Arabesque

So sorry to read you are having these experiences @Dsmart. Wait times for specialists are terrible everywhere regardless of what country you live these days. (My mum was told 18 months to see a gerontologist in Australia. She told them not to bother as she could be dead by then!) I have experienced a sudden & unexpected intolerance to a specific food but nothing like yours & it was only one food: eggs. Never had an issue with them after surgery but around the four year mark I suddenly started to vomit if I ate them (didn’t matter how they were cooked.) took about 18 months I was able to eat them again but I generally avoid them - too risky if I’m out. I wonder if it could be a parasite or a bacterial infection if not the cause but contributing to your symptoms. When you do see the gastroenterologist ensure you get a colonoscopy, an endoscopy and stool samples are taken. Ask about trying a FOD map diet which eliminates a lot of ingredients that can cause digestional issues. (Actually you could try it now.) Just throwing some ideas out there. No expert. I did have the parasite giardia for years which hates lactose and causes cramping and strong diarrhoea and a general feeling of being unwell which made me suggest a parasite or bacteria. A cousin is on a FOD map diet after experiencing an array of digestional issues following a series of viruses including covid twice. I hope you can get some answers and a solution soon.

Congratulations @AmberFL. What a difference a year makes: healthy, happy, strong, positive & looking damn fabulous.

The first week of the pre surgical diet is hard @Skewiff especially when it’s as restricted as yours. Much of what you’re experiencing is withdrawals from carbs, sugar, caffeine (though you said you’re drinking coffee which is unusual). Not being able to eat solid food adds to the challenge as your cravings (for textures like crunch, flavours like salty or sweet and for specific foods) are still there. The second week is always easier. And after the surgery when you’re still on the liquid diet, you won’t be all that interested in eating or food. All the best with your surgery.

I wondered if it was scar tissue too. But yes check with your medical team. PS : After my three surgeries (sleeve then gall then hysterectomy) all using my poor belly button it’s almost sealed shut. i can barely get a cotton bud in it to clean it. 😁

Could be hormones. They’re behind most of my fluctuations (can track it with when I can get my preferred form of HRT and when I have to use an alternative). Could just be a regular fluctuation especially if nothing has changed in what you’re eating, drinking or in your activity. Sometimes your body just likes to mess with you. Wouldn’t worry unless it persists.

Ha. I had that puff bit sticking out when I had regrowth from a site where I had a cyst removed. I flat ironed that little section every dang day until it got enough length to grow down like the rest of my hair. And today I was out shopping and saw all this fluffy regrowth (from applying minoxidil) sticking up and being all bendy. It will be straight as the rest of my hair in time. Try some smoothing products and your that iron in the mean time @FifiLux Yes, try an anti itch &/or dandruff shampoo & hair and scalp oils @Dchonlee and if it continues see a derm. Out of curiosity, have you changed any hair products lately? Could also be from your hairdryer, flat iron, etc. and general heating in your house in winter adding to your scalp dryness.

Being in the midst of summer have started making salads again for dinner. Basically coleslaw and chicken though chicken schnitzel from butcher (so real chicken breast not processed, mass produced). Coleslaw was 2 different types of cabbage, carrot, celery, capsicum, small tin of corn, small tin of 4 bean mix, 2 tablespoons Italian dressing & 2 teaspoons low fat mayo. Made enough salad for three nights.

Damn. What a shame. Hate when they discontinue clothing especially basics like jeans, t-shirts & so on (or lipsticks, nail polishes, foundations, shoes, etc., etc.). Seems like they only do it my favourites. Good opportunity to try different brands and styles though. You may find a different cut more flattering on your shrinking body. Who knows what exciting things you may find.

@SpartanMaker is pretty much on point as usual. 😁 If you decide to go down the weight loss surgery path, I’d still probably look at doing the gall as soon as possible. I had mine removed 2 years after my sleeve. My surgeon (who did my sleeve too) said once you start experiencing gall pain it will only get worse & you ‘ll experience it more and more often. I had one stack & it was horrendous - was rolling on the bed writhing in pain fir about 40 minutes until it passed & I have a pretty high pain threshold. My surgeon removed my gall about 2 weeks later. The alleve may have worked but it was more likely to have been the just wave of the pain passing. The cider vinegar wouldn’t have done anything - just a co incidence. A dose of cider vinegar isn’t going to dissolve the stones to stop the pain or get rid of them (like some old wives tales advise and influencers selling cider vinegar promote). Checkout the you tube channels of Dr John Pilcher and Dr Matthew Weiner (under pound of cure as is website). They are excellent resources for anyone considering weight loss surgery or who’ve had surgery. They have a lot of videos so you may have to scroll through a lot. Dr Weiner also has podcasts.

Unfortunately, hair loss can be upsetting and frustrating but it is a perfectly normal side effect of weight loss as the others have said. It’s also common after many bigger surgeries, pregnancy, etc. It is temporary and most find it slows after about 3 or 4 months which is when you’re probably eating a little more & a more balanced diet as you’re better understanding your nutritional needs even on a GLP-1. The thing to remember is the hair you’re losing is hair you were gong to lose anyway. It’s just your normal hair loss cycle has been accelerated. Your new growth is still occurring but just at its usual rate. In a couple of months you’ll notice the fluffy new growth bits starting to show through & in an other 12 months or so your hair will be much the same (depending on its length) as it was before weight loss. Many of us cut our hair if it was long (I went to just above my shoulders) as shorter hair looks thicker and tends to be bouncier. Plus it takes less time for your new growth to reach the length of the rest of your hair. As for minoxidil, I’d probably leave it for a few months to see whether the hair loss is related to your weight loss or age. Had you lost any prior to your weight loss like with the onset of menopause? Menopause is when I lost some and developed a thin spot above my right temple. I use minoxidil for that spot (and my eyebrows). If you go down that path, it is for life. Stop using it and you’ll lose the hair again. Also look for 5% (2% isn’t enough) and look for the men’s minoxidil. The pink tax is still alive and well with price discrepancies. Congratulations with your weight loss so far.

I went from an 18E at about 200lbs to a 10E at 108lbs. I remember I was a 12F/G at 132lbs. (Bought a few new bras as I thought yay goal. I didn’t even get to wear all of them before they were too big. Sigh!). I wish they were a little smaller in the cup as I still have trouble getting fitted tops and dress to go around them at times. You know buttons gaping and trouble doing up side zips the last 2 or 3 inches. Yes, your frame will influence what size looks better on your body. Friend had a reduction to a 14C 2 yrs ago. She has a large frame and was about a size 18/20 Aust dress size & 18E bra. I felt they looked too small on her broader frame and size. Now she’s on Wegovy and losing weight so her smaller boobs should start to be more balanced I think. But I do agree with the suggestion to err on the side of going a littler smaller. Padded and push up bras can make a noticeable difference if needed. And it’s easier to find a wider range of prettier bra styles & options. Plus if you’re active, it’s easier to find more comfortable sports bras if you’re a smaller cup size than those large cup overs that feel like you’re all bound up & restricted.

Congratulations @Chatterboxdea. Love you’ve been able to shop your wardrobe for clothing as you’ve been dropping sizes. Wonder if they still make those jeans & if you can get them in smaller sizes as you need them?

So glad you have such a wonderful and supportive surgeon @ShoppGirl. Sounds like he has your back and wants to help you reach all your goals for your health and your weight loss. Hope you continue to not experience any of the awful side effects of your chemo.

I’m the same. Acetaminophen do nothing for me either. My surgeon said it would be okay to take NSAIDs with my sleeve (at about 2years) if I took half a dose & didn’t take them regularly. Think it’s likely more important to eat something g before & after taking them though to protect t your tummy a little more than the average person. Like @SpartanMaker I wonder if it was too high a dose of the codeine too @Bypass2Freedom. Panadeine Forte (Australian) is a combined over the counter med but the dose is 500mg paracetamol and 30mg codeine. PS: Codeine messes with my head. I get very irrationally emotional and spacy, Drove through a red light (thankfully no one else on the road) and then sobbed uncontrollably curled up on the floor in my kitchen (very Meryl in The Hours). Was my first & only time taking it. Doctor advised to always say I’m allergic to it because of that reaction.

Look at those teeny weeny arms @Sophie7713. Fabulous. ❤️

As from these posts you can see you ‘re not alone in being anxious about your loss of routine due to surgery or injury recovery. I can add me too. I feared if I didn’t get back into doing some form of my stretching & resistance band routines I would never get back to doing it after my hysterectomy. My innate laziness and dislike of exercise would kick in again. By day 4 I just had to do something so I started very slowly. Didn’t over extend my stretches to anywhere near what I usually did. Avoided certain things. Interestingly there are contradictions with post hysterectomy exercising. No lifting for two weeks, then 5kg, then 10 then all good ( so by 8 weeks lift anything) compared to no heavy weights (>15kg) for 6 months. No core muscle work for 3 months vs start core muscle work at one week. You can understand why I took my own path. If I felt a pull or discomfort I stopped and/or avoided that movement for a few days. I can understand having to avoid upper body work but what about lower body? Like using ankle weights like @kristieshannon suggested when you’re able to walk or get some resistance bands to do some stretches either sitting down or on the floor. Don’t use your arms. If you have circular bands use a chair to brace the band or get your husband to hold the bands. I do some where the band goes around my ankles and below my knees and I pull one leg away from the other. Try deep knee bends, squats, ankle work, pelvic thrusts with feet on a wall, etc. So you’re not doing weight baring exercises but still working your muscles. Even if it’s not your usual routine make it a new, though temporary routine. All the best.

Can you spread your morning meds out so you’re not taking them at the same time? Even spreading them out over 30 minutes may help so you’re not taking large mouthfuls too close together. I can do two mouthfuls to swallow meds but not a third. Struggled to take a Serc tablet one morning for my meniere’s vertigo. Just couldn’t swallow it as it was sticking in my mouth. Finally after 4 mouthfuls I got it down. Then I swear I took 3 steps to go back to bed and up all the water came (& the med 😩). Are any of the meds multi vitamins? Vitamins are renown for making you feel blah or nauseous. Can you split when you take them like I used to take one in the morning and the second one at night. PS Congrats on your weight loss so far. Fantastic!

Dr Matthew Weiner is a great resource so am glad @NickelChip recommended his video. Another is Dr John Pilcher also a great source of information. It’s not really about popularity or the most performed but about which surgery is best for you. Your surgeon should really take into consideration your current health status and history, your weight loss and gain history, your current weight and how much would be beneficial for you to lose, etc. Also discuss the possibility of side effects like malabsorption, dumping, reflux, regain with the surgeries and what you might be willing or not to live with or manage. Do your research, watch these videos and others they may have and prepare questions to ask your surgeon. If you don’t think they’re as comfortable doing one surgery over another or you don’t feel comfortable with their responses, seek a second opinion or a referral to another surgeon. And remember there are other surgeries beside sleeve and bypass so look into them as well (Sadi, duodenal switch,, RNY, or a mini bypass). I would avoid a gastric balloon or gastric banding but that’s my opinion only.

Give it time @FifiLux. I say this as I’m sipping my cup of tea and eating crackers with labneh. Was probably into my 2nd year before I could do it and I do go slowly because I’m not a gulper and can’t drink lots of mouthfuls one after another. Sip, wait, take a bite, wait, sip, repeat. So you may not have been able to do it this Christmas, by next Christmas you may be able to sip your coffee and nibble on a mince pie.

I always liked VB dresses too - very elegant and well tailored so was so glad to find this one. Have another I’m saving for my niece's wedding (in October) but unfortunately paid full price for that one. Am keeping my eye out for another bargain one. I used to say my legs were only good from the ankles down. 😁 Though my legs look better now since my weight loss (calves aren’t so big), I still like a longer line for certain dresses. Pretty easy for us shortees though. Tee hee! This dress is probably tea length or just below the calf on taller girls.

It’s likely from swelling from your surgery. I had trouble swallowing for a good three days after surgery. I also produced a lot of saliva and carried a sick bag for a couple of days to spit out the excess spit. All from swelling my surgeon said. I found warm drinks soothing on my tender throat and tummy though some people say the colder the better. So try both to see which you find more soothing. And yes sip slowly leaving a couple of minutes between each sip. If it persists call your team. PS The surgical gas is pumped into the abdominal cavity and very little is actually in your tummy. You may feel bloated and you’ll develop shoulder pain as the gas moves up and is absorbed into your lungs to be breathed out. Takes about a week or so to be breathed out. Take little walks often. March on the spot. Raise your arms up and down and do some long slow deep breathing to help it move more quickly.

Happy new year everyone. You look stunning in red too @Sophie7713. I’m a bit the same about oversized clothing too since my weight loss. I love a wide keg pant as you know but I look for those that fit neatly around the waist and hips. But loose fit palazzo style casual pants are super comfy. I have a couple of pairs of the elastic waist wide leg pants in linen and viscose I wear when pooping out to the shops. PS - Love those loafers with the cut out sides and contrasting colours. Fun.

OMG this sounds delicious. Think I’d risk the bread sitting like a lump in my tummy for a bite or two (or three or four) of this sandwich.

As much as it would be great if we could reset our tummy to the loss of hunger phase after surgery we can’t. You can reset your thinking and your head though it’s not easy. Start by going back to tracking everything you eat and drink & maybe keep a second record of what you were feeling at the time you ate or drink to see if there are any specific emotions (boredom, frustration, anger, sadness, happiness, stress, etc.) driving you to eat or any events that occured or situations you were in (Friday morning tea at work, socialising, at the movies, a sporting game, holidays). Identify things you ma have let slide: portion sizes, protein intake, food choices, fluid intake, snaking, etc. check your activity levels. Then make a change. Drop a snack or work on reducing your portion size. After a couple of weeks make another change or two like increase your activity, or increase your fluid intake or swap out some food choices to better ore nutrient dense lower calorie options. And so on. Gradual changes are much easier to adapt to and adopt and always seem more achieveable. Become more mindful about your eating. Are you eating because you need to eat (real hunger) or just want to eat (head hunger - associated with emotions, situations or events). Eat slowly to allow time for your full/had enough message to register (takes at least 20 minutes). Slowly work your way back to how you were eating when you were first maintaining. You’ll get there. All the best.

Congratulations @Bypass2Freedom. You’ll be beginning this new year in a totally different place than you were this time last year. Amazing achievement. All the best for what the next year brings you.