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Does it get better?



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Hello! I'm new to the forum. Had gastric sleeve at the end of December. I'm losing weight fast, but I am having regrets. It's hard not being able to drink enough to quench my thirst. It tough remembering when I can eat or drink (due to the 30 minute rule). I'm getting in 40 grams of Protein, thanks to my shakes. But I can't seem to get much food down. I'm really questioning if I made the right decision...not that I can take it back. Would love to hear from other who had doubts after surgery. Thanks!

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It WILL get better - trust me :)

Your new tummy is still swollen. The first month or so was the toughest for me. Then shortly after, things started getting more normal (a new normal ;)).

You'll get the hang of not drinking with your meal and afterward for x-amount of time.

You're going through the worst of it - hang in there...it's totally worth it.

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Yes, it gets better. The first 3 to 6 weeks pretty much suck. Do what you're supposed to do, and you will soon find your normal. It just takes time. I compare the first month to going through labor. It's terrible as you're going through it, but soon you will forget all about it and see the end result is worth it :)

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i too was in december, dec 16th to be exact and yes its a big pain in the butt, but so far its already worth it. This is a tough thing. I osted something earlier that is actually sticking with me, and I like it, and this is :

Weight Loss Surgery May be a one time thing, but this lifestyle change is a lifetime thing.

It will get better. weight loss and being healthy is something we can all do.

I know you can do it. youve come this far.

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I appreciate the support. I had been very health conscience in the last 18 months. Which means my eating post surgery was pretty healthy. I think that may be part of my concern; I wasn't able to do this myself without the surgery. I was working out almost daily last year and managing my calories but only lost 20 lbs in 6 months. I have dropped 20 lbs in the past three weeks! Did any of you feel sad because you weren't able to do his without the surgery?

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Ditto to what everyone is posting....IT WILL GET BETTER! LOTS BETTER! I am 9 weeks out and felt exactly like you....regret! Drinking gets easier, you start feeling better. Just hang in there!! I am sooo happy and 8 weeks ago I thought I would never say that!

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Hello! I'm new to the forum. Had gastric sleeve at the end of December. I'm losing weight fast, but I am having regrets. It's hard not being able to drink enough to quench my thirst. It tough remembering when I can eat or drink (due to the 30 minute rule). I'm getting in 40 grams of Protein, thanks to my shakes. But I can't seem to get much food down. I'm really questioning if I made the right decision...not that I can take it back. Would love to hear from other who had doubts after surgery. Thanks!

When I was about 2-3 weeks out, I wouldn't say regretted it (that's not in my nature) but I really did wonder if I made a mistake sometimes. I was worn out and just felt lack-luster for about 6-7 weeks. I remember a time when eating was such a chore, it wasn't worth the effort. The longer time went on, the better it got. Now at 2 years out, I have no regrets at all. It a lot to adjust to, and we all have to figure out how to do that in order to succeed.

You should do a search on this topic. It comes up more often than you'd think, and people get pretty passionate about it for some reason. There are a few people who never make peace with it, but I think most do. I hope you can! For me, the outcome was well worth the difficult early days....and even the difficult days you have when you are further out and can eat more than you want to be able to.

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I agree the first 4-6 weeks were hard, but hang in there it does get better I'm 11 months post op and can eat just about anything, but small amounts. I have no regrets.I no longer need insulin or my high blood pressure meds I love my Water aerobics class ( I always hated exercise) and although I'm losing slower than many people on here, I feel healthier and happy with the changes.

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I agree with everyone else. The first several weeks are pretty much about surviving. Not necessarily because of pain, but just adjusting to everything, and you stomach is still very swollen, and I remember feeling so very discouraged at how much of a chore it even was just to drink Water. I promise that life will return to normal.....well, a NEW normal. You will eat again and it won't be painful or be a chore. And if you do the work, all of it will be so worth it in the end!

One of my favorite mantras.... "Change is hard at the beginning, messy in the middle, gorgeous at the end."

Edited by livvsmum

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I haven't had my surgery yet but not quenching my thirst is a concern for me. Let me know how you make out with that. I have stopped drinking with meals as well as 30 min before and after, but I have always been a huge Water drinker and this concerns me!

Good luck and from what everyone says, it gets a lot better!

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Post - op life is a challenge to adjust to. It does get easier. The way your eat and drink will soon become second nature. I have zero regrets about my surgery. Each day it becomes easier and easier.

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I really like the quote, livvsmum! I spent time, today, reminding myself of why I needed the surgery. All the advice and a change of perspective really helped. ????

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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. 💗

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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.

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