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Hi! I have met with the surgeon, had a psych eval, did some online courses and have set a date of June 5th for my surgery. People keep asking me if I’m excited about it and honestly I am not. I have never had surgery.I’m not excited because I have had so many failures with weight loss that I feel skeptical. I am anxious for the outcome, that’s for sure. I’m ready to teach my boys how to ride bikes and ski, I’m ready to travel with them on an airplane, I’m ready to jump on trampolines and climb trees. Those are the things I’m excited for, not the surgery. I’d love to read how y’all prepared for surgery. When did you start the bariatric diet? I was thinking after Passover I’d start weighing my food and eating the things that are recommended (almost two months to get in a habit of bariatric eating).

how drastic of a change is your taste buds? What do you wish you knew before surgery that you’d like to share with me?

I hope to build some relationships and a great support group here. Thanks for taking your time to read!

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I only noticed changes in intensity of flavors - for example, sweet things tasted sweeter and spicy things tasted spicier. I haven't noticed that in a long time (I had my surgery eight years ago) - not sure if it was temporary or if I just got used to it. As far as liking things I didn't like before and vice versa, that didn't happen to me.

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I didn't have any major changes either but the I did get the intensity of sweets in particular. I don't really like sweets to begin with but right after surgery everything was sickening sweet. Now it seems more normalized.

To your second question, to what I wish I knew... In retrospect, I wish I didn't waste time watching YouTube videos on how awful RNY was because my experience has been nothing like their experiences. It's been a smooth ride with little or no side effects, like the majority of WLS people, on this site.

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It’s quite common to have some worries & questions. As you says you’ve never done this before & don’t know what to expect. Everyone here is happy to share their experiences & offer suggestions & tips though we can & do have different experiences pre & post surgery. So if you have a question or a want clarification, don’t hesitate to ask.

For most the change in your tastebuds ( &/or smell) after surgery is temporary. Personally I chose to embrace the too sweet & didn’t introduce it back into my eating & that included all sugars: real, artificial & alternatives. What can happen is you start to embrace new flavours you hadn’t tried before & discover a new appreciation for ones you didn’t previously like.

I only had about 6 weeks between the day I woke up & decided enough of being fat I want to have surgery. I did a lot of my own research & spoke with a friend who’d had the surgery. I think that looking at what you’re eating & your portion size is a good place to begin. Start making small changes to get into new habits.

@Tomo is right there are some negative things online - like many Facebook groups & some personal videos. Go to the experts. I recommend videos by Dr John Pilcher & Dr Matthew Weiner - very informative if you’re interested. And of course here.

PS. I loved your comment about wanting to jump on a trampoline. I did that at Christmas with my 5 - 9 year old nieces & nephew. We had a ball especially as they bounced me so hard I fell over … twice (& I’m almost 58). Would not have done that before surgery. Not sure I’ll be climbing trees though 😁 .

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Thank y’all for responding! The way my doctor explained my palette changing seemed like a bigger deal than what it is (or maybe I got hung up on it because I like what I like🥴).
Catwoman, has the procedure changed a lot in the past eight years? My doc is going to use a robot and make several small incisions which seems great for recovery!

Tomo, what is RNY?

Arabesque, thanks for the video recommendations! I really am excited to do kid things again!

tha ks again for the responses, I’m sure I’ll have more questions!

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    • 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

      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!
      · 2 replies
      1. 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. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • 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

        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

      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.

        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

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