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How Bad Is The First 6 Weeks Postop?



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I'm scared and trying to prepare myself as I think about planning my life around this...work/childcare/other responsibilities. Any insights welcome.

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I was tired for a couple of weeks, but didn't think food planning was a big deal.

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My first three weeks were really tough. Week 4 seems better Just nerve pain top top of my stomach near largest incision. I couldnt have made it thru week one and two without help.

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My first two weeks were horrible. The pain wasnt too bad but emotionally I was a wreck. I was useless for the 1st two weeks and had to have help taking care of my children. Family was a huge help.

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Everything went well for me..... I was driving within 2 days after surgery, I guess it depends on the person. I kept telling myself that i was going to have a painless recovery and so far its worked

i had a little discomfort initially but i did not take any pain pills after i left the hospital

lets just hope your recovery goes nice and easy as mine has been

im heading into my 3rd week post op on july 26

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I am 11 days Post Op and Honestly the first week was hard now the begining of the second it gets easier the only thing is if u have the people to help u with ur family that is great if not it is going to be hard but keep up the positive attitute things will work out for the best ???? Good Luck

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I hit 5 weeks tomorrow since I had surgery. The 1st week all I did was sleep. 2nd week I was a bit better but still very tired and sore. 3rd week felt alot better until 2 days before I hit my 4th week and all of a sudden I had some extreme pain occur on the left side of my stomach area that hurt even to the touch, Dr sd it is normal when things are healing. 4th week still had pain until mid week and had to take pain meds to eleviate. No pain at all last 4 days. Will start back to work tomorrow. Biggest issue is I run out of steam pretty quick, I get tired very easily and have to sit down alot because I start feeling weak.

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Surgery on Monday out of Hospital Thursday at 7 a.m. Slept most of Thursday with the occasional get up and walk walks...then Friday went to the Movies with my sister and nephew, then Saturday went to the El centro Fair and toured all my nephews entries, Sunday I went to church and flew home to Oregon ...Monday morning I drove myself home while my hubby6 slept in the passenger seat! Drove 2 hours and went to work for the remainder of the day and then it's all history from there! Work work work....

I had my surgery in Mexico and there was literally ZERO pain associated with my surgery....AMAZING my surgeon was a master and My master had his hands on him during my surgery....The Lord gave me a great surgical teram and placed his healing hand upon me....

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It greatly varies, I had a few cravings the first week or so, & one of my incisions was a bit sore for about 10 days. But other than that, it's been a breeze.

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I didn't have any incision pain after surgery but I did have a little gas pain in my left shoulder but after walking a couple of hours after surgery it went away by the next morning. I didn't have problems with pain when I came home either just a little tired for the 1st week. I went back to work though and managed ok =) The thing I wasn't prepared completely for was the complete no interest in food. Then you know you have to get Water and Protein in but can't, I mean literally can't! Couldn't get it all in until week 3, you have everyone tell you about that part but until you experience it, well, it just didn't register for me lol! Then around the 4th day of week 2 I wanted food, but couldn't have it =( Sooo I started freaking out about the restriction for the rest of my life like OMG! what have I done to myself! lol Anyway, you get the picture! I wasn't so much out of commission for my family but I did have some head games going on that were sometimes more of an issue than anything physical... I am now almost 4 weeks out and loving the sleeve, those weeks were totally worth the 34 weight loss =)

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It all depends on the person. I did not have any problems or pain. I was able to drive in like a day. I compare it to my C-section. It wasn't bad at all. No meltdowns. I accepted way back that I was doing this to get healthy.

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The first week was rough for me but I think a big part of it was actually the cold turkey caffiene withdrawls. I was pretty deligent about getting my protein/fluids in and getting up and walking even if it was just walk through house several times a day. I went home with a drain which I kept for nine days (very untypical post op) but it really wasn't much of an issue. It will be two years next month and I still love my sleeve. My weight has stayed stable I bounce up and down maybe 5 pounds. I still have to watch what I eat and exercise but it is so much easier. If I am going to a party or something I'll eat something with high Protein like a hard boiled egg and I can walk away from temptation. I still drink a Protein Shake every morning (I do a little doctoring and love them).

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    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
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    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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