Hi everyone. I found this forum while trying to research the gastric surgery options. Both my GP and my GYN have suggested a sleeve because of my weight gain and the depression it causes. I will be 50 years old in August and every time I think about how I have struggled with my weight all my life, I start ugly crying.

I am 5'2" and 212lbs which is the heaviest I have ever been. I feel old and tired and cant reach my feet.

I am terrified of getting this surgery. I have been able to get to a healthy weight only once after having my kids and it was a very strict low carb diet and working out 5 days a week but I was not able to sustain it and it only lasted about a year before I crashed and then Covid happened and I gained more, then my mom died and I gained more.

I am reading how stressful the pre-op liquid diet is, and how much pain is suffering from post-op gas and its just worrying me more. My first appt with a gastroenterologist is in 3 weeks.

The pre-op liquid diet is only stressful if you let it be that way. It's a new way of life. The sleeve will give you back new life and new opportunities and health. Isn't that worth 2 weeks of a liquid diet? I didn't have any trouble with it. And I had no pain or gas problems after the surgery either.

pain is all across the board, but most people have very little pain after these surgeries. And if you're one who does, you'll have pain meds for it so you can keep on top of it. It just lasts for a few days at most, and again, you'll have meds for it (I never bothered to open the bottle they sent me home with since I really didn't have any pain).

the liquid diet isn't pleasant, but it's temporary. And not all surgeons require it.

On sites like this it's problems that get talked about. People will sign up just to ask about a problem.

The vast majority of patients have no problems and are not motivated to look for answers to problems that don't exist for them so they are not here, while the minority of patients with problems are motived to post questions so represent the vast majority of posts. That sentence sorta got away from me.

Don't let it skew your perceptions.

But, on the flip side you become aware of possible problems for which you can prepare even if they are unlikely to occur.

Good luck,

Tek

The pre op diet is no big deal. And the post op pain was non existent for me. I had some discomfort from the carbon dioxide gas, but it was nothing that ever made me regret having the surgery. Surgery technique has improved over the years so much. Robotic surgery causes less tissue disruption so there's less pain post op. Also my hospital does abdominal nerve blocks that cuts way down on immediate surgical pain post op. It lasts for 24 - 48 hours.

In my opinion, it's a small price to pay to regain good health and to be happier when you lose weight. I think having the right mindset going into this journey is critical, and will carry you far.

Best wishes!

The liquid diet is not required by all surgeons. Some do a low carb and low sugar diet and some don’t require it at all. I had the low carb one and while it was the toughest part of the entire process I would say it wasn’t THAT bad. Not any worse than others diets I have been on in my life. I guess it was still the worse part though because I had very little pain and no issues post up. I was up walking around in recovery and drinking fine that same day in the hospital. I did not have ANY gas pains post surgery either. I asked the NP if they didn’t need it for me because I was lower BMI or something and she said they use it on everyone but it does not cause everyone pain. Something about having a space to get out I honestly am not sure but I do know not everyone has gas pains. From being on this site many people do, though. But if you ask about any regrets from surgery I doubt one person will say they have any based on the gas pains.

You can do this!

I didn't have a liquid diet; just low carb/low fat/high protein. But even if you do have a liquid diet before surgery, it's just a week or so, and then it's done! The first few days when you are getting over the sugar addiction are the hardest I hear.

I had some gas the first day or so after surgery, but it wasn't a big deal. I had a fair amount of pain and took three pain pills total over three days. For reference, I took 4 pain pills in ONE day after some dental surgery.

Don't let these things scare you; in the grand scheme of life, they're over in the blink of an eye!

I was daunted by doing 2 weeks of the the liquid diet. I wondered how I would manage it. Now that I am 6 days into it I have to say it is not that bad. It is exciting to eat new vegies for me. ( My eating habits have not been the best for years). Nice to have shakes and soups and bars. Nice new Lemon Creme Dessert. From the Optifast Program. I also thought other things might be and issue but they really haven't eventuated.

Yes I am hungry but this is okay when you keep yourself busy. The headaches can be dealt with by pain meds and the nausea for me is helped by ondansetron. My original doubt has been replaced by - Yes, I can do this. I will be okay. It is going well.

Welcome. It’s ok to feel scared & nervous. It’s surgery. Food likely is something you depend upon as an emotional support & that is going to change & you will be changing what & how you eat.

Things like how much pain you will experience after surgery is very individual. You may have a lot of gas pain or nine at all (I didn’t after my sleeve) but there are things you can do to help the gas escape your body. You may experience surgical pain for a couple of days or a week but again you’ll have access to pain meds to help. You may have muscular discomfort & struggle to get up & down for a little while or you may have very little at all.

Pre surgical diets differ a lot too. Some are two weeks, some are just a couple of days. Some are all shakes. Others 2 meals shakes & 1 meal protein & vegetables. Mine was keto so … (I have done shake diets before & for a couple of months at a time.) The first challenge to the pre surgical diet is the psychological loss of the crunch & chew comfort of solid food. This can increase your head hunger & cause a lot of emotional turmoil. The second is the withdrawal symptoms (headaches, nausea, tiredness, etc.) from cutting out caffeine & sugar. This usually lasts less than a week.

These things are small & are only a couple of weeks in duration. Nothing when you consider the big picture of your whole life & your health. The surgery is an opportunity to makes big changes but you have to be psychologically & emotionally ready.

Don’t be afraid to seek support from a therapist (one who specialises in bariatric patients & disordered eating are best). A lot of people have found therapy extremely helpful.

Yes, you are on a low calorie restricted diet & eating small portions to begin. Initially it is to support your healing. Then to make you look at the nutritional benefits of what you eat but within a few months you’ll be eating more & a greater variety of food. By maintenance you’ll be eating the portion sizes we all should be eating (not those giant plates two & three times more than what we actually need & lead to our obesity). And you’ll be consuming only the calories your body needs to function effectively & maintain your weight. You’ll discover your relationship with food will change. I still enjoy eating & the taste & texture of food but I see it as something my body needs to function & not as something to comfort & soothe me emotionally - because I’m bored, sad, happy, angry, etc. I’m not continuously thinking about what & when I’ll eat next. It’s that maxim of eating to live not living to eat.

All the best.

Thank you everyone you have made me feel so much better. I pulled something in my groin/thigh area this morning trying to put on my sock. *sigh*