How successful where you after bariatric surgery?

Posted by deere5010 @deere5010, Mar 13, 2023

I am so neverous but excited to get approved for sugery. I struggled with weightloss my whole life. What are your positive and negative thoughts going thru the whole process

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

dlc1953 | @dlc1953 | Mar 17 7:41am

In reply to @baponte87 "I had a gastric sleeve in March 2021. If I’m being 100% honest, losing the weight..." + (show)

@baponte87

I had a gastric sleeve in March 2021. If I’m being 100% honest, losing the weight so quickly is almost euphoric— especially if you’re someone who has struggled with being overweight their whole life like I was. It is easy to get obsessed with continuing to lose the weight and stepping on the scale, so I would limit my weigh-ins to every other day. I was 250 pounds at my heaviest- one week before I went in for surgery. After 1 year, I was down to my lowest weight since high school, 160 pounds!!! This was 10 pounds less than my initial goal!

Unfortunately, because of how quickly I lost the 90lbs, my body had a hard time keeping up and I ended up having debilitating episodes of low blood sugar. I was diagnosed with reactive hypoglycemia and my blood sugars were down in the 40s on a daily basis after I ate (a normal person with no blood sugar regulation problems has a fasting blood sugar of 80 to 100)! I struggled for almost a year to get a hold on my blood sugars and I experimented with what I could eat and what I couldn’t.

I have a terrible sweet tooth, and that was the hardest thing for me. I knew this going into surgery, and I swore I was going to have the willpower to change my ways. I was dead wrong and eating the sweets was literally making me borderline disabled. Through trial and error, I figured out a process that works for me and I can still occasionally indulge.

Today, I’m almost 2 years out, and I’m at 170 pounds (my original goal!) and eat just about anything that I want. My weight typically stays within 5 pounds. Because they restricted the size of your stomach, it’s nearly impossible to over eat because it’s physically painful. I can remember taking just ONE bite too much, and I would have to lay on the couch for at least 30 minutes after the meal in agony.

Anyone who says that getting bariatric surgery is the “easy way out” obviously never had bariatric surgery. It really is such a long and painful process to apply those changes to your life and stick to it. But, I will say it’s worth it— because at the end of the day, I like what I see in the mirror, and that’s some thing that I never thought I would feel. I have a lot more confidence, and I go out and experience more in life than I did when I was overweight and self-conscious. This has helped me in every aspect of my life.

I wish you the best of luck with your surgery and your process. It’s a long road, but an exciting one!!

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Good morning. My daughter had gastric bypass surgery in 2005. Recently, she (for some reason) was starting to keep an eye on blood sugars (she’s non diabetic). Her readings are so low in the 50’s. When she eats they might spike to 125 but within 30 minutes they’re down into the 50’s again. This could have been giving her issues for years, but, no doctor was able to determine what was making her feel ill. She did have an A1C years ago, which was 4.5. I’m surprised the Dr. didn’t pick up on the fact that it was on the low side. Hopefully she can go forward and have these issues resolved.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 3, 2023

In reply to @ezas123 "Hi all I never looked at this site … I was always checking the knee stories..." + (show)

@ezas123, I'm glad you wandered around Mayo Clinic Connect and found the Bariatric Surgery & Weight Loss support group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/bariatric-surgery-weight-loss/.

I hope you'll explore the topics in the support group to discover where you might offer tips and an understanding ear. It is helpful to have someone like you who had gastric sleeve 12 years ago and who is doing well.

So let me ask, what would you like others who are preparing for surgery to know? What do you wish you had known?

ezas123 | @ezas123 | Oct 28, 2023

Hi all I never looked at this site … I was always checking the knee stories since having my knee done… but I am my goodness 12 years out of gastric sleeve and I am happy to say I stay within 146-150 I do eat a sweet I don’t deprive myself of anything ….. it’s moderation….. I also never went back to soda or any bubbly beverages that can stretch your stomach ….. is the best thing I ever did for myself ….. even being thinner I still eat heart healthy and watch my cholesterol…. I am 61 now and had my knee replaced twice within the last two years … thank god I don’t have that extra weight on my knees anymore ….but before surgery I yo yo my whole life lost 40-50 gained back and than some may times went through that ….. sleeve worked amazing for me …. But I also don’t ever over eat …. With the sleeve you get full with small amounts ….most important don’t ever ever over eat …. And you won’t stretch your new stomach …. If I can do it you can … definitely doable

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Oct 22, 2023

In reply to @jojo777130 "I believe I had the surgery in 2010 at the age of 43. I was about..." + (show)

Congrats, @jojo777130 on finding a weight that works for you and keeping it off. Are you concerned about your alcohol consumption? Have you tried going alcohol-free for a period of time? A lot of people do it for the month of February in tribute to heart health month.

jojo777130 | @jojo777130 | Oct 12, 2023

I believe I had the surgery in 2010 at the age of 43. I was about 310 pounds and 5’8. At my lowest I was 165-170? Today I weigh 187. My high now is about 192. I’ve been able to keep it off. I feel good. It was worth it all! Follow the instructions they give you.

My only concern is that I drink a lot more alcohol than I ever did. They say you can give up one addiction to move on to another. I think it’s true. I have wine almost every night. I was a once a week drinker. Just watch the alcohol. I know someone else who has a real problem and was not a big drinker.

I had the Gastric Bypass. Would I do it again? YES!

turberg | @turberg | Jun 9, 2023

In reply to @deere5010 "I was told I had to do a 6 month class before I even have sugery...." + (show)

I had a Sleeve Gastrectomy in 2013, and I had to wait 6 months. I wish I would have had to take exercise classes, because now I have gained 40 pounds of the 90 that I lost (and I know if I had developed exercise as a habit, I wouldn't be in this position.) It is frustrating having to wait for surgery, but it is a huge life change and having the needed preparation is worth the wait. Good luck in your weight loss endeavors!

joannemargie | @joannemargie | May 5, 2023

I had gastric bypass surgery and lost 100 pounds. You still have to watch what you eat and continue to move or you will gain it back after surgery. I no longer have diabetes or sleep apnea. I used to be on a C-Pap machine for this. I feel so much better and would do it again!

hadassah70 | @hadassah70 | May 1, 2023

I may have surgery as obese BMI 43.3 I weigh 18.8 stones I was 22.4 stones but since I changed medications the weight is coming off with healthy eating and exercise. It did not budge before due to over eating due to medications opening up my apatite. Namely Quetiepine. But it is a hard road full of denial I have a sweet tooth so only eat sweets over week end I am loosing weight so working. But it is hard and sounds like no easier with the surgery in someways sounds harder as it causes conditions there is no easy way through I come to realise.

cntrlcoastgirl | @cntrlcoastgirl | Apr 24, 2023

Hardest thing I have ever done and still is! I started at 289 lbs and am currently at 148 lbs 7 years later!! I still see at weight loss doctor every 3 months to work with my insulin resistance so I do not gain. I take Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance and both are really well managed. I now can always keep my weight around 150 lbs and I am 5'8". Certain things I can not tolerate well anymore... Like raw veggies.. And if I take one bite too many or eat too much sugar I do pay for it!!! But I am reading all the benefits!! Good luck to you!!

wr61 | @wr61 | Apr 24, 2023

In reply to @deere5010 "I was told I had to do a 6 month class before I even have sugery...." + (show)

YES. Did it on my own until the mandatory sessions with a psychiatrist. VSG 3 YEARS OUT, I Lost 190 +. Gained back 25. Lost 85 lbs (Training/prepping) before my surgery date. Like getting old "WLS AIN'T FOR SISSIES " 👍😃