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Post-op discomfort (poking sensation) and soft food phase
Arabesque replied to Lisa1313's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
@ChunkCat is right. Eggs can be difficult for some. Also on purée try to keep your food still pretty runny - like at the very least ‘gloop’ of your spoon. You may need to make yours even runnier by adding additional stock, gravy, water, milk, etc. And yes, while healing you can have weird muscle spasms & strains. Remember your tummy is a muscle & it has to heal from being cut. Lots of nerves also were cut during your surgery & other abdominal organs are moved about while they operate too. So the spasms & other weird feelings are understandable. Someone posted recently that they’re surgeon told them it can take 8 weeks or more you heal from a sleeve. So you may continue to have these spasms & twinges for a while yet. But do check with your surgeon to be sure - better safe than sorry. -
November 2023 buddies
SomeBigGuy replied to brandycsiz's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I have my VSG scheduled that Monday, so I am right there with you. My family asked me why I didn't just wait until after the holidays, but like what you said, I can't let food be the excuse to push it back further. That and it was the only time I could use enough leave time + holiday time to take off for a week. -
Its been 6 week's postop for me and I have a 1/2 to a full cup of decaf each morning with no issues! I'm RNY as well.
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December Surgery Buddies!
ChunkCat replied to AshleeHarvey's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Courtnay, I am so sorry you had such an awful experience... I had some nurses that really irritated me and treated me poorly but an orderly found me crying because I was in so much pain and stressed by the nurse and so she reported the nurse, which was uncomfortable in the moment because I had to talk to a bunch of people, but really made them treat me decently the rest of the time! You can definitely have the bypass later once the sleeve takes off some weight. This happens sometimes with DS surgeries where they end up doing the sleeve first and then the intestinal part later once some abdominal fat is lost. Livers can be really tricky. Mine was still "plump" during the surgery, I just happen to have an extremely skilled surgeon who was able to work around it, but he told me sometimes that isn't possible. And I really want to say this, what happened to you IS NOT YOUR FAULT!! I'd find a therapist that deals with trauma, specifically medical trauma if possible, to help process this experience. Later down the road if your weight loss isn't stable you can consider converting to bypass or DS, you have options now with the sleeve! I know it isn't what you wanted, and I don't understand why the doctor didn't just close you up and try again later if you felt so strongly about it, but hindsight is always 20/20 and the good thing is that the sleeve DOES take off weight and that weight loss will help you feel a lot better. You should be on a good PPI with your heartburn, twice a day if needed. Omeprazole was always useless to me, so I use pantaprazole in the morning and Dexilant in the evening, both are prescription and they work wonderfully, no food triggers at all. You don't have to suffer with heartburn and reflux, they really should sort your meds out for that. It will make nausea and eating a lot easier. Oh and a few weeks out my digestive system was very testy. I had IBS before and it was grumpy post surgery. Fairlife shakes make me run to the bathroom for days for some reason! I like the Syntrax Nectar fruit flavors, they are like juice. Seeq is also good, it is like juice too, they are water based protein drinks, not creamy milk ones, and my digestive system handles them both better. You can get samples of Syntrax from Bariatric Pal and samples of Seeq from their website. Sending you lots of love... I hope things ease up soon and those hormones calm down, they are really rough after surgery! ❤️ -
Having trouble with pre-surgery weight loss (TW negative feelings)
Arabesque replied to Theia103121's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
This is exactly how I used to think about dieting. I was punishing myself for gaining weight. I was missing out on my favourite foods or on what others may be eating when socialising. ‘Diet’ had so many negative connotations to me. So I don’t use the word any more. This is simply the way I eat. It took a while to change my thinking but it did/does help a lot. There are foods I simply don’t eat or eat very rarely now that I loved to eat before. Do I miss them? Not really. Do I feel I‘m missing out? Nope. You may find it easier to make small changes to your eating & food choices instead of jumping into a full ‘diet’. Small wins are still wins. Change one or two things each week like reduce your portion sizes & increase your fluid intake (64ozs). Increase your protein intake. Stretch out the times between your snacking, or reduce how many snacks you have each day. And so on until you have adopted the recommendations from your surgeon/dietician. And be honest about your struggles with them & tell them what you are doing to incorporate their weight loss plan. They may have other suggestions on what you can do too. All the best. -
Mashed-up Sugar-free Peanut Butter Cups on Pureed Diet OK?
Wildflower Bohême replied to Wildflower Bohême's topic in Post-op Diets and Questions
Hm, good point about the sugar alcohols. My doctor is letting me have peanut butter in the soft foods stage, as she and my dietician let me know at my first post-op appointment last week. For me, candy has been a trigger in the past, but not as much as savory things. I feel like on that front, I'll be ok. As you said, I too definitely want to move towards whole foods, but I would like this one day to have a little something, within reason, if I can. -
When I went to my 6 week post op consultation ,I happened to sit in close proximity to a woman who had also had the Gastric Sleeve .She thought she looked wonderful - I thought she looked terminally ill ."I'm nearly at my wedding weight " she said proudly .I smiled and said nothing .She was the opposite of how I wanted to look .Her hair was thin and lack lustre , her skin sagging and dull .I listened in horror as she explained she was still trying to lose weight .I thought she summed up the very look I never wanted to have .Her slimness did nothing to inspire me .So I am 3 months post op .I can now walk freely , breathe better ,and I fit into my favourite jeans .I am not at my ideal BMI but if I don't lose further weight ,I'll be content .I eat more healthily and do more . So I suppose that is my story and I'm happy with it .
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November Surgery Buddies!!!
Spinoza replied to Tristenhilpert97's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
Hi November 21 guys!!!! Exactly 2 years to the day since my sleeve so I need to post something to mark the date. I've lost exactly half my body weight since my surgery. I can't believe that - way beyond what I ever expected and I know it's just the luck of the draw but I feel so blessed to be in this position. The figures tickle me, LOL. My maintenance calorie intake has settled around 1500. I don't think I'll ever be able to exceed that without regaining. That's fine - a small price to pay. I still track absolutely everything I eat and I think I always will. I can chug about 7 or 8 swallows of a drink (strangely this is the thing that bothered me most NOT to be able to do over the last 2 years). I am running 2 or 3 times a week. Short distances but my aim when I started this process was to get back to that so - win. Please could you share your experiences of the last 2 years? Good or bad. -
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Advice You Wish You'd Known?
BigZ replied to diadori's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I am 3 months PO from VSG. My surgeon and dietician were not on sync. Post OP instructions were different than what the dietician said. Make sure you clarify everything on your post op, ie timelines, restrictions. Break up with food! I was at the point of hating food before surgery, it helped with the post op. I am being pretty strict with what I eat so far. I still mainly eat protein, very few starches/carbs/veggies/fruits. FOMO (Fear of missing out) does suck at first. Head hunger for me was the worst for 2 weeks post op. Exercise is still my downfall, my arthritis is still wrecking my knees, but less and less as time goes on. Be prepared for constipation. Find out your Dietician's timeline if you drink coffee/alcohol. Every single one is different, they don't follow a guideline. Some are super strict and some are more relaxed. Find you protein drink you like, you will be drinking quite a few of them. I need to drink one everyday to make protein goals. Find out what medications you can take before/after surgery. If you need to change them get it done before surgery. I am allergic to tylenol, so I am still able to take NSAIDs (Ibup) when I need it at a lower dose than before. i had to give up my knee meds as they are nsaids. Also if you are on blood pressure meds you will need ones that aren't a diuretic. Get your supplements before surgery or right after, you will be taking them within a few weeks. Try and get chewable everything. Pills suck to swallow at first. -
Did I mess up my surgery already only 3 weeks in??
Arabesque replied to RosessXO's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
Try to keep food moist by adding sauces & gravies. In the beginning I ate a lot of mince dishes like savoury mince & bolognese (without the pasta) & some casseroles/stews which are more on the sloppy side & are more easily eaten & digested. In time this won’t be as necessary but dry or coarse food may still cause you some issues at times. In time you will find you can drink with or closer to when you eat. This is an individual thing though - some can, some can’t. But, yes, in the first months while you’re eating so little it is vital you properly digest your foods & get every nutrient. Drinking while eating washes the food through your digestive system more quickly. This video helps explain it: In the beginning I used to sip on my shakes & soups for ages. I’d dilute them to thin them out & because they count as liquids you are helping to ensure you meet your fluid goals too. I didn’t have more serves than I was supposed to & this is an important consideration. There will be times when you have to make the best choice possible from the food you have available. For example you could have eaten the broth & not the martza balls in the deli soup or strained it when you got home. If you’re cooking you choose the ingredients you add so you could just not put potatoes or rice in the chicken soup you made. In the beginning this can be even more difficult because of your limitations but there are ways around it. Taking food with you to eat is often the easiest. Remember too that as well as all the sutures & staples holding your tummy together, a lot of nerves were cut so messages aren’t getting through or aren’t getting through in the same way so you may not know if you are actually doing damage. It takes about 8 weeks to fully heal so it is important to stick to your plan in regards to food choices, portion sizes, etc. It’s there to protect your healing tummy & support your recovery. This may seem a lot & it does take time to work it all out. We all slip or not make the best choice at some time. It’s all part of the learning. You just have to not make it a regular thing. You’ve got this. All the best. -
I really love your thoughtful reply. I'm definitely eating too fast. But the info you just gave will definitely encourage me to slow the heck down! At 6 weeks post-op, I don't think I should be eating as much volume per meal as I am. I'm doing about 1/2 cup each meal. I'm going to stop that immediately. I'll do 1/4-1/3 cup, as you suggest, and then just wait. I probably won't feel hungry after the wait, and I'll be better off for it. Thank you!
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I had my taste buds change about 4 days ago (I'm 2 weeks post op). It's awful!! I can't taste sweet spices at the moment, like cinnamon and nutmeg. Perfect time of year to not be able to taste those things! LOL Also a number of savory things don't taste right anymore... I hear this taste change happens a lot in the 1st year. As for your family, you are going to have to set some firm boundaries there. I know it is hard to do with family, but if you don't set them now it'll only get worse. Just tell her you've had enough and you'll return to it later, then put your plate away... Tell her you get labwork to ensure you are getting enough nutrients, she doesn't need to worry. Your body is different now and your food needs are different. And that what you need most from her is SUPPORT in this new way of life, not encouragement to overeat. Parents have a hard time seeing their children as responsible adults who can care for their own bodies and lives. Sometimes we need to (kindly) remind them we've got this.
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Listen to your doctor and give your body time to heal. Just because you can't feel everything that has been done inside doesn't mean it is healed yet. I've found this out the hard way with other abdominal surgeries. Their time limits on activity and sex are there for a reason, they are to keep you safe and keep you from accidentally rupturing your sutures or causing a hernia right after surgery. I know it is hard to wait when you feel good, but you only get one chance to heal from this surgery!! Make it a good healing!! ETA: I'm one week post op and sitting with my feet up instead of putting the groceries away! All that bending and lifting is not for me right now. I could do it if I wanted to but I'd rather give my body every opportunity to rest and heal right now, so I'm staying put. LOL
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It took me two months to get all my requirements done so we could submit to insurance. Insurance approved it within a week! It really depends on your insurer and what you need to do to be cleared for surgery. My longest wait was to see the cardiologist, they were booked out 6 weeks. But I know some have had much longer waits so I consider myself lucky. I'm scheduled for surgery Nov. 1st, my first appt with the surgeon was August 3rd. Good luck with losing your last 5 lbs!!
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This is good to know! I've been a little worried about it too. I'm having a DS in less than 3 weeks and there aren't many around to talk to!
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October 2023 surgery buddies
New To This23 replied to Shotputqueen's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
It gets better. I'm on day 6, tomorrow day 7 of a two-week pre-op full liquid diet. I was feeling pretty good by day 4 myself and honestly the last two days I have not been hungry at all. -
This last 50 pounds is the bane of my existence!!!
Arabesque replied to SleeveToBypass2023's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
The last pounds are the hardest to lose. A real b*tch. But could you be experiencing a stall. I recall you were prone to them with your sleeve. Also don’t forget your new set point. Could this be the weight your body is happiest at?? How long has it been since you lost anything? For those who are interested, Dr Matt Weiner posted a video about set point (metabolic thermostat) a couple of days ago. Others, like Dr John Pilcher, will likely have good videos too. -
"You look great - You're wasting away..." - Dammit I have 10lbs to lose....
MandoGetsSleeved posted a topic in Rants & Raves
I know most folks here can relate - I'm well over a year out and these last 10lbs to my "real" goal are just killing me. I jump back on the bandwagon for a week or so and lose 2-3 lbs and then gain them back for no apparent reason (other than hormones and such) which of course puts me in a mood to just give up and go back to normal maintenance... then again, lose/gain the same 2-3 lbs over the next few weeks. Particularly when everyone is commenting on how great you look and "WOW, you are killing it, you look smaller every time I see you." No dammit - I want to lose at least another 10-20 lbs... I know what I need to do, just can't seem to get in the right headspace for more than a week or two. -
Don't bring a ton of stuff to the hospital, you'll spend most of your time trying to drink and walking. No need for a ton of entertainment items or toiletries. I spent two days (9/25-9/27) in the hospital and the only thing I grabbed out of my bag was my phone charger. Invest in a vitamin/pill organizer. I tried taking my pills straight out of the medicine bottles and was constantly forgetting. The organizer keeps everything in one place and is a better visual reminder. Ask for a binder in the hospital, it helps immensely when changing positions. I wore mine religiously for the first two weeks.
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about a week - and that's pretty common. There's not much in there yet. You might want to start taking stool softeners because that first one post-surgery can be a doozy.
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Thank you both for the great info. I'm still taking things really slow (I had issues at the 3 week mark and had to get IV fluids). I'm still struggling on getting my proteins and water but it's slowly getting better. I just want to make sure I'm doing things correctly. I see my doctor this week for my 6 wk post-op so I'm sure they'll have some additional info for me.
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I am preop and was just reading through the folder my surgeon's office has given me. There's a section called keeping the weight off where they talk about portions after you've gotten past the honeymoon period. They say that a meal should be 3-4 oz of lean protein with 20-25g protein, 1/2 cup of whole grain or starchy vegetables, and then half of the plate is leafy/non-starchy veg and fruit. The most important part for me was where they said: Sometimes portion sizes increase over time. If you feel you are able to eat more at meals, increase the portion of non-starchy vegetables. I would start there, because I think the tendency as appetite increases is to grab a bigger plate and increase everything proportionally. So now you may be eating 5-6 oz protein and 3/4 to 1 cup of starch or grain. And maybe adding in more sauces, more fats, a piece of bread, some alcohol, juice, some sweet treats, a daily snack. My surgeon's plan emphasizes keeping to 3 meals per day without snacking once you're past the first few weeks where you need to supplement with protein shakes just to meet minimum protein goals. But if you can regularly get 20-25g protein at a meal, plus 1/2 cup starch or grain and some veg/fruit, you don't need to eat more than 3 times per day, 4-6 hours apart. This is something that isn't always made clear. When I started this journey, I was certain that gastric bypass would mean having to eat lots of small meals all throughout the day, which is exactly what I'm being told not to do! But you do need to get at least 64oz of water or more all the time, and you can add as much veg and fruit as you need to feel full. I think that is where I would start in your position. Go back to measuring your meals, setting timers to remind you when your meal times are if you need to, eating only food you prepare yourself and/or know exactly what's in it. Check your cupboards for temptations and get rid of them. Pay attention to the urges you have to do something that isn't part of your plan, because that's probably going to show you the problem areas and help you figure out how to change. And most of all, give yourself a little bit of grace, because this isn't easy (no matter what people try to say). Take care of yourself. Get enough sleep. Get fresh air and exercise. Be kind to yourself.
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My vision doesn't go white with the hypoglycemia. I get severe brain fog, shaking, heart racing and sweating. Unfortunately, it has a tendency to sneak up on me. If I don't eat every 2 hours - whether I'm hungry or not - I'll end end up crashing. They want me to stick to 60g of protein per day. My nutritionist wants me to stay away from protein shakes, but I do drink them on occasion. They help get something into me quickly, when my blood sugar drops. I'd say I probably drink one a week. I'm having an issue with my diaphragm that is keeping me from doing any exercise that works my core. We're working on fixing that, now. Once I'm able to start lifting weights, my protein intake won't be as much of a problem. It's so weird how different doctors have such wildly different plans.
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That 1st weight at the Surgeons office
Arabesque replied to KK711's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
Okay, so you bulk up before your weigh in with food, fluid, heavy clothing or shoes, or weighing down your pockets. I would worry that you go the second time without this additional bulk & you weigh a lot less & they think wow you’ve lost a lot of weight great. But the third time your weight has slowed a lot to what would be appropriate for your real weight. Plus the more you weigh the more they may want you to lose before surgery. Be careful, besides taking off my shoes I’ve been asked to remove a heavier skirt before my weigh in so they’d get a more accurate result. (Didn’t wear it on purpose just because I liked it.) My friend was told she was a couple of kilos short of meeting the BMI requirement. I remember who saying oh well a couple of weeks until Christmas & I always put on weight then so I’ll make another appointment for January. She did & she met the requirement. You have Thanksgiving soon so it may be a moot point. -
August 2023 Surgery Buddies!
BlondePatriotInCDA replied to kayhay0714's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Thank you for responding! My bowel movements are daily so that isn't the issue. I've read stalls are common, but I wasn't expecting one only 3 weeks post op! May I ask, you said you checked with your doctor when you had a stall? Then you had a revision? I had a RNY, what more could they revise at that point? I'm sticking with the program..don't really have a choice even if I didn't want too...major surgery done..no going back. 😋 I know its fairly common to experience these stalls, but, it doesn't make it easier its still frustrating!
