dhrguru

Technically no I didn't. I "blurred the lines" between purees and soft foods- but otherwise I stuck to my 1 week clear liquid, 2 week full liquids and then purees/soft foods for 4 weeks. No ill effects- but then I figure I mostly followed the rules

I took 3 weeks from my office job. It wasn't just about the physicality of the work I do, but I wanted time to work through post op diet phases, and learn and adapt to my new normal.

Early on I did like you, stayed off the scale totally until my post op appointment. After it, I weighed weekly for a few months. I started daily weighing when I joined a weight loss study. I'm glad I weigh daily now, but I couldn't have appreciated the fluctuations just after surgery- it would have driven me crazy!

Being lightheaded if fairly normal. Side effects from the anesthesia, also, if you can monitor your cloud pressure, it could be doing low especially if your on bp meds. You'll feel better, for me it was week 3.

I'm curious, who/where is your support system? You said your Mom and aunt have been through this, have you expressed your feelings to them? Reached out for moral support? Is your fiance a support? Why have you not seen your doc since surgery?, usually the first post op visit is one week out. I won't tell you what you don't want to hear or believe, you seemed to have made up your mind. Be very careful in seeking reversal. It's complicated and there's no telling if you'll ever be back to what you think is 'normal'.

My starting weight is what I weighed in at at my first WLS appointment, 335.

All the best for today!

Here's my before/'after' (it took me a minute for me to figure out the abbreviation).

I chose bypass because I wanted the dual advantage of malabsorption and restriction. Also, I felt that was my surgeon's strongest skill, doing bypass procedures. I'm almost 10 months out and down 110#. I don't dump and can still eat sweets, I just try and avoid them. I think my surgery lasted about 3 hours... But I also had a hernia repair.

Regain, that's what I fear. Yes I worry a lot about it. I worry if the changes I'm adopting are sustainable for maintenance. To combat that fear I'm not really restricting my eating options. Meaning maintenance for me won't look much different than my weight loss phase. (Guess I'll see how this works) I worry about forgetting the basixs as time goes on too. To combat that I keep a notebooks of my favorite meals, snacks etc. So I can easily look back when I get bored with what I eat and forget the fact that I do have plenty of options.

Whats causing you to gain? Have you let bad habits back in? Are you still eating dense Protein first? Not drinking with meals? Avoiding alcohol and other calorie filled drinks? What's your carb intake? Do you measure portions? Track what you eat? Exercise? Personally I don't think that going back to liquids will help if you do it for x amount if days without adjusting the other habits in your diet that aren't WLS focused. If you feel you need a kick start, it'll work, but if you return to the same habits that are causing you to gain, it will be for naught.

I think many of us live in a 'chosen' state of oblivion with regard to our weight. Subconsciously we are aware, but aren't ready to deal with it. When I made the decision to have surgery and really became in tune with how my health was and could have been impacted due to my weight, I had many 'thank God' moments that it wasn't worse than it was for me. I want discouraged, but just thankful my chosen state of ignorance didn't cost me more. Don't grapple with the choices of yesterday-- they can't be changed. Learn from it, and use what you learn to aid in your success post op!

Welcome! Orientations are pretty thorough, there really weren't any question left to be asked at mine, but be prepared. I had a starting bmi over 53, and like you, all else in the my life was going great except the weight. I'm talking it one pound at a time, finally!

Welcome!! Best of luck for your surgery. Don't be stranger

If you're thinking no one else had experienced what you are experiencing, your not reading enough here. Nothing sounds abnormal about what you're going through. Did you have labs drawn? If so review the result yourself, it's pretty easy to see if your numbers are in range, low or high. See anything concerning, ask your doc specifically since he didn't bring it up. Or ask here. If no lab were drawn, ask for them to be, if he days no, go to your pcp and see if they will order them for you. Take control of your healthcare, don't wait for the doc to direct you. All because your doc said move to solids, doesn't mean you're ready. Progress through stages as you can tolerate them, but you have to try and incorporate solids. Can you keep a Protein shake with you on the floor at work? Drink that through the day and use your lunch/ breaks to try and get in a small amount if solid foods. And it sounds like you need to expand your diet a little. Early in my favorites were: Turkey meatball, mashed, in sauce with ricotta. Corned beef hash/ scrambled egg. sugar free puddings, Soups, etc.

While I wouldn't tell you that you're too young, I always grow concerned with I see folks in their late teens/early 20's opt for surgery. I'm 38 and am glad I didn't do it younger. Why, 1) because the mental fortitude it take to keep this lifestyle going is a lot. When your that young it takes lots of discipline to live/eat differently than your friends. 2) for ladies who haven't had kids yet, pregnancy and adjusting to motherhood is huge potential for regain. Personally, I'm glad I waited to the point I did. I'm not saying it's not possible to have WLS and maintain at an early age, just that it takes a whole lot of discipline.

Are you pre or post op? I'm surprised she put you on any type of med without taking a look at your blood work first.

I was lap RNY with a hernia repair. Use the pain meds, don't be a hero.

Yes, when your a1c crosses 6 I believe you are considered to have type 2 diabetes. You should follow up with You PCP

I totally get where you are coming from. I cringe when I see certain self-loathing posts about starting at a weight many dream to just reach. I try not to to say anything about it because I think we all had a degree of self-disgust at some point or another-- and came to terms with who we are/were at different paces. I just write it off to that person never learned to love/appreciate themselves at their highest weight. It took some work, but I did.

Part of me wonders if what they can relate to is the struggle to lose weight. I don't care if you have 20 or 200#'s to lose-- the battle is no different. But I agree, living SMO @ 330#'s vs. totally different than living "overweight" at 215#'s. Granted the health impact can be the same at both weight though.

What I felt prior To surgery? Doubt. Doubt it'd work, doubt I could do it. Fear I'd end up with me complications coming out THEN I had prior to. I didn't have many co morbidities, but was keenly aware I was on the fast path to developing many. What I feel after surgery? Often, Pride. Pride in the good choices I make, whether it be did our exercise. Fear to a lesser degree, fear that I won't reach my goal, or will let life's complications derail me. Relieved that so many things are easier now, like shopping, or walking a flight of stairs. There are lots of feelings at play, deal with them all and sort through them, don't let them consume you.

I was in the same boats as you- had a hernia repair hat wasn't known about going in. He said it was small but still needed to repair it. My recovery was about 3 weeks to feel fully functional again. I doubt the hernia repair had much to do with it.