smc124

The nutrition practice offered through my surgeon’s office said at 1 month we can drink up until the time we eat but after that first bite no more liquids until 30 minutes after our last. They indicated drink while or immediately after eating regularly is the most common way to stretch your stomach aka permanently weaken the restriction.

The gas was probably the worst pain for me of the whole experience. It was really only around for the first week to week and a half. Moving around helped also heating pad/heated blanket. Hang in there you’ll be past it soon if your surgery was the 26th.

I’m approaching two months post op and I’ve found I’m so tired. Prior to surgery I swam twice a day slept about 6 hours a night. Now I’m sleeping many nights by 8:30 pm. My activity is currently only at one swim a day plus 3 personal training sessions a week. It’s 4:30P right now and I wish I had more energy for a second swim or gym session this evening but I feel like I already am ready to sleep. When will my energy come back?

Thank you this is helpful to hear

I’ve only told limited people. For two others who acted almost as if entitled to be hear about my weight loss my go to is “ I’ve spent my entire life talking about my weight and I’d prefer not to waste another moment discussing it.” 

I split my work time between home and the office. I thought I’d be good to return a week after surgery but I took an additional day starting back full time 8 days after sleeve surgery without issue.

I’m at about a month post sleeve and beginning my third week incorporating solids. I had recent observation that found so interesting I thought I would share. I’m someone who for as long as I can remember found the feeling of a full belly to be comforting both physically and emotionally especially during colder seasons or in the evenings. Not necessarily overfull, but that feeling associated with just eating a decent sized warm meal. Since my gastric sleeve surgery I’m sure it goes without saying that as I continue to incorporate foods into my diet the feeling of food in my stomach or occasional associated nausea is more often then not one of discomfort. Now in just three weeks time I’m realizing my prior draw to food consciously or subconsciously, to achieve that warm full belly comfort is quickly being reverse behaviorally engineered due the discomfort Ive felt with eating and a full belly post surgery. It’s quite interesting how this behavioral/emotional comfort that’s likely been a significant contributing obstacle in managing/maintaining my weight over my lifetime has been an unintended but welcomed casualty of my sleeve surgery. Has anyone else experienced similar?

Trying to get ideas for meals and wondering if purchasing a cookbook specifically to Bariatric Surgery or Post Sleeve is worth it? Also If anyone has bought a cookbook and really loved it “please let me know the title!

Thanks everyone for your feedback! This is what I suspected.

Greek yogurt with toppings (pb2, chia, hemp hearts, goji berry, pepita, cacao nibs) and finished it! Making a yogurt bar has added more joy to my life than expected.

Electric Heated blanket gave me so much comfort my first week and anytime I had an upset stomach

Hi - I’m in my 6th week post op for gastric sleeve and I was wondering if anyone had sashimi/raw fish this early? If not how long did you wait post surgery to try it? Did you have any problems/sensitivity with it? Meeting a friend for lunch and scoping out the menu. I had rare seared tuna without issue over the weekend. My nutrition team did not call it out as protein to avoid at this time.

I definitely get a lot of ick seeing diet culture words and phrases slung around on these message boards as well as sentiments I recognize from folks with eating disorders. Things in the same vein/tone as to “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels…etc” Having had a severe ED in the past and otherwise socialize in diet culture for most of my life I can’t help but cringe in seeing people would have made the choice to grow healthy through weight loss surgery choice to clinging to some of the most problematic diet culture undertones. I also get major ick seeing people put down their past selves and bodies. I think it’s amazing to feel and confident in your own skin, but there are so many factors that contribute to weight gain and so many ways fat people are misunderstood, treated unfairly and undermined in our society - something most of us have personally experienced to some degree, I hate to see people acting in ways that contribute negative societal construct.

Hello! I’m four weeks post op for gastric sleeve and have been incorporating soft proteins. I noticed that I feel a distinct rise in temperature including sweating after eating some meals. Sometimes I’ll go from cold and shivering before I eat to sweating after in what seems like very little time. Has anyone else experienced this? Is it just a reflection of my body working hard to digest?

Yes I’m learning to be very discerning of condiments it would seem I’m also experiencing the reactive hypoglycemia reaction to even minimal sugars. Though I think this might be separately more in line with what the other poster had mentioned “the protein sweats” though possibly related to needing to slow down as it occurred most noticeably with grilled chicken :) Regarding heart rate what’s interesting is my resting heart beat has dropped from mid 60s to upper 40s//low 50s (doctor said not to worry), but I haven’t checked my pulse during sweats specifically I will do that.

Wild isn’t it! gets a little better in the next few weeks, I remember week two feeling like like I had a belly full of stomach acid and week 3 dizziness/ nausea. I can report from week 5 acid is gone and nausea is more mild & predictable at least :)

Prior to committing to wls I considered joining a group study at a local hospital focused around incorporating a joint therapeutic medical and psychological approach to weight loss. Scheduling didn’t work out bc of my current work travel obligations but something that stuck out to me in the initial interview processes that the doctor said. He indicated that people who struggle with their weight especially those who have experience physical, emotional, or sexual abuse (all with higher prevalence those who are overweight than the population in general) often reached a point in their weight loss that they struggled to move past because they found comfort or almost protection in the invisibility that being a larger person can sometimes provide. This is something I can relate to certainly, but more to the point of your question I think having the surgery gives us a sliver of determinism - obviously there is still much work for us to do but we will most definitely lose weight compared to without it. And with that weight loss so disappears that protective invisibly that can offers victim of abuse or trauma comfort. I could see how even just after surgery this could even subconsciously raise anxiety and drum up thoughts of those past traumas. I also believe our bodies memories in places outside the brain. “What our bones know” etc. And it’s important to remember surgery is a trauma to our bodies. Experiencing the trauma of surgery itself may trigger tho use memories. I admit that I’ve dwelled on a past assault more than normal in the month since my surgery. I speculate it’s related more to the former than the latter reason, but luckily I’ve worked through it significantly in therapy in the past and know how to cope. If possible you might find some benefit from a short course of therapy to work through its. Regardless feel free to message if you ever need someone to listen. Sending love and strength.

Congratulations. I had my surgery just over a month ago and it was a bit of a whirlwind!! One recommendation: i was so grateful to have an electric blanket on my bed at home. The heat offered comfort and I believe greatly aided in my recovery. It also now helps soothe my stomach for any discomfort I experience from time to time as my stomach adjusts to incorporating solids.

Oh no! That’s so interesting

Yes exactly this

Looking for folks to follow and build with who are o a similar surgery timeline. I’m getting the sleeve on December 5. Let me know if you’d scheduled similarly and would like to share experiences and support here. Please feel free to introduce yourself in the comments. I’ve included my own intro below. ABOUT ME: I’m Sarah, a 40yo woman from nyc. I have a senior level professional job as a consultant and work from home most days of the week. I hate failing and I think that’s why weight has been such a hindrance for me, it’s feels like a personal failure. Im pretty active and close my Apple Watch rings most days. I love to swim and do swim laps 30-60 minutes/day - 4-5/days a week. Outside of swimming I love to read, wander the hiking trails in Central Park, volunteer for campaigns and causes I care about, writing, and travel anywhere are everywhere in spite of dreaded airline seats :) My WLS decision: I’ve been overweight most of my life but for a few years after a prior 120lb weight loss associated with disordered eating about 10 years ago. Needless to say most of that weight was gained back in recovery and then some yo-yoing down 50 and up 60 every other year to follow. I imagine many of you can relate to this story. Though I’ve thought about wls surgery for sometime my blood panels and other levels were still in healthy range only my weight was an outlier. But then COVID came and especially terrified me - I was scared if I caught it I would be at risk to lose my life. I made efforts on my own to lose weight and like past attempts I shed 50lbs and was really good for 6 months but then something happens at work and I prioritize that above myself and before I know it I’ve gains it back. This last year I found myself of the gain side of the yo-yo and for the first time being afraid to sit in some chairs, after break a plastic deck chair. I noticed I was keeping myself in bc I was disgusted with myself, holding myself back from dating, from living, and carrying myself with little confidence, with little to look forward to. The tipping point: I went to my nieces dance recital and could barely squeeze into the auditorium seat. I needed to make a permanent change. Two months later I had my first consult for surgery and here I am ready Dec 5 surgery.

As someone who’s also been hospitalized for an ED I’m really surprised to see this kind of false equivalency of what an ED from someone who’s also experienced it.

Good luck January surgeries! I had mine last month! The one item that was my saving grace in recovery was a heated blanket, it really helped with any discomfort with honorable mention to sugar free popsicles.

I bought a heated blanket right before my surgery and it’s been a lifesaver. It helped with pain, warmth/comfort, and sleep so much during my initial recovery

Excited to finally get to post on this thread. Today is the day I am making my first soft protein meal. I’ve tested the waters with a bite of lobster yesterday and a spoon of ricotta Saturday but have otherwise been on protein shakes and clear liquids since my surgery two weeks ago. I prepared a ricotta egg white omelette season with a pinch of salt, turmeric, and coriander. It went down slowly, but successfully and I’m feeling full quickly. There is definitely a significant difference between consuming food vs full liquids. Readjusting portions will certainly be a learning curve.