Need help from the POST-OPS.....

All you post-op people have gotta help me on this one. I am just about one week post-op so I know this might be a bit premature but once everything is all healed up, do you really feel satisfied by food? And what about drinking becuase this is what is the toughest for me, all these tiny sips of water and sips of protein shakes.....its a more than a bit frustrating. I want to know if I will get to a point where I can take two or three big swigs of water to get that rush of hydration. The sip, sip doesnt cut it for me. Will that ever be okay without it all coming back up? I have to tell you I am having a little regret that I went with the bypass and not the band. At least than I could be intaking things are more satisfying. Help me, I am getting pretty down on myself and this decision.

oh i remember being exactly where you are right now.   I hated that i couldnt drink anything.  Hang in there it WILL be better.   There is no point in regreting your decision now,   youve already made it and cant turn back......     Im 4 months post op and i can drink a TON more than i did even 2 months ago,   i actually dont crave fluid like i use to.   so it does get better,    i can also eat a lot more too.   The only bad part about all of that is     now my weight loss slowed down a lot.      I think the defining moment for me,  where i knew that i did the right thing,  and i was sooo happy,  was when i went clothes shopping and everything i took in the dressing room fit and i actually liked it all on me,   that has never happened before.   I went from a size 20 to a size 14 in 3 months.  I did a happy dance in the dressing room  (seriously)   lol Hang in there,   the begining is the hardest  but it does get better!!!!!!!!!! Michelle start  245 current  175 goal 145

Thanks Michelle, what you said really does make me feel a bit better. I think we are similar in body types/ i was 262 when I entered the WL program, 247 the day of surgery and now i am at 239, I week out. I dont think I have fit into a size 14 since 1999. I cant wait for that part. An I do beleive it will get easier. How about all these beginning guidelines, do those ease up a bit? Anyone drink diet coke w/out there stomach ex[ploding. I was really into my caffeine free diet coke, and I actually tried to drink some (flat) the other day and it didnt quite hit the spot in the same way. Do you think we really have to be done with all carbonation forever? That is a depressing thought.......

well as far as carbonation,   we arent suppose to have it........   i do drink it occasionally just to get that taste in my mouth,   my stomach didnt explode or anything...lol    but me not being a doc,  i cant say its ok to do.   for me it works as a treat hear and there,  just not as my primary source of fluid.    And the begining guidelines do ease up   a lot.   I can eat a ton of different things now,  still have to watch carbs and things like that,  and i will have a "dumping" episode if i take it too far.   But I promise it does get better....  

Everything from this point on gets MUCH easier day to day. I remember not being able to drink or eat much of anything. Being almost 2 years out... I can eat ALOT! Just hang in there - these are the most difficult months of the WLS.

Right there with ya girl! I'm one week post-op and I know what your talking about and for me its already getting easier. I can take a decent size drink now, instead of sipping constantly but its easier if its not just plain water. Crystal light is my best friend right now. I noticed that as I was getting to almost a week I started to get pretty depressed about my decision myself and even had an all out fight with my husband, tears and all. But today I'm thrilled even if I can't eat much of anything and I miss bigger meals sometimes just because thats what I was used to. What I was used to got me in the shape that I am in though so, hun you really really dont want that. I chose to go with RNY instead of the band (which was my initial choice) because I thought about how easy it would for me to put off going back and getting it adjusted when I needed it and how I would probably start sliding into the old ways. The RNY was the best tool for me. Please know that it is okay to doubt your decision and its okay to be upset. Trust me I'm not a patient person and not being able to suck back tha****er bottle just really irritates me, but I dont know about taking two or three big swigs but you will start being able to start drinking more soon. Don't pu**** and it will come naturally. *HUGS* Laura

I am 8 months out and can chug chug chug water as much as I want... around 3-4 months I could take much bigger sips (I will still scared to pu****) and now drink like I use to. I am definately satisifed by food now... its such a strange feeling! I actucally leave food on my plate and dont care! Before I would *have* to eat everything (and then some)... sometimes I still have to make an effort to stop eating because it is such a habit to finish everything. I find myself throwing food away a lot more now and now caring (or bringing to the vultures at work!). It took about 6 months or so for me to start realizing when I was full/satisifed and its great to feel "normal" now!

Thank you so much to everyone for their feedback. It really is the most comforting thing for me right now to here from y'all who have been through it. I know my husband and family are supportive but they just dont "get it". I hope that my journey continues on like your did and i can say the same thing from your place down the line. Thanks again!

I m 3 mos. post-op and i felt like you did too!! it does get better the sipping thing is a must for me becuase if i drink too much at one time i feel sick! as for taking a big gulp of fluid if you can do this im not there yet!!! and yes, i m so satisfied with my small portions of 3 oz. (thats what i eat until april and then i go to 4 oz.) and sometimes i cant even eat all 3 oz.  as for you feeling regretful, you need to know that this is a life altering decision and that you will be eating differan then you have ever eaten before for the rest of your life! But it will be worth it in the long run, if you over eat and eat things that you r not supposed to eat then the weight wont come off and you will be right back to were you started!! I have a friend who after 6 mos. started eating whatever she could and it shows, she started at 350lbs and 3 yrs later she is at 250lbs...that may seem like a lot of wgt to loose to regular people, but for her having RNY and only loosong that much in that time frame is not good, i have been told! She never got below 250lbs! I hope that this helps, and if you need to talk im here, check out my profile.

Im 4+ years out.. With time, you'll be able to have anything.... I remember having to take sips of water.. I was just dying to have and loooongg chug.... I still cant have like whole lot at once. but I can get in like 5 or 6 big gulps without stopping..