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Hi all! I’m new! My surgery is tomorrow (11/29/21) and I’m scared out of my mind. I’m having DS. Wanted to do Bariatric surgery for about 17 + years, and earlier this year, I found out that our insurance FINALLY covers it. I was (and am!) so thankful for that! I can’t help but feel immensely trepidatious about tomorrow. I think, perhaps, it’s the buildup of 17 years of wanting something, to then suddenly have it become reality, you know? I’m scared of the pain, scared of the first few weeks post-op, scared of screwing up and the dumping, scared I’ll never eat fun foods again, scared at how completely and drastically this will change my life (for the better). I sort of feel the same way I felt the few days before I had my first baby. This seems silly, I know. I’m equally excited. Finding it difficult to get past the anxiety tonight. Any advice? Those of you recently post-op; How’s everything going? -Z

Yep, my incisions drove me mad with the itching - and unlike the itching from healing tattoos, you can't slap the area for relief! I took antihistamines and used cold packs held against the incision area, which helped immensely! Like me, you also may be a bit allergic to the bandage adhesive. My itching lasted about a week and a half, unfortunately. I hope yours goes away faster!

I don’t mind eating the same things on repeat - I’m a single person so have eaten that way for ages. I like not having to think about what I’m going to prep for lunch or dinner every single day. I’ll eat on repeat for three days & anything left I freeze. My freezer is full of single serve meals. So handy on those days you don’t feel like cooking, are working late, don’t want what you have in the fridge, etc. Only have to prep some vegetables or salad & then reheat the frozen meal. Five minutes & dinner is served. You’ll also discover what you don’t enjoy or struggle to tolerate today may be fine tomorrow or next week.

pre-op diet is the worst part. I was actually relieved the morning I reported to the hospital for surgery! for most of us, anyway, our hunger is suppressed for a few months, so no, we don't feel the same way after surgery. Tired, yes - but I'm exhausted after any surgery (maybe moreso with this one since we're taking in so few calories the first few weeks). But fortunately, most of us at least don't feel hungry. For about the first five months, I was never hungry and didn't give a flip about food.

I started mine a week early and it helped so much. I think it helped mentally bc I was making the choice and not being “told”. It also allowed me to get used to the plan and changes prior to actually having to commit so it wasn’t so overwhelming. It made the transition after surgery so much easier bc I wasn’t going through carb or sugar withdrawal immediately after surgery. The risk is that starting early could make you mentally think you can stop and start over and over since  you actually don’t have to do it and once the actual pre op starts there’s no turning back if your already so over it after the early week. Totally doable and worth it in my opinion and it worked awesome for me. Commit and stick to it… it’s just temporary! 

I’m on day 3 (of 10) of mine and I’m totally with you! I went for a walk with my friend and was in pain and exhausted after. I have a low level headache almost nonstop. I’m a little worried about functioning at work next week. And all I can think about is food- real food, not jello and protein shakes!

The pre-op diet is brutal. Everything you're feeling is completely justified. I had to take a nap almost every single day. That being said, it DOES get better and no, you won't feel this way forever after surgery. My program had liquids for 2 weeks post-op, which wasn't great, but as soon as I got to purees I really turned a corner energy-wise. Eventually, your calorie intake will increase and you'll feel much more "normal" it just takes time. Give yourself permission to test when you need to and know that this is just a step along the way. Sent from my motorola one 5G ace using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm on day 4.5 of the liquid pre-op diet (I am fortunate that I only had to do a week) and I am so hungry and low on energy (to make matters worse, I received my COVID booster the night of my first day of this diet). I am eating cottage cheese, drinking warm broth with Unjury Chicken Soup flavored protein powder, having protein drinks made with Fairlife milk, and I am nervous. Will I feel this rundown on so little calories post surgery? Currently I couldn't survive like this long term. How and why will it improve after surgery? How will my body feel OK on so few calories? Surgery is on Tuesday the 30th and I have to teach my 6th graders the day before! My thinking right now is if I am going to feel like this forever, I DON'T want to do this. My stomach hurts from hunger, I'm low on energy, I'm sad. Any words of encouragement would be appreciated.

I'm 2.5 months out from VSG. Per my NUT's guidance, I'm eating 1000-1400 cal a day, and balanced between protein, carbs, and fat. (About 120P/120C/55F per day.) I find that by 7:30 or 8:00 p.m., I am just done for the day. No energy to do anything. No laundry folding, no cleaning, no nothing, I just need to sit down and rest, and I'm usually in bed by 10:00 p.m. (also unusual). I had my bloods done by my PCP, at my request. Everything is fine, except my iron-binding capacity is just south of the low end of the reference range (but my iron itself is fine). No issues with B12, calcium, or D. I'm very active, but not any more active than I was four weeks ago. Any ideas what's going on here?

As of 11/30 I’ll be 4 weeks post op. I’m still currently on the soft food/puréed phase. So this question definitely wouldn’t pertain to right now. But I’m just curious if anyone has attempted vegan/plant based foods as an alternative to regular food. I’ve done lots and lots of research over the last several months on vegan/plant based eating. But I’d like to know if any other Bariatric patients have considered this.

Beware ! I have had two separate experiences with this clinic and they were both negative. When I contacted top plastic surgeons mexico via email to ask questions and schedule my procedure, they responded quickly respond with abundance of information. In order to book or secure a date for procedure, you need to book your flight. There is no deposit required at that point. You will be email someone named David Suez who’s title is Schedule Coordinator. Just to be clear Top Plastic Surgery is the Clinic and Dr. J Bernardo Baltazar Rendon who also works for Hospital Angeles Pedregal. My first procedure was 06/2021. I came to Mexico solo, I was greeted in the airport by driver Raul with a sign of my name, he helped with bags, opened the car door. He brought me to the hotel and picked me up in thlater that night brought me to my appointment with Dr. J Bernardo Baltazar Rendon at Hospital Angeles Pedregal, we went over what I wanted and what he could do with my body type and fat at the time. We discussed the need for bloodwork and compression garment which should actually be done in your country but can be done in Mexico. My surgery was scheduled for the following day in the night as Dr. J Bernardo Baltazar Rendon schedules all appointments and surgery around his day job. At no point in you stay will you enter a Top Plastic Surgery Mexico office or clinic. At no point in you stay will you meet David Suez. The communication via email ends when you arrive. The Dr. and the clinic act as separate entites. The drivers Raul and Pamala will refer you to the Dr. and the Dr will refer you to the clinic and the clinic will not respond. The following day Pamala comes to my hotel room. She is literally introducing her self to me for the first time at my hotel room door. So we discuss my procedure, she collects my money in the hotel room and ask that I fill out two contact, release forms actually. I ask for a receipt for payment and a photo copy of the documents I just signed. She told me that she would give this to me by end of day. I never get a receipt for payment or copy of docs. We proceed to get lab work done and getting medicine from the pharmacy. If you do your lab work in Mexico, you will not get a copy because they put the doctors contact information for results. At this point I inquire about the compression garment and wanting to get it for use immediately after surgery. I was given a garment that was two small and that did not compress the arms; which Raul asked me to return and I did. I had my procedure, full body lipo, ab etching and bbl. I was in a private recovery room. Blood pressure was not taken every 2hrs. I would have to ask or the nurse would come in at random. The day after surgery they wrap me in large gauze to leave in as I don’t have the garment that I was told I would have an opportunity to purchase the day before. For the first three days following surgery I was out of a garment. I has infection and large hematoma in my left butt, not normal bursing from the procedure. A nurse came 1 day out of my 5 day stay, she changed my antibiotics and removed my stitches. Did not do a blood pressure. She did do a rapid covid test for travel which the airlines did not accept going back to USA. I saw the Dr on day 4 following procedure which I had to request. I told him about my whole experience in Mexico and being unhappy with my results. My abdomen was uneven, no ab etching, my arms and armpits remained the same in size and the large amount of fat that was removed from other areas, majority of that fat her told me he disagreed of but didn’t transfer enough far to begin with. He told me that day that everything will heal and come together and that he can always do another procedure. Why would I want to put my body through that agin with a one year period . . Raul drives me to airport to return home, I had to do another covid test at the airport, they did not accept the one I had. Additional cost that I was not reimbursed. This is the moment he asked me to return the garment that did not fit and he told me that if it is dirty that I would have to pay for it. The months following I was not able to contact anyone not via email, not on whatsapp, not on the regular telephone. Pamala told me at one point that she no longer works for the company but I see her 5 months later when I return, still working with the company. So basically I was left BOTCHED looking uneven and lop sided. I was finally able to contact top plastic surgery to have corrective surgery, I honestly believe they were under the impression that I was a new patient, in the way they were speaking to me and adding a fee to my corrective procedure. SEOCOND experience 11/2021. I come to Mexico, the driver raul comes to airport. He is outside the airport, I have to literally go looking for him, Be mindful, I don’t have consistent cell phone reception. My appointment with Dr. Is that evening, same spiel. The surgery was the following day. Raul comes to my hotel room for money and documents. I told him that he needs to speak to the clinic because the agreement was that there was going to be no fee aside from labs, medicine and covid test. He confirms with I don’t know who, the ask me to sign form and the form clearly stated that hotel is apart of the package. I pay the hotel fee then he says that I have to pay for the nurse that comes to visit me and then I have to pay if I stay overnight in the recovery suite, at this point I hold off on the paperwork until I am able to confirm what fees I am responsible for and the ones that I am not responsible for. He tells me that Im acting like I don’t want to pay for anything and I’m being crazy in my decision to ask questions and advocate for myself. So rude, so respect for women because I’m sure if I was a man his response would have been different. Fast forward I wasn’t able to contact anyone in my 5 day stay. The Dr. did my procedure, came to the suite the following day, I didn’t not see him again, no follow up appointment, no nurse came to check on me, no covid test, stitches were not removed, I took a uber from recovery suite to hotel, I took a uber to airport. Horrible experience and my results are better then the first time but there shouldn’t have been a second time. Will not recommend this clinic or Dr. to anyone, not to my worst enemy.

11/19 1 week weigh in & down 25 lbs!

I agree with what everyone has already said.. I'll be four weeks post on Tuesday, and the scale didn't move for 14 DAYS😩.. I got on the scale on the 25th and somehow lost three pounds overnight🥰..

This is what I did. I actually didn't have a prescribed pre-op diet other than clear fluids for 24h before surgery, but I put myself on one and this is exactly what I did. Three weeks: 1 week replace a meal with a shake, 1 week replace two meals with shakes, 1 week full liquid.

I get sick of stuff after 2-3 days and can't eat it multiple meals in a row, so I meal prep two meals (plus breakfasts) twice a week, enough for 3 days each.

I have a new nutritionist who jacked my intake way up because I was exhausted all the time. Currently on 120C 55F 120P for a total of 1455 cal daily. (There are ranges, this is the upper limit of the ranges.) I'm currently in a little mini stall but it's likely because I ate too much salty stuff over the holiday and am retaining water like a freaking camel. I was down a little bit today and feel less bloated.

I agree on not weighing!!! I am committed to weighing only every Sunday. Another good tracking method, that shirt or clothing item that you're almost into that is just not there yet... try on every other week. Last 2 days of full liquids... treats today of Malt o Meal with cinnamon for breakfast and a tortilla soup, strained with sour cream for later. Focusing on at least 36 oz of water today.

I had my surgery on the 24th and the surgeon used the DaVinci robot. Some things I didn’t realize before: * they tie up your arms over your head to get them out of the way * I had a small bruise on my wrist from the restraint * My shoulders hurt, not just from gas, but also that position. The muscles are seriously mad at me. Every time I try to lower myself into a chair, or get out of bed it makes my shoulders hurt super bad. * I have a mystery cut on my upper arm that I haven’t had a chance to ask the surgeon about. Looks like they fixed it up for me. I’m guessing my skin got pinched (I have loose skin there from losing weight and it’s paper thin and tears easily). All of my incisions are incredibly small, maybe less than 1”. None of the incision sites hurt, or are bruised or swollen. There ended up being 5 incisions. One just under my chest, another next to my belly button, then three on my lower abdomen. The surgery took 2 hours for a SADI. I was in terrible pain post op, it took several days to get a handle on it. Luckily they were fine with giving me whatever I needed to make the pain stop, as often as needed. I have stage IV endometriosis so some of the pain was probably from my adhesions too. So I’m not really sure if the robot made it better than normal surgery? It made some things worse and others better.

I would try a three pronged approach. Obviously start with your surgeon. Ask for a referral to a bariatric therapist for some back up. I would also meet more regularly with the bariatric dietitian for hands on real tactics to feeling full. I would be tempted to go back to WW as well for group chat and accountability. I had to get a new hobby of crochet to keep my hands busy and give warm clothing to the homeless shelter to “feel full.” You will find your fullness and feel comfortable in your body too.

I wasnt nervous at all mind you didn't have time was waiting a while for surgery thought I wasnt going to get it until I got a phone call the end of July telling me my date was 23rd August had loads of test done iron infusion and then I was in hospital and everything was fine now 12weeks out 45lb lighter and loving it I had the milk and yoghurt diet for two weeks and did well so good luck to you all having surgery

Hello everyone. I am new here. December 14th I am going to have GSV in Mexico at ALO Bariatrics with Dr. Ramirez. I start my pre-op diet on Monday and my clear liquid the week after. They have been wonderful. I am so excited.

I pack several days worth of food prepped just for me in little 2 and 4 oz. containers. I like eating the same thing over and over. I make sure to put some kind of sauce on the protein to keep it moist. Most meats tend to dry out the longer you have them unless they are tightly sealed. Of course everyone’s taste changes. I only prep three days ahead.

I had acid reflux at least 3-4 times a week before surgery sometimes more. I discussed this with my Dr because I did not want to end up having a revision because of it getting worse. He said that out of the thousands of surgeries he has done he could count on one hand how many actually had a revision and not all of them were because of reflux. I may be one of the few but I have not had reflux since I started my pre op diet and I am 7 months out.

Hey All - Just had the sleeve procedure on Monday 11/22. Was nervous leading up to it and thought I'd never survive the liquid diet lol. Now it's not quite a week later and doing well. Sipping water, broth and some protein shakes. what are others finding to "eat" that maybe is a little more creative?

Still on Full Liquids. Looking forward to puree. It's getting tough though. I haven't weighed myself... decided to do that only on Sundays. Not sure I feel like I've lost much weight this week. Surgery was last week Monday... so I'm 12 days out. I need to figure out how to get walking in. It's suddenly cold here.. 30 degrees. Compound that with constantly feeling cold after surgery and I do not want to go outside. I'm worried that I'm not getting enough protein. I know I'm allowed my protein shakes now, but the thought turns me off.