BabySpoons

2 hours ago, ChunkCat said:

I store up good one liners for this purpose, with a generous dose of sarcasm.

Same here. I'm usually kind to others, male or female but if they cross me all bets are off. xD

I used to work in an all-women's health club and have never seen so much competition and cattiness firsthand. Sad but true.

I have since adopted this methodology.

2 hours ago, partridge-pear said:

my emails to the team have been ignored. Some by weeks and another by days.

That is unprofessional and scary to think if you had needed medical attention. Of course, if serious you can go to your nearest ER but your bariatric team should be available to you 24/7 for advice and to answer any and all questions you may have.

You have every right to request a different doctor for follow-up care. Especially when he tells you he can't help you and doesn't answer emails. Recovery is hard enough without having to worry if he's got your back or best interests at heart.

GL!!

It's too bad that people don't view Bariatric surgery for what it is, a medical intervention. Nothing is easy about it except that the tool we are given causes all our efforts to finally actually work for us.

People are plain ignorant about the medical reasons behind weight gain. After all the years of working out and dieting with no results, I say we deserve this. But it's easier for them to think we chose surgery over doing the work.

No one has said anything negative to me yet, but if they do, I guess I'll have to school them. LOL

4 hours ago, MsTeeTee said:

I got excited at how much I was able to achieve and not be totally exhausted.

Believe me, I know the feeling. Before WLS I struggled to move just walking across the room.

People kept telling me my life's about to change after surgery. They were so right.

I have been cleared for most exercises but walking outside is so enjoyable to me, I'm sticking with that for now. I started on a treadmill straight out from the hospital for 5 minutes working up to fifteen over a couple weeks. Then took it outside. I walked a mile for a couple months. Now I walk 2. I don't push myself timewise or speed wise.

I average a 2–3-pound weight loss a week so I'm satisfied with that. I get up and walk early before it gets too hot. Usually in the 70's. If weather is bad, I stay in and ride my recumbent bike while watching My 600 Pound Life. Never watched that show until after surgery. And never was a morning person till now. Odd.

Nausea will usually happen from pushing yourself too hard too soon. Ease into it. Stay hydrated and don't get overheated. Just move.

GL

The only aversion (taste wise) I've had so far, early on, I couldn't drink Crystal Light. Just plain clear Water. It was too sweet. Now I drink CL Raspberry Tea and half a packet of different flavors in my Protein smoothies.

My tummy on the other hand has major aversions to raw veggies except for baby carrots. Unless they are fully cooked and peeled. I really miss cold crisp salads. Someday....

On 6/15/2023 at 9:24 PM, Turch said:

How do you get away with ordering from the kids menu?

This is how. And it's Ricky Gervais not Ramsey. LOL

I had it day 2 or 3 post-op. I stood up and felt the whoosh. A lot of blood running down my legs and a very large clot. My mind was racing. I thought I was hemorrhaging at first, but I tried to remain calm.

I remembered reading somewhere about our bodies releasing blood after surgery and also hormonal shifting so I told myself to keep an eye on it and if it continued, I would contact the doctor. It stopped the next day, so I was relieved.

I'm not sure what would be considered abnormal, but I'd say if it continues for any length of time, it wouldn't hurt to call your bariatric team.

Congrats on your recent surgery and speedy recovery. {{hugs}}

3 hours ago, ms.sss said:

is it weird i wanna try to make that?

Nah but the candied bacon definitely sounds better. LOL

If you are having milk with your cereal and able to keep that down, drink that. Any liquid will count towards your daily hydration needs besides Water. Find things your body won't reject within your doctor's food plan and concentrate on those things, no matter how limited it is. For now, at least, till you get further out and past all the nausea. Also, you might need to wait longer than 30 minutes after eating to drink. Sometimes I have to wait an hour or more or else I can't keep any liquid down.

As I was allowed more options to eat, I found out quickly that my tummy wasn't having certain foods. chicken is a big no for me. Try not to introduce things too quickly. Your body sounds like it's just not ready for most things.

Good luck!

I'd be concerned about squeezing my internal organs before total healing. Here's a discussion from 2015 about waist training after WLS.

Waist training - Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums - BariatricPal

On 7/28/2023 at 3:22 PM, hills&valleys said:

None of my previous successful weight loss tactics were working

So true. I knew what to do to lose the weight. It just stopped working. The WLS tool we have now is amazing in reversing whatever that hindrance was. Age, insulin resistance, meds, slowed metabolism???

Now I just want to use it as long as I can without breaking it.

Not being able to feel restriction is usually pretty common till you get past the soft food stage. I remember thinking the surgery didn't work for me either, till I started eating regular food at 5 weeks. It was then I really felt the I'm full pain. I have since learned when to stop before it gets to that point. Liquids and soft phase were pretty easy for me. I still go back to it sometimes when my tummy is not feeling so good.

Just be careful that you don't eat more than you should. Especially this early out. You don't want to pop a staple or blow out your stomach. Extremely dangerous. Nerves have been cut too during your WLS and can contribute to why you aren't feeling that restriction. Give them time to heal.

At this point you want to go by how much your Dr recommends eating because you can't trust that not feeling restriction phase. I could always eat more than 2 TB of food but never allowed myself over 1/2 C early on. Also wait 30 minutes to an hour after eating to drink. If I don't, liquids won't stay down. I would concentrate right now more so on getting all your liquids in. Good luck!!

Here's what my nutritionist recommends:

5 weeks to 6 months: 600-800 calories, 65-100 g Protein, less than 45 g carbs, less than 30 grams fat.

6 months to 12 months: 800-1000 calories, 65-100 g protein, less than 60 g carbs, less than 35 grams fat.

Over 12 months: 1000-1500 calories, 65-100 g protein, less than 75 g carbs, less than 30-60 grams fat.

I buy this in bulk at Walmart but you can buy a smaller amount to try. I never have mixed it in with food. Doesn't sound appealing to me.

I enjoy it because I can vary the flavors of my drinks and never get bored with it. I'm in food phase now but I still drink one every day to help ensure I get my Protein in for the day.

I mix it with Peanut Butter powder, cocoa, stevia or various crystal light packets, SF flavored yogurts, skim milk and ice.

New World 100% whey isolate Protein Powder, 26g Protein, Servings & Flavors Vary - Walmart.com

On 7/26/2023 at 4:29 PM, KathyLev said:

They also gave me a bottle of liquid oxycodone

I had a pretty good amount of pain week 1 but then I was in surgery for 4 hours for RNY and a large hernia repair. The pulling sensation was the worst at my right incision site mainly when I transitioned from lying to sitting or sitting to standing. Even at week 2.

I sipped on my liquid Oxy that first week and when I ran out I called the pharmacy for a refill week 2. I was told I needed a doc to do that so called him and was told by his nurse they don't normally refill that medication. I was like OK, I'll survive.

I guess I didn't realize from the labeling (Hydrocod Acetaminophen) what I was asking for till I googled it. Oxy. I felt bad then for asking for more. After that, I never used anything else for pain. In fact I still have a tad bit of that liquid oxy left over if ever needed in the future.

I'm guessing if I hadn't had the hernia repair I wouldn't have needed it at all. Like a superwoman

Last week I did an inventory of smaller sized clothing I kept over the years "just in case" someday I could fit into again. I found a few items still with tags that I optimistically bought hoping to wear but never could. I'm looking forward to finally being able to wear them sometime soon. Especially some of my old favorite jeans.

And yeah some of my big clothes are hard to let go of. I lost a good amount of weight in the past and got rid of thinking I was done with them then regained and regretted. But that was during my yo yo dieting phase. Surgery changed that for me. I don't plan on needing them ever again.

Good luck on surgery day!!!!

I was cleared to drink alcohol at 3 months post-op which was right on July 4th. I made a mix of sugar free Cranberry juice and a shot of vodka. Tasted good, didn't make me drunk, sick or passed out. But made sure I ate something beforehand and drank very slowly.

Have fun!!

43 minutes ago, GrannyMaggie said:

Babyspoons, did the hiatal hernia repair add to surgery time or complicate recovery?

Timewise I was under for 4 hours instead of 2. Doc told me before surgery that the Endoscope didn't tell him how big the hernia was and wouldn't know till he was in there. As far as complications there were none. Week one was a bit of a blur since I was prescribed Hydrocodone for pain. But I think a week is pretty common for most WLS patients to get past the worst of it.

Surgery was a big game changer for me. No more reflux and I can breathe again.

Good luck going forward @GrannyMaggie !!

I remember hearing my Mom and Aunt talking about my weight as a young girl. My cousin was a year older than me and weighed less than me but we both looked the same size. Seemed they were always comparing us. I had more muscle weight or just carried it well they said. Hence my start with weight scale numbers.

When I went to the carnival the guy who guesses your age or weight never got it right. I always weighed 20 more pounds than I looked and when I was 14, I looked 16/17. I always walked away with a prize. LOL

I never go by weight calculators because they don't take into consideration muscle mass. Mine always told me I should weigh 135 for my height but the few times I reached that goal, I looked gaunt and sickly. Because at 135 I looked like I weighed 115. But at 150, I look 130 which is just right for my 5'6" frame.

Thanks for all your responses. The few articles I read said that Lisa Marie complained of pain the day of her death. Not that she had ignored it for many days. Sounds about right though if she was medicated, to maybe not be aware of the pain or severity of it.

Sorry to those who have experienced this type of condition or lost loved ones to it. But good to know our bodies will give us advance warning in the case of an obstruction.

1 hour ago, WanderingLass said:

Forward to my sleeve a week ago, and my surgeon said that my bowel is adhered to my small intestine

Is there pain with adhesions? It sounds like you weren't even aware you had one till the doctor went in and visually saw it??? And what happens if it goes unchecked?

In the last few days, news revealed that the cause of death for Lisa Marie Presley was complications from bariatric surgery. No info on which procedure she had or when, but seems she developed a small bowel blockage caused from scar tissue developing and adhesions many years later.

I did a search here for this particular problem and know it is a rare occurrence, but I can't help but think she probably had the best of doctors and well... how does one recognize if they have a blockage or adhesion before it's too late?

Doctors reveal how bowel obstruction behind Lisa Marie Presley's death can occur (msn.com)

On 7/8/2023 at 10:05 PM, Arabesque said:

Do you have to use the straw or can you remove the straw & sip through the home?

Sorry for the late reply. I just took it out of the box last night. Seems I can use it both ways. With or without the straw. Set it up on my smartphone after downloading the app. It's kind of a novelty thing and easier for me to just set my 20 ounce Water bottles out on the table and making sure I've drank them all before bedtime. But it claims to keep things hot or cold for hours so that's nice. I tried the straw too and so far so good. No problems.

Also in keeping with the food theme here, I tried a Greek Gyro while I was out and about for my doc appointment Wed. The lamb was so good and tender. I only ate half though and sorry didn't think to snap a pic. 🤤

It's easy to be regretful those first few weeks after surgery. You are sore, hormones shifting etc. Give it time. 3 months out I can do things I haven't been able to do for years.

Sure I can't have some of my favorite foods. But because I'm no longer sedentary and eating out of boredom, my mind is on other things besides my next meal. Before I rarely moved from my couch and now I'm walking 2 miles a day outside. I'm so loving it.

After my doc appointment this week, I went to a huge mall and walked the length of it and back without taking a rest. Before, my back would have been killing me and I would have had to sit down. Honestly I wouldn't have even attempted it pre-op. I felt like a bird let out of a cage. I didn't buy any new clothes but I did splurge and got my brows done by a sweet little gal from India who has mastered the art of brow threading.

This morning I'm going to the gym, getting a cryo therapy treatment, sitting in an infrared sauna then to the Chiropractor to help straighten me out as I lose weight.

Just remember, there's more to life than just food. Enjoy your weekend

I didn't feel any restriction until I started on solid food. Soft food went down easy for me. I had to be mindful of my portion sizes. Also cut nerves after healing will let you know. I'm glad it showed up. I was worried too.

My hunger is gone and hoping it stays that way. I can enjoy my small portions and feel satisfied not to want more.

Glad to hear everything went well for you.