel wonderful. I just wanted to quickly share my success, and hope this will be an encouragement to others. Have a Merry Christmas!! Click on photo to enlarge.

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@joysmiley64
Congratulations!

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Profile picture for joysmiley64 @joysmiley64

My name is Joyce. I had the Roux NY surgery back in August 2024, and weighed 270 pounds. I lost 30 pounds before the surgery and have lost a total of 129 pounds since then. I am currently off all Insulin injections, and my A1C is down to normal. I am currently at 140 for my weight, and feel wonderful. I just wanted to quickly share my success, and hope this will be an encouragement to others. Have a Merry Christmas!! Click on photo to enlarge.

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@joysmiley64 that is great and very inspiring!

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Was just approved by insurance and waiting for surgery date, ready for anything, but would love to know the goods and bads, and what type of weightloss surgery to are having or had! Great to see people to talk to to take away alittle of the nerves!

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Profile picture for susanh824 @susanh824

I’m 23 yrs post-op. Take your cellphone charger to the hospital, as well as slippers, if you don’t like the grippy socks the hospital provided. Some people take chapstick.

You should be able to return to work in about a week to ten days,

At home, you may prefer to sleep in a recliner those first few nights. Your tastes tend to change with the surgery. Some people say that protein drinks they lived pre-op, don’t taste as good post-op. So I would have more than one brand of protein powder or shakes on hand. My favorite brands are Fairlife and Premier.

Best wishes to you!

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@susanh824, what are the secrets to a long term sucess?

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Profile picture for kell4042 @kell4042

I hesitate commenting, but I can't scroll passed this bc I feel like it's my responsibility to share a little.
My story is complicated, my experience is "I am the percentage of risks/complications" eventhough I did my research and never in a million years thought I'd fall into that category. I did everything I was supposed to. My story starts back in 2014 when I had standard sleeve procedure. I was healthy, just couldn't get rid of 3rd pregnancy weight. I was 30 years old, weighed 220 lbs and was 5' 6" tall. Had been diagnosed with PCOS, METABOLIC SYNDROME AND sleep apnea, but nothing abnormal for being overweight.
I went in for procedure on July 20 and didn't come home until March the following year. 9 months in hospital, 97 days of it in ICU. post surgery, blue dye was injected to make sure I was sewed back up without any gastric leaks. However blue dye was glowing throughout my body. But where I was leaking from, was unclear. I don't remember that year very much, however, I was brought back to life 13 times.
I was then in and out of hospital with complications such as potassium low seizures, hernia repairs, pain, esophageal issues. For the next 7 years I suffered and couldn't find a specialist willing to touch me due to being high risk and having a very complicated health status. I couldn't eat but 3 bites and 8/10 I threw up the bare minimum I could eat. And had unimaginable acid reflex/GERD. my life had drastically changed by now. Barely weighing 105 lbs, blackouts, pain, weakness, fatigue, you name it. My social life was non existent bc I couldn't be depended on, eat for social events or be dependable, never really feeling good enough. I was literally just surviving, dehydrated most of the time and anemic. Chronic fatigue debilitated.
Finally a breakthrough, a miracle worker bariatric surgeon/specialist said he could give me quality of life back. From 2019 through current I've had him working on my health and complications from sleeve surgery.
Over the last 5 years I've had 23 EDG's and esophageal dilation to fix the narrowing in my esophagus, 4 hernia replacements and then had to eventually have full Gastrectomy with a Jejuostomy(complete stomach and esophagus removal and my intestines connected to bottom of my throat.
The suffering, the inability to thrive in life, the definition of gone wrongs. That is me.
I now have a "Failure to Thrive" diagnosis, suffering from Severe Malnutrition and Protein Malabsorption. I'm dying! I had to have a Jtube placed and started Feeding tube nutrition, which never stopped hurting, just to reject it after 6 weeks in place. My last hope to stay alive was TPN via PICC LINE, which has been in the last 3.months, connecting to the formula bag every night at bedtime. I've gained back 10 lbs, now at 115 lbs, but hasn't improved much else. I have chronic diarrhea and anal fissures that are excruciating and won't heal due to the explosive diarrhea.
I had my introduction meeting with Hospice last Monday. I've had enough. My life has come to the end and I've finally lost the war. I realize I am the odds, but all things mentioned, are real cons of the surgery.
I'm 43 yrs old, 3 children, and I'm dying. My children have paid the price of my desperate desire to be thin, look good and lose the weight. All they remember, is seems like I've been sick their entire lives and they missed out on a normal mom childhood.
I'm absolutely terrified to stop existing but it's a very real story that I hope has not changed your mind by, but at least to consider if in the case you have complications, what support system you have in place in the event your life is effected by symptoms or complications. You have a right to be scared.

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@kell4042 - I'm really sorry to read about all the huge challenges you have been through on your weight loss journey. Sounds like it's been excruciatingly hard. Just wanted to check in with you and see how things are going?

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Profile picture for joysmiley64 @joysmiley64

My name is Joyce. I had the Roux NY surgery back in August 2024, and weighed 270 pounds. I lost 30 pounds before the surgery and have lost a total of 129 pounds since then. I am currently off all Insulin injections, and my A1C is down to normal. I am currently at 140 for my weight, and feel wonderful. I just wanted to quickly share my success, and hope this will be an encouragement to others. Have a Merry Christmas!! Click on photo to enlarge.

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@joysmiley64
Joyce, great job!! You look wonderful! Thanks for the success story with pictures. What a difference!

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My name is Joyce. I had the Roux NY surgery back in August 2024, and weighed 270 pounds. I lost 30 pounds before the surgery and have lost a total of 129 pounds since then. I am currently off all Insulin injections, and my A1C is down to normal. I am currently at 140 for my weight, and feel wonderful. I just wanted to quickly share my success, and hope this will be an encouragement to others. Have a Merry Christmas!! Click on photo to enlarge.

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