Question:
How long after post op , are you supposed to begin to loose?

I have a to take a thyroid pill each day, and I just had surgery on 11/26 and don't see to much result of weight loss, I justed wanted to know if thats normal? The doctrs office keeps telling me that, you get a lot of gased air pumped during surgery, and you may still have swelling and that's why? any insight on this I am almost 3 weeks out and only down 5lbs , but my body is changing and I am loosing inches else where SOO confused??    — lisa3959 (posted on December 13, 2007)

December 13, 2007
Are you getting your liquids in like you're suppose to? I know that helped me start losing better. I still struggle to get the 6-8 cups in a day of water, but found a trick. I found that I tend to gulp from a water bottle or too large of a glass, so I always use a juice glass, very small, filled to the rim with ice, then add the water. I sip sip sip..and pretty soon I've downed the glass. I then start another...and in no time I've emptied a 16oz. bottle of water into that glass. Also, I found that I retained a lot of fluid after surgery and it was probably by 5 weeks that I really could tell that my swelling had decreased. Just some suggestions. I know getting out there and moving most definitely helps. I am betting you're retaining fluid and are still swollen from surgery......especially if you've noticed that your clothes are getting looser. Hope this helps..and good luck. You'll start seeing the scale move soon...I'm sure of it! Hugs...Cheryl
   — Cheryl K.

December 13, 2007
hi lisa... i too had surgery 11/26/07 and i know how u r feeling. but dont get discouraged, i am 17 dayz out and i went in at 310 and i am now at 286. personally i dont see it, but everyone else does, so i guess that is good. also i still have alot of gas, and i went and got my first b-12 shot today. it really made a difference in how i feel. keep pushing the fluids, and it will happen for you. my tummy still has a little swelling , but you will start losing soon!! hang in there, best of luck to you.........kim crain
   — kimcrain

December 13, 2007
Yes, it is partially the gas still leaving your body, but realize you just had MAJOR surgery (if you had RNY) and your body is sitll swollen as the doc said. One day you will wake up and find out you have dropped 10 lbs in just one week! Plus inch loss is just as good as pound loss. My body does that sometimes. I've lost a great deal of inches, but not pounds. Drives me nuts, but I have to trick my mind into thinking that works too! Good luck, God bless and welcome to the losing side!
   — crystalsno

December 13, 2007
Hi, first off, welcome to the loser's bench. I am one year post RNY tomorrow, can't believe its been a year already, not one complication and I am at goal already (hard to believe). I also have a tyroid problem, hyper thyroid, you did not mention which one you are. You are still holding fluid and probably still have some gas in there. My first advise to you is stay off the scale!!!!! Pick a day and weigh yourself once a week, best advise I ever got belive me. It will happen especially once you start eating solids with lots of protein. Don't get discouraged, it took me over a month before I started to lose. I gained 20 lbs in the hospital from all the fluids they pumped into me. That came off fast, then nothing for awhile. Try to look at the long picture and say, WOW wait till they see me next Christmas. It will happen. I was sore last xmas, could not eat what everyone did, I did have pretty green and red jello though,LOL. Anyway, last xmas I wore a pretty xmas sweater size 24, this week I got a pair of new jeans and a new sweater, size 12 and a medium. So, it will happen, just give your body time to heal, you will start to lose, and probably pretty fast once it happens, so keep your chin up, drink lots of fluids and eat your protein young lady. Email me in a few weeks and let me know your progress, I would like to know how your are doing when your truely healed. Good luck and Happy Holidays to you, remember, just keep telling yourself, wait till they see me next Christmas! Diane p.
   — noboat4u

December 14, 2007
Hi Lisa, I do think taking thyriod pills (depending on what they are) can affect weight loss, but you are leaving out a lot of details. Are you exercising and eating right? Are you drinking water and giving 100% to the effort? Without that information it is hard to tell if you are really having problems. Weight loss will ALWAYS be about diet and exercise. The surgery is a tool, but if we don't use our tool, we might as well not have surgery. This is designed to change our life and our lifestyle. If we refuse to conform to that change, we signed up for nothing. So, if you are doing 100% and still losing little, see your surgeon. They should be able to help you understand your med issue. In case you are wondering what I mean by 100%, I can only describe my first year. I ate mostly protein and small nibbles of other foods, drank only water and milk, and walked 5 miles a day, half in the morning and half at night. I lost 120 pounds and almost 4 years later I am still holding my weight loss, even though for physical issues, I have not been able to exercise one day for about 18 months. That first year is so key to changing your body. My body fights obesity now instead of craves it, but I had to "beat" it into submission to that process by diet and exercise and the mental fight every day. It will be one of the biggest challenges of your life, but you already signed up for it by having surgery, so I encourage you to fight for your health. Take care. Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

December 14, 2007
I gained seven pounds in the hospital. So on that note, be patient. You will lose the weight. They are so right about the liquid. Keep sipping honey!
   — dcherry