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Things you wish you had known before WLS

jodi2727

By jodi2727, in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums

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Nikosmama06    59

Nikosmama06
Posted

I'm newly sleeved, so my answer is a short-term one. I knew I'd be tired after surgery, but I'm surprised by how much I am tired. I have spurts of energy throughout the day, but I have to take a 2-3 hour nap every afternoon. I'm nervous about returning to work because of it.

OMG! I am 10 days post op and this is EXACTLY what I was going to write. I had surgery on a Tuesday and thought I'd be able to go back to work the next Monday. No siree. I had to leave after 3 hours. I go back half day tomorrow and I hope I can make it through. It's the beginning of the semester and there's lost to do.

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tenseintexas    182

tenseintexas
Posted

I wish I had known how mentally hard the first couple of weeks were going to be . I wish I had really known that - since I don't drink tea or coffee and all the crystal light type additives to Water are so too sweet to me now- that my only drink is water... That one is still a bummer to me !

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Sai    785

Sai
Posted

That a swollen stomach (i.e. Healing) and the extra acid your stomach produces (due to having a 80% removed) mimics hunger. My first week I was surprised when I felt hungry, but after looking it up, it was an "ahh, ok" moment and helped me deal with it better.

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jodi2727    17

jodi2727
Posted

Well my surgery was yesterday. Yesterday I would've chosen death over what I was feeling. The pain the dry heaving everything was awful. Today I felt better but still a lot of pressure on my chest. Walking as much as I can. I'm beyond exhausted and just want to sleep. Today is Sunday and I leave the hospital tomorrow after the swallow test and fly out Tuesday. I'm terrified I'm not going to be able to handle it alone.

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Pescador    1,374

Pescador
Posted

Nothing!!!! Research, faith in the best of all surgeons despite the health scares, we had smooth sailing and three years of the best life we could have ever hoped for!

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viri87    14

viri87
Posted

Well my surgery was yesterday. Yesterday I would've chosen death over what I was feeling. The pain the dry heaving everything was awful. Today I felt better but still a lot of pressure on my chest. Walking as much as I can. I'm beyond exhausted and just want to sleep. Today is Sunday and I leave the hospital tomorrow after the swallow test and fly out Tuesday. I'm terrified I'm not going to be able to handle it alone.

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be faithful, be strong, you can do this, just remember the graetest things in life are hard to reach.

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gemigirl    134

gemigirl
Posted

The gas, the drain (you may or may not have one, I still do a week out and I HATE it) and how huge my belly is as a result of the procedure (it's only temporary, but it was a surprise).

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jodi2727    17

jodi2727
Posted

They removed the drain today since I left the hospital. I feel a lot of bubbles and pressure on my chest. I'm not sure if it's from too big of sips or gas still from the surgery. Never felt these feelings!

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vamping    183

vamping
Posted

I'm a month out. I was surprised that I was able to go to dinner with visiting friends at a little over a week and not be bothered by their plates and enjoy my egg (allowed on my plan in the first week). I was able to be social around food and drinking because it was purely about the company, not what I did or didn't eat. It was a surprise as I thought it was going to be a big deal (for me) pre-op and was relieved that it wasn't (post-op).

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Pescador    1,374

Pescador
Posted

Bisque was my lifesaver. Sip, visit, talk, and enjoy!!!!!

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Go To Topic Listing Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums

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    • LeighaTR

      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

      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!
      · 1 reply
      1. Selina333

        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. 💗

    • Alisa_S

      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

        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

      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

        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

      CaseyP1011

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

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