Arabesque

I think it’s pretty rare & that the horror stories may be popular simply as a scar tactic from those anti surgery or simply that they’re a good story. I wonder if the odd cases were actually from pre existing conditions or there was a potential for future dental issues like years of eating a poor diet. Like I had reflux before surgery so the possibility of damage from rising stomach acid is a pre existing possibility. Personally, I’ve had no issues at all. My dentist regularly gives me a gold star - a lifetime ago he was my PE teacher LOL!

Yes, your hunger does return. A bigger question that influences this is whether what you are experiencing is real hunger or head hunger. Head hunger comes from cravings, habit, boredom & emotions. Real hunger comes from your body needing nutrition & feels different. You’ll learn how it feels for you. For me I get restless, know something is wrong but don’t crave or want a specific food, texture or flavour. Unfortunately while the surgery changes your digestive system, it doesn’t change your thinking. You have to do that part. Many find working with a therapist helpful with head hunger & the issues behind it. Yes, the surgery does physically reduce the amount of food you can consume, boost your metabolism, change your body’s set point & temporarily reduce your hunger (not everyone though). The reality is if you aren’t ready to do the head work to reflect on how, what & what you eat you will gain weight again. The surgery isn’t an easy fix though it can give you the impetus to change. I realised what I was doing wasn’t working & that surgery was my last resort which made me want to embrace the benefits & not waste them. Hope I haven’t scared you more. In many ways I eat more & more often than before (was a meal skipper). I worked out a way of eating that works for me, complements my lifestyle, provides my body with what it needs & has been sustainable. Some do regain some of their weight because how they initially chose to eat doesn’t. The truth is the surgery can be amazing if you grab the opportunity with both hands. I’ve never been able to maintain my weight like this before & haven’t been this weight since I was 12 or 13. I look at food differently. Not as the enemy nor as a way to make me feel better but as a source of the nutrients my body needs to function effectively. And yes, I still enjoy food & eating .

Our annual Riverfire is tonight (lots of fireworks along a length of the river as it wraps around our city centre set to music you hear on radio) & as usual going to a friend’s who lives on the river to watch it. Was asked to make the sausage rolls I made for New Year’s. The little lone one is one I’m keeping for myself - taste test lol! Shame it’s such a miserably cold, windy & rainy day. So much for the third day of spring.

You can’t stop it or reduce it. It’s a bit of a luck of the draw as to how much lose skin you will have. Age, gender, how much weight you carried, how long you carried the excess weight, genetics, all okay a part. I often compare skin with a hair band that gets stretched out over time & use. Can’t save that hair band by unstretching it. Same with your skin. The only way to get rid of your lose skin is to remove it with surgery. Personally I decided against surgery. I don’t have a lot of loose skin & it can be hidden easily under clothes without need of shape wear & that’s under body con dresses too. So not really worth the surgery. Sure I have some tuck shop lady arms/bat wings but no one knows unless I wave my arms out & about. My arms are pretty toned just from doing a couple of basic resistant band stretches. I even got complimented on my arms today while trying on a one shouldered top so …. Did make me giggle to myself.

Losing so slowly this close to your goal isn’t uncommon. It took me weeks to lose the last kg - so close yet so far. So you may lose more weight just incredibly slowly. But there’s nothing wrong if you don’t. Don’t rely on BMI for what your weight ‘should’ be. It should only be considered as a guide. It doesn’t take into account factors like age, muscle mass, skeletal frame,general health, etc. To lose additional weight, you will have to reduce your calories & you said you struggle with hunger if you do eat less than you are now. But not onot will you have to reduce your caloric intake to lose more weight you will also need to continue to eat less to maintain at the lower weight. Yes, increasing your activity can help though exercise accounts for about 10% of the weight you have to lose. So if you want to lose about 20lbs that’s 2lbs. If this is the weight your body is happiest at, your new set point, to go lower will take constant effort to be able to maintain the lower weight. It was one of the factors behind why we struggled to lose in the past & would always quite easily regain as our set point was at that higher weight. You’ve done so well regardless of whether you lose more weight. You said you feel much better, are healthier, have more energy, are more confident. Embrace those wins, not the number on the scale.

Remember you’re still healing & recovering. Your tummy has been through a lot & can be rather sensitive & fussy for a while. Certain foods, flavours or tastes can be difficult to tolerate or make you feel unwell like nauseous. It does pass. I agree with the suggestions to try some anti nausea meds for a while. It takes time but you will feel a lot better & it will get easier to eat a variety of foods.

You really should be looking at eating mostly real food not relying on shakes & other meal replacements by now. Reintroducing real food to re educate your tummy post surgery. Is it all foods or just some specific foods, flavours &/or textures you struggle with? It’s not unusual to struggle with certain foods to begin (eggs, chicken, steak are pretty common culprits) - your tummy can be pretty fussy while it’s still healing & recovering. If it’s all foods, it may be best to speak with your surgeon to find out what’s going on. Personally I didn’t have another shake once I started purées. Got everything I needed from real food. I used to take left overs to work. I bagged & froze single portions so I’d just grab them in the morning & reheat at work. Soups, mince dishes, casserole/braises, etc. still pretty soft & moist. Coarse & dry foods can be difficult to eat & cause discomfort (restriction, foamies, etc.) so I think you would struggle with meal replacement bars. Cheese, yoghurt, fruit (if allowed at this stage), boiled eggs or egg salad can be included if necessary. In the future meal replacement or protein shakes & bars can be an easy just in case addition to your diet or to boost your protein on a day you may be a little low. Great for travelling too.

Something to consider is that the daily recommended allowance of added sugar each day for a woman is 25g (6 level teaspoons or 0.8oz). Body Armour contains 19g of added sugar per single serve (12oz). You’ll likely become an avid reader of nutrition panels on all foods & drinks you buy. It can be quite shocking to discover how much added sugar is in foods you ate & drank without thought in the past. Personally I keep my added sugar to less than 10g. Get plenty of the glucose my body needs from fruit, dairy, vegetables, etc. (I avoid a lot of artificial sweeteners too as they continue to feed your desire for sweet. Plus lots of concerns regarding their potential for health issues.)

I cut mine in two stages. My hair wasn’t quite at my waist but probably about 2/3 down my back. Had about 4inches cut off in the first month then had it cut to just above my shoulders in the second month. (I go to my hairdresser every 4 weeks to colour & cut my hair.) Have to admit the shorter strands did not look nearly as bad as the long hair in the bottom of the shower - didn’t seem as as much hair. By cutting off some of the length you may notice your hair is much bouncier & less flat as you don’t have the weight of the longer hair pulling your hair down. Your hair will grow back but it will just take a bit of time to get back to the length you want it. Or you may decide to keep the shorter length like I did. So much easier to care for & style.

Are you pre or post surgery? You should have been given a list of foods to eat & avoid through each of the stages. If you didn't, ask for one as there are often differences in plans. Generally, in the post surgery liquid stage protein shakes are the main go to, then broths, cream soups, yoghurt smoothies (can be yoghurt blended with milk). You can increase your protein intake by including protein waters, milk & adding protein powder to the cream soups.

You’ll discover your body reacts very differently after surgery. Besides changes to your metabolic rate, body set point (the weight your body is happy at), there are hormonal changes (hunger, satiation, etc.), reduction of the volume of food you can eat, etc. the most important change, & the one you have to do the work for, is the change in how you look at eating: what you ate & why you ate. Like most of us before surgery, we could diet, lose weight & then watch the weight come back again. I know it was because once I stopped the diet, I went back to eating in the same way I had before I lost weight. The diets I were on also didn’t change my set point like the surgery did so I would eventually revert to that higher weight again. And the more restrictive the duet, the slower & harder it was to lose. The surgery allowed me the time to change a lot about how & what I eat & understand why I ate. Three years out, I don’t consider I’m on a diet. This is just how & what I eat. And I feel way better for it. Fluctuations are part of life, even more so if you’re female (hormones are a b*tch). You never eat or drink the exact same thing every day. You don’t poop or pee the same amount every day. I know my fluctuation is usually about a a kg. And if I have a pee night ( peed every 30 mins for 3 hrs last night) I can weigh 500g less the next morning. You have to either accept the fluctuations or keep off the scales every day. Weight loss is NEVER a straight downward line. It goes up & down, zigs & zags. As long as the general trend is downwards, you’re fine.

I agree with the others, the risk of complications from the surgery are low (much lower than other surgeries). The only reason you individually may be at a higher risk is because of any pre existing health issues you may have but this is a conversation you should have with your surgeon. Don’t be afraid to ask for his stats on the age of their patients, success rate, complications, etc. There are many here who have successfully had surgery in their 60s & 70s. The pre surgery diet has a couple of purposes including breaking some food dependencies, losing some weight & reducing the size of the liver. The difference between your gall surgery & your sleeve surgery is the surgeon has to move & navigate around the liver more to clearly & more easily access your tummy (it’s partially covered by the liver). Most of your gall is visible & is much easier to remove - more of a clip, a snip & suture. The more easily your surgeon can access your tummy, the easier the surgery. You’ll be amazed at how much better you feel & more active you’ll be after you’ve lost weight. All the best.

Years ago they thought I had an ulcer. Sharp cutting pains that used to run across my lower abdomen. I did the breath test for the helicopter pylori which is the bacteria behind most ulcers & an endoscopy. What they discovered was I over produced acid which also caused a lot of my reflux symptoms. PPIs do reduce acid production & while pre surgery I took one as necessary (about 5 or so times a year) I now take one every day. As the PPI is helping you I’d think it’s more likely to be excess acid too. It’s not uncommon for our acid production to increase after surgery but also because we’re still producing the same amount into a much smaller tummy. Hence why we’re usually prescribed PPIs for a while after surgery until it settles. Yes, the pain is worse when your tummy is empty because there is no food to absorb the acid. Pre surgery, the quickest & easiest way to stop the pain was to eat some carbs. Of course that’s not an option any more but it’s usually pretty much under control now because I eat quite often through out the day. I had a bad experience a couple of weeks ago though. Due to a number of events out of my control which ended in sitting in Emergency with my mother, I had only eaten breakfast & a mid morning snack. By 7pm I was in quite a bit of pain which wasn’t alleviated until almost 10pm when I got home & could eat. The next day my poop was very loose & acidic (burning & smell). Also I don’t have a gall bladder now which used to regulate the acid entering the digestive system so now it just drips in all day long. When your surgeon finally rings you back, ask for a breath test & an endoscopy (or may be your GP can arrange a breath test in the US 🤷🏻‍♀️) just to be sure you haven’t an ulcer nor any pockets of inflammation from the excess acid. All the best.

I took capsules without a problem. They had me taking tablets in hospital even though I had a lot of swelling for the first couple of days. I had to take 2 multi vitamins, a vitamin D, a PPI & my HRT so I spread out when I took them - morning & night - so I wasn’t having to swallow one or two at a time.

The truth is they really won’t stop. That’s the thing about the surgery, it removes part of your tummy but doesn’t remove the part of your brain that makes you crave specific foods. That’s the head work we have to do. Over time you’ll learn to recognise the cravings & understand where they’re coming from & develop strategies to manage them better. And they’ll lose a lot of the power they had over your food & eating choices. It won’t be easy but embrace the time before & after surgery to start breaking their power & your reliance on them. A lot of us find food becomes excessively sweet after surgery which is very helpful for reducing your desire for sweet too. PS - watch artificial sweeteners as they only continue to feed your desire for sweet.

We say it all the time but it is true: it all gets better & easier. It just takes time especially while you are still healing & recovering from what was a pretty major surgery. The lethargy will improve as you start to feel better & can eat a little more & eat more substantial food. Try adding an electrolyte drink to your daily fluid intake for a little boost of energy. Ask your doctor for some anti nausea meds to tide you over & allow you to eat without feeling unwell. . And yes you will feel hungry again but it maybe different as you discover & understand the difference between head hunger & real hunger. When you start to feel real hunger again is individual though for most it returns before the end of your first year. Embrace this time of not being hungry. The head games can be very difficult. How can I survive on so little food? How can I not be hungry it’s dinner time? Etc. Were you referred to a therapist pre surgery? Can you make contact again? If not, ask your surgeon for a referral/recommendation. A therapist can support you as you work through the head work.

If you only vomited it wasn’t dumping. It was likely just bringing up the excess food. Try to stop eating before you feel your restriction - it should be the last resort signal. Same first feeling full. It takes time to work out all your little signals & feelings about your hunger, being satiated or being full as for many of us they’re different now. I’m a big believer in asking myself do I need this next bite or just want it. If I just want it I don’t have the bite. You’ll work it out.

As @catwoman7 said, this is very common. You may need something stronger than the traditional treatments as it’s been a week. Because constipation becomes a bit of a battle while losing. I tried to keep on top of my BMs to avoid the discomfort/pain when things finally got moving if it went too many days. I’d take a stool softener if I hadn’t passed anything after three days. Add some non swelling soluble fibre to your shakes or soups to help. ((I used Benefibre.) All the best.

Being a low processed whole grain, oats are usually considered an ok addition to your diet (good carbs & fibre) but check with your dietician. I was allowed instant rolled oats in purée & then transitioned to traditional oats in solid foods. The added sugar content in Oats Overnight would bother me: the amount & it would’ve tasted too sweet to me then & now. As Lisa was suggesting, traditional oats you prep yourself would probably be a better option as you’re controlling the ingredients . I have them every day, add a dessertspoon of mixed seeds & blueberries. Because I make it on milk I get about 15g of protein & no added sugar (the naturally occurring sugar in the milk & fruit doesn’t count & provides ample sweetness). It takes a couple of minutes to cook in the microwave. If you want more protein, add some protein powder. Traditional oats can be prepped in the fridge in the exact same way as the Oats Overnight if it was the ‘convenience’ of the product that appealed.

It was a one off occurrence so you’ll probably be ok. You were at least conscious of what choices you could make in the situation & know new fur the future. During the whole time you are losing, travelling for a day or for longer times will require a little planning ahead in regard to your food options. The stage you’re at, where you are going & what might be available will influence how much & what food you’ll need to take with you. To give you some ideas: Pack a small esky/cooler with appropriate food options. If travelling over a number of days, add fresh food you are able to eat from local stores (cheese, yoghurts, fruit, etc.) & replenish the ice unless you can refreeze ice bricks overnight. Choose packet options for soup & shakes which you mix with water when you arrive or along the journey. Pack high protein snacks like protein bars, nuts, beef jerky, etc. which are easily transportable & generally don’t spoil. I’m three years out & whenever I travel, holiday, etc., I still take an emergency pack of ‘just in case’ foods options. I don’t need them in the same way but you never know. I used to always carry a protein bar in my bag but they would become heat affected & inedible. Now I just try to remember to throw something in my bag if I think I might need it. Of course the times I forget I usually need it most.

@SpartanMaker is correct. There will always be a layer of fat under your skin. It’s something we need. So even under the loose skin there will be some fat which is why it is hard to tell. How thick (dense) the skin is if you pinch it may give you a bit of an idea of how much fat is left in that area. And pinch different areas around your body to compare as we carry our larger deposits of fat in different areas of our body. Have a chat with your surgeon or get a referral to a plastic surgeon & ask their opinion. If you are thinking about having the loose skin removed, they’ll likely advise to wait until your weight has been stable for a while. If you are just curious as to how much fat you have left, yes a body fat or dexa scan is your best bet.

I agree. Contact your surgeon. This is unusual & needs to be investigated, especially the shortness of breath, to find the cause. All the best.

I remembered last night that I sometimes used Curash which is used to treat & sooth babies’ happy rash.

Oh, yes. When I roll over in bed I don’t have to readjust my breasts anymore. They’re so much smaller so they don’t get in the way nearly as much & I can lie on my tummy without lots of discomfort. 😁

First thought is are you meeting all your protein goals still? Is there anything lacking in your blood tests? How old are you? How long is your hair? Anaesthetic can be hard on your hair making it dry & changing the texture. If your hair is long you could still have hair that was affected growing out. I started losing hair again when they discovered I wasn’t absorbing protein after my gall was removed. It took a few months to sort this out (diet & meds) & it’s okay again. I asked your age because, thinning hair &/or changed texture, can be a side effect of menopause & peri menopause. My hair isn’t as thick as it was when I was younger & it’s not as coarse in its texture. When I started peri menopause some of my hair became wavy. Not all of it just the back half. Weird but true. It’s straight everywhere again now. If you’re too young for this, still maybe get your hormone levels checked.