KimA-GA

Greetings, Post-op people - what was sleeping/resting/moving around like in your immediate post op time (first two weeks)? I have read some people couldn’t lay down for a bit and other similar issues. what was your experience?

My dr does not routinely do blood work for nutritional deficiency- just standard general blood work.

Hope you called your dr or went to er…. Do you have an update?

Totally understand the struggle with eating issues and disorders!! Glad you have made progress and are getting ready for the big change!

My nutritional consultant talked about reprogramming my swallowing center with surgery; learning to chew more thoroughly to process foods into a paste before swallowing to get the most nutrition and satisfaction from meals. since then I have been trying to pay attention to my swallowing while trying to begin my preop diet changes (no surgery date yet but I will do 3 weeks at 50 carb hard limit) . It really i difficult to do properly without paying 100% attention to your mouth’a actions!!! I like to gulp drinks and take only a few chews before swallowing. It is making me even more mindful of my eating process. what was your experience with reprogramming your swallowing center? How long did the process take to “stick”? Is it like other habits which take a month or so of constant attention to start to change?

From my understanding gulping meals will lead to pouch stretching and weight regain over time. May want to check with your surgeon to confirm.

Greetings, how long before surgery did you inform other people of your plans t get gastric sleeve surgery? I am currently looking at a flurry of doctors appointments leading up to a surgery in October. I work in a small office so my absences are seen. Getting the surgery isn’t a shameful thing, but I see it as private for now. I don’t know how much closer to time I should wait. I am concerned about other people’s reaction. I know there will be judgements and gossip. (I know they already are!) Once I tell, I want to be open and honest because I hope the results will be noticeable. I just don’t look forward to dealing with the people. Getting the surgery is a huge positive step to allow me to live life to its fullest and have a healthier life. I don’t have doubts about it, but I know how people are. When did you tell people before surgery? what kind of reactions did you get ?

How many days off work did your dr suggest? how many days did you take? Do you think you should have taken more or less or go part time to start? my surgeon has said he recommends a few days off after surgery. I plan on at least a week off and then part time for a week or two as I go through the first part of the recovery. My job is mostly in an office. I do go out in the field to do some work, but will be putting that on hold during the first part of my recovery. I would love to know real experiences!

Ask if there is a bariatric exclusion or allowance to the insurance broker handling your insurance for your company. Many (most)insurance plans have an exclusion for bariatric surgery meaning that it will not cover it at all. My main insurance through my employer is is unitedhealth choice plus and there is an exclusion to bariatrics on out policy so I have zero coverage through my primary insurance. My husbands insurance allowed bariatrics for the first time this year to members and he put me on his insurance and I will be able to have covered surgery.

Greetings, Those with sleep apnea; did you have improvement after surgery? Anyone successfully get off bipap or cpap? How long did it take? did sleep apnea/bipap/cpap impact your post surgical recovery? thank you

(Sorry for all the questions.. as my possible surgery date comes up my mind keeps thinking of new and interesting worries) Married people post surgery: what changes to your relationship did you experience ? how did your spouse adapt to change to that comes with weight loss or well, did he/she not adapt? I know that my husband will be there 100% right before and immediately after surgery. Unfortunately, a week or two out I don’t know how he will be (he will be “done” with it and wanting to “go back to normal” which won’t be possible.) and I really don’t know how he will cope when hopefully my confidence continues to grow and my self esteem continues to grow after surgery. wanted to hear some good, bad and ugly from people who have been there with marriages through this surgical process.

Great to be aware of triggers that can lead to unhealthy eating!! I think a lot of the battle is overcoming those issues. great awareness!!

Thank you for sharing your difficulties… you look amazing and hope the next surgery can get you in a good place Heath wise.

Wow that was rough. The issue is that it’s a complex question with many factors to answer it properly. Yes it can be normal with a long list of what it could be.

What do you use for food tracking? you might be eating more than you think if you start weighing and logging. Do you track your emotions when you eat or boredom level? Boredom or stress can be sneaky with food. have you consulted a nutritionalist recently?

Just got done with the nutrition consult. Another tick box down! I got a lot of information. Glad that I am already working on food issues!! my pre-op diet will be 3 weeks of carb control (50 carb limit) or meal replacement protein shakes for breakfast, lunch, snack and protein and vegetables for dinner. I believe I will do the carb control. how does this compare t other pre-op diets?

congrats on the losses!!! You are doing amazing 🤩 keep up the good work

Thank you!!

Which ones are recalled? I haven’t seen that

Great thing to be mindful of. My post op guidelines are no more than 8 oz of juice a day.

It’s great to see the changes make a difference everywhere in your life!!

Greetings, for those of you with issues of reflux post surgery: did you have a hiatal hernia repair with surgery? (Side question, did you get any special instructions because of that added to surgery) through the medical literature that drops the incidence of reflux post surgery but want to know experiences. thank you!!

Since you are not in the immediate post op, it would be concerning that a wound was created or never actually healed. Pay attention to your body and if you have any doubt go to get it checked out.

A few things pop to mind with the info you provided. He may see some eating habits you need to address before surgery. You may want to ask his viewpoint on that. He also may be scared of the change to you and your relationship after losing the weight. My husband was/is 100% supportive - but he is scared of it some now since I talked to him about what happens a LOT to marriages after surgery. At the very least the dynamic is changed; but often people pull apart. He sounds like a very active individual - maybe you could allay some of his fears by starting to talk about some of the activities you could do together after you lose weight that you are limited on now. Showing you are wanting to enhance your relationship with the change. you know him beat and he knows you well. It’s good for both of you to understand before where the other is coming from.

My sleep study revealed mixed sleep apnea. Though I know that morbid obesity or greater can cause a type of central sleep apnea that can sometimes resolve with weight loss - so I am hoping to get off my nighttime torture device (but my stick thin Grandpa had to use one, so know it might just be what I gotta live with)