Lily2024

Congratulations, I'm so happy for you!!!

I'm pretty sure I was told 2 weeks also, though I don't work full time so I was able to go back part time, and I was tired. I can understand not feeling up to it, though standard is 2 weeks. I think the significant piece here is that you have a few issues that are also affecting your recovery time, and it's unfortunate that you weren't able to feel heard about your specific situation. How are you feeling now?

F 52, 5'9.5", SW 255

26 lbs, with 2 week liquid diet 36

219

202

186

Almost 5 months post op, 174.

RNY Gastric Bypass 1/3/24

11 hours ago, Skinkneequeen said:

1. What was the best part of surgery for you?

2. What was the worst part of surgery for you?

3. Did you have any complications (minor or major) during or after your surgery?

4. How has adjusting to your new life been for you?

5. How long did it take you to feel comfortable eating food?

6. Is there anything you can’t eat anymore that you used to enjoy?

7. What was your recovery like? Any vomiting or dumping syndrome?

8. How long did it take you to feel semi-normal after surgery?

9. Did you experience higher energy level post surgery?

10. Did surgery affect your mental health?

11. Do you regret it? Would you recommend it?

I'm almost 5 months post op RNY Gastric Bypass 1/3/24. 52 F 5'9.5 HW 272 SW 255 Surgery date 219, CW 174

1. I had surgery for a variety of reasons, severe GERD, hiatal hernia, gastroparesis, obesity, chronic pain and disability. The best part is not feeling either nauseous, in pain, or hungry 24/7. I feel hungry, I eat, and I feel good. Don't get me wrong, I still have some nausea or pain if I eat too much or too fast, or just knowing something isn't likely going to agree with me, but I've been pretty good at avoiding those things. The chronic pain is lessened, I'm more mobile, and feel more energetic throughout the day, instead of just in the morning.

2. I've had some hard days with emotions, not being able to eat mindlessly anymore, regardless of the food. It's been an adjustment, but honestly, no one needs to eat mindlessly, it just isn't good for anyone.

3. I had a sketchy bladder issue, it didn't wake up for a few days after surgery. I had a sketchy bladder already (Previous Cauda Equina Syndrome), so it wasn't completely out of nowhere that it didn't cooperate.

4. It's been really good for the most part, there have been moments that felt hard like traveling with family and not planning well enough, had a hunger meltdown, and struggled getting what I needed in a hotel room with a barbie fridge. Though recently traveled again, same scenario, but better prepared, no melt downs, no strife.

5. I was started on purees in the hospital and it was a slow progression to regular food and I felt okay through every stage though I would say that I started feeling "normal" when eating after about 3 months?

6. I don't eat bread, Pasta, rice, fried foods anymore. My ultra favorite was fish fry, now I have baked cod and still eat it with tartar sauce, so I don't feel deprived. Most foods that I crave I've been able to find a satisfying alternative for that works for me. .

7. I have not vomited once since the surgery, I've wished I could at least twice, but it was a matter of having eaten too much and needing to wait to let it settle. That is a good reminder for me to go slow and take breaks. I've not had any dumping, though I avoid all sugar anyways, and did prior to surgery.

8. It's different for everyone, I think I felt most like myself again at about 8 weeks. Though that doesn't mean that I felt bad before that, I just felt less energetic, a bit more emotional, etc.

9. Yes, very much so. I don't have that afternoon slump anymore, I feel clearer and just happier. I feel like I am now what I was supposed to be all this time. If that makes sense?

10. It affected my mental health in the expected way, I was weepy, sad, afraid, etc. I was thoroughly prepared for it by reading on this site and American Bariatrics site. I knew what to expect and it didn't shock me or frighten me when it happened. Thanks to all of you who so generously shared about those experiences. I'm definitely happier now, I feel more comfortable in my own body now than I have in a very long time.

11. I don't regret a moment of it, would definitely recommend it to anyone who is eligible and interested in having surgery. For me, the biggest piece of it is that feeling of eating, then feeling satisfied. When I go out with friends or family, even though there is so much food still on the table, or on my plate, it doesn't keep me preoccupied. I'm able to just sit and enjoy the time with friends and family without spending the entire time talking to myself about one more bite, one more piece, no, no, maybe...................This piece right here is invaluable, and when combined with the fact that I don't feel sick all the time anymore, it's definitely been worth it many times over for me.

14 hours ago, SleeveToBypass2023 said:

HOW is this my life now????

I feel that, every time I look at my legs in shorts, or feel my ribs, or hug my husband tight and my arms wrap around him because I don't have a belly keeping me farther away from him. It's pretty wonderful.

I'm pretty much shopping exclusively at Goodwill right now, not sure where this trip will end and I keep outpacing all my new stuff. For me, it hits when I'm folding my laundry, all my clothes are so much smaller, it's weird. I go in looking at my current size and feel like I don't belong there.

Woohoo!! Well done, and thanks for the laugh.

Swimming is what really ramps up my hunger and so far nuts and avocado really help. A pre workout meal is Chobani zero greek yogurt, 2 oz, half ounce walnuts, 6 grapes. I'm almost 4 months post op. I'm still eating 3 oz at a time, 3 meals a day, 1 snack.

I wonder if part of the problem of eating slider foods is that they are foods that we are used to just scarfing down and not paying attention, repetitive movements are soothing. I've noticed recently that I started eating a few bites of things that are not on my meal plan and somehow that contributed to my eating all foods without being mindful. When I eat slowly, paying attention to what I'm eating, I don't eat too much of even slider foods.

My program is counting from the preop appt weight, 3 weeks before surgery, I had already lost 25 lbs at that point.

On 4/8/2024 at 5:50 AM, summerseeker said:

My butt hurt real bad for about 18 months then poof the pain disappeared and has never returned. Hope yours does too

I'm glad to hear this, most chairs I sit in now are painful, I've started carrying a pillow to sit on sometimes when I know it will be too painful otherwise. I'm just over 3 months post op.

That first week I felt like a fish out of Water, it was so surreal and jarring. Not everyone feels that way, but a good number of us do and it's hard. We're here to support you and tell you that it will get better, you will feel better, and things will feel normal again once you've adjusted. This is not forever. I'm going to my 3 month post op today, I'm able to eat and feel good most of the time (When I don't eat too fast) and able to do a fairly intense daily walk for an hour as well as the normal daily activities. I'm still a bit tired, sometimes I feel emotional when I've not gotten enough nutrition or sleep, but I've learned to see the signs and take proactive measures so it really doesn't happen all that often anymore. I really started to feel better around 8 weeks, and feel much better again at 12 weeks.

Right now the best thing you can do is remind yourself that this is ground zero, all the healing is ahead of you, there's a lot to learn but you will learn it as you go.

It was always the plan to stay at least one night, I ended up staying 2 nights because my bladder was sleepy. I mostly slept the whole two days though.

I've eaten out a lot recently, just circumstantial, but it's been working out okay? I got chick fil a grilled nuggets which was perfect, 4 piece. At a local seafood restaurant I got a sample platter with shrimp, scallops, salmon and spinach in a fantastic ponzu sauce, all grilled/steamed. Yesterday at dinner with friends I had a single crispy brussel sprout, and ordered Jambalaya with chicken, shrimp, and andouille sausage. I ate the shrimp and chicken with the sauce, just left the rice or side each time. It was delicious and I felt like it fit my needs totally. It's weird having so much of the meal left over but when I bring it home someone in the house will always eat it. While on vacation with family I tended to just have some of whatever my spouse was having, that worked out well too. I was so nervous about it but it seems to be ok.

I've had some of the same scenarios, thinking I can do so much more and then really feeling just devastated physically afterwards. I'm also feeling the "What did you do?" from time to time and it hits like lightning, then I manage it and it dissipates. (I use a process like an automatic thought record though now it's an automatic response to overreaction that works for me) Thank you for sharing.

Out of curiosity, are they finding the drug itself causes the difference or is the difference what you would expect to see with the weight loss the drug causes?

Spinoza, I never even noticed that before!! I usually go to my profile, then scroll to my surgery, then left side offers options, click progress, and then I can edit. So much easier using the together we have lost.....

Also, SacB, so well done. It's so weird, right? I went shopping today for clothes, first time since I started losing weight, I've been shopping in my closet but I've run out now. It was so much fun.

I'm 10 weeks post op and I did eat a fry, just one, and I liked it a lot. I've also eaten a small piece of Pizza Crust and my body doesn't tolerate gluten. Both times I was ok, but I'm afraid to try any more than that. Which is just the way it should be I think. I've had times when I felt voracious, ate more than usual, felt bad about it, then realized I just ate 1/10th of what I would eat previously. It's ok. For those times that I may not find anything to eat and I'm out and about, I keep roasted soynuts (The only bean comes in .9 oz packets, fits in any purse and is very satisfying) or Protein Bars with me.

Just saying, I haven't learned all this from the surgery, I've been on very restricted diets for a long time due to GI issues, where it was unlikely I would find something I could eat outside my house. Clearly I wasn't restricting the quantities, just the specifics.

I'm 51, 9 weeks post op. I was working out regularly before surgery, doing well post op for the most part. Pretty sure I'll be feeling even better in another few weeks.

I've lost over 60 lbs since I started this journey, 26 since surgery, and I've gotten very few comments. That surprised me until I realized the same things everyone else has posted: People are nervous to bring it up, not sure if it's appropriate, etc. I see it in their faces though, it's definitely noticeable, but I tend to just forge ahead as if nothing has changed and most people just go with that.

My husband comments regularly, he loves the changes and even more, he loves the change in my self esteem.

Agreed, also had gastric bypass, 2 week liquid diet was awful, I felt hungry and it was difficult but did get better after day 4. Since surgery, I've felt hungry a couple of times, not in the usual way at all. I feel an overall need to refuel, usually when I've been extremely active. I've also felt hungry as in my stomach is empty, maybe two times. It didn't have the same effect, it was just a feeling, I realized I hadn't eaten as usual and should be hungry, set my timer to stop liquid, ate, and it was gone and I was left feeling satisfied. It's all just so much calmer, if that makes sense.

Lol, I pointed out my new old lady butt and he just laughed with me. He finds it ridiculous the things I fret about on my body. It helps me to lighten up.

Lol, I pointed out my new old lady butt and he just laughed with me. He finds it ridiculous the things I fret about on my body. It helps me to lighten up.

It can feel awfully confusing, right? My lovely husband of many years never reacted any differently to my body regardless of size, and at my highest weight I started hiding out, not changing in front of him, etc. He told me then that my feeling awful about it was basically my issue and he shouldn't be punished for it. I remember crying and laughing through my tears. Today I'm 60 lbs down from 6 months ago and the look in his eyes hasn't changed one bit. He still loves me and my body. I'm a lucky gal, and I know it, but for a while I didn't know it, or couldn't internalize the fact that he loved me and my body the same. He also encourages me to wear clothes that are flattering because he knows it makes me feel good and when I feel good, he's more likely to be the recipient of that emotion.

Abusive relationships tend to taint everything, and it's hard to change the response to comments from well intended people to the appropriate response of knowing that they want the best for us and are sincere. Try giving him the benefit of the doubt.

I was also not a fan of the pureed phase so I mostly stuck with Chobani zero greek yogurt, they have some really great flavors. I ate cottage cheese with some favorite Pasta Sauce. tuna with mayo and Pickle Juice helped, chewed very well. Adding spices to things really helped also.

Hopefully this will just be a phase for right now, maybe the dissonance between the brain and the stomach? My body tells me I need fuel, my stomach doesn't want any food, and my brain wants spicy indian food. It's getting easier.