soumahoro551

Its sad when you tell your own mother and the first thing comes out her mouth is about someone else who had the bypass having complications. First off I said sleeve but all she heard was weight loss surgery and instantly spoke negativity. So that is a done deal I will never bring it up or speak to her about it. My husband and children know and my true friends which all have been supportive. Outside of that i'm not saying a word. That goes for work too! I'm just going to watch them try to catch up thinking diet and excerise was all it took. lol I'm so bad and love it!

I'm December 3rd and nervous as well. But the more research I do, the less nervous I get. I even watched it done on YouTube. I'm having my band removed as well. I'm so glad I found this forum. Lots of great information and super interesting people! I'm sure you're going to do great. I wish you all the best in your journey!!

Went to My bariatric surgeon today, had a very good visit. I told him about my friend saying that my weight lost scared her, because she felt it was to fast. He told me what ever I'm doing to continue because I will be loosing my most weight now and that it will taper off. So I will be doing a lot of brisk walking, light jogging and so forth. Thank you guys for all your support. Oh I'm down 42lbs since I started my weight lost Journey. You guys keep moving...

Went to My bariatric surgeon today, had a very good visit. I told him about my friend saying that my weight lost scared her, because she felt it was to fast. He told me what ever I'm doing to continue because I will be loosing my most weight now and that it will taper off. So I will be doing a lot of brisk walking, light jogging and so forth. Thank you guys for all your support. Oh I'm down 42lbs since I started my weight lost Journey. You guys keep moving...

Oh no that sounds like a painful lesson Hope your feeling better soon.

I am 62 years old and just got sleeved on 12/23/2013. My co-morbities were just getting worse the longer I put off doing something. I have already had one stroke because of my blood pressure. This past February I had some spinal reconstruction. The surgeon said he would not do anymore until I got some of this weight off my frame. 58 is not too old. If you need it - do it. It is not too late to get healthy.

I new I needed help. I had lost 62but put back on 40. I went to a seminar and made the decision to have surgery but not sure what type. My doc recommended the sleeve of by pass. I decided on the sleeve and have been actively doing all the preop tests and consults. I started reading stuff on line and now I am scared and don't know what to do. I could not sleep last night. I'm feeling to old to have it done but also if I don't, I won't have the energy to enjoy my grandchildren and I will get diabetes. I was dx with HBP 2 years ago. I know I am suppose to make the decision myself. I on't mind dieting and exercising just don't want to live the rest of my life without some of my favorite meals and occasional drinks. I read about all these symptoms that people have. do you ever feel normal again?

Nancy,
Here is the url to the pre and post-op diets. http://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/389-pre-op-post-op-diets/
I have seen so many different members be able to eat different foods at different times. There does not appear to be much consistency in pre and post-op diets.
You can search the entire forum for ideas. The most important thing is to follow the guidelines your doctor or nutritionist give you as far as what and when you can eat it.
I can tell you what my doctor recommended but it may be different from what your doctor told you. What ever your doctor says should trump anything anyone else tells you.
1st week right after surgery -- broth, buillion, sugar free Jello, crystal light, Propel, Dasani Aquafina flavored Water, K2 Protein Water, sugar free popsicls, defaffeinated coffee or tea and 1/2 cup Liquid Protein supplement 3 x a day when no nausea was present.
2nd week Full liquids. 4-6 ounces of Protein supplement two to three times a day as a snack in between meals. Vegetable juice, skim or 1% milk, low carb yogurt, Soup blended, cream of wheat/thin oatmeal or grits very thin and watered down. No added sugar fugdesicles, no sugar added hot chocolate, no sugar applesauce.
3rd week. tuna, soft baked fish like tilapia, cod, orange roughy, eggs, cheese, low fat 2%, cottage cheese, low sugar nut butters, banana, canned fruit without skin in their own juice, canned vegetables, sugar free pudding, mashed potatoes and low Fiber crackers like saltine or Ritz.
I will post the later weeks in a bit.

Happy to hear you had minimal pain, praise God!!! I'm just now 1 week out and starting to get some relief. Only took 2 doses of roxicet and gasX strips yesterday compared to my regular every 4-6 hours around the clock since my dec12 surg date. I too only have 4 incisions -- 2 tiny and 2 medium healing up nicely. Many I've heard have 5-6 incisions. Starting Protein Shakes today and hoping it gives me more energy cause I was super week yesterday. Had major regrets first few nights due to excessive pain from my surprise sliding hiatal hernia but I trust my surgeon used his best professional judgement and skill.... Slowly but surely believe I made a good decision .... I just can't wait to start eating normal foods in small portions. I enjoy Water but need more substance these days

Mine was Monday. Immediate post op was painful apparently I'm a light weight when it comes to drugs, fall asleep and forget to breath. So spent a little longer in PACU than normal with no pain meds until the breathing was better.
As soon as they let me up to walk I felt much better. Walked every hour and was as close to pain free possible after surgery. Only used the morphine PCA to sleep.
Was allowed to go home the next morning. Still relatively pain free except sipping fluids was uncomfortable. Post op day 2 was probably the most difficult, gas pain, incisional pain, and fluids were a challenge. But all has gradually gotten better and now am drinking slowly but easily. Staying up late to try to catch up.
So I'd say it wasn't as easy as I hoped but not nearly as difficult as I feared. Pain at its worse 6, and now it might be 1-2.

That's awesome, you clearly have a high pain threshold.
Carry on as you are, but be mindful that something happened inside you which was quite dramatic. Wouldn't want you attempt to run a marathon in week four and end up keeling over!
Glad you're feeling good though! Yay!

Hello everyone! I got sleeved on December 16th, When I woke up family was there. I have to admit I was scared. But to my surprise I had No pain at all,Took my first walk and threw up a little and was given a shot after that It's been smooth sailing I only felt like I had been doing sit ups' was and still is able to get all my Protein in and keep it down, the first week was Clear liquids, I mastered all of that. Now I'm on full liquids I ate tuna and keep it down, I ate mashed potatoes did great. I got in about 90 grams of Protein. I'm doing Isopure Preach Mango, two scoops 63 grams of protein. I am driving because my Dr. said I could as long as I was not on med's..Did I say Still "NO PAIN"

Ok I had my surgery on Monday...Pain free, tolerating liquids very fine. My Dr. said I did very well. I only had 4 incisions. Let's see what the next week bring. Happy I went through with It

My surgery is on Monday.. Only thing I'm worried about is the pain as well I am 58 years old 237 pounds I don't look it but I do feel it... I'm scared of hospitals good to other people are here to help..

My surgery is on Monday.. Only thing I'm worried about is the pain as well I am 58 years old 237 pounds I don't look it but I do feel it... I'm scared of hospitals good to other people are here to help..

My surgery is on Monday.. Only thing I'm worried about is the pain as well I am 58 years old 237 pounds I don't look it but I do feel it... I'm scared of hospitals good to other people are here to help..

Thanks for the replies! Guess I will find out soon enough;). Plan for the worst, hope for the best I suppose.

My pain wasn't bad at all. When they asked me after surgery to rate it on a scale of 1 - 10 I think I said a 4. I was never offered morphine and would have refused it if offered. I did take liquid lortab the first day, then I took it at night for about a week, because otherwise there was just enough pain (especially when lying down) to make sleep difficult. Initially after my surgery most of my pain was from the gas. After I got rid of that (maybe 12 - 18 hours) my only lingering pain was from my drain site, where a nurse had jabbed a nerve while manipulating the tubing. Other than that, I didn't have incisional pain or general stomach or abdominal pain.

My surgery date is Monday. To be honest I wasn't worried, I've had a c section and the pain wasn't bad. I had one shot of pain meds post op, made me sick so no more. Figured laparoscopic surgery should be a breeze right? I mean if it's not horrible to take an 7 lb baby through a 6 inch incision how awful can a couple small incisions be? Then I started reading these boards and most people complain of significant pain. Still not overly worried until I found out about the morphine PCA and picked up the two huge bottles of liquid hydrocodone for post op. How awful must this be to get all this pain medicine? Not that I'm going to change my mind but I'd like to know what I'm in for. So tell me post op peeps, how bad is it, 1-10 scale?

WLS Do’s and Don’ts

DO remove the word ONLY from your vocabulary. Ex: I’ve ONLY lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks… Now let’s look at this again without the word ONLY: I’ve lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks!! See what I mean? Perception is reality folks!!

DON’T assume you’ll never eat all of your favorite foods again. This is just an excuse your brain has designed to allow you to indulge. You WILL eat all your favorites again someday, just much less but find it to me more enjoyable. Which leads directly into the next:

DON’T do the “last meal” syndrome. You will only sabotage your weight loss you might have pre-surgery or set you back further from your ultimate goal post-op. This surgery is very serious and is for the serious minded. Use this time wisely to get the feeling of how life might be like post op.

DO learn all of the rules pre-op that you will endure post-op. Such as, no drinking with meals, using smaller utensils and plates, engaging in some type of workout routine, limiting your sugar and sodium intake, joining as many WLS support groups as you can.

DO Celebrate every single pound lost! Imagine one pound of butter. Yeah… that’s gone from your body forever. It is noteworthy and worth every bit of a pat on the back as any others that may go along with it.

DON’T compare your successes and losses to others. Chances are very high that you will only come out on the short end and only find yourself disappointed. Everyone’s journeys are their own…

DO keep track of your losses in many different ways than just the scale! Examples:

DO keep one set of your largest clothes you’ve ever worn. Make it a point to try them on, especially when you’re having a down moment. You will find this will really pick up your spirits! This is a real rollercoaster of a ride, and anything that will keep you positive is what you should do!

DON'T keep any other fat clothes around. Get rid of them ASAP. You're never going to fit them again, right? So... off to donations they go.

DO take photos of yourself just before your surgery. Keep them close. Again, having a bad day? Look at them and compare them. As a matter of fact, take photos of yourself often. You will also find that the more you lose, the more you will want to take pictures. Nothing wrong with that!!! That goes with celebrating your losses.

DO take measurements of yourself often. Keeping track of all your inches lost will really keep you on the right track when your scale is being stubborn!!

DO reward yourself every time you hit a mini goal. Make some more worthy than others. I like to go shopping when I hit a goal, it is my favorite thing to do now.

DON’T let the scale define you. Great majority of us will endure many fluctuations and stalls in this journey. It is what it is… patience is the key here. Meditate and envision yourself months down the road at your goal. Smile, then move on!!

DO find out about measuring body fat! It’s more than just weight loss, FAT LOSS is the real goal here. Keep in mind that the BMI scale is greatly inaccurate and most Health Studies do prove this. According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE) our body fat % ranges should be average: 25-31% for Women and 18-24% for men. Any higher is considered obese. However it does go more in depth, according to ages and more. Everyone has different genetic make ups, frame sizes and fitness levels... even a different ethnicity can post differences.

DO have many goals in sight. Having only one, especially a simple weight goal you will find can be difficult. Have many MINI goals along your journey, and more than just ones that involve the scale. Such as, clothing size goals, body fat% goals, fitness or workout goals, dietary goals, etc…

DO challenge yourself always!! Whether it’s a global challenge with others, or personal challenges... It will keep you motivated and always willing to go further than you ever thought you could!

DO have a mentor! Find someone that you can trust and confide in, and that you know has “been there”. Preferably someone you know in person. You will find many folks in your life who have been there, for obesity is worldwide now and there are so many who have been able to defeat this demon. It’s not easy! It quite literally is the toughest feat I’ve ever had to endure. I can say this too, my job will never be done. This is for life!
DON'T believe the myth that your tool has an expiration date. Yes, it's true you will lose the most weight in the first year and it's also true that the further out you are and the closer you are to goal, the harder it is to lose. However, as long as you keep up with your healthy eating and fitness routines you will continue to lose weight and / or keep it off in the many years post op. It all boils down to calories in vs. calories out.
DON'T believe the myth that having WLS will keep the weight off forever. That is our individual responsibility.

And finally…

DON’T ever beat yourself up! We all make mistakes, and dare I say not one person on this Earth is perfect. I try hard to be, no doubt! I always admit that I’m a perfectionist – but I’m far from perfect. I just try to be… The only thing you can do is pick yourself up, give yourself a pep talk, perhaps contact your mentor for reassurance and move on!!! Again, this is for life. Every day you wake up is a second chance.

DO look for solutions to your problems. Otherwise they will just become excuses.


DON’T EVER GIVE UP! I don’t think any explanation is necessary here.

DON'T expect the scale to post a loss every single day. As a matter of fact, don't expect it to move that much even weekly! Just keep doing all the right things and the scale will move in the right direction when it needs to.

DO expect to see fluctuations on the scale, both down AND up. DON'T lose your head over it either. This isn't a miracle cure and the weight isn't going to magically disappear in a few weeks. You have to keep pushing with healthy eating, some type of workout and getting plenty of Fluid.

DON'T let the scale define your journey when there are so many pieces to that puzzle!!!



Good luck to all of you. This journey is a tough one, but if you are here, then you believed in yourself enough to give yourself the life you’ve always dreamed of. YOU WILL BE successful. Always keep that in mind.

Add-ons by other experienced sleevers:

DO keep a list of NSV (Non scale victories) to reflect on when times are getting hard. Can you walk up 2 extra flights of stairs before getting winded? Cross your legs?" and

"DO NOT be afraid to change things if they aren't working. Stalls happen even gains happen. If you are on a long stall look at your eating and decided if changes need to be made. Utilize your tool!" -- Southern Sleever

DO: Keep a food diary of what you eat and drink. This is a great learning tool as to which foods have what amounts of fat, Protein and carbs that add up to your daily intake goals. There are many ways to diary your food - from old fashioned pen and notebook to many options via smartphone apps. Keeping one is the important thing - however is right for you. I use mine now to look back for meal ideas when I hit a blank as to what to prepare for a day or a week.

DO: Realize this is not a diet to be followed for a while then set aside. This is a permanent lifestyle change. Yes, the amount of food you eat will increase as time passes, but your relationship with food will be forever altered. How you Celebrate your joys, successes and holidays will be different. How you mourn your sorrows will be different. Some people need outside help to get through the sometimes overwhelming mental changes this process brings. If you need help with this part of the deal- reach out and get it. -- SKCUNNINGHAM

DO roll with the punches!! -- fern

Soooo I am calling tomorrow to see if I am approved (which I am 99% sure I am) and hopefully schedule my surgery!! I am a teacher and am needing it done during Christmas break
AMYWAYS, I'm just totally freaking excited and cannot wait to lose this weight and hopefully feel way less pain in my every day life.

very informative, thanks for sharing/
Jenpez thanks for the app info above as-well.

. Oh yes my friends are like girl you up sit down like I gotta walk lol

I wouldn't!!!! I hate I did because they look at me like I'm crazy. Saying why? nothing wrong with you I tell them to you maybe not you just scared I might be smaller than you easy to say when you'll 6 or 7 mine is not until dec 16th. If I had it to do again NO I wouldn't tell until a week before then they can get on board or not.. Do your thang girl!!! If you notice I said smaller not pretty.. Lol

Hello everyone I'm Back!! Sorry I had to leave the group for awhile. I was very disappointed when I went for my Final visit before the Surgery and was told I couldn't have the surgery until I had a Genetic test. It's something to do with Protein and me being a silent Carrier of the gene. It could have put my life in danger. Had the test done and Thanks be to God I'm ok. So I Can Have My Sleeve Now!!!!!. Those that believe in Prayer please keep me in your thoughts and prayers.