HR Pro

Hi, I'm new here and considering the sleeve gastrectomy. I am cross-posting from another thread I found by googling the topic, but I'm not sure anyone follows that thread any more. Introduction: My name is Michelle and I'm 37 and live near Houston, TX. I have a BMI of 40 with no other comorbidities except metabolic syndrome. My doctor has suggested medical weight loss surgery and recommends the sleeve because I do not want the side effects my mom had after gastric bypass and the band has not proven as succesful for long term weight loss. I have also tried nutra system, weight watchers, south beach diet, and other methods to try to lose weight but I can never stick with one and gain the weight back and more. Regarding the surgery: I'm afraid of making a permanent decision and not being able to get enough nutrition because of an inability to drink Protein shakes my whole life. A couple of years ago, when my BMI reached 37 I tried the liquid diet program and could not make it a full 2 months, even with 3 shakes and 1 small meal, because I could not tolerate the shakes. I got to where I threw up every shake except chocolate and then after a week of 3 chocolate shakes a day and one small meal, I was angry and resented the chocolate and couldn't bring myself to drink it. I was also exhausted and nauseated much of the time, due to being in ketosis. So I quit the program. I had lost 17 lbs in 6 weeks but have gained it all back and then some. I have averaged a weight increase of 10 lbs per year for the last 7 years but have no evidence of thyroid problems - much of it is portion control, bad choices, and a sedentary life due to a very busy job where I sit in front of the computer all day (and evening). The sleeve seems like a good solution - I need the tool that the sleeve offers which is portion control. I love healthy food - I eat fish and vegetables for lunch on a regular basis. I already cook with 94% lean hamburger when I cook meals, prefer chicken to red meat - I just don't stay full long so I eat more. And more. And more. Unless my taste changes where I no longer like Mediterranean food, I expect I will be able to eat a diet of lean meats and vegetables with only an occasional bite of Desserts during special occasions without feeling like I'm missing out on anything (I have read that happens on this board when reading as a lurker). But I'm worried about getting enough protein because of not being able to stand the shakes. Has anyone else been in this same situation with the shakes/drinks and do you have a recommendation? Do you get to a point where you can get protein without having to do the shakes/drinks? That doesn't seem possible but maybe someone at 18 months post surgery or later might be able to weigh in? Thanks for your advice!

thank you!

This is encouraging. I was thinking that eating the protein bars might be challenging because they might be harder to digest. Does your body make loud digestive noises after eating those? One of the reasons I wanted to consider this surgery and not bypass is I was hoping the gurgly noises were only a side effect of that surgery. :\

You should talk about this with your doctor. This sounds like what I went through on the liquid diet when in Ketosis. I think (but am no doctor or nutritionist) that your body is burning stored fat right now because you aren't giving it carbs and that is a side effect that should eventually go away. But again, talk to your doctor.

Is this all the time, when you need to eat, or after you eat?

what kind of noises? My mom had gastric bypass and her stomach makes noises like she is REALLY hungry and her stomach is growling into a bullhorn. Are your noises like that?

He is probably concerned about your weight loss and whether you are ill. 60 lbs in 2.5 months is incredible. You can either go to lunch if you are allowed to eat some solids now, and move food around your plate/get a box to go for later. Or you can give him limited information so he is not worrying about you? Ask him if you can meet in the office instead of out at lunch because you are on a strict diet and not eating out so you can control your diet. If he presses, tell him it is a medically monitored diet. If he still insists you go to lunch, go and have hot tea or something you *can* eat.

My mom had gastric bypass at UTMB and felt like she had a great experience. I do not recall her doctor's name though. My coworker had her sleeve done by Dr. Reardon a year ago. She has done amazingly well. She was about 240 lbs preop and is now about 140-150 lbs. She feels well, is so positive, and cannot say enough positive things about the her experience. I went through the liquid Diet program in the Weight Management center at Methodist and it was a high quality experience except that I could not tolerate the shakes. I'm now considering the sleeve, as recommended by my physician. I will either have Reardon or Vadeem Sherman perform the operation if I am approved, get through all the financial issues, and can figure out how to live post-op given my intolerance to the whey Protein.

I don't know if anyone is following this thread any more but instead of starting a new one, I thought I'd try this one. Introduction: My name is Michelle and I'm 37 and live near Houston, TX. I have a BMI of 40 with no other comorbidities except metabolic syndrome. My doctor has suggested medical weight loss surgery and recommends the sleeve because I do not want the side effects my mom had after gastric bypass and the band has not proven as succesful for long term weight loss. However, I'm afraid of making a permanent decision and not being able to get enough nutrition because of an inability to drink Protein shakes my whole life. A couple of years ago, when my BMI reached 37 I tried the liquid diet program and could not make it a full 2 months, even with 3 shakes and 1 small meal, because I could not tolerate the shakes. I got to where I threw up every shake except chocolate and then after a week of 3 chocolate shakes a day and one small meal, I was angry and resented the chocolate and couldn't bring myself to drink it. I was also exhausted and nauseated much of the time, due to being in ketosis. So I quit the program. I had lost 17 lbs in 6 weeks but have gained it all back and then some. I have averaged a weight increase of 10 lbs per year for the last 7 years but have no evidence of thyroid problems - much of it is portion control, bad choices, and a sedentary life due to a very busy job where I sit in front of the computer all day (and evening). The sleeve seems like a good solution - I need the tool that the sleeve offers which is portion control. I love healthy food - I eat fish and vegetables for lunch on a regular basis. I already cook with 94% lean hamburger when I cook meals, prefer chicken to red meat - I just don't stay full long so I eat more. And more. And more. Unless my taste changes where I no longer like Mediterranean food, I expect I will be able to eat a diet of lean meats and vegetables with only an occasional bite of Desserts during special occasions without feeling like I'm missing out on anything (I have read that happens on this board when reading as a lurker). But I'm worried about getting enough protein because of not being able to stand the shakes. Has anyone else been in this same situation with the shakes/drinks and do you have a recommendation? Or do you get to a point where you can get protein without having to do the shakes?