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Hi defwen, Sorry I cannot offer any "words of wisdom" for you, but I thank you for posting. Certainly A-fib is not that uncommon a condition, and the suspicion of malabsorption of your meds due to VSG is what I find interesting. I think many of us decided on the sleeve vs RNY to avoid malabsorption issues. As you say, what an unexpected side effect you are having to experience! Glad to hear you are otherwise healing well. I hope you get some feedback from others who have experienced what you're going through. And, most of all, I hope this turns out to be "easy fix" for you with your docs--I want to think maybe it's just your body saying whoooaaa--what did you just do to me??? and it'll settle back down to its normal behavior. It does sound like you are being cared for by a good and competent medical team. Sending healing thoughts your way--please keep us posted how you're doing.

Congrats on your surgery! You're doing fine. Try not to torture yourself worrying about the number on the scale from day to day. Just weigh once a week on the same day at the same time. That's your best indicator of what your real weight loss is. Your priority now should be healing your body after this major surgery. And of course that is best done by getting your recommended Protein and fluids and carefully following your program, including "moving" your body to give it some exercise.

It can't be undone. So move forward. Self-bashing does no good. Neither does the "eat something bad--repent by exercising it off--repeat that same behavior again" cycle we've all done our whole lives. WLS is our opportunity to change all that and be free. I just try to remember that I did this whole thing to change my lifestyle AND my relationship with food. Not to "feel guilty" about my food for the rest of my life. Food for me now is my body's fuel and its medicine. It's a lot easier to make better choices when I think of food that way. The power that those chips have over you right now will lessen with time, the more you continue to work your program. Making the more healthy choice IS often super hard, but try to remember that you are building a new eating lifestyle for the rest of your life and it will become much more routine as you move through your eating stages. The fewer processed foods you choose in your diet, the less your body will crave them. That was the HARDEST thing for me to believe--but really, really, really--it is true. Our bodies do not want what we feed it from a cardboard box or bag that contains that highly processed stuff. And the less you feed it of that processed stuff, the less it eventually wants. It wants and needs REAL food to repair itself and nourish you and your brain. But of course we live in a society that revolves around the pleasure of eating those processed starchy carbs. One of the many beauties of our bariatric lifestyle is there are so many bariatric-friendly recipes to experiement with that can become our new "go to" treats that you can use to become your replacements to those chips that called your name in the grocery store, and all the other Cookies, cakes, pies, pastries--all the stuff that used to get us in such trouble. Those things don't even tempt me any more because I have built my recipe library of healthy "goodies" that satisfy my cravings yet do make me feel like I'm being deprived of the kinds of foods that "everyone else" eats. This is all a "PROCESS" that takes time. Meanwhile just try to focus right now on getting used to following your eating program the very best you can.

My nose ran also for about a year after surgery (never a problem before surgery, and stopped about a year after). I am now three years out. Interesting what RJ posted about it being a "stop eating" signal. I never connected the runny nose as being a signal, but sadly it's no longer a signal for me 'cuz it doesn't happen any more. But one body signal that has been consistant and continues to be is hiccups. If I have consumed more than my sleeve wants, I know it is time to stop if I get hiccups.

CONGRATULATIONS on your surgery! Glad everything went well for you, and that walking helped for you. I believe it made a big difference for me in my quick recovery as well. Every time I read a post from someone who has just come home from surgery it still (after 3 years) brings back such a flood of memories for me and what that time was like for me, and just how much my life has changed since then. I am so happy for you and wishing the very best for you as you embark on your new and exciting adventure! Heal well and be well!

Congrats, New Sleevers! Happy Healing!

Mixing with unsweetened almond milk can cut some of that sweetness. Just be sure you're not diluting the Protein too much that you are not getting in the required mg of protein that you need daily. Good luck. Keep trying. There's lots of different kinds out there. You'll find something that works for you!

Hi cwalker, Three years ago, I started out at close to your weight (252) and am now right at what your goal is (140). Yes, what you are feeling is TOTALLY normal. Surgery is scary. Try to keep in mind that for any "bad" stuff you've heard that can "go wrong," there are thousands of procedures performed every single day that are totally successful, awesome, and life-changing. And YOU will be one of those. Of course, all surgical facilities are different, and everyone's experiences are different and you cannot compare yourself to others. I have gone to many support groups and listened to many patients' stories of their experiences right after the operation. Over all, most people are so happy they did the surgery and would do it over again in a heartbeat. That subject comes up at every meeting. People experience huge life-changes with this surgery! 1) Some experience no pain while recovering in the hospital (that was me--I did not use the self-administer pain pump I was given) while others need to use it and are in moderate pain. 2) Most surgeons want you to be up and walking around the surgical unit within 4-6 hours after you are back in your hospital room. 3) Hospitals vary on what/when you drink in hospital and how long you stay. 4) I just laugh sometimes when some of the members of support group talk about how much they loved being in the hospital and it felt like a vacation because they got away from all their family obligations! You know the what the rules are and the lifestyle and eating changes you need to make. You will take it one step at a time. Yes, you have a lot to learn and you might feel overwhelmed and frustrated. You do the best you can and none of us are "perfect." You might hate the taste of Protein drinks. You might not be able to drink as much Water as you "think" you should be drinking. You might "think" you should be losing more weight (think getting healthy as your top priority--not number on scale). You might feel drained of all your energy for awhile (couple weeks, couple months, or not at all). Hopefully your family is also prepared for the changes in the eating routine--that can cause some stress when you first get home. Just keep open communication. Some people get so overwhelmed that they say "what did I do to myself and why did I do this"--This is ALL totally normal and it will pass and you will be sooo happy you had the courage to do this. In the next 11 days before your surgery, if you can, find a post-surgery support group and ask if you can sit in and just listen. This online support is fantastic and, of course, spend as much time as you can reading as many posts as you can--there is amazing information on here from people who have been right exactly where you are today. But it also helps a lot to sit face-to-face with people at this point if you can. Best wishes, relax, take lots of deep breaths, stay positive, and remember WHY you chose to make this decision. We'll be waiting to hear from you from the "other side" of your surgery!

Hi again starspring, So glad to hear that you're feeling the "power" of BariatricPal. You are so right about "one day at a time!" You will be amazed how quickly these days turn into months and years, and all these challenges will just fade away. Keep your sunny side up and even though it doesn't feel possible right now, you CAN make this whole experience FUN. (Ok, so sometimes it REALLY takes A LOT of imagination! . . .)

Plumlove, to answer your question--you DON'T "get it together" in three weeks!!! You're doing fine. You've made a huge life change and you will be changing for many years to come. You just had major surgery--of course your energy is kinda low. It's ok. You do your best; you hit the suggest goals the best you can; you keep in touch with your bariatric team; and it will come together. Highly suggest that you do not weigh every day. Once a week will give you a realistic measure of how your weight loss is going. Regarding protein. There's a lot of different options. Just keep sampling 'til you find what you like for now. Just remember, your taste buds are kinda screwy right now and are definitely subject to change. What you may find digusting today, you might try a month from now and totally love. Work with your bari team about the vitamins to find a combination that works for you until your stomach heals and you can tolerate all the regular ones again. Exercise--do what you can--just try to get yourself to "move"' every day. Doesn't have to be formal killer workouts at the gym! Hang in there. It's all so overwhelming, but you will do this and find the joy that so many people are talking about!!!

Hi comeflywithme, Sure, it wouldn't hurt to ask your surgeon if a PPI would be ok for you. Many surgeons do send their patients home with an initial prescription. But you may or may not really need one. Not everyone produces excess acid that causes hunger. Assuming you are following your liquid diet plan as directed, it's normal that you are going to start experiencing hunger as you heal and get ready to progress to the next stage of eating. Sure, some of it's "head hunger" but probably most of it is real "hunger hunger!" Your body and brain have been used to having bunches more food in it for a lot of years--right??? I would just encourage you to talk to your surgeon's office and tell them what you're experiencing. They may even offer you suggestions that are not printed on the written diet you've been given until it's time for your next eating stage. I know these first few eating stages are so tough and challenging (but please remember, they are very temporary), and the rewards that are just around the corner are going to be so worth it. Just try to focus on getting to the next stage, and then the next stage, and then finally when you get to soft foods stage, and THEN regular foods. Yay! Can I offer you one liitle head game that I used from the very beginning that I still use even today after 3 years? Of course everybody is different, but sometimes if we can find little mind tricks of our own that work for us, it can make a world of difference in conquering stuff that frustrates us. So here goes: When you were talking about having to isolate yourself from your family while they were eating so you wouldn't see or smell the food--- In an situation like that where you're feeling "different" or "deprived" could you learn to start telling yourself instead of stuff like: "I CANT HAVE that" Could you learn to tell your brain that: I CHOOSE not to have that (fill in the blank ______________) (right now) or (for these next few months) or (while I'm learning my new eating habits) or (until I learn what my dangerous food triggers really are) etc, etc etc. For me it just really helped me not feel like I was always in the "being punished mode," but instead I was the one IN CONTROL and made the CHOICE to not eat foods that I knew were not healthy and not helping me achieve my weight loss surgery goals. Just a thought I wanted to share because it impacted me so much in staying strong against cravings. Good luck. Keep on healing and most of all, have fun!!!

Hi starspring, Hope you are feeling a little better from the posts from the others so far. What everyone is saying is so true. It is so hard to believe that you'll ever feel "normal" again when you are right smack in the middle of feeling so rotten AND feeling like you made this HUGE LIFE MISTAKE. Just keep coming back here for all the support and questions you have. There are so many awesome people on here who REALLY can say they know how you feel because they HAVE been through it. Last week I celebrated (and I mean C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-E-D) my 3-year surgiversary. Has it all been sunshine and roses? Of course not. Has this surgery changed my life beyond my wildest expectations? Words cannot begin to explain. Don't forget--you don't have to do everything "perfectly" especially at first when you're just learning. You follow your program to the best of your ability and keep open communication with your bariatric team. They deal with the issues you're having all the time (hard time w/liquids, Vitamins, sleep, etc). Don't be afraid to bug them for help. That's what you're paying them for! My wish for you is that you get stronger both physically and emotionally every day (and YOU WILL!!!). Take good care of yourself. We all care!

Can't tell by your post whether you've had your surgery yet? If not, right after surgery while you're in the hospital, just try to get up and walk as soon as they tell you to. For me, it was 4 hours after I got back from the recovery room. I really feel that it made a big difference in how quickly I was able to heal and be discharged. After you get home, if you can walk 5-10 minutes each waking hour (or more if you can tolerate it), you're probably giving yourself the best fighting chance of no blot clot problems (and are helping a lot to dispel all that excess gas in your system which helps us feel sooo much better so much quicker!). You're like me--I want to know EXACTLY--and I don't think there's a one-size-fits-all answer to this kind of question. . . Congratulations on your surgery, heal fast, and have fun on your new and exciting adventure . . .

I've not heard of bariatric patients using Slim Fast. But if your bariatric medical team has ok'd it, then it must be ok for you. My concern would just be to make sure that the Slim Fast is of the same high quality Protein and provides the same nutrients as the more common bariatric Proteins we most often use like Premier Protein, unjury, Syntrax, etc. Thanks for the info. I'm going to look at it the next time I'm at the store!

OK, I know this might be hard to believe for some of those just starting out. I sure didn't believe it at first. (I'm 3 years out) As we continue to make better food choices (from our Bariatric Eating plans--the lean Protein, fresh fruits, veggies, etc) and get rid of more and more of the processed simple carbs in our diets, our cravings for the junk that we so much know and love begin to lessen and not have quite the grip on us that they used to. But the more of those starchy carbs we continue to eat, the more we stay addicted to them. In my weakest moments of temptation, I try to remember that the healthy food that I now put into my body is "super fuel" and "medicine" to heal it and make it run the best it can for the rest of my life. It makes me think twice about putting junk into it. So, whether we're bored, or sad, or stressed, or lost our job, or grieving, or ???, it all comes down to figuring out our new lifestyle that works for each of us individually. It all starts with really examining our relationship with food. In my opinion, most bariatric programs don't prepare us very well to handle all this psychological stuff that comes after the operation. It takes a lot of work to sort through it, but it CAN be done. I've done a lot of reading because I've needed A LOT OF HELP!!! For anyone interested, one of my favorite books that helped me a lot (bariatric surgery specific) is "The Emotional First+Aid Kit" by Cynthia L. Alexander, PsyD. This psychiatrist counsels WLS patients; easy reading. She tells it like it is. Good chapters on behavior modification, stress, motivation tips, much more. Also, Susan Albers, PsyD, has a book "50 ways to soothe youself without food" and explores MINDFUL EATING. Both available on Amazon.com.

How about if you try to think about it another way? Have you been on a bunch of other diets in your life? On any other reasonable medical diet that people go on, they say you should lose no more than 2 lbs a week; that'd be about 8 pounds a month. So, you see, a whopping 20 pounds in one month is well within normal weight loss for someone who had bariatric surgery. And, like other posters above said, and I'm sure you've already heard this a million times but it bears repeating, we can't compare ourselves to others. Everybody loses differently. Sooo many things affect how quickly or how much comes off--your starting weight, your age, your gender, your health, your lifestyle (exercise), etc etc etc. As long as you keep your focus on following your Bariatric Eating plan and adjusting to your new forever healthy lifestyle, your body will know how to shed your excess pounds and keep you happy and most of all healthy. Congratulations!

Congratulations on your surgery and your 50+ lb weight loss! It's hard to not compare ourselves to others, but we really have to remember that we are all different and our weight loss patterns vary greatly. I love what you said about "trusting the process." If you follow your Bariatric Eating program and are dedicated to working on your new lifestyle, the weight WILL come off. You will enjoy your weight loss "adventure" so much more if you are not stressing about a number on the scale from day to day. I am three years out, and I have always weighed every Tuesday morning because that was the day of my surgery. Speaking from experience, you have so much to look forward to in the "feeling the rush" department. For me, it's still hard for me to wrap my head around how much my life has changed for the better! One more thing--please try to get that word "ONLY xx pounds lost" out of your vocabulary--EVERY pound lost is a victory!!!

Thanks for a great topic. . . My closet/storage boxes had sizes from 8 to 26, spanning years from about 1968 (I was 16) to present (You probably know the thinking--I'll fit in to that again SOME DAY!!!). In the three years since my surgery, this "time machine travel" has been one of the most fun aspects of WLS for me. My wish for you is that you find some super happy memories as you shrink into some of those old clothes (well--at least a little happier than the last time you wore it you totaled your car!). Here's some of my fun stuff: 1) A Mickey Mouse sweatshirt from 1968, size S, from a memorable Disneyland trip in high school (me and friend meeting two Marines from Camp Pendelton--Shhhh--dad never knew) 2) Old bathing suit from early 70's. Never wore a bathing suit since. Big moment for me to wear that bathing suit again (rotten elastic but amazingly still wearable) 3) Whittier Bicentennial sweatshirt 1976 celebration of our country's Bicentennial 1776-1976. 4) Many old career dresses from '70s & '80s--big white collars and shoulder pads--and everything had to be dry cleaned. After all these years, the ones I wanted to try to "save" I threw in the washer (what did I have to lose?) and found them to survive just fine without the need for dry cleaning. 5) Waaaay in the back of the closet--my long dress that I wore to Grad Night at Disneyland in 1970! It fits this year for the first time since then; how or why it survived all these years I have no idea, but it's quite a kick to wear it. . . I took pictures, wrote personal notes, made some scrapbook pages, talked about it anyone who would listen (and some who surely thought I was slightly crazy) and love that I have these and so many other memories connected to old clothing (who knew???) to look back on forever. Hope you find some fun and joyful time machine travel of your own.

Hi Mrs. Fox, we almost share a "surgiversary." I was sleeved three years ago on 4/26/11! Congratulations on your surgery, but sorry you're not doing well right now. But VERY IMPORTANT--if you are not clear on exactly what you are supposed to be having for your nutrition in these next few critical healing days, call your surgeon's office as many times as you need to. Protein and Water are the most critical things you need to have right now, ESPECIALLY if you are having diarrhea. You can get dehydrated very easily right now, and you defininitey DO NOT WANT THAT or you will quickly end up back in the hospital. Take good care of yourself, and try to be patient. Every day will get better and better. Keep us posted. There are so many people on this forum who care!