Search the Community

So I am officially 5 weeks post-op today. This past weekend my wife and I moved into a larger place where our kids could all have their own bedrooms. I was somewhat frustrated by the fact that I couldn’t really help moving a lot of things and had to rely on the movers, family, and friends to do much more than I could. By the second day of moving I had reached my end. The 600 calories I’m taking in with the post-op soft foods diet just gave me no energy to do much of anything. That night I had a bit of a break down. Like most of us I’ve had varying success of losing the same 20, 40, or 80 pounds over and over again. With every successful diet attempt I’ve tried in the past I’ve allowed myself “cheat days” where I could enjoy bingeing on what I had deprived myself of all week. While this journey has been somewhat easier in the sense that the weight comes off more easily, and the hunger pains are relatively non-exitant...in some ways its so much harder, because there are no days off. I mentioned to my wife, that I feel at a bit of a loss. Before my surgery I would turn to food, or alcohol, or an occasional smoke to relieve the stress. But now, I don’t have any of those things available to me. I know it’s for the betterment of my health, and that my decision to have the surgery was in large part because I knew that I had to make drastic changes to the way I consume everything in my life. More than that...as strange as it seems, I loved food. It was a great friend to me that always made me feel better. And ever since the surgery, it’s weird to say, but I kind of hate eating. I hate how it makes me feel, I hate the process of chewing so much, but even worse...I hate that I hate it. Because now it’s like this friend that I had as a physical and emotional crutch is just, gone. To end this on a positive note, I only weigh myself once a week on Monday mornings. This morning I saw that I lost 9 pounds over the last week. (Moving was certainly the most excercise I’ve done since surgery!) I’m down 62 pounds since I first walked into the Bariatric center eight months ago, and over 40 pounds since my surgery. I know this is going to get better, and I’m happy with the choice I made. But I know that not everyday is easy. I read that a lot of people seem to hit this same buyers remorse feeling about a month out, so it helps knowing that I’m not alone. Here’s to the better days. Hang in there...it will be worth it.

I have no insider knowledge, but I’d certainly expect that revenue streams involving bariatric surgery analytics had been explored.

I received this reply in my email is this an example of the community? I’m hoping not. I hope there is a way to block these types. Hi DeltaBravo, Walter.Sobchak quoted one of your posts in a topic. Posted in Fat Shaming On 01/07/2019 at 18:27, DeltaBravo said: Also, If you think bariatricpal is free, you misunderstand the concept of the web. They offer services to get you to their web front store. I can’t tap go to post, and get to this thread because I get to the post, not logged in, then a splash pop up for the bariatric store, the. I’m at the home page not this thread and I have to log in and seek out the thread. but the point is, this is a portal for a store, with a place for a support group. Dude, go away. You are clearly a troll. I think I know why you left your old group. Members got sick of your trolling.

Also, If you think bariatricpal is free, you misunderstand the concept of the web. They offer services to get you to their web front store. I can’t tap go to post, and get to this thread because I get to the post, not logged in, then a splash pop up for the bariatric store, the. I’m at the home page not this thread and I have to log in and seek out the thread. but the point is, this is a portal for a store, with a place for a support group.

I found sugar free hot chocolate or bariatric hot chocolate was a lifesaver when I couldn't drink water. Sugar free water flavorings help too, but beware the laxative effect!

Oops... would help if I post the wording. Ha "The patient must have documented failure to respond to >6 months of conservative measures for weight reduction prior to consideration of bariatric surgery, and these attempts must be reviewed by the practitioner prior to seeking approval for the surgical procedure. Some centers require active participation in a formal weight reduction program that includes frequent documentation of weight, dietary regimen, and exercise."

Thanks so much for saying this. I thought I was going to die if I had saltines or something cause it was my first time deviating from my diet, but they were a lifesaver. They did trigger some carb cravings, but that's to be expected; I used willpower to fight those off. I'd 1000% do it again if I had to, it was the only thing that came close to helping settle my stomach. For anyone wondering, when I did end up seeing my bariatric surgeon, he OK'd the use of Immodium to settle my stomach and that eventually did the trick by allowing me to keep water down. The bug lasted a solid 8 days and I still have after effects from it, but I'm mostly better now.

Weight lifting is not different for bariatric patients. Lifts are still the same. I'm not sure what you are looking for. https://www.bodybuilding.com/exercises/ https://www.bodybuilding.com/

Hi all, I am having my lapband removed after 11 years for acid re-flux issues while sleeping, my GI and my Bariatric Doc both recommend Gastric Bypass because of the sleeve issues with reflux but I am so afraid of dumping and the side effects. My mom had bypass over 10 years ago and still has to go to the bathroom for LONG periods of time after almost every meal. After being on lapband and experiencing the purge, I don't ever want to deal with ANOTHER embarrassing side effect, and my reflux issues now are exacerbated by my lapband so once that is out, I am hoping the reflux will not get worse. I am at 195lbs and still want to lose 30 lbs or so. How bad is dumping for regular people? How bad is the reflux for those on the sleeve, I really need to decide, all thoughts are appreciated.

My menu for today, at 4 weeks out: Breakfast: Premier shake 160 cals, 30 protein Snack: Chobani Greek "hint of Strawberry" yogurt 120 cals. 12 protein Lunch: 1/5 of a hormel prepared meal with 20 g of protein 200 Cals, 10 protein Snack: Turkey/cheese roll up 142 cals 5 protein Dinner: 1/2 serving of bariatric cookbook "Egg Roll in a bowl" 134 cals, 10 protein Snack: 1/2 Premier shake 80 cals, 15 protein I try to get between 800 and 100 cals per day, but some days I don;t make it. I ALWAYS make my 75 or more of protein. Today looks like about 830 cals, 82 protein, 42 net carbs, 8 fiber, 27 fat. I am losing about .65 pounds per day according to my app. I have not yet stalled, although I'm sure I will.

Well welcome welcome Lauryn, I am the OP the original poster for this thread, so it is rather my baby after all. You're doing liquid for 3 weeks? Got you beat, I did mine the entire month of August, because I wanted my liver to shrink down as much as possible, and it did. Dr Needleman , my surgeon, said it was lovely, smooth and healthy. So yes it is well worth the trouble, for every week you do your diet, your liver shrinks 2.4%. And yes it can be frustrating. My surgery weight was 319, at 4 months out I am 260-ish, probably today 263 or 4, because I haven't done #2 yet. I had an RnY, and I am one of the complications, I am strictured, and I have healing ulcerations in my small intestine. I have a PICC line, that stands for a catheter inserted in my upper left arm, 12 hours a day I am fed nutrition that way so my GI system can rest and heal. Don't be concerned, in all the people on Bariatric Pal I am the only one, makes me special. Had it since November 29th 2018, got pretty used to it by now, don't know an ending date, but I am in this to win this, so no tears, no frustration, no bemoaning my fate, it is what it is. I will heal, I have two great bariatric surgeons on my team, they say I will end up fine, I believe them And in them. Whether you are a sleeve or bypass, your surgery will be fine.

Yeah, most likely LOL I tend to do that I texted back and forth with the girl last Friday afternoon. She seems really cool. They gave me a 53 page pdf about "Eating to succeed with Weight Loss after Bariatric Surgery". Apparently we discuss this packet over the course of the next 5 months. Each of the dietician visits are 1hr 15min video chats. The first visit is today so I guess I'll see how it goes.

Honestly I find it humorous. i bought an iHealth glucose meter but lol they believed that 350 is the cut off weight for diabetes. God I wish that had been true So, when I found a bariatric app with a weight range for it’s fields intentionally ranged between 41 and 362 pounds. In app development, you’d have a variable named startWeight = userInput() but because of the way the app works. instead of using int for the variable because that would range from −2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647 which would cover the 600 I wanted to enter. but a range had to be intentionally put in which would look something like this. If startWeight = <41 || >362 { print(“Weight between 41 and 362”) } else { print(userIput) } or something like that. but this is the only way a error code with that message could come up. It’s called error management. This means the dev responsible for this range knew what he was doing it was premeditated or off the cuff. Either way. My conclusion was based on all of these factors. My rant is just because I didn’t want to hold onto it The community support so far has been awesome.

I was sleeved April 16, 2018. I was a member of Bariatastic until Facebook lost my trust in their security and privacy. Today I decided to try BariatricPal app on my iPhone. I was shocked to be fat shamed by a support app. High Weight: 600 lbs Surgery Weight: 390 Current Weight: 238 Goal Weight: 225 —————————- I’ve been excited all day. I haven’t seen these numbers since I was 15 yrs old. That was 30 years ago. This is news you want to share with anyone who will listen. This is where the Fat Shaming in app started. The app has you create an account. Then starts asking your weights. They asked for starting weight, and since I assumed they didn’t mean 8 pounds 6 ounces, I put in 600 pounds. Here comes the twist. This bariatric app, doesn’t accept 600 pound users. Discrimination. If they don’t believe bariatric patients should weigh 600 pounds at any point. Disenfranchisement. I have to lie about my weight to use the app. Fat Shaming. I hope the BariatricPal gets it together and accepts that Bariatric Patients lean toward obese and you should discriminate when someone needs social support. Well this was my rant. It’s not about my diet or progress. I am 40 pounds below my team’s projected weight loss before my first year out and I was sure it was take a year and a half to two years. It sucks to go through this without peers.

I also had my surgery on Dec 26th and am still on full liquid diet and feeling like I am starving! I have 2 Bariatric Advantage protein shakes a day , 1 premier advantage shake and a cup of broth daily. I make sure to take all my supplements and get my 64 ozs of water. My Doctor wants us to stay on this for 21 days total before progressing onto soft foods. We aren’t allowed eggs, yogurt and all the other things I am reading that you guys are eating. Did any of you also have a hiatal hernia repair with sleeve? I am 5’5 my highest weight was 150 and I am at 224 now for a loss of 26lbs. I can’t wait to be able to eat soft foods. Just an egg sounds incredibly yummy right now. So wild how different our plans our??

I do have a primary doctor but unfortunately, she doesn’t know anything about Bariatric surgery

Protein waters are by far my favorite. I couldnt stomach anymore shakes after a while. My go to choice: Isopure Zero Carb Grape, Isopure Infusions, Bariatric Pal Fruit Drinks in Variety Pack, and Bariatric Pal Peach Tea

Hey All - Day 4 Post Op update - I got out into the sun today for about an hour and also walked a local museum. Eating a Bariatric Pal creamy soup for my main meal. I've been mostly hydrating with water and Power Ade. My tastes did change and I'm not a fan of my popsicles anymore and even my favorite PowerAde Flavor I'm not a fan of anymore. Otherwise, I did gain about 7 lbs from the fluids from surgery. I'm back down to my day of surgery weight. Also was worried that I was constipated but nope. (that's not TMI - apparently everyone wonder's when they will poop). Ha! 4 Days post-op but it did happen. Was kinda obsessing about food even though I wasn't hungry - I have very bizarre siblings who were texting pictures of our favorite family curries and what they were eating. We aren't very close - so not sure why they are choosing to do this now. Mean? Clueless? Dunno...but WOW. It did hurt my feelings. Just Why!?!? Anywho so that's why I decided to have a creamy soup to 'fill' me up. Otherwise, doing well. Not heavily fatigued at all. Will take a nap tho' in a bit just to heal. I've been wearing the compression belt non-stop. Have tomorrow and Tues off and then back to work on Wed. HUGS to all of you who have surgery tomorrow and who are doing the liquid diet! Wishing you all well!!!!

I had stay tracked back after Christmas but gained more weight but i got skipped lunchtimes but my goals to exercise more till i get skin surgery lose more weight.. but i got lose weight at 284 because I’m biking morning,afternoon and evening for 40 minutes sometimes noon will helpful.. i cant wait get quality for my skin surgery at bariatric doctor to says or more exercise but I’m going gym I’m chose treadmill or bike would best for me to rid my saggy stomach till my skin surgery to rid Im eat breakfast include oats and eggs,snack and healthier dinner include protein..

Teach me how to "paper-clip pix" into a Bariatric Pal submission from an Android phone cause I have nary a clue. I finally sent one to Orchids and Dragons to prove I exist, that's through e-mail, I know how that is done.

Thanks. I'll check. But for now, my other weight loss clinic (National Center for Weight and Wellness) just started a bariatric surgery support group with their two psychologists who specialize in weight/bariatric surgery issues. It starts next week, so I'm going to check that out. The downside is that there's a fee. The upside is that I really like my therapist (who is one of the leaders) and trust this practice a lot. Plus, it'll likely be a smaller group.

Okay, BostonWLKC, it is worth the try. Would you believe I don't have an Amazon Prime account? Bet everyone on Bariatric Pal younger than me does. Well, more than the time of life to grow more Cyber-Davey. Turn on computer, make sure search engine engaged, okay that's a fine start.....

Hey, y'all. Posting in the vet thread so if it is not appropriate I can get your feedback and quickly delete without getting early WLS folks involved. I don't want to break posting rules, so if anyone can lead me to the rules about this, please help - I've been away for awhile and have only re-engaged in the last couple of weeks. I'm a therapist and a coach who works pretty exclusively with bariatric surgery folks. I want to create a couple of low-cost courses for bariatric surgery folks, both pre and post surgery. I want patient input on what is needed so I only create something really helpful and know this is the best community to ask. There will also be a free "bariatric bootcamp" mini course. But, I want to be transparent, so I don't want to ask something like "what do you wish you knew before surgery" or "what are your biggest worries going into surgery" without being totally up front as to why I'm asking. Are there rules against this? Can someone direct me to this info if so? Can y'all tell me if this even sounds like a good idea??? Again, if I find out I'm breaking some forum protocol by even asking this, I'll take this down ASAP - I just figured other vets could help me figure this out. ~SW: 278 CW: 165~ RNY 1/5/2005 "What got you here won't get you there."

Hello, My name is Andrea from New Jersey. had my VSG done in September of 2012. At my largest, I was 250lbs. In less than a year post op, I went down to 165lbs. I felt that I looked good! I could fit into so many cute outfits without feeling ashamed of how I felt in my body. Health-wise, it was a bit more complicated. Between my “water-nausea”, not being able to drink and eat at the same time, needing to take vitamins everyday, feeling sick after enthusiastically eating my favorite foods, and then, of course getting gall stones and needing my gallbladder removed in 2013, my VSG came with a lot of mixed feelings. Nevertheless, I was happy to feel like I looked good and have the energy that came along with that. Fast forward to February of 2017, I find out I’m pregnant with my first child. At that point, I had been able to maintain a steady 165-170 lbs. At 36 weeks, I went into labor and subsequently had my daughter a month before her due date. On the day I gave birth, I weighed 200lbs. I thought it was normal. The few days following the birth of my baby girl, I actually went down to 180lbs. Not exactly where I wanted to be, but at the time I thought my body would go back to 165-170lbs. ....Boy was I wrong. My daughter was born in September of 2017. In the winter months, specifically January, February and March of 2018 my daughter was diagnosed with RSV, Influenza Type A, and Metapneumovirus, respectively. My husband and I spent many days in the hospital with her.... stressing, worrying, sad, not getting paid time off (in my case), and, of course.....eating. During this time is when I believe my body began to turn on me. Today, I weigh 209lbs. I went from a size 8 to a 14, I feel that I have less energy, and I know that I’m unhealthy. I seem to have regained an almost insatiable hunger fueled by my constant anxiety and stress. Not to say that I didn’t suffer from these things before, but honestly, I don’t know what has changed exactly that doesn’t allow my body to metabolize quicker and keep the pounds off. I need help, but I’m scared of the actual work of exercising and eating better, because even though in theory, it sounds pretty simple, let’s be honest, those things require a great amount of inner strength and discipline. Just trying to figure out if I can actually do that creates a significant amount of anxiety, stress and, thus ultimately makes me want to eat. That’s the way I find comfort, the way I shut up that voice on the inside. Prior to having my baby girl, I could literally eat whatever the eff’ I wanted, and if I made a minuscule change to my diet, I would lose weight immediately. That’s no longer the case. Nowadays, I feel more like I used to pre-op, and that makes me feel very depressed. I don’t fit in like 95% of my old clothes and I’m slowly but surely needing bigger and bigger sizes. A few months ago, I followed up with my bariatric surgeon to see if there was anything that could be done. He prescribed Topiramate, so I wouldn’t get hungry at night. (It doesn’t work). My other doc prescribed Zoloft (for depression), Bupropion (for weight loss and depression), and Klonopin (for anxiety). Nothing’s really changed. I want to have another baby (hopefully) in a year or two, and I have strongly toyed with the idea of a revision immediately after that. For now though, I don’t feel mentally strong enough to change my circumstances, but I pray that side of me will eventually change, along with my circumstances. Blessings to you all in your journey too 😌 Any kind advice and/or your own stories welcome. ❤️

The actual incision doesn't hurt at all for me either, but it's more about what's on the inside of that area that could be sore. They do have to go through the abdominal wall in order to access your stomach, which could be achy for some. Is the pain in your ribs also a little achy, or is it more like quick jabs of pain? I experienced post-op late stomach spasms the other day which were mildly painful (around in the area you're describing.) For reassurance, just shoot your team a message, or give them a call. Dr. Nathan Lee in Richmond did my surgery. He wasn't my initial surgeon, but I am happy that fate brought us together on this journey. The whole team for the Bon Secours Bariatric Program is F A N T A S T I C. I absolutely love my Nurse Practitioner (who I have my follow ups with.) And take it as slow as your body needs you to be; you need to push a little, but not over exert yourself. Honestly, with the weather in Virginia (and you know what I am talking about) it could be allergy related. I am on two different allergy medications to handle post-nasal drip from the weather.