Today is my first day posting so forgive me if I don’t get the lexicon right the first time.

Surgery Date: March 5, 2018

Starting Weight: 261

Surgery Day Weight: 250

Today’s Weight (Week 1): 241

I had a 90 day program working with a dietician and completing all of the pre-operative testing culminating in a 3 day liquid diet prior to surgery. The first day of the liquid diet was hard, but the excitement of my upcoming surgery made the other two days fairly easy.

I arrived at the hospital last Monday morning at 5:45 am and was wheeled into surgery at 7:45 am. I don’t remember much of that first day but I was up and walking that afternoon and evening. I was sore and there was pain but it was managed with Roxycodone every 3-4 hours (as long as my blood pressure didn’t drop too low - overnight, I had to wait 6 hours between doses as my BP had dropped below 100 systolic.

Day 2 at the hospital was filled with trying to get my fluids in and trying to get the gas out! The pain I was experiencing was mostly related to my abdomen being bloated with gas as a result of the laparoscopic procedure. I was successful on the former (sip, sip, sip!) but woefully unsuccessful on the latter. (In retrospect, I wish I would have walked more that second day.)

I was released by noon on day 3 and recovered the rest of the week at home. Below are just a few things that I’ve learned. Please share some of the things you’ve learned as well wherever you are in your journey and let’s help set expectations and share great ideas!

1. When you begin your protein shakes, your bowels will start moving again! I called my Drs office panicked because I pooped! (A bit scary after not pooping for almost a week!)

2. For me, I was unable to lay on my side until Day 6 comfortably. I used a comfy recliner most nights which prevented me from trying to toss and turn from side to side (I’m a side sleeper)

3. Sugar free popsicles are great!

4. I don’t know if this will last, but my taste for broth has changed. Pre-surgery - and for my whole life - I have loved beef and chicken broth. But now, I can’t stand it.

5. You will get bored on the all liquid diet post op. Look for things you can combine. On my plan, I was allowed coffee. The protein shakes I found to be quite chalky in my mouth. On Day 5 I combined the two, using my flavored protein shake as a “creamer” to my coffee. It was warm and delicious and now the only way I get in my protein shake.

6. Listen to your pouch. The one thing you don’t want to do is pop the pouch. The staples need at least 3 weeks to fully heal so follow your surgeon/dietician’s program exactly. No cheating! Two tips my surgeon gave me - if you hiccup, you’ve overfilled - and if you want to clear your pouch sooner, stand up very straight for a few minutes to help facilitate drainage through the small intestine.

7. You will get tired easily - so push yourself but don’t overdo it. I started out walking throughout my house the first few days, up and down the stairs, went outside on Saturday and walked up and down the driveway, and finally went out to a few stores with my husband yesterday. I did okay at the grocery store until we went to check out. All of a sudden I was super tired. When we went to Home Depot to pick out a barn door, I found a chair to sit in while my husband picked up a few things before meeting me in the door section. I was ok walking back to the car but was tired the rest of the evening. Take it slow.

Today starts Week 2 and I get to add applesauce, yogurt, mashed potatoes and oatmeal. It’s nice to have something warm and chewy in my mouth again.

I will continue to post updates and invite all other March surgery dates to join.

Thanks,

Roxine

First not so good night/morning. But I think it may be because I'm not drinking enough water. I was trying to replace some of my fluid intake by adding two cups of coffee per day, but I think that's not working well. I'm going to go back to drinking water for the next few days and see if I can get things moving.

Had a bout of stomach upset last night with a little bit of diarrhea. I haven't had a good bowel movement in about 3 days so I can feel that I'm constipated. My plan is to revert back to a very soft diet, increase liquids and see if I can solve the problem.

This morning I woke up and in an effort to increase my protein had hummus for breakfast. Well, that didn't settle well and for the first time I'm actually nauseated. I did eat it with a Wasa crisp flat bread, so that probably didn't help my feeling of constipation. It's a learning curve at this point I guess.

I'm trying to resolve without resorting to some kind of laxative. But if I don't have a bowel movement soon, I will call my doctor's office and see what they want me to do.

Anyone else experience something similar once you moved to more substantive foods?

Thanks for listening.

Keep some Smooth Move Tea on your in-case shelf. I think everyone should have one of those, mine is a small plastic tote I keep under my bedside table, I have a box of Smooth Move tea, Miramax & M..O.M so far in there, I'm sure a few more things will be going in there. I lurk and listen what had worked for other people doing their journeys and I've learned a lot already.[emoji12]

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17 minutes ago, frust8 said:

Keep some Smooth Move Tea on your in-case shelf. I think everyone should have one of those, mine is a small plastic tote I keep under my bedside table, I have a box of Smooth Move tea, Miramax & M..O.M so far in there, I'm sure a few more things will be going in there. I lurk and listen what had worked for other people doing their journeys and I've learned a lot already.

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Thanks for the tip - just put it on my husband's shopping list

Ok I’m back. Im came home earlier today an the journey home was HORRIBLE!!!! It doesn’t help that Memphis has hella potholes. Anywho, surgery went well. I’m not in pain but I’m feeling very very uncomfortable. I don’t have an appetite but I’m sure I need to try something. I’m burping a lot and haven’t had a bowel movement. So I kno it’s still gas there. Sugar free popsicles are getting me through

I enjoy reading all these topics. I am from Jackson, Tn. I am having the surgery in June. I am 56 years old, and have not decided which one to have yet? Any suggestions would be great! Good luck on your journey.

I enjoy reading all these topics. I am from Jackson, Tn. I am having the surgery in June. I am 56 years old, and have not decided which one to have yet? Any suggestions would be great! Good luck on your journey.

Hi, I actually had the option to do either the sleeve or bypass. I chose bypass because it’s the #1 go to and I knew I wanted to loose as much as possible. My grandma actually had the sleeve done last year and she’s 59. She looks great and said it was the best decision she made. It really depends on the size you are shooting for and the work you plan to put in later. That’s my opinion.

Hello everyone, had my surgery on March 19th... Woke up in excruciating pain that lasted until Monday evening. Apparently one of the stitches was stitched onto a nerve. It finally worked its way off and now I'm feeling much better. Everything else has went smoothly, started my pureed stage yesterday with some applesauce and cottage cheese for breakfast and some homemade refried beans and cheese for lunch and dinner. I don't think my new tummy is liking the beans very much. So gonna try something else today. Really happy the pain is gone and finally able to be excited about my future post gastric bypass life. Had buyer's remorse really bad with all of the pain I was having but feel completely different now.

Hw- 327
Sw-270
Cw-not sure yet -waiting to weigh until a month out

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Congratulations on your journey so far, we'll be waiting to hear many more updates.[emoji13]

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Finally had my post op Dr. Appt. and nutritionist visit.

Everything is going great.

I’ve lost 22 pounds from my official surgery weight (but I know 9 was pre surgery). They said I can expect about a pound a day average loss at first.

I had my first puréed meal, chili. I also had some yogurt. I’m going to eat more chili for dinner and I puréed some cottage cheese and peaches for a snack later (when I puréed it , it got warm so I had to refrigerate ?).

They want me to up my water to 100oz.

I also have to double my multivitamin.

Also I am ok to start exercise routine.

One week purée ,1 week soft, then start adding back other solid food.

One thing that I was surprised about was they want you to stop drinking protein shakes and work towards all protein from food after one month mark. I find the shakes an easy way to get in protein but they said it’s importanr for healing and eating to progress...kinda like a baby moves from liquids to solids.

On 3/27/2018 at 12:51 PM, Roxine said:

Ok - had my 3 week follow-up with Dr. Fitzer yesterday - everything went well. Incisions are healing nicely - verified my weight loss on their scale "YAY!" - I have to add a Calcium with Vitamin D to my regimen starting next week and follow-up again in 3 months. BP was amazing at 110/78, pulse was slow and steady at 62, no temperature. Have not had any issues with regurgitation or nausea - overall it's been a relatively easy recovery (knock on wood!)

I will see my Primary Care Physician and get all of my labs redrawn and see how my body has reset prior to my next in-office visit. I have a call with my dietician in about 3 weeks - at that point I will begin introducing foods of my choice and off the "green sheet" at the start of week 7.

This week i get to introduce flaky fishes and soft cooked vegetables (as well as soft fruits, hummus and other goodies). I broiled a salmon last night and made some cauliflower mash - it was AMAZING! ate about 3 ounces of salmon and just a little bit of the mash but it was so yummy. I will definitely have that again.

Today went to lunch with a co-worker - went to Au Bon Pain - ordered a smoked salmon wasabi on a skinny bagel (extra toasted). Ate all of the smoked salmon, and about 1/4 of the top of the bagel (it was crispier!) - the flavors were incredibly delicious! It's nice to be able to eat things with seasonings and textures again. I am perfectly full and am now working on my Fluid consumption (I've started having coffee in the morning and afternoon to help break up the monotony of just water.)

I hope you guys are doing well - check in and let us know how it's going. And we still have a few days - if you're a March Gastric Bypass Groupie *grin* - come join us!

Roxine

It sounds like you're doing great! It's encouraging to know that eating can still be enjoyable after WLS. I believe I've seen some cauliflower mash in the refrigerated aisle in Costco, near the cheeses and cold cuts, etc.

SW: 245
pre-Op: 220
CW: 189
GW: 140-150

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Is it crazy that I’m only 4 days post op and I am having major horror/crazy ass dreams of food???? It’s so weird and on top of that it is sooooooooo uncomfortable to sleep. I can’t wait til they take this thing out Thursday

Sometimes the anesthesia causes dreams. I had bad nightmares when I had an emergency c section years ago and coming off morphine creates violent dreams. Just Incase this helps

I'm sure that's from the nasal canula they had in during surgery. My throat was super sore after surgery as well. Ice chips made it feel much better!
When do you go home?

I’ve been home since 3/21. Went home the following day after surgery.

Hope you're starting to heal and feel better. I think Roxine said earlier it takes 3 weeks to heal your pouch, so you be kind to yours,[emoji13][emoji12]

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Hey are there any March 30th or 31st Bypassers out there? If there are please update us, we'd love to hear from you!

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Good Morning MGBGers!

I just passed 4 weeks post-op and can now start incorporating more strenuous exercise into my routine! This weekend, my family and I went on a 5 mile bike ride and a 3 mile walk. It felt good, although I was tired that evening.

I also started taking Calcium with Vitamin D along with my standing regimen of Protonix, multivitamins, and Vitamin B. Food intake has been progressing nicely. I've yet to experience any regurgitation or vomiting - though I did struggle one morning when I think I forgot to chew slowly and was only able to take a couple of bites of scrambled eggs before I felt stuffed.

I am waiting for 30 days post-op to take a new photo - figure I'll do it at 30, 60, 90, 120, etc - to represent a true month's worth of losing. I kept the same outfit I took before pictures in so I'm looking forward to seeing changes.

In overall weight loss, I'm down 34 pounds. In sizes, I was previously in a size 20 and now can fit comfortably into a size 14. I actually shopped in a "regular store" and was able to purchase some large sweats/t-shirts and they fit comfortably. So changes are happening all over my body. I can now put on my husband's shirts (Men's large) and they look cute - loose and comfy - and he no longer gets upset because I no longer stretch them out - now he likes me to wear them...

My shoe size has gone down 1/2 size. Was in an 8 at SW and now in a 7.5. I used to wear a 7, so it will be interesting to see if I get back to that size or if 7.5 is sufficient.

My incision scars are looking much better - I've finally gotten rid of all of the tape residue and with my decreasing belly size, they are disappearing before my eyes

People are definitely starting to notice and make comments. And while this can put me in an uncomfortable head space - I'm learning to smile and say thank you and not over analyze hidden agendas or intentions (particularly with men).

I'm averaging 450-550 calories per day, 30-40g protein and around 40 net carbs. My sugars are typically below 10 and I'm meeting my 64oz of water intake per day.

Calling all March Gastric Bypass Peeps - How are you doing?