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How Can I tell I’m Hungry?
catwoman7 replied to SpringCleansing's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
yep - most of us lose our sense of hunger for up to a year. I know it seems weird at first, but honestly, I found it very liberating after a while. I was free of "food noise" for the first time in forever! I hoped I'd be one of the very lucky few whose hunger never comes back, but I was not. it came back at five months out. Anyway, yes, norrmal. and take full advantage of that!! It's never going to be easier to lose weight than it will be right now. when you're never hungry and don't give a flip about food! -
it's been over nine years for me, but I think they did test for certain vitamins because I remember I was deficient in vitamin (as are MANY people), so they had me on prescription vitamin D for a couple of weeks to bring my levels back up to normal.
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April Operation Buddies
Yorkshire1 replied to middlesray's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Had my sleeve surgery yesterday The recovery is rough… a lot of pain, really painful bloated feeling, just slept on and off for 24 hours morning after I feel much better, can walk around but really struggling to take any liquid, it’s very painful / uncomfortable to drink - was everyone else similar? -
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May 2024 Surgery Buddies 😁
SandyT replied to Bypass2Freedom's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
So, I just completed day 3 of my liver prep diet. Today seemed to be better than yesterday. I am not feeling as hungry, although I am already getting tired of the protein shakes. I still have little energy, just doing the absolute necessary and resting a lot. It's hard but not horrible and will be worth it when all is said and done. Everyone hang in there and remember what the goal is... better health and a longer life. I'm still nervous, but also ready to move forward. We got this! -
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How Can I tell I’m Hungry?
Arabesque replied to SpringCleansing's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
We’ve all been where you are now. Loss of hunger & appetite is a benefit of the surgery (though there are some who don’t lose their’s) but it can be confusing & difficult to work with it. Aim for three ‘meals’ a day and eat what you can. Don’t force yourself to eat more even if that means you don’t eat all your portion. You’ll get used to leftovers in your fridge you’ll finish at your next meal or the next day. I only drank two ‘meals’ a day during liquids. I diluted everything and just sipped, sipped, sipped until it was finished - usually a couple of hours hence the two meals. Probably the most challenging part is understanding the difference between real hunger & head hunger especially as many of us were driven by our heads when it came to eating not real hunger. Head hunger isn’t affected by the surgery so it can be a real struggle to manage as it seems almost stronger. Generally, if you’re craving a specific food, flavour or texture that’s head hunger (a craving). If you’re hungry out of boredom, emotions (like stress & worries after the surgery), habit (always snacked by watching tv or after dinner, etc.) that’s also head hunger. If head hunger is making itself known try distracting yourself: read, craft, do a puzzle, ring a friend, go for a walk, sip water, a cup of tea, or similar. It takes about 8 weeks for you to be healed after the surgery and this includes your nerves which carry the messages to tell you you’re hungry, had enough or are full. So for a while those messages may not get through or may get through differently and the signals may be different. Like some sneeze, or their nose runs when they’ve eaten enough. Believe me, when your hunger does come back you’ll wish for the days you didn’t have it. All the best. PS - Yes they pump you full of lots of fluids so the scales can show an increase after surgery. You’ll pee it out over a few days. -
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After googling I guess this may be a difficult questions since it’s so specific to the patient but Does anyone remember what labs they ordered for preop? Was it just the normal CBC? Or was it all the vitamins and extra stuff. I have to go back to my PCP again tomorrow morning because they couldn’t find a vein when they tried on Tuesday and as I sit here I’m thinking that probably in another couple weeks I am going to have to go through all this again. If I had thought of it earlier I would’ve called but I have to be there at 8 am and if possible I will ask them to add whatever the surgeon will likely require.
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May 2024 Surgery Buddies 😁
Calli replied to Bypass2Freedom's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
5/10. Im a bit nervous. Also a failed lap band from 2010 :( but my team is great and im envisioning a healthy future to keep me motivated. I packed lip balm. Moisturizer. Earplugs. Phone charger. Don’t plan on being there long and come home in same clothes wore in! The dietitian said not to plan on liking any protein shake i liked preop so be careful what you stock up on. I seem not to mind any of them so it will be ok! New to posting and talking about all this. -
I had surgery on Monday (22nd) and I was released from the hospital yesterday afternoon. The scales show me having gained weight but I’m sure that’s the IV’s they gave me constantly. My question is, I don’t feel hungry in the typical way as I did prior my sleeve surgery. Instead I feel pain? Or is it just gas? Or is it just surgical pain? How can I tell when I’m hungry and I need to eat?? I never thought eating was going to be so confusing. I don’t want to eat anything, I’m not hungry, but I know I have to eat too. Two days out and it all seems so foreign to me still. Help?
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Food Before and After Photos
ms.sss replied to GreenTealael's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
salad. 555 calories. pretty much ate all of it. YUM. -
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 😊
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April 2024 Surgery Buddies
vsg.molly replied to Lorna Nicole's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
Hi yall! I had my surgery on Monday (4/22). I’m going well at home. The gas pains are starting to subside and my soreness is beginning to lessen. I’m struggling to figure out my fullness cue vs what is just gas. Any tips on how to determine the fullness cue as I advance to full liquids tomorrow? -
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Welcome! We are all on this journey together! We have a great group, ask questions and you will get answers
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I do think a scan will help as it will tell me if there is anything else really to lose or if my body settling here truly is what it is.
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I have an appointment next month for my 18 month follow up. and I have asked them to put me in on the dietary side to for a scan. They have a machine that I think is similar to the Dex ones, you stand on it in a certain position, and wait like 2 minutes and it prints out body fat and bone density and such
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im proud of your loss too! I see you all over the forum and loosely have followed your progress! Super proud of you!
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Miami surgeon recs for tummy tuck please
heatherdbby replied to Sigh's topic in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Yes I dont think I know of a style or body goal... I want to be safe and know that I will be in good hands. I just want to get rid of the excess skin and find the body that lurks underneath. But also, balling on a budget lol -
May 2024 Surgery Buddies 😁
Hellojaqs replied to Bypass2Freedom's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Greetings. My name is Jacki, 41 years old from Norther California and I am new around these parts. Here is what my weight is looking like. First visit with surgeon after referal sent over, 11/28/23 I was 373 pounds. 4/19/2024 was 353 after my doctor told me to lose 20 pounds before my next appointment. My scale at home lied to me by like 5 pounds so we will go with the office scale. I left that appointment on the 19th with a surgery date of May 9th, 2024. Nervous and excited is an understatement. I start my 2 week pre-op diet tomorrow 4/25 and it is gonna suck because my birthday is 4/27 but I know this is the best birthday gift I can give myself. This is like the last piece of my puzzle of taking over my life and figuring out who I am and who I want to be. Anyways, I look forward to getting to know all of you guys. Have a great day. -
Gastric Bypass 5 yrs out - side pain for 2 yrs, surprising "cause"
BlondePatriotInCDA replied to KarenLR75's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
I feel your pain - literally. I get sharp pains below my rib cage and slightly above that under my rib cage on the right side as well. I've already had both my gallbladder and appendix removed several years back so it's not either. I also have had a full hysterectomy..so not an ovary. Although, like you I thought perhaps they missed a gallstone in my biliary duct...because it feels just like when I had gallbladder pain. I was told "its not possible" yet I have the pain. I should say I have had this pain before my bariatric surgery. I still have no idea what causes it! I hope it goes away with your revision, most likely because of the bariatric surgeons/GI doctor and your documented ongoing pain it will be covered by insurance.. So that's something. Let me know if that takes care of the pain for you...good luck! -
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Thank you so much! Girl you are soooo right!! The scale is ONE factor. Gotta take pictures. I am still working on the mental part of all this, I am tired of the yo-yo so I have been overthinking and over analyzing this entire journey
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Thanks to all responding.... I do spread out the calcium and I did initially ask about taking a gentler iron because I was worried about it bothering my stomach...... then I was pointed in the direction of these multivitamins which already had iron included made specifically for bariatric patients.... I spoke to my team and they recommended a cap of Miralax daily (which has also been suggested in the forums here) so that is where I am now.... today was day 1 of doing that.... I was using Benefiber which bulks up while Miralax softens..... fingers crossed..... again thanks for the support.... ❤️
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Best Gastric Bypass Revision Dr in North Texas
KarenLR75 posted a topic in Weight Loss Surgeons & Hospitals
Long story short - had gastric bypass in July of 2019. Highest weight 400. Current weight 167 to 173. I still feel some restriction to this day. Meals are small and I don't eat high fat, high sugar food. 2 yrs ago, I started having right sided pain. It felt like ovarian pain so saw OB & had 2 ultrasounds nothing showed up there. Pain worsened & had gall bladder removed 1.5 yrs ago. Adjusted diet again to deal with gal bladder being gone and things seemed ok. A few months after the right sided pain returned. About 4 mos ago, pain got so bad at times I'd be in a ball on my bed considering going to ER (which I HATE doing). Went back to primary got CT scan. Nothing found. findings. Then he referred me for colonoscopy & upper GI. I thought finally 'this was it, we've ruled out most other things'. I also had seen blood in my stools and it was old blood, like coffee grounds so I thought ok, not hemorrhoids? Just got back home from colonoscopy & upper GI. Good news is no polyps or other concerning things. Bad news is main finding was on bypass "Patient's surgical anastomosis noted to be widely dilated, raising possibility of Dumping Syndrome as a cause". OK, we know what dumping is. Thought it was post surgery when we ate food (i.e. sugar, high fat) that processed too fast, etc. & you had dumping. Is the type of dumping they mention different from post surgery dumping? They recommend I see revision specialist. Has anyone else had revision NOT due to 1st bariatric surgery not being successful but for a "medical reason" like this (other than GERD, heartburn). I'm not even sure insurance will pay, but I have 2 yrs worth of history on this. Even it if does pay, I dread what this means - more hair loss? If I do this, will I need another in 5 yrs?. I also still feel restriction kick in although yes, nothing like 1st 2 years My highest weight right now hovers at 173. I hoped I'd get to 150 but closest I've come is 167-168. Is revision another 'nuclear detonation option'? ANYONE have a revision specialist in the North Texas area they can recommend so I can at least get a consultation (north texas = Fort Worth, Dallas, Arlington, Keller, Bedford, Euless, Hurst and Denton) I've also wondered if there is a chance of some straggler/stone from gallbladder surgery 1.5 yrs ago that should be considered? Any input would be appreciated. This is causing issues on my job as the pain hits out of nowhere (not X amount of time before OR after a meal, that I have been able to discern. Thank you! -
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 !
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Bypass Revision due to pouch opening being widely dilated?
KarenLR75 posted a topic in Revision Weight Loss Surgery Forums (NEW!)
I had gastric bypass in July of 2019. Highest weight was 400 before losing a bit on my own. Current weight varies from 167 to 173. I still feel some restriction to this day. My meals are usually small although I know we can all 'eat around' the restriction by eating smaller, but continuous meals and this was a slippery slope I fought back against. About 2 yrs ago, I started having right sided pain. It felt like the pain I used to feel when I ovulated so I assumed it was ovarian. Saw OB & had 2 ultrasounds and they couldn't even see right ovary (and the left was fine. Since they couldn't 'see' the right one, they said that was good since there was no obvious signs of..I don't know tumors, growths? The pain continued to worsen & I finally had gall bladder taken out 1.5 yrs ago. I adjusted diet again to deal with gal bladder being gone and things seemed ok. A few months after that the right sided pain returned. About 4 mos ago, the pain got so bad at times I'd be in a ball on my bed considering going to ER (which I HATE doing). Went back to primary got CT scan. CT came up with no findings. Then he referred me to GI doctor for colonoscopy & upper GI. I thought finally 'this was it, we've ruled out most other things'. I also had seen blood in my stools and it was old blood, like coffee grounds so I thought ok, not hemorrhoids? Just got back home from colonoscopy & upper GI. I thought doing prep was bad yrs ago, but much harder having had bypass surgery. Good news is no polyps or other concerning things. Bad news is main finding was on bypass "Patient's surgical anastomosis noted to be widely dilated, raising possibility of Dumping Syndrome as a cause". OK, most know what dumping is. I thought it was post surgery when we ate food (i.e. sugar, high fat) that processed too fast, etc. and you had dumping. Is the type of dumping they are alluding to different from our post surgery dumping? They recommended I see gastric bypass revision specialist. Has anyone else had revision NOT due to 1st bariatric surgery not being successful but for a "medical reason" like this (other than GERD, heartburn). I'm not even sure insurance will pay, but I have 2 yrs worth of history on this pain. Even it if does pay, I dread what this means for me - more hair loss? If I do this, will I need another revision in 5 yrs again at which point I'll be getting up there in age. I also still feel restriction kick in although yes, nothing like 1st 2 years My highest right now hovers at 173. I hoped I'd get to 150 but closest I've come is 167-168. Is revision another 'nuclear detonation option'? I've also wondered with the CT scan, etc. is there any chance of some straggler/stone from my gallbladder surgery 1.5 yrs ago that should be considered? Should I post this in the revision group instead? I read through some and was unsure. Are we allowed to cross-post? Any input would be appreciated. This is causing issues on my job as the pain hits out of nowhere (not X amount of time before OR after a meal, that I have been able to discern. Thank you! -
Okay! This is encouraging. So my stats (I love numbers) First 3months I lost 60lbs. I really only want to lose 35 more lbs so this should be very achievable by my Year Anniversary?
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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 😊
