A friend going in for weight loss surgery tomorrow just asked me this question: “Do you have any advice for me? ”

This was my response and I hope it helps others too, although this was just my own experience & others experiences would be terrific as well!?...

Hi!? I remember feeling like surgery day would never come too! It’s the first day of a steadily better life!!????

Advice, well I suppose first off, DO NOT forget to ask for something for calming/ anxiety when they start getting you ready for surgery. With me I was excited & feeling great til I got called back & then got strangely flooded with fear & emotions about being put under (for the first time) & really needed something. I was even crying a little but they never offered anything, so I asked. That was all I needed to relax again. ??

The other thing I’de say to definitely prepare for is the MENTAL ASPECT. Prepare now, and just know that the first weeks are the hardest (the first 4 weeks for me). This new postop time is difficult. For some, there is a bit more pain, but most of us have none????. Other complications may occur too, but know now, it WILL BE SO WORTH IT!

The most common issues (for me) however, were...EATING very differently, which can even lead to a bit of depression with some people. (I‘de say don’t even bother to try to sit down with your family for 3-4 weeks at dinner time). Also prepare for unusually smelly GAS, unusually smelly BREATH, many unusually smelly trips to the BATHROOM (w/ chronic liquidy DIARRHEA for me, 2 weeks of that followed by chronic CONSTIPATION for 2 weeks. It was not drinking enough Water in my case, but again that was just me). For many it’s just constipation though. Lastly, prepare to SLEEP ALOT. Do not try to return to work til week 4-5 if possible (perhaps using FMLA if possible..?) You’ll be really tired or about this long.

That being said, just know, those were what stood out to me, hence my own personal experience & advice. I know many others have more great tips to watch out for too.

HOWEVER, I do want to say, everything will PRETTY MUCH go back to normal by about week 5-6, maybe sooner (except eating large amounts). Again, that was just my experience however, and certainly changes some person to person.

Everything is back to normal for me and I’m feeling fantastic in every way. I felt that way since about week 5 actually, but even BETTER EVERY WEEK! I’m at week 7 post op & feel terrific.?

I knew everything would pretty much return to normal because my mom, dad & sister had RNY surgery years ago & I went along for their journey. But many don’t know & can get really depressed. I did not since I was prepared for those first several weeks. I knew it would all pass & I knew that my job now, was to eat my Vitamins, drink that Protein , water, sleep & simply be smelly!? ??

It all went away for me-including the intense fatigue. Its pretty wonderful starting somewhere between weeks 4-6. I espesially love NOT having that smelliness come out of me anymore!?????

Oh by the way, if your spouse sleeps with you, you may want to ask them to please make themselves a pad in the guest room, basement or couch for these first weeks- the smelly gas for me was ALL the time & just awful!!?? the smell is just so different post op!? My hubby went to our guest room prior to my surg due to his snoring & it saved me post op humiliation since he was still sleeping elsewhere!???

I hope this helps some dear soul out there who stumbles upon it! It’s going to get better sweetheart!!!??

Hugs!?❤️ jennifer

**This is not meant to be an all inclusive list of post op issues, it was just one persons experience as reinerated several times, please bear this in mind dear readers?**

Edited December 5, 20178 yr by RNY-Fall-2017

By the way, for those of you seeking out Gas X Strips for post surgical gas....it appears they have discontinued that product so supplies are limited. I couldn't get any online or in store at a pharmacy (or Amazon). I had to go to EBay. There is still a question if my order is going to ship or if this seller will be the second one to have run out.

I got gas x strips off amazon (6 boxes) last week. Cost me $60 or so. They didn’t have any less, only a pack of 6 but I scooped them up since they aren’t in store anymore

44 minutes ago, redhead_che said:

I got gas x strips off Amazon (6 boxes) last week. Cost me $60 or so. They didn’t have any less, only a pack of 6 but I scooped them up since they aren’t in store anymore

Yes that's right! I forgot that they DO have them in large quantities, just not the smaller ones. Thanks for posting that!