Saxons

I can't really pinpoint mine either. Yesterday at Mother's Day, I ordered a beautiful ribeye fillet which was very lean, no visible fat. No sauce, no dressings. Salad on the side, no carbs. All I had was 3 small well chewed bites of my meat and that horrible sweaty, rapid heartbeat feeling washed over me, along with nausea and diarrhoea. I just couldn't tolerate the protein. There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to what will bring it on. Sometimes I think its lactose, maybe fructose, then carbs and now protein! It's very frustrating and a little depressing, especially when you are with company, and who don't know about your surgery. I am about 3 and 1/2 months post VSG and 44 pounds down. Is this going to get any better? Sometimes I think it's getting worse!

I have learned to sip any protein shake REALLY slow. It wasn't a problem before surgery, but now it definitely is. I make my own shakes with added whey protein and Chobani yoghurt, which is very high protein. Usually banana, berries, mango... Love mango! It's probably the fructose from the fruit irritating my tiny stomach. Bah. I love fruit.

I am 3 months post sleeve tomorrow. I experience regular dumping, and it's a bit hit and miss as to what food has caused it. I try to eat very slowly, and I avoid all sweets, lactose and carbs I usually start feeling nauseous, then break out in to a cold sweat. I feel overwhelming tiredness, as if I could lay on the floor wherever I am and sleep. About 20 mins later I have explosive diarrhoea. Occasionally I will vomit as well. It's pretty unpleasant. 🤢

Hey all. I am week 9 out and have lost 35lb. It has definitely slowed in the last few weeks. And it's not a steady loss, it goes in stops and starts. One week nothing, the next week 5 lbs. Just recently returned from holidays and the food was amazing. Except I would order and then only be able to eat about 3 tablespoons and I would be completely full. I am sure the chefs think I hate their food.. It is such a waste. I have tried just ordering an entree or a starter, but quite often the choice is limited, and/or too high in carbs and not enough protein. Such a roller coaster of emotions. I hate that I can't drink with a meal. I tried a few times and ended up throwing up. Forget about stretching my pouch.. That extra fluid just won't go in! I end up getting so nauseated as it sits there at the top of my pouch, and then I have the overwhelming need to vomit. I miss coffee with my egg at breakfast, a glass of red with my evening meal, a sparkling water with my lunch. I miss eating out as a social event with friends. I hate that a decent burp can be my best friend and enourmous relief when I have that pain at the top of my pouch when a food refuses to go down. But then, I love being able to wear 3 sizes smaller. I love that it no longer exhausts me doing simple things like showering, picking up things off the floor, walking up our internal stairs. I love that I can now play golf without a buggy, and walk the entire course easily. And that I can fit into my golf skirts! Getting on the scales and seeing a new low number. Seeing my face change and rediscovering lost cheekbones. I can cross my legs easily again, and do up my bra behind me... I can actually REACH behind me! I am grateful that I have no loose skin so far, and my hair doesn't fall out. I am still taking vitamins, and especially zinc, biotin, calcium and silica. My hair is actually so thick and luxurious, and my nails are so hard and healthy than they ever have been! I didn't realise how hard it would be. It's really hard, in so many ways that I never expected. You can read so much and think you are so prepared, but until you do it, you have no idea. But I think I am glad I did it. Just depends on the day you ask and what part of the roller-coaster I am on. Does everyone else feel this way? What are the things that surprised you... Both good and bad?

Hi there.. Nervous is normal! I was too. I am 4 weeks post today and have lost 25lbs exactly. It's exciting because although I am a "secret sleever" (only my husband knows), people are really starting to notice the weight loss now. My clothes are looser and I am going down in size. That's all the positive stuff. On the downside? It's been hard work. The first 2 weeks postop of just fluids was rough, and to get fluid and protein in was difficult, because you kind of aren't hungry. Don't plan on social eating during this time. Then I went on to puree meals.. I hated this stage. Felt like I was eating baby food all the time. I actually went back to the liquid diet (soups, both and shakes) because it was the lesser of 2 evils. I was still struggling to get enough calories or protein in. Sometimes it would take me an hour to get one shake down. Now I'm on soft food.. Or as my dietician says "anything you can poke a fork through". I thought I would be eating much larger amounts by now. Yes, by two spoonfuls I am done. Had lunch with friends yesterday. Chicken, salad and roast potatoes. I managed one small chicken wing and 2 quarters of a tomato, and I was done. In fact, I felt overdone! Thought I was going to throw it all back up again. I didn't have any alcohol, and haven't had for 6 weeks. The issue for me with alcohol is that it is usually drunk with a meal, and you can't drink within 30 minutes of eating! So I haven't even tried to figure it out yet. If you eat cake or bread, you might find it feels like it's stuck or very heavy. I have tried a bite of each, and that's how it felt to me. So I am not game to try that again. Your nutritionist will probably tell you, that because your stomach can only hold a tiny amount of food, you HAVE to get your protein in first! So meat, then vegetables, then potatoes for example. If you don't get your protein in, then you will break down muscle instead of fat. You will end up feeling weak, looking flabby and your hair is more likely to fall out. Sad but true. Good luck! Sent from my SM-G955F using BariatricPal mobile app

I saw my dietician yesterday because I think I am starting to stall as well. She said that I need to get at least 70 grams of protein, and 800 calories a day. Less than that and your body starts to really slow it's metabolism to conserve fuel. So, you need to eat (especially protein) to lose. Weird I know! Sent from my SM-G955F using BariatricPal mobile app

I am 30 days out and have just moved to my soft food stage, so a bit behind you. But having exactly the same problem. I was dying to get to the soft food because the puree stage was horrible. I have literally lived on shakes and broth since surgery. And now even the smell of cooking, and of my favourite meals, makes me nauseous. I am starting to think that I have forgotten how to eat! I have added some things that I seem to tolerate, like soft cheese, yoghurt (Chobani is best for protein), slow cooked beef curry and BBQ chicken. My dietician says that taste changes are completely normal, and although they can revert back, often they don't. She said if you think you don't like the taste of a food, forget it for a month, then try again to see... Your tastes might have changed again. Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

My dietician told me no caffeine because it's a diuretic. It's so important to remain hydrated, and the only way to do that is small sips of water am day long. The caffeine will dehydrate you, and you will be scrambling to get and keep your fluid levels optimal. Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

Me too. I am in week 3 and after losing 20lb in the first 2 weeks, now the scales aren't shifting. I really don't understand this. I am trying to keep my protein up, and am continuing on a mostly liquid diet. My surgeons office provided me with all the puree meals for week 3 and 4, but I can't stomach them. So I am not eating much at all, but not losing! It doesn't make sense to me... Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

Hi, I was only sleeved 2 1/2 weeks ago, so am by no means an expert! I am Australian, so not very familiar how health insurance works in the USA. Here in Australia, if you have private health insurance, the decision to have surgery is between you and your surgeon, and has nothing to do with your insurance company. They are obliged to cover and pay for the surgery if you and your surgeon decide that you want it and/or need it. We don't have any type of mandatory weight loss programs before surgery. Are you saying that the insurance company won't pay your surgeon unless they can prove the band has slipped or there have been complications? What type of complications? Have you worked out why your band failed? Did you lose weight and then put it back on, or did you just never lose it? I can see already how you could "cheat" on the sleeve, and maybe it's similar to cheating on the band. Even though your stomach is tiny, and you get full very quickly, in theory you could snack on unhealthy foods in small amounts all day long. Nothing to stop you sipping on McDonald's thickshakes all day, and ingesting heaps of calories! While it's true that some of the cells that produce the hunger hormone grehlin are removed when the gastrectomy is done, it doesn't take away eating due to emotional hunger, bored hunger, tired hunger, stressed hunger etc etc. I am very happy with my progress, as I have lost 23 lbs in less than 3 weeks, but it hasn't been easy. It's been hard work. I am still on puree which is not pleasant. Neither are the shakes. And this is not reversible, whereas the band is (or you just stop having fills). I think it will be a great procedure for you and your health, but I think it's very important for you to dig deep and be honest as to why the band failed for you, and will that happen again? Best wishes and good luck. Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

Wow... From Day 2? I just got home from my 2 week postop visit. Saw my surgeon and my dietician. Both emphasised that my 2 week liquid diet that I have just finished was imperative to allow the stomach to rest and the staple line to start healing, without it trying to break down soft or solid foods. Now I am starting purees for the next 2 weeks. I definitely don't want a leak and have to go back in for surgery and ICU for peritonitis, so I am being very obedient with their instructions! Did your surgeon ok foods like steak from Day 2? Wow. Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

Sleeved on Jan 30th and have lost 20lb in 2 weeks today. I am 5ft 8, starting weight was 265 and now 245lbs. I am feeling less exhausted and sick than I was. I think it's important to remember that while we may just have 4 or 5 small incisions, it is major surgery. And we need time to recover from that! I am still in the liquid diet phase, but moving to puree at the end of the week. My surgeons office provides all the puree meals because the dietician balances them especially for bariatric patients, but I am not convinced that beef stroganoff that has been pureed is going to be terribly appetising! How did everyone else cope with puree? Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

No suggestions, but I feel your misery. All I seem to be able to do is sip ice cold protein water. I can get 60g of isolate whey protein that way, but I am still sick and exhausted. I am only 10 days out. 4 weeks of constant nausea.. You poor thing! Sent from my SM-G955F using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi all sleeved on 1/30, so am day 9. Still on liquids, but have zero appetite. Struggling to get the shakes down, and feeling nauseous at the smell of broth or anything really. Lost 14 pounds the first week, haven't weighed myself since. Feeling quite weak and washed out. Starting weight 265, last weigh in was 251. Goal weight is 160. I am 5ft 8. Sent from my SM-G955F using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi Krystal, yes me too. I am Day 10 as well and I am really sick of protein shakes. In fact, I am having less and less, as my appetite keeps shrinking. Even broth is turning my stomach as well. I am Australian and a company here makes a really nice protein water. Tastes good, has 20g of isolate whey protein and all the vitamins and minerals. It is called Bodiez Protein Water. https://bodiezpro.com Not sure where you are from, but perhaps you can find something similar? I do also have their unflavoured (tasteless and odourless) protein powder which you can add to soups, broths, shakes etc to get your protein grams. Good luck!

I am 7 days post sleeve today and have promised myself I will only weigh myself once every 7 days. I don't want to obsess with daily weigh ins. I was 265.3lb and am now 251.1lb. So 14 pounds down. Happy with that, but it's early days!