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Had lunch with two girl friends yesterday - the three of us have had sleeve surgery over the last 2-4 years. We found a lovely yum char restaurant & shared these 3 delicious steamed scallop, spinach & roe dumplings, 6 duck pancakes (the pancake was too heavy for me so I only had 1) & 3 unpictured steamed prawn dumplings. The waiter actually asked if that would be enough food for us to share. Made us chuckle.

As you can see, this is very common. Best to keep on top of the constipation to avoid the faeces compacting & thus avoiding the pain. If I had no movement after three days I’d take a stool softener & I took Benefibre every day. Keep your fluids up too. When able add some vegetables to your diet. The constipation does continue for a while. It was around my 18month mark when things started to be pretty regular again.

I had the Orbera balloon placed this past Friday. They told me I WOULD be nauseated and I WOULD vomit for a couple of days. Today is late Tuesday night and I've had none of it! Don't think me luck too fast. I won't lie. I have had the heartburn from hell. I mean, heartburn that I can feel in my ears! It's brutal, even with all the meds, and starting one for heartburn a week before surgery. Yesterday was a little better, but I woke up at 3 am with so much heartburn pain I had to get up. I'm hoping that tonight will be better. It's true that lying on your left side is the most comfortable. Fortunately I have an adjustable bed so I can raise it up as needed. Another side effect I've had is constipation. I'm finding out that's normal but I feel so full I'm having a hard time getting anything down. Lastly, I have a weird fever of around 99.4. I feel like my diaphram may be irritated and a bit inflamed, so that could account for it. That said, I feel better than I expected. My neighbor brought over some Milk of Magnesia and I took a tiny swallow, so hopefully the constipation will be gone soon. I had so much anxiety before my procedure and I'm not squeamish about medical things. It's normal, because this is a big deal. It's a huge expense and emotional commitment. Hopefully my story can help someone who is nervous about what to expect.

Nice to see some new participants and food posts regardless of stage! So glad you've joined in... Baked some turkey thighs Sunday - Enjoying the dark (my favorite) meat on salads this week. Trying to get away from the sodium in luncheon meats. Even low sodium white turkey breast brands seem too salty for me. Definitely more convenient, but trying to put in the effort! Haha. Marinated turkey in juice from naval orange, olive oil, sage, rosemary and thyme with a handful of cranberries. This salad makes two meals.

So I had a UTI last week and had purchases some urinalysis strips to check for Nitrites,, leukocytes. The strips I purchases also had Ketones. I am officially burning fat!!

Hello. 48 year old married female mother of three here. I've been reading these boards for a while as I make this life changing decision. I have my first pre-op appointment tomorrow with my bariatric surgeon and can't wait. I've been spending the past several weeks working on my list of questions and trying to change my habits. Last fall I put a sticky note on my monitor with a symbol representing the need for change, and that if I did not succeed on my own I would start researching other options. Long story short, the day for other options is here as I weigh about 20 pounds more than I did last year. Like many here I know I can lose the weight. However, the day always comes when I can't white knuckle it anymore and then comes the regain and then some. Dieting interspersed with hectic lifestyle choices has resulted in my weighing 100 pounds more than I did 2 decades ago. I consider myself lucky that I have relatively few health problems, however I also feel my body is a ticking time bomb. I have fears, but for me I have decided that the potential benefits far outweigh the risks. I can't wait to work in the garden without my joints hurting, go ice skating again and have the ENERGY I once did for traveling, physical activity, just cleaning up the house. I can't wait to travel without being so self conscious. I once got off of a plane in Ireland (as a size 18) and a woman came up to me and said "are you American?" I have no idea why she asked, but she marked my response down on her clipboard and started looking for other people to talk to. It was nothing to do with customs/etc. I was horrified and walked away quickly, jumping to the conclusion she was looking for overweight people to poll for some sort of research project. Weird I know, but I've thought about it ever since (she didn't bother to ask my naturally skinny husband of course). Now I hope to return to Ireland one day and actually do those things I chickened out of like climbing Skellig Michael (all 618 steps). One of my biggest fears oddly enough is the inevitable well meaning comments/complements. I really struggle to tolerate unsolicited comments about weight loss and find them to be a terrible invasion of privacy. What's even worse are those comments along the lines of "you've lost enough, don't lose too much" when you're still 50 pounds overweight (which I've experienced SO many times). I'm already working on my polite replies to this which will hopefully put an end to that subject while also educating the person about healthy weight AND boundaries :). I am a very private person, with posts such as this being a first for me. I've really enjoyed reading all your posts and feel well prepared for my appointment tomorrow. Thank you.

What’s one thing you wish someone had told you before you had surgery? -ultimately it doesn't matter your weight or bmi so long as you qualify. It mostly matters where your heads at, how important weight loss is to you, and how ready you feel for the drastic measure. -I also wish my team made it clear that the first few weeks are depressing, no sugar coating it. You feel bad and unhappy. -I also wish my team was clear about how long it takes to feel like yourself again. I'm 1 month post op and am just starting to feel a little bit normal but the exhaustion and fatigue is real . I feel the most out of shape in my life. Pre op I was training for a half marathon able to take 2 hours to walk 11 miles. Now i feel winded and dizzy after 1 mile. I've lost 47 lbs total now and don't feel physically good most days. I don't like when people ask me how happy I must be. I won't be truly happy until I feel healthy but I know it happens. I just wish my team was more honest about how difficult the first couple of months can be post op. But ultimately, I decided to do it because I'm losing my 20s to obesity. I'm sick of battling against myself to do the right thing. I was tired of always feeling hungry. My knees are messed up from my weight and I lost and gained in huge amounts for years. So yes, to me, it's worth it but IT'S NOT EASY. Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

Weigh yourself once a week. Take what ever it says. I had a 5 week stall at 2 months out. You will get there eventually if you keep with the program.

I wish I had read this post weeks ago! I also wish I would've just learned to love the "fat" me instead of having this surgery

I had this problem over the Christmas period. I couldn't get any medication for the whole two week period. I had to sleep sat up for 3 weeks, it was dreadful. I was eventually prescribed anti acid / anti nausea medication. I take it early in the morning in bed so that it lines my tummy before I eat or drink. It solved all my problems. I hope you get sorted soon, contact your team

Hello! Yes, it happened to me a couple weeks after sleeve surgery but it has stopped. I do take Nexium every other day or so. Hope this helps.

if it turns out to be a stricture (about 5% of bypass patients get those), it's an easy fix. When they're down there, they'll just stretch it back out to where it's supposed to be. I had two of them (at four weeks out and again around eight weeks out). Painless, easy fix - and you'll feel 100% better afterward.

Thank you for this perspective! It’s so helpful. I think the tool part is exactly the same for me. I need this in conjunction with better eating. I used to try WW over and over and could only lose about 15 lbs over months and months. I only lost weight when I used Phentermine. I am fine with losing slowly l, but seeing just -1.5 lb in a week made me have buyer’s remorse at first. I need to lose about 80-90 lbs total. Thanks for helping me off the ledge 🙃

I went through a phase like that—couldn’t choke much of anything down to a point where I wasn’t even getting enough fluids. Talk to your dietitian/team. I ended up having to set a goal of increasing my intake by 100 calories a day each week. I was only eating about 200 a day and now I’m up to 800. Another possibility causing this is acid reflux—my stomach was so irritated that I was feeling full much faster than I should have which is why my “meals” were one or two bites.

Anyone had issues after surgery with really hard poop? To the point it hurts to poop, like pooping razor blades and then my bottom bleeds afterwards. Bottom only bleeds after a painful bowl movement. 3 weeks post op. Any advice?

Hi All I am 3 weeks post op and at the weekend I bent over too quick and was not aware of my posture and got a sharp pain under my left rib where my stomach is. I have had no pain since I came home from the hospital. Now it hurts in that area when I twist or bend. I would describe it as a muscle type pain/bruise pain. When I'm sat still it only hurts now and then. I've called my Doctors but cannot get an appointment for 2 weeks. Anyone else done anything similar?

I agree with everything liveaboard15 said. Plus you may have started your three-week stall a little early. I did as well - mine was weeks 2 & 3 (most of us have our first major stall sometime during the first month of surgery. We call it the "three-week stall" because it's usually the third week, but not always). Just stick to your plan and stay off the scale for a few days....

You are doing great. Not everyone looses a ton of weight quickly. Some are slower than others, some are faster. and remember you will hit stalls along the way where you wont loose much or any weight at all for a couple weeks or so. Just stick to the program and you will do great. This is a long process.

Ugh. Today marks two weeks since my RNY. First week I lost 10 lbs. This past week I lost 1.5 lbs. I don’t understand how this is even mathematically possible when I’m eating no more than 600 cal/day on average (no issues getting fluids in, no constipation, eating mushy foods now and getting most of my protein in). The logical side of my brain knows this is a process, but the emotional part that misses McDonald’s fries is feeling like this tastes a lot like Weight Watchers 🙄

Good Morning everyone/anyone-that-reads-this, 1st time poster here. I had surgery on Feb 10th so i'm in week 5. I have been following the guidelines. Week 3 I tried baked chicken thigh. Super small bites (size of a pencil eraser). It seemed to be going down ok but then I felt sick and had to throw up. My stomach has not really tolerated solids since. I had my 1 month last week and the surgeon said to reset. liquids for 2 days, puree for 2 days, then soft for 2 days. I tried a greek yogurt this morning (that I had been able to tolerate) and after 1/3rd I felt sick, like the food wanted to come back up my throat. I'm only hitting about 400 calories a day. is that normal? I hate this sick feeling whenever I eat I feel like i'm never going to be able to eat a solid again. Sorry for this rambling post I'm just scared and frustrated.

Fluids in the weeks after surgery. 6 oz water, 2 oz protein shake, an hour.

Thank you, I finally understand this now. I know what happen to me last week now, dumping on restaurant food.

Hi there. I had a revision from sleeve to mini bypass about 6 weeks ago. In that time, I've had quite a bit of diarrhoea and loose stools. Sorry for the TMI. It's really gross to me, too. My poop is green and smells UNHOLY. Is this going to last forever? I traveled to the Uk over the weekend and I was concerned about toilet access. Can anyone advise? Thank you.

All you can do is try them. I still find processed carbs like breads, rice & pasta too heavy & filling. Had a single duck pancake at yum char today & groan & I’m almost three years out. Others successfully eat low carb breads, etc. but many do only from maintenance. Check with your dietician to be sure too.

For many, the purée stage occurs in weeks 3 & 4 then soft food begins in week 5. But every surgeon has their own plan & some vary them according to the needs of the individual patient, their recovery, health history, etc. You may be feeling weak from the low calories or not getting in enough nutrients & be lacking in something like iron as @fourmonthspreop suggested. For me it was because my blood pressure was very low & I was getting the odd hypoglycaemic episodes. Oh yeah cottage cheese is awful. Have you tried denser slow cooked soups made from meat & vegetables & blended very well then strained. You’ll get more nutrients in that way. I was able to have instant rolled oats made on milk - make them pretty milky & runny. (The instant are more processed & less dense. I went on real ‘steel cut’ oats from the soft food stage.) Try blending poached chicken thighs with gravy or stock. Also try blending tinned salmon or tuna with Mayo or other liquid sauce. I even had some baby food a couple of times.