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I went through the same thing and the same feelings; it gets better it really does. once you start eating normal food and drinking more than a sip at a time you will feel much better. once you get over that stage things go back to normal pretty quick to quick for me. My advice, don't rush it because this period of restriction can lessen a great deal anywhere from the 6-month mark to 2 years. I didn't believe my surgeon when he told me this but it's true. now I wish I had the fresh post op restriction. But yes it sucks right now but you will get through it and in 12 months you will know it was the right thing to do.

REading your post, I can so relate to rewards/family connection around food- it’s so HARD! Good news is that you can shift that to something new over time— and still enjoy those family bonding moments. But in the beginning with hormones raging- and yes, fat holds estrogen so its flushing out as you loose— it is so emotional. You have not lost that forever, it’s just evolving. Soon it can be more about being together than the eating part. Definitely consider getting a counselor on your team- even if you get one on your own, find one with eating disorder experience, mine has helped more that dietician even. DBT and CBT are great treatment options with therapist, imo. As for the 6-10 pm hide out- is there anything you can do outside your home to keep you engaged in something healthy for you? I started organizing my home, doing small projects, walking or even just going for a car ride to keep my mind occupied. Movement, fresh air and exercise is great for our mood/mental health. Or do you have any hobbies/interests you can engage in to get out of the headspace? Maybe any volunteering? Even just playing with a pet can lift my mood. Medication can also really help. You are incredibly brave and can do this— dont give up and soon you will be on the other side of it with a healthier version of you.

Big hugs! I want to say good for you for taking this step at 19! I'm 50 and should have done this in my 30's. A lot of time and opportunities wasted. The week's after surgery are super hard. I promise it gets better, especially as you reintroduce food, even if it is pureed! Please don't stress too much about protein right now. The most important thing it's to stay hydrated. Hitting protein goals is pretty tricky the first 6 weeks imo. It's only in in thr past 2 weeks I'm getting there as my diet becomes more regular and I'm in a routine. I preplan my meals for the week and ensure I have healthy snacks that help me meet my protein goals. I look on Pinterest all the time for inspiration. Use this time to think ahead and get some ideas for the future. You'll get better at being in situations with food. It doesn't bother me. Tonight they got takeaway and I skipped it as I'd preplanned a meal I'm looking forward to. In no time you’ll be able to eat with your family, just smaller portions. It just becomes normal. Hang in there!

Oh boy can I relate. I keep saying on these forums that the metal aspect is the most difficult part of the surgery and the one I was least prepared. Bariatric teams can’t prepare you for it because everyone is so different. You are mourning food, specifically being able to eat it, like you did in the quantities, and the timings of the past. This was so hard for me. But it does get easier, just like your body healing physically, it heals mentally. Once you get back on solid food and your body gets used to the portion sizes. During the transition periods, I used that time to really search myself for the hold that food had on me. I spoke to counselors and my dietitians about it as well. Try to use this time to really understand what food meant to you and how it got you to where you were before surgery. Go to the picnic and observe the food and the way people eat it. I had a massive connection between happiness at gatherings and the quantity of food I ate. I came to realize this was an addiction. Once I started losing weight and healed, it was easier for me to see the damage that food had done. From there it became easier to be with others, eating at gatherings, parties, etc.. Hang in there it gets easier as long as you use the time to really, really address the mental issues that go along with the physical. Like wolfgirl states, reach out to your team to get any additional help you may need to get you through the stage.

Maybe 40% can develop gerd after a sleeve & some of those can manage it with medication & dietary changes (no or reduced caffeine, spicy food, carbonation), or behavioural changes (don’t eat before bed, raise the head of your bed). I had minor reflux before my sleeve surgery which I managed with dietary choices. Rarely needed meds. Still have it after surgery but it’s different. Don’t have the hideous muscle straining hiccups anymore - huge win. I take medication every day but otherwise it’s manageable. I know you are disappointed you did not get the surgery you were expecting but you will find there are similarities in how you manage/live with your sleeve and what you would have done with your DS. The sleeve is part of a DS. It used to be done as a two surgeries - tummy then after a couple of months the intestinal redirection. You may not see it now, but a positive is discovering the issue with your pancreas & are investigating the cause & any treatment you may need. Maybe if the issue with your pancreas is remedied, you may be able to proceed with the rest of your DS. The surgery pain will be gone in a couple of days and in a couple of months when you’re past the staged return to eating diet, your tummy is less sensitive & you have a better understanding of food choices, portions sizes, nutrition etc. & you’re losing weight & are healthier, you’ll look back & wonder why you were so disappointed. I love my sleeve. Yes, I have a couple of quirks with my tummy but I did before surgery too so no real change just a little different. I lost all my weight & more so it’s been very successful. Don’t hesitate to post any questions you may have here. Everyone is very willing to make suggestions, offer support or to alleviate any concerns you may have. All the best.

This too does pass. Exactly as @catwoman7 said: it’s usually all just temporary. There may be odd things that don’t sit as well in the long term, like pasta, bread & rice still sit heavily in my tummy but I don’t miss them - there are alternatives I can have if I want them. At the moment you’re still healing. Your digestive system has been through a lot! Your tastebuds & also maybe your sense of smell have also temporarily changed & may be more sensitive to certain smells, flavours or textures. I had no appetite or interest in food either but that comes back - unfortunately. The only thing that really affects what I eat now are my food choices - what I choose to eat or not eat, how often or how much to maintain my health & my weight. Doesn’t stop me going out to eat, socialising, celebrating events, etc.

I’ve not gone down the surgery route but have tried a few things. Some worked, some didn’t. You gotta do what makes you feel happier & more comfortable with. I did find that my face, like my body, settled after my weight stabilised so I didn’t look quite as gaunt & tired. Eating a broader range of foods probably helped a bit too. Had filler in front of my ears - was sunken because there was no fat there at all. I did quite a number of RF sessions. Can’t say it did anything specifically but I enjoyed the process. Didn’t see improvement after IPL treatments either. Did 4 sessions of micro needling RF (Secret RF) earlier this year & it’s given the best results. I tried it not for saggy skin but acne scaring & other improvements were a bonus. I have more defined cheekbones. My lip lines are more shallow so less lipstick bleed (yay!). My skin is very soft, and tone & general texture has improved. I still have my marionette lines though one side is a little shorter & there’s a little break in them. I still have the little poochy droops on my jaw near my mouth but they’re smaller. I’ll do it again next year for maintenance & to see if I get more improvement. (Tip - you need 20% topical anaesthetic & you should only be red for a few hours. Any longer means your practitioner was too harsh & may have done damage.) Botox/Dysport - forehead, chin, between the eyes & a little in my crows feet. I go down the under dose, natural route so my face is still very mobile & expressive. Also have regular facials (alternating between glycolic peels, collagen masks, etc.) which I think maintains the benefits from other procedures & routines. Bought the Nuface micro current device - a waste of money. Yes your skin is softer & plumper after but the gel primer you apply first is hyaluronic acid! After 4 months of daily use (takes 15+ minutes) I gave up & just used the gel. Got the same result. I’m almost 58 now & think I look pretty good for my age. I mean I should have some wrinkles & skin laxity by now. I use hyaluronic acid, collagen oil serum, day & night moisturisers, a vitamin C serum, retinol & sunscreen. You don’t have to spend a lot. I use a mix of drug store & mid range brands.

Sorry posted to wrong thread. Didn't know how to delete. Had my surgery June 12th. I am 3 weeks out and down 18 lbs! I just finished pureed foods and have started on a little bit of soft foods. I haven't really been hungry, up until today. Today I am soooo hungry. I'm not sure how to handle it. All I can think about is "real food". I had cream of wheat for Breakfast, a smoothie for lunch and Soup for dinner. I DO NOT want a Protein Drink (I am sooo sick of them and it is all I can do to choke them down now). I want macaroni salad and a hamburger, lol. Of course I am NOT going to do that, but where did this come from all of a sudden and what do I do?

Hi all, I just had the gastric sleeve done on 6/21, and I am having so many feelings of loneliness and regret. I know this is a normal thing among people who have received bariatric surgeries, but even that thought doesn't bring me comfort. I stayed up all night the past 2 nights feeling like I just made the biggest mistake of my life, wondering why I didn't just exercise and eat healthier and spare my body and mind from this irreversible change. The first 4 days after surgery were the toughest for sure. Physically, that is. The pain was unmanageable even with the pain medications my doctors prescribed. Now the pain is (mostly) gone, and the liquid diet is killing me. I can't even think about FairLife Core Power Elite protein shakes without gagging (I dry heaved just writing the name out). I've tried what feels like every protein powder under the sun, and nothing seems to be enjoyable. Normally if I didn't like something, but needed to get it down for whatever reason, I'd just chug it. And I can't even do that anymore. I've always been an emotional eater, so now that when I'm sad and I can't eat, I get even sadder. Despite all of this, I think what keeps tearing me down is the feeling of loneliness. Now, I'm 19 years old with an awesome support system from my parents, siblings, and awesome friends. And I appreciate the hell out of all of them. But none of them understand. This has been the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my 19 years and I have no one in my circle who can even attempt to relate to these specific feelings. I am staying with my parents right now, which is nice. But, my family is filled with people whose lives revolve around food. Every birthday, every special occasion, and even the rewards when my siblings and I were little were all food-based. That's how my family socializes and bonds with each other. And that's not something I can do (I know just for a little bit but time seems to be going by so slowly). I literally hide in my room from 6pm-10pm because if I were to go downstairs everyone would be out there eating something that looks so delicious and having a great time together. When I explain these things to my mom, she just says "Well just come down and drink a protein shake with us!". It's definitely not the same because of all of the sadness and FOMO I feel when I see them eating things I can't have for at least 5 more months. And with the 4th of July being tomorrow (a holiday that my family spends drinking and eating from morning until night), I feel like I have no choice but to spend the holiday in my room watching the Dodgers game by myself. It just feels like I'm drowning in a swimming pool and no one can get through the gate to save me. I'm sorry this post is such a downer. Maybe I'm just overreacting. I just needed to get this off my chest and I hope at least one person on this site can relate. Thank you for reading.

it's almost always temporary. The first few weeks post-op are hard. And yes, unfortunately, you will enjoy food again, and at that point this all becomes a lot more challenging. I know it probably sounds odd to you now, but there are days I wish it was like at the beginning when I was never hungry and didn't give a flip about food.

I was the same way and, to some extent, still am. My bypass surgery was 5/24. I lived on Oikos greek yogurt for about 5 or 6 weeks because other foods, no matter how pureed (YUCK!!!) or how gently cooked, would get stuck right in the middle of my chest. I would generally do a lot of pacing and deep breathing until the pain and the danger of throwing up had passed. My doctor said it was perfectly normal and would get better with a little time. As usual, he was correct. I still can't eat most meat, though some have started going down without pain. It gets a little better each day. I rarely ever ate because I enjoyed food but more because of stress, boredom and habit. Foods I used to enjoy, like pizza, don't do it for me any more. I don't even particularly like french fries now. Never thought that would happen. I do still miss my sliced apples. I will continue to try them occassionally. Just give it time. As you heal, you will be able to enjoy a broader range of food.

3 weeks post op and anything that Im allowed to have just doesnt sit well with me and im nervous about what if other foods are the same way moving forward.

Yeah today was the first time I literally woke up without having a headache it was scaring me I ended up at the emergency room again because my head just wouldn't stop hurting so today was the first time I just upped my food a little bit more in trying to put in a little bit more liquid and today was the first time I woke up without a headache.

I like Ensure Max Protein for my full liquids. I am July 26th for the SADI (from my 2018 sleeve) so I go on the 2 week July 12th. My prior sleeve post op was rough because I am sensitive to gas. I was campbell tomato soup, chicken broth from Swanson, and gatorade. I did try crystal light- every flavor and I was dehydrated through the first month. I just could not get protein and liquids into my sleeve. For my SADI... I hope I can drink after. I have multiple flavors of protein shakes ready and beef/chicken broths ready to go. I think because I experienced a major stomach surgery before, I kind of know what to expect. And I expect gas, pain, and poop (TMI? sorry!). You have to get in liquids. If you do stock up prior, get a variety of flavors and brands. Buy the store brand and find coupons. If you have food stamps, a lot of this is covered. Go for liquids that have protein like broths but also basic soups. If you have a favorite flavor right now, get it. If it is something you know you will drink, it is better to have on hand. I knew I would drink gatorade and not surprised I balked at the crystal light. Hope this helped some?

My doctor's plan said to introduce lettuce at stage 5, which was around 2 months and raw veggies after that stage. The nutritionist also suggested the same timeline, even though we were prioritizing proteins, she said to leave a little bit of space for some vegetables so your new stomach can learn to eat different foods and relearn how to digest it.

You said it's a little over a week. This is super-early days after MAJOR surgery, especially since you had a hital hernia repair as well. I had a hernia repair with mine and felt like I'd been hit by a truck for a solid two weeks. But it comes with the territory, it's gonna hurt and it's gonna take a few weeks to settle. Complications suck, but the difficult early months and boring food restrictions are short lived. Try distracting yourself, and most of all, be patient let your body heal. It's been through the ringer!

I usually have a +/-3 lb range unless I eat pickles lol. I love pickles but whenever I eat them, I always gain 5lbs temporarily. Not sure why because I do eat other salty foods but pickles really do the Water gain job on me. I looked it up a week or so ago, and it said that the average typical and normal weight fluctuation in a adult is 4 to 6 lbs a day. Unfortunately for me, I have to be hyper vigilant because of my history, so if I hit 3 or 4 lbs over my normal stable weight, and if it doesn't drop in a day or two, I cut calories for a few days just in case.

Just noticed I said I gained 3 lbs it was about 3-5lbs (depending on the maths with my fluctuation 😉). I sometimes can’t eat a full meal either which is why I also snack a few times a day - to get those calories in. I’m pretty controlling as to what, how much & when I eat my snacks & each has a purpose: adding extra protein & nutrients. My favourite snack at the moment is home made labneh on multigrain crackers with tomato, fresh basil & a sprinkle of zaatar - yum. I call them my midday snack but I eat them at 1pm with a large mug of green tea (it’s the only time I can eat & drink at the same time 🤷🏻‍♀️). I also have things like nuts, fruit, protein bar, jerky, string cheese, occasionally roasted fava beans or chickpeas (easy if travelling). Slider foods are the devil’s work. Far too moreish & easy to eat too much. Rice crackers were my weakness. I still keep them in my house (with hummus) but for friends or family which is only when I’ll have some now. I have thrown out a couple of pots on unopened or barely touched expired hummus though. Sometimes being stubborn & pig heatedly determined can have its benefits. 😁

Im craving steaks and pork belly! Cant really do that on this 1000 calorie diet! I think my youtube subscriptions were mostly about New Technology, and food shows..I am about to go through and delete those subscriptions...lol Darn you Guga for always having a cool food experiment!

I was miserable. I'm on day 6 and it's better. Mine is less than 1,000 calories a day and no more than 50 grams carbs, 2 meal replacement shakes. They sent home some recipes and frozen dinner recommendations, too. Day 1 morning I was nauseous to the point I almost went home from work. And bathroom breaks for loose stools were numerous. I felt like I'd done a colonoscopy prep! Day 2 no nausea, still numerous bathroom trips. Day 3, numerous bathroom breaks in the morning, but by afternoon these had stopped. Day 4, a few extra bathroom breaks but none in the afternoon. Day 5 we were going to go on an easy hike but the drive is about 2 hours and, of course, no bathrooms on the trail. So we opted to stay home and I'm glad. A few extra bathroom trips. Today, Day 6, still a couple extra trips, but I'm sure tired of it. For food, leafy green salads with ground turkey; hard boiled eggs; chicken on greens; that type of thing. Green beans, not my favorite but they'll do. You've got this! I read someone say the 1st 3 days are the hardest and I'll agree with that. But it does get easier.

I think it depends on what it is. There are some things that I’ll prep and keep for a week (lettuces for salad) and others that I pray don’t make leftovers (I’m looking at you fried foods!) For what it’s worth, the USDA says cooked pork is good for 3-4 days in the fridge. 🤷‍♀️

Sorry, Nope on the four day old food. I agree w your hub. Getting sick from bad food would be horrible. 🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢

Hey y'all! My VSG is scheduled for 7/17/23. I am super excited! I had a very toxic relationship with diets in particular. I was always "chunky" as a child. Buying pants was a struggle. The weight sat okay on me, but Definity not in the right places. I recall, in middle school - being part of a dance recital and having to buy an adult small dress, to fit my shape. Since then I've been bombarded with "shut/zip your mouth" - diet mentality. When I reached 200lb as an adult, I was mortified, but it did not affect my daily living. Then the pandemic hit; suddenly it was 230, 250, then 270. At my highest I was 295lb. I used to love walking, being active, dragging my friends out to do fun things. Now it almost feels like moving from room to room is a chore. My mind is right and set on the ultimate goal. My therapist and I worked tirelessly for years to get to the bottom of the mental issues that causes me to go to food for comfort. I am ready to flip my world upside down, to START LIVING AGAIN ❤️

Welcome, @Colin from California! Thanks for sharing! I'm glad you've found supportive people, that really sets you up for success. I have felt very informed by https://www.oursleevedlifepodcast.com/. The two hosts have had VSG and they interview others who have had it as well as experts in the bariatric field like dieticians, surgeons, trainers, protein product creators. In their episodes in the 50s they interview the brother of one of the hosts, so you might find that helpful. By what are the things you could be doing now do you mean like in terms of food or exercise or habit changes?

I added a few drops of sesame oil to cauliflower and broccoli purée and that helped my craving for something savory during the puréed food stage.