catwoman7

I don't see very many posts about people having dental issues (a few, but not very often), and my dentist hasn't seen any problems with his WLS patients, so while it does happen to some, I don't get the sense it's terribly common. My dentist said it's most likely due to acid (e.g. from vomiting or unmanaged GERD), but it could also be that people aren't being consistent with their supplements. My dentist gave me a prescription for some super-high-fluoride toothpaste that I use every night before bed, and he also does a fluoride varnish on my teeth every six months. He said if I *am* one of those people with acidic saliva, those two things will go a long way in preventing any problems. I'd say keep up with your dental hygiene and dental visits, and let your dentist know you're having WLS and are concerned about your teeth and see what he/she suggests.

I have what we (my PCP and I) think is RH. It started at about three years post-op. She suggested I eat something every three hours or so to keep my blood sugar stable. I usually eat something like a Fit & Light Yogurt - or a tablespoon or two of peanut butter on celery. It does seem to have helped - I rarely have "episodes" any more.

to be honest, complications really aren't all that common. One of the most common ones is a stricture, which happens to about 5% of us - and that's a really easy fix (I had one of those)

I have reactive hypoglycemia (RH) (but not dumping - that is controlled by limiting your sugar intake). To control RH, my PCP suggested I eat some protein - or something along with protein - every 3-4 hours to keep my blood sugar stable. It seems to be working - it's really cut down on my "episodes".

malnutrition is rare if you keep on top of your supplements. You have to take supplements with the sleeve as well. And most RNY'ers don't dump. For those who do, it's easy controlled by limiting your sugar intake (which you should be doing regardless). feeling tired and weak is pretty common after major surgery - especially after weight loss surgery because you're taking in so few calories the first few weeks. You may have felt the same way for the first month or two had you had the sleeve instead. Just focus on getting in all your protein and keep well hydrated. Both help. lastly, "buyer's remorse" is common.. I remember wondering that first month what on Earth I did to myself - but soon I started feeling a lot better and had more energy, and now I'm really grateful that I had it done. So just give it some more time...

I had GERD and went with the bypass because of it. It really doesn't have many more side effects than the sleeve does, and malnutrition isn't an issue as long as you keep on top of your supplements (you have to take some supplements with the sleeve as well). I would not recommend getting the sleeve if you already have GERD. I've seen too many people have to revise to bypass because of it. Maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones, but I'm not sure I'd want to risk it.

I started out at 372 lbs I lost 57 lbs pre-op (through both my six-month supervised diet that my insurance required, and through the two-week liquid diet that my surgeon required). The rest of it took me 18 months to lose. I got down to 138 at one point, but I've since bounced back a bit (they say a 10- to 20-pound gain is very common after you hit your low point). I seem to have stabilized in the 147-151 range - I've been here for quite awhile. I try hard to keep it under 150, though. When my weight creeps over 150, it's all hands on deck - I become a real stickler about following my program until I'm back under 150.

I do work out, but I'm not a gym rat. I end up doing some kind of cardio twice a week (usually Zumba, WERQ, water aerobics, or a stationary bike). I also do gentle yoga a couple of times a week.

it may be part of the carb withdrawal. I got headaches as well - although I remember it got better after the first 3 or 4 days. Sorry you're going through this!!

several companies make unflavored protein powders. It does have a slight taste, though, so you'd have to mix it with something else to cover that up. Unjury makes a chicken soup-flavored powder, but then , you have to order that through their Web site, so it'd probably be a week before you get it - maybe too late.

as long as you're sticking closely to your plan, the weight will come off, whether fast or slow. I was a slow loser, but I lost over 200 lbs altogether. Just make sure you're not overdoing it somewhere - if not, if you're on plan, then I wouldn't worry about it. Your rate of weight loss is what it is, depending on many factors. As long as you're sticking to your program, the weight will come off.

some people have trouble with lactose after surgery. Could that be it? (is that the first time you've tried a shake with lactose in it since surgery?)

a majority of people experience their first stall about three weeks after surgery (search for "the three week stall" (it even has a name!)). The first month or so is also when you'll typically see your biggest losses, after that, your 2.2 lbs a week thing is pretty common. Just stick to your plan and the weight will come off. After the first month, I lost about 10-12 lbs a month for awhile (and once I was about six or seven months out, it came off even slower). But I've lost over 200 lbs in total, so it does work as long as you stick to your program.

I've never had problems with this, although I know some people do. I wonder if part of it might be due to too many carbs or sugar alcohols - I know the latter, at least, are tough on some people's GI tracts.

I've put it in vanilla protein shakes occasionally. I've used various brands. I don't measure it out - I just put in a little at a time until it's "just right" (taste-wise, that is). That said, it doesn't take much...

I was told that early on, before you're getting most/all of your protein from food, stick to whey protein isolate, because it's the easiest to absorb. Later on, blends or concentrates or whatever are fine.

it's just the fluids they pump you up with during surgery. I knew that would happen, so I didn't bother weighing myself that first week. It'll go away pretty quickly and you'll be on your way. Gas should let up soon, too!

many (most?) of us having our first major stall sometime during the first month after surgery. It's called the "three week stall" because it usually happens the third week, but not always. Mine was weeks 2 and 3. You may just be going into it early. Do a search on it - it happens to almost all of us.

that's an older surgery that isn't done anymore, so all bets are off re: strictures. I was only referring to strictures in modern surgeries (i.e., they almost always happen within the first three months post-op). I have no idea of their frequency in the older ones. So sorry that you're going through this!

there is definitely a risk of GERD with the sleeve surgery. A majority of people DON'T get it, but enough do that you should have been told that that was a potential side effect. And yes - there are people who end up revising to RNY because of it.

call your surgeon for sure. Strictures, when they occur, almost always occur during the first three months after surgery. They're pretty rare after that. I mean, it COULD be that, but....

I'd start with www.realself.com also, many people who have been through this recommend finding someone who either specializes in body contouring for massive weight loss patients or if not, at least does a TRUCKLOAD of them. Most general plastic surgeons say they do this, but it's supposedly a complicated subspecialty, so ideally you want someone who does these things all the time - not four times a year. I ended up going to Chicago for mine (I live in Wisconsin) because I couldn't really find anyone around here who either specializes or who does this all the time.

I had two strictures - one at four weeks out, the other at eight weeks out. The second time around I was familiar with the symptoms, so I knew what it was. Basically, at first I had what felt like acid reflux after eating. A few days later, I couldn't keep anything solid down. As it progresses, you can't really keep liquids down, either - but at that point you really need to get it dealt with immediately because you can't go for long without fluids (I went in after a couple of days of not being able to keep solid food down, so I never reached the emergency point). I would contact your surgeon's office. They'll probably have you go in for an upper endoscopy to see what's up. If it's a stricture, it's an easy fix - they'll stretch it out when they have you under, and you'll feel a LOT better once you wake up. It's quick and painless.

there are people who lose 30 lbs in the first month, but I would say after hanging out on WLS forums for the last 4 years that a majority of us don't. 15-25 lbs the first month seems a lot more common (and weight loss slows down a lot after the first month or two). Eleven pounds in the first two weeks is great. I lost 16 lbs the entire first MONTH, and I've lost over 200 lbs. Just follow your plan and the weight will come off. Also - do a search for the three week stall - many of us have our first stall at about the three week point - you may be getting into that.

emotional reactions and buyer's remorse are common at first, but the vast majority of us get through that and are happy with our decision to have the surgery. Also, the first few weeks can be rough in general - you feel tired and crappy sometimes, some food doesn't sit well, etc - but that will all be behind you before you know it!