KateBruin
Gastric Sleeve Patients-
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Everything posted by KateBruin
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Fellow Migraine Sufferers
KateBruin replied to HP62442's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
You should look into botox for your migraines. My sister gets migraine associated vertigo and botox has helped a lot. I get chronic headaches but it’s usually because I’m dehydrated. -
Fellow Migraine Sufferers
KateBruin replied to HP62442's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
You should look into botox for your migraines. My sister gets migraine associated vertigo and botox has helped a lot. I get chronic headaches but it’s usually because I’m dehydrated. -
Hypoglycemia, 9 Months Post-Op Sleeve
KateBruin replied to az062217vsg's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I developed such severe hypoglycemia one day and almost needed to divert a cross country flight. My blood sugar crashes more easily than before but is otherwise good. The extremely low blood sugar that one day was terrifying. Surgeon said it isn’t abnormal. -
Carbonated water?
KateBruin replied to ZaylaEmora24's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
It won’t stretch your stomach. Worst case you’ll feel pain. I started drinking carbonated drinks a few weeks out. 7 months out and I drink them about 5x a week. Carbonated and flavored water or diet cherry Coke. That’s my weakness. I just have to drink more slowly than before and I burp. Otherwise no issues. -
What's wrong with a straw?
KateBruin replied to logicwand's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
From the various videos I’ve watched, sleeve stretching is a myth. I drink carbonated water just about daily. There’s not enough carbonation to stretch your stomach even if it did. -
What's wrong with a straw?
KateBruin replied to logicwand's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I started straws about a week out. I got an iced tea, was drinking out of a straw and realized I was told no. However, they did say that it differs from person to person. I have absolutely no issues except they occasionally make me burp. Worst case you get some pain and burping. -
Belching and flatus!
KateBruin replied to Ashley RN's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I burp like a mother f*cker. If I don’t let them out it hurts. Sip. I have to add crystal light to all my water or it hurts. Not a damn clue why though. I have a 25 oz bottle for home and a 17 oz bottle I carry everywhere. I’ve slacked off lately and could probably use an IV -
POST OP PUKING,FROTHING, STRICTURE!
KateBruin replied to Duguhlug's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I’ve had similar or possibly more severe complications. Subclinical gastroparesis, severe GERD and possible issues with my esophageal muscles. I get torture test results Monday. Let me tell you, the barium test was the easiest one I’ve ever had. Didn’t hate it. I’m 7 months out. For 3 months I vomit regularly, get the foamies, rarely eat solid food and mostly rely on meal replacement shakes and protein shakes. My GERD is so bad when I did a 48 hour pH study I was choking on pure stomach acid at pH 1!! There’s only about 4 solid foods I can tolerate. Still don’t regret the surgery. -
Edibles or CBD tincture. I take edibles every night to sleep. Most are sugar free or a couple calories but other are typical candies + pot. Occasional munchies if I wake up while the drug is still in my system but 9/10 times I ignore it or have a quick, small snack and crash again.
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Life after and eating out
KateBruin replied to bobt1's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Prior to my complications I ate out frequently as I hate cooking. I think one of my first truly solid meals was takeout from my favorite habachi place. If I ate in a restaurant I put food on a salad plate and immediately have them box the rest. Leftovers for a few days or excited roommate getting free food! I’d also drink a glass of water, iced tea, whatever before I ate. If I ordered to go I initially weighed out 6 oz (didn’t always finish) but now I simply eat intuitively because of my pretty life altering complications. Stopped really tracking once I mostly lost the ability to eat solid food. I even splurge on chocolate and some sugar from time to time since I typically eat so little. If people find it weird they don’t say anything. I went out for thanksgiving with my mom (sleeved end of August), got a soup, steak, potatoes and something else. Had a cocktail (shhhh don’t tell ) the yummy soup, and 3-4 bites of steak, potatoes and green beans then a few bites of pecan pie. I honestly don’t really stress about good or “bad” foods since the majority of my diet is healthy or liquids [emoji58]. About once a month I get in n out. Sometimes do protein style depending on my carbs and workout for the day, but other days do a bun since I only eat 1/3-1/2. Bun seems to go down easier than the lettuce. My biggest treat was a sham feeding test where you chew and spit out all the food and drink. It tests for vagus nerve damage. I got a spicy chicken sandwich from jack and curly fries which were my Achilles heal. Best meal I didn’t eat! Sorry for being long winded...insomnia -
I’ve had significant complications. Gastric emptying slowed to 55% in 90 minutes and 50% is considered the cut off for gastroparesis. And I’ve developed swallowing issues or severe GERD (didn’t have it before) on Monday I got an upper endoscopy, esophageal manometry, which is pure torture, and a 48 hour test with a transmitting capsule attached to my esophagus. Capsule only just detached today and was quite awful. Don’t know what is wrong till I see my GI doctor on Monday. Complications began about 3 months out.
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I was really hungry for a while and occasionally still am. Upped my PPI to 2x a day and definitely felt more full and less hungry as I progressed to solid food. And, before I ate I would ask myself if I was really hungry or if it’s head hunger. Weighed everything at first but now I just eat intuitively because I’ve had significant complications so if I can eat, I eat. 7 months out.
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I’m 90 lbs down and my hip kills and so do the inside of my knees where they hit each other. I think my hip got bursitis. Not fun but I’ll take it!
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In the hospital the night after my surgery. At first I slept with a pillow or folded blanket against my stomach.
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I have hair loss but I also have Hashimoto’s and ankylosing spondylitis. My dietician says it can continue for a year or so.
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My favorite protein powder is progenex. It’s pricey and not significantly different than other proteins but it tastes amazing. I mix it with almond, coconut or 1% milk and as a treat make a shake with cookies and cream powder and vanilla halo top. The powder is amazing. I’ve tried vanilla, chocolate, PB chocolate, mocha and cookies and cream. The cookies and cream is the best.
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To crush the protonix or not??
KateBruin replied to Andersonfam2018's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
I started taking pills the day after surgery. Started with ones about the size of a dime to nickel and started taking horse pills without splitting them about 1-2 weeks out but only cause I was scared. They were no problem. -
I nearly pushed myself to rhambo a few weeks ago and got overtraining syndrome for a few days. I did 3 back to back HIIT workouts. Be careful everyone. I’ll never do it again. My limit is 2 a day now.
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How much weight does one generally lose with gastric sleeve surgery?
KateBruin replied to Amjo's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
I was 267 and currently weigh around 177. Sleeved end of August. I think I look like I’ve lost more because I’ve put on a bunch of muscle. I will say I tracked every calorie at first but now do intuitive eating since I’ve had complications and I work out twice a day 5 days a week. But I also have Hashimoto’s so I think I’ve possibly had to work harder for the loss. -
Calculating total weight loss
KateBruin replied to vsg_Charly's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
I basically calculate two numbers. My overall weight loss in a year, which just happens to be my heaviest weight and my post-op weight loss. It’s just automatically tracked in my scale’s app but I think my scale starts when I bought it but my fitness pal tracks the total. Plus, 90 is more impressive than 50. -
Calculating total weight loss
KateBruin replied to vsg_Charly's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
I basically calculate two numbers. My overall weight loss in a year, which just happens to be my heaviest weight and my post-op weight loss. It’s just automatically tracked in my scale’s app but I think my scale starts when I bought it but my fitness pal tracks the total. Plus, 90 is more impressive than 50. -
Congratulations!! Me too! As of today my BMI was 27. I haven’t been this thin since my mid 20s. It’s incredible.
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I was just talking to my psychiatrist today about how I’m treated so differently now that I’m down 90 lbs. Before I was 276ish at 5’6” and definitely appeared overweight but I was actually never visually huge. Now people are so much more friendly and chit chat more. Even people at my gym. We think it’s a combo looking much thinner and my increased confidence because he said I basically glow. It’s sad people treat the overweight/obese so differently. Now I make a cognizant effort not to in case I did before and never noticed.
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I’m mostly secret. Told my family and those jerks told a bunch of their friends and I’ve also told a handful of close friends. One girl at my gym guessed when I mentioned no food and drink at the same time. Otherwise I say it’s diet and exercise, which isn’t a total lie. It’s none of their business. My sister accused me of taking the easy way out so I say eff everyone if that’s what you want!! Family was otherwise supportive, so were friends. My mom had serious issues with getting surgery but in the end helped take care of me.
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Walk, walk and more walk. I had a sore throat from the tube but it healed in a day or two. First few nights I “slept” sitting up on my couch and otherwise paced the house to get all the gas out. Gas x doesn’t help since it’s within your abdominal sac. Ask for zofran or something comparable for the nausea and don’t be afraid to ask for more pain meds. I took liquid oxycodone on and off for at least a week and supplemented it a bit with leftover hydrocodone during that time and occasionally after I quit the oxy but when I really needed sleep or felt especially sore. I was fine most of the time but others felt like a train wreck. The liquid diet was really rough on my energy level.