catwoman7

I'm a little different because I had the bypass (8.5 years ago), but I started out at almost 400 lbs, so weight-wise, we were in similar starting positions. The first year seems like a huge life change, but sitting here years out, the only thing that's different is that I average about 1600 calories a day rather than 3000+. When I go out to eat, I eat maybe half the entree and take the rest home in a to-go box (or sometimes I'll get something like an appetizer or soup rather than an entree if I'm not that hungry). Other than that...??? Oh - I take vitamins regularly now. But other than that, not that much different. But again, the first year or so - yes. But you'll be doing quite a bit of prep work before that. For example, my insurance required me to do a six-month diet with a registered dietitian, and she kind of eased me into the type of diet I'd be following after surgery. She had me eating 2300 kcal/cay (which now would seem like a ton - like Thanksgiving day - but at the time seemed like a diet - although enough calories to be at least tolerable). She also had me gradually decrease my carb intake and increase my protein intake. I focused on healthy foods (although I ate a pretty healthy diet even BEFORE surgery, I just ate way too much). She had me start taking a multivitamin every day and getting some exercise about 3x a week. My surgeon also didn't want us drinking caffeinated beverages for the first six months after surgery (although some surgeons are fine with caffeine), so she also had me gradually decrease my caffeine intake. So basically, I was as prepared as I could be before they rolled me into surgery. I don't have PCOS and have never had a hysterectomy, so I can't address that, but I know WLS patients who've had both. Hopefully someone will respond to you on that.

I didn't go off plan for months and months, but I know others on here who do it occasionally. I would avoid tamales during the soft food stage - but if you decide to do it, just eat the filling. Arabesque is right about the corn meal. it's not very nutritious, and your new stomach is tiny. With only being able to hold a limited amount of food, that food really should be nutritious and protein-forward. A few months down the road you'll be able to eat tamales again - but it's best to avoid that kind of thing now while you're still healing and need to focus on meeting the protein requirements.

you'll probably just be doing protein drinks and shakes the first two weeks, so I wouldn't worry about food yet. I would just get enough protein shakes/drinks for the first few days, because for many of us, our tastes change after surgery. Something you liked before surgery you might not like afterwards (e.g., I couldn't deal with sweet-flavored shakes for awhile after surgery - my sense of taste became more intense, and sweetness became intolerably sweet, at least for the first month or so. I lived on Unjury's chicken broth flavored shakes for quite awhile). So I wouldn't buy a huge tub of protein powder, for example, at this point, since if you end up hating it after surgery, that's a lot of money down the drain. Maybe just pick up (or order) a few individual packets of protein powder - or if you can have (and want) the ready-to-drink variety, just get enough bottles for the first few days.

no - I didn't have to do a stool test

I'm about 90% vegetarian. I rarely eat meat substitutes. I get my protein from dairy products, beans, lentils, chickpeas, etc - I also have a protein shake most days and occasionally eat a protein bar if I'm out and about.

the only issue I really had was that getting in and out of bed was a bit of a challenge the first few days. I could do it - but my abs felt like I'd done 10000 crunches. Other than that, I had no pain and was able to get around fine. It was just that transitioning (going from lying down to standing up - and vice versa) was tricky. But once I was up - or down - I had no pain and could get around with no problem. My husband had taken a week off of work, but he ended up going back after three days because I really didn't need him to do anything for me. It was nice to have him bring me protein shakes or whatever, but it wasn't really necessary.

I led one of the classes at my bariatric clinic (for pre-op patients) for three or four years (until the COVID lockdowns when they quit having the classes). I always, always, always told them about the three-week stall, because I've learned from these kinds of sites that most surgeons don't mention it, and people freak out when it happens. Since it happens to the vast majority of us, I'm really surprised it doesn't have a prominent place in people's surgery packets - and/or isn't mentioned in pre-op classes. I think we see this question here on BP twice a week. Surgeons (or anyone who teaches/leads pre-op classes) REALLY need to mention this...

for awhile. For most of us, hunger comes back sometime during the first year after surgery - although I do know of a few lucky folks for whom It never came back. I don't know if that's true of Wegovy or not - if that effect is permanent or temporary.

major complications are really rare. I think it looks like they're more common than they actually are because people who have them get on this and other sites to ask for support and advice about them. People who have no issues don't generally broadcast that fact. They just go on with their lives. I did have a complication - a stricture. The PA at my clinic said that's the most common complication of bypass (well, other than dumping, which affects about 30% of us and can be prevented by not eating a bunch of sugar or fat at one sitting, which none of us should be doing ANYWAY). Strictures, the most common complication according to him, happen to 5% of bypass patients. I wouldn't call something that happens to 5% of patients "common", but that gives you an idea of how "common" complications are. And strictures, like most other complications, are minor and can be easily fixed. They did an upper endoscopy, stretched it out, and I was good to go. I honestly don't know anyone who regretted having weight loss surgery, and I've volunteered for my clinic, been very active on national internet forums, and attended national conferences. Yes, the first few weeks can be tough and a lot of people have "buyer's remorse" during that time, but once they get beyond that initial phase, when they can eat more, have fewer food restrictions, feel fine, and have kind of figured out this whole deal, you're not going to find many people who regret it. Personally, it's the best decision I've ever made. My life is completely different than it was 200 lbs ago, and I wouldn't go back there for ANYTHING. I would have this surgery every year if I had to! I'm in my mid-60s and had my surgery over eight years ago - I could kick myself for not doing it sooner!

nope - it's far from over. Sounds like you're experiencing the infamous "three-week stall" a little early. The "three-week stall" happens to the vast majority of us - if you do a search on this site for it, you'll find over 17,000 posts on it (and no, I am NOT kidding). That first major stall can really happen any time during the first month or six weeks after surgery, but it's usually the third week, thus, the name. It'll last 1-3 weeks. The best way to deal with it is to make sure you're 100% on plan and stay off the scale for a few days. It WILL break and you'll be on your way again. And know that this is likely the first of many stalls. It's just a natural part of weight loss.

by "second surgery", do you mean you have a second stricture that needs to be stretched? That's not unusual. I had to go in twice to get mine stretched - after that, I was fine - never had problems with them again. About 5% of bypass patients get strictures. The PA at my bariatric clinic said it's the most common complication - and it's an easy fix. They almost never happen once you reach the 3-month-post-op mark, so it's doubtful you'll have one again after you get this one stretched. you'll be able to eat more the further out you get from surgery. It's really just the first few months that you have certain food restrictions and can only eat a tiny amount of food. you should feel a lot better once they stretch out the stricture - and it's unlikely you'll have another one after this.

those kinds of. things can certainly happen, but they're very rare. I wouldn't lose sleep over it. As someone else said, lots of people have revisions, and most of them have no problems at all.

nope - only about 30% of RNYers dump, and I'm evidently not one of them! (I sometimes wish I was - to keep myself from eating certain things!)

some person on this site or a similar one (this was several years ago - I've been hanging out here for a. long time!) said that when he felt hungry, he'd ask himself if eating some chicken breast would do it for him. If yes, he was hungry. If no, then it was likely just head hunger or a craving.

good to know! Although fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your perspective), I'm not a dumper.

first of all, 18 lbs in three weeks is normal. Most of us lose around 15-25 lbs the first month post-op. Thirty pounds in three weeks is way above average - did they start out at 400+ lbs or something? If so, that would explain it. Starting BMI is a huge factor in how quickly you'll lose weight - at least at first. soup and cheese both have a lot of sodium in them. So does store-bought bread. That three lbs might be water retention from the sodium.

1. I was fine with just a bunch of pillows on my bed.

I wouldn't double my workout. That's a pretty substantial change. Just make changes (if they're even warranted, which they might not be. I like the advice above that if you're eating to plan, you're good. If you're not, then get back to eating to plan) - anyway, if you're going to make changes, esp if they're warranted, then make ones you can live with long term. Yes - I could get back to my lowest weight - 138 lbs. But that would mean substantially cutting my current calorie level and/or really beefing up my fitness routine. Am I willing to do that, possibly permanently? I wrestled with this for a long time and finally decided no, it's too much of a struggle for me. My body seems to want to be where it's currently at. And I'm OK where I am. But it took me awhile to get to that point mentally. nevertheless, if you're eating according to plan, you may not be done losing. Those last 20 lbs are so are notoriously tough to get off. Remember I said I had months near the end where I was only losing 1-2 lbs a month, despite working pretty hard at it.

there are mixed feelings about pouch resets. Many say they don't really work, and also, they reinforce "diet mentality". Probably better to either wait it out, or else maybe drop your calories by 100 or so and beef up your activity. Arabesque is correct, those last few pounds are a BEAR to get off. I got to my goal, but it took me 20 months. After the one year mark, my loss slowed down to a crawl - there were months I only lost a pound or two. But I just kept at it. She's also right in that stalls are a part of weight loss. There were so many times during year 2 that I thought "well, this must be it...", and then a couple weeks later I'd drop another pound. Frustrating, yep - but that's the way weight loss works!

just so you know, it's very common to have a 10-20 lb rebound weight gain during year 3, so although you may find some folks who have kept ALL of their loss off, there are definitely a lot who've at least kept MOST of it off. that said, I'm 8+ years out. I blew way past my goal (or goals - first goal was 199, then 170, then 150 - but I ended up getting down to 138). Like so many others, I had a rebound gain during year 3, but I've managed to maintain ever since (200+ lb loss).

I was told to just walk for the first four weeks. At the four week mark, they said I could do anything but weights. I was allowed to use weights (strength train) at eight weeks out. I followed those guidelines.

I doubt it. Some surgeons don't even require pre-op diets (other than water-only fasting for 12-24 hours right before surgery). That said, just put it behind you and follow your clinic's directions from here on out. It's only day 2 - you still have 12 days left.

yep - agree with the others. We don't absorb vitamins as well as "normies" do, and we need more of certain vitamins than what typically comes in a multivitamin. In addition, I don't think I've ever seen a multi that has calcium citrate in it. They usually have calcium carbonate, which we don't absorb very well. We're supposed to take calcium citrate. you can ask your surgeon about their requirements, or check this list from the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (I'm guessing a lot of surgeons use this list). You have to scroll down a bit to get to the requirements. They have them for each type of surgery: ASMBS-Nutritional-Guidelines-2016-Update.pdf

you'll be able to eat almost anything (including an occasional piece of cake) at some point- it's really just these first few months when you have restrictions. All of my restrictions were dropped at the six-month mark. I eat a lot less than I used to eat (c. 1600 calories a day vs. probably 3000+), but there really isn't anything I can't eat - including, as I said, the occasional piece of birthday cake! So you'll be in a very different spot on your next birthday.

I haven't had any since my surgery eight years ago, but the PA at my clinic said it was OK to use it very occasionally - for rare situations like the one you have - bad headache that Tylenol isn't touching at all. But if you're a bypass patient, you can't use it regularly (our clinic told the sleeve people the same thing - although I know some surgeons are a little less rigid with sleeve patients)