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It’s not all bad. I went for a walk with my youngest yesterday that prior to surgery I wouldn’t have been able to do. I’m slowly but surely getting better and getting my life back.

My hunger started coming back late in month four post-surgery. But it has been a quiet "voice" --- nothing like before. And the beauty of the period of time that I wasn't hungry was learning to tell the difference between head or emotion-based "hunger" and actual hunger. In other words, when I started feeling what I thought was hunger, I paused and really tuned into my gut. Since I was never hungry at first, I could really focus on what that felt like so I now when I actually do get hungry, I know my gut well enough (and my head/emotion hunger) that I can differentiate this well. Also, one key is to follow the advice to eat slowly since it takes our guts 15 minutes or so to tell the head that we are full. Best wishes to you as you decide what you need to do moving forward!

Hello all o/ I am hoping some of you can help me with some questions about life post SADI. I had RNY in 2013, and on 6/2023 I had it converted to SADI. This is a new procedure at my doctor’s office. They’ve never done duodenal switch procedures and I was one of the first people to have SADI. The Dietary information given to me was the same they give for RNY/Sleeve patients. There isn’t anyone for me to really talk to at the support group about it and while my nurses try to be helpful, it’s not the same as getting info from people who have lived through this. Ever since surgery I have been extremely hungry. I haven’t had any kind of restrictive feeling you would have with the original RNY surgery. My doctor said part of it was because when she reversed my RNY she left me with a bigger stomach than normal (to help prevent pressure on the suture lines and leaks). When people were eating 2oz of yogurt I was able to eat a whole cup, and my doctor told me it was fine, she wanted me to eat more with this surgery. The problem is she has never said how much is too much. She said just meet my protein goals (80 -100grams) and everything else will follow naturally. As the months have passed and I have been trying to eat more normal food, I have noticed that I am already slipping up. I am constantly hungry and find I am just watching the clock for when I can eat again, and I am overeating. And eating the wrong things. The amount of gas I have been experiencing is unbearable. I am having a hard time pin pointing exactly what is making me this way (the only two things I know with out a doubt seem to be potatoes and Onions… two of my favorite vegetables ) I was sick for 3 days after Thanksgiving from eating stuffing and mashed potatoes. I am so grateful that I work from home right now because I don’t know how I can be around people like this. I am ok until around 3pm, then the bloating starts, and the gas keeps me up all night. It’s not gentle, it sounds like warfare. The tiniest poop might come out with gale winds force. I can’t go in public. No amount of Gas X or Beano seems to work. I need to get a handle on this. I am taking my vitamins/calcium religiously. I am eating about 60-80 grams of protein a day, but found I am eating larger portions than I think I should be, snacking, and eating too much carbs. Just basically I’m off the rails. I am still losing weight, but probably not what I could be. I do plan on talking to the dietician again but would like to hear from people who have lived this life first. Can some of you share your experiences with me? Are there certain foods you must avoid because of the gas? Is there a certain number of carbs/fats/protein you’re aiming for each day? Does it get better? Can you eventually eat friend onions with your fajitas again? Did you struggle with hunger? I would love to hear everyones experiences and what has/has not worked for them. Thanks for the support!

My husband made me laugh today; I was kinda bummed because I hate shopping at grocery stores and its hard to find different foods that I can eat..so I'm looking at a label and I see movement to my left out of the corner of my eye.. Its my goofy amazing husband doing the electric side and booty shake down the isle towards me to the grocery store music...singing down the entire isle!. 😂 he's usually pretty reserved so it made me burst out laughing!

I'm not nervous about the surgery. However, I have to take blood thinners for several days afterwards because I've had issues in the past with venous deficiency in my lower leg. So, I'm nervous about that more than the surgery.

just wanted to respond to comments about being on liquids only - depends on the surgeon. Our clinic at the time had us on purees as soon as we got home from the hospital (not sure if they still do, since it's been nine years for me). To the OP - follow your surgeon's plan.

I’m so glad and grateful to be home. Even while in the hospital I noticed how much I was able to walk and hold a conversation while even just walking 300 feet (little over 90 meters). My surgeon even said I looked much better than before surgery and my 15yr old told me that she was happy to see me back and that it was sad watching me slowly decline (she had never shared that with me! 😭). Recovery is expected to last 4-6 weeks for bone healing but cardiac rehab lasts 8-12 weeks and starts week 2-4 post op.

Thankyou! 😊

You are not a failure. The fact that you posted here looking for help means you are open to reaching out for help and that will lead to success!! Many people are too scared to even put the words out there. I urge you strongly to reach out to your bariatric team and get their recommendations for a few therapists that specialize in eating disorders. Try a session with a few of them to find one you like. They will help you navigate the emotional components and anxiety and depression. The surgeon operated on your stomach and intestines, not your brain. Surgery can't fix the inner narratives we have that keep us in cycles we don't want to be in. And Catwoman7 is right, some bariatric patients do end up using appetite suppressing medications to help with those voices, often in conjunction with therapy. There is no escaping the head work, it HAS to be done or it will undermine you at every turn. In time you'll learn how to companion with it and live along side it. It may always be there in some form, but that doesn't mean it gets to be in the driver's seat 24/7.

Oh yeah. I'm 3.5 years out and the honeymoon has long been over. If I weren't extremely careful about what I eat, it would be terrifyingly easy to fall off the wagon and jump on the regain train. The surgery still helps, for sure; even when I eat too much, I think back to how much I would have eaten before the surgery and realize that my overindulgence now pales in comparison. But it still takes a lot of effort and attention to maintain my weight. My first recommendation for you is to get back on the scale and see exactly where you stand. No matter how much you've regained, stepping on the scale isn't going to change it. Believe me, I understand not wanting to know (take it from someone who did not own a scale for over a decade before my surgery), but staying in denial will only make things worse. I found a fantastic podcast called "We Only Look Thin," hosted by a husband and wife who each lost over 100 pounds. They did NOT have WLS, but they have so much insight and advice. They address a lot of the things that you worry about, so if you are open to listening to podcasts, I highly recommend this one.