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What’s the ONE thing you wished you knew before getting sleeved ?



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What’s the ONE thing you wished you knew before getting sleeved ? And how are you dealing with it....

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Don't go crazy buying clothes. Wear old ones as long as possible. What you do buy, get it a little snug.

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The surgery wasn't anywhere nearly as awful as I thought it would be. I expected to be laid up for weeks and dependent on other people. I'm going to pick up my bike at the shop tomorrow - 8 days out!

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Yay!!!good for you!

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1: Pay attention to the limited carbs rule. I don't think this was stressed enough before surgery. I don't mean in the liquid/mushee stages, but after that.

2: Remember this is a marathon, you may feel it is a sprint in the first few months, but it is important to pace yourself and keep your eyes up on the long term prize rather than down on the scale.

3: Hair loss will happen for most. Be prepared and don't panic!

4: Stalls are part of the process. As others have said, embraces them and focus on how you look rather than the numbers.

5: listen to your body. Everyone is different. Turns out it is possible to get too much Protein (at least for me). Some people can do 100g/day. Anything over 80 for me and my kidneys get unhappy.

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What’s the ONE thing you wished you knew before getting sleeved ? And how are you dealing with it....

How absolutely easy this was going to be......I wished I'd done this years ago.

Seriously.

I have zero complaints about anything related to the sleeve surgery.......liquid diet and all. Everything has been straightforward and within my ability to handle.

I don't understand all the complaints from folks who've not had complications. Too much whining.

I'm really enjoying the reduction in joint & back pain that I'd been dealing with last year. That persistent pain had limited my mobility a great deal. It had even begun to make me a grumpy bastard for sure.

I've lost more than just weight. A lot of pain has gone with it. A lot of medication has, too.

The more unpleasant part of the surgery is simply the wait time for the surgery itself. The recovery and the new way of eating is simple and easy.

I"m 7 weeks out and am laughing at the clothing situation already. I've dropped a couple "xx"'s from the shirt size and several sizes smaller in the waist on pants.

I feel like I really haven't even gotten started good, yet. The best losing and rebuilding is ahead. I have lost some muscle along with the fat. I'm learning how critical it is to take in my Protein like I'm supposed to. I'm guessing that I'll be reliant on Protein shakes for a long time.....one a day.

Looking forward to the hernia repair fully healing so I can start a structured weight training program.

Was going to book a vacation in March/April........but I think that I"m going to punt it back until May/June. Shirtless at a beach-pool will be a heap more fun if I can get a few months of good gym work in.

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I wish I understood the depth of life change this has been. Probably would have still done it, but it's taking a while to realize food will never have the same meaning again.

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The biggest part of this whole thing is MENTAL. There are so many mental challenges you'll deal with post op - and surgery will not fix mental.

I knew these things before surgery, but I didn't KNOW them.

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sit up very straight or stand up when sipping liquids it helps to reduce burps!

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To eat slow...I still sometimes eat to fast and get over full and uncomfortable if I'm not careful.

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1: Pay attention to the limited carbs rule. I don't think this was stressed enough before surgery. I don't mean in the liquid/mushee stages, but after that.

2: Remember this is a marathon, you may feel it is a sprint in the first few months, but it is important to pace yourself and keep your eyes up on the long term prize rather than down on the scale.

3: hair loss will happen for most. Be prepared and don't panic!

4: Stalls are part of the process. As others have said, embraces them and focus on how you look rather than the numbers.

5: listen to your body. Everyone is different. Turns out it is possible to get too much Protein (at least for me). Some people can do 100g/day. Anything over 80 for me and my kidneys get unhappy.

I was sleeved in December 2015 and MzB nailed it. Especially about the Hair loss. :(

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I am preop, but I hope my future answer is nothing. I have worked SO hard for 6 months (non my own) deciding if I wanted this surgery and doing research...before I ever set foot in an orientation. Scientific journals abt bougie size, results complications and regain....vlogs and blogs and forums seeing the range of woe is me to I feel f*cking fantastic!, printing out nutrition info from many diff weight loss centers to see the pattterns, Dr. Weiner entire vlog series and on and on. I also worked with my pcp to get to the bottom medically of all things in this body...really wanting to get how this body ticks. When I got to meetings with the team, I got fast tracked because I proved how mentally and lifestyle changed I already was. I have a binder with pages called dealing with constipation", "best products worth buying", "hair loss", "marriage" and so on. One big thing I keep preaching to other pre op folks about is get a therapist. You will read again and again. That successful sleevers changed their relationship with food. This takes work with a professional to identify what your unique issues are. They don't go away. And many regained show in their posts that 6mo to 18 months, when you can eat Cup to cup and half of food, all those habits come back. They work around their sleeve to still emo ti on ally eat, stress eat, feed their sugar addiction, etc. I have also had other surgeries so already have first hand info abt recovery that I will be able to separate out from sleeve. I didn't have hunger for three days after each of my surgeries (not wl surgery) Your body shuts that **** down to heal and you just focus on not dehydrating.

Like childbirth, I know there is only so much you can fully prepare from info and anecdotes, but, I truly believe I am as prepared as I can possibly be and that makes all the professionals around me reinforcing how successful I really am gonna be long term based on their years of experience. The other thing is everyone is different, what is the end if the world for one person. Might be happening to someone else and they're fine. Some have complications some don't

Nausea and vomitting...you never get the whole story on forums...which is why often you'll see replies that are lists of questions..did their surg not give them anti nausea meds? Is it remperature? Is it still not the right size sip or bite? We dont know. My NUT swears that the 'I can't get Water in'is BS. She told me to drink 1 to 2 oz every 15 min. That's my job the first two weeks. It's my life saving medicine. Just do it. So that is one I'll have to see on the other side. But going in. I have both expectations to help me cope...if I get it all in and it's work, my NUT prepped me for that. If no matter how hard I try I can maybe get half? Well ....many posters have prepped me to normalize that and just keep trying.

I am not looking forward to and most worried abt the flooding of estrogen from my fat cells on mood and my cycle.

Good luck in your pre op journey. Get out there and explore it all! There are even vegan sleevers out there. You can learn a lot about veggies from them!

Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

Edited by Muted_Tummy

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I wish I had really knew just how much the hormone dump was going to resemble adolescence (albeit in my 50's I could handle with more style). It created some interesting situations but also gave me tremendous energy and drive in the gym and bedroom, but would also get me watching chick flicks too. Once I saw some of the threads on this phenomenon it helped me handle it better

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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
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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