OzRoo

@@Killian Great Stuff! Good luck with all the changes and outcomes Margo

I am curious how the taste buds change post surgery. At 8 weeks post op, I now see few changes: Off/Don't eat: red meat lettuce chocolate Snicker Pods bread tomato/V8 juice apple juice equal chilli pepper pepper tabasco any dry type food On/Prefer: chicken, fish (especially Salmon) brewed black tea cruskits cottage cheese diet jelly Vaalia vanilla and Natural yoghurt stevia spinach Still love my coffee, have brewed coffee in the mornings, then decaf later. I can tolerate little amount of vanilla ice-cream, as a treat, once a week, instead of 2 bowls 4-5 times a week. I am still early post op, so my taste may change again.... Would love to hear form others, re change in foods and tastes

I hope that chocolate will stay away ..... Right now, anything too acidic gives me grief. At this stage, I also went off: rice (never liked it), butter, cakes, biscuits .....

I haven't been to a restaurant yet, only cafes. Mostly my friends will have a meal, wine etc, and I just order a big Cappuccino and Water .... At 8 weeks post op, I am still experimenting with different foods, at home I am sure that there will be few eyebrows lifted, once I come out and start eating out ..... Great topic! Thank you, Alex

@@sbdooly73 Yay, one more sleep ! Good luck! For me the hospital stay was very quick, even though I went home on the 4th day. Time went really fast for me, I had my iPad with me and my phone. The first 2 days I was in a drug haze ... lol I too, like Buddy, thought it was going to be lot worse ..... All the best

@@Killian This must be hard then to take it in the morning for you, as you need at least 1/2 hour (ideally 1 hour) prior food. When I worked shift work, I had to have a coffee straight away, when I got up. I don't know if you have a Breakfast at 3.30 or so .... or later once you get to work. With just coffee or tea in the mornings, providing it is consistent, the switch may work. Yes, please discuss it with your Endo. What I do to remember to take my med in the morning, is to take it our of the fridge the night before and put it in my little pill container, on my bedside table, next to my glass of Water. It is a habit now, so it works for me. With skipping the Sunday dose, I put reminders in my phone for Saturday evenings, and a posted note on my med package in the fridge. Good luck, Killian

@@Sajijoma I agree with Daisee68 : Yes, your NUT is nuts, totally ! Your weight loss is fantastic, Congratulations! This is a loss of almost 8kg a month! (17.5 Ibs per month !) ! My dietician (NUT) told me that losing 1-1.5 kg per week is normal and good. Up to 6 kg per month ( 9-13 Ibs) good luck with your nutty NUT ..... maybe you can get a saner one .....

@@cat.jackson89 You're so lucky ! Reflux is awful ... I just had my first ever vomiting episode today ... My scrambled egg must have been too dry, I ate it too fast, felt reflux/burning getting stronger .... Travelled up my oesophagus, next was a quick run to the bathroom .... No nausea though .... weird

@@Cervidae thank you Refresh or no refresh, still the same .... Oh well, the Goal Weight of 65Ibs is hilarious Never mind, at least the side panel info is correct Cheers, Margo

Oooops, double post ..... Don't know what happened .....

I can gulp my Water when exercising. I can gulp my water at other times as well. Couldn't do both early post op: exercise and gulp. Now, I can do both of these, no problems I can gulp my water when exercising. I can gulp my water at other times as well. Couldn't do both early post op: exercise and gulp. Now, I can do both of these, no problems

@@cozycastle50 I forgot to add the possibility of Reflux. Reflux can mimic hunger pangs. I had bad reflux early post op, then at the beginning of each New food phase. And when I drank too acidy fluids, or forgot to eat for hours, or ate too fast and didn't chew properly. Got a strong anti-reflux med now, as the original wasn't helping. Nexium is working for me.

@@cat.jackson89 Some people with bypass, I read that some experience Reflux .... You're early post op too I had the growling stomach, bad hunger early post op, and then noticed my reflux was getting worse. Sleeve can be worse for reflux for some. Sometimes reflux can mimic hunger pangs and sensations I have been on Nexium for the past 2 weeks, and this helps my acid reflux and over the top hunger pangs. Other med I was given, rabeprazole or Somac did not help me. I am still reasonably early post op - 8 weeks, but I have now gone through all the food phases and changes, and my hunger is real if I don't eat regularly. Each food stage/phase helped to curb the hunger more for me.

@@cozycastle50 I exprienced Hunger post op, I experience hunger These Days. Post op, on fluids only, like in a Funnel, they go through quickly, and thyroid or no thyroid, majority of people get hungry at this stage. I get hungry now, if I forget to eat, usually about 4 hours after I ate something before. More dense Protein food reduces the hunger later on, on a soft, mushy to solid phase. You are early post op, so hang in there. Talk with your Dietician/NUT re your hunger I did, and was suggested to add protein powders to my fluids, then purees etc

@@Killian I am 8 weeks post op, and I am steadily losing weight. Lost 12kg (26.4 Ibs) so far. When is your surgery, and what type of surgery are you having? Sleeve or Bypass? I am finding that the more weight I lose, my Thyroxine (Synthroid) levels get too high, and I am swinging back to Hyper thyroid again .... I am glad to learn that you also skip Sunday dose. I will start this Sunday, and see what happens. I had RAI in August last year (2015), and went Hypo in December last year, 2015 On Thyroxine since January 2016, so this is a new learning curve for me. I have to have 6 weekly blood tests post surgery, seeing my Endo every 3 months, unless I get issues ..... I take my Thyroxine early in the morning, when I first wake up, on empty stomach, then go back to sleep. This way I can have my coffee and Breakfast when I get up. Calcium, I take it in the evening. With weight loss, the Synthroid levels can be affected, and doses need to be monitored and adjusted, if needed. Good luck with your surgery Cheers, Margo

@@csawesome Yes, I thought it was strange also. She is worried that with pill cutting, I may not be consistent with the sizes. I may try it for a week or 2, but if it is getting worse, I will have to try and lower the dose myself. I don't know how much longer I can go without good night sleep, and other bothersome symptoms. When I was 0.6 , this is when my insomnia started. So for me, I think I need to be close to 1.0, but I am only speculating at this stage. I know, once I lose more weight, it will all change again .... and again Just tired of feeling really unwell again. Glad you are doing well ! Please keep me posted with your changes and adjustments. Margo

@@Daisee68 Yes, I kept my beta blocker for "just in case". I have both propranolol and atenolol, and I am glad that I kept both. This disease can make life so much harder, especially when trying to get back on track with all the responsibilities, and social interactions. I have been on 100mcg of Thyroxine since January this year. 4 months after my RAI and thyroid destroyed, I swung to TSH 17.4 Now, back to square one .... My Endo doesn't want me to cut my pills (ironically I got another refill for more 100mcg script, recently, and still have 1/2 box of the currrent 100mcg .....) She just wants me to take my med for 6 days, then not take it on 1 day per week. So, I am to take it Monday-Saturday, then not take it on Sunday My blood tests are due in 6 weeks time, then again 6 weeks later. Yes, I have to monitor it carefully. If in 2-3 weeks I don't see a change, I may have to cut the tablet, and try it that way. I don't want to go hypo, but hyper is tough too ..... Thank you for your support.

Back in Hyper mode again! TSH 3.4 in Feb 2016 TSH 0.6 in March 2016 (3 weeks post op) TSH 0.01 early May 2016 (8 weeks post op) My pulse is up again with Blood Pressure (lot higher) Headaches are back Feeling really hot again Can't sleep again Irritable and very tired. Was advised to skip 1 day each week my 100mcg Thyroxine. Don't know if I can wait this long for the Hyper thyroid to settle down. Took Beta Blocker today. Lost 12 kgs post op so far, and it scares me that with higher loss I will feel unwell again .... Graves sucks ! I am looking forward to one day my weight stabilizing and my Thyroxine dose stabilising. ... One day ..... ???? Sent from my SM-N910G using the BariatricPal App

@@kmw1970 Pretty good, no major complains. 8 weeks post op, lost 12 kgs, happier, energy is coming back, life is good! My main issue was acid reflux, but I got a stronger med for it, Nexium, and it is working! On more solid food now, however I still prefer the softer foods. Saving lots of money on grocery shopping Just plodding along .... no regrets. Have you had your op? How are you travelling? Cheers, Margo

@ I was on rabeprazole (Pariet) initially. Had really scary early morning reflux about 2 weeks post op. I changed to taking it at night. Didn't help too much. Reflux was getting worse, so on some days I was taking Pariet both in the morning and evening. I even took Somac few times. I was advised to try Nexium instead. I saw my surgeon, he gave me Nexium 40mg script, and 7 days later I am good again, not suffering anymore. At this stage ( 8 weeks post op), Nexium is working for me. I noticed that with the change to more solid foods, my reflux was getting worse (weeks 6-7 post op) Good luck!

1/2 cup for me, with Snacks in between. If I go over the 3 hour time, I get very hungry. I have 2 Cruskits with cream cheese and tuna mayo on them, another snack for me is 1/2 cup yoghurt with some Protein powder. I also have a little healthy dessert, couple of hours after my dinner: little diet jelly with home made banana yoghurt, or Vaalia yoghurt, or bit of custard. The 3 hour in between food rule works for me, if I forget and go over 4 hours, I get very hungry. So, for me, frequent small portions, spread out through-out the day, with protein with each meal/snack

@@Kathy812 My lovely current PCP did not pick up on my thyroid issues, on the tests he did. He felt so bad afterwards, poor guy. Thyroid disease can be tricky to diagnose. I was sent to my WLS Surgeon's Endo (part of his team), and she did whole bunch of tests, not just blood tests, and hence I was finally diagnosed. Then my treatment started. Years ago, in Sydney, my then PCP picked up on it, but I was very slightly Hyper-thyroid, so we didn't do anything about it. I since moved, and forgot about it, until a year ago. Personally, I prefer a Thyroid Specialist (Endo), as this disease can be at times difficult to diagnose and treat. Also, with Brand versus generic version of synthetic thyroid hormone replacement, I was told that it can be OK to take generic version, provided I stick to the Same generic. I chose to take Brand version. I keep getting the same on my repeats. Got to keep it in the fridge, as if it gets too warm, it can affect the strength of this medication.

@@Daisee68 No, no rant! Just the expression of the frustrations with this disease. It is completely understandable! I was told to wait 1 hour after taking Thyroxine on an empty stomach. I take it First thing in the morning, when I wake up early to go to the toilet. I go back to sleep, and then when I get up I can have my coffee, food etc. I too was told re Calcium not to be taken within few hours of the Thyroxine med. The 4 hours doesn't work for me either. I take my Calcium supplement in the evening, and I don't worry re milk in my morning coffee, as it is a very small amount. However I often have yoghurt Breakfast, but I am consistent with both my coffee and yoghurt each day. I was recently switched to Nexium for my bad Reflux, and it can leach Calcium from the bones .... I take Nexium 1 hour or so, prior my dinner, in the evening. So now, I have 2 meds that have to be taken on the empty stomach ... Pain in the a.... ! I am so sorry to hear about your Dad. You have done all possible for him, and yes, his dr. is an Idiot! Your Dad is like mine, that they are both stubborn, and will not change doctors ..... My Dad doesn't have Graves, his sister (my auntie) did, and recently died of heart attack .... It is terrible that your Dad's doctor increases his doses without concern for his heart, and other very serious issues. My Dad has other health issues, and I talked with him on numerous occasions, I wrote lists for him, etc, and unfortunately he is also stubborn, will not listen, and I now know I have to step back .... We live in different states, quite far away, and it is hard for me to hear from other people how my Dad is deteriorating. Once I am better, I will fly down to Melbourne, and stay with him, and I hope it won't be too late. I am still not well myself at this stage. I have no qualms re changing doctors, asking for what I need etc. If the doctor does not listen to me, does not care etc, I drop them ASAP. I am ex-nurse, so I had my share of egos and issues with some doctors, and I am over it. Good on you for being your own Advocate, Daisee! Yes, to get good care, we need to be Our Own Advocates, and stick to our guns. Once again, many thanks for your very helpful posts.

@@Daisee68 Thank you for sharing your experience, it helps so much! As I am learning re Synthroid (Thyroxine in Australia) doses and effects, your posts really help me to understand what is going on with me and what to look for, possible actions etc. I am glad that you know your body well, and despite what your Primary dr says, the TSH levels do matter, as the "normal" range is so variable .... I have a pill cutter, and I'll keep it in mind, if and when I get iffy symptoms again. My Endo will have my 2 last results (both at 6 weeks apart), and it will be interesting to see what my TSH has been in that time, post surgery. I am seeing her on 5th May. Thank you for suggesting 1/4 adjustment per WEEK. I heard from other Graves sufferers, that it can make a difference in their well-being! Despite what some Endos say ... I was also advised to take the Same brand of Thyroxine, as different ones can vary in strength. I insist at pharmacy to get the same brand. Yes, I am older too, I was told 6 week wait for new dosage to take effect .... Gosh, so many different opinions from doctors re treatment .... It is such an individual journey, and I agree, it is a Crazy Thyroid Journey ..... This is why I seek information and experience from others, so I can get through this, and learn to manage it, especially after the WLS. I wish you well on your recovery journey, Daisee68 Your posts give me hope. Thank you !!!

AT this stage, my NUT's calorie recommendation is 800 per day. Sometimes I go over to 900 or 1,000 calories. Usually when I have more carbs. Mostly though, I manage the 800 calories per day OK. Myfitnesspal is great help with keeping food diary for me.