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Fluid retention is real after any surgery. I think I didn't actually get on the scale for the first 3 weeks. I tried and fought all the urges to stay away from the scale so I was not disappointed in myself for no reason. Let you body have the time to heal. Be forgiving of the fluctuations until your body has adjusted to the big changes you are going through.

So this is my first post. I've been researching and contemplating bariatric surgery for a few years now, but it's only recently that I decided to put my foot on the road and start the journey. A little background: I'm a 38 year old woman, 3 kids, and husband, cat mom (hoping to bring in a dog soon too, hehe) I've been overweight all my life. All 3 pregnancies were with gestational diabetes, but I managed without meds, and that has been the only time I've ever lost significant weight. Actually, prior to my first pregnancy, I cut out soda, and stopped relying on hamburger helper/boxed meals for dinner, and went from 255 to about 230. My weight over the years has fluctuated between 200 to 230. My biggest problem now is diabetes. I was diagnosed with type 2 a few years back. I'm on metformin, which my body doesn't handle well. In 2015, I lost my mother, who was over 300lbs and had diabetes to complications from diabetes. It has really scared me, enough that I've had anxiety issues since, and what's really pushing me to find a way to lose weight. After all my research, I'm aiming for the sleeve. I've been to my program's orientation, and met with the Nurse Practitioner. I now have loads of appointments, and a goal of losing 12 lbs by January 24. It feels like a lot, only because my timing is poor and I'm doing all this through the Christmas season. While I'd like surgery in March, I'm actually thinking May would be better since my older kids would still be in school, but my husband would be home (he's a professor) so that he can take care of my 3 year old. I could try to time it right so that it happened over his spring break too, but that's going to take the stars aligning just right, lol. Anyways, I feel like I'm taking on a whole bunch of stuff at once, and I'm not sure how to handle it all. My husband is a good man, who listens, but as he says "I'm not a therapist and other than listening, I'm not sure how to help you." I've got an appointment with a therapist, but not until January, so I'm on my own. So I guess here's my questions...how do you keep focused? I have little direction at this point, and find my confidence wavering. It's always a stressful time of year for me, and while I realize that I have to change how I handle stress, I feel a bit "thrown into the fire" by doing all this now and not say...next month, when I'd have more time to learn more ways to deal with everything. (Another back story, December goes like this: Christmas Eve, Christmas, my oldest' birthday, my youngest birthday, and 10 days later but within the 12 Days of Christmas, my middle child's birthday.) I find the site here too big so I'm not sure where to read in order to get more positive stories and other helpful information. I read a few books, but I guess I'm not ready to invest in any sort of emotional eating books. I'm counting calories and watching what I eat, and trying to exercise more, but really, that's not enough to keep me focused completely. So what other resources do you use? Sites with good articles and information, positive stories of success, etc? And finally, on a grosser note, and a rather...embarrassing question to ask, but how are bowel movements after surgery? I mean mostly on the long term, but I ask because one of the biggest factors to not just simply "losing weight with diet and exercise without the surgery" is I can't handle the thought of being on metformin for the rest of my life. Even at 1000mgs, the loose BM's are horrid and painful and interfering with my every day life (with my current primary care physician pushing for me to move up to 1500mgs despite my protests). I have this worry that I'll still be dealing with intestinal issues after surgery. So if you have had the surgery, and were on metformin, did you get off of it? If you've had intestinal issues in the past, have they continued after surgery? Sorry for the novel!

@@fatchocobomom Hello and welcome!! I am relatively "new". I had sleeve surgery 9 weeks ago. I can address the pre-op focus portion. I have Neve been diabetic so I can't offer advice there. Congratulations on your first steps towards getting heathy! I agree that starting your pre-op diet during the holidays and birthdays might be difficult. (Seems you and your husband really like the month of March..wink wink ). My advice on staying focused is to visualize the life you want. Can you see yourself diabetic free and in smaller clothes? Can you imaging yourself pain free and active? How about summer clothes, feeling sexy, and healthy for your kids? visualize that life as you go through this busy, festive month. (I started mine just before halloween. I kept seeing everyone partaking in the stuff I loved, the foods of fall, the holidays, etc, but what I had in my mind was how I would look and feel next summer because I am NOT partaking in all of that stuff). During my pre-surgery work ups and diet, I stayed on track because I was determined to get the life I want. It was only possible if I stayed on task. The day of surgery was a celebration in itself, like a second birthday. Your husband sounds supportive, so perhaps he will prepare the yummy foods for your kids birthdays, etc. As for losing 12 lbs before Jan 24, it's doable. I lost 17 lbs on the pre-op liquid Protein diet. If you replace one or two meals a day with Protein shakes and then eat one meal lower in carbs I bet you will see the weight start dropping. Whether you decide to start this month or next, if you want a new life bad enough, you will find yourself jumping through hoops and staying on course. Good luck and keep us posted on your journey!!

I did the surgery through So Cal Kaiser. Most people that have a job with no lifting can return to work in a few weeks. My job requires heavy lifting so I was off longer. At the 2 week point I believe you will be at the stage where you can have strained cream soups, yogurt. So Yes I think in your line of work you should be fine. Many office workers go back after one week. Best wishes to you!

yes it was six months this almost to the day. However, they seem to be moving a bit faster now. My neighbor had it done and her whole process was about 4 1/2 months. However, that being said if you need it done during a certain time frame the surgeons office will work with you. My first visit with the surgeon he gave me 3 dates to choose from. Best Wishes to you.. Honestly, this is the best thing I have ever done for myself.

So I'm an elementary school teacher and I want to do this so bad now but I didn't realize the process took so long..... I'm thinking since I have Kaiser in San Jose CA I might get surgery in 6months :-(.... Which will put me at Easter break.... Do you think two weeks will be enough and then I can return to work? I do better with structure so I really don't want to wait til summer .... This mean I will get 1 week off for Spring break and will have to take 5 days sick leave....

I had revision almost 3 months ago and just recently moved to more dense protein. I run, cycle, and train a lot. Pre op sleeve I had lost 100 lbs with my lap band. Had complications and started my revision at 168. I now weigh anywhere between 134 and 138. I feel like I eat all day and I'm hungry all day. I average 800-1100 calories a day with 80-100 g of protein and low carbs. If I eat too late, when I wake up, I feel a stretching sensation/pain in my stomach. Does anyone feel this way? Does anyone feel like they eat all day? My portions are appropriate as I'm eating 2-4 oz at a time. I'm feeling lost, hungry, and like I just eat all the time. Please share your insights! Also I made the popcorn mistake by eating too mucch felt nasty and got rid of all popcorn in my house.

Can't overstate enough about those fluids and protein! It's the hardest part for me, getting all those fluids in. I'm 8 weeks out, and if I'm a little light on the fluids, I get bound up. If I'm light on protein, weight loss and energy drop off. I am at the point where I can put benefited in my water bottle, but more importantly I have to actually drink ALL the water! ^Benefiber

It might be your pylora...with this operation your digestive system works pretty much as it did before. The pyloric valve works and release food into your small intestines. You have a very new and tender stomach, and you can feel things more at first. All that gurgling as your new tummy gets used to things. For the first six weeks, it is a time for healing, and you're doing great with your liquids. It's great that you had no complications. Best of luck. Do what your doctor says, and you will be fine. Welcome to the losers bench.

Thank God, I feel better today......no headache so far. Feel refreshed. Don't know if it was food withdrawals, but I felt awful. Thanks for all your support. March 3, 2008 I have a date with Destiny. LOSERVILLE, here I come!!!

I have mirena & hadn't had my period for 3 years. The day after surgery I got it & it lasted forever. Since then, I've had it every month. I'm so bummed cuz I hate it & I've also had the worst cramps ever now. My gyno said that an iud can cause cramps to worsen so I guess I'm just screwed in that.area now. Sucks!!!!!

Tomorrow it will officially be 2 weeks from my gastric sleeve surgery. Saw my surgeon today. Since my initial meeting with him earlier in the summer (June), I was 224 lbs. I am now 209. I didn't lose a whole lot during the pre op diet as he was not super strict about it like he is with the post op diet. Still on full liquids. BP was low, 96 over something (can't remember), probably because I am not getting all my fluids in. It was an outpatient procedure so I asked why I never had a swallow test to see if there were leaks. He said I did, but I was asleep. Knock on wood, he's never had any leaks. That was good to hear. Another week of full liquids until I graduate to puréed foods. I feel pretty good. Less depressed than I was this past weekend. I helped my 9 year old with his homework and scooted out of the kitchen when my husband served him a bowl of Pasta for dinner. That's about it. I still feel low on energy. Hope everyone is doing well and had a good day.

Ur body has going through a lot give it time stick with ur protein and drink ur water and walk when u can my doctor told me not to worry about the scale too much for the first 3 months Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

It took me about 2 weeks for me to sleep comfortably, but it does get better everyday. I am so happy with my band!!

my fills can take 2 -3 weeks to kick in

I usually don't feel the restriction of a fill for 7-10 days. I think everyone is so different with how quickly it takes effect. They always tell me to do liquids for 24 hours to be cautious after a fill, but I've learned my band just doesn't react for at least a week. Weird?

Just crossed over the 70 lb. loss mark (one milestone I set for myself along the way). It has been right at 3 months since my surgery. I also have two general questions. Did most of you who have achieved (or who are close to) your goal weight start with large amounts (of weight loss) and then moderated to smaller amounts as time went on? I am down to losing 1-3 lbs a week now. Also according to my dietitian there is no Peanut Butter allowed. Although my friends who have been banded and had by-pass use this regularly. I was just told no. Is this a hard and fast rule across the board? Thanks as always to all the support and encouragement. I brag about ya'll to our local support group and encourage them to come on board.:party4:

When I was at my highest weight, I had the band and lost quite a bit quickly. Then I was at a 3-yr stall. Now with the sleeve I am almost to goal, though the weight loss is much slower. As for Peanut Butter, I'm also allowed to eat it for Protein, but was advised to use the lower sugar or all natural versions. I don't really like the taste of those, so I just choose to have a bite or two of the regular stuff occasionally. It's not really something I prefer to eat when I need protein. I'd rather have dense protein that will be more filling in my sleeve.

I'm just past the first week after my surgery (was on Feb 11th) and I'm getting sick of eating the same soups I have been. Does anyone have ideas of something different? I just need variety but the canned soups don't offer that much for what I can eat. Just looking for ideas from some creative people!

I made it through the night last night in bed actually but I put like 3 pillows under my knees and that helped a lot. Today in between walking I've been going back in forth to the reliner and then on the couch. I think just changing positions every once in a while helps. Make sure you take some pain meds if you need it!

Thanks guys! I am now 2 weeks post op and still struggling. I will give your suggestions a try! On a happy note I am not putting the weight I lost back on and actually have continued to lose weight! I have my first band on 4th June. I just hope I am better at this once the band has been filled!