Queen ApisM

Caffeine is also a diuretic, so it makes you lose fluids. Given how difficult it can be for many people to get enough water/liquids in the first months post surgery it is counterproductive to take in a substance that makes you lose those fluids faster and make any dehydration worse.

I was given a short prescription for Oxycodone, but I never took any. My surgeon installed a pain pump (delivers local anesthetic internally for a few days) but mine fell out two days after surgery, should have been in around 4 days. I only had some pain meds the day of surgery and that night. Otherwise, I didn't even take an aspirin. There mostly wasn't pain unless I was moving certain ways or sometimes when drinking and I didn't think that warranted pain meds. I consider myself lucky.

I'm glad I am not the only one, but as I am only 3 months out, I keep hoping that it will be temporary. 😞

This sounds like me. I had my two month check in about 2 weeks ago, and the nutritionist said I should be at 1000 calories a day, especially since I was adding in moderately intense exercise again. I was averaging 600-700 at that point! They also wanted me to ease off the shakes (I was having one shake a day) in favor of food, though protein powder was definitely ok to use. She emphasized that WLS isn't supposed to be very low calorie forever, otherwise other problems arise. I assume it is metabolism concerns. I've managed to get it up to more like 800-850 calories on a really good day, but it is hard. I'm just doing the best I can - yesterday I managed to get to 1000 for the first time but wow that was a project. I feel like I am eating or drinking or waiting to drink all day long. I'm keeping the one shake a day because honestly that is an easy 160 calories, otherwise I need to figure out another snack to add to the rotation. I'm just doing the best I can, without adding in unhealthy things. So, adding in good carbs and listening to my body as much as I can. Just focus on doing the best you can. Good luck.

This isn't about her, it's about you. Maybe this is her way of covering up her fears about you having surgery. Yes, there are risks, but the risks of being obese are much higher. Maybe she feels guilt for any role she may have had to your weight struggled (I am not saying she did, just that people have strange hang ups about things). Similarly, maybe she feels like you having surgery suggests something about her as a parent (again, not saying it does, just that people have all sorts of hang ups and this is one I can see being out there). At the end of the day, you know what is right for you. And, calling this the "easy way out" is just asinine. Seriously, would anyone say that to a cancer patient getting chemo or surgery? Or a diabetes patient who needs insulin? No, they wouldn't. The data says that long term weight loss of significant amounts of weight is nigh impossible without surgery. This is the best tool in your toolbox to get you to a healthier you.

Miralax, on a regular schedule in the beginning helped a lot. I think I did every other day for a while, then went to every third day, now it is as needed (maybe 2x a week).

Some really great responses on this thread. At the end of the day, the sleeve is a tool. It is possible to lose all your excess weight (plus more) and it is possible to lose very little, or even regain. It is all about how the tool is used, and the person who has control over that is you. Some people lose fast, some people lose slow, but again, we have lots of slow losers on this board who have hit goal, but they had to persevere in using the tool and staying focused on their goal.

Personally, I use weight at pre-op diet start. But, I also didn't lose weight prior to that, I did the opposite. If I had lost weight during that time, I would probably count that, but also break it out into phases so I can track the evolution. My highest weight ever was quite a bit higher than the start weight I use now, but that was lost previously and not related to this process, so I don't count that.

Those first days are a challenge! I also found warm drinks slightly easier at that stage. Broth was my best friend! I drank both regular and bone - bone broth has a lot more protein so that was a bonus. I kept drinking both for a while. For me, things improved exponentially after the first week.

Personally I prefer weighing and use that for the majority of items, but there are some thing that don't make sense to weigh and will be less affected by how tightly I pack the cup, like when I make soup. When I make something like that, I measure yield (in cups), figure out the stats for per cup or whatever, and then use that for recording amounts. Ounces by volume can be very different than by weight because food doesn't weigh the same, even if it seems like it would. I'm a beekeeper, and we have to sell honey by weight, because 8 fluid oz (by volume) of honey weighs more than 8 oz by weight since it is so dense. It can also vary from honey to honey depending on moisture content, etc, so weight is more variable.

I'm horrified that the surgeon is telling you one meal a day. You mention that you manage 1-2 oz of food a day. There is no way that is enough especially if you are also exercising! Are you also drinking protein shakes? In contrast, I just had my 2 month check in, and my nutritionist is telling me to increase my calories especially because I want to restart with my trainer this week. She also wants me to start weaning off the shakes (though not necessarily the protein powder). I already eat 3-4 times a day (small meals) plus a protein shake, and to make the new calorie goal I'm going to have to add another snack and try to increase calorie count at each meal. If his practice doesn't have a nutritionist, perhaps you can see about switching to a new practice that does and using one of their nutritionists? You want someone who is experienced with bariatric patients and not all nutritionists are. Also, depending on your state there may or may not be licensing for nutritionists, so make sure they are credentialed.

Not sure if this exactly counts as a non-scale victory since it involves scales...! I haven't had the joy of experiencing this yet, but I just realized that now I can get weighed on the actual scale at my primary care physician's office, rather than just tell them what my weight is because I'm too heavy for it. That is exciting but not something I can share beyond here and with my husband!

If you haven't already contacted your surgeon's office, you really should do that asap. The fact that you suddenly can't do something you previously could (based on my understanding of the situation) is concerning. They can tell you whether this is normal or if you need to get checked out. It is especially concerning that even water is a problem. That's scary serious to me. To be honest, the fact that your partner seems less concerned with how you are feeling and more concerned with how this is inconveniencing their life... well, that's a partner problem and doesn't suggest they are the kind of person to be there through the real thick and thin of life. You said you "don't want to lose them" but given they can't even seem to be concerned about your well being when you are in pain I'm not sure what you really would be losing should it come to that. I don't mean to make judgements on the relationship, I'm just very concerned that this person's concern is on them and their inconveniences and not on your health and well being. I hope this is just frustration on their part (not that it would excuse it if it is, but it is better than the alternative).

I got a very low dose of Xanax for the night before surgery. I was extremely anxious in the lead up to surgery - such a hot mess at my pre-op appt with the doctor and the anesthesiologist. The latter is who recommended I get a low dose from my surgeon so I could get some good sleep and be calm the morning of surgery. I also have high blood pressure but that wasn't the reason for the meds. I was just a mess, mentally. Best. Choice. Ever. I got a good night's sleep, and the morning of surgery I was calm. If you are concerned you won't get sleep or being a mess, consider it. I literally took half of the lowest dose and that was enough.

Post op, I have relied on Premier Protein ready made shakes and Unjury protein powders mixed with unsweetened soy milk. I more sensitive to sweet tastes now, and so I really only drink the Premier Protein in Vanilla especially when I need it to be on-the-go or quick and easy. During pre-op I loved the other flavors but now, not so much. Unjury tastes a lot less sweet so I prefer that now.

Honestly, you may not want it. I'm 8 weeks out, and I have had no desire to eat a number of things that typically I would have been salivating for once I thought of them. I'm sure at some point they will become appealing, but right now, not so much and I am really hoping this sticks because it makes it all easier.

Oof, having done that flight to South Africa many times, that is not something I would look forward to doing post surgery. Personally I'd also be concerned about how much control I would have with food once I got there, but I was always on work trips with limited options, and 1 month out is still very early on and your stomach really can have a mind of its own at that point. This is less relevant if that's not an issue. I personally would not do that flight 1 month from surgery. It's a tough one. I would probably try to postpone surgery until I got back but that's just me.

My understanding is that the liver shrinking diet can and does shrink your liver pretty quickly - basically you are shedding glycogen stored in your liver (and elsewhere) and when you do that, water also sheds (some of which is also stored in your liver). So it's not so much they can tell what size it was before, but more that it ensures it is as small as it can be. My guess is they can tell what a non-shrunken liver looks like even if they don't know what yours looked like before! Are you on fully liquid diets? If so, my condolences. Mine was mostly liquid, but I got one small meal a day. It was high protein, minimal carbs (non-starchy veg and a very small amount of fruit daily). If you are going to go off program, maybe choose lean protein and not carbs (in the case of the penne vodka, more of the chicken and very little to none of the penne). I didn't stray from my pre-op diet at all - I was terrified my liver would be too big. But, it was not as oppressive as some I have seen. If it had been I am sure temptation to stray would have been high.

My program definitely wants you to wean off protein shakes as time goes by and switch to real food. I don't think they mind you using them to ensure you get to protein goals for as long as you need to (or if you just like them) but the intent isn't that you keep using them. I also would quit the unsupportive support group. You should be able to ask reasonable questions in a safe space.

Considering you aren't eating much real food (based on the above) and are throwing up, I'm flabbergasted that your dietician would claim that 56 lbs isn't enough. I had my sleeve done on Aug 16, the day before your surgery, and I have lost 31.1 lbs since surgery. And I am heavier than you. And I am pretty darn happy with what I have lost! My math says that you've lost 7 lbs week (56 lbs/8 weeks). I do not understand what this person is talking about. Frankly, I'd have a lot of trouble taking them seriously. Are you certain the dietician wasn't concerning you were losing too fast, rather than too slowly? That would make more sense given your trouble having anything but liquids.

I also use Baritastic. It is super easy to use on my phone.

I used to love really icy drinks. I can still drink them, but if something is really ice cold I cannot drink as quickly. If it is more room temp or on the warm/hot side, I am able to drink faster. In the beginning, warm/moderately hot liquids were very much appreciated by my gremlin (aka, the new stomach). It's funny though - there are things I thought I couldn't live without, but post-surgery I am just not interested at all. So, I wouldn't fret. My guess is if icy liquid (or really hot liquid) bothers you, you may realize you no longer have interest in it anyway.

Yes, I switched but I was self pay so it was less of an issue. Best thing I did, even though it did wind up extending surgery - I switched right as COVID hit, so I didn't get a consult until August of last year and the new doc had different requirements such as getting an endoscopy. However, I just used the same psych letter and that sort of thing, so I didn't have to do everything over. It was the best thing I did - I felt so much happier with the new practice and their care levels plus it wound up being $10k cheaper, which as a self pay was important! Definitely contact the insurance company to get more info on how they will factor in. Honestly, as long as there is a record with them of your efforts to date (as I imagine there is) there should not be a problem. If not, then also definitely request all your records and provide them yourself to the insurance company and new practice. It's important that you feel confident in your surgeon and their practice.

If they have you eating multiple meals then I can imagine the shakes might be too much, but hopefully the nutritionist can help you figure it out! I'll admit, I really didn't incorporate shakes in the lead up to my pre-op diet, but I did try some out. I also did a terrible job losing weight before the pre-op diet so take that with a grain of salt. 🙂

I lost weight just fine pre-op drinking Premier Protein. Our plan was 3-4 shakes a day, plus 1 fruit snack and one real meal (3-6 oz lean protein & a serving of veggies). I lost weight just fine, as did my husband who went along with the pre-op diet to make it easier on me). I'm still using it post surgery even though it tastes too sweet though I also use Unjury protein powder mixed with unsweetened soy milk. I really like the Unjury Chocolate Splendor flavor; the vanilla and strawberry are also nice. I find it hard to believe that the protein shake brand is the problem when so many people do just fine with it.