Didjit

Thanks for the insight everyone. At this stage, I'm focusing on Protein and Water, but I'm so sick of Protein shakes, yogurt, and cottage cheese I'd just as soon not "eat" at all. That's a problem I thought I'd never have! :-D

I'm a little over a week post-op (sleeve) and I'm finding that in general I'm not that hungry. Yay, right? This is one of the changes I was really hoping for, that with the removal of stomach tissue and the ghrelin it produces that ever present voice of hunger would quiet down. So now that I'm experiencing it I'm wondering if it will last. So those of you who are several months or more out, did your appetite comeback? When? And by how much?

Thanks for the insight everyone. At this stage, I'm focusing on Protein and Water, but I'm so sick of Protein shakes, yogurt, and cottage cheese I'd just as soon not "eat" at all. That's a problem I thought I'd never have! :-D

Side story:
Years ago I was in San Francisco for business. I'd been needing new jeans and coincidentally SF was the world headquarters for Levi's. Problem solved, I thought. Their flagship store consisted of five floors of jeans: "Skinny", "Thin", "Matchstick", "Slim", "Narrow"... I asked where the more "relaxed" styles were. "Oh. umm... I think we still have some over here in the corner." I was led to a single rack with a scattered selection of sizes. Wasn't America largely overweight? Wasn't there an obesity epidemic? Where the hell were these "Matchstick" people? Where the hell were the clothes for the rest of us? I left the store empty handed, in shame and disbelief.

Side story:
Years ago I was in San Francisco for business. I'd been needing new jeans and coincidentally SF was the world headquarters for Levi's. Problem solved, I thought. Their flagship store consisted of five floors of jeans: "Skinny", "Thin", "Matchstick", "Slim", "Narrow"... I asked where the more "relaxed" styles were. "Oh. umm... I think we still have some over here in the corner." I was led to a single rack with a scattered selection of sizes. Wasn't America largely overweight? Wasn't there an obesity epidemic? Where the hell were these "Matchstick" people? Where the hell were the clothes for the rest of us? I left the store empty handed, in shame and disbelief.

Present!

I'm a little over a week post-op (sleeve) and I'm finding that in general I'm not that hungry. Yay, right? This is one of the changes I was really hoping for, that with the removal of stomach tissue and the ghrelin it produces that ever present voice of hunger would quiet down. So now that I'm experiencing it I'm wondering if it will last. So those of you who are several months or more out, did your appetite comeback? When? And by how much?

I'm a little over a week post-op (sleeve) and I'm finding that in general I'm not that hungry. Yay, right? This is one of the changes I was really hoping for, that with the removal of stomach tissue and the ghrelin it produces that ever present voice of hunger would quiet down. So now that I'm experiencing it I'm wondering if it will last. So those of you who are several months or more out, did your appetite comeback? When? And by how much?

I'm a little over a week post-op (sleeve) and I'm finding that in general I'm not that hungry. Yay, right? This is one of the changes I was really hoping for, that with the removal of stomach tissue and the ghrelin it produces that ever present voice of hunger would quiet down. So now that I'm experiencing it I'm wondering if it will last. So those of you who are several months or more out, did your appetite comeback? When? And by how much?

I COMPLETELY agree with you. Then..... the powder guck gets like a glob of goo bc you can't swallow enough Water to really dislove it. I would say it's definitely the worst part for me also. I am one week post -op tomorrow morning.
Amy☆☆☆

Just hit 100 lbs post op. Still a steady loss. I wish I would have done this years ago.

Good to see another Dr. Jones patient. I had him, he's amazing.
Anyway, I had the same surgery on 11/21. The thing I did was immediately after I went to my room after recovery and was cleared to move around, I walked up and down the hallway a couple times. Moving is important and I know from past experience the more you move, the better you're getting your body ready to recover and blood flow moving around.
I didn't have any cramps as you've described. In fact, my surgery was pretty painless. So I feel lucky.
The question I would ask is if you're having movements and going the bathroom, if you aren't, gas is your issue.
If you are going normally or regularly, then it could be something you'll have to just get through.
Good luck!

Just curious how much weight people lost on the pre-op diet. I've lost 20 lbs. but I don't know how much my surgeon expects/wants. The nurse said not to worry, just lose as much as you can.
I go in on Monday. Yikes! Am I really doing this? Looks like I am!

Just curious how much weight people lost on the pre-op diet. I've lost 20 lbs. but I don't know how much my surgeon expects/wants. The nurse said not to worry, just lose as much as you can.
I go in on Monday. Yikes! Am I really doing this? Looks like I am!

I was in my twenties when I lost about 50 pounds. It took an extreme amount of exercise and an extremely restricted diet. 10 years later when my knees wore out from running, the weight started to come back on. Since then I've gained double what I lost. So, what I have learned, contrary to popular belief, is that while you may be able to force your weight down with diet and exercise, it is very difficult to keep it there. In fact exercise can be a form of a bulimia. Diet and exercise, while very important for a healthy life, are not always the solution for long-term weight loss.

I was in my twenties when I lost about 50 pounds. It took an extreme amount of exercise and an extremely restricted diet. 10 years later when my knees wore out from running, the weight started to come back on. Since then I've gained double what I lost. So, what I have learned, contrary to popular belief, is that while you may be able to force your weight down with diet and exercise, it is very difficult to keep it there. In fact exercise can be a form of a bulimia. Diet and exercise, while very important for a healthy life, are not always the solution for long-term weight loss.

I was in my twenties when I lost about 50 pounds. It took an extreme amount of exercise and an extremely restricted diet. 10 years later when my knees wore out from running, the weight started to come back on. Since then I've gained double what I lost. So, what I have learned, contrary to popular belief, is that while you may be able to force your weight down with diet and exercise, it is very difficult to keep it there. In fact exercise can be a form of a bulimia. Diet and exercise, while very important for a healthy life, are not always the solution for long-term weight loss.

With all due respect, your father doesn't understand how to interpret statistics associated with potential complications - you don't just simply add them up to arrive at a "total".
If he truly read the article you reference with an OPEN mind, he would have seen that for nausea and dehydration - the article itself even says this is when patients aren't getting in enough fluids. This is why the bariatric programs and the vets on this forum always always always stress how important it is to meet your Fluid intake goals. Seriously, getting in your fluids those first few weeks is YOUR JOB - even if it takes you 18hrs a day of constant sipping, DO IT. Drinking will get easier as the swelling goes down and you can drink more normally (rather than teeny tiny sips). But it is always important to track your Fluid intake and make sure you are getting enough.
As for GERD - it does happen but often is temporary - and most bariatric programs will have you on a PPI for a couple months. You may need to have your dosage adjusted, you may need to stay on it longer - but as long as you work with your bariatric team on this and don't ignore the symptoms, it is manageable.
Gallstones - yep this is a common one. And yes, a gallstone attack can be excruciatingly painful. But you know what? I'd still rather have a couple gallstone attacks and get my gallbladder removed if needed than deal with all the other LIFELONG and LIFE THREATENING side effects of obesity. Oh and guess what, there's a good chance you could end up with gallstones at some point even if you don't have WLS.
Strictures - there are people on this forum who have had a stricture. Perhaps one of them can weigh in here. I believe at least some of them have been able to have it corrected/managed and still don't regret the surgery one bit.
Deep vein thrombosis - a risk with any surgery honestly especially when your mobility may not be great immediately following. This is especially true with obese patients who already have mobility issues and/or aren't active. Many programs assess your risk for this based on your current condition and family history of blood clots. Based on this, it may be recommended to have an IVC filter put in your leg temporarily - the filter will catch any clots that form and migrate before they reach your lungs and lead to a pulmonary embolism. The more common approach is to administer blood thinner injections for a couple weeks after surgery. And to walk walk walk walk walk as much as you can post op - the more active you are, the less the change of a blot developing in the first place!
Nutritional deficiency - this is why you take Vitamins, calcium/vitamin D supplements and B12 supplements. Why you focus on Protein first, followed by veggies then fruit and lastly starches. And why you get your blood work checked regularly post op so that any deficiencies can be treated before they become a problem. For instance on my program, that means blood work at 3, 6, 9, 12 18 and 24 months post op and annually thereafter. Also, with the sleeve you don't have the malabsorption associated with the bypass. Your Vitamin supplementation is due to the reduced volume intake. And I know personally many sleeve patients who once they are a couple years out have been able to cut back to supplementing with just one Multivitamin a day.
I am guessing he thinks the forums are a joke because they don't support his pre-conceived negativity regarding this surgery? What exactly does he think your other options are and what are the "stats" associated with those options? His scare tactics are disgusting. Would he rather your life be shortened and your quality of life be miserable with the obesity? Have you really told him truthfully and completely the impact the obesity has on your life?
At the end of the day - you are a 46 year old woman. You don't need daddy to sign off on your surgery. I understand wanting family emotional support - but if you don't get it, you can still go ahead with surgery. This is a decision to be made between you and your medical team. Is dad willing to go to an appointment with your medical team and hear directly from them? Ask about the complications, how they can be mitigated and what their practice's actual complication rate is? Or is he so stuck in his negativity that he wouldn't listen to the medical professionals either?

Thanks, everyone, for all the great responses and perspectives.
I'm clear that this decision is 100% mine to make. And that neither my husband's support or even the surgery itself will make a difference if I'm not committed to the change myself. The ironic thing is that years ago I had been committed to the change. I'd dropped 70lbs from 250 and thought I'd made it. But I found it hard to hold onto that, and then when I met my now-husband... well, we're both foodies and he's a fantastic Italian cook. My environment was no longer as strictly controlled as I'd been keeping it, and so the pounds poured on. So in the beginning I was fit and pretty thin, then we both gained lots of weight but I really excelled at it. Now he's been trimming down and I've been feeling hopelessly beyond the point of no return.
I think his opposition to WLS is mostly due to the fact that his experience with WLS is based on failed patients and surgical complications. It's just made me wonder whether I've been focusing on only the success stories.
So, again, thanks everyone for the support and feedback. @@Fredbear, that was pretty harsh, but not inaccurate. Thanks for the reality dose. @@elisa5150 & @@LittleBill, your simple suggestions were elegant and helped put my doubts in perspective. @@blizair09 & @@OutsideMatchInside, thank you for sharing your experience, and @@WLSResources/ClothingExch & @@Aggiemae, thank you for your advice and support. And to the women, I hope you didn't feel slighted by my request for feedback from the men in particular. I just wanted to encourage their voices as we seem to be a minority here.

Majorities? Major foodies. Damn elf correct!

I started this process once 10 years ago and lost so much weight during the pre op period that I didn't go through with it. I am great at diets, my problem has always been maintenance. This time my pre prep was extensive. Also I'm in my mind 60s and losing weight, even on 1200 calories a day had become impossibly slow and tedious. I've lost 23 pounds and I am already able to walk over a mile and at the risk of TMI, I have already lost enough abdominal weight to stop peeing in my pants.
My husband and I are majorities. And other that my current preference for soft food and the fact that eating g out costs half as much it really hasn't effected our social life. The refrigerator is another story as the main cook learns not to cook meals for four when Nell two people eat more than 3 oz of food. The first 10 weeks are restrictive but so far I've put it into perspective.
Keep in touch.

The changes you need to make in your life are going to be the same, surgery or not. So make the changes, and let the surgery go for a while. If you see good results, there is a good chance you won't need it. If you don't see any results - particularly if you can't stick with the dietary changes - surgery won't help you.
ETA: I haven't had any unexpected changes. Everything was spelled out pretty clearly from the start.

At BMI of 42, you're not just obese, you're morbidly obese, and at just about my starting size. You're not just fat, you're at a dangerously unhealthy weight that is inviting diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, etc.
I call absolute bull$hit on your husband. The surgery doesn't "fail," patients "fail to change their behavior." If his OR is seeing "lots of re-dos," what that tells me is that the surgeons/hospital are not properly preparing patients for the procedure (ie., setting them up to fail).
You're 50 and morbidly obese. Ask your husband if he wants you to die within the next 5-10 years, maybe it'll change his mind. If it doesn't, maybe you need a different husband.
I'm 4 days out and this is the best I've felt in so many years. My only regret was not doing it 5 years ago.

@@Didjit
I'm not a guy but most of the things that are issues or concerns post-op are only for a short time. The lack of capacity and the limited drinking at once, is short term. Once you are healed at 6 months, you have more capacity. At a year you can eat normal healthy portions. I was worried before surgery that I would always feel like I was strange of different from other people, but I fit in better with the world now, than I ever did before. I eat like a health conscious person, and that never stands out.
I think your partner is just scared for you. Working in the hospital, they are only going to see the bad cases. All the successful healthy people never see the ER. I certainly have never been to the ER since surgery.
Your partner doesn't have to carry this excess weight, you have to. If you want the surgery, have the surgery.

It's true that many people do regain weight and chose to have a revision but it was not the surgery that "failed". But let's leave that issue aside for now.
Your best chance of long term success is making sure that you go into the surgery educated and prepared . Take the classes at the bariatric center and consider taking a "lifestyle" class as well. I did and the 6 months I spent working on my food issues and learning new skills, like chewing and actually tasting my food, drinking Water, and even just using small dishes, it was the best thing I could have done.
I didn't ask him what he thought before I started the process (I have never asked "permission" to do anything in 40 years of marriage). My husband was supportive of the idea of surgery but have been a basket cast since I had it. Let your husband know that you want and need his support but did nth let his opinion determine what you decide to do.
No one asked this yet but is your husband also overweight?