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I had DS which is similar to SADI and has the same bathroom warnings. I can confirm things were WILD for a few weeks post op. I felt so bad for my poor spouse and kids lmao. But after about 2 - 3 weeks things went back to normal for me. Normal poops and pretty normal smells. Are things possibly a little stinkier than they were before? Maybe but not by much. And it's still nothing compared to my teenage son lol. Like I wouldn't be afraid to use a public restroom if need be. I haven't found any triggers yet that make things worse, but then again I'm still being super careful with my diet. TL;DR - things definitely were gross for a minute after surgery but then it went back to normal. Best of luck to you!!

Went on a cruise, wore shorts and dresses all week no chaffing, I went snorkeling and remembered how to swim, and walk everywhere with no issues.

there may be no info on it because it could be that no one has researched it. However, I've never had an issue with prescriptions. I know we're not supposed to take extended release versions of pills, and I know some people have to switch or increase their dosage of some meds (e.g. antidepressants), but I've never run into any of this with any of the prescriptions I've had. I've just taken them using the general instructions.. Also, you're far enough out that you shouldn't have to crush pills. I haven't crushed pills in years - I've been able to take everything whole ever since about my third week post-op.

yes. I can't remember how soon it happened, but earlier than I would have expected if it was due to loss of "insulation". Maybe a few weeks out? (maybe even sooner than that - it's been a while). I think in addition to insulation loss, there's something about the surgery that throws off your internal thermostat. The cold thing only lasted a year or so for me, but for some it seems to be a permanent "feature".

major complications are really rare. I think it looks like they're more common than they actually are because people who have them get on this and other sites to ask for support and advice about them. People who have no issues don't generally broadcast that fact. They just go on with their lives. I did have a complication - a stricture. The PA at my clinic said that's the most common complication of bypass (well, other than dumping, which affects about 30% of us and can be prevented by not eating a bunch of sugar or fat at one sitting, which none of us should be doing ANYWAY). Strictures, the most common complication according to him, happen to 5% of bypass patients. I wouldn't call something that happens to 5% of patients "common", but that gives you an idea of how "common" complications are. And strictures, like most other complications, are minor and can be easily fixed. They did an upper endoscopy, stretched it out, and I was good to go. I honestly don't know anyone who regretted having weight loss surgery, and I've volunteered for my clinic, been very active on national internet forums, and attended national conferences. Yes, the first few weeks can be tough and a lot of people have "buyer's remorse" during that time, but once they get beyond that initial phase, when they can eat more, have fewer food restrictions, feel fine, and have kind of figured out this whole deal, you're not going to find many people who regret it. Personally, it's the best decision I've ever made. My life is completely different than it was 200 lbs ago, and I wouldn't go back there for ANYTHING. I would have this surgery every year if I had to! I'm in my mid-60s and had my surgery over eight years ago - I could kick myself for not doing it sooner!

That cheesecake @GreenTealael looks amazing. Yum! I round up the calories & down the protein. I also call fluids in soup, etc. & what I drink to swallow my meds bonus fluids & don’t count them either. Lol! My oven isn’t working properly. Waaah! Interestingly it worked fine on a Sunday then three days later after the electrical company turned off our power for 8 hrs it didn’t. Hhmmm?? The top element heats. The bottom element heats but turn on the fan & nothing, no heat. Have to go back to old school non fan baking or call the service team to come out. Gracious knows how much the call out alone will cost. Service call-outs have got ridiculously expensive. Are they crazy in the US too?

Today's the big day for some of you!!! 💜I am so excited for y'all - may you have uneventful, routine surgeries with no complications and fantastic recoveries, and may you achieve all the health goals you set for yourselves! Definitely keep the rest of us posted on how you're feeling and how things go, what you find does/doesn't work for you, etc.! Someone asked earlier about good water bottles without straws - I like my Nalgene 32oz bottles. I have one of the smaller-mouthed bottles and one of the larger-mouthed bottles (with a little insert that helps me not pour the whole darn thing down my top). I also have a ~70oz "Juggy" water bottle that came with a straw, but it can be removed. I like how, with the Nalgenes, I know that if I fill & drink them twice, then I've at least gotten the minimum 64oz of water per day that my program recommends. The Juggy is HUGE, but really useful for the days where I'm either running around or not able to fill multiple times, or if I'm being lazy and don't want to wander downstairs to the fridge for filtered water multiple times. 😂 As for leave, I'm unfortunately not eligible for FMLA at my job just yet as my one-year anniversary is the end of January. I did fill out similar paperwork "just in case", though. I do have an absolutely insane amount of vacation/sick PTO, so I will be using that to get paid for my 1.5 weeks completely off of work (a Wednesday through the next Friday; my surgery is the day before Thanksgiving here in the USA). I plan on working from home the 2nd full week, and then will likely return to my hybrid schedule (3 days in office, 2 days from home) after that. I'm lucky that I have a desk job that really just requires some walking. I've been extremely open with my HR person and immediate supervisor, so they both know what's going on! We've had at least one other person in my unit have WLS, so it's nice to not be the "guinea pig" for all this (and to have someone just upstairs that I can "talk shop" with).

The shakes are more likely to give you constipation because of the high fibre & protein content. But increased peeing is another story & this will continue as meeting your fluid goals post surgery are very important. (I swear I still pee every hour or so.) Getting samples of a variety of brands & flavours are a good idea because it’s common for your taste buds & even your sense of smell to change & become extra sensitive for a while after the surgery. Your favourite flavours may taste disgusting for a few weeks. As long as the pre-made shakes or protein powders contain a similar amount of protein you can buy any brand any where. Use your recommended brand as a guide for acceptable protein & other nutrients in the alternative brand you find to assess their suitability. All the best with your surgery.

Anesthesia can mess with our bodies for a while after surgery, and it has been clinically shown that major surgery can trigger depressive episodes in people. What you are experiencing is completely normal even though it sucks. Add to that hormonal changes, and body changes, and changes in the nutrients you get, and recovering from a major surgery and yeah, you could feel pretty down! I'm 3 1/2 weeks post op. Some days are good and some days aren't so good. I've heard the first 3 months are really challenging and the first year takes a lot of resilience and adjustment. Next time your husband starts with the "this is what you wanted" I'd kindly remind him that those words are not supportive and guilt trips are not necessary. That you are cognizant of the fact that you wanted bariatric surgery to lose weight and improve your health, but NONE of us can even begin to understand the fullness of an experience before we actually have it...and living this experience is feeling challenging right now. Even the BEST things for us often come with distinct downsides. You are allowed to be upset! You are allowed to say this is a struggle! What would be more supportive of him would be for him to validate your feelings and assure you that things won't always feel like this, but while they do, he's there for you. I'm sure he's doing what he can, but everyone deserves feedback when their words are making it harder for you to deal with what you are dealing with. I too feel a little off kilter from the world right now. Any surgery brings grief with it when it alters your body. Let yourself grieve. You are in a liminal space right now, transforming from one version of yourself to another. Much like the caterpillar who winds itself into a cocoon, you have had to bury yourself into this new experience, and you will never be the same. Some parts of you have to die so that other parts of you can blossom forth and live. When you finally come out of this cocoon, flying will be so thrilling!! But in the meantime, the transformation sucks! LOL I don't think caterpillars think the process is fun either...

Hi, I’ve also been slow but steady. I’m down 46 lbs, started at 345. I had some hives week 2, but those went away. No other issues. The diet has been easy to adjust to. I’ve even gone back to coffee every morning, just less. Helps with #2! I find myself eating a lot of Greek yogurt because it’s easiest on my stomach but high in protein. Rotisserie chicken, stewed sirloin chunks, salads, eggs and bacon.

So I freaked out a little bit last night. On Tuesday, I met with my Case Manager, was weighted at 5 pounds below goal weight, and set a date for my surgery on Nov. 30. Yesterday, I started the process at work of prepping for my absence. Put my medical leave on everyone's calendars, starting setting meetings with my direct reports so they are set for success while I'm gone, started figuring out how I'm getting to and from the hospital (I live by myself, and while my sister is coming to the hospital with me, she doesn't drive so I have to figure out how to get to the hospital, get her back to my apartment from the hospital, and then get me home from the hospital when I'm done with my stay a day or two later since I can't drive myself). For the first time last night it seemed like it was really happening and I started to get some anxiety for the first time. Until now it's all been academic but last night for the first time it seemed very real. And what do I do when I feel emotions that I'm uncomfortable with. I eat stuff I shouldn't. I didn't go on a full binge, but I definitely did the late night, head hunger, keep looking in the fridge and picking at the leftovers thing. How have folks with experience dealt with the tendency to self sabotage? At this point, the only thing to keep me from having the surgery would be if I show up on the day of over my goal weight. I'm trying to be mindful and stay on target, but I still have a few weeks and don't want to screw myself over.

I think it’s really easy to get discouraged. My dietitian‘s biggest recommendation was to not weigh yourself until your first official postop appointment and I stuck to that. I had so much inflammation, nothing was likely budging in the first 2-3 weeks but I had lost more than I expected by week 4. Hang in there!!

Apologies for the novel I'm about to write, and thanks in advance if you bother to read it all! 😂 TL;DR it took me ~7 months total to go from first appointments to surgery. I went through my local university's health system and am using insurance, so my timeline will likely differ from those who are self-pay or outside the USA! My program is roughly 5-6 months, with 4 group classes and two check-ins with Nutrition & Psychology where they determine if you're approved to move to the next part of the program (or send you for additional counseling or nutrition, if not approved). I also had to do 2 extra appointments with Nutrition & Psych to keep insurance happy, as mine requires that you have some sort of contact or follow-up every month until you get surgery. Here's what my personal timeline looked like: April 27th, 2023 - First appointments with Dietitian, Psychology, Surgeon May 2nd - First group class May 16th - Second group class June 6th - Psych check-in June 15th - Nutrition check-in July 5th - Third group class July 27th - Fourth group class August 1st - Nutrition check-in August 10th - Psych check-in **CALLED IN LATE AUGUST TO SCHEDULE! (see below) September 19th - extra Nutrition & Psych check-ins to keep insurance happy October 3rd - GP visit for physical and approval for EGD (the hospital mandated this due to high BMI requiring monitored anesthesia for the EGD) October 4th - EGD (scope of esophagus, stomach, upper bowel) November 8th - Started 2-week liquid only liver-reducing diet (LRD) November 9th - Pre-op Readiness Visits (basically meeting w/surgeon again, nurse practitioner, coordinator, etc. to make sure I have all the pre-op information, etc.) November 22nd, 2023 - SURGERY DATE! **So, they DID call me in late August to schedule my surgery. At my initial appointment with my surgeon, he wanted me to get an EGD to make sure I don't have silent reflux or anything funky going on, as I get occasional reflux with certain foods. When I scheduled my EGD back in April, they were scheduling out into OCTOBER 🙃, so I scheduled it for October 4th. In late August (after finishing all my classes and check-ins), my surgeon's office called to let me know the surgeon reviewed my file and was fine with skipping the EGD since I don't have a history of chronic GERD and asked if I wanted a date in September. Well, at this point I was used to the idea of having surgery towards the end of the year, AND I already had a big ol' wedding planned for October and wanted to be able to at least eat solid food for that and have my dress fit properly, so I told them I was fine with keeping the EGD appointment just to be safe and that I'd prefer a date in late November, as I had a HUGE thing scheduled at my work for this week (11/13-11/16) where I pretty much had to be there. They had no problem scheduling me out that far, so if you need a particular timeframe and need to push back for life reasons, I've heard the majority of programs have absolutely no problem doing so. Just know that your insurance (if you aren't self-pay) might want you to make an extra check-in visit or two so you have some kind of contact monthly.

I think it’s really easy to get discouraged. My dietitian‘s biggest recommendation was to not weigh yourself until your first official postop appointment and I stuck to that. I had so much inflammation, nothing was likely budging in the first 2-3 weeks but I had lost more than I expected by week 4. Hang in there!!

I think either way is fine, but my suggestion is just don't substitute artificial sweeteners to do it. Take it at whatever pace you need to be able to handle it and adjust your tastes for the long term. If that means cutting back on the sugar in your coffee over many months, that's fine. Better to go from two spoons down to one and then to half a spoon of sugar slowly than to start using an artificial sweetener and never kick that habit. For me, I made the decision to eliminate several things from my diet before taking a few weeks to either eat up or throw away the things I didn't want to have in my house anymore. The key has been not allowing it back in once it was gone. I am also pre-op. I started the process in July with a surgery date in late December. I happened to find the book Pound of Cure by Dr. Matthew Weiner and it's absolutely been the best nutrition book I've ever purchased (and I've purchased many). Full disclosure, I did not do the 2 week reset portion of the program, but I did start out by increasing my veg and eliminating the stuff that was easiest for me to do right away. After that, there have been certain stages that I took faster and certain ones I've done slower. But overall, in my opinion, it's an excellent guide for what your healthy diet "should" be most of the time. Higher on veg and plant protein, lower on animal products, mostly free from the vast majority of processed carbs, sugars, and artificial crap. If you're looking for guidance, his books and videos are super informative and rooted in science, not fads.

I also had a bypass surgery a few weeks ago, and it started with soups and protein shakes. I understand your desire to get back to an active life, especially if you were into sports. I'm also looking forward to when I can resume physical activity. As for satisfying and filling meals, I've found that braised vegetables with chicken breast and quinoa can be a tasty and healthy choice. Additionally, fruits, low-fat yogurts, and vegetable omelets are good for variety. The key is to watch portion sizes and follow your doctor's recommendations.

I think it’s really easy to get discouraged. My dietitian‘s biggest recommendation was to not weigh yourself until your first official postop appointment and I stuck to that. I had so much inflammation, nothing was likely budging in the first 2-3 weeks but I had lost more than I expected by week 4. Hang in there!!

Congrats on your upcoming surgery! DS makes up less than 5% of all bariatric surgeries so we're definitely a rare breed lol. But I have found a handful of people between Reddit and Discord who had DS and were willing to chat. It's definitely not like finding RNY or VSG buddies though. I'm only eight weeks out at this point but I'm happy to help if you ever have any questions.

PERIODS: I had my WLS when I was 47 and i *thought* I was already menopausal, as I hadn't had my period in a couple (few?) years before that. Well. 2-3 weeks after surgery, I got my period...heavily...for like 8 days or something like that (which for me is an anomaly as when I used to have periods, they would only last 4-5 days max, and were very light). Then I got my period like clockwork every 4 weeks after that for about 4 years. Go figure...I wasn't menopausal at all, I was just fat, lol I am actually going through it now i think as my last period was in the spring 2022 last year (i'm 5 yrs post op now). So yeah, i raise my hand for weird period happenings. HAIR LOSS: Yep, i lost a significant amount of hair. It all grew back eventually, and I feel like its actually thicker now...but that may be due to the fact that my diet is better? I dunno. Bonus as well is that my hair now has a little wave to it, which i love. Unfortunately, I don't think there is anything you can do to prevent it. My advice if it happens to you, is to just ride it out. its temporary and just a drop in the bucket in the grand scheme of things. STOPPING WEIGHT LOSS: My not-so-surprising answer to this: EAT MORE. lol. It took me few months of increasing my calorie intake until i figured out what calorie amount i needed to maintain. I lost 10+ lbs while i figured this out, but at least i did, ha! Now in my case (and alot of others) my restriction was still very much in effect, so I had to invoke the strategy of eating more higher-calorie foods vs. just more food in general. It was a little bit of a challenge as I was still in weight-loss mode thinking so switching mindsets to allow myself eat things i avoided for 7 months was a bit of mind f*ck. I'm really good at it now though, lol. Good Luck! ❤️

I agree with summerseeker. I was already post-menopausal when I had my surgery so the period changes didn't affect me, but I read on here all the time about screwed up periods and mood swings during the first few weeks or months after surgery. It eventually all settles back down and regulates. But yes - it's supposedly due to the estrogen in your fat cells being released during the rapid weight loss phase. I had very little hair loss (not enough for anyone to notice) which occurred during months 5-9. It does happen to most of us. It can range from none at all to lots of shedding - although not like it does to chemo patients. It may or may not be noticeable to others. I almost never hear about people having to get wigs. At most, those with noticeable loss usually get short cuts so it's not as noticeable. Although again, you may not lose any at all or lose very little. And there's really nothing you can do about it. As mentioned above, it's already dead, and the shock of surgery (plus the fact we take in very few calories the first few weeks and months) is just speeding up the normal growth/shedding cycle. your weight loss is going to naturally slow as you get closer and closer to your goal. In fact, those last few pounds can be a BEAR to get off. For some of us, the loss stops naturally. But if you're wanting yours to stop and it doesn't seem to be doing it on its own, you can always increase your calorie intake to stop it. Keep in mind that it's very common to gain 10-20 lbs after hitting your lowest weight, so you might want to factor that in. I intentionally went below my goal a bit to account for that. And also, it's more common to not quite reach your goal than to lose too much, so stopping the loss usually isn't an issue for many of us. But again - if you're in the situation where you need to stop it, it's just a matter of increasing your calorie intake.

I too had a stall (RNY) and was shocked because my food consumption was almost nothing. I checked with the surgery NP and was told this is quite common because my body was focused on healing not losing weight at this point. Once I started eating more and after about 5 weeks post surgery I started losing ~ 2 lbs a week. Seems slow but I'll take it. I Just keep plugging along and we will get there. I was so hoping for new knees by Christmas but at this rate (I still have 40 lbs to lose to be at required BMI) I guess it'll be by early Spring, hopefully.

Hi! I had my surgery on the 16th of October Australian time, so the 17th for a lot of the rest of the world! I'm a week out today. I'm adapting well, to the shift in liquid diet for someone who forgets to eat all the time! I still have a lot of pain that feels like GERD/reflux pain, but it's not unmanageable. I see the GP (not my usual, she's on holiday, but I'll be so jazzed to see her and show her my scars!) on Wednesday to get my incisions checked out, but they feel totally fine. I have been a little bummed that I got the illusion from social media that recovery would be a breeze. 😂 How is everyone else doing? Recovery-wise or in anticipation? I can't wait to get to know you all!

I loved the Thai flavors of Kettle & Fire, though they are costly. Not as costly as a dinner out though! LOL I also love the fuzzy navel version of Syntrax Nectars. You can get samples of them pretty easily. I like these more than pre-made waters because there are no sugar alcohols in them. MyProtein makes clear whey isolate powders in Mike and Ike flavors, I like the watermelon the best, the cherry was weird. I had to drink the Premier Protein ready made shakes for my pre-op diet according to my doctor so I tried all sorts of those, I like Pumpkin Spice, Cinnamon Roll, Vanilla, and Cafe Latte the most. But they are not my favorite protein. My favorite one is R Kane Nutritionals Pro-Cal powders. They taste like melted milkshakes when you make them with milk. I have no clue what sorcery they used to manage that, but they do. BariatricPal also makes these little protein shots in fruit flavors that are sweet sour and pretty tasty when you need something fast. The tartness makes them easier for me to drink. I will caution one thing, don't buy a ton of things, get samples when you can. Because post surgery your tastes may change dramatically. Mine did, I can't taste sweet spices anymore and I can taste the whey in ANYTHING. I ordered a ton from Unjury and I can't stand any of it... I'm so annoyed. But my biggest issue is that whey sits heavy in my stomach and I couldn't get any protein drinks down for at least two weeks. I'm just starting to ease them back into rotation, but it is still hard to get a whole one down. So have a variety of samples for post op, but be careful what you buy full sized unless you have someone else that will consume what you don't.

This is completely anecdotal, and not actual medical advice. When in doubt, check with your doctor! I haven't had surgery yet, but I've had referred back pain frequently following Diverticulitis or other abdominal infection. Even after the infection has healed, the lower/mid back pain persisted typically for weeks, and sometimes months because I was trying to stabilize the muscles in front by overworking my muscles in the back. It wasn't until I went to Physical Therapy and learned some stretches and exercises that the pain went away. If the inflammation and irritation from the surgery appears to have subsided, it may be worth asking your doctor for a referral to PT for review. I am hesitant to share the exercises since I am not a medical professional, and I don't know which would be a benefit vs which one may irritate the area you had surgery on.