March 2024 Surgery Buddies!

[ORFranP86 11]

No matter how discouraging this is know that it will pass. Mine lasted 2 weeks. I just kept on doing the deal and it eventually passed with a 2.5 pass.

[NovelTee 13]

On 4/12/2024 at 5:08 PM, RossMom said:

That's crazy that you had to drink from 10pm to 4am!! My surgery date is 4/30 and I'm already missing coffee 😂

Right? coffee is needed badly lol. And on the 10pm-4am, from what I've seen in the forums, I think my nurse was going for extremes lol. I did tell my surgeon about it during our first check-in, so who knows if the next people will have it any better, but it was worth a try!

[Mercury.Belle 8]

Thanks for the Protein Water suggestions, JoSwan and Emeraude! I hadn’t tried it because I couldn’t find a plant based one and I’m vegan. But your suggestions inspired me to look again and I found one! It’s only 10 grams of protein per scoop but hopefully it will help! I ordered it online, it comes on Thursday. 🤞

[TS3209 2]

I had sleeve done on March 27th. I was amazed how well it went, really no pain. The first 10 days were a breeze. But then, everything started tasting overly sweet. I couldn’t drink Protein Drinks or Protein Water without gagging. Not getting my liquids. I was very dizzy and nauseous. I ended up severely dehydrated and had to get IV’s at home for 3 days. Turns out my blood pressure had dropped and no longer needed the meds. This caused the dizziness and led to the nausea. Even though I only lost 30# between pre-op and 2 weeks post-op, it was enough to no longer need the meds. IV was removed 2 days ago and I stopped BP meds. Appetite back, still having a hard time with protein drinks, but am doing high protein yogurt and chicken. If you are on blood Pressure meds, check your blood pressure!

Edited April 21 by TS3209

[NickelChip 1,211]

3 hours ago, TS3209 said:

If you are on blood Pressure meds, check your blood pressure!

This is so important! I went into surgery with BP of 130/88, taking meds for years, and left the hospital 2 days later at 92/54. Because it was so much lower right away, I stayed off the BP meds and doctor officially removed them from my chart about 3 weeks later when my BP was still measuring 110/68 without them.

Good luck meeting your Protein and Fluid goals!

[TS3209 2]

On 3/30/2024 at 9:25 AM, simonne_a_lisa said:

I’m still struggling with that. I don’t do well with taking pills and taking them while drinking out of a medicine cup is even more of a challenge. Yesterday I was able to drink about 12oz of Water throughout the day and I added a Gatorade zero pouch for some electrolytes, and I was able to keep that all

On 3/31/2024 at 11:18 AM, NovelTee said:

I tried cutting my pill into small pieces rather than crushing them into powder, and I was finally able to get them down. Yesterday I was able to get down a little over 40 oz, thank goodness. I know they were super ready to send me to the hydration clinic if I wasn't able to get my water intake up. Today has been much smoother with water and a Protein Shake down so far.

[TS3209 2]

I thought I was so ready to get the fluids in before surgery, but it is a lot harder than I thought! Getting easier. Today is the best I’ve felt in 2 weeks.

[AMJ2598 21]

On 4/2/2024 at 12:19 AM, NovelTee said:

Fingers crossed!!

I actually didn't get out until this Monday lmao. I ended up getting really bad, but doctors and the surgeons are unsure as to why. Either a really nasty viral infection or, currently being tested for an auto-immune disease.

Very uncomfortable even a month on. A lot of pain from an inflamed liver, as well as the incisions still. Absolutely zero energy and fatigue all the time.

[Emeraude 3]

4 hours ago, AMJ2598 said:

I actually didn't get out until this Monday lmao. I ended up getting really bad, but doctors and the surgeons are unsure as to why. Either a really nasty viral infection or, currently being tested for an auto-immune disease.

Very uncomfortable even a month on. A lot of pain from an inflamed liver, as well as the incisions still. Absolutely zero energy and fatigue all the time.

Sorry to hear you’ve been going through all of that…thankful you’re finally home! Hope the pain subsides soon for you and energy levels start to get better.

I’m 5 weeks post op & still low energy…keep telling myself my body is healing. Looking forward to getting energetic

[Uluvtay2 1]

New here! I wish i found this community sooner, but I'm glad to be here now. My Sleeve surgery was March 19th. Currently 2 months PO. I am still struggling with my liquid intake, averaging about 32-40oz daily (on a good day). I saw someone mentioned Protein waters - ordered! (Thanks for that). I've been drinking Liquid IV which has been helping with my Dehydration, but I've been scared of going into ketosis 😫. Hair loss - no thanks! Finally can handle Fairlife shakes, but that's also been rough at times, watering them down has helped. Eating is better, not as painful. 38lbs down✨️🥰

[JennyBeez 287]

March buddies, how're you all hanging in there? Is everyone nicely healed up? Are you coming across any difficult hurdles? Finding a love of new healthy foods? How's your hair lol?

Me, I keep hurting myself, lol. First I tried recumbent biking too early -- even though it was on the most minimal setting, my care team scolded me good for that. But even as recently as last week, I bent/twisted sideways while sitting at my desk trying to reach my purse, but it was snagged on something and something about being in that position too long (or tugging a resistant object) aggravated something internally. The same area that took the longest to feel 'normal' and not tight after surgery. I feel like a dope.

My hair has just started thinning in the last week or so. It was only a few strands from all over at first -- not concentrated anywhere -- so I got a new haircut hoping that the thinness would look purposeful. Two days after I found a little patch right at the front where my buzzcut ends and the bob-length hair begins. C'est la vie.

I'm finding I'm craving sashimi on the regular. It was one of my first meals 'out' after surgery, so maybe there's something psychosomatic going on -- but when I eat it, it just feels like such a clean Protein and is moist so I know it'll go down easily. It's my new comfort food, I guess. (Ironically, before WLS I could really only stand salmon or butterfish sashimi, everything else had to be in a roll, preferably with spicy mayo or unagi sauce -- and I hated tuna -- but now yellow tail and tuna seem to be my go-to.) I'm dealing with the cravings much better than I would've pre-OP, but I swear every three or four days something in my brain is trying to convince me that I should ignore my pre-packed lunch and go pick up some ice-cold fish instead.

[Emeraude 3]

Hi March Buddies,

How is everyone doing? I can’t believe it’s been 5 months post op. Had a huge milestone met this morning on the scale after a period of stagnant weight loss. A weight that I haven’t seen in over 30 years. I’m still in shock and very grateful I’m on this journey. Still more work to be done, but, these moments help to reassure me I’m on the right path.

Hope my surgery buddies are all healed and doing well. I’m having an incisional hernia repair in a couple weeks, not from the gastric surgery, from gallbladder removal 10 years ago! Hopefully this will be the end of surgeries for a long time!

Would love to hear what people have found to keep their Protein levels up. And what activities are you able to enjoy now? I was thrilled to ride some amusement rides with my kids this summer!

[NovelTee 13]

Hey March buddies,

Just checking on y’all. Hope everyone’s journey has been going smoothly.

I will admit that I have been struggling to get both the recommended amount of Protein AND Water down each day. It feels like I have to choose one or the other, because there doesn’t seem to be adequate time to fit both. I’ve been prioritizing the protein, but I have my checkup with my surgeon in a couple weeks and hopefully they’ll have some tips.

I’ve been lucky, I haven’t experienced dumping at all yet. I’m not a huge sweets person, but even when I’ve had dessert, I was okay. My stomach did not approve of fresh corn the last time I tried it, but that’s been the only thing to give me an issue. popcorn at a movie was fine.

My hair has thinned dramatically, and I’m praying it comes back. I already have alopecia and was prepared for this to happen—I’ve been wearing wigs all summer, but I miss my hair and I’m trying not to worry, but it’s hard.

I’m down 65 pounds, but I’ve been in a stall for the last 3-4 weeks. I’m going to try to get up earlier to get more water in and I’m starting to weight train in the gym, which is something I’ve wanted to do for a while but just felt super self-conscious. Just gonna pull up my big girl panties and get to it.

Hang in there, friends. Even with the challenges, I wouldn’t go back to what was before. I’m excited for a season change and for the weather to be cooler so that I can walk outside a little more. Sending good vibes to all of you!