Cervidae

sugar-free altoid. perfect way to distract yourself, as the mint is SO strong.

Congrats! Super exciting time!

Hello! Like any addiction, a food addiction can be really hard to break. We've had surgery on our bodies to reduce the physiological causes of hunger, but now we can really see just how much of our hunger was never really hunger and was all emotional. It can be sort of overwhelming, and frustrating, and sad. I'm almost 7 months out and I still experience it every now and then. Do you see a therapist? Many, many people can attest to how helpful talking to a professional can be. You're trying to kick a major addiction here, one that has probably been plaguing you for many years. Perhaps even your whole life. That's not uncommon with gastric surgery patients, and it's nothing at all to be ashamed of. Get help if you need it! You don't have to deal with this alone. As with most things, it's going to take time and a lot of effort and will-power to learn to deal with this. Maybe you'll feel it for the rest of your life. The difference is, you will learn how to control it. Hopefully you will also learn coping techniques and surrogate, healthy sensations to replace food with. This thing that feels so incredibly overwhelming now could very soon get much, much easier to deal with. There's no denying you have the will-power and strength. You've made it this far, haven't you? Get whatever help you need. You're not alone. Keep us posted here - we all understand and want to help. Hang in there!

hello! I have PCOS so I really must always be on birth control or suffer the numerous consequences (namely intense pain during my periods and sometimes no period at all, which damages my body). I had surgery in August of last year, and have been on it again since about week 2. My surgeon told me to wait to take it becuase the blood thinners we take during surgery can react poorly with birth control. I've been on two different ones within the past year. Orsythia was the first one, which is a "seasonal period" kind of pill that makes it so you only get your period 4 times a year. This is mainly for people with hormonal issues (like me). I switched to a different one in December, called Apri, and I prefer this one. It's just a normal birth control. I've had no real side effects, though it can be hard to tell. Since I started this one, I stall whenever I get my period. It's hard to know whether that's an issue within my own body because of my disorder or if it's from the birth control. Most likely, it's my body. The point here is, it's definitely being absorbed. None of my surgeons/doctors/pcos specialists were in any way concerned that it wouldn't be. So if taking a pill is something you're used to or would like to do, don't worry about it at all and just talk to your doctor or gyno.

it will get better! The first week is rough, and then from there it improves a lot every day. Right now, even tiny sips are probably "too much too fast" for you (hiccups and vomiting are textbook reactions to eating or drinking too fast) but again, it will get better soon! By the end of the first week I was able to drink 8 ounces in about 45 minutes. Hang in there, and just keep trying. it will get better! The first week is rough, and then from there it improves a lot every day. Right now, even tiny sips are probably "too much too fast" for you (hiccups and vomiting are textbook reactions to eating or drinking too fast) but again, it will get better soon! By the end of the first week I was able to drink 8 ounces in about 45 minutes. Hang in there, and just keep trying.

That certainly does sound like dumping. Or perhaps something got stuck because you were reclining before your stomach was empty. I learned the hard way to make sure I've digested enough before I lay down. Sounds like you are doing well in general though. You live and you learn. Take care!

Good suggestions from Learningtolive. I also sometimes eat turkey/chicken chili or a deli meat/cheese rollup if I'm wanting something savory. If I liked yogurt, I would be eating that every day probably. I have a bag of turkey meatballs in the fridge, so sometimes I'll cook one of those, one egg, and maybe 1/4 cup cottage cheese and scramble that together. Protein packed and delicious! Generally, stick with protein and good fats and avoid bread/starches and you'll be good.

Oh my goodness... this is so awful! I know absolutely nothing about possible things you could do from here, hopefully someone will have some suggestions, but jeeze... this is just terrible. I'm so sorry this crap is happening to you.

Congrats on all your success! You look fantastic.

I've been smoking on and off since about a month post-op. My advice is: You're choosing between taking medications which may have crappy or damaging side effects or using something that has no long-term effects on your body but is illegal and frowned upon socially by many people still. You're going to have to decide if it's worth it to worry about the possible legal or social consequences. Personally, I welcome medicating with this rather than the anti-anxiety meds (that made me sluggish and irritable) or the sleep meds (that made me shaky and nauseous) that have been far less effective than smoking a bowl every day or two. I sleep like a baby, feel far less anxious, have fewer panic attacks, and the munchie effect, while it still exists, is at a perfect low level that makes it much easier to get in enough calories every day, which has been a struggle for me. It seems to me that if something helps so much and hurts no one, and the only reason people are afraid to do it is because of questionable/outdated legal reasons, then I should do what works best for me and which best facilitates my healing and well-being. So I do just that. Whatever you do, keep yourself accountable and take care of yourself.

It's entirely possible that your condition is contributing to a stall, but it's also possible it's just a normal stall that everyone has to deal with. About 5 months out for me, I went into a stall that lasted 5 weeks, and only recently broke it. I have a condition that causes issues for me as well - PCOS. Some people are lucky enough to see a huge reduction in PCOS symptoms after getting the rny, and while I have seen some good progress, there's no denying that there's some kind of hormone imbalance still making it difficult for me to lose with consistency. Every month when i get my period, the stall begins and lasts for 2-5 weeks. And yet, I've still lost over a hundred since the day of surgery, now at 6.5 months out. You're not far behind, and 70 pounds in 5 months is really amazing! I was around there at 6 months, perhaps a little ahead, but I also started heavier than you. Try not to compare your loss to others. That's only going to lead to frustration and misery. Also, if you're working out a lot, you may not be getting enough calories. I still get only between 800-900 calories and on the days I work out a lot and don't get enough, I not only stall but sometimes gain. It's a fragile balance between what your body needs to function and what it's willing to burn off, and we unfortunately aren't always going to know how to keep that balance. Just keep taking care of yourself, and doing everything you're supposed to do (Protein, Water, Vitamins, and sleep!) and you will get there. I have to take my own advice here because I feel the same frustrations as you. Hang in there! You're doing really well.

Sounds like you're completely normal. Not only are you still healing but the part of your stomach that makes the hunger hormones is no longer hooked up to the rest of your digestive tract. Now we do what people wish they could do: eat to live and nourish our bodies, not live to eat because we enjoy the food so much. Keep on keeping on.

Congratulations! You look amazing.

Sounds wonderful! Thanks for sharing. I'm looking forward to experiencing these things.

I'm 6.5 months out and I finally just broke a 5 week stall. It's bound to happen sometime. Just hang in there and keep doing what you're supposed to, and it will break. Not much else you can do, unfortunately. I will say that even when I wasn't losing, my body shape changed a lot, and I lost inches. Maybe measure that if your weight continues to stall, just to keep your motivation up.

@@MozzaWehsha rice is a big risk in the first severeal months because it can indeed get stuck. Might I suggest pureed chili with a dollop of low fat or fat free sour cream? Or perhaps pureed chicken, humus, and taco sauce (this one is addictive!)? Another favorite of mine (my puree phase was in the fall of last year) - greek yogurt, pumpkin puree, cinnamon/pumpkin pie spice. Deelish!

Sounds like you are either full or have food stuck, or both. Which foods cause these problems?

Good luck to you. I'm 6.5 months post rny. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you.

You'd be crazy if you weren't thinking about these things! This surgery is extremely high on the list of "life-altering events" and as such should never be taken lightly. But you know yourself and your life, you know the struggles you've faced and you know what you need to do for yourself to live the life you want. It's going to be scary. It's going to be downright terrifying to change your life this drastically. But it's also going to be exhilarating, liberating, and incredible. If you're wondering how this will impact your life and the lives of your loved ones, that answer is: overwhelmingly, chances are everyone's life is going to change for the better. Good luck! We're all here to help. Keep us posted.

I'm very interested in this as well. Great post. Following!

I'm 6.5 months out and only now am I beginning to be able to eat/drink in any normal way. Generally for the first few months most things just didn't sit well in my stomach or would cause outright pain/discomfort. My doctor checked me, everything is and has been normal since surgery. Some people adjust quickly and move on, and some people (like us) just have to wait it out and give our bodies time to adjust at their own pace. Just keep trying to do what you are supposed to do and normalcy will eventually return to you. You're only 2.5 months out - it takes a full year for our organs to fully heal from this surgery. Keep reminding yourself of that fact when you're worrying that you aren't "where you're supposed to be". You'll get there. Feel better soon!

Probably this is digested food matter left behind from before surgery, and you're just getting cleaned right out. That's exactly how I was for the first few days. Now it's pretty normal with the occasional unavoidable constipation (those protein shakes can really do a number on you). I wouldn't worry about it unless it continues for a long time or it's making it hard for you to stay hydrated.

That's so great! Congratulations. I am going to San Diego on March 20th, and I confess that I am honestly terrified that I'm going to need a belt extender. It's going to be tough for me to still feel good about myself and my progress if I STILL need a belt extender. We'll see. Thanks for sharing.