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my date is march 31st....i started abouth a month or so before pre surgery diet to stop foods i know i wont have anymore. then a week before diet was to start i went out a few times and had a healthy nice meal that i wont have for a while, still sticking to only good things like salmon, chicken etc. then i also started skes and one meal for the week prior to get used to changing. transition has been great. i do not feel like it is as hard.

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I asked my surgeon if he could put Vitamins in my IV, and he did. I believe it helped with my recovery. The first few days home were rough, but by the 4th or 5th day, I felt much better. Heating pads helped with the pain in my left shoulder.

Bring something to keep you entertained and distracted at the hospital. I bought slippers with me. And yes, get used to sipping Water all day long! It's something I'm still trying to get used to.

Be well…

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I wish I had known I would feel pretty rough for about 4-5 weeks after surgery, and that it was normal. I was tired all the time, and just had no stamina. I also wish I had known that everything I ate during that time would run right through me - also normal. I spent the first month or so thinking that something was really wrong because I felt so bad, because I read so much on here about how great people felt right away. It's true for some, but not for all. I gradually felt better over time, but it took a while, and now I feel great. :)

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Heating pad will be your bff post op. I even slept with mine on all night once i got home.

Get gas x strips!

I echo the Water issue, im 5 months post op and cant do plain Water most days. Try lots of things post op until something works. For me its been propel zero and smart water.

Head hunger is real and its tough. Learn to stop and think twice before you drink or eat anything now..so that you dont fund yourself mindlessly eating or drinking for no real reason. Just be mindful before anything goes in the mouth.

I didnt feel comfortable lifting things for a couple months...so prepare for that possibility.

Relationships will change. It doesnt have to be a bad thing either..just be ready for that.

Im still dizzy most of the time, and hadnt read much on people having that. (I have labs next week, but im suspecting i have low sodium levels, which has happened before to me. ) ive been carrying around Snacks with me in my purse and vehicles to be safe.

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I wish I would have know that having GERD pre-operative Sleeve is usually a precursor to worse symptoms down the line a few years. Other than that everything else goes away in time. No complaints other than that.

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    • 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!
      · 0 replies
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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!
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    • 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.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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