summerseeker

It took me for ever to reach my goals. Like 3 + months. They just told me to do my best. Protein yogurts were my saviour, 2 of these and a pint of milk a day and I had all my protein. Drinking seemed to take all day and all my waking night too. I had my surgery in coldest winter, so hot drinks were easiest for me to manage, although they did get cold before I drank it all. After meals if I found myself thirsty, I would suck a popsicle , its a fluid. Once you can drink your ounces you will feel amazing. Its really worth while persevering, it does get easier soon I had to keep going back a stage because eating 'normal' foods was so difficult for me

I had lymphoedema because of my weight and I also had major problems when walking. I would be so out of breath and my heart would hammer in my chest. I was classed as disabled. I relied on a stick. Housework was difficult, It would take a week to clean my home, a room at a time. I ironed a shirt and sat down, panting. Now since surgery I am super active, can clean the house in an afternoon. I can walk miles without stopping to rest. My lymphoedema was in my arms and legs, I was very embarrassed about the size of them. Although I do not have the most beautiful ankles now, I would say they pass. My arms have a great deal of loose empty skin. At my age, I am wondering if I should have corrective surgery or not. I have been on 3 overseas holidays in very hot climates since surgery. My ankles and calves have never swelled and they always did before, especially on the plane journey. Its good not to wear the ugly socks. Good luck with your decision making

Its rare but I got it with the sleeve. It was not bad enough to take me to the ER but was really debilitating all the same. If I am really careful in what I eat and take my PPI twice a day and use sodium alginate after foods it keeps it at bay. I would have got the gastric bypass if I knew beforehand.

I could not do the puree stage, too grossed out. I made soups with lentils, bacon, carrots and sweet potatoes with mild chilli/curry flavours. I could regulate the thickness with stock or milk, add yogurt or cream cheese. I had lots of milk with banana and peanut butter blitzed in

I am just so genuinely sorry you have more surgery to go through. Be strong.

Also, hate to tell you @summerseeker, what friends & I call Sahara dessert mouth or Egyptian mummy mouth, is a common affliction of women once we pass a certain age. Sigh! Oh no, I can not be getting old. Inside I am only 21 Lols

I think this is me too. About twice a week I am waking with that dreadful scary dry mouth. I

I have just arrived home from our 14 day holiday. We had it booked pre- covid and the company allowed us to continue postponing the booking until we could go. It was a All inclusive type holiday where you stay in a big resort and everything is at hand which suits us when travelling, my husband needs a wheelchair. We were a little nervous of the airports and flying as it is such a hassle with a wheelchair. It all went quite smoothly except for the times I was stranded with a hubby, wheelchair, two suitcases and two bags and a large handbag. At times it felt like I was the puzzle where you have a river to cross with a bag of grain, a hen and a fox. I wore the bags like a bandolero, pulled the suitcase and pushed the wheelchair with my stomach. Oh the joys of checking in at airports. I ate what I wanted, which being me, was always the best fish, seafood, cheeses and a vast amount of serrano/ parma ham. They made their own cookies and bread so these never got bypassed but in small amounts. I even had butter and ice cream. I drank strong coffee with liqueurs and some long cocktails. Usually one or two a day. A few times I felt really drunk when the bar tenders had made the cocktails stronger than the last. It was not a good feeling but I found something to eat and then the alcohol was absorbed quickly. I was a little worried to get on the scales this morning. Pre surgery, I could put almost a stone on in the two weeks [14lbs] a lot of it was water weight around my swollen ankles. I weighed in at exactly the same and TMI moment, had 8 days of poop inside me. So may even loose weight when the medicine kicks in [ or is it out ? ] So te he he another win win for my bariatric surgery

I would say that for most of us its constipation that we post about. I have never read on here about anyone with your issues. I think you need to go back to your team or doctor and consult with them. Its not something you should be dealing with in my opinion. Hope you can get it sorted quick

I leave the house. I once told a psychiatrist that I struggled to do exercise because the weather was awful. He said its just weather, buy better clothing. So I did. I walk here, there and everywhere. I always return happier and healthier

I have never heard of the golden time being only 3 months. I lost a great deal up till 14 months or so. I am still in a calorie deficit, I eat about 1200 cals a day and on a hungry day maybe 1500 cals. My loses are tiny now but still going down. I am 21 months out, ancient and the only exercise I get is walking and housework. We are so used to having failed diets in the past that it's hard to break the diet mentality. Your body will loose what it needs to. Eat good calories, stick to your teams diet and sit back and watch yourself shrink. In 12 months you will not believe who is staring back at you in the mirror. Have patience. Sent from my Lenovo TB-J606F using BariatricPal mobile app

I have never heard of the golden time being only 3 months. I lost a great deal up till 14 months or so. I am still in a calorie deficit, I eat about 1200 cals a day and on a hungry day maybe 1500 cals. My loses are tiny now but still going down. I am 21 months out, ancient and the only exercise I get is walking and housework. We are so used to having failed diets in the past that it's hard to break the diet mentality. Your body will loose what it needs to. Eat good calories, stick to your teams diet and sit back and watch yourself shrink. In 12 months you will not believe who is staring back at you in the mirror. Have patience. Sent from my Lenovo TB-J606F using BariatricPal mobile app

I am with ms.sss there, detest tomato soups. The smell makes me barf. Like you I find pasta way too dense and stodgy but tiny Orzo in soup is a great addition that I can manage in small amounts. Sent from my Lenovo TB-J606F using BariatricPal mobile app

I am with ms.sss there, detest tomato soups. The smell makes me barf. Like you I find pasta way too dense and stodgy but tiny Orzo in soup is a great addition that I can manage in small amounts. Sent from my Lenovo TB-J606F using BariatricPal mobile app

Deli meat, jerky, nuts, peanut butter with a peeled apple, cheese and grapes. I always have a Amfit bar from Amazon in my bag for emergencies. We can buy tinned fish like tuna salads and sardines in tomato sauce. Protein yogurts are everywhere now, find a brand you like.

I don't think that its likely to be a stricture because with a stricture you can not swallow anything, food or water. What you are describing is different. Many of us really find foods that we loved pre surgery are totally off the menu now. It has taken me almost two years to eat cooked salmon again. Raw salmon, gravadlax or smoked was delicious to me. Chicken took me 18 months. I have just started eating avocado but its not my 1st choice. The nausea could be because your diet is mainly liquid or you may need a anti nausea medication. Our stomachs are tiny now but have the same amount of acid as before, when you have little to nothing inside you then it has nothing to work on. I found tiny pieces of hard cheese put on my tongue and allowed to dissolve very beneficial. They helped with the nausea and the awful taste in my mouth for a while The lack of appetite is a thing. You really need to power through and make yourself eat something. I found six tiny meals suited me better. My team were very ok with this.

I could not do the puree stage. Pureed meat just was not for me. I had soft cheese, squashed cottage cheese, soups with lentils in for extra protein [squashed with a fork]] Potatoes mashed with grated cheese with gravy, protein yogurts. As you can see I like dairy produce. Milk blended with peanut butter and banana

I have had numerous surgeries and am always nervous until I get to the hospital. Once you are there, they hardly give you a minute to worry as there are so many forms and the wonderful lingerie to put on, lols. If you are off the scale worrying ask for a pre med to calm you down. If you really can not face this, you can always say ' I need to take a moment to think this through' because although its one of the safest surgeries, it a big one. Your eating will be changed forever. If you can hold your nerve in the end you will be so happy you didn't pause your journey.

Hello. Sorry you are in pain but it is a big surgery. My surgeon said my stomach would be as thin as the inside of a biro because of all the swelling on the suture line. Drinking is a full time job in the first week and everyone finds it tough. Take tiny sips. Try hot, cold and frozen liquids. You will find something you can tolerate. Then your headache will dissipate. If you can not drink enough you may need a visit to the emergency room for a drip bag of liquid. Moving may be better if you can hug a pillow to your tummy. Try to keep moving. I had regrets too but it passes. Let us know how you get on. If you need anything else from us, just ask

Milk is full of protein and low in calories if you use full skimmed milk. Buy protein yogurts if you can find ones you can eat or Greek yogurt has lots of protein in it. Soups with lentils are usually mushy and have plenty of protein. I ate all the soft cheeses too. I could not eat eggs for nearly 1 and a 1/2 years after surgery. I tried them monthly. So nasty. I still have foods that disagree with me. I am a similar age and a similar starting size to you so I understand your sleepiness. I slept all the time whilst recovering. it was like nana naps on steroids. I think the anaesthetic makes you have brain fog. All these symptoms pass when you manage to hit all your liquid and food goals. Now I have so much energy, it makes me smile every day

If you can, try any liquid. I was allowed sugar free fruit squash/cordials, broth and tea and coffee. Oh and milk. I had my surgery in the English winter and I was so cold all the time. Hot drinks were my go to. You may need anti nausea medicine as well. It gets better once you can get all your liquids in

Hello and welcome in the forum. I cant help with the flying issues but I can give you a pointer. I never had a no lift veto, I just knew it because, boy was I hunched for a while. In the UK we can get our luggage posted so that we do not have to deal with it. Ask the couriers and or the airline and see what they say. You cant be the only person who has needed this service. Good luck

Yes its a thing for me too. I take the English brand of a PPI twice a day and the yucky thick stomach meds after every meal. I did not suffer this before surgery I suffer if I eat too late or eat the wrong foods late in the day. I have found that my favourite spicy and acid fruits are not foods I can eat after 6pm. I sleep with a big wedge under my pillow. I still wake up in the night, about once a week with acid trying to get in my lungs and making me cough. Its the only downside to my life saving surgery. If I knew beforehand that this would be a consequence, would I still have had this surgery ? Yep, I would

To aid with surgery some surgeons pump you full of gas so that they can see in you better. Mine didn't but many do. I believe its quite painful too. These people had to walk to shift the gas. As stated above it also stops blood clots especially if you are not giving yourself blood thinning shots. You are not going to be able to walk, like before surgery, its more of a hunched waddle for a few days. They do not expect you to wander off around the block. Going to the loo, making a drink and brushing your hair can all be in hourly goal. As long as you move yourself out of bed or the sofa the job is done. I imagine within 5 or 6 days the gas will be gone from you and you can let up because by then you will be more mobile After you feel able and you have mastered the full time job of drinking, by all means attempt your morning walk. This is big, invasive surgery and sometimes we dont realise how big because we are only in hospital such a short time.

Your first stall is quite scary, most off us have the moment when we think we must have done something wrong. You will have many stalls and many times when you will gain a little. You will get used to it. Keep off the scales as much as possible, that road leads to sorrow. You are not dieting anymore. You are learning a new way to live.