Search the Community

Hello, I just had my surgery yesterday 01/20, and was wondering if stomach cramps are normal? They really hurt, and all I’ve drank is water and sips of chicken broth.

Wow feeling amazing woke up today another 2lbs gone finally hit my next major milestone. 130lbs gone officially. HW 322 SW 257 CW 192 GW 180/185 130lbs total gone in just under 5 months since I started this journey. With 65lbs since surgery 10/28 😀 Going out today to pick up my brand new rowing machine 😀 Mike.

I'm another lap band failure story - heyo! Mine never worked to begin with, never found my sweet spot so I only ended up losing 40 pounds max (I need to lose 150 to fall in the healthy range for BMI) and ended up gaining it back plus more after having twins. I struggle with the same thoughts as you - being a mom to 3 young kids I'm afraid of having more surgery that could cause complications and put my life at risk. That being said, I'm putting my life at risk by staying morbidly obese 😕 I'm 37 and I already don't feel good. I have a hard time walking long distances and standing for long periods of time. I want to be able to hike, ride bikes, play sports, and keep up with my kids. I love being active but I am unable to do much with the joint pain and I lose my breath so easily. After doing some research I've decided on RNY I think. It's the "gold standard" and it's been done for decades. The sleeve is pretty recent, and I'm scared it will go the way with the band. RNY made me nervous at first because I thought the "bypassed" organs shriveled up and died inside you but they're actually still functioning like normal. They just don't receive the nutrients and the food travels through faster so you don't absorb as many calories. Kind of a win-win with restriction + malabsorption. Another consideration for me is setting an example for my kids. I really want to strive to make food a non-issue. It was a HUGE issue for me growing up. My mom influenced me and she had a very negative attitude towards her body and was yo-yo dieting my entire life. I remember she'd make weird food while the rest of us ate normal dinner, she had a new eating philosophy ever year, had a new exercise regimen she'd swear would make her skinny... she put me on Weight Watchers when I was 10, and let me use diet pills (ephedrine) when I was 16. I will fight tooth and nail to stop my daughter from starting this cycle. And I think that has to start with me. She's going to be watching me and I have to be careful to make sure she sees me eat normal, healthy food and I have to keep negative body talk out of my conversations. I think having bypass may help me with that too. Whatever you decide, good luck!

So this is something I think some of you might be interested in: I had 3 major stalls in my first 10 months PO. In spite of that, I managed to hit GW in my 8th month. Then at 10 months out (which was during the holidays) I found myself at the same weight for a month and I was thinking I was in maintenance. I was 5-7 pounds BELOW GW, so the maintain didn’t bother me. I put my scale away bc I wanted to just enjoy my new body and lifestyle and told myself I’d use how my clothes fit as a guide. Then about 2 weeks ago I was taking a selfie and noticed my clothes were baggier than I remembered. Got on the scale and was shocked to discover another 6 pound loss. During that 3-4 week period of time, I ate and drank with reckless abandon. I most surely didn’t “earn” that 6 pound drop. And since then I’ve dropped another 2 pounds while trying to INCREASE my calories. Stalls are weird and they can take you by surprise. That last one disguised itself as maintenance.

I am a veteran and use the VA for all of my medical and primary care. During some clinic visits this fall, I suggested to my doctor that I might be interested in getting Bariatric surgery. She gave me some reading literature and suggested I do some homework prior to making any requests formally. In my 12/26/19 visit, I asked her to make my request official and we started me on the journey. For you fellow Veterans out there, the VA supports weight loss surgery basically as potential long term health for the veteran as well as potential cost savings associated with your health long term. My process started with getting an appointment referral from my doctor to get an appointment to meet with the Move Program Coordinator and ultimately withe a Move Dietitian and Nutritionist. From there, you must participate in the Move Program for 3 months (easy) and they sent me home with a scale and blood pressure cuff to monitor. The unit has built in wifi and sends your daily weight and blood pressure to the Move Coordinator daily. Ultimately, you must lose approximately 10% of your body weight (or at least show the ability to lose weight) and graduate from the Move program. To help my process, I was prescribed a weight loss supplement, multi vitamin and Saxenda (injection weight loss medicine). Basically all are to help stimulate your appetite loss, it works! I weighed in this morning (1/21/20) and after 25 days, I am down 15.5 lbs from 351 lbs. My goal weight loss prior to surgery is 35 lbs and am I am on track to graduate the Move program on 3/26/20. After you graduate the program, your Move Team will then present your case to the Surgery Team (assuming you meet the criteria, graduate and lose the preliminary weight). Once approved, you just need to get on the schedule for surgery. I am not sure what that process entails yet, but I was told to plan on surgery between mid April to mid May. I will continue to update this process, but I wanted to assure Veterans that we too can get this surgery done within the VA.

Good morning everyone, I had my sleeve December 2, 2019 (8 weeks) and have had tremendous success so far. Here is the thing...I really have trouble eating/wanting to eat. Has anyone experienced this? I have this aversion to chewing in general and am swinging between stage 2 and 3. I know everyone is different, but there are times when I am chewing and I have this feeling like 'okay swallow that and it is coming back up.' I have had intermittent problems with keeping foods down, but have found a happy medium with the softest foods possible. No matter how soft i make the chicken - and I am talking slow cooked dark meat - I cant eat it. The only thing I can eat is ground meat, like meatloaf. I am sick of the pureed soups and I am struggling to find agreeable foods. Any suggestions would be helpful. I have my second post-op appointment tomorrow and surprisingly, I have already lost over 60 lbs and gone down 3 pants sizes. That is great and all but the body needs fuel. I rely on protein shakes to meet my protein quota. Before surgery I could guzzle water and now I am struggling to meet my daily goals. I think I average about 32 oz. The irony is I want to eat EVERYTHING, you know the total see-food diet. I am not hungry but I am struggling with the loss of the ability to eat anything and everything. I feel a sense of grief and honestly, I know I want the magic pill that makes me skinny and able to eat whatever. I have a therapist and psychologist to deal with the underlying issues. Its just the day to day is the worse. My diet right now is protein shakes, yogurt, tuna (a little), low fat cheddar cheese, meat loaf, creamed soups, mashed potatoes (sometimes), and when desperation strikes spaghettios (and yes they are as gross as they sound). I eat those when days have passed and I cant meet my real food requirements. There is no chewing and 2-3 oz and I'm full, so gross, unhealthy, but sort of perfect. I used to love scrambled eggs and now I cannot stand the taste. I can manage boiled eggs and today I am going to try egg salad again. I do not eat any breads, pastas (besides the canned fake stuff), rice, or crackers. I want to plan my meals but I never know what to plan because I smell food and it makes me gag. I know my sleeve is small because I get that feeling like it never really left my esophagus. Any tips and ideas are welcome! E-

Had my surgery on 13 December 2019 so about 5 weeks post-op now. I was 231lb when i went for my surgery and I'm now at 202lbs during my doctor visit on 20 Jan 2020. I'm averaging 1000 calories per day and taking at least 80g protein and 80-100oz in liquids.

Hey everyone... I'm nervous and full of anxiety. Had my final pre-op appointment Friday 01/17 @ Kaiser. Surgery is Friday 01/31 @ 10:19 AM , check in is @8:15 AM. 1 day liquid diet, but my nerves aren't supporting much of an appetite. I'm emotional, antsy and tired. I want to cry (from excitement, but not sure). I'm just feeling a bunch of emotions and feelings. This is my weekly check in.

I had band removed in 2018 and was sleeved on 10/19. Originally the surgeon wanted to do RNY but changed his mind due to the fact that I was getting gout attacks (not diet related). I hope that I don’t end up with reflux. So far no signs of it but I think it can develop later on... Best wishes to you!

Sunday jan 19 5'2" / 29 months PO/ CW 171.8 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 945- coffee + almond milk + cinnamon 1145- coffee + almond milk + cayenne + cinnamon 400- pb oatmeal cookie 445- 2 egg omelet + spicy green pepper sauce 700- lavish roll+ Italian sausage 830- 2 oz pastrami 1030- coffe + almond milk + cinnamon 1145- lavish roll + 1 Tbsp peanut butter / quarter cup oatmeal -------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals- 1056 cals / 72g protien / 40g net carbs / 65g fat Sent from my SM-G950U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

Sunday jan 19 5'2" / 29 months PO/ CW 171.8 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 945- coffee + almond milk + cinnamon 1145- coffee + almond milk + cayenne + cinnamon 400- pb oatmeal cookie 445- 2 egg omelet + spicy green pepper sauce 700- lavish roll+ Italian sausage 830- 2 oz pastrami 1030- coffe + almond milk + cinnamon 1145- lavish roll + 1 Tbsp peanut butter / quarter cup oatmeal -------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals- 1056 cals / 72g protien / 40g net carbs / 65g fat Sent from my SM-G950U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

I had the band for over 10 years and finally had it removed due to many of the issues you are saying. With even the slightest fill I would wake up choking on acid. With no fill, I would still be unable to eat healthy foods and had heartburn regularly. While I had good initial weight loss, I ended up gaining in all back. I decided on RNY because my surgeon told me that even people who have never had heartburn or GERD see a greater risk of it with Sleeve. For someone like me who had it with the band, they felt this risk was really high that I would have it as well. I'm just about 3 weeks out from RNY and very happy with my decision so far. Still very, very early but following the plan and hopeful I'll continue in this path.

AS LONG AS IT ISN'T SUGARS, FATS OR PROCESSED CARBS. I'm cleared to eat what I want. He said he still cannot believe that at 10 days out I was able to eat 4oz of air fried salmon. He said that beef jerky usually is hard to handle at 2 months. I have been snacking on beef jerky and peanuts since around 15 days out. I was 225 fully dressed with my jacket, knife, smartphone, change, and wallet when I was weighed. The Nurse said; there was no need to remove anything since she couldn't believe the difference since my surgery. My surgeon asked about how I'm doing with my meds, proteins and fluids, I told him all's good. He looked at my incisions and said I'm healing really fast. So he cleared me to eat my way because it's working. I have my next appointment on February 24th.

I think what I was experiencing was my 3 week stall, just really early. I lost all that weight the first 10 days, then only .2 for the next 7. I seem to be losing a little again now.

I think what I was experiencing was my 3 week stall, just really early. I lost all that weight the first 10 days, then only .2 for the next 7. I seem to be losing a little again now.

I think what I was experiencing was my 3 week stall, just really early. I lost all that weight the first 10 days, then only .2 for the next 7. I seem to be losing a little again now.

I’m currently taking phentermine. I haven’t noticed a huge difference-maybe about half the time it lowers my appetite about 10-15%. I’m on a relatively low dose (10 mg) so perhaps that’s why? Interestingly, I haven’t taken it the past few days and my appetite had been off the charts high. I also have encountered several side effects, nothing horrific but things that I’d prefer to avoid. My plan, if my team agrees, is to take it up until the time of surgery in a few weeks and then stop.

Yesterday Sunday, Jan 19 Maintenance : 5'2" / 1yr PO Sleeve / 118.2 lbs ---------------------------------------- Ooopsies...je pense que all the calories & carbs & late night eating I've been doing the past week coupled with lack of exericse is catching up to me (I haven't done a stick of exercise - minus the snow shovelling the other day - since Wendesday due to crappy weather, so that is 4 days straight of sedentary behaviour!! Sacrilege!!) While I tell myself that 120 is my upper limit of my happy place, in reality I start to say "Heeeyyyyyyy...." at around 117. Sooo...gonna try to reign it in a little and get down to sub-117. Note however, that I haven't pooped since Wednesday AND I have slept maybe avg 4-5 hours a night for the past week or so, AND I'm just finishing up with my period, so these are all likely additional contributors to the uptick in weight, so I'm not THAT concerned...BUT concerned ENOUGH, I guess, to make an effort to deal with it. On another note, I wonder if the no-exercise/no-poop is coincidence? No exercise == No poop?? ---------------------------------------- 9:30pm - 1 skinny tea latte 12:30pm - salad w/ vinaigrette + green bell peppers + 6 green grapes + 2 shrimps + 1oz cashews + 3 oz pan fried chicken + 2 oz peameal bacon + 1 tsp horseradish mustard 3:00pm - 1 skinny tea latte + 1 oz peameal bacon + 4 seed crackers + 1 After Eight chocolate mint wafer + 2 oz dark chocolate 6:30pm - 4 naked chicken wings w/ 1 tbsp hot sauce + 2 carrot sticks w/ 1 tbsp blue cheese dressing + 4 sweet potato fries w/ 1/2 tbsp chipotle mayo + 1 vodka caesar + 4 ginger molasses cookies 10:00 pm - 8 seed crackers + 1 can smoked oysters + 1 tbsp tangy seafood sauce + 1 tbsp raspberry jam + 1 tbsp nutella + 2oz dark chocolate + 2 skinny tea lattes ---------------------------------------- Totals: 2664 cals - 117g Protein - 270g NET carbs - 115g fat

I also lost less than 20lbs my first month, maybe 10-15? 😔 But I'm a firm believer that the longevity of our loss (maintenance ❤) is much more important that the initial pace. Stay focused on your _____ year plans Good Luck 🎉

My program advised no caffeine for at least the first 6 months after surgery. But I missed it too much, and drank a cup of coffee about 10 days after my RNY (12/12/19). I suffered no negative effects at all from it. At my 2-week post-surgery appointment, I told the dietician that, and she said, yeah, we recommend no caffeine for 6 months because SOME people can't tolerate it until their system is completely healed and stabilized in their "new normal." But she said some people are OK right off the bat, and if I was one of those, go ahead and have caffeine. So I have been drinking caffeine for about 4 weeks now, no problem -- 1-2 cups of coffee each day, and at least 1 20 oz diet soda a day, too.

I had my surgery November 19, 2018. I have not been constant with my vitamins. My face has suffered. I have dark circles under my eyes and my face looks ashy. I do not eat much, tried drinking milk because I don’t take my vitamins .

I was sleeved 10/21 and I’m down 46lbs

Thanks for the add . As of today 1-19-20 ,I have never been so sick malnutrition and loosing quality of life . I was banned 10-09 and for 9 yrs I lost 80-90 lbs ( also the most stressful yrs as an adult I might add ) ... fast forward 2 yrs ago I was gaining weight back rapidly yet it wasn’t from food fluid retained in soft tissue 🤷🏻‍♀️ my doctor moved along to the modern sleeve no longer dealt with the band , passed me on to a p a with not any hands on band issues ... by the next two months I was sick and balloons up to 200 pounds At 4”11 ... and I COULD NOT FIND A DOC IN SOUTH JERSEY TO REMOVE 2 bands the band and realize NOT MANY with much knowledge of the realize .. I go to a well known east coast heart hospital finally a nice understanding Dr. who agreed to remove the band and sleeve so the date comes 5-17-18 (paperwork similar ) no psych no vit shots ... the nutritionist and ins wait .. I go in all is ok from what I remember the next day I am complaining of itching hands head n eyes “nurse perhaps pain meds “ me I have other issues and have n do take meds this is different .. over looked n discharged 2 days later the rash (still have 2-4x weekly) from inside out now hubby can see n watch spread .. a black bubble on lower abdomen appears go to doc he calls in augmenting infection (pill was a weeks of food to me ) by 2 more days another bubble yet bigger appears in the pain as of kidney stones to the hospital I go m r I and they can’t touch me immediate transfer to I c u at the Bariatric doc request .. 5 clots nicked liver spleen and rash Entire body inside out ... 7 wks and was told I had the HIT .. heparin induced blood clots me in aww they run in family NOT U HEPRIN DID IT 42 days of it and a rash yet antibiotic n dilution 4 mlg 2 hrs ...i Finally asked a nurse to see labs day 3 playlets drop no wbc hi at all confused hemotolgy the head of liver center are now on board ... the rash source still in k own yet in may of 19 lost 25 lbs since surgery I become soo tired and acting out of character my neuro sends me to hosp labs show NO THIAMIE AND TOO MUCH B 12 sugar 32 if not for stimulant adderall i might not be here 2- days I slept Endo by hospital g I doc confirms NO BAND OR SLEEVE ??? second opinion last week Endo n colonoscopy done sees prior Bariatric surgery TWISTED STOMACH NOW WHAT THE DOCTOR LEFT STATE I AM 104 lbs and pain as I try to eat solids before even finished .. limited liquids more bad then good days , was accused of drug use as I would stand n sleep ... act out of the norm , so off , yet no one believed me until July I called and said admit me n find out why I am loosing 5 lbs a week vomit diahrea all day .. almost dead I am mal nourished , stomach only absurbs liquid vit and DOCTOR LEAVES I HAVE ISSUES DAILY MIGRANES STOMACH PAINS ALONG WITH NEUROPATHY ON RIGHT SIDE LIFE IS A STRUGGLE DAILY ... so as if today 1-19-20 Surgeon left the state still suffering who goes in too fix me lawsuit holding all back I need my life I’m 48 and no quality of me left suggestions anyone else endure hear of ?

whoops - sorry - I was in the middle of something when I saw this come through and intended to respond later, but of course, I just now remembered it! no thigh changes for me.. I actually still swell occasionally - if I eat too much salt or after an intense workout (my procedures were 10 months and 17 months ago) - but mostly the swelling was done after about six months or so, I think. The first 2-3 months are the worst, though. After that it wasn't every day and it wasn't as intense.

Hello! My name is Judi. I had my surgery December 9, 2019. I am five weeks out and have lost 23 pounds since my surgery. I have lost a total of 68 pounds since starting this process around this time last year. Back in 2017, I decided to quit smoking after a 35 year relationship with cigarettes. As a result, I gained 70 pounds and developed additional health problems. I knew I had to do something. So I got serious about wanting the surgery and doing what I had to in order to get healthy. So here I am, 68 pounds lighter and still continuing on my journey to a healthier life.