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Hey all! So, I had my surgery (RNY) at 7 am on the 5th. Surgery went perfectly and, after a very easy hospital stay, I went home the next day! My recovery has been pretty great (a few pics below). I've had *very* minimal pain, I think I only had to take the pain meds 4 times, and even then I only took the minimal dose to sleep. I don't think I really have any pain at all, at this point. My fatigue level is also getting better day by day. A few days ago I was worn out just walking around the mall, now I'm itching to get back to work! The biggest thing is that I had my post-op appointment today- total weight loss so far is 20.5lbs (woo!). I haven't used any insulin since two days pre-op, either! Amazeballs. They cleared me for pureed/soft foods (advancing as I tolerate things) which I am SO freaking happy about. I was beyond tired of broth and water and Gatorade! With all of that good news, I do have something I'm starting to wonder about- if my weight loss is going to suddenly stop now that I'm no longer on clear liquids. I mean losing 20lbs bc you've only had clear liquids for 2.5 weeks makes sense, but now that I'm adding in food, I wonder. I mean, in my head, I'm sure it won't stop- but it's still something I can't help but think about. Also, speaking of eating- does anyone have any tips/tricks to silence the head-hunger? And please none of that "just think about why you're doing this" crap. I realize that works for some people- and that's great, but sorry, that's not really an effective strategy for me. I'm looking for something I can *do* in those moments, not 'happy thoughts'.

I woke up being asked how I was feeling and if I was in pain and not to scare you off or anything but I have a very high pain tolerance and FELT that pain. Lol I was so out of it that after they were done assessing my pain and health during the short time that I was awake, I passed right back out. I don't think I was awake again til the middle of the night when they came to check on me. Then I passed back out. You can expect to be out like a light most or all of the first day. I don't know if they'll be on your case about walking that first day, probably not. Expect to not even be worried about being fed. You won't even be hungry but they will give them things to swab your mouth with the next day. What they may not tell you is, they will let you wash up and brush your teeth the second or third day.... And the less needy you are, the more available they seem to be. My mom is a nurse of some sort and she told me that they all love it if patients aren't so needy. If you're needy, they complain about it in the break room which is why they may take forever and a half. Useless information, I guess? I don't know.... Hw-273 Sw-226 CW-136 GW-130 Size- 4 or 6, Small in sweats. Small in shirts. depends on how it's cut or made. Bra Size- 36C Surgery Date- April 26th, 2017 RNY "Only those who try will become" FFX

Ugh feel so bloated today .. today makes 1 week post sleeve for me! My back hurts so much... Not even sure why though bc I walk a lot throughout the day.

Thanks for the encouragement ladies. I hate whining and not being an encouragement on here. *sigh* I just sent an email to the RD and will see what she says. @kakatlady612 I truly don't know if I have any switches available. I can't do soy cuz of er/per+ BC--onc's orders. The other vegan proteins are high in phytoestrogens as well. And the egg white protein gave me ringing ears and asthma worse than milk (although I'm not allergic to eggs that I'm aware). I do have some milk sensitivity but am ok with cheese and yogurt in small amounts.

Thanks. I will send an email to the RD now. Am seeing the doc on Thursday. So even though the swelling is mostly coming back down overnight, you don't think I should just suck it up? I can't have any other type of protein powder because of hormone pos BC and asthma. I tried so many different kinds including the chicken one (horrible), egg white (bad asthma), a ton of diff wpp (asthma, ear ringing, swelling). I almost feel like I need to quit whining , suck it up, and just get through it? I'm ok drinking the wpp 1 time per day--don't seem to have the overwhelming symptoms I do after having all 3 meals of it for 9 days...

I had some intense heart burn type pain for about an hour ... but it goes away- likely just gas from surgery. Slept for a solid amount of time. Near no pain at all (had laparoscopic bypass), only a bit when sleeping bc i couldn’t sleep on side yet. Movement was fine and back to work easily within a week and that was only to get eating habits in line Best decision ever— no regrets and nothing too big to worry about at all HW 242 SW 236- December 20, 2017 CW 198 GW 160

As my husband lay in a hospital bed, recovering from a total hip replacement, I searched diligently for a way to show my love and support. Then, I found the perfect answer, “licorice and Oreo cookies!” After 50 years in the workforce, my mother is retiring. Though she is not happy about it, I want to find a way to celebrate her many years of hard work. Oh, I know! I will bake her a pie. A cherry pie! That is her favorite. Hard to believe, but our oldest son, Craig is turning 27. He is a wonderful young man with a great wife and an adorable son, Skyler. That surely is cause for a special family dinner. Prime rib, all the trimmings and of course, I will bake a cake. I suspect... As my husband lay in a hospital bed, recovering from a total hip replacement, I searched diligently for a way to show my love and support. Then, I found the perfect answer, “licorice and Oreo cookies!” After 50 years in the workforce, my mother is retiring. Though she is not happy about it, I want to find a way to celebrate her many years of hard work. Oh, I know! I will bake her a pie. A cherry pie! That is her favorite. Hard to believe, but our oldest son, Craig is turning 27. He is a wonderful young man with a great wife and an adorable son, Skyler. That surely is cause for a special family dinner. Prime rib, all the trimmings and of course, I will bake a cake. I suspect that many of you are just like me. Even after 19 years as a weight loss surgery patient, when I feel the need to show my love, support or appreciation for someone I use food. It seems we all do. And that, I am afraid, has been the case since the beginning of time- you know, killing the fatted calf and all that. We love, we celebrate and we motivate with food. I have been wondering if it would be a futile endeavor, or would it actually be possible to change this behavior? Now, I know that I cannot be responsible for everyone else, but I can be responsible for the choices I make. One day, one event and one holiday at a time. So, now that the good candy from the gingerbread house is about gone… along comes another sweet holiday, Valentines Day. You know, expensive dinners, heart-shaped cookies, cakes, and candy. In years past, Valentines Day has been the perfect excuse to bake giant heart-shaped sugar cookies with white icing and red sprinkles. But, this year I am going to do things differently. I know, it will be tough, now that Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups come in a heart shape, but I am committed to showing my love for my family and friends without using food! I have decided to spend my cookie baking time, writing heartfelt letters and notes of appreciation to those I love. My hope is that my words will fill their hearts, and that they will feel loved and appreciated, warmed and emotionally fed, and that they will not miss the cookies. Won’t you join me this Valentines Day, by doing what you can to fill someone’s heart – rather than their stomachs? I love you – here’s a note!

I have them and used them when I couldn't handle my vitamins. My thought process- it was better than nothing until I had a viable replacement for the giant, terrible tasting chewable vitamins I had. My surgeon literally laughed when I mentioned them and said it was BS that you can get vitamins that way. I have recently discovered that Flinstone vitamins are acceptable by my surgeon's standards and they are SO MUCH easier to chew, swallow, and no nausea to follow. Probably not the same quality as the ones I can't stomach, but I would rather take something than nothing.

You’re asking about maintenance, right? Confused bc everyone is answering about while they are losing. I am four and a half years post op. Been at goal since a year out. I have to eat about 5 smaller meals a day to get all my food in because my capacity is limited. Like a meal might be half a sirloin patty and a cup of salad. Anyhow I eat anywhere from 1800-2800 calories a day as a 5’6” 140-ish pound woman. I run about 20 miles a week and do 4-5 hours of heavy yoga.

You look amazing and fit! And bring on the leggings, husband! Brandice like them afterall. I think it's super sweet that your husband thought of you and bought you an outfit when he was away. He has good taste. My husband is sweet at times but I can't imagine him ever picking out something for me and surprising me. You mentioned that your husband was (maybe still is?) at Army training. Thanks to both of you for making the sacrifice to enlist. My son enlisted when he was 18 years old and I was so nervous for him bc he was still young in my worldview. He's been in for almost 5 years. He'll be finishing this year. Basic is brutal! If you ever want to message about anything, I'm here. Strut...[emoji151]

Hi. What an achievement 90 lbs.! Great job. I can't speak as someone with long-term experience as my sleeve surgery was 12/28/17; however, I do have sugar cravings at times. I notice the cravings tend to strike when I haven't eaten yet (when I should have already eaten) and when I'm not getting my protein in bc I'm not eating on a regular basis. So focusing on reaching 80-90 grams of protein daily may help you if you are not already doing that and eating meals every 3-4 hours. I also find if I busy my mind with an activity like a jigsaw puzzle, my cravings subside. Brushing my teeth after meals and following that an hour later with drinking water helps me too. About exercise being a challenge bc of pain and fatigue issues: I really relate to that. I often think I'd be losing significantly more if I didn't have these "issues." It's tough too bc these are invisible disabilities and are often misunderstood. The pain and fatigue issues I have existed before I was overweight and I'm sure the excess weight hasn't helped. If you'd ever like to message about it, I'm here. You know what you need to do. You've got this! [emoji259]

I have Fed BCBS and they require a 3 month consecutive physician supervised diet. It has to be an appointment each month near the same date every month for 3 months in a row. I got approved and had my VSG on Dec 6, 2017. Good luck!

I had my gastric bypass surgery in September 2012 and weighed 285-got as low as 145 at one point until I had my gallbladder out in 2014. I was 165 when I got pregnant. Went into labor 7 weeks early for reasons still unknown and weighed around 180. Before he was discharged from the nicu 11days, I was back to my pre pregnancy weight from stress and hiking up and down a parking garage 8 x a day. 3 months post baby, I was creeping back up to the mid 170s I just thought it was hormones bc I nursed for 6 months. I also struggled with ptsd for the struggles I had w the guilt of him coming early, struggles w nursing, balancing work, etc. He just turned 13 months and I feel like my metabolism has just shut down still at 178. I am also getting depressed and discouraged. I live in a rural area, and do not even have a gym that's reasonable within 45 min. My job is literally drivingfor 8-9 hrs a day so exercise is difficult to give time to when I don't see my little man. I feel like eating enough to nurse mayhave reprogrammed my pouch. I dk what to do

MUAH! Yeah, I only have PP 1 time a day, split (LOL, don't fuss). I may have 2oz per coffee X 3 cups, then right before bed will have the rest. Then I guess, I could make the servings smaller on the rest so that I only get 15g per serving. I'd still be drinking the same thing but it would be split into more smaller more frequent drinks. Like right now? I'm still working on "breakfast". LOL. So I still have my morning snack of bullion to go in an hour or 1 1/2 hours. Then will have lunch and I'm gonna have a blended protein lemon ice tea (Synthrax). It will be about 22oz though. So theoretically, I could split that into 2 drinks (25g protein total). But it still doesn't up my cals. Which is a bummer. I can't have soy protein (the only other option they allow), because of the hormone positive breast cancer. My onc wrote the book on breast cancer, and still says the studies are too early to definitively conclude that soy doesn't contribute to development or recurrence of ER/PR+ BC. I'd add coconut milk to make my drinks, but it's really high in fat (even the So Delicious stuff). I'm allergic to almond milk and don't have any cashew milk here. Do you have any other ideas?

There are two schools of thought on bariatric surgery nutrition. The old school theory...is that you should take advantage of inflammation and nausea and severely restrict caloric intake in the early months after surgery. The newer research, however, is showing that starvation levels of calories are more associated with metabolic slow-down, more malnutrition, more hair loss, and rapid weight loss is tough on the skin. (there are limits to what skin can recover from...but slower weight loss has somewhat better results) The newer research supports that both groups lose approximately the SAME amount of weight over 18 months. The severely calorie restricted crowd loses more, earlier. People from groups like mine...where there is a focus on returning eating at normal levels earlier...will lose weight slower, but will lose just as much in 18 months. Also...the people fed higher calories earlier will maintain weight loss more successfully at 2 and 5 years. Some clinics are oldschool...and it pays to be oldschool...because all of your clients become drastically noticeable living advertisements for how fast and effective your surgery works. (even though the newer research is proving this is probably not the healthiest approach) But it's hard to tell a clinic...."you're doing it wrong" because bariatric nutrition and endocrinology is an emerging field. You pretty much have to work with the people you choose and their protocol. I'm very comfortable with my clinic...put some research into finding the best fit with my diet preferences, and generally prefer using research hospital based protocol over for-profit private clinic protocol.

Hi. I did spend a longer period of time getting the pulmonary clearance. One issue is that the first pulmonologist's associates referred me somewhere for the test and when I didn't get a call from the sleep center in the timeframe they told me, I called the pulmonologist as instructed. I had to keep calling bc every timeframe they gave me would come and go. I attempted to call the sleep center many times but no one answered nor was there voicemail! I finally called my ins.only to find that the sleep center never called in for an approval as I was told they did. I was being told they were waiting for ins. Insurance confirmed that that company had absolutely not contacted them for anything. I contacted the BBB and someone from the sleep center called and apologized for their errors. I originally saw first pulmonologist on 9/7/17. I got a call from sleep center mid-October so you can add up the time I lost in getting my clearance. The sleep center said they did cost me time in process and would fast track an appt with another pulmonologist since I would not return to first office. (So much more happened there but it would be a novel.) The pulmonology clearance really frustrated me too. I was sooooo glad when I verified it had been rec'd by my surgeon. Stay strong - in the moment it seems like a big mountain to climb and it feels like your surgery will never happen. I felt that way and I'm post-op. In the end, this will be in your rear view and you'll be just where you want to be. [emoji259]

So you're in Eastern Kentucky, how do i know? I was way back a long distance telephone operator. I'm in Ohio, and a couple cousins married ky and va girls. So I'm close to a GRIT, which stand for girl raised in the South,i am sure the Michiganders on here have accused me of it. They are still mad at Ohio for winning the Toledo war. Shoot I love everybody, even my misguided sisters to the north. Once upon a time I belonged to Bassin' Gsls, insisted when late hubby joined Bassmasters. My wants were simple, he went onto to fish more for catfish, GIVE me mealworms and I'll happily fish for bass and bluegill all day. Yes I bait my own hooks and clean my own fish unless someone insists they want to do it instead. Family went froggigging, wouldn't take me, left me at the house to cook the previous day's frog,legs. Put them in the skillet and forgot to put the lid on. When they got warm they jumped out, picked them up, washed them up, fried them with the lid on and fed them to the happy hunters. Figured if they got sick served them right for not taking me. Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi everyone. Currently at week 3 post-op and struggling. I am now feeling what I think are hunger pains, which I was not experiencing before. But more than that, I am starting to crave the foods I used to and I am finding it hard to resist temptation. Unfortunately, it seems I still like the same foods and haven’t yet that I don’t like something I used to (too bad!). Yesterday, I ended up eating some spaghetti and some chocolate chips ( not together! Lol) My stomach hurt afterwards and I had a feeling it would but I did it. I am technically still in the puréed stage too. I think I’m missing the way I used to eat, the quantity I guess. Not sure what is going on. When I went to my first post-op follow up, my doctor was happy with my progress and didn’t care about my weight loss or what I was eating, as long as it was mushy and trying to stay hydrated. I am really struggling with eating as if I’m on a diet vs. eating anything but of course in very small quantities. I have a friend that had vsg last April and looks great now and she told me she eats what she wants just a little since that’s all we can do. I know I can’t compare but Its hard not to. Today my family had the leftover spaghetti and meatballs and I technically could’ve had the meatball but didn’t bc I thought it wasn’t “healthy” enough. It’s all very confusing and I hope I’m not the only one struggling. On a side note, I can’t seem to have a bm and I’ve tried everything-smooth tea, crushed dulcolax (that made me throw up), and milk of magnesia. Nothing is working. Please let me know if you al have any other recommendations. Thank you!!!

Hi. I'm still having so much trouble with the CPAP machine. I just kept trying thinking it would get better. I was furious with it last night. So much full-on pressure right away and my head gear twisting this way and that causing my nasal pillows to move and blast loud air. I got up to see if I have ramp option (I had it a decade ago and I didn't have this struggle). So, thank you for mentioning it bc there is RAMP but it is off and I can't turn it on. I'm going to call American Home Patient about it. Thank you again. This just may help me.

Hi. WOOHOO! You're time has finally come. I packed 2 pair of comfy pants and tops (and was also wearing the same), plenty of underwear (wasn't sure how long I'd be there and I always pack double of what I need), deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, washcloths, and a bath sheet from home. I only used the clothes I was wearing and one pair of underwear plus toiletries bc I was in and out in about 22 hours. I packed my own medium firmness pillow which I intentionally left in the car bc I didn't want to mistakenly leave it there (like I did the at the overnight sleepy test) and I used it by placing it against my stomach on the ride home. I saw the tip posted on here by another member and it helps. Oh, I did pack socks too but didn't need them bc I left hospital socks on.

Maybe I'm not understanding fully. If your official first visit was 12/19/18 then you need 90 (3 months) consecutive days. The days will not add up to 90 by 2/12/18 unfortunately. Even if you had 3 visits one in Dec, Jan, Feb, you do not have 90 days yet so that's an easy explanation as to why insurance cannot approve your surgery at this time. And that really stinks. It's understandable that your deeply disappointed bc they gave you date of 2/12 and now you hear otherwise. I have BC/BS and had 3 months visits as well. Because of a problem with one of the doctors' offices, my 3 months turned to 4. Then I was approved and had a date by the 5th month. I think it's probably rare that a surgery is done to the day of the 3-month mark bc you have to have 90 days first and all clearances then paperwork is submitted and there's a wait for approval. Hang in there. You'll get through this.

Maybe I'm not understanding fully. If your official first visit was 12/19/18 then you need 90 (3 months) consecutive days. The days will not add up to 90 by 2/12/18 unfortunately. Even if you had 3 visits one in Dec, Jan, Feb, you do not have 90 days yet so that's an easy explanation as to why insurance cannot approve your surgery at this time. And that really stinks. It's understandable that your deeply disappointed bc they gave you date of 2/12 and now you hear otherwise. I have BC/BS and had 3 months visits as well. Because of a problem with one of the doctors' offices, my 3 months turned to 4. Then I was approved and had a date by the 5th month. I think it's probably rare that a surgery is done to the day of the 3-month mark bc you have to have 90 days first and all clearances then paperwork is submitted and there's a wait for approval. Hang in there. You'll get through this.

@Creekimp13 Thank you so much for this thread. Your description of this is so eloquent and thoughtfully written. I totally get it. It is about the grieving and reinventing and coming to terms that most of the old will need to change to survive in the new normal. In a post BC world, they talk about "the new normal" and you hear it so often, that sometimes you just want to go cram it down the next person who mentions its throat. LOL. But I think (or have an inkling) this will be true in my post WLS world. It is shocking how much time you have on your hands when not planning, shopping, prepping, cooking, eating, and cleaning up from a meal. You know? It's like, "What the f*ck am I supposed to do with the next 20hours of the day? And where on earth am I gonna get something to entertain and amuse me like food/cooking/being a foodie does?" *snic* LOL. I have some thoughts for you. I think you should pursue acting out a 9 1/2 weeks and do sex transference addiction with the hubs, whom I agree is a massive keeper. Then you should regale us with your wicked feats of strength for our enjoyment. Just spit ballin' ideas for you here.

Hi... I’m new to all of this. I go feb 13th for my nutrition class and surgery is scheduled for March 12th. I’m nervous but excited for my new journey. I’m 37 and weight 265 lbs. I’m 5’10 tho so most people don’t believe me when I tell them what I weigh. I was approved thru my insurance bc I have high BP too. Anything y’all can tell me to help out would be appreciated.

Ha! Love this! Maybe I'll revise my reward from going camping and tubing on the Frio (in a bikini), to getting tatties on the foobs? LOL, I horrified my PS when I suggested I might get Harley Davidson tats there instead of nip tats. Ahhhh BC, you make us laugh in your face! Cheers mamacita! Keep rockin' it!!!