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Iron deposits need a while to drain. Some people are not able to resorb oral iron supplements after bypass. However, a fast drop over the course of some weeks isn't really explained that way. What about the other parameters? Ferritin, transferrin, hb?

OK dumb question: are you hungry? I realized that I was eating because it was time to eat. Or I ate the whole thing when 2 bites would have done it. I'm going to be honest, I am a fast food/junk food addict. But I ate a couple of bites and put it down. My lab results have generally been good. BTW, I am 4-11, and weighed 194 in Jan. 2022. I am at 126 now. Also, interestingly, in the last month or two I've had to change up the way I eat--not less--just different. I lost 5 pounds in 10 days, so fast it almost scared me. I had been stuck for 2 months. Just food for thought haha.

I have my final clearance appointment with the surgeon on March 16th. I started this process on January 4th. I cannot believe how fast it's moving along. Any questions I'm not thinking of I should make sure to address at this appointment?

I'm similar to you (surgery scheduled for 3/13) and around the same weight, though my BMI is higher because I'm 5'3". As a person who has worked in tech and traveled for many years, I do wonder if you're pushing it a little bit. When I had a hysterectomy (after two c-sections), I took 4 days off and went back to work the following week from home. I was so committed to my job that I didn't even consider the fact that I could have taken 6 weeks off through short term disability. I truly thought it would be easy. I mean, after each c-section, I was up taking care of the baby and my kids immediately. This laparoscopic hysterectomy seemed like a drop in the bucket, but I was wrong. My body and mind tired really fast. I felt like I constantly needed to take a nap. The work I produced was subpar and I wasn't able to contribute to meetings or brainstorming sessions properly. With this VSG surgery, I know I'll need to drink only liquids for the first 10 days... that's going to seriously zap my mental energy, all while trying to heal internally. Apart from the physical aspect, there's the emotional one to consider. This is a whole new way of life that I am committed to giving myself time to adjust to. If I just get right back up and go to work, I will be distracting myself from what I need to deal with today vs. tomorrow. These are just my thoughts of course. Only you can know yourself best. Plus, your work situation might be very different from mine. Just hope these thoughts can help give you a different perspective. Good luck with your upcoming surgery!! Wishing you a very fast, easy recovery!

My surgery date is this Thursday March 9. It is coming up very fast as much as I’m excited, I’m getting very nervous. Anyone have advice on dos and don’ts right after surgery? Trying to make sure I have what I need at home for when I get home from hospital too. Thoughts? Thank you in advance! Michelle

I had my sleeve on 2/22. Feeling pretty good. Today is the first day I actually feel hungry. I am still on a liquid diet until week 3. If I drink too fast or too much my chest hurts getting it down then I get a pain in my stomach. I am down 13lbs since DOS. Excited for that, but also nervous once I start eating solids I am going to be at a stand still.

Yes I’m struggling 50% with fluids I always feel full like mentally I will throw up if I drink too fast like before, it’s a mind thing as well

Had my sleeve surgery 2/28/23 4 days post op today definitely less pain from day one. I agree with everyone else on here saying they were able to tolerate the shakes before surgery and now are struggling. They’re very thick and taste plant based to me. I had my first cream soup yesterday and it kept me full all day. Im not getting in all the protein and water intake that I need because i get full so fast. What are some of your favorite soups & shakes? I can not wait to hit the pureed stage.

Fluids go through your digestive system much more quickly. Plus a lot of nerve endings were cut during the surgery & take time to heal which is why portion control is even more important from when you begin purées. When you’re more healed your full or had enough signals (be careful they can be different to those you are used to) will begin to kick in. There’s a great video that shows how fluids flush solid foods through your tummy reducing our absorption of nutrients which is why we are advised not to drink 30 minutes before & after eating. This isn’t it but it shows the same thing & also helps understand how fast fluids go through our smaller tummy. And yes you’ll have days when it’s more difficult to meet your goals & others when you reach them easily. Your plan of two weeks per stage is pretty common. I was told 1/4 - 1/3 cup from purée.

you'll see your biggest loses during the first month - or for some, the first two months. Then it slows down quite a lot. I don't know your starting BMI, but i started at well over 300 lbs. I had a decent drop the first month, but then months 2-6 I lost 8-12 lbs a month. Months 7-12, I lost about 5 lbs a month, give or take. After the year mark, there were some months I only lost 2. BUT...as long as I stuck with the program, i kept losing. if you started off at a lower BMI than I did, then it's likely your monthly losses might be lower, too, because starting BMI is one of the factors that affects your rate of weight loss. But just stick with it - in the end, it's how compliant you are with your program that determines how successful you ultimately are, not how fast or slow the weight came off. If you stick to your program, the weight WILL come off.

Hello there, I'm in Ireland and scheduled for March 10th. Initial appointment was December 22nd. Super fast. I'm nearly done week 1 pre op diet - don't see much off scales though...........

Hello fellow shorty! I'm an inch shorter than you and my starting numbers are very similar to yours! I had my surgery in September 2021, I reached my goal weight of 110 in October 2022. Overall, this surgery has been life-changing and I am so glad I was brave enough to go through the process. I had some issues in the beginning, but once I started to recover it went fast. Right now if I'm being completely honest the biggest problem I have is trying to keep what weight I have left ON so I can still shop in the adults' section and not have to buy everything in kids' sizes. You're going to stall here and there, some will be short and sometimes it will feel like you haven't lost an ounce in a month; stay the course, trust the process, and know that a lot of the time stalls are giving your skin and muscles a chance to catch up and adjust.

I have Anthem Bluecross and they require a BMI of 35 with at least 2 comorbidities OR a BMI of 40 with zero comorbidities. They also required proof of previous diet attempts, a psych evaluation and a dietician consultation. My surgeon required a full blood panel with 12 hour fasting prior, a sleep apnea test and commitment to seeing him twice before surgery and a nutritionist 2 times prior to surgery + once per month thereafter for a full year. Once everything was submitted to insurance, I was approved in ONE day. It's crazy, I know... I could hardly believe it myself. I even kept the approval letter so I can frame it later lol

60 pounds is awesome! This hair loss stage is not fun at all and I feel the same way. I burned the top pf my head thanks to hair loss yuck, Hopefully time passes fast and our hair will come back healthier than ever.

Surgery 2/10. First 24 hours was pretty rough with the gas but lots of laps in the hospital helped. During the two week postop diet, I was struggling with fluids and protein because I was just so over it. I’m not stressing about it. I just do what I can. I’m now 16 days postop and it’s easier to get my fluids in but I’m still so sick of protein shakes. I found Oikos Greek yogurt with 15 grams of protein. The vanilla flavor is amazing…. Yum! I’m on puréed diet for the past three days, threw up twice just eating too fast because I was starving. But now I have adjusted to eating more slowly so I don’t throw up. The only issue I have is the bariatric vitamins. I’ve been taking the chewable ones and they are absolutely awful and they make me vomit. I’ve taken them on a full stomach too, and they still make me sick. I’m trying to find a good vitamin to take that doesn’t upset my stomach. I just ordered the Barimelts which I know are not recommended by my doctor, but they are known to be gentler on the stomach, so something is better than nothing. I have the calcium chews and those are fine. Does anyone have a good vitamin that they like it doesn’t make them sick? Also, I’m down 18 pounds and I’m fine with that as I am a lower BMI.

Hello everyone :)! I have my first consultation with my surgeon in a little over a month. I cannot wait to get it all started and I'm excited. This is something I thought about and tried to do on my own for years and I feel as though I'm ready to now use vsg as a tool to help me be healthy and happy now at 35 years old. With that being said, I called my insurance twice to make sure (I have Northwell Direct -ppo ) that they will cover all bariatric surgeries (especially vsg in particular) and to see if they have any pre-approval requirements. According to the two people I've called and spoken to, any bariatric surgery I choose is 100% covered since my bmi is 45, including everything associated with the surgery before and after. Also they both claim that there are no requirements on my plan from my insurance company to get do to be approved...(no weighs-in necessary, no 3 month or 6 month programs, no steps to take.) With that being said I'm assuming that it will be all in my surgeons hands, no? Has anyone been told that their insurance only requires a bmi of over 40 or 35 with comorbidites, and than had a surgeon who had minimal requirements? Has anyone had no requirements (besides bmi) from your insurance, but your surgeon still had you on weight monitoring and/or a 6 month plan? Has anyone had no requirements (besides bmi) from your insurance and been fast tracked with your surgeon? I'm sorry for all the questions, I'm just new here and to all of this and through my months of research it seems to be that the standard for vsg is at least getting bloodwork, getting a pysch evaluation, meeting with a nutritionist and a lot of the times getting a sleep study and/or seeing a cardiologist. I have a ppo therefore I don't need pcp approval to see specialists. I'm hoping to get some feedback for others experience since I can't find one article, post or video on the internet about Anyone who has my health insurance and getting bariatric surgery so looking for tips or insight from others under my exact insurance has been a dud. 😕

While the surgery will help with some things, it’s real success depends upon choices you make. Regardless of which surgery you have you will lose your appetite/hunger for a period of time (there are a few people who don’t & it’s with either surgery). You will also temporarily lose your taste for certain foods. It’s often sugar, as foods can become super sweet but it can be any food that smells &/or tastes awful. Neither surgery will do anything about your desire for sweet & your emotional eating. These are things you have to work through yourself. As we often say the surgery only removes some of your tummy/changes your digestive system. It doesn’t remove the part of your brain that drives your head hunger. It’s why many chose to seek therapy to learn the reasons behind their head hunger & develop strategies to help them better manage their emotional eating, cravings, etc. Both surgeries will reset your body’s set point. This is the weight your body is happiest at & is easiest to maintain. What your set point becomes can’t be predicted. Can you lose more than your set point? Yes, but it is harder to do & maintain. Can you weigh more than your set point? Yes because lifestyle demands or choice, medical conditions & medications, etc. can mean we carry more weight. Remember the average weight loss statistic at the three year mark for both surgeries is about 65% of the weight to be lost to put the person in a healthy weight range. Some will lose more & others less. I have a sleeve. I felt it would suit my life better & was less drastic than bypass. I made a number of choices to benefit my success that I knew I could sustainably follow for the long term & not feel like I was missing out. I took advantage of the too sweet phase & decided not to introduce sweet back into my diet - or avoid as much as I could - & so rarely eat real or artificially sweet foods or drinks. I chose to rarely eat take away or fast foods. I prep & cook most of what I eat from scratch & rarely eat medium or high processed foods or ingredients. I also chose not to include a lot of exercise in my life - I simply don’t enjoy it. But these are my choices. You’ll make choices that best complement you & your lifestyle. I also lost all my weight & more & have maintained. All the best with whichever surgery you chose to have.

sooooooo soooo sorry you're going through this. I'm very happy that you are still here with us. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need a ear. I hope and pray things get better for you fast! 😊

Hey everyone, surgery was 10/24 and I’m down from 215 to 167. The last 4 weekly weigh ins the scale has bounced between 168-171 so I may be in a stall. I was in one after the first 4 weeks for almost 6 weeks. It’s annoying but I’m happy with my progress as I’m officially the smallest I have been in 20 years with all my yo yo dieting. I also know that I may be getting closer to my new size my body wants to be so the weight loss may stop. I’ve been trying to focus more on working out now. Before my surgery I lifted weights regularly. I know I’ve lost a lot of muscle these last couple months and I feel much weaker. So I’m trying to get back into that. Clothing wise I’m down from a size 18 to a 10. I haven’t really had to buy new clothes yet as I kept clothes from all my previous lose and regain episodes. I also wear uniforms to work every day which are provided so being that it’s winter my non-work clothes is mostly hoodies and sweat pants anyway 😁 Food wise it’s hit or miss. I have started to feel hunger signals again but my portions are still pretty small. My doctor never told me to track my food intake which I’m grateful for because I don’t want to feel like I’m on a diet. But I would rough guess my intake to be about 1000 calories a day. I still try to prioritize protein first which doesn’t leave much room for anything else. But I do try to snack on fruit or veggies throughout the day to get my nutrients in. Sugar free sweets and cookies have helped with any sweet tooth cravings I get. I have ate plenty of things with sugar at this point as I really don’t restrict anything, but I do try to limit it to just occasionally. I also struggle with feeling like I have to clean my plate, even when I start to feel full. So I try to start with a small amount to begin with. Then wait a couple minutes before deciding if I want more, and usually I don’t. I still eat really fast so pausing for a few minutes helps my stomach to catch up. I’ve been out to eat several times. Usually I just split a meal with my wife and it works out great. She’s not going to eat the entire dish and I only need a few bites. The weirdest part with food for me is that my tastes have changed. Foods I used to enjoy don’t sit well or taste as good. I used to drink black coffee every day, now it hurts my stomach so I’ve just quit it. I thought the lack of caffeine would be an issue but it really hasn’t been. I do occasionally drink instant sugar free cappuccino but not daily. Also hot wings used to be a favorite of mine and now they taste off. Same thing with a lot of spicy food actually. So while I wouldn’t say I restrict food, at least for weight loss purposes, I’m trying to learn how different things make me feel and structure my eating like that. Just like with overeating I tell myself while something might sound appealing, is it worth me feeling kinda crappy for the next 30-45 minutes? That helps to think of it like that. I have definitely overdone portions and regretted it. Hence why I try to start smaller to begin with. It’s hard when you have one bite left not to just eat it, but that one bite will cost you and it’s just not worth the discomfort for me. All in all I would say I’m feeling good and I’m happy. I’m starting to see myself as smaller for the first time. I’ll catch my reflection in a window or something and be like damn, is that how skinny I am? It’s a crazy feeling I’ve never felt before. I knew I was getting smaller because my clothes sizes were going down. But I’m just now really seeing it. I have more work to do, more so in the gym now than the scale, but I’m feeling accomplished and motivated.

I hope you're feeling better! Here are a few last-minute tips that may help: Follow your surgeon's pre-op instructions carefully, including any dietary restrictions or fasting requirements. Pack a bag with comfortable clothes, toiletries, and any other essentials you may need during your recovery. Get plenty of rest the night before your surgery. Have a trusted friend or family member accompany you to the hospital and be prepared to stay overnight. After your surgery, be sure to follow your surgeon's instructions for post-op care, including taking any prescribed medications, getting plenty of rest, and avoiding strenuous activity. Stay positive and focus on your goals. Remember, you're making this change for your health and well-being. Good luck with your surgery, and feel free to reach out if you have any other questions or concerns.

I am scheduled for a March 20tj bypass - it’s getting real and the questions are hitting me fast and furious. Appreciate any advice and insight: 1. Dying my hair/roots - any issues. Should I do it now or closer to the surgery date so it lasts longer. Same question for a new cut. Time for people to get use to it? Should I start taking collagen, non-sulphur shampoo - anything to manage the hair loss a little Walking post surgery - should I get walking sticks? I know there is no weight lifting post surgery - what about other non-weight bearing exercised- exercise bike, yoga classes etc. COVID, flu, tetanus, - anything else I should get ahead of Any kitchen things I should get- can you purée with a hand blender?

Hello folks! Just wanted to check in to see how everyone is doing. I’ve been hovering at the same weight for a few weeks now BUT am 1.2 pounds away from the Obese 1 category to Overweight. I know BMI isn’t actually a very useful measure of individual health, but still feels like an important milestone! Also, if anyone else was struggling like me to buy new clothes fast enough to keep up with weight loss, I highly recommend Vinted. You can get lots of nice high street brands for like a fiver, and even some designer stuff for shockingly cheap. I genuinely got a whole new wardrobe for £100. Plus you can sell on the clothes that don’t fit (or just donate to charity shops if you’re lazy like me) and the whole system helps to keep fast fashion out of landfills for longer. Win win!

Starting weight: 262lbs Height 5ft Hi all, I'm just over 1 month post-op (Mini bypass). I lost 14lbs on LRD (2 weeks), and since surgery I've lost 19lbs. I've pretty much had stalls throughout this month and I'm so disheartened that the scales aren't shifting much. Literally everyone else I know that's had surgery lost at a fast rate in their first month and meanwhile I'm chugging behind. I healed extremely fast, tolerate anything I'm cleared to eat and drinking as much fluid as I can. I'm also walking more with my dogs and soon to be cleared to go to the gym. I feel hunger still as well, and to be honest drinking water makes it worse for me. I didn't expect this to be a quick fix but if I have to work out 5 days a week to even go near my target, then surgery was a big waste of money as that just isn't suitable for my lifestyle. The reason I'm saying 19lbs is slow is because before surgery I could easily lose 2st in less than a month, obviously would gain it back but that was the norm for me. Has anyone got a similar story to mine where they started off slow but still hit their target? Thanks

In my thoughts for fast recovery Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Yes, ketosis (fat burning) is likely causing the bad taste. Bad body odour is another side effect. It will pass when you are eating more & a more balanced diet. I wonder if the excess saliva is the foamies??? It usually occurs if you eat too fast, too large a bite, too much or food that is too dry, coarse or fibrous. Your body produces the slimy, mucus like saliva as a protection: to ease the food into your tummy or to help bring it up (regurgitate) if it is stuck or too much. Use lots of sauces, gravies & stock if you’re on soft foods. Chicken breast can be too dry & cause problems for many. I ate a lot of minced beef dishes to begin as they were much easier to swallow & digest. Make sure you’re not drinking too close to before or after you eat (stick to that 30 mins) as that can contribute too. Give your surgeon a call too just the be sure.