Jaelzion

I had this fear as well. After a lifetime of being heavy and not being able to permanently lose weight, I wasn't convinced the surgery would work for me. That fear was compounded by the fact that for medical reasons I was forced to have the sleeve rather than the bypass. The surgery doesn't correct the psychological factors that lead to emotional eating or binging. That takes self-reflection or therapy and finding new ways to cope. However, it does address the physical aspects. The surgery will reduce the amount of ghrelin your body produces (one of the hormones responsible for making you hungry). For most people, this results in a reduced appetite (at least for a while). It will drastically reduce the amount you can eat before feeling full and make it physically difficult to overeat. In my case, the surgery even blunted the intensity of my cravings. I may want something I shouldn't have, but it's much easier to just tell myself no post-surgery. In the end, the surgery worked for me just like it does for most people. I lost all my excess weight and so far, I am maintaining the loss. It will work for you too (just be willing to put in the work of figuring out WHY you overeat and addressing those feelings).

For peace of mind, I'd check in with your surgeon's office and describe everything (especially the leakage). I also had quite a bit of pain immediately after surgery and I had to request stronger pain meds (which my doctor prescribed for me). Every surgery is different because we all have unique anatomy, so the surgeon has to do more in some cases than others. The bloating and weight gain are totally normal, it takes a while to shed all the fluid they gave you and for the swelling to subside. The difficulty drinking is also really common, I found drinking even a tiny sip painful at first. The doctor encouraged me to drink slowly but keep at it so I wouldn't become dehydrated. But the best one to evaluate what you're experiencing is your surgeon's office. I'd give them a call and describe your symptoms and they can either advise you or least set your mind at ease that everything is okay. I know those initial few days can be rough, hang in there - it should get better soon. Hugs. 🤗

I used to dislike raw carrots and now I munch on them almost every day. Conversely, I used to love barbecue and now it's "meh".

I shared mine in an earlier post:

If I remember correctly, I drank hot tea because cold liquids still didn't feel good in my tummy.

I was in your place 2 years ago. In my case the family went out to P.F. Changs. I asked for a bowl of the broth from wonton soup, with nothing else in it. It was tasty and kept me from sitting there eating nothing.

I don't have any "never again" foods but there are some things that just aren't good to me anymore. I used to love barbecue and now it's "meh". I remember how good it used to taste but it just doesn't now. I love holiday food, so I usually let myself taste everything at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Then it's right back on plan.

This is what I do. I usually have something I consider a treat toward the end of the day. Often it's sugar free pudding or something sweet like a Quest peanut butter cup. I save those calories specifically to address the nighttime nibbles, LOL.

I haven't, but I'm glad you found something you can drink. Staying hydrated is hard at first, so it's great to have a drink you like at least. Sip slowly and enjoy. 🤗

Your question is so broad that it's hard to answer. There are a million different philosophies about what humans should eat to be healthy. Some people will tell you a plant-based diet is healthiest. Others prefer paleo. A lot of doctors promote the Mediterranean style diet as the healthiest (which the Mayo Clinic describes as "While there is no single definition of the Mediterranean diet, it is typically high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nut and seeds, and olive oil." Most of us probably would benefit from limiting intake of processed foods and junk food. Different bodies react differently, so it may be a matter of trial and error to see what kind of regular diet agrees with you. Personally, I do best with moderately controlled carbs (with very few of the refined, white variety). I'm also a carnivore who needs at least a little meat in my diet. I eat fruit regularly, but I can't overdo it as the sugar in fruit starts to affect me just like the sugar in a candy bar. So I pretty much eat meat, dairy, eggs, veggies, a moderate amount of fruit, nuts, and various kinds of fats. But that's what MY body likes. Your body may prefer vegan or something else entirely. It's really a matter of trying different approaches and seeing what works best. Good luck!

I had both pain and nausea but both were controlled by medication. What I was given for pain at first did not work, so my doctor upped it to a stronger med. Even if you're one of those who does have pain after surgery, your care team should work with you to keep it controlled.

Yeah, sorry to say, it doesn’t show any signs of going away. It doesn’t really bother me but it is notable.

Yep. My post-surgical tummy is quite "vocal". I'm not sure why that is, I just chalked it up to the structural changes the surgery made to my digestive tract.

Hi there, I felt just like you, I really wanted the bypass because my reading had told me that bypass patients on average lose more weight and keep it off longer. So I was super disappointed when it turned out that there was a medical reason why I couldn't have the bypass (at least not safely). But I went forward with the sleeve and it all worked out for the best. The surgery has been very effective for me and I lost a lot more than that 70% average of excess body weight you read about. I lost it all. I know learning how to maintain it crucial, so that's what I'm focused on now. The best way to eat for long-term maintenance. So @catwoman7 is absolutely right. That 70% average is not a hard cap on how much you can lose with the sleeve. It's just an average based on outcomes they have tracked. I'd suggest you talk it out with your surgeon and get all the pros and cons to help you make your decision. Kind regards. 🤗

I'm sorry you're not feeling well. You should definitely call your surgeon's office to check in and see what they say. However, at only 11 days out, it's still VERY early. At that point, a lot of us felt weak, had major problems trying to drink, couldn't eat at all, couldn't hit the protein targets, couldn't walk much. It wasn't until week 3 that I started to feel better. I know on this forum you see a lot of people post that they had no pain and were able to go back to work after a week. I believe them and I'm glad for them, but not everyone has that experience. It's normal to feel pain and weakness after major surgery. But if you're at all concerned, that's what your surgical team is for. I called several times when something happened that I didn't expect and they were always willing to listen and advise. Yours should be too.

Like @joy59, I had help for only the first 3 days after surgery. I definitely needed it on day 1 and 2 at home, but by day 3 I was okay to be by myself. Of course everyone's experience is different, but you might not need someone for a full 1-2 weeks. It helps that you're still on liquids during that time, so there's no meal prep to speak of. Edit to add: if they can't come to you, can you go to them and spend a few days at their house? They may be more open to that. I actually spent day 1 at my sister's house and she took me home on day 2. We were at my house together on day 3 and then she went home. That could be an option. Edit again to add: if they are in their 70s, your parents may be worried about COVID-19. I ended up going through my knee replacement alone because the aunt who was going to take care of me was nervous about possible exposure to COVID-19 (and rightfully so, she's 72 and at high risk). Could that be behind your parents' reluctance?

I have chronic major depression and I take two antidepressants. Neither causes weight gain, in fact they're both known to sometimes suppress appetite so I've had no issues there. I have had to be treated with prednisone since my bariatric surgery for an unrelated condition and I didn't gain a lot of weight. As soon as I came off of it, I lost the water weight and the few pounds I had put on. Make sure to talk all your concerns out with your surgeon. I have a blood disorder and I am on anticoagulants for life. For this reason, my surgeon asked me to get clearance from my hematologist. The hemadoc told me I would need to switch anticoagulants after surgery because the one I was taking required a lot of food to be bioavailable. I tried to get the one he recommended but my insurance wouldn't cover it. It was too expensive for me to pay for out of pocket, so I stayed on my original anticoagulant. Six months later, I developed a blood clot just as my hemadoc predicted. So it's always good to make all your doctors aware that you are having surgery as there can be unexpected interactions between different areas of your health. Best of luck! 🤗

It's delicious and it helps to provide variety. 👍

I remember the day before surgery. It's such a combination of excitement, nervousness, and stress as you work out the last of the logistics. It's funny, the actual day of surgery was much less emotional for me - by then I was on autopilot and just doing what I needed to do. Congratulations on your surgery, I hope it's an easy and uncomplicated procedure with a quick recovery. Hugs. 🤗

Hopefully by 6 months out we're not living on them, but protein shakes can still be useful. They are good when you're short on time or on-the-go. Or when you're far from your protein goal but not really hungry enough to eat meat, cheese, yogurt, etc. To switch it up, I add a dash of Jordan's Skinny Syrups to my Evolve protein shakes and warm them up. They're plant-based, so they don't curdle or thicken from being heated. Sometimes I'll sprinkle nutmeg on top. It's like a sweet, flavored latte but without the coffee. One of my favorite winter treats.

Yah. And "It's not about calories, it's about energy"? Calories are literally a unit of energy. That's what a calorie is. cal·o·rie /ˈkal(ə)rē/ Learn to pronounce noun 1. the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water through 1 °C (now usually defined as 4.1868 joules). 2. the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water through 1 °C, equal to one thousand small calories and often used to measure the energy value of foods.

For me it was really basic. I had a painful knee that I had suffered with for 37 years and I wanted to get a knee replacement. They wouldn't do it at the weight I was then, so I took the plunge. I had my bariatric surgery in March 2019 and my knee was replaced in August 2020. It's SO GOOD being out of pain now!

Same here - my hunger was not completely eliminated, it started to return at the around the 1 year mark. However, it is so much lower (in urgency and frequency) than before that it is totally manageable. Even when I'm truly hungry because of not having eaten all day, my body just gives me a polite "Hey, it would be nice to eat something" where before it was "FEED ME NOW!"

Maple Pecan Bourbon is heavenly! I tried "Christmas cookies" and it was "meh". Not bad but not great.

Oh, I see, LOL. 😁Well if they were tight before and they fit now then at least you know you're significantly smaller! My leggings had started to gap in an unattractive way, so I finally had to replace them, LOL. I'm sure you will "undergrow" ("ingrow"? Whatever is opposite of "outgrow", LOL) your jeans soon.