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One week out and I'm still not past it - this is the itchiest post-anything I've ever felt. I'm glad you've escaped it!

A tightness in your chest (I always want to thump my chest when I feel it) is your restriction. It signals you’ve eaten too much, too quickly or something that is harder too swallow or digest. You won’t really feel that until you’re on more solid foods. Though I get it if I drink too quickly or too much at a time but if you’re sipping & waiting a couple of minutes between each sip you shouldn’t feel it at this stage. Upper chest pain near & around your shoulder is from the surgical gas they use to inflate your abdomin. It lasts about a week or so. If your pain is something different call your medical team just in case.

The pain could be you releasing the gas that was used to provide better access to your stomach and intestines. As the gas leaves your body, it may cause pain in your shoulders. Shoulder pain following LAGB surgery is common, usually affects the left shoulder, and can in some cases last 5 weeks or more.

Hi sorry for never saying thank you for the reply was really helpful! Just updating for any future searchers, by huge coincidence, my surgery is now also scheduled for the 10 November 2021, wait times are about 6 to 10 weeks apparently average for Nuffield, and NHS had gone up to 5 years atm. Mines a bit on the quicker side as I am incredibly boring health-wise with no medications, risks other than obesity, or history of digestive issues of any kind.

Getting my banana stomach on the 11th of October don't know how I feel.... Excited nervous or scared maybe all three Sent from my SM-A215U using BariatricPal mobile app

interesting - but not sure how much this relates to hair loss that occurs after major surgeries, though. Sounds like it helps more with age-related baldness. The hair loss after surgery is temporary and due to the trauma of surgery (it supposedly can be a potential side effect of any major surgery, but i think it's seen more often after WLS than a lot of other types of surgeries because in addition to the stress from the surgery, we're also taking in very few calories those first few weeks & months - so a double whammy. Although they do say that keeping on top of your vitamin and protein requirements can keep it from getting any worse than it is. And it does grow back. Mine lasted about four months - and I didn't really lose enough to notice.

I have BCBS but I started the process in January and just had my surgery 2 weeks ago... so, it felt like forever! It wasn't just the insurance hoops, but the surgery center was understaffed and my outside Dr. didn't talk to them, and lots of little things. I would say to prepare, clean out your pantry (if you live alone) so you won't be tempted by things that are not good choices. Also, have food that you can eat after surgery ready to go - protein shakes, yogurt, sugar free jello and ice pops. People always say don't buy too much because your tastes will change, but my tastes didn't change at all really. I loved sweets before, I still love sweets. I was hoping I wouldn't like them any more. But you need to have the food ready to go because you can't carry heavy things like canned soup, protein drinks, etc right after surgery. Have your house clean and your laundry done and your dishes washed because it will be hard to do these things for a few days. Pick up all your prescriptions ahead of time, except for those they give you the day of surgery. Get Miralax and Laxative Suppositories, because the constipation is REAL. Buy a few water bottles (the reusable kind) to keep in the fridge so you can rotate them as they get warm, since you can't guzzle water after surgery, and you may not want warm water. Start tracking your food and water on an app like MyFitnessPal or just pen and paper in a journal.

I've been craving sweets and cheese. Today was my first "solid" food (Two week post-op) and now that I ate a cheese stick and about a T of refried beans, I no longer am craving anything except water. Maybe that will work for you? I mean, in my head if I think about a cheesecake it sounds delicious, but I feel too stuffed to eat anything.

Congrats! Sounds like you're doing great! I'm just two weeks out myself. I just started soft food today and I was meeting my goals - 70 g protein and 80 oz of water - until I started soft food. Now I can't get as much in.

I had that same thought, but liquid goes right through you. It doesn't stay in your stomach. I was STARVING the first two weeks until today, when I finally had solid food (a cheese stick and about a tablespoon of refried beans and I can barely stand how full I am two hours later!). I can easily drink a ton of protein drinks or yogurt, but the smallest amount of solid food is like BAM! Stuck.

Back in December of 2019, my wife (Girl friend at the time) decided to have sleeve surgery. I did the typical "You know this can kill you right?" and various other vocal concerns. But, knowing she is intelligent and having trust in her, I told her she has my 100% support. I got to see her go thru 6 month program, see all her paperwork and homework, and also learn while she learned. She had her surgery on Sept 20th of 2020. Since then I have been able to learnt he eat better myself since I did not want to eat terrible in front of her. As weeks went on after her surgery and I see her pain going away, and her smile getting bigger, I started thinking. Maybe I was all wrong about it. So At end of December I filled out the online forum for the program and waited. 2 weeks later, I get "the call" saying I have been accepted into the program. The whole time thinking I might go thru with it. Over the next 6 months or so I get upper endoscopies, ECG, blood work, have group sessions with head docs and nutritionists. During all these I keep getting more and more excited about the possibilities. August 6th I complete the program and wait for the call with a surgery date. Aug 13th my phone rang and the screen said "Stomach Cutters" (what I named the contact). She said September 16th, you are scheduled for the Sleeve surgery. By this time, my "maybe" of getting it was, "I want this now". I was super excited. I was all set for this! September 2nd I started my 2 week liquid diet. That night, I had a work function cook out... I made it thru. Stayed strong. Sept 4th, I have a friends campout pot luck ... stayed strong, made it! by the time The morning of surgery hit, I had lost 25 pounds on liquid diet and was ready. Surgery at 7:30am, Recovery room by 9am, room by 11am. Then I slept most of the day and night on and off. Met with my surgeon early next morning he said my liver shrunk so much during liquid diet I had one less incision. Great news. I was bored so walked around the unit a bunch to keep moving. Then got told I was discharged at 1pm. Rest of Friday, Saturday and Sunday was all about rest, sip sip sip, and recover. My wife, is nothing less than an angel. Support at home is amazing. My daughter who lives with us was amazing as well. Come Monday (4 days postop), I was back to work full time and ended up working 50 hours my first week. (Desk job at home that week for recovery). By day 7 out I was on pureed foods and by day 11 I was on soft foods. I get 40-60g protein a day, 48oz water a day and I am feeling great! Regrets? Yeah, not doing this 15 years ago!

Hi everyone! It's two weeks past my sleeve, and I thought I'd post some of my observations. THE GOOD - Down 27 lbs. from surgery weight (357 to 330) - Down 2" on my neck (!), 3" on my waist, 6" on my abdomen - Had to size down in shirts and do my first closet purge - One blood pressure medication cut completely, the other at half dosage - Able to meet protein target of 80-100 g per day and liquid goal of 64-96 oz per day THE BAD - Brain fog and fatigue (will discuss with my surgeon later, could be vitamin deficiency) - Sick to death of liquid diet but have another week of it left - Itchy dry legs THE UGLY - C O N S T I P A T I O N - The one incision (the large one where the unwanted stomach is withdrawn) has started hurting and pulling again, but is not inflamed I am back to work at one job (from home) but not yet at the other (outdoors, physical). I'm back in the gym but not doing anything that requires abs, abdominal pressure (so no weightlifting)... a lot of walking, running, and stationary biking, and a lot of stuff with the 10-lb. dumbbell I'm allowed by my surgeon. My time on an 800m run went from about 6:30 to 4:45... running feels totally different! Overall, despite the rough first couple of days (all. that. gas!) this is clearly the right decision for me and I love seeing myself literally deflate.

I also was given ondansetron and took them the first two-three days. They also put a seasickness patch behind my right ear before surgery that lasted 72 hours. I believe you can buy them over the counter.

Each person is completely different. The higher you start, the more you're likely to lose right away—but not always. The first week or so is basically your body in trauma. You were pumped absolutely full of fluids and gas during surgery (if you had weighed yourself immediately after you probably would've gained 5 pounds!) and your body has to get rid of it. But if you're concerned, ask your surgeon or your bariatric center. I noticed that my weight tumbled the first week, then was more consistent the second week (today is two weeks out). I'm sure the three-week stall is right around the corner, but that's okay.

I've always gotten on the scales once a week, same time of the day, same clothing. Any more often than that and you will get discouraged.

Hello all hope your doing well - i had my sleeve 9/9 and 1 week of puured foods im craving meara bread sweets etc - after dinner protein shakes etc and 1-2L drinking any advice and what foods did you eat at this stage?

I am two weeks post surgery and I have been sooo hungry. I kept being told I wouldn't be hungry after surgery... I have been constantly hungry. I just started soft solids today. I think it's a bit better... but even the refried beans hurt a bit. I only had a tablespoon or two, eaten a tiny bit at a time. I guess, see if it gets better with solid food?

Hrm... I haven't had any itching on my incision sites. I'm two weeks out. I'm generally an itchy person, so I'm not sure why. I had a tooth removed a week later (unrelated) and the stitches there itch sometimes. Hope you feel relief soon!

I’m having the sleeve and hernia repair done this Friday 10/1! I wasn’t nervous until probably a few days ago. The 3 week liquid diet has kept me pre-occupied with misery. Lol. I know it’s for the right reason, I’m just over the same flavors for so many days. Well, and I’d like to chew again. I’m in Wisconsin.

Everyone reacts differently to surgery. The 3 week stall is a thing, but it does not necessarily wait until the 3rd week. Your surgeon isn't worried and he did comment that you were a lower BMI to start, probably lost weight before surgery, so not losing much the first 3 weeks does not sound way out of whack. So... Get off the scale. It is crazy making and distracting and discouraging you. You don't need it for the important stuff. The important stuff: keep following your plan. Exercise if you are so inclined. Keep doing both. If you follow your plan, you will do fine. It will be OK. Honest. Good luck, Tek

I had the sleeve surgery on September 16th. I’m down only 4 pounds since then, today being a week and a half out. Should I be more? What have all of you done on almost two weeks after surgery??

I had sleeve. I'm eating my first solid food right now - a cheese stick. I'm taking tiny bites and chewing them to paste. It's kind of gross, but the real problem is that I had to have a tooth removed the week after surgery (not related) and so I can only chew on one side and even that is uncomfortable. Of course, now that I've had a few tiny bites, I can feel a pain in my chest!

My doctor called in last week and that was when I said I was about 3 pounds down. (Which is now closer to 1.. it had been fluctuating, but I decided to say 3, for some reason.) All he said was, “okay different for everyone. Your starting weight wasn’t as high as some, so maybe you will be slower to lose. Exercise and eat right. I’ll see you in 2.5 months.” I’m feeling very sad. If I were at 3 lbs lost, maybe I’d be okay. But only 1 has me concerned. He is the best doctor in my area for this, but I honestly feel like I had no procedure. I am wondering if there is a way to check and see if my stomach was made small enough? I’m getting desperate.

Hi.. I am wondering if anyone has experienced basically minimal weight loss with ESG? I had mine on Sept. 8th and have gone down only between 1-3 pounds this whole time. I’m very frustrated and sad. I feel like I should have had more than basically a pound of weight loss in 3 weeks. I feel like the only thing I have lost is money and hope. (Yes I’m following everything correctly.) I don’t understand how I’m one of the only people to not lose weight with a weight loss procedure like this.

I'm two weeks out. I had a fair amount of pain the first few days home from the hospital (Like having done a zillion sit ups as someone else said). It made it hard to sit up from lying down, and walking was painful as my stomach hurt when it "jiggled". Today is my last day on liquids and I'm having no issues getting my fluids or protein in. I'm hungry, but less in the last two days (maybe because I'm finally back at work and have things to focus on?). I had lost about 23 kg prior to surgery and I've lost about 5kg since surgery. I'm 160cm and 41 years old. When I woke up in the hospital I had a bit of gerd, and now I'm taking omeprazole (always prescribed by my clinic for one month after surgery). Having GERD after sleeve is a big concern for me, as I occasionally had reflux prior to surgery if I overate. I had to have a tooth removed a week after surgery (unrelated) and it's much more uncomfortable than the surgery at this point. Yesterday I went for a 3.2 km walk, and I was basically at my old (slow) speed. I was a bit more tired than I would have been prior to surgery, but it was also after my first day back at work. I think you need to consider your past unhealthy eating issues and work with a therapist to determine if this is a good idea for you. While I had had some vomiting and overexercising in my past, that was in my teenage years and very minimal. Many people do not get to their "goal" weight with surgery and if that will trigger unhealthy behaviors for you, that's something to consider.