ichabodny

Thank you so much! I'm very happy to be part of this group or I would be going crazy sometimes lol. It makes such a difference.

Wow!! That's an amazing weight loss-holy cow. Yeah, trying on clothes is now the thing for real! I can't try them on in the store so I grab a size down here or there and say to myself I can eventually get into it, go home and it fits already. Even jeans are a pleasure to wear now (used to avoid them like the plague). Congratulations yourself!

Thank you!

I know you're feeling great too! Congrats on your loss as well. Hoping for 170 lbs in a few months but really happy to even be here so far. My daughter literally just hit my goal weight (161 lbs) lol. I said that I was getting there!

Going with both responses above with an emphatic agree! I was scared beyond belief with any of the surgeries but never even considered sleeve with my surgeon as soon as he said it had even a little chance of gerd worsening. I was stage 3 and having my esophagus widened every year with swallowing problems-with a real fear of Barret's Syndrome for real. I had tight fists of air in my chest that didn't hurt but were so scary and disturbing with a lot of breathing problems. My surgery had some complications but minor in the long run. I am 15 weeks out now and down 100 lbs as of today! Not gonna lie-my GERD is not completely gone but my Dr said with the severity I was at, it can take a good 6 months for it to be so much better. He still has me taking meds for that but it is much better and more so day by day. Dumping syndrome is not fun but I also feel it's a benefit to learning how to eat differently for long term weight loss and control. I really feel like a new person and am ok with what I need to do and the after-effects of the bypass. It's not an easy recovery but not as bad as I thought it would be either; I still have some bruising as the complications made it more difficult the first month. Even with that, I am, without even a tiny shred of doubt. so happy I went with the bypass. Yeah, I wouldn't want to just 'gamble' with surgeries as a 'just in case'. Especially with GERD-it's a very serious thing to have.

Hi Cassey, Being out of breath and problems drinking your fluids at a few weeks out is very normal. Dehydration is probably the number one reason for er visits (I had that scare at around 3 weeks out too) so just keep chugging at it. I think the feeling of being normal happened only a few weeks ago with myself and I am now close to 4 months out. I recently started a new job at a factory with some lifting all night and even now on these nights, I find myself getting fatigued a bit still from the surgery. However, this all does eventually pass and get easier. Is your Dr following up with you? You should be able to sit down with that person to address the concerns you are having but they are normal. If you can get a propel water bottle or one with a very small 'sippy cup' end, it can really help a lot. Just try to keep on drinking slowly and getting it down as much as you can. Some days I still only hit around 50 oz and others I can get more then the 64 oz but it's easier now then what it was. I also work overnight so everything is a little wonky there. So sorry for the dumping syndrome. If you can get in with your NUT and Doc, it would be helpful to just get your concerns out there but from this end, it seems you are pretty normal in how you are feeling. Soon enough you'll start to get more normalized and feel some real benefits from the surgery-hang in there!

The apps are always weird, depending on what you use. I would ask your Dr for your specific case but even too much protein can give problems. However, percentages are misleading on apps. My Dr gives me an ideal of between 70 and 77 as a base (my age is a factor as well) but after the labs, the surgeon said I should up them another 30 or so and then get labs done again. He said it can happen that some of the protein gets flushed down with the other nutrients unable to be kept with the bypass. I'm going again on Monday to get more labs done and can update but I think shooting for between 70-90, depending on surgeries too, can be a good start. This is one topic that I've heard a lot of different comments from Dr's varying a bit. If you can get hold of your Dr and ask for follow-up info, it can be the most helpful to your specific case. You're doing great honestly, with trying to do the right thing and watching nutrition.

Hi, I usually use genepro just for the texture and lack of extra taste, less calories and more protein. I did try Iso (without the taste) but I quickly stocked up again on my genepro. I'm working on adding more protein but the last labs I had done, the Dr said to up them by 25% over the ones I was given because the bypass will lose some of the nutrients. My protein now is around 80-90. I get about 40 of that from genepro and the rest from what I eat. Everyone is really different with these surgeries and if it works for you, you stick with that. As long as it's ok'd by your NUT and labs are ok, go with what you like.

Sorry so late responding-migraines days. It's really hard to eat almost everything most days for me. Lately, I've been just getting the hormel meals with chicken breast or alfredo with boiled chicken. Some days I can eat a bit of the Beefy macaroni-I find these meals, in small doses, to be the easiest if I eat every couple hours from the same tray. Even then, it's a toss-up on the day. I think veggies are falling under the category of everything else. It was difficult for me beforehand with the gag reflex, now it's more that you have to chew it a lot and keeping the taste while trying to continue to chew already difficult stuff is almost impossible. Maybe later on I can at least try some milder ones again.

This was my plan at 8 weeks as well but my NUT was more concerned with my just getting my protein in and pretty flexible with what I ate or didn't eat. Having to eat bread is a new concept to me too. I do eat bread and have been for about 2 weeks now (3 months post op) because I worry about my fiber and I will eat Aldi zero carb bread. It also seems to be something I can take down if I toast and have something moist on it (I like smashed up turkey meatballs with a bit of tomato sauce and seasoning). I don't like enough to really want it but enough where it satisfies. I think it's most important to just try to get foods down that can lead to balanced and healthy mostly. I would be sure to check back with your NUT on that.

I try to eat what I can in the morning and early afternoon. If I drink my waters after that and add my protein powder, head hunger goes away fast. I just started a job working second shift-fast labor lifting in shipping and recieving. When I get home at around midnight, I do get some twinges to eat something but I will just drink instead. I think routine and getting past the holidays can be a huge help for you. Right now it's tough because you can be at the point of being unable to have a solid routine for still learning your body and what you can eat. I second reaching out to your support team at your Dr's office.

I know it's not sexy but I was feeling pretty skinny in this photo after losing almost 100 lbs. That sweatshirt used to be so tight that I could rival santa :-). I also could lay down easily with my Lolli and hug her feeling 'normal'. I could never do that with her before.

Great job!! I know you were excited to see that! I'm getting there-hoping I get it for Christmas lol. I was surprised to see 206 a few days ago-can't wait to hit onederland. You're doing awesome!

This, and how. Exactly with the little burps and hitting the sternum. I'm 3 months post-op. I just accidentally had to buy a propel water on a trip and found the bottles it comes in to make things much easier for me, maybe the nozzle slowing it down while I drink. I do get in my 64 oz but I used to drink 96 oz easily daily and it was no problem. Now, however, I really have to stop myself from drinking too fast. With me, times are different too. I don't know if it's because I move around more and exercise first but morning is the worst for me until mid to late afternoon. Then it seems easier to just keep drinking in small amounts. It can take me hours to drink my 16 oz and major chest pain, no matter how slow I go, until past 3 or so, then I can take the same in about 45 minutes. Cold, or ice cold, seems to do better for me with drinking but keto ice cream or ice cream gives me amazing pain for about a half hour after even if I melt it down. If I freeze my water, it goes down easier but this really varies per person. Don't stress yourself too much with this-things do even out more as you go.

I am just now at 3 months. Everyone is really different with this honestly. I had a tough time-just passing Thanksgiving, I am getting a bit more used to foods I can handle but I will be honest and say there are a lot of limits. Some days are still worse then others-Doc said that's normal for the first year. I try to eat my normal keto diet from before but still have to add Atkins shakes. Cold does better for me then hot so I will sometimes freeze a drink in a bowl for lunch and have that. It definitely helps. Turkey meatballs are my staple these days if I can mix it with a little sauce. They say bread is difficult but I will have at least one or two slices of Aldi zero carb bread- it gives me a lot of fiber and some protein. I toast it then put either the turkey meatballs (smushed and mixed) onto the bread then let it get a bit moist or, if it's a good day, I can try some egg and then chicken that's been boiled with keto barbecue sauce (just a tad-it has about 3 net carbs). Sometimes I can handle deli meat and cheese seems to be fine for me if I really chew well and take tiny bites. I also have my tablespoon or two of genepro for the missing protein. Veggies are still really hard for me but I do take a v8 green and I have been trying little bits of apple. Banana was pretty hard and other fruits can be a toss-up depending on the day. I started to mix a bit of sweet potato mashed with almond milk and some of my boiled chicken together for some meals and peas mashed can be ok if I can handle it. Popcorn that's air-popped is doable for me and seeming the easiest to take down in small amounts (no butter or salt-just plain). I will take it as a treat- a cup or so. I also live on the sugar-free popsicles with 15 calories when my store has it in stock. Tillapia works for me some days as well if it's not baked or fried but boiled in the bag. My calories are still only at around 800 on good days but I'm exercising well and labs are showing the genepro is doing well with the protein. Probably not the best example for you as you can be better able to handle varieties then I am right now but it's where I'm at. Had bypass Sept 1.

Taking the meds that your Dr is giving you is what you can do now. I didn't have your surgery but had the Bypass-long time acid reflux and then stage 3 gerd made that the only possibility. That long term problem requires a change in foods along with the meds to get it managed. There are lists of foods and water that can help with that (alkaline levels are most important) and it requires some research. Your Dr won't give it much mind for now as long as it's not getting worse. You are right to be concerned but give it time. It can take at least 6 months of change of diet, exercise and weight loss to bring down the level. I'm sorry to say you will have to modify foods that you used to eat and always be mindful of anything that you can react poorly to. Some people even respond to lactose and dairy badly for acid reflux and gerd. It wont go away just with the weight loss and the surgery revision. Ask your Dr if they have suggestions for your diet and what foods to eat. As long as you do this, it won't get to Barret's Syndrome and worse. That is really the good news to this. It can be better by the summer but you will always have to watch the foods you eat after. Great job on keeping the weight loss despite huge challenges! Feel better.

I had my bypass on Sept 1-the reason for choosing this over sleeve was gerd stage 3, previous ulcers and fatty liver disease, stage 2. Gerd was a huge factor for which one to have but they were also very concerned for my fatty liver going to nash and found the bypass to be the quickest way to give my liver a chance to begin reparation, if possible. My biopsies confirmed it and my last fibroscan with labs already showed reduction to stage 1 and repair of the scarring. Gerd still there but not as bad to swallow now with an ability to breathe much, much easier now. Still belching a lot (3 months post-op) but I had a pretty bad case of it and Doc says to give it at least 6 months. They also still have me on heavy 'zoles' (Panzaprazole and omniprazole both for now).

I was a large advocate of yoga pants and t-shirts. Goodwill is difficult around here right now and I hit walmart in the very early mornings. My sizes have gone down fast since my Sept 1 surgery. I had my old clothes from some years ago but even those are baggy now too. I literally live now in the same pair of pj pants I bought in 3 sizes from walmart when on clearance. Hubby and I have lot of matching t-shirts costing like $5, so I just bought lower sizes. Some things are stretchy. I have gone down since the surgery from a size 24 to an 18 and large in womens tees or a medium in men's tees. The goodwill now gets literal truck loads of bags from me-some clothes I sadly pack away (not many though). I did have a special Ren outfit made for my husband and I with our tenth anniversary vow renewal and anticipated being smaller sizes. However, we had to cancel for covid and I lost faster then I projected. My dress was specially made in replica style to match hubby's outfit. I wore it to try on last month and it was already too big. There are laces in the back but my already tiny boobs are literally non-existent and adjustments are needed even with the tightest setting. I've gotten hold of a good friend and seamstress I know from the faires and offered to pay whatever is needed to redo it for my final size. She thought it can be some work but it's worth it to me. I can't try it on now or get it down-sized until i get close to goal though and I was really excited to get that beautiful baby on! :-). A winter coat was probably top priority. I start a new job just after Thanksgiving but we're getting pretty tight. My husband already works in the factory I'll be starting in and my son is a security guard. I didn't want to really spend on needless things for this weight loss with the holidays and my daughter now just having a baby- we sent quite a bit to her and her husband to help them out as she works in a restaurant but was laid off and her husband had hours cut. My husband opened a credit card at a local women's clothing store for me; insisting I need new clothes and a really good winter coat so we went together and I got that with one new pair of jeans and shirt. I was excited to see the size 18 in jeans-never thought I would see that so soon [or again] and I did get some underwear, a new bra (b now bummer) with one corset style help for the sagging skin (not so bad-some is my age and some the rapid weight loss but I expected worse). Enjoy the sizes going down! I feel like a new person that still is strange to me and I now love wearing my clothes. Don't get too many at once for each size-I live in a winter area where we practically live in our pjs and sweats year round; that totally helps. If you can get away with it or whatever you can-do it! Then maybe get a special outfit for inspiration or reward on a milestone.

I know someone else mentioned it but maybe some low dose meds would help. If you can make an appt with your Dr to talk to your psychiatrist, they can help. I actually had hormonal shifts and anxiety before the surgery while losing weight during the program and they started me on 10mg Lexapro. It has helped tremendously. I think anxiety is normal and it's good to logically get your head wrapped around it but honestly, I would try to get an appt with the Dr for that. There's a lot going on with everything and you are going through many changes. Hugs and hope everything goes easier for you soon.

Second this and how! Sugar-free popsicles were life-savers for me. Just do what you can and try to stay hydrated. I used genepro as well- I was really sick as a dog for the first couple weeks for complications but especially the first 10 days. Try to drink as much as you can and try broth. Some people have it easier with warmer and some with cold. I know it can be stressful at this stage so just do the best you can. Move around and keep track of when you are drinking- force about an ounce at a time of anything you can handle.

lol. It's rare I heard limits on beans-ask your NUT specifically about it and what they suggest. I have eaten a bit of them but slowly and chewed but it's still a bit painful to have after a few bites-my NUT said at my two month appt to just try things on the list (of which there was pretty much almost everything minus bad foods like snacks and junk). I wouldn't stress about that really.

Stayed to the letter to what they wanted-particularly my NUT. She seemed to know me and what can be easiest but healthiest. Every surgeon does their own way with the entire program and they know you best; it's really best to just go strictly with what they want.

Both these apps are really good. I used My Fitness Pal before the surgery but found that I wanted a bit more bariatric support post-op; especially with my lowered calories. You can easily just not end the day to get the last message of being too low in calories but it helped me more to be with full bariatric support so I am currently on baritastic and I do enjoy it. Only thing I had to get used to was it being only on my phone. Well, had to face tiny phone screen apps eventually lol. One third option I really liked was Carb Manager. It was pretty simple; less support and less active for that then the other two apps but if you just want something that simply tracks everything and is very user friendly, that one is good too. All are free-you can pay for premium on my fitness pal but I wouldn't pay for what they give you extra.

My surgeon did the very same with me. Our NUT is in house and works as part of the team but I do have a Dr in the team besides my surgeon. My Dr is more strict with my diet while my NUT is a bit more easy-going. At this point (close to 3 months post op now) my NUT has always answered me by saying to not worry about calories right now. They just want me to get my proteins met first and foremost and then add anything I can else that is on the list (it does include potatoes, beans, fruits, keto ice-cream, etc) and she says to add some potato if it's easier to eat with chicken to get down. However, I read about a lot of different protein level preferences (always the same lowest but some require much, much higher) and even vitamin differences. Just follow what your Dr says. A lot also can depend on specific health problems, ages, prior history, etc.