RapidFirePickle

My highest weight was 305 (5 ft. 6.5 in), my first bariatric visit 289, my surgery weight 248, current weight 217. I had surgery May 2. I've been staying pretty tight to the rules the doctor set for me, and so far its been really good. You can do this.

When you are on liquids, the doctor usually tells you to limit you intake to a certain amount per hour, When you switch to puree or soft foods, they usually have a volume/time frame for that too. I personally have a bowl exactly the volume I'm allowed to eat per (soft food) meal, and my liquid I consume no more than 12 ounces per hour (it was 4 ounces per hour for the first few days after surgery, and then no more than eight per hour the first couple of weeks). See if you have volumes listed in you instructions.

I'm almost two months out from bypass; unless the meat is very soft (usually baked chicken in soup), I have a hard time chewing it enough to make my pouch happy. I usually have a hard time with more than two ounces.

I run into the occasional food where my pouch says "Heck no", but it's usually something like cold/dry meat or something a little too tough. It will be an adventure to say the least.

I have had type 2 diabetes since I was 28; I had hypertension, sleep apnea, and i have fibromyalgia. I got gastric bypass because it is better at reversing diabetes than gastric sleeve. I am less than 2 months post-op and have gone from four diabetes medications to one, I am almost off my hypertension medication (3 to 1 and low bp now), and in another month I am retesting to see if I can get off the CPAP. Gastric bypass was not my first choice either, but I am very glad I did what the surgeon recommended.

Ash, I am one of those people who WOULD have complimented your clothes, nails, smile BEFORE you started this journey. I've always been that kind of person. It's too bad most of the people you've encountered are so unappreciative of those around them. Hugs from Alaska!

I bought the Bariatric Advantage because my surgeon's office uses them, but as long as you get chewable/meltable vitamins/supplements in the dosages recommended by your surgeon, then you should be fine. Shop around.

My surgeon said NO sushi/raw meat of any kind until 3 month post-surgery, but I am a bypass patient. I would suggest you ask to be safe.

The way my surgeon explained it is that you thermostat is broken (diabetes) and the surgery will repair and reset the thermostat. Some of us have deranged metabolisms that have genetic and environmental components. the surgery levels the playing field by combating the metabolic derangement, and the changing of our eating habits and becoming more active helps perpetuate that change.

Tylenol (acetaminophen) is the wiser choice for pain; ibuprofen can cause ulcers and should be avoided.

We've been best friends for 31 years, a couple for 27 years, and married for 23. We've been through a lot in our relationship, but always come out stronger on the other side. He's been very supportive and loving. I am sorry that your partner is having a hard time dealing with this process, but you need a better situation. Maybe couples counseling would help?

Bypass patient here; I lost 13 pounds in the first three weeks, then I stalled for eleven days. I was already walking long (5+ miles) distances and getting enough protein, water, and the correct range of calories. Day 12 it began moving down and is still headed that way...until the next stall. I didn't change anything, it just began going again. Your body is just adjusting to its situation and it will kick up again.

My dietician gave me free samples of different companies to try; maybe yours will have some too.

I am sorry to hear that you went through something so traumatic; it is a lot to take in even when you are having it done voluntarily. Because you don't need to lose weight, you will need to be more conscious of getting enough calories than those of use who are needing weight loss. I am thinking for you that once you get past the healing portion of the process, it will be a matter of feeling things out and breaking your meals into somewhat smaller and more frequent portions. It IS possible to stretch a gastric sleeve; it is something sleeve patients are cautioned not to do as it will cause regain. I think in the long run you will be okay. I will let the sleeve patients answer; I am a bypass patient and I have somewhat different rules.

I hope you get well quickly so you can discover more NSV's!

My husband convinced me to get a few things in one or two sizes smaller than what I was wearing; I started with underwear because no one wants those to be baggy for long! I also got a few shirts. I'm in the large/14 now and will definitely get into the mediums later. I also was cleaning out closets and found a few items I kept from high school that I can now wear. It's surreal that I'm where I was over 25 years ago.

I was on Lantus, Victoza, metformin, and Invokana. The Lantus I was able to stop before the three week-pre-op diet (slowly decreased as blood sugars got better), the Invokana I stopped during the three weeks pre-op, the metformin the surgeon had me stop the day of surgery (night before was last dose), and now I am waiting to be told I can wean off the Victoza (six weeks post-op). My morning sugars are between 90 and 120.

I was only given blood thinners in the hospital (once before surgery and then once the next day), and my pain medication was liquid Tylenol and oxycodone. I only needed the pain medication intermittently for a few days after discharge. HOWEVER, this is my experience, and your doctor may feel you will need something different based on your specific situation. Best wishes.

Six days post-op (for me it was RNY) I was able to drink 64 ounces throughout the day, including my protein shakes. I also bought a pureed soup (butternut squash), thinned it out with chicken broth, and added whey protein. This gave me something warm and savory to contrast with all the "sweet" flavored shakes. I limited myself to the intake levels they outlined in the post-op material (no more than eight ounces per hour) and stuck to it. Whether or not I felt full, it's what I was instructed to do.

Because I was on full liquids (protein shakes, etc) that afternoon, I was instructed to start vitamins one week after surgery. It will depend on the doctor. I would have a supply of liquid/chewable vitamins available before your surgery date.

So, after my surgery (when I had already lost more than 50 pounds) and my husband had been complaining about how his weight was "stuck" (having trouble sticking to a healthy diet), we happened to stop in and visit some neighbors. They asked my husband if he had lost weight because he looked slimmer, but not a single word for the lady who actually DID lose weight, and a significant amount! Sheesh! I must be wearing a cloaking device!

The rash could be petechiae (pinpoint bleeding), or some other significant issue. Please go to the ER.

After surgery, I was told only take my Victoza and stop all other diabetes medications. Most mornings for the first couple weeks my fasting sugars were 100/101/104, then every few days it would bump up to 139/143. I'm at one month post-op and my fasting was 97. I believe it is the body ridding itself or stored sugars, and it will waver a bit until your body finally kicks the excess sugars to the curb. Walking in the evening and having protein before bed will reduce the Dawn Effect as well.

I wasn't able to weigh myself for a week after surgery because of where I was staying (away from home). At my one week checkup I was down three pounds. I lost another three in a day or two. It will happen.

My surgeon let me transition to soft foods at two weeks after surgery, and I never had to do pureed food. It was the SURGEON's decision to let me transition; I wouldn't have without permission.