POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

So here's the deal. I'll eat a small amount, get full, stop eating. An hour later, or even less, I'm hungry! So I eat again! Sure, it's a small amount, but I don't want to be eating every hour! I want to be able to be normal, with breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner. Drinks in between. What do your days/menus look like? How often are you eating, and what types of food at each point? I'm not speaking to people who are 6+ months out, I'm looking for people who have had surgery in the past 3 months but are already on a routine. Thanks, all!

Has anyone experienced pancreatitis after surgery? My labs are through the roof (my lipase is 807) and I’m not sure if I should go to ED or wait to talk to my doc until Monday. I am in a lot of pain and can hardly eat but don’t want to go to the ED if my doc can do something that doesn’t require a hospital visit. In case you’re wondering, the labs I did Friday came back after the doctor’s office closed Friday evening.

Hi all. I'm scheduled for VGS early May and have an overseas trip planned for end of July (11 weeks later). I'm concerned about my energy level, etc. Anyone care to share your 3 month post op travel experiences? Thanks in advance

Hi everyone. Man, do I ever want oatmeal. I can't have it just yet, but when I do, does anyone know if the steel cut or rolled oat form is better for those of us with the sleeve? Oh, and any tips for adding protein powder to it? I'm thinking plain would be best, but how to mix it in?

Had anyone tried these? I haven’t been to Wendy’s in so long but my mom gets their chili all the time and she told me yesterday that Wendy’s had some good looking salads and I checked their website and they look pretty good. Just curious if anyone has tried them.

I had my surgery last thurs (mar 3) and today I started "week 2" of the diet my doctor gave me. This consists of all the liquids of week 1 plus low sugar oatmeal, yogurt, applesauce and mashed potatoes. I just have a few questions: 1. What does everyone experience when they say "i cant do (insert food here)".. how do you know when you cant tolerate a food? I ask because a few people I talked to always just say "i felt like i was dying" and that TERRIFIED me so now im so nervous to even eat a darn thing. 2. my sheet says to do 3 meals a day but I can add a snack. How long between meals and when do I do the snack? 3. Why am I so hungry and is there an…

So I’m really disappointed I didn’t stick to my diet plan. I had the sleeve done last year in June and here it is December and I’ve only lost 40 pounds. I’m a complete failure. No one to blame but myself but recently my hair started falling out. It used to be super thick and long. Now it’s really thin and shorter. I thought hair loss happened in the beginning, not this far out? Any advice would be great!!

Its been 14 weeks since my surgery and I have finally been able to eat chicken. I feel overjoyed and empowered. I wanted to do a lap around my living room. I could cry, its been soul destroying to keep trying it and failing. I made a mild Thai broth for the family with chicken drumsticks and peppers, mushrooms, potato and beansprouts. They had it with noodles. I just had a drumstick and some broth it was heavenly. The old woman is catching up Whoop Whoop

Hi everyone! I have a question about gas and bloating. I am over 2 years PO with gastric bypass. Everyday i am so freaking gassy and bloated. Is this normal? I dont use a straw but do chew gum like a fiend. Help! tell me it will stop! UGH!

I was sleeved about 7 years ago. looking for old and new friends. Is there still a chat? Anyone out there want to chat for a few?

Has anyone ever been to one of these. Apparently they are all over. I want to go so badly. What’s good there? It all looks so good on their online menu. Also, if I get a smoothie to go and put in fridge will it be good later that same day? I am thinking if I eat food I obviously can’t do a smoothie too but I could have it later for a snack or for dinner if it’s a protein one. Maybe I will just get a smoothie and call it a day. I glanced at the calories and many things are a splurge as listed but I’m thinking I can get the sauce on the side or leave off the bacon, etc to make it doable. Just curious what others get there.

I had RNY on Tuesday, five days ago. Knock on wood, I’m doing well. But, I am starving today. I cannot bear the protein shakes and broth. It makes me sick to even look at them now. My doctor prescribes the same diet to everyone. Day 1 - 14 clear liquids and protein shakes; day 14 - 21 add plain yogurt, liquified cream of wheat, low-fat milk; day 22 start puréed food. I’m not going to make it that long without food. Why are there so many discrepancies among how doctors determine post-op guidelines?? I’ve seen people on purée by week two. Can I start something else now? Ugh. Having temporary buyer’s remorse.

Hello Fellow Sleevers - Please help! After I eat ANYTHING, I feel gas type bubbles travel up my back which HURT! They're very uncomfortable!! Makes me want to NOT eat! Do any of you guys this? If you did, does it go away?? (I am 15 days post op) Also, does your stomach make noises and grumble/move after you put something in it?? I'm freakin' out and feel like I won't ever be normal again!!!

Hello I had band January 20 2022 and I was on liquid diet 2 weeks lost weight then it started slowing down as I became more hungry and had no restriction I had my first fill today of 2.5 cc and my doctor said I have to go back on a 2 week clear liquid diet? I cannot do that again I am so hungry I feel no restriction at all ....will I feel any from just a liquid diet? I can gulp water down it doesn't feel tight at all how long do I have to wait to get another fill? What's the ristriction feel like am I getting it messed up from when food gets stuck sometimes and I feel tightness in chest and have to vomit it out

Anyone have them. I posted before about it but didn't get much of a response. I don't sweat all day I'm actually cold, but sometime not always I wake up soked. Last night I woke up and my calves were even soked. I don't have any other problems not pains no fever's I'm 42 and a woman so hopefully it's not the change of life but it scares me, not enough to not go back to bed usually right away and I'm fine. Maybe it's night terror's I have know clue but my husband said if it keeps up he's going to wear scuba gear to bed.

Ten days post surgery. gastric bypass. have weak voice. Not sore throat. Not mucous or phlegm. only have 60 percent of my voice. weak.

Hi All, Denis from Ireland here. 8 days out from surgery. 322 pounds at the weigh in to gauge the anaesthetic and 308 pounds at at a weigh in yday. Some notes: had huge buyers remorse in hospital on day 2. I was a day late being released as my tummy wouldn't tolerate the cubitan. Was stessing but the overnight nurse was brilliant and calmed me down saying everybody is different. She was right day 3 was a huge day went home lunchtime day 4. I am a bit behind food wise i.e this morning is day 8 and soft food causes dumping. Let me clarify soft fiod that is not pureed e.g a dash of onion, or another example a mushroom soup with thyne and other flavours. Its not worh it. …

Hello! Newbie here! I have my consultation this afternoon, but I wanted to reach out about recovery time. How long do most doctors say you need to take off work?

I did it! I weighed in this morning at 196.4…at my heaviest I was 348. I started my liver shrinking diet last May at 309…down 113 pounds, VSG has been the best decision of my life!

My biggest problem is feeling hungry. I enjoy food and drink and as such think about them alot. I would very much like to be one of 'those people' who don't think about food too much and sometimes forget to eat. Will a sleeve gastrectomy affect my appetite and destroy Ghrelin enough to help me with this?

I’m 16 days post op and I have been bleeding off and on first it started 2 days after surgery for 10 days but I have the implant in my arm and haven’t had a period in like 2 years then it stopped for like 5 days and now I’m bleeding again but now worst than before has anyone had this problem ??

Hey y'all! I had my surgery on 2/17, was discharged on 2/18, and back to work on 2/21 (against my doctor's advice). I have been in the gym almost everyday for an hr on the treadmill and I'm down 15lbs so far. My doctor thinks I'm nuts for going back to work so soon, but I sit at a desk all day and I honestly have very little pain. I don't even use the pain meds. My only struggle is eating pureed foods for another week. My doctor skipped the liquid diet and put me straight to pureed foods. My starting weight was 280lbs and 1 week later I'm at 265lbs. I'm excited !! Just curious as to when others started noticing that a smaller wardrobe was needed?

Hey there I’m 18 months out, and I am feeling blah , self conscious about my body. Being intimate with my partner is a challenge for me to participate in. He is a bit heavier then me and over the last 4 years embraced his dad bod . Well I focus on what I can change taking my vitamins daily and staying active , trying new things , I went back to school. Before the surgery I would never have thought of going back to school. I’m sorry excited , life is precious and shouldn’t be wasted. I hang onto my routine when I do anything protien shake in my coffee, having protien , keeping my carbs and sugar limited. I just get so bored. Any advice also I have lost so much of my bott…

Where are my peeps at? How are you doing? Post pics so I can see your amazing progress!! I'm tagging our original members but I know there is more of you out there. You can post here too!! @debbie89 @Tierra T Tij @numinousvessel @kat6620 @Mrs. Rob @PCOSSUCKS @alleamarie @mercmerc @mrselie @Pearldrop @sharaimonique @teddynola @Willbslimnik @annette17 @jenpa @Hapamomma @Mzdurant01 @ByeFelicia @Iwanttoseemytoes @nurse4126 @lionsofmercy @Crcountry @Rasmjil @2sparrows @Dmantei56 @nicolebklyn @RHughes1026 @yoshi_lover @Oceanlove @Trixie82 @Daniellababiex3 @hinton38607 @breathemuzic @LibbyT85 @shortmocha @cb1986 @mitch22622 @g.elisabeth @Coco82 @Deb100 @jhrnhab @AL…

I am a nurse on rotating schedules between day shift and night shift, 12 hour shifts. I’m getting ready to go back to nightshift, 7p-730a. Last time I was nightshift, I drank way too much coffee and still was too dangerously tired to drive home. Obviously, everyone else survives on energy drinks. But, we have to watch our caffeine and sugar intake and can’t have carbonation. Any recommendations for energy drinks?? More for the carbonation aspect, I haven’t touched soda and don’t want to start. But, I really need to stay awake lol. I’ll take any advice. Appreciate the help

What to drink or eat?? I am 9 days out from the sleeve. Everything I drink causes painful indigestion. I can barely drink 20 ounces of anything a day. Help.

Hey everyone so I’m 2 weeks post op and have now started puree foods and I can’t tell when I’m full. I eat slowly and chew as much as possible I’m not drinking when I eat and yet I don’t feel full ever. The only way I seem to tell is when I finally throw up or I just guess. Does anyone have this problem or advice?

Hello, it’s my first day post op surgery! Any advise? Thanks

Will I ever be able to eat normal size bites again? Strange question I know - I really didn’t expect to miss something so silly. I find I want to take a “real” bite. Does anyone else ever feel that way? I am only 7 weeks out and on more normal food now but I sure miss normal size bites.

At 2.5 weeks out, how much food should I be consuming? If I feel hungry between "meals" (If we can call it that!) is it phantom hunger? Is it possible for me to be hungry if my stomach is so small? This is so confusing. I don't want to eat too much, I'm afraid of stretching my stomach and getting used to food too quickly. But what does the hunger mean? I tried drinking instead of eating (bec I'm low on drinking anyway, so kill 2 birds with one stone) but it doesn't help.

Had surgery on 2/16. I finally came home today. Im still in pain and only drinking 2ozs per hour. This has me questioning my decision to have this. ..smh.

Hi! I got my gastric sleeve done 6 weeks back. Problem is, that if I am wearing a bra, it constricts my stomach/general area so much so I can barely eat one bite of food every 4-5 hours. That too when I move around a lot during those 4-5 hours - otherwise it just feels like it is stuck in my oesophagus. I know it is the bra’s constriction because eating is not that difficult when i don’t have it on. My questions are: 1. Has anyone felt the constriction because of a bra as well? I wear a very loose sports bra and the band is tight at all. 2. Apart from the usual restriction that is expected after a gastric sleeve, does eating eventually get a lit…

Hello all, I'm about 60 days post op. I lost 11 lbs liquid diet and 20lbs since surgery. I am feeling down because everyone around me seems to be dropping weight but me. I do the treadmill at Planet Fitness. I'm following the after surgery phases to the letter. I get 80 to 90 Oz of water a day. I've lost nothing in over 7days in fact according to the scale I've gained a lb or two. I feel my baratric team is not giving me clear guidelines. I asked nutrition how many calories per day her response is don't count calories. Huh?!?!? My nutrition team keeps saying the scale is not a true indicator for weight loss but shouldn't it move some..... I just feel down today about it. …

Just curious how long it was before you were able to sleep on your incision sites. I'm at Day 5 post RNY. My incision sites are no longer sore but I've been sleeping in a recliner as a precaution to keep from putting pressure on them. I'm told my staples will be coming out at my one week follow up, which is actually tomorrow. How long after surgery did you wait (if at all) to return to normal sleeping?

Mags

Hey all I'm about a week post op things are finally feeling better except for when I swallow...anything....liquid, protein, jello, popsicle it hurts and then I burp...is this normal?

Anyone have a FitTrack or other smart scale to measure muscle and fat mass? Seems like it would be helpful info (and encouraging during the times you may not be losing weight, but gaining muscle!) but skeptical if it really works and if the additional data is actually worth the $100. Any thoughts?

Hello and thank you for your posts. I had the sleeve o4 days ago. Trying to follow the rules to a “T”, and for the most part, doing it. However, I have constant diarrhea. Any advice? Thank you!

So now that I’m 3 weeks post op, the last 3 nights barely any sleep because of acid reflux? I already take a 40mg acid reducer every morning. What is anybody doing if anything about the acid reflux.

On 1/28 I had revision surgery going from VSG to a bypass due to feeling like I did not reach the goal that I wanted and was actually starting to regain. I am 13 days post op and feel no restriction. I mean none. When I first had the vsg surgery I felt restriction immediately even during the liquid phase but now it’s so different. I’ve even tried some solids maybe to see if I’m over reacting but still nothing. Anyone else has been through this ? I’m starting to worry.

I’m 3 weeks post op and so depressed. I’m craving a double cheeseburger from McDonald’s. But can’t even eat because I get so nauseous. This sucks. How can I control my mind from wanting all these bad things?!!??? I’m so mad and just want to cry. What did I do to myself.

I can drink 22 ounces of water at a time without any problem. Is that a sign my stomach has stretched? Also I can eat a whole sandwich and chips at one meal! Help?

So, I'm a little worried about the whole saggy skin thing. I had the lap band done and lost about 70 lbs in 5 months. I didn't really have any saggy skin, just a little "pouch" in my stomach area. But my arms and legs were fine. Fast forward to now, I had to have it removed for medical reasons and I'm nervous for the weight loss after my bypass. I'm older now and have alot more health problems that have prevented me from being active. I was looking at getting those arms sleeve wraps to see if they might help during weight loss. And maybe one of those things that look like Spanx. Has anyone tried any of these? What has worked for you on helping with saggy skin?

Has anyone's dr ever told them their white blood cell count is low??

Hi everyone, I had my sleeve done on 1/28/22. This is my first post, but I have been lurking for a few weeks. Right now I’m on stage 3 of the diet — I’ve starting eating puréed veggies, ricotta cheese, etc (can’t bring myself to purée any meats ?). I also made a big batch of roasted tomato soup and I’ve been eating that for dinner. I’m not hungry ever, which I know is typical. But I also don’t really notice ever feeling very full, like so many people tend to. It’s making me nervous, because I know eventually the hunger comes back, and that feeling of quick fullness was what I was banking on. I stop myself at what I think are appropriate portions (like for breakfast I had …

Hey everyone, As I head into eating foods again and not just thick liquids, I need some help. In another post, I saw someone said you should look for foods at the store under a certain amount of carbs and sugars, but for the life of me cannot find the original post which said what those numbers were. Can anyone share the numbers they use when evaluating products at the store? I would love to make a note of it. Thank you!

Hello everyone! So I’m scheduled for sleeve surgery 2/24 and I’m wanting to make sure I’m prepared for the “full liquid stage”. I was told day 3-14 I need to be on full liquids like broth, cream based Soups, etc. however I want to know how did you guys manage protein/fluid intake? I was advised to get about 48-64 oz of Water in and at least 60g of Protein daily. They said it was okay if I didn’t meet that goal right after but I do want to do as best as I can to try to. Any suggestions? I feel like I’m going to be sipping all day and all night to meet this goal in the beginning stages lol. It is crazy because I have a family member who had this surgery and didn’t fol…

I am so glad I found this group/forum! I have already searched and answered most of my questions. That being said, Thursday is my 2 week appointment and I am hoping I am cleared to move from liquids to the puree stage. Any favorite recipes out there that helped you get through this stage? Thanks in advance

I am a little over 3 months post-op and have already started going back to some of my old eating habits--ordering take out, not separating eating and drinking, eating junk food. This week, I ended up splurging four different times on junk food I struggled with overeating pre-surgery. Luckily, I can't eat more than 3-4 ounces at a time, and I am still losing pretty quickly (down 45 pounds from surgery and 80 total from when I started losing weight in May of last year). I know that won't last though and am terrified of stretching my pouch. I'd still like to lose another 70 pounds but am having a hard time finding the motivation to exercise regularly and measure portio…

Has anyone ever tried to use the protein liquid or gel supplements that marathon runners and athletes use to help “get in” protein requirement ?