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yes the first few weeks and months can be tough, but it'll soon be behind you. I still log my food intake (at eight years out!) so I can monitor my overall calories, but otherwise, I don't really think about it at all - and haven't for a long time. At about six months out you'll no longer have any food restrictions (although you'll be encouraged to eat nutritiously and to watch your overall intake)), but you'll feel pretty normal.

I obviously didn’t plan to eat potato chips and I know they have no nutritional value. I am prescribed omeprazole at 20 mg/day for 3 months. I’ve literally checked all the boxes. The hunger is not head hunger. I’m not craving specific foods and I’m not bored.

I definitely would lay off the potato chips because they have zero nutritional value and they're probably going to be too hard on a healing stomach. sometimes hunger is actually thirst or can be caused by stomach acid. DId your clinic prescribe some sort of antacid, like omeprazole? A lot of them prescribe it for the first 3-6 months after surgery.

I’m 11 days post- op and I’m constantly hungry. I have to eat every 2 hours or I go into scrounge mode. I eat anything I can lay hands on. Tonight, I let time get away from me and got hungry. I ate about 20 potato chips. I’m hitting and exceeding protein and fluid goals. I’ve started myself on rotisserie chicken 3 days early because I just can’t take it anymore. The only difference I’ve experienced since surgery on 5/30 is getting full faster but my hunger is probably worse. I get tired very quickly despite the protein and fluids. I’m so defeated right now. I feel like the pain and anxiety of the last few months has all been a waste.

I think it’s best you have a Plan B and have a driver take you home. I had my surgery June 7. I stayed in hospital til June 9. Today June 10, I am still taking pain meds. I would not dream of going to work until a week later. And i have high tolerance for pain. Good luck to you if you can do it. Also get a pillow to go home to place over your stomach while in the car you will need it.

I've read that some people's bodies can't differentiate between sugar and artificial but that has never been the case for me. I use Stevia or Torani SF syrups in cold coffees but in hot, just creamer. I couldn't have caffeine until 5 weeks out. I also use Stevia or Crystal light to flavor and sweeten my protein drinks in the blender. CL uses aspartame. I wish more SF products used Stevia instead. But it is what it is... SF products are OK according to my nutritionist's plan since day 2. If you don't have one to ask, I think you should be fine. Most everything we eat or drink in the beginning is trial and error anyway in how our bodies will react.

Cold liquids were absolutely a huge NO NO for me for 2 weeks post surgery. But warm liquids were fine. Try that and see if it helps.

I had the sleeve last year and I had to take 2 weeks off work. No way was I able to drive myself anywhere. I had a hard time walking and sitting up. I would say wait until you're surgery is over and you're at home to decide how long you'll stay out of work. Everyone's pain tolerance and mobility after surgery is different. You might do great. Or you might be like I was and in A LOT of pain. It's hard to predict. But I know the severe fatigue after the surgery gets most of us and makes it almost impossible to go back to work right away.

I need a reset. Think I’ve lost my way and broke my sleeve. Was 90KG dropped to 77Kg after 3 months and pretty much stayed there (+/- 2/3Kg) and back to being miserable in my own skin. Sleeved in September 21. So ashamed that it didn’t work for me. Not really. Wasted opportunity. Need to get my mojo back.

@sharonwg no I don't mind at all. I'm always happy to share & help in anyway I can. YESSSS I am enjoying the results I'm down a total of 26lbs since my liquid diet of 2 weeks prior to surgery and since the surgery. On Monday I go for my 2nd post surgery visit with my surgeon. I'm excited about that. I've been on a soft diet and I must say it has been pleasant....everything that I have tried my body is accepting it. I make a conscious effort to chew EVERYTHING like 30 times before I swallow....I've heard horror stories & I don't want to experience that. I wait the 30 mins in-between before drinking my liquids. I'm determined to make this work so I'm being intentional with what I do. I also meet a young lady we had surgery the same day by the same Dr & we live about 30 mins from each other so we have developed a nice bond & we check up on each other 2x a week and share tips, struggles, concerns etc

What surgery are you having? I had gastric bypass Friday June 2 and was discharged the next day. I took one week off and plan to return to work this Monday. My issue wasn’t pain but dehydration after having diarrhea for almost 48 hours midweek. You never know how your body is going to respond after major surgery. I do know that you are not allowed to drive within 24 hours of anesthesia, and after abdominal surgery you need to be able to quickly apply the brake to stop your vehicle (doing this would probably hurt too soon after surgery). I would plan to take at least a few days off if at all possible.

Hi @sharonwg yes my surgery was May 9. It was Excellent! Thank God!!! The only complaint I had was gas after surgery & that lasted about 3 days. I was in the hospital overnight & after my sallow test the next day I was released to go home. I never experienced any pain at all....thank God. I was sent home with pain medication & gas relief and I never had to use any of them. Walking truly was the BEST thing to do to get rid of the gas. For the 1st week I walked inside my house & around my backyard.

I was not able/allowed to drive after surgery. Someone had to pick me up or they would not discharge me. I took 6 weeks off from work. My surgery was May 9.

Awwwww - Maggie, your enthusiasm really makes me smile. Acrostic - i would really think twice abut driving straight after surgery. My surgeon did not recommend that owing to the lingering effects of the anaesthetic and also that I had undergone major surgery. I took 2 weeks off and the third week I plan to take it real easy xx

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.

I am so glad to be reading everyone is doing well, remember you just had major surgery- give yourself grace! My surgery is on the 13th just 3 more days and I can’t believe it! It feels like it took forever and no time at all to get here, I am excited to see what’s next for me, I just want it to be here already I am getting very eager to get on that hospital bed count back from 10 and wake up in my hospital room

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

I slept for long hours in the days following surgery but it was a pleasant sleep - we have had major surgery and our body is directing us to rest. I'm sleeping and feeling a little more tired earlier but i think earlier nights is a good thing for me personally - I wake up feeling good. I had my surgery on 1st June. I'm doing ok. Managing to get around or about 1.5 litres of water and 4 small portions (3-4 tablespoon full) of mostly protein based pureed meals per day. I am now driving and was out for the longest I have been since surgery. Strolling around for a few hours and even trying on a few things! I have no pain. I am happy about the decision I made to have the surgery. I hope you are all well - good luck and congratulations to those of you who are having the surgery today xx

@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.

I wonder if it’s an absorption issue. Worth asking your surgeon & prescribing doctor. Many find time release meds don’t work as well after a bypass. Check where the meds are absorbed too - tummy or intestines. There are usually alternative formulations or meds you can take instead. I wasn’t a great sleeper before my surgery. Not insomnia. I usually could fall asleep, but would wake & lie there for 3 or 4 hours or just not go back to sleep. It started in my late 30s. Stress/cortisol levels, then age (menopause), etc. contributed & I think waking & not sleeping became a of a habit too - usually woke at the same time. Now I get in 8 hours most nights. I have odd nights of waking for an hour or so but I will go back to sleep. Some nights I even get in 9 or 10 hours. Thank you surgery. I hope it may help you somewhat as well.

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 ❤️