Bariatric Surgery Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

I had bariatric surgery (gastric bypass) almost five years ago. Since then I have shared my story with my Instagram and TikTok audience. I have rounded up my most asked questions and compiled them into a blog post.

The most common questions about Bariatric Surgery

I get questions daily on social media about what bariatric surgery is and what it is not. I wanted a place to house these questions and keep a running list of them for you all to refer back to. Bariatric surgery is a lifelong journey and it comes with many questions. I still find myself learning new things each and every day. Even almost five years post-op.

DISCLAIMER - always consult your doctor/surgeon/dietitian before taking any medical advice you may see/read on any blog or internet site. I am a nurse, but I am not your nurse and I am not a bariatric nurse or a bariatric medical professional. I am a bariatric PATIENT and speak through my experiences.

What are the four different types of bariatric surgery?

Short answer is - There may be more than four but these are the most commonly heard of. Gastric bypass (RNY roux-en-Y), Gastric sleeve (VSG - vertical sleeve gastrectomy), Duodenal Switch (DS), and Lap-band (Laparoscopic adjustable gastric band) - They are explained more here in-depth on the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery site.

What does your diet look like in maintenance?

I eat a pretty balanced diet filled with high protein, moderate healthy fats, and moderate nutritious carbohydrates. A sample day would be eggs, turkey sausage, and a slice of toast. I like to keep protein bars on hand for a quick snack or a reduced-fat string cheese and a hard-boiled egg. For lunch, I will make a serving of Banza pasta with a little bit of butter and grated parmesan cheese, and a chicken breast. For dinner, I will usually have a serving of protein (beef, chicken, fish, or shrimp) with quinoa and a low sugar pasta sauce, and a serving of vegetables. But I also love Quest pizzas, RealGood Foods, etc. for convenience meals.

What is the best first step if I am interested in having bariatric surgery?

Check with your insurance and see if they cover bariatric surgery (if they don't there are options too). Then make an appointment with your primary care doctor (PCP) for a referral to a bariatric surgeon. Some bariatric surgeons don't require a referral. If your insurance does not cover bariatric surgery, Blossom Bariatrics in Las Vegas is self-pay. A few people I know have gone there and had great experiences. Many people have also had wonderful experiences in Tijuana, Mexico at Obesity Control Center with Dr. Ariel Ortiz. My friend Natalie and my friend Derek both had great experiences there and you can contact either of them with questions.

How much do you have to weigh to get bariatric surgery?

This is usually up to your insurance as far as the exact number goes. But a general rule of thumb is you have to have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of over 35 and a "significant health problem or pre-existing condition" or a BMI of over 40 with no existing health problems. Some of the significant health problems that I have heard of are sleep apnea, Type 2 diabetes, GERD, and high blood pressure. There are others as well. But this is not set in stone always. Everyone is different.

How often do you experience dumping syndrome and what foods make you dump?

My first experience with dumping syndrome was around seven weeks post-op and it was Halo Top ice cream (about 2 tablespoons). I am very careful with what I eat and I introduced foods one at a time so I tried to know what foods caused it. But some foods I would be okay with and then the next time I would not tolerate. Foods that I have had issues with are milk, granola (even very low sugar), pineapple, and concentrated amounts of sweets (ex. fudge). I do avoid deep-fried foods altogether because of my history of binge eating disorder and my long history with deep-fried foods. I don't experience it often because I am pretty careful.

How long does gastric bypass last? Does your stomach stretch back out?

Your surgical tool of bariatric surgery can last forever. Of course, the stomach is a muscle and if you force it to stretch it can and it will. But if you fill your stomach with good nutritious foods (lean protein, nutritious vegetables, and carbohydrates) this tool is forever. The surgery is done on your stomach, NOT YOUR BRAIN. There is a lot of mental work that goes into this. Head hunger is real. Many times we eat when we are not hungry. Working with a therapist has helped me a lot and we have many therapists that teach support groups in BariNation if you don't have access to one on one therapy.

Can you explain BariNation a little more?

BariNation is a membership community that offers a wealth of knowledge and support to bariatric patients. We have support groups led by licensed therapists and social events led by bariatric patients, and community members where we can all grow and learn together. We also have Live events that focus on personal style, emotional intelligence and so much more! I am a Content Creator and lead many social events and live events! You can check it out here.

Did you lose hair? How do I prevent hair loss?

YES! I lost a LOT of hair. My hair is very fine. I just have a lot of it. The best way to prevent hair loss is to take your vitamins and try to hit your protein goals. There are no magic vitamins, shampoo, pills, etc. that will stop hair loss. It is inevitable when you are losing weight so rapidly. I did try and decrease the amount of heat I was using and the number of times I washed my hair per week. I do really like Olaplex and a few other products. I think it only strengthened my hair AS IT GREW BACK. If someone tells you they have found THE MAGIC CURE for hair loss, I would be skeptical.

How long did you take off work? How painful was bariatric surgery?

I did have some post-op complications. I had a pretty bad wound infection (my surgeon neglected it badly - full story in this post) and I had an esophageal stricture. I was supposed to be off work for 4-6 weeks because I am a nurse and I lift patients but I was off 11 weeks. I was in solid pain for 4-6 weeks because of my complications. It is major surgery. It was done laparoscopically, but it is still major and doesn't come without risks.

What vitamins do you take?

Immediately post-op, I took Flintstones because that is what my bariatric dietitian at my surgeon's office recommended. There weren't as many options five years ago. Now I only take ProCare. I take their once-daily multivitamin with iron (the iron is recommended by my PCP). They have chewable, once-daily as well but I take the capsules. Their calcium chews are all that I take for my calcium supplementation and they have seasonal chocolate bars for calcium that are out of this world. I take their vitamin D and they do also have biotin. You can shop on ProCare's website here - and use the code Maddie10 to save 10% on all orders. ProCare also has a great variety of beef/turkey sticks, they just launched a delicious protein powder, they have unflavored protein, and they have collagen powder.

Did you lose all your weight in the first year?

NO! I never heard about that one-year term until I was on Instagram/Facebook, etc. It took me about 21-22 months to reach my lowest weight and that was after a long four-month stall. I will tell you, this tool of bariatric surgery works, if you work it. I will explain a little more in a question later about regain. I have heard from a few surgeons that the hunger hormone ghrelin, which is decreased significantly after bariatric surgery, is lowest during the first 12-18 months post-op. So it is a great time to adopt healthy habits.

Have you had any regain?

YES! I started in June of 2017 at 338 pounds. In April of 2019, I reached my lowest weight of about 158 pounds and stayed there for about 10-12 months. I found my "happy weight" around 170-172 pounds. In June of 2021, I gained about 15 pounds and hired a bariatric dietitian to help me get back on track. It took about five to six months and I am back around 172-175 pounds.

What do you recommend doing if I have regained weight?

If you have access to your bariatric dietitian at your surgeon's office, start there. I did not maintain a relationship with my surgeon due to the neglect of the post-op complications. I reached out to one of the highly respected bariatric dietitians in our Instagram community, Haley @theguacwarddietitian and I worked one on one with her for three months. I tried to lose the regain on my own for a few months and nothing worked. Another great dietitian in our community is Sam @bariatricchefboyrd who is taking clients as well. There is no replacement for credentialed professionals who have years of experience. They are there to help us.

Are you able to "gulp" water after one year post-op?

I can drink much more water now in one serving but this also varies day by day. It can also vary depending on what I ate before I am drinking. Everyone is so different and our bodies vary so much.

Were you anxious about having bariatric surgery?

I was. But I was more anxious to NOT have it. I was more scared to continue living my life as is. The scale was continuing to go up and I was more terrified to continue on the path I was on. I knew I needed to do something. I would do it all over again, a million times over.

What is your favorite unflavored protein powder? How do you use it?

I love ProCare unflavored ProCel powder. It comes in a tub or smaller packets. I used it in pretty much anything post-up. I loved putting it in sugar-free puddings, creamier soups, sprinkling it on top of lower protein options, etc. The only thing that I found that protein powder doesn't always mix well in is hot broths. Anytime you purchase from ProCare, the code Maddie10 will save you 10% on your total order.

Would you choose to have bariatric surgery again? Specifically gastric bypass?

ABSOLUTELY!!! I would pack my bag right now, head to the hospital, and do it all over again. Even if I had to go through all the complications again. This tool of having a physically smaller stomach has given me the greatest chance of maintaining my weight loss long term. It takes work. Every single day. But it is the best decision I have ever made.

As always, thank you for being here and reading! If you are not already following along on my socials you can follow me on Instagram, TikTok, or my Facebook page!

Hugs,

Maddie