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It sucks to not see the scale moving. It makes me feel like im failing. I know it's normal, but ahh! I only lost 39.5 pounds since surgery (2/21/23). What could I be doing wrong? What could I do to get it moving again? Am I eating too many calories? I don't even know how many calories I'm supposed to be having. I don't have anything in my papers. One things for sure, a lot of stuff doesn't feel like I get restriction? The only thing I can't eat really so far is bread, pancakes/waffles. That I know of. I know each meal is supposed to be 3 to 4 ounces. How do you guys figure out your entire meal size. 2oz protein, 1 ounce veggies, 1 ounce starch? Ugh. My next appointment is the 25th or 26th

I’ll answer my own questions to try to get the conversation going. I’m doing ok - some bad, some good. Today is 2 months until my surgery date (which is July 12th, 2023). I have two big steps before that day - a virtual group class with the surgeon and dietician and an in-person visit for blood work and an EKG in which I’ll also pick up my pre-op diet food. I’m actually excited about having a regimented diet. I love following a food plan; it’s creating the food plan that is hard for me. I’m terrible at making time to plan meals and shop for the food and prepare the food. I’m excited to have a smaller stomach so I can cook something like a crockpot of shredded chicken, portion it out, and warm it up for lunch every week day. (And not binge eat it all in 2 meals.) Now I’m enjoying reading and viewing content from other women who have gone through the surgery part of the journey and are joyfully sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly with others. Ugh, the talking about it. I’d rather not. I’ve spent hours and hours researching the surgery before I made this decision. So it’s hard to know what to say in a few minutes to help the decision make sense to someone else. Two supports I’ve found useful are youtube videos from women who are post-op (like Simply Megan and Erin Branscom) and the podcast Our Sleeved Life.

No, they didn't test for anything. Just told me to keep trying.. hold off on puree diet for 1 more week, just stick to fluids. Today I think i have only gotten down about 12oz of fluid. i started at 7am and i am still working on the same water bottle. fingers crossed tomorrow will be better,

Hello all, I just had my VGS on the 8th.. spent 2 nights in hospital because of severe pain when I tried to drink anything. I am now on post day 3 and i still can not even take a sip of water without doubling over in tears.. Has anyone else experienced this? if so how long did it last? what kinds of things did you do to try and get anything down. I don't want to end up in the ER or back in hospital because of dehydration or malnutrition. Other than not being able to drink or eat anything... overall I feel really good and I'm still happy with my choices to have this done. all advice or comments welcome.. Thank you,

LindsayT firstly yes I’d absolutely adore you as a friend, I need one with absolute desperation. I feel very vulnerable and alone currently so without sounding a complete desperate loopiloo yes please. (Big arms outstretched never letting go) catlady0626 - thank you so so much for replying. Yes I have fever including occasional rigours and cold parameters intermediate. Paracetamol added to my daily medicines which does seem to calm. I do have flu like symptoms to accompany and just arrived back from holiday on an aeroplane though so have not made any connection to twists tears or similar. It’s actually crossed my mind I have herniated more prolifically at my umbilical and perhaps developed a hiatal in honesty. But don’t want to sound neurotic. summerseeker - your reply is so helpful and makes a lot of sense to reassure. I cannot tell you thank you in words to warrant how grateful I am for your reply. The ‘posterise hypertension’ I am struggling with is horrendous and must be BP but I’m not a fainter. It was the icing on the cake so to speak yesterday that started my panic. I knew all this I was struggling with was not normal but seemed to be dismissed on every contact by my care team. Therefore, I’ve waited and listened and tried 6 further contacts but began to feel I was either being neurotic or impatient or a time waster. However, reading your reply and everyone I’m replying to now had made me realise - I am not right and I need to act. Janetdekker - thank you thank you to you for replying. I’d love to get probiotics down me but I am barely able to swallow some days. It’s so hard getting anything down me or should I say to even stay down at the moment. I seem to have a day or two in say 10 days I get some foods down and I think I’m through the worst but then regress back to start. But I’ll buy some probiotic yoghurt drinks and see if I can keep these down to see if they help. It’s infuriating and so frustrating. I can’t thank you enough for taking your time to reply to me. to update further information that may help any further advice, thought share that I dearly appreciate. ive actually counted the week number today and I’ll be 13 weeks post-op on Tuesday next week. (Feels a lot longer) ive lost over 4 stones in this time frame and I’m so weak currently. I kid you not, I feel breathless making a cup of tea. I feel worse than when I endured pre-eclampsia and emergency section with my son. I felt I may die at that time but it’s feeling more similar as each day passes. Im utterly exhausted / spent. im 46 years old, 3 children and am 5 ft 9 inches. Weighed 21 stone 4.5lbs on Friday 10th February and now weigh 17 stone 3lbs. I feel The weight loss is much too fast as I cannot get enough protein or nutrition into my body. The loose skin and muscle deterioration seems quite extensive (I feel very soggy all over of this makes any sense) but admit my worrying in my current situation has me feeling quite neurotic so I’m trying to prioritise my worries to keep sane! today, I have managed to get 4 small strawberries down (chewed to a purée before attempting to swallow) with around 12 bites of clean spaghetti bolognese (meat removed and chopped into pieces no larger than rice and each mouthful chewed three times) and 300ml of fluid and a small cup of tea today. However, I’ve been in bed all day with tummy pain, vomited and other end loo trips within 20 minutes of eating. No full bladder urination. Swallowing is difficult and eating the strawberries took 20 minutes. The 12 bites of spaghetti Bol took an hour to get down me. I tried a smooth yogurt prior to bed but have just been woken up by tummy cramping / vomited it back up and checked my messages to see all your kind and helpful replies. I take lansaprozol time- delay tablets x 2. 3 x baricol chewables, calcichew x 1 and have just added 12000 mm/mg tablet of biotin today. If my nails get any thinner I’ll have none covering my fingers and my hair loss is devastating! 1-3 ciclixine / odansetron a day for sickness and nausea too. I can’t go a day without at least one a day but they do come with the side effect of drowsiness so they make me literally zonk. I don’t like this so much but it’s helped me gain a few hours sleep I guess as a positive. is there any other infirbation I can provide that may help with any of your thoughts / ideas / advice / suggestions? Obviously I’m new and am unsure of what further info will help you to support me. I can’t thank you enough for your replies and I’m so sorry if I sound like some neurotic banshee in a state of panic. I honestly don’t know what thoughts I trust in myself at the moment. I just feel so very poorly. thank you again for any wisdom. 💕💕💕

I've been approved to go home, 30 minutes until husband gets here. Slept great overnight, I was so tired. Hope everyone is recovering well. I feel pretty good but also a bit overwhelmed with my life changed. I think it's the unknown and not knowing how the coming weeks and months will pan out with how much I can est, what can I eat, enough Protein etc. One day at a time I guess .

Feeling Awesome! its been a week now, walking since day one and started driving last Sunday. Got to work today (I work from home at a desk so that was no issue) manage to loose 8 lbs the first 3 days and only 1 in The last 4 days. Had some nausea the first day but that went away rather quickly and now just struggling to eat enough proteins as I really do not like the protein shakes.

^^^ Yep- I didnt think it was possible either because I used to drink TONS of water, but I had no desire or will, and had to play the head game of just a little sip wont hurt- all day long. I still cant drink a lot of water at a time- but can get more crystal lite tea in than water, which confuses me. So strange- but between fluids, vitamins four times a day and eating 3 small meals I feel Ike i am constantly putting something in my mouth.

I've been approved to go home, just needs meds from pharmacy brought up so in a couple hours. Had a really good night's sleep. I was so tired. Hope everyone is recovering well. I feel pretty good but also a bit overwhelmed with my life changed. I think it's the unknown and not knowing how the coming weeks and months will pan out with how much I can est, what can I eat, enough protein etc. One day at a time I guess.

I appreciate everyone sharing. It felt better knowing I wasn’t the only one and it’s a normal thing. I am happy to report that the worst of it has passed. I did get a binder, but wore it less than a handful of times. I had a concert to attend and tried a shaping underwear which actually was quite comfortable with just the right amount of compression. Movement, showers, sleeping have all been much better and no support needed for the last several days. I still feel the under incision area slight soreness, but I’m just 4 weeks post op and know there’s still inside healing happening. For anyone still experiencing it, it will pass.

First off, I want to say you're not alone. I'm only a few weeks post op, so I cannot yet provide answers to what you're going through, but I can be a friend. There are many people on here, though, that can give advice, support, and answers to your questions.

I have only 1 back roll instead of 2. I'll take that 1.5 weeks in.

This is so true!!! Having the same shakes day after day becomes nauseating by day 3!! I'm on day 11, I absolutely HATE this diet though I'm down 17.5 lbs. because of it.

I have joined this forum simply for one reason. A post I saw and YOU. The kind reader who I hope can offer absolutely any advice, help, insight - anything! I can be honest and say immediately, thank you for any reply and I’m desperate for your reply with insight. im just about to look into posting my story but could not do so without first attempting to seek any help I can before I literally lose the plot! I am now around 16 weeks post mini gastric bypass. Valentines Day I underwent the surgeons scalpels I paid privately after the usual circumstances of hitting rock bottom and saying quite literally… ENOUGH! Money is not plentiful and I used my small inheritance from my late father. Lucky, I was able to do so. but… I’m struggling. I have zero support network with experience. A loving family yes but no one I feel can validate or reassure me. I have medical study experience but not enough experience or knowledge to explain my symptoms away. my most recent message I’m still awaiting reply to from my surgeons medical secretary as follows:- Hi (name removed for anonymity) Did you receive my message yesterday please? I spoke to the Dieticians yesterday too and they’ve arranged a consultation with surgeon to discuss further issues. Next Wednesday. I am hoping to attend in person but currently struggling with flu type symptoms. I don’t have other people who have had bariatric surgery to speak to who could be a support network or provide support. Do you know if there is a professional forum, overseen contact group or other network or other supportive services? I don’t feel I am having a good recovery and feel I am struggling. Plus, I feel I am that poorly now perhaps I was dismissed too readily or swiftly in my previous contacts. I am losing weight much much faster than all my peers I read. I’ve lost over 4 stones in just 13 weeks. Far too fast and I’m drained, lethargic, can barely hold my head up (albeit have flu too) but in May too! Not normally a fluey month as the norm?? Infact, I microsecond passed out yesterday and cracked my head on our bathroom sink - simply due to standing up from the loo! I do not have a supportive GP or GP surgery and am currently in the process of changing surgeries now BUT am writing to them and conducting a private appointment firstly as I do not trust full follow through handover transparency. My surgery requires professional evidence or correspondence of everything to even follow up. For example, they have borderline eGFR results and two scans showing kidney stone and cyst in situ YET won’t conduct further tests or refer until surgeon sends a letter too! It’s absurd! it’s the main reason I paid to get this surgery completed to try to be well and improve my life and stay away from GP Doctors who possibly practiced nothing more than general medicine for 5 years! I’m constantly having to contact you directly, but seem dismissed by quotes of it’s week 4, or week 6, or only week 8 or now it’s only week 16, go back to Soups and fluids, try a quarter of an egg instead of a full Egg. I’ve gone back to fluids only 3 times now! When then can I tolerate real food? Something I can use my teeth with would be nice now? I cant eat any meat barely at all now, (not even minced), swallowing gets more difficult, indigestion, heartburn is agony, my nails are like paper, my periods have disappeared completely albeit this could be normal as I’m 10 years post menopausal, my face is gray and sallowed. I look like death. I’ve just returned back from holiday but spent 5 days in bed due to tummy pain, bowel problems, agonising indigestion, feeling unwell. I also take 3 x baricol chewables a day, a Multivitamin tablet and a calcichew a day. I’ve read everything I can find, researched this surgery for 6 months prior to having it, watched videos on YouTube, nothing seems to validate or reassure me. I studied medicine myself for 2 years albeit I know this is extra bit of knowledge of human anatomy and practice, I certainly do not have the knowledge to explain my symptoms away. I know this is not psychological as I cannot tolerate warm, cold, mashed, puréed, anything I’ve been told to try and going back a step to try again. When then am I to carry on until? Perhaps until I pass out again or end up in A&E on a drip? I cant get anything down me. If I do manage one meal a day, it’s a quarter of a starter portion and I’ll nearly always vomit it back up or experience the pain in my tummy or severely painful heartburn or severely offensive and debilitating flatulence. How long until I can eat? How long until I can drink plentiful fluids without issues? Ie. More than 500 ml in a 24 hour period? How long until I feel well? How long until I can eat what my family eats albeit in a starter portion? A healthy clean hearty non processed meal! How long until I look and feel well? How long until I can eat without severely offensive flatulence? It’s disgusting and far too painful to keep inside or even attempt to get to a more private location! Once it’s there, it’s impossible to hide and I don’t feel confident even in taking my children to school! How long will my stools be pale yellow or grey? How long will this horrendous pain in my tummy last? Because it’s interfering with my daily life now too. I’m now buying omaprezol over the counter. Lamazeprol isn’t available over the counter like I was advised yesterday. How long until I can sleep a full Night without being woken by agonising heartburn or stomach pain? These are the questions I’d like to ask a support network rather than mither yourself, to then mither surgeon to then mither dieticians or worse my GP. I’m getting very frustrated now, mainly through a lack of support I think. I don’t like to join public forums or online networks normally but I don’t feel I can get the answers of validation or reassurance currently. Yet, I’ve paid over £12000 for the surgery and 2 years post surgery support. Where is the support please? Once I receive your reply I’ll Know whether to mention the letter requirements in my appointment too. I am so sorry I have to keep contacting you, mithering surgeon but I’m getting frustrated and upset now. I want to be well not worse. Plus, the more issues, symptoms I have the more neurotic I feel, yet I have nowhere else to ask. Regards So after reading this I hope you or anyone could offer some guidance or insight. simply put I am also at my wits end and do not want to regret this life changing surgery but I’m beginning to do so with intent and massive frustration. looking forward to any replies. ❤️❤️💕💕💞

I have joined this forum simply for one reason. Your Post. I relate so drastically I can be honest and say thank you and I’m desperate for your reply with insight. im just about to look into posting my story but could not do so without first replying to you. I am now around 16 weeks post mini gastric bypass. Valentines Day I underwent the surgeons scalpels I paid privately after the usual circumstances of hitting rock bottom and saying quite literally… ENOUGH! Money is not plentiful and I used my small inheritance from my late father. Lucky, I was able to do so. but… I’m struggling. I have zero support network with experience. A loving family yes but no one I feel can validate or reassure me. I have medical study experience but not enough experience or knowledge to explain my symptoms away. my most recent message I’m still awaiting reply to from my surgeons medical secretary as follows:- Hi (name removed for anonymity) Did you receive my message yesterday please? I spoke to the Dieticians yesterday too and they’ve arranged a consultation with surgeon to discuss further issues. Next Wednesday. I am hoping to attend in person but currently struggling with flu type symptoms. I don’t have other people who have had bariatric surgery to speak to who could be a support network or provide support. Do you know if there is a professional forum, overseen contact group or other network or other supportive services? I don’t feel I am having a good recovery and feel I am struggling. Plus, I feel I am that poorly now perhaps I was dismissed too readily or swiftly in my previous contacts. I am losing weight much much faster than all my peers I read. I’ve lost over 4 stones in just 13 weeks. Far too fast and I’m drained, lethargic, can barely hold my head up (albeit have flu too) but in May too! Not normally a fluey month as the norm?? Infact, I microsecond passed out yesterday and cracked my head on our bathroom sink - simply due to standing up from the loo! I do not have a supportive GP or GP surgery and am currently in the process of changing surgeries now BUT am writing to them and conducting a private appointment firstly as I do not trust full follow through handover transparency. My surgery requires professional evidence or correspondence of everything to even follow up. For example, they have borderline eGFR results and two scans showing kidney stone and cyst in situ YET won’t conduct further tests or refer until surgeon sends a letter too! It’s absurd! it’s the main reason I paid to get this surgery completed to try to be well and improve my life and stay away from GP Doctors who possibly practiced nothing more than general medicine for 5 years! I’m constantly having to contact you directly, but seem dismissed by quotes of it’s week 4, or week 6, or only week 8 or now it’s only week 16, go back to soups and fluids, try a quarter of an egg instead of a full Egg. I’ve gone back to fluids only 3 times now! When then can I tolerate real food? Something I can use my teeth with would be nice now? I cant eat any meat barely at all now, (not even minced), swallowing gets more difficult, indigestion, heartburn is agony, my nails are like paper, my periods have disappeared completely albeit this could be normal as I’m 10 years post menopausal, my face is gray and sallowed. I look like death. I’ve just returned back from holiday but spent 5 days in bed due to tummy pain, bowel problems, agonising indigestion, feeling unwell. I also take 3 x baricol chewables a day, a multivitamin tablet and a calcichew a day. I’ve read everything I can find, researched this surgery for 6 months prior to having it, watched videos on YouTube, nothing seems to validate or reassure me. I studied medicine myself for 2 years albeit I know this is extra bit of knowledge of human anatomy and practice, I certainly do not have the knowledge to explain my symptoms away. I know this is not psychological as I cannot tolerate warm, cold, mashed, puréed, anything I’ve been told to try and going back a step to try again. When then am I to carry on until? Perhaps until I pass out again or end up in A&E on a drip? I cant get anything down me. If I do manage one meal a day, it’s a quarter of a starter portion and I’ll nearly always vomit it back up or experience the pain in my tummy or severely painful heartburn or severely offensive and debilitating flatulence. How long until I can eat? How long until I can drink plentiful fluids without issues? Ie. More than 500 ml in a 24 hour period? How long until I feel well? How long until I can eat what my family eats albeit in a starter portion? A healthy clean hearty non processed meal! How long until I look and feel well? How long until I can eat without severely offensive flatulence? It’s disgusting and far too painful to keep inside or even attempt to get to a more private location! Once it’s there, it’s impossible to hide and I don’t feel confident even in taking my children to school! How long will my stools be pale yellow or grey? How long will this horrendous pain in my tummy last? Because it’s interfering with my daily life now too. I’m now buying omaprezol over the counter. Lamazeprol isn’t available over the counter like I was advised yesterday. How long until I can sleep a full Night without being woken by agonising heartburn or stomach pain? These are the questions I’d like to ask a support network rather than mither yourself, to then mither surgeon to then mither dieticians or worse my GP. I’m getting very frustrated now, mainly through a lack of support I think. I don’t like to join public forums or online networks normally but I don’t feel I can get the answers of validation or reassurance currently. Yet, I’ve paid over £12000 for the surgery and 2 years post surgery support. Where is the support please? Once I receive your reply I’ll Know whether to mention the letter requirements in my appointment too. I am so sorry I have to keep contacting you, mithering surgeon but I’m getting frustrated and upset now. I want to be well not worse. Plus, the more issues, symptoms I have the more neurotic I feel, yet I have nowhere else to ask. Regards So after reading this I hope you or anyone could offer some guidance or insight. simply put I am also at my wits end and do not want to regret this life changing surgery but I’m beginning to do so with intent and massive frustration. looking forward to any replies. ❤️❤️💕💕💞

It’s so hard! I have gained five pounds since getting the band removed 3 weeks ago…. :( feeling very anxious. My program says they won’t do surgery if your weight on surgery day is more than when you started! I’m within 4 pounds of that and have 3 weeks to go :(

I got a wedge pillow for the bed because I knew I'd be more comfortable in my room. I only needed it a few nights and graduated to a body pillow I could stuff under my stomach and knees. I'm a week and half out and sleeping normally, for the most part. Getting in and out of bed hasn't been overly hard for me once I got home. I understand the kiddos though. Maybe a pillow over the stomach for a bit. I really don't like sleeping in the recliner because it kills my hips.

Congratulations! My dr office applies for my surgery next week. Keeping my fingers crossed. I’m scheduled for June 22nd😊

That is amazing, my date is June 13th, I've been progressing daily cutting out things its just scary because I keep getting headaches and I don't like that. I'm already stocked up on all the things I need for the 2 weeks prior to surgery

Stalls…stall…stalls! UGH, isn’t it frustrating!? Its amazing how much that little number on the scale can affect your mood for the day when you see it not moving, it is truly a bad-mood-maker. i’m not sure if it really helps but I just try to change things up a little bit, mix my meals differently, change up my exercise routine, etc. At least it makes me feel like I’m doing something. Sure enough the scale starts moving eventually. Like others here have said, stick to the plan, monitor your intake, eat clean, etc. Hang in there, stay determined!

How is everyone sleeping? I have a 3&1 year old that comes in, in the middle of the night sometimes & i am terrified for them to crawl on me. Anyone try sleeping in a recliner the first few nights? Getting in and out of bed a real issue? Congrats on everyone’s journeys & good luck those coming up!!!

You can’t break a stall. I know some will say I did by doing this or that but what happened was their body was ready to break the stall. Stalls are an important part of your weight loss. It’s the time the body takes to readjust to the stress of the changes you’ve made & making. It’s also the time your body uses to reassess your needs & adjust things like digestive hormones & enzymes, metabolic rate, etc. Even though the scales don’t move, many find their clothes get a little loser which I think is part of your body readjusting. My body kept settling & changing shape for a time even after I’d stopped losing & my weight had stabilised. How many stalls you’ll experience & how long they last (most tend to last 1-3weeks but can be more) will depend on your body & it’s needs. Stick to your plan, don’t make big changes to stress (or confuse) your body more than your plan advises & the stall will break when your body is ready.

So weird hearing someone say that’s great - I feel like I hit a stall every couple of days. I have followed the program (though walking now that I have started work is hard). In addition to water and protein goals my team gave me a fiber goal (though I have heard anyone talk about a fiber goal in this forum). Was told don’t worry about calories or carbs - but listen to your body

it looks like you're hoping to lose over 100 lbs. If so, you may have loose skin. I had a ton of it (I lost over 200 lbs), but it was easy to hide in clothes. I eventually had mine removed, though. Honestly, lots of pre-ops and early post-ops worry about loose skin, but I think I can speak for most of us who are 2+ years out. We would take the loose skin any day of the week over being obese again!

Oh? Yeah suddenly feeling sick after every meal is abnormal. Definitely get in touch with your doctor. Also, you might wanna mention your stall. Stalls are normal but they may give you good tips on how to break it