OneWritersSoul

Yes, I'm slow and late to the show but I'm loving that VST has a place for LGBTQ members! How awesome! I noticed it's a little quiet, but that's okay, because it EXISTS...YAY!

What the hell was I thinking?! You can shout it too, it's okay. I deserve it. Yesterday it was a beautiful, warm day full of sunshine and such. I stayed outside as much as possible with my puppy and we enjoyed NOT focusing on things like loneliness, an empty house, and food temptations. Today it is a typical Pittsburgh day. Cold, grey, and it's raining. I'm feeling the emptiness of the house even with the puppy napping peacefully. All I want is comfort. And wouldn't you know, I reached for that damned box of waffles that has been in the freezer for over six months. (Can we say Eww?!) I toasted one waffle, measured one serving of low-calorie butter substitute and .25 serving of syrup before it hit me that I was eating for comfort. A waffle with butter and syrup would make me so ill and offers no nutritional value-WTH?! So, I tossed it all into the outside garbage bin. The box of waffles from the freezer and the syrup went as well- just for good measure. I'm still lonely and the weather is still crappy but at least my insane addiction didn't win this time, so it's a victory I'll happily claim.

Some of you know me and some of you don't and at six months out some of you may not count me as a "Veteran" and that's okay- I'm not. I'm as green as the fresh-cut grass. And my questions are going to prove it! I'm posting here because posting in the really newbie forum isn't going to help me as much as I believe you all may be able to. My main concern is how to increase my calorie count to where my surgeon/nutritionist wants it to be when I'm just not able to eat that much. Even with a sudden increase in my appetite, I'm finding that my calories are right around 500 for the day- not the 1200 recommended by the surgeon/nutritionist. Increasing my exercise hasn't made it easier to eat, only made me more thirsty. My diet is relatively low-carb. Meaning my carbs come only from occasional fruits and the rare starchy vegetable, as I was diagnosed with Celiac's Disease and my sleeve just doesn't tolerate any bread, rice, grains, etc. So, I don't touch the stuff- when I try, disaster! (I use MFP to track my daily intake.) Exercise is primarily walking the local track, walking at the local cemetery (lots of hills), and using the elliptical. I also do a kettle bell shred on alternating days of the week. I'm far from sedentary since just prior to being sleeved and getting more active every day. I still struggle to not only meet the daily calorie requirements, but to keep food down. I've had one stricture repair, I take my PPI and my anti-nausea medicine religiously. The surgeon tells me it will just be "tight" for a little while, to keep getting my Protein and calories in. How??!! And how the heck does this metabolism thing figure into it? I've lost weight but being ill and exhausted all the time is not fun. Any suggestions that you Veteran sleevers may have as far as calories and protein go, I'd certainly appreciate it. I swear I feel as though I'm at my wit's end with this and when I see my surgeon I'd like to have something positive to report to him.

Of all the ones you listed, only the SF Carnation Instant Breakfast, Advant-edge Carb Control and Atkins RTD were even on my surgeon's approved post-op list. As matter of fact, we were specifically told to steer clear of the rest of those! Isn't it crazy how drastically different surgeons are?! As for the taste, I'd go for the Carnation Instant Breakfast with skim milk because it was most yummy. Second was Atkins, in my opinion. But then again, I couldn't tolerate any of it after the initial sip, so I had to switch to Syntrax nectar. Best of luck to you! Sent from my iPhone 5 using VST

Taking your Reglan and your antacid/protonpump inhibitor that was prescribed by your doctor will GREATLY minimize this! The "gurgling" may simply be normal stomach juices and acid. As my surgeon explained to me, they removed a portion of the stomach, but not necessarily the part the produces acid so it remains an issue for some people. {My stomach specific meds right now are omeprazole, Reglan, Zofran, and Zantac- yes, ALL of the above! They all (according to my surgeon) serve different functions, so I set my alarms and take them accordingly.} Sent from my iPhone 5 using VST

I had EXTREMELY SEVERE nausea, vomiting, my food intake decreased dramatically, and even my ability to drink was compromised. My reflux has NEVER resolved, but it simply became worse, even to the point of waking me from a sound sleep in the middle of the night, forcing me to vomit because of the acid. (Prior to being sleeved I only threw up when I was pregnant.) Sent from my iPhone 5 using VST

The scope is done under sedation, so it's a piece of cake...erm...it's no big deal The ulcer they're not completely sure about yet. They sent a tissue sample off for testing to make sure it really isn't anything more than a simple ulcer. In the interim, they're treating the H. pylori with more antis. Sent from my iPhone 5 using VST

And the winner is, Laura! I've had antis and dilation (both 2x) and they discovered an ulcer this time around. Fun, fun, fun! Sent from my iPhone 5 using VST

I hope by now you've phoned your doctor and/or you're feeling better. These symptoms you're describing are worrisome! Sent from my iPhone 5 using VST

The friends you add can see your weight loss/gains on the MFP app. I'm not certain if there is a privacy setting or not. I use MFP but everything is open to my friends. Sent from my iPhone 5 using VST

Thanks for sharing this link! I may have to modify some of the ingredients (would almond milk work in it, I wonder?) but it sounds worth it! Sent from my iPhone 5 using VST

All of you look fabulous! I just want to mention to anyone who may be stopping by that is post-op or VERY recently sleeved, please do yourself a favor- TAKE FULL LENGTH PHOTOS! I hadn't found this forum until after I'd already started my journey and NO ONE prior to being sleeved mentioned photos. I have no full-length photos of me at my highest weight and though I'm a freelance photographer, I photograph landscapes and architecture, not people, certainly not myself. So, please keep those cameras handy to document your awesome progress! :) Sent from my iPhone 5 using VST

Wow. You can eat a big salad but chicken kicks your backside? I'm kinda envious! Well, I would be if I could tolerate more than 2oz of chicken. And what's with the tacos?! I'm Latina and I can't even do a taco! Sent from my iPhone 5 using VST

This is only the beginning. No matter what your reasons were for doing it, it's done. But it gets better. No, you won't be able to drink Pepsi or eat massive quantities. You probably won't be able to "chug" water ever again either. Those are the realities that we've ALL had to deal with. But for the sake of your two beautiful little girls, pull yourself together. Fix yourself a glass of water to sip on or a warm cup of tea, whatever works best for your new tummy, and sip on it while you think about a course of action. Make yourself a schedule for your meals (protein!) and your liquids and adhere to it. If at all possible, please call your surgeon and ask for a counseling referral. It will help make this lifestyle change a bit less difficult for you. It would have been easier before surgery, but it's not impossible now, I promise. Please, remember that you're not stupid. You have two daughters that are depending on you to do what you need to do, Fran25. If nothing else will do it, allow the love you feel for them to be your guide and your motivation to do what you need to do. You're in my thoughts and prayers. Sent from my iPhone 5 using VST

I start an innocent thread about waffles and look what you all turn it into...hooray! ::adjusts halo:: Sent from my iPhone 5 using VST

LoL Laura, I have yet to find it on MFP so if you do, let me know! Sent from my iPhone 5 using VST