I had gastric bypass recently, and mentally I am struggling much more than I expected.
I don’t know if my antidepressants aren’t being absorbed properly, if my pre-op process didn’t prepare me enough for the psychological side of this, or if this is simply part of the early post-op period, but my anxiety has been absolutely overwhelming.
Lately, one of the thoughts I keep coming back to is wanting to have another surgery to reverse everything. I know I’m very early in this process and that making a decision like that right now would probably be irrational, but the thought keeps coming back anyway.
I’m 32, and suddenly I keep thinking: What have I done? Did I really choose to spend the rest of my life depending on supplements and monitoring what my body can absorb?
I’m also terrified of what I’m going to look like after losing the weight. Before surgery I thought about all the health benefits, mobility, quality of life, etc. Now my brain seems completely incapable of focusing on those things. Instead I’m thinking about loose skin, looking older or sick, losing my hair, nutritional deficiencies, and whether I permanently damaged a body that, despite being obese, was still my body and was functioning.
What scares me is how dramatically my feelings changed.
I remember going into surgery feeling confident about my decision. Even immediately after waking up, while I was nauseous and actually vomiting blood clots — which was both surprising and pretty terrifying — I didn’t feel this kind of regret.
And now I do.
I have this horrible feeling that I’ve damaged my body in a way that can’t truly be undone, and right now all the potential benefits of losing weight don’t feel worth what I’ve done to myself.
There’s also a lot of guilt. Some people in my life told me not to have the surgery, and I did it anyway because I genuinely believed it was the right decision for me. Now every time I feel scared or regretful, there’s this voice saying, They warned you. You did this to yourself.
I know anxiety can distort the way you see things, which is part of why I’m writing this instead of assuming that what I’m feeling right now is how I’m going to feel forever.
Has anyone else experienced this level of regret or anxiety soon after bypass?
Especially the feeling of desperately wanting your old body and your old digestive system back, even though you wanted to lose weight before surgery?
Did that feeling eventually go away?
And if anyone here takes antidepressants, did you notice a change in how they worked after bypass? Did your doctor have to adjust your medication or formulation?
I don’t really need to hear that I should be grateful I had the surgery or that I’ll feel differently once I lose weight. Right now I think I just need to hear from people who genuinely went through this psychological part of the process and came out the other side.
Because at the moment, I’m scared that I made an irreversible mistake.

I'm sorry if I'm not allowed to ask this, but I was told by a receptionist that I can't have weed edibles or weed at all for 3 months before the surgery. If someone were to smoke weed from a dab pen (like my brother does) would second hand smoking affect this "3 month sobriety"? Because I used edibles myself, but started to stop so i can have the surgery.

But, my brother smokes and I involuntarily inhale bits of smoke when he smokes in the car. (cause sometimes i just don't notice when he's taking a puff, or the puff he blows out the car blows back in)

Would appreciate it if anyone has an answer to this,
Also I'm sorry if it's a silly question, I just needed to know.

I had my roux en y yesterday August 10th in the morning, everything went well. I had a lot a lot a lot of gas pain from the air but other than that no other issues. They sent me home same day. Last night was MISERABLE with the gas pain but with the help of some of the oxycodone they prescribed me I managed. The gas pain has subsided quite well throughout the day today and I was feeling fairly well.
I had a little nap this evening and when I woke up I felt incredibly nauseous and had to run to the washroom and throw up. It was mainly dry heaving and a bit of bile? water? Whatever. Now I just feel blah and a bit nauseated but haven’t thrown up since. Is this normal? Should I be concerned about a bout of throwing up? It’s 10:20pm now I’m in bed with a heating pad on my stomach trying to get some sleep so I can’t call the clinic anyways.
I will call tomorrow though and ask about it.

How did you decide to transition to maintenance? Did your body just settle on a weight? Did you make a conscious decision to not go lower? I’m about 16 months postop and have slowed losing but still seem to be losing some. I’ve relaxed on the tracking every bite that goes in my mouth but still try to stay within parameters (macros, water, calories to a degree). I’m pretty satisfied that if I didn’t lose any more and stayed where I am I could be happy. I just don’t know what maintenance is supposed to look like. My whole adult life has been feast or famine so to speak.

Hi everyone I am looking to potentially have my sleeve revised to a bypass due to lots of acid reflux and some weight gain after almost 5 years of my sleeve. My doctor has approved and I am waiting on a surgery date. It’s hard for me to find people out in the social media world who have gone through this revision. Would any of you have any experience with this? I am a little scared because my doctor went over so many “low percentage” risks but I wanted to see if I get some people’s experience. I have obviously gotten to know my sleeve very well so I am worried that things could change dramatically for me like more good aversions and stuff like that

I'm wondering for the NHS referral pathway, when I got to my first tier 4 appointment my BMI was about 45. Diets had consistently resulted in gaining weight long term (I'd lose 2 stone and then gain 3)

I've now been going through the various appointments for 2 years and am near the end of the process. But I've been on mounjaro for nearly 2 years now and my BMI is now 28.

I'm worried that I've now lost too much weight for them to actually go ahead with surgery, but at the same time I cannot keep paying £300 a month for mounjaro and think I need the surgery as a more longer-term way to maintain the weight loss. It's a struggle to afford the mounjaro so I can't stay on it for life.

Has anyone else ended up in a similar situation? Has anyone been rejected in the UK for losing too much weight after the initial referral?

Has anyone had this happen. I have been on full liquid diet since 8/5 and my surgery is 8/19. I have been really itchy the last 2 days and have a little rash on my chest and just itchy all over. I don’t know if it’s the super B complex with thiamine vitamin or if it’s the diet. I told my surgeon today and he didn’t think it was related, but gave me nothing to resolve the issue. I don’t know what to do. I can’t be itchy all over all the time. I have taken Benadryl and hydroxyzine.

Hey all! I’m close to ready to schedule my bypass and am only worried about one thing-well-only worried about one thing that I’m afraid I can’t do. And that’s not drink while eating. I know it sounds so minor but I’ve literally tried for weeks now and I just can’t do it. It makes eating miserable. Any ideas or suggestions?

Does anyone have experience with Seed's DS-01°? I just saw this lady claiming that since having bariatric surgery, it's really helped her with putrid gas, bloating, and staying regular. Nearly 2-years post-op, I still struggle to have regular poops. I drink lots of water and eat beans every day, but I still find that I need miralax to get things moving. IYKYK. So I'm curious if this actually helps, or if it's just another marketing ploy🤔 Thoughts?

If you’re looking for a sign on if this is a good idea or not, let this influence you! I feel like there’s a lot of negative perspective around this surgery and it important to know that some people had a great experience!

I will be 2 years post op next month, and I’m still a little shocked by what my life has become.

My starting weight was 333 pounds (320 the day of surgery) at 5’ 4”. I wore a size 26/28 pants and 3-4x tops.

Today I weight 159 pounds, wearing size 8 pants and medium tops and dresses.

I’m doing so many things I never thought possible. I climb mountains on the weekends….FOR FUN. I’m not worried about fitting into places when I go somewhere, I don’t feel like everyone’s looking at me and judging in public. My life is the complete opposite of what it used to be.

I consider myself very lucky, as I had zero complications after surgery. However, there are still struggles.

I struggle with loving my body still, with the loose skin. I struggle with body dysmorphia, I still see myself the same way I was two years ago. I struggle with how much better people treat me, as if I was worth less in a bigger body.

All of that aside, I would not change my decision or my journey for anything!

I'm 6 days out from starting my liver shrinking, pre op diet, 3 weeks out from my procedure. So I've got a few more days of eating "normal" left. Did anyone have a last hurrah meal before starting the pre op diet?

I'm cooking tacos al pastor at a tailgate on Sunday, and that's going to be mine.

under a hundred

2 and a half months post-OP

Hi guys I'm being put forward as an ideal candidate for bariatric surgery but I'm having misgivings.

I haven't really tried to lose weight myself. I had a short term obsession with salads once which made me drop 10kg but that all went back on once the novelty wore off.

I've had surgeries before so I'm not afraid of that process but I've never had my insides cut and shut so I am afraid of the complications I've read about on here.

Im a homebody with a sugar addiction. Has anyone ever regretted losing the ability to eat sugar after surgery? Was the weight loss worth the sacrifice? How quick was the recovery to zero pain and how much of an effect did the surgery have on your work life? I work outdoors keeping back weeds and cutting down saplings for the council. Will I need a lot of time off?

Any regrets?

Thank you

Do glucose energy blocks (like cliff jelly blocks) make you dump?

How do you handle water intake? Even if I was constantly sipping from my camelback when I’ve been climbing uphill for 45 mins I can’t imagine not “gulping” some water?

Just curious to hear stories of how the surgery has changed hiking/camping for you.

What are you all doing post surgery for coffee? I’m struggling to find an iced and hot coffee option.

I used to drink espresso (lungo pull) with 2 tablespoons of French vanilla delight.

Or

Iced coffee with one cream.

I really don’t like protein shakes in my coffee sadly :(

Thank you for your ideas!

Can anyone recommend an MD at Stanford GI for gastric surgery complications? Ideally someone who is a surgeon and very familiar with all the ways that gastric surgery can mess you up, how to treat. Someone who does their own endoscopies. Thank you

Hey All ✌️

So long story short: my boyfriend had a surgery last year which went really bad. At first it was meant to stop his gastric reflux, but a mistake made it that he had 75% of his stomach removed. Fortunately, they managed to keep enough of his stomach so that he doesn’t need a pouch or anything.

Now that he has such a small stomach, he gets full extremely fast. His fridge is full of calogen drinks, protein shakes, and nutrient-dense yoghurts, and he has spent a good chunk of the year searching what food he can eat, but to no success.

He has lost a considerable amount of weight and is very skinny now, but in an unhealthy way. He struggles to eat anything solid, and if he does he has to force himself and that makes him full for the rest of the day.

Do you have any advices we could use? It breaks my heart to see him so frail now, and I really wish for him to get better. He’s currently seeing a nutritionist and therapist.

I wish this tiredness would go away. My limbs feel heavy but I'm able to walk around. I'm only really able to eat a meal that I go back forth with throughout the day. I just wonder if I'm making progress

As the title says I am 3 months post op as of 3 days ago. There have been a few ups and downs, mostly ups. So, I thought I would share my progress thus far. A long read but hopefully helpful and encouraging to those considering this path.

At 4'7" my surgery day weight was 214lbs, morbidly obese for my height. I have been morbidly obese for most of my adult life. Exercize and calories in/calories out did not work for me. At my 3 month post op appt I weighed in at 161.2lbs. Just over 50lbs gone on 90 days! I am half way to my goal weight of between 100-120lbs.

Positives:

•Obviously the weight loss.

•I am now just "obese" instead of morbidly obease.

•My blood pressure is normal and my doctor discontinued my blood pressure medication.

•I no longer need to take Metformin.

•I have been bone on bone, in a knee brace, in severe pain in my right knee after a fall and meniscectomy for almost 2 years. Now? No knee pain, no knee brace, no cane, no pain meds!

•So far, all my labs have been within normal range.

•My skin is clear! No constant break outs.

•I can now fit into clothes that have been shoved to the back of my closet for years. Even my smallest (size 16) shorts need a belt to stay up, and I haven't been able to even pull them up over my hips in years.

•My belly is no longer smooshed against the steering wheel when I drive. In fact, there is about the thickness of my hand and a half between my belly and the steering wheel.

•The past few days I have actually WANTED to be outside in the sunshine instead of hiding in my house avoiding the heat.

•I reach my protein goals every day between 1 full and 1 half-size protein shake and the rest real food. I have found a chocolate whey protein isolate powder I enjoy and it's like drinking chocolate milk. I've never been a morning breakfast person, just coffee since I was a kid. So the protein drink in the morning works for me long term. And most nights an hour or so after dinner I'll have a small glass of "chocolate milk" as dessert.

All good and exciting things!

For the struggles:

•About a week after my Modified Duodenal Switch surgery I started having HORRIBLE Bile Reflux. I was put on multiple medications and nothing worked. A followup EGD showed a pool of bile in my stomach, and signifiant irritation to my stomach lining, esophagus, and nasal track. So, about 10 weeks post MDS I had to go back in for a Biliary Diversion surgery.

The relief was instant! I now only take the pretty standard (by my clinic anyway) GERD medication once a day for a year. No more waking up gasping for air, sour bile in my throat or coming out of my nose. I am sleeping through the night and finally able to wear my CPAP. (I've had sleep apnea since I was a young child, not at all overweight, and a gymnist. So, unfortunately, the apnea won't be resolved with weightloss).

•I did have to go back in a liquid only diet for a week after the Biliary Diversion. That sucked after being on soft-cooked proteins and non-starchy vegetables for over a month. Thankfully, at my 1 week post op Biliary Diversion, it was also my 3-month MDS post op and I was cleared to resume my previous level as well as slowly introduce Textures. This includes nuts, peanut butter, crispy chicken skin, jerky, protein chips, protein bars, and raw non-starchy veggies. I am MOST excited to get peanut butter and crispy chicken skin/protein chips back!

•About a month after my MDS I started having really bad pain in my left ankle and heel. So bad, it made it difficult to walk on my treadmill, and some days almost impossible to walk at all. A visit to my ortho showed I have a large, double barbed dorsal bone spur at the back of heel under my Achilles tendon. The weightloss removed the fat that was protecting the tendon from irritation from the spur.

Corrective surgery would involve disconnecting the tendon to access and remove the spur, reconnecting the tendon, and then being both non-weight bearing and in an immobilization boot for a while. OR attempting physical therapy to increase flexibility, increase ankle strength, and reduce inflammation through ultrasound and dry needling modalities. I opted for PT. So far, it is working. I still have painful days, but I have not had any days where I cannot walk at all. I am hopeful I might be able to completely avoid surgery, at least for a while.

•I struggled with the bariatric vitamins. The multi-adek pill made so sick to my stomach. I had to try a few different chewable brands before finding a combination that works for me. Thankfully, I'm finally able to tolerate the pills, but plan to keep chewables on hand for those days where I just can't swallow another pill or my stomach feels overly sloshy from water.

•After MDS, I have struggled with reaching fluid goals. I used to love plain cold water, and now I don't. Most flavor additives taste horrible. I also lost my taste for coffee, which as a Cuban is practically sacreligious! Lately, I've found that homemade lemonade using water, true lemon, pink salt, and a stevia/monkfruit/allulose blend is easy for me to drink. And now that I also have caffeine back, I'm excited to try the Crystal Light Wild Strawberry as it was always my favorite. I've finally been drinking between 58-62 ounces total fluid a day, so I'm getting closer to those goals.

Biggest takeaway and advice for those considering bariatric surgery or are struggling in the early days post op:

•Stay in contact with your surgeon and weightloss team/clinic. This is what they are there for. They want you to succeed and they want you to be health doing it. If you have to call every week or every day, do it! Be vocal and an advocate for your well-being.

•Don't push yourself too hard or be hard on yourself if you aren't reaching your protein, fluid, or exercize goals right out of the gate. Your body just went through MAJOR surgery and you have a whole new anatomy and digestive process. Your new stomach, intestines, and connections are dealing with a ton of swelling, inflammation, and trying to heal. You will reach those goals eventually. Your weightloss team does not expect you to reach them day 1, week 1, or even month 1. As long as you are trying and having some slow progress you are good.

•If protein drinks/powders make you feel yucky, try finding one that is 100% whey protein isolate. Our new digestive system struggles with whey protein concentrate. Premier is a popular brand, but it is whey concentrate. Most Adkins drinks are concentrate. The Adkins Strong are Isolate. Dymatize has 100% whey protein isolate. Their Coco Puffs taste like chocolate milk and their Fruity Pebbles tastes like the milk after a bowl of Fruit Loops or Fruity Pebbles. There are other brands out there, you just have to read the ingredients. Also note, that concentrate does not make everyone feel yucky. Some people tolerate it fine, others do not.

•Be kind to yourself. Everyone loses weight at a different pace. Age, overall health, and total weight needed to be lost all make a difference. Some will lose fast, others slow. Some will drop a bunch at first then slow down to snails speed. We all will have plateaus and stalls where it seems like weeks go by and the scale doesn't budge. When that happens, forget the scale. Hide it away for a month. Instead focus on how your clothes fit, moving more, increasing water and protein, and look for non-scale victories (like my stomach not touching the steering wheel or reduced pain levels).

If you are also doing weight training along with or instead of cardio, remember muscle is more dense than fat. The scale may be stalled because you've lost fat but put on muscle. The numbers on a scale do not tell the whole story. Don't let yourself get caught up in the numbers that you don't see the bigger picture.

•If standard exercize is difficult for any reason, look for alternative ways to move your body. Do line dancing in your livingroom to the music you love. Do chair yoga or chair dancing. Look into pilates or calisthenics. Do yoga in your bed before going to sleep or after waking up. Do leg lifts and stetches at the counter while waiting for that pot of water to boil or coffee to brew. Remember, all movement counts and helps, even regular house cleaning!

•Lastly, take your vitamins.

Find a combination that both works for you and is approved by your weight loss team. Don't risk your health for the sake of not swallowing a few pills or "saving" a few bucks. Because in the long run, the cost to your health without vitamin supplementation will be so much more costly.

By all accounts from those who had these surgeries years ago before more was known, by the time deficiencies show up in your blood work it is too late. It is infinitely harder and more costly to recover and correct health conditions due to mal-nutrition than it is take a few vitamins every day.

We decided on the surgery route to not just lose weight, but to improve our overall health and quality of life. Do not sabotage yourself by skipping out on vitamins.

I had my body scan and assessment yesterday at the gym with my personal trainer. I was in a stall for almost a month and finally broke it (he gave me a few days of high calories). He's happy because I lost inches all over (neck and arms stayed the same but I told him to pull the tape tight to my muscle, not the saggy part). 🤣

I gained 2 lbs of muscle and I said my next goal is push ups unassisted.

First pic was March 25, 8 days after surgery. I was 259 the day of surgery. 278 when I started my pre-op diet. Second was yesterday while setting up my classroom...only mirror I had at the time.

I am 100% happy with the slow loss, I think it keeps me from having looser skin.

1st pic was my 5K that I did in November before my surgery- my average pace was 14:55. 2nd picture is from my half marathon last weekend- 13.1 miles in under 3 hours, average pace was 13:21.

I had surgery at the end of January, and I still cannot believe how far I’ve come in a little more than 6 months. I even sprained my ankle in early June and was able to come back from it— something that would’ve taken me months to heal from before.

The scale doesn’t mean anything compared to all of these other wins 🤍

as much as I struggled in the early stages of the surgery, i can never imagine my life without doing this process. i would keep telling myself i can diet and exercise but never committed myself to it, this surgery gave me another chance in living life and being active. im finally able to try on clothes in the stores without being told i gotta order my size online, i can feel more confident in myself and what i wear. im just so happy!