smund

Hi everyone! I had VSG surgery two and a half years ago (Feb 2020) I'm finding that there are days (most days) when I feel like I am my best, strongest, healthiest self and then sometimes there's a day or two where I'm the most frail, delicate, exhausted, fussiest critter in the world because of my VSG needs. Is this pretty normal, do you think? Sometimes navigating "new normal" things really frustrate me and make me feel like I am weaker because I have different needs than a "normie" does. I get to drink all of that water, again. Not enough water= confusion from dehydration which is REAL. It seems like it gets hard when the differences post VSG are really obvious: my boss pointed out that I didn't each much at a lunch, because she thought I was nervous- so I disclosed my surgery to her privately and then she understood, or a stranger will comment on how strange it is when I am waiting 30 minutes to drink water before/after a meal. These are usually people that didn't know me when I was obese, so I get it, it's a little out of the ordinary to strangers. But I deal with it. And then I go to an outdoor festival and there is a no outside food policy and I'm left with eating half of a greasy burger patty with my bare hands, no, I don't want the fries or the bun, thanks- but because no forks either, for some reason- but protein, is protein. These are things that *I* have gotten used to, but sometimes they are still incredibly frustrating. (Venue got an email with some suggestions!) Anyway, do y'all need some bariatric friends, so we can have safety in numbers? Because I am yet to encounter someone who openly eats like me in the wild. It's not really that disruptive all the time, but there are times when I'm just like...... WTF did I do to myself? (and why didn't I do it sooner?!) No negativity from me, really. I have no regrets. I just wish I had people to help me navigate!

Hi there! It's nice that you have so many people wanting to do such nice things for you! Maybe try and distract them- I don't need food, I'm on a particular post op diet, but you could pick me up the new book by whoever/or the new movie/or stop by and take a little recovery walk with me? Congrats on being on this side of the surgery! That first holiday can be a little rough, but knowing it will be different helps you plan for that. My Mom literally sent us a 7 lb. cinnamon roll cake for the first holidays after my surgery. No joke. I was really firm in explaining that I wasn't going to accept these type of gifts from her going forward and we were able to get rid of it. Even knowing that I had the surgery, she still sent this(?!) it helped when my nutritionist pointed out that this kind of thing says more about the gifter than the recipient (truth!) Half the holiday will be putting food on your plate and moving it around. That's part of the social aspect of the holidays + food. Don't worry about everyone and what they're thinking- just take the food and toss it (or give it to someone else as you can) Put things in your napkin. The good news is that at holiday gatherings, we tend to move around a lot to socialize, so you're not usually at one table with one person, so they don't get the opportunity to super judge your plate. Most people won't notice or care, but you'll wind up with one person who just wants to be extra special about it all. Bring some snacks and things you CAN eat easily for yourself or to share with everyone else if it's a potluck. People didn't really notice the weight loss on me until I got to the 40+ lbs. mark. Then the comments started (but so did the compliments!) As I got further along, I felt braver (I originally planned to tell no one except immediate in my home family) and was able to tell extended family, a few friends (lost a few, but whatever- again, it's a reflection of THEM) and a few strangers like neighbors who got really needle-y about what was wrong with me/how I was doing it. The first time I was in a restaurant and said "xyz.......because I'm a bariatric patient." I thought my poor hubby was going to fall over! Let me know if you need anything!

I have had problems with foot drop in the past. I spent about a year in physical therapy and it was super helpful. now I only drop my foot if I'm barefoot or exhausted.

I'm three weeks post op and I'm starting week two of purees. It has been much easier than I had imagined. The biggest concern is getting enough water in but even that has improved with time. You will be fine!

Hi! Has anyone found a VSG friendly home meal kits? like Blue Apron, Hello Fresh, etc.?

yeah, I thought about that,too. I need to feed my husband and daughter, too and I don't want to be a short order cook forever. I would much rather make one meal and just have a small portion. I miss that normalcy.

will check it out, thanks!

I'm home. I had a terrible time with nausea and vomiting. I was seriously composing a goodbye letter to my family. Two teeth broken during intubation. will have to worry about that next week. stiff and sore shoulder but better in fits and starts

thanks! home and filling up on tea and broth!

Crying grateful tears. Thank you.

Surgery tomorrow. Just liquids today. I had headaches and nausea every day on the pre-op diet. I just want to wake up and be okay and not in a ton of pain. So scared. So ready. Starting to crash at work on just fluids so I am working through lunch and going home early.

Yes, I'm supposed to drink 32 oz of regular gatorade before I go to bed the night before surgery.

I am six days into the pre-op diet, I'm off of coffee, I'm following all of the rules. Why do I feel like garbage? I can't pay attention to anything and I feel dizzy 90% of the time. My nutritionist and surgeon's nurse are both out of the office this week. I called to ask about Immodium and came up empty. (Yeah, I see what I did there) Blah. I just want to get to the other side.

This! I am so here with this. I am down to two ounces of coffee every morning. I am ready to pull the plug but not ready yet!

I bought Gatorade Zero, Crystal light, sugar free popsicles, a couple of protein shakes, some baby spoons and little bowls and plates. a water bottle without a straw (all of mine had them) and some melty vitamins.

I'm scheduled for sleeve on 02/26. I am feeling ALL of the feels right now. Mostly I'm ready. I could use some friends as I'm not really telling people about my surgery. I was approved back in November, but I got that notification the same day I got a new job offer so I asked to wait to schedule anything until I got settled into my new position. I lost a lot of weight a few years ago when I took phentermine. I am looking forward to losing weight, keeping it off and not being a jittery rage monster like I was on the drugs. Also: weight came back fast. All of my preop appointments and labs are done. I just need to make sure I don't get sick between now and then. I am super stressed about that. I start pre-op diet on 02/12. I'm working on eliminating coffee right now- I'm told no coffee for six months post op. I'm down to four ounces or less per day, but giving it up entirely is proving to be really, really hard. I'm planning to take three weeks off post op.