Vivis

Hi y'all! I have my surgery (AHHHHH!) scheduled for this upcoming TUESDAY! Today is Friday. I have NOT yet purchased my vitamins. I have the paper sitting in front of me. I've attached a picture since I'm confused about the second column (regimen). I need to take a bariatric supplement that has calcium & B-12. Some of them have iron in them already. Can someone help explain what the second column means? I'm SUPER worried about the hair loss aspect...I was told that the BEST vitamins on the market are the Bariatric Advantage Advanced EA Multivitamin. What vitamins do you recommend as a first time surgery patient? I know the above ones I mentioned are the most expensive, but I was told they're the best of the best...is that true?

Hi! I’m a week post gastric sleeve surgery. I am so uncomfortable with the painful gas. I can feel it bubble in my intestines, make noise, and then I get an intense heavy feeling in my sternum. What can I do about it? I got Gas X in pill form and it has not helped in any way, shape or form. I’ve been walking since my surgery day. I force myself to burp all day long. I can’t really pass gas but I sometimes do. Is there anything I can do to help this stop? I didn’t think it’d last so long but I’m miserable! Personally my gas pains are with me pretty much all day. Is this normal?

Hi y'all! I'm 3 weeks post op and feeling great! I'm still learning and mastering how to properly eat during my soft foods stage. Currently -- I can't help but wonder: Down the road -- does it still take, or should it still take, 20+ minutes to eat your food? Also, do you not eat and drink at the same time? Sometimes when I am eating my food I feel like I need to take a small sip of water to just help me to get my food down. Prior to surgery, I've always drank my drinks before my meals and during my meals, and I would run through several cups of liquids during a meal...so it's a big adjustment for me to not drink and eat at the same time. I'm trying my hardest to follow the "take 20 minutes to eat" rule as well as the "drink liquids 30 mins after meals" rule. I constantly have my timer out to help me. Do these two "rules" change when you're further along the journey? Also, is there a rule about drinking liquids 30 mins before meals? I haven't found anything like that in my notes and paperwork... Thanks!

Hi guys! I'm all sorts of confused... I just reached 2 weeks post-op. My surgeon cleared me to go back to the gym. Prior to the surgery, I was working out daily 7 days a week lifting weights and throwing in some random cardio for a month and a half straight. In my past, I've consistently gone to the gym for Zumba classes, but obviously through-out the years I would commit and other times I wouldn't. This has been on and off for like the past 10 years. But I was able to go today and I did the same exact weight routine prior to my surgery and I felt absolutely fine! No pain. No issues. HERE'S WHERE I'M CONFUSED! I came across this surgeon who does NOT encourage you work out. He goes through all the "myths" of working out. I primarily want to work out like I was before because of 1- loss skin prevention and 2- better weight loss. HOWEVER after watching his video -- I'm confused. He's absolutely right -- when you work out, you burn X amount of calories, but with a VSG, and since I'm so fresh out of surgery, I can't possibly eat more than I'm supposed to in order to prevent the stomach from stretching...and on top of that -- I have such a limited amount of nutrients coming in since I'm only eating 3 times a day 1/2 a cup of food. And I'm worried about stretching out my stomach I mean I can't even eat and drink at the same time anymore because we're told not to. There's no way to eat more unless I bump it up to 4-5 times a day of eating (but that's stage 3 of the diet and that begins in 3 weeks). And also another myth -- skin doesn't have muscle, so how can you tighten your loose skin (if and when you get there). But I see so many overweight people who have gone to the gym and don't have loose skin. I see other surgery patients who never went to the gym and have so much loose skin. So yeah...I'm really confused as to what to do. I'm barely at my beginning, so I'd love to find an answer as to what path I should take, but I'm not an expert and I don't have all the answers. I know I need to consult with my nutritionist and possibly a personal trainer (but their sole purpose is gym-related) but my surgeon okayed it and encouraged it...

I don't know how to quote or tag your names so this was all I could figure out. I want to thank you all! Everyone gave different and yet similar advice. And I now finally truly feel so much calmer. Yesterday I started tracking my food and my workouts (again) and I saw how the workout basically burned my few calories and put me in the negative. And, without a medical degree, I know that is not good. It just makes no sense. I'm assuming what I should be doing are - calmer workouts that don't burn so much but keep me healthy and moving while I'm on such a low diet. Maybe when I'm months into this journey, I'll be encouraged to go beast mode like I did yesterday but it'll make more sense then since I'll be able to eat more. I've called my surgeon's nutritionist and shared my concerns with her. I have a meeting with her tomorrow to figure out exactly WHAT I should be doing at this point. I definitely need more instruction in terms of which direction to head in and quite frankly you guys are right -- I can raise my concerns but I need to follow their guidance as they're the ones working with me throughout this entire journey. I LOVE that whenever I freak out, this online community ALWAYS helps me out so much and calms me down. I cannot thank everyone enough for taking the time to respond and share their thoughts.

Hi! I know I'm "new" to all of this. I'm 13 days post op. The first 5 days after surgery, I had lost 7.5 lbs. By the 7 day mark, I had hit a 9 lb weight loss. I was SO EXCITED so I figured I'd weigh myself maybe every 4 days after the 7 day mark. I was REALLY looking forward to my progress, and I was so shocked by the original fast weight loss I just couldn't help myself. Keep in mind -- I'm STILL on the all liquid diet. Well, the last 6 days, I have lost 0 lbs. ZERO! I' got down to 244.0 lbs, then days later 244.5 lbs and today 245.4 lbs. So technically speaking I've actually gained 0.9 lb. HOW?! Can someone help explain? Is this normal? I'm following all the rules. The only thing I'm not doing anymore is working out since I haven't gotten the clearance, but I can totally go on long hour walks as my "exercise" for now. That's the only plan I have at this moment... My other confusion and worries lie in this: If I'm on the all liquid diet still, and I'm post surgery, IF I haven't lost ANY weight in the past week, I'm already getting nervous/anxious for when I am allowed to eat solid foods (hopefully starting tomorrow) and how maybe I'll gain weight.

Thank you for sending your charts. It really shows the up's and down's. But it overall shows your intense decrease. I love that for you, and I guess it's a great way to really help calm me down and for me to see a little bit into what my future could look like.

You're a QUEEN for responding in such beautiful detail!!!! I appreciate all the information. Definitely taking some notes from what you wrote.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO POST ABOUT. I have the SAME questions as you. Here are my thoughts/questions: I'm 1 day shy of A WHOLE MONTH of the liquid diet. Tomorrow is my 2 week post op check up and I'm ASSUMING that's where my doctor will HOPEFULLY move me to the stage 2 soft food stage. I'm allowed to eat: "Chopped, ground or pureed soft moist" meats, poultry and fish (I WAS LOOKING AT GROUND TURKEY AND GROUND CHICKEN, I HADN'T THOUGHT OF TUNA! WHAT OTHER SOFT MEATS ARE THERE? DELI MEATS?) Tofu Scrambled eggs Cottage cheese Low-fat soft cheese (IS THIS THE BAYBEL CHEESE CIRCLES? WHAT OTHER CHEESES ARE SOFT?) Cooked vegetables without strings, seeds or skin (WHICH VEGGIES ARE THESE? CANNED VEGGIES SEEM LIKE AN EASY IDEA. BUT WHAT FRESH VEGGIES? POTATOES? CARROTS? ZUCCHINI? CUCUMBER?) Canned or soft fresh fruits (WHAT FRESH FRUITS? BANANAS?) Cream of wheat or oatmeal

I think that's what I keep telling myself -- there is no normal. And I've read that some ppl lose weight one week and the second week nothing and the third week nothing and the fourth week a ton is lost. So I have read that experience from others...thanks for sharing! I hope you're doing well at 4 months post-op! How much have you lost so far?

What is the three week stall? I've never heard it!!!

I had no clue this was a thing...I'm definitely new to all of this omg! Thanks for sharing!!!

After surgery — did anyone take anything to alíviate the gas, I’m super bloated and in pain from the gas…a nurse at the hospital recommended Gas-X but my surgeon didn’t mention it. I need some help to alíviate this pain from the gas.

Hi! I'm scheduled for this upcoming TUESDAY to undergo a gastric sleeve! Today is FRIDAY! I have NOT yet purchased my Vitamins. I have the paper sitting in front of me. I've attached a picture since I'm confused about the second column (regimen). Can someone help explain what the second column means? I take it to mean with this particular brand (in the middle column) take 2 of the chewables plus 2 calcium citrate chews (and each chew has to be 500 mg) and the B12 is already included or do I need to find a B12 vitamin? I was wanting to do chewables so I can use them as "candy"... I'm SUPER worried about the Hair loss aspect...I was told that the BEST vitamins on the market are the Bariatric Advantage Advanced EA Multivitamin. I was also told I could throw in a hair, nails, skin vitamin. What vitamins do you recommend as a first time surgery patient? I know the above ones I mentioned are the most expensive, but I was told they're the best of the best...is that true?

Hahahaha well -- we were put on the SAME restrictions now because they removed ALL dairy products since we discovered I'm lactose intolerant! So at least you get the pudding which used to be MY FAVORITE SNACK!!!!!! Good luck on it. Honestly, it's hard but once I made it past the first week the rest of it seemed to be a lot easier. I'm almost done. Just need to make it to Monday as my last day before surgery on this liquid diet but then I get to add soups to it after surgery!

If you could go back in time and warn/educate your younger self on how to best stick to the all liquid pre-op diet, what tips and tricks would you share? My all liquid pre-op diet started today. I'm allowed: 3-4 shakes (pre-made or via protein powders) Water Clear protein waters Crystal Light mixers and such Gatorade, Vitamin Water, Propel Sugar-free gelatin Sugar-free pudding Sugar-free popsicles Light Greek yogurt Fat-free cottage cheese Broth Herbal teas ANY ADVICE/HELP IS GREATLY APPRECAITED! I feel like I can succeed, but I've always known THIS would be the hardest part of my journey. So far, these are some of the tricks I've come up with (but I'm a newbie, and I know you pro's out there have GOT TO HAVE SOME SOLID TIPS AND TRICKS!): Make your protein shakes with some light Greek yogurt to change the consistency Add bullions to your broths to add some flavor and eat them hot Try ramen and miso broths Make your own sugar-free gelatin/pudding in your own Tupperware so you can just sit there and eat that in order to confuse yourself into thinking you're eating a solid meal Tracking my food in a nutrition journal to better understand when I'm hungry/how often I'm eating Some questions I already have: What pre-made protein shakes are worth the $$$? What protein powders did you really enjoy, are not chalky, and are worth the $$$? I ended up buying 4 different protein powders from 2 brands (brands: SinFit and Motiv8). THANKS FOR ANY AND ALL HELP!

Hi. I need a safe place to post my feelings and I thought of posting here. I hope I can be as raw as I need to be without getting criticized or judged. I'm on day 6 of the all liquid diet. I'm not doing well emotionally of physically. My mood prior to the all liquid diet was me always happy, active, healthy and on top of my game in all senses. Prior to the all liquid diet, I was working out and eating right and losing weight to the point that the surgeon's team told me I could stop eating right and stop working out because I had showed them I'm fully capable of following the plan and succeeding on it. I didn't listen to them telling me to stop because I was feeling great on my new routine and seeing results, so why would I stop eating right and working out? Now that I'm on the all liquid diet, I get sudden bursts of extreme anger, extreme sadness and I feel depressed. I feel like I'm hurting myself so much. I've had six days of extreme diarrhea. I feel sick. I don't think this all liquid diet is normal or healthy. It's actually making me feel like this is not worth it. And, again -- that is not like my normal self. My normal self is the complete opposite of how I feel and sound right now. I feel like this all liquid diet, because of how harshly and badly my body is reacting to it and my mood, it's making me not even want to try to drink anything, because we aren't eating anything to begin with. This is complete and utter torture. I don't feel like helping myself, and again that is NOT my normal self. I feel so sad and angry and I just want to throw and break things and cry nonstop. This isn't me though. I'm so displeased with this right now. I absolutely hate this and right now -- to be honest, I hate anything and everything. I'm so triggered. I feel like calling out of work tomorrow and taking a day to just be more miserable and see if I can somehow bring myself back up. But I feel so broken, physically and emotionally. I called a 24/7 nurse hotline and they urged me to go see a medical doctor ASAP. I'm probably getting 300ish calories in a day. I feel like someone pushed me, and I don't even want to pick myself back up. Realistically, I know some patients are put on a full liquid diet for 2-3 weeks. I know others are put on an all liquid diet just ONE DAY prior to their surgery. I know others are allowed one solid meal a day. My head is fighting the facts with reasons. I've followed the diet to a T 100%. But I absolutely hate everything right now. And no, it's not a carb or sugar crash. I wasn't eating carbs or sugars prior to the all liquid diet. I've been extremely healthy for the past 2 months...I'm just shocked at how differently, in a very bad way, I feel right now. I just feel...sick.

I love your positivity. I'm no where near that level of positivity right now. But I'm going to keep re-reading your message whenever I'm feeling down in hopes some of your positivity rubs off on me! Thank you for being kind.

I can't keep anything down. The moment I try to "eat" (I say that with SO MUCH ANGER because I'm not eating anything, just drinking what's allowed) anything, the gurgling sounds pop up and I know it's a matter of minutes before the bathroom becomes my second home.

I wish I was allowed to drink V8. I will say I love the broths. I'm a huge fan of the store bought ones but I add my own flavoring through spices. I do need to get a strainer LOL. Popsicles are good too. But nothing is filling. I keep myself busy, but I can only do it for so long before diarrhea kicks in. I feel safer at home, as sad as it is, because I can run to my own bathroom and basically die in there.

Your message was so sweet and supportive. I've avoided dairy products for years without knowing if I was officially lactose intolerant, but now I've been introduced to Lactaid. I haven't yet taken it...when you take it with dairy -- do you not get diarrhea anymore? Do you take Lactaid regularly or daily?

UPDATE (I hope this shows that it's an update to my post): Surgeon's office said to CUT OUT the dairy products, but didn't replace it with ANYTHING. I asked. They said to even cut out almond milk. So now I'm down to: protein powder mixed with water (GROSS), liquid electrolyte drinks, broth, and gelatin. THAT'S IT. Oh, and we're adding an antibiotic come Wednesday if things don't get better. Also told me the surgery might get postponed if the diarrhea doesn't stop and if I'm super dehydrated (WHICH CLEARLY I AM)! I can't begin to explain how frustrated I am with the diet getting even more limited and how much it triggers me emotionally (can't stop crying, and I'm feeling all this anger boiling up). This is the first time I'm feeling that THIS ISN'T WORTH IT. I've NEVER had a dependency on food or turned to food for emotional eating. I've also never had an eating disorder. I will say that right now, I feel like I'm going through an eating disorder. Hearing them tell me "well just limit your already super strict and limited diet" makes me not even want to try to drink anything AT ALL. Makes me want to just sit and starve myself even more. And that right there -- is an eating disorder. I feel so hopeless. That's my unfortunate update.

I appreciate your feedback. A friend recommended I eat more salt since that helps with diarrhea. I'm happy you got permission to have V8. That sounds so yummy right now.

Hi! I've called and I'm waiting for a call back. It really is rough and tough. My reaction is so intense and I'm learning not everyone reacts this badly. I wish it were easier and I'm trying to stay hopeful. It REALLY helped me to release these deep and dark thoughts yesterday.

Hi! Best of luck to you on your surgery. I'm going to message you privately to see how you're doing. So proud you made it through the liquid diet. I'm happy your surgeon allowed you to have 1 meal of meat + veggies. Mine has told me absolutely nothing solid. And, they told me 3-4 protein shakes. Right now I'm barely having 1. I can't stomach anything before I turn around and run to the bathroom 10 times in an hour and a half. I've called and asked for help, currently waiting on a call back!