Search the Community

Very interesting... I think the post-op diets may be similarly variable as the pre-op diets. In your case, yogurt is part of the pureed stage, but in my post-op diet staging, yogurt was part of the full liquid phase. I've been eating yogurt and no-sugar-added applesauce since 2 days after surgery without issue. Go figure... I agree that jerky would not be good due to its texture and consistency. Still, regardless of what the "infraction" is, I don't think it's worth feeling guilt over. Perhaps I have a different perspective, in that while I fully intend to comply with the phases of the diet progression, there's also the safety net in that if you proceed too quickly or eat something you shouldn't, your body will let you know pretty darned quickly that you shouldn't have done that. It's like a child and a hot stove... once you burn yourself, you'll know not to touch it again. I've been lucky thus far, in that nothing I've yet ingested post-surgery, whether type of food or amount or pace, has triggered any nausea, let alone vomiting, dumping, etc. The only negative has been if I eat or drink something too quickly, I'll feel a bit of heartburn-like pressure. That's my signal to put on the brakes. Thus far it's passed in about 10-15 seconds. I presume that as I add more food types to my diet, I'm likely to encounter combinations/types that my system will not tolerate, but thus far (knock on wood) I've been lucky in that regard.

10 days out. Still on my liquid diet of protein shakes and chicken broth and sugar free popsicles. I feel ravenous like I could eat everything I don't know if it's eye hunger, or just the deprivation of anything resembling chewing. Tonight I went over to visit my boyfriend and I ended up meeting a small piece of chicken jerky. I chewed it and chewed and chewed it and now that I've eaten it I feel so guilty and I'm waiting for my stomach to explode or something. I needed to confess because I feel like I've done a bad thing anyone else had this happened to them? I'm getting nervous that when I can eat I'm just going to eat everything please somebody tell me that the smaller stomach and the ghrelin reduction will kick in

ASMBS Guidelines/Statements Safer through surgery: American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery statement regarding metabolic and bariatric surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic Executive Council of ASMBS Published: June 05, 2020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soard.2020.06.003 The surgical treatment of obesity and its complications has been postponed in many parts of the world during the COVID-19 pandemic, similar to the postponements for nonurgent surgical treatment of many other human conditions and disease processes. Many have characterized bariatric and metabolic surgery along with cosmetic plastic surgery as clear-cut examples of elective procedures that must be postponed during COVID-19. Some U.S. states have included these types of procedures in their state-wide order as examples of “elective” surgical procedures that should be the last to be restarted. For those who define “elective” surgery as not necessary or optional, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) asserts that metabolic and bariatric surgery is NOT elective. Metabolic and bariatric surgery is medically necessary and the best treatment for those with the life-threatening and life-limiting disease of severe obesity. The definition of elective in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is “relating to, being, or involving a non-emergency medical procedure and especially surgery that is planned in advance and is not essential to the survival of the patient.” Metabolic and bariatric surgery is life-saving surgery, with multiple studies confirming the survival benefit for patients treated by surgery over those treated without surgery [1]. Metabolic and bariatric surgery creates long-term changes in metabolism and reduces or eliminates multiple serious obesity-related diseases improving long-term health and quality of life as well as survival. The ASMBS supports the use of the term “medically necessary time-sensitive surgery,” as proposed by Prachand et al. [2], or “medically necessary nonemergent surgery,” as far superior to the term “elective” surgery and what it connotes. Metabolic and bariatric surgery should be restarted when it is safe to do so. The ASMBS disagrees with the concept that bariatric surgery should be postponed until the pandemic is declared over. The global nature of the pandemic, the potential for a second wave or persistent ongoing infection in some parts of the world, along with more traditional risks, such as annual influenza outbreaks, make postponement potentially indefinite. There is clear evidence bariatric surgery improves survival [1] and significantly improves the disease of obesity and several critical obesity-related conditions (including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular events). Obesity and obesity-related diseases have been identified as independent risk factors for adverse outcomes in COVID-19 infection [3], including need for intubation, ventilatory support, intensive care unit care, and mortality. From a patient-centered and public health standpoint, it is critical to resume metabolic and bariatric surgery. We also understand that obesity and related diseases are the same risk factors that must be taken into consideration for temporarily postponing bariatric surgery in certain higher-risk subsets of patients. The risks and benefits at that particular time for that specific patient need to be carefully considered. Factors to consider in making that decision also include the local prevalence of COVID-19, the availability of testing, the available resources, including hospital beds, ventilators, and personal protection equipment, as well as strategies to protect healthcare workers and patients. However, delay in the life-saving surgical treatment of obesity and its complications for many months or years is not in the best interest of our patients. The ASMBS has advocated for many years that patients suffering from the disease of obesity and its many serious associated diseases should strongly consider metabolic and bariatric surgery as a life-changing intervention that improves health, quality of life, and long-term survival. COVID-19 is the most recent of many diseases in which underlying obesity worsens the prognosis. Before COVID-19 began, it was clear that patients with obesity were “safer through surgery.” In the era of COVID-19, “safer through surgery” for patients with obesity may prove to be even more important than before. PIIS155072892030318X.pdf

American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) calls for safe resumption of bariatric and metabolic surgery before COVID-19 pandemic is declared over Newberry, Fla. — Jun. 23, 2020 — The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), the leading organization of bariatric surgeons and integrated health professionals in the nation, declared metabolic and bariatric surgery "medically necessary and the best treatment for those with the life-threatening and life-limiting disease of severe obesity" and called for the safe and rapid resumption of procedures, which have been largely postponed along with other surgeries deemed elective amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In a new position statement entitled, "Safer Through Surgery," published online in the journal SOARD, the ASMBS strongly rejects classifying metabolic and bariatric surgery as "elective" and prefers the use of the term "Medically Necessary Time-Sensitive Surgery" or "Medically Necessary Non-Emergent Surgery" to better characterize the effectiveness of the intervention and the progressive nature of the many diseases it treats including obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. "COVID-19 may be a factor for quite some time and the longer the treatment of obesity, type 2 diabetes and other related diseases are postponed, the greater the chance they will become worse," said Matthew M. Hutter, MD, MPH, president of the ASMBS and professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School. "Each state, doctor and patient must make a decision as to when conditions for metabolic and bariatric surgery are right, but the sooner it can be safely performed, the more quickly obesity, type 2 diabetes and other diseases can be reduced or resolved." The ASMBS recommends that the precise timing for surgery be carefully considered based on factors including an individual patient’s health status, local prevalence of COVID-19 and the availability of resources including hospital beds, ventilators and personal protective equipment (PPE). The ASMBS statement concludes, "Before COVID-19 began, it was clear that patients with obesity were ‘safer through surgery’. In the era of COVID-19, ‘safer through surgery’ for patients with obesity may prove to be even more important than before." Obesity has been identified as an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes including death among COVID-19 patients. Metabolic/bariatric surgery has been shown to be the most effective and long-lasting treatment for severe obesity. 1 Its safety profile is comparable to some of the safest and most commonly performed surgeries in the U.S. including gallbladder surgery, appendectomy and knee replacement. 2 An estimated 252,000 bariatric surgeries were performed in the United States in 2018, which is approximately less than 1 percent of the population eligible for surgery based on BMI. 3 The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 42.4 percent of Americans had obesity in 2017-2018. 4 Obesity has been linked to more than 40 diseases including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis and at least 13 different types of cancer. 5,6,7 About the ASMBS The ASMBS is the largest organization for bariatric surgeons in the nation. It is a non-profit organization that works to advance the art and science of bariatric surgery and is committed to educating medical professionals and the lay public about bariatric surgery as an option for the treatment of severe obesity, as well as the associated risks and benefits. It encourages its members to investigate and discover new advances in bariatric surgery, while maintaining a steady exchange of experiences and ideas that may lead to improved surgical outcomes for patients with severe obesity. For more information, visit www.asmbs.org. ### 1 Weiner, R. A., et al. (2010). Indications and principles of metabolic surgery. U.S. National Library of Medicine. 81(4) pp.379-394. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20361370 2 Gastric Bypass is as Safe as Commonly Performed Surgeries. Health Essentials. Cleveland Clinic. Nov. 6, 2014. Accessed October 2017 https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/11/gastric-bypass-is-as-safe-as-commonly-performed-surgeries/ 3 https://asmbs.org/resources/estimate-of-bariatric-surgery-numbers 4 https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html 5 The Effectiveness and Risks of Bariatric Surgery: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis, 2003-2012. Accessed from: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/fullarticle/1790378 6 Steele CB, Thomas CC, Henley SJ, et al. Vital Signs: Trends in Incidence of Cancers Associated with Overweight and Obesity — United States, 2005-2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep2017;66:1052-1058. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6639e1 7 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015) The Health Effects of Overweight and Obesity. Accessed from: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/effects/index.html

Hey guys! Thought this would be fun just for us. I'm a personal stylist and its become such a huge inspiration/motivation for me after my sleeve (coming up on 10 years in Sept) that I thought it'd be cool to have an OOTD thread of our own. So gentlemen, shall we?

The title really says it all. All the normal surgical pain is under control but the bloating is so bad I can't even wear a bra without being miserable. Any tips for getting that crap under control?

Starting weight and your height and BMI are all a part of figuring out where you will end up. I started at 5'3"; 54 years old and 320 pounds. After a year, I could never get under 170. But I was really happy with that. I put back about 8 to 10 pounds that second year..... and then.... Experienced a tough few years these past 7 or 8 years and gained back to 220 pounds. (STILL 100 pounds lighter !) Took the last year and attacked it - slowly, and carefully - now I am 64 years old, 5'2" and 181 pounds. I reset my goal as 175. I would be pleased to be between 175 and 180. Age adjusted BMI will be overweight, but both my doctors and I will be pleased with that. And yes, I am saggy and baggy. But I do not think elective surgeries are in my future. Need new knees. Frankly, I am thrilled with myself this year. I will have lost my regain. I will be back to having lost basically 140 pounds. Think about all you have accomplished !!!

10 days ago....

I'm still in hosp post OP. I was on 10 day liquid diet, my surgeon told me I could cheat with little bit lean protein, chicken, beef cheese, etc. But only if I felt I had to. That along with my shakes helped so much. I had lean beef day before surgery & nothing was said to me. But always follow your surgeons orders. You got this! Def no judgements here! Keep us posted

I've never posted before - but your post totally resonated with me! I'm in the same boat - I've spent my whole life learning to accept my body and preaching the importance of self acceptance (and believe me, I 100% still think this is SO important for girls everywhere!). It took me SO LONG (7+ years) to finally make the decision to have surgery. Part of me feels hypocritical ... but after so many years of thinking about it, I know that I'm 100% not doing the surgery to be skinny to or look different in my clothes - I'm doing it for my health. I had a baby 10 months ago and being an obese pregnant person was horrible (for me). I was SO high risk, ended up delivering early, baby spent time in the NICU, recovery was terrible. So at the end of the day, if having surgery and losing weight will in ANY WAY make pregnancy a little easier/safer for me in the future, I know I have to do it. I just finished all my surgery requirements and am waiting for a surgery date. So far, I've only told my husband and my best friend (who is a nurse, I wanted her opinion on the doctor I'd chosen). My mom and sisters know surgery is something I've been considering for years but I don't think I'll tell them until I have a surgery date! I'm excited for you and I can't wait to follow along your journey!

My first post-op was at 6 weeks. I had lost 36 pounds since my before-surgery weight. The other patient who had her surgery two hours before mine had lost the same amount. You should be just eating liquid foods. Breads and such don't start until four months. Foods with skins, seeds, and so forth. You should still be on sugar-free food as well. I was eating around 500 calories a day those first few months. I lost 20 more lbs after 12 weeks then 10 more at 6 months. Carbs and sugars have made me slow down. Your surgery wasn't even two weeks ago. It's probably too early to think pounds yet. I didn't see my doctor until 6 weeks. I was bedridden those months I lost 36 lbs, too.

I had surgery on July 9th and at my first post-op appointment, my surgeon didn't discuss my weight loss numbers at all. I lost 12 pounds since surgery and 10 pounds since my first visit to him. Is this odd? My BMI is 33 but the whole point was weight loss. I guess I could've asked but... Is that normal? Did your surgeon comment at your firt post-op appointment?

My bypass was Feb. 2019. I had labs done at 4 months and 9 months post (Dec. 2019). My surgeon is pretty lax and just mentioned having labs done annually unless there's an issue that needs closer monitoring. In Dec my Vit B was crazy high but I have read that's normal from the high dose vitamins. He had mentioned doing labs again this summer. I take a Pro Care vitamin daily and now they have less Vit B (still crazy high amount) so I am curious if my numbers are closer to a normal range but I am not having any obvious issues and am religious about taking my vitamin. So my question is do I go ahead and have labs done now since it's only been 7 months from the last labs and repeat next summer or do I wait? I really don't want to go into a lab where they have people getting tested for Covid. I don't know if I should just do it now or wait until December when it's been a full year but will still have people getting tested for Covid.

Another month has flown by. I have lost another 3 pounds. 182. it isn't like right after surgery... but 10 years out, I CAN do this. And I am. Minus 37 pounds in 12 months. Looking at that, now, I see a slow steady weight loss of 3 pounds month. I am more than "good" with that. Doing the same thing I have been doing. No radical dieting. Right now, being helped by my wonderful summer vegetable garden. Eating heirloom tomatoes and freshest cucumbers, green beans and squash, eggplant and fresh bell peppers .... So good. Also enjoying treats like ice cream on a hot day. But so nice to know who is in control. ME. As long as we all stay healthy in this crazy time of COVID and uncertainty . Be well. Stay strong.

Hey I’m 5 1/2 weeks post-op My progress has been stalled I’m wondering if I’m getting enough calories in I’m only averaging about 400 to 600 a day how do I get more calories in because I’m sure this is the reason why I’m stalling so soon in my journey I’m so lost my bariatric team is pretty much nonexistent because of the COVID-19 stuff that’s going on.

Weighing in this morning at 165.8. I am 2 months post op from my revision from VSG to GP today. I lost 2 lbs this month and am 1 lb away from my lowest weight last summer. I dont expect to lose anymore weight but if I do I will take it as a buffer. I would like to stay under 170 for life !! I had my first episode of too much food the other day. I ate pork steak and being too full made me sick but I could not throw up, so I was miserable for almost 2 hours !! I didnt weigh it but I am guessing it was around 4 to 5 oz. Never again. So I do have restriction with solid protein but I think I ate too fast and by the time my brain caught up it was too late ! The restriction is not the same as with VSG but it is restriction although I cant explain it. I quit tracking my food around the 5th of July because I noticed my weight creeping up a little. For some reason I do better not tracking after I get going, this happened with my VSG. In Jan of 2019 I quit tracking and lost around 10 lbs and kept it off all last summer. The only thing I can think is I was obsessed with food and stayed to focused on it tracking and would eat up to X amount of calories and protein even if I wasnt hungry. I was like oh I didnt get all my calories so I will just have this ect ect ect. I am weird I know, lol. I am still having the burning acid from time to time, but it isnt as often as it was with the sleeve. I am hoping my esophagus is healing but wont know anything until I go see the Dr. for my checkup in August and am scheduled for an EGD. I think I have another hiatal hernia. I say this because sometimes I feel like something is stuck in my throat when eating like before just not as often. All in all I am doing much better then I was at the beginning of this bypass and am getting use to it.

You could try Weightwise in Oklahoma. It's where I'm going and so far I like them. I think it's 10 for everything but they're nice and it wouldn't be as far of a drive! Sent from my SM-G981U using BariatricPal mobile app

so, i am one week out. and my doc calls for a 2 week liquid diet of protein shakes, broth, sugar free jello and juice. I am having trouble taking in more than 400 calories a day. 2 of the premier protein shakes has 320 calories, and between 10 calorie broth and 5 calorie juice, i end up around 400 calories a day. that just seems like too little. my understanding is that if you dont eat enough calories, you body will reject losing weight because it thinks you are starving. i can drink a couple more protein shakes, but that would be way too much protein. would appreciate your thoughts.

I can understand why you didn’t tell your teens. I did tell my 2 “kids” but they were 19 & 28 which is very different. Body issues at that age make a lasting impression. I told a total of 5 people, my husband, my 2 sons, 1 friend and my sister. I didn’t tell my stepsons or my brother, I don’t see them as often and I’m pretty private. I made a new easy “pie” last night that was super good. I don’t have any issues with breads or sugar, however I do watch how much I have. I baked wonton wrappers in a muffin tin 350 for about 8-10 minutes without filling. I stacked 2 in each tin for this dessert. I cut up apples and cooked them in water and lemon juice with about 1 tsp of sugar per apple and added cinnamon. I also sprinkled a little cinnamon and sugar on the wontons before I baked them. Just fill the wontons afterward with whatever you like. Sugar free pudding would be good too. My son scarfed a few down and I had one. Total of 75 calories, it probably was less but I always add calories when I’m eyeballing a recipe. Nice change of pace for when I get a sweet tooth.

I had this last week and found out it’s because I’m dehydrated. We are still supposed to be drinking 64 ounces of water every single day. I just have not been able to do that. I have been working for the last several days to get an additional 10 ounces, so now I’m up to getting about 30 a day.

Personally i would have NEVER chosen to have my band (2009) removed just because. If it's not giving you trouble, i would leave it alone. After mine was ER removed 2017 (143lbs) about 2 weeks later, hunger came back with a vengeance. I couldn't get a revision because i "didn't weigh enough". I had no problems until the stomach virus that caused violent vomiting...... NOT the bands fault, NOT my fault.... It wasn't until 2.5 years and a gain of 30lbs that i paid out of pocket 14K to have the sleeve done 8/2019. Starting weight with that 173ish. Today i weigh 124lbs. and even with the weight loss i still preferred the band. I liked the control i had with the band. As far as the removal. That was on a Thursday and i was back at work on Monday. Sleeve was done on a Wednesday and back at work on Monday I say this to all my band friends...... if you feel like your band stopped working for you ... it didn’t, you just stopped using it...

I know things are just starting to get back going again, but whats the wait time looking like for people like me that just completed all my pre-op. Will all the things that I completed still be good if the wait is really long ( ekg, labs, etc)

Hi! This is my first time logging on in 2020. I definitely am very grateful to have had the VSG, in August of 2015. I was miserable and just receding from life. I reached my goal weight in 2016, and then my dream weight in 2017 - the lowest I'd been since I was 14. I perhaps got too thin, down to a size XS / 2, and I'm tall. But I felt amazing and began receiving compliments from strangers and friends alike on looking beautiful, and I felt beautiful. Unfortunately I regained some weight in 2019 after some dental disasters (I have several baby teeth that lack permanent roots, so they need to all be pulled and replaced with implants) required that I eat nothing but soft food. And then I regained again in 2020 after experimenting with fertility treatments (which weren't successful, sadly) and falling back into depression. I've gained a few more while quarantining since March. Grocery shopping became one of the few out of the house activities after we transitioned to working online, and I slipped into past habits of eating for joy and out of boredom. My BMI is currently 26, so I'm not too far out from being in a healthy weight range again. I just want to get back on track and prevent continuing regain. I started tracking my food again on MyFitnessPal, and cleaned out the kitchen of temptations. I am hiking more often and going for scenic drives when I'm feeling restless to get out of the house. I returned here for motivation / camaraderie. I hope you are all doing well!

Hello All, Hoping someone who has gone through a gastric band revision to a gastric sleeve can help me. I got the band 10 years ago and for awhile it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I lost 100 pounds and I was working out every day and life was good. Then the reflux started. So bad I spent months sleeping in a chair because lying in bed made me choke with all the stomach acid coming up. They took all the fluid out of my band and now I'm on track to get the band removed and get a gastric sleeve. Very worried about going to a hospital in the middle of the pandemic, but I'm going to be 60 soon and they're telling me that it's pretty much now or never. I'm hoping someone here who has had the experience with a band conversion to a sleeve can give me some advice about how different it is, or if it's similar and how much harder it is than the initial surgery. If there is no one on here who has had a conversion I'd also like to hear from people who got the sleeve and if they'd do it again. Any advice would be very much appreciated. Thank you in advance.