How many Months before you felt "Normal" Really??

Ok as a pre-op I have a fear that I won't have an easly transition.... I'd like to know from all of you willing to share how it is or went for you the first months...and even now... If I go into this knowing it could be a tough first 3 to 6 months then I'll be ready for that reality... (then again I have know way of knowing that reality until I live it) Would you please answer one more question to us pre-ops trying to get a grip on what life will look like right after vsg??? What do you think I should remember going forward??? (OK one more question) Thank You Very Much.... ps I love the daily posts "what did you eat today" that's tells a lot...

I'll be honest.  I feel normal right now.  The ONLY problem I'm having is with the infiltrated IV thingy and I have to keep heat on my arm when it flares up.  Oh yeah...my scars itch like crazy!  lol  Last night I ate 1/2 a chicken breast topped with ham and Swiss plus three roasted asparagus spears.  No problem.  I chewed the heck out of it, but no problem.  Also kept me quite full!   REMEMBER: Generally ANY discomfort you feel won't last forever!  Buyer's remorse is common a day or two after surgery, but generally by a few weeks out, folks are TERRIBLY happy!

Honestly I felt like myself at about 3 1/2 weeks. I was very nervous about feeling strange or getting out of my routine. Now I am not going to lie to you the first 2 weeks were extremely out of ordinary. I went back to work after 1 week and did not have any problems.

At 6 weeks I felt like I had never had surgery. I felt pretty good after starting solids, but I had no pain or anything else after 6 weeks. Most pain was gone after the first week, but I would sometimes still feel a little pain on my left side for up to 6 weeks (nothing bad, just a tiny jolt or something if I moved wrong). Teresa

Unfortunately I think everybody's experience is very unique and different!  I am 4 weeks out now and yesterday was a good day - first one without complaint.  Still on liquids, however, much to my dismay but it just seems to be taking longer for my stomach to recover.  The toughest thing I'm having to learn is patience, which has never been one of my virtues.  My focus has gone off weight loss (?) and on to what I can eat, when - not that I want a cheeseburger, but something like an omelet.  Please, when can I have an omelet?  Sounds pretty wonderful right now.   I had a couple of surgeries prior to this and had no problems, piece of cake, bounced right back.  But there were problems with my VSG and it kicked my behind.  But every day there is improvement, and it does help reading these posts because it confirms that really isn't a train at the end of the tunnel, it's an improved life, whether it takes you 4 months or a year or two years to get there.  Just prepare as well as you can, do what the doc says before and after, and every day you'll be one day closer to a better you. Mel

Hi, Well I too want to say that everyone is a bit different. I felt pretty good after the first week or so. However, I still dont really feel normal. In the physical sense yes. The mental sense, i know i am different now and can loose weight and can handle things without food as a substitute. I feel more empowered....does that make sense? Anyway..........just remember that everyday gets better. Drink your water. also, try to stay focused on the positve. The recovery will be good. I really believe that is helps to stay as positvie as possible and try not to think about the what if's. XO jeni

I had a slower recovery than some people do.  However, I am 60 years old and had some medical issues already.  The medications controlled almost all the surgical symptoms (pain and nausea) during the first month.  I was very tired for the first month or so., could not have gone back to work.  A pre-existing neurological condition was worse for several weeks after the surgery . . . but it flares with any medical procedure.  Digestion is still an issue.  At 2 months post-op there are many foods I do not tolerate.  (I had to go off the nausea pills because of my neurological situation.)  But, because of the weight loss I have much more energy and much less pain.  This has certainly compensated for the digestive problems!   To remember going forward:  You will be healthier and stronger for losing weight, and this surgery will help you do it.  If my experience is typical, you will soon feel better than you have in years.

I felt normal almost right away.  Well as soon as I was able to eat solids.  It is like second nature now.  I very rarely concerned with the small amount that I can eat.  It is kind of like, it has always been like that,  if that makes sense.  I eat out of the same little bowl almost everytime (seems like such a waste to use a big one..LOL)  I don't have problems with many foods, and I choose to not eat bread, rice or pasta...and really dont miss them.. I am different than most when it comes to not thinking about food....I think about it all the time, and most days I eat because of what time it is, never because I am hungry.  I wish I could get it off my mind, I think that will come with time. This is not as hard as you think, granted I am only 3.5 months out....so far it has been a breeze!! Good Luck!!  You can do this!!!

I am so glad someone else eats to a clock and not hunger. I really wish I could be one of those people who eats when they are hungry not because it 12 o'clock or 6 o'clock, etc. Still they do say that regular spacing of your meals keeps your metabolism ticking along and as I've been losing fairly well up to this point might just have to accept this is how I am. Leisa

I echo what Jeni said--physically, I feel pretty much normal and have since I started eating solid food at about 3 weeks. But mentally, I am aware that there is a big change. First of all, I know I took a big, scary step towards self improvement and that there's no turning back from what I've done. For me, that's almost as big a deal as the 54 pounds I've lost--I took charge, I DID something for myself, I was willing to commit to health. So in that way, I definitely feel different, and I think it will take a while before this becomes "normal" for me. I felt like I was a victim to my body for a long time, and it's a new mindset to know that I have provided myself with a powerful tool and that it is really in my power to make these changes. I also agree with Jeni that keeping a positive, forward looking attitude (which is totally sounds like you're doing) is key because, yes, you will go through some rough times. But at the risk of sounding totally corny, you gotta keep your eye on the prize! You'll do fine, and we're here to help! Lizanne