kitty1392

My standard pre-op instructions said no nail polish. I asked a pre-op nurse (when I was having pre-admission testing done) and she said it was fine to leave my gel manicure on. It’s worth asking!

My program was fine with Splenda and my stomach was cool with it too. When I was in the hospital my liquid meal tray they brought me included a mug of hot tea with some Splenda packets.

Prior to my surgery, all the post-op patients in my support group talked about how they immediately had so much energy. Yeah. I got none of that. [emoji849] I nap almost every day after work and sleep 12-16 hours on my days off.

I was a nervous nelly. And suddenly I was waking up, surgery was over, and everything was fine!! The risks are low, and the rewards are high!

I was hungry on the liquid diet. Now a month later I have no interest in food. I have to psyche myself up to eat anything. I don’t think the liquid phase is an accurate representation of how you’ll feel long term. Your body is still trying to figure out what the heck is going on.

Echinacea has always worked for me, but check with your doctor. If you do start coming down with something be extremely mindful of dehydration. Even ‘normal’ people have a hard time staying hydrated with the flu. Because we can only take in a limited amount of Fluid at a time, we are extremely at risk. Just keep in touch with your team. Sending good thoughts your way! I caught a cold a week after surgery, the sneezing was absolutely brutal on my sore muscles.

That seriously sucks. But here are my two cents: I had a hard time sticking to my pre-op diet. I then had a super hard time with my post-op diet. To the point of cheating a few times and putting myself at serious risk of complications. I assumed post-op would be easier but it wasn’t, and the stakes are much higher. I got lucky and nothing happened, but in retrospect I should have sorted out my issues with food before I had surgery.

Seriouslyyyyy doubt it. You need 3500 calorie deficit per pound. There’s also water weight, but losing 20 pounds of water isn’t something that happens accidentally. It would take extreme measures and you would feel like crap.

You’re also not far out from your surgery date. I fluctuated between diarrhea and constipation for weeks.

Are you making sure not to drink after eating? It’s very hard for me to stick to that, but I have noticed if I drink too soon after eating, it goes straight through me and I end up in the bathroom.

Discuss this with your surgeon. Extended release medications are a problem with gastric BYPASS patients as their intestinal path is shortened. Gastric SLEEVE patients have no change in their ability to absorb medications, including extended release, as these drugs are absorbed in the intestines. It sounds like your psychiatrist isn’t familiar with the difference between the different forms of bariatric surgery (which isn’t that weird, your psych probably hasn’t seen the inside of an operating room since med school). It sounds like your psychiatrist needs a consult with your surgeon regarding how your metabolism is and isn’t affected by your surgery. By the way, consults happen all the time, you wouldn’t be asking for anything out of the ordinary.

I’m a month out and also struggling to get more than 600-700 calories a day. My nutritionist is only concerned about protein, but I am TIRED all the time. I have a relatively active job and I feel like 600 calories isn’t enough to go on. Hoping it gets easier [emoji53]

I did mine through BCBS of Texas. Equally annoying. Only required 4 months of a weight loss program, but they dragged out my approval for so long it took me 6 months to get a surgery date anyway [emoji849]

I had BCBS of Texas and it took two weeks... I actually had to push back my surgery date because of it. However, my surgeons office told me my insurance company is their least favorite to work with because they always take the longest. Ironically, my insurance was also through the hospital I work at, and where I was having my surgery. You’d think they’d give me a break!

Same deal for me. I felt an almost constant deep ‘pulling’ type of pain at my largest incision for about 3.5 weeks. Wearing a binder helped decrease the intensity of the pain. My surgeon told me not to worry about it. A post-op nurse/friend told me to be careful with my movements to prevent a hernia.

Fatty2fitty, I was taken off my blood pressure meds in the hospital (I was on a diuretic type med, so they were worried about dehydration) and my BP improved so quickly I never had to restart it. It’s crazy how quickly you will start to see your health improve!

Have you tried chewable gas-x?

I love my Fitbit Aria scale. Definitely an investment but I love seeing my weight and body fat on a pretty little down-trending graph!

Oh my goddddddd halo top is my jam. Birthday cake halo top is perfection. Oatmeal cookie flavor ain’t bad either!

How soon after surgery did you guys start eating nuts? I’ve gotten conflicting information. My nutritionist just said “when you start solid food” and didn’t really understand why I was asking. Some books I’ve read have said 6 months, others say never, as tiny hard pieces can get lodged in the staple line (never seems a little drastic to me, but what do I know).

Ask your surgeon how they manage pain. I am young (28) and have a high pain tolerance. I ended up with six incisions, one about 4 inches, and all I was given in the hospital was Tylenol. I have several doctors and nurses in my family and they were shocked. I was unable to even stand to use the restroom without crying. This really hindered me from getting up and walking after surgery, which is recommended to speed the healing process. Within about 4 days the pain diminished and Tylenol was more than enough. However, I do wish I went to a different hospital where my post-op pain would have been treated better.

Hi [emoji1366]New to the thread but was sleeved 12/26. I’m averaging about 600 calories a day which is a little concerning to me, and I’m superrrrr tired all the time. I am taking my vitamins and I’ve started taking protein shots to meet (or at least come closer to) my protein goals. They don’t taste great but it’s working well for me. I have trouble drinking more than a little or a time, and I’m very uncomfortable after about 5 bites of food. Starting weight: 267 Surgery weight: 257 Current weight: 239 I stopped my blood pressure medication while in the hospital, and I’ve never had to restart. Yay! Non-scale victories! My BP is now well within the normal range without any help from medication [emoji1373]

Try clear protein supplements if you can’t stand the powder. They gave me pro-stat clear liquid protein concentrate in the hospital and I was amazed. So much easier to get down! The Pro-stat was pretty good, I’ve also had liquacel brand, but my favorite is the Bariatric Choice liquid concentrates (I like Berry and Blue Raspberry flavors). I’m finally on solid foods but I still rely on these to hit my protein goal.

Have you felt any differences in your meds? I was cleared to start taking my Lexapro and Ritalin in pill form, but I swear I am not getting the normal effects. I got the sleeve and was told there wouldn’t be any issues with absorption, but I know myself, and it really feels like I’m taking half-doses.

I like Isopure unflavored. It was a lifesaver in my liquid phase. I put it in hot chocolate, Soups, you name it. I was never brave enough to try it with just Water though [emoji38]