catwoman7

I'm not sure what she actually meant by that, but I know I take certain comments differently now that I'm normal size than I did when I weighed almost 400 lbs. If I was eating dessert now and some friend or relative called me a "piggy" (that is, if they said it in a joking manner), I would have just assumed they were teasing me was because I was eating dessert. Before my surgery, I most definitely would have assumed they were referring to my weight. I also remember my mother-in-law teasing my 20-something niece once when we were having pizza for someone's birthday. My niece was wearing some new outfit or something - can't remember - and when she grabbed her third piece of pizza, my mother-in-law jokingly said "you'd better watch it or those pants aren't going to fit" (or something to that effect). She said it in a joking manner and I knew she wasn't referring to Sarah's weight, but Sarah is obese so at the same time, I knew exactly how she (Sarah) would have taken it - and she did. My mother-in-law has never been obese, so she wouldn't have understood how that comment was taken. When I explained it to her afterward (when the party was over and it was just me and her and my husband), she felt terrible about it. I knew she did because she brought it up several times over the course of the next week or so (she also apologized profusely to Sarah)

my first stall was during weeks 2 and 3 post-surgery, so it started one week after my surgery, too. Just stick to your plan and stay off the scale for a few days if it's messing with your head. As long as you stick to your plan, the still WILL break. It usually takes 1-3 weeks.

I took three weeks off (desk job) but could have gone back after two. I was pretty tired the first few weeks after surgery, though...

IIRC, vitamin E can cause some issue with blood thinning. Although the amount that's in a multi may not be enough to do that. They may just mean don't take a separate E capsule - but I'd check with them. Also, before some of the surgeries I've had, I've been told to stop taking all vitamins about a week before - although I don't think I was told to do that before my bypass, though. UPDATE: I just read on realself.com that the amount of vitamin E that's in multivitamins usually isn't enough to cause problems. another update - I don't know what kind of multi you're taking, but Centrum, for example, has 13.5 grams of vitamin E. Those vitamin E specific things are usually at least 400 IUs, which I just learned is equal to 268 mg. So yea - what you're getting in a multi is a really low dose.

blood tests. My pre albumin level was too low the first couple of blood tests I had post-surgery, so they had me increase my protein intake to 100 grams. I still have 100+ grams a day, and my pre albumin level has been in the normal range for years, so I've kept up with the 100 grams. I'm afraid if I dropped back down to 60 grams, my level would tank again..

Keep in mind that a shake also counts as liquid. That could be another reason why he recommended drinking two shakes a day - that way you can get both protein requirements AND fluid requirements met. I still drink a shake a day after nine years, but it's because my protein requirements are 100+ grams. I can probably do this with food, but I would rather drink a protein shake as my morning snack and therefore be assured I'm going to meet my goal by the end of the day, rather than obsessing all day about how much protein I'm getting and whether or not I'm going to hit my goal..

if you're having your surgery in the US, the bariatric clinic usually includes post-op care, at least for the first year. My clinic provided it for the first five or so years - after that, patients who didn't have any issues (which is most of us) were referred to their regular PCP for their yearly exams/bloodwork. if you're having your surgery abroad, It depends on your US doctor if he/she will do follow ups. Check with them before your surgery. If it's an emergency, I can't imagine a hospital turning you away. Although that said, emergencies are pretty rare.

unfortunately, the sleeve is not reversible - they remove 75-80% of your stomach and throw it out. However, if you're really early out, I wouldn't start worrying about this yet. You could be dealing with buyer's remorse (common during the first few weeks after surgery) or a minor complication that is likely "fixable". I agree with NickelChip - we need a lot more information to comment on your situation.

I would follow what your clinic says. Stalls are a normal part of weight loss, and as long as you're compliant with your program, they WILL break. No need to do anything other than to make sure you're following. your clinic's program to a "T". 100 grams of protein isn't too high. Most of us are told to shoot for the 60-80 range, and even that can be a challenge at first, so It'd be a huge challenge to get up to 100 so soon after surgery (which is probably why he recommended drinking two protein shakes a day). Although that said, 100 grams of protein is not too high. I have to average at least 100 grams a day because we discovered early on after my surgery (nine years ago) that I malabsorb it. If I don't get that much, my pre albumin level tanks. also, you are not going to gain weight, given what you said you're eating. You would not be gaining weight on 100 grams of protein, either, given the amount of calories you're taking in.

if you're female and of child-bearing age, another possible cause of the depression is the hormone surges that are common after surgery. Estrogen is stored in fat cells, and evidently a lot of it is released during rapid weight loss. It can cause mood swings and screwed up menstrual cycles. Things will stabilize eventually - but it can take a few weeks. Hang in there!

nine years later, and I still track my food every day.

if you're on full liquids, then no. Once you're on soft foods, it depends on your surgeon. I didn't eat it the first few months. It's pretty high in calories.

strictures are pretty rare with sleeve patients, although they're not unheard of. So yes - I agree with the above poster - I'd contact your team and let them know what's going on. That doesn't sound like typical GERD, but then, I'm not a medical person.

It depends on the surgeon. Most seem to recommend 60-80 grams of protein, but as for the rest, it varies a lot. Not many have requirements for fat. As far as carbs, some surgeons have their patients on low carb (or ultra low carb) plans, others have patients on more balanced plans.

just wanted to respond to comments about being on liquids only - depends on the surgeon. Our clinic at the time had us on purees as soon as we got home from the hospital (not sure if they still do, since it's been nine years for me). To the OP - follow your surgeon's plan.

I agree with the other posters. And regarding hair loss, everyone seems to worry incessantly about that - I did, too, but in the grand scheme of things, it's such a small blip on the screen that I shouldn't have bothered wasting one brain cell on it. Some people don't lose any hair at all, and many don't lose enough for others to notice. Some do lose more significant amounts, but the hair loss is like shedding - not big clumps like you see in chemo patients. I wouldn't worry about it. It's a small price to pay for the benefit you get from the surgery, and again, you may only lose a little or none at all.

a week - and that's actually pretty common. There's not all that much in there since you've been on fluids. It's good you're taking stool softeners, though, because that first one can be a doozy..

IIRC, the constipation comes after surgery, not before - although not everyone has issues with it. Some people do have diarrhea post-surgery (especially the first week or so), but constipation is much more common, and it can become chronic. I don't remember if I had any particular BM issues during the pre-op liquid diet or not (may not have had many BM's at all given we weren't eating solid food), but I suspect your system is just whacked out by the change.

agree with Arabesque - common during menopause. Plus you said you're on prednisone - one of the side effects of that is weight gain. So there's two culprits right there... Yes - I'd have a chat with someone to see what your options are. Weight loss is going to be a struggle, so maybe they'd be willing to do something to help with that.

I found I was allergic to derma bond after having skin removal surgery. Yea - the itchiness is awful. They put me on prednisone for ten days, and it cleared it up. weight loss is always slower after a revision than it is after a "virgin" surgery. Five lbs is great, though. And actually a 20 lb loss the first week would be very unusual, even with a virgin surgery. Maybe for folks on "My 600 lb Life", but not a for an average WLS patient. I lost 16 lbs the whole first MONTH. emotions can be wild the first few weeks after surgery - and so can regrets. This will pass - just hang in there!

Nine years out, and I fight the beast every day. I know people who've worked with therapists who specialize in eating disorders who've found it helpful, so maybe looking into that if you're feeling like you're losing the struggle (?). Or does your bariatric clinic have a health psychologist on staff, or can they refer you to one? P.S. I also know a few people who are struggling and have had some significant weight gain who are on appetite suppressants like phentermine - or some of the newer drugs that people are using for weight loss, such as Ozempic. I don't know if you want to go down that route, but some have had success with those. If you're interested in that, check with either your bariatric clinic or your regular physician.

cheese sticks, beef jerky, protein bars should all work..

yes - obesity is a complex disease. Among other things, at some point it can cause biological changes that make it very difficult to lose weight. For example, I've read that research has shown that even gut bacteria is different in very obese individuals than it is in normal-weight individuals. your experience is very common. In fact, I took a course in obesity and weight loss at a local university (nutrition department) a year or two ago that addressed this. The usual pattern is that people lose about 5% of their weight in the first few months of dieting, then it levels off for a couple of months, and then it gradually comes back on. About a year later, they're back to where they started. That knowledge didn't surprise me at all - that happened to me over and over and over. Weight loss surgery is the only thing that ever worked for me. Surgery won't help prevent the behavior. What it does is. 1). takes away your hunger for the first few months - (for a lucky few this is permanent - for most of us, it comes back sometime during the first year post-surgery) and 2) keeps you from eating a ton of food at one sitting. What it doesn't prevent is "grazing" or mindless snacking, and that can be a really slippery slope. Take those first few months of no hunger and really work on changing that behavior. Nine years out, I struggle with that every day - the urge to eat mindlessly. It takes a lot of work and dedication to control that (although honestly, a lot of my never-been-obese friends struggle with that, too). I don't know if I'd ever eat my way back up to 373 lbs again, but I know if I let myself loose for more than a few days, my weight starts heading north...

I haven't, but lots of bariatric patients on the east coast have used him and have been very happy with his work.

you'll lose bone mass. You lose everything when you lose that much weight - fat, muscle, and bone! But then again, you need a lot of infrastructure to hold up 300+ lbs. It just isn't needed once you lose a ton of weight. Exercise and protein will keep you from losing too much protein. Exercise (especially weight-bearing exercise like walking, dancing, strength-training) will keep you from losing too much bone mass. But losing SOME of both isn't necessarily bad, since it's not needed. hair - not everyone loses it, but most do - but it's temporary. I didn't lose enough for others to notice. In the grand scheme of things, it's a small price to pay, and at this point it's just a blip on the screen for me.