Berry78

Thanks everyone! The funny thing is I was so pleased with having lost the 16 pounds preop, that I thought I looked pretty good in the day of surgery photo! Lol! I hadn't looked back at that pic until today to post it, and I'm utterly floored! And to think.. only 3 people have "noticed"! I suppose more may have noticed without saying anything... (I mean, how could they not?). I do feel SOO much better! Not sure why I have that haggard look around the eyes, maybe too much time spent on Bariatric Pal! Lol. This is a great "intermission".. since it's halfway through the first year, and I'm ready to start hitting the gym (I haven't to this point). We'll see what my next photo brings in March!

You are writing EXACTLY what goes through my head. And I do have a theory about that last paragraph. Insulin is a building hormone. When insulin is present, lots of work gets done building lean body mass...hormones and muscles, and the like.. but it also puts fat into storage. So you gain fat weight as well as structural improvements. The idea is once those structural improvements are finished, then there is more lean body mass, which increases the metabolism, and assuming the caloric intake stays the same, the fat that was stored can burn back off (because the increased metabolism now needs more calories than are being consumed.) Once the excess fat is burned off, then the appetite increases, so that you are eating the right amount to maintain your lean body mass. Obviously increasing lean body mass needs exercise (like weight lifting) to really pack on a lot more lean pounds to REALLY raise the metabolism. And keep in mind that even protein can raise insulin levels.. not just carbs. So all those body builders pack in the protein to build those muscles, and my theory still holds. I re-wrote that like 3 times to try and make it make sense. Let me know if I was successful! Lol. As for where to go for RMR/BMR.. you'll have to go look for it at an exercise physiology lab type place. They charge for the service.. something like $100-$120 as far as I know. Sometimes colleges have those labs, etc. Maybe do a google search for your area. I haven't had mine done yet, hope to in the next couple months.

Is the pain just during your period, or all the time? If it's just during your period, then it's probably related to your PCOS. If it's all the time, then you need to get the doctor to look at you again.

Even though the stomach is tiny, you can fill it up a bunch of times a day. So if you can fit in 240 calories each time (not hard), then you eat 10 times.. bam! You've got it. It IS easier to drink calories though. I've been consuming 1200 calories since about 12 weeks postop. I don't want to consume more, but see how I could if I needed to. Low calories during the weight loss phase is good (you should aim to get to 1000- 1200 asap postop though).. and by time you hit goal weight a year or so out, you'll be able to eat more. One thing we are all excited by is getting your bmr/rmr tested. Maybe before surgery, then every 6 months after. That way you can see how many calories you actually need, and see if it changes over the course of your journey.

I do the same as rainbow. I consume food in its normal form. Milk is just plain, whole, milk. Yogurt is plain. Can add plain whole berries to it for a bit of sweetness. I do add butter, ground black pepper, garlic, and salt to things I'm cooking. I have been putting milk in my tea, but adding a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup would be fewer calories and help me transition away from dairy (dairy was my bestest friend immediately postop, but it's not as good anymore). Plain tea doesn't work for me. My vitamins are full of artificial sweeteners, but they work ok so I'll keep them. The idea isn't to be devout.. it's to retrain yourself in the direction that makes sense for you.

Well, keep in mind that many of them are aiming for 1800 or 2000 calories.. which means adding another 8 TABLESPOONS of added fat! Lol! Yum.. keto sounds delicious! Fat is my favorite.. .... .... at least always used to be... Hmm.. on second thought, I don't think it's as good anymore... I don't DISlike it.. I just don't crave it. (Guess I'm still transitioning my brain to the then/now.) Btw..For the sake of accuracy.. I attributed all the calories in nuts to fat. Nuts also have some protein and carbs, so just wanted to point out that my numbers are just rough estimates.

Oh, absolutely trust your surgeon.. they're the experts! Your energy will return. Sometimes it just takes a while. Personally I started feeling normal levels of energy about 3 months postop. Sorry about the link. I got to the page through a google search. Basically it was just explaining that the people can be categorized according to diabetes severity as to whether they should get a sleeve or bypass. Mild diabetes is good for both surgeries, but the bypass did perform a little better. Moderate diabetes had significantly more improvement with bypass. Severe diabetes didn't respond as well to either surgery, so the lower risk surgery (sleeve) was the best option.

Ok, I just went to find those stats, and found something better! Apparently I had some things backwards! http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/879917 http://riskcalc.org/Metabolic_Surgery_Score/

You probably were told correctly.. a large percentage of sleeve patients DO experience diabetes improvement or remission postop. The problem is that many of those patients have diabetes come back. I do need to go and get some sources.. my numbers are just generally off the top of my head, and could be quite wrong. Diabetes is kinda a borderline issue. Some people REALLY want the best chance of remission forever, others don't worry too much. Personal decision stuff. The GERD issue can be a bit hairy too. My surgeon says if you only get occasional heartburn from rich/spicy foods, then the sleeve is a good option. If you have severe GERD that isn't food-related, then there is a small chance it will actually improve with the sleeve, but worsening symptoms happen all too often. GERD isn't just uncomfortable, it's dangerous too. (linked to esophageal cancer). But don't despair. Something like 75% of bariatric patients have GERD going into surgery (likely so high because the extra weight of the abdominal fat on the stomach creates a high-pressure environment.. essentially pushing the acid up and out of the stomach into the esophagus). But, more than 50% of procedures are sleeves.. so obviously many people with GERD are getting sleeved. A certain percentage of sleeve patients are getting revisons to bypass if their GERD is too bad (and lots of them didn't have GERD to begin with).. so there's always that if you end up having trouble. Ultimately everything about this surgery is a risk and playing a numbers game.. we all jump in, hoping for the best, and let the chips fall where they may. If complications happen, handle them as they come. Ultimately, the VAST majority of patients are thrilled with their surgery and results. So.. no worries!

Well, let's look at this from the body's point of view You're a caveman that has just entered a period of lean times. After the first few days, your hunger goes down because if you are too miserable, you won't be able to function to go find more food. But, then when you do find more food, then the hunger comes back, reminding you that you need to eat more to catch back up on those nutrients that were lacking. The other part of this is after a period of weight loss, the body slows its processes down so you don't starve to death. Metabolism goes down, hunger goes up, etc. Since the weight loss has slowed, this is probably happening too. It's true that if you eat so little now, the surgery won't give you the big losses up front. The good news is, though, that it should still reset your set point, so that these losses that you've made now can stick. I'm glad you've introduced vitamins. We don't get enough eating 2000 calories (on a SAD).. we absolutely can't get anywhere near enough eating less than half that. In the meantime, if you want to stay keto, that's fine. Eat LOTS of colorful veggies, and enough meat and fat and nuts... put it this way.. 80g protein is only 320 calories. 25g carbs has 100 calories. Non starchy veggies have virtually zero, so that means you need to be eating about 700 calories of fat. 3oz of nuts gives 540 calories, then you have room for another Tablespoon and a half of added fat (salad dressing or the like). This is assuming the protein sources are virtually fat free. Of course, there is no reason you can't be eating 1200 or 1300 calories now, which would take care of the fat in the meats. It's amazing how LITTLE fat has SO many calories! I mean seriously? 3oz of nuts, the fat in the meat, and 1.5 tablespoons of added fat equals 900-1000 calories?! AMAZING!

My hubby had rosacea for the first several years we were married. It gradually got better, but I don't know what caused its improvement! My Aunt also had it BAD, and when she lived in Mexico, she went to an outdoor market. An old woman gave her some home-made herbal lotion to put onto her face. Within a week her rosacea was cured and never came back! I'll have to ask her if she knows what was in the lotion.

If it starts on Monday, then we should report on Sunday or Monday. The other option is Friday since @dashofpixiedustdoes a weigh-in challenge on Fridays.

You guys should already be on acid reducers (usually PPI's or H2 blockers). If you're not on acid reducers, talk to your docs. Cool.. those sensations you are having are likely "spasms". Umm.. I didn't have them, so not sure what other people do for them. I want to say the doc can prescribe some medicine for it. Again.. talk to your doc.

Eat something salty that is permitted. You might be looking for salt.

I started my preop liquid diet about 2 weeks earlier than I needed to. Wanted to make sure I got the "hang" of it before the do or die date! Lol. After 2 weeks on that pitiful diet, I was ready for my true "last meal" before starting the actual 2 week preop. Thought I'd just eat a slice of pizza.. but once it touched my lips, there goes half the large pizza, AND an entire blueberry(?) pie. Dang! Took most of the next week to undo THAT damage! Lol! I don't really have a point, other than my last binge PROVED to me the need for the surgery. It showed me where my weaknesses lie, so I can be wary going forward. It's great that y'all don't have any "last meal" cravings. That shows you are totally in the right head space. But if you do decide to polish off an entire pan of brownies, it doesn't make you less of a person (Oh.. Lol.. it's true! It WON'T make you LESS of a person!!!) haha.

Glad things are going better for you! Once you are on a normal diet, you'll feel better still.

Great job!!

Oh gosh! You have some health issues I wasn't aware of. With only 1 kidney, you do have to be extra careful... you are not just another typical patient. The weight is definitely water weight, so don't stress about it being fat. Water weight, for you, is concerning too, though. With the new info, I'm going to change all my recommendations. Aim for 55-60g protein. You are right, high protein isn't needed in your case. Go back to swimming and walking. Were you "forcing" yourself to drink 80oz? Or are you that thirsty? If you were forcing it, then sticking with 64oz is a good idea. If you are that thirsty, then take a look at your conditions. Are you in a very hot environment and sweating? If not, then are you getting enough salt or potassium? I urge you to count your sodium and potassium intakes, and report all these things to your doctor, so he/she can help you manage it. Just count it, but don't change it until they make a recommendation. You need to keep in close contact with your docs until you get used to your new tummy and lifestyle.. and everything begins running smoothly for you.

Adding unflavored protein powder to creamed soups will be very doable. Really do your best to keep your texture what you need it to be during your phases. In other words, if you are on puree, it's better to eat apple sauce than unblended canned chicken. The low carb, low calorie part is for weight loss, and that can WAIT. The SMOOTHNESS is for stomach healing, which CANNOT be rushed!

Eggs don't have to be refrigerated.. they'll keep for a couple weeks if kept at least a little cool (like 70 degrees.. not 90). Premade protein shakes are going to be fine (if they are not found in the refrigerator section in the store). You CAN mix powdered protein in water, and get some powdered milk to add as well. Canned food will be your best bet. At first it's smooth soup like cream of mushroom (strained), applesauce, etc. Then you'll be adding chunkier soups. Canned fruit, veggies, all that. Canned tuna and chicken once you are onto soft foods. Get tiny packages of mayo since it will spoil out of the fridge (maybe the single-serve packets like they have at fast food joints). Pickles don't spoil quickly.

I need to add.. if you feel your mental health is at stake, then what works for me may be the worst thing YOU can do. We're all so unique. I do recommend you focus and make goals for what you are obsessing about. Don't obsess just to obsess. Figure out WHAT you want to learn, and once it's learned, see if you get more relaxed, or more wound up. When I've learned something, I'm more relaxed. (My question has been answered). If it doesn't work that way for you, then you need a different approach.

Personally I handle this by doing "early" work, set it and forget it. What I mean is.. focus intently for a period of time, memorizing food stats, making a plan, counting what needs to be counted. Then go on with my life without counting anymore (unless I make a change, then I take the time to plan the change, and forget it again). By doing it this way, I don't have to count every meal every day. I actually don't journal or track on a fitbit. I don't have to because my days look pretty much the same. Here is my meal plan: Breakfast: 4oz cottage cheese and 3-4 oz fruit Lunch: 1 egg and 3.5oz pinto beans Snack: 1oz nuts or seeds Dinner: 4oz meat and nonstarchy veggies Caloric Beverages: 1 cup milk and 2 cups coconut water (I split these meals up as necessary.. I can't eat over 4oz at a time). Now, say I'm out, and find myself in a situation where I need to eat a ham sandwich. Ham sandwich isn't on my plan. But, by understanding the content of foods, I can confidently make substitutions when necessary. The ham is probably 1/2 my serving of meat, and the bread would take the place of my fruit. As long as my nutrients stay relatively consistent, I don't HAVE to count every little thing, and it frees me up. BUT, it took a lot of work to get to this point (I'm over 5 months postop, and have spent significant time looking up various foods' nutritional content, reading labels, etc.) I give myself the honeymoon period to essentially "school" myself, learning all this stuff, so when it isn't as interesting in the future, it'll all be second nature anyway.

Just a reminder.. don't ever consume anything fizzy until at least 8 weeks post op (preferably never.. let it sit until all bubbles are GONE). Patients have died from, not even thinking, taking alka-seltzer during the first few weeks post op. The gas bubbles can expand in the stomach and rupture it (since there isn't anything but staples holding it closed until some scar tissue can form around 6-8 weeks postop).

So far it looks ok. But having a bump that hurts, I imagine it feels like a little pimple? You may have a tiny little infection within the skin.. possibly. Just keep it clean as per your doc's directions, and of course, feel free to contact your doc now or later with concerns. A little infection that's localized in the skin isn't usually a big deal (much like a pimple). It's when the infection is deep that it gets scary. @dreamingsmall docs don't put metal staples inside (except onto the actual stomach).. they'll have used absorbable stitches.

I haven't had these challenges, but I'm impressed by how well you are handling yourself! Asking for ideas.. that's very good! Hopefully you can get some good advise. Here is mine: First off, food that has no nutritive value needs to get out of your house. Broadly, this is anything that has sugar or white flour. Having to leave the house to go get junk food is a natural barrier. The second thing is to try and create a set of rules that gives you permission to indulge. Just a little, and so it can fit into your calorie budget. For example: I made room in my day for a healthy carb. It can be fruit or a potato or Ezekial bread. Serving size is important.. whatever gives me 15 net grams of carbs. I also can have cake and/or ice cream. But it has to be at a birthday party. Thanksgiving: pumpkin pie, etc etc. The word "sneaking" is funny.. because you can't hide from yourself, and this is YOUR journey. [Hugs]