OzRoo

@@sbdooly73 Wow, I've never heard of this either ..... Thyroid issues can be so evil ..... I've had Graves (hyper-thyroid) for years also, but Officially diagnosed last year. It gave me insomnia, anxiety and panic attacks, and lot more other "goodies" .... It runs in my family .... I've suffered with it for at least 25-30 years, untreated, until recently .... When all the blood levels are good, the difference in health is amazing!

Yes, thank you for the giggles today, and the past giggles !

@@csawesome, The doses can be so tricky with surgery and weight loss. I have been on 100mcg since January this year (2016), and for 2-3 weeks after my WLS my Hyper symptoms came back: I couldn't sleep, my pulse started to race again, had bad cramps in my legs .... felt wired but also very tired. I had my levels checked 3 weeks post op, and I did not hear from my Endo, so I thought all was well .... After reading few posts re WLS and thyroid, I realised that my Thyroxine levels were probably too high for a while. I am sleeping much better now, my pulse is back to normal, and I have lost 11kg (24.2 Ibs) so far. Just had my blood work done again, and will see my Endo next week. This is such a learning curve for me, both the recovery from WLS, and the thyroid med symptoms to watch out for. I read on the Australian Thyroid Foundation site, that the best TSH level is at 1.0 Any lower, and some people get the Hyper symptoms, any higher and the weight loss may slow down .... I guess, it is all individual though ..... For me, I just need to keep an eye on any troublesome symptoms re-appearing, or other new ones showing up. I start 8 week post op soon, and will have to wait and see what happens with more weight loss. I certainly don't wish to be awake all night again, and feeling so hyper .... Yes, I had my 3 week stall, that lasted 2 weeks. All OK again, and steadily losing again. Good luck to us all

I finally managed to wean myself off Equal sweetener ..... ! Never liked Stevia before, but now I actually like it. Just need to be careful with the powder version, as little too much of it is soooo sweet! I hope that by using Stevia in my coffee will help against swinging blood sugar levels, reduce sweet cravings and be lot healthier in the long run. And yesterday , I could finally cross my legs again! Woohoo !!!

I actually managed to have a Cappuccino with nothing in it, as the coffee place only had sugar or equal. It tasted fine. Up till 2 years ago, I drank my coffees without any sugar or sweeteners ...... before the sugar/sweet demon appeared. @@theantichick I am finishing Stevia Powder from Wonder Foods. This is the one that is very sweet, so I use tiny amount now. I also got "Naturals - sweetened with all natural Stevia". I haven't tried it yet, however it is made by Equal ..... the irony of it. Not sure if I can trust this, but I will try it. I guess, my next stop will be at a health food shop. @@rickm, I agree that all the sugar substitutes were wearing halos when first introduced ..... Not anymore. With Stevia, my GP doctor with naturopathic degrees, put me onto Stevia 20 years ago, to combat my hypoglycaemia. So far I haven't heard anything bad about Stevia ..... There is Xylitol, but it is too expensive for me to use at this stage. @@OKCPirate, This sounds delicious! Thank you for the link

I am thankful for my stall, as it made me realise that I need to be patient, and to chill out worrying about it. And my body is shrinking! In its own time ! Now, 2 additional kilos lost, and I reached my first milestone of Under 90 kg So, stall or no stall, it is just another part in this journey for me.

Correcto Mundo .....

Cheeky lad .... and great with puns ... lol ???????????? Sent from my SM-N910G using the BariatricPal App

Ausmith, Well done ! Yes, Awesome !!! ???? Sent from my SM-N910G using the BariatricPal App

@@Bec101 Your daughter Madison is gorgeous! Congratulations !

Just found this section, and so far November 2015 is the 2nd last post..... Hello everyone, how are you all feeling and enjoying your new chapters in life? I was sleeved 8th March 2016, on the Gold Coast by Dr. Jordaan. In my 7th week post op currently. My recovery has been rather smooth, with few bouts of really bad reflux if I ate/drank very acidic foods, ate too fast, ate the wrong food (not doing that again!), and with the last change over to more Solid type foods. Seeing Dr. Jordaan tomorrow re different reflux med, was on Pariet, want to try Nexium. I also have Graves Disease, that Dr. Jordaan's Endo found, and so my Sleeve had to be postponed (from July 2015 to March 2016). I now have the post RAI hypothyroid, and have been on Thyroxine 100 mcg since January 2016. I was OK thyroid wise for 2 months pre-op. Post op, I could not work out why my Insomnia came back, leg cramps, feeling hot again .... For at least 3 weeks post op I was up to 4 am, 5 am or later on some nights, or did not sleep at all, which was not great for my recovery. I had my levels checked (thyroid) about 4 weeks post-op, did not hear from my Endo, so thought all was OK. Now, after reading few posts re Thyroid and Thyroxine and WLS, I know that my "rapid" initial weight-loss must have done cartwheels with my thyroid med dosage. I went back to some Hyper-thyroid symptoms .... My Thyroxine must have been too high a dose then ..... It is levelling out now, and I can finally sleep better. I am on 6 weekly blood tests now. I can't read all the posts here, from before ..... Please PM me, add me as a friend, or say hello, especially if you have Thyroid disease, I would love to keep in touch. Also, if you are on the Gold Coast, please let me know, and maybe we can have coffee one day. Thank you

I had some acid reflux before my op, but nothing too bad. 2 weeks post op, or so, I had a nasty reflux attack, early in the morning. I woke up choking on and coughing up massive amounts of yellow, burning acid bile ..... Scary ! I have been taking Pariet (PPI) since my surgery. If I have food that is too acidic, I get reflux. If I eat the wrong food (bit of chocolate), I get the reflux with the "Foamies" ..... I don't eat the wrong food after that scary episode. I recently changed to the last phase of Soft to more solid food phase. Had really bad reflux for 2 days. Took double doses of Pariet, and Somac, plus liquid Mylanta. Brewed black tea was helpful too. I am seeing my surgeon this Wednesday, and will ask him for Nexium. I too am concerned with osteoporosis, and other side effects of long term PPI use, but I am more afraid of Oesophageal Erosion or even cancer. All I know is that if my food is too acidic, I forget to eat and leave it for too long between meals, if I eat too fast, and if my food is too dense ..... I get reflux, sometimes really bad one.

Great news, great NSV ! Congrats !!!

Great sites, Thank you

I was allowed to add unflavoured Protein powder to my liquids, but I wasn't restricted to clear fluids. Protein really helps with hunger pangs. I had true hunger pangs, even on free fluids. chicken broth helped also. It all got better once I got to the puree stage.

I was sleeved 8th March 2016. I am still on my 2 weekly food phases. In week 7, I was advised I could try some soft red meat. Prior to that on my Soft phase, I was having minced chicken and minced turkey, with stock and cheese sauce. No problems there. I was worried re red meat in my Soft to more Solid phase. Decided to try Shepherds Pie, with minced beef and vegies. So far so good, it is all soft and juicy. Got to chew really well. Wouldn't dare to eat pepperoni or steak yet. Plus my taste buds have changed, and I prefer white meats, such as fish, chicken or turkey these days.

I used to add unflavoured Protein powder to my juices. I also used to add Vaalia natural yoghurt to my V8/tomato juice, blend it really well. Tasted great, but I had to stop drinking tomato type juices, as it gave me real bad reflux. I was adding Vaalia natural yoghurt to my Soups, also. Made them more filling. Tasted really good

Gosh, I had a bit of chocolate in my 3rd week post op, and that made me so ill later. I felt sorry for myself, as I was in the 3rd week stall. The "Foamies" with horrible reflux were a wake up call for me. I am now in my 7th week post op, on Soft to Solid phase, and just had 2 awful days with my allowed, well chewed food. I had lunch recently with a friend, she had a meal, and I had a coffee. I couldn't imagine what eating hard food such as pizza would do to the New Baby Stomach .... After such a costly and major surgery, the possibility of serious complications, leaks, damage to the sleeve, ending up in ER ..... Too dicey to play with your life! If you can't follow the post op instructions already, how are you going to cope later on? I have to see my bariatric Psychologist and Dietician (NUT) as part of my recovery. I hope that you have support of your surgical/medical team. I am sure you want to be alive for your family, right ????? !!!!

NSV, Woohoo !!! Keep up the good work ..... lap dancing ..... next will be pole dancing ....

@@jaxmom I'd love a raccoon !!! I would name him "Rocky", as in Rocky Raccoon ..... Hope you are feeling better soon. 4 days out is really super soon to feel fantastic. Give it time, rest, cry if you need to, and look after yourself. Yes, as mentioned above, it will pass .... You know, I have been to so many places in the USA, and practically lived in LA at a long stage. I flew internationally for Qantas, for many years. Loved coming to the US Never been to Florida, though .... I guess, climate is very similar, as Queensland is very humid and hot in the summers. Take care, sending you hugs

@@BCs 1000 Congratulations on your awesome results !!! How wonderful ! And thanks for sharing that the weight comes off in spurts, but with time, the result is great. If not for my damn thyroid disease, I would have been sleeved July 2015, last year ..... Oh well, it wasn't meant to be, so I am in recovery now. 7 weeks post op. Cheers

I was on liquids for 2 weeks after my op, then 2 weeks of purees, then 2 weeks on soft foods, now on 2 weeks soft/more solid phase. I have had reflux on and off, so I am on PPIs daily for now. Last 2 days have been tough, as the reflux was really bad, and nausea was bad. I had some Stemetil from a previous procedure, and this helped my nausea. I had to take double doses of Pariet and Somac, as the reflux was hell! I am going back to more runny soft foods for now. See my surgeon on Wednesday, will ask for Nexium script. I re-discovered my Madura Premium leaf tea .... made few pots, drinking it black and it helps my poor tummy. I am in 7th week post op. @ I am glad you triple checked everything. You may be in the very lucky category

D

Some Soups don't require mixing, it says so on the can. However most soups require adding Water, maybe bit of milk, and blending it well. After cooking it, I was adding bit of runny yoghurt to my soups. Don't know re how the pouch feels, as I never had an unmixed soup.

@ Congratulations on the surgery and no dramas post op! I only had little nausea, perhaps once in the hospital, and tolerated my drinks well. I only had little pain, and was aware of sips going down my oesophagus. My large drain tube hurt the most, and It was a relief to have it taken out later. Not everyone gets a drain tube though. I am on more solid phase now, started last Wednesday, and yesterday and today I have really bad Reflux. Even my anti-reflux med is not really working. I am seeing my surgeon next week, and will ask for a different script. I stick to my allowed food and measures, chew slowly, eat slowly, and the reflux doesn't care about that. Not everyone gets reflux either. @@FinallyFree! Congrats on your op! Yes, we do have wonderful surgeons here!