Jenny A.

Hi Everyone, I start back to work next Tuesday and am wondering if anyone had any advice or tips they could give about returning to work after surgery? Was it difficult? Were you weak? What foods did you have prepared? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. I'm a little nervous to go back because I'm afraid I'm going to b really weak and nauseas or something. Thanks!

I live in San Francisco, so mine was a bit more expensive. My insurance covers WLS but I didn't want to have to jump through all the hoops to get there. I paid $16,000 for everything (labs, psych eval, x-rays, etc.). I think it's so worth it though. Have you considered taking out a loan?

Thanks so much SuperMom!! Those are all really good tips!! How many times would you suggest eating throughout the day? Do you need to eat if you don't feel hungry?

Hi Everyone! So I was sleeved last Thursday and am about 4 days out. At first, I didn't want anything except liquids and the surgeon said that was fine. But the last day and a half or so, my tummy's been making these weird rumbly sounds and it feels like a combination of gas/hunger pain. I tried expelling some gas (sorry for the tmi!) but it was still doing it. So then I tried eating a bit of a small, mashed up turkey meatball (low fat high Protein ). I made it about 3 tiny bites before my stomach shot sharp pains at me telling me it didn't want anymore. How do I communicate with my new stomach? Was I hungry? Is it just gas? Is it just talking to me? Any experienced sleevers willing to give me some advice on how to understand my sleeve?

Thanks so much!!! This is really good advice I think I'm on the right track now thanks to all of your helpful guidance. Let's rock our sleeves together!!! Yay!!!

Hi GreginMI, The instructions that I got from my surgeon are as follows: "For the first month following surgery, make sure to drink at least 2liters of fluids/day and get between 60-80 grams of Protein from soft vegetarian sources, eggs, fish and seafood." This is followed by a list of acceptable foods (i.e. cream of wheat, mashed potatoes, eggs, Beans, veggies burgers, yogurt, soups, fish, rice, egg noodles, etc.) Of course he also told me to avoid foods high in sugars, fats, and alcohol. At the hospital he told me just to try things as I felt like it, but to really push and prioritize liquids, especially for the first three weeks. Some surgeons are like this I've been told. He's one of the best in the country and has own reasons for not having his patients follow a staged plan, I'm sure. There are quite a few people on this site who have used him and have nothing but the highest praises for him. Incidentally, he also doesn't make his patients do a pre-op diet. The only thing I had to do was a clear liquid diet and drink Colyte 1 day before surgery. However, I tend to find it easier to have stricter guidelines to follow, which is why I plan to discuss the plan Golden laid out above when I meet with my surgeon on Friday. To be honest though, aside from the one attempt at the meatball, I have been sticking to a strictly clear liquid diet, simply because I didn't feel like eating anyway. Right now, clear liquids are about all that I can seem to consume comfortably, and sometimes if I accidentally take too big a sip even the liquids make my tummy hurt. Sorry, I guess this is a really long answer to your question. But maybe it makes more sense now? Anyway, ever since my adventures in meatball land I've gone right back to clear liquids and am doing ok here for the time being Thanks everyone for your advice and concern!! I think I'm on the right track now thanks to everyone's input. I have to say, this is such a great site!

I've used it, and it's been very helpful. The packet of information I got from my doctor before I was released also said use of ice-packs or heating pads are fine. Go ahead and use it girl! My ice pack been a savior for me!!

Thanks so much Golden! This is really helpful advice!!! I like the eating plan that you listed, and it seems really easy to follow. I'm going to show this to my surgeon on Friday when I have my first pot-op appointment with him and get his ok to follow these guidelines (I can't imagine he'd have any problems with it). As for the rumbly tummy, I guess I ruled out acid because I've been on prilosec every day, but maybe it's like you suggested and related to gas/healing/shock. I definitely want to recover well and not to anything to damage my new sleeve, so I'll just take it a lot easier here on out!! I guess I was so excited I got a little ahead of myself Thanks again for all the excellent information, it's been really helpful!!!

Hi Fluffy Chick, thanks! My doctor doesn't have a strict set of post-op guidelines. He told me to stick with soft "slippery" proteins the first month. Although, now that I think about it, I guess mashed meatball might not have been what he had in mind... I'll take your suggestion and try some soup next. Thanks!!

I agree. I was sleeved on 8/25 (last Thurs.) and my surgeon told me not even to THINK about food for a while. His words were "drink and walk" "drink and walk." Right now it's all I can do to keep my pain at a manageable level and get all my fluids in. My doctor just told me to listen to my body, and that when I was feeling pretty normal and could get my fluids down without problems, then I should start in on regular foods/protein. I'm glad to know there are other people who are feeling pretty rough, but I know we can stick it out together and see the benefits in the end!!

Anyone have any tips on getting this stuff down easier? The directions say 8oz every ten minutes, but I feel like I'm going to be sick

You look absolutely gorgeous!!!!!!! I don't see anything wrong with your arms!!! Tatum's got one hot mama

I'm so with you!! I love H&M and I have never been able to fit into their stuff. My little sister is super skinny and we always have to go to H&M when she comes to visit me in San Francisco. Same as you, I can't wait to buy actual clothes and not just accessories!!! I'm on my second day of the pre-op diet and it's thoughts like this that keep me going

I mean I REALLY hate the gym. I have tried to like the gym, but it's just not for me, even when I'm at a healthy weight. I've also tried those dance/zumba/jazzercise classes that the gyms offer, but I'm red faced, sweating and huffing and puffing 2 min into the warm-up; and I find myself staring at the clock, praying for the class to end. Same thing with the Yoga class the gym offered. Who knew holding a pose could be so HARD??!! What I'm saying is, I know I've got to exercise if I want to lose weight, even with the sleeve, but I will be darned if I can think of anything that I can do! Any suggestions? If it's high impact I can be sure I won't stick with it, but I love being outdoors--taking hikes, walks, swimming, going to the beach, etc. I was also thinking maybe trying karate or tai chi? Is there anyone else here who hates the gym/high impact aerobic exercise as much as I do, who found an exercise that worked for them??

Wow!!!!! You seriously look like a model, absolutely beautiful!!! You are such an inspiration!! I get sleeved in 3 weeks and start my 2 week liquid diet this Thursday. Seeing this post has given me so much motivation. Thank you!!!!!

I'm really sorry to hear that about your husband. I feel like it's so hard for someone who has never experienced the pain of being overweight and trying time and time again to take it off with no success to understand our reasons for making this choice. It takes a lot of courage to admit to yourself that you need a little extra help if you want to take this weight off for good. Most of us on this site have additional, psychological issues with food, that make it impossible for us to simply lose weight through diet and exercise. I can't count the number of times I've seen the word "binge." The great thing about this surgery is that it finally allows us to beat the psychological factor due to physical limitations. Because with the surgery, you CANNOT binge (at least at first it seems). You are literally forced to limit the amount you eat or you get physically sick. For many people this might seem horrifying. But for me, the first thing I thought when I was researching this surgery and saw that information was "thank G-d!! Where do I sign up??" Most of us on here realize that this is not a quick or easy fix. But we are determined to take our lives back and become happy, healthy individuals. The sleeve is an extremely powerful tool in helping us accomplish that goal and change our lifestyles and eating habits permanently (just look at the "success stories" section!). I think your husband needs to realize that. The other thing is, like someone else mentioned, when you got married your husband took a vow to stand by you in both good times and bad. We married our husbands (hopefully) because they are people we love, respect, and can count on in times of difficulty. If you have explained how important this surgery is to you, whether he agrees with it or not, he should stand by you and support you. My husband had misgivings at first, but when I explained how relatively low risk the procedure is, and how this would help me take off the weight, he totally agreed that it was worth a shot. As is gets closer to my surgery I think he's even more excited than I am!! (My husband is very physically active and he can't wait until we can play tennis together ) I truly hope that your husband comes around, but if he doesn't, just remember that you are doing this for YOU, not for him. And in the end, that's what matters most. Good Luck!

My surgeon uses a 34 but he told me it's not the size of the bougie it's the size of the pouch that is created. He said you could have a small bougie and make a bigger pouch or a larger bougie and make a smaller pouch. Sometimes the size of the bougie correlates to the size of the pouch and sometimes it doesn't. I would ask him how big your pouch will be, since that's a better indicator of how much you'll be able to consume and probably the rate of your weight loss.

Hi Everyone! I'm getting sleeved in a little less than 5 weeks, but I have one of those surgeons who doesn't ask his patients to go on a pre-op diet. However, I don't really like the thought of going from eating anything I want to being on a very restricted diet overnight, and would rather ease into it. I see a lot of people on here are on pre-op liquid diets, and was hoping that someone could share their recommendations for a pre-op diet. Any suggestions you have would be much appreciated. Thanks!!

Hi Everyone, I'm scheduled to get sleeved soon, and I'm starting to have some serious doubts. I have around 130lbs to lose and I'm scared I'm spending all this money and won't lose weight. I had moved to Japan for 2 years and while I was there I lost over 90lbs, but as soon as I came back to the states I put it all back on We're going back to Japan in a little less than a year where I have to see my in-laws and all my friends and I'm terrified of them seeing me this big. I'm so ashamed. I have failed on every diet I've been on for the last 15 years, and I always end up gaining more weight than I lose. And I am just so angry with myself for getting this big again after having lost so much weight. It seems like people on here really are losing weight with the sleeve but I'm scared. Was anyone else on here feeling like I am before you got sleeved? How are you doing now??

@Janese58: I don't know, they didn't give me a weight, they just told me no... Wow, it sounds like the diets are really varied! I've decided that 4 weeks before surgery I'll basically follow a super strict no carb/no sugar diet, and then do the Protein shakes/liquid diet starting 2 weeks prior to surgery. I want to make sure my liver is as flat as possible and that I'm doing everything I can on my part to lower my chances of complications. I went online today and bought 3 containers of the unjury powder protein since that seems to be rather popular. It's only 4 weeks so I feel like even though it will be tough it's definitely doable Wish me luck!

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Hi Sotiredofit! I'm new here too, but I've been on this sight every day since I decided to get the sleeve, and it's proved to be an invaluable resource in terms of information and support. I also decided the sleeve was the way to go for me. I don't want to mess around with malabsorption and reconfiguring my intestines if I don't have to; especially since people have been so successful with the sleeve. The other thing is, I don't think a ton of supplements are necessary with VGS. My surgeon told me that I'd be fine with a multi-Vitamin and Calcium supplement. With the bypass procedures you also have to worry about "dumping" which does not sound fun at all... Good luck with your research!! @Tiffykins, your answers to questions on this site are always so well-written, informative and helpful! How did you get to be such a guru?

Thanks, this is so inspiring! I've got a little over a month until surgery and I've been feeling so hopeless lately. Seeing this post really gives me hope and motivation.

Wow, thank you so much for all your kind responses!! I feel a lot better knowing that other had the same people had the same doubts and issues before surgery, and looking at all your tickers and seeing how successful you've been makes me a lot more optimistic!!! Thanks again so much!!!! I'm going to try and be much more positive from now on and believe in the sleeve!!

Cool! Thanks everyone!! I think I'll give the protein shakes and liquids a shot. I want to get my stomach used to new eating habits and wean myself off of sugars/carbs before the surgery if possible. It sounds really difficult, but I know you can do it!!! And it's great that you're not hungry! Janese58, I also have Kaiser, but they won't even consider me as a candidate. I have a BMI of 45, but I don't have any other "co-morbid condition" (i.e. diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, etc.) so my doctor told me no flat out. Luckily, I've been saving for a while and had enough that I just said "screw that" and made an appointment with a non Kaiser bariatric surgeon the next day!