Mattymatt

I think you should be prepared for the chance that it may happen. I wasn't prepared and I wished I had been.

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I am really glad you have the courage to post this. I can tell you that you're not alone! I was the same way for almost 6 weeks post-op. Golly, I can practically identify with the anger and saddness. I even had some suicidal ideation because I could not see a path forward to a better life. A song from Paula Abdul, Forever Your Girl came on the radio and I just broke down sobbing in my car. This was the song that my ex-girlfriend (and the woman I thought I would marry) sang to me on karaoke night on a cruise. She was drunk, in love, and she looked directly at me as she sang the song. I remember tearing up at the love I felt. Well, it turned out she's not forever my girl.
In some ways I was/am mourning the old me and I don't have food to make me feel better. Is it possible that you are mourning the person that you were pre-surgery? The difficulty of the mental game cannot be underestimated. If you need a shoulder to cry on, I am here; having walked in your shoes.

Dumping sucks the big one!

Congratulations on the first step towards the new you, Cara! All of your feelings are perfectly normal and just about everyone experiences these at some point along their journeys. I am a Type 2 Diabetic, and in just two days post-op, I was completely off all blood sugar control medicines. Gastric Bypass is the gold standard for Bariatric Surgery as it has the most research data and still has the best success rate. Basically your stomach is reduced by about 75% and you have a malabsorbtive component which helps you lose weight. It's probably one of the most "major" routine surgeries performed. My surgery was completely performed laprascopically and my surgeon told me that basically robotics do the majority of the work. A robot is going to be far more precise than the human hand at incisions. The end result is that the incisions healed up very quickly.
The one recommendation I make to everyone starting out is to seek out counseling, because some people may experience worsening depression post-surgery. I experienced this, and consequently, I had a much harder time with the mental game. I had very few, if any, physical complications at all. They say anesthesia and the hormonal changes can effect each person quite a bit differently. I am still learning to eat slowly and more mindfully. If I don't do this, I end up praying to the porcelain god. I also don't like sugar anymore. If I accidently have too much, then I get an uncomfortable feeling of shakiness and rapid heart beat.
I hope this helps you out some! Good luck and I think you'll find some really receptive folks on here.

@baribetty I had surgery on March 12th. So I am just about at 6 and 1/2 weeks post op. Funny but it feels like an eternity.

I still use Protein Shakes for Breakfast because I don't really like eating when I first wake up. I also use them when I am out and about and don't want to stop for fast food.

My advice to you is be a pain in the butt because this is your health, and sadly, you must be your own strong advocate. Also, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Keep after them!

Vitamins are a whole lot different than prescription medicines. Generally-speaking, they don't have the side effects and untold other horrors. I will gladly trade my chewable vitamins for the prescription meds any day and 5x on Sunday.

Way to push through! Great job!

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I was so stunned...I had my surgery on january 31st 2018, and for the first time went shopping for some clothes to help me get by (considering its only almost 3 months, but my "old" clothes are litterly falling off me) i could not believe it i fit in an Xl-1X!!! Before surgery i was a size 26-28 or 3x i almost cried my mom was there with me and i told her i never thought i would fit in them...
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I am now at 1 year 5 months after my Gastric Bypass. This journey wasn't easy but I have been at my goal weight 150lbs now for over 5 months (highest weight 287). I'm getting insurance approval for my panniculectomy and breast reconstruction. Then my journey will be complete. I feel amazing!! Still experimenting with most foods and never afraid to try new foods all the time. Posted are my before & after pics. Insurance DOES pay for Panniculetomy & reconstruction breast LIFT (not augmentation) so I am very happy about that!! I didn't read or follow all the diets online. I knew my body and paid attention to how i felt and made my own diets. First 4 months after surgery Yoplait greek 100 Protein yogurt was my best friend and I still eat 3 a day! they are so smooth not gritty like other greek yogurts. I eat everything from Steak to pizza. (just very small amounts chewed VERY well) I have not gained any weight back and am looking forward to my plastic surgery so I can look as good on the outside as I feel on the inside. IF anyone is scared or have any questions about anything feel free to e-mail me sjohnson4021 at yahoo.com

Good' ole potatoes 🥔🥔🥔

I like to buy fresh foods mostly when I grocery shop but I always end up with more than I can eat. I bough 3 avocados (what was I thinking?) and 2 went bad before I got around to eating them. Same with cucumbers and zucchini. It’s such a mental thing I know. I’m still shopping like my stomach is pre-surgery size. I used to eat an entire zucchini in 1 meal - now it’s at least 3 meals.
I need to figure this out. I don’t want to have to go grocery store stopping all the time but I don’t want to waste money or food either.
Fun times! [emoji854]

That's good that you're avoiding these triggers. Diet soda is a slippery slope for me as well. I am just as happy to be free of it.

It was soda, diet or regular, and potato chips. I haven't had either one since pre surgery. I don't think I could have one in moderation without slipping back into a deep dark hole.

@baribetty I had surgery on March 12th. So I am just about at 6 and 1/2 weeks post op. Funny but it feels like an eternity.

Oh also, check your food for hidden sugars! Check your Protein Drink for sugar and carbs! Check your Vitamins for sugars. If you are consuming lots of things with small amounts of sugar that's not good and you need to find replacements for them.
I think I saw on Big Ward where a patient wasn't losing and was having 2 huge smoothies a day, come to find out each smoothie had an outrageous amount of sugar and carb in them...she changed it out and began losing again!

My advice to you is be a pain in the butt because this is your health, and sadly, you must be your own strong advocate. Also, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Keep after them!

My weight is dropping like a rock. I think I am averaging a little over 3/4s of a pound a day and it recently picked up and shifted into high gear. I had a stall that lasted slightly over a week and I am back on the loser's bench again.

My weight is dropping like a rock. I think I am averaging a little over 3/4s of a pound a day and it recently picked up and shifted into high gear. I had a stall that lasted slightly over a week and I am back on the loser's bench again.

My wife was very supportive. She is the one who came up with the idea of surgery in the first place. Because I eat so little during meals, it really translates to more time available to talk (socialize) on my part.

I am so sorry to hear this. But I have some good news for you, this situation is only temporary! The end goal of your surgery is to be healthier for your family, your child, and yourself. Remember to take it one day at a time and that getting healthy is rarely a straight line. They have a real saying in the 12 step program that I can get behind: This too shall pass. You'll get there!!

Just thought I would drop in and update on how the extra 200-250calories are fitting into my day.
On Saturday my RD strongly encouraged me to add in more calories/protein. She told me that they rarely like to give caloric targets but know I'm a "special case." *snic* And as I already mentioned, she was a little teensy weensy concerned about the whole 500calorie threshold where I was a little stuck.
I met with her yesterday and she agreed that I don't need to artificially "pad" my diet with fat just to get my calories to 800-850 per day. I explained that I'm already eating 6 small meals a day (and she is totes on board with that -- eating about 3 to 3 1/2hours apart) and that I feel maxed on volume at this time of recovery (9 weeks).
I explained that I wanted that 800-850 level to be organically driven and for my days to fluctuate naturally according to different food choices. Some days might be "richer" and more calorie dense, others will be clean. I actually prefer eating clean and my body seems to respond better with that type of fiber rich, lean Protein and veggie, low fat approach. I think that has to do with my post meno status, PCOS, and my hormone blocker cancer drug.
So since Saturday I've been averaging around 725 calories per day and around 68g of protein per day. And as many of you suggested--the weight loss started again! I've lost about 1lb per day for the last couple of days. Maybe my body is sighing in relief and saying, "About dang time bi*ch!" I know that my meals are satisfying me, and I now feel tummy restriction upon eating. So those are both reassuring things!
She said I'm eating textbook perfect amounts and that I should not worry just because I'm able to eat more than someone else at my same stage--we all have different levels of inflammation, rates of healing, amounts of leptin/ghrelin, amounts of physical stretch in our tummies. So no two will be alike.
This made me feel more reassured and confident. She also said my goal of 150lbs is a little on the low side, but still should be realistic. However, more than the scale reading, I need to be confident in the physical and life changes this weight loss will mean to me.
BS to that. I want both!

My advice to you is be a pain in the butt because this is your health, and sadly, you must be your own strong advocate. Also, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Keep after them!