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I am today officially 3 weeks post op RNY. My first week of healing was a bit uncomfortable, but by the end I was much better and could move around more. Week 2 I started to feel some tugging on my right side kind of away from the immediate incision area. I mentioned it to my surgeon at my 2 week visit and he said it is likely because 2 of the incisions are sewn to muscle and did not seem concerned. Well 4-5 days later, not only is that part in an awful state of pain, but the 3rd incision site (internally) also feeling similar. It’s not a constant pain, but brought on by movement. It started as some movement like bending, but now is with nearly anything. (Showering is torture). It is what I can best describe as being stabbed with a hot knife. It for sure feels like a muscle burn rather than an ulcer burn and is only relieved with holding my stomach w a lot of pressure. I picked up a back brace/ab brace for an immediate fix with hopes to get a better larger binder. With the brace I can function way better, but because I have a B belly, it sits in the crease and with the pressure after several hours it irritates my skin. Anyone else experience a similar feeling? I am awaiting a reply back from my doctor.

I wore the same clothes home from the hospital that I wore there. I took nothing except my purse and phone. Never even looked at my phone except on the ride home. Shocking huh? LOL I had fam members there who kept the rest of my family updated. At home, my laptop and tv remote kept me occupied between naps. Trying to read a book and remembering any of it that first week? IDK... seems a bit of a fog.

My biggest suggestion is to just be patient and supportive over the first few weeks...all those bodily changes can have some really, um...interesting effect on the mood! My mom got me a bunch of gift cards for clothes after my surgery and I appreciated it so much...after being overweight for years it was actually fun to go try and figure out what my personal style was when I wasn't as hamstrung by having to find the few items in the store that fit me. (19 months later I'm still trying to figure that out, but I'm learning!) Another suggestion for gifts might be a nice bariatric-friendly lunchbox or meal prep stuff for when he returns to work and starts eating a wider variety of foods. Having ways to transport your meals is important!

I have to agree, seems like a lot of weight lifting so soon after surgery.I would think you are not eating enough and your body could be holding on to your weight. I would speak to your team to see if you should be doing something different with eating. Sent from my SM-S916U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

That’s correct, sleeve surgery removes around 75-80% of your tummy but gastric bypass creates a much smaller tummy from your tummy & attaches it to your rerouted intestines. Your remaining tummy is still there after bypass but no food can enter it. Further conversations with your surgeon may be needed to help you understand the differences in the surgeries, how they impact your body & which may be best for your needs. It may help ease some of your nerves too. (Nerves before surgery are very common - fear of the unknown, uncertainty, etc.) With both surgeries your ability to consume large portions is reduced. Initially after either surgery when you start consuming purées you will only be able to eat 1/4 - 1/3 cup of food. This slowly increases. (By 6 months I could eat about a cup of food & now I eat about the recommended serving size or a little less.) And it is possible for you to eventually eat around your smaller tummy which of course results in weight gain & something to be aware of. Changing your eating habits, your relationship with food, understanding the nutritional benefits of food, etc. are vital aspects of losing your weight & maintaining the loss. This is the work you have to do & has nothing to do with the surgery. Many find the temporary changes to our sense taste & sometimes smell after surgery is an opportunity to try different & healthier foods. I have some food sensitivities so I recognise you may as well but are they legitimate food sensitivities or just you don’t like to eat certain foods (taste, texture, etc.)? A dietician can help with this as well. Often working with a therapist is very helpful to work through your relationship ship with find & what is behind your eating habits., as well as your hunger (distinguishing between head hunger & real hunger). Focus on eating your protein first at every meal. Then eat your vegetables. Finally if you are able eat any carbs. This will be the same advice you will be given after surgery & when your able to eat solid foods. There were many meals I only ate my protein & couldn’t or didn’t want to eat anything else. ( I still have days like this almost 4 years out.) Start tracking your food (portion sizes, calories, protein & other macros). There are some great apps you can use. You can be successful with either surgery but after the honeymoon stage when things like your appetite returns, most of your success depends upon you. You have to be ready for the surgery & the changes it brings & the changes you have to make. Surgery was the best thing I ever did. All the best whatever you decide to do.

Do you track actual food intake? It’s easy to exceed calories and not knowing exactly what you put in when snacking can add up in a hurry. I weigh everything I eat, even at work, and use Baritastic app to log calories and this way you know exactly what goes in. I actually lose too much weight while working because the food they serve doesn’t fit into my new diet. 5 months and 3 weeks post surgery and I’m down 135lbs. Follow the plan and you’ll do great.

Are you allowed to snack and what snacks are you allowed? (Check with your dietician.) This is always the first place to begin. I was allowed one snack: yoghurt or a small portion of fruit from early in my third month. You may be allowed other things like hummus, or vegetable crudités, beef jerky, etc.though most of those can’t be easily taken to the movies. 😉 Will you be at the movies during your regular meal time so legitimately would be hungry & needing to eat? If it is a meal time take one of your shakes or soup in a thermal cup. Looking to snack simply because you’re at the movies is another issue - eating just out of habit not need. I don’t eat when I go to the movies even if it’s a meal time. It’s only a couple of hours. I don’t need to snack & I don’t ‘have to’ snack because others are. I take in a bottle of water & that’s all. But that’s my choice & we all make our own choices.

You can try to incorporate high calorie (but healthy) foods into your diet. For example: Avocado, PB (super yummy on banana or apple), use evoo or ghee to cook and not cooking spray, etc.

We are such individuals! I heard Dr. Yeo yesterday (Cambridge University weight loss specialist) explain that there are over 200 genes involved in obesity, so we all loose differently. I am loosing slowly and still loosing 18 months out. I am loosing differently than how I lost pre surgery. Lol, I’m not gaining it back like I used to do. It really is a different way of living and checking my feelings. There’s no magic weight elevator down. Weight loss does take sustained effort over time. I’ve had to really dig deep and get therapy and do the work. You have made great progress. If you’re still hungry, talk with your doctor. Get to the bottom of it. Is it your head hunger and need a therapist or do you have a medical issue like needing metformin? Does your center have ongoing support groups? Are you working through dropping other medications? There’s so much going on, you’re doing awesome weight wise!

19 pounds in a month is fantastic; there are folks on this very board who would love to be able to say they had lost that much their first month. I wouldn't put too much stock in how your body reacted to losing weight prior to your surgery, your entire system has just gone through massive changes and is still very much in a healing phase, so you've got things like fluid retention, inflammation, etc at play.