Paula C.

Hi all,

From North Reading. Had gastric bypass at Lahey Hospital in Burlington on Aug 6th. Doing great!

Ok, 4 days post op and every time I take a sip of Water or Protein Shake my stomach or pouch or whatever goes on a tirade. It gurgles and flutters and I have to burp. I have taken the smallest sips and still the gurgling and burping. Is this normal and will it eventually stop?

After surgery the doctor tells me that they found something on my pancreas. He couldn't take it out at the time because it would have caused complications with the bypass surgery. I am going for a CAT scan on Monday. He was optimistic in that he didn't think it was cancerous, but he wants it out. Anyone else have this happen?

Had my surgery RNY last Wednesday. So glad it's over. I feel ok, just sore. I was very gassy but that's working itself out. Goodluck to everyone who has upcoming surgery. You will do great!

Think calming thoughts. Did your surgeon give you a number to lose, or were you just expecting more of a loss?

I was expecting more of a loss. I have lost 27lbs and was only given 10 to 12 to lose, but I was really hoping to lose at least 15 on the pre op. I'm very disappointed.

I'm freaking out that I've only lost 8 lbs in the last 11 days of my pre op diet. My surgery is the day after tomorrow and I feel like I should have lost more than this by now. Anyone else have this happen?

I have to use the brand sold at the hospital. It's called "New Direction". I'm not too wild about them. I have snuck in some of my old shakes which are the Unjury brand. They taste so much better!

Can you spread the shakes out? Like drink a little bit every 30 minutes just to help with the hunger.

I have to do shakes up until surgery. They want me to use the shakes they have because they have all the Vitamins etc... But I don't think I'll make it with them. I may sneak in a few of mine that are much better. I think the nausea is that my stomach is really empty and growling all the time. I keep drinking Water to try and soothe it.

YES! Most definitely you should do this before and after surgery..it helps with hunger and it allows you to get your needed Protein in post-op when your tummy is too small to have it all at once.

well I made it thru the weekend! Yesterday seemed like a turning point. No nausea, no stomach growling, yay! Best part is I stepped on the scale this morning and am down 5 lbs since last Wednesday, not even a week! Woo Hoo!!

I have to do shakes up until surgery. They want me to use the shakes they have because they have all the Vitamins etc... But I don't think I'll make it with them. I may sneak in a few of mine that are much better. I think the nausea is that my stomach is really empty and growling all the time. I keep drinking Water to try and soothe it.

I am 46 years old - 260 lbs - I agree that even though our friends and family offer their support - they dont understand REALLY. I dont think anyone who is not going through this themselves. It has been such a roller coaster and I have not even had the surgery yet. I find myself trying not to talk too much about it to those around me because I think they are tired of hearing about it! I am scared, excited, worried and a lot of other feelings I cant explain. I am in info overload - yet feel I dont know enough. Have heard all the horror stories from friends who knew friends who didnt do well - you know there are people out there that want to scare you into not doing this. What I find though is those people generally weigh 120 lbs and have never fought weight in their whole life! They dont know how it feels to be someone else under all this fat! They also assume that if I would "watch what I eat" I could do this on my own. Well I have always tried to watch what I eat. I havent had a fried food in probably 15 years. I am not a binge eater nor an emotional eater. Though I do tend to graze when bored and I do have a sweet tooth from hell! I dont eat 3 hamburgers and a large fry with a diet coke in a single sitting! I do know I am fat because of the things I have put in my body and because I dont exercise. I also have thyroid issues and other health issues over the years that have added the weight as well.When I was 32 I had cancer - the treatments caused a 50lb weight gain in just a very short time. I have never been able to get rid of all of that even after all these years. They dont know crap! No I never was the type to just eat a small salad - but I also wasnt the type to over do it either! Anyway - none of us need to hear those types of comments. If we had not tried diets - starving ourselves only to gain more back once we figured out that being hungry all the time wasnt working. Do they really think this whole process is just a simple walk in the park? Do they not realize that we are cutting our insides in a last ditch effort to create a healthier happier person? Well that is the end of my rant..lol. I am here for you and anyone else who needs me. We can do this - we will do this - and we will be success stories!!

So, I'm 33. I am 305 lbs. What about yourself? It is nice to have someone to go through this with. I don't know about you, but some days I feel like I'm alone in this journey even though I have people that are supportive. I guess it's because the people that are supportive don't really understand what we actually have to go through physically or emotionally when we decide to make this journey.

Emlatta - thats great that you are same day! What are your stats? Weight/age etc? Love the idea of having someone at exact same time to talk with! Lets deffinately stay in touch so we can to a side by side comparrision of how we are each doing!

Monday is Pre-OP! Then surgery on the 5th! 10 more days!!!!! Scared but super excited.

You and me both. My date is also august 5th and scared to death.

My date is Aug 6. I'm on my pre-op diet and it's not going so well. I didn't think it would be bad, but suddenly the Protein shakes and Soups are making me nauseous and I have to lay down after eating them. Not liking this, but am taking it day by day. I'm excited but scared. I hope this nausea is not forever!

I also had planned on the sleeve and was told by my doctor that the bypass was better for me. I guess I have a small hiatal hernia and he is afraid Im going to suffer acid reflux with the sleeve. I'm a bit nervous about this change, so I'll be doing alot of research and try not to be too scared! I got my surgery date today for Aug 6th.

I received my surgery date today. August 6, 2014. Now I'm scared. This suddenly got very real!

I had an upper GI today and was told I have a small hiatal hernia. I haven't met with the surgeon yet, but nurse practitioner said that he will probably want to do a bypass instead of the sleeve because of it. Anyone else heard this? I don't have any acid reflux and wasn't aware of the hernia. I really would rather have the sleeve. Anyone have the sleeve when diagnosed with hiatal hernia and have problems with reflux?

How was surgery? Hope it went well and you're feeling good!

Thanks so much!!! Im on the preop diet now less than a week to go!!!

So how did surgery go? hope you are doing well.

Hi I am from Salem Ma and scheduled to be sleeved on May 8th with Dr Meireles at MGH Boston... Scared and excited at the same time!!! But look forward to the results!!

I just saw your post and noticed your surgery is fast approaching. I'm in North Reading. Only at very beginning of process, so no surgery date yet. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

I am at the beginning stages of this adventure, but once lost a lot of weight on my own. I experienced the same remarks when I lost that weight and am not looking forward to hearing them again after my surgery. I have talked about this with people and they don't get it. What it boils down to is that you feel like you must have been so disgusting before the weight loss.

...and you won't! Get up and walk around. Walk away from those who are eating and take a break. Keep thinking happy "thin" thoughts! YOU CAN DO THIS!