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Everything you learned before won't help you much after surgery, at least until you're quite a way out. In my opinion, you need to (at least) start with a bariatric dietician for a while after surgery. The amount of food that you consume is so restrictive that it will be difficult to get your macros in. Bariatric dieticians know lots of tricks to get the best bang-for-the-buck with the little amount of stomach that you'll have to work with. And, if you have any issues (which you can't predict ahead of time), you'll already have a resource ready to tap. What you said about a therapist sounds spot-on to me. Best of luck!

My insurance doesn't cover bariatric surgery, so I've decided to get it done in Mexico. That's not the "wrong" part though, believe it or not. I do feel there is value to the pre-op hoops you jump through to get approved and other preparatory and follow-up work that I'm worried I'm not even aware of. Like everyone else here, I want the best possible chance at success and I feel like I'm already behind the curve. Here's where I stand with my own attempts to get the right support network in place: DIETITIAN - Do I need one after surgery? I'm not currently seeing one, but I used the services of an RD for 2 years, 2006-2008, so I've got all the knowledge regarding portions, balance, nutrient density, etc. I tried to find one, both locally and remotely, but the bariatric specialist RDs are all affiliated with surgical centers and only deal with those patients. I will try again if I need one, I just don't know if I do. THERAPIST - I've tried therapy five times before and never got anywhere. I'm currently getting medication management by a psych nurse, who is on board and has changed my anti-depressant scripts to regular not extended release. Anyway, I'm utterly convinced that this surgery won't succeed without 'head work' and I'm giving it another shot. Unfortunately my first appointment isn't until 2 weeks before my surgery, but at least I'll have it in place for afterwards. He does bariatric psych evaluations for insurance companies, so I'm feeling positive about this choice. POST-OP SURGICAL SUPPORT - I get follow-up support via phone afterwards. My primary doc where I live is on board with ordering the vitamin level tests and such afterwards. This is, unfortunately, all I have figured out...I simply don't know what else I need. BOOKS - I've read Bariatric Mindset Success by Kristin Lloyd, but it didn't really resonate the way I hoped it would Feel free to recommend a book that takes you through all the steps, or a dietitian who does skype sessions, or even just write a bit about a valuable piece of the puzzle I'm either understimating or missing completely. Thank you.

I’m a June I get my Gastric Bariatric Surgery June 3rd

both are good surgeries - and as the above poster stated, both have their pros and cons. I've been involved on bariatric internet forums and support groups for five or six years now, and I know of many people who've been successful with both. So yes - you can definitely be successful with the sleeve!

If you feel like talking, there are several of us on here who have had strictures, I had an RNY, have been fighting it and jejunal ulcers since October 2018, a month and half. after my surgery on September 5th. Been a long time,healing, but I am hoping,for resolution soon. In the meantime I have learned to roll with the punches. My journey has not been average, that's okay, I am a Limited Edition anyway. And still in most ways I am much better than when I started. My High Weight was 365+ on a 5ft8in body, I am now just a skoosh over 200 pounds, haven't been weighed for maybe a week, 214 then, been losing about 3-r pounds a week so maybe 210? In some respects it is what it is, but I try to keep my fluids in, on a pureed diet basically, a lot of soups, broths, protein shakes, that is what my pouch accepts and handles. Had a PICC line for 3 months, was being fed TPN 12 hours a day, have had mutiple endoscopies, I think 13 Lifetime, another scheduled June 12th, have had to have an Iron INFUSION in March, but afterwards I did find renewed energy. What next? Don't know but I am a resilent old chick and I WILL,MAKE IT THROUGH. So I'm here if you need an understanding virtual shoulder to cry on, okay? 😝❤🌈

Hello All, I am new to this site and would just like to share my story and journey, as well as perhaps receive any insight you all would like to share with me as well. Back in 2010 I was a fat depressed and borderline suicidal 18 year old, and begged my parents to help me correct this issue. So my mother decided to talk to my pediatrician and to his recommendation he stated I should look for a surgeon who would perform a lap band surgery on me. At the time the lap band was the greatest thing that had ever happened, and no one knew of the complications it could bring. So I found a surgeon who would perform it, I was so happy and excited for this amazing new opportunity! I weighed 369 LBS at the time of surgery, and lost 60 in the first year. Due to me not getting fills, I stalled. But never gained (thankfully) until I finally decided to get a fill, soon after that I began losing weight again! Yay! But I also ate healthy and worked hard. I continued to receive fills, until my lap band was completely filled, I believe it was 10 CCs I’m not too sure. Fast forward to 2017 I had dropped down to 209, which was amazing and a great accomplishment considering the weight which I was at. But then came the complications.. I ended up in the ER on August 2017 with a minor slippage, no big deal, a surgeon removed all of the fluid from my band and I was feeling better in a week. Until December 2018, I began having the same symptoms, nausea, vomiting, I couldn’t keep solid food down. I ended up in the ER again, as it is important to note that I live about 5 hours away from my original bariatric surgeon, so I had no one to turn to. They performed CT scans and determined the same thing as last time that my band had eroded, but the practicing doctor just told me to go to my original surgeon. And I assumed the band was just out of place again. So I made an appointment with my original surgeon. After consulting with him, I decided I wanted a revision as the removal of the fluid from my lap band had caused me to gain 50 Lbs in one year! So I had my revision surgery scheduled on May 13th, and upon waking up, I come to find out they could not do the sleeve because my lap band had eroded into my stomach and made a hole as well. So the doctor had to cut out the band and rebuild my stomach, I’m told he made it a bit smaller. I was very sad and disappointed to hear this, but alas happy that I was rid of the device that had been wreaking havoc on my body and health. Now I’m just worried about gaining back all of the weight, but I’m confident that if I keep a healthy diet and exercise regime I will be able to lose the excess weight and maintain. Only time will tell. Any and all responses and insights would be greatly appreciated, Thank you.

First off, what is a ketogenic diet? The ketogenic diet is a very low carbohydrate, very high fat, low-moderate protein diet. Historically, it has been used to control epilepsy in children. When you don’t give your body carbohydrates (your body’s preferred fuel source), it begins to use and break down body fat as a source of energy, which is called ketosis. The breakdown of fat leads to the production of ketones, and the ketones are what begin to fuel your body (instead of the carbohydrates you were feeding it before). This process can take a few days to achieve, and when done correctly, can be tested by measuring the ketones in your urine with a dipstick. If ketones are present, this means you’re in ketosis. What does the macronutrient profile look like? FAT – A ketogenic diet should include healthy fats such as fats from fish, seafood, eggs, nuts, vegetable oils, dairy, and some meats. There is a lot of poor information on the internet that encourages people to have the majority of their fats in the form of cream, lard, bacon, and fried foods, which are not good for our heart. CARBOHYDRATES – The ketogenic diet is described differently depending on the source, but on average it means limiting your carbohydrates to 5-10% of total daily calories. For bariatric patients eating around 1200, 1500, or 1800 calories/day, this works out to 22, 28, or 34 g of carbohydrates/day, respectively. That’s very little! Foods rich in carbohydrates that are limited/eliminated in a ketogenic diet include: grain products (e.g. pasta, rice, bread, etc.), fruit, many vegetables (e.g. potatoes, corn, carrots, squash, etc.), some dairy products (e.g. milk, yogurt), legumes (e.g. chickpeas, beans, lentils), and sweets and sweetened beverages (e.g. chocolate, ice cream, pastries, juice, soda, etc.). That’s a lot of food groups being restricted! PROTEIN – On a ketogenic diet, protein is considered low-moderate (depending on your protein requirement), or around 15-20% of total calories. For bariatric patients eating around 1200, 1500, or 1800 calories/day, this works out to 52, 65, or 78 g of protein/day, respectively. Are these protein targets in the range that your dietitian has recommended for you? For many of you, likely not. FIBRE – Fibre falls under the umbrella of carbohydrates. Because you now know that carbohydrates are very limited on a ketogenic diet, you can guess that fibre will also be very limited. A diet very low in grain products, fruits, most vegetables, and legumes means that constipation is going to be a real issue! I heard that a ketogenic diet leads to rapid weight loss. It’s true in the beginning, but the important factor here is to understand what kind of weight loss this is. Yes, it’s true that reducing carbohydrates leads to weight loss, however the weight that’s initially lost is mainly water weight, not fat. Here’s a behind the scenes look at what’s going on: Your body always wants to keep your blood sugar well controlled, so it stores some sugar (or glycogen) in your liver. When you’re sleeping, or fasting, your body uses this stored glycogen to send some sugar into your blood, to be sure that your blood sugar doesn’t drop too low. Glycogen is stored in your body by attaching glucose to water. So when we empty our glycogen stores, we’re actually losing a fair bit of water as well, and that’s the initial weight loss that you see. The weight loss that follows from there is partly muscle loss if you’re not meeting your protein needs (which as discussed above, might be the case) and fat. While ketogenic diets have been shown to be better for weight loss than other low fat diets, the results are only true in the short term. In the long-term, there doesn’t appear to be any difference. You’re also more prone to rebound weight regain on a ketogenic diet once you re-introduce carbohydrates again (whether by choice, by cravings, or by obligation because you feel unwell without them). But I thought that the ketogenic diet was proven to be effective? The ketogenic diet isn’t a new diet at all. It’s actually been used for almost 100 years to treat children with severe epilepsy who don’t respond to medication. However, even these children don’t stay on the ketogenic diet their whole lives, they only do so for a temporary amount of time. These children are followed very closely by their doctor and dietitian to very slowly bring carbohydrates back into their diet. Despite what you dietitians say, I want to try the ketogenic diet! Ultimately, it’s entirely your decision to try what you want. We (as dietitians) are only here to guide you through the evidence that’s out there, and as of now, there’s no research on the ketogenic diet after bariatric surgery. There’s also not enough long-term research to know and understand if the ketogenic diet is safe for your heart in the long-term (i.e. more than 12 months of being on the diet). Three of our biggest concerns as dietitians are: 1) Are you meeting your protein needs? 2) Are you emphasizing healthy fats; 3) Are you just looking for a quick fix? If you’re using the ketogenic diet as a “reset” just like the last fad diet you tried, you’re only feeding the yo-yo dieting pattern (just playing devil’s advocate here!). Can I be on a ketogenic diet my whole life? The honest answer is we don’t know. We don’t have research on the long-term effects of following a ketogenic diet. It’s suspected that it may lead to higher cholesterol levels which may lead to heart disease, but more research is needed to conclude this. Does being on a ketogenic diet guarantee that I’ll keep the weight off? While more research is needed, one study showed that the participants who were very strict about following the ketogenic diet were able to keep off the initial weight loss for up to 56 weeks (or a little more than one year). We don’t have the research to say if in 10 or 20 years that their weight will still be stable or not. We do know however, that if you don’t find the ketogenic diet realistic for your lifestyle and you end up coming off of it, you will regain the weight (if not more), as with any temporary diet. Is the ketogenic diet safe? While it may be generally safe (meaning you’re not going to die) for most people, you should always check with your doctor, especially if you have heart disease, liver disease, and diabetes, as this diet may put your health at risk. The ketogenic diet is not considered safe for those who have chronic kidney disease. The ketogenic diet has received a lot of criticism because it’s a very restrictive diet, eliminating many foods and therefore many nutrients that are important for health. Following this diet puts you at high risk for micronutrient deficiencies. Make sure you discuss additional vitamin supplementation with your family doctor or dietitian. What are the benefits of a ketogenic diet? Aside from weight loss, following a ketogenic diet has been shown to improve blood sugar control in those with type 2 diabetes, lower triglycerides, lower LDL cholesterol (the ‘bad’ cholesterol), and raise HDL cholesterol (the ‘good’ cholesterol). Although these benefits sound attractive, know that other low fat diets have produced similar results, and would be safer in the long-term since they’ve been better studied and are less restrictive overall. What are the risks of following a ketogenic diet? Liver disease? – More research is needed, but several rat studies have shown an increased risk of developing liver disease. While results from rat studies don’t 100% translate into humans, animal studies often give an indication or at least a starting point for how something will affect the human body. More research is needed in human subjects. Muscle loss. – Another risk of following a ketogenic diet is muscle loss, because most patients aren’t able to meet their protein goals. Losing muscle may put you at risk of weight gain. Working with a dietitian while following a ketogenic diet can help you be sure you’re meeting your protein needs. Earlier death? – Like we’ve mentioned, there isn’t enough research yet on the long-term risks of following a ketogenic diet, but a recent study found that low carbohydrate diets (less than 40% of calories from carbohydrates) was linked to earlier death, compared to having a moderate-carbohydrate diet (50-55% of calories from carbohydrates). Remember that a ketogenic diet has around 5-10% of calories coming from carbohydrates. How did they explain this increased risk? The risk with a low carbohydrate diet seems to be because the carbohydrate calories are often replaced with more animal protein and unhealthy fats, rather than plant-based protein and healthy fats. Note that this study was not on bariatric patients, but again, the findings are interesting. What are the side effects of a ketogenic diet? Side effects during the adaptation period (i.e. in the beginning of following a ketogenic diet) include: brain fog, fatigue, headaches, nausea, strong smelling sweat and urine, constipation or diarrhea, and poorer exercise performance. Long-term side effects include: bad breath, micronutrient deficiencies, and muscle loss. What are common misconceptions of the ketogenic diet? Many people believe that it’s a carbohydrate-free diet, meaning no carbohydrates at all. This isn’t the case. You can have in the range of 20-50 g of carbohydrates per day (depending on how many calories you’re eating). If you don’t know what this looks like in terms of food, speak with your dietitian. Another misconception is that a ketogenic diet is high in protein. This also isn’t the case. A ketogenic diet is moderate in protein for the average person (who hasn’t had bariatric surgery), and is therefore typically low in protein for a bariatric patient. As you likely know, low protein puts you at risk of losing muscle which will affect your overall weight loss, and put you at higher risk of weight regain in the future. Other than muscle loss, what are other negative nutrition consequences of following a ketogenic diet after bariatric surgery? Low in fibre – The smaller food intake that you have after surgery already makes getting in enough fibre difficult. This partly explains why so many people are constipated after surgery. A ketogenic diet significantly limits most fibre-containing foods including fruit, most vegetables, grain products, and legumes, so your fibre intake decreases even more. Constipation is therefore even more of an issue! High in unhealthy fats – Many people don’t follow a ketogenic diet correctly and include too much saturated fats (or unhealthy fats) in their diet. For example, they may choose bacon, sausages, and lard, over fish, nuts, and vegetable oils. A diet high in saturated fats has been linked to heart disease. Low in many micronutrients – A ketogenic diet is also low in important vitamins and minerals such as thiamine, folate, vitamin A, calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium. While you’re prescribed vitamins and minerals supplements after bariatric surgery, these standard prescriptions don’t account for you following a ketogenic diet. If you do decide to follow a ketogenic diet, it’s important to have your doctor or dietitian re-assess your vitamin and mineral supplements and for you to continue doing blood work regularly. Will I be able to exercise just as much while on a ketogenic diet? The downside to following a ketogenic diet is that it may actually reduce your exercise performance (across anaerobic, aerobic, and strength related exercises) in the short-term. If you’re doing low intensity exercises such as walking or a leisure bike ride however, you shouldn’t notice a difference. More research is needed to understand how a ketogenic diet affects exercise performance, especially in the long-term. I’ve been having episodes of low blood sugar after bariatric surgery. Can I follow the ketogenic diet? If you’ve been experiencing low blood sugar after surgery, it’s not recommended to start a ketogenic diet. It’s important to understand why you are experiencing low blood sugar as soon as possible. Here are some of the most common reasons for low blood sugar after bariatric surgery: Dumping syndrome due to high sugar intake Going long periods of time without eating Not eating enough carbohydrates or not spacing your carbohydrates out during the day Excess exercise An overactive pancreas Diabetic medication that is not adjusted properly Speak with your dietitian to figure out why your blood sugar keeps dropping. I plan to try the ketogenic diet for a few weeks and then come off of it. If that’s the case, then don’t bother. The reason this diet works for weight loss is because you are in ketosis (which in itself takes a couple of days to achieve because you need to use up your glycogen stores). If you come out of ketosis, you will no longer see the effects, and thus begins the yo-yo dieting effect. Always remember – Temporary changes yield temporary results! I’m already on the ketogenic diet, how can I come off of it safely? If you’ve already started the diet, reintroducing carbohydrates can lead to bloating, unstable blood sugars, and weight regain. To minimize these effects, begin by including whole grain products, rather than refined processed carbohydrates (e.g. white bread, breakfast cereals, pretzels, etc.). Whole grain foods include quinoa, brown or wild rice, oatmeal, bulgur, and barley. Sweet potatoes would also be appropriate. Include 1 to 2 tablespoons at only one meal per day for up to one week. If you’re feeling okay, begin including one fruit at one snack for a few days, and then try reintroducing yogurt and milk. But aren’t there doctors and health gurus out there promoting the ketogenic diet? Yes, there are, but there also were doctors and health gurus promoting the Atkins diet, the Pritikin diet, and the Dukan diet back in the day. There will always be people out there trying to capitalize on the newest fad diet to sell you on the weight loss dream and to take your money. It’s easy to point fingers and put the blame on specific foods or food groups, but ultimately the only way of eating that has been proven effective time and time again, is moderation. As dietitians, we know very well that ‘moderation’ (which means something different for each of our clients) isn’t sexy, but it’s key to having a healthy long-term relationship with food. I’m pregnant and I want to follow a ketogenic diet. Following a ketogenic diet during pregnancy is not recommended. While your body can handle being in ketosis, the production of ketones is harmful to your baby’s development, particularly their brain development. SUMMARY… – A ketogenic diet is very low carbohydrate, very high fat, low-moderate protein diet. – A ketogenic diet should emphasize healthy fats, but many sources online emphasize online unhealthy fats (e.g. bacon, sausage, lard, cream, etc.). – A ketogenic diet is very low in carbohydrates. This means that it’s not only grain products that are limited (e.g. pasta, rice, bread, etc.), but also fruit, many vegetables, some dairy products, legumes, and sweets. – By default, a ketogenic diet is also low in fibre which results in constipation in many patients. – A ketogenic diet is considered low-moderate in protein. Most bariatric patients aren’t able to meet their protein needs on ketogenic diet which results in muscle loss. – We don’t know the effects of a very high fat diet on health long-term, but it likely isn’t good for heart health. – Many of the benefits of a ketogenic diet (e.g. weight loss, improved blood sugars, lower triglycerides, lower LDL cholesterol, increased HDL cholesterol, etc.), are similarly seen in low-fat diets (while being way less restrictive overall). – There are many unpleasant side effects to following a ketogenic diet including constipation, poorer exercise performance (at least short-term, no research on long-term performance), muscle loss, bad breath, and micronutrient deficiencies. – You likely need to take additional vitamin and mineral supplements while following a ketogenic diet. Regular blood tests are still very important. – A ketogenic diet is not recommended in a variety of health conditions, and is even considered dangerous for some (e.g. patients with chronic kidney disease and pregnant women). Always check with your family doctor and dietitian before making drastic changes to your diet. – The ketogenic diet has not been studied in people who have had bariatric surgery, so the short-term and long-term effects are unknown. – The ketogenic diet is very restrictive and is therefore not sustainable for the majority of people. Eating out and socializing around food become almost impossible. Our final thoughts… Many patients are quick to blame carbohydrates for weight regain. Instead of jumping to a ketogenic diet, we recommend reviewing the bariatric basics and booking an appointment with your bariatric dietitian. If you absolutely insist on trying a ketogenic diet, we suggest a “modified keto diet” that consists of more plant-based protein and healthy fats, with enough protein to be sure you’re maintaining your muscle mass. What are your thoughts on the ketogenic diet? Have you been tempted? Are you currently following a ketogenic diet? – Lisa & Monica, your bariatric dietitians P.S. For more tips on healthy living after bariatric surgery, follow us on Facebook (@bariatricsurgerynutrition) or check out our highly praised book HERE!

Hey there! first off congrats on making the decision to do this! I agree with the other posts about who you tell is your own business, people will prob get suspicious, but the bottom line is you made the decision along with your dr about doing something that is medically necessary for you!! I have not told many people including family about my decision bc unless they are personally going through this they might not understand that this is beyond diet and exercise in most cases. I had my surgery 7 days ago at REX with DR NG. You are in the best hands with the Drs and staff affiliated with Rex bariatrics! They are extremely organized and caring. It took my insurance 6 months but It went pretty fast because you are constantly keeping up with monthly nutrition, education classes, and dr appts. I had a little pain in recovery but the anesthesiologist was right there with me asking me how I was feeling and pushed more pain meds into my IV. I really didn't need anything but Tylenol after. I have had 3 c-sections so I always compare everything to that and this was nothing in comparison. I was up walking the same night as surgery ( a little drugged up but walking, and the nurse let me hold onto her) I had some discomfort swallowing liquids but I think its to be expected while you are healing. Everyone experiences something different so don't be afraid to speak up and be pro active in the hospital so they can make you comfortable. I was nervous about nausea so I let the drs know and I didn't have any probs. I was in the hospital for 2 days. Im still recovering and the only set back Ive had is an unfortunate delayed allergic reaction to the solution they prep you in before surgery. this is only a 1% chance that this will happen ,- I should go play the lottery! Id be happy to help with any questions you might have especially since we are with the same group of drs. Don't let the fear of the unknown make you second guess your decision. I met a couple of gals during my classes, we stay in touch daily, one had her surgery before me and one is going in several months.. it helps having someone who can truly relate to what you are going through, we genuinely support each other!! maybe our paths have already crossed, maybe they will in the future, in any case Im not far away!

Weight loss with VSG isn't suppose to be super fast. The honeymoon period with VSG is believed to be between 18 months and 3 years (most of falling somewhere between 18 and 3 years--so don't think at the 18 month mark you're done losing). In short, most VSG patients aren't hitting their goal weight until they are 18-36 months post-op. If you're a December 2018 Sleever you're still very much at the beginning of the journey. Those are of that may be closer to the end (or so we may think) probably started out with lower BMIs to begin with. I was a 38 to start (something aroudn there). I didn't have as far to go, so I guess I had a head start. If you started out with a BMI over 40 or over 50, you're going to have a longer journey to goal. That's a good thing. If you need to lose 120 pounds, you really don't want it to all come off in 6 months. Even with bariatric surgery, that would be an excessive rate of lose and probably not healthy.

I agree with catwoman7. The only thing I don't take extra of is iron, as my bariatric multivitamin has around 45 mg. I take the multi vitamins, calcium citrate with D, and a sublingual B12. I had the bypass. Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Your mom may be legitimately hungry as some people dont feel satified on the early stages of the diet. Things change however with firm/dense protein intake. Also some people still want to eat solely for the joy or comfort of it, so that may be a factor as well. Reflux (which may mimic hunger pains) should be considered and meds usually given early post op to help. Is she taking anything? Also a drastic change in lifestyle and other medications entering and leaving the system can affect sleep and mood as well. Start or stop anything recently? Also a reasonable amount of time to completely heal and return to normal is important. Some people don't bounce back quickly. Patience is important but be aware of sudden declines as people should get better with time. When you say she drinks a lot of water (but cannot urinate) i think in excess of the recommended 64 oz daily. Is this what you mean as well? Is there a way for you to track exact amounts (good info for doctors to have) ? Perhaps it's time to split up her questions to different doctors besides her bariatric surgeon. They only handle the one thing. Perhaps speak with the Primary to see if there is a need for a visit to the Urologist and also mood/mental health referrals for a Therapist. If I was someone going through this I would ultimately just want to feel completely supported. Try to be patient and tolerant, let her journey be self guided but advocate for her when she needs you to. Good luck💖

Hello, So I was at the hospital getting my IV and injections for surgery that was 30 minutes away. The nurses were having issues with my IV and they ended up trying 3 different times. As she was telling me how much the Heparin injection was going to hurt I started crying uncontrollably, shaking, turned ghost white and was having a major panic attack. I ended up telling them that I couldn't do any of it and I just wanted to go home because I was so overcome with emotions and felt like I was going to die at that moment. Before they gave me an IV I explained to them that I have really bad anxiety and they did not give me anything nor even offer it until I couldn't control myself and wanted to not be touched. I ended up going home because no one could reason with me in that state and I really regret it because it would have been over and done with but there was no logical thinking in that moment. I spoke to my bariatric program coordinator and she told me I have 6 months to make a decision and get anxiety treatment. I made an appointment with a psych to both talk and seek medication as well. My panic attacks are so random I never know what is going to trigger it and it has been a long time since I have been in a situation that caused it. I want surgery because I have unexplained infertility and have a bmi of over 45. I am 27 as well. Has anyone with anxiety issues chickened out and ended up getting it done eventually.

I'm scheduled for the sleeve on July 2. My insurance doesn't cover bariatric surgery, so while I didn't have to jump through approval hoops, I get the bonus stress of having it done in Mexico. Actually the only real point of stress for me there is flying 5 hours home 3 days after surgery.

I did buy a couple of bariatric surgery cookbooks so I thought I might try some of the recipes. Thanks for that suggestion!

Yes, I am panicking and am a bit depressed as well. I think I have researched too much. I've read medical abstracts about complications, bulletin boards where people list all their bad experiences, etc., etc. I am questioning whether I picked the best surgeon. Another one in my area has done 2000 bariatric surgeries and has never had a single death. I only have very basic information about my own surgeon. He said one patient died from alcohol poisoning after drinking large quantities of alcohol early in his healing process. Hope I can calm down and be more optimistic before my surgery.

Wouldn't your nausea be morning sickness and your hunger be pregnancy-related? Have you talked to your bariatric office for advice?

Let me just post the whole article then - I really should have cited it as the source, doh! It's not the newest - but all the different aspects of WLS really resonated with me. It works on a deeper level than restriction, and they still don;t understand it totally. It was one of the articles I used to convince my husband about the surgery - remember he was negative and judgemental? But anything in the NY Times is gospel to him, LOL. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/27/health/bariatric-surgery.html

Love the analogies! Since the surgery, eating is more mindful. I can't just eat something and not think about it because I think for most of us food and nutrients and macros are always on our minds a bit. And since surgery my cravings are completely manageable. It's like my brain is in the driving seat now, or it's like The Matrix where everything slows down and I can pause and weigh up the pros and cons, and make a real decision about what I'm going to eat, instead of acting on a compulsion. Like, the other night I was going to have some chocolate. I had planned it, and already entered it in MFP - it was a treat for Eurovision night (don't ask). I took it out of the fridge, put it on the counter, walked away to let the cat in, came back, looked at it, then put it back in the fridge and took some light Baby Bel cheeses instead. I had wanted the chocolate, but didn't have to have it... then realised I didn't actually want it that much anyway. I read a NY Times article that touched upon this: "It has become clear that bariatric surgery changes the entire setting of a complex, interlocking system. There is no one place to tweak it. To show what is involved, Dr. Kaplan reports that surgery immediately alters the activity of more than 5,000 of the 22,000 genes in the human body. “You have to think of it as a whole network of activity,” Dr. Kaplan said. It’s a network that responds to the environment as well as to genes, he added. Today’s environment probably pushed that network into a state that increased the set point for many people: Their brains insist on a certain amount of body fat and resist diets meant to bring them to a lower weight and keep them there. “Surgery moves the network back,” Dr. Kaplan said. But surgery only alters the intestinal tract. That tells you, Dr. Kaplan says, that there are whole classes of signals coming from the gut and going to the brain and that they interact to control hunger, satiety, how quickly calories are burned and how much fat is on the body."

When you need to renew your Driver's License.... And you are smaller than the weight you lied about weighing last time. Last time I subtracted 40 lbs LOL

Hi Friends- I am so grateful for this community and the friends I made along the way when this journey first started. I should have reached out when all the trouble became serious but I hunkered down and surrounded myself with blame and embarrassment. I am glad I reached out because I have found out WE ARE NOT ALONE! People that I knew from my initial surgery support group (7 years ago) are having the same issues! It is a relief to know it isn't just me on the struggle bus. The reflux and malabsorption are huge for way more than I ever thought. The regain of 50% or more is quite a common story. We all admit that we fell off the ride but we also maintain that our tool wasn't all that it was cracked up to be. My personal opinion is that we all were on the early end of the adoption of using the sleeve as a stand-alone procedure. It used to be a step before RNY for the heaviest of patients. I think they are finding out that many of us need to do the RNY, after all, to meet our weight goal and get rid of those pesky side effects. Honestly, making goal does sound good but fixing the way I feel daily is a much bigger incentive. If I get some weight off along the way then that is a nice benefit. My one "down" side is that my new surgeon is part of a practice that I am getting the feeling likes to do a lot of suggestive selling. I think they make you do things before they will get the insurance done. I am an avid tennis player. Seeing their exercise person is not what I need but they are going to make me lift weights. I would much rather spend my money to buy tennis clinics to help me shape up at something I enjoy doing. They do have monthly nights with local chefs to learn how to cook healthy and bariatric friendly meals. I can get behind that 100%. Teach me how and I can do it. I will try my best to get on board with their plan. The old plan obviously didn't work for me. Finally on the calendar for my first visit on June 6. Wish me luck at the appointment. I did want to ask them about what a functional doc said to me. Tell me if any of you have heard this before. The functional doc believes my issue (and other gastric patients) is LOW acid not too much acid. He said it will mimic the same feeling as heartburn because my food isn't digesting properly due to a lack of acid and breaking down naturally as it should. Thus the malabsorption. He believes that in turn causes inflammation of the stomach and intestines which makes eating even that much harder. Enter the gas, belching, feeling full too soon, diarrhea issues... IF he is right, he wants me to add a supplement that will increase the acid in my stomach. I am so afraid to do that because I feel so awful now. Has anyone else heard this explanation? Did you try this? He said any brand of Betaine HCL Pepsin will work. I might try it this weekend to see if it works. Heads up...we can turn our ships around and be victorious. I am so glad I am not the sole person on this journey. Happy Memorial Day! Teachkdz0507

So I am coming up on my 1yr mark. While I am happy that I've lost 142lbs from HW in Feb 2018, 93lbs since sleeve, my weight loss has virtually been stalled. My macros are have been on point(1200-1400 cals, 90-125g protein, 50-60g carbs per day) while walking 4mi six days per week plus 1.5hrs lifting at gym 4-5 days per week. Per Apple watch, I am burning 4500-5500 cals per day depending on workouts but yet scale has not moved in more than 2lbs in two months. Frustrated as heck but I haven't let off the gas pedal. My personal goal is to lose another 35lbs while getting by BF 15-20%. Definitely have much more noticeable definition in arms, shoulders, and legs but yet scale not moving. Could overtraining be the reason for my stall??? Am I just not able to get enough calories in to keep metabolism burning?? Have I reached my loss period??? I am afraid if I lower cals, I'll start to lose my muscle gains. Any trainers out here with experience in bariatric surgery? Anyone go through this??

I saw this graphic and thought it was a good one to share, especially for those members here who are pre-op and exploring whether or not WLS is for them. At 5.5 months post-op sleeve I have already gotten rid of my Acid Reflux/GERD, no more sleep apnea, and no more migraines. I can't wait until I see my primary to get labs done to see how my cholesterol and other labs have improved. WLS was definitely the right choice for me.

those feelings are pretty normal. As far as buyer's remorse, I've been participating in the bariatric community for probably six years, and I know (or know of) VERY few people who have regretted it. They all had complications - but complications are pretty rare, as I'm sure you've been told. I'd guess at least 95% of the people who've gone through it are so happy they did.

Interesting. On their Bariatric Surgery policy sheet BPD/DS is covered (seemingly). The modified versions of it are not tho, due to being experimental.