Bethany

I have to agree with Michelle. It DOES happen. I have had it since my surgery last year whenever I have certain things that are high in sugar. I don't mean like a BOWL of ice cream, I mean like two tiny bites and I feel as though my body goes into shock. I shake, go pale, sweat, feel super hot and sick to my stomach, my head is super foggy so I don't always make sense, terrible diarrhea. That is a short list compared to all of the symptoms, the symptoms hit you like a truck all at once and there is just no mistaking it for anything else. It isn't dairy related (for me anyway), although ice cream for me is a sure fire way to feel it. I also tried a very tiny bite of "apple butter bar" in the fall which I later learned has TONS of sugar in addition to apple butter which I know has lots of sugar as well. This was the first time I experienced these symptoms and had no idea why it had happened, the next day I had another bite of that bar and the same thing happened to me. Over the year it's happened maybe 5 times and each time I can remember clearly... it's no fun at all!

My insurance has a "cap" of $1,000 out of pocket per year, so that is all I had to pay for the whole thing. I can't remember the exact amount the insurance paid, but I believe it was around $18,000.

Hey! Congrats on your progress! I was sleeved 8/28, I have lost a total of 40 lbs, but that is since I met my surgeon and started dieting. I think since my surgery I've lost about 20-25 of that. I have a hard time getting enough protein or water, but I hear that from most. My loss has slowed to about 1 or 2 lbs a week but I had my gym membership and personal trainer on hold since before surgery and it stays that way until December 1st, so I know I'll be losing more soon! I still have to take acid reflux meds since the surgery (my doc said I would ony need it for a month or two post op)...anyone else still need them too? When I don't take them I get those "gurgles" in my throat (I still get them occasionally with meds but not bad) and it burns without meds when I eat or drink.

It is completely normal to stall once you add some food back in to your diet. Everyone I've talked to has stalled then. After that the weight loss is slower, adding in exercise once your doctor says it is okay will help. I am not able to add in exercise yet, my eight stayed about the same for maybe two weeks? Now I think I lost one pound in the past week. After not eating and or being on a liquid diet your body is not use to eating food so your metabolism is why your body is kind if out of whack...

You will lose eventually from your chest, definitely. Most women likely lose from there right away, I am not one of them... you probably are not either. I was a 38DD and I've lost about 33 lbs and I may be a D now, but I've lost noticeably more from everywhere else. I am only 4 wks post op.

4 weeks post op... Main incision is still red/puffy... Okay, my main incision was the last one I took the "tape" looking stuff off of because it was the most sore... But it has been about a week and a half since I did that and the entire time it has had like a pinkish circle around it that seems a little puffy. It isn't really hurting much anymore, unless I wear pants that rub on it. I am 4 weeks post op and did develop a skin infection after surgery and have been taking meds for that (it was like hives in other areas that were itchy, gone now) my dermatologist did not see this though because I still had the tape on at that point. Just wanted to see if anyone else had this...if its normal, or could be something else.

If it is itchy you should go to a dermatologist. My surgeon assumed I was allergic to my Protein drink choice... The minute my dermatologist saw it he said it was a common infection that can happen anytime your skin is cut (ie: surgery) My incision looks nothing like the rash did though.

Don't look back. Before you probably didn't gain this fast because you we're maintaining a larger weight... All you can do is try to go back to a healthier outlook. Add more exercise in to mix it up.

I'm 4 weeks post op now and my main incision still is puffy and pink (like a circle around it) did anyone else have this? It doesn't hurt, I only get sore when I'm in that side or if I wear pants that rub on it. Thanks for any replies!

It probably is linked to the "slimes". It's like your esophogus creates thicker slimey mucus which helps get the food down if you eat too fast or too much... It makes me feel like I need t hack it up but I could see how it could make you feel like you need to sneeze, or could cause runny nose.

Hey guys! I am close to 4 weeks post op and am doing fairly well. I have a really hard time getting enough protein, all the liquid proteins make me sick so I've started having Greek yogurt (bad for sugar content, but does have 14-19g protein depending n the brand) and for meals I try to eat soups that have chicken and or beans, etc. My current problems with my sleeve are that my throat is almost constantly "gurgling" it is so annoying and at times painful. When I take pills (I do cut them) my throat feels like its "contracting" where it hurts and stops and hurts and stops. It is frustrating. I do sometimes get a case of the slimes too from taking pills. Does anyone else experience this? I do take Prevacid (prevents acid reflux) and levsin (suppose to keep asophagus from swelling) and it is much worse when I don't take them, but I sure hope it goes away eventually!

Some other members may have said this also but expect that the first few weeks post op you will be saying "WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?!?" and regretting it, this is probably normal for anyone, especially if you aren't someone who walks out if the hospital feeling great! I had some little complications, nothing too big but mostly just lots of nausea for the first week. I am a little over two weeks post op now and feel much better but still struggle to get my Protein in without getting sick. Your tastes will change, and for me the protein powders just seem disgusting now. What I have noticed though is the more you heal the better you feel about the decision. Also trying some actual food (even if it is puréed) makes you feel great when the time comes. I had been so miserable and when I had a bite of watery split pea Soup that was puréed I told my hubby I felt like a million bucks! In other words.... During the post op diets a lot of that regret is just from healing, and handling no food when you have become so dependent on it. Good luck in making your decision. The thing that got me to commit was knowing even if I worked really hard without this change it would not last and I would not get the wonderful results I was hoping for. This is not the easy way out though, it takes lots of commitment!

Thank you guys for the replies! I am going to try harder to not lift anything for awhile and I definitely will try some of the fancier energy drinks from GNC. Today I still didn't have anything else to try so I did my Unjury again and I actually kept swallowing for about an hour to prevent myself from throwing up. even if the other stuff is costly, I need a better option! So, thank you.

Which brand is it? Flavor? I have heard of a few that they sell that taste the best but are really pricey... Wondering if it's worth a try.

I am just checking to see if this is normal... I had my surgery on 8/28 so I'm two weeks post op and it seems like my main incision is more sore now and when I move certain ways it feels like tugging or something and gets sore. I lifted my son once a few days ago and think it may be related but I worry if it's inside or just normal healing.... On a side note I am totally not getting enough protein. I tried another brand (muscle milk) and broke out in hives the next morning... So apparently am allergic. I forced myself to have some of my Unjury today but it was not easy to not throw up. Ugh!

I get dizzy once in awhile.... Seems like its mostly when I have walked a bit and ignored the fact that I was getting tired, or the times I haven't had enough Water or nutrients.

I was using Unjury, which has whey protein... Not sure if that effects lactose intolerant people? I am going to try some other brands that are pre-made.... My doc is not a fan of premade (he says within 20 mins of making the shake the protein starts to break down) but I think the powder type is part of why I have a hard time getting it down. We'll see.

Hey! We were sleeved on the same day! I can eat half of a scrambled egg and today I made split pea soup and puréed it. I guess because it is soup (lots of liquid) I was able to eat quite a bit, it was the most satisfied I have felt since before my liquid diet. Good luck to you! Yay for starting to eat again!!!

A little TMI but I just want to see if anyone else is having this problem too... Every time I drink my protein, whether it's 30g like I am supposed to or a few sips I feel so sick for about an hour. My stomach is rumbling like crazy and I get bad gas pains and until I finally have diarrhea I am just miserable! In addition the stuff tastes terrible and I have a hard time not throwing it up when I drink it. My main concern is that the entire time the protein drink is in my body I feel terrible. I have eaten a few scrambled eggs (usually can only have half of one for a meal) and I feel just fine so I know it's the protein drinks.... They are the same ones I had for liquid diet before surgery and I was fine then. Thanks for any input!

You may only need two (maybe three) weeks off from work. Depending on what you do at your nurse job, if there is lifting, etc. I am a stay at home mom and it's been about 11 days since my surgery and this is my first day without helpers with me. I can't lift my son and really have to rest alot. I wouldn't be concerned with your bosses negatively. I had family members that weren't supportive until they saw I was going to d it with or without their support. I only know one person that had a bad outcome and it was her own fault. She lost all the weight and then decided to eat the way she used to and re-stretched her stomach out so she is back to her old size. From what it seems, this is actually not very common. It'll stretch out a little over time, which is understandable but it takes you really not caring anymore to go backwards that much.

I had my protein for the first time since surgery for breakfast and lunch. Both times I had a really hard time not throwing it up... Just tastes much worse to me now. Also it really upset my stomach. At dinner I tried to to eat a scrambled egg and did just fine. I know it is premature to try food but i felt so much better after and no stomach upset.

You need to talk to your doctors office. My surgeon doesn't allow anything (even protein) for the first week post op. just clear sugar free caffeine free liquids. I had a very hard time getting in my liquids the first few days and then I started making myself eat Popsicles all throughout the day, that reallllllly helped! As for how much you lose and how fast it really depends on your body and how much you have to lose. If someone has 200 lbs to lose they will lose a lot faster then someone like me who has about 60 lbs to lose. I wouldn't worry. Just don't push yourself past the different "phases" too fast. (1. clear liquid, 2. Adding in protein, 3. Adding in some puréed food, 4. Adding in some soft foods, 5. Carefully eating normal.) these each take a certain number of days or weeks depending on your doctor!! Mine does 1. One week, 2. Three weeks, 3. Two weeks, 4. Three weeks. And then if I calculated that all right I get to eat normally NINE weeks post op. Every doctor is different though, some more cautious then others.

Slowly having my first Protein shake since surgery. Yesterday almost all of the day I was so consumed with how hungry I was so when today started the same way I decided to give the protein a try. So far so good...well except for the taste. It's tolerable. During pre op liquid diet I always just downed these as fast as I could so it isn't fun having to sip slowly and "savor" it. How is everyone else doing today?

I am sooo hungry. 5 days post op and my doctor is the strictest of all! He says I can't start puréed food until weeks 5-6 post op and soft foods weeks 7-8. He does these rules for all patients. so, my question is when does your doctor allow you to move from liquid diet to puréed, to soft, etc.????????????? Just want to get an idea of what the average doc says.

SoCal, Your doctor should have you on a strict plan. I know for me the full week after surgery is strictly sugar free, caffeine free, clear liquid diet... No protein yet. So I mostly just have Popsicles and water. Take your multivitamins throughout the day since that is all the nutrition you can get at this point. Week 2 I start protein. I know I can't try eating like normally until post op week 9. Hope that helps.