CarmenG

I would ask if they have any set nutrition goals for which they want you to aim (calories, protein, carbs, fiber). I would also ask if you're taking your vitamins correctly, or if they would have you make any changes. Make sure to let them know how much water you're drinking, they'll tell if you if it's enough or not. Take any vitamins and medications you're using with you, so they can know exactly what you're taking.

Is this by family and friends? Medical team? I'm lucky that I live alone with my 16-yr-old. She very much minds her own business except to ask how I'm feeling and to encourage me when I'm feeling down. I have 10 living brothers and sisters, but they know I've been through this before. They mind their own business except to text me to ask how I'm doing. They mostly have questions rather than "reminders." I do have 2 sisters who have 20+ and 40+ years experience as RN's, so I do ask them a lot of questions about nutrition. Maybe they're just looking out for you. If they don't have personal experience with weight issues or WLS, they may not realize that their reminders can get frustrating. You could let them know how you feel. Just a thought.

I'm wondering how long any of your stalls have lasted. I'm 25 days out of surgery (sleeve to bypass revision), and I'm still at the same weight from July 3rd. Literally, not a single decimal point down. Here's what my nutrition looks like: Calories-500, Protein-60g, Carbs-<40. I'm having an issue with fiber and constipation (1 bowel movement every other day), but yesterday I started using Benefiber packets. I also ordered some protein shakes that have 4g fiber and some that have 10g fiber. Since I start work August 8th, I won't have time to eat an actual breakfast, so I'm planning on using the protein shakes in place of my coffee in the mornings. Ideas? Suggestions? Advice?

Ugh! I feel your pain. That was me during the pandemic shut down of schools. I taught for 1.5 years from home. What I did this summer (because I was home all day) was pick a different room each day to "spring clean" while I waited for my surgery on June 19th. I literally went through boxes and bags and closets. I rearranged rooms, threw away things that were no longer of any use, got out of the house to visit with family more often than usual. You might consider some DIY projects at home to keep your mind busy. It doesn't have to cost a lot of money. They could be Dollar Tree DIY projects. Try to think of what things you want to take care of before your surgery that you won't be able to do for the first 2 months afterwards. I cleared the way back to my treadmill that was in the extra bedroom by moving boxes and furniture. I rearranged the kitchen so that things were easily accessible for me after my surgery without having to reach up too high or bend too low. I also made sure all the laundry was done, and that I had all the things I'd need in my immediate vicinity handy. I researched protein shakes, vitamins, supplements, and found this forum. I really do understand how hard it is to not focus on food when food has been our main focus for so long. You're not alone. Everyone finds different ways to distract themselves at first, but it really does become easier as the days go by, especially if you stop carb intake. I hope you find something in which you can immerse yourself that will help you, my friend.

Well, the detox from carbs really helps curb the hunger. I'm a teacher, and I'd have a protein shake for breakfast, another for lunch, then at home, eat a really good solid meal (no bread, tortillas, pastas, or sides but enough protein to fill me up) and then another shake as a snack after dinner. Also, it's extremely important to DRINK WATER ALL DAY. At first, yes, I wanted to snack and graze, but after the first week it was much easier. Being in the classroom from 7AM-5PM also really helped a lot too. I'm literally in front of my kids all day working, so it's not like I can walk away to eat, Lol! But it does get easier after a REAL detox from carbs. Your moods don't swing and your mind gets clear. It's like a brain fog lifts.

I detoxed from carbs and alcohol. It was difficult for only about the first 3 or 4 days. The less you eat carbs the less you crave them. I did 3 protein shakes and one solid, super low carb meal a day. Lost about 30 lbs in 30 days before I even started my 2-week pre-op liquid diet.

Open your profile, and then click on the third tab that says Tickers. Sorry, just saw this!

In my situation, it's not a the type of waist trainer or corset that keeps getting more and more tightened for an unnaturally small waist. Some of us are genetically inclined to have hourglass or pear-shaped bodies. The waist cinchers I'm talking about are really just a type of girdle that I've worn on and off since I was a teenager, sold at most department stores. Some are only worn under more shape-fitting clothes, some are only worn while exercising (the ones that make you sweat). It's never been anything extreme like the ladies who want 14-inch waists and wear them 24/7, LOL! I'm adding 2 photos of me 1.5 years after my 2009 sleeve, and I would wear the waist cinchers just to smooth things out under my clothes and help me get my shape back. I just want to get back to this: DISCLAIMER: I do not look like this anymore. It's my long-term goal.

I wondered about them as well. I've used girdles and waist cinchers throughout the years since Middle School. I waited until my incisions were completely healed on the outside because I thought if I sweat, the moisture and bacteria will cause an infection on the incision sites. So, now, they've all healed up and I tried on the one I just bought. Man, it was painful! I don't know if it's due to the fact that I've gone years without one or because I'm still healing on the inside. I thought I'd give myself another few weeks and try again. IMO, maybe wait until all incisions on your tummy are healed because added moisture could cause bacteria and infection.

Is your stage 3 pureed or soft foods? I actually bought a baby food maker. It was a life saver. But you don't need one, a blender works just fine! If it's pureed and you're craving something savory, you can put boiled or baked chicken in the blender, then mix it into 1/3 cup of the 98% fat-free cream of chicken. Two ounces of well-drained tuna with 2 tbsps of light mayo tastes really good, just be sure to over mix it so all the little chunks work themselves out. You can try canned chili and blend it even more than it already is. Canned beans can be mashed up and seasoned any way you like if you need to add fiber to your diet. For sweet foods, there's of course SF pudding, SF rice pudding, SF tapioca, low cal/low carb yogurt (Greek is the healthiest), and oatmeal sweetened with Stevia and cinnamon. I would make the oatmeal with water then add 3 tbsps of caramel-flavored whey protein shake (Premier Protein brand taste the best to me) that way, I was getting fiber and protein to make up for the high carb count. If your stage 3 is soft foods, you can try salmon or baked fish. For me the difference between pureed and soft foods was minimal because of what I liked to eat. Tuna is a staple for me. Except now I can eat it with some Quest cheddar crackers.

1 oz of boiled (but seasoned) chicken thigh

man... now I am too... lol

I didn't try peanut butter until after my surgery, during my pureed foods phase. But when I did, OMG, it hit my stomach hard. It wasn't painful, but man, it sat real heavy and for a very long time. Usually, the literature with which they send you home will give you examples of foods that are allowed during each post-op food phases or sample menus. The best thing, IMO, is to stick to your food phases plan and/or to reach out to your nutritionist or medical team.

So, on my appointment this past Monday, the PA said it is most likely due to a vitamin deficiency. He said to him it didn't look like acanthosis. He ordered blood work. I have another appointment on Aug 4th so they can let me know if I have any deficiencies or if I'm taking too much of something. I do still want to make an appointment with a dermatologist, though. Thank you!

Usually doctors will suggest calcium citrate because it's more readily absorbed than calcium carbonate. Viactiv is calcium carbonate.

Oh yeah, there's vegetable broth. Earlier I was going to suggest chicken, beef, or bone broth, but then I saw that you're vegetarian. I thought it would be rude. But now that LewiB mentioned it, I remembered there's also vegetable broth. I don't know the rules of your diet, sorry.

I can drink 80+ oz of water a day. But that was washing out all of my electrolytes. My nutrition wasn't enough to keep that balancee. So now, I drink 64oz of water, and 16 oz of Propel water so I don't cramp at night.

My weight loss is stalled and I'm constipated - "Drink more water, consume less sodium" So I start watching my sodium intake and consuming 80+ oz of water a day and using Benefiber 2x a day Since Wednesday night, I'm cramping in my feet and calves in my sleep - "You're drinking too much water and that's washing out all your electrolytes" Where do I find electrolytes? - "In your food (like sodium), but you can only consume small portions because of the surgery" What the hell am I supposed to do???

This past Monday, my PA told me I should probably be consuming 1,000 calories a day. Ta loco! (He's crazy). I reminded him I'm only 35 days out of surgery. I said I was consuming about 600 cals a day now, 60g protein, and 41 carbs (because 21 of my carbs and 60 calories come from my chewable vitamins and fiber supplements). He said I should up my cals. I told him, I'd up them to 700, but that was it. I'm not saying the kid doesn't know his stuff, but this isn't my first bariatric surgery. We know our bodies better than our docs, PAs, and nutritionists. Unfortunately, we know our bodies because we learn through trial and error. That's how we figure out when too much it TOO MUCH, or what foods our particular stomachs will reject or be fine with. "Since grams can be used to measure both solid and liquid ingredients, both types of ingredients can also be measured in a cup. However, while liquid ingredients are always the same weight in grams, solid and dry ingredients are not. Remember that grams are a measurement of weight or mass." Solid food is more dense than liquid. You'll need less solid to fill you up. Liquids will go though faster and easier. Listen to your tummy. Grams only measure the weight of something, not how bulky or dense it is. Also, everyone's tolerance, hunger, and nutritional needs will vary from person to person. The medical teams can give us guidelines, but even if they've personally had bariatric surgery themselves, ever body is different. I don't think that 1 cup of food is too much at 5 years out. However, only your stomach can decide that.

Mine only lasted about 8 days. My doc prescribed Tramadol for pain but it was only 18 pills ( I think). It was only supposed to last for like 3-4 days. The dosage was one every 4 hours for pain, but I would only take it at bedtime so that I could sleep through the night. That made it last much longer. I did not ask for a refill. After that, if I did feel something like soreness or dull pain, I'd just take the rapid release Tylenol. They dissolve really fast so that more of the medicine is absorbed.

Same. I have to start drinking my water at about 7 or 8 AM, then I wait about 20 min to eat. After I eat, I usually wait 45 min to an hour before I start drinking water again. However, I'm trying to discipline myself to only eating my regular 3 meals and a snack per day. The reason for this is because I'm a teacher. I can't just be eating and drinking all day. I'm teaching/speaking/lecturing/working one-on-one with my kids for 49 min at a time from 8:15 AM to 4:00 PM. I get a lunch and a conference period somewhere in the middle of the day. My last water bottle is usually consumed after 9 PM. What I did at the beginning was set reminders on my phone for my water and my vitamins. After a while, though, it just becomes part of your regular day. Always have a water bottle in your hand. Have one where you sit to watch tv, have one on your desk, take one with you in the car (you can take sips at the red lights), carry one in your purse. I also invested in protein shots. Bariatricpal sells 3 oz shots of 25g of protein. I use them at the end of the day if I haven't consumed enough protein throughout the day.

UPDATE: I started taking Benefiber 2x a day, and it seems to have helped the constipation issue. I've also started drinking one 16oz Propel/day and the midnight leg cramps stopped.

I was wondering if any of you who had the bypass use vitamin patches. I've been reading up on them, and I found this: "There is not enough research available at this time to promote a multivitamin patch in the bariatric population. Especially after weight loss surgery, you should be very aware of what products you are using to ensure that you are getting all the required nutrients to promote good health. Many practitioners recommend that bariatric patients stay away from multivitamin patches because if they don't work, the deficiencies can lead to severe consequences down the line." And this: "The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) says that vitamin A and B12 are deficiencies that bariatric patients experience the most, and therefore a vitamin patch simply wouldn't be adequate." I'm aware that certain vitamins do not transfer well through the skin and therefore must be ingested. However, I'd like to know about your personal experiences with vitamin patches. Any information is appreciated! Thank you!

I'm so sorry you're experiencing this. It's truly a sad fact of most, if not all, insurance companies. They'll gladly take our money every month whether we use their coverage or not, but when it comes to helping their customers when they actually need it, they're useless.

Wow, I've never heard of that. If you don't mind me asking, what insurance do you have?