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Its been awhile since my last post so I just wanted to mention progress so far Still in the very early insurance approval process. I'm just hitting the 40 BMI qualification so I'm just trying to maintain while also taking my doctors dieting advice. I had a few tests done already: Sleep apnea = negative, H Pylori = negative. I have the Abdominal Ultrasound coming up. While doing some research and talking to a few people who have been post op for years I've learned the sleeve can cause pretty bad GERD and need the possibility of revision to RNY. Because I want to avoid revision surgery, GERD, and long-term/indefinite PPI use I talked to my doctor about RNY instead and right now she's against it but suggested adding the endoscopy to the test list. If all checks out with the endoscopy I still want to change to RNY instead 🤞 So moving right along 😊

Hi everyone. I need some advice or encouragement… because I still don’t really see the light at the end of the tunnel 😕 I had surgery 33 days ago. I already posted before about my journey 2 weeks post op and how I couldn’t eat nor drink properly for weeks. I can gladly say that drinking has improved immensely and somehow eating as well. However things have shifted dramatically and I don’t know if I’m the only one. The cramping and pain that used to be located around my old stomach in the early days has somehow moved to my bowels now. Let me explain. Up to week 3 post op, every time I tried to eat or drink something I would instantly feel it in the new pouch like a heaviness or discomfort. That would then change into non stop gurgling, sometimes foaming. This feeling of wanting to burp but nothing comes out until hours later. I’d of course lose my appetite once again and lay down for the pain to go away. Now, we’ll into 4 weeks post op, that type of discomfort has almost disappeared (it’s still there) but the cramps and instant bowel movements and heavy diarrhoea is a daily issue. One sip of water in the morning results in a bowel movement. And it’s an uncomfortable one! I am also so so gassy and I cannot hold it in at all! The other day I was with my brother in my car and it just came out without a warning. I had to open the window because the smell is out of this world… Have you guys encountered this as well? TMI my poop is completely gray. I already spoke to my doctor about it and she said it was nothing to worry about for now.

I've used Factor 75 and it's been awesome. They have keto, paleo, low calorie, "regular", etc... And you choose all your meals and you can choose how many meals you get each week. They make things so much easier. 1 meal (which I would have completely laughed at before my surgery) actually lasts for 2 meals. So getting the 3 or 4 meal box (cheaper options) lasts a full week. If I get the 6 meal box and choose 3 dinners and 3 breakfasts, that lasts me all week. I do a homemade protein shake for lunch everyday, so it works out well (I do the keto Arbonne shakes and add things like triple seeds, avocado, fruit, mct oil, almond milk, almond butter, etc to them). I've loved it. And I can eat what I want on my schedule.

I couldn't drink those protein drinks for anything. To me they tase of metal and processed crap. Sorry. Not sorry. What did I do ? and what do I do now 12 years later ? I tried them pre surgery. Most of them made me horribly ill. I found out I cannot digest any of the sugar replacers or any of the milk replacers. It brings on colitis. Like weeks of the runs with terrible cramping. So.... I pre made myself super strong chicken broth; for post surgery I strained it through doubled cheese cloth. I kept and froze the chicken, and carrots separately. Later I made those into mashed carrots with some broth to thin it. And I basically food processed the chicken and had that as I was able to sip non clear liquids. I also made really strong vegetable broth - not soup, broth. With mushrooms and squash, and things like that. I froze my soups in tiny containers. And I made fish broth too. And beef broth. With the bones, and then super strained at first. I still make this and use it as the base for sauces, as I strain out any fats too. I eat simple proteins. I made and ate early on lots of chicken salad with some added broth, and humus instead of mayo. I still eat it that way. more protein and fiber. tuna mixed with greek yogurt. eggs mixed with yogurt for egg salad. Now, I make myself chicken thighs, and vegetables all the time. I like to use my crock pot to make boneless skinless thighs with carrots or chunks of sweet potato - and whatever vegetable I feel like adding. I am into gardening so I might add seasonal veggies like cabbage or beans or english peas, I use very little salt, lots of fresh herbs. I use the crock pot to make pot roast which comes out so tender and easy to eat, with tomatoes and serve it with cauliflower "rice" - I made all these things early on, and just mashed the heck out of things, adding homemade broth to smooth.

Anyone else out there having the procedure 3/13/23? Lucky # 13 😊

fingers crossed for you! not that I would ever wish that someone would find something medical wrong with them, i will say that the EGD is what did it for me. I wanted to do sleeve, but I showed silent reflux and ulcers from it on my EGD so def would have had more GERD after. Now that I am almost six months out from RNY I am super happy with my choice.

I have been on them about a year- I call them my murder prevention patches- they keep me from murdering my teen kids. They sincerely helped with the quick to anger/rage feelings and calmed down the night sweater, etc— the doctor suggested i come off for surgery due to blood clot risk (similar to birth control)- and said to stay off for a minimum of two weeks after. I got a superficial blood clot in my hand (week after I’ve) and they said maybe even three weeks off til that vein heals. I think you have to stay off birth control at least a month after for the same reasons. It really does help though, like almost instantly.

I'm so sorry you are going through all of this. Hopefully your revision can be scheduled soon so you can heal and move on.

I have aetna and they covered my revision, i also had hiatal hernia. I am 6 days post opp from having the duodenal switch.

This is a great question!!! I have always been UNrealistic in my weight loss journey before my surgery so this was a concern for me. I looked over my past and tried to remember the weight where I felt good, confident as well as taking into account my age at the time of surgery and my activity level. I have some orthopedic issues that hinder my work outs and general walking. I discussed this with the therapist I spoke to before my surgery and it was agreed that my number for me was very realistic. I made my goal weight just shy of a year post op! I followed and still follow my meal plans, I do add in an "extra" here and there but its always worked into my plan and I avoid excesses. I took the time to learn what my eating triggers are and when I feel like I am going down that rabbit hole I adjust and use other non-food coping strategies. Each journey is very personal and once size does not fit all. This is something I have really became fully aware of during my journey.