Smanky

Oh wow, does it still smell good? Or is it all just unappealing? I don't even eat meat, but damn... barbeque smell is a vibe.

I'm a total foodie and cook, and loved a grazing booze-up at a mate's place. While cooking is currently WAY less exciting, I know I'll cook for others and that makes me happy. I can only eat tiny portions, and I struggle with that, but I eat food that's nutritious and delicious and because I have to stop and chew, I find I'm REALLY tasting it and that makes it more satisfying. There was a get together at a mate's last weekend - the first in five months after a long lockdown here in Sydney AU. I knew I couldn't drink or graze like I used to. So I made some hummus, chopped up some carrots, bought a bag of corn-chips for the others, and a fancy bottle of still water and a lime. My drink all night was the still water with a slice of lime in it, to pretend I was having something "fancy". I paced myself to nibble on a carrot stick with a little hummus every so often. It was fine! I had a fabulous time, laughed myself silly, and didn't leave drunk off my tits and WAY too full. The company was the important thing. Thankfully my surgery has changed the way I feel about food. Had my friends ordered pizza, I would have felt a bit sick looking at it, and while baked snack food did come out, I wasn't tempted. As for alcohol, I know I'll have a glass ONE day. Maybe not for a year or so, but at some point I will. Right now, I'm content to stay sober.

This. This right here. I enjoyed the protein shakes pre-surgery and stocked up on flavours I liked. Post surgery, the sweetest ones made it straight to the bin.

Bringing your fave cake is brutal! Major props to you resisting that, even if it meant settling for sad yoghurt. The fear of dumping is real though. It's why I'm not willing to touch potatoes, pasta or bread.

As of today I'm six weeks post op for my Mini Gastric Bypass. Definitely hasn't been an easy ride (with two stalls), but hasn't been terrible either. Except for a week ago when I started getting increasingly frequent discomfort in the stomach region. It would feel similar to the pain of gallstone attack, and would wake me up at night, and give me the odd bout of nausea. I've not been able to eat - just my protein shake/water and supplements, and those don't feel great going down either. So I visited my surgeon yesterday and he thinks it's likely the development of an ulcer/s and accompanying swelling at the intestinal join site, so I'm on Salpraz to see if that's the culprit. I was worried I was developing a stricture, so this is definitely a better alternative! I had been on Salpraz post-op for my previous GERD, and had finished the course about two weeks ago, so... it sounds the likely culprit. Mind you I had NO reflux or sign of reflux, so this was a bit of a sneaky attack that got me unawares. Eating hasn't been easy for me post-op anyway, but it's currently ridiculous. Looking forward to this improving so I can at least do more than sit on a glass of water when my partner and I go out! Worth mentioning that I still regret nothing! Even though it's been a little rough and the "honeymoon period" seems to be running late.

Secret: Not being the biggest person in the group anymore. And a big one -I've ALWAYS been able to lift my partner. I long for the day he can not only pick me up, but I don't panic and beg him to put me down before he hurts himself! Not secret: No longer checking the weight restrictions on things. Climbing a ladder without fear! Sitting on any chair without worrying if I'm going to break it. Really and truly being the little spoon.

Update: the drugs are working! The pain is almost completely gone, no more weird gallstone-like-pain attacks waking me in the night, and today I managed to eat half a small falafel which I could not have done three days ago. Tiny steps re-introducing soft solid food again, but it's a welcome relief being able to swallow even a tiny bit. So it was definitely ulcers and I'm definitely on the mend. My surgeon is awesome.

The couple of times I had to get an extender (the seats on some planes were a bit smaller than normal, but they seem to have phased those out thankfully), they were discreetly handed to me rolled up. I'm sorry the opposite happened for you Viking, how mortifying! (And rubbish customer service!) I'm flying interstate for Christmas so I'm looking forward to seeing how much difference there is from last time I flew. Hopefully I can just sit in the seat and fasten it, instead of bracing my foot against the seat base in front, and pushing backwards with all my might into my seat cushions and holding my breath the get the infernal contraption in!

I think you just have to go at the pace you heal. I was able to go from sips, to mouthfuls within about two weeks post surgery, and while I'm nowhere near guzzling a glass, at 6 weeks post I can now easily gulp three good mouthfuls at a time, which puts me at about 50 ounces per day. Increasing a little each day helped me.

I did it to get my life back. I didn't want to waste any more years of what's left of my life as a self-loathing shut-in, which is what I'd allowed myself to become. And it's already working. My self esteem is slowly returning, my energy is back, my happiness is growing. I can see the sunrise on the horizon for the first time in 17 years.

Yep, I'm on Salpraz for the next 6 months. And nope, didn't do a breath test. He checked me out and is confident it's ulcers and swelling around my stoma. If it doesn't clear up with a week on the drugs, he'll reassess.

Those of us who had a hiatal hernia repair with our WLS need to start a club, we'd have so many members! And Ooof - how it adds to the post-op pain. It took a good couple of weeks to not hurt when I breathed in deep. Even though things haven't been smooth sailing for me, I regret nothing and couldn't be happier that I've had this done. As frustrating as it felt at the time, the year long wait I had to do for my health cover was actually a boon as it prepped me mentally for it. It doesn't erase the pre-surgery nerves though. It's a BIG change, but once out the other side it's not so scary. This is a tool that helps, even down to changes in taste-buds. What I will plead with folk for is to get bariatric psychologist support if you have emotional eating issues, or binge eating disorder. I'm super fortunate that I've never had those issues and got to where I was purely through gluttony and boredom - but from others' stories on this forum, it can really affect folks post-op and it's heartbreaking.

My surgeon offers the SADI-S, which I think is the same as the Loop DS, but it's not a procedure he offers on his inclusive fixed-price, so it's a more expensive option even with top hospital cover.

I'm six weeks out and have stalled twice already! It's annoying and frustrating but just part of the process. As others have said, stay off the scale and stick to your program. It'll pass. Your body needs these breaks to adjust to its new normal.

Catwoman7: Oh I've no doubt I was building it up, mostly because the idea of having something put down my throat while sedated. I have THE most sensitive gag reflex, so the mere thought makes me feel panicky. It's why I would no-way no-how be able to get a gastric balloon. Sorry to hear you got saddled with two strictures! lizonaplane: My surgeon said it should get better in a week, as I'm on a double dose of 40mg Salpraz this first week to really zap it. If it's not better in a week, I have to go back as it may then be something else. Regardless I have to stay on the medication for six months. Shoppgirl: Thank you! If it drags on I may be less zen about it, but for now I can roll with it. As you said, it could have been worse!

I didn't have a last supper, we were in a long lock-down and so going to a favourite restaurant wasn't an option. So I spent the weeks counting down to my pre-op diet baking foccacia and cakes and making lasagna and noodle stir fries. By the time the pre-op diet came around I was ready for it.

People who aren't obese cannot grasp what it's like or how difficult it is to change. As others have said, do it for you. You have support here. NOTHING has been as hard as this. Calling this the "easy way out" is just pure ignorance. They think it's a magic wand which it is anything but.

I'm on my second stall in five weeks of post-op. I've had exactly two weeks of weight loss out of five. It sucks, even though it's just part of the process. Just have to stay off the scales and soldier on.

She has no business dealing with bariatric patients - or anyone else if that's how she talks to clients. Bleh! To the darkest reaches of the blacklist with her! In the bin!

Nice! I'm dying to get my second sleeve done, but I'm making myself wait til next year.

Me too - I actually did a double take!

I guess it depends on your surgeon. I was allowed coffee straight away, with the rule of only one a day. I've weaned myself off daily coffee, but will have a latte when I go out (and take my thermos mug because I will drink so slowly that coffee will last me a couple of hours). The only difference I've notice from pre-surgery is I can only have a small coffee. Drink too much and I start feeling queasy from the caffeine. One coffee substitute I've been making is a matcha latte, which I make at home with matcha powder and protein enriched soy milk. I find it a kinder-on-the-stomach alternative, with added antioxidant benefits. If you like matcha, and your plan doesn't allow coffee, maybe give it a go. Another alternative is a sugar-free chai latte.

Genuine first weird NSV: Walking outside and experiencing that magical sensation of my undies slowly falling down inside my jeans, which are also slowly falling down. Holding my jeans up by the pockets on my way home, with my undies trying their best to be budget thigh-garters. Sexy!

Honestly - stay off the scale. The stall will pass, and they typically last 2 to 3 weeks. Mine only just broke, and fixating on the scale just feeds the frustration. What's going on with you is perfectly normal, and won't last. You'll begin losing again as soon as your body has adjusted to it's new radical changes. Leave the scale be, distract yourself, and weigh yourself again in a week's time.

I've been mostly relying on my protein shakes and protein water since the op, purely because I'm struggling to eat the quantities my nutritionist wants me to. I'm trying! But I can only manage half. So I'm also using protein enriched soy milk in my shakes and coffee/matcha lattes, which bumps it up nicely. I'm eating tofu and chickpeas predominantly in my puree foods. I'll be moving onto soft foods in a week or so and have an eating plan laid out for that. I'll definitely be eating seitan and other mock meat items once I can! They have good protein, along with tofu, tempeh, and legumes. But until I can actually eat more than a 1/4 cup of solid food more than 3 times a day, I'll be stuck with the shakes and protein waters.