ChunkCat

This is so true, you have to be your own best advocate!! I'm glad this time around is going much better for you! Make sure you get your rest, it is easy to overdo it at this stage, I am 2 weeks post op and pacing myself even though I feel like I have more energy than ever! I hope your recovery continues to go smoothly, you sure deserve it. ❤️

How you doing @BoilerBob?? Did they end up sending you home or are you captive for another night? How's the pain and nausea? Getting your fluids in?

The pressure in our little sleeved tummies is different than the pressure in a regular tummy from the things I've read. This can cause reflux to happen. Plus the acid our stomach produce when larger is the same amount produced when smaller, so basically we have more acid than we need. There are better PPIs than Prilosec, have you tried Protonix or Dexilant? I have had much better luck with these. RNY revision for reflux is a good option for a permanent solution. They'll probably do imaging to prove you have reflux (an upper GI series) and an endoscopy to check out the status of your stomach and esophagus. Insurance usually requires these before considering approval of a revision. I wish you much luck in finding a solution!!

Food aversion is real after having issues with vomiting and keeping food down. I agree with @Arabesque, have they done any imaging to be sure it is only a stomach stricture causing this?? @Char V is right, if they continue to just do scopes, you may want to ask to be referred up to someone with more experience. Not saying your doctor is wrong, just that with a chronic condition, sometimes two heads and a new pair of eyes is better than one. I really hope you find answers soon. ❤️

OMG I never noticed that!! Learned something new today... Thank you!!

There is some data I've read that says that aggressive working out can release stress hormones, particularly in women, which can slow weight loss. This is not the sort of working out that you enjoy, but really pushing hard in the gym with HIIT and not properly recovering. Me personally, I have enough stressors to add another one. So I'm inclined to do what workouts feel good and that I enjoy, give myself break days when I need it, and leave the hardcore workouts to those who like to put in time at the gym and don't mind stressing out their bodies. I get enough sympathetic activation in traffic. 😂

Babyspoons, what a fantastic visit! That is so exciting, I'm glad you are having such a great surgery outcome. Being able to see those numbers normalize and knowing you can start coming off of meds is just thrilling!! So many of these things CAN be reversed or reduced with surgery. It is just such a modern miracle to me. They took me off my blood pressure meds when I was in the hospital and told me I likely wouldn't need them anymore. I've been checking my BP at home and sure enough, it is steady and normal. No pounding headaches like before. I feel really blessed. And my GP took me off Ozempic and decided not to put me back on anything because I had surgery and she said she expected my follow up in 3 months to show normal levels! My fasting blood sugar in the hospital was 87!! I'm just so happy over it all...

Yaaaay!! You can do this Bob!! Yes, that gas pain was all in my chest. Walking helped SO much with it, even just little walks down the hall and back. Plus they made me sit up in a chair for a while, that helped too.

Do you not see a button to let you edit your post? I edit mine all the time because of typos! LOL Are you on your phone or computer? I never edit on the phone but I do on the computer all the time. Wonder why you don't have the option? It should be right next to "quote" on the bottom edge of your post on the left side.

Egg is a food that not everyone does well with. So maybe skip it for a while? Have you tried anything else like meatballs cooked in a sauce, nice and tender? It takes a while to adjust to each food stage and every body has its own timing. I'd trust yours, hold off on eggs, and try something else in the soft food category like cheese or deli lunch meat. There is nothing wrong with keeping to a base of purees until you've tried enough soft foods to compose meals. Many people just try one new thing a day, so it might take a while to get to that point. If you find you can't progress at all, let your surgeon know. I feel my stomach straight down the center and a little to the left. There are stitches there so tightness and poking sensations are normal for a while, stitches dissolve in everyone at a different rate. If this continues to bother you though feel free to ask your surgeon! They can explain more about where your particular stitches are. Yes, sometimes my stomach flutters too. I think it is normal. Mine also does these spasms where it feels like it is doing cartwheels inside me, also normal.

I think some get around this by having their insurance approve the staged treatment plan ahead of time, that way it isn't considered a revision, it is considered the second step in a primary surgery. This happens most often when a person's weight is high enough the surgeon believes the intestinal part of the surgery will be easier and safer at a lower weight. I've seen a number of people do this on the DS groups so it is possible, but my guess is not every insurance company lets their patients know it is possible and I'm sure there are some that outright refuse to because insurance companies like to be difficult. I wish you much luck with your surgery!!

Dates are getting close guys, I'm so excited for you!! I'm almost 2 weeks post surgery, mine was on Nov. 1st. I'm still on liquids and still getting the weird tummy spasms but I can now get some protein drinks in so that's progress!! Still hitting my fluid goals daily. I cannot stress this enough, try everything you can to hit your fluid goals post surgery and remember ALL fluid counts towards it, even protein shakes, broths, soups, etc... Being hydrated really helps things. Vary your fluids, use flavoring powders and decaf tea and decaf coffee, it helps you feel like you aren't just chugging along on one thing. I'm less sore this week abdominally so that's nice, less episodes of nausea so that's good too. Yesterday I was able to lay on my side for a bit with a pillow supporting my tummy. It felt sooo good, I'm so tired of laying on my back! I will tell you though one thing that has helped a lot is that our bed is on a platform that elevates the feet or head, so we've had the head elevated since my surgery. Sleeping on an incline has helped a lot with the pain and I seem to rest better with my head raised some. You can mimic this with pillows! Oh, and while you are in the hospital, if they don't do it automatically, ask for a script for a proton pump inhibitor. It will help with the over acidity that new tummies seem to deal with and you won't get reflux when you lay down at night. You can wean off after a few months once everything settles down, but I've noticed consistently that those who don't get prescribed these after surgery tend to have more indigestion and reflux post surgery as they are recovering, so something to think about.

I feel pretty awful now if I guzzle water so be careful with that, it hits our tummies hard to take in that much fluid in one go. I know it sounds weird because I'm not a bypass patient but I get dumping symptoms (nausea, pressure, dizziness, fatigue) if I take in too much water too quickly and it leads to wicked diarrhea if I'm not careful. Remember to slow down... If you are drinking too fast it is possible you are eating too fast too. This could cause all the issues you are describing. I've found that what I thought was slow was not slow enough. Take your slow and double the time and try that!

Congrats, it sounds like you are doing fantastic and really enjoying the change in your mobility and activity level!! That's awesome! May it continue to get even better yet!!

Are you meeting your protein goals at 400 calories a day?? Some programs will give you calorie goals, but others tend to focus on macros. Which does your doctor/dietician use? I know at 400 calories I'd be waaay below my protein goals, and those protein goals are very important to maintain your muscle mass as you lose weight. By 3 months out you should be able to hit them most days, or at least get close.

Mine was within a month, but we had to move it up ASAP from 3 months out because I need another surgery in December for my shoulder. You can absolutely give your surgeon your preferred dates! They may not be able to schedule you on the exact one you request, but if you give them a window they should be able to work with you!!

You need some electrolyte powders to mix in your water. Look for one with a good amount of potassium and magnesium. It stops the "keto flu" symptoms like fatigue and headaches! A lot of people underestimate them. I did 3 weeks of a pre-op diet with no headaches or muscle cramps after the first day because I started taking those handy little powders! They help post-op too.

Talk to your doctor about a medication for this. It will help a lot while you are healing and your new tummy is adjusting to things. You can try weaning off of it later once everything has settled. Also, sleeping on a wedge pillow can help as it elevates your head and help slow the reflux. Congrats on your surgery!!!

If I'm calculating right, you are about 6 months out. You lost all that weight in 6 months?! Take some time to be fiercely proud of yourself and your body! At 6 months out you are probably not done losing, but you are in the realm of stalls for sure. Are you keeping track of your body measurements? Sometimes when the scale doesn't move the inches do. Your body has a lot of reorganizing to do as you drop weight, sometimes it needs a time out to make sure everything is going to continue working! Losing weight this fast is actually pretty hard on the body. I wouldn't stress it by changing up a bunch of things trying to force the scale to move, it'll just take your body that much longer to recalibrate. Honestly, this is probably just a stall and will take TIME. The body will not let go before it is ready to, no matter how much you punish it... Surgery is rough and I swear the majority of the struggle is with our head game. If your mind isn't right with these things, you will experience it all as a suffering and be angry at your body for not cooperating. I think most of us have spent chunks of our lives hating our bodies. This surgery and weight loss is an opportunity to heal that, but only if you take it. Let go of the diet mentality. Show yourself some kindness. Celebrate how far you have come in such a short period of time. And trust things will move when they are ready to move. I'm talking to myself as much as I'm talking to you, I have to remind myself of this EVERY DAY. ❤️

My bed is on one of those platforms where you can raise the head or the feet---the head has been raised since I had surgery. It has helped me sleep much more comfortably on my back after surgery (I'm a week and a half post op). A pillow wedge would simulate that just fine without the added expense, I used one for years, which is why when we replaced our bed we got the adjustable platform. I'm going to say a 5. I have a recliner and it has helped some, but pillow behind me on the couch is just as good. I wouldn't think it is necessary for this surgery unless you start to have reflux issues, in which case you should talk to your doctor about meds and get a wedge pillow, they *really* help with reflux.

Oh, if you want to do something fruity you could have a baked fruit pudding if you are fine with some sugar and want a dessert treat. Mmmmm....

I think colcannon would be good with maybe baby spinach or a more tender cabbage! My first thought when I read your post is a shepherd's pie. The ground meat and tender veggies would be perfect for soft foods, it's on my list to make as soon as I hit that stage because I think it'll be perfect in little ramekins! Or a Guinness stew! ETA: My partner who is from New Zealand and has eaten a fair amount of that sort of food says black pudding if you want to be really authentic! LOL

The warning some programs have about microwaving your food really just has to do with how microwaves can dry out proteins, making them dry and tough, not good for a new tummy. The solution is to make sure if you are microwaving a protein like chicken or beef, that you have it in some sort of sauce or gravy to keep it tender. Sometimes damp paper towels will work too. Anything that helps the meat not dry out! Or even heating at 50% power and stirring frequently. But yes, you can use a microwave, just be careful how you heat things.

I've been getting whatever flavor soup I want and just putting it through a fine sieve. My favorite right now is vegetable beef! It makes for a lot more variety. Also some bone broths are pretty good. Kettle & Fire is pricey but I like their Thai flavors.

I don't have any since I don't have a uterus. LOL But I have seen some comment here about it, you may want to use the search function and see if you can pull up past posts about infertility. I've also seen a number of bariatric pregnancy groups on Facebook so you might want to check that out too! They will probably have much more targeted information for you! I wish you a lot of luck!!