catwoman7

I was told I could swallow anything that was smaller than a pencil eraser as soon as I got home from the hospital - and I did. Pantaprazole tablets are small. There were maybe two things I had that were too large to swallow right away - but I could handle those, too, when I was about three weeks out.

I never changed anything. Just stuck to my plan and stayed off the scale for a few days. Stalls happen. They'll eventually break and you'll be on your way again.

Just stick to your program, stay off the scale for a few days if you need to, and know that it'll eventually break and you'll be on your way again. I never did anything different - I just continued to follow my program.

peppermint can soothe nausea in some people and cause heartburn in others. It could be the culprit - or maybe not. As Arabesque said, maybe lay off it for a few days and see what happens.

I was a few months out before I started eating salads. Raw vegetables can be irritating on healing stomachs - but you'll eventually be able to eat them again.

I never had issues eating. And I was eating purees before I even left the hospital. I had no issues whatsoever, and my recovery was super easy. At first I was worried that the surgeon hadn't even done the surgery! I've known many others who've had super easy recoveries and never had issues eating. I think you might feel like a freak because people typically don't post about it when they have easy recoveries like this. They're more likely to post when they're having issues since they're looking for advice or support. So I wouldn't worry about it - just be glad you've sailed through just fine!

I had RNY, but my liver enzymes were elevated the first year or so. My PCP said thought it was probably fatty liver, but then I read online (some reliable medical site) that elevated liver enzymes were not uncommon after WLS because the rapid weight loss can be really hard on livers. I had them re-tested later, and they were normal - so I think that's what was going on. Not sure why this possibility didn't occur to my PCP, but maybe she doesn't see many bariatric patients. I'm not saying this the cause of yours, but I think it was in my case. In any case, mine are normal now. EDITED to add I just re-read your post and you said your liver was enlarged. So your enzyme levels may be due to something else. I don't know if my liver was enlarged since that was never checked - but my enzyme levels were definitely high.

I was eating about 800-1000 calories a day then, spread out between three meals with one or two planned snacks. I'd work with your dietitian on a good plan for you. Waiting until 5:00 pm to eat doesn't sound very healthy. Plus are you getting your 60+ grams of protein a day? Unless you're supplementing what you're currently eating with protein shakes, it doesn't sound like you are.

a lot of surgeons don't even give you a goal weight. Mine never did. He asked me what I'd like to weigh and then told me by personal goal (which at the time was 200 lbs) was definitely do-able if I worked at it (I ended up losing much more than that). average weight loss on these surgeries is about 60-70% of excess weight. However, that's just an average - there are always people who fall on either side of that. Some people are extremely successful and end up losing 90% or 100% - others not so successful and may only lose 20% or 30%. If you're very committed, you should be able to at least lose the average - if not quite a bit more.

food progression depends on the surgeon. I never had a post-op liquid progression - I was eating purees while I was still in the hospital (although this isn't common) the first few weeks can be a challenge and a lot of trial and error to see what your stomach is going to tolerate. The gassiness/etc that you're feeling could just be the normal adjustment or it could be that you've developed an intolerance to lactose or some artificial sweetener (both common - sometimes the intolerance is permanent, sometimes temporary). Just keep working on it. I know what you mean about food. I actually got to the point where I didn't like food and eating was a challenge. I had to remind myself that it was time to eat. It was annoying at first, but then I realized how easy it was to lose weight when I really didn't give a flip about food and (in my case) was never hungry. Unfortunately, that only lasted about five months (for those of us who lose our hunger and our interest in food, that period typically only lasts a few weeks or months - for some up to a year - before food interest & hunger return, and then it becomes a lot more challenging to stick to the program)

20 months - but I evidently started out a much higher weight than you. As NovaLuna said, it's different for everyone.

you're not going to feel full on liquids. They go right through you. in addition, you're very early out. Some of your nerves have been cut, and it takes awhile for them to regenerate. So your brain and stomach aren't "talking" yet - you're not going to get full signals right away. you should start feeling restriction once you move to solid foods. Those DON'T go right through you - they'll sit in your stomach for awhile - and also, by then your nerves will have started to regenerate. also, keep in mind for the future that often "full" signals are different after surgery than they are before. It can take awhile to figure out what yours are. I don't feel "full" the same way i did before surgery. Now, I just feel an uncomfortable pressure in my chest. I've learned if I don't stop eating when i start feeling that, I'm likely to get sick. Other people have reported things like sneezing or hiccups when they've reached that point. But for now, being on liquids (and soon, purees), you're not going to have to worry about this - you're not likely to feel anything because of the nerve issue and the fact those things go right through you.

I think that would depend on the hospital. Check the hospital's Web site for its visitation policies.

I forgot to mention - my dentist gave me a prescription toothpaste that's for dry mouth. I think that's helped, too...(I think Biotine makes an OTC toothpaste for dry mouth, too)

I started feeling fine when I hit around 160, but I didn't consciously try to stop because I'd read a 10-20 lb rebound weight gain happens to most people during year 3. So I just continued with what I was doing and I eventually drifted down to 138, where my body naturally stopped. And yep - rebound happened. Up to 150 by the end of year 3 (which is perfect for me), and I thought I would end up stabilizing there - but no - I gained 10 more lbs around year 5. Trying desperately now to get back down to 150, since I felt like I looked and felt my best there. so in short, if you're sure you want to stop there, then that's totally fine, of course - but just keep in mind that a 10-20 lb rebound after hitting your low weight happens to a lot (probably most) of us. I'm glad I let myself keep going because I eventually did end up where I wanted to be (although again, I'd like to be able to get rid of the last 10 lbs that I gained!!)

you'll likely start feeling the restriction once you move to solid foods. I didn't feel it at first, either. Like Arabesque said, it takes some time for the nerves to regenerate, and also, you're not on solid foods yet.

I've gotten freaked out before every surgery I've ever had, and I've always sailed through just fine. Don't get fixiated on the horror stories, as those are rare. They seem more common than they really are because people are more likely to post when they have problems than when they don't because they're looking for support or advice. Of course, those things do happen and it's good to be aware of the possibility, but again, they're pretty rare. the mortality rate on RNY is 0.3%, and it's even lower for sleeve. So you have a 99.7% chance of not dying - which are excellent odds. Major complications are also rare. Many of us don't have complications with these surgeries - and for those who do, most are minor and "fixable". I also contemplated surgery for 10 years (maybe longer), and I came to the conclusion that I had a much greater risk of complications from staying at over 300 lbs than I did with having the surgery. you always have the option to cancel or postpone if you're not ready - but I did go through with it (obviously) and am so glad that I did.

I have it as well, and it was starting to affect my teeth. Dry mouth can definitely cause tooth issues (and so can acid). I came to the conclusion it was the PPI I'd started taking again about a year ago, because those can definitely cause dry mouth (and so can a lot of other medications). I cut my dosage in half and filled in when necessary with an over-the-the counter magnesium-based antacid (just when needed), and I can already tell that has really helped. Luckily, I think I nipped it in the bud before it got bad. if it's not one of your meds, then try to combat it with various over-the-counter treatments. I was using mouthwash for dry mouth, and had sprays, lozenges, and gels handy (don't have to use them anymore, though - as halving my meds seemed to solve the problem for me). Also, gum or breath mints with xylitol help, too (although xylitol can cause G/I issues in some people - fortunately, it doesn't for me..)

a 10-20 lb bounce back is extremely common after hitting our lowest weight. It usually happens during year 3. And if you're at or near a normal BMI, losing 10-20 lbs is a BEAR. I gained 20, and would like to lose 10 of it, but it's been a huge challenge - so I can relate. if you're not tracking, I'd start that again - and go back to following all the rules (protein first, then non-starchy vegetables, and if you have room, an occasional small serving of fruit or whole grain carb). Don't eat and drink at the same time - all the stuff we learned and did that first year. if you're doing all this and still not losing, and again, if you're at or close to a normal BMI, it could be that this is just where your body wants to stabilize, and it'll be an ongoing fight to go lower and keep it there. I've kinda come to that conclusion - I have to either accept it or be prepared to constantly fight it. Ugh.

like the lizonaplane said, the two-week (or however long the surgeon requires) pre-op mostly-liquid diet is to shrink your liver so it's easier for them to get under there to operate. in addition, some insurance companies require a 3-6 month professionally-supervised diet. I think this is to see if you are able to stick to a plan long term. I lost a ton of weight on mine, so if it was supposed to prove to them that I could lose weight without surgery, then I wouldn't have been approved. I do think it's to show you're committed and can stick to a plan.

fluids go right through you. I'm sure you're fine.

I don't have one and don't think I know anyone who does, but if having one makes you feel safer, go for it. It's never wrong to have one...

i wouldn't bring much since you'll likely be sleeping most of the time you're there. As for food and beverages, they'll have a lot of that at the hospital. It's been several years since my RNY, but I remember having protein shakes and broth while there.

could be some kind of food intolerance, or you could be developing a stricture - you're in the right time frame for one (they usually appear at 1-3 months out). I'd let your clinic know. They'll either investigate, or if they think you're OK and just have you wait it out for couple of days, at least you'll have some peace of mind.

I'd lost way less than 116 lbs at eight months out, so you're much further ahead than I was at that point. My stalls became more frequent and lasted longer the further out I went - and my weight loss slowed to a crawl. But I kept at it regardless, and I ended up losing all of my excess weight, over 200 lbs. It took 20 months in total. in short, don't give up yet!