ShoppGirl

Have you reached out to your team? That doesn’t sound normal. If you are dehydrated they need to arrange fluids. Dehydration can cause nausea and it sounds like maybe you are not getting enough. Hopefully that’s all it is but it could also be a complication. Call your surgeon ASAP.

Sorry to hear about your experience on vraylar. That’s why they make so many meds I guess because we are all different. I think you will be just fine so long as you stay in touch with your prescribing dr. My Dr had me come in more often right after surgery and my therapist called to check on me to make sure I was doing okay in between appointments. Best of luck with your journey.

Congratulations!!

I took Latuda for bipolar when I had my sleeve three years ago and my prescribing doctor was concerned about me not getting enough calories in the beginning for it to absorb properly as well. (For those who don’t know about this particular medication it’s not about it not absorbing due to the surgery itself like many controlled release meds. This med needs the 350 calories in order to absorb fully for anyone, not just people who had surgery). Anyways, My doctor switched me to vraylar for a couple of months prior to surgery just to make sure I was stable on it and then a short time after until I was back to being able to consume 350 calories at one time. The vraylar is quite expensive but luckily they were able to get enough samples for me. The plan was to switch me back once I was eating enough. What was weird and unexpected was post surgery when he tried to switch me back to the Latuda all of a sudden it caused me a great deal of anxiety and I couldn’t tolerate it anymore (even though I was on it for three years before surgery) so he kept me on the vraylar a little longer until things got back more normal for me and then made another change. I am now on a completely different medication. Neither the surgeon or prescribing dr could explain that anxiety except that when you alter the anatomy things just happen sometimes but I just worked with my prescribing dr and he sorted it out. The most important thing is that your prescribing dr and your loved ones are very aware that you may encounter some issues and that everyone is on top of it. If you feel the slightest bit off, you may need to be the one to contact your Dr. You mentioned “the switch” as an option. Not sure if you are speaking if the SADI switch or the Duodenal switch but both of those are restrictive and malabsorbing surgeries. The reason they suggested the sleeve for me was because they were concerned about my other meds not absorbing fully just because of the malabsorbing component of the other surgery. Fast forward three years and I gained my weight back and we are now considering conversion to the SADI or bypass because I gained my weight back. I gained it back because I ate the wrong things though so don’t let that scare you. I only mention it because I’m guessing you can see my current weight and may wonder why I didn’t lose. I did lose quite a bit and maintained it for a while but I was discouraged I didn’t lose it all and I let that get to me. Which is something you should be aware of, you may not lose as much as someone who is not on all these meds. Just don’t get too caught up in comparing your journey to others. I am 5’8” and I got down to 168. I would be so much happier and healthy now if I had just accepted that win instead of getting it in my head that I failed by not making it to where others did.

I second seeing a weight loss surgeon. I would ask ahead of time for them to send you the release to sign so the dr will have the images during your appt

The reason you are seeing so many different numbers is because there are so many factors involved in how many calories you should be eating. This will be especially true the further you get out and as your try to figure out your maintenance calories (And other macros). If at all possible, I would reach out to your team but if not I suggest that you see a dietician locally to discuss your specifics. Just be sure they are someone who has dealt with people who had your surgery.

Maybe you just need to be the creative one. Come up with something else you would like to do and ask for it. And if they aren’t willing to do it then treat yourself to something nice. Birthdays to me for adults are all about splurging on something you would otherwise not buy for yourself because it’s kind of a waste of money. Could be a material item or an experience. Otherwise we are just passing the same envelope of cash back and forth for years.

Does anyone have any favorite products or suggestions of stuff I should try from the bariatric pal store? I have quite a few points saved up from posting on here and I was gonna order their vitamins to show my dr next month but I need to order more to get free shipping.

This was really good. I cut the recipe in half and it’s still more than enough for one but not sure you could make much less in the blender and get any out. I didn’t think about it this time but I bet it would be good with the quest protein chips. I forgot the taco seasoning at first and it was good that way too. https://foodwithfeeling.com/cottage-cheese-queso/

Watching an infomercial that popped on doe an exercise machine you can do while seated. It’s called ELLIPSE. I searched Amazon and it’s like $250 BUT a couple other brands come up from $75 that look like the same concept (and a pedal one for $49). They were talking about people using it on the lower speed after knee and hip surgery so I thought of you.

Not sure how new this is but I just stumbled upon a multi vitamin that is specifically for DS/SADI that includes 60mg of iron, ADEK and some other stuff that is specific to the switch surgeries. Just thought I’d share in case someone else didn’t know about this. It’s made by procare health. They actually sell it in the bariatric pal store but currently it’s cheaper on the manufacturers site if you do multiple months and/or subscribe for auto ship.

Are you sure it’s the same one? On their site it’s $39.99 for Three month supply and cheaper if you sign up for autoship.

I was not prescribed it but I do know someone who lost over 50 pounds on the diabetes version of it. I read It does have possible side effects but the only way to know if you will have them is to try it I guess. Of course you should discuss them first with your doctor. The only negative I have heard from those that take it is the price and availability. Hopefully it will be more readily available and affordable soon. It seems like a good option for some people.

I am so sorry for your experience but thanks so much for sharing. 🤗

Thanks for the suggestions. Them calcium chocolates are a great idea. Are the protein packets similar to like crystal light or propel packets where you just mix with a bottle or water?

Yea check it out. What’s I love about it is if you log your food it allows you to add portions of a serving and it does all the math. Like you can add 1/4 of a bell pepper or so many ounces or chicken instead of just a chicken breast or one bell pepper so it’s pretty darn accurate for your macros. Even with the packaged food you scan in you can add less than a full serving and it calculates everything for you. Also for scanned items they must have a pretty big database because so far it has yet to not recognize anything I’ve scanned. I’m not sure if that’s how all the food tracking apps are or not because this is the first I have tried but it’s far more user friendly than I expected.

There is an app called Baritastic where you can log all your measurement info as well as food, water and even bowel movements. 😂. Some nutritionists participate witb it and they can see your information too. Ypu can still use it even if they don’t participate though.

You’re showing us the photos which document a significant loss but idk if you can see what we see. Sometimes it’s hard for us to notice the difference in ourselves even with the before and after photo. Have you seen the visual representation of even ONE pound of fat? They sell it on Amazon, just search it and visualize 13 of those. You will see how much you have lost. Also, consider taking measurements each month. That way you can watch the inches decrease because clearly you have lost. And check out the non scale victory thread. See all the things you have to look forward to that have nothing to do with a number on the scale. You are doing great!!

Another tip. On their site you have to order a minimum of 6 AND subscribe to their service but they have a variety pack of 4 on Amazon which was sold out so I am not sure if it will be available again but worth checking there first. I am thinking of ordering them there in case I don’t like them. I hate subscribing to stuff. I am one of the people they are hoping for that forgets to cancel. i just messaged the seller on Amazon and asked them to bring back the sample pack. Fingers crossed they do.

Has anyone tried the gardencup meal delivery service? Everything is in a cup to take to go they have soups, salads, power cups, produce cups, and dip cups as well as snack cups. They are $10-12 each so kinda pricey but I’m justifying it for myself since my husband doesn’t eat what I eat and produce tends to go bad on me before I can use it all as do all the different cheeses and stuff to make a variety of salads. That plus the convenience factor are making them enticing. I am looking at the protein and the mini cup salads have less than the regular sized ones which is unfortunate since post surgery the mini one will probably be the better portion size. The minis are around 15-20g protein. I’m Just curious if anyone has tried these or has any thoughts on them. I’m thinking I may have to switch out the dressing for a lower fat option or have no dressing but that’s with premade salad from anywhere. I usually get the southwest or market salad at chick fila with an extra chicken filet on the side. I take it home pull off the toppings and a little of the lettuce and that’s plenty for one day then the next I can make a chicken ceaser salad with the extra chicken, the leftover lettuce and my own yogurt dressing but that’s only when I’m in town anyways. I don’t like to make a special trip just for salad plus those aren’t prepared to grab And go like these cups are. They would fit perfect in a cooler to take with me when I’m out for the day

They definitely are pricey, I agree. If i was going to make one of these for salads for a family of four or going to eat the same exact thing four days in a row I could make it considerably cheaper. But to buy all the differnt ingredients for the differnt salads for just me (he won’t eat salad) I waste…a lot of food (produce, cheese, dressings, beans, corn, etc. My price to make them for one is a little closer to theirs to begin with so I am paying less than some for the convenience factor. I mean I go to Chick-fil-A now and pay $15 for a salad and an extra chicken filet that makes two servings which I would just buy that and put into smaller containers but it’s 30 minutes from me so not exactly convenient. In terms of waste, Their cups are actually reusable. They give examples of how to reuse them to organize your pantry and fridge on their website. I would probably donate the containers to my local thrift store. I always have a bag or box going. If you plan to make your own you may be cheaper to order them once and reuse their containers? That way you can see how they layer them to keep them freshest too. Just a thought I was considering as well.

I was thinking the same as @ms.sss. I just wish I looked that fit when I am at that BMI. Congratulations on your loss.

Someone posted on here that it’s leeches from you bones for a while so you don’t really know it that your actually low from labs until it’s too late unless you are getting regular bone density scans?? @catwoman7 mentioned it on this thread. I plan to talk to my dr about that and ask if I can get a bone density scan ant my age as @ms.sss suggested. I also use almond milk and eat alot of cheese but idk how much of that I will malabsorb post bypass. Hopefully I do get enough from diet though. Would be nice to need less vitamins.

I need to get back into the swing of taking my vitamins and I’m thinking it was easiest to remember at mealtimes. Exactly how many hours do we need to wait between calcium and the iron in the multivitamin for it to absorb properly? What about calcium and calcium? I’m thinking calcium at breakfast and lunch and multivitamin at dinner but I don’t ALWAYS wake up super early so there may be less time between the two calcium’s on occasion. I used to do the multivitamin with breakfast and calcium at dinner and bedtime BUT now I make my protein shake into a Proffee (protein shake and iced coffee) and my tummy doesn’t like the vitamin with it diluted that way.i suppose I could try taking the multi with my evening snack which is a Greek yogurt? What do you guys do??

You are far enough out that it seems like you would be feeling better. You say you are getting enough protein and water which would’ve been my first question. Are you taking your multivitamin? Are the iv infusions prescribed by your doctor? I know they have some pop up places now where anyone can walk in and I have never asked my dr about them but I am not sure they should be allowed to have them. From what I understand they have alot of vitamins and stuff that may seem harmless because they aren’t a pill but combined with different vitamins they may actually interfere with prescription drugs or other vitamins. Like when calcium doesn't absorb as well if you take it too close In time to when you take iron (or is it visa versa). Anyways, if you are doing the infusions on your own, be sure to run the exact ingredients by your doctor. If you have considered all this I would reach out to your doctor and they may want to run some labs. Could possibly be something entirely unrelated too. My primary care provider told me if I had issues for a while post op I was supposed to call the surgeon first and they would tell me if it could be surgery related or if I should call my primary doctor.