james2021

My doctors told me 4-6 weeks. I work a desk job from home so I went back to work after 2. It was doable, but the exhaustion you feel between weeks 2-6 is wild, because of how few calories you are consuming, so that's something to consider.

I don't have Medicaid and went through Blue Cross, but I actually gained a small amount of weight during the phase leading up (5 lbs or so). However, during the pre-op liver shrink diet, it is virtually impossible to not lose weight. I lost 20 pounds in three weeks. If I had shown up and gained weight or maintained after I was supposed to be on that pre-op diet, I'm sure they would've turned me away, because it would've been clear that I hadn't done the surgery preparation without even seeing my liver.

I don't want to go so far as to say that you shouldn't be concerned, just chiming in with my experience that a dozen or so times, I was convinced I'd done something terrible (accidentally picking up something too heavy, bending over too much, twisting the wrong way, etc and then being really sore) and it always ended up OK.

I'm sure the lack of food has a lot to do with it. I'm not sure if you've also had to quit caffeine, etc, as well leading up to surgery but it's a lot of jarring changes in the lead up to surgery day. Journaling was really helpful to me. Good luck with your surgery! You won't regret it!

Just what the others are saying, the less, the better! I packed a whole duffel bag and had an unusually long stay (5 days), but barely even had the energy to be on my phone. Congratulations and good luck!

Woohoo!! How exciting. One of the best decisions I've ever made, you won't regret it!

I didn't have to do it for 6 weeks -- I don't envy you! But, my experience and the experiences of others I've read on this forum indicate that after the first week, it gets a lot better. You just have to take it one day at a time, and think about how terrible it would be to get to surgery day and get opened up, only to be closed up and not be able to get it because your liver didn't shrink enough. That's what helped me push through. The low energy is terrible and unfortunately I don't think there's a way around that one, but I would ask your doctor about the vomiting and what they would recommend for that! Good luck and congrats on your surgery date! ❤️

Columbus! Went through OSU. Doing great and hope all is smooth for you as well!

Post surgery but saying hi as a fellow Ohio person and I remember vividly doing my own version of staring "at the phone number for my favorite pizza place." The liver shrink was the hardest part IMHO. Congrats on being in the final stretch!

You can do it!! I also started getting really nervous when I was just a few days out. It helped to read hat so many people have no regrets about their surgery on here. I am now one of those people.

Telling you to stick to 300 calories 2 months out is wild. I was also doing 600-800ish when I was 2 months out.

Yes, that seems strange to me -- I'd probably reach out to my surgeon! The only thing I could think of is that is it because you are eating food that's more solid? Hope all is OK.

Woohoo, congrats!

How is everyone doing? Happy 3~ months out to us! I've passed 60 pounds down from starting the liver shrink!! Life is def getting a little easier; my body doesn't hurt as much as it did and I was able to baaarrreeeely buckle the airplane seatbelt the other day. The only bad habit I have picked back up is eating chips, so I need to watch that. :S

Good luck!!!

Awesome! Congratulations!

I'm so sorry you are having to deal with that, it sounds like a stressful situation. Not sure what your hospital's policy is, but mine needed someone to be physically there to release me, so Uber would've been a no-go. You could arrange for medical transport (some kind of paid service), or might have to go the friend route. Good luck. ❤️

Woohoo!! Congratulations

My doctor gave me the impression that the no caffeine during pre-op was to better prepare you for post-op, when they very specifically want you to avoid caffeine for a couple of months due to risk of dehydration since caffeine dehydrates you. No caffeine was terrible but doing during pre-op helped the already jarring transition post-op!

I split mine in half but it was a pretty small pill to begin with.

Woohoo! Can't wait to be where you are

I'm 27 -- much higher starting BMI than you (57), but also didn't have co-morbidities. That's one of the big reasons I wanted to do it right now, to get this under control before any of that started.

I was 5/20 and have barely been able to handle a desk job because of lack of energy -- I don't know how you're doing it!!

I started working (desk job, remote) 2 weeks after being sleeved and got through it but the exhaustion was terrible. I'm 8 weeks out and have just started noticing having energy again.

Hi! I'm enjoying reading where everyone is so I will check in too -- I had surgery on 5/20 so I'm about 7.5 weeks out. The worst part about this for me has been no caffeine. I'm really looking forward to being cleared for step 4 which includes caffeine allowed at my appointment in about a week. I'm also really missing wine but I think I need to stay away from alcohol for as long as possible. I'm 50 lbs down overall (355 to 305ish -- I lost a LOT during the 3 week liver-shrink) and about 25 of that is post-surgery. I'm definitely noticing that it's easier to move around and my clothes are looking different on me, which has been great. In terms of taste, shredded cheese tastes a little weird to me, milk is disgusting, and butter tastes a little... off. I'm really interested to know if I'll dump/if I can ever have sugar again, but I'm not going to mess with trying something until I hit the step 4 diet. I'm REALLY stressed out about the hair loss that people say starts at around 4 months. But the only way out is through..... and it'll be worth it. I'm just worried I'll have bald spots!!!!! 😧