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A1 - If you are on extended-release medications, they'll need to be switched to standard or immediate release. I went from 150 mg Wellbutrin XL once a day to 75 mg Wellbutrin IR twice a day, and am about to drop the evening dose. I feel fine. A2 - Yes, but you can only take acetaminophen/paracetamol which is Tylenol in North America and Panadol elsewhere. You will be able to swallow pills, just perhaps one at a time at first. B1 - I was able go up and down stairs within hours after surgery. If your incisions hurt, take a pillow to brace. Ask your anesthesiologist for what's called a TAP block, it's like an epidural for your abdomen and lasts about 18 hours which is enough time to get used to stuff. B2 - An elevated bed will actually help because you don't have to squat down to get onto and off of it. But you could buy a little heavy duty stepstool if you want. Just make sure it's stable. B3 - You absolutely can wipe. Laparoscopic incisions are small. And, honestly, you'll probably be constipated after surgery and won't need to as often, especially if you are on opioid painkillers which back you up. The good news is as you lose weight (which happens fast) you'll become more flexible. A month out and I can wash my entire back without needing a long-handled brush. B4 - Varies by surgeon. Mine said I could shower immediately, but to avoid scrubbing the incisions, just gently wipe them with a separate cloth. C1 - Depends on what you do. I have two jobs; the desk job I was back to after two weeks (and could have done one if needed); the outdoor job I'm still not back at because my surgeon wants 6 weeks. C2 - I was cycling (stationary / assault bike) 2 weeks after surgery with the blessing of my surgeon. Ask anything, really. That's why we're here.

Wow, thanks for the tip. I do take 150mg XL Wellbutrin I have been taking it for 3 years (and before that 10+ years of 300mg XL) with by old stretched out pouch and had no issues. My pouch after revision will be only 1 oz, so I'd better advise my prescribing physician

Hi! I am 9 days post op VSG and I had the barium swallow test prior and had labs and my liver looked great supposedly. Went on the liquid diet prior to surgery, lost an additional 8 lbs and day of surgery in recovery the surgeon said he almost threw in the towel. He said my liver was so large and it was adhered to my spleen. The normal 30 minute surgery became a 2.5 hour long surgery and the only reason why he did it was because of all the work I’ve done the last 2 years. The liquid diet is hard, but your attitude and faith in yourself has to be strong. It’s not a no to eating that food, it’s a not right now. You got this!

The only things you may have to consider are energy levels post op, building in bathroom breaks and requesting if you can drink/eat during the classes. It seems people bounce back a lot quicker with laparoscopic vs open surgery,

So sorry to hear that! 😥 Protein shakes made me vomit, for real. I tried drinking them for a couple weeks post-op since I somewhat liked them before surgery. But then said no, and got protein through other sources. I now use unflavored protein powder for 45g a day, in addition to food sources, and have done well with weight loss. I would say you can definitely be successful without the shakes! And your weight loss sounds great!

Hi everyone thank you for the advice. Woke up this morning without running to the bathroom, yeah! I thought I would since the medication only lasts for 6 hours. I feel very bloated with some abdominal pain thou. But maybe that’s normal since the meds put the brakes on my intestines. I am so weak since I haven’t been eating and I appreciate the suggestion of bone broth from Arabesque and am sipping it as I type with fingers crossed. I think it is definitely surgery related, and not a bug. From the reaction to the meds to slow things down it sounds like everything was just going through my sleeve into my intestines at freight train speed. I am cautiously optimistic today that I will be able to consume more than just water today. If anyone has any suggestions for other clear liquids to try it would be most welcome! Thanks.

I'm 3 years out, and over 2 years in maintenance. Like some above, I weigh myself every morning (to make sure i'm not leaning to far above or below my happy weight range); I track everything I eat (to keep eye on caloric intake), get some exercise in (run min 5K 2-3 times a week, plus other random activities here and there: dancing, hiking, swimming). I've figured out that at my current activity level, i can maintain my current weight at around 1800 cals a day. Other random things I do that I *think* contribute to MY maintenance (or could just be habit now and may not actually be making a lick of difference, lol): I try to keep bread, rice, pasta intake low. I don't completely avoid them, but they don't have main billing in my diet, or even supporting cast. More like nameless extras with non-speaking roles, lol I make it a point to never eat to full. I may not always succeed, but I try. I wear tight pants. Don't laugh, but having tight pants on when I go out for dinner helps to ensure that I won't overeat to over-fullness, when it's easier to do so cuz I'm just sitting around a table for hours with food, you know? I always share desserts (or get a mini/micro one) cuz I know dessert is my downfall. I don't eat before noon if I can help it. If my weight goes above my happy weight range, I cut some calories until I until I'm at the bottom of said range (luckily this hasn't happened in over a year...knock on wood) I do my running in the morning so its done and i don't get a chance to procrastinate throughout the day. That's all i can think of at the moment, but I'm sure there are a whole bunch of other things I do....

As I posted a minute ago on another thread, no or minor problems is by far the norm for WLS surgeries. People tend to post about problems, looking for help, support, just to rant, or in some cases to get pity. It's human nature. Folks having troubles early post op are working to get to were most people are: On plan. People with little to no problem generally just keep doing it quietly. And yet, unusually, we have 2 threads today about contrary to apparently most others, things are going well. If things are going rough, keep working and you will get (up) to plan. You will get there with focus, effort, persistence, time and in some cases medical and/or moral support. Once you get to plan, whether it was easy or hard, stay laser focused on staying on plan. For some it's hard to get up to plan for others it's hard to stay down to plan. It is easiest to stay on plan in the first few months. Use these months to make your plan normal. It will serve you later. Continued good luck, Tek

Fingers crossed 🤞 For you that it’s earlier.

MK, I'm a year out and over 120 pounds down. I drink decaf diet coke, about 1 a day, sometimes 2. I also use a straw in my Water cup every day. I eat bread very rarely these days because it makes my sleeve hurt, and I used to LOVE fresh hot bread. I baked it every week for my family pre-op. Now I do well to eat a whole small tortilla...and I'm full for way too long afterwards, so I make that a very rare thing. As for what you can never have, there's not much that you can't ever have again. That's the beauty and frustration of the sleeve. You CAN eat whatever you want once you are past the post-op diet, but you'll find yourself needing to make better choices in order to meet your Protein goals. I eat very few veggies these days and find that I have to deliberately plan them into my diet, but I eat anything I like protein wise. My sleeve doesn't like bread and it doesn't like spicy foods, but I don't miss them either. For me, the sleeve has been a godsend..and I'd do it over again if I had to in order to lose almost 120 pounds in just over a year. What would you give up to weigh 120 pounds less? I think that bread and spicy food was a great trade for me! Good luck, whatever you decide.