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Thank you. I am on the soft food stage finally and it is a lot easier to get my proteins in now. I struggled my first couple weeks I was worried because you see so many with higher weight loss and didn’t know what I was doing wrong.

I haven't had surgery yet, but I can tell you I have some fears too. Like, can I do this lifestyle change forever? Will I even lose weight? If I do lose weight, will I keep it off? Will I end up being sick all the time and in worse shape than I am now (and no longer able to travel!)? I can't answer how much support you'll need, but my parents are flying up to the city where I live and will stay in a hotel. Only one person will be able to come to the hospital due to COVID, and it's likely I will only stay one night, so I just will have my mom come (in case I'm indecent in my hospital gown after surgery - too bad because my dad would be better at just sitting there as I'm dozing off). From what other people have said, mostly you're just sleeping in the hospital, although some people have more pain, and whether you want company when you're in pain is sort of a personal thing. I have been in the hospital by myself a few times (not usually overnight) and it wasn't terrible, but surgery is totally new to me. I don't have any pets, but maybe you have a friend who could sit with your dog while you're in the hospital?

As @AjaSlimtone said, your starting weight is quite low, so you will not be able to lose fast, like people who start at 300 or 400 lbs. Just follow your surgery center's instructions to the letter and trust in the process. Make sure you're getting your fluids and protein. You got this!

if you read enough posts it seems that the rate of loss is a little slower after revision I’m currently 2 yrs post revision from VSG to RNY (for GERD not regain) and for me I have been able to maintain the same weight I was with VSG but I’m now GERD free. Initially I lost a little but since I was already at goal my surgeon wanted me to maintain not lose so I ate whatever I wanted for a short period of time. Then went back to normal (post bari lifestyle of moderation and overall food changes/substitution) Knowing what I now know, I think revisioners should consider asking their surgeons: 1. No GERD but substantial regain- Should I consider VSG to DS/SIPS for greater weightloss? 2. GERD and substantial regain- Should I convert from VSG to RNY with a longer bypass? 3. GERD but no regain- Should I convert from VSG to RNY with a slightly shorter bypass to prevent excess loss? Good Luck ❤️

PREOP DIET: THE WHYS I did some extensive reading last night, and discovered that the preop diet is mainly intended to help patients lose weight and de-glycogen their liver to make it more pliable in surgery. That's basically it. In order to do this, one needs to be on a low carb, low fat, high protein diet. They call it a "Very Low Calorie Diet" or VLCD. Some of us have been on this kind of diet in the past. In fact, I lost 50lbs on a VLCD—twice! And of course I gained all the weight back and more, as soon as I allowed myself 1200 calories of healthy food—both times! It slowed my metabolism down to a crawl and didn't allow me energy to exercise. One time I did it sans drugs and had no energy to do anything in my life—it was impossible, but I stuck to these horrible shakes only, and I did this for months. The other time, I just reduced the calories in my daily diet and used Phentermine (so much easier!). Both times I was put on an 800 calorie a day diet. About the fact that it's a liquid diet: this seems not to matter until close to the surgery (last few days?) because they want no particles of poorly chewed food in your stomach's staple line. There could be other reasons for requiring it to be liquid that I have not yet read about, and I'm still looking. Anyone who knows--please jump in. The other bit about it, unfortunately, is the usual infantilizing of overweight people thing: "to get you used to how you will have to eat post-surgery!". I don't know about anyone else, but I don't need to "get used to" drinking artificial shakes. The less I have to be on a shakes diet, the more committed I'll be to the necessary time I have to do it. After surgery, no one even wants to eat a bowl full of broccoli rabe or a fistfull of spikey toast and sharp pieces of metal, or so I've heard. It seems that drinking water is a challenge at first, and that most are not interested in eating for a while. I'd prefer to go the math/science route and be told exactly what the breakdown of the diet is and why, so I can customize according to my own body's medical needs. But preop, it seems that patients should be armed with what will help them succeed at the objectives. If the dietician can't offer true individualized help, and can only communicate in condescending 3-word emails, then they need to print out the diet's actual parameters in the $350 packet of 6 sheets they hand you when you have the all-important "dietician consult". Mine was a joke. The dietician read the packet to me basically. I'm serious. Is this worth $350? I can read. I'm not sure why the parameters need to be so mysterious. Maybe to justify paying a dietician in the first place? An insurance thing like the psych consult? (also a hoop jump for insurance only) The other thing that I hope changes: the condescension towards fat people from some in the medical profession. Overweight people are just people. They aren't somehow deficient, un-smart people, or inherently lacking in discipline or agency because they struggle with their weight/metabolism. This issue isn't about simple "willpower" and anyone who claims it is has not done research or has simply ignored any research that doesn't confirm their own bias against those who are overweight. I know we all—or hopefully many of us—know this and can name a never-ending list of accomplished thinkers, scientists, artists, directors, lawyers, athletes, comedians and yes---doctors! who struggle with their weight for a variety of reasons. In fact, just like in the general non-overweight population, there are intelligent people who are successful at other things in their life in the fat population. So it really bothers me when we are infantilized en masse. Perhaps some people on the preop diet like the authoritarian approach, and that's ok! Not all of us want to be treated like that, and we should be accommodated and armed with science and math on this diet to minimize our own suffering and maximize our chance of success on the diet. Some seem to think we deserve some more suffering for being overweight, and if we balk at this, it's a sign we should think more about our commitment to health before undergoing surgery. That ethos is part of some kind of seriously retrograde, patriarchal justified-by-labor nonsense that has nothing to do with this problem. I'm still working on the research, guys. Meanwhile, I'm trying the lower-calcium Owyn shakes today (that got horrible reviews for taste- yum!) because my dietician was able to suggest those when pushed for a lower calcium option.

When I was 340 the Hoka One One Clifton 8s were my go-to. They held up well with the weight and were incredibly soft to walk on. Now that I’m at 195 I switched to basic Nike running sneakers that are light as air and still soft. They probably wouldn’t have survived long at my previous weight though. The hoka were really durable and never seemed to give up cushioning.

Talk to your doctor about whether there will be absorption issues. I take a lot of medications and was told I should get the sleeve because the absorption issues are really with bypass, not sleeve. However, birth control in general can be really iffy after WLS because you become much more fertile, so they tell you not to rely on pills alone. I don't know if nexplanon would be sufficient. However, common side effects of nexplanon include weight gain and mood swings, both things you want to avoid after WLS. If Yasmin worked for you before surgery, it might be best to stick with it (my surgeon requires me to be off my BCP for a month before and after surgery to reduce risk of blood clots), but also use back up birth control like condoms. The reason that they want you to use condoms or some other barrier method is all the hormonal changes after surgery - fat cells release estrogen. So, obviously, I'm just some random person on the internet and you should talk to your surgeon and whomever prescribes your birth control, but this is what I've learned from my research. Good luck!

most people don't lose a ton of weight with revisions because the "magic" of virgin surgeries isn't there with revisions, but some people do manage to lose a lot with a lot of hard work. I think I've read the average is about 20-30 lbs with revisions, but then, that's an average. If you really work at it, you could probably lose quite a bit more than that.

I had surgery in my 50s (I'm now in my early 60s), but there are people on here who had it in their 60s. I didn't have any co-morbidities when I had it, but at almost 400 lbs, I knew that was just around the corner if I didn't get rid of that weight. I'd do it again in a heartbeat and only wish I'd have had it 20 years ago. (p.s. I had bypass, but sleeve is a good surgery, too)

I'd do it again in a heartbeat! I had it six years ago and lost over 200 lbs (although I should add that that's not very common - most people lose around 70% of their excess weight with it - but of course, that's just an average - you'll always find people who lose more or less than that). I had a super easy recovery - and really no pain to speak of. It was more discomfort for a few days. I would say most people have little to no pain - and if you're one of the unfortunate ones who do, you'll have pain pills with you to manage it.

I can totally understand being upset by them suddenly adding an extra two months when you already worked your ass off to get where you are. You just have to remind yourself on how far you've come and how close you are to getting your surgery. Two months is nothing! It flies by! I did the 6 month weigh in thing myself and due to my six months falling around Thanksgiving my surgery got knocked back due to them being overscheduled so, for me, it was actually 8 months from my first appointment to my surgery. I, however, wasn't given a set amount of weight to lose. I was just told not to GAIN weight. I choose to try to lose as much weight as I could though and to try to get myself into healthier eating habits before my surgery and I was proud that I'd lost 68 pounds during that time. Now I'm almost 18 months post op and time has flown by! Right now two months seems like forever, but it'll go by fast! Try not to be discouraged! You'll get there!

I have been on my preop surgery journey for 116 days!! I was doing really well. I was told my insurance requirement was 4 months of weight loss, weight checked by my MD each month. I had to lose 42lbs. I also had to go thru all the test, lab work, stress test, PYSC test, the whole Nine yards!! Well I did it and not only did I lose the 42 lbs. I was supposed to lose I lost 47! I was super excited and ready….. Then my PT advocate sends me an email she made a mistake, I have to do 6 months of weigh ins for my insurance so she will need two more months 'Thanks". I mean it was like so Nonchalant an casual like this means nothing! After everything it feels like a gut punch an now I’ve lost focus an I can’t lose a single pound an feel like I’m gaining. I’m down an don’t know how to regain my momentum!! I am terrified I am going to gain weight an then completely be told oh no sorry can not help you!! I know it is a mind set issue I am struggling an now I have a weigh in next Friday feeling terrible about it!!!!

I do. Very similar story actually, I’m just a month ahead. i had my consult on July 6, and unfortunately, for me, it was some tough love. I’ve been on heavy doses of percocet since last October for spine problems and I had a laminotomy and discectomy at the end of March. I still have a ton of pain, plus, I still have radiculopathy on the right. I’ve been tapering my pain meds as much as possible, but when I saw the surgeon, he said, no more. Opioids can slow down your intestines, so cant take those. honestly, I just try to tell myself how much better the pain will be when the weight is gone.

Started my liver shrink diet on the 7th- I’m more than a week in and you know what? I’m freaking perplexed. I haven’t lost any weight. I’ve been good too. Oh well. I know the weight-loss will come. I got my surgery instructions from the doctor today. My arrival time isn’t till 12:30 pm but they still want me to stop eating and drinking at midnight. I’m gonna be hella nauseated by the time I roll up in there. 20 days!

Hi. I had gastric sleeve surgery in 2017. I went from 130kg down to 90kg, then slowly regained to 110kg. Over time I also developed GERD. I had revision surgery to gastric bypass in dec 2020. I’m happy to say that my GERD is gone completely. And weight loss has been great for me. It has been a little slower then the first time around. But happy to say I’m down to 77kg - so 13kg LOWER then I got to with the sleeve. Slow and steady, I’m in no rush, just so happy to be on the downward trend overall. All the best :)

I had surgery over two years ago and neither my surgeon nor my psydoc had any concerns about Latuda. In fact, I still take it to this day. No problems at all. It's weight neutral. But prior to surgery, I was on Abilify and gained 60 lbs.

Hey y'all so I'm 7 months out and just got diagnosed with deltoid bursitis. My PCP who is aware of my sleeve gave me the choice of oral steroids, steroid injection in my hip/butt or referring over to sports medicine for an ultrasound guided steroid injection into my bursa. I don't like being poked and didn't wanna wait so I opted for some tasty prednisone coupled with omeprazole....this was a crap decision, don't do what I did. Guys, my restless legs are SO bad...as in today at work I couldn't sit still, I have NEVER had restless legs during the day....ever..plus the borderline homicidal rage at the world (not really homicidal, just ANGRY) couple with the fact today was day 2 of a 12 day taper and I already GAINED 3 pounds WTF?!? And last but not least I think it's screwing with my thirst....I haven't been thirsty almost at all and have had to force down maybe 20ish ounces and still not thirsty even though I have a pounding headache. So glad tomorrow is the last day of the highest dose, after tomorrow I have 3 days of 30mg, 3 days of 20mg and then 3 days of 10mg...never again if I can help it. Silver lining, my shoulder is starting to feel better so I guess there's that...

Because I plot my weight with MyFitnessPal, I've been able to see how incredibly much water retention occurs when I indulge in drinking beer for a few days in a row. I can gain up to four pounds of bloating which remains in my system for about a week after I've stopped drinking the beer. Then I finally return to my normal weight. This doesn't happen when I drink lite beer, though. I really think I'm going to stop drinking regular beer altogether, though, not only because of the water retention but because just one can causes a relatively awful sense of inebriation that can last up to three hours.

Honestly I think alcohol was the downfall of my maintenance phase. My body metabolize it faster and a drink or two when you get it. This led to me wanting to drink more and over the years I definitely added weight to my body because my eating habits haven’t changed much

22 pounds in six weeks is f-ing awesome! Also you might notice that weight comes off faster as you add more calories.

Good for you, Sooniee. I hope the surgery goes really well for you! When people are brutal to others, as you refer to, I hear it as a sign that they have not been treated kindly themselves, and are turning it on others and are worse to themselves. That doesn't bring out the best in anyone. I know that anyone who is doing this surgery is a brave and tenacious person. They would not be doing it unless they had tried many diets, lost lots of weight, and gained it back and more many times. People with serious metabolic issues can get to the end of their rope—we have all been at this a long time. So I'll try to be empathetic to them if anyone comes at me for my failures at the pre-op diet, because we all have to help each other encourage, not tear down. There's no hierarchy in my view—just a bunch of people working to improve their health. I admitted my struggle because I figured others have it too, and we all need a bit of camaraderie. And the preop diet is utterly ridiculous, and also, not sense-making. I too was given incoherent instructions. I'm also not someone who eats lots of sweets, so for me, the preop diet is particularly nauseating. 😝You said, "If it were easy for me to stay on something like this, maybe I wouldn't be so fat." --- this is not why you are overweight! No one—who is a healthy human— stays on something like this. This is a starvation diet. I wish you great results with surgery. Perhaps I can get clarity on these issues soon! Thanks for responding.

I just got a fill today first in at least 5 years. I've gained about 20 pounds and sure hope it helps me to get them off

Hi All, I'm new here. I still have to figure out how to enter my "stats" . I'm going in for vsg on July 28th. I have zero reservations, but this preop diet is killing me. I'm really failing at it. It's constipating and giving me severe GERD. (broth helps) I reached out to the dietician for insight on alternatives to the shakes because the calcium is so high w 6 shakes (3900mg) and she told me to have three shakes and 3 egg whites total in a day. So it went from 1000 cals allowed to ~500. !!!??? I asked for the math on the diet--- and if the fact that it is liquid is most important and she didn't answer. Does anyone know? I'm wondering why not 9 egg whites to replace the protein in the shakes. ? She said no steamed chicken. Isn't the point that your calories are low enough that you lose weight but keep your protein up? If so, I do not understand why they don't give patients the tools to customize the preop diet to their medical needs, or at least offer suggestions that align with the preop diet's number of calories. The preop diet seems shrouded in mystery for no reason. It's infantilizing. It would help to know the science of what the preop diet is aiming to do. I'd love insight from veterans. Thanks!

I had a successful sleeve surgery five years ago, then had a baby and got stuck in a pandemic. I’ve put on so much weight, but still nowhere near my original starting weight and don’t intend to get back there! I am planning to get a revision surgery, and right now I am most seriously considering the mini gastric bypass. I contacted a couple of doctors and they tried to suggest a sleeve revision, but I can’t find any success stories of people who were re-sleeved and lost substantial quantities of weight. Which got me thinking?… Do any of the revision surgeries produce substantial weight loss? If you have gone from sleeve to the mini gastric bypass or another procedure and have a story to share I would greatly appreciate hearing it. Did your revision successfully eliminate your regain? Did you get lower than you did the first time and your weight loss goals? Were you able to lose all your excess weight on your second time around? Did it work as rapidly as the first one?

I had a very successful sleeve surgery five years ago. I was so happy with the results. As I approached 40 I had a surprise pregnancy! As you can imagine this changed my body quite a bit. My child was born right at the cusp of the declaration of the pandemic and I have put on a lot of weight. No matter how I eat, no matter how little I’m eating, my body and hormones seem to want to hold onto the weight. At any rate, being a middle-age woman with a one year old means I need to take Care of my health, and I am seeking to get a revision from the sleeve to a mini gastric bypass. I’ll be paying cash and intending to have my surgery in Tijuana, although if you know someone great in Cancun which is much closer let me know! I’m really overwhelmed attempting to research doctors and hospitals in Tijuana. A surprising majority have a very high rating on Google maps and reviews. I don’t really know where else to look. So I am asking for recommendations that might narrow down my search. I am especially interested in hearing from people who have had this revision from sleeve to mini gastric. My goal is to have the surgery within the next 6 to 8 weeks so it’s really important I find somebody good. Please help!