Sleeve_Me_Alone

I had surgery in in Sept. 2021 and have started to have hunger come back. I'm really having to focus on eating regularly, listening to my body, and fight of the urge to graze/binge. This is the work of WLS; the surgery itself only does so much. But what you are feeling is completely normal and nothing to be afraid of. Just time to roll up your sleeves and keep doing the work!

pre-op diets vary WILDLY from surgeon to surgeon. There is no "gold standard" so each program has their own. Ans mentioned above, the primary goal is simply to shrink the liver to get it out of the way. But if necessary, they can use a tool to hold the liver up and out of the way, so its really not usually a make or break issue. If you are very concerned, you could move to a low carb, high Protein, lower calorie diet a few days ahead of time, but its probably not necessary. Your surgeon has their own requirements for a reason and if you trust them, you can trust their requirements.

Clothing sizing has absolutely changed over the years. I am roughly the same weight now as I was in high school, but definitely NOT the same size. Additionally the size I'm wearing now fits completely different than it did the last time I was this size! I try really hard not to get too caught up in sizes. They are so arbitrary! It can be a little bit of a mind game.

I had surgery Tuesday and was back to work the following Monday. Pain was fine but I was super tired. I had to take breaks frequently and took a nap after work every single day the first week back.

I had VSG in Tijuana, Mx. at HospitalBC with Dr. Illan, so I can only speak to my own personal experience, not Dr. Corzo. I did about 200 hours of research before my surgery and based on that research, finances, and other personal considerations, decided to go the Medical Tourism route and have been very happy with that decision.

These hospitals ONLY do bariatric surgeries and are geared towards medical tourists. They run a VERY well oiled machine from intake to discharge. The process was so smooth, I was completely confident going alone. The surgeon I chose is highly accredited, has done thousands of WLS procedures, has relationships and mentorships with some of the most well known US bariatric surgeons for continuing ed, is board certified, etc. He is just as qualified, if not more so, than many of the bariatric surgeons in my area.

The reality is, there are amazing surgeons in the US and just as many in Mexico and other places. Conversely, there are terrible surgeons here and everywhere else. There are pros and cons to each, and every person has different needs. Ultimately it boils down to doing your research, finding a surgeon you trust, and a program that fits your needs.

I had VSG in Tijuana, Mx. I did about 200 hours of research before my surgery and based on that research, finances, and other personal considerations, decided to go the Medical Tourism route and have been very happy with that decision. I had my surgery at HospitalBC with Dr. Illan.

The insurance piece was definitely a factor for me. I have consulted 3x with US surgeons in the past. And all the appointments and hoop jumping eventually caused me to lose hope and I bailed. The months and months of appointments and paperwork is exhausting and extremely frustrating! That being said, I have employer sponsored healthcare, not Tricare, so I can't speak to the experience with them, only my own. From first contact to surgery, was almost exactly 3 months. It would have been shorter, but I had some schedule considerations I had to work around. With my insurance it would have been 9+ months.

These hospitals ONLY do bariatric surgeries and are geared towards medical tourists. They run a VERY well oiled machine from intake to discharge. The process was so smooth, I was completely confident going alone. The surgeon I chose is highly accredited, has done thousands of WLS procedures, has relationships and mentorships with some of the most well known US bariatric surgeons for continuing ed, is board certified, etc. He is just as qualified, if not more so, than many of the bariatric surgeons in my area.

The reality is, there are amazing surgeons in the US and just as many in Mexico and other places. Conversely, there are terrible surgeons here and everywhere else. There are pros and cons to each, and every person has different needs. Ultimately it boils down to doing your research, finding a surgeon you trust, and a program that fits your needs.

Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome is a thing. Likely has nothing to do with your surgery, just your use. It often starts with nausea and grows into recurrent vomiting. Mode of delivery doesn't matter, the only thing that resolves it is cutting it out. If you go a week without and the nausea resolves, you'll have your answer.

I'm just about 8 months post-op and I've just started to notice a "hungry" feeling starting to return. Until now, I didn't ever really feel physical hunger until it was too late and I would get dizzy, nauseated, and very weak if I went too long without eating. It didn't take me long to realize I needed to eat on a schedule, as I couldn't trust my body to tell me when to eat anymore! But, I absolutely had head hunger, and still do. There are times I WANT to eat, or I WANT to feel being "full" again. But therapy and LOTS of internal work has helped me manage that. I'm not perfect by any means, but I have learned to listen to those feelings, sit with them, and work through them instead of giving in and seeking food for comfort.

Some people lose the hunger feelings, some don't. What's most important is that you learn to listen to your body, fuel it well, and learn to eat in a way that honors your journey and aligns to your goals. If you find that you want to eat just to eat, eat more than you can comfortably, etc. then definitely look into some counseling or other strategies for learning how to manage emotional eating, etc. The surgery is just a tool, it can't do the head work or you!

100% normal. Fluids from surgery, swelling, stress. It all can contribute to big swings up and down those first couple of weeks. Don't pay any attention to it. Just rest, drink your fluids, and focus on recovery for the time being. You will see the scale move in time.

I think this is very common! I am almost 8 months out and I know in my head my body has changed drastically, but sometimes I have a very hard time seeing it. I have found that looking at pictures side by side helps, taking measurements helps, and comparing some of my old pants to current ones can help, too. Sometimes, when its really bad, TOUCHING my body can help. This is a well established therapeutic grounding technique, so it helps get me out of my own head, but it also just makes the change very visceral. My body FEELS different. And sometimes I just need to FEEL the changes with my own two hands for it to feel real. Like, I can wrap my fingers around my writs and doing that feels very concrete, which forces my brain to acknowledge the changes. Its hard sometimes for our brains to catch up, but hang in there! You will see it!

The reality is, there are amazing surgeons in the US and just as many in Mexico and other places. Conversely, there are terrible surgeons here and everywhere else. There are pros and cons to each, and every person has different needs. Ultimately it boils down to doing your research, finding a surgeon you trust, and a program that fits your needs.

I spoke to the anesthesiologist prior to surgery and she gave me something for my anxiety and also took care to help bring me out gently, as I have a tendency to sort of flip out. She did a great job and the whole experience was a breeze. I would STRONGLY suggest not going against your doctor, as it could jeopardize your surgery, but definitely bring it up again, even up to the day of if necessary.

13 hours ago, rmp09 said:

I feel this way because I should've canceled and I didn't. I will always regret this for the rest of my life..which I hope isn't too much longer. I didn't need the surgery and I convinced myself I did. Hence why I hate myself more than I ever have.

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You need to get into some counseling ASAP. If you truly feel this way, it is alarming and needs to be addressed. Post-op mental and emotional difficulty is completely NORMAL. Suicidal ideation, self hate, and romanticizing your own misery is not. Its very clear that you are not upset about the surgery, but rather that there is something else much deeper going on. I hope you hear me when I say, struggling post-op is NORMAL, but getting the help you need is the only way forward. Please, please reach out.

First of all, everything you are feeling is completely normal. Those first couple of weeks when you are trying to figure out liquid intake and how to get in Protein, its all a little overwhelming. And the weird, Water logged, sloshy feeling is also normal. I don't think I really felt "right" until I moved to thicker purees. Keep doing what you're doing and you will find that it gets easier over time.

That being said, I purchased a Hydrate Spark water bottle to log water intake. Its definitely a pricey investment, but it has been extremely helpful. It sends me notifications to remind me to drink, it logs all of my water, etc. I also use Just Better Fiber daily to help manage some of the other "issues" and it has helped tremendously. I started with one tablespoon a day and worked up to 3-4. It has been a game changer!

I can't stomach chewable vitamins. I take the capsules from ProCare Health and have since surgery. Never had an issue with them.

Just Better Fiber has been LIFE SAVER for me.

Agree with all of the above - check with your surgeon. I take a med that I cannot miss and was able to take it prior to surgery, but my surgery was later in the day, so it had plenty of time to absorb. Personally, I didn't have any issues with pills post-op so I was able to take all of my regular meds starting the day after surgery.

Yep, I took it every 4ish hours for the first 2 weeks post-op. I didn't have a ton of gas pain, which I'm not sure how much was my surgeon and how much was the gas-x, but most surgeons do recommend it at least for the first few days after surgery. Walking regularly, sleeping somewhat propped up, and a heating pad all also help.

1 hour ago, Splenda said:

Here is how I handled it.

1. If they don't ask what you did, don't tell them. If someone says I look great, I just say, "Thank you. That is very kind."

2. While I did not announce my WLS, if someone directly asks what I did and I am reasonably sure they would be supportive, I tell them. I might be the only person they know who has had WLS and I want them to see someone succeeding so maybe they will be supportive of the next person they meet who has had WLS or is considering it.

3. If someone directly asks and I doubt whether they will be supportive, I would just say, "Oh, I'm eating right and exercising." Which is true.

4. If someone found out I had WLS and accused me of taking the easy way out, I would very blandly reply, "Isn't the most important thing that I find a way out?"

100000000% this. Only a VERY select few folks were told about my surgery in advance and I've chosen to share it with an additional 2 since then. I try to accept the compliment/comment graciously and give a very generic answer, but I VERY rarely provide any detail.

My surgeon recommended no swimming until all the scabs came off all of the incisions. Basically, waiting until they were well healed and there was no risk of infection. But check with your surgeon to be sure; always follow their recommendations for you.

Every surgeon has their own pre-op requirements. Unfortunately, the ASMBS doesn't have hard & fast guidelines for pre-op diets so they vary greatly from surgeon to surgeon. Most have some elements of calorie restriction, lower carb, and higher Protein. Mine was on the more restrictive end, being 2 weeks of liquids only, but others follow a whole foods based plan that allows for multiple meals a day. As others have said, you'll need to get your plan for your surgeon and go from there.

I started taking mine about 3 months before surgery to make it a habit. I am really terrible with meds/vitamins, and I knew it would be necessary post-op (per my surgeon's requirements), so I wanted to make it part of my routine well in advance. That being said, there really is no nutritional/health benefits to it, unless you have a known deficiency. I was instructed to stop taking mine for the 2 weeks prior to surgery, which is very common.

You should always follow YOUR surgeon's recommendations. They have them for a reason. That being said, my plan does not prohibit carbonation after 6 months. I am 7 months post-op and I tried one sip of a carbonated drink a few weeks ago and it immediately came back up. For whatever reason, the fizz did NOT agree with me and it just sort of foamed its way out. For me, its not a big loss as I was never much of a soda drinker, but I know a lot of people who enjoy carbonated drinks and would prefer not to give them up. Definitely wait until you are fully healed, well established with your eating and Water habits, and its cleared by your surgeon. But it definitely CAN work for some folks post-op!

As others have said, its not at all uncommon, though not guaranteed. I was prescribed a 6 month prophylactic course of ursodiol because I have a history of biliary colic and didn't want to risk it. I'm 7 month out now and no problems so far!

Congrats! This is an exciting step in the process. I think its absolutely normal to have the jitters. Its a BIG step and a potentially life changing decision. I was extremely anxious when I met with my surgeon (and the 3 others I didn't go with over the years). He was very understanding and made sure all of my questions were answered. I subsequently had similar conversations with the cardiologist and anesthesiologist before surgery, and felt equally heard and understood by them. Hope you have a similar experience and come away feeling confident and ready to proceed!