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Also, the written instructions are sometimes just boilerplate, created for general cases, and sometimes not even bariatrics, and sometimes they just go obsolete and haven't been updated, so certainly go with what instructions you get personally from your doctor or RD (and sometimes even that will vary.) The post op discharge instructions given to you by the hospital can be some of the most generic (often written more by lawyers than be doctors....) and can conflict with what your doctor will tell you - go with the doctor's instructions. Sometimes the guidebook given to you by the bariatric program may be a bit out of date - I have seen some be told by their doctors to advance to the next stage now, even though that may be a week or so in advance of what the book said, with the doc telling them that "we have learned that the patients are doing better by going a bit faster, and we'll change the book next time we print some..." Again, go with what the doctor tells you.

+1 i had like 4-5 partial drinks during entire weight loss phase. Now, i am what one would call a regular drinker (some may even, dare i say, call me an alcoholic). I was a drinker before surgery as well. (Though before surgery I would drink lots in a short amount of time, every few weeks, now i drink less at a time, but more often). My increased drinking frequency had a lot to do with Covid lockdowns starting in 2020 though. From a weight-loss perspective, what little i did drink during weight loss phase did not seem to affect ME in getting to goal. Nor does the amounts i drink now seem to affect my ability to maintain my current weight (note though that i simultaneously keep an eye on my total calories - alcohol or otherwise- , so there’s also that) I get tipsy quite fast post-wls (and on small amounts), but I also sober up in record speed. As others said above, if you really want to, try it out and observe how you react, and then decide if want to again. Or, don’t. Up to you…you know yourself best. Sincerely, An alcohol-drinking-DRINKER (from Canada). (i also smoke, drive above the speed limit, and am late paying my taxes this year…)

I am planning on using short term with FMLA. I just used for hysterectomy and they called me at two weeks to see if I was back to work kr if they should extend claim. It could vary by policy. I am calling today to get things started as they will have paperwork mg dr needs to fill out so I want to take it to my preop appointment. Sent from my SM-G998U using BariatricPal mobile app

Doctors are all over the map with their opinions on drinking post WLS, probably similar to their views on drinking to begin with if I had to guess. My team said it was okay at three months for a special occasion. I have to say it’s not the same as it was pre WLS. I may be one of the few willing to admit but when I drink I do it to get a buzz, lol. Post WLS the buzz comes and goes in like ten minutes for me. I can’t drink fast enough to maintain it and probably would kill myself trying. It’s almost not worth it to me. Waste of calories. That being said my real advice is if you do decide you want to do it try it at home first. Your body may react welrd and the last thing you want is to feel sick or get sloppy drunk on your birthday off one drink. And make sure there is a designated driver around. I still worry about how long it stays in our system and all that being different than before.

I'm 5 weeks post op and live in Sydney Australia. I'm feeling quite good no serious side effects from my banded gastric sleeve. Started my journey end of July and have lost over 20kgs so far. I set myself a goal and decided that when I hit 20kgs loss I would go and get my hair done professionally. Haven't been to the hairdresser in about 5 years. Set yourself small goals and reward yourself because you deserve it. This is not an easy process to go through so make sure you follow through with your rewards

The truth of the matter is not everyone reaches the goal weight they have chosen. And not everyone maintains that weight if they do attain it. Remember the average weight loss at three years post surgery (bypass or sleeve) is about 65% of the weight you had to lose to put you in a healthy weight range. Genetics, your body’s set point, lifestyle choices & preferences, age, gender, health & medications, etc. & yes a little complacency. But there’s nothing wrong with any of this. Any weight loss is a win. You may find a conversation with your surgeon, doctor & dietician helpful.

2 weeks post op now, feeling great. I moved on to puree food today- cottage cheese never tasted so goo!!

Hello all so.my original surgery date was September 15, 2022, was on the made.it through my 2 week pre op diet. Even made it to the surgery table , cut open only to find out i have a rare anatomy called Situs Inversus which means all of my organ are on the opposite side. The surgery had never seen anything like it before and i didn't even know i am like this,and you dont until you have a surgery. So my bybass didn't happen because the surgeon didn't have experience with my unique 🙃 anatomy a nd wasn't comfortable performing the procedure. But on a good note was recommended to another facility with hopefully surgeons that have the experience to perform the surgery so im starting all over agian. Im a little discouraged, but at the same time keeping a positive attitude 😌 🙂

I hit my 1 month today. I’m down 8.7 lbs since surgery, almost 27 from sept 5 when I started my preop diet. I started at 220 and I’m at 193.3. Last week I hit the stall and it was starting to be discouraging and then boom more drop. I was cleared to work out so I have been back in my peloton. I want to go biking outside while the weather is still nice but I’m still afraid of getting hurt. My incisions have healed and I started using a scar remover to try to lighten the scar. My family has noticed my weight loss as have my coworkers. My clothes are starting to actually fit me, instead of being so tight. I also took my kid to an amusement park and was able to walk the whole day- 15,000 steps and while I was exhausted, my knees didn’t swell up and my feet didn’t give out as they would have 27 lbs ago.  I’m having challenges in learning what satisfied feels like. I’ve been basically either hungry or just stuffed. The only thing I’ve been asked not to eat is a salad so I have been prioritizing eating the protein in my plate. My partner made my favorite- rice and lentils with chicken- and I couldn’t even get a bite of the lentils in- the chicken was the priority and it kept me full for hours. My biggest struggle right now is eating slowly. I eat on the go- I’m working consistently and eat at my desk (im a lawyer) so it is hard to find the time to eat a meal for 30 minutes 3 times a day. I think once I get to do this, then maybr I’ll learn the difference and learning when I am satisfied. I’m still struggling with Water intake- it’s hard to take small sips and get through 64 ounces bc I’m busy. And big gulps are just a no no. Getting there though. Today my therapist asked if I had made the right decision. I told her yes. I believe the surgery saved my life and quality of life. I was down a spiral and would have easily found myself heavier, more depressed and with pain everywhere. My chest pains are gone; my joint pain is gone, and while I am exhausted (more due to long days and I think less due to surgery), I know that my quality of life is improving. All in all, not bad for a month ;)

Thanks, I definitely do feel like some days I am way hungrier than others. I have gone from the 600s to 700-800 in terms of calories but that’s with adding exercise back in this week so it probably makes sense.

I’m finally feeling “normal”?? I started a stall at 3 weeks and this week (my 5th week) it FINALLY broke. Thanks to helpful advice here especially the post from @SpartanMaker describing the why’s of stalls. It was water retention...and how do I know this? Because it started at 3 weeks and also this week the volume of pee vs consumption just went to a whole new level! I should have realized something was way off with that because I was drinking the recommended amounts but not peeing nearly as much as I would prior to surgery. I also upped my protein just because 40g wasn’t cutting it so I’m really really trying for 60 now. Also, started a MiraLax every couple of days and Benefiber daily program....big help there also. All of these things have made a huge difference and I feel so much better. I, too, am making an effort to get walks in every day. I’m working on weights twice a week but I need to get with my team on that. I was told no more than lifting 5 lb weights but that seems insanely ridiculous. Also, not sure when I can resume any ab work (not that I’m begging to do planks and sit-ups....) I hear you all on the fluid intake when we can only hold so much AND there are hours around meals when we can’t drink...it’s really hard. The mathematics that it takes to keep all the timing, portions, tracking and vitamin regimens is something else! 😂😂 We all need a pat on the back for determination and perseverance - good job everyone!

This is what I wore to school on Tuesday this week.

I am five weeks, in a stall and lost 30 as well We got this.

I am 5 weeks post op and have been stalled for the past couple weeks. I guess I can’t really complain about that though cause I did drop 30 pounds in the first few weeks. Things got so much better for me as far as nausea when I decided to go against the plan of puréed food and just skip to soft food. My body tolerated that a whole lot more. Is it why I am stalled? Maybe… but in the long run I had to do what was best for my body. I was not getting the nutrients I needed to even survive. Hopefully I am on the back end of the stall and about to start dropping again. I have been super busy at work and at home. I did have an upset by losing a baby(puppy) but she was my baby! Life goes on though and we persevere! Y’all all keep up the good work! No one has left that I know of I think we have all just been busy in our own ways! And for those that wonder about the earlier dirty and sick posts that situation seems to be better since I moved to soft foods as well!!🤣

doing low carb of 50 total carbs now for pre op diet and it’s hard!! (If i could minus fiber it wouldn’t be so bad) and it has caused some intermittent issues due to reduced fiber intake (consuming some supplements now that i don’t count towards my 50 total, but would much rather use dietary fiber in foods) i went through the “keto flu” back in August (foggy head, achy feeling , low energy) in about three days. I also was ravenously hungry early on. my brother suggested that I increase my fat intake and that did the trick. I made cream cheese and peanut butter “fat bombs” with sugar free chocolate chips and monkfruit… scooped them with a 3/4 ounce scoop and ate two of them a day as snacks and it made the hunger disappear! i do not think i could do this low long term, personally, but will be integrating the low carb approach into my post op dietary lifestyle. Being very selective with any sugars, flours and starches is fine.. but it’s hard for me without being able to have much beans/legumes/peas/etc. I would kill for a big bowl of refried beans for dinner, but the total carbs are just too high pre op unless I am super cautious all day.

First of all, congratulations. In terms of your thread title, I would suggest that you feel like you're all over the place because you essentially are! This procedure is significant, and it results in significant changes to our bodies. I know that I felt very similar in the first weeks post-op. It is excellent that you're getting your fluids. Lots of people struggle with this at first (I did my first few days) and it sounds like you're keeping up. Likewise regarding your pain and moving around. These all sound like you're doing pretty darn good. Like you, I little-to-no taste or desire for sweet things post-op. In fact, I wanted more savory things, and they sat better. I drank a lot of broth in the first few days post-op. I finally settled on the Premier Protein Cafe Latte flavor (yes, it does have caffeine, and some providers/programs don't allow that, but it was the only one I could choke-down at first). To me, it seemed to be the least sweet of all the other ones I tasted. The program I am in has a reduced protein goal for the first month post-op, so it is a little easier to get close, but they told me to focus on the fluid first, protein second, doing the best you could. When I started taking the bariatric vitamins, my nutritionist recommended the Bariatric Fusion chewable ones. They made me sick the first day I took them. Day two of them was no better - epic nausea - so I stopped. I checked in with nutrition, and they suggested Bariatric Fusion one-a-day capsules. I started taking them at about the 3 week mark and they sat/sit fine. You may want to check with your provider to see if that is an okay choice for you. As time went on, I was able to tolerate different flavors of the Premier Protein without issue. As an example, I start the morning with a serving of the Chocolate powder mixed in 8 ounces of unsweetened almond milk. The almond milk seems to reduce the overall sweetness, at least to me.

Congratulations on all your progress, that’s amazing!! I am officially 4 weeks out and can’t complain bc I’ve had very few issues. I also have one incision that is healing slow so that made me feel better to read that. My energy has improved this week and I’ve been doing IV vitamins to help. The one thing that has been disappointing is how slowly I’m losing - i was expecting to be down at least 20+ by now. I haven’t had much energy to workout or exercise so that could be it - if anyone has any feedback I’d love to hear. This group has been amazing so hopefully we keep it up!

For what it is worth, I thought I would share my experience. I had my sleeve Aug. 4. The next week I was walking around the neighborhood, and my family took me on short trips here and there (mall, Costco, etc.). The following week (10 day mark) I was taking short trips on my own, and started working from home. The next week, at the nineteen-day mark, I went back to work at the office. The biggest challenge for me was fatigue, followed by mild pain and discomfort, particularly on bumpy roads. I and others recognize that everyone recovers differently, but hopefully this helps you. The biggest piece of advice I could offer, is to listen attentively to your body. When you are tired, it is good to rest. Rest early and often enough so you don't get worn out.

I am at the 6 month mark and my hair started to thin out at month 5. Currently its getting worse lol. and i am a guy with very short hair so its very noticeable now. So i bought me one of these hats to wear at work hahaha. Its funny and my customers love it. Hair always grows back (well except for old age lol) Shall see how it is in the next few months. I have my 6 month follow up in 2 weeks and i get my blood tests done on Monday for vitamins, CBC and a lipid panel. Kinda curious to see what my cholesterol levels are at because they were very high before surgery.

Glad it is going well. Doing okay. I seem to have hit a stall this week, but I also started doing workouts this week. Hoping I will bump over this hump. I have monkfruit sweetner, may have to give it a try. My biggest issue is water right now. No issues with the protein. Jennifer

Congrats on getting your surgery date! If you’re anything like me, it feels like the process drags on forever until you get to a few weeks before surgery and then it feels like it snuck up on you soooo quickly.

So I’ve been having back pain since last week- sciatica I think. I went to urgent care and they gave me injections which did nothing but it’s been a week so it is starting to heal on its own. Yesterday was my annual physical so I figured I would go ahead and ask about it. I asked what I am supposed to do next time this happens in terms of pain management since tylenol doesn’t do anything for me and the first day or two it’s pretty painful. He started acting all weird immediately. Avoiding the Pain medicine part completely. He did an exam, wrote a script for lidocaine patches, a referral for physical therapy and an order for an X-ray. I said nothing gonna show up on an X-ray is it? He said no you probably need an MRI but we have to do this first cause of insurance. But The whole time he just kept saying okay okay okay with one foot already out the door and never would talk about pain rx. I said I understand there are risks of addiction and transfer addiction and all that but there has to be a responsible way to treat my pain, right? I wasn’t looking for anything then, just the reassurance that if I do need it that my doctor will help me. Again, he just avoided the issue entirely. Frustrated, I took my stack of referrals to the front desk and she said he wanted to see me back. I asked if I could see a different doctor next time because I don’t feel like this doctor really listens to me. She said she would have to call me to set that up. When I got to the parking lot I called my surgeons office. I asked the nurse do I need to just see a pain management doctor or something? She said that the pain management doctor would probably ask for an MRI too and it wouldn’t hurt to find out if it’s something chronic since if it is pain medication long term can’t be the answer anyways. That made sense so I went and got the X ray. When I called to ask about my appointment she said that the other doctor refuses to see me. I said I was confused and asked why she wouldn’t answer and gave me the number for the office manager. This morning I finally got through to him and he says he has to call the dr and see what’s going on. in the meantime my X-ray results had come back and the nurse called me. Basically said one thing was from normal aging and another thing was cause my back was in spasm when they took the film. I said maybe cause I was in pain lying on that table she said most likely. Then I said well what is the next step. She was going back and forth with him and he said physical therapy. I said well yesterday you said I needed MRI and maybe surgery or ablation. He says no you don’t need that yet you need to do physical therapy. I said well the radiologist report says they recommend it too. He basically says well I’m the doctor. I just keep thinking that if I have a MRI in another week or two, this episode will be healed and nothing will show and I will just be wasting tons of money. Frustrated again I said okay thanks and got off the phone. I’m guessing he is ticked off cause I want to see a different doctor and I have no clue what he told the other doctor to make them not want to see me but The only thing I can think of is that he got the impression I was just trying to abuse drugs?? Or am I crazy. That’s the only thing that makes sense right? I mean we also talked about my cholesterol and I asked about my hormones so he ordered a lab and referred me to an endocrinologist but that can’t be it. I thought they can check under your social and make sure you’re not doing anything wrong. If they did they would see pain meds one time in like the past five years. Post surgery and I didn’t even need them. I am so confused and frustrated. I feel like now I am stuck in limbo. I tried calling a new dr and they are sending paperwork but can’t see me till December. My back is gonna be fine soon I’m sure. This time. But I need to have a doctor if this happens again or if something else happens. And I sorta want another opinion as to whether I really do need an MRI. I mean of course I don’t want to throw away money if I don’t need it but he said yesterday I needed it and then the radiologist said same thing. I don’t even know what anyone can say about this mess. I just needed to vent I guess. I am mostly just really really afraid that I am going to be in severe pain and end up in the ER cause no one else will help me. That’s gonna get really expensive really quick. Especially if this is a chronic issue. I actually called my old doctor just now and they are gonna get me in Tuesday. Now I am just worried about how to explain why I am switching doctors without them assuming the same thing about me. This is a nightmare.

My surgeon said no to coffee while healing due to the acidity that could hinder healing. I’m only in my second week post-op but plan on having coffee as soon as it’s safe to do so! Hope you enjoyed your time with friends and hopefully it went well! adding: I am a black coffee kinda girl:)

Programs will vary all over the place depending upon their experiences, convenience and tolerance for potential minor complications. Our program, for example, allowed us most everything liquid, mushy or soft for the first month, and we could switch between them and experiment depending upon our personal tolerances - if something didn't settle quite right, go back to what did and try that food again in a week or two. Some programs may prefer to keep their patients all on one track based on the most problematic patients (lowest common denominator) to avoid hassles and calls to their staff.

in addition to what kcuster83 said (which I agree with), stomachs don't "churn" nearly as much after surgery than they did before....so it's doubly important to chew things really well before swallowing. So that could be another factor (although I agree with the dryness of chicken - lots of people have issues with chicken the first few weeks or months because of that)