BarrySue

Almost 60 lbs down! I haven't done any kind of exercise yet though. I wish Florida weather wasn't so awful, because it's too hot and sticky to take walks.

I'm saving a lot of money. Like, ridiculous amounts. My food budget went from 400-500/month (I was a HUGE binge eater who would order 2-3 meals at a time) to under 100 bucks. And honestly, if I wasn't "experimenting" with buying things, trying a bite, then feeding it to the dogs because I hate it, it would be even lower.

7/13 sleeve here. Almost 60 lbs down! The first month was miserable, but I feel much better now. I'm struggling to meet my Protein needs (but trying hard), and eating feels like a chore! I do feel like a lot of the cravings are gone now, but I still don't feel safe keeping many types of food in the house because I spent so much of my life binge-eating/fantasizing about whatever was in the pantry.

I just wish I could sleep on my stomach again I really miss that. Hopefully in the next few weeks I will finally be able to get back to my favorite sleeping position.

Short answer: you won't drop dead.

Long answer: Your body is a wide array of complex processes, and not getting the right Protein and micronutrients/vitamins can set off a lot of unpleasant reactions you won't be aware of, and can ultimately hurt you and your weight loss efforts.

I never really reach my nutritional goals, but when I do eat (ugh, it's such a chore sometimes, this eating thing, right?) I try to make sure I'm at least eating some Protein. Here's why your body needs it:

You want to break down your fat, right? It's a lot of tightly condensed carbs, which is why we try to stay low-carb/low simple-carb, because we wanna flush those suckers out of there. However, to help break down these fat cells, we need energy to do it. Where does that energy come from? Protein.

Skip ahead. So you're not really getting your protein, but you figure "hey, so what? I'm losing weight anyhow!"

Here's the issue: Your body will cannibalize your muscles to do it. Your scale may move, but you will be losing increasing amounts of muscle versus those dreaded fat cells you really want to go.

As time passes, while you may feel great, there will be other symptoms that set it slowly. Malnutrition is a chronic beast that creeps up on you slowly, and that downing some Vitamins can't immediately fix. Your teeth might get loose. Your hair might thin a little. Your nails may not grow as fast. You walk around okay, but you head to a theme park and realize you get fatigued after long distances. Your bones, which as a woman are in a constant state of Calcium buildup and loss, will become more brittle, and it will be VERY difficult to fix this process.

Do I think you can not follow the NUT's guide and be okay? Yes. Do I think you should try to get as close as possible and not simply brush off what someone has spent their entire life studying to try and help people like you? Yes.

Just stick to it. Experiment with different foods. Don't give up entirely. We got fat because we were passive/lax with food choices. Don't let the same habits re-emerge now.

Belly gains weight first, belly loses weight last. It's practically a greek tragedy.

Unless you're one of those pear-shaped women, in which case, I hate you (I don't actually, I'm just insanely jealous ).

7 weeks post-op, but I'm still not able to sleep on my stomach. Having 3842380 pillow and a body pillow helps a little, but some people simply aren't back-sleepers.

You're having a major organ removed! Of course you're going to worry, obsess, and overthink everything--there'd be something wrong with you if you strode into the hospital whistling without a care in the world .

As far as reflux, the reviews are mixed. Mine was so bad prior to surgery that I'd wake up with vomit in my mouth. My esophagus and even my vocal cords suffered damage. Post-surgery, the problem is 100% gone. It was such a wonderful surprise. I was just hoping it wouldn't get worse, but I got this wonderful gift instead.

Strange menstruations can happen during drastic diet changes, but three periods in a month? That is something you definitely need to take up with your gyno, as this may be a result of other problems and not your surgery. Please get it checked asap!

You and food have not officially broken up! You're just on a break while you figure out how to have a healthy, non-destructive relationship. Don't ache and agonize over every meal you're not having -- just remember you can have those foods again when you've learned to eat appropriately.

I hope you hear the echo over and over again of "it gets better," because it truly does! The first few weeks after surgery were the hardest for me in terms of craving. By week 5-6, food felt less important. I'm on week 7 now, and eating is a chore I must push myself to do.

You got this, kid Feel free to regurgitate your woes and frustrations as much as you need. We're here for you.

It's different for everyone. A fifty-five year old woman in my Facebook support group was up and bouncing around two days after surgery, sleeping comfortably on her side, and back at work in two weeks. Meanwhile, I'm half her age, confined to bed in total misery, no exercise nearly two months out, still can't sleep on my stomach or sleep very long, and hell, I had to call 911 when I was three days out of surgery because I fell and couldn't get up!

Don't confuse pain, misery, and tough times for regret. They suck, and they suck worse when the people around you are cheerful and full of "advice." But that doesn't mean you've made the wrong choice. As the pounds melt away, this period will become smaller and smaller in your mind.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm not feeling anything that acute yet, thank goodness.

Don't worry, if symptoms persist or worsen, I'll call my surgeon or go to the ER asap, but I was wondering if anyone who *didn't* have their gallbladder removed during WLS experienced anything similar.

I'm two months out, and for the past two days, I've had feelings of abdominal heaviness. Not pain, tenderness or even discomfort, just a feeling of fullness. I don't want to eat, I feel full faster than normal, and when I do eat, I sometimes have brief sensations of nausea (not something I ever had before). What makes this complicated is that I'm also finishing up menstruation (sorry dudes who read this ), so it's difficult to distinguish the symptoms from the usual cramped/bloated feelings from this time of the month (last month I don't remember having the same menstrual cycle symptoms, but I was only three weeks out of surgery then so everything still hurt!)

Anyone have any perspective? Have you had symptoms even without a gallbladder? Anyone experience appetite/sensory changes during their period? Anyone have their gallbladder out a few months after surgery due to failure?

Honestly, the first 2-3 weeks after surgery were when I felt hungriest. Gradually, the cravings subsided for me and I stopped opening the fridge fifty times a day staring longingly at everything. It gets better.

I was sleeved on 7/13, and I am only just beginning to be able to sleep on my side/stomach for a few hours at a time. Another person I know was laying on her side the day after! It varies from person to person.

Wow. That your doc is stating things that go so obviously against the research is a major red flag to me. I would consider a second opinion. My doc religiously pushes the duodenal switch because it costs more, has patients coming back to see him more often (he hates sleeve patients because they go on their way and he loses money on the lack of follow ups), and the weight loss can be higher (but the complications/malabsorption issues are also higher).

When in doubt, shop around.

Doctors can often accept payments. However, the hospital itself will pretty much always require payment in full before ANY services are rendered. Sorry!

Ugh, that is AWFUL! I'm so sorry. I know the doctor simply did what he thought was best, but it's like "LET'S GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD, BUCKO!"

@@BarrySue yikes, really? Have you had a bad experience? I have friends who have had the vein stripping procedure done, and their legs are beautiful years later, and I'm using the same vein dr. I was interested more in what the experience of the actual procedure was. I have been assured that it is not painful, due to the local anesthetic, but what the sensation of the vein pulling is like. Thanks for your response. I appreciate all input and feedback.

Several of my friends have gone through the procedure, and all of them were incredibly disappointed by the results. One of them suffered extreme pain. But if you have friends and personally know patients of a doctor who has had more success, that's wonderful.

Sure, you can simply not eat, and eventually the weight will come off. However, if you decide starving yourself for the sake of a pushy boyfriend works faster than the diet plan proposed by your doctor, nutritionist, nurses, and medical team (you know, those folks who do this for a living and spend countless years in school, training, and field experience), expect to enjoy the following along with a dip on your scale:

Thin, dull, lifeless hair

weight lost from your muscles, the things that keep you toned/firm rather than simply your waistline

diarrhea

anemia

weakness/fatigue

depression/apathy

bad/blotchy/rash-covered skin that loses it's healthy color

loose teeth

abnormal menstruation

circles under your eyes

deficiency of potassium and Calcium, the electrolytes responsible for muscle function and HEART FUNCTION

Loss of ability to recognize dehydration and hunger

This is not what you want. If you are starving yourself because some guy wants you smaller, you need to seriously step back and re-evaluate your life. If you had a daughter or best friend who was doing the same thing even if it wasn't for a man, what would you tell her? To knock it off and do it the healthy way (which is also the way that produces the best results). Don't go for short-term results at the expense of serious long term problems.

I was stuck at a conference and had some potatoes au gratin at 18 days out. It was delicious and caused little to no discomfort! But other than that, I *never* try them. Starchy white stuff not only stops me from losing, but it's a real trigger food for me.

I'm six weeks out and should be near the end of soft food, almost able to start eating normally again--but I hate everything. Either it makes me sick or I just have no desire to eat at all. Protein shakes give me dumping syndrome. I hate greek yogurt. I was over cottage cheese after two days. I never want to see Soup again for as long as I live. Everything makes me feel uncomfortable and bloated.

Forgive me for sounding like the spokesperson for Fairlife milk, but Fairlife Milk is the only reason I haven't died of starvation! It's ultra-filtered, so lactose and most other sugars are gone, and it's got extra Protein and Calcium. I drink that with a variety of sugar free/diet flavors (strawberry, chocolate, PB2, diet hot cocoa), and munch low-fat cheese or occasionally a frozen yogurt bar.

Some people just tolerate different things. My sleeve just happens to be a crybaby about everything, but it'll get better. Yours will too. Just keep experimenting with different foods so you find a way to get your protein.

I had the same problem after surgery! I suffered from lactose intolerance as a kid, and it came back full force after my surgery. Every Protein drink/powder seemed to make me nauseous, and anything with lactose gave me dumping syndrome.

I use "Fairlife Milk." It is an ultra-filtered milk that removes lactose AND most excess sugar. Then, it is fortified with additional Protein and Calcium. A protein shake netted me 30g of protein, but with fairlife I could still get to 18g with the same amount, so it helped me get closer to my protein goal.

Best part is, I can add a little PB2, sugar free strawberry Syrup, sugar free chocolate syrup, or diet hot cocoa mix depending on how I feel.

I'll be six weeks out tomorrow, and it's still my main source of protein.

Haha, I'm a couple of pounds away from JOINING the 200 club, and I'll be happy when I finally do.

Great job on your progress! That is a fantastic milestone!

UHC is covering my varicose veins and spider veins. My first procedure for the worst vein is this Thursday afternoon. Anyone want to tell me what to expect?

Expect varying levels of pain, and poor results. It's like stretch marks: varicose veins are simply a part of your body and it is extremely difficult to mask their appearance even with surgery. Sometimes it is easier to wear thicker dancer tights instead of pantyhose, and learn to deal with it.

Under the FMLA, they cannot legally fire you for missing six weeks of work.