lily06

Hi All ! I hope everyone is doing well on their journey, As usual, when i don’t know who to turn to regarding my VSG journey i turn to the forum 🤣 For a little backstory i had VSG surgery in early april of this year, so it’s been 7 months so far. I’m now down 88 pounds / 40kg And for the first time throughout these 7 months i’ve started getting comments from people about how much weight i’ve lost. Mainly from coworkers, or friends i haven’t seen in a while - « wow you’ve lost so much weight » or « you’ve melted away the pounds » or « you look completely different » … The issue is i have no idea how to react ! I never know what to say i feel awkward and weird when someone says this to me … and i’m not usually the kind of person to not react it’s just so strange to me that i can’t seem to find the words. Shouldn’t i be proud ? It’s what i wanted after all … Does or has anyone else felt the same ? How did you navigate the comments ?

Hi everyone I’m currently just gone 7 months post op and just got my bloodwork back from the vitamin and minerals panel my surgeon had me do and it turns out i’m very low on Vitamin A. I realise i’m super uneducated on what vitamin A is/comes from and how to remedy it. I take a daily bariatric vitamin - one that was prescribed by my surgeon and it seems to be doing the trick on all other necessary levels of vitamins but A. I’ve tried to research a little but so far i’m not understanding how to manage this or where it comes from. All i’ve seen is that it’s common in bariatric patients ? I’m seeing my surgeon mid november so it’s a little far out from now and i kind of want to know a little about it before my appointment. If anyone has any insight it’ll be greatly appreciated !

Yes i think i’ll do that especially because as you say it’s the only low level i have. Crazy to me because i’ve had iron issues all my life this is the first time my iron has been in « normal » range albeit low side of the normal range

Interesting info ! I was tracking my macros but my doc asked me to stop as he maintains it can lead to unhealthy obssesional behaviour I don’t fully agree with that but i tried winging it just to see. Maybe i should track macros for a while without fixating on calorie intake but only on nutrional values 🤔

I had VSG so wasn’t aware it was common It’s my second panel - i had one 3-4 months out and it was fine I’ll définately call my doctor later today thanks for the insight

Yesss i had the exact same realisation that i was wearing things too tight before. I think clothing is one of those things that we don’t necessarily notice getting baggy until suddenly one day you realise your shirt doesn’t look right and looks huge I’m actually considering buying 2 different sizes of work clothes so i can just switch to the next size down without having to search for entirely new outfits I went clothes shopping today and spent so long trying things on and have come to the conclusion i had absolutely no idea what size i was - i’ve actually bought clothing in a smaller size than i expected 😱 feels so good ! And kind of even better that i hadn’t seen that coming It’s actually given me a huge motivation boost so i highly recommend window shopping and trying things on to anyone who feels like their weightloss isn’t noticeable to them

Yup but sadly that doesn’t deter most men .. i actually think these idiots see it as a challenge to get to flirt with a married woman !

I am 100% going through the same clothes dilemma 🤣 i realised yesterday my clothes are too big and i have nothing to wear 😱 and the weather getting colder i tried on all my coats and they are all ridiculously too big Quite the opposite problem i used to have so i cannot wrap my head around it I know everyone says not to buy new clothes but hey let’s make the most of it - dragging my bf around London this weekend to sort my wardrobe out hahaha

I’m glad i’m not the only one. I just found myself reacting awkwardly it’s crazy. I also think i’m someone who would never comment something like that except to a close friend or family member so i find it weirdly intrusive !

Hi Everyone I am in desperate need of tips on how to take my vitamins. I have tried 4 different brands that my surgery office prescribes (i live in Europe so may not have the same brands as other areas). They are all bariatric patient specific vitamins. I have also tried different formats of the vitamins: powder/ gel capsule/ hard pill … neutral or flavoured. And i just can’t take them. Every time i swallow a pill it feels stuck inside my throat and makes me cough and splutter and i feel it stuck for ages. When i break open the capsules and pour the powder over something i gag so badly because of the taste that it makes me feel sick for hours. The powder that you mix in a a drink is so disgusting that i heave when i try to force it down I do take them with food during a meal but it puts me completely off my food once i struggle to get them down. I don’t know what to do anymore - does anyone have any ideas or tips on what i can do or on any vitamin brands available in Europe that have the correct composition for vsg patients ? I need a high iron supplement due to genetic form of anemia. 🙏🙏🙏

Yayy congrats ! I’d heard of the 3 week stall but not the 3 month 😱 this explains so much !! I’m about 4 months post up and i’ve hit my first long stall : it’s been 4 weeks and no loss. Oh well i can’t complain i just take it one day at a time but that worry creeps on me sometimes Well done to everyone in this thread i get so happy when people describe all their personal NSVs !! My biggest one happened a few days ago: No more seatbelt extender on the plane I weirdly enough didn’t even expect it so it was an entire new (positive) shock when i got on the plane and just randomly realised i could fit comfortably in the seat and buckle the belt 😊

If this experience taught me anything it was that the human body adapts - i was panicking my first week out of surgery i knew i wasn’t drinking enough broth and water and tea included. But my dietician just said you’ll see your body adapts as long as you keep sipping when you can - you do the best you can listen to your body. The internal swelling is no joke - you can feel perfectly fine on the outside but imagine the healing going on inside. You’ll actually be able to feel it go down a little each day and the restriction won’t be so harsh. I hit none of my hydration or protein goals the first few weeks 🤣 and i felt sooo bad about it but in the end it really isn’t the end of the world as long as you try to the best of your ability

I did 2 things preop that helped immensely: 1) this may sound weird but i guessed i’d be in a little pain from the incisions so a couple of days before going into the clinic i move everything i figured i’d need in the first week post up to middle shelves in my kitchen/fridge : cups, scales, protein shakes and powders etc. And thank god i did because i had abdominal muscle pain (like i’d done 10000 crunches) and was told not to bend down for a while. 2) i wrote out « meal » plans from what my dietician provided in order to clearly see what time of day i’d eat (protein shakes) and drink (water). I’m the kind of person who needs a set plan that’s clear and that i can follow because i was lost the first few days. I wrote out 4 weeks of meal plans and i varied the shakes and purées and soups so i didn’t get sick of one specific one (never ate the same one 2 meals in a row and alternated with the next day). Not sure it actually helped my experience but it did help me see clearly mentally 🤣

Oh no never ever compare the others - i noticed the WLS surgery can be quite toxic at times online. Some almost boasting about eating so very little … well some of us need more and when i caught myself panicking about being actually hungry i thought about it after a few days and i’m glad ! I can eat a bit more so it means i can go out to eat and choose wisely, i can drink so i’m not dehydrated, i can live a normal life which in the end is why i wanted the surgery It’s normal to want to compare but i think we should each go through the journey and listen to our own bodies which is what we should’ve been doing all these years Good luck with everything 🥰

Exactly ! I think it’s the smell more than taste that’s activating my gag reflex even before i swallow them. I never had an issue with vitamins before surgery it’s so weird. Does anyone know the composition that i should be looking for ? I don’t even know how to compare brands because i’m not sure what measurements of what vitamin or mineral i should be taking.

Thank you! I just ordered a sample pack to try them out - fingers crossed

Hi ! I felt the same around 3-4 weeks post op i panicked thinking i could eat way too much and that something was wrong. Then i started measuring and logging into MFP my food intake and realised i was only eating 800-1000 calories a day so all in all it’s nothing to worry about. Truth is everyone is different, the restriction is different. I can and have since around 2 weeks post op gulp water 🤷🏻‍♀️ some people can’t even months down the line. I think it’s easy to get scared in the first few weeks post op but no need to panic - we are no where near being able to eat the quantities we used to eat. Concentrate on what you’re feeling as you eat, learn your fullness cues and it’ll reassure you 💯

Week 5 Post op Sw: 155kg /341lbs Stats to date: - 13,8kg / -30.42lbs

Week 4 Post op Sw: 155kg /341 lbs Stats to date: - 13,8kg / -30.42lbs One month post op today ! I’ve been back at work for a full week and feeling great. I work as higher management in a corporate environment so except the daily and expected stress it’s not too strenuous. I had promised myself i wouldn’t go for long hour days unless i felt ok about it and i do. I am working as per usual and managed to get back into the swing of things after 3 weeks off. The only difference has been i actually take the time to take snack breaks. My daily eating schedule looks like: - breakfast + around 300-400ml water + coffee with milk and stevia - mid morning snack - lunch - water all afternoon - dinner I have adaptes super super well to the « real food » stage and i can eat absolutely everything i’ve tried. The only thing that does make me feel slightly uncomfortable is raw vegetables (lettuce, beetroot, carrot) or certain fruits (watermelon). It’s not that i feel pain i just feel super bloated when i eat them. I think the most shocking thing has been the fact that i went from being unable to eat more than 30-50g in the early days to actually being able to eat a (dessert) plate of food. I took what my surgeon told me about not measuring and ran with it: no more weighing food i just eyeball my dessert plate and i’ve learned my limit so i know when i’m full. I actually think it’s crazy when i think back to the amount i used to put on a plate … It did scare me to be eating more but i have understood that the actual goal is to be able to eat a « normal » portion. Because before i used to serve 2-3 in one sitting ! I have family friends that are visiting for 5 days and don’t know i’ve had surgery (we’re not specifically close enough to discuss this topic) and they actually haven’t noticed anything (or at least haven’t mentioned it haha) but i can sit and enjoy a meal with everyone without restrictions on anything other than the quantity. I’ve been able to eat carbs for a few days so i made a delicious bell pepper tomato and chorizo tart served on a bed of baby spinach - i had 1/6 size tart, and served everyone else the standard 1/4 size slice. Even though i know i’m eating much less i do feel guilty about eating more than 3 weeks ago at times. I feel like my surgery isn’t working because i feel hungry if i miss a snack mid morning … but, i know from having logged all food and drink for a while that i’m’at 600-800 cals per day So i’m reassured by the fact that it’s scientifically impossible to not lose weight eating so much less. Hopefully this slight panic, scared feeling subsides with time.

I hoped this thread would help at least one person because i devouuuured every post and every account of surgery and post op journeys i could before my own 😊 good luck for your surgery !

Hi Everyone! I’m having my VSG surgery tomorrow, april 3rd and i plan on documenting my journey here. I’ve searched and read countless threads to try and anticipate what tomorrow will be like so i thought i’d create this topic to document and be able to look back on how things went. I’ve been in the pre-op requirement journey since october 2023, my requirements were pretty flexible: 10 days of nutrition, psychological and art therapy as well as physical activity classes in a specialised facility - there were also mandatory support group meetings to attend during the past 7 months. I also did not have any pre-op diet as my surgeon doesn’t require any weightloss before performing the surgery. I’m happy with the team i have working with me, and the clinic has a great reputation. But, obviously nerves have started to kick in and for the first time i’m actually scared. What if something goes wrong during surgery ? I guess these are normal thoughts, just trying to get through the stress and get to the other side of the surgery so i can concentrate on the long road ahead :) I’ll report to the clinic at 8.30 am tomorrow, and my surgery is scheduled for 10 am. Hoping everything goes well !! Fingers crossed.

It’s really interesting reading about how and why everyone chose their surgery My surgeon actually told me at the very earliest : he would not make the choice for me as if i wasn’t the one making the surgery type choice it opened up the possibility of regretting whichever i went with. I asked him what he recommended he told me there are no specific advantages of bypass over sleeve or vice versa. He did however explain that 30% of vsg patients end up with GERD (especially it already having reflux without surgery) and that dumping was way more frequent in bypass patients. He also told me that age factors in : younger women for example can use the sleeve then may need to convert to bypass later in life (after several pregnancies for example) to continue being able to face fluctuating weight from such events. In the end i went with the sleeve, hoping i wouldn’t be one of the 30% who develop GERD. 1 month post up tomorrow - So far so good no reflux but i am taking medication that could be masking it

I found it hard the first 3 -5 days but once the internal swelling calmed down i kind of focused on feeling drinks or food going down. I’d spend 30 minutes mentally following the mouthful and trying to identify what i felt. In the end i’ve notice a sort of tension in the stomach as the first sign of being full. Then there were other random signs : hiccupping is the strangest one, and for the first week i’d get a runny nose if i’d eaten too much It’s all so new but we’ll work it out - good luck 😊

Week 3 Post Op Sw: 155kg / 341 lbs Stats to date: - 11.6kg / 25.5 lbs I hit 3 full weeks post op yesterday and met with my surgeon + nutritionist So far so good, nut is happy with the progress i’ve made and have given the ok to move to solid food no restrictions. We looked at my hydration levels, all are good thank god because this particular subject is one of my biggest worries ! She gave me some ideas to up my protein but told me it’s quite normal to not be getting protein in yet and that month 2 is generally when you can build on that. We talked a lot about actually going up in food quantities. She told me that i should be eating 150g meals from month 1-3 then around 200 g from 3-6 months and ending up at 300g meals (standard portion size) from 6-12 months. She explained how to start adding quantity : adding one more spoonful per week. She and my surgeon are both pretty against weighing food they want me to start eyeballing as they both say the goal is to be able to live a normal life and be able to visually know one’s serving. Not sure how i feel about that and the whole upping the quantities thing is scary right now … we’ll see. My surgeon is completely happy and has provided my estimated weightloss curve. He estimates per his calculations a loss of around 60kg in 12 months - fingers crossed. He also gave me the ok to got back to work earlier than he had anticipated - but with a warning that i need to take particular care in having my daily vitamins because work means being more active and more fatigue. He did however not clear me for any physical activity on top of work. I work in an airport so i walk a LOT daily and he doesn’t want me to add more activity on top of my above average daily steps. I’ll be back in his office at month 3 now so early july ! I am officially stalled and have been for around 5 days so far weight wise which is expected and i’ve decided to just put the scale away and check back one week from now. I have survived my first ever restaurant with my boyfriend - and it went great ! I ate very slowly and was able to adapt my portion and my meal (steamed salmon and 1 baby potato) Incidentally we had a little conversation about his exclamations of « is that all you’re having are you sure, are you really sure » and i realised it’s strange for him to be seeing me eating so little and he has this kind of guilt about going all out and eating big portions. It made me feel ssooo good to get back into « normal » life, even at work i packed a snack box of individually portioned snacks (16g cheese slices, 30g watermelon, 30g strawberries and then a lunch of tuna salad and 3 crackers). It was so much easier than i thought to actually get into a real life normal routine - i love it !

Thanks ! I have unflavoured protein but it’s so hard to actually mix in that i’d given up on it entirely. I’ll try changing brands hopefully that helps 😊