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I am beyond scared. I didn't want to have bypass. I just wanted a re-sleeve but my insurance wouldn't cover it bc it's still considered "investigational."

Yikes! Carbs are a hot debate. Yes, I specifically asked Creekimp and Jess bc I know that they both have had different journeys to the same place -SUCCESS! I am trying to figure out the best diet plan so I can get to the same place. I love all of the food suggestions Jess made, just not feeling full eating only protien (yes on PPI) and trying to figure out what to add in. For right now I think I will add veggies and plant based protien to increase my fiber and nutrients with out adding too many carbs, YET. I love carbs and will have to add more complex carbs later. That is why I asked Creekimp bc I know she uses carbs the right way to still lose weight. Calm down everyone, we all find our own way 😁

Wow, well with this surgery most people have some of the same negatives (the liquid diet), or have similar negative side effects (nausea/constipation), but also have good things to balance it out. I have gone through a lot of the same things as everyone else on here, and am also going through some stuff that may not be as common. Whether or not it makes us regret the surgery is definitely a personal experience based on many factors, but it seems like the majority come out on the side of No Regrets. Like you, I considered backing out a month or so before my surgery date. My daughter helped me realize that with surgery things may or may not get better, and yes, some things could possibly get worse (small percentage). But without it, probably nothing was going to change (at least not for the better). So it ended up being a no brainer and I felt extremely confident going forward even through the sucky pre-op diet (over Xmas) and what I assumed would just be a terrible first few months of puking and misery post-op. Things did not turn out the way I thought, and as I have just been journaling, I will share, if you care to read: I am 5 months post-op as of yesterday. I am down 51.2 lbs, 31 total inches overall since pre-op, body fat percentage back under 30%. My weight loss has been a bit slower than most - they say probably bc my starting weight was lower (205.8) and also I have a lot of chronic pain so my workouts are not exactly intense. But thankfully the more I lose the better I can move. My body did not want to let go of these last couple lbs - I thought I'd never reach the 50 lb milestone! It was like 48, 48.5, 49.2, 49.6...like seriously? Lol, talk about a frustrating month! But I'm finally over that hurdle and goal is between 14-20 lbs from here. I'm short, so honestly I have always looked better lower than that - say in my 120's, but I'm older now and my skin is not bouncing back the way it once did, and gravity is a real son of gun. So I will probably stop around 135/140 in order to keep things looking a little more "well-rounded" - and I also think it will be easier to maintain. That's my thought process right now anyway. My surgery itself went smooth, so no issues there. I have never vomited (which shocks me no end as I'm prone to nausea), I have felt nauseated 2-3x max - but it passed quickly. I do, however, have issues with reflux. Had reflux pre-op that was well controlled by OTC Nexium. Now it can be very painful at times. Like some others, I too think maybe I should have considered the by-pass more seriously, but also bc my ins did not cover and I went to MX as self-pay, the sleeve seemed like the best option overall. One thing for me is I never lost the hunger sensation. My "Ghrelin Game's" strong, I guess. But the biggest "issue" I have had, and it's no small thing, is I still struggle with many solid foods. I have slowly introduced them as instructed and when instructed, chew chew chew, etc. But after maybe 5 small bites of MANY foods (I do ok w/some), I still feel hungry, so I intend to probably eat a few more bites to become satiated, but all of a sudden start getting bad pain in center of diaphragm...feel completely "clogged" or "backed up" with food even though I've eaten so little and I still felt hungry 2 seconds ago...then usually get some reflux...get the hiccups...will need to take Tums...often suck on 1 or 2 wintergreen Lifesavers as they also seem to help w/digestion...then suck on ice chips for a little while which also seems to help. It sounds pretty miserable, and honestly, it is. To avoid, I could probably take 2-3 small bites, wait 20-30 minutes and have another 2-3 bites. Or, just stick to eating softer food. So, most nights I have yogurt for dinner with unflavored protein powder, chia seeds, a few mashed fresh blackberries, and a little organic coconut granola. It's about 5 oz. total, and I take my time eating that also - about 20 mins I'd say. Luckily, I enjoy the yogurt combo, but once or twice a week, I want Real Food for dinner, and that is my struggle. It's especially hard on the weekends bc my husband and I like to go out on Sat to a farmer's market or something and then have lunch (or dinner & a movie...). But it's miserable for me to sit at a restaurant where I can barely eat anything on the menu (comfortably) and then have to sit (w/back pain & probably stomach pain) and wait for my husband to enjoy his meal. Lately we haven't been going out much, which is a real drag. I expected it to be like this for the first several mos, but figured it would slowly be getting better by now. I knew I'd have diet restrictions and certain foods would take longer to agree w/me (some might never work well again), but I didn't expect that So Many real foods (meaning meats/veggies, etc. dinner type foods) would be too painful to eat. For me this is the most difficult thing and I am praying it gets better w/time. If I can eat a couple oz. of chicken/turkey/fish/steak + say 1/2 cup of cooked veggies/salad/potatoes (whatever), w/o any pain or reflux, and enjoy my food & comfortably sit & enjoy the company of my husband (sisters/kids) until they finish eating, even if it's at 9 months or a yr post-op, I will be ok w/that. It's the thought that it might never happen that worries me. On the other hand, when this happens, my husband feels so bad, and sometimes says, "I'm sorry babe, you must really regret having that surgery now." And I'm like, "No I don't! How else was I ever going to lose 50 pounds in 5 mos w/all the health/pain issues I have?" I never thought I would weigh 154 lbs again, much less 135-140 where I hope to land. So, yeah. It sucks that I have to eat yogurt for dinner most nights. (There are a handful of other things I could have instead, but some of those I have for breakfast/lunch/snacks, and also the yogurt is easy to throw together). But hopefully that will get better as more time passes, and if it doesn't...I don't know...I have to think it's got to be better than stuffing my face w/whatever I wanted but then feeling awful every time I got dressed or looked in the mirror...

Thank you for the kind words. I still struggle bc I felt like such a ding-dong after posting Picts. Still so insecure about having people purposely look at me. But thank you for being so sweet. Yeah, the social anxiety piece was the main driver. It was no way to live!

🤢 that happened to me with bariatric advantage and I gave them to my mom. My mom is a health nut and she doesn’t mind that they are bariatric. I did buy the one a day capsule and now I just empty it into a spoon or a sippy cup with protein and they aren’t nasty or taste much like anything so it’s really easy to drink. You should deff try them, I ordered mine on amazon Bc they could guarantee me 2 day shipping. Yo-Yo Girl from New York City

My personal opinion...hype and BS. Essentially, you're eating rubber chicken sternum cartilage and hoping for a miracle. If you try it, be sure to post a before and after pic. Will gladly root for such a product if there is any hard evidence it gives results beyond making its marketers money.

Thank you! Gotta tell you, the craziest part of this journey has been allowing myself to enjoy my success bc I’m so terrified of failure, especially now that I feel so much better. My social anxiety has gone away and I’m actually kinda digging not wanting to be invisible anymore. My loss has definitely slowed down and I wasn’t lucky enough to be spared from hair loss. I actually didn’t use any creams. I honestly didn’t even think about it. Here are some pics of me. The one in the tank top was the night before surgery. Sleeved 8/7/17 HW: 256 SW: 248 CW: 180 on 5/3/18 5'7" GW: 150

You are NOT a massive failure! Just bc we have this new physical tool doesn’t mean our nutty heads will catch up as quickly as a 1 hour surgery. We have had a lifetime of diet mentality of fearing failure by one quick mistake, like a donut when on Atkins or going over our WW points and feeling like “oh well, fell of the wagon again.” I do the same thing, this self sabotage behavior when so close to a goal and feeling so good. First, which is so much easier said than done, we need to give ourselves a break. Focus on being how awesome it is that we are being proactive in trying to heal ourselves. We took a major first step. We worked our butts off to jump through all the hoops to get us this surgery which is a HUGE win in itself. We did it! We got this far! Now we need to focus on our heads. I go to support groups for this surgery and see a therapist. It’s so, SO hard. You have done so well! Look how far you’ve come. So we may slip and make bad choices but, today is a new day. I am here, holding your hand with you. I get it, understand how you feel way too well! You, we, NONE OF US are failures! We are winners bc we have actively decided to relearn a new way of relating to food and our lifestyles, and it won’t happen overnight. We have this! Sending you hugs! I am right there with you! Sleeved 8/7/17 HW: 256 SW: 248 CW: 180 on 5/3/18 5'7" GW: 150

Honestly it varies a lot but I can tell you that going by how much some postops struggle I thought the pain was going to be much worse. Like Syntax said, the worse is waking up from anesthesia Bc you’ll be nauseous disoriented and in pain. My pain was more discomfort than pain. I felt lots of tightness under my breast bone and my pouch felt tight too. Came to find out it was just the muscle where they put in the liver instrument. As far as gas you may or may not be too bothered by it. In my case I truly believe my doctor didn’t blow me up with it or used very little because I’ve had no gas at all and my tummy feels like any other given day. In my experience everything went so well though so take everything I’m saying with a grain of salt. I know this isn’t the usual and people do suffer from lots of pain, nausea and incision soreness which hasn’t been my case. In another thread someone asked how this surgery compares to a C section and all the ladies said a C section is much worse, much painful and longer to recuperate from and women have them all the time lol so that should give you and idea. I think you’ll do fine and the pain won’t be anything you couldn’t tolerate, you’ll also be given pain meds but by day 3-4 you won’t even need it. Yo-Yo Girl from New York City

I had to learn the difference between wanting and needing. I thought I would never feel hungry after the surgery but when my pouch wants to be fed. I get a slight burning sensation. That when I know I NEED to eat. Right now your in the early stages, and we've all been there & it does better. Good Luck Show someone a little kindness each day~Miss Tee

thank you .. I'm so ready to skip to 2nd week where my body feels less sore.. I kept walking up on the hour last night..They were trying to ease me out of the iv med bc it doesnt last as long as the oral med..

@AshAsh1 I agree. A type I is so much different than type II, and unless you are educated or are a type I, you cannot approach this disease casually. I have two (now grown) type I children and even they have unique circumstances, my daughter can bottom out very quickly, and the tighter your control the easier/faster a low bs can happen - my son does not react the same way she does. Other hormones greatly affect the insulin hormone, as can vigorous exercise, lack of sleep, etc. It is not just a matter of eating.

Some of us did not experience physical hungry for sometime post surgery. I'm one of them, so definitely not BS. I thought I was hungry, I wanted to order a pizza, I filled up my GrubHub shopping cart. But I came to realize, it wasn't my stomach telling me to eat, it was food cravings. It took me a while to figure out, because it feels identical. Real hunger didn't return for me until 3 months post op. And then this week it is gone again. I think many of us thought, head hunger, because of these comments "I think about food ALL THE TIME. Even in the hospital, the morning after surgery, I woke up dreaming of pizza and Italian rainbow Cookies". IMO that seems more of a food addiction/obsession rather than true hunger.

Because it is. You cut out most of your stomach and you're eating starvation level calories. Don't listen to the "head hunger" BS...when you're eating starvation levels of calories...you're hungry. Real hunger. Sally Struthers starving children in Africa hungry. Hungry. You're hungry because you physically can't and shouldn't yet eat the amount of calories your body requires. In a few weeks when your stomach can handle more food...you will still be facing the same choices you always have. Ghrelin be damned. You will still be on a diet that will require thought, attention, and will power. The good news....is that it gets better. Right after surgery, I could have eaten my leg off I was so hungry. After I was eating 1000-1200 calories around week three...I no longer felt like I was starving to death. I was much more comfortable, satisfied with much less, and found it pretty easy to stick to my calorie goals. Almost six months out....1200 calories a day still feels pretty satisfying. So that's an awesome change for the better. Now..back to your statement "this feels like a starvation diet and nothing more at this point." There are two ways to lose weight. Reduce input calories (Starve)....or.....Increase output calories (Exercise your arse off) The surgery isn't magic. If changes your tummy, not your head. You will still have to work hard and diet. It's not a magic fix. You will still be tempted. You will still crave old favorites. You will still get hungry. As time goes on and your tummy is healed and holds a little more...you will have to learn to resist temptation just like before. The big advantage of this surgery....is that if you screw up and lose your mind and eat without thinking it through......you're more likely to screw up by 1000 calories, instead of 5000 calories in a day. It buys you some time to really look at your behavior so you can address it. It gives you some relief from the massive portions you'd worked up to needing to feel full. And rapid results will hopefully give you incentive to finally commit to better habits. That's the goal...changing how you mentally cope with food. That's the reality. Work and diet. For the rest of your life. I'm sorry you were sold a steaming pile of BS. You're not alone. But again...the good news...is that what the sleeve realistically does for you is a leg up on any previous diet efforts. You've got a real chance to change your habits. A LOT of people have tremendous success with the sleeve. Most folks will lose 60-70% of their excess body weight....which is a tremendous accomplishment and standard dieting efforts don't come close to those results. Hang in there. It does get better.

I was really nervous telling my husband...he is on the other side of the planet right now...his ex wife had bypass years ago and she failed terribly and it enhanced her already changing personality (not in a good way) and she is now a bad alcoholic (she already had an unhealthy relationship with food and needed help prior to surgery and she replaced it with drinking) so needless to say he was not excited lol. When I told him it was dr’s recommendation and reminded him that I have medical issues that require drastic attention he was better. I made him admit (feelings not hurt at all bc it’s what I want as well), as he said he loves me the way I am (

My surgeon suggested bypass bc if that. And to be honest, I have seen more and more post of sleeve to bypass posts lately....so anyway my point is I’m having bypass and not sleeve bc of the GERD issue

That’s encouraging. My endocrinologist took me off of metformin bc we aren’t having more babies (I totally would tho) it wasn’t doing anything for me I don’t think.

I assume she WAS a surgical nurse? ROFLMAO-also. Old Joke; 1st person :I know a man with one leg named Henry. 2nd person: Oh really? And what would the other leg's name be? This probably goes in the "There's Your Sign" I started the first of the month. And I'm reminded of the panicked,new father who fed his new baby an undiuted bottle of baby formula. Woke the baby's doctor,out of a sound sleep. Doctor: Just give the baby an equivalent amount of water. Good Night!😛

I had surgery almost 2 weeks ago and there is a noticeable difference in my skin and hair. So Dry! Nails also and let's not talk about my alligator feet! (pedicure tomorrow) I am using more lotion, but just applying to the outside isn't the same! I am wondering if it is the hormone shift, same thing happened when I was pregnant. Could it be the hormones? Is it bc there are no healthy fats in my diet? Has this happened to anyone else? What did you do? Did it get better?

Esophagus is highly vascular and heals quickly. Your surgeon did a good job getting a specialist and checking everything right away. Important to control your nausea as you progress to PO intake. You do not want to throw up bc it can cause stress on the perforation.

So question on the diuretics...I thought those were a no no bc of possible dehydration...thus the reason water has been etched in our brains...

Hello everyone! My name is Carolina, 25 year old from Brooklyn, NY. I had my gastric by pass on June 23 2017 and loss a total of 129 pounds (HW: 249”bs CW 120lbs). After reaching my goal weight of 120lbs and switching to maintance calories, about a month and half ago, something happen to me— mentally. I can’t stop obsessing over food. Food is the first thing I think about as soon as I wake up, the last thing I think about before falling to sleep, and ALL I think about in between. I am constantly eating without planning and without being hungry. Often, I just eat because the food is available. I lose control of my fitness/health goals and lose sight of my decisison to be more mindful with eating. althought I am fully aware of what am doing during the time I am eating, the strength to stop myself is not there anymore. Knowing that I loss my initial decipline is scary. However, there are more scary thoughts that hunt me. I am scare.. scare of regaining all the weight back, scare of not getting control of this mindless eating stage, and above it all.. scare of losing the person I now see in the mirror. The person I always wanted to be. Can anyone else relate? Help me....

Even though I told my doctor’s office it seemed like I couldn’t have a net gain they assured me it would be fine. Low and behold I was denied for a 5 lb net gain. I am 250 currently at 5’6 and they have suggested I do the six months again and this time just stay at 250 to ensure I am at 40 BMI since I only have mild sleep apnea and no other issues. My question is—at the end of the new six months will Aetna deny me bc I still didn’t lose the original 5 lbs or should I get back down to 245 even though that puts my BMI at 39.5? We considered doing a peer to peer and having the doctor say water weight etc., but felt it would be better to do six more months which is really only five based on counting April’s weigh in. Timing actually works out on my favor with surgery now I’m Sept, so I’m not worried about that, but I don’t want to get to September and be denied again.

Hi, I have not had my surgery yet, I will have it in October . I am a insulin dependent diabetic right now . I have been following the eating plan my Nut gave me in March 2018. I have had some very low glucose scares,. They usually happen in the middle of the night . I have dropped my insulin way down and I make sure I get something with protein and a few carbs about 1 hr before bed. My diet looks like this 3 oz lean protein 3x a day 3 servings low fat dairy 3x a day ( this counts towards my protein) 3 or more servings of veggies a day ( 1 c raw or 1/2 c cooked) 2 servings max of fruit 1 healthy fat ( oatmeal, quinoa 1/2 c I eat 3 meals and 3 snacks for anywhere of 1000 - 1200 calories daily 100 g protein 60 - 90 carbs ( I never reach this ) I have not had surgery yet 64oz water ( I drink about 80oz) No caffeine ( decaf is ok) no regular creamer sf only I use vanilla protein powder in my coffee that helps with my protein also No alcohol ( empty calories, high sugar) No pop or anything that is carbonated No candy, chips, bread , anything made with flour, rice, bananas, cream soup, tomato soup ( unless I make it myself without sugar) No pasta No juice (regular or diet) I used to have juice to help with my bs lows before I started this Now I use glucose tabs with 4g sugar. No real sugar ( stevia, Splenda ,other subs are ok with my Nut ) I drink at least 1 protein shake a day to get my 100g in. I will be going down to 80g in the beginning of June If you would like to know more send me a private message. I have lost 44.5 lbs from following this and exercising 5 days a week. I don’t miss the carbs anymore, I do miss my club soda but I can live without bubbles in my water. I will be very honest I started this diet change 7 months before I am even having surgery because I know myself. It will take me that long to be clean as I call it. I do have a treat now and then ,I have gone out and eaten a pice of fried food but I always ask for a box to be brought out when they bring my meal I take most of it and put it in the go box. My husband gets any fried food left over and I get the veggies , I always order veggies as my side . I don’t always get my protein in or my water but I try. I was never up before 9 am and now I am up at 5:30 and leave for the gym at 6:30 Monday - Friday . On the weekends I am usually walking around our doing yard work that is my exercise for the weekend. You can do this. You will have some bs lows but you will deal with them and move on. Please don’t get discouraged because of 1 person. Ask all the questions you have this forum is full of the best people around . They have experienced everything after there surgeries and have the best suggestions and great ideas to help get through this. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Awww i feel you, seriously. the first week was horrible!! i was very emotional and cried a lot because i regretted the sleeve and it finally hit me that what i had done was permanent and i missed food and i wanted the horrible pain to go away. it is normal. i know you might feel very alone but im telling you, i understand and trust me it gets way better. give it time, i was feeling semi normal by 2 weeks max and my recovery was terrible, i was drugged up on codeine all day for the first week because the internal/incisional pains were KILLERRR. i am about 27 days post op and i still feel some sharp "pulling" pains if i sit in a weird position or if i lay on my side with my stomach hanging lol , if that makes sense. but the pain is nothing like the first few days post-op, it is more like uncomfortable now . As for incision pains, my biggest incision from where my stomach was removed (bellybutton) is still kinda sore. first week , it was horrible. even my shirt rubbing against the incision areas would irritate it and make it hurt!! but now it is only if i press down on it. Just know that it gets better, it gets sooo much better and very quickly. i feel so sad reading your post bc i feel your pain..it is rough and the pains when moving or getting up from bed are terrible but just give it a couple days and you will start to see the difference , trust me. As for gas pains, it also will get better. honestly that took a little longer for me because i also had a hernia repair which made it feel like heart attack when i took the smallest sip of any liquid. but now it goes down smoothly as long as i dont gulp down half a water bottle (which i have done only once since my surgery and i had to sit down and close my eyes and pray to god because i thought i was going to die bc it all got stuck in my throat LOL but i learned my lesson) . Best of luck on your journey, keep in mind you will look and feel great in time and all of this emotional and physical pain will be well worth it. stay strong & when you regret your decision, tell yourself the deed has been done, no going back! Cry if it makes u feel better, god knows i cried like a baby but just dont lose focus. sending love and strength !!