And just like that, a whole month has passed since my mini gastric bypass surgery. Overall, everything has gone really well, and I haven’t experienced any serious side effects so far (knock on wood). During the first couple of weeks, the outer sides of my thighs felt a bit numb from time to time, but that went away on its own.
Adjusting to My New Lifestyle
I’ve slowly gotten used to my new bariatric surgery lifestyle: the tiny food portions and the 30-minute gap between eating and drinking. That last one has been the hardest for me, because I’ve always been a big water drinker and used to sip alongside my meals. But hey, it’s a small price to pay for a healthier future.
I’ve also found a good rhythm for taking my vitamins and medication. The only tricky one is magnesium because the pill itself is so big that a few times I literally couldn’t swallow it. I plan to ask the bariatric clinic soon if there’s a smaller alternative, or maybe a chewable one that doesn’t taste like chalk (a girl can dream).
How My Body Feels After One Month
I definitely have more energy than I did a month ago, and my stitches are almost completely painless now. Of course, I’m still careful and not doing any ab workouts yet, but most of the time I even forget that I have five tiny “keyholes” on my stomach.
I’ll add before-and-after photos too, because I always love following other people’s progress, and I assume you, dear reader, might be curious as well.
I tried to take the photos from the same angle, though it didn’t work out perfectly. Still, I’m so glad I took them, it’s honestly fun to scroll between the two and go, “Wait, that’s me?” I realised I didn’t take any decent photos on the day of surgery, so the comparison is between one picture from before the pre-op diet for mini gastric bypass surgery and one month post-surgery.
Moving More
My walks have also gotten longer. On weekends, I try to take my dog out for a full hour in the morning. I won’t sugarcoat it tho, afterwards I’m completely wiped out and resemble a sleepy sloth on the couch.
As the owner of a reactive dog, I was worried at first that a sudden pull on the leash might hurt my healing wounds, but lukcily that hasn’t been an issue. Maybe my dog somehow senses that we need to take it easy and walk nicely for now. Or maybe she’s just finally decided to give me a break, who knows!
What and How I Eat After Bariatric Surgery
When it comes to food, I still follow the guidelines from the clinic closely and prioritise protein. My average meal is around 100 g, depending on what I’m eating.
It’s still a bit hard to recognise the feeling of fullness. A couple of times, I’ve felt some pain behind my sternum/chest and stopped eating right away. But since I stick to the recommended portion sizes, I assume it’s nothing to worry about.
Interestingly, I can’t stand eggs right now. “Don’t crave” isn’t even the right word, they just taste terrible. Before surgery, I didn’t mind them at all, and I’ve tried different ways of cooking them since, but I just can’t. It’s a pity, since eggs are such a good source of protein, but maybe it’s just a temporary phase in the weight loss surgery recovery process. I’ll try again in a few weeks, maybe we’ll make peace.
Drinking water is still no problem. I drink at least one and a half litres a day, often more. Before surgery, I loved drinking sparkling water, and that’s something I really miss. But again, you win some, you lose some (and in this case, you lose carbonated bubbles but gain health points).
Digestive Struggles
What’s been bothering me, though, is my bowel movements, or more accurately, the lack of them. It’s quite painful, actually. My bowels move only about every third day, and that makes me feel so heavy and uncomfortable. Straining in the bathroom is also unpleasant, and honestly, I’m worried I might end up with haemorrhoids if this keeps up.
Following my bariatric nurse’s advice, I tried drinking a mix made by pouring hot water over dried prunes, which is supposed to help soften things up. I also tried adding a teaspoon of olive oil to each meal, but that was unpleasant, the taste completely overpowered my food and made it hard to enjoy. I’ve been eating more berries and light vegetables too, but they haven’t helped much either.
So, I decided to try Guttalax drops (local gastrointestinal stimulant that stimulates the colon and softens bowel movements). I know it’s not a long-term solution, but I wanted to give it a temporary chance because I was just so tired of straining and being in pain. I’ve been taking 10–15 drops every third evening, and it does help, my digestion has been more regular. However, sometimes it causes diarrhoea or cramping, which isn’t great either.
I really hope this improves soon because I know that using laxatives for too long can make your intestines “lazy” and cause more problems later. Plus, the discomfort in my stomach isn’t fun.
I just scheduled an appointment with a bariatric nutritionist to see if she might have ideas on how to get my digestion moving more naturally and regularly.
Example of My Daily Menu
Meal 1: Whole-grain tortilla with Philadelphia Light cream cheese, chicken ham, bell pepper, cucumber, lettuce, feta cheese = 105 g + about 15 g of strawberries
Meal 2: Same as above (no strawberries this time) = 105 g
Meal 3: Protein shake (lactose-free milk + protein powder) 250 ml (sipped over a longer period)
Meal 4: Oven-baked salmon fillet with asparagus, rice, and Greek yoghurt = 95 g
Meal 5: Whole-grain bread with chicken ham, cucumber, and Philadelphia Light = 59 g
Total protein: 66 g
Normally, I don’t eat quite this many wheat-based foods (like tortillas or bread), but lately I’ve been craving something fresh, and wraps have been a great way to combine protein with vegetables, the mini gastric bypass-friendly way!
My Results So Far
My total weight loss in the first month is around 11 kg (~24 pounds), which I think is a very satisfying result for one month post weight loss surgery.
From now on, I won’t be doing weekly updates anymore, but I’ll try to write a monthly check-in about how things are going with my mini gastric bypass recovery.
How about you? If you’ve had a weight loss surgery, how did your first month go? Have you already adjusted to your “new life”? I’d love to hear how your recovery and progress have been. Please feel free to share your experiences in the comments below; we’re all figuring this out together (and probably all missing sparkling water).
