pk88

Hey all! My surgery was on 5/12. I can hardly believe it hasn't even been 3 months yet. I've had good days and bad, and feel like they've all been great learning experiences (today's a good day though... ask me tomorrow, hah) Until recently many foods - even the sight of them - would make me feel nauseous. Tastes and textures I'd loved seemed foreign. I've come to understand that happens with a percentage of people who've had weight loss surgery. I feel like it is improving and my diet is as well. I know this is the "honeymoon" phase of WLS, and the real challenge for me will be maintaining good eating habits, but I'm thrilled with the weight loss and am having fun shopping in my closet I'm down 51 lbs since starting my pre-op diet in April and 36 since surgery. Cheers to all you amazing results! It is always inspiring and informative checking in with you all.

I think you're right on here. When I let my daily protein slip, I stop losing, which is probably best. Losing weight when not eating enough protein means losing muscle mass. The fat doesn't come off unless we're getting in the protein we're supposed to.

Ditto all the way around. Food tastes SO different and it can be a challenge to find options that meet my needs and aren't revolting. But holy moly am I glad I had this surgery! Thanks for sharing and best to you as well!

I have had a change of taste as well and I also get down about it occasionally, but from the people I know who've had this surgery, I know in a year from now things will be vastly different than they are now. I was unaware of some of the changes and experiences I'd have post surgery, and maybe that was a blessing One of the great things about this forum is that I get to learn what others are experiencing and i don't feel so alone on my own journey. This time of weird tastes and restrictions and changing our relationship with food is preparing us for when our pouches stretch a bit and we are able to consume more food. That is when the rubber hits the road so to speak. I see this period of the journey as toddlerhood and I'm learning balance and feeding my body what it needs and not just what sounds/looks good. It's great that you are able to think about your daughter and wanting to be healthy and a role model for her. If I don't focus on my BIG WHY when food doesn't taste good anymore, I get down too. Hang in there, friend. You are not alone in this.

Awesome! Whatever you decide to "celebrate" with, be sure it is protein-based, moist (don't try eating dry foods) and very small portions. I've found that my tastes have changed dramatically, and foods I love and looked forward to eating don't taste good. In some ways this is a benefit since I don't feel like "cheating." In any event, start slowly and stick with the protein first then veggies, fruits (go slow) and maybe hold off on complex carbs for another couple weeks.

Oh my gosh, don't weigh every day. Your body weight fluctuates throughout the day for many reasons. Try to do your weigh ins once a week at the same time of day and under the same conditions. It is a more accurate representation of how your body is adjusting to the new normal. This is a journey. Do what you should to have a healthy body, just as you are doing, and trust the process.

I don't understand how they think you can get that many calories in in 3 meals a day. I am still not able to get that many calories throughout the day either, and I am still drinking 1-2 protein shakes a day just to get enough protein. I'm so sorry you've had such a bad time this past week. Diverticulitis is the worst!

Ugh, I just went through something similar this week. Feeling better today, but it was a rough night/day before. It is definitely a learning curve, living with this small pouch.

My surgery was the week before yours and I've had bouts of good energy and also fatigue. I am able to eat a fairly normal diet, but as many have indicated on here I am learning that the foods I loved eating before surgery often don't sound good. So, I still rely on one to two protein shakes a day and I have to force myself to drink enough water. To get the appropriate amount of water (dehydration causes serious fatigue), I have to be sipping a glass of water all day long! All. Day. Long. I sometimes use Myfitnesspal to track my intake so I can make sure I'm getting an adequate amount of calories, protein and water. And, as always if you have concerns reach out to your surgical team and/or dietician. Wishing you well!

Hang in there. Post-op you will not likely get that one meal for a while. Expect to be on liquids a week, full liquids another week before getting cream/pureed foods (all depending on your dietician's approach). I highly recommend getting sugar free popsicles and pudding. The pudding helped me a lot with carb cravings. SO MUCH of the pre-op diet is mental. If you haven't already, I recommend finding the forum "What is your Why?" and journalling about it. Having that long term goal in mind while preparing your body for surgery and caring for it afterwards is crucial. In the short term, everyone goes through withdrawals from food, from eating to replace boredom or out of habit, but those that manage this best are the ones with great faith in why they are doing it. Best to you!

Drink plenty of fluids, get in as much protein as possible. Follow your surgical team's and dietician's plan. Walk, even short distances. It aides in healing and in moving fluids through your body. Be kind to yourself and remember that surgery is just a tool. To make it an effective tool, you'll need to treat it well, use it correctly and trust that it takes some time to become proficient at it. Wishing you well!

But most people, at some point after surgery, do fine eating small amounts of red meat.

I think it is helpful to spend quiet time with yourself, get lots of rest and I listened to some guided imagery/meditation that Kaiser hospital has posted on their website. I've done this prior to surgery before and I honestly think it helps me recover more quickly. Here it is if you're interested https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/podcasts/conditions-diseases/surgery. As to the nail polish, your blood oxygen levels are monitored via your fingertips and nail polish can interfere with their readings. But, you know what? When you get out of the hospital and have recovered a bit, you can take yourself for a mani/pedi and treat yourself to some lovely self care to go with your new journey. Best of luck to you and let us know how you are doing!

Bear in mind BypassedSophie had a Roux-en-y and not gastric sleeve. I don't know what surgery you had but that may have some bearing on why she is able to use straws. Personally I wouldn't, and couldn't. I get way too much air in my pouch as it is. My surgery was May 12th and I'm still working on my breath-swallow synchronicity. Adding extra air thru a straw sounds painful.

I also take PPI's and have for years and I have had a couple bad nights due to heartburn. I discovered I need to stop eating or drinking protein drinks by 7pm and I also keep Pepcid or generic Famotidine on hand in case I feel some heartburn. I will often take one in addition to the PPIs but usually I can avoid that if I am diligent in eating dinner early enough. You might have to experiment a bit. I knew going into the surgery that VSG can increase GERD symptoms, but my Gastroenterologist felt most of my issue was overeating too late and being obese. Hope you bounce back quickly!

Help, I lack all creativity when it comes to cooking and I've just hit the soft food stage. Anybody have suggestions for easy meals at this stage? I'm needing suggestions for protein dishes. Thanks!

Oh ugh, that sounds awful! I was in the hospital with a young woman who'd had VSG the same day and she was and is still having bouts of it too. I have both Celebrate chewable vitamins that I find disgusting and Bariatric Fusion chewable multis that taste too chalky to me so I quit taking them. Every day was a battle to keep them down anyway. I found Vitafusion Women's Multi gummies at Costco and though they have 3g of sugar in 2, they are palatable and I feel like they are better absorbed. I take two per day, plus two Vitafusion Fiber Well gummies (sugar free), one Caltrate (it's chalky too, but smaller than the multi's: Vitamin D, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc etc.) and oneCelebrate B-12 quick melt. I hope you turn a corner soon on your nausea! Take care, friend.

Wow! You're doing great with your weight loss. Congratulations. I hope they can help you get some better energy though! I'll have a good day, energy-wise and then a sluggish day and I'm not sure exactly what causes it. As another May 12th surgery "twin" just told me, I am on week 3 (not week 4) which with my dietician is the "soft texture" phase. I guess I jumped the gun a bit I'd say I'm sticking pretty much to it, though I ate some things over the weekend that weren't totally soft until I'd chewed them to liquid. I struggle to come up with things that sound good. It is so strange that now that I can have food other than protein shakes, I can't think of anything appealing. Since the gagging and nausea this morning over that scrambled egg, I feel a little hesitant about experimenting. Keep up the good work!

You're so right! Talk about jumping the gun there. My dietician started me on pureed foods the second week and this week I can add in things one at a time. Next week, it's all about experimentation, though I sort of started that already. I also wear myself out more quickly. I found some gummy vitamins that seem to be more digestible to me. I'm glad to have someone with the same surgery date. We can share our successes and ideas that have worked!

Yes, I can relate. Honestly, the breathe-swallow synchronicity has taken me a few weeks to work through. I still have some trapped air at times. Be patient with yourself. This is very common. There isn't much room in your pouch.

Quick check in. Wednesday marks 4 weeks since my surgery. I am allowed any food that sounds appealing to me, in small amounts and chewed well. There are many things that I have loved all my life that simply don't smell or taste good to me anymore though. Scrambled eggs, which have been a mainstay breakfast for me just don't do it anymore. I did make a breakfast casserole for family brunch yesterday and ate a couple ounces of it and it tasted and settled well. I highly recommend people add in foods one at a time so when you feel unappealing symptoms (nausea, heartburn) you'll know what caused it. Because I spent Memorial Day weekend out of town with a big group of family, I sampled too many things and some did give me problems though tracking what did is tougher with that much variety. Lesson learned: It's okay and important to go slow. I'm still drinking at least one protein shake a day to ensure I'm getting enough protein and calories. I am down 16 lbs. since surgery and 38 since what I think of as "the beginning." Feeling better and better every day!

YES! Smell and taste is different. No idea why, but if it is psychosomatic then you and I both are psycho sistah.

I had some trouble at first. I take a nighttime med that's a large tablet and realized if I cut it into quarters, it went down better. Thankfully the others I take are small or capsules. I was not allowed to take any vitamins until my second week post surgery and all vitamins were required to be chewable.

I'm two weeks post op and the fatigue just kicked in for me. Or maybe I was just taking it really easy those two weeks so now that I'm back in the swing of things I am noticing how little energy I have. If I fold laundry or load the dishwasher, my arms and back get really weak. I literally have to sit down after. I'm taking my vitamins and following the diet, but I've been wondering if I'm not getting enough calories or lacking some micros. I'm glad to hear it isn't uncommon to feel this way.

Wherever and however you are most comfortable. I slept on my side in the hospital and after I got home.