Sunnyway

I am no longer diabetic so I'm not sure if it has anything to do with it, but I always used to get up at least once in the night to go. With your question, I just realized that I haven't done that for months!

I am allowed to drink homemade Protein Shakes and I had surgery on August 4th. For example, I had GENEPRO Fruity Oh's flavor, kefir, strawberries, banana and 2 plums. I couldn't drink it all at once but over the course of the morning, it went down. Can always call your team and ask them. My team had no problem with it. Said I can start solids now.

It is probably OK, but one of those things to check with your program about. Some programs are very averse to their patients drinking calories, and even want them off of their Protein Drinks after X weeks. They do have a point in that one common failure mode for WLS is getting in the habit of drinking calorie rich drinks, whether they be soda, SBUX drinks, bullet proof coffee or whatever, it's easier to consume excessive calories if you drink rather than eat them, so caution should be the word with them.
That said, many continue to use Protein or other high nutrient drinks as a convenience long term post op and do just fine, so if you are tracking you intake and remain aware of what (and how much) of what you are consuming and how that fits in with your weight loss or maintenance, go for it. Like many things, it is a tool that can be used for your benefit, or misused for your detriment.
Side note, my wife is still highly restricted in how much she can eat, even after 15+ years, and has a daily smoothie of tangerine juice, banana, strawberries and protein powder along with her potassium and Calcium supplements as a way getting in more of her daily nutrition and that works fine (and the dog is absolutely enraptured by it, too), In your case as a presumably recent post op, I would probably throw in some vanilla or unflavored protein powder as protein is usually our emphasis for a while.

I had RNY in April 2003 after doing a massive amount of reading and research. My program was fairly straightforward where I effectively started out in what most folks call "maintenance mode." I reached and passed the goal of which I dreamed and the goal of which I never dreamed. Eventually I was able to get back to a normal weight.
My RNY has been a terrific teaching tool. I had some challenges relearning how to eat. I've had challenges with dumping. Such things have been the "stick" where being a normal weight has been the "carrot."
I've internalized my program to such an extent that I rarely think about it anymore. Likewise I don't think about my weight anymore, only weighing myself at my annual physicals.
Life is good.

Yes, I had a simple gastroplasty (stomach stapling) in 1980. I lost 75 lbs by 6 months and then stopped losing. Over the next ten years I gained it all back. I had NO nutritional or psych guidance at all. In 1990 I had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and the same thing happened. I lost about 75 lbs by six months and stopped losing. Again, I had NO nutritional guidance or follow up. I returned to my original set point of over 300 lbs, where I remained despite many attempts at weight loss.
Fast forward 30 years... Just before COVID hit, I met a man who told me he had RNY revision as a prerequisite for knee replacement surgery. I had no idea that a revision was possible. I was certainly interested, but then the pandemic arrived.
Six months ago, I started thinking about it again and contacted a bariatric center 90 miles from my home. A barium swallow and an endoscopy revealed that the staples from the prior surgery had given way allowing a fistula (opening) between pouch and stomach, which back then was not cut away, just separated from the pouch by staples.
It was obvious that there was a physical cause for the failure of the earlier surgeries. The surgeon assured me that the staple failure was not my fault due to up-chucking or pouch stretching, but was actually caused by the peristalsis of the stomach. He said that about 75% of the earlier WLS failed for this reason. Today, different kinds of staples and closure protocol are in place to prevent this kind of failure.
I was put in the bariatric program to have a revision. I've lost 44 lbs to date and still have a couple of requirements to complete before revision surgery is scheduled. I'm hoping to have it in October.
I'm excited but wary. Deep down I am afraid that the same thing will happen. My age (73) and prior surgeries are hurdles so I don't expect miraculous results. My hopeful goal is to get under 200 lbs. My dream goal is to reach 175 lbs. or lower.
In the past six months, I've read over a dozen books about bariatric surgery and food addiction and collected a slew of bariatric cookbooks. I'm much better prepared than I was for the earlier surgeries. I now realize that I am a sugar/food addict, that "maintenance" doesn't work for me. I have to be continually vigilant about avoiding sugar, flour, wheat, rice, and processed foods. The only successful way to conquer addiction is abstinence.
How Weight Loss Surgery Really Works, by Matthew Weiner **
Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies, By Marina Kurian, Barbara Thompson, Brian Davidson **
Food Junkies: Recovery from Food Addiction, by Vera Tarman ***
Weight Loss Surgery Does Not Treat Food Addiction, by Connie Stapleton ***
Why Diets Fail (because youʼre addicted to sugar), by Nicole Avena & John Talbott ***
Bariatric Surgery & Food Addiction, by Philip Werdell *** (written for the clinician, but I found it valuable}
The Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients, by Colleen Cook***
A Pound of Cure, by Matthew Weiner (Focus on plant-based eating, not as restrictive as Bright Line Eating)
Bright Line Eating, by Susan Peirce Thompson (similar to Kay Shepardʼs food plan without the 12-step program)
Food Addiction: The Body Knows, by Kay Sheppard (12-step program, Focus on binging)
From The First Bite: A Complete Guide to Recovery, by Kay Sheppard (12-step program, Focus on binging)
Never Binge Again, by Glenn Livingston
Lick the Sugar Habit, by Nancy Appleton (A bit outdated)

I originally thought that I would have Gastric Bypass, but after meeting with the doctor and discussing it with him, we thought that the sleeve was a better choice for me as it was less invasive.
Like you, I had high blood pressure, PCOS, and already had my gallbladder out years ago. I was pre-diabetic.
I did not get heartburn/acid reflux and that was one of the criteria that would have made him suggest RNY instead. I think that he also looks at diabetes & A1C levels to help determine which surgery to recommend.
It may be helpful to discuss your options again with your doctor after all your testing comes back & after you continue your research on both surgeries. Asking people on here about their surgeries is a great way to hear about personal experiences.
I wish you success with whichever surgery you choose! Lots of luck!😁🍀

I honestly feel like I have been sleeping better since the surgery. I don't have sleep apnea & I was pre-diabetic before surgery (urination overnight was not an issue). I had been having difficulty getting a good night's sleep for at least the last 10 years. I often had trouble falling asleep & staying asleep, with periods of being up for 2-4 hours overnight. Often, I would get an hour or two of sleep at a time. My husband's snoring 😴 didn't help any either!🤣
One of the (many) reasons I decided to go through with the surgery was to help me get better sleep. I was getting pain in my legs, hips & lower back & was constantly readjusting my position overnight. I thought dropping some weight would help with the pain & discomfort while sleeping.
I have only lost about 35 pounds so far, and I have been more comfortable overnight & able to sleep for longer stretches than I have in years.
Hopefully, you will also have improvement with your sleep as well.

When he said less invasive, he meant that it didn't alter as many organs. They are both surgery and invasive. I was not opposed to RNY and realize it may be "the gold standard", but it is not the only option. My pre-diabetes was borderline and my A1C was under 6 before surgery, so he believed the sleeve would resolve it also. This is what he suggested for ME. I also have been anemic in the past, so the absorption of nutrients was possibly another reason he suggested VSG. We did seriously consider both, so I am aware of the benefits of RNY as well.

I am six days before you.

Il n'y a malheureusement pas de forum francophone icitte mais je parle français, si tu préfères communiquer en français tu peux m'envoyer un mail privé, t'as qu'à passer ta souris sur mon nom et cliquer sur "message". 😁

(Translated so as not to be rude to English readers: "There's unfortunately not a French speaking forum here but I speak French, if you prefer communicating in French you can send me a private message, all you have to do is hover over my name and click on "message".)

nope. Six years out and can drink Water like I could pre-surgery - and have been able to since I was a few months out.

Like everyone has said so far, the "taking a sip every 5-10 minutes" thing only lasts for a few months. I am 5 years out and I can (if I'm really thirsty) chug a half a bottle of Water without getting uncomfortable. Anything more than that though and my stomach will feel overfull and bloated. It took years to be able to do this much but at 6 months out I was drinking pretty much normally.

I struggled with Water right after surgery, but I'm a little over a year out from gastric bypass and I can drink water at a normal pace now. I still log my Fluid consumption in MyFitnessPal, but I always drink way more than 64 ounces without really having to try. I wasn't very good about drinking water before surgery, but the surgery got me in the habit of drinking a lot of water, so I actually drink a lot more now than I did before surgery. Occasionally, I will take too big of a gulp and it will be a little uncomfortable, but other than that, I have no issues.

There is a really common misconception that we need to drink 64+oz of Fluid each day. This actually isn't the case, drink what you can, when you can. Everyone's body is different and its needs are, therefore, also different. When you're thirsty, that means you're starting to get dehydrated. With the VSG surgery, you won't be able to chug/gulp anymore so you have to be sure to drink when you're not thirsty so you don't get dehydrated. I could drink larger quantities in one go after about a year. I still can't chug a whole bottle of Water but I can do about 4oz in one go.
Seriously, don't worry about the drinking every 10-15 minutes thing. Just drink when you remember and keep a liquid on hand. And if you find yourself getting thirsty, try harder to remember to drink. Put your bottle at eye level, put a bottle near the microwave or oven so you remember to drink before you eat, a bottle on your nightstand, another in your car, essentially put a bottle everywhere you frequent so when you see it, you take a sip.

Don't worry, Bloodhound, it isn't forever. It will get better. The first few weeks I could only get in tiny sips at a time. Now, at 2 months out, I'm able to drink much more normal amounts. I can't chug like I used to (that I miss), but I can get more in when I drink now, compared to the beginning. You will definitely need to stay on top of your Water, though. If you tend to forget, setting timers on your phone helps a lot! You'll learn as you go when stomach wants you to stop. It took me quite a few times of getting that feeling in my chest like the water was pooling at the top, before I finally managed to get it right. I still mess up sometimes, but not as often. But when I do, my stomach is not afraid to let me know.

My incisions were tender for about a month. Your internal stitches take about a month+ to fully dissolve while the incision sites on your belly that are glued shut take about 2-3 weeks to heal.

if there's a leak, they usually discover those right away - like with a day or so after surgery. Plus I believe the side effects from that are things like extreme weakness, nausea and vomiting, rapid heartbeat - so it doesn't sound like what you've been experiencing. What you're feeling is probably normal, but it's good to ask surgeon anyway - if nothing else, for peace of mind.

Hi GottaLearnToSlowDown!
I think my incisions were sore for the first week, but the bigger incision where the stomach was removed (belly button in my case) was sore for 2 weeks. After the first few days it was mostly when moving, clothes touching it, & it was touched. It was slightly sore to the touch in third week also and still had bruising.
As for twinges in the belly area, I felt those often the first week. Then after that I felt them after drinking a few sips of a liquid close together. I usually stop and wait a few minutes before another sip. Once I started soft foods & solid foods, I usually feel them when (I think) my stomach is telling me it is time to stop eating. Soon after that I often get hiccups, too. I am only about a month ahead of you, so I am not sure if the twinges fade, or if they are just a signal to stop eating or drinking at the moment. It may be different for everyone, too.
Congratulations on your surgery & hope your incisions feel better soon. Good luck!😁🍀

During the puree phase, I ate chicken by grinding it in the blender. I would grind up chicken curry and add some broth, or grind up Soup and add some chicken.
During the soft food stage, my doc suggested starting with chicken thighs. Even though they have more fat, they are softer and easier on your healing stomach.
Soft white fishes are also good. My doc said I could have them even during the puree stage.
Edit: Chew everything to applesauce consistency.

Yes initially I felt the same way. It does pass overtime as the body adjusts. Just focus on good nutrition and Vitamins and try to get in steps each day even just walking around the neighborhood. Best of luck to you and believe me, you've got this!

Keep in mind, that isn’t a real gain - your body just went through a major trauma. I “gained” 10 lbs 3 days post-op. It came off, and then some. They pump you full of fluids when you are hospitalized and your body is trying to adjust. I was on liquids for a week, then purée for 2 weeks. I would stick with strained Soups and Protein drinks and Greek yogurt. I would suggest starting with a quarter cup and see how it goes. Eat that very slowly and stay off the scale for a few weeks. Also, be sure to drink your Water.

You're in a miserable situation for sure. I hope you and your family and friends came through the storm OK.
I was on liquids for a week, then moved to puree stage. Some docs like their patients to stay longer on liquids.
During the liquid phase, you can have Protein Drinks, thin cream of wheat, Greek yogurt, strained/blended Soups, things like that. I would eat/drink slowly and stick to half a cup or so. It will take a while to learn what "full" feels like, but pay attention to the slightest feeling of fullness, and don't eat even a couple bites more, or you will regret it.
During the puree phase, you can eat things that are blended to the consistency of applesauce. At that stage, I was grinding up dishes like chicken marsala or chicken curry and thinning them with a little chicken broth to get the right consistency. I would also grind Soup and add chicken to get the right consistency and also add some Protein.
My doc said I could have soft fish and scrambled eggs during the puree phase if I chewed them well. One of my first mistakes, though, was trying to eat one egg and one egg white scrambled. It was too much and I didn't know to stop.
If you have protein drinks, you can probably exist on those for a while. It will also help if you have power to run a blender. We could probably offer suggestions if you tell us what you have on hand and whether you have power or not.
In Houston, Ike was a bad storm for us. I can't imagine how it would have been if I'd been recovering from bariatric surgery at the same time.

Don't beat yourself up. And don't look at the past. That's not the direction you're headed.

2021's been terrible for me, lost my mom early in the year and spent a huge chunk of time across the country eating whatever the heck I wanted and doing no exercise because it was the COVID spike and everything was closed or snowy. I gained 25 lbs. in three months. And I didn't do anything about it until I started seriously looking at this in July, and guess what? I'm down 22 of those 25 lbs.

Get yourself the help you know you need with stress management and stress eating, and give yourself some grace. Sure, you gained some. But now you're on it. And it will come off!

RNY is still the gold standard for WLS, especially if one is diabetic, pre-diabetic, have GERD or reflux, or are super-sized. It is the more complicated surgery, but also has the best results, and it does not involve removing most of one's stomach. Some surgeons do only VSG, or prefer to do VSG because it's easier. I'm glad you found one who does RNY.

RNY is still the gold standard for WLS, especially if one is diabetic, pre-diabetic, have GERD or reflux, or are super-sized. It is the more complicated surgery, but also has the best results, and it does not involve removing most of one's stomach. Some surgeons do only VSG, or prefer to do VSG because it's easier. I'm glad you found one who does RNY.

😆 Day 2 of pre-op liquid diet - everything came out of me, I mean everything…and I didn’t always make it to the toilet 😜 What sucked is I had to go on an airplane, so thankful that it stopped literally right before heading to the airport. But I was so scared that whole day that it was going to happen again.