Boldilocks

I probably wouldn;t have said much as I avoid confrontation like the plague - but would have felt plenty. Was she a nurse affiliated with your surgeon's office, or does she work in the bariatric ward at the hospital? I'm hoping that maybe she was a general ward nurse and just really doesn't get it. Patients lose weight on the pre-op diet because they have a clear goal in sight, and know that it is very short term. It is rather idiotic to be surprised at someone who has lost weight on an extremely low calorie diet. Duh. But it could not be sustained in any viable or healthy way. I was considered low BMI for this surgery too - I just about squeaked through qualification with my co-morbidities. Yes, I did get people who were surprised at what I was doing and told me that I didn't need it. Oh, but I really did. 20 years of health problems that started as low-key but became harder to ignore with every passing year dictated that I do this now, or do it later when I am even heavier and more at risk. It really isn't up to a nurse to be gossipy and nosy about your health situation and the private battles you have fought. Hugs to you.

I'm vegetarian too. The number I was told was at least 65g of protein - which still seems like a lot. This last week I have been able to get over 100g consistently by pumping up my morning shake (I continue to do a protein shake for breakfast because I am not a breakfast person, and have been doing this for years). I use Fairlife milk which has more protein instead of regular skim, a scoop of my protein powder, and add a scoop of Genepro flavourless powder as well. That shake is really filling, and has a tonne of protein. It sets me up for the rest of the day. Anything I can, I add the Genepro to - Greek yoghurt, cottage cheese, oatmeal, my bariatricpal chili and curry. The scoops are very small and it dissovles easily if you stir slowly. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K6OSDYA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1 My nutritionist also said that it gets easier the further out you get and you don't need these massive amounts of protein forever. You will be able to tweak your macros as you get to maintenance to what works for you.

I'm 18 days post op and have been stalling for 8 days now. I have only pooped once in the last 5 days though, so I'm taking additional stool softerners and hoping... What was your starting weight? I have heard so many people say that because I started at a (relatively) low BMI, I will lose much more slowly and stall more.

I was sleeved the day before you - and hit a stall at day 10 that is in its 6th day now. I know everyone says it's normal and to be expected, but it's still very worrying and frustrating after going through so much to get here. Hugs.

Same here - I have lost nothing in 5 days now. In fact, I've gained 2 lbs from 5 days ago. I knew I would be a slow loser, but this is a little frustrating so early on (15 days out).

No one told me to walk either, and I was given ice water in the hospital in a pitcher along with 1oz medicine cups to pour out for myself. We're adults - we can do hard things! I don't think anyone was purposely neglecting you, and I'm sorry you felt that way. It's probably just how they do things, and they were busy. Hugs.

Me too surgery twin! Yay!

It took them a couple of hours last week poking and prodding me. Finally they used the ultrasound machine and called the aneasthesiologist to do it. I'm always an IV nightmare. Still, you'll back on this a blip on your road to good health and all around fabulousness!

I am cold all the time too - right since the day after surgery, so it's not a lack of insulation. Definitely hormonal, I think. I was always so hot all the time - my husband and I would have epic battles over the thermostat. I live in Upstate NY - one of the coldest and snowiest areas in the whole country, and I don't own a winter coat. I would wear a zip up hoodie in the winter. I don't own any long sleeved tops - I am in short sleeves year round. I would go to Ireland for July and August purposely to avoid the heat and humidity here. I had to throw the poor kitties off the bed because if they were even close to me I'd sweat. Now I'm cold! In the evenings I'm stealing DH's sofa blanket from him - we had to get another one, LOL. Now at night I'm taking my trusty old hot water to bed with me, cuddling up to the kitties, and keeping my socks on. Long may it last, I say - I'd much rather be too cold than too hot, at least you can add layers. Maybe now I'll be able to wear some of my own cosy sweater designs, instead of just making them.

I kind of wish I'd ordered it as I'm out of the lemonade mood the last few days, LOL.

I'd definitely do a pregnancy test just to be sure - a dollar at Dollar Tree for peace of mind. Also maybe do an ovulation test, as it could be that? I'd make that a priority, as being pregnant with the Nexplanon implant still in your arm could cause complications. How long have you had the Nexplanon in? If it's longer than 3 years it might be time to change it out. But there are hormones from your body, hormones due to the surgery, hormones from your birth control... my uneducated guess would be hormones, LOL.

This is the one I ordered, it's not bad. A good change from the milky stuff. https://www.amazon.com/INFUSIONS-Refreshingly-Flavored-Vigorously-Tropical/dp/B07F4K1XF3/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=isopure%2Binfusions&qid=1550105611&s=hpc&sr=1-4&th=1

My breast reduction surgery was like that! I was at a church fete and saw this elderly lady with massive boobs that were hanging way down. Her blouse was straining at the buttons, but was loose everywhere else on her. She kept pulling her cardigan over her boobs in a self-conscious gesture, even though it was summer. I just knew that would be me some day if I didnt get the reduction - I got it 5 years ago and it was the best thing I ever did... until this, LOL.

I was able to get 2 down of the milky ones - but I didn't feel resctriction with liquids. I also ordered a lemonade flavoured one that could be added to the water I was already drinking.

I had low BMI too, and just squeaked by the qualification through insurance with 36 and co-morbidities (cut off was 35 with co-morbidities, 40 with none). I'm also right at 5ft0. We'll lose slower than people with a higher BMI - we just have to realise that. Pain, bloating, gas, constipation, nausea - they're not really complications, just side effects of the surgery, and in the long term are pretty minor. I had a breast reduction too about 5 years ago. Best thing I had ever done until I did this, LOL. Went from a 44H to a 38B. I hope to get to a 36B by losing some back fat. I'm hoping my boobs won;t change too much with the surgery because all the fat was already removed (6 lbs), leaving just breast tissue.

My period started in the hospital a couple of hours after my surgery. Let's just say it didn't make any of the surgery pains any easier. It seemed heavier than normal and lasted a full day longer. 😒

@catwoman7 - congrats on your loss and maintenance, BTW - tremendous job!

Catwoman has it! Indian and Arabic food can fit right in - it's healthy and delicious. And you will be able to have little bits of the other stuff going forward. We just have to make good choices and get used to having smaller portions rather than mounds of food. I'm glad I'm going to be home in Ireland this July and August, as portion sizes are so much smaller there than in the US, LOL.

I put on 5lbs overnight in the hospital - it's the anaesthetic and IV fluids they pump you with, I believe. I wasn't expecting it either - no one had prepared me for it. Don't worry - it's temporary.

I'm a week out and have been getting this since right after my surgery. It feels a little higher than my belly - but that could be where the sleeve is. It kind of feels like it's where my diaphragm is. It is really noisy and is going to be embarrassing when I'm back at work. I'm wondering if it's like hunger tummy rumblng, but we're just not feeling the hunger so it seems disconnected?

Like a poster above, I have been having a protein shake for breaksfast for years now, and have no plans to stop. I will struggle to get the amounts of protein in that we are recommended, as a vegeatrian. I always have. My NUT said that because I have a sleeve and intact pyloric valve, a shake will sit in the stomach for a while and be filling in ways that it might not be for a bypass patient.

Hormonal changes, maybe?

I was given a surgery date 3 months into the 6 month process. They finally submited to insurance on 01/22/19 once I had met all my requirements, and approval came back in good time for my 02/05/19 surgery. These places seem to know what they're doing, don't worry!

Hey all - it's a while since I posted (and I was a newbie anyway so I hadn't posted much). I told myself it was because my surgery was still so far away that it was better to step away from the board and obsessing too much... but in reality it's because I'm anxious because I haven't told my husband and I don't know how to start. The surgery is Feb 5th! We have a few friends who have had the surgery and he is very negative and judgemental, critical and mocking. My main reason for getting it is PCOS - which causes weight gain as well as some other nasty side effects. My hormone levels are getting further and further away from where they should be, and the medications I was on are no longer working and are having a negative impact on my health. Honestly, the weight loss will be a bonus for me - it's resetting my hormones and becoming healthy again that I am most looking forward to. My BMI is "low" for this surgery at 36 - but I know that it will just get worse and worse so I should deal with it now while I am still relatively young. And he knows this - he has seen my struggle with awful hormonal conditions for 17 years. But all he ever says is that I need to work out more and eat better. A few things come into play in our relationship: 1. He is 25 years older than me (which I didn't find out about until after we were engaged - he lied about his age). 2. He is an alcoholic (which I didn;t find out about until after we were married. He is a binge drinker and so was able to stay sober for the months we were engaged). 3. I have an Irish accent that people here in the US gravitate to, and he gets very jealous. 4. He is not overweight as such, but has a belly from drinking and being middle-aged that he has been trying to lose since I met him. He yo-yos a lot, and goes on extreme fasts and workouts to lose it, then gains it all back when he goes on a drinking binge. He always talks about this magical day in the future when he has lost his gut, and it never comes. It will irritate him beyond belief that this day will come for me. These things make him very insecure, and while he gives me a hard time about my weight sometimes - I think he is very comfortable with me being fat as it means I am not going to leave him or be attractive to other men. He will be jealous of me. He might try to stop me getting the surgery. I'm not being fanciful - back in 2013 I was due to have a breast reduction. My boobs were massive, always had been even when I was 112 lbs. He supported my decision, wanted me to get the surgery... then he wen on a drinking binge the week before and I caught him trying to get my insurance cancelled so I couldn't have the op. When that didn't work he tried to call the hospital and cancel it - of course they wouldn't let him. When he sobered up he was mortified and bent over backwards to be supportive when I had the op - but it happened, and I am wary. To that end I am not telling him until after this Friday, as that is the end date for open enrollment on our insurance plan. I have gotten more savvy as time goes on! Please don't be lecturing me or telling me to leave. I know what the situation is, I know what I can deal with, and I have a plan. The only place I would want to go if I left would be home to Ireland, and that can't happen until my daughter is 16 - so I have 4.5 years to squirrel away money and position myself. I have a comfortable lifestyle, and it suits me to stay. I gave up everything to move here and be with him, and I figure I'm owed and would rather be comfortable until I can leave. If we divorced some other woman would move in and get what I'm owed - there is a shortage of men around here, esp men with good jobs. And honestly (don't judge me) - he is a 67 year old chronic alcoholic. He could pass away in the next 4.5 years and me and the kids would be pretty set. He doesn't bother me, we live pretty independently, there is no animosity, I have my own bedroom, and I pretty much do my own thing (like going home to Ireland for 6 weeks every summer). I have gone to all my weigh ins and pre-op appts without him even being in the slightest bit aware - that's how separate our lives tend to be. How do I start this conversation? He is smart and educated, but very judgemental. He is a therapist (haha, I know) who has had clients who have had the surgery and not done well. But they were a lot heavier than me, smokers and substance abusers, with severe mental health problems. I have read a lot and plan to make a note of all the benefits. I have some articles to show him - but I know he won't read them (he has a very short attention span and I've never seen him read a whole article never mind a book). I plan to ask him why he doesn't want me to have it - I know that "you could die" will be the only real thing he'll have to say - but I have a medical report showing that the mortality rate for sleeve surgery is 0.08%. He can't really say "because I'm jealous" as that isn't a valid argument. If he says it is the easy way out or the lazy way out I can cite facts to show him how it isn't - but even if it was... so what? So what if it was the easy way out it gets my health back on track and me feeling better? I mean, when I was having kids it was all epidural vs. med free and breast milk vs. formula. We all made our own choices, but in hindsight it didn't matter as long as the outcome was the same: a healthy baby. I'm trying to anticipate other things he might say, or stuff I should have prepped in advance. Everyone else I have told has been very supportive - my mum, two daughters, close friends. I know 4 people in my immediate circle who have had it and have asked a lot of questions. I guess my fear is that he will try to stop it somehow - I don't expect any support, but I don't want to blindside him by telling him afterwards. I don't plan on telling him my Dr's name or the hospital I'll be at, just in case. I'm very averse to confrontation and hate having hard conversations. I'm not scared of him - he isn't physically or emotionally threatening in any way, but I am scared to bring it up. Can't put my finger on why exactly. Thanks for listening to my ramble - I guess I'm just anxious, and I really could do without it because I am a natural worrier as it is!

I packed pretty light - pj bottoms and t-shirt, pair of socks, 2 pairs of underwear (my period was expected the day of surgery). Phone, charger and Kindle. Chapstick, deodourant, and breath spray. No money or jewellery. Used the hospital's gown and treaded socks - just put my pj bottoms under the gown. The hospital provided toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, towels. I was expecting them to provide shampoo and conditioner and they didn't. Had to wash my hair with bar soap, but I was past caring. I was in for about 36 hrs.