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I could use soy sauce and fish sauce and made the most of it with Chinese and Thai vegetable dishes. I had 3 weeks of milk and non root vegetables. I needed to be creative. Aged balsamic vinegar was also a godsend. I had it on salads and roasted vegetables.

That's about the timeframe I hit the wall for feeling weak and major fatigue. It was an effort to go upstairs...or even want to walk. I told my GP and they gave me a B12 shot..finally a week later I'm getting past it. Just hang on for a few days or check with your doctor. It will eventually pass as long as you're following the program your surgeon set up!

Can we pretend this is an Overeaters Anonymous meeting and it's my turn to stand up front and bare my soul?...especially since I never had the balls to set foot in a live meeting during my 35 years of having a BMI score higher than my IQ. There's donuts in the back...JOKE😁 It's been almost a year since my sleeve surgery and I couldn't be happier with the physical results. I was 60 years old, 5'4" and weighed close to 210 when I finally made an appointment with a bariatric surgeon. I'm now 61 and 134 pounds...I'm still 5'4" though. The past few days I've been in deep thought mode and was just hoping to use this forum to vent and hopefully get some feedback, positive or negative. Dining out: It's going to happen. It was probably part of your life pre-surgery, so it's naive of you to think it won't be a part of your life post-surgery. So maybe it's just me and my family (obese mother) and significant other (F, normal weight), but the minute the menu appears, I get a barrage of "Oh..they have plenty of appetizers and small portions you can order. Be careful, etc. Did you see the vegetable plate?" OK, so I know my significant other and my mom love me and are probably just concerned about my health and eating habits post-op, and if I'm being overly sensitive, just tell me and I'll shut up, but when they say things like that, it's not helping! If anything, something deep in my primordial starving "fat" brain wants to order the biggest thing on the menu and attempt to eat it. When it happened yesterday at lunch, I calmly and nicely asked both of them if they could refrain from offering me ordering advice, as I assured them, thinking about the ordering process and the actual eating of said meal in a healthy manner was the number one priority on my mind pretty much 24/7. They didn't seem to take it too well. Which leads me to my next thought... I might be stereotyping, but I'm willing to bet that a lot of us here were never/are not selfish people. I'm sure there are pages of psychological data written about the personality traits of the chronically obese and the myriad reasons we ended up as we did. My point is, after bariatric surgery, you might have to become a little selfish. You may need to put yourself first, sometimes to the detriment of others. Obviously, it helps if you can do this in a nice manner, but with certain people and situations in your life post-surgery, you might just have to be a selfish a*****e. If your new lifestyle (diet, whatever you want to call it), exercise regimen, food habits, etc don't quite mesh with those around you, too bad. This is your last chance at success and you need to make YOU the priority. I walk a lot now...and it takes a lot of time. Some of that is time I used to spend with other people...now it's not always like that. Some have mentioned it. I don't care. I always invite them to walk with me but I'm not going to not walk because they want to do something else or don't feel like walking. When I think about some of the healthiest people I have known in my life, they were/are quite selfish when it comes to exercise. One of my friends has been to the gym every morning from 5:30-7:30 for 35 years. He never misses. It's not an option. That's amazing to me because despite the genetics of obesity, there's no question that having some type of exercise regimen helps at some level. Did I ever have that level of commitment? Only to stopping at Whataburger several times a week. So as much as I read pre-surgery and even with the psychological profiling the doctor did, I never read much or heard anyone talk about some of the changes I needed to make mentally to make this work. It seems like most of the pre-surgery discussion is about how to eat before and after the surgery and most of the psychological discussion is about not letting one addiction (food) be supplanted by another (drugs, alcohol, etc). The crux of this dissertation, if you're still reading, is that there couldn't be more truth to the phrase bantered around here...."They operated on your stomach, not your brain". Prepare yourself for some mental challenges that being thinner does not make any easier. I must look a lot better because everyone tells me so...but I don't always feel better. Some of the same issues I've dealt with all my life, totally unrelated to weight, are still around. It's not that I expected them to disappear, but I think at some level, deep down, many of us think/thought, "Oh, if only I weren't so fat, I wouldn't have to deal with this problem [insert the problem/issue of your choosing]". Maybe I was just being naive or stupid, or both, but even being "thin" comes with plenty of challenges. I know these are "first world" problems and I'm not trying to sound like a complaining, spoiled brat. I just wanted to let off some steam here in the hopes that I'm not alone. Thanks for listening.

Definitely ask your surgeon. My book from the clinic says I can never have it again. I spoke with my surgeon and I told him I really only take it about 4 times a year and he said it would be fine for me to take it then, he told me if I was taking it every day or a few times a week then it would not be okay. So I think how often a person takes it is a factor.

it's not at all uncommon for menstrual cycles to be affected by WLS. Lots of women report changes in their cycles - or have mood swings - the first few weeks after surgery. Estrogen is stored in fat cells, and this is supposedly due to estrogen being released during the rapid weight loss period. It'll eventually stabilize when your weight loss slows down.

I used to get that stuck-on-the-way-down experience fairly often when I first reintroduced meat after surgery, but I have learned to chew my food really well to the point that it has become automatic and I rarely have that problem anymore. But last week, I went to a restaurant and got some really delicious snapper, and it was so good that I ate too much, too fast and regretted it. Fortunately, the feeling passed after about an hour, but it was not a pleasant hour and like your ham experience, it was a good reminder that I still have to eat slowly and chew well.

Hi I have Kaiser NorCal and I went to my primary and just told them I want weight loss surgery. She sent a referral to the Bariatric department as I had a BMI of 38 and high blood pressure so I met the requirements, which for NorCal are a BMI over 40 or BMI over 35 with a health condition. I was contacted by the Bariatric department and I had to watch a video and take a test it was easy. Then I had to weigh in with their department and meet with a nutritionist. After all that was done, I was able to meet with the surgeon and he gave me a go away of what I had to lose in order to qualify. I had to do a psych evaluation. Once I lost weight I did some bloodwork and now I am scheduled for surgery on October 12 of this year. I started this process in January, I was scheduled for surgery in September, but got pneumonia the week of the surgery so it was postponed and now Kaiser is supposed to strike so I’m hoping that it doesn’t get postponed again you do have to maintain your weight the entire process and can’t even go over half a pound of your goal weight. Hope this helps.

Hello, I had GB on 8/16/23 I developed slight acne along my jaw line and chin around 2 weeks post op. I am now 5 weeks post op and my acne has subsided but left me with acne scars. I was just told it was my hormones fluctuating and to make sure to reach protein and water goals as well as take my bariatric vitamins.

I'm going to try and keep this from being too long, but there's so much to say!!! First I'll start with my newest NSVs. I'm officially in a size 18 clothes (from my original size 30), size 10 shoes (from my original size 11), size 6 1/2 ring (from my original size 10), 18" chain on a necklace (from my original 24" chain), and 2x jacket (from my original 4-5x). I can now comfortably fit on a massage table without fear of it creaking or breaking. I can now ride a bike because I'm within the weight limit. I now am able to hit my favorite thrift stores and walk out with seriously cute clothes that look nice, sit well on me, and actually fit comfortably!! My asthma is almost completely gone (I only have it when I get super sick now instead of all the time). My blood work came back and my hormone levels are almost in the normal range (I have PCOS) and my cysts that completely COVERED both ovaries are totally gone (without having taken any meds or done any hormone therapies!!) I did a 6 mile hike this past weekend with my son. I am completely pain free and am able to go full on beast mode with my workouts again. I can go up 5 flights of stairs before I need to stop and rest. Now for my new chapter in life and old dreams becoming new again. So years ago, I wanted to become a nurse. I completed all of the academics with a 4.0, aced all the labs, but couldn't do any of the clinicals because I couldn't do all the walking, I was 400 pounds, and my health/joints/back were way too bad. So I gave up on it. Then about 2 years later, I thought "well, maybe I can be a medical assistant. Surely THAT'S not as hard" and once again, I couldn't do the externship because I couldn't do the physical stuff. So I went into other areas for work, ballooned up to 421 pounds, worked remotely, and made good money. I loved what i did, but there was always a part of me that regretted not being able to go into the medical field. That was my heart's desire. So fast forward to now. I'm between jobs and miserable. I had to stop working because of all my complications from my first surgery. Now that I've been cleared, I can't get hired anywhere. So I decided that now is a great time to go back to my dream of working in the medical field. So on Sept 5th, I start school to become a certified pediatric oncology medical assistant. Most of my previous credits transfer over, so I only have about 6 months of academics to do and then the externship. Then I sit for my certification exam and then I get to finally FINALLY do what I've always wanted to do. By my 46th birthday next June, I should be right where I want to be, doing what I want to do, and hopefully at my goal weight. I'm sitting here in tears as I type this, because I thought this was something I would never see happen. I resigned myself to being morbidly obese, extremely unhealthy, and needing a cane to get around. I may not be at my goal weight (the weight comes off a lot slower with a revision, and also as your bmi gets smaller and you get closer to your goal) but I believe eventually I'll get there. But the things this surgery is giving to me, the dreams I can live out, the health and wellness and years of my life I'm getting back..... it was all worth it. The complications, the uncertainty, the pain and healing and stalls.... all completely worth it. We all start this journey wanting the numbers on the scale to go down. But there's SO MUCH MORE this surgery gives you. I will never, ever regret my decision. Never.

I am absolutely terrified today after seeing my consultant. I had gastric sleeve surgery 26/07/2022 not for weight loss but to remove a stomach tumour. January this year I started getting stabbing pains under my left rib but wasn't really having any nausea, sickness or difficulty eating and drinking. After a CT scan in May and an endoscopy in August they found my stomach is strictured/stenosis. Today my consultant has told me the only option is to remove my stomach fully and sew my esophagus to my bowel. He said stretching it is not an option. I have an odd feeling (numerous reasons why) that they botched my operation and are trying to skirt around it. My consultant and surgeon keep changing the story. Like only an insignificant amount of stomach was removed. Then it was a full gastric sleeve performed. Then only a tiny amount removed again. Then the tumour was a GIST (sarcoma cancer). Then its just a benign tumour caused by pancreas cells. I've never known such confusing, arrogant, unsympathetic and clueless consultants and surgeons before - they're very worrying. Especially considering my surgeon is also doing private work for Spire. I'm absolutely broken. Any advice or anyone that has had a similar experience would be appreciated. As a side note this hospital in Liverpool has now given me a fear of hospitals. I was put on an oncology ward which I've been in before in a different hospital. I've always been a regular at hospitals over the last 20 years with pulmonary embolisms, 2 cancer scares, chronic illnesses etc and its always been a pleasant stay (even after surgeries) and a bit of a break and a chance to get some rest as I have 3 children. While in this new hospital after surgery it was like a third world hospital. I was lay in someone elses stale urine for a week before they agreed to change my putrid mattress. I caught scabies on my arm and oral thrush that spread to my esophagus and lungs. There was no shower so I had to wash myself daily in the sink. Finally they allowed me to use the mens shower as there was no womens shower which was literally just a shower cubicle with a door leading onto the corridor, nowhere to hang your towel or clothing and due to a blocked drain the floor/tray was flooded so my feet were in stagnant water along with my towel and clothing on a carrier bag on the floor/tray. By the end of my shower everything was soaking wet so I had to "get dry" with a wet towel and put on wet pyjamas before going to my bed and putting the curtain around to get properly dry and changed again. I had pneumothoraxes under my diaphragm and collar bone but was given the wrong and tiniest amount of pain relief. I was left to withdraw from my daily medication that I've taken for 5 years and left writhing in agony with the gas pain, pneumothoraxes, parasthesia and an intense burning sensation through my veins along with a massive headache, vomiting and aversion to light. No one would listen to me to help me to get my pain level under control and I could go on and on about the lack of care and the feeling of death and impending doom on this ward.

So it looks like your question was added in as a tag. 'I am 3 weeks post op and it is really hard to get in protein I was reaching out to see if there is any type of hacks on how to get it down I have the powder kind also can someone explain to me what will happen if I’m not getting enough protein in There are a variety of ways to get it down. Make it as is and break it down to half a shake twice a day. Make it more liquidy and sip on it throughout the day. Use unflavored protein powder and sprinkle it into other foods, such as broth or applesauce. Try protein water which is thinner and comes in a many fruity flavors so it's not just the milky stuff. You can also boost the protein in yogurt with adding protein powder. If you don't get in enough protein, you run the risk of losing muscle and not just fat. Losing muscle can also slow down weight loss. Also leaves you with less energy. Even though hair shedding is par for the course, having enough protein can lessen the shed and support healthy regrowth. It can be difficult to meet the protein goals in the beginning, just try to focus on getting better day by day.

I rarely disagree with an opinion on here but on the point of exercise I do. Before surgery I was too disabled to exercise. Staying indoors during the covid years had added lots of weight on my carcass. [ it was a government decision to keep certain people with certain illnesses indoors ] I was too old and too heavy to even begin basic exercises. After surgery it took a lot of bravery on my part to start walking. Everything scared me after being indoors for 2 years. At about 8 months out and 100lbs down, walking became easier for me. The only exercise I do is cooking, cleaning, walking, shopping and volunteering in a charity shop for one day a week. So I have done zero exercise and lost 150+ lbs

I didn't go to them, but the only six-month diet requirements I've heard of are the insurance company's requirements, not the surgeon's. Of course, there may be some surgeons that require it, but the only ones I've heard about are because of the insurance company. A lot of surgeons (although not all) do require a special two-week diet before the surgery, though (usually just fluids and protein shakes - or some let you have one small meal as well)

I get in food ruts, I will eat the same thing everyday for 3 weeks because it's easy, and fits the diet... then I just don't want anything. Balancing is definitely a challenge for me.

I just had surgery this past week, but for the last 6 months or so I have been adding quest on flavored protein powder to everything liquid that I could think of. I put it in soups and make shakes with it but then add my own flavors because I also cannot stand artificial stuff. It's a pretty cheap option and get your protein in plus doesn't spike insulin or blood sugars.

I know how discouraging stalls/gains can be . I'm still at a 2 and a half month stall

I get this. I normally eat the same couple things for breakfast and lunch because it'd easy. I put more effort into dinner. I plan ahead a menu for a weeks worth of dinners. It help keep the boredom at bay.

It's completely normal to see a stall at any point, but yes the notorious 3 week stall can strike anywhere at around that timeframe. It's not anything that you've actually done. At this point it's almost impossible any of us has the capacity to gain real weight. Your body is still healing. I also have some trouble still at 5 months post getting in my water goals. Remember that all other liquids can count towards that goal - soups, protein water etc. Just keep trying your best day by day. Remember the scale isn't the only measure of our successes (though it is the biggest tether we have). Forget the scale for a bit and keep working your program. The drop will happen.

Hello all, I'm near 7 weeks post-op and I was wondering if the feeling in the stomach while eating will forever be present? Sorry if that's vague, but since being let loose with no restrictions I am being consciousness to not take big bites, chewing/eating slowly, and that I need to reintroduce foods, but when I eat I still get a feeling in my stomach like when you eat with an empty stomach and it clunks, something different from feeling full. It's honestly putting me off from eating from time to time and was wondering if there's an end to where I can just eat normally and feel full? As with things I've been already familiarized myself with during recovery (popsicles, steamed veggies, and protein shakes) seem to be not an issue.

Any Gastric Sleeve surgery buddies in August? Mine is scheduled for August 7th! Almost 1 week away! Counting down the days!

I agree with Arabesque. Those all sound like pretty common things during the first couple of weeks after surgery. Leaks aren't common and are almost always found before you even leave the hospital. If you're concerned, definitely contact your clinic, but this all sounds pretty normal to me.

So I found out I have a uterine fibroid the size of an avocado and one the size of a jumbo egg (12cm and 6.5cm), and my uterus is apparently huge (the size of a 14 week pregnancy, I'm told). Well today was my follow up appt and I was told that my fibroids are so big, the only option I have is an abdominal hysterectomy (they are causing issues with really heavy bleeding all through the month, not at specific times for my period). We're looking at about 5 weeks out for the surgery. Apparently this is going to be a MAJOR surgery, and my doctor said I will have to do nothing, just at home, for 2 weeks at minimum but prefers me to take 6 weeks. WHAT??? 6 weeks??? She said since it'll be abdominal and not laparoscopic, it'll be 2 days in the hospital, a lot of pain, inability to sit up or do much walking during the first 2 weeks, then very slow going for the next few weeks after that. I mean...what??? ALSO... there's a part of my stomach, just above my belly button, that has always kind of stuck out. No matter what I do, it doesn't go down or get smaller. There's not really any pain, but I always thought it was because I was fat. But I've lost a lot of weight and it's still there. The gyn said it might be a hernia, but my bariatric surgeon never mentioned it during the surgery. If I have a hernia that was never found, I'd like to get it fixed. If it's not a hernia, I'd like to figure out what it is. It makes me look pregnant, and it really bugs me. The part below my belly button is my (apparently) huge uterus and fibroids. The part above my belly button is....who knows..... I'm just mentally worn out. I really thought I was done. I thought everything was going well. I don't have pain, I work out all the time, I'm thrilled with everything. And then.....boom. More crap. UGH..... This isn't a bariatric complication, so I'm very thankful for that. But I mean, SERIOUSLY??? More crap??? Sigh.... By the time I finish all this, I'm practically gonna have a brand new body. So at least there's that....

The issue at hand here is that NSAIDs are a big NO-NO for bypass patients, owing to quirks of the bypass anatomy, specifically that the anastomosis where the stomach pouch is tied to the intestines (the stoma) is at a downstream part of the intestine that is not acid tolerant, as the duodenum is (the part of the intestine immediately downstream of the normal stomach.) Consequently, that stoma is easily irritated by the acid from the pouch, and doesn't need any additional stress from stomach irritating medications such as NSAIDs. The most common place for ulcers in a bypass patient is at the stoma. The sleeve based procedures like the VSG or DS don't have that problem as the normal anatomy is preserved in that respect. It still pays to be cautious as the stomach has been cut and reduced, but all the suture lines are amongst normal acid resistant stomach tissues, so there isn't nearly the sensitivity that there is in the bypass. Many practices simply carry over their bypass experience and advice to their sleeve patients owing to an (over)abundance of caution, simplicity, and their lack of direct experience with the sleeve and NSAIDs. When I had my sleeve around twelve years ago, our surgeon's advice was to use them as needed post op as soon as the narcotic pain relievers were no longer appropriate (so, within a week or two,) though when I talked to him more recently he was more of a mind of within a few months post op.

As everyone has said, stalls are very common. They actually are Dan important part of your weight loss. It’s when your body takes stock of your constant needs & readjusts things like your hormones ( hunger, satiety, etc.), metabolic rate, etc. The stall will end when your body is ready. You can’t force it, let it take the time it needs. Still frustrating though. Fluctuations are also perfectly normal. We all fluctuate. You’ll eventually work out your usual fluctuation swing. Mine is about 2 lbs. Some are greater, some are less. Fluid retention, constipation, diarrhoea, hormones, etc. all contribute. I mean you don’t eat & drink exactly the same foods & fluids in the exact same quantities every day either. Nor do you the exact same activities to burn calories. Congrats on your weight loss so far. Yay!

I had my surgery on 8/15 as well. I am still losing steadily. I am still around 400 calories a day, even on soft foods. First week after surgery was 3.4 pounds down, 2nd week was 14.4, 3rd week was 6.8, 4th week was 6.2, today was 5.4 lost each week. 36.2 pounds lost since surgery (I am on the larger scale for loss tho LOL). 56 pounds down since Pre Op started. 75.2 pounds down since life style changes. You will get there, my daughter had the surgery the same time I did, and she has hit stalls where she gained .5 pounds one week. I weigh in about 3 times a week, but only 1 is what I record. I am going to start weighing in only once per week. Your body is adjusting so it will take some time.