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When I had my surgery, the only people who knew were my husband and 3 or 4 of my trusted friends. I didn't tell the rest of my family, including my children or my parents. As time has gone by, I have told other people. It just didn't feel as important to keep it a secret. However, at about 1 year out, my kids started asking me questions. They thought I was sick because I wasn't eating much. I told them mostly to relieve their concern. But, the rest of my family still doesn't know. It can be done, depending on how close you are to your family. I'm not close to mine and I don't see most of them very often. My kids, though, even though they live in another state, they noticed and were genuinely concerned that I was sick.

OK. I feel like I've been living under a rock. Totally missed this whole post and had no idea about GreenTealeal's surgery. Congrats @GreenTealael! You look amazing!

I'm an Unjury fan. I've tried others, but have always stuck with Unjury. You can put the unflavored in just about anything. *Be careful with hot items. Anything over 140° will cause it to curdle a bit. These days, I put it in my yogurt for an extra-protein fortified yogurt.

As you approach your surgery date, cold feet are normal. I know I had bouts of doubt all the way up until they strapped me to the surgery table and placed the mask over my face! Just keep reminding yourself about all the things that made you decide that this was the best option for you. Pain-wise, this surgery really isn't that bad. Or at least it wasn't for me. I had pain in the hospital, but it was well controlled. They sent me home with a prescription for Tramadol, but I didn't even fill it. Tylenol was more than enough to keep me comfortable.

I think I'd start with seated exercises. YouTube is full of them. If possible, aquatic exercises are also very good. You can often find classes at the local YMCA or equivalent. For strength, I'd get me some thera-bands and incorporate it into my seated exercises. Best of luck. Hopefully you can eventually transition to weight-bearing exercises.

I don't know about everybody, but I know the I have experienced negative consequences of sugar. I can eat sugar in small quantities and have since sleeved. Long story-I don't do well with artificial sweeteners. However, if I get carried away and have a lot of sugar or I don't balance that sugar with protein/healthy fats, I get a definite reaction. I feel a little nauseated, get cold sweats and can get a bit of a GI purge from down below if you get my drift. My trainer/mentor always said that he could tell as soon as sugar hit his system. I'll be honest. This was before I had surgery and I thought he was a little wacka-do. Now, I totally get it and I liken my reaction to what he described. This reaction or "dump" might not be as severe as RNY, but I certainly do get a reaction. PS-I have NEVER gotten any kind of reaction from fruit. Only if I've eaten things with processed sugar.

I second @Sosewsue61's suggestion. Try an elimination diet. Eliminate foods that have a high inflammatory response and slowly re-introduce them to your diet to see if this increased inflammation is maybe related to your diet. For general inflammation, I take a Tumeric supplement. I don't take it ALL the time. I go through periods where feel like I need it. Best of luck solving this mystery.

I eat fruit, not daily, but when it's there I eat it. Meaning, I don't generally buy a lot of fresh fruit. I just can't eat it fast enough before it goes bad. My portions are quite small. EX: I can usually only get in about half an apple. But, I haven't had a problem with any fruit I've tried.

Sleeve gastrectomy is not a malabsorptive procedure. The majority of your nutrients and medications take place in the small intestine, not the stomach. There should be no interference in the absorption of medications with the gastric sleeve. However, when in doubt, ALWAYS ask your doctor/surgeon.

Well, maybe a minor lesson in the difference between the procedures. Sleeve gastrectomy (aka gastric sleeve): inherently a restriction WLS. They remove 80% of your stomach and shape your stomach into a sort of "banana-shape" to reduce the AMOUNT you can eat. Period. You get whatever nutritional value from what you eat, good or bad. RNY-gastric bypass: Is a combination restriction and malabsorption WLS. The surgeon divides your stomach and forms a small pouch. That pouch is then re-routed to bypass the remainder of your stomach and the first part of your intestine. The first part of your intestine is responsible for absorbing nutrients and calories. Therefore, not only can't you eat as much but not all of what you eat is getting absorbed. There are lots of other procedures: duodenal switch and mini-gastric bypass to name a few. They are all "invasive" in that a doctor has to enter your abdominal cavity and make changes to your anatomy. I'm not sure you could say that sleeve is any more or less invasive than bypass. Definitely discuss it with your doctor. Ask his advice and don't simply rely on the fact that he does more/less of a certain procedure. Do your research. Ask Questions. There are many factors to consider when you're deciding between the 2: past medical history, the amount of weight you need to lose, etc. For me, the deciding factor was that I absolutely did not want the malabsorptive aspect of RNY and was willing to risk the possibility of reflux. Which I did get, by the way, although it's rather minor and currently well-controlled.

Honey, this is exactly what the band is SUPPOSED to do. You WANT to eat, but the band stops you. The "wishing you could eat more" is a whole other subject. The area of the stomach that is responsible for satiety is in the top portion of your stomach. The bottom portion isn't calling out to you. This is your head thinking you didn't eat enough, aka "head hunger." When I was banded, I could eat small amounts (usually about 1/2-1cup) of food. The amount of time before I felt hungry again depended on what I ate. If I ate a cookie or cupcake, I was hungry again in about 15 minutes. If I ate solid meat and vegetables, I wasn't hungry for hours. With the lapband, if I ate too quickly or didn't chew my food well enough, it felt like razors trying to pass through that stoma. It hurt so bad and I didn't want to have to experience THAT again, so I'd go back to my chewing/eating slowly/etc. Then I'd forget and the RAZORS would quickly remind me. I never had the "burp" and I'm cleared thing other than once when I had something stuck in the stoma (I hadn't chewed a piece of meat well enough). When my gallbladder went crazy, I had a lot of violent vomiting and my band slipped. I didn't have it out because it failed me. I had it out because it slipped and was giving me reflux for years before the doctors found the slip. With the sleeve, it is much the same. I eat small amounts, about the same as the band. The amount of time before I feel hungry again is exactly the same as the band. If I eat junk food or high-carb food, it doesn't satisfy me and I'm hungry again very quickly. If I eat a meal with substance, I could go 3 or 4 hours without being hungry. EX: for lunch today I had a small salad and some tomato soup. I ate it about an hour ago and I'm still as full right now as I was when I stopped eating. This will probably last me at least another hour or 2. I still have the razor feeling if I eat too fast or don't chew well enough. I get a "hard stop" if I've reached my max capacity, which I try not to do. It's painful and I can get thick saliva that foams. In comparison between band and sleeve, I'd say they were very similar. I have a firmer "hard stop" with the sleeve, but that's OK. Otherwise, the satiety and consequences of not chewing well enough are the same. I'm still of the opinion your problem may be related to what and how you're eating. I wasn't able to tolerate fills at all in my band, so I never got the full benefits of having the adjustable restriction, but I never felt like I was starving. Go back to the basics of your bariatric diet. Chew well and eat s-l-o-w. Log everything you eat, so you know how many calories you're getting. If necessary, contact a nutritionist for a diet plan. If you're still struggling after all that, maybe a counselor? disclaimer: My comments are not intended as medical advice. When in doubt, always contact your doctor.

The stigma of WLS is one of the reasons I chose not to tell many people about my sleeve. I'm a rather private person anyway, so when people started seeing me lose weight and asked, I answered truthfully: I'm eating less, focusing on protein, cut carbs and snacking (or any combination of all the sleeve behaviors I've adopted). I don't feel too guilty about it. It's the truth and they don't need to know my personal health history. That being said, I haven't experienced much negativity from those who I have chosen to tell. My son was the only one who seemed taken back. He reacted disappointed in me, almost angry, but hasn't really commented much. Otherwise, my closest and truest friends have been nothing but supportive.

I don't know...it sounds like your band is doing what it's supposed to do. It is supposed to limit the amount of food you can eat by slowing its movement into your stomach. Think of it as a sort of hour-glass where the sand (food) is held at the top and trickles down into the larger portion of the stomach to be digested. The kinds of foods you're describing that you can eat "gobs of" are considered "slider foods" that slide right through. Visualize the hour-glass again. If you pour liquid foods or semi-liquid foods, they slide through the opening. I would think you've had similar experiences with smooth soups, ice creams, puddings, etc. The key is you're not supposed to be eating those items and if you do, you should be limiting yourself in quantity and frequency. When you're foods are getting stuck and causing you pain, have you chewed them to a pulp? I saw an article today that we should be chewing to applesauce consistency. I don't know if I could do THAT, but you should be chewing so there are no "chunks" trying to get down. Again...visualize the hour-glass. Chunky food clots up the works. The band isn't supposed to prevent you from eating things you shouldn't. It's a tool to help you feel fuller, longer and therefore eat less. It's still up to you to eat the right things and eat mindfully, meaning chew well and take breaks. All other WLS have the same issues with slider foods. My advice: before you consider a revision, start tracking everything you eat. Be honest with the types and quantities of food. Call your doctor and or nutritionist. It sounds to me like you need to get back on track, following the rules. No WLS is the magic ticket out of fat-ville. They're all just tools. Best of luck!

My only experience is Lapband to Sleeve. However, I had a former co-worker who had RNY and stretched out her pouch. Gained all her weight back, plus some. She had her RNY pouch revised to make it smaller again. I lost track of her, so I honestly can't tell you whether or not she was successful. Also, in my line of work I see a lot of medical records. I read a case where a sleeved patient had a revised sleeve.

In my opinion, any WLS is what you make of it in terms of weight loss. WLS is only a tool to help you along a weight loss journey. It's entirely up to YOU to follow your dietary and exercise recommendations, not only for immediate post-op but to continue to eat healthy and exercise well past maintenance.

Things I needed: chapstick Toothbrush/toothpaste Hair comb/brush and scrunchie clean underwear for the trip home Phone/charger For the most part, the hospital provided everything I truly needed. I never changed out of my hospital gown. It just seemed too much of a chore to get into my PJ's with the IV. I kept those non-skid socks on that they gave you and they were fine for trips to the bathroom or the walks in the hall. BTW: do you REALLY want your personal slippers collecting who knows what from the hospital floor? Actually, they sent me home with a whole care-package: supplements, vitamins, a nice insulated bag and a cute Bari-bear. I strategically arrived at the hospital wearing what I knew I'd go home in: comfortable bra, change of underwear, stretchy/comfy pants and a loose shirt. I didn't even "make-up" to go home. Just washed my face, brushed my teeth, combed my hair.

#1-it's not uncommon to have some heartburn in the early days. It's probably also contributing to the nausea. Many doctors prescribe a proton pump inhibitor right out of the gate. Some patients are able to stop after a period and some take them long-term. Call your doctor and ask him recommendations for PPI's. #2-regarding going to the bathroom every 20 minutes: If you're drinking your fluids as you should, you have to excrete them. I would think this would even out at some point. If your BMs are liquid, that's also not terribly unusual. Liquids in=liquids out, regardless of which orifice they're coming out of. All these new experiences can be scary, but so far it sounds like you're perfectly normal. When in doubt, call your doctor. Bonus: if the thought of drinking broth is grossing you out, drink bouillon. I don't particularly care for broth, but I like bouillon. Also, Unjury makes a good protein chicken soup/broth that would qualify as a clear liquid. Even when I wasn't on clear liquids anymore, I'd have that for lunch to get a protein boost. Caution: bouillon and Unjury's Chicken Soup are high in sodium.

All symptoms of dehydration. I second Fluffychix's suggestions and add jello, popsicles, and Powerade. If you're that sensitive, you may want to try Pedialyte. Symptoms of gallbladder are severe pains in the right upper quadrant/right flank area and does not include dizziness/weakness/etc. Make every effort to get some fluids in. It seems weird that dehydration makes it so you either don't want to drink or can't keep it down, but that's the god's honest truth.

I second GreenTealeal's advice and only add info on my personal experience: I was given a prescription for Tramadol, but never filled it. I took tylenol as needed for pain but only needed it for 3 or 4 days.

My incisions were VERY slow to heal. It seemed that they were pink and sensitive for MONTHS! Once my scabs were gone, I started applying BioOil every day. Today, they're barely noticeable.

There are seated exercises for the disabled. Google that and you'll find plenty of information and videos to get you started. I provide this not to discourage you from getting up and walking. By all means, if you are able to, get up and walk around (even with the walker) as often as you can. There are plenty of studies out there that show that the more we sit, the shorter our lifespan is. However, if you have knees that aren't stable and a fused hip, a lot of weight-bearing activities may be difficult or impossible, not to mention unsafe.

Runny nose or sneezing after you eat is very common in WLS patients. Our altered anatomy makes us subject to "Gustatory Rhinitis" or "Snatiation". When we get full, it triggers a reflex and makes us sneeze. Not everybody gets it, but I sure do! Plus, I don't even have to eat until "full", sometimes just a little snack will make me sneeze like 6 or 7 times in a row! It was horrible when I worked in an office. I swear people thought I was typhoid mary. I work from home now, so it's just me and the dogs sneezing and snorting away. My family just kind of jokes about it saying, "one more, mom, just one more."

#1: it's absolutely normal to have "cold feet" and second thoughts as you come closer to surgery. I know I did. Heck, I was crying as they strapped me to the surgery table! #2: Sagging skin is kind of a case-by-case situation with many factors contributing such as age, sex, skin type, general health, size/how much weight you have to lose, and possibly how long you've been overweight/obese. I've been down the weight loss surgery path twice and my personal experience may help. I had lap band surgery in 2005. I was 35 years old and had 125lbs to lose to get to "ideal" or normal BMI. I lost 90lbs of that. I made it out of the "obese" BMI into "overweight". I felt great and had VERY LITTLE sagging skin. I had my lap band out in 2009 due to a slip and did well maintaining until 2014. I had some major upheavals in my life and did some comfort and binge eating. By 2016, I had gained ALL of my weight back and was right back where I started before the lap band. I had trouble sticking to diets and knew that my lap band had been successful until the slip, so I decided on the gastric sleeve. To date, I've lost 86 lbs and am about 15 lbs away from my all-time low with the lap band. I'm happy. I feel great. BUT...I'm also almost 15 years older and my skin (a source of pride and joy to me all my life) is letting me down. I joked to my family a week or 2 ago: I'm starting to look like a hairless Shar-pei dog. My neck waddle is OK in some positions, but if gravity is working against me it's downright embarrassing. My arms have developed flappy wings and my thighs look deflated with lumpy protrusions where my chub used to rub. I'm VERY happy with my weight loss results and I wouldn't change a thing, but for the 1st time in my life plastic surgery seems like a real possibility for me. I started this 2nd weight loss journey with no plans for plastic surgery, even though a friend of mine (also a WLS patient) gave me her plastic surgeon's personal contact info. My advice: you're young (22), decide what's important to you. You came to this WLS party with a dream or a goal in mind. Don't lose sight of that. Whether or not you get saggy skin, there are options. Best of luck!

I second everything @FluffyChix said. Know your stages and what foods are allowed in those stages. It's not meant to torture you. It's meant to allow your body to heal.

I weigh once a week, although I may change the day of the week depending on activity/travel/holidays/etc. I felt like daily would make me borderline obsessed, so I decided that once a week was more than enough to keep me on track.