The most incredible week of my life!

I had surgery on August 18 on Tuesday. I had robotic laparoscopy gastric sleeve surgery. I was supposed to be released the next day but all night after the surgery I kept vomiting up blood. Eventually the nausea subsided and went home 2 days later. Have had a small amount of pain to my core, but no worse than a 48 hour Norovirus vomit-fest.  Have had some normal pain with testing the limits of my new stomach, but nothing worth going to the ER for.  Sunday night I noticed a bright white filmy tongue, went to my PCP, and I am now taking meds for thrush.

Given all that... I would do this over and over and over again! I am losing buckets of weight and I feel completely empowered over my battle with food.  LOL, not with food, AGAINST food.  I can think of the countless times I have attempted to diet and have felt powerless.  Feeling like a failure after giving into my urges and then countless episodes of hateful negative self-talk .

I know I am eating very little, I know that I should feel hungry.  I keep telling myself I can be strong... But the reality is, the surgery has decreased my voracious hunger and appetite.  I almost want to say it is completely gone but I am guessing it will come back.  I know that portion control, food choices, and exercise will be the other tools in this process.

I can watch TV and not become hungry at food.  My brain knows that big piled high burger is delicious but my stomach does not perceive a need for food and then my brain just let's that feeling pass through me.  I feel like the demon that I have been chained to is gone.

I know this is a tool not a cure, but in many respects this has become my salvation.

You hit the nail on the head saying "this is a tool not a cure". 

Congratulations on your surgery!  I am 7 weeks into mine and your decrease in your normal voracious hunger and appetite will continue at least for the time being.  I am ALSO amazed that I still don't have much of an appetite at all.  I do feel a bit of hunger now around the time I need to eat.  BUT, the good news is the small stomach becomes full on VERY VERY little... yes it's true!  The three small meals are enough and one small snack between meals is all that is necessary along with the WATER, WATER Water....  I typically have a skim milk snack or cheese, or a few nuts etc.  Once you start eating regular foods, you will find some go down easier than others..... I haven't been actually sick from eating but a couple of problems I had was eating a ripe 1/2 banana, and soft bread.  I can tell you to be careful, but we all will do it.... just accept the learning experience . . .

Great to hear about you success!  I also agree, that you have a very healthy perspective on the surgery.

Congratulations on your success so far. Everyone is right, you need to understand your ongoing relationship with food has changed forever.

I recently came back to check in, after having been off the board since 2008. I am now 11 years post-op. I would do this surgery again in a heart beat. I would do it once a year if that's what it took.

But you always need to remember that this surgery is much harder from the neck up, then the neck down. My biggest issue for the first few years was that food was my escape, stress relief and source of reward. I had to find ways to deal with all of those issues. To this day, if I am eating something, and it really tastes good, I get physically mad that i cannot fini****

Stay on the path, keep your attitude up, and you will be golden! 

If you think it was a great decision now, just wait until you get close to goal!  My surgery was one of the best things I've ever done.  

Glad it's going so well.  Congrats!

I am now 1 month shy of 2 years out.  My hunger is back for the most part, however this tool is still telling me that some food are off limits.  An example is pasta.  It makes me sick after just a few bites.  My WLS saved my life, and my food addition is gone.  I now enjoy tasting new things but never have the need to finish my plate or need it for any kind of emotional support.  Keep after it while the tool is extremely strong so when the hunger returns your attitude will be completely different.  Good Luck!!

hey welcome to the next journey in your life. I had rny on june 24th and am doing great!! on my first month check I lost 35% of my excess weight today I weighed my self and I'm in wonder land !!! 197.6 when I started out I was 257 I'm april and lost 10lbs  and yes I would do this again you may say 257 that's not much but I didn't have my a1c under control so my dr sugjested it. I went to the meetings last year and was talked out of it by my family mour dr talked my wife into having the surgery and I told her that if she did it I would also so she had it done may 7th and has lost 70 plus lbs