Navigating the Wilderness

It would have been nice to be warned that you may have a crisis moment where you question if you did the right thing. It is very common, but docs tend to be all roses and sunshine. It was a very brief period for me, and I am so very happy to Haagen made this choice, but for a day or two I was a wreck. @Jeffrey Stern pretty much summed up your go to foods to stock up on.

Fantastic news, glad to hear from you after surgery!

It's all in the mindset you have. There is no way I could have gone to a party with food one week post-op, but everyone is different. Just go in with a plan and stick to it. If you feel overwhelmed, you can always make an exit.

Sounds like you are getting a very strong grasp on what you need to do to be successful. Congrats on making taking that GIANT step. Best of luck with the rest of your journey!!

I can only tell you what I would do, and that is I would discontinue communications with her. It doesn't mean that you have to cut out your nieces, but I would ignore any further communication from your sister, and frankly would delete all voice mails or email you receive from her. You do not need that crap. Some people feel that family is family and you have to accept them, to me that is complete BS. Nobody has the right to make you feel crappy. N-O-B-O-D-Y. Go about your life knowing you did what was best for you and no one can take that away. Congrats on the weight loss, and keep up the good work!!

I would expect to be on liquids for a couple weeks after surgery, then progress to soft solids, then dense proteins. In my opinion it is not that you CAN'T eat after surgery, it is just that you do not want to damage anything during the healing process. Several months down the road you can eat most foods, and contrary to popular belief, lots of it. Of course you should not do that, and doing so will cause you to gain weight back rapidly, I just wanted to point that fact out because a lot of people new to the procedure simply do not realize that food will literally push through the pyloric valve, or you will throw up, but bingeing is still possible, and thus you should be prepared mentally to avoid it.

OK, I get it. Is there anything else she can she suggests?

Yup. It really depends on the skill and expertise of the doctor and how they deal with working around your liver. My surgeon had me do a 1 day liquid diet before surgery.

Well, as a male, no I have not been through this but: This is fantastic news! I'm always happy to hear about how WLS has changed lives for the better! No need to feel guilty for complaining, that and sharing of information is what this site is all about. Most people feel this way when they are stressed and used to using food for comfort in the past, I think it is perfectly normal. Can you ask the doctor for nausea meds to help? Either way, congrats on everything, I think you are doing wonderful, especially under the circumstances.

Tell them the truth. It will be much easier on you in the long run. I just don't get the stigma so many people fear will follow them. You are making a very positive life choice, let them see that.

To the first part of this question, my answer is nothing, as in I don't say anything else to them, like ever. If they don't support me in decisions to better my life, then f 'em. Of course if this is a close relative and you think they will come around then that is one thing, but this journey is tough enough without someone giving you crap about it. To the second part, if someone directly asks me I always tell them the truth. I just can't see wasting time trying to hide something I am not ashamed about doing. Of course I don't go blaring it from the roof tops, but I also don't hide it. That said it is a personal choice, and everyone has a different take on this. Either way I think you have made a fantastic choice and I wish you all the best in your journey!!

@Dashofpixiedust8 I'm so happy for you, you have long been one of my favorites on here because of your always uplifting posts. Here's to moving on to the next smaller clothes size!!

@Alex Brecher, now THAT is some awesome service! Thanks for everything you do for us!!

Haha, glad to hear you are feeling better. This is the first of many experiences that will help you sort out what it feels like to you to be 'full'.

So very true. At this stage of the game I don't think you should worry about what full feels like, just follow the doctors orders, eat and drink very slowly, and stop eating/drinking when you feel any sensations in your stomach, then wait and make sure it is not pain before continuing. We all have different experiences after WLS so there really isn't a one-size-fits-all answer to your question. Just go slow and aim for your macro and water goals!

It's good to hear it is getting easier for you. I was never a smoker, but there are several on here who went through quitting before and I'm sure they can share some stories.

Very glad to hear you have had the surgery finally. I know you were looking forward to it, and remember the biopsy scare. Here's to hoping your tummy feels better in the very near future!

I think almost everyone feels this way before their first surgery. I have been under general anesthesia 3 times. It sounds scary, but it's really not a big deal, plus the drugs they give you right before will make you very comfortable. The best way to calm your anxiety is to busy yourself doing things you love. If you still have problems talk to your Dr. about anti-anxiety meds. Either way just remember there are millions of people who have gone through this and come out on the other side just fine!

Dam Chewy, the nurses gonna hate you when they gotta shave your stomach for surgery. WUUAHAHHHAAAAAAAAAA. Oh it's the human next to you who is having surgery? I get it, okay, okay, calm down, please don't rip my arms off! Seriously @BRockVSG, great picture! Awesome news that you are getting close to your surgery day. Almost everyone goes through a trepidation/second guess phase at some point during this journey, it is perfectly normal. You may get a little down during the liquid phase and miss solid food, but no worries, it will be over soon and you will be able to start adding dense protein back to your diet which makes a ton of difference. I wish you all the best in your journey!!

One day at a time is a fantastic plan to get through the liquid phase. Keep up the good work!!

Just remember you are the one who makes this call. DS is a fantastic surgery option, but you can always change your mind and opt for a different WLS surgery. In my case what the doctor felt what was best and what I felt was best were different, and I chose to go with what made me the most comfortable. Sounds like you are on the right path, best of luck in your journey!!

^Ditto^

To answer your first question, it was an overnight stay. No big deal. As for after care, there was none except for regularly scheduled follow-ups with the surgeon. I was a little sore for a day or two, had some diaphram spasms and one of my incisions got infected which took some time heal, but overall it was nothing I wouldn't go through again in a heartbeat. Yes you will be on vitamins for the rest of your life, but for me the vitamins replaced meds for diabetes and high blood pressure. It's a big step and an important decision which requires preparation and commitment, but there is no way I'd ever want to go back to how I was before the sleeve.

I was banded 5 years ago and it never worked for me. Sure I would feel full for a few minutes, but then the food passed through the band and into my stomach and I was hungry all over again. I am not unique to band failure, there is a reason why many WLS surgeons no longer perform the surgery, it's because it has a horrible success rate. I converted from a band to a sleeve 5 months ago, and the results have been far better than I ever had with the band. I've lost twice the amount of weight than I ever did with the band, and it has taken care of both diabetes and high blood pressure for me. Of course there are other WLS options like rny bypass and duodenal switch, both of which have their own merits, but I obviously can't give you first hand knowledge of them. Yes, WLS is a major surgery, but it is also in many cases a life-changing and in some a life-saving procedure. The final straw in my decision process for deciding to have WLS was the fact I never had trouble losing weight, but always gained it back. I realized I needed help making sure I could lose it and keep it off. It is one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Sounds about right. I certainly felt the same way about 3 weeks out. Just keep in mind it does get better.