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My surgery was on 10/30 and no complications. Since this thread, my experiences are the same as most, the roll-coaster of changes from the rapid weight loss is sometimes overwhelming and I have to take a step back.

No sugar coating this stage, what helped for me was reading this over and over and over again. " A clear liquid diet helps to shrink the liver and fat deposits around the stomach, making surgery safer. Studies have shown that 80-90% of people having weight loss surgery have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which usually results in an enlarged/fatty liver. This can interfere with the surgical procedure by impairing visibility of the stomach, increasing your surgery time, increasing the risk of complications, and may result in your surgeon cancelling your procedure. ". This paragraph really grabbed my attention and was very effective.

Several interesting articles were gathered and published here yesterday. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/currentissue Here are a few of them, the complete list is in the link above. Reimagining Obesity in 2018 - A JAMA Theme Issue on Obesity Long-term Outcomes Following Bariatric Surgery Counting Calories as an Approach to Achieve Weight Control Fitness or Fatness - Which Is More Important? Comparing the Outcomes of Sleeve Gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass for Severe Obesity Effect of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy vs Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass on Weight Loss at 5 Years Among Patients With Morbid Obesity - The SLEEVEPASS Randomized Clinical Trial Effect of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy vs Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass on Weight Loss in Patients With Morbid Obesity - The SM-BOSS Randomized Clinical Trial Lifestyle Intervention and Medical Management With vs Without Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Control of Hemoglobin A1c, LDL Cholesterol, and Systolic Blood Pressure at 5 Years in the Diabetes Surgery Study Association of Bariatric Surgery vs Medical Obesity Treatment With Long-term Medical Complications and Obesity-Related Comorbidities Association of Bariatric Surgery Using Laparoscopic Banding, Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, or Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy vs Usual Care Obesity Management With All-Cause Mortality Toward Precision Approaches for the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity Evolving Societal Norms of ObesityWhat Is the Appropriate Response?

Hang in there. I spent the last few days before looking for any deaths my surgeon had. There were a few, but long ago. I also looked at my programs mortality and complication rates against other common risks (I.e. Driving a car, getting another surgery). Believe it or not I felt much better afterwards. I was nervous right up until the surgery, but the thing that helped was that virtually no one regrets it long term and that there were 5 others getting the same exact surgery that day with the same surgeon... Keep busy, don't dwell on it and you'll be fine.

I'm pretty sure I've made my mind up that I need to have this surgery. Please share your experience. How was surgery outside of US? Did you have complications? Weight loss? Scared but really excited. SO tired of being sick and tired because I'm too heavy. Thank you!

Congrats to you!!! Hope things go quickly and without complication and you're back posting with us soon!!!

I had my GS on Jan 11 and was suppose to be discharged on Jan 14. Well I’m still in the hospital because I can’t hold anything down not anything. Tomorrow I’m going for a endoscopy to see what’s going on and let you know[emoji120][emoji8][emoji1469]‍♀️[emoji855][emoji22][emoji854][emoji847] a lot of mixed feelings but no regrets.

You're about to commit to a lifetime change to your anatomy, and a lifetime of lifestyle changes. This is a HUGE, DIFFICULT undertaking. Use your six months to get drop dead serious about your diet and fitness. LOSE WEIGHT. If you can't lose weight before surgery....surgery probably won't help you. Behavior changes are critical. Without them, the surgery won't work. Fat people can be fit, or at least more fit......you can start walking and exercising and get your resting heart rate down to improve your cardiovascular fitness....this will make surgery that much safer for you. Even if you have to start really slow, challenge yourself to a few more steps each day. Wear a pedometer/Fitbit/Other fitness step counter. Losing weight will improve your blood sugar....which will help you to heal after surgery. Use this six months to get the junk food out of your house, develop strategies for non-dieting household members to continue their preferred diet, start your Vitamins, get the work done...of adapting to changes you need to make after surgery. Put together a list of 200 calorie foods you can take with you or pick up on the run. Have a strategy for fast food places you might end up at with friends or family. (For McDonalds, I get an egg McMuffin and eat half. 150 calories, 9g Protein. I also get a large decaf coffee.) Use this six months to quit nicotine for good. Quit or severely reduce caffeine. Quit carbonated beverages. These are really HARD habits to break...and you don't need to be struggling with them on top of the other challenges you'll be facing when the time comes. Tackle these tasks ahead of time. Keep in mind that the average sleeve patient loses only 60% or so of their excess weight (bypass patients do a little better). The less you weigh on the day of surgery...the closer you are likely to get to your goal weight in the 18 months after surgery. Research. Research. Research. Research. Do the benefits outweigh the risks in your particular case? Do you understand what your diet will be like after surgery and for the rest of your life? Do you have strategies to deal with the temptations that will still be there after surgery? Have you read dozens of stories of people who have had surgery and succeeded AND dozens of stories of those who have failed? Do you have an idea of what kinds of exercise you want to do? Have you looked at food lists for each eating stage after surgery? Have you researched possible complications? Do you feel comfortable that you're extremely well informed about what you're getting yourself into? If not...now is the time:) Have you tried drinking one ounce of liquid in ten little sips over 15 minutes? Get out a medicine cup, or shot glass, and give it a try. You will have to do this four times an hour after surgery...every hour that you are awake. Try one day of drinking only protein drinks and clear liquids. See how you tolerate being off solid food and carbs. Counting the pre-surgical diet, many people are consuming only protein drinks and clear liquids.... for three weeks. Use the six months to build a data base of healthy recipes that you actually like and will use the rest of your life. Become a calorie and Protein counting savant. Learn to journal everything that goes into your mouth. Learn to recognize food potions. Test yourself with a scale and measuring cups. Can you spoon out 1/4 cup of mashed potatoes with accuracy? How about half a cup of cottage cheese? What does 3 ounces of chicken breast look like? There is a TON of work you need to do be well prepared for what you're getting yourself into:) If you do this....the six months will fly by. Attend required appointments, seminars, support groups, do medical tests, see therapist, communicate with health insurance. You're going to be busy! Use your six months wisely. And very best wishes on a safe and effective procedure:)

I got a sleeve. Sleeve Pros... Shorter surgery, fewer complications, statistically. Fewer issues with dumping syndrome Fewer issues with vitamin deficiency, anemia and malnutrition. Does stretch a bit (to me, this is a pro, to others it might be seen as a con....I like the idea of my anatomy returning to something that could pass for its original design eventually.) You won't lose as much weight with sleeve as bypass, though.

I had GS surgery done in MX in Feb 2017. I've lost 55 lbs and have plateaued/stalled for the last 4 months and I still have lots of fat inches left to lose. I have a lot of food allergies (confirmed by blood work) and the "nutritionist" the Dr connected me with has no idea how to help me and I've been going it alone. I read the posts here about what someone eats on a daily basis and I can't eat over 3/4 of it. Add to my allergies is the complication that the surgery didn't remove my hunger like 99.5 % of patients. I've been hungry since day one. In fact my stomach growls so loud that co-workers can hear it. I'd like someone to brainstorm with, to talk menu plans with, to talk portion sizes with, strategy with, etc. So who do you recommend that I can do an online, remote appointment with? Who are your rock star nutritionists?

Your best bet it to call the surgeons office. Not only can they tell you what to do but they need to know thee things. It could be nothing but it could also be a symptom of a complication that no one on the board can address.

We're talking about a lifetime change to our anatomy, and a lifetime of lifestyle changes. This is a HUGE, HARD undertaking. Six months isn't that long to prepare. Use your six months to get drop dead serious about weight loss and fitness. LOSE WEIGHT. If you can't lose weight before surgery....surgery probably won't help you. Behavior changes are critical. Fat people can be fit, or at least more fit......you can start walking and exercising and get your resting heart rate down to improve your cardiovascular fitness....this will make surgery that much safer for you. Losing weight will improve your blood sugar....which will help you to heal after surgery regardless of whether or not you're diabetic. Use this six months to get the junk food out of your house, develop strategies for non-dieting household members to continue their preferred diet, start your vitamins, get the work done...of adapting to changes you need to make after surgery. Use this six months to quit nicotine for good. Quit or severely reduce caffeine. Quit carbonated beverages. These are really HARD habits to break...and you don't need to be struggling with them on top of the other challenges you'll be facing when the time comes. Tackle these tasks ahead of time. Keep in mind that the average sleeve patient loses only 60% or so of their excess weight (bypass patients do a little better). The less you weight on the day of surgery...the closer you are likely to get to your goal weight in the 18 months after surgery. Research. Research. Research. Research. Do the benefits outweigh the risks in your particular case? Do you understand what your diet will be like after surgery and for the rest of your life? Do you have strategies to deal with the temptations that will still be there after surgery? Have you read dozens of stories of people who have had surgery and succeeded AND dozens of stories of those who have failed? Do you have an idea of what kinds of exercise you want to do? Have you researched possible complications? Do you feel comfortable that you're extremely well informed about what you're getting yourself into? If not...now is the time:) Use the six months to build a data base of healthy recipes that you actually like and will use the rest of your life. Become a calorie and protein counting savant. Learn to journal everything that goes into your mouth. Learn to recognize food potions. Test yourself with a scale and measuring cups. There is a TON of work you need to do be well prepared for what you're getting yourself into:) Use your six months wisely. And very best wishes on a safe and effective procedure:)

My doctor did not require any weight loss pre-surgery and they also did not have any pre-surgery liquid diets except for 24 hrs prior to surgery. So yeah, I had a lot of food funerals...and gained around 5 lbs. I had surgery and thankfully no complications but during my first two weeks or so post-op I was MISERABLE. Not only was I recovering from major surgery and all of the emotion that comes along with WLS, I was also detoxing from sugar, salt, carbs and caffeine So I totally understand where you are! But, maybe try and cut back on the bad stuff this last week while you can because even if you don't lose any weight it will make your recovery a little easier.

How are you doing ? I had mines Jan 9 . Im feeling great not to many complications

I had my porcelain gallbladder removed, a hernia repaired and the sleeve surgery. I went into the hospital on a Tuesday and was release on a Thursday afternoon. My roommate left after the surgery and I was in my private room. He came back the next day to check on how I was doing as he thought I would be coming home on Wednesday according to the Dr. However the nurses saw I was not doing well and told the Dr I needed another day to get my pain under control and for them to get me up out of bed. Thursday morning I called my roommate as I was ready to get out of the hospital. He thought I would go right to my bed but I sat in my recliner for many hours watching Tv and drinking my first protein shake. Four weeks later I was back to work. I took an extra week as I wanted to be able to eat food when I started and not be on just liquids. I had a lot of shoulder gas pains but had no incision pains or complications.

You might read about why patients are told to do a liquid diet., and it’s not only for the weight loss. One of the biggest reasons is to have time for the liver to detoxify and to decrease in size. This since most obese people have fatty livers. When a surgeon is doing the surgery they need work around the liver. If the liver is too large from a high fat diet even right before surgery it can become a risk for surgery. Some surgeons have been known to begin surgery and stop the surgery due to the liver being too large. One of the complications is that the liver can then be lacerated during surgery which causes not only bleeding but other complications. So after being on a liquid diet and waiting for such a surgery, one would have to wonder why some would jeopardize themselves, and their outcome, just for one last meal.

I have not lied to the one person who did ask directly (just six days ago) but I did ask her not to publicise it as there are a couple of known acquaintances who are so negative about WLS that I don't want to hear their brand of grief or 5h1t over my choice. She said that she understood. She added that she thought I had chosen wisely (to have WLS) given my history. She is a morbidly obese woman who has had to give up full-time work (i.e. take early retirement) as of ten days ago because of obesity complications and severe arthritis and joint pain. With regard to pretty much everyone else, they see my 3+ hour days of exercise and my steady weight loss and are pleased to think I am burning it off. (Which is somewhat the case anyway!)

I'm 5 days post op. I earned an extra day in the hospital due the painful complication of a series of hiccup attacks. Since I live far from the hospital my surgeon wants me close by for the first week while I recover, so I'm still holed up in a room in Sacramento. I had a little blood clot scare yesterday but a quick ER visit ruled it out. The pain has finally become manageable in just the past couple days. I was a little behind on my fluid intake three days out and I had to put in the extra effort to get to 50 oz. So far fresh pho broth and sugar free popsicles have been my saving grace. I'm looking forward to writing a more detailed account of my experience in the upcoming weeks.

Ok it's tough love time... It's time to see a doctor. If the hospital that you had your surgery is close by go there..If it isn't go to the local ER and they can transort you there if necessary... DO NOT LOOK FOR MEDICAL ADVICE ON ANY FORUM. The complications of this surgery can be fatal. Even something as simple as dehydration and malnutrition from vomiting can be fatal... Run don't walk From mother to mother..please go now.

Dannnngggg! @Road Runner I'm so sad to hear of your struggles and this life-threatening complication. ((hugs)) We never think it can happen to us! Sending huge prayers that your body is strong and you will continue to be able to fight the infection. It's a heller way to lose weight, huh? Take things 1 day at a time and the healing will go much quicker. TG for your state-side doc who was on top of it all!

I'm 2 weeks post-op, had a splenic infarction during my surgery as well, and it seems like this isn't something that comes up (or happens?) much. Has anyone else had this recently? Mine was discovered right away (I woke up from surgery with excrutiating pain in my upper left abdomen) and my recovery has been awful (I was in the hospital for 4 days, then hopped up on Oxycodone at home for another 1.5 weeks). One of my lungs also collapsed in surgery and hasn't fully recovered (I had a CT scan 2 days ago and it's still partially collapsed with fluid in it) so I am completely exhausted and get winded very easily. Although I've lost a fair amount of weight (a total of 34 lbs since I first met my surgeon back in the fall), the complications from the surgery (and this godawful puree diet) have me a little depressed. Curious if anyone has weathered these storms and how long it takes to feel normal again. I just feel broken.

Both books are great. The fresh start book has recipes for purée diet phase and includes a key for if the recipe is appropriate for purée, soft, or the general post op bariatric diet. The first 25 pages or so is general information regarding a bariatric diet and general nutrition information. The recipes are easy to follow and are not super complicated with tons of difficult to find ingredients. The weight loss for dummies recipe book has tons more information, about 100 pages or so in the front of the book is information, actually it’s 120 pages. So about 250 pages of recipes follow that. It’s full of useful information regarding clear liquid diets, information about all post op diet stages, reading nutrition labels, things to have in your kitchen, food safety, restaurant eating....really too much to list here. Anyone could buy this book and be confident after reading it I think. There are not a ton of pictures in this book, so if you need a pic with each recipe it’s not that type. I like them both but if I had to choose I would pick the dummies one. It has a ton of useful information. You could never go wrong with either and they both have nice recipes. I’m just the type of person that likes to have books in her hand still sometimes! Hope this helps!

Worth noting that caffeine is a diuretic, surgeons fear dehydration early out which can be worse than the initial surgery due to the complications it causes. I would speak to them again and confirm your options...

Your weight loss surgery decision is your own. So is your Weight Loss Surgery journey. Those facts, however, do not mean that others do not count. Having your loved ones on your side can pave the way for success, while their disapproval or outright sabotage can make your journey that much more difficult, from finding a ride to surgery to keeping trigger foods away from the home. Try to see their side. You are asking them to see it from your perspective, so it is only fair that you try to see it from theirs. What are the reasons they may be against your Weight Loss Surgery, and how can you address them? In many cases, their concerns are legitimately about your well-being, and things you should consider if you have not already. They may worry that: You will not hit your goal weight this time since they’ve seen disappointment before. You will suffer complications from surgery. You will regret having a permanent Sometimes, their concerns are selfish but still worth discussing. They may worry that: You’ll stop feeling attracted to them. You will pressure them to give up their own favorite foods while you eat healthily. They will feel left out. You will not want to spend time with them. Reassure them. Address their concerns directly. Explain why you feel the surgery is safe, and how much research you have done to learn about it as well as find a surgeon. Tell them why you think Weight Loss Surgery will work for you even if previous diets have not. Let them know that you need to do this for yourself, not for them and that this will not change the way you feel about them – you will still love your SO, and respect your parents, for example. Tell them how you see yourself spending time with them after surgery, so they can be comfortable. Write it down and practice. Starting the conversation can be the scariest part of telling them. Before you bring up the subject, write down what you plan to say. This is a good exercise for you to do anyway since it encourages you to think through all of the doubts around Weight Loss Surgery. Writing it down and practicing can make it easier for the words to come when you decide to bring it up. Include them in your plans. Often, your spouse and parents, and others who care about you, just want to help. They may be afraid if they do not how to help. When you talk to them, let them know how important they are to you, both in life in general and in this important period of your life. If you tell them specifically what they can do to support you, they may feel more at ease with your decision and more confident in their roles. You might ask them to: Pick up your children from school when you are recovering from surgery. Go with you to the store to pick out protein powders and measuring cups and spoons. Ask you each night how you are doing. Cook healthy meals with you. Prepare for anything. The conversation may be as difficult and unfulfilling as you feared. Or, your SO, parents or other loved ones may be surprisingly supportive once they realize that you have done your research and are serious about making the lifestyle changes needed for success. They may even be interested in getting healthy with you and ask for your help and support in exchange for theirs. Stay strong and independent. As much as you long for your SO and other loved ones to support you wholeheartedly, it may not happen. Try not to let it get you down, though. If you are sure about what you want, go for it, with or without them. They will come around sooner or later, and if not, you may be better off without their negative influence. Letting them know that you have made up your mind regardless of their support may actually convince them to help you since there is no point in standing in your way. Stay independent in the sense that you realize that you do not need them. Your success does not depend on their approval, and you are not doomed to fail if they stand in your way. Get the support you need from others as you move forward.

Well other than the complications I went through post op with the sleeve another reason I’m hesitant for surgery is because my company was bought out and our medical Benefits changed. I’m on a high deductible plan so affording another procedure is tough. In the end if it is the only resolution then of course I’ll have it done.