Gastric bypass. What do I need to know? Booked in.

[Mirandaandsteve]

I've taken the plunge and booked a bypass, op is the end of this month. Anyone been through it and got any advice for me?
Struggling with the pre op diet already.

What pre surgery preparation have you had? Any psychology appointments or just appointments with surgeon? I had a gastric sleeve almost 9 years ago and the process took me over 2 years from initially seeing GP to finally having op - some of that was a delay due to needing to have a specific appointment with a 10 month waiting list (for an appointment lasting 1 hour and that the consultant said in his report had been unnecessary!!)

If you are finding the liver shrinkage diet hard work already you need to consider how you will cope with the post op diet regime - at the hospital I had mine at the post of regime was 2 weeks thin liquids; 2 weeks thicker liquids; 2 weeks purée diet; 2 weeks soft diet before finally getting to eat ‘normal’ texture food although, complications meant I took 3 months to get to the soft diet phase so lived on soup and yoghurts and the like for a lot longer than intended and missed out the purée phase completely!! Some hospitals get you eating more quickly but you have to stick to the regime to prevent doing any damage to your internal wounds. Plus, sometimes there are foods that your new pouch rejects - I still struggle with rice and other people can’t eat bread or fibrous foods such as pineapple and the like.

I lost 8 1/2 stone after my surgery and, nearly 9 years later, I have maintained 7 1/2 stone of that loss (and had twins 15 months ago) but I have to watch my diet and follow slimming world to get myself back down to my post op weight!!

There are loads of people who share their experiences on instagram, have a look there.

I have PM d you x

I have a relative who went through it. It just exacerbated existing mental health issues as she could no longer deal with them by comfort eating.

She should have had way more pre op support than she did and you need to ensure what you are getting into.

She also got malnourished by eating crap instead of proper food and not absorbing nutrients.

She should never really have had it. Well
Not unless she had received counselling to sort MH issues first.

I've had phone appointments from nurses and dieticians, I'm going private and it was all very quick, they had an offer on, discounted price for Nov surgery etc, but I have been thinking about it for ages and went to a consultation over a year ago, didn't go ahead due to finances. I am quite shocked they are saying average weight loss is 60% of excess weight. I want to loose 100% of excess. They aren't really bothered that I'm on anti depressants, they are writing to GP re that though.

Have you had any form of counselling?

Honestly having been through this with a family member she never should have been allowed to have surgery.

You need to understand why you overeat because the surgery does not address that and if that's taken away from you what will you replace it with?

She replaced it with cutting and overdosing. The only reason she's not dead is the bypass stops her absorbing the tablets properly.

I am sorry if this sounds harsh but it's not something to make a decision in because they have an offer on.

I think the fact they have brushed off you being on anti depressants is concerning.

Do you like going out for meals? By pass changes everything. You cannot eat and drink at same time. You cannot / should not actually eat an adult meal size.

You have to take tablets forever before you can eat anything.

You are not meant to drink fizzy drinks (I don't think)