Matt Z

At 2 months post op you should have been cleared for ALL foods. If you are constipated... more than likely you are not drinking enough water or taking in enough fiber. 600 calories a day is VERY low for this far out from surgery. Please follow up with your surgical team and nutritionist for further guidance and instruction.

Everyone is going to have a different experience. But looking at the "averages", it seems a decent number of people develop GERD from the sleeve. And quite a few people don't get any dumping at all. I've had exactly 1 incident of dumping, in over 6 months. And that was with tomato soup. I can eat pretty much anything I want at this point with zero dumping. I do get crampy here and there if I eat something I know I shouldn't, but I don't have any issues with any sweeteners. I went with the band back in 2011... and was revised to RNY this past March. Honestly the best thing I've done. I have a friend that was sleeved and he also had to get revised to the bypass due to complication with the sleeve. Also, the sleeve is 100% non-reversible. The Bypass is reversible under certain conditions, it's a risky reversal, but it does happen, you cannot undo the sleeve since 90% of your stomach ends up in the trash. Also, long term research keeps showing that the bypass out performs the sleeve in all metrics. Patients lose more, keep it off longer, have lower rebounding weight gain. It is 100% your decision, but my 2 cents, go with the bypass.

You will need to start over, potentially changing doctors too. I have GEHA, which works with AETNA and they certainly have bariatric services, your husbands plan might not have coverage, but AETNA does cover WLS. Each insurance has different requirements, if you start on one insurance and move to another, more than likely the new insurance is going to have you start over and follow their requirements.

Congrats and good luck moving forward!

It's important to track EVERYTHING if you are having questions about your progress, the only way to identify problem areas, is to have the data to locate those problem areas. Peanuts are very high in fat and calories. Tracking fat loss can be accomplished with any number of fat measuring devices, from the old school pinch calipers to an impedance measuring device.

Glad to be of assistance!

would something like these work? https://www.amazon.com/BASA-Meal-Prep-Containers-Pack/dp/B07D49SZGQ/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1538676455&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=bariatric+food+containers&psc=1 or maybe this? https://www.amazon.com/BariWare-Portion8-Starter-Brilliant-Blue/dp/B01ECK2B3M/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1538676455&sr=8-6&keywords=bariatric+food+containers I think if you are searching using the word "Tupperware" you might get limited results given tupperware is a brand name, search instead for "Bariatric food containers" or Bariatric food prep"

The band is so totally different for food restrictions it's pretty crazy. You don't have to worry about content really as there is no dumping or any other food related reactions other than quantity and "texture". From what I recall, I was on liquids for all of a day. Then it was purees for like... A day. Then soft solids, then normal foods. Chew until puree before swallowing and the same no drinking while eating. It was a long time ago for me... but I do recall it was so totally different than when I was revised to the bypass. Same surgeon did both, same team. So many differences!

This is going to fall 100% on your shoulders then. Don't fail. Let the past be the past and do not allow it to define your future. These are things that YOU alone control. You can either resolve to be better... or you can keep falling back on the past. Only 1 thing is going to help you here.

If you are confused, please do not feel bad calling your doctors or nutritionists... after the amount of money you've just tossed to them... they are there to help you... you paid for it... use it! Do not eat any wheat thins or cream cheese this soon post op... just, don't do it. Did they really install a band on you? I'm shocked that they are still installing these things in people with all the problems and companies stopping production. That aside, give your doctor / nutritionist a call and speak with them, have them tell you want you can cannot eat.

This surgery is anything but a quick fix, it's a forced habit change. Have you had your psychological work up yet? I'm not a doctor by any stretch of the word and I certainly don't play one on TV, nor have I stayed at a super8 last night... but it sounds like this might not be the best choice for you, it's something you need to understand is going to require work, and change. And that work and change is going to have to be permanent, or you'll end up rebounding and gaining the weight back. It's not a quick fix, nor is it "easy". All Weight Loss Surgeries are tools, it's up to you on how you use that tool. If you respect it, and treat it right, it'll work with you and everything will be all sunshine and rainbows. If you don't, you can end up regaining, or worse, causing blockages, or a slew of other issues that can arise if you don't stay within your new diet restrictions. A slight venture outside of the diet every now and again is fine... I do it. But totally giving up and caving in... will only result in the surgery being another waste of money. You have to **WANT** to change. Then... you have to **ACTUALLY** change. That's what WLS is for, for those that WANT to change and need the help.

It could still very well be acid reflux issues. I don't have acid reflux issues... and the band gave me grade 4 esophagitis, even though I never felt a thing. Did you talk to your surgeon about it yet?

That's great that you have someone that can do the taping for you, VERY important to track your fat loss, ESP when the weight doesn't move on you... which happens with muscle growth and water retention. I weigh in daily, I get it's not the suggested method, but I like having as many data sets for tracking trends. I'm glad I can provide my information and experience to hopefully help others.

It's more likely it's due to being properly hydrated now. Although cutting sugars, alcohols and caffeine will help out to some extent (depending on the research you are looking at) as well, but I feel the majority of it is due to folks actually paying attention to and consuming the proper amounts of water.

Take a look at this

The human body loves to keep things status quo. So when you start messing with intake, it does whatever it can to hold onto fat and energy stores. It does end up giving up and getting with the new program... for a bit anyway, then it gets all clingy with the fat cells again... as long as you are tracking your BMR and intakes, and are getting plenty of water (128oz +) then you'll be ok. I so totally get the frustration! If you can, get a body fat measurement device or find a gym or nutritional store that has one, paying attention to fat loss, I feel, is pretty important, we see weight as a single factor, but, bones, muscle, tendons, our organs all contribute to our weight, the goal of Weight Loss Surgery is to reduce the weight from Fat only. It really should be called Fat Loss Surgery, and I think that would get more people paying attention to their fat content rather than focusing only on the weight number.

https://www.bariatricpal.com/tickers/

If you have ANY lactose intolerance, stay away from any protein that contains Protein Concentrate. Find yourself a protein that ONLY has Protein Isolate. Like Isopure for instance. Whey Protein concentrate is exactly what it sounds like, it's a concentrated milk protein, but concentrates do not filter out lactose. Isolates remove most, if not all, lactose. You are looking at things the wrong way. Saying you'll NEVER be able to do something is wrong... very wrong. Quite a high number of Bypass patients, myself included, have almost no issues with almost all foods. I can eat pretty much what I want at this point, just over 6 months post op. I drink beer, eat sweets, etc. No issues. I had 2 donuts the other day and that made me feel like crap, but no dumping or other issues other than feeling super run down and icky for a few. If you focus on ways you plan to fail, you will fail. Focus on the things you can switch out. I'm a huge ice cream guy. I could eat a whole pint and want more. I found Halo Top ice creams, protein, no added sugar, low fat, super low calories and they taste good. I don't eat white flour anymore, I choose to eat the high grain count stuff or fiberone has an 80 calorie wrap. Look for the things that you can swap out, and that will satisfy the cravings while still falling inside of your diet restrictions. It's not hard, you just have to do a little bit of work at first. Revision from Band to Bypass was legit the best thing I've ever done. I'm still dealing with some odd body dysmorphia, I still "feel" fat. Like when I'm not paying attention, my spacial awareness is that of my fat body... but I'm not "fat" anymore, so that's an odd thing to deal with. But it's getting better day by day. I don't have any issues with feeling like I'm missing out on food or anything, we still go out to eat, I just pick better items. Your taste buds will change, some folks they change only for a little while, some, forever. I've lost my craving for super sweet things, for the most part. With sagging skin, my max weight was 370 and I don't have much sagging skin at all... I've got some, but it's totally hidden with clothing. The bypass is reversible. It's risky, but it happens. The **ONLY** weight loss surgery that isn't reversible is the sleeve, because the sleeve 90% of your stomach is removed, with the bypass, it's all still there, just shifted around. The other side is to realize that, food addictions are real, even if you don't believe you are addicted to something, doesn't mean you aren't. Some of it is habit, habits take a minimum of 2 weeks to break. Why do you want the surgery? You don't have to answer here, but keep that in mind whenever you start to get frustrated or sad at things that... more than likely won't bother you later down the road. I knew that if I didn't do something to lose the weight, I would be cutting my life MUCH shorter... I don't want to do that to my wife and kids. I'll tell you this. over 90 lbs dropped since March and I feel fantastic. Food does not drive my life, I still enjoy lots of food items, I can hike without issue, I take several flights of stairs without breaking a sweat, I actually did 8 floors of a Federal Hospital in 1 go, just because I wanted to see if I could do it, and my heart rate got to a whopping 121 bpm. I'm prepping now to climb a mountain.... I wouldn't even have been able to entertain the idea 6 months ago. It's ok and totally understandable to be afraid, scared and unsure of the future and all the changes that WILL be required with this surgery. But one thing is certain, if someone stays overweight, they are guaranteeing they will have medical issues down the road.

Looks like the Pixel has had the ability to do this for a while. Google is your friend. https://pixelmantras.com/setup-pedometer-google-pixel-pixel-xl/ https://www.google.com/search?ei=uju2W9qaEsK1zwK98Ln4Bg&q=pixel+fitness+tracking&oq=pixel+fitness+tracking&gs_l=psy-ab.3...6950.7077..7208...0.0..0.78.149.2......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71.o5wZtdAdmVU https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.fitness&hl=en

Those goals are not universal, just a heads up.

Best bet is going to be for you to reach out to your Nutritionist and have them provide you with your specific diet.

Are you tracking your fat loss? Are you following your diet plan? Are you drinking upwards of 128oz of water? Do you know your BMR? Are you eating less calories than your BMR? Are you exercising? Are you tracking your food at all? Congrats on the weight loss, DO NOT lose sight of that! I've had so many days where I've gained weight or didn't move at all, but lost fat %.

If you've read about stalls, then you'd know that the 3rd week is pretty much a given. If you are following your instructions, and getting as much water as you can... then don't worry about it.

There is no guaranteed anything that will prevent this. You can take all sorts of things and if your body decides to put more follicles into "hibernation" than that's exactly what it's going to do. Google "Telogen Effluvium" It's not "hair loss" exactly either. Your body shuts down follicles all the time as part of the normal shedding process, surgery, drastic diet changes, stress, etc can cause your body to shut down a much larger percentage of follicles than it would normally. So when those follicles finally do turn back on and start producing hair again, the hair that it was holding onto, gets released... so you folks end up shedding much more than they normally would. Once it starts, it's way too late to even attempt anything... You can try to take biotin and keep your protein levels high pre-op, but again, there is absolutely nothing that will guarantee you won't "lose hair"

You are going to want to put them on hold until you are fully healed and cleared by your PCP/Surgical team for them. You will NOT be laying on your stomach for some time post-op. That amount of force, pressure and quick movements are going to drastically increase the risk of damaging not only the internal changes, but the incision sites as well.