catwoman7

I was encouraged to walk right away. at four weeks out, I was cleared to do everything except for weights. at eight weeks out, I was cleared for weights.

^^^ yes - I agree.

I think they just want to make sure you're ready and don't have any issues that would make surgery inappropriate for you. Insurance wouldn't want to cover it if they knew there was a good chance you wouldn't be successful.

I think mine was also a 600/200 question thing. I *think* it might have been the MMPI exam. It's really comprehensive - and as I recall, they sometimes ask the same questions again and again, changing the wording a bit each time. They're looking for signs - like certain kinds of mental illness - that would make it inappropriate for you to have surgery. Although that's pretty rare. Most of us pass with flying colors - and occasionally, some people have to delay surgery a bit because something came up that wouldn't necessarily take surgery off the table, but they need to work on something (sometimes with a counselor) before being approved. Personally, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

I had two - one at four weeks out, the next at eight weeks out. The "fix" is easy-peasy, and you'll feel better right away. strictures happen to about 5% of RNY patients. They can also happen in sleeve patients, but they're pretty rare with VSG. and yes - you can live without food for quite awhile, so it's fine if they can't get you in until next week. On the other hand, you can only live a couple of days without fluid - so they'd need to get you in ASAP. That's why they asked...

^^^ I can't believe I didn't catch that! I just re-read the OP's message and ...yep!...right on time for the infamous three-week stall!

yes - that does become a challenge for most of us as we get several months out (or sometimes a year or more) and "diet fatigue" sets in. It's a constant battle. I just have to keep reminding myself of where I came from, and how much I DON'T want to ever go back there... as someone suggested, working with a therapist who works with bariatric patients (or even eating disorders in general) might be helpful - I haven't done that myself, but I know several others from various forums who swear by it. P.S. no - your stomach almost certainly hasn't stretched back out also, sometimes I'll do things like eat a big bowl of bran cereal - or eat a bunch of raw carrots (which irritate my stomach if I eat too many of them) to stop a snacking attack...(when nothing else - like talking myself down - works!). Or just get the hell out of the house...

as long as you're following your clinic's plan, you should be fine. The gain could be due to water retention or constipation.

I thought this exact thought for literally decades (I'm in my 60s). I can't even tell you how many times I lost weight - sometimes as much as 50 or 60 lbs - just to gain it all back again a few months later. And I had over 200 lbs to lose. How on earth was I ever going to lose 200 lbs if I couldn't even keep 50 lbs off? Yet I'd try again...and again...and again. And yes - that 3-5% figure you heard is what I've read as well. Without surgical intervention, supposedly only about 3-5% of people can lose a lot of weight - and keep it off (although honestly, I'm surprised it's that high). Unfortunately, I wasn't one of the 3-5%. It took me 40 years to come to that conclusion. yes - you absolutely can regain all of your weight after having weight loss surgery. But your odds of losing a ton of weight and keeping it off are MUCH better than they are without surgery. I never, ever, in a million years could have lost those 200 lbs without surgery. And I wouldn't be sitting here almost seven years later, still managing to keep almost all of it off (like many of us, I did have a rebound during year 3. Most people seem to regain 10-20 lbs after hitting their lowest weight). This surgery has honestly been a miracle for me. It's not that I didn't have to work at it - I did - hard - but I never could have done this without surgery.

P.S. just saw your last message. Zero hunger or appetite at three months out is normal. Vomiting everything solid that you eat is not. Call your clinic.

check with your clinic. That could be symptomatic for a stricture, and you're still in the "window" for one (they almost always occur, when they're going to occur, between one and three months post-surgery (they're very rare after you hit the three month mark) they occur in about 5% of bypass patients. And they're an easy fix (I had two - at four weeks out and again at about eight weeks out)

I could have gone back after 2 with my bypass (I had a desk job)

it depends on the person - and also what kind of job you're talking about. I had bypass - and a desk job. I took three weeks off, but I could have gone back after two.

it does for most people (not all - but most). I had bypass - hunger comes back from most bypassers sometime during the first year post-op - I'm not 100% sure about sleevers.

Arabesque answered the food question well - so ditto what she said. as for exercise, in the beginning I walked and did water aerobics, because at over 300 lbs, that was pretty much all I could do. The last few years I've added Zumba and bicycling (I think those started up when I got to around 200 lbs). oh - I also did the stationary bike at the gym right away, too - those things can handle over 300 lbs. .

according to your profile, you're hoping to lose about 150 lbs, so yes, you'll almost certainly have loose skin. Fortunately, most of us are able to hide it pretty well by the way we dress. I'm sure no one noticed mine (well, except my husband...). I originally lost 235 lbs, so I had a ton of it (I've since had it removed since it was driving me nuts, even though no one could see it). Honestly, I think I can speak for most vets who've lost 100+ lbs that we'd take the lose skin any day of the week over being morbidly obese again. ANY DAY!!!

these are the guidelines of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. They give the requirements for all the common surgeries (including RNY and VSG) - might have to scroll down a ways to see it. As long as your vitamins "fit" these requirements, you should be fine ASMBS-Nutritional-Guidelines-2016-Update.pdf

actually, I've only seen very few programs that allow gummies. Most say no...

soft chews would be fine. We were just told no gummies.

Mine completely went away the first three years after surgery. I have reflux issues occasionally again now, but they're mild - nothing some Tums or Rolaids won't knock out. gastric bypass IS known to improve if not outright cure GERD for most people (not all - but most people)

yes - that's the usual recommendation for patients with GERD. Sleeve can make that worse (it doesn't in everyone, but it does in some). Bypass usually improves if not outright cures it. I had bypass for the same reason.

yes - there are a lot of hormonal things that go on the first few weeks after surgery. A lot of women complain about screwed up menstrual cycles as well as moodiness. It has to do with estrogen being stored in fat cells - it's released during rapid weight loss. It'll all level out eventually and things will go back to normal. Just hang in there...

seven years out. I lost 235 lbs and put about 20 lbs back on during year 3 (which is pretty common - most of us experience a 10-20 lb rebound after hitting our lowest weight). there are no food restrictions once you get a few months out. Some people can't tolerate certain foods (I can't handle really fat-laden meals, for example), but nothing is off the table once you're out a ways. I can eat pork and other red meat with no problem. Edited to add that I almost never went off plan until I was a year out. I'm not really on any plan anymore other than I still eat the minimum grams of protein that I'm required to eat. I'm also cognizant of my calorie intake, but I'm not longer obsessive about it. If I eat too much one day, I just cut back a bit the next day. As long as it all evens out in the end and my weight is pretty stable, I don't worry about it.

like Arabesque said, food plans vary - your clinic should give you a plan to follow.

I wasn't allowed to eat fruit that had skins or seeds for the first few weeks (strawberries definitely have seeds) - but like others have said, check with your plan. Plans can vary...