Gastric bypass complications should be considered before scheduling your surgery. Weight loss surgery is not for everyone.
If you and your doctor have determined that this is the right answer for your weight problem, you should discuss all possible risks and side effects.
Potential complications of gastric bypass:
- Follow-up surgeries to correct any problems that arise
- Surgery to remove excess skin
- Internal bleeding
- Blood clots
- Infection
- Gallstones or gall bladder infections
- Gastritis (inflammation of the lining of the stomach)
- Vomiting
- Anemia caused by iron or vitamin B12 deficiencies
- Early osteoporosis cause by calcium deficiency
The dumping syndrome, one of the most common but least dangerous of the gastric bypass complications:
The dumping syndrome is Most people are unable to tolerate certain foods after gastric bypass, especially foods with high sugar or fat content. Eating these foods can cause the “dumping syndrome,” which may cause nasea and vomiting, diarrhea, a bloated feeling, dizziness and sweating. These symptoms can be avoided by following the guidelines of your dietitian. The dietitian will also work with you to avoid the possibility of vitamin or mineral deficiencies.
You will need to follow up with your doctor fairly often during the first year after your surgery. Your health will be evaluated frequently, and you will be advised to continue with the specific nutritional guidelines that you receive from your dietitian. Be sure to report any symptoms you may have, and discuss any concerns with your physician.
, about her personal experiences with sugar addiction.
{ 374 comments… read them below or add one }
It has been 35 days since the surgury can not seem to get food down, feels like everything sticks in my throat.
Is your doctor working with you to find a solution to the problem? And did he or she say if this is a common complication of the bypass surgery?
Had by-pass surgery in May 2010. Cannot eat or drink anything without pain. Am feeding through G tube. No one seems to know what is wrong. I think they think it is in my head. Beleive me I would do anything to stop the pain and neasua.
Hi Charlotte. Have you called in doctors from another clinic or specialty for second and third opinions? I do hope they can fix the problem soon.
I had exactlly the same syptom and had a fistula in my pouch, that was the beginning of years of complications and greater than 10 major surgeries.
Charlotte, i had mine in Sept. 2010 and had nothing but problems. i had the dry heaves for months. I was in so much pain that i went to the mayo. I had a feeding tube put in on Nov. and had it taken out 3 weeks ago. It was a long road I just started eating food 3 weeks ago. If I would have known with all was possible I would have never had the surgery. I was out of work for almost 3 months. I changed surgeons at the hospital where i had mine done and he has been an angel! I had an huge ulcer that he found when i had a scope done and have recoverd from that. I had to have a life port put in because my veins are shot from all the iv’s. I have had two round of iron infusions and will be checked again on march 17th. Have your dr. had you have a scope done to check for an ulcer. I will keep you in my thoughts and wish you a speedy recovery. This has been very hard on my family and i think people should be told of the bad things that can happen with this surgery.
please can you offer any advice ,my dad had a gastric sleeve done july 2010, since then he has had many post opp complications, which led to his death on the 10th may 2011 due to massive internal bleed from his stomache, my dad has had 10 months off pain and suffering he has been nill mouth since the opp and been tube fed since the opp, he spent the best part of his last 10 months in hospital any advice you could offer would be appreciated as im thinking of seeking legal advice, this procedure was supposed to give him a better quality of life and all i can see it has done is kill him. Thanks andrea (daughter)
Andrea, I am so sorry for your loss. You certainly have our condolences.
I believe that most attorneys will accept a medical malpractice case on a contingency fee. That means that you don’t pay them unless they settle your case. There would be no guarantee that a court would decide in your favor, of course. And I’m no lawyer, but I do assume that you would need to prove that the surgeon or follow-up physicians were negligent in their care, or that they made some sort of medical error, which may not be easy to prove. If you talk to an attorney about your case, he or she will probably need to see all of your father’s medical records. The only way to find out what would be involved is to contact a local attorney who specializes in malpractice cases – and you would probably want to get a referral for the attorney, since some lawyers have more experience in matters like this.
I am so sorry to hear about your father. That is terrible what he had to go through and what you are dealing with no having your father around. I would seek advice from an attorney, but i’m pretty sure that when he signed all that paperwork while in the hospital they covered themselves of any malpractice or malicious acts.
I can tell you personally that I had the surgery back in August 2005 and I almost died twice right after. I do suffer from Anemia and I still have a hard time keeping certain foods down. I don’t eat a lot and I get full after about 3 bites. The surgery is good for some people, but I don’t know that I would have gone through with it had I known what I was going to be going through these last 6 years. It’s been rough and I have friends that have gone through it and it was even worse for them. I had no idea that I couldn’t take anti-inflamatories and I have a bad back. Now I am 130lbs with a bad back and I have nothing to take for my back. My stomach is always bothering me and I have heartburn so bad that it wakes me up EVERY NIGHT 2-3 times. As I write this and think more about it, NO I WOULD NOT have had the surgery.
I hope that you can find some resolution with your fathers death. Talk to an attorney and see if there is anything that can be done. Don’t wait to long there is a statue of limitations and you don’t want that time to run out. I will pray for you……Tracy
I to have an olcer not as bad as you, thank God, I had my surgery on may 25th, I to was very sorry I did the surgery, it seems to be getting better now, I hate throwin up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I couldnt eat food, but i could eat any kind of sweets, junk food you could mention as long as it wasnt anything kind of bread like product.
Charlotte I had my surgery Jan 20 2011 and I have pain and neasua trying to drink and eat too. Has any Dr. found out what is wrong yet. My Dr. is givving me that feeling as if its all in my head too. I so want it fixd and out of pain as well.
I had my surgery on Jan. 6, 2011, regular gastric bypass. The diarrhea started the day of surgery and has been relentless. It is not dumping and it is not lactose intolerence. It has been so bad that there have been days I have had to change clothes and shower six or seven times a day. The good news is that I have lost 42 lbs and am off insulin and high blood pressure medicine, as well as 4 other pills I had been taking. The bad news is that I developed an ulcer and after 4 blood tranfusions and another 5 days in the hospital, I am now on a stomach medicine. Eating is a chore. It hurts to eat and I get cramping and gas really bad and know that I am going to get diarrhea within three to four hours of eating. After three and a half months of wishing I had never heard of this type of surgery, I suddenly realized that I am starting to feel better however. I am 60 years old and I feel better than I did a year ago. That in itself is a miracle, so maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I have also noticed that the diarrhea in the last week has not been quite as often or as severe, so just maybe, hopefully, and I am praying on the way to correcting itself (with the help of Phillips Colon Health). Things may be on the upswing, but only time will tell. This website has been wonderful for me. I guess misery loves company, but it was comforting to know that it was not all in my head and that other people had some of the same problems. Everyone (Doctors and their staff) are so quick point blame somewhere else and not really listen to their patients. It took me over a month to diagnose on my own that the protein drinks are what caused my diarrhea in the first place (I am allergic to whey) and I am using a lot of home remedies like eacting pectin to slow the diarrhea. That is why I am so excited that I am finally starting to feel as if I am climbing the hill to recovery. Good Luck to everyone. I might have been unhealthy being fat, but I certainly was a lot happier. Here is to being skinny and happy too, I can’t wait.
Hope you feel better soon. Just try to go slow with the eating, eat with a baby spoon still and try to stick with soft foods. Meats make me very sick and alot of pain. The only meat I can eat is ground beef such as in tacos spaghetti sauce or meatloaf. It is very hard to not eat whe your brain is telling you to eat and you are hungry. I used to cry because I was so hungry and my stomach said I was full…I knew I wasn’t full but I had to quit eating. Then I always waited an hour before taking a sip of anything. If I felt sick after a few sips I would wait another hour before trying again.
I have had alot of surgeries since my gastric bypass. The first one that made me feel full and sick alot was from scar tissue blocking my stomach from emptying into small bowel. I had alot of back pain and abdomen pain with that one too. It took a while for them to find that problem. I also had ulcers that they removed while doing that revision. I have had ulcers reform into the top of the small bowel that is connected to my pouch.My surgery was inAugust 2003 and I have had ulcer trouble since about 6 months after bypass. I have four ulcers at present time and stay sick and in pain. I sip on broth alot that seems to settle it some instead of eating and getting sick. I eat yogurt in the middle of the night when it wakes me up. I take my medicine as prescribed, I take my vitamins etc….I keep the packs of vegetable soup and hot chocolate for my protein. it is a long rough journey and it is so hard for me to believe that the celebrity’s and lots of people that had surgery years before me did not inform me and all of us that these things occur. My surgeon didn’t inform me of anything similar to these either. I pray for all of you to heal and feel well.
I had my surgery in 2006. It took about 4 months to be able to eat solid food without feeling nauseous. In 2009 I had an ulcer. In Dec. 2010 I had another ulcer. Now in June this year something else is wrong. I woke up one morning with the worst pain in my stomach. I thought I had another ulcer. I saw my gastro doctor, and he did a scope test and said I had no ulcer or gastritis. Did blood work and a cat scan. Told me nothing was wrong. All the test came back normal. Then why do I have such pain and cramps and gas??? I’m sorry I had this operation done. They never told me about complications either. I wished I had done more reserch. It’s been over a week now and I still have so much pain. I’m going back to the doctor that did my surgery and see if I can have this reversed. I can’t take it anymore.
MY DOCTORS NEVER TOLD ME ANY OF THE HORRORS EITHER. AND I TRIED FOR SEVEN YEARS TO HAVE THIS SURGERY, EVERY TIME I GOT CLOSE TO THE SURGION SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN I WOULD GET SICK AND IT HAD TO STOP. I HAD TRIPLE HEART BY-PASS IN 2008 AND A TUMOR ON MY PITILITARY GLADN 2008 AND I HAD ANOTHER CATHERIZATION DONE JULY 20TH 2009 FOR ANOTHER BLOCKAGE AND I HAD A STROKE FROM THAT ONE. IT HAS BEEN A HARD ROAD AND I DIDNT WANT THIS SURGERY BUT THE DR AND MY PP KEPT TELLING ME THE WEIGHT IS GONNA KILL ME.
I HAD SO MUCH WRONG. NOW I HAVE THIS ULCER AND KEEP THROWIN UP THEY DONT SEEM WORRIED IT IS AT LEAST 2 MONTHS SINCE I SAW MY SURGION AND THE NUTRITIONIST. AND THEY MADE ME FEEL SO BAD ABOUT IT ALL.
I WISH I HAD LISTENED TO MY HEAD.
Well my friends it has came to the attition of a different Dr. that my old Dr. lied to me and my husband. In May they had to open me back up ands place in a feeding tube cause they couldnt find out what was wrong with me. Well then I moved to another state and had the Dr. get my records and he told me when they open me up there was issues and he redone the hole surgery and put in the feeding tube and told me that only placed the tube. So was not happpy He done that to cover his own bottom. ugh.. I was so mad.. But on a happer note Im doing much better and on my was to a better me.
Charlotte when i read your comment it sounds just like me! I just had my surgery april 2011…I cant eat or drink without discomfort an pain…They think its in my head also but i know it isnt! Have they found whats wrong with you? Any info you could give me would help so much!!! Thank you
Amy
I know its been a while since you posted but the link I have posted at the bottom of this reply may shed some light on your situation.
I had my RNY takedown/reversal 3.5 years after my surgery. It’s now been almost 3 years since my takedown and I get to live again and enjoy life again.
I hope the link helps and if you need or want please email me at imzadi@aol.com
Grace
http://archneur.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/61/8/1185?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=bariatric+surgery&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT
Grace, thanks for all your comments. I’m concerned that you may get some spam because you posted your email address in your posts. If this turns out to be a problem, please let me know and I’ll edit the address out of your comments.
It is so not in your head…. dont let anyone tell you that out of anything iv learned so far is to listen to what your body says it will so help you and be persistant if you feel something is wrong keep up with telling them you want it to be great and not tourcher….
I am having the same issue I am on Hickman tpn since february. Nausea and throwing up all the time. I am about to get second opinion
hi Charlotte im am experiencing the same issue and i will be 1yr post op in 2 weeks. i know what your going thru if you have the time or a chance you can email me and we can see if we are having the same issue and exchange views from our surgeons, if not i really hope you as well as everyone else has a speedy recovery!!! i know it really sucks to be in so much pain all the time!!
Avery,
i had my sugery May 19th two weeks after sugery i had the same feeling. i just got out of the hospital after dehydration and pain in my stomach. doctor couldn’t figure out why i had pain in my stomach.. they did a cat scan and still couldn’t find why i have this pain. i know it’s not in my head. i’m going to give it two more weeks. and see what happens. that is what my doctor said to do. so i will see what happens.
i hope u began to feel better. i know exact how it feels to have something stuck in ur throat.
I had my surgery in 2004. I lost 125 lbs and have kept it off. That’s great, right? The problem is that i’m sick A LOT. Mostly nausea, diarrhea and very severe abdominal pain that goes thru to my back. I’ve had every test a dozen doctors can think of. I have had a couple of ulcers, but they resolve and the symptoms remain. The only person who has helped me is a general surgeon who doesn’t do the bypass but understands the anatomy. About 4 years ago I was so sick and in so much pain I wound up in the hospital for 3 weeks on TPN. No one ever figured out what was wrong with all their tests. I even had surgery to remove adhesions. Then they sent me home and said “be well.” I wasn’t. That’s when I called the general surgeon. He diagnosed me with gastrointestinal yeast, put me on medicine and I was pain free in 2 days! I went for weeks feeling great. Then the symptoms recurred. Took the medicine again and they went away. We have come to the conclusion that I have somehow colonized yeast somewhere in the GI tract and it flares up every few months. Any one else have this?
Hello,
I had my sugery in 2005, I went from 241 to 90 pounds is what I weight now. Every day I feel bad. I was on TPN twice both times for 6 months each, real pain in the butt having to change the bag out every day. They take out my gallbladder two months after my surgery. They said it was from me smoking but I stopped and I still hurt. Sept 6 they want to put a feeding tube in my stomach. I’m going to tell you that I’m scare. My husband is on me every day to eat more but I just can’t. Two bites and I full. So I know what you are going through. Good luck.
Hi,
Kitty I know exactly how you feel! I had surgery March 29, 2011. I have been in the hospital 4 times, 10 – 13 days each time. I was on TPN for a month until I deveopled a blood clot in both arms and now I am on a feeding tube all day long. Where they put the feeding tube in hurts all the time, the tube gets clogged all the time, it is such a pain. My husband is telling me to eat and drink all the time but I feel like vomiting when anything goes in by mouth. My doctor and family think that I just need to eat and drink but I can’t.
Good Luck to you!
YEP I had the very same thing! it was awful, but since I had my RNY takedown/reversal, that among other problems have gone away, kid you not!
Grace
It is not in your head. I had the surgery in 2001. I know for some people they must take in very small amounts, even liquids. I always say>>>you spend your whole life loving food and after the surgery there is this huge divorce! It will get better but unfortunatly it takes a long time. I could not eat beef or pork for the first few years. It would not go down. then over time I found I could eat it in tiny, very minute pieces. I can’t eat a lot of it but I can enjoy it again. Be patient, that’s the hard part. It will pay off. Have you had a barium swallow? that will rule out any problems. If you have then just slow down on the amounts, eat often and add only soft foods in very small amounts. I’m talking a teaspoon at a time. It creates stress, but if you’re patient it will work itself out. Don’t forget that you reconstructed your insides..and whatever worked before does not apply. Beware of soda or anything like that..that will kill you too. please ask me anytime for advice..I also have many family members who went through it too.
Carol
PLease have any of you had what is called “sliming” after your bypass. Bypass 6 weeks ago and sliming makes me sick to my stomache. It is like you drank buttermilk or something and it is always there.
Ali
Its been 7 trs and its been a living h/ll i havent gained any weight back but theres been alot of nerve pain stomach pain and all around anxiety and depression. I lost about 100 lbs in 2003 my pain is unbearable any more. Leg pain that wont quit numbness on outside of legs. I used to be fun and happy now just pain. my blood pressure is so low 90/50 i think i’m going to pass out doctors think i’m crazy. I wish it was over……any suggestions maybe reverse it i dont care thanx
Hi Gary. My first recommendation is to find a doctor who will take you seriously. If you need a second, or third, or fourth opinion, be sure you get one.
There’s a forum thread that shows similar problems. One of the folks over there might be able to give you the information you need to get your doctor’s attention. Sometimes you just need the right words to get them to take you seriously. And if they don’t, you’re talking to the wrong doctor.
Get tested for Celiac disease. (or go on a strict gluten free diet to see if you improve)
has anyone checked your B12 levels ? Low b12, or even low normals can cause electric shock feelings in your legs and across your back, just about anywhere. I had a low normal range and was told I had restless leg syndrone….and I worked for a world renouned Hematologist! I saw another hematologist and he explained to me that even though I was lw normal, that could be too low for me. He sent me to Walmart and had me buy over the counter, sub-lingual (under the tongue) B12 tablets, 2,500 mcgs and take them every day for 4 weeks. Get labs redrawn and see how the pain was. I was nearly pain free in 3-4 weeks. It is worth looking into. Good luck.
Hi, My girlfriends suffers from the same complications 2 months after her operation.
We have not been able to find any real information about complications related to
narrowing problems.
Perhaps someone in this forum has some knowledge or experience that could be useful
looking forward to hearing from someone here.
As long as she has had all the testing to insure that her surgery is done correctly and all is okay, I would consult a second opinion surgeon. I would go to someone who has years and years of experience. The biggest problem that I have seen (in many family members who have also had this) eating is not easy for some. Re entering food to your body can be just awful. I have known one who could not eat more than a teaspoon full of extremely soft food for months…then it all came together. For me personally, I was a fast eater my whole life, slowing down and chewing my food until it was like baby food, was my biggest challenge. I always did well in the daytime. I ate cottage cheese, soup, yogurt, small amounts several times a day. But at dinner time, I just never did well.To this day, eating at dinner is still frustrating. I think I can eat and I will only get a few bites in and I’m done. You learn after a while to know when something is not going down right. You learn to be patient. Sometimes waiting 15 min. and you can get the rest down, sometimes not. There is no rhyme or reason. As long as she gets enough protein during the day, who cares if you get in some dinner.
After gastric bypass, life with food as you knew it is over. Accept that and the rest will follow.
When food is not chewed properly, it gets stuck and that causes so much PAIN…HOURS AT A TIME. I know that first hand. My surgeon always had to redirect me to follow the chewing rules and he was so right.
One has to understand that they now have a new stomach and that it is like feeding a newborn. Would you give a newborn of 12 weeks solid food? Finger food starts about 6-9 months.Thats how it goe for some. A doctor could never be able to tell you all the possible side effects because most are self inflicted. they know over time that you will self fix any of those problems. However..as long as it has been verified that the surgery was done correctly and all is in tact, the rest of the work comes from the patient. It is a long first year and If you do all the hard work, it will pay off and life will resume. Understand your relationship with food is forever altered.
My sister had her bypass many years ago also, her favorite”I can’t believe I tried that ” story is a good one. 4 weeks post surgery, she just wanted some food. She mashed up a tiny piece of meatball, and I mean mashed it. It got stuck and she suffered terribly for hours. As far as nausea…To this very day, sometimes I will take a gulp of water and the wave of nausea that comes over me is brutal. Short lived, only seconds long, but it is caused because I sent too much down too fast. 90% of the time I have no problem.
It is all trial and error for the first 15 months. remember the newborn stomach and you will see it all work out.
Please contact me and let me know how she is doing. the first thing is to verify that all is in tact. Keep me posted. I will pray for her success.
Carol
——————————————————————————–
I just realized that stomach pains could be caused from volvulus as a post operation complication.
My girlfriend has just been signed in for a second operation to fix such complications.
It seems that this condition can happen in 2-5% of all operated patients, but it is not very well documented.
I hope this bit of info will be able to help some of you·
There’s a fellow in England who seems to be having problems that sound somewhat similar to what your girlfriend is experiencing, although his situation is probably caused by a different complication. There are many different things that can go wrong. I hope your girlfriend’s second operation goes well, and she can get back to normal. The very best source of information about her condition is her surgeon, who should be able to fully explain what went wrong, and how the second surgery will fix it.
I myself had gastric bypass in another country, Bogota, Colombia a year and a half ago and have had great success after losing 100 lbs, i am now at 160 lbs exactly! Today I had a horrible problem though, I ended up in the ER with extreme shaking, in and out of counsciousness and i was WHITE as a sheet. It was horrible. They think it might be bleeding internally or a peptic ulcer since i was NEVER advised you cannot use aspirin, in which i have a LOT due to migraines. Has anyone else experienced this? I go in the mornin to my doctor and then to get a CAT scan. Help!
This is new to me, as well. I did a fast google search, and found this site that says no aspirin. At this point, it seems best to trust your doctors to treat your ulcer – and when you find out what medications they say you can use for your migraines, please let us know.
A cat scan will not show them the extra stomach that holds all of the gastic fluid. I had surgery 11 years ago, for the past 3 years i had been hurting i thought it was my pouch. And like you i was white, low blood pressure and getting infections all the time. One night at work the pain hit me and i thought i was having a heart attack. At the hospital all the test were negitive, no blood in my stool. I stayed home in bed curled up and could hatdly stand the pain. On the second day i went to a diffent hospital they did a cat scan and still the test didnt show any ulcer. but what they did see was diverticlatist <– spelled wrong. Since i was still in pain the next day they decided to fix my colon as the doctor opened me up he was shocked to find that my other stomach had a peptic ulcer and it exploded outward. He said if they would have waited one more day i would have been dead. Please dont let a doctor tell you nothing is wrong when you know and feel there is. They cant see the larger stomach in a cat scan or up/lower GI they only way is to open you up and look. I only took tylenol arthritis, noraco and lyrica for pain, and i dont drink why this happen we may never find out. 7 day in ICU and 5 days in the hospital I was really sick and didnt even relize it
Hi. I had my Gastric Bypass surgery on feb 17th 2011. At first I was ok but right before mothers day I couldnt even drink water without getting sick. On the friday before mothers day I woke up to severe cramping. I started throwing up blood and what I thought was diarea was all blood. I was shaking and very white. I went to the er and was admitted immediately. They did an endoscopy and found 2 huge ulcers which were bleeding. After a weekend in the hospital and a blood transfusion I am happy to say I feel much better. I have lost a total of 81 lbs so far and am able to eat just about everything I want now, in very small portions of course. My sugestion to anyone having issues with stomach pain and constant nausea is to seek out a GI professional and talk to your surgeon. I am hoping that for those of you that continue to struggle things will improve for you soon. I do not regret having the surgery, I do however wish I had been more informed about all of the possible complications. Heres to everyones continued success and better health.
Hi I had this surgury march 1st 2o11. It went great for first 8 weeks. I made my follow up surgent aptment He told me everything looked good. I said I felt like I had a lot of heart burn but he said watch spice. That was on a friday by the monday I was rushed by abulance to oshawa hospital. I threw up blood 17 times in about 5 mins passed out . Oshawa had never seen my type of surgery but had to blood transfuse me. It took 4 days to reach my surgon in toronto east general I was take by med transit and had to be amitted to baratic floor. At first I had a big team of people commin in asking a million questions and blood test and ivs to get me pain meds I was in so much pain they were giving me morphin every 4 hrs and gravol to keep me from throghing up. The tst came back I had an ulcer and my liver and intestine were stuck together they went in om easter sunday to fix it. I spent three weeks hocked up to dranage tubes and feeding tube. Got sent home with a nurce commin to my house everyday untill the tube fell out she sent me back to toronto east. This time they ran more test and said they could find nothing wrong and that I need to leave this was on a thusday after noon I had to leave my room they wanted me out. So I waited for someone to come get me it was like 7 at night and was my 12th day of keeping nothing down everthing that went diown burnt and I threw it up. My mother and father desided that. I was not well to go home and ended up taking me to st mikes in toronto. It took 7 hrs to see a doctor by this time. I was so dehydrated the doctor took one look at me had me iv and addmitted in about 2hrs after that ran test found out it was urinary track infectuion that was hittinh liver and kidneys so bad that it took a week of iv meds to clean it up. I finnally came home in june even went back to work. July I did camping and a weding and then *ugust hit my parents were at a wedding and I was at home just after work I felt huge hart burn so I went to see oshawa hospital they told me it was stomach flu. I went homeby the saturday I could not even keep water down so my friend drove me and my aunt can too the drove to st mikes I was ammited in ten mins. I spend 19 hrs being tested my ivs kept failing they had to pick line me. By the sunday I had become hemotoilent loss of blood so bad it took 4 infussions to help me. They scoped and ran more test thought they got it but it did not work, on aug 15 I was placed in emergancy sergery and had a revession. They had to take more stomach because my ulcer was so bad and had restriced any flow in pouch. They fixed it I was feeling good untill october when I started to burn again. Had ultra sound done I have galstons in my galblater and small ulcet. Everytime I eat I’m in pain even drink. My family doc put me on t 3s to control headaces and donpardom to move food faster and iv been on pantalac for 10 months now. Hoping the new year brings me good things just remember for all the bad I’m happy for good too cause iv lost 122lbs and my family ans friends and my social andnutrtionalist are so my support team.
sounds like dumping syndrome
I had a gastric bypass 5 months ago, I have the dumping. Some days I feel good. some days I wish I could die. I still have pain where the incision is. I have lost 60lbs, and was told I would get down to 110lbs. I still do alot of vomiting. I wish I would have live through it. I stop breathing during the surgery and had to be put on a ventilator.
Wow. I am scheduled to have surgery in a month. I have never heard anyone say the things you have said. What does the doctor say about what you are experiencing?
HE said I would get over it. or at least some of it.
Sounds like your dr and my dr should go bowling. Mine`saw me in the hosp during one of many lengthy stays and told me i was a mystery and could’nt help me and goodbye and good luck. That;s been a year ago. i’ve been with thid pain, nausea and vomiting for 2 years now. Now no other dr in the hospital will give me the time of day out of fear of malpractice.
Melissa, is there a university hospital nearby that you could visit? If it really is a mystery, the right hospital should be interested in taking on your case.
I had the surgery in Feb. 2011, so far all is well. I have only had problems when I have NOT followed my surgeons directions. Like eating too fast. I bearly used any pain medicine after the surgery. My biggest issue is getting enough water and protien in. I’ve had days of low energy but mostly feel better.
I’ve lost nearly 50 lbs and need to lose another 50-60 to get to my ‘healthy weight”. I have not regretted my decision and felt that my Doctors prepared me well for all that I would face.
I realize that not everyone is the same, and I feel badly for the ones that have suffered the complications described on this site.
Laura,
did u have any problems loosing weight the first month… i’ve only lost 11 lbs… is this normal?
I had trouble losing much weight in the first year. My thyroid was under active.
Now thyroid function normal and the weight is melting off fast.
Laurie. I agree with your comments. I had my Bypass in May 2012. I was well prepared and informed prior to surgery and also researched myself. I live in the UK and made sure my surgeon was experienced (he teaches all over the world.) I followed the advise given to me and have not looked back since. It took me a year to reach my ideal weight (I lost 10 stone) I am now 16 months post op and can eat most things. I can also eat and enjoy a glass of wine together, I did experience the odd up and downs but used them as a learning process. I was never a big meat eater (and never overweight until 3 yrs prior to op) I have no regrets at all. It gave me back my life. When I read all these horror stories I feel so lucky. However I do question some peoples approach after thier op? I know not everyone has the same luck but PLEASE do as your surgeon and dietician say. We all learn the hard way what suits and what does not….yes I have had dumping a few times but it was my own fault!!! I do sympathise with those that are suffering though. To anyone considering surgery my advise is RESEARCH your surgeon and hospital and choose wisely. Jules….UK
I had surgery in Sep2011. I have not been having too many problems so far… Lesson 1: Don’t think that you are going to be able to eat pasta as soon as you start pureed food. BAD IDEA. Lesson 2: Vomiting isn’t all that bad. It relieves the pain and pressure from when the food gets stuck from doing something really stupid (like eating a pasta noodle, or not chewing well enough). The worst problem that I have encountered was that I traveled to India exactly 6 weeks after surgery. I started having problems with vomiting and feeling so very full after a few bites, but I blame it on trying to eat too many new foods. And all spicy. I survived on soup and carnation instant breaksfast. I was there for two weeks, and just returned this week. My stomach is settling back down, and thankfully have only vomited a few times since I got back. I do have a hard time getting my protein and water in, but that will get better, I’m sure. My dietician said that I’m moving a little slower than most (I’m still eating basically a pureed diet), but I think I’m doing just fine. It’ll come when my body is ready.
I really feel bad for all of you that are having such a hard time…..hang in there….
I had my surgery 15 months ago and I say dont do it. I wish I could be my fat happy self. No gut wrenching pain no hair loss no listlessness no nausea no vomiting no weakness no depression
Paula, have you spoken with a nutritionist who has a lot of experience with post-bypass patients? Maybe she would be able to help clear up some of those problems.
We certainly wish you the best.
IAM THE SAME WAY I REGRET HAVING THE SURGERY TOO I HAD IT DONE JUNE 14 2010 AND I LOST ALL MY HAIR HAVE SEVERE DEPRESSION AND GET ANXIETY ATTACKS I CANT EAT CUZ MY STOMACH HURTS WITH EVERYTHING I JUST WANT TO BE ME AGAIN HAPPY
Laura everybody has different side effects but I was like you somedays I would feel good and other days I would feel like crap. My problem is diarrhea I have had it since my surgery I would go up to 6 times a day and everything I would eat would pass very fast through the small intestine and my intestines would cramp up kind of like leg cramps the pain would last between 30 to 1 hour and after I would get the diarrhea. So I was refered to a GI doc who gave me a med that would help with the diarrhea I was taking two meds the medication stopped the everyday diarrhea but when I would go I would have baby food like diarrhea after months of taking this med I finally took over the counter Imodium liquid and it worked it has stop the diarrhea and it has calm my intestine alot when I eat they dont move or cramp up. I feel alot better but I have to be very careful on how much I take. PS have you tried an anti acid med powder for your vomiting that also works well. But with any med please let your gastric doc know what your taking. and keep in touch.
I went to a GI doctor, just because I got tried of the diarriahea. He suggest that I go to a liquid diet for 6 months. He said he would get with the surgeon, Well he did and now the surgeon afraid if I go on a 6 month liquid diet I will lose to much weight. One tells one thing and the other something else. I am so frustrated.
I’m 5 1/2 months post op from my gastric bypass and I have lost 80 lbs. After my surgery I developed diarrhea. I watch what I eat so it’s not the dumpping syndrome. I have all the signs of IBS, my intestines move real bad and the pain I get from them moving as the food is being passed. So far my gastric doc had to refer me to a GI. Everything that I eat gets the intestines moving I wait 30 minutes to one hour after eating to drink anything. I hate the fact that I eat the same foods every day because I’m so scared to try other foods. The medication I’m on helps but I still get the bloating and cramping. My gastric doc says I’m his 1st patient that has developed this problem he has taken me off all gastric bypass vitamins and to stay away from all sugar free products because of the sorbital that is in it. Does anybody have these symtoms if so please help. It’s hard to enjoy the weight loss when you have this problem.
I had surgery back in August of 2000, so I am 10 years out of surgery. My high wt was 368 lbs, I originally went down to 220-240, then in the summer of 2008 I developed pancreatitis, and everything changed–I have only been able to tolerate a super bland diet since, and now weight 142. But I have a multitude of health issues (many totally unrelated to my gastric bypass surgery-roux en y), so its difficult to enjoy the weight loss and being a “normal” weight person (but I really don’t feel normal). Anyway, for the past 2 1/2 years, since the pancreatitis, I have the same problems you have–like no matter what I eat just about I get dumping. First it was irritable bowel symptoms where I would fluctuate between constipation and diarrhea, now its mostly gassy diarrhea and the bloating cramping pains. I have to be on a non-acidic diet (no citrus, tomato, etc) due to my bladder (I have Interstitial Cystitis, or IC, which means I am on a very strict diet for my bladder), am lactose intolerant (so no milk & yogurt, but can tolerate cheese), so have other dietary restrictions, so I really feel like there is next to nothing I can eat. Sometimes plain baked chicken breast and baked potato is OK, but sometimes now it isn’t. I went to my dr today about this whole issue again, and she said she really believes it is dumping syndrome (I had not thought about it as dumping before, as sweets didn’t seem to bother me all that much). However, after reading about it and refreshing my memory, and reading other’s stories, I am wondering now. one thing I have never been good at, is not drinking water when I eat—I never feel like I can swallow the food and get it down otherwise. SO it was really good I read about this.
Anyway, I will say that it does take a really long time for your body to heal from the surgery. And I cannot stress enough the importance of nutrition and vitamins and supplements. If your dr has taken you off vitamins, PLEASE make sure your vitamins and mineral levels are monitored closely. I did not have good follow up care, and ended up with numerious deficiencies, including advanced complicated rickets (there was NO vitamin D in my system at all), I was severely anemic and needed IV iron, so continually follow up nutrition monitoring is so important. My hair has been falling out for about 5 years now–I have lost about 75% of my hair–for many reasons they think—medications, weight loss, nutrition, and they just don’t know for sure, but several months ago one of my dr decided to try prenatal vitamins and they have helped slow the hair loss down. Please hang in there and my dr says to try one new food a day in small amounts and take is slowly. Let’s both ttry to enjoy our wt loss more and focus on the positive, so we have more energy to tackle these hurdles we are facing.
I am so grateful for this website I just found and the threads. I had my gastric bypass (Roux en Y) Nov 11, 2009, now 1/2 years later my diabetes is doing really good, nerve damage is starting to reverse (only permanent damage in right leg & foot). This is why I opted for the surgery, if I had know that the lapband would have had the same effect on my health, although take a little longer, I definitely would have opted for that. I have had so many complications, in/out of ER & hospitals since, first post-op surgery last August for gall bladder, developed chronic pancreatitis, Feb 2011 they had to repair the opening of stitch/band where my small intestine came out and twisted around abdominal aorta, could have died (bled to death) if strained too much. The nauseau has increasingly gotten worse along with the abdominal pain, every time I try to eat, liquids are worse. Had another scope done (2nd one since original surgery) showed pouch is still size of 2 tablespoons and opening to small intestine is wide open, so yes, everything dumps. I have followed everything suggested and all these complications. Some doctors of mine act like it’s all in my head, but my family & friends see me doubled over in pain & sickness, also at times I vomit bile. GI doc says I can live without pancreas, when it gets too bad he will remove it, back on insulin & prescription enzymes. Right now otc enzymes & narcotic pain meds. My top weight was 192 and now I’m at 95 lbs. GI doc said he would never had done the surgery on me to begin with. I would like to know if anyone else has ended up with pancreatitis from this surgery, a co-worker had hers 3 1/2 years ago & now just diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis.
when you get the diarrhea,, when does it occur (if you don’t mind me asking). I am trying to figure out my situation, where my primary care dr thinks its dumping but the diarrhea doesn’t start until 1-2 a.m.. I thought dumping meant diarrhea fairly soon after eating? My symptoms also seem to be more related to a severe case of IBS as well.
I have diarrhea only after I eat, It doesn’t mater what I eat. I have lost over 80 lbs now. I buy clothes and can waer them a month before they are abot to fall of me.
Doesn’t anyone else have this constant diarrhea? I haven’t gone back to the doctor because I don’t want to go back to the hospital. I spent three months there and don’t want to go back.
Laura, are you working with a nutritionist? Does she have any suggestions for you?
I haven’t been going to a nutritionist. I had one see me while I was in the hospital. And she told be I should buy nothing but baby food for the first year.
everything needed to be sugar-free. and use on sugar-free substutes. I tried that and it made me sick. The look of baby food and I can’t eat.
Does your diarrhea occur right away after you eat? Most of the time I get it late at night (1-2 .m,) and it keeps me up all night. Yesterday I went out to lunch, and had a cup of chicken dumpling soup and 1/2 charbroiled chicken sandwich with lettuce and provolone and at 10 p.m. it started and it was the worst nite yet. After several days doing good on my usual bland diet, I thought a little lunch out of regular food but nothing spicy, rich or fried would be OK. WRONG! It was a terrible nite. I am very discouraged. But I had just a few days when my bowels almost had the opposite problem, like I said, it seems like irritable bowel to me, and hopefully nothing to do with my bypass surgery.
I am very curiius when people are getting their diarrhea so I can compare if you don;’t mind me asking.
I don’t mind asking I was hoping to learn something from someone else on how to get rid of it. My diarrhea usually hits about hour after I eat. I have it even if I eat a cracker. I don’t eat anything spicy. I am very carefu what I eat.
I don’t want to go to the doctor. But I might have to. Very discouraging.
I started with diarrhea in the hospital and they told me about half the people having the surgery have some problems the first few days. Had my surgery only a month ago. Got home and the problem got worse. Took a week to figure it was the protein drinks that caused the diarrhea. Have bought and tried five different kinds and they are give me problems even before I can finish a drink. Was told I was allergic to something in the drinks. Stopping the protein drinks has helped the diarrhea, but now stools and very dark and am now worried about bleeding. Know all about the dizzy feelings and being white as a sheet too.
Yes I have had diarrhea since my surgery at first my gastric doc gave me a medication called Lamotel and I was refered to a GI doc who also gave me another med to help with the diarrhea but after months of taking both meds he said I can take reg over the counter Imodium liquid trust me it stopped the diarrhea at first I took 6 teaspoons the first day and on the second day I went down to 3 teaspoons. I have been taking 3 teaspoons once a day every day for the last five days and I have had no problems with the diarrhea. But now I’m constipated so I had to buy Metamucil cookie waffers to help so know my bowel is soft. Let me know if Imodium works for you but let you gastric do know that you are taking Imodium liquid. Ps My GI doc said its ok to take Imodium. so dont let anybody tell you other wise. Keep in touch
I tried the Imodium and metamucil, that doesn’t help me. Any one have any other ideas??? I am willing to try anything. BUT to go back to the doctor.
Laura, I have diarrhea but I take imoduim every morning and I take another medication to slow down my intestines. I have all the signs of IBS my gastric doc says he has never seen any of his patients with this problem and I’m his first. If you need to talk I can give you my cell phone just email me to let me know. I will tell you what I have gone through and what I’m taking to help with my diarrhea. Don’t ever think your alone I know what it’s like to not have anybody to talk to. here’s my email:
believe.faith2008 [at] gmail [dot] com
(Marcella) So far I’m ten months post op my gastric was done back in June 30 2010 and I have lost 105 lbs. but I have the diarrhea to thank for.
I am surprised at all that have diarhea problem, I have just the opposite. Almost like blockage somewhere, but they can’t find where.
I have had the diarrhea since my surgery not sure what caused it. But my gastric doc is very pluzzed he had to refer me to a GI. I have been taking Lamotel and another medication to stop the diarrhea but has slowed it down to everyother day. But after taking this medication for three months I was still having the diarrhea so as my GI doc said I should try Imodium and sure enough I took it and it has stop the diarrhea. To answer your guestion yes right after i would eat the diarrhea would come on. Try taking liquid imodium on your first day I took 6 teaspoons at first then the next day I would take 3 teaspoons after that. But I would like to mention a month after my gastric I had my gallbladder removed so I have to be very careful on what I eat. But let your gastric doc know if you decide to take Imodium just so they can write it in your chart. But the Imodium has worked for me it has even stopped my intestines from move and crapping up in which can be very painful. Let me know how it works for you. keep in touch.
My husband had the surgery a year and a half ago. He has severe pain that come and go. He has been taking asprin for about a month now. He was never told that he could not take asprin. Furthermore, my husband hate he ever got this surgery!!!!! TEARS can anyone help.
Angela, your husband might want to find an online support group, where there may be more experienced readers who can offer some advice. I did a Google search using the keywords “gastric bypass support group online” and a number of forums showed up. I hope he feels better soon.
What kind of pain is he having from his abdomen area does it feel like his intestines are crapping up and alot of bloating. Let me know. Keep in touch
I had the surgery about 7 years ago. i have had good results due to the surgery but i have recently discovered a major mistake that the doctors have made while operating on me. I went to see my GYN doctor and she did an exam on me. She claimed that she could not locate my cervix so she scheduled an ultrasound for me. i have the test done about 1 week after seeing the doctor and the tech discovered that somehow i have had a hysterscomy, My uterus and cervix are gone. I have not needed an exam before now so i never knew that this had happened. I did not have any other operations since having the bypass so i know that this doctor did something that he was not suppose to do. i did not sign any papers giving permission for this to take place because i still wanted to have children. I will proceed in finding this doctor and hospital so that i can let them all know just how much of a mistake they made and that they are going to pay for what they did to me. I know that i had this operation in St.louis mo but i am having some trouble locating the hospital itself. i will not give up though. This doctor should not be allowed to perform surgery anymore if he is going to make drastic mistakes such as he or they did to me. I think it was done at St. Elizabeth’s hospital in st,louis mo. i need to get more info before i can begin making phone calls. If anyone can give me advice on this issue please feel free to write to me and let me know. Escpecially if there are any lawyers out there reading this that think they might have some ideas as to how i should handle this issue properly.
Wait. They gave you a hysterectomy and you did not know? You went 7 years without getting your period and didn’t think there was a problem?
I agree with Melissa. Donna’s story doesn’t quite add up – but stranger things have happened.
If you call your insurance company, they should have the information on where the surgery was done and by whom.
and for those questioning not having a period for so long, if you’ve had Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, it’s not uncommon to go for extended periods of time without a period. It’s also not uncommon if you use the birth control pills that only let you have 4 periods a year…
the doctor is denying having done any of it. he says that he is not guilty of anything at all and with that statement it shows me that he is for sure. i am not sure if he is trying to convince me or himself that he is not guilty. he loses either way as far as i can see.
Donna Johnstone
Donna, I certainly understand your frustration. However, I don’t think this is the right place to discuss a potential malpractice suit. I think you would find more support on a a forum or blog that is concerned with doctor mistakes. This site is concerned with gastric bypass, both it’s benefits and potential complications, but not with malpractice – that’s another issue entirely.
I wish you all the best. I hope you find the support you’re looking for.
A little over three years ago my life changed. I was thankfully approved for gastric by pass surgery. I experienced a few dumping incidents after the surgery, and I came to the conclusion that my magic number was 10. Ten grams of sugar is my limit. I learned that number very quickly. My symptoms associated with “dumping” are rapid heart beat, confusion, cold sweats, and nausea. I have found that lying on my stomach, controlled breathing and a prayer to fall asleep are my only options. These symptoms usually last for 30 minutes and most of the time I do fall asleep and wake up with just the memory of the episode. I have not thrown up once since surgery. Initially, I lost a total of 125 pounds. I have gained 10 lbs back. I feel great and except for the emergency gall bladder surgery last month life is good.
This surgery literally saved my life. In fact, my youngest daughter (33 years old) is scheduled for surgery on January 13, 2011. As her mother I am anxious. As a gastric bypass success, I know her new life begins on that day.
Good luck to all of you. Happy New Year to us!
Hi, I am 26 years old and I have been researching this surgery for myself. I am a teacher and am wondering about how much down time I should prepare myself for? Alos, after reading about all the side effects I am wondering if I should look more into a band. What are your thoughts??
Hi Hillary. This is the kind of question that the clinic or surgeon should be able to help you with. They should know exactly how long an average patient is off work, and which procedures are best for different patients. And it wouldn’t hurt to have an interview with more than one surgeon or clinic, if that’s an option. Different clinics might have different results as far as down-time, etc.
Hi Hillary,
I had gastric bypass 7 yrs. ago, and I never lost all my weight..the problem with that is I still have a stomach, I weight about 195lbs. and I am in limbo from one place to another. My doctor doesn’t do do-overs, leaving me where I am today. If I had to do it all over again I would have the band, it can be adjusted…and the surgery I had most doctors won’t redo, and insurance won’t pay for because my high blood pressure is gone and also my apnea. I feel good and don’t regret it but I wish the band would have been more available to me in my area. Good Luck, the changes are better than living with the health issues I had. Best Wishes Hillary.
Thank you Jonni!
Hillary, I would definitely consider the lapband as the complications are minimal and can be reversed (they can remove the band), the weight loss takes longer, but if I had only needed to lose weight and not take care of some urgent complications from diabetes, I would have had the lapband. Actually, I truly wish I had opted for that. Good luck and make sure you research alot.
ih im 26 i just had it may9 2011 i’v loss 65 pound in im not have the effecet that some people have on here but i have not had a bowl movemant in two week can someon help if you have had this happin????????
Christina, I don’t know if that’s common or not, but it’s definitely something that you should talk to your doctor about. And I would suggest you make a call soon.
I had my surgery in February of 2003, initially I had the “normal” complications..not being able to eat without pain, throwing up, dumping syndrome…then a couple of years into it I started to get kidney stones..BAD! I at one time had 10 stones in my kidney (i only have one kidney) I had 2 procedures to blast the stones and thankfully I have been stone free for about 4 years now. In 2007 my husband and I decided to have a baby..we both have kids but wanted a child together. I did what I could to keep my body as heathly as I could and forced myself to eat more than I usually do. When I was about 23 weeks along into my pregnancy I developed severe pain in my stomach, I was taken to the ER to see what was wrong, we thought I was having complications with the baby. Turns out my small intestines telescoped into themselves and died. They were necrotic (sp?) I had to have emergency surgery. I was cut from the bottom of my chest down to my belly button and they removed a little over 2 feet of my small intestines. After that life sucked. Though I do have a very healthy now 3 year old boy! I have tremendous pain when I eat and it is with anything I eat. I started to need pain killers just to eat food. Last week 1/17/11 it happended again!! My intestines this time tied themselves in a knot. HAS ANYONE WHO HAS HAD GASTRIC BYPASS HAVE ANY OF THIS HAPPEN TO THEM?? I am at a loss as to why this is happening to me and fear that if it happens again it will be the last time as I will not survive the next time.
Marla, it sounds like you’ve been through some very bad experiences.
Since this is probably very rare, I did a fast Google search to see if there were some experts you might be able to contact. I don’t actually understand the medical terms, so some of the following pages might not apply. However, if you see anything similar to your own situation in these reports you might try contacting the people who wrote the studies to see if they have any advice that your own doctors might not be aware of:
I certainly wish you all the best. I hope you have this problem corrected soon.
hey marla i just wanted you to know you arent alone i hamy surgery in 01 and the first few years were pretty good about 4 yrs ago i started having gi problems last i had to be rushed to the cleveland clinic for emergency surgery my intestines did the same thing yours did and i was full of toxic poison almost dies so had to have i believe 6 or 7 inches of my intestine taken out then about 6 months ago i had the same thing happen again and they literally snaked my intestines like they do your drains well 2 weeks ago i ended up having my gallbladder taked out i am in constant abdominal pain i live on zofran or phenergan for nausea can not ever eat sensibly im just so fed up with i sure wish i could go back and rethink this i would be fat but feelin good i hope things straiten out for ya but for me its a never ending battle and real hard to be positive in everyday life when you never feel good! Good luck best wishes!
sorry my typing isnt so good
Julie……..holy crap it happended to you too!! I am just waiting for the day that it happens again….
I know exactly how you feel….I wish I was fat again too!! I sure hope that the people who haven’t had the surgery yet and read these posts DON”T GET THE SURGERY!!! For some of you that have it done as a life or death decision fine, but for those of you out there who can’t lose weight the traditional way…FIND ANOTHER WAY!!! Playing god with your body is not the answer and if I could I would go back and undo what I have done….worst mistake of my life.
I am trying to talk myself into not having a gastric bypass but I have thyroid problems and can’t live on 800 calories a day and the gym 5 times a week in order to lose 1/4 pound a week…only to gain it back in a day when I eat a couple hundred calories extra. I am soooo confused on what to do. I am misrable and am 260 pounds with diabetes and sleep apnea. I am scared I will die but scared to have the surgery. I had the lap band and it made me deathly sick, I had to have it removed. I had soooo much trouble. Please write to me with your advice and tell me more why you would not have the surgery.
Julie, you have been through so much. I still sometimes can’t believe that I did this to myself. I was trying to get rid of the high blood pressure, knee pain, shortness of breath, etc. I wish I could turn back the clock. I will keep you in my prayers for sure.
I have to agree with the three of you. I wish there could have been another answer. Never knew I would have so many problems. How come some people can go through this without any problems, and then there are those of us who have all these issues. I would like to know HAS ANYONE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH CHRONIC PANCREATITIS since they had the gastric bypass? And if so, what are doing to help eat and live each day….I still can’t find anything that helps.
Sandy, I checked Google and it does look like there’s a connection between gastric bypass and chronic pancreatitis. One forum posted quite a few comments by people with this problem, including this one:
You can read all the rest of the posts here.
My liver and intestine made there own scar tissue. when I had go back in for help because i was bleeding the surgent had to only repare the ulcer but also had take my liver and intestine appart. the surgent never even told me he did that it was the nutritionals who told me about it
I had roux en Y gastric bypass 7 yrs. ago, I never lost all my weight I weight about 197 the most I ever lost was 173lbs. but over time I have bounced mostly between 190 and 200.
My question is: Is there a diet that works for someone like me, I went back to my Dr/dietitian and she told me to exercise at least 1 hr. /day. I am disabled and my facet joints in my back are disintegrating so that kind of exercise is pretty impossible.
But I would like to find a lifestyle changing diet that I can go by with my overweight husband.
It doesn’t sound like your dietitian was terribly helpful – perhaps you could find a local naturopathic physician who could recommend the right foods.
unfortunately I live in a small town, ant the town closest is only 10,000 I had to go two hours away to have the surgery and see the doctor. I was hoping there was a diet that works for people who have had gastric bypass, the excercise is the trouble. But if there is one please let me know, I don’t have any naturopaths in my area. Any help you can give would be helpful.
Thanks
I’m not a nutritionist, so I can’t offer the advice you need. Does anyone else know of a diet that has been helpful for folks after bypass, who aren’t able to exercise? Your input would be very helpful.
I am considering the surgery. What I have read scares me. I am over 50 and I have been considering this surgery for a long time. I am in pretty good health right now. I have HP and some arthritis in my knees. Which I was told that losing some weight would help a lot. However over the last year I have found it hard to do a regular work out as I use too. So I have put weight on. I feel confident about the Dr I have chose. Just not sure if I should after reading all of the info below.
I had the surgery 7 years ago. Tipping the scales at 368 I could barely walk. Facing retirement and the care of my elderly parents, my gp was blunt and said he could not see me living much longer.
I had the surgery and do not regret it at all. There has been a few complications, but in most cases I have found that is was due to my actions not the surgery. I have had to be careful with my diet and actions. 200 pounds lighter and so happy.
I have been able to nurse my father who died this past year and am now caring for my 90 year old mother. I have gained back 40 pounds, but I know this is due to lack of exercise. And am now focusing on some in home options.
The key is to get a good doctor who is blunt and straight forward. I had one of the best. I knew going into this operation that is was dangerous and that I would have to change my eating habits for the rest of my life. I did become lactose intolerant, but recent studies have shown that many people are such without knowing it…the symptoms intensify after the surgery.
I am off all medication, and look forward to a longer fuller life.
DON’T DO IT! I AM ONLY 3 WEEKS FROM ROUENY AND HAVE SPENT ALL BUT 2 DAYS ININTENSIVE CARE. I WOULD NEVER DO THIS AGAIN – THE WEIGHT LOSS MAY COME BUT THE GAGGING NAUSEA, BLOODY STOOL,AND PULMONARY EMBOLISMS AREN’TGOING AWAY, SOON IF EVER. I WISHED I HAD FOUND THIS SITE BEFORE I CONSENTED. FOR DOCS THIS IS A BUSINESS AND FOR ALL THEY GAVE ME TO READ, THEY NEVER SHARED ANY OF THESE RESOURCES ON NEGATIVE EPERIENCES.
DON’T DO IT!!!!
I WOULD NEVER DO THIS SURGERY AGAIN. DON’T DO IT!!!!
DONT DO IT!!!!!!!!!I WOULD NEVER DO IT AGAIN IM 45 AND FEEL 65 PLEASE GO TO WEIGHT WATCHERS THEY ARE AWESOME NOW I GO WITH MY MOM…….PLEASE THINK ABOUT IT GOOD LUCK!
Hello Cindy,
I would still consider the surgery. I am also over 50 to be exact 54. I was also feeling in pretty good health before the surgery. So I thought now was the best time to do the surgery, I had my gastric by-pass Mar 7, 2011, as of today 15 Jul, I’ve lost a total of 79 lbs. I went off my BP medication the day after surgery, and have not gone back on meds. I went back to work after 4 weeks. After 6-weeks post op, I started my workout on my eliptical and I’ve just recently introduced kettle ball training to my workout. I workout about 3-4 times per week. I could do better but easier said than done. I do want to relay to you is that I have not had any complications that are listed on these pages. THANK GOD. I did have a little constipation in the beginning, still do sometimes, but not a problem, take miralax if it becomes too much of a problem. Eating is getting better, my biggest problem is eating red meat. I might just have to give it up (the red meat I mean). I’m very happy with my ongoing weight loss. If you are comfortable with your doctor, then I would definately go for it and be positive about it.
Sharon, goof for yoy. I and 3 weeks out and still nauseous but have lost 45 lbs and hanging in there. I would not have lasted about 10 years.
Another question. Should I do the Sleeve or the Gastric Bypass? Has anyone had the Sleeve done? If so, how are you doing? Is the amount of weight you lose more limited?
I had the surgery in May of 1980 and I have no regreats. I lost close to 150 pounds. When they did my surgery they removed the gull blatter my doctor told ne that was because it most likely will go bad due to the surgery. About seven months after my surgery I had to have skin removed from my stomach and arms. Five months after that surgery they removed skn from my legs and butt. I didn’t find the skin removal surgery to be painful at all just uncomfortable because of all the staples I had in me at one time. The bypass surgery was a little painful mosstly because of the ng tube in your nose for a few days. I still have problems eating anything that has a lot of mayo in it. I makes me feel sick to my stomach but not to the point of throwing up. I can eat a normal meal now just not big amounts. I was heavy all of my life and now I take a size 5 so for me the surgery was a god send. Since I had the surgery 31 years ago I would think the medical field has improved how the surgery is done now. My advice is make sure you find a doctor who has done this type of surgery and is very experienced with doing it. I have heard some real horror stories especially with the skin removal surgery where ugly scars are left on the outside of the body to the point where a person can’t wear short sleeves or sleevless cloths. No one sees my scars unless I point them out to them. I will always have the scars from being heavy but I don’t have regreats!
Hi my name is Nachelle. I had Gastric Bypass Surgery on July 31, 2002. I had barely turned 18 years old. I had just graduated High School and was about to start College. Right from the start I had complications. Two weeks after surgery I had to be taken back to the hospital. I had an obstruction and had to be re operated. The Dr. came to the hospital at 2:30 in the morning to re operate. 2 weeks later back to the hospital where I had to be dilated using a scope. For the next year I was in and out of the hospital with multiple scopes. 1 year out I developed migraine headaches, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. I could not eat solids for almost 2 years. I weighed 270 when I went in for surgery and I got down to 145. I have gained all the weight back. I developed ulcers. I have severe female issues. I am lactose intolerant. I am anemic. I say food is poison to me because I never know what my body will do when I eat something. I can eat a piece of chicken one day and the next time I get very sick. Now I am unable to work, eat, or sleep. I have abdominal pain and my esophagus feels like it is clogged. I finally went back to the Gastric Bypass Specialist and found out my body rejected the surgery from day 1. I was too young and my body was still developing. I have what’s called Reustasis Syndrome. I also have Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The way the waves in my body flow are not right. After a cat scan they found abnormal amount of air, fluid, and gastric juices in my immobile stomach. What happened to me is very rear. The only cure at this point is for the Gastric Bypass to be removed and a Gastric Sleeve will be done. The Head Surgeon is who I am going through. He has only done this surgery maybe 22 times at most. The other thing is he can guarantee I won’t gain weight but he can’t guarantee I can lose weight. I now weigh 215. I weighed 284 in October 2009. I have been dieting and exercising with the help of a very good Dr. I have recently gone back on the Gastric Bypass diet and I am dropping weight like crazy. So the problem with me isn’t the weight. The problem is I am in a lot of pain. It hurts to eat, it hurts to swallow, it hurts to breath, it hurts to talk, and sometimes it hurts to move. I am so grateful that I now know what is wrong with me and there is a solution. This is all true. I wanted a chance to share my story. I do not recommend this surgery to anyone under the age of 25. Let your body develop first. This surgery is a great surgery for weight loss. It really works. What happened to me doesn’t happen very often. Thank you for your time.
I had G/B surgery 01/26/2011 and I can eat chicken noodle (can) and chicken and rice (can). I’ve had mashed potatoes and white rice. I drink sweet ice tea, and Latte’s (whole milk). I often wonder, did my surgeon actually perform the surgery? What is going on.
Are you keeping to the diet they gave you, and losing weight? What kind of surgery did you get? So many people have trouble with certain foods after the surgery, that they might like to know your secret – as long as it actually works.
Hello everyone, this has been a very informative website to visit. I am 6 days post op and have had a troubled time dealing with what I’ve done to myself. I did a lot of resurching and thinking before I did this but I’m scared about the out come. I am 30 years old and I was 230 pounds and 5′ tall when I went in for the surgery. I have been over weight since I was 10 years old so I have not seen a pant size under 18 since I was 15 years old. I have a great 20 month old daugter and an OK husband that is not being very supportive of the journy I have choosen to take. I want to the barix clinic in Yipsilanti (sp) and my surgon was wounderful at what he does and he took his time to look around and make sure there were no other problems in my insides. I came home 2 days after my surgery and to find out we had no power and my father that has COPD went to the emergency room at the VA in Battle Creek MI. So two days later I went with my Mother to find my Father looking like he was knocking on Heavens door sitting in his own urin and unable to hold his head up and look at me. I was soar but my Daddy is my HEART and as much as he has been through he deserves to be treated better than what he had been. So my Mother and I took turns leaving the room and crying as we helped him get cleaned up and helped him in to the bed. Anyways that was a lot for not suppost to be lifting over 5 pounds but I also had to go to Wal mart so I could get some stuff I needed to make my drinks so we were there for 2 hours reading all the lables and finding all the things on the list. After we got loaded in the car and was ready to head home for that PAIN medication my Father calls me and said they were moving him to the Battle Creek health system because he was not getting any better so we got to the VA in enough time to follow the ambulance to the hospital so was there for another 2 hours untill he fell in to a deep sleep. Needless to say all this does have a purpose I was in a lot of pain went I finally got home but went I woke my lower adomanal was very soar and it kind of felt like I did 100 sit ups so I was worried that I may have caused an hurnia or something worse does anyone now how that feels. I lifted over my weight limet and hope I did not screw anything up. Other than that I not hungery half the time and I finding it hard ti get the water intake in that i’m suppost to get (64OZ). Im on the full liquid diet and when I get hungery I;m really hungery is there any suggestions on something fullfiling to the belly. Thanx for the ear and I hope everyone finds there happiness with this life changing surgery:)
Kristin, I do hope you called your surgeon right away. The clinic should be able to help you decide if everything is still OK around your sutures – there’s certainly no way any of us who read this could know – and it is kind of important, after all.
Here’s my theory – the surgeon gets paid a lot of money, and part of that payment is to help answer any questions you might have and to take care of any complications that might arise. So call the clinic and tell them everything.
Good luck with everything. And I hope your father gets better soon.
My sister had the surgery 8 months ago and she is having a problem when she eat 2 or 3 bites of food she starts yawning about 20 times and she needs to take a nap.. her doctor said that he never heard that it would have anything to do with the bypass.. can anyone help us. we live in a small town where there isn’t alot of doctors that does this work.. thanks
Hi, I live in England and have been reading your posts on Gastric Bypass. I had it done in May of 2010 and have not looked back since. I done a lot of research myself pre-op and also researched the surgeon available (I was lucky to be accepted by our N.H.S.) I choose a top surgeon in London (Hommerton University Hospital) Mr. Mannur. He practises all around the world. My after care has been second to none and I know I would not have got any better treatment as a private patient. I done everything to the book and experienced hardly any problems. I am now nearly one year post op and almost 10 stone lighter (back to my original weight) I am 54 and until 5 years ago had never been overweight but due to tragic circumstances in my life I had a breakdown. I doubled my body weight in 2 yrs. The meds I needed for depression were huge weight gainers and I was imobile (in bed most the the time) hence the weight gain. I have no regrets and the op has given me my life back…..I have been so very lucky. I have had some hair loss though and constipation probs but they are being sorted. The constipation and not emptying my bowel fully are apparently not connected to the by pass and I am now under a Colorrectal Consultant. Hopefully he will sort it…..has anyone else experienced this?…..My advise to anyone considering surgery is do your research, choose an experienced bariatric surgeon and GO FOR IT !!!!! Jules
Julie,
I seem to be another with constipation problems. All I have seen here is people with the just the opposite. My GI told me it starts with the esophagus (esophageal spasms), he has me on Doxepin for that. I’ve had alot of complications. I always weighed between 95 and 105 from 14 years old until around 40 years. Then I started to gain the weight, first uterine/cervical cancer, then ovarian cancer and continued to gain weight. My diabetes went out of control after doing so well for over 20 years when (went through emotional trauma). Nerve damage was extensive, that’s why I opted for the G/P. My stomach was almost completely damaged. I cannot find a way to solve the constipation problem. I also take Miralax every day. I ended up having gall bladder removed which caused (they think) chronic pancreatitis, so taking otc pancreatin & narcotic pain meds (liquid). I have been asking here if anyone else has been diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis (no response so far), as I have a co-worker who also ended up with it after 3 years out from G/P. Glad to here that everything else has been working out for you. Good luck.
Sandy
Hello, I live in Texas I recently had the gastric sleeve on February 21st seven days later February 28th had the gastric bypass done, due to complications from the sleeve… My life has completely changed I feel that this was the biggest mistake in my life. Not only am I always cramping I also have direah not to mention that it burns every time. I am still on liquid diet in six days I will be on a pureed diet for two more weeks then solid foods. From what I have read sounds like I will be stuck with these side effects… I have young children and feel terrible that I cannot even talk to them without crying…
God help us….
my question is for julie, what is n.h.s. ? Is surgery costly in London ? what’s your surgeons name.
Thanks
I had the gastric Bypass Surgery 1 year ago today. I have to say that for me It was the best thing that ever happened to me. I am so blessed and thankful. I have lost 190 lbs and i have had complications, but to me they are worth it. I wish you all the best. If I can offer 1 peice of advice I would say. ” make it work for u” We didn’t get fat overnight and this aint a miracle drug. Work the support groups. Get into therapy. I go to monthly groups and therapy. “why do we eat?” huge question. be safe out there. Successful Patient here and lovin it. lol
I had my surgery in Bogota, Colombia on 7/16/09. I have lost 110 lbs, and thats all I need to lose. The doctors there were WONDERFUL. I had excellent care and it has been an extreme success. I did get a bleeding ulcer this past November, but that was due to extreme stress from my brothers death at the age of 21 and taking too much excedrin migraine. I recommend having surgery in Bogota, the doctors are part of the American board of bariatrics and are FANTASTIC. And if you dont have insurance, its extremely cheaper. I love being skinny! I had dumping syndrome and still have diarrhea if I eat the wrong thing, but in the end it was WELL worth it!
My wife had this surgery 2 years ago and although has lost a good deal of weight she is also dealing with a considerable amount of pain. She continues to state that her bones hurt despite taking the proper vitamin and calcium supplements. She has went in for several blood draws so doctors can check her levels and everything is coming out fine. We thought it might be a parathyroid issue but again all the test results are coming back showing its not the problem. She constantly states it feels like someone has her spine in a vice and increasing the pressure. In addition, she is getting frequent kidney stones which is adding to the pain. Now has to live on a variety of pain killers because no one can tell us what’s going on with her. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced similar issues from this surgery?
I did a fast Google search, and found two conditions associated with gastric bypass and bone pain. One is called osteomalacia, and the other is called [links to Google search] metabolic bone disease. Your wife’s doctor has probably checked for both problems, of course. It does appear that these are fairly common complications, due to the malabsorbtion of Vitamin D and calcium after the gastric bypass procedure.
Even more common, however, is an [links to article] increased risk of kidney stones in post-gastric bypass patients. I found a few articles that suggest a possible connection between the high oxilates in the urine (which cause kidney stones) and bone pain, but I couldn’t find an article by a medical site or research group. I may have been using the wrong search terms, of course.
Both of these complications seem to be fairly common, but a general practitioner might not be familiar with them. And, since these links came through a fast Google search and not any professional knowledge on my part, I have no way of knowing if they’ll be helpful. The best resource would be a physician who specializes in post-gastric bypass patients, and who is familiar with all the possible complications that might arise after the surgery.
Have they check for chronic pancreatitis?
My sister Kim had gastric bypass done about 2 years ago. she did good for awhile. She started having problems within the last year. She would faint, and had problems with kidney stones before the surgery so it just magnified. They put a pick line in(would like to know what this is used for) twice . My sister became someone none of us recgonized anymore. She complained of pain all the time was in and out of the hospital. Her family (me included) began doughting her. She became addicted to perscription pain pills. She began having siezers and problems breathing and heart problems. She was in the hospital 10 days and relesed only to die 4 days later. that was a week and 2 days ago. Im really trying hard to understand what happened to her. Untill I read this page I thought she was making this all up to get more pills. I feel so horribale now. Is there anything more you can offer as far as information to better understand what happened or why? My sister Kim was only 30 years old. I miss her so bad and feel so awfull for not beliving in her. Was any of it perventable?
Cindy, I am so sorry for your loss. What a tragedy. As for your question about the causes or possible prevention of your sister’s illness, there’s no way we can know from such a distance. Only an expert professional who regularly treats post-bypass patients would be able to tell you for sure. Even then, the doctor would need your sister’s medical chart. It’s quite certain, however, that there is nothing you could have done personally to save her.
A quick Google search turned up a forum where post-bypass patients are complaining of seizures, and it doesn’t look like their doctors believe it has anything to do with the surgery. While replying to a previous comment. I found a number of sites that show a common connection between the bypass surgery, kidney stones, and bone pain. When so many things happen all at once, it’s often difficult to get a diagnosis – I think this type of experience shows that we need far more doctors who are well-trained in the possible complications of gastric bypass surgery. Perhaps everyone who is considering the surgery should make sure they contact such a professional before they agree to the procedure, so they’ll know they’re in good hands if problems arise.
We all wish you the best, and you have our condolences.
My aunt had gastric bypass about three months ago. Her minerals all seem to be at proper levels or better. However she is in the hospital with hypotension and bradycardia and the doctors don’t know why and so she is getting a pacemaker soon. Has anyone experienced this, the Dr.’s at University Hospital in Syracuse are all baffeled.
My aunt had a pace maker put in because she died twice on the operating table that was in march 2011
hi all,my name is Vee,i live in UK.I had my gastric bypass in feb 2011,I have had some pain,but guess thats part n parcel of surgery?,I CAN SAY HAND ON HEART?I am looking forward too loosing the weight,I feel great?all i can say is do ur resurch,look into everything,my life is changing every day,the best choice i ever made.And for all that are having probs,dont give up,seek all areas of advice,talk to docs,be firm.we only on this earth once.be happy.love.god bless veexxx
I had the gastric bypass surgery on March 15, 2011. I thought this would change my life forever. I was 316 at the time of surgery, and have only lost 31lbs. Going on week 5, I am not loosing weight. I have continued to be at the same weight all last week. I am able to keep down broth, apple sauce, pudding, jello, popsicles and mashed potatoes. Everything I put spmething to my mouth including water, it makes me feel nautious. A week after surgery I was admitted for dehydration, went home, and within days was back again for an endoscopy, and a pic line. Every night I have to hook up IV liquids to my pic line for 12 hours. I feel and tired all day. I am nautious, and feel like my throat is closing. Yesterday I tried eating a quarter size piece of chicked. Within minutes I had vomited 5 times. It feels like everything is stuck in my chest. My surgeon thought there might be a stricture, but the GI doctor said it was too early to open up the hole in my esophogus, and if they tried it could tear. So five weeks post-op, I have been in the hospital more than I have been home. I have a 5 yr old, who is so frustrated cause his mommy doesnt feel well. Due to the pic line, I can’t lift more than 10 lbs, and can not work or exercise. I am miserable. I would have never of had this surgery if I thought I was going to get this sick!! For anyone thinking about this surgery, please consider the band. It can be adjusted, and removed if necessary…I am at the point where I want to pull out this pic line myself. The calories, and nutrition in the IV bag are necessary to sustain me, but I’m starving, and not loosing any weight. I am at a stand still. I have an appointment in four days, but I honestly don’t think I can wait that long. It hurts to swallow. I feel like everyone thinks I am making up these somatic complaints. I am about to loose my town house, and possibly my car. I can’t work because I am dizzy and light headed, and because with the pic line there could be complications if any germs enter the sterile enviornment. I don’t know what to do next. Everyone is sick of me complaining, and I am in the house evferyday. Some days my blood pressure is 60/54…I feel like I am slowly dying, and that my organs will shut down one by one!!! Please do your homework, I only heard the positive, and never focused on the complications.
Jennifer you are not alone. I have been struggling as well. I was 4 wks post op when they did my endoscopy to find that my pouch was closed. I am going on 7 wks post op and have had a total of 3 endoscopy with dialations due to my pouch closing due to all the scar tissue. At this time I feel weak and am nauseated I know I am dehydrated and am debating in checking myself in the ER to gets some IV liquids. May God help us I believe he is the only one who can.
Jennifer, If you need to talk email me then I will give you my phone number. It’s better to talk then write. I know the feeling a month after my bypass I had a stricture and I had my gallbladder removed now I have developed IBS. I take imoduim every morning along with another medication to slow down my intestines. But at times I feel I have nobody to talk to but your not alone. Sometimes it’s better to talk about it with someone that has had the gastric bypass. Dont ever think your alone I’m here for you if you need a new friend to talk to. This goes to anybody who ever wants to talk. here’s my email:
believe.faith2008 [at] gmail [dot] com
All my best (Marcella)
Hi all, I had my Gastric bypass on 11th April 2011 and im 1 week post op however i keep having diarrhea can anyone tell me is this commom.
Many Thanks
Garry United Kingdom
It does seem to be fairly common, but you should still be talking about it with your doctor.
Gary,I had my gastric surgery Dec 13,2010-my sister had it the next day-same Dr. in nashville tn. i was constantly in the bathroom 4 about 3 to 4 weeks. Only problem that I’ve had. Have lost 130lbs. in 8 months. my sister had 2 places that got infected and she has lost 135 all she needed too, I have 50 more to go. i have epilepsy and heart disease runs in the family. I am bi-polar and was diabetic. was taking 27 pills a day, now 7 plus vitamins. All drs. have different meal plans-mine is 600-800 cal a day, 60-80 protein, 25 or less carbs and lots of liquid. Have good days and bad ones . I take 1 day at a time. Good luck. Linda
Hello, I had my Gastric Bypass surgery on feb, 17th 2011. Finding foods that will stay down has been a real pain in the butt. I have lost 67 so far and am hoping it keeps coming off. I am a little shy to ask this question but thought someone here may have also experienced this complication. I am still of the age to get my period, but havent gotten it since having the surgery. Is this normal? is it dangerous?
According to this website, it’s normal – but you should still talk to your doctor about it, anyway.
Janet, have you gone in for an upper GI since your surgery? I have a friend of mine that had similar problems. She had a hard time holding food down and was throwing up everything! The doctor blew her off at first and then finally he found that the hole was too small going out of the pouch. The food couldn’t get through so it was coming back out.
Aloha from Maui. I had my surgery July 9, 2009 (almost 2 years). I was vomiting non stop the first 6 months, was good for 2 months then started this cycle of unbearable pain in my stomach, abdomen, intestines and upper right quad. Of course the dr. can’t find anything. he had me do MRI, Endoscopy, colonoscopy, gallstone nuclear imaging, many x rays and has found nothing. He also makes me feel like I am a nut job. I am so happy I came across this forum. I have nausea, dry heaves, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, severe abdomen bloating and pain, severe dehydration, been to emergency 2 times and was sick all day today. My life truly has changed …for the worse. I can only tolerate sltine crackers and lowfat mozzerella cheese. I have worked every month introducing new foods that we are allowed to eat and I end up vomiting every time.
I miss my life~
Jeanne, Don’t give up. If one doctor can’t help you, find another. You are having many problems and they need to be taken seriously. Good luck to you and God Bless.
Thank You Edna, I started taking Aloe Vera gel caps and the pain has decreased as well as the vomiting. I am actually going out more, walking and the beach a few times
( I live on Maui, the Ocean is my Life). I just had another episode of vomiting & Diarrhea after a few weeks of not being sick. I also started drinking rice water. Cook your brown rice with double the water, I give the rice to a neighbor and drink the water, it seems to be calming my stomach. I take the Aloe for healing purposes several ppl have told me about this.. It will be 2 years coming up July 9th, 2009. One more thing my back is in chronic pain now as opposed to a few flare ups every couple years. i am trying to make the best of my time..:):(
I have never heard of using Aloe Vera caps. I may have to try that and the rice water. I have chronic back pain too, but mine is from a car wreck in 2005. My vomiting has definatley made it worse. I too just try to make the best of my time. I sure hope you feel better soon, both of us. I get some blood work done tomorrow and then to see my surgeon next Tuesday. I am anxious to get some answers.
Wow! Reading everyone’s comments have been so helpful! I am getting the gastric bypass next Friday May 6, 2011. Am I nervous?? Absolutely! But I’m looking forward to a newer healthier life. I am 6 feet tall and weigh 325lbs….I haven’t seen anything under 300lbs since 2000. Please everyone pray for me and I will share my progress with you all. This forum is great and I’m so happy I wandered onto this site!
Erica, When I had my bypass in 2000, I weighed 316 pounds and I am also 6 foot tall. When I got under 300 I jumped for joy, then 200, then etc. I hope everything goes well for you.
I have been reading everything I can find for the last two years on the gastric bypass. I live in Florida and have found Dr. Jawad in Ocala. I have gone through all the steps for the insurance company and am now waiting on a surgery date. I know that Dr. Jawad has preformed the surgery thousands of times. Has anyone had any bad experiences with this doctor?
Gosh I had my surgery over 2 years ago and I have felt wonderful no problems at all, lost 200 pounds, I do have a problem with Vits, but that was it until 6 mts ago I get such bad stomach cramps that it is so hard to tolerate, I can just bend over and it will hit, Dr said UBS but I really do not think so I can be sleeping and it will wake me up it only last 2 mins anyone get this or have any ideas? I am just looking into it now because it is happening more and more?
Has your doctor checked for gall stones? They cause very severe cramping, and it’s a common problem for anyone who loses weight quickly.
I have had my gallbladder removed already
Then it must be something else. Did you tell your doc why you think his diagnosis is wrong? Maybe he needs to check something else.
Aloha from Maui,
Mu sister in law, daughter and niece all had the surgery (gastric bypass) and they are all doing great no negative reaction what so ever from the surgery.
I have been told about 1 in 100 may have some complications. I also was told by my surgeon (whom I have been seeing regarding my problems) that for some it may take up to 2 yrs. to feeling 100%. I am one of the one in 100 up to 2 yrs patients.
Today is my 2nd week of being pain free and I am nearing the 2 yr. mark, July 9th, 2009.
I am so much happier since my last remark on April 25, 2011. I am out and about and
feeling a big change for the better. Good Luck to all of you……I am a Happy camper and on my way to hiking, swimming, walking and traveling.
Mahalo Nui
Jeanne
Hi I had the gastric bypass 8yrs ago and I’ve started having very bad stomach pains they come and they go……they hurt so bad for about 6-10 seconds and the pain lasts about 3-4 days then dissapear for about 6-7 months. Has anyone eles had this problem.
Donna, that’s the sort of problem you should take to your doctor immediately. There’s always the chance that you have gall stones or an intermittent infection. Don’t wait for an appointment – it might be nothing to worry about, or it could be serious, and only your doctor can know for sure.
Today makes one week that I’ve had the gastric bypass…20lbs has been lost and I fel GREAT!! A little gassy every now and then but that’s all. I’m recovering quite nicely!!
Wonderful – I’m glad everything is going well for you.
Thank you SOOOO much!!!
The only side effect I’ve just started feeling is the nausea! But I was warned that since I had my lap band removed and then the bypass that the nausea would be a possible side effect. I’m taking it one day at a time but I’m feeling great! Although Jonni I am wondering if I’ve possibly lost a little too much weight too soon. Had it on May 6th and I’ve already lost 30lbs. Is that normal?? Thanks!!
Ooh – that’s one of those questions that you need to ask your doctor. But congratulations – it sounds like you’re well on your way.
Still, though – any time you have any concerns at all, even if you think someone else might think it’s “silly,” ask you doctor.
erica thats what i want to hear these people on here are scaring me i had the gastric bypass on july 18, 2011 so its been what 8 days yea and i can barely eat anything but i have lost 19 pounds since i been home… im starting to get a little light headed but i think its because i am not eating and so my body is not getting the protein it should.. any thing you can say to help me out on getting protein i can not drink them shakes!!! thanks
This thread is not very heartening. I had Gastric Stapling in 1983, I lost 60lbs, then for no reason, I started gaining weight. I finally checked in with a nutritionist, who told me that I do not eat enough protein, I have no other problem. Well, I ate the stupid protein and gained another 25lbs. I now have no cartilage in either knee, I can not walk for any distance and I swim. But still no weight loss in 6 months. Multiple people have suggested going back in for gastric bypass surgery, but reading all your complications, I am wondering if it is even worth it. Granted, I will be in a wheel chair eventually but is that worse than the complications you go thru with this surgery. Please let me know what your opinion is of going ahead with the bypass verses living at 255lbs and being 5ft 3-1/2in.
Eileen, do remember that the only people who leave comments on this page have had problems with their surgery. People who don’t have problems never read this page, so their positive stories don’t appear on this page. The only way to find out if the surgery is a good option for you is to talk with several doctors who are familiar with potential complications, and with your personal health history. Any surgery has risks, so learn everything you can and then ask your doctors very specific questions. With your doctor’s help, you can make an informed decision.
Eileen, I have struggled with the decision of the bypass surgery for two years now. I have researched everything that I can find on it. I cam across this website http://www.obesityhelp.com , it has hundreds of people that have had the bypass, sleeve, and band. They describe their experiences bad and good with their medical problems that they had vs. what is now. Keep researching and you find the answer only with in yourself. I made the decision to go forward with mine due to health reasons. Good luck!
I had Gastric Bypass 16 years ago. After the surgery I lost 90 lbs. However over the years I gained back a significant amount of the weight. I was suffering from terrible cramps in several parts of my body, and very tire and dizzy spells and fainting after I ate. Finally I change doctors who sent me to a couple of specialists who diagnosed my iron anemia and now secondary hyperparathyroidism caused by calcium and D deficiencies which is now causing severe hypoglycemia. Whenever I eat a mixed meal (carbs and protein) or a lot of carbs, I super produce insulin which drops my sugar levers to dangerous levels to the point of nearly passing out. I started dieting again in January and lost 65 lbs to see if this would help but it has not. Keeping my calcium, D and Iron levels up has been an uphill battle. I am 59 now and don’t think I will make it to retirement. They never told me that 16 years down the road the bypass would destroy you life and significantly shorten it. I would have it reversed if I could.
wow, that sounds like me. I have been very happy with the weight loss but I can not keep the vits in my system, I am having such stomach pain I can not stand it, today I was cleaning the shower and go a major cramp on my right side, could not stand for a few seconds got to the bed and it would not go away it took about 5 mins and finally went away my side is now sore not sure what is going on DR said it was IBS not sure I was fine then got the attact, my sugar drops all the time so I need to drink fruit juice or sugar to bring it up, I am not sure what to do.
Debbie, was it your right side that hurt? Have you been tested for gall stones? I’m sure your doc must have considered that, but I just thought I’d throw it out there.
Hi Jonni,
I had my gall bladder removed prior to the gastric bi pass, I am so scared to do anything thinking the pain is going to come back it is like a labor pain.
I have had the attacks off and on. The specialist told me that is was most likely bile duct spasms. They just as painful as a gallbladder attack. If the attacks were such that it was going to deter my life he was going to operate however they have become less and less frequent. And WATER is a big help. Plenty of it.
I also had the drop in blood pressure I have found this is the dumping when I eat too much starch/carbs. So if I am careful with my diet I don’t have the attacks. I do carry glycemic tablets that are over the counter at the drug store. They solve that for me. But I haven’t had to use them for months.
I lost over 200 pounds. I have gained 50 back. However, I retired to take care of a 94 year old father (who died last May) and the 90 year old mother. So activity has been limited along with stress and emotional eating has paid its toll. However, I am getting back on track and using an in-house walking program. Since going through this I have found out two truths – one you can never stop dieting and two you can never stop exercising.
Gastric bypass gave me a fighting chance to live and take care of my parents.
my dad had a gastric sleeve july 2010, only to follow with major post opp complications which eneded with his death 10th may 2011 after suffering a major bleed from his stomache, he has been in constant pain been tube fed only able to sip small amounts of water, please if anyone can offer any advice would be appreciated as i am thinking of taking legal action. Thanks andrea (DAUGHTER)
i would like to have the surgery (the least invasive type of bypass), but i’m scared to go under the knife, i’ve been on the diet roller coaster since 1989 and i’m tired of it, all that hard work, hours at the gym, seemed to be all in vain. I am reading of the vast complcations and that scares me. I had told my doctor in ’09 that i was consdiering it and her advice to me was if i have been able to loose weight on my own, do so, because she’s seen many complicatons as a result of the surgery. And after reading some of your comments, i”m thinking she may be right. I know if i was to have the procedure, there of course is a risk that i may have post surgery complications. I know people can even gain weight after having the procedure (Karnie Wilson and i know a girl that works where i do that has done the same), how is that possible?? If you go back to eating the way you did prior to having the surgery how would the shrunken stomach be able to handle the food? I’m new to this site btw
Remember that very few people who did have good experiences with the surgery are likely to post their comments on this particular page. There are many happy post-surgical folks out there. But it is true that complications can happen, and some of them are very serious.
This might not be a good place to put this, but I hope everyone has had a chance to see the video is by Robert H. Lustig, MD, about the damaging effects of sugar. It’s rather long, but well worth the time.
thanx, you have a good point, i will watch the video
hhj, also look at http://www.obesityhelp.com and research the thousands of people their and what the surgery has done for them. They post pictures of their before and after, they tell you how the surgery affected them, the good vs. the bad. Remember, there are more good outcomes than bad ones and also keep in mind the surgery is not like it was years ago, it is less evasive now. The procedure takes all of about 15 minutes to do. With a good doctor that knows what he is doing and has preformed the surgery thousands of times. My doctor is Dr. Jawad in Ocala, Florida. He is one of the best in the country!
thanks, i live in the d.c. area so i hope there are some good ones, still it’s too early to say that i am definitely going to have it, i’ve lost and gained so much ’til it hurts, and i’m tired of it, i think i’m just rushing into something that i feel will give me a quick fix and i know there is no quick fix to successfully loosing weight. I had a tummy tuck but sadly i gained weight over top of it, i thought that would be motivation enough to stay on track but it wasn’t.
Also i wanted to know can you have lipsuction or a tummy tuck after having the bypass? I have heard of this being offered. Please let me know, thanx.
You can have any of the cosmetic surgery after the bypass. The most popular one after the bypass seems to be the “Mommy Makeover” it includes the tummy tuck and a breast lift. Some of the bypass surgeons will do a “Medical Necessity” referral to your insurance company about the excess skin for plastic surgery make over. Talk to your doctor about it when you go for a bypass, band, or sleeve consultation.
thanks J.R., did you have the surgery and if so how did it go for you? and did you do the “mommy makeover”? Is that extra? (finance wise, will the HMO cover it?)
I’m scheduled for the bypass on June 27, I have been on this research kick for almost two years making sure this was the right decision. I work with a lot of people that have had this surgery done. I pump them all for answers and read everything that I can get a hold of. I’ve done research of what do I do if this happens or that happens or what ever! I’ve compiled a folder with different answers for my own personal reference if something happens with me so that I am ready. The internet, the doctor, and people who have lived it already are just an amazing wealth of information.
I have a friend who had a tummy tuck after she reached her goal. It turned out great for her. I think the biggest thing is to find a really good doc, research him or her, and go from there.
I had my gastric bypass surgery around 1997 I think, in its early stages. I have had no problems at all except I am having diarrhea, and horrible gas and gas odor. This will last a few weeks, then improve for a couple of weeks, then starts again. I am miserable and it is extremely bothersome. I have tried lactose free dairy products and this has no effect. It does not seem like irritable bowel syndrome as I have no pain related to it. I am at a loss to come up with a solution. Would appreciate any input. L.
Linda, did you ask your doctor about it?
I had the bypass the first time in 1989. I had a major pulmonary enbolism. It was a success and I lost 140 lbs. Slowly and gained all my weight back after 10 years. 21 years after the surgery i had major respiratory problems due aspiration pneumonia. My stays over the next year at IHC became my worst nightmare. the Doctors misdiagnosed me and blamed ll of the problem on me. I finally saw my surgeon who is the best. he ordered tons of tests and he found out the roun was not working. that caused all of my weight gain and other problems. I has the bypass the second time on dec 30. I’ve lost 80 lbs so far. this i also noticed that I didn’t have as many emotional and psychological problems.
Robyn, I’m so glad that you finally got the help you need.
So glad things worked out for you. I am looking at having another surgery myself. I won’t know until after my doc on June 21st. I sure hope I have the good results you have had. Congrats.
I had gastric bypass surgery Jan-13 wgt.258 now 137 and had some complications right after. I’m having stomach pains now lots of gas, feeling faint on occations, i use to eat anything. Now i can hardly eat at all,had a calcium and D deficiencies,taking vitiamins, drinking my protein shakes, pleanty of fluids.Yes, I did have ulcers early on. But still having stomach pain, gallbladder removed 1994. I have visited with my the bariatric’s health support team, visited my doctor and ER. On Friday I will get a second opinion on the matter. I am losing to much weight and can gain any starting to loose my hair again. Anyone going through the same thing??
Hi Vicki. Saw your post and was wondering how it went with getting the second opinion. It sounds like you are having some serious issues. Sometimes when I get really sick, I get dizzy and have passed out before. I think the vomiting may be causing vitamin problems and that may be why we pass out. My bypass was almost eleven years ago and I am starting to have problems. I hope things work out for you. Please let us know. God Bless
Hi everyone. My name is Edna. I had the open rny gastric bypass eleven years ago come July. I originally lost 150 pounds. In the last five years I have been recovering from a car accident and the problems that followed. I am unable to do very much activity due to back and knee issues, etc and am now actually disabled. I have gained back 50 pounds. In addition to the weight, I had a stricture last year. I have already had a intestinal hernia, abdominal hernia, and adhesions in 2005. I believe I have another stricture. Every time I eat anything solid for the last two weeks, I vomit it up. I have vomited every single day for the last couple of weeks. I have also developed severe indigestion. Sometimes I will vomit four or five hours after eating and the food actually looks like I just ate it. So I know it is not going far and is definatley not getting digested before coming back up. Do you guys think it could be another stricture? Also, what has everyone heard as far as a person being this far out and having problems? Is it commom to have to have a revision after this amount of time? Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys
Edna, we have received reports from other readers about problems that showed up a long time after the surgery. I would advise that you make an appointment with your doctor and have make sure he or she looks into this immediately. We wish you all the best.
Well, hit a wall today. I called a different doctor today than the one that did my original surgery. He used to be in the same office with my old doc, so thought it would be an easy thing. Was informed he doesn’t take other doctors patients. I called a week ago and left a message and my doc’s office never called back. So today, I talked to Ginger instead of just leaving a voice mail. She put me on hold and then came back and got my number. She said she was going to have the nurse call me. But, she never called me back. I have not seen my bypass doc in a couple of years. I am sure he is mad at me for not keeping up my check-ups, but I could not help it. I had two back surgeries, four back injections, was hospitalized for MRSA (the worst kind of staff), etc. I put those things ahead of my check-ups. Maybe a good idea, maybe not. Anyway, I explained that to Ginger, but maybe it is not good enough for him. Don’t know what to do now. Still vomiting. My mom suggested I try to call one more time tomorrow. If they don’t call me back then, I guess my only choice is to just go to the ER and either he will see me or another GI will. I know I have to do something. I am so disgusted. My fiance said they did not really research long term effects of the open rny and just jumped on the bandwagon with it. Now, none of them want to deal with the after effects. I am scared. I just don’t know what to do. Please keep me in your prayers. Thanks all.
I don’t like the idea of you having to wait for the surgeon to call you back – did you mention to Ginger that you might have to go to the ER if you can’t get in to see the surgeon?
If I had a vote (and of course I’m not a doctor so you should take my opinion with a grain of salt) I would suggest you do whatever it takes to get in to see any doctor that will give you an immediate appointment. This morning, if possible. Here in my town, that would be a visit or phone call to my primary provider, a very nice nurse practitioner, who would refer me on to a local specialist who has the right qualifications and hospital priviledges. If you don’t have a primary provider or family physician, the ER might be your best choice.
Please let us know how this all comes out.
Thanks Jonni. My doctor’s office called me today. There was a problem with the voice mail system, so they were not ignoring me. They made me an appointment for June 21st. She said if I need to see someone before then, I can go to the ER and have them call him. She was very understanding about all my illnesses and why I have not been back to see Dr. King in a while. She even told me that when I was going to come in for my last appointment a while back, he was going to tell me that the last upper GI he did showed that I might have a possible partial obstruction. So I feel like a dummy right now. Anyway, she said it does sound like I still have some type of obstruction. She suspects it is where the stomache empties into the intestines-or the stomache outlet. She said he was going to suggest a pouch revision at that last appointment. So, at least now I am getting something done. I finally got my other issues under control, so getting this taken care of would be like icing on the cake. I just want to get my life back. I will keep in touch and keep with this message board. I can’t thank you enough for your kind words and comments. Talk again soon.
Well, I had my blood work on Tuesday. Within an hour after I left, my doctor’s nurse called me. My potassium was at a 3. She said normal range is 3.5 to 5. She immediatley called me in a prescription for potassium. She said if it had been in the two’s, then I would probably end up in the hospital for iv fluids. She also told me to go on a liquid diet, broth, jello, popsicles, etc. until I see Dr. King next Tuesday. She also told me to get some liquid protein in the form of a drink called Advantage X. It is like Ensure. I am worried about that though because it is a milky type substance. It always reminds me of a melted shake. I usually don’t do well with things like that so I am concerned that I will just end up throwing it up too. Which, she said to call them and go to the ER if that happens. So, I am off to drink my wonderfully “delicious” beef broth. Wish me luck and God Bless!
Hi,Edna I’m experiencing a lot of the same problems as you and don’t know what to do I had the gastric bypass in 2/07 had to stay in the hospital a lil longer because I couldn’t keep anything down was nauseous all the time however after awhile I got better lost the weight and was able to eat some foods I knew what I could and couldn’t eat was able to go to the gym etc than bout a yr and a half ago I started having bad stomach and back pains had to be seen at the er I couldn’t keep anything down it hurt to eat I felt the food moving in my body cone to find out I had gall bladder stones they removed my gall bladder but it still didn’t improving I have under gone several of tests and for awhile was on pain medicine for the pain and now I’m constantly loosing too much weight I can’t eat or drink I can only tolerate a few bites and a few sips I’m nauseous all the time and always throwing up and my chest feels like I have something caught in it all the time constantly throwing up sometimes I feel hungry but I can’t eat I do try to est I’m anemic and my family and friends are worried for me cause I look so sick my rhumetologist told me part of the reason I’m having so much pain and my fibromyalgia getting worse is because I have no nutrients in my body has anyone else have the same problems I want to get the surgery reverse
@Julie: thank you, i am too scared after reading these comments, i don’t think i can bear what you brave souls have been through, God bless and i hope you get better (all of you who were kind enough to reply).
i had my gastric surgery may 19th, 2011. two days ago i began feeliing like i could feel something down my chest and bloating. and it is very uncomfortable. it feels like something is stuck in my chest. what could be wrong and what i should do?
You must call your doctor right away if anything “strange” seems to be happening. Never hesitate to get a doctor’s help – especially so soon after major surgery. So don’t wait a second longer – call your doctor.
Jonni is right. The first time I felt like that was when I had a stricture last year. It was fixed easily through an upper gi and they ballooned it out while they were in there. I felt sooo much better afterwards.
Kleon, does it feel like something is stuck, like it won’t move? You may have something stuck from not being chewed up enough. If so, get some sprite…pour it in a cup, let it sit for a few hours on the counter to fizzle out. Drink it slowly and try to keep burping. If something is stuck, the burping will jolt it to move so it can attempt to pass through. You’re not suppose to have carbonated drinks but letting it set for awhile will flatten it enough for using it to burp! If this doesn’t work, you need to call the doctor. Good luck!
If it was me, I’d call the doctor first, find out what’s causing the pain, and once I knew it was OK then try this idea next time.
thanks for the info JR.
however on saturday i had to go back to the hospital had severe pain on upper right side and diherra and dehydration. i just got home today.. but they dont know why i have the pain on my side and why i feel so bloated.
I’m home now and still have pain and bloated.
I know it’s not in my head but doctor said after review cat scan everything was good.
i’m still not feeling good. I just hope and pray that this feeling wont last long. I have read so many stories on this site of bad things happening to people and i hope this isn’t going to happen to me. i’m trying to be strong and believe that i will have aleast an almost normal life soon.
Hi everyone. Just found this site. Brief history….RNY 4-23-10 @ 288 lbs. MAJOR COMPLICATIONS ever since. 5/10 gallbladder out and adhersions removed. 3 more endoscopes have followed. 2 structures. 2 intesuptions (sp?) Adhersions…surgical clip pressing into an ulcer…. finally last week was a revision the ulcer removed. 6 more days in hospital. Down to 145 l s and still losing. Very thin. Still vomiing. Want to get a 2nd opinion. Live in ft laud. Fl. Any suggesstions? Thanks in advance
Michelle, you might try calling your health insurance company. Tell them you need a consultation with a surgeon who is very experienced with complications following gastric bypass surgery – they can usually let you know which doctors are covered, and find you one close to your home, or one who has privileges at your local hospital. That may be the fastest way to find someone to give you a second opinion. I hope you get help soon.
YES! I don’t know how you feel about driving to central Florida, but Dr. Mohammed Jawad is in Ocala, Florida. He is one of the top 5 gastric bypass surgeons in the country! Google his name and it will take you to his website. This man knows his stuff. There has been several people that had their surgery’s done in Miami and have traveled here to see him. He also has an office in Orlando, Florida. Good luck!
Hi, I had my gastric bypass surgery July 2009, almost 2 yrs ago. The first month I developed vomitting and couldn’t even keep water down. I went to the ER twice and they gave me anti-nausia meds and sent me home (primarily because they’ve never dealt with this type of surgery problem before and didn’t know what was the problem). Finally about 6weeks out from surgery I got so sick and dehydrated, my husband took me to the ER. I was severly low in potassium and was admitted to the hospital and put on IV. My gastric surgeon saw me and said I had a stricture just below the esophogas above the new stomach pouch. I had a procedure to open the stricture while in the hospital and basically had to start eating liquids again. It didn’t matter, I didn’t have the pain and could now keep liquids down. I had to have the procedure done again about 9month later but it wasn’t as bad. Since then I haven’t really had many problems but do have to watch what I eat and make sure I chew, chew, chew my food well or I can feel it getting caught again. I have lost 140 pounds since then and feel all the suffering I had was well worth the outcome. I did have to have my gall bladder out a month ago which is common with gastric bypass but no particular problems. Keep this in mind – if you don’t find that your doctor is listening, see another doctor. You know you body the best and know when things arent right. Good luck everyone.
My bypass was done in Nov. 2009. I was doing so well until last summer, Aug. 2010, when the stomach pain started. I was able to eat just about anything but when the pain started I had to settle for broths, small bites of cheese and flavored waters. Some soft foods like jello & applesauce, and even sometimes I couldn’t tolerate those. After a couple of EDG’s my doctor discovered an ulcer and my stomach opening was closing up so I had very little room to pass food through. Pain, pain and more pain along with throwing up. I started feeling better around March 2011 but then slowly the pain started creeping up again and now it’s back full force except for the throwing up which is not bad at all. I’m waiting to be scheduled again for another EDG – my doctor wants to see how much damage there is and what medication course to take this time. My weight loss is starting to scare me. I started at 262 and am now at 123. I know because of my complications I’ve lost more weight than I would have if I were eating properly. I really don’t like feeling all of my bones – I don’t like looking at my pictures – I’m starting to look anorexic or maybe it’s just because I’ve never seen myself looking this thin. My children are getting scared and are starting to say they’re afraid that I will die from this. I still feel that I would have had the surgery because I’ve lost all of my diabetes – no more insulin or oral medications. That alone has made the surgery worth it. I can walk and move around way easier and of course it’s a plus to be able to wear smaller clothes and even smaller shoes! I believe that I will start feeling better again. I still have all of my faith and I hope many of you with problems keep your faith too.
Sandra, I hope you will feel better soon. Just keep your doctor informed of everything. I will keep you in my prayers.
Hi , iv never had the surgery myself but my mom did and this was the cause of her death . If she would have known her cause of death was this surgery im sure she would have NEVER done it. She was always throwing up after meals and had cold sweats … Her body ended going up septic from the surgery procedure, Growing up without my mom at 16 was a hard struggle . Now at age 20 i just wanna let people know that this surgery is a big life changing thing, and to just think it over ALOT !
Stephanie, I cannot imagine what you and your family went through with the loss of your mom. My deepest condolences to you and your family and thank you for sharing your experience with us. God Bless
Thank you Edna – I just take one day at a time.
Your Welcome Sandy. Hang in there and God Bless.
Update – I’m having an endoscopy on Monday the 20th – let’s see what my doctor finds – I’m hoping they find what’s causing my problems and can come up with a solution – meanwhile I’m having pain about every 3 days but I’m mostly sticking to liquids for my first meal then I’m ok to introduce softer foods and I’m trying to drink way more fluids – I haven’t thrown up – hooray!! I’ll let you know my outcome.
Hope everyone else with problems is doing better or like me taking some steps to alleviate problems. Take care everyone.
Sandra, Good luck with the endoscopy. I go see my doc on Tuesday and he will probably want to do the same. Let us all know how it goes. God Bless
hello everyone.. reading what you all have to say is making me have second thoughts about having the procedure. i am 53 and only 100 lbs overweight with diabetes and high cholesterol. i am in menopause and nothing has worked for me to lose weight. in addition, whenever i try to lose i end up having more problems with my knees. i am praying for guidance.
Yolanda – I pondered about my surgery for over a year. I was way more than 100 lbs overweight and also had insulin dependent diabetes, plus hypertension and arthritis in my knees so the weight didn’t help any. I was fine up until 9 months later when I developed the ulcer. Since then I’ve lost more weight than I ever imagined. It’s been fun buying clothes in sizes I hadn’t seen since high school and back then I felt so overweight. But when I was wearing a size 10-12 my friends were in sizes 5 and under so of course you feel fat. So my ride to thinness hasn’t been all fun but I would still do it again. I can walk so much easier and am no longer on insulin so my health has improved. I’m working on the ulcer problem and I have faith I’ll be able to get rid of it and feel so much better. Think about it until you are absolutely sure – try to find more patients that have had success without problems to reassure your decision. Best of luck.
Update: Since Tuesday things have not gotten any better. I have tried to drink the Ensure, but throw it up within minutes of drinking it. I am forcing liquids, jello, and popsicles, but am even throwing some of them up. I have also started having diarrhea. Of course, it is just liquid. I have also started getting headaches. I am assuming it is because of not getting any nutrition. I think the potassium is staying down some. That is my biggest concern because of everything potassium does for the body. I have thrown around the idea of going to the ER all weekend. I just hate to sit in the hospital all weekend waiting for the week to start, which is when anything gets done at the hospital, when I can be more comfortable at home. I see my doctor Tuesday afternoon. I just hope he can figure out what is going on and fix it. Just want to be healthy again.
Edna, if there’s any possibility that you may be getting dehydrated, I do hope you’ll go get checked at the ER, just in case. I know it isn’t much fun, so I totally understand why you would put it off. Do you have someone there in the house with you?
Jonni: Sorry I am just now responding. Yes, my fiance and my 18 year old daughter are in the house with me. They take good care of me.
Edna, do you drink the Ensure ice cold or room temp. I discovered that the coldness actually caused my nausea. My stomach was better able to accept lukewarm liquids.
Susan: I have been drinking it cold. I also bought some Special K protein drink. I just can’t drink them. I will try them warm and see if that helps. Thanks!
Since I started with the lukewarm water I am up to 7 16oz glasses a day.
I also read that probiotics were recommended for gastric bypass patients. I have been on acidophilus (with each meal) for over a week. I feel wonderful when I eat now, with little to no discomfort.
UPDATE: Well, alot has happened since I last posted. Monday night I finally decided to go to the ER. I called my surgeon, and he told me to go on in. They ran several xrays, urine test, blood work, full body cat scan with contrast, ekg, put me on a heart monitor and blood pressure monitor, and put in an iv and gave me fluids. They were looking for dangerous things like leaks, tears, pinched intestines, things like that. Everything looked ok, except that I was dehydrated. I could not believe how much better I felt after a bag of fluid. I was so dehydrated that I did not go to the bathroom until several hours after the fluid. They also gave me Zofran for the nausea, a GI cocktail for indigestion, and Morphine for pain. They sent me home and told me to follow up with Dr. King the next day. It was rough. I was there from ten pm until almost four am.
Tuesday doctors appointment: I was really frustrated after the ER because I knew I have been sick and could not understand why they could not find anything. Dr. King said he thinks I have an obstruction where the intestine meets the pouch. He said that would not have shown up on all the ER tests. He explained that they were just getting me hydrated and checking me for the leaks and stuff. He also said that because of the obstruction, my pouch is most likely dialated. He said there is a possibility of an ulcer. I have an EGD scheduled for July 12th. If there is an obstruction, the connection will have to be redone. If the pouch is dialated, it can be revised. He said they would cut away the excess stomache and reattach the connection. It is alot riskier than the original surgery and the risks of complications is greater. Because the food is not emptying correctly, the pouch has stretched and so basically, I am able to eat more before I get full, but since it empties slower it comes back up. The food is not emptying and ever getting digested. That explains why when I do get sick, the food looks the same when it comes up as it did when I ate it. I won’t know anything definite until after the EGD. In the meantime I just have to eat softer foods and lots of little meals throughout the day. My fiance says I should just get the connection fixed and leave the pouch alone to keep the surgery as less risky as possible. My thing is this: The doctor can’t guarantee me that if he just fixes the outlet that everything will go back to working right and that the dialated pouch will not cause me any problems. I feel like if I am going to go under the knife again, I would rather fix it all than take the chance that I will have to have surgery again. To me, the more times you have to go in and fix something, the more risks you have and I feel like those risks are greater than just having it all done at one time. I will admit too, that I like the idea of the pouch being fixed and loosing the weight that I have gained. I have been through so much to be smaller and healthier that I feel like I would be crazy not to get it all done at once and get back to the smaller, healthier person I was before. Am I wrong for wanting to be thin again? I also have arthritis and chronic back issues and I just keep thinking about how much pressure loosing the weight would take off my joints. I would love to hear what the rest of you think about it. I would be lying to say I am not scared, but I just want to be healthy and get my life back. Any feedback would be appreciated more than you know.
hey its julie just thought id fill u in i had my gallbladder taken out the 16 of last month due to pain,nausea,vomiting,bloating,diareaha,constipation you name it guess what didnt help so i have to go in on the 6 to have a biopsy of my stomach……lets just hope its nost the big C word it runs so rampid in my family but my dr said we have to stay positve so plz just keep me in your prayers and ill let you know the outcome….thanks for all your input and concern chat at ya soon…..GOD BL E S S
i had gastric bypass may 23,2010 and i have had nothing but problems i have gastritis, always lightheaded and dizzy i cant eat hardy i go to take a bite and i dont have no appetite at all. when i do take a bite i get nauseous. i drink alot of fluids but i get nauseous with that too. im on meds for my gastritis, im on nexium, its not working. if i know then what i know now i would have never gone though this! i only lost 30lbs and im stuck and i havent lost any weight in a week. im stuck at losing weight.
hi, I had gastric bypass done in 1999. I lost 101 lbs. Went from size 18 to 8/9. Really did good. Would do again. Now about 5 yrs ago I started putting on wt. Now I am back up to 175 lbs. I am miserable I constantly stay bloated.I have a huge upper stomach. I feel and look like I am carrying tripletts. To me I look like I have a huge pouch above my bellybutton. No pain some discomfort when I really get bloat because my upper belly get really tight. I must take some laxative to stay regulated any ideas why my belly is so huge
Did you talk to your surgeon about this issue?
Mary, I had my bypass surgery in 2006. I lost 100 lbs. Now I started to have some problems with gas and bloating and pain above my navel. I had all kinds of tests done, and could not find what was wrong. I went back to my surgeon and he knew exactly what it was. I needed emergency surgery to fix an internal hernia. My intestines were twisted. I had the surgery June 30, 2011. I am recovering now. Not sure how I feel yet Will see in the next few days how I feel. My surgeon said if I had waited I might have died. Please go see your doctor. It could be the same problem I had. Don’t wait.
Gloria
I also had gastric bypass in 2005 and did great up until this year. I am bloated, gassy and have more bloating/swelling in my upper right side above belly button! Dr thinks I had SIBO and have been on xifaxin 3 times. So tired of this. Now I’m getting weird spasms and pain along my right side. Any thoughts?
Has your gall bladder been checked?
I am due for rouyen y on July 18th and I am totally afraid after reading these stories.
Marie, remember that people who have no problems with the procedure, and who are very happy with the results, never visit this page. Some people may have a medical history that makes these problems more common, while others sail through the procedure and they’re back to normal in weeks. To make yourself feel more comfortable about your decision, be sure to talk to your surgeon about any possible complications, ask him or her how often these problem occur with their patients, and be sure you know exactly who to call if anything unusual seems to be happening after your surgery. Never hesitate to ask questions.
Marie, I had my surgery for RYN on June 27, 2011. I’ve got a wonderful surgeon and have had a great recovery so far. Check out the people with the positive results on the http://www.obesityhelp.com website. It’s basically a facebook for people who have had all of the weight loss surgeries. I go back and forth between this one and that one. I keep track of the possible problems on this one and what to look for. I write everything down and keep a log for future reference for myself…..just in case I need to refer back to it. Good luck with your surgery!
Marie, If I could do it over again, I would get the lap band instead. I’m sorry I got the gastric bypass. I too have been reading all the stories and I am scared of what is to come down the line. It’s been 5 yrs since my bypass and now I’m having complications. I have had 2 ulcers and just had an internal hernia repaired. I have gas all the time with stabbing pains. I’m not very happy. I’m scared to think what is next. I feel very depressed about it.
I went in for my bypass on June 30, 2011. We went through all the process of losing 40 pounds by the time that I went for the surgery. My weight loss was to be 25 pounds before they would do it so I was well within that. When the surgeons went in to do the bypass, they worked for 4 hours and was not able to do the surgery. My liver was really enlarged, and the tissue for the small intestine was very soft so had trouble repairing the one little tear that happened in the process of pulling the intestine up. They got it repaired but didn’t want to risk my life by doing the whole proedure. It was a relief to me that my doctors knew when to stop and just say that’s enough. I was a little disappointed but I can say I am here, as I was told that it would be fatal if they would’vew went through with the surgery. If anyone has ever had the experience or know of anyone who has went in for bypass and the doctors ended up pulling out of the surgery please let me know. My doctors have only seen it now 3 times in the last 13 years.
Hi, I had my Gastric Bypass Surgery on 7 Mar 2011 by Dr. Jawad of Ocala. The only complications that I am experiencing are ocassional constitpation and hair loss. I understand the hair loss is temporary, thank God I have a lot of hair. I went for my three-month checkup yesterday to check out my vitamins levels–all’s good. I’ve lost 78 lbs since Mar 2011. I feel great. I too believe that Dr. Jawad knows his business.
I couldn’t hold any food or beverage down either. My doctor went in and streatched my passageway and that very night I was drinking and keeping it down. A few days later I had my gall blatter removed due to pancrease infection. I felt like a new person after that.
I have Dr. Jawad as well…. that man is amazing and knows his business! I wouldn’t trust any other doctor on this issue! I had some constipation last week and called them….. Kelly (his assistant) said to just have a swig of MOM. I did and the problem was solved!
Please some one tell me of a good outcome from this surgery. I plan too have it done in the fall of 2011.
Even though I have been having minor complications, I would have my surgery again a million times over. I have never felt better. The fact that I can run and play with my children without being out of breath in 30 seconds is amazing. Best of luck to you.
Hi Woodrow,
So far I’ve had a good outcome. I had my gastric by-pass surgery on 7 Mar 2011. I stayed out of work for 4 weeks, even though you generally get 6 weeks to recoup because your gastric tube generally will stay in for at least 6 weeks before the doc will remove it. I have not suffered any dumping syndrome; but I have experienced a little discomfort after I try and eat red meat. I might have to give up red meat. I’ve lost 79 lbs since Mar 2011. I’ve also suffered a little bit of constipation; remedied by ocassionally taking Miralax. I think the constipation is because of change of diet, and maybe drinking protein shakes which are very yummy. I recommend for your protein http://www.unjury.com. Very good product, not made in China. I’m experiencing a little bit of hair loss, I understand the hair loss is temporary too. Believe me the hair loss is not causing baldness, I have a lot of hair and very thick. I understand the hair loss starts about 3 months post op and can last for 3-7 months. So all in all, I do feel great, no serious problems THANK GOD.
January 5th will be 3 yrs since I have had my surgery. I have had normal side affects such as dumping and learned to watch what I eat very well. But as of recently I have developed a new side affect/complication…..when ever I eat or drink something it hurts, almost like my stomach is cramping. I have had a few gall bladder attacks, but I dont think this is one of those, it feels like my stomach, not my gall bladder. Some times its intense and other times its dull but no matter what its always there. Please help.
Dawn, this is something that should be taken to your doctor. Anything that causes a change in the way you feel, especially if it’s painful, should be checked as soon as possible. There’s no reason to take unnecessary risks.
Hey again all. Well, I had my EGD on Tuesday. My pouch is very distended and the intestinal/pouch connection is stretched and has moved sideways. It is like when I eat my food cannot go down because to get to the connection it would have to move sideways. Does that make sense? Basically it is like having a sink drain on the side of a sink instead of under it. He said the food cannot empty out corrrectly. He believes I had an ulcer in the past and it caused my pouch to stretch. The pouch being stretched allowed me to eat more, which stretched the pouch more, and the food not emptying caused the pouch to stretch, etc. It is a chain reaction kind of thing. So, he said I need a complete revision. If I don’t, I will keep throwing up. He said I am not going to be able to eat any meats right now. Duh, like I did not already know that. Anyway, I go to see him on the 26th to discuss everything. I am scared but ready to do what I need to do to start living my life again. Wish me luck!
I had my sug 5 yrs ago have had so many comp it is so bad . pain in my lower left side all the time pain in the midle of my chest . Had four times abst . ten surg do to comp over five yrs . felling weak all the time DR s treat you like your a nut .going back to osu hosp on monday to see if my dr can fig out y i have so much pain ???. still keeping of the weight 130 lbs runing and riding my bike every day but the pain gets intense .when anyone tell you its nothing to have gastric they are full of it there are so many thing that dr don;t no . i have gas food makes me sick it burns to eat diarea all the time. chest pain .cramps. most dr refuse to treat me they have told me that im not a human after my surgery and to find a new dr .
Hi Ken. I had my bypass 5 yrs. ago. Now started having problems too. I had a sharp pain for about 2 weeks above my navel. Had an endescopy and found nothing wrong. Went back to my surgeon and he said I had an internal hernia, did emergency surgery to fix it. He said if I had waited any longer I might have died. Now I’m nauseous every morning and have diarrhea and indigestion. I’m working with my Dr. to get a reversal. My insurance is giving them a hard time. You could just have and ulcer. I have had 2 already in the past 2 yrs. I’m tired of feeling so sick all the time. I hope you have better luck.
Hello,
I had my gastric bypass about 6 years ago. Lost 100 pound, but have to say…dumping sucks. After 6 years a person would think they could eat dinner out with friends like a normal person…dumping has me curled in my car afterwards waiting for the 30 minutes of nausea, extreme fatigue, and the sweats to go away.
Two years ago, I was putting up my bed and a pain in my mid chest flattened me. I couldn’t call out for help and rode out the pain. My boyfriend found me in a fetal position, soaking wet, and barely conscious. I was rushed to the Heart hospital…and you got it. Nothing was wrong.
A year later my gall bladder came out.
Two months ago, I am struck again with the same pain as before mid chest, upper stomach as I got up from the couch to turn off the tv. The pain is so bad, I pass out, come to and I find myself on the floor with my dog licking my face. Again, the doctor says nothing wrong.
I have had so many tests since and still nothing is wrong. I was sent to a cardiologist and again after many more tests…nothing wrong. How can a person feel so badly and have nothing wrong?
Two nights ago, I passed out in my boyfriends arms, the same pain…and I’m crying as I write this because again, nothing wrong. I finally called the doctor that did my surgery at the advice of my cardiologist.
When I called, the advise nurse told me to stop eating any type sugar until they could see me. The symptoms that seemed to concern her: my blood pressure is very low, I can’t stop peeing, I’m hungry all the time, weak, confused, forgetful and feel like crap. Now they tell me hypoglycemia – a complication that can happen after a gastric bypass. (I was never told this could happen and it didn’t show up in any of the symptoms in the literature I received after my surgery)
This still does not explain the severe pain that keeps knocking me out…but I see the gastric bypass doctor next week. Wish me luck. I don’t know if I can keep riding out the pain without huring myself. I pray it never happens while I’m driving or outside of my home. Maybe the pain has something to do with hypoglycemia???
Why in gods name did I do this to myself? I was fat and sassy before, but now I’m thin and grim, tired of always feeling like crap. Gawd I hope next week gives me some answers.
hi cindy
praying for you.
*sigh* Well, I saw my gastric bypass doctor, he didn’t even mention hypoglycemia. He seems to think my problem is a twisted bowel. On Wednesday, I go in for sugery. He is going to take a look. I’m hopeful he will find my problem and fix it, but I’m so fearful he will find nothing. Then what….live with it?
Keep your fingers crossed, I’ll report the outcome of his exploration, probably on Friday.
Cindy
Hi my name is marla, i had my surgery in 2000 so 11 yrs. ago. i have only lost 160 pounds do to the fact that i got ms as soon as my surgery was done and am now disabled. I am just cerious bc, now that im becoming more moble trying to walk again i am loosing weight wich is great but i notice latley i am starting to feel full really fast and am getting bad pain agross my stomach. i can barley eat. could this be my gastric bypass working again or something else? does anyone have an idea an suggesstions would be appreciated.
my surgery is scheduled for August 22nd. Being a part of this web site has and will help me care for myself. when i first joined i saw everyone as complaining about the procedure but now i see it as a avenue to learn and maintain, to be able to recognize any potential problems and how to solve many issues, and most important, when to go to the er. God Bless us all. looking forward to getting my sexy back at the age of 54.
lets keep each other in prayer
I am planning to have my surgery by the end of August, after reading all these bad experiences it scares me, but I still want to do it. Is there any recomendation from anyone?
I think the most important advice is to ask your surgeon tons of questions. The folks who normally find this page have experienced a lot of complications and risks, but that doesn’t mean that you will, too. However, knowing all the symptoms, and getting help fast if something does go wrong, is so important. Talk to your doctor about any concerns your having now, before the surgery, and keep in touch afterwards.
Marcie, keep in mind that this blog is just a few of the thousands that have had the weight loss surgery. There are a lot of people that have had great success with it. When you have the surgery…….do what your doctor tells you too. Don’t smoke, that causes ulcers to occur. Eat what your suppose to, not what you feel like. Follow the diet plan the doctor prescribes…….. you need a support friend or group that has gone through the same thing. This is very important. Try http://www.obesityhelp.com this is a facebook for WLS patients. The people there are amazing! Good luck!
I have an olcer 2 weeks after the surgery, now 2 months out. Oct will be 5 years since I smoked.
Hi Marci
Dont listen to the scare mongers. Yes some do have complications but that can happen with any surgery. Do your homework, research your surgeon, make sure you choose the right option open for you. Be in control from the word go! Ask yourself if you are happy being obese?…..I wasn’t. I have experienced both ends of the scale. I was always a slim build all my life. I did yo yo diet (which was not good long term.) Due to tragic circumstances’ (I wont go into details) I doubled my body weight over a two and a half period. I went from 10 stone up to 20 stone…..size 12-14 up to size 26!! My husband had to take me shopping in a wheelchair, I had 4 mini strokes and suffered badly from arthritic joints, especially in my knees. I was also chronically depressed, not just from what had happened in my life but because I was fat and could barely do anything. Other people I noticed treated me differently (strangers) when fat rather than thin….so, so sad because you are the same person.
I followed the instructions of the consultant, dieticians and bariatric nurses to the full. Yes you will have your blips but they are usually your own fault for being a little to lax with what you eat and what you fancy. I was never hungry. I saw myself as a baby being weaned onto solids. Some baby foods are tasty with all the nutrients you need. Always take your supplements/vitamins. Dont see yourself as different or an ill person, just get on with it.
I am now 14 months post op and would not change a thing…..no regrets at all. I can now run up a flight of stairs again if I so wish! I eat out with friends, usually eating of the starter menu, but remember if you fancy something of the main menu, you are paying and can eat as little or as much as you like. I find a lot of restaurants will do half portions if you explain you have an eating disorder.
I do sometimes feel sick and need to take an anti-sickness tablet but not very often now, more so in the early days. They tell you that you wont be able to eat and drink at same time. Well I can which is good as I do like a glass of wine with my meal lol!!!!!!!!!
So I have no regrets what so ever and would do it all over again. It gave me back my life. THINK POSITIVE! Good luck, keep in touch, I am interested.
Regards Julie
p.s. Do be prepared for a little hair thinning (not everyone gets it, I did) around the 5 month post op stage. Also saggy skin. Mine has aged, especially my arms and legs but I just camoflage with the right clothes. Also I lost 10 stone in 1 year!
Julie,
I don’t think it’s “listening to scare mongers;” it’s just reality. The surgery changes your life. Mostly good, but there are many, many side affects that people contemplating this surgery need to consider. I have followed the doctors instructions to the letter, yet I am continually ill.
If I did not have to eat, I would say my surgery was a success. I feel fantastic – then I eat a meal. My misery often lasts 30 minutes if I’m lucky, or 3 days if whatever I ate irritates my stomach.
If there was a consistant pattern to what I can eat and can’t eat I would follow it. Some days I can eat a small apple, the next day I throw up the peels. So the following day I peel the apple, double over, dump, and suffer with an irritated stomach for 3-days. The week before I ate an apple every day without a problem (peels and all). My dilemah, do I cut out apples from my diet now? This happens with meat, salad, different fruits…my favorite vegetabe used to be radishes….not anymore. They are strictly off my diet. Chicken, I can eat some days, some days I regurgitate it back up. Seems the only constant in my diet is saltine crackers. Empty calories that have no nutrional value whatsoever. They are packed with calories too….I don’t want to gain my weight back, so what do I do? Not eat?
These are the not so talked about things they don’t tell you about that CAN happen after the surgery EVEN if you follow all directions.
I can’t say my decision to have the surgery would have been different had I known, but my decision would have been more educated.
I don’t want to scare anyone away from this surgery. I look around and see that obesity is fast becoming the number 1 killer in the United States. I see people well over the 300 pound and see the agony in their faces as they walk down the isles of a store. I want to tell them all about my surgery and how it can help them….but they would look into my eyes and see the pain (especially if I just finished eating) and ask me, would you do it again? Honest to god, I don’t know what my answer would be.
Cindy
hi cindy i have the same problem as you and crackers are mostly the only thing that i can keep down, I cant tolerate any more of that liq stuff as much as i have tried to. I do find I love souer stuff pickled cabbage, souer cucumbers, I havent tried to many veg. I am mostly trin to do the meat first for the protein. I have been told I have an olcer. I have stopped loosing weight already only 2 months out/ I dont think if I would of known his i would not of had the surgery. I wanted the band and my surgeion said it wouldnt give me the results i wanted well i dont like these results either.
I had my surgery this past Thursday with my mother. She is 49 years old and I am 19. I must say that my doctor was amazing and definitely knew what he was doing. The first day I was scared out of my mind because I felt so horrible. The second day things were a lot better and I was able to get some broth and liquid down. It’s been 4 days since I had the surgery done and I feel good. The worst thing is the inner pain I’m feeling. For anyone who is considering getting this surgery done, my advice is go with your gut (no pun intended). Ask a lot of questions when you go and see your doctor and make sure you are comfortable with who your surgeon is. As of right now everything is going well with me. My mother however, was in ICU because she has sleep apnea, she is much better now and is home. In the end it just depends on the person who is having surgery done and their medical history.
Had the sleeve on 2/21/2011 after complications they did the by-pass on 2/28/2011. I have had numerouse dilations. I have severe pain in the midsection were the sternum is located not mention bloating and lots of back pain… It hurts to breath at times. Does anyone have these symptoms???
Hi its ken again does anyone have real bad pain everytime you drink anything…. Its been 5 yrs and it just started a weak ago ( help ) if you know .. the pain is i my lower left adomal area ..It is a shape pain ..going in 1 1/2 weaks for a EGD wish me luck..
It seems as though so many of you have had problems – I had my surgery Nov 2009 and for the first 8 months it was wonderful – I wa able to eat anything but then lat year around this time I developed so much pain so liquid diets until until Oct when I had the first endoscopy – an ulcer had developed – liquid and oral medications followed but not really worked – after 2 more endoscopy’s the ulcer had healed – now I’m able to start eating anyting I want to try – I’m scared at this point to have the pain come back but I’m OK. I’ve started taking protein drinks again but as far as the only thing wrong that came of this episode is that I lost way more weight than I wanted to – my family says I look anexoric and I feel the same way. I lost a total of 140 lbs – down from 262 where I started. I’m so sorry that death and so much illness has come from this surgery – I can only say that so far I’ve had good success after my illness. Best of luck everyone.
I am about six weeks away from my surgery and I am not even considering backing out. The clinic I found is a marvel and I have been to 12 support group meetings that include everything from nutrition diet before and after self esteem issues the emotional side of the surgery to complications. I can continue to go to these meetings after my surgery and see the dietican any time I want even the shrink and my Doctor for the rest of my life. I am morbidly obese and I hate my life . I have severe Diabetes an incisional hernia High Blood Preassure and I am 60 years old. Yes I am scared only a fool would say they are not. But I am more afraid of what can and will eventually happen if I don’t. I have bad knees and hips because my small frame is no longer able to carry my immense bulk I am short of breath just walking to the bathroom and I use a motorized wheel chair to go on shopping trips. I can’t play with my only grandchild. I can’t even dress myself my husband has to do that. He is very fit for his 60 years and is able to mow our yard with a regular mower not a riding one and I miss planting my own flower garden and walking on the beach . Before I can have the surgery I must have an egd and a biopsy to check for H Plorya a bacteria that causes ulcers and I have to get cardic clearence . My doctor is taking every precaution to insure a successful outcome. The rest is up to me. I take 6 to 9 shots a day for my Diabetes and so many pills I have the dumping with the Diabetes and my abdomen is so heavy I am in pain when I try to walk. I have Gouty Arthritis in my hips and when that flares the pain is pretty bad. I have weighed all my options all the pros and cons. I can’t not have this surgery. I will be back and will keep you’all posted on my outcome. Thanks for letting me post here.
My mother just had gastric bypass about 6 weeks ago and can not keep ANYTHING down. She can’t eat or drink. She was just released from the hospital after a week because of dehydration and urinary tract infection. She is making me really worried and I am wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem. She is scheduled to have a test done to see if she has an ulcer but feedback from someone who has had these symptoms would be great.
I was told I have an olcer also and I cant eat and some times i get sick with a drink
Hi, everyone, I had my rou en y surgery in December of 2004, everything is well except that I do feel my intestines moving around sometimes and pretty much think it’s just gas. I tend to start having lots of gas at around 5:00 p.m. every day. This is gross and strange to me, also my stools are always soft, but not diarrhea and very, very smelly. Anyone have any suggestions what to do about this. I have gained about 25 pounds back after losing 113 . I would like to lose about 15.
Hello, I had my rou en y surg in July 2010. I am still having diarrhea. I never have normal looking stools. I understand what you say about feeling your intestines move around. I think my mone around all the time, I mean 24 hours a day. I doesn’t matter what I eat. I get really sharp pain in my stomach. I have lost 100lbs. and I didn’t have this surgery because I was over weight. It kinda scares me that I keep losing weight. I wish I could stop losing weight.
Hi it Ken again hhad my EDG came back ok but still having pain in my left side . Going in for surg thur to fix my intestion hope it works ….. hope all is well with all of you …
i had my bypass 24 yrs ago. right after the gall bladder had to go. i have done really good up until now. i have been having extreme pain in my stomach, the kind of pain that takes your breath away. no its not an ulcer nor gas. i will find out shortly i hope. i have been told that maybe the staples have come undone.i guess nothing last for ever. sure hope they can fix it and i can get back to it. from the stories i have read above i guess i have been really lucky up until now. good luck to you all.
i’m in need of major help for my brother. he had the gastric bypass on august 31 2009. he was a heavy smoker up to the day of the surgery, quit while he was in the hospital (obviously) and has been smoking since about a week after he was released. on top of that, he heavily relies on pain medication. since the surgery he has not been able to eat or drink. he developed an ulcer about a month after surgery and his doctor told him to quit smoking and it would go away. the problem is, the less he ate the more he smoked. the more he smoked the worse the ulcer became and with that came more pain. the more pain he was in the more pills he took. he’s nearly two years out and can hardly eat anything. he will go days without food though he does manage to get some liquids down but not nearly enough. he does not take his vitamins. he’s fallen into a depression and does not want to help himself. he’s down to about 140 lbs from his starting weight at around 400lbs. he has finally seen a new doctor and this doctor is giving him less than a year to live, saying the damage is done and nothing can save him even though he’s finally starting to eat again. can this be true? should we give up hope and believe this doctor or search for a third opinion?
Did the doctor give any advice for your brother’s mental state, or give any help with his nutritional deficiencies? If your brother received no help, but was simply told there’s nothing that can be done, it’s definitely time to look for another doctor. Find a doctor who is experienced with the complications of gastric bypass, and a doctor who can recognize the symptoms of depression. And good luck – we’ll all be thinking of you and your brother.
One thing that just occurred to me (it may be crazy, but I thought I’d throw it out there) is that there are a few doctors in the world who are very familiar with the effects of starvation. The physicians who volunteer for aid organizations like Doctors Without Borders and missionary organizations, for instance. These would be the doctors most likely to recognize the symptoms of starvation, including the depression that comes with extreme nutritional deficiencies. After they spend a few years doing good in third world countries, they must come home and resume their normal practice here in the States or in Europe. Does anyone have any idea how to find a doctor with this type of experience? Does anyone think this type of expertise could help some gastric bypass patients?
as far as i know there was no advice for his mental state, though i will say he is nowhere near the man i used to know as my brother. it’s like he doesn’t comprehend anything. he no longer talks with me or my family. he has gotten angry with us over something very trivial because his mind is gone. his mood swings are incessant. it seems as if he’s now bipolar. you never know what mood you’re going to get with him. one simple statement could set him over the edge. that being said, there is no talking to him. i can’t push him to see another doctor, to try to eat more, to stop taking the pills he’s become addicted to. nothing gets through to him so i’m at a loss as to how to help him.
i just refuse to believe there is no help for him. if the doctor is saying he could live another year, how is there no way to save him? from what i know, no doctor has mentioned specific damage to any of his organs so what isn’t clicking in my head is how he could be so far damaged that he’s beyond saving.
keep looking for a doctor that will help good luck
That one year to live line is a crock. There is always something that can be done. The mental state most likely from imbalance due to malnutrition and a low pre albumin. I dropped to 123 after my surgery at 6’3″ and 295 before surgery and went literally insane. Hyper vigilant, depressed, PTSD, you name it they said I had it after my evals. I had a similar problem smoker with multiple ulcers and not eating and I have developed an opiate addiction from my pain meds which I still fight with. Try anything you think will help even if it isn’t your ideal solution. Welbutrin maybe a good start as it will help give some balance to his mind and also will help him to stop smoking and then maybe look into feeding tubes or similar procedures. I fought a very similar fight and now at 150 and gaining after multiple feeding tubes and TPN and more than a few surgeries. It sucks, it’s hard work and a whole lot of pain but there is hope. Don’t give up and you will make it to the sunshine at the other side of the storm. Good luck and God bless.
Ann, I was wondering why the doctors did not put your brother on feeding tube for nutrition. My doctors threatened me with it, if I didn’t start eating more. I lost 1/2 my weight in about 9 mos after surgery and have had 6 abdominal surgeries total including the gastric bypass. I had the surgery because my diabetes was destroying all my nerves. Have not been able to eat much because of nausea and pain, so I too am on liquid narcotic pain meds and ODT zophran to get by. You have to be insistent with the doctors and keep searching until you find one that will help. He “should” have stopped smoking, there is so much help out there for it. My problem is my pouch was made too small and nothing they can do about it, so everything dumps, liquids (esp protein shakes) are the hardest. Good luck and I will keep you & your brother in my prayers.
I had my appointment for cardiac clearence today and as usual my ekg is fine but there is and has been a heart murmer it has been checked 3 times and it is nothing that causes me any problems. But since these doctors will not take any chances with my life they are wanting another echo and maybe a stress test. I read all these coplications everyone has had and my heart breaks for everyone. I wish each and every one of you could have the experience I am having. When I go to the meetings no one stares at big bellies or things that other people stare at.We know we are all in the same boat and it makes me feel stronger . When someone gets their surgery date we cheer and wait til the next time we see them as to how they are getting along. So far there have been no complications with anyone. For those of you interested in my area the clinic is in Greenville SC . DR. SCOTT AND DR. BOUR AND DR. MAHONEY.
I am 4 years post Rou-en-y Gastric Bypass. I was 19 years old weighing 300lbs. My surgery was a success, loosing 90lbs the first 3 months and 120lbs by 6 months and keeping it off. I have had no complications til around the 1st of this year when I started occasionally experiencing stomach cramping in my upper quadrant. A separate issue had brought me to the ER in January and a CT showed I had a thick lining of the Bile Duct but nothing was further determined of this issue. A follow up appointment with my PCP gave me no other information but him saying maybe I had passed a small gallstone causing the previous pain. This was only happening maybe once or twice a month in the beginning. By March it was happening more frequently, around once a week. Come May I was to the point where I would constantly have to leave work… the pain was so terrible I could not even stand straight. I decided I needed to go to the ER that night. After bloodwork, CTs, and Ultrasound the ER doctor told me I needed my gallbladder removed non emergency and to follow up with a referred Dr. on Tuesday being that it was Memorial Weekend. The Following night the pain had returned, and so I returned to the ER. I was told they could not do anything for more for me but hook me up to pain meds and let me lay there. That was completely unacceptable so we left and drove to another ER. After running all the same tests they told me the previous ER misdiagnosed me and I did not need my Gallbladder removed. Unfortunately they still did not have any new answers for my pain. The pain is now a daily problem and just this month I returned to my surgeon at Barix still searching for answers. That was a JOKE! He spent all of 5 minutes with me, not even opening my chart, ordering bloodwork that I had already done and the results were sitting right in front of him in my chart. He then rushed off to give a presentation and had the Dietitian come speak with me. She told me my diet was horrible (no kidding??? I cant eat without being in pain!) She told me to stop drinking pop, eat more green leafy veggies and maybe its just gas and constipation causing my problems. Like I said, a JOKE! I changed my PCP and just saw him last week. He asked me a million questions. (finally someone who wants to listen!) He ordered a gastro scope, put me on nexium (which has worked amazing) and vicodin for pain. He thinks I may have esophageal erosion since my pain is right where my ribs split. I go in this Friday for my scope and am praying for some sort of answer. I will keep you all updated and at the same time just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this? Thanks!
I know of a girl 4 years out was so sick couldnt eat for a year needed a feeding tube put in, had 6 operations an nothing helped, she went to philly and they found her intestines had twisted, dr fixed that and she is great now feeding tube out before july 1 and eating everything.
I had Gastic Bypass surgery in September 2008. I have to take pepcid and proilsac twice a day otherwise I cannot eat and I have a lot of pain in my stomach. I’ve lost 197 lbs and feel great and look even better. I went from a size 26 to a size 4. No one believes it is me. I used to throw up all the time no matter what I ate. Since taking the pills I can eat what ever I want and have not gained any weight back.
I had the surgery on may 25, 2011 and 2 weeks after I started to throw up. when I started to eat actual food. eggs and that stage i dont like ricotta or cottage cheese. and i have thrown up every day since then. I eat light through the day and eat food/try food for dinner. I had an upper gi and a scope done and they say I am growing an olcer, I am on 3 diff pills and on a liq carafate which makes me gag, does any one else have this problem i am 2 months out of surgery now and i am not loosing any more lost almost 40 lb in the 2 months. How can you not loose weight when you can keep anything down? I eat first bite and start to get sick that fast. yes I chew it very well. and small bites. I dont have acid refux or indigestion? I love souer stuff and some times it will stay for me. I also can eat sweet stuff and maybe not get sick lolololol. i am not the norm?
Any suggestion helpful.
I might be able to eat it one time and the next will make me sick? I made home made mac and cheese today it was the best meal since the beginning of May.
Thanks
I had gastric by-pass in March, 2010. I initially developed adhesions, so I had an additional surgery to fix that. This past weekend was the first time I developed complications. I have ulcers in my esophagus. It was terribly painful and my surgeon advised I go to the hospital right away. I did, he did an endoscopy and found out my problems. I am worried about the future, even though, honestly, I am thrilled I had the surgery. I eat healthy now, for the most part, but do ” cheat” occasionally. This, however, was disturbing since I had no symptoms that I was developing this issue in my esophagus; there was no heartburn, etc. I am on Protonic right now to treat this and a liquid diet…but will this return?
here’s a great link that lists the ‘constellation’ of possible short and long term side effects of wls. granted not everyone is the same and many people get wls and have a wonderful time of it. but for those of us who do not, with often little to no explanation for our ailments, this link helps.
http://archneur.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/61/8/1185?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=bariatric+surgery&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT
Hello all. On august 10 2010 a sleeve gastrectomy. I have spent all my days from that one to this vomiting and suffering every time I tried to eat. It ended with me having a central line for nutrition which had to be replaced 3 times due to two staph oria infections in my heart and one breakage of the line. That saved my life as I was 126lbs at 6’3″ and still dropping fast. I recently (5 weeks ago) had an altered gastric bypass in order to correct my problems and they put in a foley catheter g tube and now though I eat slightly better I am in tremendous amounts of pain at all times mostly a horrible stabbing sharp pain on the center and left side of my abdomen. I wish I knew what was wrong I just want the pain to go away and maybe have a chance at a semi normal life. I just turned 20 years old at the end of may and I already feel like I’m coming to the end of my time here.
Excuse me it was April 10 2010
Dear Folks,
Thank you for being so open and sharing. I wish all improved health. My heart goes out to each of you. I wish you the Best.
I was about to be scheduled for surgery and started researching the complications just in the nick of time. I was 120 lbs overweight at 4’11′. I have lost 35 lbs on my own and I have decided to lose the rest the same way, ON MY OWN. I’ve changed my diet and I exercise regularly, every day.
I have learned much about dieting and exercise since I joined the Program and I am very appreciative of that information BUT I’ve re-evaluated. I had already decided not to do the surgery but when I read all of your very gracious and giving postings (which I am sure some of you were in pain when you wrote the, truly confirmed I had made the right decision. I am truly in your debt. I am truly grateful.
Again, Thank you. I will forever be appreciative of your willingness to share such important and privte information.
I wish I could wave a magic wand and eliminate your pain.
Take Care,
Pearl
Hello, I need some advice. My niece (34) had the gastric bypass surgery done in April 2011. She had her gallbladder removed, another surgery to correct a stitch, a feeding tube and now she has a pump which feeds her continuously. She has been to the ER at 5 different hospitals in the area, and they keep referring her back to the surgeon. He has not been able to help her. I just saw her for the first time since March, the life is gone from her eyes….can you please offer some advice? Thank you so much.
If her surgeon can’t help, she needs to consult a specialist who is fully aware of the complications of gastric bypass surgery. Her insurance company might be able to give her a name of a specialist in her area. We do hope she finds help, and soon.
Hello Marie. I know exactly how your niece feels and my heart goes out to her. I also live on a pump with a feeding tube and have heard the comments that the joy and happiness and life has left my eyes and that I seem to be a shell of a person and nothing more. You may be able to find some specialist in your area who can help so you should certainly try that first. However, if you find yourselves in the same spot I was in you may have to look elsewhere and it may take quite some time. I went from my home in New Orleans, after seeing many “specialists” near me who could offer no solution, to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio searching for help where once again I found no answers. Feeling defeated I went back home and continued to slowly waste awat from my complications until I was so close to death from malnutrition that I decided to come to Colorado to Rose Med Center to see a surgeon who is renowned as being the best in fixing bariatric surgery complications. To say that he and a GI doc also at Rose saved my life would be an understatement. Im not out of the woods yet but my outlook is better on my new road to recovery which so far is going better than I could have imagined. It takes time, pain, and a bit of work but there is help out there if you’re willing to look for it. I would suggest Rose medical center regardless of current location due to my personal experience but perhaps you can find some help a bit closer to home. I wish you and your niece the best whether my post helps or not. You are in my prayers. Good luck and stay strong.
I had to fly from colorado to NY to get help. it took going thru 12 doctors to find the one that would help me. DO NOT give up. seek other specialists, other surgeons.
I would just like to add that I do not believe these issues are in anyone’s head. I personally had RNY May 13, 2010 and have been deathly ill since the very beginning. I have been unable to eat more than two tsp of any food for 16 months now. I cannot drink anything but sweet tea. Im down to 123 lbs and trying desperately to find a surgeon who is willing and able to reverse me. I am naseaus every day and live on Zofran and Tramadol. Ive undergone many endoscopies and tests…they all come out normal. My body has rejected the surgery and Im literally dying from it. Ive lost a lot more than weight Ive lost my entire life because, Im too weak to leave my bed most days.
hi Kim i dont know where you live.. but my doctors group is :
Association of South Bay Surgeons
23451 Madison st Ste 340
Torrance California 90506
310 373 6864
i have talk to some other patients who went to other physicians and ended up at this practice getting their issues corrected. i pray that you are in the California area and can see these physicians my dr is Houman Solomon. there are 16 physicians in this practice who all specialize in the gastric surgery. i pray that God will lift you up and open the doors for your help
I went to Houston and saw Dr. Robert Davis of The Davis Clinic. I am thankful he has placed me under his care. I will require a reversal.
There are certainly two sides to this surgery and falling on the wrong side can cost you your life. I know first hand, I am not out of the woods on this yet.
In 2005 I had an rny wls. after 3.5 years of pain, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, confusion, seizures, all without any real explaination as to why, I had my RNY REVERSED. its been almost 3 years since my takedown and I have my life back again. not back to the way it was, but MUCH MUCH better than where I was headed before my takedown.
imzadi@aol.com
email me anytime
I have a complication that I have not seen posted yet. The last endoscopy I had my GI doc went all the way down in the small intestine to try & find a blockage or other abnormalties. Only thing he found was my pouch was made too small and couple of areas of my small intestine was trying to stretch like a stomach (slight scarring). He told me that he can’t really say it’s malpractice because it is up to the discretion of each surgeon, but if (and I stress if) he would have done this surgery on me, he would never had made my pouch that small considering how little I am and was to begin with. Trying to eat and everyday life is a living hell. This complication was never revealed to me before the surgery. I am not even 2 years out yet (surgery/Roux-n-Y) done 11/10/2009. I survive on pain medicine, zophran ODT, and other meds to relax everything, slow process down, but not too much. I have manage to gain a couple of lbs & now and up to 98-100 lbs. Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks & God Bless to all who have experienced complications.
I had my surgery about 10 yrs ago, I still have lots of upset stomachs and gas. I have found that Dramamine calms my stomachs faster than anything. If 2 make you too sleepy take one, it helps in about 20 minutes. At first I lost too much weight and gained some back, more than I would like but I am still petite and happy with my body. I was off blood pressure meds for about 5 years but then it went up again 140/110, dangerously high and it was back to meds. The doctor that I was seeing said she had read that some conditions return after several years but they did not know why. Per an MRI I know that my stomach is still extremely small but find that I can eat a plate of food like anyone else can. At this point I now know that diet and excercise is what works for me, always did, so why did I even get this surgery? At this point I really don’t know. Lots of pain and suffering. Gastric Bypass, skin removal, tummy tuck, breast lift, and arm surgery when I could have just applied what I should have known to begin with, diet and excercise. This surgery is not the magic bullet people think it is. when you eat as little as you are told to eat you would lose weight without any surgery. Live and learn, huh?
Okay, here goes, not sure anyone will understand or be able to help me, but!! I had my gastric by-pass in 2005, Lost 120 pounds, felt great, or so I thought.In 2010, I started having numbess in my feet and hands, then the tingling and numbness started up my legs. Went to a nueroligst. She ran MRI’s, blood work, you name it. Then she put me in the hospital and put me on steroids through the vains. Alot of steroids and followed with with pills of steroids after I got home. Didn’t tell me steroids cause weight gain. Craving ofsweets and food in general. Started gaining weight and couldn’t stop. Went to another nueroligist, she ran triple test MRI’s , MRA’s, blood work. Nohelp, nothing wrong, etc, etc. In my head, right. Depression at an all time high, Legs hurt so bad that a lot of days I can’t even get out of bed. Of course depression and a 100 pound weight gain didn’t help that matter either. A month ago I went to another surgeon, I want to have a revision of the surgery done so that I can loose the weight again. Did a scope on me, something didn’t look right, so he did another one, found that a pouch had grown and attached to my esofuguess it is a dialaited bowl pouch that my food is going into, so the food never gets down to the small stomach pouch where I wouldn’t be able to eat as much and loose the weight. It is a though I never had the surgery at all. So I am back to where I was in 2005. Legs still hurt so bad that I have trouble walking, can’t work half the time. Not sure if the two things are relaited, remember it is all in my head. I have an appt today with the surgeon to discuss why he can’t go in and fix the bowel porblem so that the food will go down to the small pouch like it is supposed to, but whejn he told me aboutit, over the phone, he saidit was risky to operate. Not sure why? Does anyone out there understand what is happening to me. I feel that I have no life now, and the weight gain is killing me the worst. Down to size 10 clothes now back up to a size 20. Like I really have a reason to get ut of bed!
Could be an issue with blood circulation. Go see a hematologist to make sure everything is flowing the way it should and there has been no damage due to hardening of the arteries or anything else associated with being overweight or having a poor diet.
it sounds like you have neuro issues and likely not circulation. to give you a for instance, many people suffer from cold feet like I do but I also have HOT HOT HANDS. I thought it was carpal tunnel but after physcial therapy and surgery nothing helped. according to the article I posted a link to, these are actually very typical. to this day I cannot wear sandals. even in the summer I wear socks and shoes or when at home I wear socks and winter slippers. when I do go somewhere where I have a prolonged exposure to air conditioning I either have to wear those disposable heat up thingies like they sell for the back or use a heating pad because the pain from the cold is so bad. while my feet are just maybe a little cold to the touch, to me it feels like they have been in an ice bath. its one of many ways peripherial (sp?) nueropathy has developed as a result of my wls.
because of my wls, I had joint pain that I had NEVER had before.
a friend of mine made an excellent point. if you are able to perform wls you should also be trained on how to UNDO it as well as be WELL versed in the vast amount of side effects that both crop up immediatly as well as years down the road.
There was a posting earlier by Yolanda regarding South Bay Surgeons at 23451 Madison in Torrance, CA. I went to them and I want to make one correction. There are 16 surgeons but only 3 are bariatric, Klein, Takahashi, and Solomon. Aileen Takahashi is Med. Director otheir Bariatric Department. Has the best reputation.
I’m not doing the surgery. After reading these postings, I’ve been scared straight. I’ve lost 40lbs on my own and will continue to lose the 80 that are left, but diet and exercise. I am reading some good books and found other, non-surgical organizations to assist in my support.
I have a deep felt gratitude to all of you who have shared some very painful experiences and continuing to do so. From the deepest part of my heart, I owe you. You will always be in my prayers. Please have as much joy as possible. I wish it for you.
Pearl
To clarify: Takahashi, M.D. is Medical Director, of the Bariatric Unit of the Torrance Memorial Hospital in Torrance, CA. It has a supreme reputation, also.
Pearl
hi i am at 5 weeks post op. i am doing well. i get constipated just as i did before surgery so my doc has me taking “caster oil” in the evening with a cup of hot tea , that seems to be working. My stomach hurts when i drink cold water (and cold water only) so i drink my water room temp. I feel a little nauseated at times so i have a few sugar fee Popsicles, i also use the Popsicles when i know i should eat but I’m just not hungry. they are cool and refreshing. i use the Popsicle and cold jello for my between meal snacks. the also assist with keeping me hydrated. my one issue is my blood pressure is low, i am normally low but now really low like 90 /50.. dr said to be sure to use salt, which will elevate my bp and help me retain water for hydration. my weight is coming down slow and steady. even though i don’t see it, but others notice.
if you cant get anything else down, try the sugar free Popsicle and cold sugar free jello.
this procedure is a drastic step toward being healthy again I Lord we need you to do the rest. the word says that if our body parts offend us to cut them off and we have done that by eliminating the stomach that caused us to be overweight diabetic with high cholesterol and high blood pressure. i pray for continued healing of our insides and the energy and willpower in each of us to exercise and do our part to maintain and healthy balance in weight and lifestyle. i pray that the appropriate physicians will be sent to all who have unresolved issues. thank you Father for your healing and your love for your children.
Amen
Yolanda, Please do not use out of context quotes from the bible to justify surgical procedures. As we all know especially those of us who read the bible, anybody can take the word and use it for all the wrong purposes. Use your common sense. If you have had the procedure, follow all the guidelines and if it doesn’t seem to be working, than it probably isn’t. Go back to your Dr and get squeaky. A big problem in this money making industry is that most clinics and surgeons that do this work have a big investment in having it work for everybody. The truth is there are many people out there who are not compatible with these procedures. We are told about the success stories and not the failures. People go to their grave thinking it going to get better soon. Some time when we get malnourished we loose cognitive ability and can’t tell the difference between thin and emaciated. Don’t let your Drs tell you night is day and that you are doing something wrong and if you try harder it will get better. Trust your heart and fight for your life. Clark
Well said, Clark. Thank you.
hi Ms Pearl
congrads on your decision. i pray that the weight loss continues for you. by all means if you can loose the weight on your own, do continue. as for me, on the other side of menopause the weight was going on to my butt. lol.. thank you for the correction. my surgery was done by Dr Solomon at Torrance Memorial and it was a very good experience. please let us know how your weight loss it going. take care and God Bless. and please keep us all in your prayers
I have undergone gastric bypass, and thyroid radiation…and my body is shutting down.
Each session is usually four, weekly sessions, of Venofer. It’s given to me at the Infusion Center. This last session the blood specialist said he had to see me, because he had NEVER met anyone who has had to have this many infusions within a year. The session, I am undergoing now is five weeks. 
.Among all of the infusions, I have had to have a blood transfusion too.
IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE THAT CAN HELP ME??? I am on my fourth iron infusion session, so far this year. I still have three months before the year is up.
My body will NOT absorb anything. There have been many tests done and I have even swallowed a camera to see if there is any internal bleeding. All the results have come back…no bleeding. Now they’re telling me that I have to have an Endometrial Ablation (burning of the inter uterine lining). I am very scared and frustrated.
Is there a hospital somewhere near Northern Minnesota, that anyone knows of that could possibly help me?..or anywhere really?
PLEASE HELP!!!
Thank you,
Elizabeth
Elizabeth,
it sounds like what would benefit you the most is a Takedown/reversal of your RNY (assuming that is what you had) . Unfortunately I don’t know of anyone in Minnesota that performs them. I live in Colorado and had to fly to New York to have my takedown but it was WELL worth it. My surgeon was so well versed in complications and takedowns that he did TWO other ones the same day he did mine and we were ALL from different states.
Living on infusions is no way to live, aside from the negative side effects from the very infusions that are helping you live.
I was 3.5 years out when I had my takedown and even tho all my tests came back normal I KNEW what I was feeling was not normal in the least. It’s been almost 3 years since my takedown and I am now getting the chance to enjoy life, and live, not barely survive.
When I first looked into a takedown all the doctors told me that I would gain my weight back, as if that was worse than having my husband and children watch me slowly die. Yes I gained some of the whopping 40lbs I lost back, but with it came back the ability to laugh, enjoy activities, read and actually comprehend and just take care of my family.
Sometimes and more often that patients and surgeons will admit, the surgery just simply does not agree with everyone.
Also, its NOT uncommon to go YEARS feeling fine and then BAM all these crazy symptoms start sprouting up and even after seeing what feels like 1000 different doctors no one has the answer for you.
Frankly, in the end, WITH OR WITHOUT the WLS ,almost everyone has to do the same thing; eat healthy and appropriate portions and excercise.
Please please feel free to email me. I would be more than happy to help you. Aside from my family, it is what I have dedicated myself to doing so that no one has to feel as alone and helpless as I did.
Grace
I am in the process prior to doing gastric bypass laproscopic surgery…. How many of you would do it again if given the chance? I’m not sure I should go through with it. I have no medical problems except sleep apnea. I am overweight and tired of being tired. But, my blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugars are all good. I lost my husband of 25 years one year ago due to a different illness. My children are 19 and 13, I’m all they have. I don’t know what to do. I had decided on doing the surgery until a mother of my daughter’s friend (also a nurse) learned I was going to do it. Now, I’m not sure.
Donna,
Have the courage to follow your own good sense. Weigh all opinions and do your research. Trust your inner guidance. You’re right, your children need you.
Pearl
Having WLS is the ONE thing in my entire life I would take back if I could.
I had a takedown/reversal 3.5 years after having my RNY. Even though I had to go thru a dozen doctors and countless surgeons to find the one surgeon who would agree to peform my takedown, it was WELL worth it.
I have my life back thanks to my takedown sureon. It’s been almost 3 years since my takedown and while I know I will never be the same, I am sooooooooooooooo much better off than I was.
feel free to email me if you want more info and please please please take a look at this link below; it’s a scientific study (one of the VERY few) on the very real possible complications from WLS. At any rate, it will give you good questions to pose to your surgeon. Like anything else this serious get a second opinion. I suggest seeing a Gastroenterologist that is NOT in any way associated with WLS or a WLS group to get some unbiased answers to the very real complications many face after WLS.
feel free to email me anytime
imzadi@aol.com
Grace
http://archneur.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/61/8/1185?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=bariatric+surgery&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT
Donna,
We can only tell you our opinions, the decision is up to you. I had the surgery and yes I had a slight set back from fat deposit that was cut but would I do it again, yes. My quality of life is better, I have to think about what goes into my mouth all the time, so it make me think of better choices.I fear the malnutrition point but I strive to make this work. By the way I had the surgery July 18th of this year.
I wish you all the best.
Donna,
We can only tell you our opinions, the decision is up to you. I had the surgery and yes I had a slight set back from fat deposit that was cut but would I do it again, yes. My quality of life is better, I have to think about what goes into my mouth all the time, so it make me think of better choices.I fear the malnutrition point but I strive to make this work. By the way I had the surgery July 18th of this year.
I wish you all the best.
I have been watching this site for months and I am so sorry you all have had such horrible problems. I have been considering surgery for the past year and thanks to all of your impute, I have decided that eating 1200 calories a day is what can work and is a heck of a lot less painful. I had gastric stapling in 1980 and got no advice on food intake so I learned that eating junk food will fill me up and not cause me to throw up. Well today is another day and watching my calorie intake has helped me lose 10 pounds in the past 3 weeks. Granted it isn’t 60lbs but I am more willing to eat less than take the chance of all the complications or death. Again Thanks To All Of You.
Hi Eileen,
Just wanted to say to you 10 lbs lost in 3 weeks is great. That’s over 3 lbs a week. Average (depending on how much you have to lose) is 1 to 2 lbs. Good for you and I hope you’ll keep letting us know how well you are doing. I’ve declined having the surgery and I, too, have decided to lose weight without it. It all comes down to diet and exercise, anyway. That’s what my other doctors are telling me. So why not diet and exercise now? Losing the weight is a necessary thing in my life. I want me remainging years to be happy and productive. That’s what it’s about for me.
My Best to all of you who have been kind and open enough to share your experiences. You saved my life.
I’ ve lost forty and I’m looking forward to losing the rest and maintaining. I exercise 6 days a week and I am 67 years old.
As an FYI, my insurance company authorized the surgery, I just declined it.
Take Care,
Pearl
I thought I’d jump in here just to mention that anyone who’s thinking about losing weight on their own should watch this video by Dr. Lustig. It’s a long video, but watch for the information he gives about sugar/fructose, and how our bodies metabolize it. This may be the one piece of the puzzle that anyone considering losing a great deal of weight should have.
And one more thing – I found out the hard way that anyone who loses a lot of weight in a fairly short amount of time will have a greater risk of gall stones. I’m not sure why, but it’s something to watch for so you catch it in time.
Good luck to you all.
has any one ever heard that these surgery don’t work in loseing weight? i think i am one? how can a person throw up everyday and not loose weight?
i am going to have this done ,but after reading some comments, i am scared, I guess what my question is are these being done in sacramento, CA.. that is were I am going? Any tips ??
i’ve been having (once in while) chest pains where the pain runs to my (upper back) it comes and goes… i’ve been told (by a friend) its because i dont digest my food…. just wondering if anyone has felt that… its a pain/presure on the chest area that the pain runs to my upper back…
Gads – you should be asking your doctor! I strongly suggest that anyone who has had a gastric bypass procedure should take their body’s warning signs very seriously. It might be nothing, but why take the chance?
THANK YOU JONNI…..
Good evening,
About 4 months ago I left a comment in regard to my bypass 6 years ago. Like everyone here I had my share of dumping, not being able to eat, low blood pressure, and a gall bladder removal. Then two years ago I started getting occasional pain so bad in my upper mid stomach I’d pass out. The first time they thought I had a heart attack and I was rushed to the hospital – they found nothing. The second time it happened I was sent to a stomach doctor. After a few years of constant pain, many MANY medical tests and occasional passing out from the pain – my doctor told me they were stumped and maybe I should see my gastric bypass doctor.
I did, and he identified my problem as a twisted bowel and secheduled me for immediate surgery. Turned out I had an internal stomach hernia which was pertruding, scar tissue and adhesions from previous surgeries. He also found my appendix shriveled and ready to burst. He cleaned up the scar tissue and adhesions, took out the appendix and fixed the hernia. Today, I have very little dumping symptoms, I can eat a full (small) meal – and I haven’t had a stomach ache since my surgery 2 months ago. It feels like a miracle.
Please don’t give up and let anybody tell you the pain is in your head. Be persistant. Believe me, for the last 2-3 years I was feeling like an idiot and getting very depressed because all my tests were coming back-negative. How could I be in so much pain with nothing wrong???? Well peeps, finding a doctor who listens and understands the bypass procedure is KEY. Don’t let any doctor make you feel like shit because HE or SHE can’t figure out what’s wrong. Listen to your body – oh, and I was very anemic making everything in my life a bit fuzzy – which was blamed on menopause . NOT – I see with clarity now that I am eating right and have the right nutrition.
Have faith and find a good doctor….Mine is in Fresno, and his name is Dr. Higa. He listened and now I feel wonderful.
Good luck –
Cindy
I’M VERY ANEMIC THAT NOW IM HAVING IRON INJECTIONS (THROUGH AN IV) ALSO I’M HAVING B-12 INJECTIONS EVERY DAY & NOW IM HAVING THEM EVERY OTHER DAY…. I’M STARTING TO HAVE MORE ENERGY (FINALLY). IN JULY OF THIS YEAR MY SMALL INTESTINE WAS (BLOCKED/TWISTED) THAT MY DOCTOR HAD TO FIX, AND I WAS ALSO THROWING UP, LOTS OF PAIN.
If this has already been answered I apologize. I have a friend who had this done and now her iron gets dangerously low. She has to go in every so often to have iron through a tube because her body will not absorb iron from supplements and such. Can anyone help with this and have a solution?
Thanks for your help.
to Dwight,
frankly living on infusions is no way to live, especially if they help little or not at all. I’m ALL for getting a takedown/reversal of the Roux en y surgery. Soooooooooooooooo many people suffer with a wide range of ‘mysterious’ ailments post rny surgery. I had the surgery and had it taken down 3.5 years later and I have my life back. I’ll never be the same but it beats suffering for years only to die and have it never be associated with the real cause, the rny.
Has anyone ever had a gastric bypass and the doctor did not staples the stomach completely shut. I have discovered this 5 years later. Is this normal??
Hello I am considering having a gastric bypass. Not the gastric sleeve that removes your stomach but the laparoscopic roux-en bypass. I went to a seminar last night and surprisingly i was told that the State of Mass is the best place to get one. I have been reading all your stories and I am wondering what state and hospitals have you had the surgeries done in? I want to have mine at Mass General Hospital. Have any of you had yours done there? I am afraid to do this but I feel like it is the only way I am going to get the 125 pounds I sooooooo need to lose. I have tried and failed at pretty much everything else. Any advise????????? and pls let me know what states you are all from! Sorry to hear about all the complications you are having, I am from Mass and I have alot of friends and family members that have had this surgery and NONE of them have any of these complications so I am wondering if it is true that it does matter where you have these surgeries done.
Thanks,
Michelle from Mass
Michelle,
The RNY is the same surgery you whether you have it in Mass or Kansas. My surgeon was/is top rated and working out of one of the best hospitals in my quad state area. My surgeon performed my surgery perfectly. There were no mechanical problems and the hospital was impecable.
Still, 3.5 years after having my surgery I had to fly to New York (because NO ONE would touch me) to have my takedown. You would think that surgeons that are experts in performing this surgery would also be experts in reversing it but that is not the case at all. I was told over and over again how dangerous it was to perform a takedown but not once did they express that kind of danger in cutting me up to begin with. Kinda one sidded.
Either way, I do wish you the best and I hope you make the right decision for you.
Below is a link describing some of the complications I had and many have but have no idea it’s associated to the RNY. It raises some good questions to pose to your surgeon or even a Gastroenterologist NOT associated with any WLS group. Because the fact of the matter is, a Honda salesman will tell you up and down that Honda is better than a Toyota but a mechanic who deals all kinds of cars can give you an honest answer based on all the makes and models he deals with. Give an unassociated Gastro a visit for a non biased opinion
Grace
If the link doesn’t work you are more than welcome to email me. imzadi@aol.com
http://archneur.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/61/8/1185?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=bariatric+surgery&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT
oh and I live in Colorado
Grace
I had mine done on June 27, 2011. I’d do it again in a heartbeat! I’ve lost 82 lbs thus far and I am feeling great. I am full of energy and loving life. I have had no complications except things that I have done to myself… i.e. eating candy or eating rice, or eating too fast. I see things that I want to eat and I know better. When I eat them I get sick and throw them back up. My body say’s “Absolutely Not!” After I get rid of it, I feel good again. I had my surgery in Ocala, Florida with Dr. Jawad. He has performed over 4500 bypasses, over 100 sleeves, and thousands of lap bands. I trust this man with my life!
jr that is great i feel the same way as you do!!!!!
This website has been a blessing. I had my surgery August 2011. Since coming home I have had nothing but problems. I was vomiting up all my food. So my surgeon checked for stricture, there wasnt one. The vomitting continued so they checked my gallbladder and removed it. The vomitting continued. It took a month for my doctor to even see me after that and then he brushed it off. Laughed joked around. I continued to vomit and began having memory loss and confusion so my mom rushed me to the emergency room. I spent over a week in the hospital were they discovered I was allergic to the pain medication. Once off them I began to eat and drink normally.
I’ve been released and now have a mess of complication which my surgeon says is vitamin defiency and my primary care wants to run more tests. I don’t trust the surgeon.
My complications are:
memory loss….can’t remember much of the last 6 to 12 months.
Leg weakness. My calves are very weak and I use a cane to walk around. Have to use a special chair in the shower because I can’t stand for that long.
Severe foot pain: like stabbing in my feet ontop not the sole or heal. To run one finger over the top of my foot makes me cry. The doctors aren’t sure what the cause is.
Numbness: from my breast to my knees I am numb in the front. I could pinch my skin and I feel nothing.
Before this website I thought I was alone. I was so depressed. I’ve lost my job and have become very dependent on others because I can barely make it down stairs on my own so my mom cooks and brings me meals. I’ve even had to put grad school on hold. I am seeing a neurologist this week and will maybe find some answers.
My family sees me and they’re all so proud I’ve lost 109 lbs and am down to 279lbs. But before the surgery though I was obese I had no other health problems. Now I feel I am a walking complication. If I had the chance I’d never do the surgery infact I’d reverse it if I could.
Thanks for listening
Sarah
26 years old
Hello everyone I got my surgery on july 18, 2011 and I have lost 87 pounds and i have no complications at all I eat what i want just very small portions of it ive tryed so many diffrent things and i can eat anything its crazy!! i did vomit one time and it was because i ate a bit of a honey bun bad bad me lol!!! i wont eat that again!!!! but im doing great and im soooo much happier with myself and i cant wait to lose about 80 more pounds im half way to my goal!! it does suck when you cant eat but you will get used to it!!!!
Hello,
we had ours the same day and I too have lost 80 pounds. I am doing well too. I pray all stay well for you. best of wishes to you!
sara im sooo sorry you have sooo many problems girl but i would not go to your doc thats for sure!!! hope you find out what is causing all this !!
WE ALL FEEL THE SHAME OF BEING OVER-WEIGHT, THE MEDICAL PROBLEMS, HIGH BP, ETC. IT IS DIFFICULT TO WALK AND EXCERCISE TO GET THE LBS UNDER CONTROL. WE HAVE CASTRIC BYPASS AND IN MY CASE SLOWLY (2 YRS) GET A NEW LEASE ON LIFE. I FELT WONDERFUL, I COULD HOLD MY HEAD UP, NO LONGER FEEL ASHAMED. I BOUGHT NICE CLOTTHES TO WEAR TO WORK, DRESSES AND SKIRTS AND BLOUSES. I FELT LIKE A BRAND NEW BEING, UNTIL I WALKED INTO AN M.D.’S OFC (HMO) AND HE SAW ME FOR THE FIRST TIME, HE MADE COMMENTS THAT MADE ME FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE, AND TOUCHED ME IN WAYS HE SHOULD NOT HAVE. I FELT HUMILIATED BUT DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE IT, JUST THOUGHT I WOULD GET A NEW HMO AND NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN. 3 DAYS LATER HE USED THE ADDRESS I HAD GIVEN TO FILL OUT THE NEW PATIENT MED. PAPERS AND SHOWED UP AT MY DOOR, GAINED ENTRANCE AND RAPED ME. AFTER 3 1/2 YRS I WENT TO TRIAL AGAINST HIM, HE WAS FOUND GUILTY OF 21 FELONIES AND WILL BE SENTENCED 12/16/11, HE COULD GET A MAX. OF 16 1/2 YRS. I AM STILL SO TRAUMATIZED I CAN’T GO TO THE GROCERY STORE ALONE. IT IS A DAILY BATTLE TO GO FROM VICTIM TO SURVIVOR. THIS HAS COVERED ME LIKE A DARK, HEAVY BLANKET AND I NEEDED TO SHARE THIS. MY WEIGHT IS STILL UNDER CONTROL, MY LIFE A BIT IN SHATTERED PIECES.
Hi it ken again just got out of hosp today . Has anyone else had chest pains and back pain in there left shoulder all on the left side …. Im 5 yr out from surg this has been going on for two yrs . they did a cat and mri and nothing ??? Dr asked me if i was hauing prob at home??NO then asked if i was dep ?? NO … So if any of you have had this please post what it was … Hope all of you aer doing good to many comp from surg thats fore shore … Chest pain is like im having a heart atc … pain is in top of left shoulder ……… RNY SURG …
Marlene, I understand completely what emotional trauma is. If you have not, get into a Post Traumatic Syndrome Disorder (PTSD) Rape Support Group. If you can not find one, start calling psychologist office and ask. You need immediate and continued care. I did not know of such a group and did not get any help until 25 years later and believe me, it is no picnic. I still hide in my house, do not make friends at well, and just am plain miserable, thin or fat nothing changed my feelings. I work hard on trying to leave the house and most days I fail, so you see with out care the trauma will stick with you, with care there is light at the end of the tunnel. Get Help Now.
Marlene, you are one of the bravest women I have ever read about. To have remained strong for 3 years and not falter in your quest for justice is more than I could have managed. I would be a mess. Please do not ever think of yourself as a victim you are anything but that. You are a survivor. For a professional man to break trust like that well there is just no excuse. What bothers me is the sentence being so light . It sounds like there were others and if so I would ask to speak at his sentencing and ask the others to speak as well and see that he goes away for much longer. FYI rapists do not do well in prison but the longer the better. Agasin I applaude you. Marlene
ONCE AGAIN I HAVE BEEN STOPPED ON MY JOURNEY ON OCTOBER 4 TH I HAD ALL MY BLOOD WORK DONE AND WAS PREPARING FOR SURGERY THE 11TH. BEFORE I LEFT THE CLINIC THE NURSE RAN OUT AND ORDERED ME TO THE HOSPITIAL AS THEY HAD DISCOVERED MY LEVELS OF POTASSIUM WERE DANGEROUSLY HIGH. MY DOCTOR PUT MY SURGERY ON HOLD UNTIL I HAVE MORE TESTS THAT MY GP SHOULD HAVE DONE. AS A DIABETIC I NEEDED A URANYSALIS EVERY YEAR THE 24 HOUR KIND. BUT HE HAD NOT DONE THAT IN SEVERAL YEARS. BOTTOM LINE I HAVE GONE TO A KIDNEY SPECIALIST AND I HAVE ONE KIDNEY SMALLER THAN THE OTHER . MY GP ORDERED THE ULTRASOUND BUT NEVER READ IT. UNTIL THE KIDNEY DOC CLEARS ME NO SURGERY. I COULD END UP ON DYASLYSISIF THE SURGEON HAD NOT INSISTED I SEE A SPECIALIST. I AM ANGRY THAT MY GP FAILED ME BUT GLAD THE SUREGON CAUGHT IT BEFORE I WAS IN COMPLETE FAILURE. I MAY STILL HAVE THE SURGERY BUT NOT UNTIL THE SUREGON FEELS THAT THE OUTCOME WOULD BE WHAT WE WANT PLUS WE ARE SWITCHING TO THE SLEEVE. I AM DISAPPOINTED BUT AS OPPOSED TO BEING DEPENDENT UPON A MACHINE I CAN STAND A LITTLE DISAPPOINTMENT. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL AND MAY THE NEW YEAR BRING YOU JOY LUCK AND GOOD HEALTH.
My wife had gastric bypass surgery on 15 Sep 2010. Other than an ulcer, which was easily treated, she has had few issues. Yes some foods do not agree with her, but she has not experienced the issues many on this site have. I think had she had seen this site she would not have had the surgery, but as I have stated it has been successful and mostly uneventful. Sorry for those of you who are experiencing severe issues.
Aloha from Maui
It’s been a while since I have posted. I have been to the ER 3 times since my last post and of course they cannot find anything. I have been vomiting everyday for months now with a lot of pain. I found a new doctor who suspects an ulcer, stricture and gallbladder problems. I go in for a HIDA scan Dec. 28th. Please say a little prayer for me Please.
Jan.4th An endoscopy. I have not been able to take any vitamins or protein due to the vomiting. I just ordered chewable and bilingual B. About 3 weeks ago I started feeling different like I am slowly dying, Doc says it is true because I am getting no nutrition.
My surgery was July 9th 2009. I have been keeping positive but depression sets in anyway. Happy Holidays to everyone wishing you all the best
Jeanne
Jeanne, we will definitely keep you in our thoughts. I hope the new doctor finds a way to help you.
“Maui Jeanne” I have read your comment with much compassion for you. You ask for prayer and I am certainly praying for you. He is the Great Physician and created our complicated bodies and the only perfect physician who can truly ‘fix’ us. You are in my heart and in my prayers. One wonders if we don’t just create more problems for ourselves seeking getting closer to perfection. No stone throwing here, I have done the same thing. It sounded like a big deal to have this surgery but I was all for it. I had a great figure until they shot me full of steroids ‘so I wouldn’t need a back surgery’. That made me gain 80 lbs, a cataract at 40 and still needed a back surgery. Funny thing is even after this major surgery I found the only thing that worked was diet and exercise. I’ve had years of nausea and swallowed the camera pill, let’s just say they went in every orafice just to say ‘you’re fine’. So dear Jeanne I feel your pain and will continue to pray for you. P.S. It took me 2 years to lose over a 100lbs 5 yrs ago but I do finally like my body and I am keeping the slim me. Hang in there sweetie and pray. CarlaMarlene
Marlene Moore: your answer moved me to tears, thank you for caring about a stranger. I have just spoken at his sentencing trial and the judge gave him 12 1/2 yrs. There were 8 victims, 1 passed away after prelim. so her felonies were dropped. He raped 3 of us but the jury deadlocked on each of those charges. This makes 5 rapes he has gotten off of counting the 2 prior trials. He must serve 85% before he comes up for parole. They only got him for molesting women and children in his office (one 15 yr old and one 18 years old. He doesn’t need to even take an HIV test because they didn’t charge him with rapes, just sexual exploitation of patiences. It’s kind of a kick in the head to realize 12 people can hear facts and not even believe you, it broke my heart. When I got outside and away from his supporters that packed the courtroom I sobbed all the way to my car and home. I know I am in God’s tender arms and that is enough. I still wrestle with lots of crying but this too shall pass. You made my day when you wrote me. Thank you with all of my heart. CarlaMarlene
Carla Marlene compassion for someone I don’t know but you see I do know you and in many ways I am you. All the things that happened to me happened to me in the scared bonds of marriage. That was such a joke and to beat it all I marrried him twice. I think it was Einstien that said” The definition of Insanity is repeating the same thing over and expecting a different outcome. The sexual and verbal abuse nearly made me a prisoner. But I could not let him win somehow I found the strength to get me and my child out . The anger I felt and all the abuse I had to put up with after the divorce because to him I was still his! I thought about ways to kill him to make it look like an accident. But instead I put 800 miles between us and I had said I would never marry again,but just shy of 6 years after my second divorce from him I found the love of my life my other half. So you see I am not really a stranger. I am cheering because he did get some time and him being a Dr, and a rapist in prison well karma is a real bitch. I went through a couple of years of therapy and it helped me so much. Also I am on meds for depression and anxeity and I may be the rest of my life. But it is a good life and I hope you will discover that there is love out there that people are kind and understanding. If you find some who are not just elimanate them from your part of the world. For now just heal and focus on what is good in your life. If you need me I am but a message away. Stay strong and you are right God is in charge he will hold you and comfort you like no one else can. Iam glad that in some small way I helped you to feel better. marlene moore
I have been rescheduled for surgery as my kidneys are working normally and my a1c is 5 .4 and b/p is 105/70 and I have still lost weight without the Optifast. but I have to go on on Optifast the 7 th of January to shrink my liver plus have a blood panel run once a week to keep an eye on potassium levels. I am in the best shape and I know everything happens for a reason. The kidney doc found I was deficient in vit D and has put me on a pill that supplies vitimin D. Surgery date is Feb 7TH.Now that I am healthy enough for the surgery I feel the outcome will be very positive. Will let everyone know.
I just had my surgery done a week ago. I have more pain now when I eat and drink, than I did when I was in the hosiptal. I have bad gas pains. Sometimes they are unbareable, where I dont eat. I have a follow up appt on Monday, so we’ll see what the doc says.
Tara, did you call the office and mention that you’re hurting?
Yes, I did. She told me that my stomach may be still swollen. Im going to the doc on Mon.
Happy new year everyone!
My father had gastric bypass 5 months ago in the middle east. He has come to visit us here in DC and ever since he has arrived, he’s been in terrible pain. He went to a clinic here b/c he doesn’t have health insurance here in the US. They did blood work/ lab test and found nothing. However I googled his symptoms and we came to the conclusion that he may possibly have gallstones. He did mention that he had gallstones from the past, but it never bothered him. After altering his diet, ex:eating mostly vegetarian, lots of fiber, radishes, and a gallstone flush, his stomach pains have subsided. I have also signed him up at my local gym so that he can swim as an exercise.
My biggest concern however, is his extremely high blood pressure that won’t go down, even when he doubles his high blood medication. What could be causing his blood pressure to be going so high? Could he have a kidney issue?
He may have kidney stones. If he had pain that moved from side and then to the front it could be. Much of the time they will come and go and even pass. But the diet from a bypass can really set you up for stones. A simple x-ray will normally tell. The pain can be stunning. Flying seems to cause a resting stone to move. It has for me. Clark
I had a GP /rny in 1997. Lost 275 lbs in 7 months. I was not functioning, somewhere along the line I lost my cognitive ability and was too fatigued to function. I spent days and days in bed until a friend dragged me out to ER. I was put on TPN and about 6 months later I was judged strong enough to do a revision. I weighed 154 lbs down from 450.
The revision seemed to go OK. I gained weight up to about 225 and then leveled off. I never really gained my stamina or sense of well being back. Slowly my weight started to drop again and seemed to stabilize at 180. I was starting to have symptoms that my Drs. treated as unrelated. But they just kept on coming. First arrhythmia, followed by anemia, neuropathy, loss of body temp (normal 95 degrees.) edema, persistent a fib, feinting spells, low blood sugar, bradycardia, extreme low vitamin deficiencies, osteoporosis. 3 hernias, 3 kidney stone attacks requiring surgery to remove. I was complaining about muscle tissue loss even though my weight was stable at 180. Then about 3 years ago I woke up and my legs were too heavy. Eventually I could not climb stairs even 4 or 5 steps. I needed help to get out of chair. I lost all energy and strength. This was getting way to familiar when suddenly the weight started dropping fast as did all my blood work and protein levels etc. Up till now they treated each symptom as a separate problem and attributed them creatively to some syndrome or genetic condition. eg my hands shook so bad I could not hold a cup of coffee, voilla!, essential tremor etc. Finally I collapsed. I have been on TPN again for over a year. The Bariatric Dept is trying to blame it on me and wants to do all kinds of trials to see if something will work.
Let me say here that for the sake of brevity I have only mentioned some of the highlights of my problems. After a second referral they have suddenly changed position completely. They want to do a reversal within three weeks. I have not had time to take all this in but it seems like the only way. I am at the end of this journey one way or the other.
I think a third opinion from a respected source is worth the expense, considering the time that has passed. Before this sudden change I have been told the reversal is way to dangerous. Now they are treating a takedown as the only option with a sense of urgency. I am in the Bay Area (Nor CA) Does anybody have an opinion on who would be good to see?
Thank you.
And thank you, Jonni
Hi Clark, your symptoms of fatigue and sudden paralysis sound like you have hyperkalmia, my father has that disease, 1 in 100,000 have it. Basically, it’s a lack of potassium in your body. Google it and see what you find out. One way of getting hyperkalemia is by taking too many diuretics or too much high blood pressure medicine.
In regards to my dad, we got the results back from the lab, and they found no issues with his kidney, nor gall bladder, and they want hm to do a cat scan. He called his doctor in is country & my dad explained to the dr. The lab showed negative on his gall bladder & kidney. His doctors response was: it’s the operation and that he should feel this pain for 6 months to a year b/c of his stomach lining, and that the pain should go away. So basically the doctor told my father to DO NOTHING ABOUT THE PAIN AND TOLERATE IT FOR A YEAR!!
Is this normal for a doctor to say ‘tolerate the pain & call me every 15 days?’ On top of this his blood pressure is still very high.
Has anyone experience theses symptoms before?
Is my father insurable after gastric bypass ( since he did the surgery overseas)? My father refuses to go to the ER b/c he has no insurance here.
I know you must be frightened but as dangerous as it is, the other option is death. I had a takedown 3 years ago and I began to feel better almost immediately afterwards. There is a group of surgeons in the bay area that have extensive experience with takedowns. Lemme look it up and get back with you. In the meantime if you want to email me please feel free to do so. I also know many people who have had takedowns and are doing much better know.
Having my takedown was, at the time, THE BEST thing I could have done for myself and my family. If I had a time machine I would have never had wls to begin with.
Nowadays I concentrate on helping anyone who needs or wants my help in any way I can.
Grace
Hi Grace,
My father had gastric bypass this past May overseas. He is now here in the US visiting and he has had such terrible stomach pains. What type of gastric bypass qualifies for a ‘takedown’?
the RNY has the ability to be taken down, the sleeve however does not because so much of the stomach is not only cut off but removed from the patients body.
Getting a takedown/reversal is the easiest part, the toughest part if FINDING a surgeon WILLING AND ABLE (ie has experience with takedowns). IMHO surgeons don’t want to resort to takedowns because it says something about the cash cow that is the WLS industry. They always say how dangerous it is but frankly its just as dangerous as cutting and re-routing the digestive system to begin with. I feel like if you can so easily slice and dice you SHOULD also be well versed in undoing that same surgery.
There was for me, a mirad of tests I had to go thru before I had the takedown. Aside from a few blood tests All my tests came bacl NORMAL
dang it! accidently pressed the enter button.
anyhow… most tests came back normal which then gave doctors the excuse to say that there was no clear physical issue so it must be me. (kinda the opposite of the “it’s not you it’s me” speech.
All but two of the 12 doctors I saw in my quest to get my takedown basically told me it was a psychological problem and not a physical one.
the proof however is clear. 3 years since my takedown and not only did it TOTALLY STOP getting worse I got 75% better. Had I had the takedown earlier I would have gotten even better than I am now but since I was forced to jump thru so many hoops it took 3.5 years to find someone willing to help me versus blame me.
Grace: I am hearing more and more about ‘takedowns’, something that I didn’t even know existed when I had my wls in 2002. I think we are all ‘feeding’ something inside of us and when we do we reach out for this ‘permanent’ help. When this is reversed just what goes right for you? and wrong? I know with it I have indigestion that I never had before, less energy, loss of hair and skin quality, but I do love my thinner body. Just how much weight comes back on when you reverse this surgery. I am very interested in hearing from you. (or anyone else who is willing to share) Thank you. Marlene
Marlene
EXCELLENT question.
What went right for ME post takedown was…
gaining the ability to eat lean meats and fruits and veggies again
80% more energy (both mentally and physically)
the ability to read and comprehend a book again
my memory increased…while not back to totally normal its MUCH MUCH better
75% of my pain got better
Improvement of my depression (which was unphased by ANY medication I tried)
vitamins and supplements actually HELP now
the odd pain in my feet is totally gone
my hypoglycemia and all its symptoms is also totally gone
I still have restriction with the amount I eat and frankly I like that I can still get full on a small amount of food
my joint pain (which I didn’t have pre RNY) is 80% improved
NO MORE NAUSEA
NO MORE VOMITING
no more seizures
no more dizziness
no more
H. plyori totally gone
What has gone wrong…
the surgery was painful, I’d say about 30% more painful than any of my 3 c sections I’ve had.
I have a hernia from part of the insicion but it’s not painful
It took around 4 months post op to get my remnant stomach going, before that there were a couple of times I had to go into the hospital because I couldn’t stop throwing up which then sent me into a type of spiral of anxiety. I kept worrying I had a leak or there was something wrong and that maybe the nightmare wasn’t over
residual anxiety about going to the doctors or even having one of those 24 hour stomach bugs. Again it takes me back to my RNY nightmare and while logically I KNOW it’s just a 24 hour bug, my mind takes me back to my pre takedown fears that I will never stop vomiting. I guess It’s a small type of PTSD
The issues with my teeth eroding has not gone away or gotten better
I still have residual GERD (which I never had PRE RNY)
The Peripheral Neuropathy is still the same in my hands and feet. (my hands feel tingly and burning hot whenever I use them on the computer or to grip anything for an extended period of time. Yes I had Carpal Tunnel surgery but it made no difference. My feet are so cold I have to wear socks and slippers all year long and in the Winter I use a heating pad on my feet . I have no circulation problems
I gained back 20 lbs of the 40 lbs I lost. Frankly I haven’t even tried to lose it, which I know I should but it’s just not a priority for me right now.
I still can’t work and getting disability has been difficult because no one really aknowledges these issues that stem from WLS
I think that’s it.
I know if I had been able to get my takedown earlier some of these issues would be totally resolved. I’ve seen how getting an early takedown yields a much better result. I’ve seen people get almost back to normal.
As for the weight issue, frankly you still have to do the same things everyone else does either pre or post WLS…eat properly and get regular excersise.
Grace
January 4, 2012
Well I have read through all of your issues and comments now I will tell you my story to see if anyone has came close to my problem. I was scheduled for my RNY on March 20, 2003 24 hrs. before surgery my insurance changed its mind. I was fortunate to have the nurse at my surgeons office fight for me and did have it on September 5, 2003. I did have a few issues at the beginning only that I had to have 2 endoscopy’s. I started with kidney stones, I have had 12 and then in 2006 I had knee trouble which made me have very limited exercise. I still gave it all I could until another issue appeared. Common Bile Dilatation. This problem has caused several issues with body. I had already had my gall bladder out before RNY but I was having severe pain in my right side. They sent me to a ERCP specialist in 2007. They said what I would go through to have this issue done was to insert a tube in my side so they could bypass my stomach. This would have to be in place for at least 6 weeks before they could put a stint in my bile duct to clear it out. The ERCP surgeon wanted my original Gastric by pass Dr. to put tube in and ask for a liver biopsy. WELL the next week I turned jaundice and was that way for over 6 weeks, they thought they were going to have to do a blood transfusion but for some odd reason decided against it. AND FINALLY ON JUNE 11, 2009 MY 48TH BIRTHDAY I WENT IN FOR THE SURGERY…..AND WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN BUT MY TUBE COMING OUT DURING SURGERY AND ALL THE STOMACH ACIDS RUNNING INTO MY STOMACH….I WAS DYING….They called in an emergency surgeon to sew up my stomach to stop the acid from leaking. I was told that I was extremely lucky to have lived through it and believe it or not I do remember some of it. Another tube was inserted at that time on the other side and they told me that I would be able to have the surgery again within 9 weeks. We were all devastated and not sure that is what I wanted done but I gave in. The emergency surgeon also told me my stomach was now even smaller that it was originally after RNY. WELL….after all was done and the stint was taken out the pain was better for awhile so in October the tube was taken out. Now let me tell you that when he took the tube out it was just pulled out and I was wrapped with a towel and sent home. As I was talking to the nurse yellow stuff started running from my stomach and out everywhere. If it was surgical put in don’t you think it would be surgically taken out???? They just gave me more towels and said to apply them as needed it would heal itself. I had a 45 min. drive home and by the time I got home my stomach was burned from the acids that leaked all over. The worst part is that the pain came back. After several tests and a major weight loss they finally told me there was nothing they could do and sent me to a pain specialist. Since I have seen the pain specialist in June of 2011 I have gained back almost 35 lbs on top of developing severe fibromyalgia which I believe I had earlier, and at a Total Loss as to what my problem is. And why me. Has anyone ever experienced any of this or even similar…..PLEASE I DON’T WANT TO GAIN MY WEIGHT BACK
Lynn,
Im sorry to hear what has happened to you. I pray you get better. I had my surgery done 2 weeks ago, and I feel like crap. I had the sleeve done. Im in pain all the time. Im still on liquids bcuze I cant eat without pain. I go see my doctor tomorrow, I was suppose to see her on Mon, but I was too sick to travel to her office. I hope she can figure out what is wrong with me, I cant take this.
Hi I had gastric bypass in 2002, I keep an upset stomach, and my iron level stays soooo low I have been taking so many vitamins including b-12 an iron and still my iron doesnt seem to come up any suggestions
Tara thank you for your concern. Now I am so sorry to hear about your problem. I don’t know much about the sleeve operation but I will pray your doctor has a solution. I was sick for about a month after mine also the first month is when I had to have one of the endoscopy’s.
Tiffany I neglected to say that in October of 2010 I had to have an iron transfusion also. I was on the borderline for the b-12. I have just recently found out that my Vitamin D level is low also. I have a doctor who is keeping a close eye on me know, he says the iron transfusion should last at least years. I am not sure what state you guy’s are in but I am in Indiana. What is really strange for me is that I had hardly any problems until the Common Bile issue. I just don’t understand why doctors just write you off when they can’t figure out what is wrong.
Good luck to the both of you keep in touch on hear. If there is anything I can do to encourage you I will. I just want to figure out why I am gaining.
Tiffany, have you tried taking vitimin c with an iron pill something about the vitimin c helping the iron. Also organ meats are very high in iron but I can’t even stand the thought of them..
I had gastric bypass in august 2009, I woke up to the doc telling me there had been mistake and he cut my stomach in half by accident. He went on to say he put my stomach together backwards. he couldnt guarnette me living at all. I have had 17 scopes and was now told I can’t be fixed. I vomit all the time, I lost 200 lbs after my first year. I am so sick, weak, vomiting, panic attacks, can’t hold even purred foods down. The doc admitted the mistake but I have been unable to find an attorney to sue for his mistake. Now my new doc says there is nothing he can do for me because of the other doc’s mistake. I am so sick, I don’t think I will make it much longer. My family doc wants me to go to the Mayo Clinic. I also have no espohgus left to attack a new pouch to. So he says any gastric surgery will kill me. I need help! I didn’t sign up for his mistake.
Pamela, if your doctor suggests that you go to the Mayo Clinic, I definitely think you should go. They have some of the best doctors in the country. If there’s a chance that they can help, do it!
Pamela, I’m so sorry to hear your story. As soon as I read it, my husband and myself started praying for you and we will continue to pray for your healing.
I had my bypass 2005. Everything was good untill 2008. I started getting ulcers, then twisted intestines, indigestion so bad, pain all the time. I had my bypass reversed Aug. 2011. I’m still not feeling good. My stomach will not push the food through, the food sits in my stomach for days, causing gas, indigestion and severe diarrhea. Now I’m taking an antibiotic Erythromycin, to help my stomach contract. I have to be very careful of how much food to eat at one time. I’m feeling a little better. Doctor said it will take about a year to get my stomach working again. But I will never be the same. I lost the 100 lbs I needed to lose. But I’m sorry I had the surgey in the first place. Never recommend anyone to do it. I hope you start to feel somewhat better. We will be praying for you!
Gloria
Pamela, my heart goes out to you. I can understand some of what you are feeling as when I had the ERCP the doctor thought he was going to lose me on the table. I made it through that and pray to keep making it through, even though they can’t figure out what my problem is.
I agree that you should go to the Mayo Clinic. Please just keep the faith, they can work miracles. God always watches over us and I am sure he will send an angel to see you through.
Lynn
IF ANYONE HAS HAD SEVERE PAIN IN THE AREA OF YOUR APENDIX PLEASE GIVE A COMMENT. HAS IT BEEN DIAGNOSED AND HOW WAS IT DIAGNOSED. I HAVE ENDED UP AT THE E.R. TWICE AND AFTER A CAT SCAN THEY CANNOT FIND OUT WHY I HAVE PAIN IN THIS AREA. I HAVE SWALLOWED THE COMPUTER CAMERA, HAD A COLONOSCOPY AND AN MRI AND NOTHING SHOWS UP. ONE MD SAID I MAY HAVE SCAR TISSUE THAN WILL ONLY BE REMOVED WHEN AND IF THE INTESTINE BECOMES COMPLETELY SHUT OFF BY THE SCAR TISSUE. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN BELLADONNA TO RELAX MY INTESTINE BUT IT CERTAINLY ISN’T A CURE OR EVEN SOMETHING THAT WORKS ALL THE TIME. THEY DO KNOW THAT MY APPENDIX IS JUST FINE. THE MORE TEST THAT COME OUT ‘NORMAL’ THE MORE DOCTORS SEEM TO THINK IT IS ALL IN MY HEAD. READING EVERYONES COMMENTS I KNOW I AM NOT ALONE. WE ARE NOT HEAD CASES JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT DIAGNOSE OUR PROBLEMS.
PAMELA COFFMAN: IT IS BEYOND ME WHY YOU CANNOT FIND AND ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT YOU, BUT I DON’T KNOW WHAT STATE YOU ARE IN. I HOPE YOU HAVE NOTIFIED THE MEDICAL BOARD IN YOUR STATE. YOU CAN DO THIS ON-LINE. HE SHOULD LOOSE HIS MEDICAL LICENSE FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE TO YOU. I REPORTED THE M.D. THAT MOLESTED ME IN HIS OFFICE (IN THE NAME OF A PHYSICAL EXAM) AND THEN SHOWED UP AT MY HOME AND RAPED ME 4 DAYS LATER. I REPORTED HIM TO POLICE AND THE MED. BOARD. I FOUND OUT I WASN’T ALONE, OTHERS HAD BEEN ASSAULTED IN HIS OFFICE. LONG STORY SHORT, AFTER 3 TERRIBLE YEARS HE HAS JUST BEEN SENTENCED TO 12 1/2 YRS IN PRISON AND LOST HIS LICENSE.
AS SOON AS I READ YOUR COMMENT I PRAYED FOR YOU AND CONTINUE TO PRAY. PLEASE KEEP LOOKING FOR AN ATTY. THAT WILL FIGHT AGAINST MALPRACTICE AGAINST THIS MONSTER THAT OPERATED ON YOU. IF YOU SIGNED AN ARBITRATION AGREEMENT THEN GO THAT ROUTE IF YOU HAVE THE STRENGTH LEFT TO DO THAT.
I WISH YOU THE BEST, MAY GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU PAMELA. YOU ARE IN MY HEART AND MIND. CARLAMARLENE
umm i’m in the middle of wanting to have the surgery,but looking at al of what u all had to go through i’m gone think hard and strong about this…but whose knows it might just work out for me…..but you never know…but i’m going to think hard and strong about this,i want to lose this got damn weight but idk what to do…i’m just going to think about it…
I had my initial surgery 06/2008. Within 4 months I was in constant pain and was nauseous constantly. My surgeon was in total denial. He really claimed he has NEVER had any patients with post-op problems. He lamely decided to remove my gallbladder. Didnt work. Symptoms worsened. Vomiting and pain worsened to the point that I was starting to suffer from malnutrition, anemia and surprisingly, too much weight loss. My esophagus was completely closed off and there were ulcers
and scar tissue filling what little stomach I had left. I endured 12 upper endoscopies to stretch everything out so food would pass. . On the lucky 13th, they ruptured my poor little stomach. Here it was, 1 year later and it was decided that the bypass should become “revised”. Didn’t work. surgeon was intimidated so
he dnheard dropped me to my face in the hospital room. I am trying to find a. nnnewfriend bariatric surgeon with no luck. The original surgeon wouldn’t release my records a d it took my lawyer 8 months to get them. Ut still
Sorry, computer glitch. Anyway, no other surgeon in my city will touch me. Im forunate to have found a to notch gastrointestinal specialist at Vanderbilt. I’ve been making the trip there for 8 months, but only to see the nurse and nutritionist. I won’t see the Dr till April. Ive been on TPN for almost 3 years and am hospitalized frequently for blood infections. There is just too many problems to list including constant pain, vomiting and weakness EVERY DAY FOR 3DONATION YEARS! I have no quality of life.
My father had gastric bypass around 1999.
At that time it was a somewhat experimental procedure and the risks were relatively high. However, my father being extremely obese really had no other option, as he was past the point of being able to work it off in a gym.
Man, did he make a mistake.
I was around 9 at the time, I remember the night my father went in for his surgery. He came out fine, the procedure went relatively well, but 3-4 days later we had to rush him to the ER as he was vomiting blood. It turned out he was bleeding internally and had to have emergency measures taken (IE; additional blood being administered) . Soon after that he was released out of the hospital again and began losing weight at an extreme pace. For the next 4-5 years my father looked great, really amazing.
However, as it would turn out he was still very mentally ill, and without being able to keep so much as an orange down began drinking in order to cope with stress.
That’s another story for another time, but what I can tell you, is my father has gained all of his weight back and he still vomits everything he eats.
Needless to say the only thing this surgery really did was prolong his life, as well as make his mental diseases come further into fruition due to his lack of coping skills.
With every surgery there are more than the inherent bodily risks to take into account.
If you are going under the knife for this surgery, bear in mind that yes; being thinner will make you feel better about yourself. But give serious consideration of what made you so obese in the first place.
LAST WEEK I HEARD AN AD FOR THE DR. OZ SHOW: AMAZING SURGERY THAT CURES OBESITY, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, DIABETES-SHOULD YOU GET THIS SURGERY?
I COULDN’T WAIT TO SEE THE SHOW. LO AND BEHOLD IT WAS GASTRIC BY-PASS, I COULDN’T BELIEVE IT. HE REALLY SEEMED TO BELIEVE THIS WAS A MIRACLE BRINGING INSTANT HEALING. I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT HE WAS A BRIGHT, WELL TRAINED DOCTOR. HAVING SOME OF THE PROBLEMS MENTIONED ON THIS SITE AFTER THE SURGERY MANY YRS AGO I AM SHOCKED THAT DR. OZ DIDN’T DO HIS HOMEWORK ON THIS ONE. HE ONLY ONE WOMAN IN THE AUDIANCE THAT HAD A PROBLEM AND SAID SHE WAS BACK TO SQUARE ONE AT THIS POINT IN TIME. MY MD HAS GIVEN ME OMEPRAZOLE (ANT-ACID) AND BELLADONNA ALDALOIDS/PHENOB TABS FOR THE SEVERE PAIN NEAR MY APPENDIX WHICH HE FEELS IS INTESTINAL PAIN. I AM GRATEFUL I DON’T HAVE ALL THE PROBLEMS I READ ABOUT HERE BUT I DEFINITELY DO NOT HAVE THE HEALTH I DID BEFORE THE SURGERY. I WAS OFF OF BLOOD PRESSURE MEDS FOR A FEW YEARS AND THEN MINE SOARED TO 180/110, BACK TO THE MEDS. I LIVE WITH BEING NAUSIATED 90% OF THE TIME, DUMPING SYNDROME, ETC, ETC. THE NICE THING IS THAT FOR ONCE I AM HAPPY IN MY OWN SKIN, PLEASED WITH HOW I LOOK IN MY CLOTHES. I HAVE LEARNED THAT BEING THIN IS NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE, IT BRINGS ON A WHOLE NEW SET OF PROBLEMS. THE AFTERMATH OF THIS ‘MIRACLE’ SURGERY IS A CRIME. READING ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS HERE I KNOW MY SURGEON IN WHITTIER, CA WAS AN EXCELLENT SURGEON, BUT THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY PROBLEMS AFTERWARDS. DR. OZ DOES NOT HAVE A CLUE FOR ONCE-I’M THINKING OF WRITING HIM A COMMENT AND ASK HIM TO VIEW THIS SITE. MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL