Post gastric bypass, woman gets hyperinsulinemia

My mother had the gastric bypass a few years ago. 1 year after losing quite a bit of weight, she started gaining it back. After seeing a nutrition specialist and endocrinologist, she was advised that she had to change her diet and was diagnosed with hyperinsulinemia. Please be advised that this is not a form of diabetes. If you find yourself gaining weight post surgery and are still making life changes (i.e. making different food changes both in size and type of food, and exercising) then you may want to speak with a specialist. I'm currently looking into either the sleeve or lap band as they are both a lower risk and I may have less loose skin with either of these methods. I've seen a roommate go through the lap band and my mother go through her bypass. I've learned 2 things from watching people post op: follow your diet, if you have lap band don't put off fillings, and if your body is changing in an unusual way, discuss this with your doctor or a specialist. Since my mother has changed her diet, she is about 20 lbs. away from her goal weight and is still losing weight. 

*please note that in a recent bariatric seminar, I asked if hyperinsulinism is common with any bariatric surgery. The surgeon advised me that this is very rare. I want to include this so I don't scare anyone- but I wanted to advise people that maybe it's not just their choices....maybe it's something that if they talk to their doctor about, that can be 1 more person who has success post op.   

Good luck to all men and women going for any bariatric surgery. Hopefully I have learned enough from seeing 2 people go through it that I will succeed as well! 

This condition is also known as reactive hypoglycemia. If you type "reactive" into the search field you will find actually many people who have experienced this. My surgeon advised this was extremely rare- but it looks like it's not so rare. Please consider this as a potential risk before going through with a bypass. Good luck everyone!

Hi 

I feel very blessed not to have any personal experience with this problem. Glad to hear your mother is now doing well.

There are lots more people on the VSG forum than here on the VBG forum. The sleeve=VSG. Older stomach stapling procedure=VBG.

Good luck as you investigate WLS options for yourself. I love my sleeve but have several friends who love their bypasses.

All the best, K

Reactive hypoglycemia is not the reason your mother is regaining.  She is regaining because her surgery failed her.  Regain is very likely with almost all WLS types.  Do your research before going under the proverbial knife.  Make sure you read up on ALL the different WLS types, including Duodenal Switch. 

Your statement about which WLS is less "risky" is also false.  Your risk is directly linked to your choice of surgeon and your pre-op health.  Choose a vetted surgeon who does MANY surgeries of the type you are having.