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I have an outstanding bariatric center of excellence. They take their work very seriously and they are very very clear when getting into this program. I know I have said many times on this site that I even had to sign a contract that I would not drink before my one year anniversary, that I would show up for my appointments or provide 24 hour notice, and most important I agreed to follow up care to ensure that I am properly monitored post surgery for complications or signs of malnourishment. They only have so many doctors and nurses and want to ensure that those in the program are both ready to move forward and serious about getting healthy. I can totally see my clinic notifying me of the 2 strikes situation had I ever missed appointments especially knowing that the insurance companies require a 6 month supervised diet. Now, that being said they would have not been rude about it. I suspect this has nothing to do with your being obese as all of their patients are. They are also not withholding health care from you but they are wanting to make sure you are truly ready to move forward. If you are, then it will be very important that you do not miss another appointment. Please don't give up unless you discover you are not ready yet. Just dust yourself off and move forward. Our emotions get the best of us while going through this process, you just need to look at it from their point of view, they want their patients to be successful and that cannot happen if you are not ready.

@@tpatterson I lived on cottage cheese, Protein shakes, yogurt, string cheese and string cheese. At dinner I would order salmon, eat 2 or 3 bites and my son would eat the rest. I was not at the stage where I could eat salad or vegetables unless they were cooked mushy which is rare to actually get that when you order it. My loved it because he would order a big juicy steak and have my leftover fish and call it surf and turf. I also had a fridge in our hotel room where I kept my premier Protein Shakes and string cheese. I will say it was near impossible to keep up on Water for me. I had not yet carried my own personal water bottle every where I went. I would definately carry mine with me now and I do.

I too have been able to anything since the beginning. It is very very important that you realize that just because you, does not mean that you should. Follow your surgeons plan to a tee giving your tummy time to heal. Also you know what you have to do so you need to actually do it. Many times people will go back to eating the same junk they once ate and then wonder why they are not losing weight. Good luck to you!

Wow, you have been through the ringer! I cannot imagine living with your situation for so darn long. You must have the patience of a saint. I hope that everything goes well for you. I am guessing with what you have been through bypass will be like a walk in the park. I have been so happy with the results of mine and have never felt better. (Ok, that's a little white lie, if I were 20 again I felt better then, LOL) Keep us updated on your progress and certainly reach out if you have questions or need help.

This is a funny question. I think you are asking if vomiting still works the same. And so I will respond assuming that is what you are asking. Vomiting now is completely different for me. I don't have dumping syndrome that causes me to vomit but I have a few times since surgery most because I over ate or something did not agree with me at all. I have little to no stomach acid having had bypass. My new stomach is small so when I do vomit it is a very small amount and it's over. There isn't that nasty stomach acid taste any longer it's just different. I do still hate to get sick though.

Hi Brian and welcome! The most important thing at your stage is to remain patient and follow your insurance company,surgeon and nutritionist directions. If you do, there won't be any surprises when you reach the approval process. It is a long structured process designed to get you ready for your life to change. There will be a lot of change coming for you that can seem overwhelming at first. Just keep in mind that no one is expecting you to change everything completely overnight. Just take it one or two things at a time. I did not smoke, drink, drink soda or caffeine of any kind but if you do, getting moving on these will be very important. You will be required to stop these activities before surgery. In addition you will learn to eat very slowly, chew your food a lot before swallowing, no drinking beverages 30 minutes before and after you eat, and of course you will learn to begin eating a high Protein, low carb diet. Your nut will begin teaching you what to eat, how much to eat and will get you started on some exercises that fit your medical situation. Walking will be key as you begin to recover. One of the biggest things I have learned so far is that my relationship with food has changed and I love that. I no longer live to eat, I eat to live. I now crave good healthy quality foods, it makes my pouch happy and I feel absolutely fantastic! I had this surgery to get my health back and for me that happened so quickly! No more high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, severe Gerd, high cholesterol, sleep apnea or stage 3 kidney disease. All of these issues have been resolved. Then came all the other benefits! I can shop anywhere, sit anywhere, do anything without feeling like I am going to keel over! Most important, I can keep up with my family and not hold them back! I wish you the very best of luck! Just hang in there and be patient with the process and yourself. There will be bumps along the way but nothing you cannot get through if you remain positive and forge forward! Congratulations on your decision to get healthy!

Hi there, First of all you are actually doing fantastic! Losing 24lbs in a month is incredible so honestly you on completely on track! The recommended amount of fluids in a day is between 48 and 64 ounces. You could safely back down a bit. I cannot imagine drinking so much that late at night, I would be in the bathroom all night. LOL! It sounds like your nut is similiar to mine. They are looking for good balance in what you eat and those veggies are good for you. My nut has me using a method of eating to make sure I remain balanced. 1 bite of good carbs for every 2 bites of quality Protein. Good carbs being vegetables and fruit when you are released to do so. Please don't worry about how fast the weight comes off, it didn't get there overnight and realistically it won't come off overnight either. Down the road as you get closer to your goal, it will slow down to a crawl. Slow and steady really does win the race and you need good nutrition and good eating habits when you get to the other side. Hang in there, you are doing fantastic!

Congratulations! You will be feeling like a diva again soon! Just a much thinner healthier version of yourself. Oh, and wait until you see all the clothes that you will fit in! Sopping anywhere you like vs. stores that only carry big clothes! Good luck!

I think one of the biggest learnings I have had is that I now eat to live vs. live to eat! My relationship with food has completely changed. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy good quality Protein and veggies home cooked by me. I no longer enjoy eating crap food that I once thought was delicious. I have tried fast food here and there but it tastes absolutely horrible and I end up throwing it away. If we eat out we choose restaurants where I know I can get a salad or some fabulous fish, chicken or beef. I have learned that food is just not that important any longer. What I do cook, I cook for me. Everyone else has learned to eat what I eat. I have more fun at social gatherings because my focus is on the great people and great conversation. You are only 12 weeks out, you will begin to enjoy food again but it will be different food and you will be ok with it.

Water is the most important thing you put in your body at this stage. You definately have dehydration symptoms and if not addressed immediately can become dangerous. Start by focusing on water intake immediately, then work on the Protein shake issue. Honestly I was about 6 weeks post op before I could finish a whole protein shake. I had to add milk to Premier Protein to thin it out a bit. You do have some stores of protein that will hold you for a few weeks so just do the best you can with them. As swelling goes down you will be able to tolerate more and your feeling of weakness will get better. Certainly that nauseous feeling, dizziness and general weakness is dehydration. If you cannot get enough fluids in (48 oz. minimum) you will need to call your doctors office. They will likely send you to the hospital or doctors office for IV fluids which will help you feel better.

Definately normal at this stage. It will get better! I think it was the 8th week for me before I felt like myself again. I remember this because we went to Las Vegas for 10 days and I felt like a whole new person. My family literally could not keep up with me for a change. I walked over 8 miles a day and came back losing 10lbs on that trip. The weird thing was I was on soft foods at that stage just about to be released to regular foods.

Holy crow! You look fantastic!!! Congratulations on your great progress!

Not sure which surgery you had. I had bypass and toast or bread of any kind sounds lovely but does not sit well at all. I can only describe what it feels like but bread/toast of any kind almost gums up your pouch. You are then completely done and cannot get all your Protein in. I can however eat crackers but I am not so sure you should be carbing at all at this point. Usually, if you have had bypass, at 4 weeks you are on the soft food phase which means no, steer clear. You could damage your pouch. I would recommend sticking to your recommended diet plan, there is a reason they provide you with the diet instructions in phases.

I am 12 months out and usually can eat 1/2 c. To 1 c of food depending on what it is. For me, eggs are the hardest for me to eat and I still cannot finish a whole egg. It fills me up so fast and weighs heavy in my stomach. I cannot imagine eating 2 eggs so early on. I would look at how fast you are eating as others might have suggested. You can put down a lot of food if you are not paying attention and ultimately that could catch up with you.

@@cjd2010 Water should not get stuck, if it does there is a problem. If you don't start drinking immediately you are going to get very very sick and end up in the ER. Please don't be so afraid, it will get better. You should not swallow anything bigger than a pencil eraser. If your pills are bigger than that, dissolve them in liquid and drink them. I had to do that for the first couple weeks. If for some reason water is getting stuck and you are vomiting it back up call your surgeon immediately. You cannot let yourself get dehydrated. That can actually be more dangerous than you realize. It tastes nasty but you will get your meds without chocking,

Thank you so much for sharing your story! I think we can all relate in more than one way. I just wanted to say congratulations on your decision to get healthy for yourself! I can say it is the absolute best thing I have ever done for myself and I thank goodness every day that there is such a great medical profession. That helps us through the process. I too lost my mother to obesity related disease. She was 66 and I miss her dearly. I promised myself I would not put my husband and children through the same thing. Good luck to you and please keep us posted on your progress!

I came off within two weeks then went back on 2 weeks after that. In June, 9 months post op I discovered I now had sever!y low blood pressure and low heart rate and came off for good. My blood pressure now runs normal to low. The more weight you take off, the closer to a normal blood pressure you will get. You do have to be a little patient with this one but monitor closely. I waited too long and ended up in the ER after passing out in June. That is when we discovered I now run low. Good luck and congrats!

I eat 3 meals per day and two snacks. One of my meals is a protein shake.

Yes, you are likely right that she is not getting enough at this point. By the way, not eating until dinner time is not following the plan and in the long run it will hurt her health. This messes up our metabolism that we worked so hard to correct. She should be eating at least 3 meals a day, getting 1 gram of Protein for every inch she is tall and 48 to 64 ounces of Water. Her meals should be balanced but protein heavy. I am shocked that her labs have come back normal given your description of how she has been eating. Have you personally seen her test results? She needs a nutritionist now. Good luck to you and if there is anything you need please feel free to reach out.

Just want to clear up a few things. 1. Having bypass does not mean you won't be able to eat regular food. I have been eating in restaurants since 4 weeks post op. I can eat whatever I want, that does not mean I should nor do I. 2. Both surgeries will ultimately achieve a high weight loss as long as you follow the plan 3. Both surgeries are invasive - with the sleeve they actually remove 85 percent of your stomach which means it cannot be reversed. With bypass they reroute your intestines so that you have malabsorption which is intended to help with weight loss 4. Both require you to take supplements and have labs checked on a regular basis do life. Adjustments to Vitamins are determined by how you are doing on those labs Most people choose bypass at the recommendation of their doctors because it cures both Reflux/Gerd and diabetes. Many times the sleeve and lap and actually make reflux/Gerd worse and in many cases those surgeries can bring it on. If reflux/Gerd gets bad enough it requires a revision to bypass anyway. Leverage your surgeon to help you decide what is best for your health history. They really are experts and can help guide you. It is definitely more than a personal decision in my opinion and requires a deep dive by experts in your health history. If you search this site for revisions to bypass you will see a lot of posts from people that have had to get s second and third surgery because they ended up with erosion and Gerd that had to be dealt with. My recommendation would be to research until you are comfortable with your choice. Good luck!

You have to stop fretting about dumping syndrome. You just need to try foods one at a time and go slowly. So far I have gotten a mild case of it only twice in the last year both times from ice cream. Incidentally I ate ice cream several times before with no dumping. Just take your time and go slow, dumping won't kill you it will just make you uncomfortable for a while.

I do lots and lots and lots of cheese. I stick with full fat cheese, in fact I just had some Tilamook Cheddar as a snack. The only light cheese I use is cottage cheese, I eat 1 percent low fat cottage cheese. When starting out try light string cheese and make sure you chew it very very well. In the beginning I could maybe eat a half stick. Cheese is good for us in small amounts. Decent Protein.

Don't worry so much about it. It takes a while to get used to your new tummy. It is not possible for you to feel actual hunger at this point and feeling full really is a different feeling than feeling overful. If you are feeling hunger at the point it is likely dehydration or head hunger. Dehydration can actual feel exactly like you are hungry, try sipping more often. For me, I had to hold that cup literally in my hand until I trained myself to get all my liquids in. If after you get to your liquid goals (48 to 64 oz.), you still are feeling hunger then it is your head telling you that you are hungry. This is something you will battle throughout. You have to go do something to get your mind off of it. Go for a walk, go do dishes, read a book, anything to get your head to a different place. I will say that first week post op is rough because I actually felt week. I started to feel better once I got to full liquids and was able to add Protein shakes. Hang in there, it will get easier.

I am so very happy for you! If I had anything to do over again it would be having my bypass when I was much younger before I caused so much damage to my joints. You should be very proud of yourself! I love how positive you have become, it will only help you in the coming months as you continue to lose and meet all of your hopes and dreams. Great job!!!

I find that when I do try something that I shouldn't, it's never as good as I remembered. Lately I have been craving ice cream which makes me sick. So, I actually bought some of those dole dippers. Frozen strawberries covered in dark chocolate or frozen banana slices covered in dark chocolate. If I have to have something frozen they are acceptable from a calorie and even carb standpoint. I find that when I do try something that I shouldn't, it's never as good as I remembered. Lately I have been craving ice cream which makes me sick. So, I actually bought some of those dole dippers. Frozen strawberries covered in dark chocolate or frozen banana slices covered in dark chocolate. If I have to have something frozen they are acceptable from a calorie and even carb standpoint. I find that when I do try something that I shouldn't, it's never as good as I remembered. Lately I have been craving ice cream which makes me sick. So, I actually bought some of those dole dippers. Frozen strawberries covered in dark chocolate or frozen banana slices covered in dark chocolate. If I have to have something frozen they are acceptable from a calorie and even carb standpoint.