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Had surgery 11/29: a new life starts



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Everything has gone by so fast. I had my gastric bypass on Monday 11/29. I'm Finnish so I did my surgery in Finland. Everything went well and the nurses were amazing, the whole experience was loving and calm. I feel extremely grateful for that. On Tuesday I could go home after getting in my 1000 ml of liquids. I never felt nausea, pain or discomfort why drinking and I tried to walk as much as I could. Gas pain was very difficult Wednesday and Tuesday. It's slowly leaving now, Friday. I've taken pain meds every evening and sometimes during the day if I get pain, but I'm trying to manage with the little pain I have.

I'm excited for what's to come, it feels like a huge life changing moment, which it of course is. I'm scared and anxious as well; what if I never can eat a piece of sushi again, my absolute favourite food? What if I can't travel and enjoy the food? Food is such a big part of our lives and has so much to do with our social life and culture. I know it's worth it, I know this surgery is for me and for my future, for my health. But it's still scary. That's why I love going on here and reading everything. It gives me so much comfort to know there's so many people all over the world going through a similar experience.

I'm gonna start weighing myself after two weeks after surgery, giving myself time to heal and rest for now.

Here are some stats that I can look back on in the future.

HW: 308 lb (140 kg)

Operation weight: 291 lb (132kg)

GW: in-between 130-150 lb

Sent from my KB2003 using BariatricPal mobile app

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On this forum it doesnt matter that we live out of America. I am from the UK. We are all at some part of our lives in the same boat. Have the same hopes and fears and expectations. The best part is the people on here go back years and have so much knowledge. Its so comforting. I love raw fish, the rice is 2nd My first meal will be quality raw fish in 5 weeks. I may only eat a little bit but boy oh boy will I enjoy the experience. Good luck

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Welcome to the Medically Modified Human Club! I can tell food for you is definitely emotional (for me it is!) and you will definitely be right there enjoying consuming healthy food for you amongst your family and friends in due time. For me... I pay attention to those who have sharp emotional cravings for all of the foods that got us (lets face it... ALL of us) where we are pre surgery.

Congratulations on making taking the necessary steps so that A... you can be on this earth longer and living healthier. Take your time (as you are) and know that if you follow your NUT's advice you will do well.

I found it a heck of a lot easier to not eat (as much or as per the instructions) while I was on pain medication. Now that I am off of the good stuff... here comes the retraining. Drink Water, wait, realize why I want to eat... boredom, the time seams right, I just witnessed or inhaled wonderful smells, or AM I TRULY HUNGRY? Arghhhh...

Best Wishes, Will

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1 hour ago, JoyLilith said:

what if I never can eat a piece of sushi again, my absolute favourite food? What if I can't travel and enjoy the food? Food is such a big part of our lives and has so much to do with our social life and culture.

You will eventually be able to eat anything. Enjoy the benefits that restriction and malabsorption give you now because they don't last forever. Use the honeymoon period to learn a new way of cooking and eating. :)

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2 minutes ago, Sunnyway said:

You will eventually be able to eat anything. Enjoy the benefits that restriction and malabsorption give you now because they don't last forever. Use the honeymoon period to learn a new way of cooking and eating. :)

Amen Sunnyway, well stated.

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Congrats on getting your surgery and starting the journey, JoyLilith!

I hear you on sushi, I love rice and adore onigiri but all of that is off the menu for me until maintenance. You could, however, have sashimi once you're on the soft food stage, so it's the delicious sushi hit without the rice.

Navigating social eating is definitely something that takes time. I'm fine with friends and family who know I've had this done, but I'm a bit more wary of dining out with people who don't. And my partner and I are still trying to perfect the "new normal" of just the two of us going out to cafes and restaurants. We're getting better at it, though!

Glad your procedure has gone so smoothly.

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Don't worry too much about it.

I just had a trip to visit a friend who is a real gourmand. He loves good food, and has excellent taste in restaurants. So we went as a group and ordered "family style" and I just ate little bites. The food was very rich, but I was still able to enjoy it, just not as much.

I had surgery about three months ago. I have had sushi since then. It can be a lot of rice so I will order a little sashimi and then just one or two pieces of nigiri sushi.

You can do this. And you won't have the same problem we in the US do, because portions are not ridiculously huge in Finland like they are here.

Onnea ja jatka eteenpäin sisulla 💪

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    • 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.
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      1. LeighaTR

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    • 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.

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        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💪
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