Possum220

Yesterday I went to the optometrist. Previously when they raised the chair in would moan and groan under my weight. This time it was a smooth and very quiet ride. Yay!.

I straight up regret having surgery. I was a low BMI candidate with a bunch of other health factors that got me approved for the procedure. I am weak beyond measure and dizzy everyday. Can barely handle self care without issue. I had post-op rectal bleeding, went back to the hospital for IV hydration, everything is just difficult. I can’t help but feel like I wish I would have just lost the weight on my own. I did WW, Keto, boot camp training sessions, you name it and never had long term success. I know people say it gets better with time but when?! I’m a mom of twins, laying around all day just isn’t my style. I wish I never did this :(

Hello All,
I've been lurking here for a while and have appreciated your transparency and vulnerability. I was on this forum almost ten years ago after having a gastric sleeve. I never met my goal weight; over the years, the weight returned. Last month, I was only 50 pounds short of my highest weight. So, on December 12th of this year, I had a revision to gastric bypass. I feel a little discouraged right now because I don't feel I'm making the progress I expected. I lost 11 pounds my first week, but I am only down another 3 pounds for the next 3 weeks. So, I am only down 14 pounds at three weeks post-op. I do not have an appetite at all and am having difficulty getting anything down but liquids, although I was cleared to begin soft foods today. I couldn't even engage in the puree phase too much. Protein Shakes are very hard to get down, so I've transitioned to Isopure (which is more of a liquid). Despite eating little to nothing, my weight loss is slow. It could also be attributed to my starting weight being a little lower than most. I started at 5'2, and my starting weight was 222. Additionally, I take bipolar meds, which are known to cause weight gain. Any words of advice or encouragement? I'm feeling down right now.

Here's one I noticed the other day: I have a cleft chin again. As a kid I hated my "butt chin" and didn't really realize just how much it had disappeared as my face filled out, but now that you can actually see my jaw again, boom, butt chin is back and better than ever.

Thank you to all who responded. I finally got in touch with my Dr. and was told to take either Milk of Mag, senekot, or miralax so I took the milk of mag and will see it it works.
Thanks again everyone!

Constipation is a common issue after bariatric surgery, due to changes in the digestive system and the decreased food intake. It's important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of Water and other fluids, as well as eating high-fiber foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
There are several over-the-counter medications that may be used to help with constipation, such as stool softeners (such as Colace, as you mentioned), laxatives (such as Miralax or generic versions), and Fiber supplements (such as Metamucil or Benefiber).
It's always best to check with your surgeon or primary care physician before taking any new medication after bariatric surgery, since some medications may interact with the surgery or have other risks for bariatric patients.
It's also important to try to establish a regular bowel movement routine. This can include regular physical activity, eating at regular times, and avoiding dehydration.

Wasted all your time and money? You will have if you let this small bump in the road take you back to where you started. New Years Eve. Time for another reset to health. You got this.

Thanks everyone. That’s what I expected and honestly I have accepted. Just needed to hear it from someplace outside of my own head.

I would strongly advise sticking to the programme you've been given. I think the time for your last 'food funeral' would have been before you started the 2 week pre-op diet, not right at the end of it. I have heard tales of people whose surgery has been cancelled just because they didn't adhere to their programme. I'm so sorry you're feeling the need to eat forbidden fruit at this late stage - I TOTALLY understand it, having had disordered eating for most of my adult life, but I hope you can get past it. The final outcome after surgery is really honestly totally worth much more than a few dishes you want right now this minute. Best of luck on your journey. 💪

Wasted all your time and money? You will have if you let this small bump in the road take you back to where you started. New Years Eve. Time for another reset to health. You got this.

So you started at 253 and you are now 220? Seems like a difference of 33lbs. 33lbs is more than 2 stone. What is not to like about that loss. Weight loss is slower second time around. Stay off the scales for a little bit. Do something different. Take up a new hobby and distract yourself.

Wasted all your time and money? You will have if you let this small bump in the road take you back to where you started. New Years Eve. Time for another reset to health. You got this.

Wasted all your time and money? You will have if you let this small bump in the road take you back to where you started. New Years Eve. Time for another reset to health. You got this.

I've been to three and one OBGYN. They don't know. Hormones are normal on every test.
Very slight hirsutism began at 14 (faint hairs on my abdomen). But by 21 I was growing a beard and my body hair was wolf man level. No answers for that or my severe acne which was practically all over my body. They can't figure it out. They say ''genetics'' but not one parent has those kind of characteristic's. Both parents are fair haired, thin people. My Mother only had to shave her legs once a week or longer and I don't ever recall her having facial hair. Both parents are thin too with no history of adolescent or adult acne. A total mystery.

I was in the same boat - but I put on 20 lbs in year 3 with no effort on my part. Most of us do experience a 10-20 lb rebound after hitting our lowest weight, so you might want to wait awhile before trying to intentionally put on weight. I thought it would never happen to me, but it did...

I would be very concerned about doing intermittent fasting. 1) As a post-WLS patient it would be EXTREMLY hard to meet all your nutritional needs in just one or two meals a day. Seems like you are setting yourself up for health issues. 2) I personally had surgery to break the dieting cycle. I've done them all, including IM, and none of them worked long term and were healthy & sustainable. Why would you want to revert back to behaviors that didn't serve you?
If you want support moving into maintenance, I would say reach out to your team. They should be able to help guide you in a healthy way. If they don't have resources for maintenance, see if you can get in to see a dietitian, preferably one with WLS experience.
Hang in there, this is uncharted territory and we all need support! But don't let yourself be enticed back into old, unhealthy habits.

Definitely spikes when I’m bored as well! Thanks for the veggie tip!

I thought I would share a video about hunger, Dr V has many many of these videos covering all sorts of topics in regard to bariatric surgery. Hope you find it helpful.

I was able to drink more than just little sips, so I don't think that is too odd. Just remember soft and liquid foods go through your new stomach pouch easier, and when you eat those firmer foods, it's a different ball game. I thought my pouch was too big till I ate firm foods... then realized I can't even finish an egg.

There is someone in my weekly support group that mentioned he is -never- hungry but has cravings. I asked him how that feels & he mentioned that to him cravings are always mental & are are two completely different sensations to him.
I wish I could explain it the way he did, but to him it's like 2 different emotions. In the same way how one day you're happy & sometimes you're excited. Similar sensations but with their differences. Drilling that into my thoughts has helped me recognize the difference!

Yes, he does offer a greater perspective on most things in regard to WLS. I have spent many hours becoming better educated about this. He gives us a better understanding of the mind games that can happen.

He's my all time favorite. Have read a couple of his books. Watched all his videos. Love him.

Wow!! That was a great video! Thanks for sharing it.

Love Dr. V's videos, find him down to earth and he keeps things real

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Thanks for the post it was helpful