catwoman7

you may be OK with just the special toothpaste - but I'd ask anyway. I kinda wonder if mine did both (the prescription + the fluoride varnish) just to placate me because I was so freaked out about the possibility of tooth problems. But I'd ask just in case.

my dentist said he's never personally seen dental issues in his patients who've had WLS, although he'd read about issues in the professional literature. Also, I've been on these internet forums for at the last five years or so, and I only see posts about tooth problems maybe twice a year, so my assumption is, although it can happen, it's pretty uncommon. My dentist gave me a prescription for some super-high fluoride toothpaste to use before I go to bed, though, and he puts a fluoride varnish on my teeth twice a year at my appts. He said that should go a long way toward preventing any potential issues.

Fit Crunch and Quest Hero. Some of the Oh Yeah One bars are also good (you have to get the "Ones", though - the regular Oh Yeah bars have a lot of sugar). Sometimes the Quest cookies (I used to like the Quest bars, too - but they 're not as good as Quest Hero and Fit Crunch - at least not to me). I try not to eat protein bars unless I have no other choice, though (I always have one or two in my purse for "emergencies") because they're a slippery slope for me, too.

I kind of doubt it. It's probably just age-related (I have periodontal disease and have since before surgery four years ago - it hasn't gotten any worse). When people have surgery-related dental issues, it always seems to be tooth decay caused by excess acid (from vomiting or uncontrolled GERD), according to my dentist. Although most people don't experience dental issues as long as they have regular checkups and take care of their teeth.

I can maintain if I average 1700/day. But that is on the high end - a lot of people can't eat that much. I know several who have to eat more like 1200-1500 - and some even lower. just so you know - bounce back once you hit your lowest weight is real. A majority of us experience that. I at one time felt the same as you do and just knew I would NEVER be able to regain weight. Wrong. I put on 12 lbs without even trying in year 3.

hmmmm....I've always had a fairly active social life, but some of my friends have changed, though. I now have several friends who are really into fitness - and we often meet for exercise classes rather than lunch or dinner. So I'm not sure how much the changes in the social piece have affected my mental health. HOWEVER, I don't sit around worrying anymore that I'm going to have a heart attack - or that I'm not going to survive long enough to see my 65th birthday - or that I'm going to be rushed to the ER and hearing that there's not much they can do to help me since I weigh almost 400 lbs - or that I'm going to have to start using a wheelchair or scooter within the next five years. And not dealing with those anxieties anymore has GOT to have been a huge benefit to my overall mental health!

I started up on them as soon as I got home from the hospital.

occasionally - I never associated it with weight loss surgery, though - but maybe ??

yes. I was really shocked when someone offered me a "senior discount". And then it happened again! Granted, I'm old enough to be eligible at some places, but I'd NEVER been asked that because I'd always looked younger than I was. No more!! To be honest, I think I probably my age now - but the turkey neck has to go (at some time - I'm so done with plastic surgery right now!!!)

I never had lapband -- just RNY -- but I rarely get that feeling

I agree with the poster who suggested spiralized vegetables. Spiralize some zucchini (or buy some already spiralized) and saute it until it's al dente. Then eat it just like you would noodles. OR just eat the meat and the sauce in a bowl.

what she said ^^^^ I agree 100%!

don't expect to drop 30+ lbs the first month. The average bariatric patient is NOT a "My 600 lb Life" subject. The vast majority of us are starting at a much lower BMI than those folks. There are a few of us "normal" weight loss patients who drop that much, but they're the exception. Most of us lose in the 15-25 lb range that first month. If you lose 15 or 16 or 18 lbs that first month, you are NOT failing!

there were lots of restrictions for the first weeks/month/year, but now - not really. I'm supposed to limit regular coffee to one cup a day, but I frequently go over that.

I don't dump - and many of us don't. that said, I feel like crap if I eat too much sugar in one sitting. I was very averse to sweet things early after surgery, but not so much anymore. BUT....as I said, I can't eat a lot of it at once. A cookie or two I can handle. A half dozen cookies would make me feel like crap.

btw - 60 grams of protein is a pretty standard requirement for bariatric patients.

I lost 16 lbs the first four weeks. And I've lost 100% of my excess weight (over 200 lbs) I think a lot of people's perceptions of weight loss surgery is based on shows like "My 600 lb Life". Don't forget those people start out with MUCH higher BMI's than the average weight loss patient, so of course they're going to lose a lot faster - at least at first. Other factors that can influence rate of the weight loss are age, gender, metabolism rate, whether or not you lost a weight pre-surgery - I'm sure I'm leaving some out. But the lesson I learned was NOT to compare myself to others. Most of these things you have no control over. The only thing you DO have control over is whether or not you stick to your program, and to be honest, that's going to have a MUCH greater effect on your eventual success than your rate of weight loss will. If you stick to your program, the weight WILL come off, whether fast or slow.

I'd talk to the surgeon who did your surgery. Getting sick right after you eat could be a stricture.

well, I wouldn't go so far as to say "effortless", but it's very do-able. Trying to maintain in the 130s would have been really tough.

at first I wasn't happy being back at 150 (I wanted to see those 130s again!!), but my PCP said to try to stay within the 140-160 range because 130s were way too low for me. My normal BMI range goes up to 154 (I'm 5'6"), so I'm within the normal range. I've come to accept it and admit it's probably a good weight for me. I have a large frame and am pretty muscular (according to the DEXA scan, my muscles alone weigh 117 lbs), so the upper end of a normal BMI range does make sense given my body composition. Plus it's not too difficult to maintain at this weight. I think it would have been a constant battle to remain in the 130s. My body was just not comfortable with that - and given my fat percentage was 22% at 146 lbs, that percentage would have been lower in the 130s - so I can see why my body wasn't happy!! (plus I am almost 60 years old - lots of PCP's - including mine - prefer their older adults to be in the 23-27 BMI range to give them a little "cushion" in case they get sick. I'm at a 24 BMI now). as far as clothes, I wear a M/L (depending on manufacturer) or a 12, usually. At 138 I could get into some 10's and most M's, but no smaller. These big a** bones and broad shoulders just aren't going to get into anything much smaller. The bones are in the way. I envy these people who can fit into a size 6 or 8 at 150 lbs, but there's no way I could do that, not even after plastic surgery (which I've had). BUT......M/L and size 12 are pretty normal sizes, after all...

FluffyChix - you may want to consider getting a DEXAscan to see how much of that "fat" is actually "fat". I had one at 146 lbs - when I thought I still had about 20 lbs to go. Nope. My body fat was 22% - normal, but definitely on the low side for a female my height. That "fat" I had was just loose skin. The technician - and my PCP who saw the results - said it was time to stop losing weight (I did go down to 138 after that, which even I admit was too low for me, but in retrospect I'm glad I did because over the next year I gradually put on 12 lbs ("bounce back") and now am at a healthy 150 (give or take a couple of pounds depending on the day). anyway, the scans they do at medical clinics only measure bone density - not body composition. But there are commercial places - as well as sports labs at universities - that measure both. I paid around $150 for mine - but you may find lower prices at a university. I found it very worthwhile as I thought before I had it that I still had a ways to go. Nope.

absolutely - start now! I did and I was really glad I did. I lost 57 lbs before I was rolled into the operating room. And at a BMI of 50, there's no way it's going to affect your approval. Unless you're using some really unhealthy approach to lose weight pre-surgery, you're not going to get down below a 40 (or 35) BMI by then. plus, eating better and exercising will ease you in to the post-op way of life so it won't seem so radical once you've had surgery. You'll be used to at least some of it. I started eating more protein, fewer carbs, and fewer calories post op (my dietitian had me eat 2300 or fewer calories). I also took the time to gradually wean myself off coffee and soda then - and practiced waiting 30 minutes after eating to drink anything. And I started an exercise program. I think it was very helpful and eased the transition into post-op life.

You started out with a really low BMI for a WLS patient. I don't know how tall you are, but I'm guessing you're starting to close in on your goal weight. I didn't hit that until much later (because I started out at over 300 lbs), but I can tell you the last 15-20 lbs are a BEAR to get off. It took FOREVER. I know this isn't particularly helpful, but I just wanted to let you know that I know where you're coming from and yes, it's really frustrating. I just stayed the course and it eventually.....S-L-O-W-L-Y....came off, but like I said it took forever, and I wasn't sure I was ever going to get there. Even now, at a normal BMI, it takes me forever to take off even five pounds. That took like a week when I was at 300+. I can now empathize with those skinny people who used to complain about how hard it is to lose weight when they only had like five pounds to lose. I used to roll my eyes when I heard that. No more...

nope - liquid goes right through you. I could drink more than I thought I should be able to as well - I was told not to worry about it.

I've never heard anything about that, but I just found this article where it lists gastritis as a risk of sleeve surgery (#7). I'd ask the surgeon - but I'm thinking that if gastritis can be a side effect of VSG, already having it before you even have surgery might be an issue. Although again, I'd just ask your surgeon https://www.ramsayhealth.co.uk/blog/2014/09/25/9-things-you-need-to-know-about-a-gastric-sleeve-surgery-sleeve-gastrectomy