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If our intestines do all of the absorbing, why do we dehydrate so quickly after having most of our stomach removed and no intestinal bypass performed? I have had to be infused with fluids 4 times since surgery because I dehydrated. I think I have a handle on it now, but I wonder why we are so prone to dehydration? Has anybody asked a medical professional why this is so? Before surgery I never drank as much fluids as I do now and I never had a problem.

As I near my goal (4 # from now), I have become fixated on food! I'm not obsessing about the quantity of food I can eat but only the variety, and especially leaning toward the out of the ordinary and even weird stuff . I've started watching all of the food shows on TV, especially those showing the sidewalk food vendors in 3rd world countries selling all kinds of odd stuff, like Zimmern and Bourdain, wishing I was there with them and trying all of the same stuff. My cooking has taken a turn towards preparing appetizers as opposed to meals... small portions of highly seasoned stuff. Although I should be, I'm not concerned in the least about calories or nutritional value because I eat so little as a matter of course. Is anyone else on the same or similar track? I'm really not concerned, I'm just curious.

I pretty much broke the "no alcohol rule" after about 3 months but I didn't overdo it. To tell you the truth, it doesn't taste as good as it used to so I've pretty much become a social drinker (by choice) rather than a recreational drinker.

It's cheap gossip. Leave it alone and someone else will be the latest subject within 24 hours. Make a fuss and you stay on the front page. The workplace is the worst place ever for this kind of stuff. Just be beautiful and continue to be the source of their envy, not their scorn. Bets of luck.

Three months out you should be over the fatigue, I would think, unless you have other issues. Are you getting enough protein? AND are you getting enough carbs? Make sure you are eating enough... a common problem is not getting enough fuel for your body. When you do this, you are inadvertently causing the problem. I was much the same way and then I started eating more instead of trying to lose all of the weight rapidly and I began feeling wonderful and I continue to feel great. Talk to your doc or your NUT. Good luck!

The divorce rate for bariatric patients is higher than the norm and there is a distinct possibility that one partner losing a very significant amount of weight can have a devastating effect on a relationship! Evaluating the strength of our personal relationships is one of the reasons we have to undergo a psych eval.

I have no problem with my decision to undergo the VSG, I just don't tell anyone just for the sake of not having to explain my actions to people whose opinions have no value to me. Those people close to me know and that's fine with me.

At my first appt., I told the nurse I was 2 inches shorter than I actually am to help inflate my BMI a bit. The things we do, huh?

Yep, I sure am. I just got my first haircut 3 months post-op because my hair thinned out so much and I just haven't needed one. Oh, well... everything's a trade-off, isn't it?

How much we weigh is such a personal issue and no one's business but our own. I only discuss my actual weight with my wife... anyone else (except this forum, of course!) gets generalities, not specifics. I've lost 105 pounds since my journey began, about 51 pounds pre-op and the remaining 54 pounds after surgery on 03/28/12. I'm losing about 17 pounds a month average and now that I'm close to goal, I'm more concerned with feeling good rather than losing weight.

I'm 3 months out and - while I am positive about the surgery because of the results - I still have my moments. I miss eating a "normal" meal the most, especially after taking a couple of bites of an amazing dish and having to stop eating because I'm already full. Also, I have osteoarthritis and I cannot take any NSAID anti-inflammatories any more, such as aspirin or Ibuprofen, so I'm stuck with pain pills or steroids. Things I don't miss? The 105 pounds of fat I've lost and the huge fat clothes that I've thrown away because I know they'll never be needed again. Is it worth it? All things considered, I think it is and I would probably do it again. Is it easy? No. I have to dig down deep and pull myself out of the doldrums several times a week. You are undergoing major surgery (with a history of minimal complications and a very low mortality rate) and facing a lifetime commitment. Can you be 100% sure you're doing the right thing without hesitation before surgery? Probably not, and I think that is very common and also very normal. Everybody's mileage varies and only you can do what you feel is best for yourself. I think, in the long run, that this is a very positive step towards an exciting, new life as a "normal" person. Best of luck!

I second the vote on Gator Ade. Not the low calories, stuff, either. The higher calorie stuff absorbs better. Your #1 priority is getting rehydrated, not losing weight. The body absorbs 53% of water ingested, but over 70% of Gator Ade. I start slam dunking Gator Ade at the first symptom of dehydration. Mine happens to be dizziness, not dark urine. You should check your BP and pulse rate, also. Dehydration causes a lowering of BP and an increase of pulse rate. If you have significant symptoms, you should get professional help ASAP. They can put you on a saline drip and you'll be fine after a liter or two of fluids is infused. Dehydration can be very serious if left untreated. I've been on an IV four times, already, so I know! Best of luck!

Michelle, this is truly a journey and...in this case...getting there is NOT half the fun! Being sleeved is major surgery with lifelong implications. As you read through all of the posts, you will see that you are going through a very normal phase and many, many of us did the same thing. Keep your eye on the goal and it will help you through the hard times.

With me, it was 3 weeks almost to the day after surgery when I realized I was feeling much better and more energetic than ever. I had been so exhausted after surgery I didn't think I would ever get through it. As I get nearer to my goal, I find myself more active than ever and looking for things to do. Make sure you get plenty of fluids and protein, and I mean PLENTY, because those 2 things will make the difference. Good luck!

I know exactly how you feel because I felt the same way. At least part of your depression and doubt is the result of having gone through major surgery. I'm a little over 3 months out and I'm feeling much better as my ability to eat increases. I can now eat more now as my stomach heals and it's much more like a meal than right after surgery. I went through a serious self-doubt period, too, but I realized I had no options other than to either make the best of it or let it defeat me emotionally. I chose the former and I felt much better since I came to grips with my decision. The bottom line is that I am now only about 25 pounds from my goal and I couldn't be happier about my decision to do whatever it took to be "normal." You WILL get though this and what you are experiencing is so common among so many sleevers. Best of luck on your journey!

Another vote here for pork skins. 80 cal., 0 carbs and 7 gr of protein!

What is there to complain about? 1-2 pounds per week, consistently, will ultimately get you to goal. And. like deekaspor said, you can be losing body fat content even though your weight loss is not exactly ideal. Statistically, people who lose slowly and consistently have a higher degree of success with the sleeve than those who lose rapidly. A while back I thought I had stalled, too, but then learned that I had lost 15 pounds of body fat when the scale only showed a 6 pound loss. As long as you haven't developed any bad food habits you will be just fine. Good luck!

Your doc should provide you with a prescription pain med, possibly a liquid... there are a number of possibilities. You probably won't need them for more than a day or so. Be careful not to overdo them, they are very constipating and that can be worse than the post-op pain. Don't worry, excessive pain usually is not a major post-op issue. Best of luck!

Part of a comprehensive psych eval is to make us aware of the possibilities that our undergoing a radical weight loss may have a negative impact on our marriages or relationships. Statistically, the divorce rate for bariatric patients is higher than average. I would think that those husbands and wives who are not supportive are either insecure about their marriages or about themselves.

I actually avoided pureeing foods. I chose soft foods and chewed them very thoroughly... never had a problem. Somehow, pureeing foods, to me, is just not a natural act.

Your stomach only processes the food, the intestines do all the absorption.

Take before and after measurements. Many times a stall is really a conversion process wherein your body is losing fat and gaining muscle. I thought I had stalled for a few weeks and learned I had really lost 15 pounds of fat! Make sure you are taking in enough calories and protein to avoid your body going into starvation mode. Good luck!

Tums should be fine. I'm pretty sure they are just pure calcium. I take them (or their equivalent) frequently.

I was really well prepared for the surgery but my innate stubbornness and belief that I was bulletproof led to my own downfall. I knew what to do and what I needed to eat and drink but I threw out all of that info and followed my own plan. Big whoops! Sure, I lost weight, but I was miserable much of the first 6 or 7 weeks because I wasn't drinking enough fluids or eating enough protein. It isn't enough to be prepared knowledge-wise if you aren't willing to do what you know is right! (sigh..)

I would have to guess dehydration is the issue. I've been there and one that several times and dizziness is a primary symptom. You need to get with your doctor and he will get you infused with fluids if he feels it necessary. Don't delay - this can be a significant issue if left untreated. Best of luck!