Bariatric Surgery & Weight Loss: Meet others & Share

Posted by Amanda Burnett @amandaa, Jun 24, 2022

Welcome to the Bariatric Surgery & Weight Loss group, a space for support, practical information, and answers to your questions from members like you about bariatric surgery, weight-related medical conditions, weight loss and healthy living. I am Amanda and I will be your moderator for this group. I have had the surgery myself and have a very real and close connection to the topic.

Pull up a chair and a healthy snack and let’s chat. Why not start by introducing yourself? What’s your story?

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

klch | @klch | Feb 26 11:23am

In reply to @cheryl4mgk "Hi Karen, I am most interested in following you along your journey. I will be having..." + (show)

Hello, Yes I would love to keep you posted on my journey with
Right now I am on the two week liquid diet and it is going good.

klch | @klch | Feb 26 11:27am

Thank you a for being our moderator. I am looking forward to talking with others who are having or had bariatric surgery.

jar1279171 | @jar1279171 | Feb 27 9:48am

Hi I'm one year out from surgery and sadly seem to have hit a plateau at 127 lbs I want to lose 23 more at least and have been struggling since December and can't get any weight off-grrrr - met with the Mayo nutritionist yesterday and she said this can happen - did anyone else have this happen? What did you do to get over the hump? I do water aerobics and walk 6 days a week and am thinking of adding beginner Pilates

Here are before and after pics - I cringe when I look at the before - but obviously you can see in the after I still have a ways to go

I used to think this surgery was for the people without discipline who cldnt get the weight off the "right" way and boy was I wrong - this surgery gave me back my life

Thanks for any and all suggestions

cheryl4mgk | @cheryl4mgk | Feb 27 10:28am

@wendypace You get through complications one at a time, if there are any at all. Try not to borrow any worry. Everyone's bodies are different. Try to be positive and not fret over all the things that might, but probably won't even happen. I am a realist too, but I feel the long-term result and outcome of this surgery will by far outweigh some risk. Just my humble opinion for what it's worth.

wendypace | @wendypace | Feb 27 11:19am

In reply to @cheryl4mgk "@wendypace You get through complications one at a time, if there are any at all. Try..." + (show)

@cheryl4mgk Thanks for the advice. I just feel that there is so much that I have done to prepare myself, and then all the tests and everything, at my age (61) am finally wanting to do something about my weight because it is the only way the orthopedic surgeon will give me a new hip, and I have been in horrible pain for a year and a half, and getting gel shots in my knees which helps my knee, but I need a new hip, trying to lose weight with a high protein diet, low carbs and fat, and joined a gym where I swim twice a week for an hour, and recently started having time in the gym to do some steps and weight bearing exercises, and plan to hire a personal trainer to help me get started with weight lifting, and doing the "routine" the right way so I can continue after RNY surgery. I know the surgery will also probably help me lose my diabetic medications and might be thin for the very first time in my life. I attend as many support groups that I can find and hear wonderful stories, but nobody tells me the bad things that have happened, which is the premise for my questions earlier. Have one surgery so I can have the other surgery to get a new hip seems like a silly idea, my husband loves me the way I am, and I only need to lose 30 pounds for a new hip. I'm thinking about the money, the time I have put in, and no surgery date yet, I guess I have to clear through dietary first, that's a few more MONTHS, and it is just delaying and delaying and I am frustrated. Anyone can answer if you are reading my plight, feelings and motivation (that I'm losing).
Thanks!

wendypace | @wendypace | Feb 27 11:23am

In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @wendypace, have you had bariatric surgery? Or are you exploring options?" + (show)

Pre-op is where I am @colleenyoung
I have all my testing done ,just trying to get clearance from the dietitian I guess, then I might have the RNY surgery.

wendypace | @wendypace | Feb 27 11:42am

In reply to @lakegirl1964 "I had Ru-en-Y 6 weeks ago tomorrow (Jan 6). Go through the pre-surgery program. Mayo has..." + (show)

@lakegirl1964

I had Ru-en-Y 6 weeks ago tomorrow (Jan 6). Go through the pre-surgery program. Mayo has a great program. You can't just go in and say, "Where do I sign up for surgery?" I had to meet with the several members of the bariatric team, I don't remember how many visits I had with the psychologist, twice with PT, 2 or 3 visits with the dietician, the nurse at least twice, the surgeon twice, plus my primary care. Plus labs and other specialists. This was all Prior to the surgery. It was over several months. You will be prepared and knowledgeable. Also, you can change your mind at any time. I did. I was probably a couple months out and had an injury and decided to postpone for over a year.
How am I doing now? I honestly thought I would lose weight faster, but the nurse says I'm doing "remarkably well" I am having nausea and vomiting since probably the 4th or 5th week. I was doing some research and think I am advancing my diet too quickly. I can still only eat about 1/2 - 3/4 cup at a time and if I go 1 bite too much I end up vomiting. It isn't dumping syndrome, I don't mind keeping the portions small at all. Honestly, the hardest part for me has been dealing with my medications and the new supplements. I hate swallowing pills and now, because some of my prior meds were large I have to use the pill cutter, so I have a hand full of pills, and my stomach can only hold so much water. Once I get that figured out I think I'll be going strong, I really think the surgery will be worth it for me in the long run. I always told myself I would Never have bariatric surgery. That it was for weak people.... Finally I realized that I had been trying to lose weight on my own for over 30 years and yes I lost weight, a lot actually, a couple times but it didn't stay off. I feel like I wasted 1/2 my life sitting on the sidelines because I couldn't control my weight. I'm 60! years old and I truly believe the next decade is going to be my best. You'll make the right decision for you. Follow your gut... (pun intended!)

Jump to this post

@lakegirl1964
Thank you so much for sharing. I'm 61, going through pre-op, tired of waiting, want a date so I can recover so I can have a hip replacement. I am tired of being fat-shamed by doctors and others, and I too experienced a lifetime of being on the sidelines. Tried all kinds of diets to no true lasting effects. My surgeon says I have Metabolic Syndrome and that the RNY will change that and make me feel more "normal" and be off diabetic meds. I'm practicing the eating, and trying some of the bariatric chewable pills since the pouch left will be the size of an egg and I don't want to over do the water when taking pills. I just want to get it done now, and tired of waiting, how do you get through the waiting period? Waiting for what? I'm not going to change my mind. I have attended every support group and blog I could find, including this one just to talk to people and learn as much as possible, but waiting until tonight for the next support group, which is new and not very well attended, I don't get much from the long-term folks.
Well, thanks for your post, it is inspiring.

Laurie, Volunteer Mentor | @roch | Feb 27 3:24pm

In reply to @jar1279171 "Hi I'm one year out from surgery and sadly seem to have hit a plateau at..." + (show)

@jar1279171
I think most of us have reach plateaus, and it is hard when so close to goal.
Your exercise program is impressive.

You might find the following article helpful:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/weight-management-1/newsfeed-post/overcoming-weight-plateaus/
Did the nutritionist provide any suggestions?

lngnglr | @lngnglr | Feb 28 3:57pm

Prospective RnY recipients- ask about your kidney health! I had my RnY surgery in 2021, in 2015 I had one occurrence of kidney stones. The stones were "blasted" and that was that (I thought). Turns out there is a relationship between kidney health, malabsorption, and RnY patients. If the malabsorption issue is not addressed after the RnY, it could lead to End Stage Renal Disease - ESRD, and dialysis. You do not want that. Please discuss with your bariatric surgeon before surgery. There are solutions, but you need to be informed.

klch | @klch | Mar 2 8:43am

In reply to @cheryl4mgk "Hi Karen, I am most interested in following you along your journey. I will be having..." + (show)

How long is the physical recovery after ROUXENY gastric bypass surgery? ( driving, taking walks)
Thanks, Karen

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