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Welcome! You have some very good questions, and the fact that you are thinking about these things is great. Weight loss surgery isn't for everyone, and I think it's really important to make the decision with your eyes wide open and be prepared for the good, the bad, and the ugly. This forum is a great place to read about other people's experiences with WLS so you can know what to expect. Pay particular attention to catwoman7's posts -- she is a great example of a WLS success story, who lost all of her excess weight and has kept it off long-term (and she is a true bariatric guru with lots of excellent advice and insight). Just about all of us have had many failed weight loss attempts in the past. Most insurance companies require evidence of failed weight loss attempts before they'll pay for surgery, because surgery is a pretty drastic solution and few people would want to go through it if they could lose and maintain weight loss without surgery. But many of us who have failed so many times before have been successful with WLS. It is true that some people gain back some or all of the weight (or don't lose as much weight as they need to) after WLS because, as you've figured out, WLS isn't magic. It still takes a lot of work and commitment and (as much as I hate the term) lifestyle changes. I get the impression that in the early years of WLS, the emphasis was on the restriction (and, to some extent, malabsorption) of surgery -- the physical limitations that made it impossible to overeat and/or that made the patient ill from eating too much fat or sugar. Patients mainly relied on eating smaller quantities to lose weight. This works in the short term, but the restriction loosens up over time (so you can eventually eat more in one sitting), and if you continue eating high-calorie foods and/or get in the habit of eating around your surgery by eating smaller portions more frequently, you can easily increase your calorie consumption back to the point of regaining weight. For me (and many others), WLS made the initial weight loss much easier than dieting alone because I had no hunger for several months after surgery, but I do get hungry now and it's a challenge to stick to my plan. I think that these days, most WLS clinics have a more comprehensive approach and provide more guidance on dietary changes. After WLS, you pretty much reboot your eating patterns, almost like a baby. You go back to consuming only liquids, then pureed and mushy foods, and tiny bites of soft foods before you get back to eating like an adult. I think this process is the turning point for your long-term path after WLS. You can either take advantage of this opportunity to get into good habits of eating nutritious food, or you can get back into your old eating habits once you are physically able to eat normal foods again (which can ultimately lead to regain). As far as how WLS affects mental health, that is very dependent on the individual and not necessarily predictable. I think it's safe to say that most people's mental health benefits greatly from weight loss because living with obesity is incredibly difficult, but of course there are instances of unexpected negative results. If you have a history of mental health issues, that's something to discuss with your provider as part of your decision (and most insurance companies and clinics require a psychological consultation to make sure you are mentally/emotionally prepared for surgery). I did my surgery completely alone. I'm 2.5 years post-op and haven't told any family, friends, or coworkers about my surgery. I live alone and had no help after my surgery. I was fortunate to have a pretty easy recovery, so I had no problems taking care of myself (although I later developed bradycardia due to the rapid weight loss and had to get a pacemaker). In a way, I think living alone makes the post-op life easier because I have complete control over the food purchasing and preparation in my house. I simply don't buy foods that don't fit in my plan, so it is easy to avoid temptation. I encourage you to continue to research WLS and read about other people's experiences as you make your decision. Good luck!

Therapy & ‘doing the head work’ is a very important part of not just the weight loss but maintaining. You need to ne mentally & emotionally ready for this surgery. Many of the benefits of the surgery are temporary or become weaker. If you haven’t done the head work, it is extremely easy to return to your old habits & regain your weight. The desire to eat can become so strong again it is possible to eat around your surgery. Remember the surgery changes your body not your head. The surgery affords us the time to change our relationship with food. Well it did for me. For years I skipped meals to control my intake & all it did was screw up my metabolism & I was still fat. I’ve stuck to diets & lost weight many, many times but I always regained the weight. While I was losing I looked at how, why, when & what I ate & realised what I did didn’t work for me. I needed a new way. I worked out a way of eating, not a diet, that worked for me. I haven’t been this size since I was about 12years old & have never maintained a weight loss like this ever. I have a different attitude about food & eating. It’s been sustainable, It doesn’t rely on my will power to control my eating. It doesn’t limit me or hinder me in enjoying my life as I want. Sure there are certain foods I avoid or eat very rarely because I’m careful about what I eat & it’s been my choice to do so. I feel better for it & I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything. I still love food, enjoy what I eat & regular dine out. You’ll work out a way of eating to complement your lifestyle & meet your needs too in time. Join that art class now. Don’t wait until you move again to look for a class. Great way to meet people with similar interests.

I had the Vertical Gastric Sleeve on January 23rd, and beside a bit of nausea from the anesthesia the first few days I was doing relatively well for the first 2 weeks. That all changed drastically on week 3 and now week 4. I can come nowhere near the amount of protein or liquids or calories my Dr. wants me to consume daily. The reason being that Thursday of week 3 I began having excruciating pain in my lower abdomen and back and it starts within minutes of taking a sip of anything... It feels like someone is taking my mid-section and wringing it out like a wet cloth... It truly will take my breath away when it is happening... I also had to go back from creamy liquids to just clear liquids and that is very disheartening. On the plus side, I don't have any vomiting (YET), but this other pain is truly making my life miserable... I also, have severe pain in my left shoulder and I have seen in other posts that can be from gas that is trapped there... I have had 2 C-sections and numerous other surgeries, including a gallbladder removal in the past and THIS has to be by far the absolute worst pain that I have ever experienced in my life... Also, my Dr. did order labs on Monday of this week (week 4) and a swallow test and that did show that there was a bit of an issue with the angle of my esophagus to my stomach, but he wasn't overly concerned and put me on protonix... Nothing has changed... Is there anyone out there that has had these same symptoms that can possibly give me any hope that this won't last forever? I am literally in tears every night because I am regretting this decision... Even though I have been successful with weight loss so far... What is weight loss if I feel like death??? Any information or advice is greatly appreciated! Thank you.

I am officially one week post-op. I love beef Jerky and of course know it's way to early to start eating it. But the thought crossed my mind to chew on it for the flavor and spit out the solids. Any comments from anyone who may have tried this and what your results were. Thanks in advance.

yes! our last class before surgery is when they told us the position you feel being full in will change to being in your chest. for me it was like right behind my sternum def slow down on taking bites, i know thats my hardest part too!!

Honestly, the couple weeks before my pre-op diet I considered my Food Funeral. I don’t think I really ate excessively, but I wanted to eat things I knew would be a long time before I could enjoy again. im a little over halfway through my 2 week pre-op diet, and while I am hungry, I’m kinda used to it and it doesn’t bother me too much.

It's common to feel nervous about stretching your stomach after bariatric surgery, especially in the early stages of recovery. However, it's important to listen to your body and trust the process. Slowing down between bites and being mindful of the foods you're eating can help you better identify feelings of fullness

Awesome, thank you! Sent from my SM-G990U using BariatricPal mobile app

Good luck tomorrow! Follow your medical team’s instructions. Don’t be afraid to ask for pain or nausea meds if you need them.

This is what I experienced. I spent the first 2 weeks just sitting in a recliner sipping. After 3 weeks off I returned to my job and went straight to bed exhausted when I got home. It was another week or two before I felt like I had normal energy levels.