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I know this isn’t a new topic but I’m in a lot of distress about this. I woke up from surgery on July 28, 2022 literally with my stomach growling. I started out weighing 203lbs, had taken the online classes a year prior and gotten a call from the surgeon on a Monday asking me if I’d like to have surgery that Thursday. He had an opening. I was not prepared at all but decided to do it. I wonder if not having done the liquid diet ahead of time contributed to my hunger? Regardless, I eat about 500 calories a day and small meals every 3 hours or so to kill the constant hunger I do take the PPi and even Prilosec as recommended on here. Does the hunger go away? I’m in the 3 week stall as well :/. I’ve only lost 16 pounds. My spirits are low right now. I don’t get that full feeling I just portion out 1/4-1/2 cup or small oz servings to know how much to eat. Food never feels trapped in my throat or anything. I hear that people have to force themselves to eat I read that the key to success with the gastric sleeve is loss of hunger and satiety and I have neither. Has my surgery been unsuccessful?

Hello everyone! I am 20 months post VSG and for the most part I would say its been successful! I was able to donate a kidney to my daughter in January and she is doing GREAT! My hubby is 3 months post VSG and absolutely killing it! I am very happy for the most part. I have changed my goal weight a couple times and really wanted to get at a 125 or 130 but my body is just holding on to the last 10 pounds! I have tried all the tricks to get things rolling, upping my calories a tad, more exercise, less exercise and even did a three day protein shake restriction just to see if that would bump me out of this. I have a tummy tuck with muscle repair scheduled in November. My team told me this is just where my body is comfortable, he called it my new set point. Has anyone been able to knock off that last few pounds without a super crazy calorie deficit. Now that I only have the one kidney I am very aware of what goes in and out of my body and I don't want to do it any harm. I am keeping my protein at 100 grams per the nephrologist and nutritionists request and my calories run about 1300 a day. The math tells me I should still be in loss mode, but clearly I am not. I also keep telling myself that I am no longer overweight and I do not need to hyper focus on that damn scale!!!! BUT watching my hubby drop so many pounds makes me really really want that end goal! Anyway they set me up for my tummy tuck (flur de les with muscle repair) for November and I am excited for that :)

Edit that recipe - to boost the protein I had 4.8 oz of chicken in that - not 3. That was my fault. I started with 3 and added more and forgot. 4.8 I think is the “serving” amount from that can.

Sorry you are having these feelings. Have you ever had a surgery before? I feel like people who never have had any type of surgeries are more paranoid about everything related to surgery. My sister in law actually started having panic attacks after she had endometriosis treatment, a very mild surgery. They had to prescribe her anxiety meds but it eventually passed after a few weeks. Just try to relax, trust me (us) if something is wrong you will know it. Otherwise, give your body time to heal, follow your plan and listen to your team. I hope this is short term lived for you as well, our minds really know how to play games on us!

Hi Everyone, LONG POST, I apologize in advance. New to the group although I’ve been watching for a month now. Never posted, because it just didn’t seem real enough, I thought it would never get here. I just had my consult and got my surgery date for Sept 13th. I had no prerequisites that my insurance requested other than the norm: psych, only 1 nutrition, and labwork which I completed in 5 weeks(I was extremely lucky for all of that). Some personal trips with husband slowed the process. I think I probably would hv been done on a week otherwise😂 I was told by surgeon today that I will also have NO PRE-OP diet. So now I’m petrified. Not due to the surgery, but due to the fact that I cannot lose ANY weight prior. I am so close to being under 35 BMI from just 3 weeks ago of 39 BMI. I am a 36 BMI as of today. How the heck does that even happen? I think someone read something wrong. Surgeon said HE would not cancel the surgery but the hospital may, due to afraid insurance won’t pay. Only co-pay I will hv is the overnight at the hospital So I’m stuck with HAVING to eat to hold on to this weight. It wouldn’t be a problem but my biggest obstacle is I don’t eat enough…getting 3 meals in a day is a huge struggle for me. It’s like when I’m not hungry my body won’t let me eat. I literally get nauseous trying to force it down. I’m hoping my nervousness now due to that won’t make me lose additional weight. Guess I just need someone to say it will be okay Everyone seems so supportive of one another here. I hv chronic back pain and hv fought too hard for insurance approval to get on the table and hv them say “oh sorry, we can’t bcuZ you’re 34 BMI now. I’m going crazy with worry right now 😫😖. I don’t eat red meats, sweets, etc. don’t exercise due to pain and discs. How can I hold on to this weight for 3 weeks. Protein shakes? along with the food I do eat. I’m at the point today where I just want to chew and swallow and hope it results to some extra pounds

I am out of surgery! Total nerve wracking, spent all last week concerned 😟 was making a huge mistake. They removed over 5 lbs. currently staying overnight (surgery center can do 23 hour care) and so grateful I picked the center that had that. Nurses are the kindest that I’ve ever experienced, such a good experience. Not in a ton of pain really, but just more stinging and uncomfortable. i made it, it’s done!

We all mange pain differently & our bodies react differently to the surgery so you can’t really say you will have this much pain. I didn’t have much at all. I was on opioids for three days in hospital & no pain at all except from my back but that’s another story. On the fourth day I only took one of the opioids I was sent home with in the morning & took an over the counter pain med on day 5 but didn’t take anything else. Some say they struggle to get up & down & find it uncomfortable to sleep in a bed for a while. That wasn’t an issue for me & I even could sleep on my side. How much your muscles were pushed & pulled during the surgery will influence this & how much your tummy might pull on your wounds. Some say they find binders helpful. I also didn’t have any gas pain which some struggle with but things like heating pads, walking, gas X, etc. can help with that. (It usually lasts about week.)

I had practically no pain, the only discomfort for a few days was the gas pain from the surgery (when they insufflate your belly so they have room to work), mostly in my shoulders and back which is common. My incisions didn't really hurt. I took the prescribed percoset for a few days and then stopped before I even finished the bottle because I didn't need it. I think I took it a few times a day for maybe 2 days, 3 at the most, then at night to help go to sleep for another day or two and then I stopped. I was up and walking within a few hours after surgery with no pain, just a bit groggy.

My insurance also changed from BCBS to Cigna during the process. It made things SO much easier. No supervised diet, no therapy. Had my surgery less than 3 months after my first bariatric visit which I was SO thankful for. I can't imagine being here 6 weeks out and still have months of waiting to go. I did have a letter from my PCP documenting his support and reminding the reviewer of my arthritis in weight bearing joints (which is already so much better). Other than that easy peasy.

I just have to say that I'm jealous of anyone who got any kind of pain medication. My surgeon told me OTC Tylenol would suffice for my pain....it did not. I was in a lot of pain for my first week and couldn't get any relief.

Wow. Surgical regimes are so different. I had to inject blood thinners for a month even if I was running miles by then (I wasn't!) because of the serious risk of clots after bariatric surgery. I was prescribed a PPI for 4 weeks. I took it although I knew I was done with reflux within a few weeks of my sleeve, because my weight loss reduced my reflux symptoms so soon.

Sounds good! The protein count seems a little high though. It calculates to only 35g in my app. I just don’t want you being low on protein. I am going to try this recipe next week though!!

I asked my surgeon what they recommended based on my medical history - and why. I really thought she was going to say bypass because of my high BMI and reflux, but she suggested sleeve. I mentioned I was taking Pepcid for reflux - but she pointed out that was only since January and mostly from my hiatal hernia… so fixing that should resolve my reflux. (Only a week out too soon to tell). When I asked about my high BMI she told me that she had some high BMI patients do very well with sleeve - but that she normally recommends a duodenal switch for high bmi and being a 10 hour surgery (with my hernia repair) she likes to do those in two stages… which this allows us that option. Honestly I’m hoping to loose enough that I don’t need to convert. I’m not working towards a specific number - I wanted my liver to improve (it already is showing improvement) and to get healthier. When I hit the number / goal where I feel good then I’ll settle in there. Hopefully I can do that with just the sleeve.

I weigh *almost* every day, in the morning, after I pee, in panties and nothing else. (Why? I don't know-I just do, lol) Sometimes, when I hit a stall, I will stick out my tongue at the scale, but...😄

I recently discovered these forums and I am super excited to explore and learn and hopefully help others, too. I have been overweight my entire life. Even when I was in elementary school. My dad gave me nicknames to try to get me to stop wanting to eat. Fat in the can, the Crisco Kid. He was funny and I love him dearly, but he had no idea of the forces behind my eating problems. And an old-school way of tough-love (never physical, but jokes, which can be bad too). Anyway, In '92 I enlisted in the Army Infantry. Yes, I lost enough weight to get in, and Boot Camp took care of the rest. Then slowly gained weight back while I was in, despite all of the running and pushups and "pleasant nature hikes." Weight became a problem and I was called out all the time. But I always passed my physical fitness tests, and always did my job and stayed out of trouble, so I was mostly left alone. Fast forward to today. Heaviest weight after the Army was 315 pounds (I am 6'2"), and now I am 275 pounds. Constantly up and down up and down. Discovered Engine 2 and stayed on it for 6 months, was down to my 250s, then simply could not stay on that diet, and pushed back up to my current 275. Finally went to Ohio State University's (OSU's) Bariatric program and in-processed trying to use BCBS. BCBS requires the last 5 years of weight history. I am apparently supposed to be under a medically supervised diet for 6 months. See a Dietician (end of this month) and a Psychiatrist (end of this month), and find my own Therapist and start having sessions. So no surgery until next year some time. HOWEVER, I changing jobs in a few weeks, and will now have Cigna Health Insurance. My OSU coordinator looked up Cigna and said they did *not* have a 6 month supervised diet, so if things go well I should be able to have surgery before the end of the year. SUPER excited! Going with bypass, not sleeve, because I became diabetic this past year (only taking Metformin to control), and have routine bad heartburn. It is a better fit. Anyway, that is me, and hopefully a new me is around the corner. I cannot wait for a fresh start in life, albeit a difficult start. Thanks for listening

Thanks, VickySue! My surgery date is 27th September so less than 5 weeks. Have you got your surgery date yet?

Prior to surgery, I was anywhere between 215lbs to 326lbs. Since 2011, until June of 2022, I was averaging 4-5 gym trips a week. I would say I was pretty active with going and actively working out (cardio + strength training/resistance training). I would tend to think that with a poorer physical fitness level, recovery would likely be harder, than if you were more physically in tune with yourself. However, you just have to push past that all and realize you are capable of so much more than you think you are.

I gave up coffee for about 2 weeks. I have had a small Starbucks Iced Coffee once post-op. I also drink iced coffee in the morning before work everyday, and I seem to be doing ok with it.

I have issues (digestive) when it comes to artificial sweeteners. I don’t particularly love the taste of most either. I knew going in I would have issues with the artificial sweetener in the pre-op liquid and post liquid stage when options are limited. Most times my sweet tooth is satisfied by fruits - but sometimes I want something more and try to use moderation. I have found built bars (especially the puffs), which do contain erythritol and were recommended by my nutritionist, more than satisfied my sweet tooth (and offer a nice protein boost) when I was eating solids. (That was pre-op… right now I’m a week out from being sleeved). Those were an occasional thing to tide me over on the go and keep me from getting to hungry and over eating. The Fairlife shakes, in moderation didn’t bother me, but when they were my primary source of nutrition - I struggled. I also have a milk allergy so I need to watch how much dairy I consume. I’m ok with a little - but too much and I get stomach cramps and digestive distress. When I called my nutritionist Monday because of the artificial sweetener causing some digestive irritation - she suggested moderation. One of the yogurts she suggested I try had cane sugar & fruit pectin. It was lower in sugar than regular, and had a bump of protein. I had two days to get through until purees, where I could add in real food and transition away from the shakes… so it was getting through. I try to make healthy choices, fresh fruit or no sugar added in general. Occasionally I have some things with artificial sweetener, but keep it limited because past experience has proven it will irritate and inflame my digestive system. I am working towards a balanced approach. My PCP (whose been my Dr for about 44 yrs now) has always told me he’d much rather I have less sugar in moderation than artificial sweetener as a rule. So I am trying to stay within my program guidelines and follow a balanced approach. It takes some creativity, but so far I am making it work. I have more to loose than you do, but I’m pleased with the progress I have made so far. Since I started my weight-loss journey I have lost about 75 pounds so far (50 leading up to my pre-op, 10 in the pre-op liquid phase & 15 since being sleeved last week). I might have had even better progress had I gone strictly sugar free … but I’m striving for maintainable, steady progress - something I can do forever not just a short term “diet”. Moderation seems to be working for me, but I will keep reassessing and working with my team and make adjustments as I go.

Yes, I take the GI cocktail but it's GROSS. And it burns when it first goes down (for like 5-8 seconds) and then it feels a little weird because the esophagus is numb and feels odd. But I'm on liquid and mushy foods and after I take the cocktail, I can eat. I take it 3 times a day, about 15 minutes before I eat.

Finally feeling better now that I can have purées. Made a chicken salad that reminds me of a deviled egg consistency - that is yummy and Protein packed. I wasn’t sure I could do a puréed meat - but connecting it to the deviled egg filling helps. 3 oz chicken 2 hard boiled eggs (about 100 grams) 1 tablespoon Mayonnaise 1 tablespoon non fat Greek yogurt 1/4 teaspoon mustard Whole container about 1 cup: 284 calories, 43 grams protein, 2 grams carbs, 1 gram sugar, 11 grams fat Used the mayo we had on hand - will probably exchange out for a lower fat one going forward, but it was a welcomed change from the liquid of the past 2 weeks. Going to slowly introduce new purées over the next week so I don’t upset my stomach. I’m on the purée stage for two weeks before I go to soft foods. Other than the ricotta bake… (hoping to make that sometime this weekend), anyone have any staples you have had good experience with or favorites to share?

It's been a year and a month --I've lost 27 pounds. I know I'm not getting enough protein. I started swimming with my sister and lost 3 pounds pretty quickly. But, school is back in session now. I won't be able to swim.

Three months after recovering from Covid I had hair loss and I took Folexin to bring it back so I know it works. I am 3 months post op right now and dreading the whole hair loss thing AGAIN! But I have my supply of Folexin ready.

Ah coffee, it really is a tough one. My team was pretty straightforward with this one. At my initial consult they strongly suggested weaning myself off of caffeine right away to only decaf. But they preferred that I actually not have anything with caffeine pre-surgery since I wouldn't be able to have caffeine until 6 months post-op. I did find an alternative, Pero, which was okay enough for a short time. I'm 3 1/2 months post-op now and am allowed decaf a few days a week, but sometimes it still bothers my stomach.

Gas pains were terrible for me during the first two days. I had to use a heating pad for random pains for the next week for what I assumed were leftover gas pockets. I had my favorite shows ready to distract me and take my mind off of the pain. Sleeping was uncomfortable that first week. Day 6 or 7 it got much better for me. I'm post op 16 days now and there are still some things that suck: getting out of chairs, rolling over in my sleep, drinking too fast, and I get physically tired towards the end of the day. Take it a day at a time. I hope you start feeling a lot better very soon!