Have you had gastric surgery at all? Experiences appreciated.

[aprilgail]

Ok, I used to be an athlete in high school. I only gained 18-20 pounds during each of my two pregnancies, then lost that weight before my 6-week check ups.

That was then this is now.

I’ve gained 150 pounds in the last 25 years. I’m currently 60.

I weight 300 pounds.

My doctor has been gently urging me to lose weight, and has mentioned gastric bypass surgery more than once. The most recent a few weeks ago.

Will those of you who’ve had this surgery please tell me everything, from start to finish.
The good, the bad, and the ugly.

Thank you very much.

I had lap band surgery about 20 years ago- did not do well losing weight with it- BUT- what is working SO well now and no invasive surgery is Mounjaro injections once a week-(its like the better version of Ozempic for weight loss!)- I am one month in and have lost 21 pounds so far- I NEVER feel any hunger at all and honestly it is WAY WAY better than going through weight loss surgery. My insurance covers it in full. I have a friend on it and in 6 months has dropped from 320 to 220 pounds.

 

[maxaroni]

While I have no personal experience with weight loss surgery, i know a few people that have the sleeve and someone who had the bypass surgery. The ones that have had the sleeve, it’s a mixed bag as to the success. Some are very strict with it and the others aren’t too bad but have relaxed their exercise program and eating habits. The person that had the sleeve is doing amazingly well. Although, it is very hard for her she takes it seriously.

Whichever way you choose to lose weight, it’s a life change not a diet. You need to commit to whatever you do. If you think of it as a diet, it makes everything harder, IMO. You need to commit to this is a lifestyle change and stick to it. You can have cheat days for a holiday/birthday etc., but the key is the next day go right back to your new normal eating habits.

DH has some health issues that forced our hands to change our eating habits and by following his lead, I have lost significant amount of weight. If we go out to eat, we do the best we can and choose the healthiest item. We know things are cooked in butter and such so try our best. We go for egg beaters or egg whites, grilled chicken or fish, vinaigrette salad dressing as opposed to creamy dressings, etc.. Do we occasionally eat real eggs, french toast or pancakes for breakfast when we go out? Yes. However, I can count on one hand the amount of times per year that we do.

Whichever way you choose, it’s a life long commitment for it to work.

 

[RangerPooh]

I had the sleeve done in 2015. A year and half later I had lost 125 pounds. It was great. But a combination of bad habits and loss physical activity happened and 70+ pounds returned. For the most part I was still eating reasonably, small portions, protein first, no soda, water was my drink of choice, etc. I tried a supervised diet and Trulicity to get things jump started again, nothing worked. We did a scope and discovered that my original surgeon left the bulk of my upper stomach intact. An error/portion that is know to cause regain. I recently had gastric bypass surgery. Weight loss is MUCH slower this time, but my doctor said that would be the case.

I do not regret having the procedure. It has helped where other diet and exercise plans didn’t. It is not a quick fix. You have to work to change your relationship with food, and we willing to change. I know people who refused to change their diet, refused to give up carbonated beverages, sugary foods, smoking, after surgery and failed. Refusing to acknowledged that you have to work at it.

If you have the surgery, attend the follow up appts that are months and years out. It’s support. Accountability.

 

[pindecisive]

I struggled with my weight a lot as a teen. Diagnosed with a Thyroid disorder, I still struggled after being medicated. The biggest impact for me was going dairy and gluten/yeast free. I had no idea how much inflammation I'd lived with in my legs, knees, and lungs until I took out breads, vinegars, etc. I'd just lived with it so long I didn't notice.

It is so much easier for me to maintain and lose weight now and I mainly do salads, with hummus as 'dressing' and bacon bits, lentils, rice, carrots, raspberries, and watermelon. And now that I'm not tired and my knees don't hurt, it's actually pretty enjoyable to walk.

I know a woman who had the sleeve but wasn't able to lose much and ended up having it removed, and another who did a liquid diet who lost a lot but really struggled with keeping it off since it inhibited him socially.

Whichever way you choose, it’s a life long commitment for it to work.

100%. It's a lifestyle change you choose every day. Sometimes I backslide, or when we're traveling I'll partake in something I know my body is not going to process well, but on the whole I always feel so much better with a better diet.

 

[notatallmagic]

13 months out from sleeve; and less than 10# from my goal weight. I wish I had done it sooner. I had tried EVERYTHING for 30 years; vegan, vegetarian, Keto, Adkins, Paleo, Whole 30, and after tracking every single bit of food; and wearing a Fitbit to track my 6 cardio sessions/week along with weights 3-4x/week - the "math" of "eat less exercise more" said I should have lost 110 pounds. I gained 6. So what's the definition of insanity?

I was considered "low BMI" for US surgery at 5'10" and 245, and I didn't (yet) have any chronic health conditions, so after being declined here; I did tons of research and traveled to a Board Certified weight loss surgeon in Mexico. Two friends of mine had used the same surgeon with excellent reviews. The care before, during, and since has been excellent; they also repaired a hiatal hernia that I didn't know I had. The cost was unbelievable reasonable. It was life changing.

After losing almost 70 pounds; from a size 18 to a 6, I feel better than I did 35 years ago. I have no body aches, don't snore, bloodwork is perfect, knees don't hurt, tons of energy, sleep well, resting heart rate is 56, and just feel lighter and better.

Downsides - the hair thinning was rough, but is now over and growing back. Upsides - I still can only eat about 4 ounces of food at a time. I never feel hungry. I do track food, drink my water, take my vitamins, walk every day, can have one or two bites of a treat (nothing is "forbidden"), Pilates 5x/week, and avoid processed food and artificial sugar. BUT, I did all those things before too - I just can eat so much less now and my body cues me with PAIN if I overeat. I wish US health care was more supportive of the sleeve surgery here in the US; I'm not a medication person, and this more natural approach was perfect for me. I have learned that different things work for different people; so be sure to do your research and understand your strengths, weaknesses, and motivations.

 

[luvmyfam444]

Ok, I used to be an athlete in high school. I only gained 18-20 pounds during each of my two pregnancies, then lost that weight before my 6-week check ups.

That was then this is now.

I’ve gained 150 pounds in the last 25 years. I’m currently 60.

I weight 300 pounds.

My doctor has been gently urging me to lose weight, and has mentioned gastric bypass surgery more than once. The most recent a few weeks ago.

Will those of you who’ve had this surgery please tell me everything, from start to finish.
The good, the bad, and the ugly.

Thank you very much.

not me but my MIL and a dear friend both had it many years ago. My MIL never lost more than about 50 pounds - most people would have never known she had it done. The friend lost 80+. He gained it back & then a whole lot more. My MIL had problems with her scar tissue when she had other surgeries many years later. I would try one of the shots for diabetes that everyone is taking before I did that...much cheaper & seems to be safer. OR try Noom - it is a great program for help you rethink your eating habits

 

[luvmyfam444]

I had lap band surgery about 20 years ago- did not do well losing weight with it- BUT- what is working SO well now and no invasive surgery is Mounjaro injections once a week-(its like the better version of Ozempic for weight loss!)- I am one month in and have lost 21 pounds so far- I NEVER feel any hunger at all and honestly it is WAY WAY better than going through weight loss surgery. My insurance covers it in full. I have a friend on it and in 6 months has dropped from 320 to 220 pounds.

yeah I have a gf doing those shots - well she started with Mounjaro but it made her sick every week so she now gets a compounded version & she's lost 45 pounds. I am sooooo tempted but I'm scared of meds & shots.

 

[aprilgail]

yeah I have a gf doing those shots - well she started with Mounjaro but it made her sick every week so she now gets a compounded version & she's lost 45 pounds. I am sooooo tempted but I'm scared of meds & shots.

I was scared of the shots too- but when they delivered them to my house I had a friend help me do the first one and as she was doing it was like "let me know when you are going to do it " and she said "I already did it!". I have been doing them myself since and I actually have to look for a little pinhole or drop of blood after because I can not even feel when it goes in- it is like an epipen injector thing not a dr type syringe. I have had zero side effects.

 

[dreamer17555]

I’m on Wegovy (Ozempic for weight loss). Mounjaro hasn’t actually been approved for weight loss yet by the FDA (should shortly) but right now it’s an off label use which some insurance will not cover.

I can tell you for the Wegovy shot- it’s nothing. I barely feel it. But there have been some side effects- including nausea, headaches, acid reflux but probably nothing nearly as bad as the recovery from getting the band or sleeve. In fact in our support group there are many on Wegovy who had surgery but results stalled and they were put on the medication to help.

It absolutely quiets food noise and your appetite. Like with surgery you have to focus on getting enough protein. But overall I’m happy to be on it.

 

[PrincesCJM]

I have not had it but I know at least two people who have suffered from vitamin deficiency since having the surgery.

 

[RogueX]

I have not had it but I know at least two people who have suffered from vitamin deficiency since having the surgery.

That's something that a lot of bariatric programs review with patients before and after; the type and how many vitamins they need to take. In my case I was Thiamine deficient almost right after surgery but had a very high B12 level. I also can't take Iron supplements at all, so I have to get infusions when my iron levels are too low (that was know years before surgery). Because of this, I take B12 on a modified schedule, take Thiamine everyday and have a multivitamin without iron.

I'll add that I looked into getting the shots for weight loss, but between my seizure medications, migraine medications having too many interactions and my insurance not covering it, the surgery was the alternative for me.

 

[disneychick0412]

I had lap band surgery about 20 years ago- did not do well losing weight with it- BUT- what is working SO well now and no invasive surgery is Mounjaro injections once a week-(its like the better version of Ozempic for weight loss!)- I am one month in and have lost 21 pounds so far- I NEVER feel any hunger at all and honestly it is WAY WAY better than going through weight loss surgery. My insurance covers it in full. I have a friend on it and in 6 months has dropped from 320 to 220 pounds.

I took my first shot of Mounjaro Friday night. I have been on Rybelsus (same type of medicine in pill form),for about a year. I lost about 43 pounds on it but the appetite suppression stopped quite a bit and I fell back into bad habits and have gained about 20 back. I heard good things about Mounjaro and like the idea of a once weekly shot vs a daily pill. The Rybelsus made my blood sugar so much better, but I’m over 300 pounds and need to get this weight off. I don’t feel any side effects yet. I’m so nervous but hopeful that as I increase the dosage my appetite will decrease.

 

[aprilgail]

I took my first shot of Mounjaro Friday night. I have been on Rybelsus (same type of medicine in pill form),for about a year. I lost about 43 pounds on it but the appetite suppression stopped quite a bit and I fell back into bad habits and have gained about 20 back. I heard good things about Mounjaro and like the idea of a once weekly shot vs a daily pill. The Rybelsus made my blood sugar so much better, but I’m over 300 pounds and need to get this weight off. I don’t feel any side effects yet. I’m so nervous but hopeful that as I increase the dosage my appetite will decrease.

Good luck! I am finding it to be like a miracle drug! 6 weeks down over 30 pounds. The day after the 1st 2.5 shot I had no appetite and haven't had any yet.

 

[easyas123]

Is Mounjaro/ Wegovy/whatever generic name something you are on "for life" or do you come off it once you lose the weight? Is the idea that you are supposed to fine tune (if applicable) your eating habits while on it so that when you come off of it you do not gain the weight back?

 

[leebee]

According to the Mounjaro website, it's only for those with type 2 diabetes. Is this true, or are doctors prescribing it "off label?"

 

[dreamer17555]

According to the Mounjaro website, it's only for those with type 2 diabetes. Is this true, or are doctors prescribing it "off label?"

It’s going to be rapidly approved very soon by the FDA for weight loss (likely with a new brand name similar to what happened with Ozempic and Wegovy).

It is absolutely being prescribed off label but getting your insurance to pay for it off label is a whole other situation. I'm currently on Wegovy and would love to switch to Mounjaro, but there is no way my insurance is paying for it until it gets FDA approval for weight loss. So waiting…

 

[aprilgail]

It’s going to be rapidly approved very soon by the FDA for weight loss (likely with a new brand name similar to what happened with Ozempic and Wegovy).

It is absolutely being prescribed off label but getting your insurance to pay for it off label is a whole other situation. I'm currently on Wegovy and would love to switch to Mounjaro, but there is no way my insurance is paying for it until it gets FDA approval for weight loss. So waiting…

Right now my insurance is paying it (other than my 25.00 co-pay) but if they stop honestly I will pay out of pocket because it is working so well.

 

[dreamer17555]

Right now my insurance is paying it (other than my 25.00 co-pay) but if they stop honestly I will pay out of pocket because it is working so well.

Right now, it really depends on your insurance if it will cover it for off label usage if you’re not diabetic. Sometimes it’s hard to get weight loss medication covered for even on label usage.

 

[disneychick0412]

Right now my insurance is paying it (other than my 25.00 co-pay) but if they stop honestly I will pay out of pocket because it is working so well.

I'm also paying $25, but I have Type 2 diabetes. I don't think they would pay if I didn't. My friend/coworker with the same insurance who is not diabetic tried to get Wegovy but the insurance is not going to pay and it was going to be around $1000 per month. I guess insurances would rather pay for weight related health problems.

 

[CindysFriend]

OP here!

Thank you to EVERYONE for the responses.

After thinking more about it, I decided to try Wegovy first, before/in place of surgery. I had a doctor appointment already scheduled for the end April, and my doctor was fully onboard with it. I knew he would be because of how my weight has gone up and up and up in the last 20 years. My insurance is covering it, and I took my first injection 3 days ago.

So far, no negative effects, but it’s the very lowest dose. I will keep updating this thread, if anyone is interested.

Thank you again, everyone!