Search the Community

Hello Sorry for my not- perfect- english, at first. I got support to get MGB in my home country ( Europe) because of some health problems and BMI 35. I feel quite well even with my problems but I know it will not get better but worse in future. Tried to take off weight for 30 years through different weight loose programs, now even walking makes some pain but I survive it. I’m working in children’s day care and its quite intensive. And my nutrionist suggests to continue with diet plans and I feel quite depressed because of that. Does anybody have experience with such a BMI like mine and which are results? Is it worth operating or did you get toooo lean after MGB? Thanks

Wow! Congratulations on your weight loss! I’m hopeful since I didn’t lose much with the sleeve that the bypass will do the trick! I’m also a lot more knowledgeable this time around. I’m also looking forward to no heartburn!!

As everyone has said it is to support the healing of your tummy & not to stress & strain it. Remember all those sutures & staples holding your tummy together. Think how you would protect a large wound & sutures on your arm or leg & how long that would take to heal. Purées are thicker which is why they are the stage after liquids. They should still be runny but not watery like the liquid stage. With soft foods think slow cooked, fall of the bone tender, minced meats, braised, etc. Foods that needs some chewing but not a lot. Think how much work your tummy has to do to digest thicker & then more solid denser foods. Plans differ but they also have a lot of similarities too. Some surgeons, like mine, tailor the pre & post diets to their patient. Some have specific requirements based upon their experiences. The best advice is always to follow the one you were given. But of course you can ask your surgeon & dietician why your plan is as it is & you may be able to negotiate slight adjustments based upon your recovery & needs. Yes, some plans recommend avoiding certain foods & liquids to not aggravate your healing. After surgery, we tend to produce extra stomach acid, hence why many are prescribed PPIs for a period after surgery. Carbonated drinks, caffeine, etc. can stir up the acid in your tummy causing discomfort & reflux symptoms. We’re told to avoid foods like rice, pasta & bread because they tend to swell in your tummy, filling you quickly. Remember your focus is on getting in your protein & that can be challenging enough in the post surgical stages. These foods also have little nutritional value. Consuming nutritionally dense food is important while you can eat so little to ensure you’re getting in the vitamins, minerals, etc. your body needs. While losing many of us are advised to follow the rule to eat your protein first, then vegetables as you can, then high fibre carbs only if you are able. If you can only eat 1/4 - 1/3 cup of purée & soft food to begin like I was, why eat food that fills you without giving you the nutrients your body needs. It also gets you starting to think about your food choices & the quality of the food you are eating. I still follow a lot of this: protein first, nutritionally dense foods, etc. Foods like peas & potatoes are considered higher in sugar & in starch (which converts more quickly to sugar). They’re not included in keto diets. Not saying you’re on a keto diet but you’ll notice influences from lots of different diets & eating styles on your food recommendations while losing. The reason why we’re advised to avoid dried fruit is you tend to eat more dried fruit than you would eat them as fresh. We can easily eat several pieces of dried fruits but remember 2 dried apricots is 1 apricot, a prune is a plum. Their sweetness is concentrated too in their dried form so you are continuing to feed your desire for sugar. Same with juice. Honey is just another firm of sugar. This is an opportunity to break some of your food dependencies & cravings. For many of us lots of foods become super sweet & quite awful to eat too during these first months when our tastebuds become extra sensitive. Many are able to go back to eating small amounts of restricted foods while losing or in maintenance. Personally I still don’t eat potatoes, rice, bread or pasta. I find them too heavy & I feel blah on the odd occasion I’ve tried them since I lost my weight. But that’s me. The first months are the most challenging because the food you likely depended upon to comfort, soothe & make you happy has been taken away from you. So you think about & crave them more. But food doesn’t actually comfort you or make you happy you just think they do. Realising & understanding this is part of the head work we all have to do. This whole process is about breaking poor eating habits, poor food choices & establishing new habits, introducing new foods, etc. & discovering what works best for you. The most restrictive aspects of the diet are only for a short period of time & are to benefit your immediate health & recovery. The long term changes you will choose to make are to enable you to maintain a lower weight & live a happier, more active & healthier life long term. Sorry for the 10 000 word response.

re: the fear of dying = banish that thought. You're not going to die. Weight loss surgeries years ago were dangerous, but they just aren't anymore. Techniques have vastly improved, and these have become very common, routine surgeries. They're really no more risky than any other abdominal surgery. The mortality rate on gastric bypass is 0.3 %. It's even lower for sleeve. So you have at least a 99.7% chance of not dying. Those are excellent odds. Better odds than hip replacement surgeries, and they do those all the time. Honestly, you're more like to experience complications and death by remaining obese than you will be having the surgery. the pre-op diet is tough - and the first few weeks post-op can be tough, too (although in many cases, the pre-op part is worse). But you'll be through this before you know it. I would have this surgery again in a heart beat. No regrets whatsoever.

I'm at 1100 to 1200, as well. The weight loss has slowed down to about 1 lb. a week, but anything less than 1100 calories and I am ravenously hungry now.

Hey... I had my VSG on 4th April, 2022 (so nearly 4 months ago) For the last month, I've been eating around 1100 to 1200 calories a day. The weight is still coming off at approximately 1lb to 3lbs each week. Including my 2 week pre-op diet I've lost 66lb so far... I've got another 45lb to go.

Do you ever regret getting the kind of surgery you did? I'm a sleever, and my weight loss pace is great. But I can't help having a little FOMO, wondering if I would be doing even better with a bypass.

For me I am only supposed to take in 400-600 calories until I hit stage 4 after 3 months. Then it’s 600-800 calories til 6 months, then 800-1000 from 6-12 months. After that I should be 1000 - 1200 calories for life. I’ve seen others go up to 1000 this early so it could have to do with starting weight, amount to loose, etc. but I’d double check that. Aside from that, there is a well known stall around week 4 (some have it at week 2 or 4). Stick with the program your surgeon gave you and you’ll be fine.

I can vouch for the fact that increased size is a very happy unexpected consequence of the surgery. Response to my d pics has gone from silence to "nice." I'm hoping for "wow" by the time I reach goal weight. 😂

My surgery is this Friday and I have only my husband and close family that know about it. At the moment I have no desire to tell anyone. Most of my close friends have seen my weight fluctuate drastically. On another note, throughout this process (specifically endoscopy) I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease and my friends know about that diagnosis. My plan is to say that I am working with a dietician and really watching my food intake...which is true. I feel I have no need to expand after that. I did tell my family not to tell anyone. Once I have the surgery, I may feel more relaxed and tell people but right now it is a definite NO. I told them that I am telling them for their support and not to have secrets. However, this is only my story to tell when and if I choose to reveal it. Side note: it took me almost 10 years to get the Celiac diagnosis. Whenever I tried to explain my symptoms, my doctor would always say I have IBS and gastric issues because I am fat. I switched to a new doctor and I couldn't believe my ears when she said that my gastric issues were making me fat! I finally feel like I am on the right path!

A couple of things I wish I knew. The constipation is real. I average between 14 - 22 grams of fiber daily but still have to take something everyday. I wish someone had of explained that too me. I have rarely been constipated in my life until now. All the aches and pains I got. I am the only one of several people I know who got the surgery who has had issues. Weird hip pain where I couldn't walk without assistance and now Meralgia Paresthetica. I had this condition many years (24) ago when I was pregnant and it came back with a vengeance. I refused any meds due to potential weight gain and will hopefully wait it all out.

I second this entry. I had horrible pain in my tail bone after I lost a bunch of weight and lost my cushion. I bought a cushion for my work chair and home office as well as my car and I feel 100% better. I never had pain standing or lying down but sitting in a hard chair was murder for me. This is definitely to be expected when you lose your ass fat from what I read. I still use the cushion at work but no longer need it in the car or at home unless I am sitting on a hard chair for an extended time.

I'd like to know the reasons/purposes of the post-op diet and the different stages. I am following my instructions exactly. I think. I hope I'm doing it right. Now, likely all y'all know that a clear liquid diet sucks. The guide I was given says I have to be on the clear liquid stage for week 1 and I have 2 days left. But I have heard others only having clear liquids for 1-3 days. I'm doing well and I'd like to try a few things that are on my list for week 2 if it isn't going to hurt me. Which leads me to the question. What is the purpose of the clear liquid diet? Am I on a clear liquid diet to allow my new sleeve stomach to heal or is it so I won't have issues with reflux, heartburn, nausea or gas? If I knew, maybe I'd try a little of the food from the next stage. Or at the very least, not worry as much when I try to decide if my soup is as clear as it's supposed to be. In two days I graduate to a week 2 full liquid diet. The guide doesn't use the word puree', just full liquid. Is this the same thing or no? According to the guide I can add cream soups (strained). premade Protein shakes, sugar free pudding, V8 Tomato juice, low fat yogurt and Fat free milk. This is much better than week 1, but by the end of week 2, I know I'm going to start looking ahead to week 3 and want to try something from it. Week 3 is really not much different. Just adding bananas and oatmeal. But I can add unsweetened fruit to my smoothies. And, then I see this. NO GRITS & NO POTATOES. Really? Don't just say I can't have it without telling me why. What harm is going to come from potatoes, other than carbs/calories? In week 4, I am finally allowed to have cottage cheese. Not that cottage cheese is something I have to have, but I would love some right now with my clear liquids. I can also finally have well cooked beans and veggies, as well as 2% milk. Then I see, NO RICE & NO GREEN PEAS. Why? Again, I assume its starches and carbs from the rice, but tell me why... Week 5 I can finally have a scrambled egg.. Finally I can have an egg? In week 6 I can finally baked fish. Why not week 5? And then they say, NO HONEY & NO DRIED FRUIT. Why? Again, this is mostly my curiosity. But it frustrates me that they did not give me much (any) background information. I will continue following the guidance they gave me, I mean I'm dropping weight daily so it's working. But when I go to my follow-up appointment next Tuesday, I'm going to bring up some of these specific questions. I know this was a long post, but if any of you can shed some light on any of the questions I have, please feel free.

Yes I had Allurion and aas far as I know it’s only 4 months which is a shame - I’d,love it for longer now. The first month is tough though but that is when the weight falls off. Good luck and keep me posted 👍

Yes! WLS is a tool for success. Once you reach a certain size it can be extremely hard without medical help to loose enough weight and this is one way to get medical help. You still have to work hard at it and you still have to monitor diet and exercise but the modification makes the weight loss more achievable!

And that's why it's so hard to share this with others. Even my mom was a little less than encouraging the first time I mentioned it to her. She just said that I needed to talk to my sister since she had it. But back to my thought, as soon as I tell some, they say "Say good-bye to your beer", or "You know you can never have xyz again.", or "I'm losing weight the natural way.", meaning their way is the right way and I'm taking the easy way/cheating. To those, you can either laugh it off or try to enlighten them.

Oh man. I know few people who had WLS. I did MONTHS of reading and research. I am not sure there was anything I forgot to ask or wish I knew after surgery. I was crazy obsessed and prepared with gathering all the information I could. Good and bad. I would say the biggest thing for me is out all of 8 people I know who WLS really only 2 of them were successful. This made me second guess surgery for years. I have lost and gained over 100 lbs, 4 or 5 times in my life. I thought, why have surgery if I can't succeed and keep the weight off without it how will the surgery solve that problem? Clearly the problem was my eating habits that I could not maintain long term. Then some things hit me. 1) I need accountability! Like really bad, having to see a surgeon at least once a year for pretty much life provides that. (At least for me) 2) I lost weight by living off of chicken and broccoli with zero carbs and minimal calories, I was always hungry and always fighting the hunger to not eat. Not only is that not feasible life long but it is also extreme. The surgery would (did) reduce my stomach so less fills me up so I can eat less and not be starving all the time. 3) I am one dedicated b***h! When I put my mind to something there is nothing stopping me, i got this. I can do this, I just needed a little extra help! 4) I ALWAYS put everyone else first, F that. I am done with that, it was hard at first and now it is natural. I am always willing to help but if you want to go binge on a pint of ice cream, go ahead but I am not. If you want to sit on the couch and do nothing for days, go ahead but you are doing it alone. I am always here for my friends and family but if you can't support me you won't be hearing from me or seeing me much. 5) I am not everyone else. They failed because of them, I will succeed because of ME! I don't know what their issues where. I just saw what I saw. Maybe they didn't have support? Maybe they stopped trying, stopped caring? Maybe there is a medical reason? Who knows, it is not my business. What I do know is what I can do and will do.

Ive only got 3 weeks left but wish I could keep it forever. I’ve lost 3 stone in 13 weeks - the sickness was awful for the First month and the heartburn has been crippling. That said the more weight I lost the easier the heartburn became and now I’m worried that I will go back to my old ways - I really hope not.. good luck to you and let us know how you get on

Day 7 po and I'm honestly feeling great! No real pain issues outside of the expected soreness from internal and external incisions. I've not had any issues so far in meeting my water intake, thankfully. I actually went to the grocery store by myself yesterday for a short trip to buy ingredients for soup. No issues at all! I made soup, and a big mess, and cleaned it up afterwards, putting away the dishes from.the dishwasher and washing the dirty dishes. Even vacuumed the kitchen (we have a lightweight stick). After all was said and done I quickly fell asleep in the recliner for about 90 minutes or so LOL! I have been taking the BariatricPal multivitamin, which is SO much easier than the other forms, plus I take additional Thiamin, B12, and C. Haven't been able to take the calcium yet because they are just too big, but I purchased some Bariatric Advantage chews that will hopefully come on a day or two. I've already lost 13 lbs since surgery; this morning I weighed in at 245.6, and my goal weight is 175. It is in sight and have zero regrets! Sent from my SM-S908U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

I heard that we can get off the ppi after a few months... That is my hope. I never want to be on it forever. I have Ehlers Danlos, so my surgeons told me that the Nisson already has such a high failure rate that is even worse with someone with Ehlers Danlos...So they wouldn't even do it. But my GERD and issues were so bad... In fact, I have to have another biopsy and ultrasound in Sept. It will be my 5th in the last year. They are concerned that I already do have some early cancer in there. So this surgery is going to save my life. I hope. My surgeon says to think of it as life saving surgery with a side order of weight loss. I can't complain about that I suppose.

I won't lie, I have friends and co-workers who have had some sort of weight loss surgery (lap band, gastric bypass, etc.) and I unfortunately didn't look at them as I should. I thought they "took the easy way out, didn't work hard enough, etc.". However, now that the shoe is on the other foot, I realize it was wrong for me to unnecessarily project my opinion on their situation. All that aside... I think it's up to you when, who, and how you tell. You can be as detailed or as vague as you'd like. I've told my boss at work and just told her I was having "surgery". I have told close friends and family, who I know would be more supportive and receptive to it. Ultimately, it's up to you who you tell and how you tell them. Good Luck!

Calm down, stop freaking out and breathe. I know that is easier said than done but try. I also had Bypass, hiatal hernia, severe GERD and nodules in my esophagus. I was not diagnosed with Barrett's but was told I was well on my way. I originally wanted the sleeve and my main reason was for weight loss and to hopefully not develop a ton of medical issues that hang around my family genes. After speaking with my surgeon at my first appointment, he explained that sleeve would likely worsen my GERD while bypass has a much better chance of resolving it. So, after some reading and further research I went with bypass. I had bypass, my hernia fixed, repairs and "trimming" of my esophagus all at once. Fast forward: I am not 4 months post op and have NO regrets or any issues. I did however experience that "stuck feeling" for about a week. I was told it was because my esophagus was narrow and needed time to heal and "loosen" back up after surgery. It did in fact go away, rather quickly. I also had minor spasms for a few days after surgery which also went away. You had more damage than me, it seems so you have to be paiteint and give your body time to heal. Everyone heals differently and you are still fresh out of surgery. I was on 2 prescriptions and eating tums daily and my GERD was still out of control. The day of surgery they stopped 1 prescription of acid meds and I was only taking prescription grade pepcid( Famotidine ). I was told that was standard for at least 2 months after surgery to give our stomachs time to heal and to help prevent ulcers. I have been off ALL GERD medications including the pepcid now for 2 months and still have no signs of GERD or any other acid issues. The meds are likely temporary to give your body time to heal and to act as preventative medication. The black stools are likely the bleeding and if you were on blood thinners, it would be worse. I assume you did some research before choosing your surgeon and trusted him/her. So, trust them. Give yourself the time to heal. Ulcers in general take a bit of time to heal, then adding the surgery and all the other issues you had before surgery. Give it some time. I hope it works out for you! Take it easy.

I definitely feel less back pain now. I will say, I did experience increased pain for a bit - from my tailbone! I sit a lot for work, and as I lost weight, I really was getting uncomfortable, sitting and standing. I was a mess. But it was easily fixed with a special cushion on my chair. Now, no pain and my back is the best it has been in literal decades. It's a fairly common thing as we lose fat around the tailbone area so nothing to worry about.

I think this is a decision only you can make. You know if you need the extra help that the surgery will give you. It seems like you are definitely on the right track and doing amazing! Even with the surgery a lifestyle change is necessary. The surgery is only a tool for your weightloss arsenal. Eventually you will be able to eat food that will cause weight gain and you'll have to make a choice. The only difference is you won't be able to eat as much or absorb as much. It sounds like you're doing really great! Sent from my SM-F926U using BariatricPal mobile app

That is great news! Pain is a B*tch! I notice since loosing a bunch of weight that I hunch over a lot. I told a friend that I think my upper body was being held up by my big stomach so I didn't need to use muscles to sit upright. haha I don't know if it is accurate or not, but what i do know is I hunch and don't like it. It starts hurting my lower back so I am constantly forcing myself to sit up straight.