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In all my information I received, they said one of the "perks" to sleeve vs. the bypass was that there wasn't any dumping syndrome. However, when I had my 1 week post op follow up appt with a bariatric nurse, (who was sleeved a year ago), she told me she had a dumping incident from eating a very small amount of cookie dough. I had the same reaction as some here "I thought dumping syndrome didn't happen to sleevers?" She said that now that they're really tracking sleeve patients over the last 5 years or so, they are finding that it can happen. It's probably not as severe as bypass patients experience, but it can happen. Usually she said you get the sweats, and cramping in your stomach (maybe having to run to the bathroom included), and you just feel like you have to lay down. She said it lasts about 30-45 minutes, which is shorter then the bypass patient will experience.

I am 32 years old and have been overweight for the last 15+ years. I was just sleeved on Oct 2nd. I'm just wondering, from those of you that are already at goal, or close to your goal weight, and have had to lose 100+ pounds, did your skin tighten up at all afterwards, or do you have a lot of loose, saggy skin? (I expect it in my arms, but just wondering about my mid-section, not that I plan on being able to wear a bikini one day or anything....lol). I'm just hoping I have time on my side, a little bit, being in my early 30's. I am being delusional to think it might tighten up a little and not have an "apron"??

It's totally normal to be scared! I was freaked after my pre-op appt with my surgeon, then I was calm again. Then the morning of my surgery, my husband drove me to the hospital, he pulled in the parking ramp and I looked at him and said "lets go home, I can't do this" But, I knew if I didn't do it, I would regret it! I'm only 2 weeks post op now, so I'm not experiencing all the differences there will be (other then only being allowed liquids still for another week), but I know that since starting the 10 day pre-op liquid diet until now, I've lost 30 lbs already. So it WILL be worth it! Only you can really decide what's right for you, but as a person who has fear and anxiety myself, don't let fear of the unknown rule your decision. My husband was worried (and so was I), about the risk factors and death is always a risk, but I always told him, and reminded myself, I could die driving to work each day, I could die walking to the mailbox, and I could die early because of my obesity. Sometimes the risks are worth it! Good luck!

I'm 2 weeks post op tomorrow, still on "full liquids" only, looking forward to puree food! lol I have cravings for EVERYTHING right now, and I just ignore them because I know I can't have them yet. It's so hard, I've caught myself sometimes taking a small bite of something, chewing it, and then I spit it out because I don't dare swallow it for fear of doing damage. That sounds sad now that I write that, but I couldn't help myself, this is such a tough mental/emotional battle!

The only reason I was on time (every 28 days) pre-op was because of being on birth control pills, otherwise I was very irregular, always have been. I had surgery 10/2, stopped taking the pill 1 day before surgery, and haven't had my period since surgery. I fully expected it to be irregular though due to all the changes going on with my body. I know I'm not pregnant, so as long as I know that, I'm good with not having my period! lol

Yes, it will pass! I had to do a 10 day high Protein liquid only diet, and it was tough, when my husband would bring home pizza and stuff like that for dinner for himself & our son. I never cheated either for fear of surgery not being able to be done if I did (I've heard of that happening to people). It got easier for me (a little), after the first 4 or 5 days. I had surgery on 10/2, and I've had to be on liquids only for a total of 3 weeks post op, can not wait to move to puree foods this upcoming weekend! Just keep reminding yourself why you're doing this and you've come this far, you can keep going! (that's what I tell myself) "it's only temporary, it's only temporary, I will be able to actually eat again....etc" lol Good luck to you!!

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one that is fantasizing about when I am finally able to puree some food! I had surgery on Oct 2, so I'm still only on full liquids, including cream based soups made with milk, cream of wheat and plain yogurt. Yesterday was my husband & my 10th wedding anniversary, and normally we would have went out for a nice dinner together. I was having a really hard time figuring out what to do, so we went to Target, and walked around for a while, came home and that was it. How sad is that?? lol I know eventually we'll be able to go out to dinner again, and this stage is only temporary. But you're right, I too am finding out just what a mental battle this really is. I knew it would be tough ,but didn't quite envision it being quite this difficult. I'm just trying to take it day by day, sometimes hour by hour, constantly reminding myself why I chose this way to go, and what life will be like once I really start noticing the weight loss, and how much better off I'll be. For anyone who likes to judge WLS and think it's taking the "Easy way out", I would beg to differ! This is such a battle, but I know it will get better. Good luck to you!!

Every surgeon is different, some never require a special pre op diet at all, other then clear liquids only the day before. My surgeon had me do a 10 day high protein liquid only diet, (9 days of 5-6 protein shakes a day, then sugar free jell-o, sugar free popsicles, milk, broth, coffee, tea, etc) Then on the 10th day was the clear liquids only. As someone already suggested, I would check with your dr first and see if he has any specific requirements. The diet I was on was to shrink up the fat around my organs to make for a smoother surgery and recovery.

For sure don't freak out! I had to do the 10 day pre-op liquid only diet too, (my surgery was Oct 2). My surgeon never gave me a specific amount of weight he wanted me to lose before surgery. I was told the main point of this liquid diet was to shrink up the fat around the organs, to make for a smoother surgery and recovery. I think you should stop weighing yourself, especially on a daily basis. Our bodies are so up & down when it comes to the scale, just keep the plan that your surgeon gave you and that's all you can do. Just know you're doing the right things and it will work all work out just fine! Keep going, one day at a time!

I'm thankful to see that I'm not the only one with some frustrations in this process. What I find frustrating is seeing the huge differences in some of the post op (& pre op) diet plans, more so with the post of eating plans though. If the purpose of taking it slow and following the doctors orders post op is to be careful with the new sleeve, and be careful not to create leaks for the first 6 weeks, then how can each doctor have such a varying range on what is & isn't okay to eat, especially within the first couple of weeks post op? I am one week post op as of today, and I feel like I could eat a shoe I'm so hungry. I too am SO sick of liquids. I was cleared as of yesterday to "full liquids", which means cream based soup (no chunks), cream of wheat & yogurt without chunks. With only being allowed 2-3 Tbsp. at a time, it is just not doing it for me.

I am one week post op as of tomorrow. I had to do 10 days of a high Protein liquid only pre-op diet. It was very difficult the first 3-4 days, but it did get a little bit easier after that. It wasn't ever a walk in the park, but what kept me on the "straight & narrow" was the fact that I had heard/read that some surgeons won't do the surgery if they get in there and realize you didn't do the pre-op diet. That would really stink to go through the getting on the operating table and waking up in recovery only to find out they couldn't do it. The reason I was told they want people to do the pre-op diet is to shrink up the fat around your organs so it is a much smoother operation and recovery. I know not all surgeons seem to require a pre-op diet, but a lot of them do. Hang in there! It will be worth it! In the bigger picture of life, this will be such a small part of it, you probably won't even remember just how bad it sucks right now.

I had my one week post op follow up appointment this morning, and thankfully was able to be moved to "full liquids" (HELLOOO tomato soup!....lol) Anyway, she was almost hesitant to do so though because I was only tracking that I had averaged 40 oz. of liquid a day. But I said I was having a hard time tracking, so may have gotten more then that in. I've been hesitant to drink too much too fast, out of fear of damaging things, etc. The nutritionist at the hospital told me I should be drinking about 2oz. every 15 minutes. I'm getting better now, and it's my goal to work on increasing that 40 oz. to AT LEAST 48 oz and hopefully more. So that's awesome if you're not having any problems getting in your liquids each day, it is so important to do, you'll know when you've overdone it. Its when it comes eating more "regular" foods that you have to be careful of doing damage. Way to go everyone!!

Well, it sounds like there are a lot of us that feel the same way, that's why I am so thankful for these boards. I was sleeved on Oct 2nd, and I've been doing pretty good, pain has gotten less, other then my stomach muscles hurting. Anyway, I've been doing good with my clear liquids, but I had a mini meltdown today. My husband brought home a loaf of french bread from the Panera Bread table at church this morning, and all I wanted to do was cut off a big hunk of it and eat it! Then my husband & son are having spaghetti & garlic bread for dinner tonight, and it smells heavenly! I can not wait until my follow up appt tomorrow so I can start eating creamed soups & yogurt, but at the same time starting to "eat" again terrifies me too, I'm worried about something going wrong. As you can tell, I feel like I'm on a roller coaster ride....lol

I was just sleeved on Tuesday 10/2, came home yesterday. It makes such a difference to be able to recover at home! I've been feeling much better at home, but let it go a little too long today between taking my pain meds, won't do that again I guess. But it's not really my incision sites that are sore, it's all my stomach muscles around that, they feel so tight. I'm also having trouble getting my gas bubbles moving sometimes, sounds like the heating pad is the answer, I'm gonna have to try that! I had a little trouble at first getting in my liquids in the hospital, scared to drink too much, was having some nausea, etc. But I think my nausea was caused by my own nerves. =) Just continuing to sip away and hope I get enough in. Congrats to all the new sleevers, here's to becoming part of the 'losers club"! P.S. I had to do that swallow/leak test too, and that clear liquid did not taste good, and they had me standing upright first on the table and then had to lay me flat, that was not a fun "ride" to take on that machine the morning after my surgery and feeling nauseous, but I know it was a necessary test!

I know pureed meats don't sound appealing, but I'll tell you want, I'm on day 9 of my liquid only high protein diet, tomorrow starts the clear liquids for a week (surgery is Tuesday, Oct. 2), and I can not wait to first be on the full liquid stage and be able to have tomato soup! lol But then I was reading the pureed foods stage and it all sound delicious at this point! Refried beans with a little sour cream, pureed tuna with lite miracle whip, pureed egg salad with lite miracle whip......I think I'm drooling....lol Never would've thought in a million years I'd be drooling over anyone of those things

It just boggles my mind how different the pre-op diets are depending on the doctor, you'd think there was a "standard" across the board. I agree with the comment above as far as why the pre-op diet is necessary. My surgeon and the bariatric nurse told me it's because the want the fatty deposits around your liver to shrink up so it makes it easier for them to manuver around your organs to do the surgery. Plus, I was told it really helps not only with the surgery itself, but also the recovery and adjusting to your post-op diet. Although, I've been told that afterwards your tastes completely change and it's really tough just to get in your daily requirements of the clear liquids. It certainly won't hurt you any to go on a 10 day liquid diet before hand, if you wish, but I guess we unfortunately are left to just trust that what our dr/surgeon is telling us is the correct thing to do.

So here I am, day 2 of my 10 day pre-op diet, (my surgery is Oct 2), I've been doing okay for the most part, but right now I'm having a moment of feeling like this just sucks! It doesn't help that my husband just made dinner for himself & our son, he made crescent dogs (hot dogs wrapped in a crescent roll with cheese), it's something we don't have very often, and haven't had in a long time, it's not even something I ever crave, I think they taste good, but not normally a favorite. But, man ,does it smell like heaven right now! I would almost kill to eat something, ANYTHING right now. I'm supposed to be on a 10 day, high protein, liquid only diet. I'm already getting sick of the shakes, and broth. I have jell-o in the fridge right now, setting up, so I can at least "eat" that. I've had a SF popsicle too, but that's just not cutting it at the moment. I've seen so many variations of the pre-op diet on here, it's so confusing. What is REALLY the purpose of this?? I know I'll get through this and I'm really trying to keep my eye on the prize, but right now it's so tough, and I have 8 more days of this?!!? I just want to scream and/or cry. Thanks for "listening" to my vent

Thanks so much for the encouragement. This forum/site is such an awesome place to get support/encouragement. I know I can get through this, almost done with day 3. One week from tomorrow I'll be having surgery