What to expect

Im scheduled to bypass surgery this afternoon. Just want realistic expectations. How much pain can i expect after surgery? Will i be hungry after surgery? How long before i can eat solid foods? How much weight can i expect to lose the first couple days?

Thank you

Most of your questions vary so much from person to person that it's hard to say. Your surgeon should have provided you with a timeline for food progression? Even then, people tolerate foods at different paces.

I was very uncomfortable when I woke up from surgery, but the pain was manageable, and I was driving around and running errands less than a week out, just no lifting more than 10lbs. I wasn't hungry, and still don't have physical hunger unless I go all day without eating. But the Head hunger and cravings did not go away. I still WANT to eat chips, pizza, etc. Making the right choices even when I don't feel like it is still a challenge.

i won't speak for weight loss, it's completely subjective. Don't even weigh yourself for the first few weeks. If you weigh right away, you'll likely even see that you've gained--due to fluid retention and swelling from surgery.

I was eating soft proteins at 2 weeks (cottage cheese, tuna and chicken salad processed to a finer consistency, etc), and gradually added in denser things like deli meat, meats cooked in the crockpot, etc in little bits at a time (per doctors orders) and never had trouble tolerating anything except the one time I took a bite of dry turkey. By 6 weeks I could eat most dense meat and soft cooked veggies, however, I might be a magical unicorn in the case of how well I tolerate food. My husband is one year out and still struggles with some denser meat like chicken breast and pork chops unless it has a lot of gravy, condiments, or other "wiggle sauce."

Thank you so much. Im checking in now surgery at 130.

Pain varies by individual, they will provide pain relief as required, usually a lot of pain in shoulder area which can be unexpected due to being pumped full of air. I'm 3 months out and still haven't been hungry so you're unlikely to miss eating, solid food depends on the clinic, anywhere from 4-8 weeks out, but you may not feel like trying to eat solid anyways. You'll gain weight after surgery, try not to way yourself for at least a week after surgery, hold off for 2 if you can, you retain water after surgery, hope you have loose pants to come home in.

Thank you for the encouragement.

This afternoon, wow, Best Wishes. My pain level never got over a level five post-op. Real hunger left for months. Head hunger came back faster; to be able to tell the difference-- head hunger can be distracted away but real hunger usually only intensifies. Medical staff should have a post-op program set for you to use as your guideline; my post-op program was liberal and allowed solid food at two weeks. Lastly, a friendly suggestion-- your first days should have nothing to do with concern about weight loss numbers and everything to do with taking care of yourself to heal well and to follow the WLS rules as best as you can. Again, Best Wishes.

Thank you

Thank you

The day after surgery I had a decent amount of pain, but after day 3, pain was minimal and it was mostly discomfort and not being able to lay now and sleep normally, but that was even gone at about a week out. So I wouldn't worry about pain, you feel so much better each day you are out, it's amazing.

I wasn't hungry for 3 weeks after surgery, I think I feel hunger now, but it's different than post op....not sure how to describe.

The solid food thing depends on your program, but I could physically ingest solid foods with no problem at 2 weeks....but I also seem to have no issues with any foods at all so I am not the best example on that!

I drank only water for the first 5 days and lost 12 pounds the first week.

I had almost no pain other than sore abs for about a week (similar feeling that you'd have if you'd done a bunch of crunches). It only bothered me when I was transitioning from lying down to sitting, or sitting to standing, or whatever.

I lost my hunger for five months. It was the greatest feeling *ever*, and I wish I was one of those lucky few whose hunger never comes back!