what was on your plate???

Most people gain weight immediately post-op due to all the fluids injected during surgery. So you're already ahead of the game.

The lack of bowel movement is concerning. Call your surgeon. Painkillers can cause constipation so many of us use stool softeners and/or Miralax.

First, no BM is concerning, so ask you surgeon about that.

Second, you just had all the nerves in your stomach cut, so you're not going to feel anything for a while. Feeling "satisfied" is something you are carrying from before, when you would eat a lot and feel full. Especially while you are on liquids only...they go right through your stomach, so no you won't feel full even if you could actually FEEL anything right now.

Next, stop weighing yourself. This early out it just messes with your head, and you're better off ignoring the scale for the first couple of weeks. You no doubt put on weight with all the fluids they pump into you during surgery...I think I put on 7 or 9 pounds. Stop stressing yourself, the weight will come off, just keep to your plan and get those fluids in.

Finally, although a few people report feeling actual hunger post-surgery, the majority of us don't. What you are feeling is probably a combination of excess stomach acid and head hunger. Head hunger is a beast, and it will haunt you for a while, especially at the beginning. Keep reminding yourself WHY you did this! No matter how hard it seems to be, remember that it took a lifetime to get where you are...and it will only be a few short months of your life when you will be going through these difficult changes.

Realize that you just saved your own life, and the small sacrifices you have to make now will be so worth it before long! Hang in there, and keep to the plan!

Yes the lack of BM is concerning, although in the beginning mine was all liquid. Liquid in Liquid out.

We all worry we are the one it isn't going to work for. I started a stall one week after surgery and it lasted for 3 1/2 weeks. I couldn't understand how I could not be losing weight when only eating a few hundred calories. Obviously it passed...

I was drinking 2 premier protein shakes a day, plus lots of water. Occasionally I had a few sips of chicken broth to warm me up as it was winter when I had surgery and I felt cold a lot, but my pouch preferred ice cold liquids over warm.

Everything you are experiencing - no restriction with fluids, slow weight loss, constipation, hunger, fear - is all completely normal right now! This part is just plain hard. I was on liquids for 2 weeks pre-op and 2 weeks post-op before I could even try a purée. It was miserable but worth it. I ate a lot of bone broth with protein powder, strained chicken noodle soup, strained clam chowder, miso soup, and herbal tea. You can do this!

I just ate about 3 oz of puréed bolognese sauce and I feel like I want much more. It's my head though. It sure does suck! I could physically eat more too if I allowed myself.

I was sent home day 4 advised to eat what I felt like eating, erring towards foods that were moist and soft enough to mush with a fork (I didn't have to mu**** but it was a gauge of tenderness). I had light scrambled eggs with cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, egg custard, egg drop soup, pot roast and rotisserie chicken thighs

My surgery was on June 29, and in my case the first week was nausea. The second week, getting in the fluids was my primary focus. The hardest part for me was that the surgery seemed to flip a switch in me.... anything sweet was now a no go. Thank goodness for Unjury Chicken soup flavor protein shakes.

I have been doing soft protein now for a while. I think of it as the fins and feathers selection. My stomach now has made it clear that there is a hard stop to how much I may eat. For example this morning my head said I was hungry. So I made a chicken with apple sausage, an egg over easy, and some kimchi. My stomach said thanks, BUT... "1/2 the sausage and 3/4 the egg, 'cause I'm full now!" So I listened and stopped!

You will get there very soon. Your stomach will stop producing as much acid, you will get used to getting enough fluid in, and the proteins will fill your stomach to the point where you know you can't have any more. It is NOT the same sensation as being full. For me it is a top of the stomach sensation, runny nose, and almost silent alarm to the subconscious that eating another bite will come back.

At this point, when your brain says "hunger", check your watch. If it isn't meal time, drink water! Because almost all of us used to eat when our body was thirsty. It will take a while but your head will learn a new word... THIRST.

Welcome to the amazing journey of WLS. Best of luck.