AnneG

You look amazing! How are you feeling energy wise? I'm so happy for you! I'm scheduled for next week and it was real nice to read your review and update. You will be healed up and out enjoying the warmer season in no time.

Wow! It's been a big day and a long time since I've updated here- but I still read posts weekly. I'm scheduled for Panniculectomy in April. I was planning on reviewing options next year but I've had some serious problems with my hip and leg that have made it necessary to address right now. Went in for consult and scheduling today. I have a lot to do in the next few weeks and want to read up here so that I can be prepared. Hope everyone has been doing well!

Yes! I'm excited, and nervous! Excited to get it over with before summer and hopeful the mobility issues will improve and a flatter tummy sure will be a welcomed improvement too! I'm looking over pre op instructions and scheduling lab work- trying to look over everyone's posts regarding surgery for pre and post surgery tips. Everyone here was so helpful when I was preparing to have VSG and I felt very prepared after reading and sharing in the months before I had surgery. Hoping this surgery goes as smoothly and I just want to be as prepared as possible.

I'm wondering how those who had gall bladder removed are doing with low carb eating. I had mine removed 3 weeks ago and I'm not really back to my normal self. I'm really tired and not digesting food well. Not used to having to be near the restroom frequently and keep getting conflicting info about needing to eat more grains and carb laden low fat foods that are completely contradictory to how I've been eating with my sleeve. I'm down over 125 lbs since sleeve surgery but I've gained 3 lbs since I had my gall bladder out and I feel bloated and icky. I'd like to just go back to eating the way I was- I'd like to hear from others who have had their gall bladder out and how they managed. Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I had my gallbladder out the begining of January. Recovery was a little more difficult I think than VSG. Mostly because of the completely unpredictable digestive issues. I was fatigued markedly for 4 weeks. I'm just starting to feel more like myself as far as energy goes. Digestive issues are still a bit unpredictable but I added a better quality digestive enzyme and a bile salt product, occasionally I'll take a quarter pill of immodium ad. That seems to help. I do feel more thirsty and occasionally have a sore nagging feeling in the upper right quadrant of the rib cage. I think it's important to just take it slow and listen to your body. Wishing you a speedy recovery!

I'm a little over 16 months out from surgery. I started getting noticibly cold maybe between the 3rd and 4th month post op. It became significant and more noticible around the 6th month when I noticed that I got hot flashes when I ate for a few minutes and then returned to feeling cold. I researched to try to find out the answer and saw many posts of people feeling cold but not anything medically informative of the hotflashes when eating except in diabetes types of groups. My glucose levels are fine and I was not diabetic nor pre diabetic before surgery. My doctor said he didn't know why I was getting hot flashes when eating. So I just used the opportunity to warm up by eating when I was too cold. The hot flash would feel like an energy explosion- Almost like my metabolism was really geared up when I eat- it didn't matter what kind of food I ate- high protein food would do it just as easily as drinking decaf herbal tea with stevia. Water however never seemed to trigger it. I've adjusted to wearing layers that I can take off or put on easily. I bought an electric throw for those really cold nights and invested in lots of warm comfy socks, sweaters, and scarves. Funny- I've never worn scarves or gloves or even coats - but now I find I really appreciate keeping my neck and hands warm in the winter.

Well, I seem to be doing ok. I had terrible pain in my right shoulder since I came home from the hospital but it seems to have moved down to the middle of my back now and it's not hurting as badly as it was. The pain from surgery is very similar to when I had my sleeve done- a little less than that actually. I have 4 incisions- one in the naval, one about 2cm in the middle of my chest and 2 very small ones on the right side lower than my naval. I'm not exactly sure what to eat because for the past year and a half I've been very focused on what I can eat with my sleeve. They weren't very forthcoming about what exactly I should eat at the hospital- they just basically said low fat. The morning after surgery the breakfast tray they brought in had bacon, scrambled eggs, oatmeal, orange juice, coffee, and a biscuit on it. I ate the bacon and 2 bites of the eggs and a few sips of the coffee and I was full. That's basically my normal type of breakfast. They also brought me some grahm crackers with grape juice and a ginger ale for snack. Now- I don't ever drink ginger ale- or eat graham crackers or biscuits or oatmeal- and so I didn't eat those things- I'm on a full liquid diet right now because I got sick after eating. But I seem to be tolerating everything well now. I normally eat string cheese liberally, babybel cheese, cottage cheese with a lil unjury protein powder, boars head meats, greek yogurt. I like chicken, steak, occasionally pork, fish, shrimp, crab- those sorts of things- a little veggies and on occassion fresh fruits- like grapes, strawberry, apple etc. I'm hoping I can continue with my normal diet. That's been working fine for me. I generally eat lower carb and higher protein. Altho I'm not trying to lose weight right now- I seem to feel just fine on that sort of diet- my sleeve likes it. I'm hearing all these stories of digestive problems for life- and that one can never again eat fat or fried foods- and constant diarrhea and I'm thinking what in the world???? If there is such a problem why are so many people walking around saying the gall bladder is a non essential organ and it's not that big of a deal to have to have it removed? I go in for my post op follow up on Friday. I will write a list of questions to ask the Dr. But I'd sure like to know what to eat that is sleeve friendly and I'd like to know how others have faired who were sleeved and also had their gall bladder out. Right now, I'm still taking percocet for pain and I've added a digestive enzyme to my daily suppliments. I'm still taking all of my regular vitamins and suppliments like iron, calcium, b12 and that sort of thing.

Awesome and Congrats!

Me too. I've heard of stomach issues after GB removal. I just had mine out this past Wednesday emergency surgery. I was wondering also, how other sleevers have faired after this type of surgery and how it has affected their diet, activities, and life in general.

I'm 9 months post op- The AC is on because the family is warm- it's set at 74. I'm wearing long flannel pj's, socks, a sweater, and I'm huddled up with a blanket as I write this. I'm always cold now days.

I took 5 weeks off but that was because of special circumstances- my office hired a sub for my recovery period when my surgery was submitted for approval and then I was denied and had to appeal which took approx 3.5 more months and so by the time I got approved and actually scheduled for surgery - I think I felt obligated to take the projected length of full recovery time necessary. I work on my feet with people and sometimes am required to do lifting and stand in strained positions for long periods of time, so I wanted to be 100%. By the time I went back to work I was eating solids and was used to the changes in eating and lifestyle post op. I think I would have been fine at 3 weeks post op but I've read from many people who took 2 weeks off or less and seemed to do just fine. I think it has a lot to do with what your work requires and how well a person adjusts post operatively and if there are any complications. Everyone is different depending on their circumstances- your doctor could give you a good estimation of the amount of time you might require off from work.

Congratulations- you look amazing and very healthy. Way to go!

I drink a venti skinny peppermint mocha 4-5 times a week and have since about 8 weeks post op.

I can eat most everything but I've found that heavily breaded items like breaded shrimp from tgi fridays and heavily breaded chicken are hard on my stomach- makes me nauseous.

I've been using the sugar free french vanilla by international delight since about 4 weeks post op. I'm nearly 7 mos post op - no problems staying low carb- I use it nearly every day- several times a day- liberally even.

fantastic!

Awesome! Congrats! :wub:

You look fabulous!

I got to 3 months post op and thought maybe I'd bypass the hair loss- but by 4 months it started falling out. Not in chunks or anything but I suddenly noticed a lot of hair accumilating in my hair brush and when I washed my hair I noticed that more than a few strands came out in my hands. I'm 6 months out and still losing- my thick curly hair is much thinner- and duller looking. I'm taking iron, biotin and b-12 and a multivitamin along with additional suppliments. I expect it will stop in the next month or so. In the meantime I've just been enjoying being able to more easily style my hair in the straight flat hair do that is popular right now- and I don't wash it every day like I always have- I go a day or two between washes- and use the dry shampoo to freshen it up- to try to keep from tugging and mussing with it so much.

Praying for Sleeve4me!

Congrats! :wub:

Congrats on getting to Onederland. I just hit there myself this week. Feels great!

Beautiful! You look great!

I was a pepsi addict before surgery. Haven't had a single one since last summer- however, I did come down with a tummy bug some weeks before Christmas and I had some flat diet ginger ale- I really have never cared for any kind of diet soda pop but my stomach did ok with the diet ginger ale and I felt better the the next day. It's not something I would encourage others to do but for me- it was ok and I think it was better to have something in my stomach that I could keep down. My normal daily beverages consist of alkaline water- I prefer the Evamor and a morning decaf coffee or tea with stevia sweetener.