MissKay

I've heard it from my surgeon, and many others that a good plastics surgeon will not do a procedure until you're at goal weight and maintaining for a bit. The biggest reason being that you could wind up needing a revision done to what you've already had. This puts more strain on the body and of course costs more. Most insurances do NOT cover plastics as they deem it as cosmetic surgery. So check into that before assuming it does (not saying you are). I honestly heed to this advice. As much as I already want my excess skin gone, I am waiting til I'm at goal (and personally until after I have kids) to get it done because I don't even currently know how I'm going to afford it once, let alone a second time. Plus, I've followed the journey of a few different wls patients who had plastics and while some seem to bounce back quickly, not everyone is that fortunate and it can take weeks and even months of recovery. For me, I use spanx to help. I don't always need them just depending on what I'm wearing, but they come in handy.

60g is the least. Up to 100g is fine. Really the more you consume isn't going to hurt. It'll simply make you fuller longer. You just want to make sure you're staying under the carb and calorie max.

There isn't a general amount, honestly. Some people because of healing, being swollen, etc. don't lose any weight or even gain a few pounds in the first 2-3 weeks after surgery. Every single person is different. I started at 290 on the day of surgery and in the first month lost about 17lbs. I was one of the lucky few who healed up pretty quickly and was back in the gym 2.5 weeks after surgery. I also have a bit more active of a job, so it keeps me moving (usually).

Um plus there's this:

You will come across lots of posts where others have had the same experience! There always seems to be at least one or two people who will do that. My boyfriend's mom tried that with me and I shot it down by simply just not telling her anything past asking her to watch our dog while I had it done. My boyfriend was that way at first until I had him do his own research and added him to a Facebook support group for my surgeon and he got to see all the posts from the past and present patients. He came around rather quickly. Mostly, just keep it in your head you're doing it for you and your health. Screw anyone else who can't get behind you getting healthy.

Oh god, I'm sorry. That's terrible. I feel like I'm on one lately with suggesting this, but me and a few others have been on the PatchMD vitamins for months now, and I've had 2 rounds of blood tests and they've all came back perfect. They're a life saver honestly. I couldn't do all the oral vitamins and would forget constantly because my schedule changes almost weekly. So I highly suggest those if you're having trouble with oral vitamins.

It is a misconception that you won't feel hunger after surgery because there is absolutely no way to tell whether or not you will or won't until you're post-op. There have been a number of people who (like me) thought they weren't suppose to feel hunger, did, and got frustrated and had a much harder time with head hunger on top of it because everyone was glazing over saying, "No worries! You won't feel hungry!" But it's not true. Sure, you might get lucky and not feel it at all, but I got in my liquids and protein, and I felt like I was starving until I started solid foods. Everyone is different and my point to the OP was to warn them that there is no guarantee that this surgery will make them never feel hunger again. Even now if I go too long between meals I will feel a bit of hunger. Not nearly to the extent that I did post-op or pre-op, but it can still creep up on you.

If it was a leak with your sleeve (internal) I don't believe you'd see this from the incision itself. That could just be discharged from the incision site as it's healing. If your surgeon saw it today and wasn't concerned, I wouldn't worry too much. Just keep it clean and dry, and keep an eye on it. If it's still happening, gets worse, or becomes painful, then I'd call the surgeon/doctor's office and have them check it again to make sure everything is fine and dandy.

Pre-op is typically 1-4 weeks before surgery, so if you're 3 months out you've still got a ways. But there's no better time to start acclimating yourself to the habits you'll have to adopt post-op!

For pre-op I drank the Premier protein shakes. Couldn't stand the taste after surgery, so I switched to mixing Genepro (protein powder) in with many things. Applesauce, soup, broth, juices, smoothies, etc.

She has other health conditions and side effects from medicines that caused gastrointestinal issues that she thought it'd fix, but it wouldn't. It'd help her lose the weight she's carrying around, but not the issues she was zeroed in on. She liked the surgeon at the clinic though! I almost saved up to go there but it was cheaper for me where I went.

Excess weight puts strain and pressure on your spine and back. As you lose it, especially rapidly like many wls patients do, you can experience some pain from it. I did for a while, but it's eased up. If it lingers too long or gets worse, I'd suggest talking to your PCP about seeing a chiropractor just to be on the safe side.

Oh hello, that's my hometown! Born and raised until I was 18. And thanks! I've had my moments of stalls like everyone, but BP has really helped me when I'm feeling defeated. Most everyone here is great. Ask any questions and we'll be happy to help! You can even send me a direct message if you want. Are you seeing the surgeon at the Rockwood Clinic? My sister started the process a few months before me and she almost had it done there but then she chose not to go through it it.

I'd say stay away from beer or champagne if you're sensitive to anything with carbonation. I've been lucky enough not to, but I've only dared to have it twice. I have stuck to Patron or flavored vodka and I've been fine with those things. What I did, and I'd suggest it, is maybe a week before, get a couple of the single serve bottles and test a few different ones to see how your stomach handles them. I figured that was better than tossing back a shot and then regretting it. I sipped at a couple of those over a few hours on a Saturday at home before trying anything out and about. Just be mindful that your tolerance has likely changed. Before it'd take me 6-9 shots to get a buzz, now it takes 2.

I'm in the Tri-Cities

With being only 2 weeks, I can't say I was that much better. I went to the gym at 2.5 weeks and could only do the treadmill and cycle and only about 35 minutes. I was use to 1.5-2 hour work out. I was easily exhausted at that point. You seem to gain energy back about 4-6 weeks when you're starting more solid foods. General motivation, though, just remember wls is only a tool. If you don't use the tool (including exercise) you're bound to lose much slower/not reach goal for a long time.

Unfortunately a lot of them have the requirements, so you're not alone! Sounds like you're on the right path, though. Good luck!

Yes, some don't lose anything (or even gain) in the first couple weeks. Your body is still healing from a big surgery. As long as you're following the food plan provided by your surgeon/nutritionist, getting in your protein and liquids, it will start coming off! Patience is hard to have and I've wrestled with it a few times myself, but you've gotta try to have it. Trust in the process!

" Is it unrealistic for me to be freaking out about this? " @mamapaige Not unrealistic, but definitely an overreaction. Which, you're in early days so you're still learning and whatnot. Your weight can go up for MANY reasons, but it's unlikely due to fat gain. To gain a pound of fat you'd have to consume 3500 calories. Unless you're consuming slider foods, refined sugar, white flour, heavy carbs, etc. this is unlikely to be the case. I had 8 weeks where I lost and gained back the same 3-5lbs. It had a lot to do with stress for me. And I've been steadily losing again since breaking that stall. These things happen. Just follow the plan and trust in the process! These things will fluctuate.

I'm sure you've heard it all before, but I'm going to be the one to toss it out there as a reminder. Quitting smoking and going through the withdrawals will only help your health in the long run anyways. I lost my mom in November because pneumonia turned into a lung infection because of her decades of smoking. Had she of had healthy lungs or quit when I repeatedly asked her for years, she might still be here. And as clc9 said, which is more important? You may be sacrificing your surgery if you don't stop. Have you tried sugar-free gum to help? Sugar-free candies could help too. Not the best suggestions given wls but they are more wls friendly than the usual alternatives.

Everyone is different. Pasta still tastes amazing to me. I don't have it often. Maybe once a month if that. When I do, it's only like an ounce of noodles themselves. But I agree, I bought the Protein pasta and it was disgusting.

I use to get knee pain often, haven't had knee surgery or anything like that though. With what I've lost so far it has helped tremendously and I haven't had any issue (unless I fall and land on my knees because the bone is even more unpadded now, oi).

The drinking thing!! I had to do this for the first few months to remind myself to push liquids. It helped a lot if you're forgetful/busy. My main issue was at work because I don't always have access to a bathroom so I had to be real crafty on when I drank and didn't.

Haha, no worries! I was the same way. There was someone in the Facebook group for Dr. Illan who tested them out and did multiple rounds of blood work and she had success with them. I've had 2 rounds of blood work since starting them and they've both come back perfect. Good luck!

Liquid Vitamins sound.... unfortunate. Sorry! I couldn't stay on top of taking the oral vitamins post-op, there was too many. I highly recommend the PatchMD patch vitamins. You slap it on, 8 hours later take them off, and that's it. They have a wide variety too (even more on PatchMD.com I believe). All my blood work has come back perfectly using them as it's said you absorb much more from them than you do any sort of oral vitamins.