Gastric Bypass Online Forums

Gastric Bypass Online Forums

Online forums are great entries into understanding and sharing your thoughts and concerns about the process of bariatric surgery. There is no definite starting point regarding when to begin socializing with online forums.

Online bariatric focused forums provide you with the necessary advice and steps in having a successful life before, during, and after weight loss surgery.

Successful surgery requires extensive amounts of mental, physical, and spiritual preparation. Being active with online forums allows you the ability to create a community where you can share every thought and concern with individuals who share similar, if not identical, health journeys.

I have personally discovered and used many online forums. There are extremely helpful in answering any question I have post-surgery, no matter how personal. I feel safe, welcome, and valued in my experience after weight loss surgery.

Using online forums is the significant beginning step towards improving and controlling your health.

Gastric Bypass Forums

The Roux-en-Y surgery, most commonly known as gastric bypass, is a restrictive and malabsorptive weight loss surgery. This occurs due to the smaller stomach pouch created during surgery that attaches to your lower small intestine.

Usual forum topics covered in the gastric bypass section include: discussing dumping syndrome, nutrient deficiencies, weight loss, bypass diet, and complications. Gastric bypass forums are helpful for pre-weight loss patients and those who have already had gastric bypass surgery.

Suggestions in Finding a Quality Online Forum

These are some factors to keep in mind when evaluating the quality of an online community.

The total number of members in each forum and topic area.

  • Having more members increases the likelihood you will have someone online to offer supportive information.
  • You will also have a higher chance of meeting someone you can connect with personally based on your similar circumstances.

The total number of threads and posts and dates of most recent posts.

  • Having high numbers and recent dates indicate the forum is active. An active forum shows that you will get a quicker response to your question.
  • This is important, especially when your topic could be crucial to the quality and nature of your health.

Numbers

  • Although more significant numbers increase your chances of connecting with like-minded individuals, you may also prefer a smaller forum.
  • This can create a more close-knit and intimate community.

Chat rooms

  • They offer a live community where you can instantly ask questions and receive answers at the moment.
  • Some forums lack this ability, which may hinder your involvement with it.
Your weight loss journey may feel isolating and lonely at times, making forums essential for surviving it.

Bariatric Pal

The bariatric pal is a fantastic weight loss surgery website that utilizes useful topics to create meaningful and beneficial conversations surrounding weight loss surgery.  Many topics created to offer tools and experiences to provide aid in navigating life pre and post weight loss surgery.

Common Topics Include:

  • Choosing the correct surgery and surgeon
  • Preparing for pre-surgery, surgery and post-surgery diets
  • Food and Nutrition
  • Weight Loss
  • Exercise
  • Cosmetic and Reconstructive surgery
  • Mental challenges

The bariatric pal gastric bypass forum has over 130,000 posts. This is a useful and effective tool for navigating weight loss surgery.

Find quality online forums by asking your medical provider.

Forum Suggestions

Bariatric Surgery Source Forums/Blogs:

  • Includes all bariatric procedures where you can ask individual questions, receive answers and blogs.
  • You can ask questions, answer questions, and post comments about many topics.

Obesity Help:

  • This includes all bariatric procedures that have an infinite number of chat rooms and thread topics.

Facebook Bariatric Focused Groups:

  • These are less official forums, but can provide an alternative to an official forum and connect you with other bariatric related patients.
Reach out when your emotions are free falling, to help gain a new perspective.

My Online Story

I have used many different forums to ask questions and check in with possible side effects of my surgery. Some forums I frequently visited were the less formal online bariatric communities on Facebook.

Due to me having gastric sleeve surgery, I visited forums that focused specifically on the gastric sleeve, rather than finding generic weight loss surgery forums. There are many differences between the gastric sleeve and gastric bypass in the surgery performed and its aftermath.

I found it helpful using online forums because I was able to find individuals with almost identical or similar experiences to my own. My weight loss journey has been a long journey, extensive and time-consuming. It is beneficial to me in recognizing whether my expectations are realistic or not when discussing my progress and questions with other gastric sleeve patients. I can notice and remind myself of the rules I need to refocus and get back on track with.

Online Forum Positives

Having an online forum, you can be more active while developing more confidence. Self-esteem and body image are common problems many weight loss patients struggle with, including me due to the changes in one’s physical body and your mentality towards your physical changes.

Having online forums, you can participate in with allows a community of individuals where there is no judgment, only continual support towards your health.

Gastric bypass is a surgery that changes how you can digest and live forever. Due to the seriousness of this surgery, it is calming to know that it is a safe place where you can share your thoughts, concerns, and ideas freely and openly.  Having this open door is essential in maintaining your optimal weight goals and sticking to them.

Feeling connected is the only way you can move forward.

Surgery Reality

The hardest part about life after weight loss surgery is tackling your mental barriers and maintaining a regular exercise and nutrition routine.

Having a secure online community in times of stress and unforeseen obstacles to your health and wellness is reassuring. Knowing that you are not alone when times are confusing is a necessity for success in your weight loss journey.

I find solace and peace, knowing that there are individuals with similar weight loss surgery experiences.

Bariatric surgery promotes drastic life changes. These changes start with recognizing your health is in trouble, gaining insight as to its problem, and how to better improve your life.

Currently, I have had many questions regarding my excessive skin after maintaining a stable weight for over six months.

Due to my rapid weight loss, I asked many questions online regarding the normalcy and realistic expectations I should have when dealing with changes to my body. Having the ability to discuss my questions, concerns, and meeting with other like-minded people is helpful and useful in trying to tackle the many changes that arise after weight loss surgery.

Bariatric surgery offers you the opportunity to succeed at weight loss and have it stick. Many bariatric patients are terrified.  I struggle with this feeling all the time.

Fear of failing, gaining weight back, and others pointing and staring at my failure in maintaining my weight loss.

Addressing my food addictions and eating habits help prevent other types of addictions.  Online forums provide endless support that can prevent yourself from giving up and feeling alone.

Kelsey Renae Schulze

Author

Kelsey is a post-op bariatric patient who had sleeve surgery in 2018. She is a writer, focusing on a variety of topics given her background in legal studies and criminal justice.