Sleeve_Me_Alone

The loss of hunger is HIGHLY variable. The premise is that the portion of your stomach that gets removed is generally responsible for producing ghrelin, which is the "hunger hormone." But this is a bit of a misconception because there are several hormones that contribute to hunger, and the level each persons body produces is highly individual, amongst other factors. So the short answer is, no your surgery was not inherently unsuccessful, but you may be one of those who does not experience a loss of hunger. As for never feeling full, what stage of the post-op diet are you on? Are you all the way back to "regular" foods? Some folks don't experience fullness until their diet has progressed back to normal. Others are simply are able to tolerate more right from the start. This isn't a bad thing, it just means you will have to monitor your intake more closely. Maybe try adding some fruits & veggies to your meals to help bulk them up and add fiber, which will help you feel fuller longer? And if you have persistent concerns, for sure reach out to your team!

It might be helpful to remember what a true keto diet is vs. what diet culture makes it out to be. A TRUE keto diet simply means eating few enough carbohydrates that your body enters ketosis where it is no longer using glucose as its primary fuel source. It is NOT inherently a high fat, meat only diet. That is what diet culture has turned it into. There are lots of vegetarians who follow a healthy, whole foods based ketogenic diet. Additionally, the amount of carbs that allow ketosis will vary WIDELY from person to person so unless you are testing regularly, you won't really even know if you are truly in ketosis or not. Now, that being said, most surgeons will say that WLS patients eat a keto diet simply because your primary focus will be protein and your intake will be so low that by virtue of the volume and type of foods you'll be eating you'll be in ketosis. Immediately post-op, you won't be able to eat enough beans (or anything else for that matter) to get in your full protein requirement, let alone extra grains & veggies on top. That is not, however, a requirement (generally speaking) nor is it permanent. Over time, as you're able to eat more food and a wider variety, you'll very likely see your carbohydrate intake increase. I would say, it may be helpful to revisit the conversation with the surgeon and/or dietitian to ensure they understand your needs as a vegetarian and that they are able to support you and tailor the post-op diet to your needs. If they can't or won't then it may be helpful to consult with another surgeon. Ultimately, being HEALTHY post-op is the primary concern and that requires eating a metric crap ton of protein. Can you do that as a vegetarian? Absolutely! But it will require extra support and possibly some creativity and flexibility on your part. Best of luck to you!

Those early days are a lot of trial and error. Hang in there!

I experienced something very similar the first couple of weeks. I felt a lot of pressure and often had to stop until I burped or it passed before taking another bite. I think that's pretty normal - your stomach is still very swollen and healing from the surgery, so its going to feel a little reactive.

If you are taking a multi with Iron, they will likely have you switch to one without. They may also want to evaluate your diet (too much red meat? too many leafy greens?), other health factors, and possibly do additional testing to find out why its so high.

I didn't dare to try baby food - I stuck with ricotta bake, hummus, refried beans, etc. I didn't do any of the "put it in a blender" stuff either. I just couldn't bring myself to try it.

My surgeon used a 32 - that's his standard. I think each Dr. has their own preference. There really is no right or wrong, its what the individual surgeon finds most successful.

I have a FitTrack Dara scale. I have no idea how accurate the body metrics are, and the app is pretty clunky, but the scale works fine and I like having the historic data to look at.

Is the surgeon a bariatric surgeon? If so, maybe go see a GI specialist specifically for the GERD and go from there?

I'm so sorry. These setbacks are truly heartbreaking, but thankfully not insurmountable. If you aren't comfortable with your PCPs demands and/or level of support, would it be possible to find another doctor? My primary care doc is extremely supportive and has been a HUGE help throughout the process. As far as the neuro consult is concerned, I'm assuming there is a reason he is asking for that? Perhaps he's just looking out for your health and best interest? Take time to grieve the setback, and then make a plan that best fits YOUR needs. Best of luck to you!

There is no right or wrong answer, only you and your wife can decide what is right for you. BUT, I consulted 3 times and backed out every single time, before I finally decided to go the self-pay route and had surgery. All the appointments, the doctor supervised diet, the insurance requirements, etc etc etc. wore me down and stressed me out, so I always bailed. Opting to go the self-pay route got me a surgery date immediately and that was exactly the push I needed to follow through. My only regret is not having done it sooner. Is there any chance you could seek out of network reimbursement? That way, you can get surgery sooner and potentially cut down on the out of pocket cost?

Yep, I was on them 7 days post-op. The needles are tiny, like super tiny. And they generally come in preloaded syringes. So you just squeeze your lower belly, stab, and inject. If done properly it is very fast and relatively painless, though they do tend to bruise. Your surgeon's office should be able to teach you how to do it, and there are a ton of youtube videos available as well. It really is not that bad, I promise. The first one is the worst just because of the nerves, after that its really not a big deal. Agree with others, discuss with your provider for sure, but DON'T skip them. Post-op blood clots are a risk and the medication will ensure that doesn't happen.

I didn't buy any travel or catastrophe insurance. I got a quote and it was crazy expensive. I figured I had done my research and made the decision, so the insurance was a bit overkill, but I completely understand why some folks get it. I've posted here a few times about my surgeon and experience, so I won't bore you with the details, but feel free to check out some of the other posts for personal experiences!

How is everyone doing??? I'm 6 weeks away from exactly 1 year and honestly, feeling a little defeated that I'm not further along. I'd really hoped to be at goal (about 25lbs to go) or AT LEAST have hit 100lbs down (about 11lbs to go). The weight loss has slowed to a creep the last couple of months, so I'm fairly certain neither will happen. In fact, I'm starting to wonder if I'll really lose any more weight at all! Of course, I have to look back and be grateful for how far I HAVE come and what I HAVE accomplished. Nearly 90lbs lost, better mobility, back pain gone, asthma significantly improved, some 47 inches lost across my body, labs all perfectly normal and within healthy ranges, finally feeling at peace with my body..... The list truly goes on and on. This is the work of WLS though, isn't it? Balancing the good with the bad, the hard with the joyful, the work to be done with the progress already made. How are you all doing?

I had a 2 week long liquid only pre-op diet. I lost 9lbs, for a total of 20lbs pre-op. The most immediate goal of the pre-op diet is to reduce your liver size to make for a safe operation, but it sure is nice to see that number go down! Sounds like you're doing a great job!

My program only eliminated caffeine during the pre-op diet and 2 weeks post-op, but decaf was allowed, so I just made the switch temporarily. I did wean myself off of creamer and use half & half with a little sugar free syrup now. I do drink way less than I did pre-op though, In the past, I would drink coffee much of the day, cut with water occasionally. Now I really focus on my water after my morning cup of coffee.

Food tolerances definitely can change post-op. If you aren't tolerating eggs well, take a break for a few weeks and try again later. There is no requirement to eat any specific food, especially if it is upsetting your stomach or making you sick. If you are tolerating cheese well, have you tried cottage cheese? That is a great source of protein and is often well tolerated. Canned tuna, soy (soy beans, soy milk, tofu, etc), and deli meat can all be good sources of protein and are often well tolerated. As far as protein drinks, have you tried protein waters like Protein2o? I liked those much better than shakes when I was first post-op. You could also try a vegan protein powder and see if that works better for you. If you continue to not be able to hit your protein goals, definitely reach out to your team. Making sure you get enough protein is critical to not losing lean muscle mass and developing nutritional deficiencies, They should be able to provide support & guidance to help keep you on track!

I'm 10 months out and sometimes I still catch myself eating just a bit too fast. The first time I did it, I got terribly sick and have been MUCH more mindful since. Its a hard habit to get into, but it is a MUST post-op. Just keep trying. Count chew or sends if you need to. Eventually it will be come second nature and won't feel so weird.

I had surgery on a Tuesday and was back to work (desk job from home) on Monday -so almost a week. Pain was fine but I was SO TIRED. I had to take breaks to rest frequently, and took a nap every single day after work for at least the first week back. I would say, if you have a good bit of flexibility and can rest when needed, you'll be fine. If not, a full 2 weeks might be helpful.

I didn't really do chips or anything snacky till 6+ months out. One, I didn't have room for them - after my protein and veggies, I just didn't have stomach space for anything else, and two, I was terrified that I would slip back into old habits. I have a really hard time with moderation and I knew that knowing I could eat that stuff would lead me to eating it, so I held off a good long time. That being said, nowadays (10+ months) I do occasionally have a few of the Flex protein chips and they are pretty good. I've never had the Quest chips, so I can't really compare, but even a few regular chips won't break the bank if you can do them in moderation. As for butter/oil, I never stopped using them. If I was sautéing veggies, I would use oil, or if I made soup, I used butter, etc. I've always used them judiciously so the tiny bit included in my portion really wasn't a big deal.

For restaurants, soup is pretty much always a safe choice early on. You could also do something like a meat loaf and just chew the tar out of it, chicken breast, similarly chewed to oblivion, or maybe something like tacos that you just eat the meat/beans and toppings of. For snacks - cheese, protein shakes or bars, soft fruit, yogurt, and eggs are all good bets. As always, just be very careful. I had a similarly restrictive post-op plan and stuck to it fairly closely, but did make the occasional concession when needed.

These are great suggestions! I will definitely check them out. I really like Fitness Blender (YouTube or website) and FitOn (app).

10lbs of regain is COMPLETELY within the normal/expected bounds of maintenance weight fluctuations. Most all folks will regain a handful of pounds after hitting their lowest weight and going into maintenance. I am shocked that any doctor would prescribe weight loss meds, particularly Plenity, for a 10lb regain at 18 moths post op. You are exactly right in that it expands in the stomach to limit your intake, which is exactly what WLS did (limit intake). I would be concerned about malnutrition, blockages, and all other sort of potential complication. Was the prescribing doctor your bariatric surgeon? Have you discussed this with your bariatric team? Have you tried working with a registered dietitian who specializes in bariatrics? Additionally, the resurgence of hunger after WLS is very normal and often coincides with maintenance. All that to say, it sounds like you are actually exactly where you should be given your status post-op and weight loss meds are probably not the best solution.

For me it was just a LOT of shedding. Started at 3 months, continued through about 8 months. Its just about back to normal now and I'm starting to see a bit of regrowth! I think it varies pretty widely from person to person.

I had surgery on Tuesday and was back to work (at home desk job) the following Monday. Pain wise, it was fine but I was exhausted. I had to take frequent rest breaks and took a nap every single day for the first 2 weeks back. Thankfully, my job allows a good bit of flexibility, but if I had to keep a more rigid schedule, more time off would have been necessary.