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Everyone’s surgeon seems to give different guidelines. Mine won’t allow me to drive myself to or from the surgery and told me absolutely no work for at least two weeks and no heavy lifting for a month.

Hello All, I'm pretty scared, so bear with me on this. I am now 7 months post op RYGB and at my 3 month post op, my liver enzymes were mildly elevated but my ferritin was around 600, at 6 months now, my enzymes are AST 96, ALT 105, Ferritin 1022. I am with a doctor now and watching them every 2 weeks, I'm also getting a liver biopsy on Monday, and to say the least, what I read on the internet is scary as heck, about liver failure. I had a rough first 6 months with a lot of nausea and was not able to get as much protein as I wanted and I lost on the high end of the weight loss curve. I know I had fatty liver before the surgery for some time, but again, liver enzymes were upper end of normal. Can you all let me know if any of you have had this experience? I heard they can be elvevated for some time due to the rapid weight loss, but mine are not coming down as of yet. Thanks. Laura

@Arabesque- I get it. I was told to revisit all my prescription medications with the various prescribing doctors within 2-4 weeks. I had not expected such a dramatic change so quickly after surgery. I'm taking this step by step, following the liquid diet post surgery and taking the pills to reduce potential pain (I have suffered very little and they now have a protocol that involves Gabapentin, Celebrex, Tylenol). The sleep problem has been a long running issue for me, but I figure if I'm getting a parts overhaul, I might address that too. I feel pretty positive about this whole experience- I do get hungry- but my wife pureed a cream of chicken soup which filled me up and I had a protein shake later in the evening, so I feel like I can get through this--I won't be able to do much gym work for a while- I like lifting weights. I go back to the surgeon on the 20th, so I'll see what he says on that score. Walking here is fine, except it gets really hot- I'm in Texas now and the heat is a beating. But, otherwise, I wanna get into shape to be more active. Appreciate the note. Regards to you.

What’s normal? One thing I’ve learnt since my surgery is there is no normal or only one right or wrong way about our recovery, weight loss, food & eating just what is right or wrong for you. There will be similarities & there will be differences too because we’re not the same. And yes it will be different from what was right or wrong or usual for you before surgery because simply what we did before did us no favours. Will it get easier? Yes. Does it take time to meet all your goals? Yes. As long as you’re making an effort & getting closer it’s okay. Will you have good days & bad days? Yes. Will your tummy be sensitive & fussy about certain foods for a while? Yes but that’s the healing process. Will it take time to learn new eating habits? Yes. Will you learn all your signals for real hunger, fullness/satiety or feel your restriction? Yes. Nerves were cut during surgery & they have to heal. Your signals take time to register & they may be different than before surgery. Will you be able to drink more than sips? Yes though how much & when is individual. Will you be able to reduce the amount of time before & after eating to drink? Yes but again when & how long is individual. Will you eat your old favourites again? Yes, once your weight has stabilised. Though it won’t be in exactly the same way. You’ll work out variations, & how much & how often is right for you. I’ve made quite a few changes to what & how I eat. Like I don’t skip meals anymore & there are certain foods I don’t or rarely eat. Some are my choice & others because they don’t sit well in my smaller tummy. I don’t feel I’m missing out on anything I chose not to or can’t eat. It did take time to work out what was right for me - food choices, calories, nutrients, portions, frequency of eating. Once I reached maintenance I slowly added new foods, recipes, adjusted portions, etc. to see how I’d go & made modifications for probably a good year after I reached goal. I did keep losing for about 11 months after goal while working it out but have basically maintained since then. I’m four years out from surgery. I’ll make further adjustments as I need - lifestyle changes, age, health issues, etc. PS There is an exception to the no one right way to eat & that’s in the first weeks when you’re following your staged return to eating. That plan supports & protects your healing tummy (remember all those sutures & staples holding it together). Check your plan on what you’re allowed to eat. Yes, plans can be different but being allowed eggs & peanut paste three days out from surgery sounds highly unusual. All because you managed it doesn’t mean you can do it again or it didn’t impact your recovery in some way. Be careful.

Liquid diet for 2 weeks? My surgeon said liquid diet 3 days prior to surgery. I am in insurance limbo right now, hoping to have surgery before the end of the month Sent from my SM-G988U using BariatricPal mobile app

I am now 9 days post surgery. I've been lucky enough not to have experienced pain and to have had a relatively smooth journey so far. I've started to drive now which feels comfortable and and I'm moving around quite easily. I am however moving quite deliberately and taking it slowly still no matter how well I feel i have to remind myself i have had major surgery. I am a little tired come evening - I am pacing myself in place of pushing myself. I have 5 incisions which are now itchy owing to the healing. I'd love to get back into the pool but will give it a few weeks more - ill speak to my surgical team first. Thinking about you guys who have had a rough time - hang in there - it will pass xx

May surgery was May 9th. Thank God I'm doing so well. I'm Grateful 🙏🏾 I've had no issues other than I stalled about 2 weeks ago...but I'm still pressing on. I hope it breaks soon.

if there is one single piece of advice i could dile out to the newly wls-ed, it would be not to sweat what u can or can't do first couple weeks. you just had major surgery and recovering from it, try to to expect to go running straight out of the gate, it'll come eventually. i didn't meet my water goals for the first two weeks. i didn't make my protein goals until well after a month or two post op. in fact, i couldn't even reach my DAILY protein goal amount in an entire WEEK of eating the first 2-3 weeks. like u, i also had serious food aversion and just didn't want to eat anything. at all. it was really bad the first couple months but still persisted on and off throughout weight loss phase. even now, at over 4.5 years post op, i still turn up my nose to eating every now and then. not as often as before, but still. despite all that, all my labs came back just fine (and still do) and i lost all the weight i wanted, and did NOT end up underweight nor mal-nourished. as for when i started eating "normal" food, it was probably after maintenance...and not because i couldn't, it was a conscious choice cuz i was prioritizing weight loss. speaking of "normal"...others would probably see how i eat and think its NOT normal (volume and amount-wise), but its a (new) normal for me. so yeah, many of us went through what u are going through now and turned out just fine. hang in there and know this is not forever, and u'll be alright ❤️

It has gotten easier for me at 7 weeks out. Just make sure you're listening to your stomach.

At one week post op, I thought for sure I had made a huge mistake. I felt like I'd never be able to eat again. I was able to eat again, and it gets easier every day. 😊

I'm 1 week and 3 days post op from VGS. My whole first week after coming home from the hospital I struggled really bad with my water and protien goals. I didn't meet them not a single day. Only now am I feeling like I am meeting my goals. I found it hard to drink that much in one day as my stomach healing directly after surgery. I'm on day two off of my liquid diet and on my pureed diet. I have tried a scrambled egg (could only eat half) and peanut butter (1.5 tbsp) but I find that eating food is hard. I feels hard on my stomach and takes a while after eating that I even feel comfortable enough to go back to drinking. (45 min to an hr). I feel like I've only just now starting to get comfortable with drinking protein shakes and rely on them for my protein. But, when I look at food right now that I can have, it just look un appealing and feels like it's more work than it's worth to try to eat. Is what I'm experiencing normal? I know someone else who had surgery on the same day as me and they're getting along just fine with eating and had no issues meeting their fluid and protein goals as soon as they got home from the hospital. At what point do people start to feel "normal" when eating food?

Now that I am strictly on liquid three days out from my operation I'm only using two protein shakes 11 oz of chicken broth twice a day unlimited water jello, popsicles, pudding. but that's cuz they told me yesterday that we are only supposed to have 60 grams of protein on this liquid diet that's why I cut it down to two protein shakes.

I don't know how high your nicotine % use was but I started vaping at 12mg and over time reduced down to 3mg. I quit vaping nicotine, 2 months prior to surgery by mixing my juice at 0mg. I never gained any weight in those 2 months, and I was tested a week before surgery for levels. Main reason being tobacco hinders healing and can cause ulcers. I was honest with the doctors from the start and none seemed to have a problem with my plan since I ended up cutting out all nicotine use in the end. Good luck with the weight loss and quitting the nicotine!

Thank you. My panic just kinda came on suddenly last night. I think I’ve just been ignoring it the past couple weeks. I should celebrate making it this far but it’s been a strain mentally. I’ll try to focus on just drinking when I can. Protein is pretty easy because I have a routine. The water is just the drain

As an ex smoker, I can tell you that giving up smoking is not the cause of weight gain. Smoking takes up a lot of time in the day and you have to fill this time with a healthier habit. You have every reason to want to stay on the right path. Its going to be tough for a few weeks but it will be worth it

My surgery date is June 23rd, I'm a nervous wreck and I'm absolutely NOT looking forward to the clear liquid diet. I'm thankful that my surgeon is only making me do a week. I've read and seen videos of people having to go 3-4 weeks or more!

I had my final pre-surgery appointment with my surgeon today, it was my pre-op appointment. My surgery was supposed to be scheduled for 6/16, but I found out that it was pushed to the 23rd because my surgeon is going on vacation. I have to start my clear liquid diet on 6/15 and I'm not looking forward to that. Aside from that, I have to pre-register the week of the 23rd and do a blood test and that's all I have left. I'm actually kinda scared and worried. Aside from a sleep study test, I've never stayed in a hospital overnight, let alone had any surgeries or anything. I was reading online that that death rate for this surgery is 1 in 1,000. I nervously asked my surgeon today if he'd done a lot of these sleeve surgeries and he responded that he'd completed his 1,000th not too long ago... 😬😂 My biggest concern is blood clots and dying from it. I have four kids and three of them are under 7 years old. My doctor is a general surgeon that specializes in gastric sleeve. Initially I wanted the full bypass surgery but he told me that he didn't do it. That it was "physiologically not natural." In the area that I live in, I had two surgeons that accepted my insurance, him and another guy that's from another country and was a couple hours away, so I decided to go with him and trust him. He's been pretty great so far. I've had countless people (not surgeons or experts) telling me that the sleeve would be useless for someone that needed to lose over 80lbs. Then again, I've seen people telling their stories on YouTube that had the sleeve and lost 150-200lbs. It's hard to really know what to believe. I know that I need help, regardless. I'm sorry for the long pointless post, but I wanted to post my thoughts and feelings, if for nothing more than to look back on them in the future.

I downloaded this app tonight because I had a really strong a visceral panic attack about getting the surgery. I’m 4 weeks post surgery today (6/9) and as I’m immersing myself more into regular life I’m feeling anxious about meeting my water and protein goals. And all around, what I’ve done to myself lol. Being in the house and managing recovery and eating is so easy, but it’s summer and I have many trips planned. My first real trip after surgery was this week (still currently on it). I took my daughter to an inclusive resort so she could enjoy herself. So far, it’s been easy physically. I’m not experiencing anything bad. However, packing food for it was really difficult because I’m still in an early phase for food (blended/purée). So it’s not easy to meal prep blended or puréed meals for a 3 day trip when there aren’t many options or access to a kitchen. I will say, eating isn’t an issue for me. I’ve been blessed in my journey and experience thus far and know I will be throughout the rest of my life. It’s the water portion, though. I really don’t want to be hospitalized for any reason; dehydration, eating certain things or too much come to mind when I think about it. I’m doing the best I can. I don’t meet the water goal everyday anymore (minimum 50 ounces) and that makes me scared. I’m just feeling a lot of anxiety. In the beginning I didn’t have a “regret” phase, but I guess it just waited to hit me until now. I know it may get easier, but it’s not right now and it’s making me both scared and just hyper aware of my existence/physical needs. I did the research I could and briefly read studies, watched people’s experiences throughout their journeys and spoke to people. I just didn’t expect all of the prep and intentional work I have to put in each day to sustain myself. Especially in these early days. As I write this, I’m reminding myself that I’m not even a month out so I can’t expect easy or to not feel a way. It’s just where I’m at right now. Any words of encouragement or pointers are greatly appreciated.

Two eggs & some grits? You’re doing well. A lot if it just comes down to how we heal. Actually two scrambled eggs would take me three days without r eating anything else. I can eat about two now at four years out. But that’s an example of how different we all are.

I apologize if this isn’t the right spot to let things out because everyone of y’all have been doing so good in your journey and I caught the funk and really don’t want to spread it. I’m about a week out from surgery and yesterday I made dinner for the family for the first time. I’m still strictly liquid but thought I should help my wife with the boys (1 1/2 and 5). I made them one of my favorites because it’s my eldest favorite too , rotisserie chicken salad with all the goodness. I wanted to eat it so bad!! I thought about licking their food, and I wanted to cry. I pulled it together and we ate dinner together, then with their food and me with broth. I made them dinner again tonight, salmon Brussels sprouts and rice. I was not as strong as yesterday, I cried dishing their plates, I even put some salmon in my mouth and sucked on it (I spit it out). I had to go to my room and cry. also I realize that this past week I have not been keeping up on my happy pills because I used to take all my meds at once and simply can’t do that anymore. I appreciate this space to type, complain and share victories. 🤟🏾

It's best to get clearance from your doctor. That said.. my program suggests starting weight training 6 weeks out. 2xs a week and advance from there. No maxing out or pushing to muscle failure. Lift enough to feel a burn but stop if you feel any sharp pain, experience chest pressure, nausea or extreme shortness of breath. I haven't started weights yet myself but have been cleared to. I had hernia repair same time as RNY. So I'm pacing myself. I am easing into exercise with walking on my treadmill or outside, weather permitting. Also just started using my exercise bike today. 6 miles. I do cardio 5x a week but eventually I will shift that to concentrate more on strength training since I think we will benefit more from that in the long run. I used to drink an ACV drink daily before surgery to help control reflux and blood sugar levels. Apple cider vinegar is actually not acid once consumed. Instead, it has an alkaline effect on the body when taken internally. Post-surgery I will still pour it over a salad but no longer really feel I need it. As for loose skin, I still believe autophagy/fasting can repair cells and improve collagen production but that is no longer an option for me diet wise. I chose RNY and so will rely on my new tool and follow those guidelines. For now anyway. Good luck and stay strong.

That's awesome Lipman! My stall looks to be over with a 1 kilogram/2.2 pound loss. Protein been stressing me out, it's so hard at this stage when you don't do shakes and aren't a fan of powders and are vegetarian. Even protein drinks are ick now, just too sweet. I can't wait for normal foods, been saving high protein recipes. I'll go back and update our list soon as there's a few names missing. I'd love to know how @Synlee is going.

I’m three weeks post op today and was able to start soft foods. It look me like an hour to eat 2oz. Idk what is wrong with me lol

I have chia in my freezer. How do you think taking it dry will affect my stomach at 8 weeks post since it expands to 10xs its weight in liquid? I used to take 2T daily. Dry. I'm thinking I should soak it first.