Bypass2Freedom

@NickelChip I imagine that is probably the case! On Wednesday I will be able to return to normal foods, but I am a bit apprehensive as to how to even start that!

I am a bit late to the party here, but I am pretty much at the same stage as you! I noticed the exact same thing on a day last week where I did 12,600 steps (which is WAY more than anything I had done so far post-surgery), and it felt like I had a constant stitch for hours!

@Missy4391 congratulations on the beginning of your journey I remember thinking that the waiting was one of the worst things, but trust me, it comes around quickly! As others have said, taking before pictures & measurements is a good idea! And I would also advice getting your head into the right space where you don't rely on the scales. I think it is all too easy to get addicted to weighing yourself, especially in the first 4/5 weeks after surgery when your body just needs that space to heal without the added strain of any stress you may feel if your weight fluctuates. This forum was amazing for me to prepare for the surgery and also what to expect after, so I really do recommend reading as much as possible One thing I wish I had done is trial some vitamins to see if I liked the taste pre-surgery. I know people say that your tastebuds can change, which is true, but some of the vitamins are just unbearable 🤢I bought Bariease powder supplement and my god it was the worst thing. I now just take dissolvable orange A-Z vitamins and let the fizz die down and it is so much better! @MrsFitz I think I may have already said this, but I am also in the UK so if you want to chat or have any UK specific questions please do let me know!

@Parsons96 Hey lovely. My bruises did get bigger initially and I remember thinking the same thing as you! Everything is going to feel a bit weird initially after surgery, just remember your body is healing and there is a lot going on inside that we can't see, the bruising is just a reflection of this. That being said, as others have advised, do talk to your Dr if you are worried, always worth getting that reassurance

So I had surgery on the 14th May, and I am still on a slush stage (basically just thicker liquids). I know that because of this I wont feel full as I will do when I am on more solid food, but I think my body has a new way of telling me I am full up: HICCUPS! I absolutely HATE hiccups - does anyone else get this? 😡

Hello and welcome to the start of your journey! It is equally as exciting as it is nerve-wrecking at times, but you've got this! Looking forward to seeing your progress!

Thank you everyone for the responses - it is really interesting to see how every one else reacts to new signals! I am hoping that mine won't be hiccups forever 😂

I am so glad to see I am not the only one wishing that they could be eating something solid 😂 Or even just eggs! I am still on the liquid stage until Wednesday!

So my surgery went successfully on 14/05/24. The first night was beyond rough, I don't think anything can prepare you for the gas pain! It was the first time I'd been in hospital & had surgery as an adult so it was very daunting, but everything went well. I am home now after 2 nights in the hospital, and I am feeling quite tender but I am not sure if this is just the residual gas pain, or just the feeling of overwhelming fullness when I am trying to drink water! I am really glad it is done now, but it is a bit overwhelming to begin with! Thank you everyone who sent me well wishes x

@SleeveToBypass2023 Thank you! I have made the decision not to weigh myself for the 4 weeks that I am on my post-op diet, just because I don't want to get fixated when my body is still learning this new way of living! I am definitely struggling to get food in at the moment! But I shall keep trying! ❤️

@shawn524 Hello Shawn. I haven't heard anything like this in all the research I have done, but I'd suggest consulting your surgeon/Dr about it just to get their opinion! I am sure you are aware, but addiction transference can happen with a lot of bariatric patients - just something to be mindful of! I am really glad that you have come so far in your journey! Congratulations

Thank you everyone ❤️

@NickelChip Thank you for your advice, I really do appreciate it. It feels so strange - like I need to burp but I am struggling to and it just sits there like a tightness in my chest! Ugh. I will take it as easy as I can!

@mhorton82 Thank you! It does indeed!

**Trigger warning: domestic abuse** My name is Georgia, I am 27, and I have been 'bigger' for my entire adult life, and a lot of my childhood too. I have PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) insulin resistant type, and an Underactive Thyroid, both of which cause me to put on weight quickly, retain weight, and makes losing weight extremely difficult. I can't even remember the countless amounts of fad diets I have been on, or the amount of times I have tried to lose weight, but failed again and again. When I was 18 I was going to the gym 5-6 times a week for over an hour, I was doing HIIT training and Tai Chi, and I was jogging, eating well etc, but I still only managed to lose 2 stone in a year - make it make sense! I didn't know back then that I had underlying conditions that made it hard for me to lose weight, so I internalised a lot of the guilt in not being able to get healthy, and it resulted in me putting on around 6 stone from then until now. I was also a victim of domestic abuse/violence, and a lot of the verbal abuse that I suffered was centred around my weight - constantly being told by my ex-partner that I was fat, he would pinch my thighs, tummy, arms etc, telling me he was seeing how many inches I could lose. It completely broke me, and I started binge eating in secret. He ended up leaving me, telling me that he could no longer be with me due to my weight and how it made me sexually unattractive. I think I am probably just over 20 stone now. My back hurts when I walk, I cannot look in any mirrors without feeling low, I don't feel comfortable going out in public, and I am exhausted all the time. Every time I went to my GP about something, I was always told I needed to lose weight, as if it were a miracle cure and so simple to do just by trying hard enough. It was always blamed on me not putting in enough effort - and those in the UK will know that the NHS isn't a simple thing to navigate and the waiting lists for obesity support are long and often disheartening. Around 2 years ago I was put on a waiting list for weight loss management with the NHS. I was finally accepted in September of 2023. This is a year long commitment to the weight loss management pathway (Tier 3), in which you have to lose 5% of your weight in order to then be put on to another waiting list for a referral for the actual WLS (Tier 4). I have been told that this can take a further 4-6 years. I had a harrowing thought that by the time my WLS actually came around, I'd be well into my 30s, still desperately unhappy with myself, and I would have put on even more weight and probably be immobile. I can no longer do this to myself. I deserve better. I made the decision to look into private weight loss surgery, and I had a free consultation with a recommended surgeon just before Christmas 2023. This was genuinely the first time that a medical professional sat me down and talked to me with some humanity about my weight. He told me that with my conditions (particularly the insulin resistance, and hormonal imbalance), that my metabolic rate needed an entire reset, and this was not possible to do without surgical intervention. He explained that the difficulties I have had in trying to lose weight and being unable to, are not my fault (though of course I accept responsibility that getting here in the first place is my fault), and that surgery is recommended as perhaps the only thing that will enable me to lose the weight. I have never felt so seen, and so heard. I booked in my surgery for May 2024 there and then. So, now I start my journey, and I was looking for support, and here I am. I look forward to posting on here and using this thread to update everyone once I have had my surgery! I am quite an open and honest person, so if anyone wants to reach out to talk, my inbox is open

Thank you lovely! I think it is an irrational fear also that the pre-op diet hasn't worked and my liver won't have shrunk enough 😂 Which I know is entirely silly, as the only thing I have 'cheated' and had is an actimel vitamin yogurt drink worth 74 kcals 😂

My surgery is on Tuesday and I am feeling the nerves seep in a little bit! 😖 Really nervous about the anesthetic!

Yes! My surgery is on Tuesday! 14/05/24

@Zazu_89 that is so amazing that you have done so well already! Congratulations Just go with what your Dr is recommending, and as I say, don't be afraid to ask! No question is a 'stupid' question

Hey @Zazu_89! I am also from the UK, and I was given 2 weeks for my LRD which consisted of 800 calories max per day, only eating things which are considered 'meal replacements' (things like New You Plan/SlimFast). I'll admit that I haven't heard of a pre-op diet lasting 12 weeks - but I think it depends on a multitude of factors such as starting weird, co-morbidities etc. Are you having yours through the NHS? I know sometimes their plan can be a bit different! I know a lot of people will probably want to know your starting weight before giving any advice, so if you are comfortable to give that, please do share as it will help get more targeted advice! All in all though, I'd trust what your surgeon/dietician has said, and if you want to know their rationale, just ask! I am sure they will be more than happy to explain Good luck!

Good luck! Xxx

@catwoman7 Yes I had heard the same thing - hence why I definitely wasn't expecting it pre-surgery 😅 I agree that probably is what is happening! Just curious to see if anyone else may have experienced the same thing! Thank you for your comment! ❤️

Hey ladies, A bit of context: I have PCOS & I haven't had a period in about 2 years. I also have the coil as my form of contraception so that has probably added to the lack of periods. I am on my 10th day of the pre-op diet and I've lost about 8lbs -/+ so far, and I have started a really light period! Is this normal? I feel like maybe my body is trying to work properly? 😂

Honestly days 1-3 were the worst for me, and I think the range is like 1-5 being the hardest part of the pre-op diet. I promise that easier days are on their way!

Congratulations!!