orionburn

You will. Your body has been through a major surgery and on top of it you aren't giving it a lot of fuel to work with. If you're like me who was a carb junkie prior to surgery it seemed like I had my legs cut off without carbs in my diet. Although I didn't sleep any extra (outside of a rare nap here or there) I felt run down most days and doing the simplest of tasks wore me out quickly. I remember running the vaccum about 3 weeks after surgery and even that was a chore. For me it was around week 4 where I felt I was starting to come back to normal. Don't stress about it. You'll be back to normal before you know it.

That right there. It isn't so much that fruit is bad for you as it is packed with carbs. That being said they don't want you on a lot of foods/fruits this early on because you are still healing. I know it's frustrating seeing so many doctors doing things one way or the other. It doesn't make it easy for the patients. If you're going to cheat, which I don't recommend of course, I wouldn't be adding fruits in this early. This stage sucks but trust me it won't be worth it if it causes a set back. As one that had complications I seriously wouldn't risk it for a few more days of struggle. Anything that delays your healing only adds to the misery. I loathed my protein shakes ath that point as well so I feel your pain.

I did. Complications can happen. Isn't the end of the world but something to keep in mind. For me my supposed to be 3 day stay turned into almost a week (my spleen decided to start bleeding for fun on day #3 at the hospital). Despite having complications I don't regret doing the surgery. As to the original poster - no regrets. I think what many of us are looking for when we ask this question is more of how badly am I going to miss certain things? Do I miss those binge eating days, or stuffing myself on Thanksgiving, or those stops by the gas station to load up on snaks for road trips? Sure, I miss it to an extent, but now I look at it like giving up smoking. There's still times where I miss it but I know I'm better off without it in my life. The good by far outweighs the bad. While the responses have mainly been positive there certainly are people on the forum that have regrets. Complications are something you have to come terms with and know that there is always a chance something could happen, whether it's getting acid reflux down the road or something more complicated. For the health problems I had prior to surgery I figured it could only make things better and it did.

Good that she's not too concerned. I had a lot of issues with constipation the first few months. Hopefully you don't have the same! It's common to have issues going after surgery so you're not alone in this.

Highly likely that it is something simple like a blood pressured drop due to getting up too quickly or other activities. I would get it when I was overweight and still get it from time to time now. It's a pretty common thing even for people with normal blood pressure (including myself).

As weird as it was salads was one thing I was looking forward to the most and missed so much in the early days. It's a mainstay in my diet again thankfully.

Yep...it can be miserable. I had to force my shakes down and by the end I never wanted to see one again. Those first 2 weeks are a pain but it'll all be worth it. Just have to remember that it's only for a bit longer. Hang in there!

I'd talk to your doc. Two weeks doesn't seem normal. It is common to have issues with constipation and not going that much, but you should be going from time to time. May need to work in some more fiber and/or a laxative. Give your doc a call and see what they recommend. Last thing you want is to get an impacted bowel. Good luck!

- How do I know if surgery is right for me and how did others come to that conclusion for themselves? That's a question we all have to find an answer to on our own. I've fought being overweight all my life. I considered WLS over the years but sadly kept talking myself out of it. Yes, it's a drastic change, but a lot of it was the "Oh noes! I can't make a pig out of myself on Thanksgiving any longer! What ever will I do!" What pushed me over the edge was that I was continuing to gain more weight. My sciatica had gotten so bad that walking was painful for more than 5 minutes at a time. I lived that way for almost 2 years and said enough was enough. It was either back surgery or get the weight off. I wanted to do everything I could before having to consider back surgery. Talked with my family doc and he was fully on board with me having WLS and thought it would be best for me. - What factors are taken into consideration when chosing what type of surgery to get (bypass, sleeve etc) ? Personally I think it depends on what you struggle with. For me it wasn't sweets and candy. It was pretty much all portion control problems. Sure I love ice cream like anyone else, but it was always going back for that second plate of pasta that was doing me in. While the bypass was appealing in that it could cause a greater overall weight loss (and quicker) I was put off by the extra vitamins and other concerns about getting in all my nutrients. In the end I was okay with maybe not losing as much or weight coming off a bit slower. - Did anyone feel any shame or embarassment about it? And if so, why and how did they deal with it? Sure, there was some embarassment. It felt like I was admitting defeat and fought that stigma of "taking the easy way out." Having gone through it now I can say it's no easy way out. It's a tool that has helped me greatly but it required a lot of lifestyle changes that weren't easy to overcome. - Did anyone have to deal with criticism? Honestly have yet to face anyone that has been critical of my decision. Lot of others on here haven't been so lucky unfortunately. I'm sure I'll face a few in time, but all in all it's not something I would worry too much about. It's your decision to make. - Did anyone keep it a secret or can it even be kept a secret? You'll find many on here that have kept it a secret. Again it's a personal preference. I'd rather be open and honest about it and if somebody doesn't want to be my friend because of I'd rather know about it so I can tell them to sod off...lol - How did everyone go about asking their doctor for surgery? Again I'll reference back to my sciatica issues. I'd been trying various treatments for over a year with no success. Told my doc I was considering it and he recommended it. From there I started researching on my own and started with who would be in my insurance network. There are a lot of pros & cons with having WLS as well as risks. I was one that had some complications a few days after surgery that made for a miserable week at the hospital. Even with that I wouldn't change a thing. It's something I truly wish I would have done all those years ago.

Yes, they were a life saver for me. Many of the Crystal Light flavors I loved prior to surgery tasted awful afterwards. My taste buds were all over the place in the first month after surgery. The popsicles were a huge help in getting a bit more fluids in and having something "to do" since I couldn't stand my protein shakes or give any thought to actually eating food. While I stopped with the popsicles about 6 weeks after surgery they were a big help to have in the early days.

I used to HATE Greek yogurt with a passion. I've actually come to like it now more than the standard Yoplait yogurts that I used to get. There are some really good ones out there now. The lower calorie ones that Dannon and Yoplait make are great and they actually have fruit in them. The Oikos ones are good as well but they aren't as good as the others IMO. Yogurts are clutch for me because it's an easy way to get a good shot of protein and calcium in. If you can't stomach the taste of eating yogurt by itself the other thing you can do is try using it as a substitute for mayo. I've fine tuned my chicken salad recipe over the past few months. I’ve moved away from using only mayo to about 80% plain Greek yogurt and 20% mayo. It does make it a wee bit blander, but with the right seasonings it tastes just as good. So now I’ve managed to get more protein into it and cut way back on the calories/fat. It’s also an easy way to boost your protein shakes. Throw a spoonful in and you’ll never know it’s there. In time you might find yourself liking it more. Right after surgery there were things I came to hate that I used to love. Certain drink mix flavors of Crystal Light were my favorites and came to despise them. The first month I was all screwed up with my taste buds. It’s normal to go through that and after a few weeks things got back to normal. I know for some they can’t do Greek yogurt no matter what. It can be an acquired taste for sure.

The act of chewing starts sending signals to your stomach to prepare for food, so in all actuality you may be doing more harm than good for yourself. My doc flat out didn’t want us chewing any sort of gum for the first 2 months. Probably more caution than anything, but the fear was that in the early days after surgery you could accidentally swallow your gum and it could get stuck if you’re still fighting inflammation. The calories from the gum really isn’t much to be concerned with. I went through a ton of popsicles the first month after surgery. That gave me something to do since getting fluids in was a challenge for me.

I've been up and down with my weight over the years. I didn't realize how "up" I had gotten again until we took a family trip to Florida and went to Universal Studios. We went to get on a ride and I couldn't get the shoulder bars to lock into place. So I had to get off while the rest of the family went on the ride. I wanted to die right then and there. I feel your pain. My sciatica had gotten so bad about 2 years after that where I couldn't walk for more than 5 minutes without being in horrible pain. That finally drove me to get my sleeve done. You're taking the right approach. Too many overlook the mental aspect of having WLS. The surgery is a tool. If I really wanted to it would be easy to take up a diet that would lead me to gaining weight back. Food is just as addictive as any drug, alcohol, tobacco, etc. I equate it to overcoming being an alcoholic – you’re never really “over” it. Some days it will be a battle to stay strong. Over time it gets easier and easier and you don’t think about it as much, but there will be times when you have to fight those urges. Some days/weeks are really tough, but as time has gone by it gets a bit easier to fight those urges. I never thought I’d be able to give up smoking and I did. It’s a long journey but having the right mindset will give you all the more success on the other side, and you’re on the right path. Best of luck to you on your journey!

I know it's hard to resist counting calories, but honestly in the early days don't stress about it. I did my journals to track protein as usual. First couple of weeks I was probably around 600 a day. That's all I could manage. Mainly stuck to yogurts, protein shakes, and the early soft foods allowed on my plan. If you're info is accurate it looks like you're only about a week out from sugery? Seriously that's way to early to be stressing about the weight coming off. Getting healed up is priority #1. The weight will come off. Your body has been through a helluva a lot so be patient with it. You're also at a bit lower weight than a lot of others. It's just the nature of the beast. It always seems that weight comes off quicker in the beginning for those that weigh more. Focus on the basics right now. Don't think of your walks as exercise to lose weight. It's to get you up and moving and help the healing process. You got all the time in the world coming up to fine tune your diet and exercise program. I had complications after surgery which made for a very long 2 weeks after surgery. Don't push yourself too hard because it isn't worth risking any setbacks. In time you'll get your calories up, and you're right that you will need to. If they're too low your body will resist wanting to shed weight. I hit a stall for about a week or two in the early months and found that actually increasing my calories helped get the weight coming off again. That being said we're all different. Keep doing a food journal because that will give you something to go back and look at and help figure out what is and isn't working for you. In a few weeks you'll have a lot more options and you'll be feeling way better. The time right after surgery is tough physically as well as mentally. The mental part is what a lot of us weren't fully prepared for. Give it some time and it will all be good!

I'm 11 months out. I've had a drink here and there. The two big things are (a) it will likely hit you fast & hard and (b) if it's beer take your sweet ass time with it. Eating and drinking a beer is near impossible for me. I have to be careful of the timing. You don't want to drink on an empty stomach, but it can make you feel super bloated if you drink too soon after eating. So it's kind of a catch 22. I do not drink on a regular basis. I'm a craft beer guy and enjoy taking a small glass from time to time. Normally I can only manage half a can/bottle and I'm done, else it takes me like an hour to drink an entire glass. No matter what take it slow!

I'm in the "it's normal" camp. Depends a lot on what I eat, how fast, etc. Usually it only happens when I get an overly full feeling. Not sick or pushing the limits...just that "oh I shouldn't have had that last bite" type of thing. They aren't huge burps. They're little ones that seem to want to work their way out over a few minutes time. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Six months was about the time I first tried them. Like the others said I could only manage like 3 of them and was done. The awesome thing was that for once I had wings to take home instead of stuffing them down like I always used to...lol. I love spicey stuff but I've stuck to the milder sauces to avoid upsetting my stomach. You could also give the dry rubs a go. Personally I like to have some sauce to add some more moisture to the chicken. For whatever reason chicken is still the one meat source that trips me up from time to time and makes me feel ill.

I picked this up from Amazon and works well enough. Never had any issues with it and is small and easy to store. https://www.amazon.com/stores/node/2598028011?_encoding=UTF8&field-lbr_brands_browse-bin=Ozeri&ref_=w_bl_hsx_s_ki_web_2598028011

Totally normal. I was super tired/lazy for the first two weeks. It takes a lot out of you. I seemed to have a lot of swelling the first few days and it was really difficult to get anything down, including plain water. The thing I struggled with was not sleeping so much that I cut into my time to get fluids down because it was so tough. Once things start to get on the upswing it will get easier and easier.

As one that had a prolonged stay I feel your pain, but do know that it will get better! My supposed to be 3 day stay turned into almost a week thanks to my spleen springing a leak on day 3 and putting me into ICU for 2 days (and still a day and half in the hospital afterwards). I went through the same thing of thinking I made a big mistake. The first few weeks were tough...I won't lie. After that things got better and they will for you as well. I'm almost to my one year anniversary and feel that it was the best thing I ever did despite having the initial problems. Hope you're doing better at this point!

It's tough to say for certain because everyone is going to heal differently. I had complications a few days after surgery so that slowed my recovery down. In total I was off of work for 2 1/2 weeks but 3 would have definitely helped. My doctor wanted me off 4 weeks but simply couldn't do it financially. I have a desk job as well so it wasn't so bad coming back. I wasn't in any pain at that time but still felt completely exhausted most days. For many that's going to be the struggle. You also want to keep in mind that a big part for taking time off is to stay focused on getting your fluids and protein in. It is easy to get distracted and not keep up. If you're like me where it was a struggle to get fluids down you can fall behind quickly, and trying to get "caught up" is not as easy as it sounds. Lot of people on here went back after a few days. Others took the entire month off. Sorry that there really is no right answer for this. If they have the flexibility I would ask for 2 weeks minimum and a max of 4. Hopefully they'd let you come back after 3 weeks if you feel up to it.

It depends on what you think reset means. If you think it means it will "reset" your stomach to a smaller size, then no. That's a myth that needs to go away badly. If you look at it as a mental reset, then that's fine. Stalls are normal. Spend some time searching the forum and you'll see an ungodly amount of posts on the topic. And pretty much all of them are going to suggest the same things: What's your diet look like? How much excercise are you getting? How is your fluid intake? What's your carb intake? How long have you been in a stall? Going back to a liquid diet and/or uber low carbs can help get things kick started again. Just forget this idea that your stomach will magically shrink in size.

I'm about a year out and still struggle with this. I was a massive drinker prior to surgery so I could drink a 44 oz pop with me meals no problem. There are times where I do take a sip or two like you just because things feel kind of "stuck" in my stomach. Taking a little bit of water seems to help. I don't do it often. It is something that could lead to a slipperly slope if 2 drinks becomes 3, then 4, etc. It's like the majority of things in life - anything in moderation is fine.

Liquids pass through the stomach faster than solids, and yes, it isn't often you'll get a full feeling from liquids only (shakes included). One you hit solids that will all change. First time I tired to eat a single egg I couldn't finish it. In time you'll be able to east slightly larger portions. It's the density of the food that really matters. Months later a cup of cut up chicken would leave me feeling stuffed and miserable, but a cup of something like mashed potatoes wouldn't make me feel full at all. Be thankful you're having an easy time getting things down! At that point I was still struggling to get anything down without a fight.

It's cutting out the carbs that helps shrink your liver, so yes you technically could eat meat and still have your liver size reduced. That being said I agree that most of this is pyschological and getting used to not eating prior to the surgery helped deal with it afterwards. Granted afterwards was a bit easier because I had no desire to eat at all for the first week.