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It was at about two months. I had a gin & tonic which I sipped for hours - not kidding. Then it was another couple of months before I had another. I actually sort of lost my taste for it. Four years out & I still don’t drink often - usually a glass about once a month (except last weekend with girlfriends & a wedding - was a glass & a half of champagne each day for three days). A glass or two while you’re away likely won’t hurt. But do check with your team because plans differ. Remember it does slow your metabolism & the effects of the alcohol may be stronger & you may feel the effects more quickly. Track the calories & keep your non alcoholic fluids up.

Timewise I was under for 4 hours instead of 2. Doc told me before surgery that the Endoscope didn't tell him how big the hernia was and wouldn't know till he was in there. As far as complications there were none. Week one was a bit of a blur since I was prescribed Hydrocodone for pain. But I think a week is pretty common for most WLS patients to get past the worst of it. Surgery was a big game changer for me. No more reflux and I can breathe again. Good luck going forward @GrannyMaggie !!

I am 6 months out from RNY. And I just got rid of my old clothes last week. At first, I was reluctant. And I guess that's what took me so long. But I now see I see it as clearing out old energy and bringing in the new. I thought I would miss them once I bagged them up. My daughter who was helping me kept asking if I would be ok. She said I took a huge plunge. But I am really doing ok. I enjoy buying new and cute smaller clothes now. New me, new energy. Best of luck on your surgery tomorrow!

Six months almost to the day. My family doctor submitted me into the bariatric referral program here in Toronto the last week of February. I attended the virtual orientation session on March 7 and my surgery date is August 28. In between those dates, I've attended (either virtually or in person) meetings and consults with a nurse, psychiatrist, a social worker, the nutritionist, an internist, did a sleep study, met the surgeon, and had an endoscopy. It's actually moved quite quickly.

Hi All - My name is Kay. I am scheduled for my gastric sleeve surgery on 8/2. If I am not mistaken, I started the process in the first week of June. I never considered WLS because I never considered myself obese. I guess I was fooling myself. No one in my family is overweight; however, most have diabetes and HBP. I have HBP and am pre-diabetic. I went to see the gastro doctor out of curiosity. The appointment was an hour long. I met with a dietician, an insurance navigator, and a nurse practitioner. This was the first time I heard my weight out loud. I usually turn away from the numbers on the scale and instruct the person taking my weight not to tell me. I just usually guessed my weight. I was off about 40 pounds. BMI of 40. The insurance navigator told me that I would get approved and that my insurance did not have any pre-surgery requirements. I met with the nurse practitioner, she gave me a list of to-do items, and I was off to the races. I am excited. I look forward to having more energy, being more active, getting rid of my HBP medication, and eating to live instead of living to eat. I was a bit apprehensive about joining a WL forum because I did not want to see negative reviews and complications. I am glad I came to this site. It is full of information and people like me. Congrats to those who have had their surgery, and good luck to those who are scheduled.

Oh wow this is one of those things on which different programmes are so very different! I was cleared to have a glass or two of wine 7 weeks post op (xmas though so that might have accelerated my request). And I have had *some* alcohol on one or two days pretty much every week since then. Honestly I don't think it has held me back at all. I know this might be very different for others though. Can't see that one or two drinks on a holiday will impede your progress. Hope you have a lovely holiday OP!

tofu and paneer would be soft - but not pureed re: rice and noodles - I didn't eat those at all for at least the first year. I'm not sure if they'd be considered "soft", but they're not very nutritious and take up real estate in your stomach when you should be filling it with mostly protein since your protein needs are very high the first few weeks. Also, even at eight years out, even though I do occasonally eat rice and noodles, i can't eat much of either since they sit in my stomach like a brick. So you'll eventually be ALLOWED to eat those things (all my food restrictions were lifted once I was about six months out), but they do bother some people.

I’m three years out now, but thanks for the reply. I use straws just fine. They still aren’t sure why I had so much gas immediately post op, but it passed and I'm fine now. But, i did want to say for anyone else newly post op and reading this - gas pumped into your chest cavity during surgery is different than intestinal gas. Walking is the best way to move thst gas out.

I’m three years out now, but thanks for the reply. I use straws just fine. They still aren’t sure why I had so much gas immediately post op, but it passed and I'm fine now. But, i did want to say for anyone else newly post op and reading this - gas pumped into your chest cavity during surgery is different than intestinal gas. Walking is the best way to move thst gas out.

I haven't posted an update in awhile, but there hasn't really been much to report. I tried sliced deli roast beef last week and it was too soon, my stomach really hurt for about 45 minutes, then stopped. I guess I'm just not ready to digest beef at the moment. I had pretty good success with turkey though. This week, I tried a chicken quesadilla and managed to take 2-3 bites and was okay. I had a bit of a stall "weight loss" wise from the 13th through the 20th, but got on the scale this morning and was at 325lbs, so I managed to lose 5 more pounds since the 12th, bringing my weight loss since surgery to 27lbs, 60lbs since I started this journey. I'm probably going to avoid the other forums and topics as this page as they seem to be pretty cliquish. I'm going to continue posting in this journal because I enjoy it and think it's fun to keep a history about what I'm going through. My next doctors appointment is in four days, so I'll probably post another update then.

my clinic said to wait for a year - but I waited three years. Just be aware that it's likely to hit you much faster than it did pre-surgery. I really feel the effects after just one glass of wine now.

I’m 6 months post revision on a 10 year old sleeve. I’m having terrible stomach problems. Dumping, cramping, nausea. I’m talking with my doctor and nutritionist about. They think it’s either diet or I’ve developed a post surgical IBS. They just put me on a two week course of Rifaximin. I don’t know what is safe to eat any more. Everything seems to make me sick. I’ve lost 75 lbs post op 30% of my body weight in 6 months and MOST IMPORTANTLY the reflux which prompted the revision is gone. I’m sure some of it is my own doing. One piece of candy or something with sugar (even ketchup) and I’m on the toilet. I have discovered that I need 45 min (not 30 as recommended) between eating and drinking. Anything but pure protein seems to be a problem. Salmon or chicken are ok but if I have fruit, rice, grains of any kind, and even some veggies like broccoli or zucchini I’m on the toilet in an hour. I’m learning my portions, which are so sensitive, one bite or two too many and I’m feeling green and laying down. I guess I’m looking for advice on how to systematically find my safe foods and portions? Has anyone else developed an IBS like condition post op such that you needed medication? I can’t tell if this is that or diet or both and I’m not happy either way.

I had my surgery 7/10 and am traveling for work. Thankfully I was able to acquire some protein shakes and triple zero yogurt but man was it a pain to track down. Does anyone have any travel tips and tricks to make sure you’re getting enough protein, hydration, and able to take all the post ops meds and vitamins?

Hey y’all, I had the sleeve surgery 2 years ago - lost 110 pounds (had lost 125 at my lowest weight). I got a few consultations last week for PS in Miami and felt the most confident is the surgeon who sounds like a perfectionist and is doing a lower body lift plus muscle repair, lipo, breast lift. I’m feeling like I want to be at my lowest again (~165 pounds) so that everything can be as tight as possible so I’m probably going to cut carbs for the next month and a half. Is that silly since he’s doing lipo? Does lipo end up actually impacting the scales? A few pounds of fat can be voluminous so I’m not expecting much. Also for people who traveled to Miami, I’ll take recovery house recommendations. and any other wisdom :)

I am 6 weeks post surgery and I've been pretty open about it. Mainly because it's easier to explain my small meals and I don't have people trying to get me to eat. What drives me crazy are the people that when they find out you had surgery, give advice like "why didn't you just walk a little more?" I want to scream "gee why didn't I think of that!". Instead, I grit my teeth, smile and say, "it doesn't always work that way". Really, do people think that I would have major surgery and spend the next 6 weeks drinking liquids and trying to reintroduce myself to food if instead all I had to do was a walk a little more?

Happy belated 64th birthday! I sure hope you are stressing less and less as you inch through the home stretch to retirement! Congrats on your weight loss achievement and continued success. Thanks for sharing your journey! Yes, there are still surgeons who perform Lapband. I just had a consult last week. I've spoken with a few doctors how are against the other radical, irreversible procedures. There is more money in these than lapband and many of them have abandoned their lapband patients altogether. Even if I were a candidate (My BMI not high enough) I would NEVER consider removing stomach after watching my sister slowly waste away to nothing and die over a course of 5 years because of a botched procedure. Countless doctors and nurses at her bedside ICU would tell me they wished they would stop doing these surgeries because there is nothing that can be done to fix complications once they arrive. I have to do self pay for the procedure and they can schedule it pretty much anytime. My only real concern is additional out of pocket $ for complications such as rejection, slippage, dilation, etc. You're success and happiness is great to know as I contemplate taking the lapband leap! Thanks and best wishes!

I'm booked for my Roux-en-Y on Aug 28 with my pre-admission appointment on Aug 14 which is the same day I start my 2 week liquid diet.

I feel "less" restriction with the bypass. That could be because I still felt sleeve restriction, even after all these years. Up until this second surgery in June, I could never eat more than 1/2 a burger. I couldn't eat more than 1 slice of pizza, with maybe just the toppings of a second slice. So, now, I don't feel any different as far as restriction. What's different this time is the constant worry that whatever I eat is going to make me sh** myself or cause extreme nausea, vomiting, and pain. I didn't have that fear with the sleeve. When I got the sleeve, I was really very careful with my eating (just like now), but I would feel restriction more quickly up in my chest. This led to the "foamies" once or twice, but I never puked, felt nauseated, got sweaty, had abdominal pain, or got diarrhea . Also, the sleeve is NOT a malabsorptive surgery, so I knew I was going to absorb everything I consumed seeing as my intestines were complete and intact. I never feared malnutrition like I do now. With the sleeve, I didn't take handfuls of pills all day long. I took one multivitamin a day, and that was it. With my sleeve, I didn't exercise for like the first year and a half, I just lived my daily life going to work and back. The weight fell off daily. I kept that 149 lbs off for 6 years. Now, with the revision, I've been stalled for a month. I don't know if 45 lbs is all I'm ever going to lose. It's a possibility seeing as my body is already used to the limited calories. I am exercising now, but the scale isn't budging. I did and do understand that because it's a revision the weight loss will be slower, but a whole month with only a 2 lb loss is even worse than a regular person with no surgeries who just diets. A kind person mentioned that it's still very early for me in this bypass experience and things may get better. I'm hoping and praying that they do.

Morning! It is really interesting to hear all the different post-surgery diet plans from our doctors. Mine has been a very strict 2 days clear liquids, 2 weeks full liquids, 2 weeks purees...will start on soft foods next Thursday and can hardly wait! 😅

Actually it’s not that common. It could just be others have not remained active on the forum or as you wondered they haven’t updated their stats. Their profile weight might be their lowest weight & not the weight at which they settled & maintain - there is a difference. The average weight loss is about 65% of the weight you have to lose to put you in a healthy weight range for either bypass & sleeve surgeries which is usually informed by BMI (love it or hate it) at the three year point. But with all stats there there are those who exceed that stat & those who don’t for many reasons. Some we have control over (dietary & activity choices) & many we don’t (medication, gender, age, genetics, health issues, mobility, set point, etc.) But statistically the number who reach their goal will be less & the number who exceed it even lower than those who lose the 65% average. Your goal weight is a weight you picked. It may be based upon BMI. It may be based on a weight you’d been before. Or a weight that seems okay to you. Some even adjust their goal weight as they progress. I call it my head weight or emotional weight. It often is not the weight you end up at. Some find they prefer to be at a higher weight - easier to maintain without limiting or restricting their lifestyle or they feel they look better or are more comfortable at a higher weight. There is also a bounce back regain weight many experience. You can’t really tell what your finally weight will be before your surgery. Some surgeons say they can predict approximately how much weight you may lose at specific points in your weight loss post surgery. I think it may be double the weight you’ve lost at 3 months but I’m sure some one will confirm the actual formula. Though again this is based upon stats & some exceed this & some don’t. And I don’t know if it takes into consideration bounce back regain or settling weight or is just the lowest weight you reach. Would be worth asking your surgeon about it though. The trick is not to get tied to your goal weight. It’s not your body’s new set point weight (the weight your body is happiest at). It can really mess with your head if you don’t reach it or you don’t maintain it. Even when maintaining, allow yourself some realistic fluctuation & wriggle room with your weight. Try & remember it’s just a number on a scale & there are many more important wins to celebrate like your health & well being. I am someone who exceeded my goal (based on the lowest weight I always cycled around in the past) & exceeded the stats (132% lost). Not by anything I did. It’s my body’s new set point & where it happily stabilised. My lowest weight was 48.2kg & then I settled at 48.5-49.5. I gained a couple of kilos because of a medication issue but resettled & stabilised at 49.5-50kg after sorting the issue. I find it pretty easy to maintain & not limiting or restrictive.

I started the Propel today. We'll see how I do tonight. I drank one 16oz bottle of propel and have had three 16oz bottles of water. Maybe I'm just confusing my body by drinking Benefiber, lowering my sodium, then drinking propel, then cutting back on water... I'm trying to find some equilibrium here... it's difficult... but thank you all so much for your help... i truly appreciate it 💛

Early on, like 2 weeks post op, I toasted some sourdough bread and buttered it. The crunch and the aroma of fresh bread with the salty butter… I took 5 glorious bites, chewed each one and spit it out. I haven’t felt the need to do this again since then but I’m sure it’s a fairly common occurrence. Hugs to all!!

I sure hope so. I know I need to get back my positive attitude (like during my pre-op dieting, when I lost about 30 lbs in as many days). It's just hard with all the other things happening to me right now with the weight loss stall, insomnia, night cramps, skin issues, and lack of energy. I really just want everything to balance out already. Thank you for the encouragement, though.

I’m 5 weeks out and I have caved to some temptations but in tiny doses. I ate a single fricken tater tot! It was delicious. I bought a burger and ate just a few bites of the meat and cheese. Then I took a big bite of the burger and bun and chewed on it then spit it out. I didn’t want to cause the aftermath of actually eating/swallowing said burger so I just savored it in my mouth and enjoyed the chewing. Anyone else done this?

I've had several NSV's, such as comfortably fitting in a normal size chair, using a regular stall in the bathroom, fitting in the movie theater seats. But today is, without a doubt, my happiest. Today, after I did a 1 hr workout early in the morning, I spent the day with my son and we unexpectedly ended up doing a 4 mile hike!!!! I didn't have to stop and rest, I wasn't out of breath, and we were chatting the whole time without me struggling. He mentioned it a few times, and said he was so proud of me, and I was shocked. I literally didn't even notice how easy it was for me!!! I just got on with it and walked. It was AMAZING!!!!!