I'm having a gastric bypass when I weigh 9 stone

[HenleyHenleyHenley]

Hi all,

first time posting my own thread so apologies if this is wrong.

just looking for some advice really and some reassurance to anybody who's had a gastric bypass. Yes, im 9 stone, 5'5 and already slim.
I have a very complex medical history including an incurable cancer which is currently stable and lots more. Due to the cancer and chemo and many many surgeries I have had, I found out today that when I eat to about 40% of my stomachs capacity, the other 60% of my stomach flips / folds down. I'm under my oncology team who include gastro surgeons and had a Bavarium swallow today to find out why I'm being sick every single day after every meal. I have something called a gastric volvulus. Normally it's urgent or an emergency but my stomach flips back again after I've been sick or after my stomach has emptied into my intestines / bowel.

im on the list for surgery and the treatment is cutting away the bit of stomach that flaps. Roughly 60% of it. Essentially a gastric bypass.

has anyone here had a bypass? I am worried about losing more weight when I'm slim already.

AIBU to think, as much as this needs sorting, that a gastric bypass on a 9 stone slim woman is insanity?! I trust the consultants and realise this is the only way to fix it, but I am really worried. Its a small surgery compared to the huge surgeries I've had but I'm terrified!

if anyone has any experience or clarity on what the recovery is like, please please please could you reply, I'm so nervous.

thank you

Not the same situation, but I've just had surgery to repair a giant hiatus hernia and am currently on a very soft food diet. Although I'd previously been trying to lose weight using WLI, having reached goal weight I was very worried about dropping any more and becoming underweight.

I'm pleased to say that despite not being able to eat much right now, I'm maintaining my weight OK so far - in part I'd guess due to reduced physical activity as I recover.

If you're OK with dairy then I'm finding full fat milk smoothies with nut butter, bananas, honey, oats and full fat Greek yoghurt are really helpful to keep calories and protein higher without taxing my stomach too much as it recovers. My gastric surgeon was keen for me to move up from just liquids to soft foods (mashed potato, soft pasta, stewed meat) within a few days of the op, giving me more options - hopefully yours will be the same. Good luck!

I know absolutely nothing about gastric surgery but I simply couldn’t scroll past without wishing all the best for your forthcoming treatment 💐

Not read everything, but it’s not a gastric bypass. A gastric bypass is in two parts - reduction of the stomach pouch and bypassing the intestine by various lengths. The reduction in the pouch will make you feel fuller quicker but you won’t have the malabsorption associated with the bypass section.

you may lose some weight but not in the same way or for the same reasons.

I am sorry I don't have any experience, wishing you luck. 🌹

The point wasn't that people would "weigh in" without reading 🙄 it was that they wouldn't even engage with the post in the first place.

OP if your medical team have decided it's the right thing for you you could seek another medical opinion but I'm not sure how much value non qualified opinions are going to be for you. Obvs if there's someone who's gone through the same experience their input would be a useful addition.

The alternative would likely be tpn feeding which is grim, puts you at risk of infections and means you wouldn't eat anything. I would like to see if they are able to supplement your diet in some way and how they plan to do this. I hope you hear something positive soon!

A gastric by pass is just really a medical procedure, the reasons for it can be many but the most popular is because it helps with obesity. If you need it, then that's fine x

Yes, it sounds like a sleeve gastrectomy instead of a bypass. This is the best diagram I could find showing the differences. The gastrectomy is much less invasive and sounds like a very good solution in your case.

The main point I take from your original post is you can’t retain your food in order to nourish your body (which is going through a horrific time). The only solution is to get your nutritional requirements somehow.
It’s an extreme concept but this would allow your body to achieve what it needs to survive.
Gastric surgery is far more advanced than it used to be. Yes your stomach would be smaller, but you’d eat little and often to maintain your weight. I would imagine some initial weight loss while you adjust but at a slim 9 stone, you still have some spare reserves. The alternative would surely be bleaker. Continued sickness would cause further damage to your stomach, oesophageal system, teeth etc.
I know someone who have a gastric band and after initial weight loss, they’re now back to the same size as were prior to the surgery.
I can’t even begin to imagine what you’ve gone through so far. Discuss all your concerns with the medical team. At the end of the day, this is your decision to make. However, if this is what the experts have suggested, I would think this is the best option.
Sending you the kindness thoughts and love possible. You got this ❤️

God you poor thing, you really have been through the wars. I have no experience of any of this but just really wanted to wish you well, I hope it's all very straightforward and you make a quick recovery.

My mum had a lower GI volvulus and it can be fatal if not fixed. If you are in need of surgery then of course you should have it.
I thought you were saying you were having it because you thought you were obese and had body dysmorphophobia/ED.
I'm sorry you've had to go through these health problems and wish you well.

I was just about to say exactly the same. You'll probably have to move to small meals with snacks in between, but it sounds better than your current situation.

Good luck with the op!

So sorry to hear about everything you’ve been through. I can see you are getting some answers from people who have had comparable experiences and I think the picture we are getting is that half of the battle is going to be finding how you can get the calories you need in future.

I realise you’ve only just had this news and you are reeling, but I did want to say that it sounds as if you’ve become a bit used to the way things are now. I think you will feel so much better if they can stop the vomiting and other unpleasant effects. So maybe this is going to be a really good thing for you? Being able to eat nice things without worrying about throwing up, and managing to take in enough calories to feel stronger.

My MIL had part of her stomach removed for the same reason OP but hers was a medical emergency. She was unwell for a while, constantly throwing up etc, and then collapsed in work one day and then was rushed into hospital where they removed a massive amount of her bowel. She remained in hospital for four months afterwards.

She is much ‘better’ now but she is tiny. She weighs 6 stone, but she was a slim woman before it and is short too. For a while afterwards she was fed via an NG tube in her nose and then they switched it to a g-tube right into her stomach. She actually did very well on this and gained weight but she had complications and it had to be removed. They tried it again but the same complications happened.

Currently she is just receiving nutrition by feeding herself. She gets full very fast though but refuses to take anything like fortisip as she doesn’t like it so she is her own worst enemy.

The throwing up has mostly stopped, she does have a lot of other conditions too. I feel like she would be much better if she actually looked after herself but she doesn’t and refuses any help. You need to remember you will be full very, very easily so focus on nutrient and calorie dense foods.

I don't know anything more than anyone else about this surgery, but I can relate to struggling to keep your weight up. I'd also be worried in those circumstances.

I imagine you'll get your appetite back more when you aren't being sick all the time? That must put you off eating to some extent?

I wonder if medical cannabis could help for a bit. It'll massively increase your appetite. If I were in your position, I'd try and get a vape of it, because I know it would make me eat more. Being underweight is such a strain and it makes you so tired. It sort of begets itself after a while too, because you haven't the energy to eat.

I know nothing about the surgery you need but just wanted to say, my son is tube fed and has 630ml liquid feed a day. That’s all his body needs to maintain his 70kg weight. He eats nothing orally.

So don’t worry too much about losing weight, the dietitian should be able to advise and prescribe a high calorie milkshake if needed.

Good luck with everything, you’re clearly a fighter and your daughter is lucky to have you.

I'm an oncology dietitian and see this quiet often, I'll be back to post in more detail later, currently juggling MN and DDs dinner

Hopefully if you stop being sick your nutrition will improve and you will be able to enjoy small calorific meals. I hope it goes well

A relative of mine had this done and she was just 7.5 stone.

She had very very bad reflux so they needed to bypass the stomach and basically did a roux en y.

Is that what you're having? She was part of a cohort of very early surgery involving nissenfundoplications.

Anyway, she was much thinner than you and 5ft 9.

Life wasn't always easy after but if she hadn't had it, she would have died from aspiration into the lungs and malnutrition. She could hardly eat towards the end.

So it was life-saving. She did put on weight but things were a struggle.

Long-term the side effects were post bariatic hypoglaecemia. Rare, but not that rare it seems. Dumping is also a possibility.

Some slight issues with the pancreas, she took Creon with some success.

The thing to mention is that your ability to absorb vitamins may well be compromised.

I'm sure this will be covered but get tested regularly, it could literally save your life. I do feel she went downhill due to lack of nutrients being absorbed over a decade or two. So I hope you'll stay ontop of your vitamins if you can. I know it's very hard but you've got this. Good luck.

From the NHS:
Vitamin and Mineral Supplements after Gastric Bypass or Sleeve Gastrectomy
After your surgery
Multivitamin and Mineral supplements are mandatory for life after you have had a gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy.
Some multivitamins and minerals can be prescribed by your GP. Alternatively you can purchase some over the counter from pharmacies and supermarkets.
After surgery the quantity that you will be able to eat reduces and this combined with changes to your stomach and small intestine (that result in some mild malabsorption), will mean that you may not absorb sufficient vitamins and minerals. Daily vitamin and mineral supplements are essential to reduce the risk of any deficiencies and keep you well.
You will need the following:
A complete A-Z multivitamin and mineral formula – daily
Begin to take your multivitamin and mineral as soon as possible after surgery. You will be given a soluble formula (for 1 month) when you are discharged from hospital. After this your GP can prescribe you with tablets. Take your supplement with or after food to reduce the risk of side effects such as nausea.
Calcium and Vitamin D (combined) formula – 1200-1500mg/daily from food and supplements
Calcium is an essential mineral for your bone health, cell and muscle function, and is better absorbed with the presence of vitamin D.
Taking calcium and iron together can interfere with the others absorption, so take these supplements at separate times across the day, leaving at least a 2 hour gap between them.
An iron supplement – daily for women of menstrual age (or if you have anaemia)
Iron is essential for the formation of red blood cells that carry oxygen around the body. Iron deficiency can cause anaemia and symptoms include; fatigue, palpitations, pale skin, hair loss and a sore mouth.
Taking iron and calcium together can interfere with the others absorption, so take these supplements at separate times across the day, leaving at least a 2 hour gap between them.
A separate Vitamin D3 (in addition to calcium/Vitamin D combined supplement) – 20,000IU once each week (or 2,000-4,000IU daily)
Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. It helps to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy. In adults Vitamin D deficiency can lead to bone pain caused by a condition called Osteomalacia in adults.
B12 (Hydroxycobalamin) 1mg intramuscular injection - every 3 months
Vitamin B12 is involved in helping the body make red blood cells and keeps the nervous system healthy. The changes to your stomach and small intestine after bariatric surgery can affect your absorption of B12.
Deficiency may result in fatigue, weakness, a sore, red tongue or mouth ulcers. More serious consequences of deficiency include; pins and needles, disturbed vision, depression, confusion, and problems with memory.
Take all of your vitamins and mineral every day but do not take them all together. Spread them evenly across the day to help your body absorb them.
Here is an example:

Obviously talk to your consultant but a fully functional smaller stomach sounds a better option than being sick every time you eat.
Good luck whatever you decide

A bypass doesn’t remove your stomach. The larger stomach part is left inside and your intestines are rerouted. What you’re having sounds more like a gastric sleeve.

You will probably need to eat little and often to keep your calories up and yes during the liquid phase rely on nourishing drinks.

Have they got a dietician you can see?

I everyone, thank you to all who have responded I will read through them once I've sorted adds dinner.

I have had a call from my consultant who I normally see and he said it is a gastric sleeve, not a bypass. My mistake. I'm on the list!

I will read through later, thank you everyone.

I’ve had a gastric bypass. I think like everyone says the surgery sounds more like a sleeve but in terms of the recovery, as a fellow single parent I can tell you it’s nowhere near as bad as I was worried about. I had 2 days in hospital post op, I was vomity for those days, then it settled. Apart from the anchor stitch which pulled and was like a sharp stitch pain for about a week, there wasn’t too much pain. By 2 weeks later I was back to normal, no painkillers needed after about 4 days. I was fully able to look after kids, drive, everything after 2 weeks, needed help with carrying heavy stuff and was very tired from anaesthetic first few weeks. I had no appetite at all for first 6 weeks so wasn’t bothered by the liquid diet, and I found some nice coffee flavoured protein shakes and tomato soup got me through. I can now eat anything, just not in large quantities, and nothing too sugary as it has made me feel sick. Not tried alcohol yet. I’m doing it for weight loss so still watching calories but it’d be easy to get in 2000 a day even now 4 months post op, by just eating 6 smaller meals a day. High cal stuff goes down fine (too fine) I can eat crisps and chocolate and cake still, just small amounts. I’ve lost a stone a month but I needed to! I could easily double my calorie intake per day and lose nothing. Good luck, it will be easier than you expect.

I know someone who had exactly the same thing. Post op she was on a liquid diet for a while, then a soft food diet before transitioning back to a normal diet. I think she had about the same amount removed. Once she recovered she was like a different person - actually gained a bit of weight, was able to exercise for the first time in years, her skin was glowing and her hair grew a mile a minute because she was finally able to absorb nutrients properly. She ate little and often (I think she eats 5 small meals a day) and it’s been so positively transformational for her quality of life.

Best of luck - you sound like you’ve been through a lot so must be mentally really strong. You’ve got this :)

Your stomach will be smaller so you would need to adjust how you eat to ensure you get enough calories and nutrients- ask for a dietician who can talk you through what a day's eating would look like to maintain your weight and health with the smaller capacity imo