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I had a long 8 months to wait for this surgery and thought I was very prepared. I read this forum from back to front. 20 years worth of problems and advice. I didn't know it all though, I didn't know that hormones live in fat cells and when we loose a lot of weight quickly we had all these hormones rushing around our bodies like puberty on steroids. I was having a tough time of it with nausea and vomiting too. I cried for a week and did not know why. I asked for help on here and got it. The answer, too many hormones at a time when I was overwhelmed with trying to do everything right. I think you need anti nausea medication. So, You are not alone. Its normal to feel like you are. As you have realised its big surgery and now you have to get to grips with it, there is no going back. IT WILL GET BETTER. You wont have to chew food like this forever, it just helps your tiny stomach digest your food so that you get the nutrients from it. Your headaches could be from dehydration, its tough to get all the liquids and food in early on, it feels like it will never get better but it does. Just do your very best everyday to get your liquid and protein onboard. That way you will improve every day and doing that will improve your mental health a little Please seek counselling for your eating disorders, hopefully you can find one who understands bariatrics too. OR talk to us on here, you can rage, cry and get these feeling off your chest and it may help a little bit. We don't mind, the ones before us did the same for us. You are not alone

It does get better. It's normal to have regrets at your current stage. I am one of the very rare bariatric surgery patients to have serious complications. However, after a challenging year, I've lost a total of 115 lbs and my life is totally normal. I eat regular food and have resumed all of my prior activities. A year ago I was in hospital due to peritonitis and sepsis arising out of bariatric revision surgery. I rued my decision to have RNY>RNY revision surgery. I spent 7 weeks in hospital with 3 endoscopy procedures and two open surgeries, followed by 3 weeks in a rehab facility before returning home. I had an open surgical wound for another 3 months, requiring daily dressing changes. I'm lucky to have survived at all, with organs and limbs intact. Because of the endoscopy procedures my pouch and anastomosis were stretched so I now have minimal physical restriction and will have to watch my diet and record my intake for the rest of my life. I accept that and hope to lose more, but will be content if I don't continue to lose. If you read the many stories on this site you will see that regrets pass and the vast majority of us are ultimately happy with our decisions to have surgery. Life does return to normal. You will be able to eat normal food. If you follow an appropriate food plan and learn how to eat differently during this period of restriction you will lose weight and keep it off. Since you have had such meager support, it's up to you to read and learn more about how to make a successful return to normal life minus the excess poundage. There are many excellent books available. You may be able to get some on Amazon.de or have them sent to you by someone in the US (or on Kindle in English). Here are a few of the books I recommend. There are many other excellent books and cookbooks to support you. You may ultimately still need breast reduction surgery, but you will be in better shape before you proceed with it. In the meantime, make the most of the tool you have been provided. Hang in there. Day by day, it will get better.

I know with me my doctor felt the sleeve was the safest. I have many health issues and I'm not a spring chicken so to speak. Lol. He said he truly wanted to help me and knew the sleeve would be a success whereas the bypass..... I might not make it. No problem choosing for me. He's been a terrific Dr. Just got it done Feb 1st 2023. But we've been working towards this for over a year and a half. For me it's unusual to meet a Dr first time and not see judgement in their eyes because of your weight. His was just kindness. So when he told me in his opinion the sleeve was it, easy choice! Sent from my SM-S901U using BariatricPal mobile app

Oh this is great to hear! I will look into Zocdoc and go from there. I am hoping for the same results. Did you have to give 2yr weight history from cop or anything ?

I understand that you are feeling overwhelmed and regretful after your weight loss surgery. It sounds like you went through a difficult and confusing time both before and after the surgery, and it's understandable that you are feeling frustrated and sad about the experience. You mentioned several points in your message, and I'd like to address each one: Pre-surgery preparation: It sounds like you did not feel fully prepared for the surgery, both in terms of understanding the prerequisites and the potential physical and emotional effects of the surgery. This can be a common experience for people who undergo bariatric surgery, as the process can be complex and confusing. Hospital experience: The experience you had in the hospital sounds particularly challenging, with language barriers, physical discomfort, and a lack of support from the medical staff. This can be difficult to manage and can impact one's recovery and overall feelings about the surgery. Eating habits and diet: The changes in your eating habits and diet can be a significant adjustment, especially when combined with the physical side effects of the surgery. It's understandable that you are feeling frustrated with having to eat smaller portions and chew food thoroughly, as well as the headaches and nausea that come with eating. Mental and emotional impact: Your mention of having a history of eating disorders is important, as bariatric surgery can bring up old thoughts and feelings related to self-harm and negative self-talk. It's important to have a support system in place and to reach out for help if you need it. Overall, it's clear that you are going through a difficult time and that your experience with bariatric surgery has not been what you expected or hoped for. I would encourage you to reach out to your bariatric surgeon or a mental health professional for support and guidance. They can help you understand the physical and emotional changes you are experiencing and provide you with tools to manage them.

I had serious doubts about getting the gastric sleeve a few days before my surgery. I expressed them to my husband but he thought I was just nervous and wanted to support me, so he urged me to go through with it. I hate it though. I hate my life now and I'm not sure if I will ever not hate it. I have a couple close friends and they did not feel this way 4 weeks post-op like I do. I cry all the time. I'm worried something is wrong and terrified of having to go through any kind of revision surgery. I'm an American living in Germany and it is so difficult to contact my surgeons office and get anyone who speaks enough english to help me. I started my WL journey about 4 years ago when we were stationed in Italy. I was denied a medically necessary breast reduction because my BMI was too high. So I was referred for weight loss guidance.First, I was sent to the base nutritionist (a perfectly in shape airman) who told me I needed to work out more and eat more whole vegetables. I had to work with him for 1+ years before being able to try any WL medications. Unfortunately that was in early 2019, and we all know how the next few years went. We PCS'd to a new base in Germany in 2020 and when I asked about the WL medications I was told that was not an option here. They recommended I carry on with my (now virtual) nutritionist. I wasn't losing any weight and working out would send my back into spasms from my H cups breasts. I was taking a combination of Flexural, Motrin, and Valium for my back spasms, only using the Valium when they were at a level 8 or above pain level (so less than 1 valium a month). Turns out not only could I not get WL meds here, I also could not get a refill on my Valium. I had used too much (less than 1 pill a month for a year). So any weight training was immediately phased out of my working out, which now consisted of only walking. This past summer I went back and told them I really need a breast reduction and if I had to go the WLS route then I was open to that. The provider (who has had WLS themself) was very on board with WLS. I told them that I had already done the nutrition part at my previous base, so he put in the surgical consult referral right away. After I met with the surgeon, who surprise, surprise wanted to operate (surgeons always gonna surgeon), my provider put in the referral for my surgery and stated that all prerequisites had been completed at prior base. Then boom... endoscopy and surgery scheduled. Now all I had said was that I went to nutrition at my previous base and continued it virtually. So I had no idea what other preqs there could be. I had a few meeting with the nutritionist here about the gastric pre/post op diet. That's it. I learned about the full liquid to clear liquid pre-op and clear liquid to full liquid to purees to soft foods diet post op. I was completely unprepared mentally and emotionally for this surgery. Not to mention I had done all my pre-op nutrition with the American on base nutritionist and post-op was with the German hospital nutritionist. They had completely different guidelines (like the Germans wanted me to start soft solids on DAY 5 post op and stop protein shakes immediately). I was in the hospital for 4 days with nurses who spoke very little English, so they would give me shots and pills but never tell me what they were giving me. I know a small amount of German, enough to get by with running errands and what not, so I understood one nurse when after I told her my German was minimal and asked if she could speak English, she got annoyed with me and told me I was never going to be allowed to go home. The patient liaison from base sorted it out and the issue was the hospital nutritionist would not do my consult without an in person translator that I needed to provide and I could not be discharged without that consultation. I felt like I was drowning; I still feel like I'm barely able to tread water now at 4 weeks post-op. My end goal wasn't WL to be skinny. I just wanted a breast reduction. Before surgery I didn't have high blood pressure, diabetes, GERD, sleep apnea, high cholesterol...zero comorbidities. For all intents and purposes I was a healthy fat lady with giant boobs. So post surgery I was/am overwhelmed with regret. There's all these things I feel like I didn't know and wasn't prepared for. Like I knew I was going to be eating smaller portions, but didn't know about the tiny bites and chewing things until its mush in your mouth for the rest of your life. I didn't know that my stomach would be almost too swollen to drink water after surgery and that the german hospital only provided water and broth, no popsicles or jello. So I spent my days in the hospital feeling nauseous all the time because drinking water made me taste blood in my mouth and that made me gag, all while my nurse tisked me and told me I was never going home. No one asked if I had a history of eating disorders (which I do) and how this surgery and diet are going to bring up old thoughts and feelings of self harm and negative self talking. No one weighed out if the possible negative side effects of the surgery were stronger than the positives. Pre surgery I took ZERO daily meds other than a daily vitamin. Now I need an antacid and stool softener to be able to ingest anything other than water and not tear myself in half in the bathroom. I also need daily tylenol because eating anything gives me a massive headache. I don't even want to eat anymore. I spend 30 minutes forcing myself to take tiny bites of some high protein food and then I spend the next hour actively trying not to barf it back up. Without tylenol I am running at 99F, but when I eat it goes up to 100-101. The doctor said its not an emergency unless its 101.5, which is hasn't gotten to yet. And even if it did, what would I do?! The hospital was horrible. My hand still hurts from where the nurse wouldn't flush my IV, so the port go blocked and all he fluid and medicine soaked into the flesh of my hand, making it swell up like Wreck It Ralph. I had an allergic reaction that made me sneeze for days after surgery. No one would offer any help or advice about my sneezing. They told me to eat less, but I wasn't eating anything at all. I just hate this. I hate food. I hate eating. I hate the thought of chewing until something is a mushy paste. I hate life. I just wanted a breast reduction and now I feel like I've had a life reduction.

You will be fine! I haven't had surgery yet, but I did have weight loss surgery before. I had lapband and it had to be removed in 2013 due to an abscess to the surgery I had to put the band back in place. But the after surgery wasn't bad, get up and walk to make sure you don't get blood clots, they usually give a shot in the stomach that helps prevent blood clots as well. When I had surgery before, I was so tired, I slept, got up walked around the hall and used my phone or their TV and fell asleep and repeat. Later that night I had nausea and I had that for 2 and a half months. So if you tend to get nausea, ask for something for that before going into surgery that day and if you have nausea after surgery, they will give you some nausea medicine. Getting up and out of the bed was a little hard for me. I had someone help me out of the bed. Everyone is different. Some can get up easier than others. With lapband, I only had to stay over night. With bypass I'm staying 3 days. Your stomach/abdomen will be sore for about a week or so, depending. Bring a pillow for the ride home! It really helps with any bumps along the way home! Good luck!

Bariatric surgery can be a life-changing procedure for many people and can lead to significant weight loss and improved health. However, like any major surgery, it also comes with its own set of risks and challenges. It's understandable to have concerns and feel overwhelmed by the information you're reading online. However, it's important to keep in mind that not all experiences are the same and that many people have had positive outcomes from bariatric surgery. It's best to discuss your concerns with your bariatric surgeon and to ask questions about the procedure, the risks, and the recovery process. Your surgeon can provide you with personalized information and guidance based on your individual needs and medical history. Ultimately, the decision to have bariatric surgery is a personal one and should be based on a careful consideration of the benefits and risks, as well as a thorough discussion with your doctor. With the right support and preparation, many people are able to achieve their weight loss goals and improve their overall health.

It can be challenging to work in an environment with a lot of junk food, especially when you're trying to change your eating habits. However, there are some steps you can take to make it easier: Plan ahead: Pack healthy meals and snacks to bring to work with you. This way, you'll have healthy options readily available when you feel hungry. Surround yourself with positive influences: Try to seek out coworkers who have similar goals and interests in healthy eating. Joining a weight loss support group or finding an accountability partner can also be helpful. Practice mindful eating: Take the time to sit down and enjoy your meals, rather than eating at your desk or on the go. Pay attention to the flavors, textures, and smells of your food, and savor each bite. Be prepared to say no: It's okay to decline junk food offerings from coworkers. Be polite but firm in your resolve to stick to your healthy eating plan. Avoid temptation: If there's a particular junk food item that you find especially tempting, try to avoid it altogether or limit your exposure to it. Stay positive: Remember why you're making these changes and focus on the benefits you'll experience, both in terms of your health and your weight loss goals. By making small changes and being proactive about your health, you can overcome the challenges of working in an environment with a lot of junk food and achieve your weight loss goals. Good luck!

It's good that you're taking a proactive approach to your health and seeking clarification from both your endoscopy doctor and your bariatric surgeon. Intestinal metaplasia is a condition in which normal cells in the stomach lining are replaced with cells that resemble those found in the small intestine. It can be a risk factor for developing stomach cancer, and it's important to monitor it closely. If your endoscopy doctor has recommended another endoscopy, it's a good idea to follow through with it. The procedure will allow your doctor to get a better look at your stomach lining and determine if there have been any changes since the previous endoscopy. In terms of bariatric surgery, it's important to discuss your specific case with your bariatric surgeon, who can provide you with the best guidance for your individual situation. They can also answer any questions or concerns you may have about the procedure and help you make an informed decision. If you have intestinal metaplasia, your bariatric surgeon may recommend a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RNY) instead of a sleeve gastrectomy. The RNY procedure involves rerouting the small intestine to a small pouch created from the stomach, which can help reduce the risk of developing stomach cancer. It's important to follow your doctor's recommendations and to discuss any concerns you may have with them. With the right care and support, you can achieve your weight loss goals and improve your overall health.

Weight stalls after bariatric surgery can be a common concern for some patients. The length of a weight stall can vary depending on several factors, including the type of bariatric procedure, the patient's diet and exercise habits, and individual metabolism. It's not uncommon for patients to experience a weight stall for a few weeks or even a few months after surgery. However, if you have been consistently following your post-operative diet and exercise plan and are still experiencing a weight stall, it may be helpful to speak with your bariatric team for further evaluation and guidance. Your bariatric team can help determine the cause of your weight stall and provide you with personalized recommendations to help get you back on track. This may include adjusting your diet, increasing physical activity, or making other changes to your lifestyle. Remember, weight loss after bariatric surgery is a gradual process, and it's important to be patient and persistent in your efforts to achieve your goals. With the right support and guidance, you can overcome any obstacles and reach your target weight.

It's great that you have a post-operative appointment with your bariatric surgeon! Here are some questions that you may find helpful to ask during your appointment: How is my recovery progressing? What can I expect in terms of weight loss in the next few months? Are there any specific foods or supplements I should be avoiding? How often do I need to return for follow-up appointments? What signs should I look out for to indicate a complication? Can you explain the long-term effects of the procedure? How can I manage any potential nutrient deficiencies? Are there any physical activities or exercises I should avoid at this time? How can I manage or prevent any potential long-term side effects? Can you provide any additional resources or support groups for post-operative patients? It's important to take the time to ask your surgeon any questions or concerns you may have, as they are the best source of information for your specific situation. Don't hesitate to bring a list of questions with you to your appointment to ensure that you don't forget anything.

It's possible for changes in libido to occur after weight loss surgery, as the body is undergoing significant physical changes and adjusting to new dietary habits. It's not uncommon for patients to experience changes in hormones and energy levels during this time. If you are concerned about this issue, it's best to speak with your healthcare provider to rule out any underlying medical conditions and discuss potential solutions.

Curious if anyone else has experienced decreased libido in the months immediately following weight loss surgery? Im just under two months post op and I’m also recently 40 so I’m not sure if it’s age or surgery related though it’s only really been prominent since surgery. While I’m feeling increased body positivity I’ve noticed a decline in the intensity of my craving for sexual gratification in general. Not sure if it’s related to decreased predictability in how my body handles or the semi frequent nausea. Is this normal? I’m hoping it’s temporary.

People who have been overweight for most of their years, especially during puberty, the skeletal development's major hormonal growth period; do have thicker bones to accommodate the extra weight

I was diagnosed with Grave's disease at 20 years old. Because of my age (child bearing years) Radioactive Iodine was not a treatment option and I had to have the majority of my thyroid removed. The stress of a pregnancy destroyed the functionality of the remaining thyroid and I have been on 175 mcg since (30+ years) but still have trouble maintaining adequate T3 levels even when taking T3 directly. Medications can never fully replicate God's design and as a result my metabolism has never recovered completely. To stay thin, I became a master of deprivation and an extreme carb-phobic. Until 2012, I "dealt" with "skinny people problems". As far as underarm hollows, it may take time to increase your flexibility, but raising your arm with your elbow behind your head alleviates the hollows. The issue of hip bones, bony knees & rumps, etc., we become so accustomed to extra padding we forget that this is how our bodies are supposed to be. As overweight people, few of us have the layer of muscle and the thin layer of FIRM fat the human body should have. When we lose excessive weight, we lack the muscle and the fat that remains is loose and contained within loose skin so it "parts" like the Red Sea when pressure is placed on bones. The solution is the bane of our existence.....exercise, specifically weight training to build muscle. Loose skin will always make our "thin layer of fat" loose rather than firm but it sure beats being obese. As far as feeling cold, I can't speak with any authority. Being severely hypothyroid, I have difficulty regulating body temp (my normal temperature runs 96.4). When i get chilled, it takes an Act of Congress to warm me up. On the rare occasions I get overheated, I am unable to sweat which is the natural mechanism to cool oneself, so I must resort to cold showers.

The cashier at the Subway outlet near our project office commented on my weight loss and asked me how did I manage to lose the weight etc. She knows me well because I was a regular customer when I worked in that office. I used to go there at least 4 times a week if not more. I told her that my new work place doesn't have an outlet that sells subs and that helped with the weight loss. We both laughed and she handed me my first sub in 11 month post-op. I was not able to finish half of it. I get asked a lot by coworkers and people that I have not met for some time and I always tell them that I've cut down my food intake and started riding a bike (which I'm doing). Only my close family and best friends know that I had a WLS and intend to keep it this way.

You’ve lost 52lbs. That’s great. Whoo hoo. Are you feeling better? Are you able to do more? Are you learning more about yourself? Are you changing your relationship with food? … These are the things to focus on. As @heatherdbby said it’s how you look at it. I agree with @catwoman7, there are too many factors that affect how much you’ll lose & the rate of your loss. Sure there are averages but with all averages some people exceed the average & some don’t meet the average and there’s nothing wrong with that. I say celebrate every pound you lose. You’ve worked hard to lose every one of them. Same with setting hard & fast inflexible weight loss goals & setting a time frame in which to attain that goal. Too many factors to predict how much & when. It can be depressing & lead to you sabotaging your loss if you don’t reach that goal or reach it in a specific time frame. Not every one reaches their goal but if you do or exceed it that’s a bonus. All the best.

Totally normal when you stall watch your clothes sizes. A lot of times when the weight stalls the inches still come down. I'm six and a half months out and in my second stall now but lost 4 inches in band size in my bra alone and down 3 more pant sizes...jusr keep at it Sent from my Acer Chromebook 15 (CB3-532) using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi everyone! Is anyone experiencing wt. stall? If so,for how long? Sent from my LM-T600 using BariatricPal mobile app

Yes definitely sounds like a stall. I urge you not to over-analyse what came before or after - that way madness lies. If you're sticking to your programme you WILL lose weight but it will NOT be in a linear fashion. It's zigs and zags, big losses one week, none (or a gain) the next. What matters is looking back over the entire period and seeing a downward trend. Some people seem to have taken the path of checking weight at looooong intervals. Most of us weigh much more frequently because we can't bear not to. None of that matters - the fact remains - if you stick to the rules you will lose weight (in all but the rarest circumstances). You have absolutely done the best thing you could ever have done for your health. If you can relax a tiny bit more and accept that then you're gonna have a fun few months and come out of those lighter and healthier. Best of luck. 😍

Have you seen the nutritionist? Normally they do require you to do at least that. I know for myself I had a virtual visit with the nutritionist and I just had 2 pre op nutrition education things online to complete. But sometimes it's what your doctor write in their notes and put as your diagnosis that will either help or hurt you when it comes to getting approved. My diagnosis was Obesity, but I also had Osteoarthritis in multiple joints as one because I told him my knee do hurt sometimes, and I also got a Severe sleep apnea diagnosis as well, all this is because of the obesity. I wasn't put on a diet plan but was given medicine to take just to lower my weight by 5%. However, I did mention at the beginning that I have taken medicine before had multiple failed attempts at losing weight and keeping it off.....I hope you have success on this fight on getting approved. I started my process June 2022 and got approved Jan 2023, surgery Feb 17, 2023... FyI my insurance at the time was Blue Cross *** of LA and Healthy Blue Medicaid..... Sent from my SM-G781U using BariatricPal mobile app

I kept losing for almost two years. It slows down the further out you go, but my weight loss didn't stop until I was 20 months out. I think I'd lost about 80 lbs before people started to notice.

Is your 52 down from your first appt? from highest weight? from surgery day? There are a lot of different ways to look at this.. My highest weight was 280. My preop weight was 272. My surgery day I was 256. Today at exactly 4 months, I am 200.5. So down 79 lbs from my heighest weight / first bariatric appt last april, lost 8 on my own before preop started labor day weekend. We did a 4 week preop, during which I lost 16 lbs. Since surgery, I am down 56. But also, I did bypass and I am extremely strict on my plan.

Yea I kind of expect that specially because I haven't really noticed any stalls since I do a weekly or biweekly weigh in, and I tend to retain liquids. But I'm looking forward to toning up while still loosing weight.