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I'm scheduled to have my ESG next month and I reached out to my primary care physician to see about if my BP meds can be crushed for the first 8 weeks and she said they cannot be (they are extended release) and she is not willing to change my meds since I have been on these since I have been 16 years old. I'm not sure what to do... I'm sure there have been others who have had surgery with this issue??

Thanks so much @BigSuefor this thoughtful and honest response. This is why I love this forum! I'm six weeks out from a planned gastric bypass and really struggling to wrap my head around the fact that my relationship with food will change permanently. I'm sincerely hoping that it's for the better, much the way you have described. Thanks for sharing, it does bring some comfort. 🙂

Mine is three weeks of shakes, snacks, and entrees that taste awful. Most of it makes me sick to my stomach.

Your frustration is palpable and I’m sorry you feeling disappointed and that you weren’t given this information before surgery. Even if you feel like your weight loss has somehow been capped you when you reach a stall you stall you might consider switching it up with a focus on weight training. What our surgeries don’t take away is our ability to sculpt our bodies by adding lean muscle. That’s still within your power. I’ve really enjoyed weight training in the past - it’s given me so much confidence to see myself grow stronger and the Protein focused diet can be similar to what is encouraged of us post surgery. I hope it’s an option you consider to move past this roadblock.

I'm 2.5 years post-op from gastric bypass. I think weight loss surgery can help make major changes to your relationship with food and eating, but it takes a lot of time and work to undo the habits and mindset you've developed throughout your life up to this point. I had read that a lot of people experience changes in their tastes after surgery, and I hoped that would be the case for me but was not optimistic. I mentioned this hope to the psychiatrist during my psych eval for the surgery, and he kind of laughed at this idea and told me not to count on it. I've always been a picky eater with a long list of vegetables and cuisines that I wouldn't eat. Some people say that after surgery, food tastes different (e.g., anything sweet tastes too sweet), but that was not my experience, so I figured I wasn't one of the lucky ones whose tastes would change. Well, fast-forward to now and my tastes have changed... sort of. It's hard to explain because foods taste the same now as they did before surgery, but my likes and dislikes have changed a lot. I used to hate seafood and now I love it. I eat all kinds of vegetables that I used to hate. I'm not sure if my tastes have changed or I just have more of an open mind, or maybe having to go through the pre-op liquid diet and post-op stages made me appreciate real food more when I reintroduced it. Either way, I'm eating healthy foods every day and loving them. Before surgery, I loved watching cooking shows like Top Chef and Great British Baking Show. For the first several months after surgery, I couldn't bear to watch cooking shows. I hated even seeing food commercials on TV. It just made me sad and angry to see foods that I could no longer eat. But eventually, I got to a point where I could see food and cooking without the emotional attachment. I can watch Great British Baking Show and appreciate the cakes and cookies they make without being sad that I can't eat them. Once I got to the point of reintroducing solid food, I put a lot of effort into recreating "bariatric-friendly" versions of foods I used to eat -- especially pizza. Pizza was my kryptonite, and before surgery, I could not get enough pizza. I could have eaten pizza every day and never gotten tired of it. After surgery, I tried chicken crust pizza, and making pizza with low-carb tortilla for the crust, topped with sugar-free marinara, low fat mozzarella, and turkey pepperoni. But I also started trying healthy recipes that I found on Pinterest, and eventually, I stopped craving pizza. I haven't had anything resembling pizza (even a healthy version) in well over a year and I don't care. If you put two plates in front of me, one with a slice of pizza and one with grilled salmon and roasted vegetables, I would go straight for the salmon and not even be tempted by the pizza. This is just wild to me because three years ago, I wouldn't have eaten salmon if it were the only food available, and I never could have passed up a slice of pizza. Sometimes I feel like I'm having an out-of-body experience because before surgery, I couldn't imagine being the health nut with a refrigerator full of fresh produce and no junk food in the house, eating grilled fish and cauliflower rice and salad with fat-free dressing, but here I am. I am constantly finding new, healthy, delicious recipes. Every single day, I eat healthy food and think, "Holy crap, this is delicious!" I honestly enjoy food more now than I did when I was eating whatever I wanted with wild abandon. It took me a long time to get here, and I can't promise that you or anyone else will have the same experiences after weight loss surgery, but my relationship with food has changed more than I could have imagined.

There are therapists that specialize in bariatric therapy. They help the patient manage expectations, emotions, dealing with head hunger, etc... It's actually a really good idea. Many of us on here have used them at one time or another. I have to have a revision and while I'm concerned about the rate of loss, I'll be honest, I mostly just want to feel better. I had my sleeve in May 2022 and I've lost 108 pounds. I still have 80 pounds to go to get to goal. I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing with my diet and working out, and it may take longer than it did now, but I know I'll get there. You will, too. Just keep in mind that stalls happen a lot, 25 pounds lost in 6 weeks in excellent, and just stick religiously to your surgeon's plan and you'll get there in the end. The main goal is better health, anyway.

My advice for what its worth would be, 1 Rest when your body says so, have a nap whenever you can. 2 Don't rush the process, your stomach has a massive wound in it and will be swollen and sore, hence the need for liquid and puree stages. 3 Remember the 3 week stall, you won't panic when you stop loosing weight. 4 Don't compare yourself to anyone else. This is your weight loss journey. No two journeys are the same. Good luck and keep us posted of your progress

I had three weeks of the pre op torture too. I thought I would never do it but my desire for the surgery got me to the finish line. You should feel less hungry now and the second week seems like less torturous. The thought of being operated on and the surgery ended is a worry to all of us. Nobody wants to wake up without the surgery because of an enlarged fatty liver, its happened. I read the back pages of this forum while I waited and learned so much

Hey I'm 7 weeks post-op still not able to get in protein and water can only eat about 3 oz Don't have any desire to eat at all... My stomach has a burning sensation frequently thought it was acid reflux but I have meds for that I'm starting to think maybe it's a hunger burn. I really need a meal plan cannot stomach protein shakes anymore, any advice would be helpful Sent from my SM-G996U using BariatricPal mobile app

Best advice I can give is: Remember it's major surgery and it'll likely be a painful recovery. Took me two weeks to stop hurting, but it did stop. Be patient and kind to yourself, remember it's gentle-steps, and let yourself heal. Keep your eyes on the prize. If you're feeling overwhelmed, breathe and remember why you're doing this. If you're getting in your head or your feelings, try distracting yourself with books/tv/podcasts and gentle walks. Browse the web and make lists of the things you want to do when you hit milestones. Stay off the scale for the first month. Seriously. Fluid retention from all the liquids that are pumped into you at the hospital take a while to go away, and people seem to expect immediate results. The weight will drop off, but stalling is normal. Again - patience and be kind to yourself! You'll be hitting milestones before you know it.

I was definitely in the high pain camp after my bypass, but I also had a hiatal hernia repaired at the same time which likely made post-op pain worse. That said, even with the hernia pain, I've dealt with far worse (hi tibial plateau fracture! You were definitely a level 10!), and the post-op pain relief kept it all manageable. Took a good two weeks for the "hit by a truck" or "gut punched by a team of heavyweights" feeling to subside, but I was pretty zen about it because I knew it would eventually improve. I had some nausea post-op, but the drugs kept it in check. Everyone's experience is their own, however, so you'll never know until you're there how much or how little pain/nausea you'll have. Best thing to remember is it's temporary. As Catwoman said, the bypass post-op food plan is pretty similar to the sleeve, with the exception of the supplements. I hope it sorts out your Gastroparesis! Amazing transformation, BTW!

What does your pre-op diet? There are so many variations from dr to dr. Mine was 2 weeks of 2 protein shakes and one small meal of protein and veggies a day. I was sleeved on 9-1-22 and have lost 45 pounds, 20 to 30 more to go. Great experience. Just follow your plans and drinks lots of water. Congratulations on this new beginning!

The chest pains are most definitely gas. Do you feel them in your back as well? Especially in your left shoulder blade (apparently there is some nerve that's connected from your stomach to your shoulder blade - the things we discover)... For me, the gas pain lasted 2+ weeks. To be honest, I was miserable after surgery and had many regrets, especially in the 1st week. You lost a lot during the pre-op phase! That is amazing - Congrats! Follow your plan, don't eat pureed and solid foods before it is time, and most definitely focus on your protein since it helps with your energy levels. Also, don't be like me and think that you can clean your whole house a week post op and not feel any pain. Don't lift more than recommended, and take it easy. This whole new you has just begun, and you are on an amazing journey. Enjoy the results!

I'm 2 weeks post op, and I'm still on a liquid diet. I very much miss eating, to the point that I feel less energetic all day since and more depressed. I think I regret having this surgery.

Oh my, that looks so itchy and uncomfortable. I find it strange that they used the glue even though you told them you were allergic. My glue lasted for 3 weeks before it finally wore off. Your doctor/surgeon should help you with this situation. I'm so sorry you are going through this!

On a 3 week pre op diet for surgery on 2/23/27 Ant tips and tricks are welcome! Michelle

Had my bypass three weeks ago (presume you’re having bypass too) just prepare yourself for the mental roller coaster and remember why you’re doing it. (Most) people don’t feel much or any real pain, just some discomfort. I struggled mentally but am working through the mental aspect of it all. Best of luck, private message if you like anytime.

I'm 5 weeks out and my Dr and Dietician said I should be consuming 800-1000 calories a day.

I’m struggling right now too. I’m not regretting but wishing there was a fast forward. Like you I take adderall for adhd and had similar eating pattern before starting this process with not eating much during the day but then a huge meal in evening -often a take away when the adderall wears off. I’m having a bit of the opposite problem. I’m finding food really unappealing right now. Just looking at a piece of meat (especially grilled chicken and Turkey meatballs)or smelling it is enough to turn me off. I’m struggling to tolerate vegetables, I’m still experiencing nausea semi regularly. Worse than all of those things I have really low energy. I may be 60lbs lighter than I was 6 months ago when I had my first consultation with my surgeon but I the tiredness I feel 10 weeks out from surgery is as if I was still dragging that weight around. I try to be very active and truly enjoy excercise esp swimming and weightlifting which I do in the mornings but by 4pm the exhaustion strikes and by 6p it’s like the thought of getting out of bed let alone preparing dinner feels like a gargantuan task. I’m exceeding my Protein and hydration targets and feel like I’m following all the rules, the weight loss feels controlled and stable, but I now seem to dread eating and am dreaming of the days I’ll see my pre surgery energy level. So even know I remain positive about the outlook overall in future, real time feelings in the present moment are like you somewhat miserable. And you know what, I think it’s okay to feel that way and not pretend everything is great. The reality is change comes from struggle and rewriting a lifetime of psychologically treating food as a comfort or enemy, or indulgence rather than what it truly is - the fuel for our bodies - at least for me probably requires this misery to reset. Wishing you some comfort to cravings. One food joy I was able to find was creating a Greek yogurt topping bar, having previously never liked Greek yogurt this now is a bright spot in my food day. I hope can find at least one comfort like me. Early on I did also have mental craving for egg rolls and other normal foods so I think what you experiencing is probably normal - since you mentioned Chinese I’m linking to a recipe that satisfied that craving for me. You should be able to have it as soon as you are allowed veg. https://stylishcravings.com/low-carb-easy-make-egg-roll-bowl/ Again hoping you find comfort soon and if you ever need to vent feel free to message me.

How exciting! The best thing I can say is trust the process, follow your doctors advice and don't compare yourself to others. In the beginning, I was soo nervous that the surgery wasn't gonna be successful and I kept comparing my first week, months, etc losses to others and I got discouraged. 6 months later and I'm almost 100lbs down and feeling so good! I was fortunate that I had a pretty easy healing process and no adverse effects. Just take it easy in the beginning and listen to your body. If you have any specific questions, I'll try my best to help!

Hi! My surgery in 2 1/2 weeks is there any advice you can give me Sent from my moto g power (2022) using BariatricPal mobile app

I had a "virgin" bypass, but I imagine pain is about the same for revisions and that is - it's all across the board. Some people have very little pain (or none at all), others have a lot - but it seems the majority are on the "no or little pain" end of the continuum. I didn't have any pain at all and at first wondered if they even did the surgery! I really didn't have much in the way of gas pain, either. The only discomfort I had was getting in and out of bed. I was fine if I was lying in bed - and fine once I got up - but the transition from one to the other was tricky - I felt like I'd done 1000 crunches. But...it only lasted a few days, as I recall. even if you're one of the people who has pain with the surgery, they'll send you home with something for it. Just take it when you're supposed to to keep ahead of the pain. It'll probably only last three or four days. as far as what life is like, pretty much the same as sleeve. My clinic had everyone on the same food and vitamin regimen, regardless of surgery. The only difference is that if you slack off on your supplements, the consequences will be greater with bypass when they were with sleeve. Otherwise, from what i've heard from others who've had revisions, it's not that much different.

Hi everyone, I've been lurking for a few weeks, but this is my first time posting. I had gastric sleeve last year, January 5, 2022, knowing there was a possibility I may have to eventually convert. I really wish I would have just done bypass initially, but I was so worried about complications and was having a hiatal hernia repair at the same time as surgery and I guess I just hoped that would take care of my reflux issue, which wasn't severe at that point. I started out with a BMI of 35, lost 50 pounds and now have a BMI of 28. I probably should have lost more, but doctor feels the reflux I have played a part in that. I am absolutely terrified of this surgery, which is the reason I didn't have it to begin with obviously. I am also having a gallbladder removal (full of tiny stones), but I never would have known that if not for the ultrasound. My doctor feels it's wise to take it out at the same time as bypass as he says if I need it out in the future it could turn into a 5 hour surgery as it is more difficult to access the gallbladder after gastric bypass. Also having a second hiatal hernia repair since it recurred, albeit small now. I feel like these things are going to make my recovery so much more difficult. Has anyone had all three of these things done at the same time as their revision and if so, how was your recovery? Thanks in advance!!

IMO this hits the nail on the head. Many of the terms people mentioned in this thread are most likely giving them the cringe or ick not because someone said "journey" or "stall" but because of their overuse, often - as you already said - up to the point of meaninglessness. Conversation stopper and/or thought-terminating are also nailing it.

Wow, look how expensive it is! Is your surgeon or medical team selling this to you? Based on what the Nestle website claims this stuff may be marginally better than OTC drinks but ultimately may help prepare and recover from surgery. For quite a bit more coin. And quite a bit of icky, sicky. Tell your surgeon you want to change to another drink and they'll probably have no issue. If it is a problem, then you have three options: Suck it up and drink it; Get another surgeon; Keep letting your surgeon think you are drinking it while drinking something that isn't torture. The surgeon won't be able to tell; This sort of thing triggers me, I'm sorry if I over reacted. Stuff like this feels like a punishment. Good luck, Tek