I know I'm only 6 days out

In all my research and reading before hand, I realize I have to heal from the surgery before the weight loss begins. So, like the overanxious person I am, I couldn't avoid the scale. YIKES!!!!!
So, here's my question just to give me a general idea. How long until the surgery bloat goes away and the weight loss begins?

Please, please just focus on hydration and rest.  The weight loss will come.  This is not a race.

Jeanne,

Don't take it too personally. When I first joined this forum I learned quickly that certain topics (like the scale, mentioning the wrong surgeon, etc.) raise the ire of some folks here. I wasn't sure if they were just being mean or it was a tough love sort of thing. Or both.

I almost left and never came back. In fact, one mean person even suggested I do that! Can you believe that? LOL! But then I received some very supportive PM's urging me to stick around... and I did. I hope you do too. Anyway, I don't think people are trying to be mean on purpose. They're just trying to get your attention. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it backfires.

Regarding the weight loss, I was one of the lucky few who saw a nice little drop on the scale a few days after surgery (about 7 lbs)... then back up 2 lbs before I left the hospital. I'm sure it was the IV's. No big deal. One thing I've noticed is that I stall for 5 days each month when I get my period... regardless of how much or how little I am eating. I've been keeping track and know that I rarely ever get in more than 500 calories a day. Because of that my left brain tells me that it's physically impossible for me NOT to lose weight, so I never let a stall get me down.

I just say "Oh Good! I'm gonna lose a ton of weight next week!" because I know that after every stall I get a huge drop soon thereafter... sometimes 3 lbs in one day! Hang in there baby, it's coming. :-)

I did a cleansing fast (lemon juice and water) for 10 days before my DS.  No food.  After my surgery, with the exception of a cup of plain yogurt, I had no food for 10 more days.  Before starting the cleansing fast, I weighed 310 pounds.  10 days after surgery, I weighed 310 pounds.

If you got a DS, you should know, as I did, that the weight will come off.  You couldn't stop it if you tried.  NEVER have I posted a post about a stall because I knew this.

Please throw the effing scale away, or at least, don't cry about it here?

I think I put on close to 10 pounds in the hospital. Others put on more. I don't know how long it will take you to lose that (artificial) gain. I don't care how long, and neither should you. You have to get a grip on yourself about this. You have had the most powerful weight loss surgery available. Time to let it do its part, and you do your part. Your part is not to worry about the scale right now (and I say this as someone who weighs every day, even 2 years out). Your part right now is to drink, eat (as directed by your surgeon), walk, and rest.

 I'll echo the sentiments of others that really your weight should be the last of your worries at this point.  But, since you asked for something to ease your mind, I'm pretty sure my wife was still about 10 pounds over her surgery weight at a week out, while I was right back about to my surgery weight.  It's really a very individual thing - everybody's body handles the surgery differently and gets rid of the excess weight at different rates.  Of course, my wife was in the hospital from Thursday to Tuesday, and I was in from Thursday to Sunday.  When you consider she was getting pumped full of fluids for an extra two days, it makes sense she would still have some extra fluid in her.

And to second Chad and Caprice - your surgery will work.  There's nothing you can do to stop it (at least in the short term).  I still weigh every day at 16 months out.  For the last 6 months my weight has been in the 180s, and for probably the last 4 months it's been bouncing between 182 and 188.  Do I worry about it?  Not really (although I wasn't too happy the day it happened to pop back up to 190).  I know that eventually I will lose the rest of my weight if I follow the DS rules (and if my body decides to cooperate).  Yesterday I saw 179, but today I was back up to 182.  I say all this to point out that the scale will drive you crazy if you let it.  

At the end of the day, all you can do is eat a good DS diet (high protein, moderate/high fat, low carb), take your vitamins, get plenty of fluids, and try to exercise a little.  Your surgery will do it's part, and your weight will eventually follow.  You may get to your goal weight in a year, or maybe three years, or possibly never.  But I can almost guarantee you that you will be shocked at how much you lose and you will be a ton healthier because of it.

Jeremy, thank you for your patient and detailed reply. I'm glad you understand I just want to know what/when to expect.
Caprice, I didn't think I was crying, just trying to understand some things. But, if I do want to cry wouldn't a DS forum actually be a good place to go for support? Cause if not, I guess I've been misinformed and ought to find another group to go to?

 I avoided the scale like the plague and still do. I weigh myself once a month on the date of when I had my surgery (the 21st). My first month I was down 32.2 lbs but I know a good amount (if not all) was water weight. 

Last month I when against what I had been doing, I started weighing myself weekly and nearly drove myself batty because the scale wasn't moving. Finally my "real" weigh day came and I was down 12 lbs. I'd rather see a number like that then little ones here and there.  

The longer I stay off the scale, the easier it is to stay away from it (:

Good luck, your journey has just begun! 

I'm not going to answer that question for two reasons:

1. You know better.
2. It varies.

Now STAY OFF THE DAMNED SCALE.

I weighed MORE after the surgery despite a long fast of clear liquids pre op.   A LOT more, like 13 lbs, took about 3 weeks to start shedding all the water I had retained.

I expected it from reading here on the boards but it does vary by person

Loretta

remember you ARE losing right now, despite numbers. Use a tape measure today and check again your measurements in 3  weeks.
You are basically in starvation mode post op , so you have to be losing

step away from the scale LOL