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Hi I am on day 5 and I have been wanting to just eat something I am not hungry at all but it’s so hard to drink around the clock to make sure to get everything in. I know it’s all worth it at the end and I am so grateful but it’s hard mentally and I have just wanted to scream so you’re not alone! People who I know who have had this always say these two weeks are the hardest! I know that there is a light and I will be able to eat normal food in no time! I started at 217 and I am 5’3 I am not 187.6 I was able to try on some clothes I had that have not fitted me in a while and that was motivating me to keep my head up it’s working! You can do this! It’s hard but it will be worth it in the end. Stay strong! Not everyone has the privilege of being in the looser club like us!! Good luck on your journey!

Cleared for cardio and light weights training (less than 15 pounds) 2 weeks post-op. Clearly not the norm.

"her comment to me was that she was so glad to know I had weight loss surgery because I looked like I was dyeing from cancer cancer lol!" Classic example of passive aggressive behavior. I can relate. My mother was obsessive about staying thin. Through my preteen and teen years I would yo-yo between average size to slightly chubby. Within weeks after my youngest child was born, I moved out of state. Two years later I moved back to my hometown. I was thinner than my mother. She would make comments that I was too thin (I wasn't). I was almost 30 and she was in her early 50s. She secretly started abusing diuretics and laxatives to drop pounds in an attempt to be smaller than me. She ended up in the hospital with electrolyte imbalances and deficiencies. Years later, my daughter was battling with about 35 to 40 extra pounds. She asked me to help her with a low carb diet which is how I maintained my weight at 115 to 117 for most of my adult life. She lost the excess weight and I was bragging about my 22 year old daughter's victory to my mother. My 73 year old mother, who was weighing in about140, replied with the most selfish and disgusting comment imaginable...."Great, now I am the only fat one in the family!" I very sharply responded with "That is digusting! Be happy for her. It's her time now." Be prepared.....people who once secretly pitied you, emotionally supported you and openly cheered your success may now feel threatened by the change in the dynamic. My mother's self-worth was so closely tied to being the most svelte of any woman in her circle. When I surplanted her claim to fame, my mother felt assaulted. My daughter's weight loss after my mother's gain was the final blow to her ego. Because of my mother's sabatoging and competitive nature, I chose not to tell her about my choice to undergo VSG.

First off, congratulations on the weight you’ve lost so far! You should be proud. I am about seven months past surgery and I’ve hit my goal. As others have said, weight loss is very slow. I’ve only drifted down a pound or two in the last 2 to 3 weeks. It’s important to realize that you are still losing weight, so you are still working towards your goal. Some things you can do is take a look at how clean are your calories? Are you eating good, healthy food? Eating right keeps your body in-tune in all areas…keeps all the systems working harmoniously. Makes you feel good and keeps your MIND on track. Another thing you can do is look at your exercise. Keeping muscle is important as it burns the fat and cardio will help you in your daily calorie reduction. It doesn’t take much to energize your body to help burn even more calories. And above all else remember, slow loss is still a loss!!

Hi had my surgery on Friday the 27th at 10:30 am and today is day 4!!! I feel really good today and each since the surgery I have been feeling better. When I woke up from surgery the only pain I had was from laying on my back unable to move during the operation coupled with the pain from my period, which of course had to start the day before. I spent a very long time in recovery because they did not have a room ready for me yet, that was about 3-4 hours. When I finally got to my room, being able to move around helped my back somewhat. The only bad thing for me was the nausea, I puked several times on Friday and a few times the next day when I woke up. I had the option to stay another night in the hospital, but I was eager to get the 130-mile ride back home done. Once home I only took one anti-nausea medication. I have not had any pain and very little gas. I am getting liquids down very well. My two-week diet consists of 5-6 mini-meals that are 2oz of either yogurt, pudding, creamy soup or vegetable juice. 1 protein shake and 48-64oz of liquids that are either water, broth, jello, herbal tea, crystal light, poweraide, or popsicles. low or no sugar for everything course I am finding it easy to eat more than 1 or 2 oz's at a time, this worries me a little. I am down to only one nap a day I am hoping soon I won't need a nap.

Congrats on getting past the stall! I hope you get your "new" knees soon! I really don't understand the reason the nurse gave you tho, yes your body is/was healing, but, with minimal eating AND healing your body should be not only using what the minimal meals you're eating to heal but whatever reserves you may have i.e. fat aka weight - which usually means more weight loss not less. Sorry, just my working in healthcare along with my past physiology schooling at odds with that reason...it may be true, it just doesn't make sense to me. Maybe someone can explain it to me?!

I was an equal opportunity savoury & sweet eater. I eliminated most sugar in the weeks after surgery when anything with sugar, artificial sweeteners or sugar alternatives tasted extra crazy sweet & was off putting. I haven’t really let it back into my eating. I get my sweet from blueberries every day & the occasional additional serve of fruit. It can be hard to eliminate it & the alternatives completely. It is added to just about everything in firm or another. I know I have about 5g of added sugar (multigrain crackers I eat) a day & some artificial sweetener (yogurt, protein bar & peanut paste) but that’s it. And none of these things taste sweet. I will have dessert at Christmas but that all I have of traditional sweet food. (I did have a small piece of wedding cake earlier this year.) There is some sugar in the rare G&T I have. None of these things make me crave sweet again. I remember during Covid, when the grocery shelves were bare, I could only buy a box of honey instant rolled oats - it was awful, super sweet & I couldn’t eat it. Personally, I’d rather eat something with real sugar than artificial sweetener - that stuff is so bad for you. Good luck.

I had my gastric bypass surgery on 9/26/2023 and was doing ok recovery until this week. I’ve been in unbearable pain and went to the urgent care and unfortunately my longer incision has an infection. The pain is horrible and I knew something was so wrong because the oxycodone was doing nothing for my pain. Really got freaked out when it began draining in its own. It’s been non stop. 😭😭😭. Very stressed and angry that I’m still having issues and can’t get around better.

Hi All, My surgery was on 9/28. I’m 27 years old and I am struggling mentally. I finished my first week of fluids and was not great with protein. My follow up is on 10/12 and I’m nervous. I’m 26 pounds down. I really am just trying to stay positive but I honestly just am regretting it because I’m not fully in control of my life right now. Can’t wait for 12/1 for real food.

It’s a very different situation. I had RNY back in 2004. I lost a lot of weight and maintained it for 18 months. Then it started creeping back on. When I was finally ready for a revision (somewhere around 2014-ish, different team), the team kept losing my endoscopy results. I finally lost interest. In the last few years, I’ve felt ready to try again. My insurance has changed, as have revision methods. My insurance approved a procedure called Endoscopy with Argon Plasma Coagulation. They make the opening to the stomach pouch smaller by zapping it and creating scar tissue, making it smaller. I had the first procedure in 2022. Unfortunately, the surgeon didn’t tell me that there were more to come. No one reached out to schedule the next procedure. I assumed that the revision consisted of that one procedure. That’s why I thought the revision wasn’t working for me. When I spoke with my surgeon, she was surprised that I had done as well as I had with just that one time, as well as the fact that no one had contacted me to schedule the next procedure. I’ve had the second procedure, and I have continued to lose weight. I know the stalls are maddening, and if it continues for more than a few weeks, talk to your surgeon.

Tomorrow is my big day. I have to report to the hospital at 8 for a 10 a.m. surgery. I have had a lot of surgeries, so I'm not particularly worried about going under or anything. I worry about pain management and the 6 weeks after surgery and sticking to it. I have to remind myself that this is a tool for me to use and that I need to very conscious of what I'm eating. Good luck to everyone else having surgery this week.

5.5 Years Out Hi all - I used to be very active on these forums, but as I continue on my journey I have found myself relying less and less on this platform. I do like to check in occasionally to provide insight, encouragement, perspective, and more to those who are about to begin their journey or in the first few chapters. A little about me- I had VSG surgery in May of 2018. My highest weight was about 260 and I was put out on my body and my weight affected all aspects of my life. I lost a total of 140 pounds and have maintained (most) of that weight loss. I am up about 10 pounds in the last year or so, but mostly muscle as I have begun weightlifting so I am not too concerned. I had two plastic surgeries after my VSG to help with loose skin and such. My favorite non-scale victories over the past few years: Being able to walk into any store and find something that works for me Having my boyfriend be able to pick me up as if I weigh nothing Being able to cross my legs when I sit! Feeling cute in my clothes My quality of life is exponentially better My most unexpected experiences: I am ALWAYS cold I quickly pass out if I stand for too long I struggle with iron intake Vitamins can make me feel super sick! I get an upset stomach very easily I suffer from acid reflux (something I never experienced before) My unsolicited advice: Listen to your doctors Get active Drink your water! Eat your protein Having one bad or off day is not an excuse to have a bad week You can still enjoy things in moderation

Has anyone ever had issues with getting your test results from a required specialist? I went to a cardiologist a week ago and was not given the paperwork results for my echocardiogram. This clinic has no website where I can view my results and the doctor is hard to get in contact with unless you make an appointment and the wait times at this place is horrible (be well primary in Brooklyn). How did you guys get around this problem if you ever had it?

@BlondePatriotinCDA, oh how I wish it was muscle! It's fat.... It's crappy diet and laziness - hence the reason I'm back to the forum for accountability. I haven't posted in about a year and funny that this was at the top of the rants and raves. Thank you for the response and personally for me, the reality check. I'm up about 5lbs (consistently over weeks), so I definitely know it's not hormones and I KNOW I have to get back to basics. So what do we do in these situations? Log in regularly, track what you eat (so you can't rationalize poor diet), and look at pictures of yourself when you were obese. I NEVER want to go back to painful joints, embarassing pictures, and not being able to buy clothing from pretty much anywhere I wanted (Oh, and I spent a fortune on new clothes so I don't want to go through that either!). Thanks to all here for being a sounding board and reminding me of WHY.

Hi there. I had the exact same reaction when I started my pre surgery diet. I mean, the diet itself is ugg boring but the MENTAL reckoning- WOW! Wasn’t prepared for that. It took a lot to get to where we are, and it’s going to be hard work getting to where we want to go, but what a prize we’re hoping to find on the other side- US, who we want to be, what we want to be able to accomplish. I’m half way through my pre-op (2 weeks), surgery next Monday. It got better a few days in, something everyone assured me would happen. Dig deep and best wishes!!

Mine was 100% private pay. My insurance would not cover it all. totally an exclusion. Blossom is available after surgery but only if you need them and reach out. I never really reached out or had any complications. I follow them on social media and read lots of people having questions, etc. I have to say, I think he follow-up could be better. My GP was very hesitant to just "take over" when I got back. Doctors don't want to be responsible for someone else's surgery. Makes sense. I also knew it would be discouraged from going out of state so I never disclosed or told GP office what I was doing. My point is when she would ask me questions about aftercare I would be like "uh I don't know" she would ask what about follow-up? I was like hmm, I guess there really isn't any. No binder, no regular calls or direct contact. Luckily, I didn't need it though. My GP said my case made her more interested in it and learn about the follow up and tests needed, etc. Also makes sense, if insurance covered it, I would likely have a bariatric team and all my tests and follow up would be with them. The actual recovery was really good and seamless for me. I followed all the directions in Vegas. I was prepared for the worse. I walked and woke up every few hours with my daughter's help. I never had to horrible gas pain people talk about. Plane ride was super awkward with the fancy leg pumps. 😜🤣 Once home, FLUIDS! Alex explained, you can live 10 days without food but not water/fluids. I was tired the first week. I just listened to my body. I moved around as much as possible, but didn't push myself either. I will be blunt about MY ONLY complication. CONSTIPATION is real! And it's awful! Never had this in my life. Quite the opposite. So my advice, always keep track so it does not get away from you. Use the stool softeners and fiber. After two years, I still have moments but I have a good routine to treat it. On the other hand, I have read people have the opposite, so listen to your body! I'm so excited for you and can't wait to hear how you do. What is your date again?

CartyGirl98 you're not doing anything wrong. I just saw my surgeons PA yesterday and was told that in the first 2 weeks you will lose from 7-15 pounds. Sounds like you are right on track. I am just finishing up my last day of pureed foods. At the beginning of starting it, I gained 2 pounds. I am down a total of 13 pounds since surgery on 9/22/23. Hang in there. When is your follow up?

Hi friends! 😁This is my first post on here, so I apologize if I have NO IDEA what I'm doing! 😅 My VSG is scheduled for 11/22...the day immediately before Thanksgiving. Who does that? lol I figured if I use food as an excuse to not get the surgery at that time, then I'm probably not ready for it...plus, Yule/Christmas/what-have-you is the month after that, so if I use holidays as an excuse to delay surgery, it's gonna be a few months. Originally, my surgeon wanted to get me in in September, but I was waiting for my EGD still (even though my surgeon ordered it originally, he then said he was fine with me skipping it...I still wanted to make sure I didn't have Silent Reflux or anything funky going on). Plus, I had a cardiac event monitor for 30 days in September and wanted to get THOSE results prior to surgery, AND I got married on (Friday 👻) October 13th, AND I have a major thing at work that I'm in charge of the whole week of November 13th where my presence is mandatory, soooo...11/22 it is! I've waffled back and forth on whether to get VSG or RNY (my surgeon does not do SADI/DS at all), but I'm going with my initial gut feeling and sticking with VSG. I imagine a lot of us have either already started, or will soon be starting, our LRDs - good luck, everyone! Magnesium & Potassium are REALLY helpful for leg cramps - that's something I learned when I did keto ages ago and kept getting woken up by charlie horses.

This topic is merely being presented as an educational topic with hopes that there has been experiences in the use of Marijuana after bariatric surgery. I smoke marijuana maybe once a week like having a glass of red sangria to relax after a long hard week. Although I'm not a frequent user, I am wondering if I will be able to use it after surgery. Fact for me is that it does induce hunger and I am sure this would not be condusive to being successful after the sleeve, but let's be real, there may be users out there who give it try. Unfortunately, there are not any concrete studies on this either like there is for tobacco and alcohol users. So feel free to enlighten and share your thoughts. Thanks!

I feel you and will pray for you. I'm almost five weeks out and this is not what I expected. It took toll on my body physically and emotionally. I started seeing a therapist to help me through this. I heard it will get better in time. For me it's the ups and downs of my sugar level and my grief for food (therapist said). All I can say is to take it day by day. I consulted with my doctor and if these symptoms continue I'll have to do a reversal of the surgery. He said it just takes time to get used to as most people experience this.

I'm just shy of 2 weeks post op myself (still in puree), and I can relate. One of the things I tried to eat pureed was some oven fried chicken ground up and mixed with mayo (to make chicken salad). Good grief, did I feel like crap for the next 2 hours! I had a headache, was nauseated, and just ugh. I ended up laying down with an ice pack over my eyes for the hour and a half after I took some Tylenol and Compazine (anti-nausea). A lot of how you feel will just depend on what you eat, how much, and how fast. Your digestive is completely rearranged now, and your body just needs time to get used to the new set-up. You'll get there. Just be patient with yourself and your body. If you have questions, just ask your surgeon or your dietitian. I'm sure you can always leave a message to speak to them in between your regular post op check appointments (especially if they use myChart).

Hello all...I really do not know how this works. Anyway here goes.. I am over 50 and I live with and take care of my 76 yr old mother. She had back to back strokes approximately 10 yrs ago. Recently she had another stroke. She has to go back into rehab soon. (shes not released from hospital yet) During all this mess I have tested positive for Covid. I would like some help with questions i have regarding both our well-being. Scheduled for my last office visit for next week and don't know how this (covid) may affect securing a surgery date. Any information out there from anyone in a similar situation would be most welcome.

Fascinating article. Despite having taken several of them myself over the past few years, (including Saxenda and Wegovy), I'm very hesitant to embrace a world where weight loss drugs are the first line of defense against obesity. I say this knowing that at least some of my issue comes down to poor nutrition choices, made far too easy by an environment swimming in garbage foods and a culture that values quick convenience over everything else. When I commit to good nutrition, my weight decreases. I don't get skinny, or even "not obese" but I do lose weight. When the snacks and junk food make their way back in the house and I have stressful weeks with work where I'm at my desk for 12 or more hours and fast food feels like my only option because I'm too tired to cook, I gain weight. In about the past 60 years, we've gone from 13% obesity to 40%, with a 10x rise in severe obesity. This isn't just a weird thing that happened in a vacuum. There are pretty obvious reasons for this, some that could possibly be solved with significant changes to our food policies and investment in real nutrition instead of lining the pockets of pharmaceutical companies and massive food corporations. Much of our so-called food today has been designed to be addictive, by the same folks who brought us cigarettes, no less. That should give people pause the next time they're in the grocery store looking at all those shiny boxes and bags. On the other hand, in the days when only 1% of the US population was morbidly obese...that was my family. And some of my family lived really long lives, into their 90s. Except the ones who didn't and died young. And you don't know which you'll be until it's too late. Up until my 40s, I was one of those people who had healthy bloodwork despite being 90+ lbs over my "ideal weight." I didn't worry about my weight because I was healthy. But that changed rapidly with middle age as my weight went even higher. Now I take blood pressure meds and am prediabetic. My feet and joints ache and I worry what that means as I age. I wish I had done more to keep my weight lower when I was younger and developed better habits early on. I can't believe how ignorant I was of nutrition facts when I was in my teens and 20s. One thing I know is I can't afford $12k or more a year for the rest of my life to take these "miracle drugs." I'm not sure who really can or should. I'm grateful for surgery being an option, but it's not for everyone, and neither are the drugs. As a society, I would like to see more acceptance of humans in all sizes, and more focus on real health and nutrition instead of fads and gimmicks that make a few people really rich.

Lots of nerves were cut during surgery so you have to wait for them to heal for messages/signals to get through. It usually takes 4-6 weeks to start to feel it. I always say all because you can doesn’t mean you should especially when your healing & signals aren't getting through. Stick to your plan (food, eating & drinking strategies, etc.) is the best advice. It takes time for the message to get through you are full - at least 20 minutes (& that’s after you’re fully healed). If you keep eating until you feel full you likely have eaten more than you need. Eating until you feel satisfied or had enough like you said your doing is best. I still ask myself do I need the next bite or just want it. It’s all about tuning into your body & its needs (listen to your body). You get better at it over time. Also many find when they are healed, the signals are different. Some say they sneeze, or their nose runs. Were you given portion sizes to guide you? If not ask for some they are helpful to ensure you don’t eat too much. I was told. 1/4 - 1/3 cup from purée (week 3) slowly increasing to about a cup at 6 months. You may be told something different.