Origin

I had gastric bypass on April 11th 2018, one week ago tomorrow. Surgery went well, the only pain I had after was due to the drain. After my drain was removed on Friday before I went home, I felt great and have ever since. Aside from being slightly sore around the incisions, I barely feel like i had surgery. I'm walking (except for the first couple days, because the weather decided to be winter again), drinking plenty. I'm drinking water, zero calorie/sugar free drinks, and sugar free popsicles. And slowly working up to 3-4 protein shakes per day by my 2 week check up visit, as instructed. I'm a bit frustrated because I haven't been dropping weight like a lot of people seem to do at first. I lost 14lbs during my 10 day pre-op diet. When I got home from the hospital, I was around 5 or 6lbs heavier than the weight the morning of my surgery. I know that is normal and from all the extra fluids they pump in. But I weighed again yesterday, and I was the same weight I was the day of surgery. Am I doing something wrong? I'm on all liquids and have not had anything that I am not allowed to have. I have had this concern since the day I came home. I can drink anything. I feel like I can drink the same as I did before surgery. I know a couple people who have had this surgery, and all they ever talked about was having to always do small sips, that they couldn't drink a lot at once without feeling very full or spitting it back up. I have had none of that at all. I feel the same as I did before (though I do not feel hungry at all yet). I was prepared to feel horrible. I was warned by everyone that I'd have little energy and strength for the first 2 weeks and would need to be working hard on getting enough to drink. No one warns you about feeling normal. I feel like I feel... TOO normal. I almost want to be struggling like everyone else. It feels like I didn't have surgery or I am doing something wrong. Why am I able to drink so easily without feeling any restriction? Has anyone else experienced this? I'm now terrified that once I transition to food that I will feel the same way, and will be a failure. My lack of struggle with drinking feels like I have already failed somehow.

Sorry for the late reply, but thanks to everyone for answering my questions. At my 2 week post op visit I was down 14lbs. Now that I am on puree food, I can definitely feel that I did indeed have surgery! lol. I still never feel anything from drinking, but really feel pressure and tightness feeling after eating. Some things I can eat more of than others. Yogurt is pretty easy to get down right now, but eggs or refried beans I can only eat maybe half the amount before feeling sick. Not worried about it, just going slow. Feeling pretty good overall still!

Eastern Connecticut. If anyone local is ever interested in meeting up feel free to PM me!

No, nothing. They let me have a little sponge on a stick dipped in water. Which helped for about a minute before I'd want to do it again. Dry mouth was AWFUL. My throat hurt bad the first day, was better the next day. Dry mouth was bad the entire time, until the 2nd day at 3pm after the swallow test was cleared no leaks and I was allowed to drink water. It was the best water ever. I was there wednesday- friday, went home in the afternoon on friday. First day was hard just because of the dry mouth and sore throat. Overall the worst parts were that, and the pain from the drain tube making it hard to get comfortable in bed or sleep. I really did not experience any gas pain at all. Starting friday I feel like I am able to drink pretty easily, faster than I see some people do post surgery, I have had no problems at all. Not hungry at all. One thing I did note in the hospital, when they'd be bringing dinner around to everyone, the smell of "real" food or anything hot made me almost want to gag. They brought me broth once, I couldn't stand the smell of it, which was odd. The water, sugar free lemonade, suger free jello and sugar free pops were great though. As of right now I have a strong preference for cold things. I was taking pain meds regularly in the hospital, but as soon as the drain came out, I didn't need them anymore. I have some at home just in case but overall I feel pretty good.

Had my surgery at 8:30 am on Wednesday. Still in the hospital but might be going home today. The worst part about waking up was the dry mouth and not being able to drink. Finally I was cleared to drink yesterday, water has never tasted so good. The most painful thing by far is my drain. My DR doesn't always use a drain but he said there was some scar tissue of unknown cause he had to cut through and put an extra stitch, do he decided to put the drain. I might be getting the drain out today, cannot wait for this thing to be gone. Sent from my SM-N910V using BariatricPal mobile app

Doing ok here. Only liquids for me today as well. Still waiting for the call to find out what time I go into the hospital tomorrow... Excited, a little nervous, I've never really been in the hospital before. But I think I'm more nervous about being away from home for so long and having someone else taking care of my dogs! lol

Congrats on your big weight loss already! I think we all have that desire to have a "food funeral" of all the favorite foods and places we want to eat before surgery. When I got my surgery date, it was far sooner than I was expecting, just under 2 weeks from then. I had to start my pre op diet 2 days after my appointment. At first, while I was excited to get it done so soon and not have to wait a long time for it, I was almost disappointed that I wouldn't have time to go to all the places I had wanted to. Now, I am thankful that I didn't have the opportunity to go "all out". I did eat a few things and went out for dinner the night before with a friend to my favorite place. Just know that no matter how much of your favorite things you eat before your pre op diet starts, no matter how many places you go, it will never be enough. Once you start the pre op diet, no matter how much you had, you will want more. Just one more time! The first few days are rough, with a lot of thoughts of cheating for just "one more time" with your favorite food. Unfortunately the "just one more time" feeling doesn't stop after that one time. You just have to push through, you can do it. It sucks but it will be worth it in the long run. Just remember that it isn't forever. My experience is that the first few days of the pre op diet is the hardest. Once you get into it, I found that my cravings and hunger were much more suppressed the longer I was on the diet. I still get them, but it's easier to ignore, especially being so close to surgery. My pre op diet allows for raw veggies and 3oz of lean meat but honestly, whenever I tried those things, eating such a small amount made me more hungry. I have been just sticking to liquid protein shakes and veggie juice (home made with a juicer, no added sugar). My surgery is in 2 days, April 11th.

Good luck! The first appointment can seem overwhelming with all of the pre op clearances and the time it will take to get to surgery.. But it's really not that bad. And once you're near the end it feels like it flew by! I started in September of 2017, my surgery is in 2 days, April 11th.

I'm a bit late in replying here, I've been out of power for a few days after the last storm we had. I've been really worrying about this part actually! I am a stomach sleeper also... I can NEVER get to sleep in any other position. Anyone that has already had surgery, how long until you were able to sleep on your stomach? 2 more days for us MACPOWER.... How are you doing on your pre op diet? For me it has definitely gotten easier the longer I have been on it

I am going with bypass because I have a lot to lose, and know a couple people personally that also had bypass and look great years out from surgery. The one person I know that had sleeve ended up gaining a lot back. Obvioulsly there are plenty of people who are successful with the sleeve but overall I think bypass is what I need to keep me on track to reach my goal and stay there. 1 week till surgery!

Lucky!! Not knowing is driving me nuts. I would just like to be able to plan things for that day so i know when I need to leave for the hospital. My information packet says the surgery schedule is not finalized until the day before, and a nurse will call between 3-6pm the day before to tell me my surgery time! Ugh!

Wow, that's impressive weight loss in such a short time! Pickles are definitely a great "cheat", I am so sick of DRINKING everything all day. Though I suppose I should get used to it, since I will have another 2 weeks of liquid after surgery! Oh well, it will all be worth it in the end. The days are going by so slowly now... I can't wait for April 11th!

I was thinking that is probably what's happening. I have not been cheating at all, my pre op diet allows for raw veggies and 3oz of lean meat but I've been mostly sticking to the shakes. Going to try to increase my water intake to hopefully kick start the weight loss. 8 days to go!

I get that vibe too. I guess us newbies need to stick together! This pre op diet is not easy. And the sudden onset of "second winter" where I live has made it SO much harder! Being outside and active all day was helping pass the time faster. My pre op diet allows for raw veggies, and 3oz of lean meat. Though I have found that having that small amount is more of a tease than anything and just makes me more hungry! So I've been sticking to just the shakes and trying to drink a lot of water. 8 days to go... surgery on April 11th! I'm not sure if it's the same for everyone, but the hospital I am going to does not tell you your surgery time until the day before surgery, which is driving me nuts!

It's... going. Not fun but it gets easier after the first couple days. Haven't cheated yet and not planning on it. How's yours going? They told me I should lose around 10lbs on the pre op diet, I'm kind of worried about that since I haven't seen a big drop yet despite not cheating, but there's still a week to go at least.

Good luck! Update when you can, great intro video.

My surgery date is April 11th! Excited and nervous. It's been a long wait since my first appointment back in August of last year. Now I just need to survive this pre op liquid diet!