Pre vs post op diet...prepare yourself! (This is somewhat of a rant also)

[shuga04 1]

Today is day 12 post op. I've had challenges with wanting savory food not just sweet Protein Shakes and broth or yogurt. I see my surgeon tomorrow, so I guess we will see how well I've been doing overall.

[LoreLu 79]

Ask if you can put savory spices in your Soups - poultry seasoning in chicken broth, etc.

[MrsDixon 40]

Sorry you are having a hard time. First about the pre op diet. Not everyone is the same. I had a liquid diet for 2 weeks, no food whatsoever! Then 2 weeks clear/full liquids after surgery. I am 3 days shy of a month out. I am on real food, but only fish and eggs. I dont like cottage cheese or yogurt. Is it hard? YES! But this is where we need to retrain ourselves. I have cooked for my family since the pre op diet. At first it bothered me, not now. Yes there is hunger, but i choose to drink my Water especially if I ate recently.I haven't had any problems as of yet, which is an amazing blessing, and shows no 2 people are alike. You kind of scare people who come here wanting helpful information. You have to take the good with the bad, as this is not an easy thing for anyone. I am looking long term, not dwelling in right now. If i'm having a hard day I just see what I did this for, to be healthy!!

Still not feeling better about this at 6 weeks out and that may never change. I'm just dealing with it because I don't have any choice but to. And I didn't say anything to scare people, only to be honest so they know some of the things no one wants to tell u before hand. I wasn't told a lot of things, things that would've made me change my mind. I still say I'd rather be fat and happy every day! It is what it is....

[lauraellen80 854]

Still not feeling better about this at 6 weeks out and that may never change. I'm just dealing with it because I don't have any choice but to. And I didn't say anything to scare people, only to be honest so they know some of the things no one wants to tell u before hand. I wasn't told a lot of things, things that would've made me change my mind. I still say I'd rather be fat and happy every day! It is what it is....

I'm sorry that you are still having such a rough time of it... we must have had surgery about the same time, because I'm six weeks out, as well. Can I ask--how long did it take from your first seminar/consult to surgery? and did you feel pressured into the surgery by family, a friend, or a doctor? I only ask because it seems like people who don't feel like the choice was entirely theirs have a more difficult time adjusting...

Anyway, there are definitely things that suck about it, no doubt, and there have been times recently where I just desperately wanted to binge-eat like I used to. I just got back from two weeks of being out in Indiana after finding out that my dad was in severe heart failure, and he ended up having triple bypass surgery. It was tiring and incredibly stressful, and I did have moments where my old comfort foods were calling my name. But, my dad's heart problems (and the fact that they have a genetic component) made me even more sure that my surgery was the right thing to do for my health.

I think the reason that your initial post came across as "scaring people off" a little is because of how you worded some things--rather than saying that a negative may happen, you said that it will happen. From reading these boards, it's become clear to me that there is not one, monolithic, WLS experience. People's bodies and brains react in all kinds of ways, and you can't really predict it. I've always had a weak stomach, and I fully expected to be one of the people who puked up new foods all the time, but (knock on wood), I so far haven't. I agree that people need to be well-informed of all the possibilities, both good and bad, but all each of us can say is, "This is what it's like for me personally."

Best of luck--and remember, our stomachs are just now getting fully healed from surgery, so don't count on things sucking forever! We still have a long way to go!

[bikrchk 1,313]

Wow. I had the exact opposite experience. I found pre-op so hard as I always had physical hunger and no "off switch". Post op, the first month kind of sucked, but after that, smooth sailing. By 4-5 months out I could eat pretty much what I liked again, just in VERY small quantities. And by then I was exercising, had lost more than half of my weight and was off all the meds that were making me sicker so I felt great. Do I WANT to eat more sometimes? Sure! Not that often any more. I am SO GRATEFUL I can't overeat anymore. Restriction has been the best gift of freedom EVER!

[AnA92212 577]

I feel the same as the person above. Pee op sucked. That diet. I was trying to breastfeed and I was hungry all the time. After surgery sucked too. Wasn't as much pain as a c section though. I was walking 2 miles a day a week after surgery. The restriction is definitely a gift. I never want to lose that. I am just 3 months out but can eat pretty much whatever. I stay away from sugar and most carbs but had to add carbs in because I was working out so much. I've been sick with a cold for 3 weeks and only been working out 3 days a week vs 6 before. It's been rough but nothing to do with surgery. This is not a decision to make lightly. It is a huge change. I don't regret it though. 53 pounds til I am at goal weight!

[Babbs 14,680]

@@MrsDixon

You must be on the younger side, because being "fat and happy" will only take you so far until the health problems start. Then not only are you fat, but suffering health issues that threaten to shorten your life span considerably.

I used to say the "fat and happy" thing too. Then I developed high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes as I got older due to the weight, and after losing both parents at fairly young ages due to heart issues (my dad was 56), I decided I didn't want to be fat and dead.

[shellyd88 463]

@@MrsDixon hi I get how u feel it feels like the sucky part will never end been there done that follow whatever your dr has said to do drink as much fluids as u can walk when u can etc look past this part to the future I know it can seem impossible but it's not I promise it really will get better things will return to a more normal state I'm just over 5 months post op and I felt so tired and weak for several weeks I forced myself to drink eat what's allowed and to get the hell out of bed and walk around etc little by little I felt better I still get tired about two hours before the end of my work day I just have to suck it up and push thru don't work don't get paid and well since I have no trust fund lol gotta work this is definitely a process and takes getting used to it's not going to happen overnight but it will happen