jg7979

When insurance added coverage…

Almost two years out, and I ate gnocchi for the first time post surgery and vomited. It broke a long streak, but I am okay with not being able to handle pasta, bread, or rice still.

Try Unjury.com chicken soup or chili flavors. The thick texture and sweetness bothered me after surgery, but I could handle chicken soup.

Same experience here—each chewable worse than the next. I could not get past the artificial flavors and sweeteners. If I managed to get it down and was lucky, the feeling would pass after a sneeze or two (and maybe an alcohol swab). RD recommended a capsule when I was on soft foods so I could open it and stir it into food. The vitamin taste was hard to cover, but I preferred that over the fake flavors.

My best friend told me I was gross fat and needed to do something about it (there is quite a bit of context I’m leaving out btw)....two weeks later I went to the informational session and met the surgeon the following week.

I didn’t recognize myself in a photo at work. After asking myself “who the hell is that?”, it clicked. The mind definitely takes longer to catch up...

Sounds pretty close to my experience as well. There is a new normal now :) The old normal led to obesity so you want to leave that behind. At about 3 weeks I missed just chewing food too and even if I could not eat/drink more it didn’t click in my brain that I was full. My mind was still demanding full plates of foods. Every time I introduced a new food was an adventure too...sometimes it just didn’t stay down, but most of the time it would just make my stomach sort of quiver and feel uneasy. Go slow and embrace the change—there are new cues/signals to learn. Initially you have to consciously remind yourself to eat because your body’s hormonal signals are disrupted. Look for the new signals and practice mindful eating to learn the new feelings/signals and proper portioning. I’m nearly a year out and had brown rice tonight... I’m not exactly sick but I don’t feel “well”. My stomach is talking to me and it is like I can feel it move through me. Breads/pasta will do the same thing so I avoid them.

Unjury chicken soup flavor was a lifesaver for me. I put franks hot sauce in it. The Santa Fe chili flavor was a little too strong (flavor) for me after surgery but didn’t make me wretch the way protein shakes did. Nature’s Best by Isopure is only 3gr sugar per scoop so it isn’t super sweet and doesn’t have the artificial sweetener taste. The vanilla makes a fairly neutral base to add peanut Powder or unsweetened cocoa for an even less sweet option.

You are certainly not alone... I’ve skipped reunions and made endless excuses to avoid seeing friends from the past in person. It’s a tough place to be mentally and it sucks feeling stuck there. I withdrew from friends and family and used work as an excuse to always be unavailable. But really I was ashamed and embarrassed—sometimes for no other reason than I didn’t have something appropriate to wear and didn’t have time/energy to go to the big and tall store on the other side of town. Just last week I went to a friend’s birthday party—I had not seen her in 7-8 years. As the day approached, I grew more anxious and started thinking about ways out, but I forced myself to go, and I am so glad I did. My weight was briefly discussed and we resumed where we left off and it was a great time. One small step toward changing a negative thought pattern and digging out of the rut.... Vulnerability and honestly have served me well on this journey (I probably read too much Brené Brown lol). Clearing one’s conscience is rewarding, and you might realize the script you have written inside your mind isn’t reflective of reality.

Disclaimer: I’m a bit socially awkward to begin with. But you will start to notice people noticing you (if you know what I mean). And it is puzzling at first until you remember that your not in the same body anymore. Your mind takes longer to catch up to the weight loss. Not a bad thing, but people in general will respond more positively to you. I don’t know if it is a function of fat bias or changes in self esteem/confidence, but I definitely noticed a change.

For those I keep at a distance, I just said I was taking Medical LOA and left it at that. I usually had to add that I was fine but would have difficulty lifting/walking, so it was best to stay home because I would be tempted to resume normal duties too early. If it was somebody I had no relationship with, I would say I was taking a staycation to use up PTO. Now when people ask, I tell them I cut out fast food, added sugars and got my stomach stapled. It throws them off for a second but then they (we) chuckle. The results have been too dramatic for diet and exercise alone to be believable. The only reason I’m not always honest about it now is because there are days when I am tired of talking about it/myself —my weight, the surgery, the changes etc etc. As an introvert it is draining. There are definitely people who will have something negative to say, but it is either ignorance or insecurity and you can tell pretty quickly which category they fall into. The ignorant can be educated, but It isn’t your responsibility to fight/internalize their emotional dysphoria. Just smile and walk away... it sounds like Charlie Browns teacher to me.

I chalked the first month up to blood sugar and food withdrawal, but 9 months out and I am here searching the forums for an explanation for the same experiences... A close friend mentioned that I have been a bit more dickish than usual.

At almost 9 months (and post xmas family time) post op, I am ready for everyone to STFU about my body. Fortunately, my cousin had it done the week before I did, so that helped diffuse the attention from the extended family. I got to hear it all though...I look great, more attractive, older, tired, too skinny, etc. Then the questions/judgements about saggy skin, exercise plans, and my eating habits.... I don't eat right. I need to exercise more. I don't eat the right things. And everybody knows somebody that had it done and gained it all back. People (friends and family included) need to stop projecting their issues/insecurities on me. I'm not sorry that you have to run miles everyday and I don't (yet)...you don't know my struggle so stop trying to tell me what I should be doing. It was refreshing to have a little extra attention in the first few months and actually have people interested in the process and what I was going through. But now... I'm over it! I just want to return to being the introvert that I am and get on with my life...

Your taste preferences will change through the process, and you may find that vegetables do not taste as bad once you can add them back post surgery. As others mentioned above, the focus is on protein so there is no need to force yourself to eat vegetables. Prior to surgery I used to joke that my four food groups were butter, sugar, flour and meat, but after months of purees and protein, I was craving salad the same way I craved desserts and fast food prior to surgery. Texture withdrawal was real and the taste of the vegetable not important as long as it was crunchy. You might be surprised at how bad your old favorites actually taste (and make you feel) once you begin to break those connections/habits in your mind. Things I used to binge on literally taste awful to me now. After months following the program, the pleasure centers in my brain do not react the same way. And I keep encountering new surprises as I try new things.... I guess what I'm saying is that you will experience more changes than just your physical weight. Don't let your past mindset sabotage your future potential.

Meal prep is most helpful strategy for me. It might help to put the time on your calendar to map out the next few day's or the week's meals--self-care time time. I also developed a meal time routine and three of my four meals are essentially the same every day. Instacart will deliver roasted chickens and a salad kit from the grocery store when I need something quick, and I also subscribed to Freshly (each meal is really two servings). There are similar services that do keto and low carb as well. As part of supporting your weight loss, you might try encouraging the family to eat the healthier options you make for yourself--just make it the new normal and not some strange diet plan. There is a lot more time planning and thinking about my next meal now to avoid falling back into bad habits, and I toss a ton of food in the garbage (or spend extra buying the small portion packs anyway) too. My challenge was breaking the mindset that food brings pleasure and getting used to chicken and eggs. As I accepted the food is just fuel, the monotony was less frustrating, but there are still days I feel like I am going to lose my mind. One of the counselors I work with made it click for me though. He said I am fighting a lifetime of habits and conditioning that made me obese, and this a very abrupt change to your whole being. It is a new journey and you have to keep reminding yourself that your negative emotions are likely triggered by your mind wanting to pull you back into those habits that led to obesity.

I followed the directions of my surgeon and the dietician pretty strictly in the beginning, and at my 6 month post op, they both commented that it was not typical. And since anything sweet or starchy seems to make me sick still, I have not went back to old habits. I have a job that keeps me moving most of the day too--nothing strenuous-- just walking between buildings on campus. I do a lot of routine emailing/texting from my phone while walking. instead of my desk. Four protein centric meals and a shake each day and avoid snacking (though I discovered freeze dried apples recently).

Try the savory protein options from unjury. I switched to chicken noodle soup flavor post op when I suddenly could not tolerate anything sweet. You are not taking a reflux medication post surgery? Just tell yourself that the hunger is in your head and let it pass or go for a walk to distract yourself. The first two weeks were the same for me too--I equated it to quitting smoking. You are reprogramming your brain to perform lifelong routines but suddenly without the meals/snacks and drinks. It will pass.

I broke the rules over memorial day weekend, and did not have any trouble with vodka and water with a lemon or orange. I still ate a meal and waited 30 minutes to start to drinking. I got tipsy faster, but I also cannot drink at the same pace as before so it self-regulated for me. But after a few, it is a lot easier to justify breaking the rules! There was a noticeable impact on my weight too, so it isn't something I will do on a regular basis...

Any luck getting approved? My Aetna plan required me to choose from a very small list of facilities that they designated as centers for excellence. Maybe they rejected the provider if your plan does not exclude bariatric surgery.

Watered down tomato paste thickened with xanthan gum? That looks like some FDA voodoo math--the actual food has been diluted below the per serving reportable standard.

The feelings of frustration are definitely normal, and I have had some dark moments too but you have to coach yourself (your mind) to focus on what can do and have and why you started the process. A nutritionist at my work told me how proud she was that I was so enthused about eating scrambled eggs one morning after seeing me have shakes everyday... I asked why, and she said that many of the patients she used to work with were so focused on what they couldn't have or what the restrictions were that they made themselves miserable. You get to choose what matters to you... I work at a major financial technology company and EVERYBODY carries a water bottle. They are trying to eliminate bottled beverages altogether to reduce waste and encourage people to drink water. And people off all ages carry a lunch on the metro to work. You certainly don't look silly or abnormal. I can agree with the sentiment, at least in my case too, that my program could have better prepared me for the mental battle--or at least provided a sense of how rough the ride can get. But like others have suggested, there are mental health providers that specialize in these issues.

Experiencing the same here... glad to hear it will pass. I could get 3-4oz of soft foods down without a problem, but solids do not want to cooperate regardless how much I chew.

Isopure has a natural line of powders that use cane sugar--and a surprisingly small amount per serving. 25g of protein and 3g sugar. Mixed into water or skim milk it 1000x better than a premade shake--no thickness or off taste (other than one would expect from whey isolate).

If you let the surgeon/RD know that you have an aversion to artificial sweeteners, the hospital will probably accommodate you. My surgery was 8:30am and I was not permitted to have anything by mouth until the next day (late morning, I believe), and then it was only bottled water with a 1oz measure to help. Around 4pm the day after surgery they brought a tray with lukewarm broth, apple juice, and Kozy Shack SmartGels (w/ Aspartame).

I wish I would have known that when they say your tastes will change, they mean what was okay before surgery will make you nauseous and queasy after. It is more than just not liking something... just the thought of certain foods/shakes makes me physically ill.