Search the Community

And celebrate your birthday with thoughts of the wonderful chances at future birthdays with your surgery. For this gift of renewed life, volunteer for others, a soup kitchen, watch kids for a frazzled mom, read to or visit the elderly. Give someone a blessing in their life and you won't miss cake, ice cream and the other no- good- for- you type presents.

New rules. Music can be therapy. Some things can stay the same. Some things we need to let go of to move forward in life. Rules change and evolve with time. Beginning of bariatrics weight loss mode. A bit obsessive logging and tracking the new bariatric rules in my life. It all created positive change. Years out after goal, Reevaluating the rules around bariatrics. Learning to relax and finding balance. Not letting fear of regain take control.

Your psychologist is correct, and also being responsible in telling you that 60% of excess weight is the average expectancy. She’s also not a “beeyotch” - she’s a medical professional allowing you to make a factual decision based on statistics. If it doesn’t match with your expectations, then re-examine your expectations because those are the facts. Basing expectations on hope or aspirations is not a winning strategy. Many of us here have lost that 60% or more. We’re a self-selecting success group and overrespresent in the bariatric pool, since those who didn’t lose what they expected are less likely to spend much time in a community like this one. Similarly, the “this is how you achieve 60%+ loss” advice is coming from that same biased pool, which might indicate correlation rather than causation. Not saying the advice is wrong, just that it’s not foolproof. If the 60% metric is actually changing the way you think about the surgery, then it’s a good thing you heard it now.

2 months post op. Down 81 pounds. I tried the insurance route 3 times and all 3 times the ins.co would pull the no bariatric rider at the last minute. I paid out of pocket for mine, $13k. I gave them a check on 10/01 and was on the table 10/15. Dr required 2 visits. One was a “physical” more or less and the other was a sales pitch, the next day he was playing with my innards. 10/15 the day of surgery i was 381, 12/15 I’m 300. do what your dr says and the procedure will work. Water is critical, lots of protein, as few carbs as possible. I try to stay under 1000 calories and 20 carbs a day, and I’m usually able to do that the key is reading labels. Meat has few/no carbs- cook it simply and it’s perfect. Sauces and seasonings are the devil. I use a lot of garlic, salt, pepper and rosemary. And I grill everything beef, bird, fish... everything Dont graze eat. Figure out what you can “hold” and then only put 75% on your plate. i guess I got lucky- I have had ZERO complications post op. No bleeding, no dumping, no major pain, nothing. I went back to work after a week off... I was bored silly sitting at home that week I live and die by my 30oz yeti. I drink 3 cups plus a day. One before lunch, one before dinner, one before bed. Sometime I shoot some MIO or lemon in it. Somedays I have unsweet tea. I’ve been able to keep the soda and alcohol monsters away, but somedays I’d kill for a ginger ale Pouches of tuna and salmon and chicken are easy to carry in the car or work bag. A little thing I do is when I’m on dinner duty, I hit the free sample display at the deli. One cube of meat, one of cheese and I’m half full, keeps me from over indulging with actual dinner for a sweet treat, sugar free popcicles are just sweet enough to do the trick. Atkins has some good low carb/high protein bars. One thing I learned is the more you pay, the better they are. Exercise is difficult for me due to the nature of my work- I’m on a seagoing tugboat 9 months a year. So the whole boat is my gym- everything is 100 pounds or more, it’s difficult to get the cardio in though- you can walk only so many laps around my 150’ steel island.

First - shop in your closet. Anything that you used to be able to wear that will fit again? SOmething you bought earlier that didn't quite fit but you never had time to return? I found a TON of clothes in my closet that are 1-2 sizes smaller than my surgery size. Dresses are my go-to - especially belted ones. Those can be worn for about 3 sizes because you can belt them in so they don't look so loose. I tend to like the fit and flare ones with belts. I also watch for clearance/sales on staples (jeans, black work pants, work tops) and buy a couple sizes when they're on sale. If you're plus size, Lane Bryant has some decent sales at the holidays. For example, right now they have $20 sweaters (don't buy too many because winter won't last long), 40% of most clothing and clearance. I think I got jeans for like $30 at Thanksgiving. Old Navy also often has sales and Target is a good place for basics. Some folks also shop at Goodwill/Salvation Army, etc. I don't, just because my area doesn't have a lot of plus size offerings, but its a good place to start. Finally, some bariatric surgery support groups will have a clothing exchange. Its worth asking your surgeon's office. Or, maybe start one?

I really was so happy to feel normal when we went out. And no repercussions despite the carbs or the fat level. Also, if we're showing a full-size plate of food (like at a restaurant), the differences look much smaller than if you're showing a bariatric-size portion to begin with

Thinking about this more frequently, partially because of the song and life in general. We can change and stay the same. It's a paradox. Bariatric or otherwise, what are your new rules?

Oh baby you could have soooooo much fun with this! When you reach goal weight you get a new set along with vow renewal ceremony! Or any combo you like! But the balling on a budget nostalgic version are ring spacers https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Adjuster-Loose-Rings-Assorted But I say reach for the stars...

Oh I am hanging and hanging. My big worry on this almost dawn Sunday, what to do with my extra tubing when I start marching off to the loo. Finally safety pinned it to my chest and and pulled it up so It hangs there. So Afraid I'll step on it when half-awake, that might be the kind of injury that would kill me. Hey, I have another problem that scares Mr because it could be even more long-term. Can one have a trace of an anorexia bent? I believe if things had gone well, I had been able to progress my diet at a normal rate, things might be fine. I used to love yams, sweet potatoes, things of that I'll. Tried my 3 mini- spoons, thinned , I could not have,been more indifferent. Would like to show my doctors I can ingest, maintain myself orally, it's like food has become a nasty medicine. Still have binge eating listed on my records, not so, I never really was a true binger, that's eating and not stopping, I had many sins but that,isn't it.It can't be appetite cessation because of the TPN, it's more like "appetite indifference" Is this something I need to speak of to a bariatric psych?

Im very new to the gastric sleeve. I had my surgery dec 6th. I'm having a horrible time with trying new ways to get the protein shakes down, I found putting them in the blender they literally turn to foam. I have a few recepies but I'm currently on 3 shakes a day and need new ways to drink them. Im currently still only on bariatric high protein liquids stage.. any advice would be wonderful! Thank you

Hello everyone, I originally wasn’t planning on joining or posting on this forum, but I’ve decided I want to tell my story to help and educate others. I’m 24 years old and the gastric sleeve surgery left me with a leak one week post op. I will first explain my symptoms in order to aid others if they may experience the same as I believe we should be educated on knowing the warning signs so we don’t just shrug it off as dehydration as I did. It started of with abdominal pain and feeling light headed, at first I assumed I needed to drink more and rest. I could feel something wasn’t right as I was 100% pain and nausea free the previous days. The next day I woke up my left shoulder and neck was hurting but it went away as I stood up. I felt nauseous from the upper abdominal pain I ended up vomiting. I went to emergency and there I had a fever, my heart rate was around 120 I believe. They suspected it was gastro or dehydration so they hooked me up to iv fluids. Blood test results came back and my inflammation markers were over 300 (normal range is 0-10) I had a ct scan where they discovered I had a leak. I was transported to the hospital where I had the surgery per my surgeons request. There I had a picc line inserted and had an endoscopy. The endoscopy showed nothing, and the surgeon suggested the leak was the size of a pinhole. To keep this short and not bore anyone, this is my 7th week in hospital about to be my 8th. I was lucky as I had no abscesses, therefore requiring no surgical intervention besides the endoscopy. I’ve had multiple ct scans, blood tests. I am nil by mouth and TPN overnight. I also suffered from another complication during my stay, picc line sepsis which wasn’t fun and I had an overnight stay in icu. I’m now on 3 different antibiotics including vancomycin for the sepsis. Currently I’m allowed the bariatric diet (liquids) on day two and getting lower left back pain. It’s been a long, hard journey and everyday it’s difficult to stay positive as you think it’s never ending; but there will be an end eventually you just need to be patient and think about how strong you are for enduring this. Thank you everyone for reading.

The number 1 reason for re-admittance of bariatric patients after WLS is dehydration. Your team wants to prevent you from having to be on IV fluids so they really push the water especially while you are in the healing stage. I was told to focus on hydration and not worry so much about protein or even vitamins the first couple weeks.

OMG your before picture Looks like me at my fat( and I thought happiest) you are giving me some renewed hope, I could look like an Older Aunt version of you by my Surgianniversary date of next September 5th? Brace yourself 🌏Frustra8's gonna reduce herself to glory, 110 pounds down from High Weight,maybe 80-85 to go, Carlab did it, don't say i can't, I'm red-headed too, never did gray, if I don't go bald first I can be marching and kicking with the best of them. Carlab, Auntie Frustr8 is coming down the road!🎰🚘

More http://bariatrictimes.com/hair-loss-among-bariatric-surgery-patients/

I just found this study: http://bariatrictimes.com/hair-loss-among-bariatric-surgery-patients/ I was thinking of adding a spoon of Carlson's cod liver oil (for a dose of A, D, E, and K), but have no idea if RNY patients can absorb the oil? I'm also gonna add 1/2 tablet (25mg) of zinc for a bit and I'm switching my iron to Feosol Complete which is part heme iron and supposedly better absorbed. I'm also gonna go get some L-Lysine and take 1.5mg per day of it. What do you think @GreenTealael

I just had the weirdest night. After the second suppository with minimal success, I went back to work. At 4 I got very nauseous. Went to the ER. They did a CT of everything. I HAVE NO POOP IN ME AT ALL. 10 DAYS AND ZERO POOP ACCUMULATION. Who needs fiber? NOT ME APPARENTLY. It's just a friggin mystery! They called the bariatric surgeon and he was like... okay, cool... just go back to eating and you're good. So. No poops in 10 days is kosher for me. No leaks, no poop in places it shouldn't be. Just no poop. Aight. I have been having nausea from the ulcer so the ER gave me FIVE more meds for that. Jeebus. Sent from my SM-G930R4 using BariatricPal mobile app

Hey Jenniferinfl, I am nearly 4 years out from WLS, have been successfully maintaining my weight loss, and I enjoy all fruits and vegetables. Although I've also seen many references to the low-carb post-surgery diets that you're talking about and have no doubt they work for some people, I'm not one of them. I eat all the fruits and veggies I want; my bargain with the carb deities is that I don't eat white sugar or white flour. I eat a cup of fresh berries or grapes or pineapple for breakfast every day, plus one large apple or banana for my afternoon snack. I definitely struggled with both apples and bananas during the first year after WLS, and I still find both very filling. At this point, I eat pretty much just fresh and whole fruits, but you will probably find that canned and pureed fruits or smoothies are much kinder to a new sleeve (though managing simultaneous sugar intake can be challenging) . I don't remember berries being overly difficult, so those might work for you. I eat at least two servings of cooked veggies with lunch and another two servings of cooked veggies with supper. I still find potatoes, corn and broccoli extremely filling; I can eat maybe 3 baby potatoes or 1/6 of a medium-sized baked potato or 1/4 cup corn or 4 broccoli florets as part of a meal. As you've noted, most bariatric diets recommend steering clear of starchy veggies after surgery anyway; the good news is that won't be too difficult if your sleeve is anything like mine! I have no trouble eating 2 servings of other cooked veggies (including stalky ones like asparagus) as part of a meal. Raw veggies are a bit of a different story. I couldn't eat raw cauliflower or broccoli florets or raw carrot sticks at all for a LOOOOOO-NG time. Now I can manage a floret or stick or two, maybe a bit more if I really spread them out. On the other hand, raw salad vegetables (lettuce, kale, cucumber, celery, sweet peppers, tomatoes, avocados, green onions, etc) are no problem. I can eat a full plate of salad (actually, salad is the only full plate of food I can eat even at my stage). Unfortunately, salad was also difficult for me in the first 6 months post-WLS; I just gave up on raw veggies altogether for quite a while. I never drank coffee or alcohol, so am no help to you there.

So....this is a GREAT question! I'm a GIANT compared to my family. They are all petite tiny little Asians. I am not only taller...and at 5'3" that's almost laughable. But my father is a fat shamer and he has not been kind. His side of the family has been large (and his sisters and cousins who are nurses have had bariatric surgery) but my immediate family is full of very thin people. My mother put me on my first diet when I was 12 and at my thinnest..I think I was this height and weighed 125 lbs. But I did tell my father. I think his first inclination was to say...JUST DIET. But realizing that I have struggled my entire life with hereditary health issues and weight - he just wants me to be healthy. So he has been as supportive as he knows how to be. IMHO, this is my journey and my journey alone. Ppl can support me or not. My husband is only afraid of complications and wants me to be comfortable. He knows at my current weight I am suffering b/c of the extra weight on my joints and b/c I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. Also my job requires me to be available whether I am on vacation or even on holiday, so I did inform almost half of my company that I am having a 'surgery', and not available for the pre-op days and time in-patient. Other than that....they don't need to know.

I wasn't expecting such a huge response to my question. Thank you everyone for all your personal experiences and advise. I talked to my husband about it and he brought up so really great points for me to remember. I'm not going to tell anyone else in my family or friends until after I am post op and I am going to use Bariatric Pal to talk to people because I know I will get the positivity I need and support while I am going through the motions of my journey. I can offer support, advise and motivation to others here as well. Again Thank you guys for all the advise and sharing your personal experiences with me. Not everyone in my personal life will agree or be excited for me. But I'm choosing not to give them a chance to bring me down about something I've worked so hard for.

I was not required to do the pre-op diet like most, but the bariatric group I go to just does not require it no matter what size a person is....But I think you will be fine because you are not eating so your liver has to be shrinking even if you do not lose weight...my body is like yours, I need more food to lose weight. Stay positive and do not give in and keep following your doctors pre-op diet. I wish you all the best on your upcoming surgery and a speedy recovery. You got this girl ((Hugs))

I never could consider it a "stall" maybe I think in a less complicated manner, maybe a little naive, but I prefer "pause" . Your body is recouping itself before it starts a renewed amount of loss. It is going to come, stop and be proud,of all you have accomplished thus far. Be proud of your body for what it can do, not constantly berate it for its imagined sins. Not only you emotionally,but your body physically just underwent major surgery. Give yourself a hug and be grateful for what has improved for,you.😝🏡🌸🌺☀

The bariatric group wanted it from my primary care doctor so she wrote the letter, she had my history of the many failed diets yada, yada, yada. Keep it direct, simple and to the point, the letter that she wrote was a few sentences. I wish you all the best!

And they will ,love, you are too obsessed with each tree, how it is growing, to lean back and notice how lovely the whole Forrest is! Old granny-saying is: A watched pot never boils! I might add --don't sweat the small stuff. I know you have said you honor and respect my courage against all odds. Well I just had to do something I never thought I would have to face. I just got off the phone with Ameican Electric Power, I had to bring up my c-/pap and TPN and its attendant bag refridgeratio needs as a valid basis for a medical extension on my electric bill. Don't really like " putting out everything on Front Street" as Miss Cleo the Psychic said in her TV ads. Sure you and my followers on Bariatric Pal know of my trials, snares and pitfalls, but I hated to do it. I kept telling myself that's for sick people on Life Support, well Duhhh, I guess I am at least on Life Sustainment. But it was pride- swallowing time and truthfully between the moving expenses in November, the Hospitalization in December, I just didn't even have the minimum payment to avoid cut-off. Tomkitten and I were planning a trip this week to our local meat market, could use my Ohio Direction card(plastic type of food stamps) there but it would be $1 round trip transportation. Sad to count pennies like that, but at best a Hard Candy Christmas, like Dolly Parton sang about. Usually I bake a Birthday Cake for Jesus, now that 🎂 is off my diet, maybe make it Chocolate , store it in the Fridge and Tomkitten will get joy of it! If you knew how little cash I have, you'd cry too. Not doing my ulcers any great good worryi,g and stewing, tried selling items on our local radio program called TRADIO, supposed to be buy, sell, barter or give away, this week everyone is interested in the last. I was offering a item with a retail value of $159 for $30 or best offer. Not a call this week, and Tomkitten found me in the kitchen 😢 crying. Only thing close to a gift for him, a 💇 hair cut. Big whooping Deal there! And he's such good guy, I'm so blessed to have him and such an ungrateful way to show him. And as I lose weight I am starting to resemble relatives I never thought I did, right now today I look like Mama's older sister Aunt Grace, don't get me wrong, I did love her lots but she did have a thin face and a long willowy neck. I think mine looks more like an old turtle's emerging from a battered shell. Maybe after my body comes to terms things will look better body-wise. I think sunlight and a light dusting,of freckles would help, but at my age they might merely resemble rust spots! And January 2019 so far looks sunnier☀ Today I don't even care if they d/c my PICC line, I fear it is only a band-aid over my many other problems. Said Frust8 at least you're standing up, breathing and if you put your dentures in you won't frighten to children and horses in the street. You're gonna make it after ALL! Then I ruined everything by sticking my tongue out at my reflection! And mine is not pretty like Gene Simmons👅, got a big scar on it from when was 10 and tried to bite it in half during my grandma's funeral. Story available upon demand.

In a few months, I can have virtually any fruit except ones with membranes (citrus). Proteins should always come first, but if you still have room for fruits, you can have them. I can also have virtually all veggies except broccoli stalks, potatoes, celery, and asparagus stalks. Again, if there's room. People are always eating salads with chicken/salmon, etc, making smoothies. There's a billion recipes that incorporate all sorts of veggies in with things. Lots of really good bariatric cookbooks. I don't drink coffee, but was told at 1 month, 1 cup a day is fine. I'm sure people farther out have more... it's really just a concern at first due to dehydration from caffeine. I am 6 weeks from surgery and I can't comment on "is my life better" because I'm not "there" yet. Life doesn't suck. I don't want nearly anything I did pre-op. I feel like I could live on proteins alone forever. I stopped cravings carbs. I don't want fruits like I used to enjoy. I didn't have any typical comorbidities either when I had surgery except pseudotumor. I lost a lot of weight on my own, too, but gained it all back. With this, unless you really mess up, you won't gain it back like rebound with dieting. I ate total crap (and healthy stuff) before surgery and my labs are normal, too. Not even fatty liver. They do say never drink alcohol because you don't absorb it the same way and get very drunk very fast, but some people on here can manage a drink every so often. The risk of alcoholism is much higher.

I continue to take my vitamins 4 years out. Right after my surgery, a group of us bariatric patients were talking to a fifty-ish woman whose husband had just been sleeved. She told us she had had a bypass ten years ago. Then she pulled out her teeth and took off her cap to show us her severely damaged hair and said, "Folks, do as your doctor says and as I didn't do: take your #@&* vitamins!" Scared me spitless; I can still see her fitting her teeth back into her mouth. If you are skipping vitamins, you might want to make sure you get bloodwork done frequently and visit the dentist regularly to ensure everything is ok.