Jeanniebug

Welcome!

I have no idea what Blossom does. I just remember hearing about them and thinking that it was interesting that they were in Vegas.

Yes, that should be fine.

Totally off topic, but you mentioned it. My sister just got back from Mexico. Poor thing had explosive bodily fluids - from both ends - the entire trip on the plane. She ended up getting E. Coli. She's better now, thanks be to God. But, I could really sympathize with her. On topic. I would not want to fly, right after surgery. You are at a greater risk of pulmonary embolism, when you're on a plane. Have you checked out Blossom Bariatrics in Las Vegas? They're closer - so not as long of a flight.

We discussed my surgical history and family history. We discussed my medical issues. We discussed my current diet and exercise (at that point in time). We discussed my previous weight loss efforts. He asked me if I had been doing any research and if I had a particular surgery in mind. I told him I was interested in the RnY gastric bypass - he agreed and thought that surgery would be the best for me. He gave me a print out of predictions for my comorbidities and weight loss, for the first year. He told me what tests he would want me to have, before surgery. I needed a mammogram, an EGD, and a psych eval. He felt I was a low-risk for apnea, so I didn't need a sleep study. I'm also already under the care of a cardiologist and had fairly recently had an echocardiogram - so I didn't need to repeat that. Because I had already done a ton of research, I really didn't have any questions, so the appointment was fairly quick. After my appointment, the receptionist scheduled all of my nutrition visits for the following 6 months, and my pre-op appointment (the final appointment with the surgical team before surgery).

You might want to track what you're consuming, just to make sure you're hitting all of your protein and hydration goals. Not getting enough will make you feel bad and will also stall your weight loss. Are you taking your vitamins? You might want to have your labs (to include ferritin level) checked. I took vitamins, religiously, before surgery. I'm sure that half the reason why I'm dragging right now is because they had me hold them. I get to start taking them on Tuesday and I'm so looking forward to it! I'm anemic and can't wait to start getting some iron, again. I'm looking forward to getting back to exercise. Pre-surg, I enjoyed running on an elliptical and I also liked doing some of the workouts that Beachbody offers. I'm really looking forward to seeing some results from exercise. Before surgery, I never saw anything change. Now, I should and it's exciting!

There is not enough room for both food and water in your new pouch. Water will flush the food out of your pouch quickly. This means a couple of things. You may get dumping syndrome. Your pouch won't be able to send the signal to your brain that you're full. So, you'll get hungry again sooner and/or you will need to eat a larger amount to be satisfied. The food needs to sit in your pouch for as long as possible, for digestion - so you can absorb as many of the nutrients as possible.

I chose bypass over sleeve because of: 1. GERD. I already had it before surgery and I didn't want to take the chance of it getting worse after. 2. Dumping. I wanted the threat of dumping to help keep me in check. 3. Better resolution of my comorbidities - diabetes and high cholesterol.

Are you on clear or full liquids? If clear, then no. If full, then yes, but you'll need to strain it.

You can get some partitioned containers and meal prep some "adult lunchables". Lunchmeat, cheese, nuts, salad veggies, berries (if you do veggies and fruit). I like the suggestions for guacamole and hummus.

Amazing!!! Do you only weigh in once a month, or do you only track it once a month? I'm still addicted to the scale, I'm afraid.

There's also such a thing as not eating enough calories. It's possible that you're burning too many calories for what you're taking in, so your body is just hanging onto everything it can get. Burning 1600 calories a day and only getting 70 grams of protein, might not be enough. If you add weights, yes, you might gain weight. But, you'll lose fat and you'll get smaller.

Are you tracking every single thing that you eat or drink? Calories can easily sneak up on us - one yummy cup of coffee can blow the whole day. What types of foods are you eating? Are you eating mostly protein? Are you getting enough protein? Are you portioning your plate? Eating all of your protein first, then the veggies, then lastly the carbs? Are you hitting your hydration goals? What kind of exercise are you doing? You said you burn around 1600 calories a day. Are you lifting weights? If not, you might want to add some strength training to your routine. You have some hormonal issues that could definitely be an obstacle. But, I wouldn't give up. The hormones will get figured out, eventually. And all the work you're putting in now, will set you up for a healthier way of living when they do get figured out.

I just started purees, yesterday. But, I had zero restriction with fluids. I can drink water and protein shakes pretty quickly. I could be wrong, but I think potatoes are slider foods. That would explain why you can eat them without much restriction. Maybe try something higher in protein, like cottage cheese. I'm about 2.5 weeks post-op gastric bypass and I can eat 1/4 cup of egg salad (egg, mayo, mustard, salt, onion powder). I can probably only eat about 1/8 cup of ricotta bake - my stomach starts to hurt - I assume it's the acid in the spaghetti sauce. Most people have restriction after surgery, but not everyone does. That's why it's so important for us to learn healthy habits. I got a 30-second sand timer to use between bites of food. And I also eat with baby spoons, to make sure I take smaller bites. Eventually, I do feel full, but not before I stop eating. Just like before surgery, my satiety cues are delayed. Because I can't rely on my body to tell me that I need to stop, I have to be very careful about measuring out my food. My nutritionist says I should be eating between 1/4 and 1/2 cup over the next 2 weeks, so that's what I'm doing.

This is actually quite common. I heard about doing it, before I had my surgery. I talked to my husband about it and we both agreed, if it's what someone needs to do, then do it. If I'm really wanting beef, but it isn't going to sit well in my tummy, then I'll be chewing and spitting, too.

You're going to get a million different answers. Everyone's body is so different. Some people don't have any food intolerances, at all. Others have a lot of them. There are a few people in my surgeon's support group that still have fickle tummies, 5 years out - one day they can eat something and the next they can't.

You got this! Please let us know how it goes!

You are doing so wonderfully!!! You are truly on the path to great success!

Oh yeah. I'm 2 weeks out, today. I could kill for a cheeseburger, right now. LOL! I start purees on Thursday and I'm just dreaming about everything.

I've developed hunger that's coming across as nausea. It happens about an hour after I drink a protein shake. If I eat a little cottage cheese, the nausea goes away. My body is definitely wanting food, now.

I knew I was eating a lot. That's one reason why I wanted to get the surgery. My hormones were so out of whack that I had to consume mass quantities of food, in order to not feel like I was starving. Hopefully your sister wakes up and sees what's happening with your niece. But, if she doesn't, thank God we have the surgical solution and she can go that route.

Congratulations! I can't wait. Thursday is my day! I plan on making the ricotta bake, but I have to pre-taste the spaghetti sauce. I seem to be having an issue with either onion powder or garlic powder. One of them tastes very spicy to me, right now.

Congratulations on your amazing weight loss! Substance abuse (no matter the substance, alcohol, drugs, food, sex, whatever) is just a symptom of an inner problem. Our problem isn't food, it's our minds. My therapist knows that we're working together because I have food issues. But, we have hardly talked about my eating, at all. We've talked about all the other garbage that needs to be worked on, in order to be able to change my relationship with my drug of choice - food. It has been a very interesting experience, working with a therapist. And I know that the hardest work we will do, is yet to come. I started talking to him before my surgery, because I knew that I was really going to need his help after surgery. After my surgical sites heal, the real work will begin. It's a grand adventure!

I had the gastric bypass and I still can't sleep on my left, either. So sad! I've found that I am really sensitive to chemical tastes and smells. Perfumes make me itch. If the scale is causing you distress, stay off of it for a while. I've heard to stay off of it for the first 5-6 weeks, because our bodies are changing so much.

I'm glad to hear you're doing better! I, too, have appreciated how easy it is to get in my protein and fluids by using the shakes. But, alas, they won't let us drink them forever. We have to start eating real food.