healthmatters

I am about 14 months out from surgery. I can totally relate to your post. About an hour after eating dinner I feel incredibly hungry too. Day time my eating is on track. I think a lot of my hunger is due to anxiety and emotional eating. Trying to decipher whether it is emotional eating or truly hunger is difficult. I appreciate your post and everyone's responses. This is an ongoing challenge for me. Thank you.

Congratulations! You look absolutely amazing.

Congratulations on your weight loss and life style changes. It looks like you are following your plan, which is so important. I ditto everything the other posters mentioned. I am 6 months out and measure and weigh everything. Fitness Pal is my "my go to" for logging food every day. The decision to have VSG was the best decision that I ever made. It is still surreal that I have lost so much weight. I never would have been able to lose this much weight on my own. If I could have, I would have. The positives definitely out weigh the negatives. After surgery my taste buds changed. What tasted good prior to surgery may not taste the same for you after surgery. Some people recommend "no" or "low" carbs after surgery, however, like the previous poster I allow carbs (small amounts) after I have eaten all of my protein and if there is room. I don't eat rice but I occasionally eat 2 Tbsp. sweet potato, quinoa, etc. At 6 months out I still can't always fit it all in. The minute I feel full, I stop. Eggs are still an issue. They don't taste like they did before and cause nausea. Every person is different and your tummy will tell you what you can or can't tolerate. Usually I eat breakfast but have a protein shake at lunch. The protein shakes really help so I get all of my protein. When I have a shake I add Miralax because constipation, for me, is an ongoing issue. It is one of the most challenging issues. I also eat 2-4 prunes a day and/or some nuts. They contain a lot of calories and carbs but they are necessary for me to stay some what regular. Another issue for me is hair loss. I am still losing it. Thankfully I had a lot so it isn't that noticeable. It is great that you are exercising. It has really helped me. My energy level is through the roof. I walk, walk, walk, daily, ride a stationary bike and lift weights 2 x week. Prior to surgery I had some acid reflux and a small growth on my stomach, which they removed and biopsied. They performed 2 endoscopys (no big deal ... slept like a baby). I had no other tests except blood work. I go for my 6 month nutritionist/N.P. visit today and they will do blood work. My blood work has been great except for iron. The circulating is fine but the other low. I had a bone density and they were in normal range, they improved since surgery, along with my PTH. I am on NO medications except for allergy. The improvements in my health are amazing. My blood pressure is fantastic. I am in my mid-fifties and experienced menopause 15 years years ago. I have experienced a couple of stalls, which I try not to get me down, because before I know it my weight drops. Throughout my journey I have virtually lost an average of 1 to 3 pounds a week. I have to work for every pound, VSG is not an easy fix. It takes diligence and dedication to stay on plan every single day. So happy you have your surgery date. Wishing you the best with all of your tests. Once those are done, I am sure you will feel more relieved. Keep following your plan and doing what you are doing and you will be just fine. Again, it is the best thing I ever did for me. Hoping you will feel the same.

You are absolutely beautiful. I am so happy that you have been so successful. A lot of women are jealous and insecure with themselves so they aren't able to compliment. Thankfully you have a wonderful support system. Congratulations on all of your hard work.

I am losing a lot of hair at 6 months out. Thankfully I have a lot so it isn't that noticeable to others but every day my bathroom floor is full of it and in the shower. I just mentioned this to my program coordinator who is a nurse and she said to try, Zinc. Apparently she discussed this with the team, surgeons, etc. I have been taking Zinc for about a week. I was told not to try Biosil because you will grow hair every where you don't want it. Ugh! The pills are kind of big, abt. size of extra strength Tylenol. We shall see.

My insurance company won't pay for plastics so I will be stuck with the excess skin. I have been in menopause for a long time so I think that has even made it worse. My arms really hang on the under side but the top looks pretty good. I wear compression clothing when I work out, it really helps to hold it in. I also bought a miracle suit on Amazon for thighs. I don't think anyone would notice my extra thigh skin with clothes on but look out when I go bare legged. Years ago I had a mandatory abdominoplasty because they had to do exploratory surgery for cancer. At that time they got rid of the apron and my belly button. Now my abdomen hangs but not low enough where I would approved for plastic surgery. I have more weight to lose so I am hoping my skin maintains somewhat. Not too hopeful. I love to swim so I bought swim shorts and a tankini top.

It is normal to be scared and nervous. I have had numerous surgeries. The medical team, surgeons, anesthesiologist, etc. always made me feel super comfortable; I am sure your's will too. If I was overly anxious they (anesthesiology) gave me something to relax, etc. Before knew it I was in recovery. The biggest challenge for me was nausea, but once the anesthesia wore off, I felt soooo much better. Constipation is my biggest challenge 5 months out. The good thing is that it is treatable. Before you know it you will be on the "loser's bench." Thinking of you.

Most of my pain was in the top right incision where they took the excess stomach. My pain lasted for a number of weeks. It wasn't constant but that one incision was more noticeable. The binder helped a lot, especially when turning over in bed, moving, etc. The pain was controlled with Extra Strength Tylenol. I didn't require a narcotic, however, everyone is different. Hoping you feel better soon.

I can totally relate to your post, you are not alone feeling hunger. I often feel hungry in the evening and yes, the need to feed my emotions is an ongoing challenge. I do the same as the previous poster, when I feel hungry I have a small amount (bite) of a high protein food, such as jerky, meat, cottage cheese, etc. or drink water. This usually nips my hunger in the bud. Not sure if you are working out or walking, but I notice that when I do I am frequently hungry in the evening so I try to save some calories for a high protein snack. It helps with my real hunger and I feel satisfied, not deprived.

Yes, so sorry to hear some of you had bad experiences with your surgeons. My surgeon was awesome! Super empathetic, respectful, thorough, etc. When I told him I wanted to ride a roller coaster, horse, etc. he got tears in his eyes. I have the utmost respect for him. A family member sees him every now and then and he always asks how I am doing. There is good and not so good in every profession.

That is so awesome! Happy for you.

Yay, so happy for you! Keep us updated if you want to share. Unjury chicken soup was a life saver for me, other wise strain healthy choice chicken noodle soup, etc.

i have experienced constipation a lot since surgery. I was taking Milk of Magnesium for about a month and switched to Miralax, daily, after seeing my surgeon 3 months out. The past week my constipation was awful so I took 2 Dulcolax, a long with the Miralax and 4 prunes. It totally did the trick. Today i skipped the Miralax and Dulcolax to give my body a break but will continue with the Miralax and prunes tomorrow.

I lost some hair but it isn't noticeable because I have a lot. It thinned out which makes it much quicker to blow dry. i didn't take biotin because I was told hair will grow where you don't want it to, like your face, arms, etc. Not sure if this is true or not.

Congrats on your success and victories! Sounds like you are doing really well ... happy for you. I still use my c-pap but have an appt. with Dr. in July so hoping they will recommend another sleep study. I am no longer on any medications other than allergy. I walk at least 3 miles 5 times a week and also lift weights. If I don't exercise it really affects my weight loss. This is the thinnest I have been in 35 years. I feel amazing!

One of the first steps that my insurance required was that my PCP write a letter of support and submit it to my surgeon (weight loss program). My program gave me a sample letter to give to my PCP which indicated what the letter needed to address. Once the weight loss program received the letter the ball started rolling.

Congratulations! You are a beautiful woman! You inspire me.

The good news, according to my surgeon you don't stretch your sleeve. Kick it into high gear and start back on your nutritional plan. Before you know it you will back in the losing game. You are worth it to take good care of yourself and your tummy. I am rooting for you. You CAN do it!!!!

The same here, no breathing tube when I awoke. You will do just fine!

Constipation, in my opinion, has been the biggest issue since having surgery. When I was 2 weeks out I was taking Milk of Magnesium. I blended it with a shake. After a month or so I switched to Miralax, one serving a day mixed with yogurt or a shake. Sometimes I take a Dulcolax, like others mentioned, when the going really gets rough.

I am about 4 1/2 months out and can relate. The past couple of days I found myself craving certain foods and was grazing, which I haven't done before. I started to freak out too and started getting anxious. We both need to kick it into high gear and remember why we had the surgery. Today is going great and I know I need to track every morsel that goes into my mouth and eat via my plan. You can do it too. One day at a time. We are worth great health.

I am about 4 1/2 months post op and can agree with the others. I eat about 2 1/2 to 3 oz. protein. I never go over 3 oz. Most of the time I am too full to eat much else. At lunch I usually have a protein shake: 1 c. fair life skim milk, 2 scoops protein powder. Premier protein shakes still gross me out, ever since surgery. I have had more hunger in the evenings which I try to nip in the bud with a couple Tbsp. cottage cheese. I have been stalling too as of late. My hunger has increased which kind of freaks me out.

Congratulations! That is a lot of weight. Proud of you too.