ShapeShifter

If you are throwing up everything you eat, call your nutritionist / surgeon's office. With zero nutrition your body is in starvation mode and will hold onto everything. When exercising, you sometimes need to add calories. Lots of possibilities to consider, which your bariatric center should help with.

Even pre-op, sometimes feeling hungry actually means you are thirsty / dehydrated. Be sure you are drinking your water, as well as eating protein first.

I wonder if it could be gas caused by a sensitivity to milk, perhaps? With heartburn and GERD, you may also experience some acid trying to make its way back up your esophogus. Pepcid works when I have a bit of reflux... GasX may help, if it is gas. Good luck!

I take depo-provera, because I don't like having a period at all. I am pre-op, and hoping that it is still effective post-op. The surgeon says it will be. Heavier bleeding can also indicate cysts on your uterus. Always a good idea to check in with a GYN. All the best to you, dear.

Couldn't hurt to see a dermatologist, if you are able.

I am pre-op and have already incorporated protein drinks into my day. I have one for breakfast (sometimes made into a smoothie with frozen fruit), and sometimes I'll have one in the afternoon when I start to feel tired. The brand I have tried and liked the best, so far, is Isopure... they have no carb vanilla and low carb chocolate that are staples in my house. I do understand my taste may change post surgery... but they are definitely needed for the two-week liquid diet leading to surgery. I am planning to join Sam's or Costco for some of the offerings they have on protein. All the best to you on your journey! I am a Melissa, too.

I tell everyone of my plans. I've been 100 lbs overweight for 20 years, and WW, etc. never helped due to PCOS. When I finally see success, telling folks I'm cutting my portions will not make sense - since that hasn't worked before. I am an open-book, extraverted kind of girl, so this has worked for me... acquiring oodles of support and dozens of cheerleaders. Some people are more private and don't care to share. It's all good. Just go with what feels right for you. No judgments here.

My understanding is that they are foods that slide easily through your sleeve. An example a friend gave me was popcorn. She can consume an entire large bag despite her RNY. It doesn't sit with you to make you feel full and satisfied... it slides right through.

The acne you are experiencing is not food induced, just like in our teen years, it is hormonal. As you lose fat, the hormones trapped there are released. I am pre-op, but believing this is only temporary.

Grateful for the timing. Wishing you WELL, dear.

I remember a friend saying to me: "I wish you could see yourself the way others see you." It was the nicest thing to say... and I did the work it took to 'get it'... so now, I share that meaningful line with others. That is my wish for all of us... that we may see ourselves as our loved ones see us. We would be overwhelmed by the unconditional love.

Can you try a netti pot for your sinuses and a salt and warm water gargle for your throat?

I am pre-op and 250 lbs. I live in Florida, and must have really thin blood, because I am always freezing in the a/c. When I get home, if the 80 degree a/c comes on and blows on me, I shiver and get up to turn it up to 83. I am worried that I will need to wear fleece in the summer. Ha! I am okay with that trade off. I loathe the cold, but I am hopeful that it is just because if I have to wear a bulky jacket, it will make me look even larger... hence a smaller me won't mind a bulky jacket.

Congratulations! I'm pre-op, but have always had low good cholesterol, too. I was told that is improved by exercise. Go figure.

At my psychologist visit, she said to warn those who would be helping me post-op, that I would be miserable and regret my decision... but that it would only last a day or two. It will get better! Hang in there.

A woman in my local support group lost 200 lbs, had a baby, and was back to pre-pregnancy weight within weeks of giving birth. The baby is happy and healthy (and terribly cute). I don't think she gained much more weight than there was baby and fluids. Blessings to you and your new being.

Oh, yes. Youtube search for vsg, vertical sleeve, gastric sleeve, etc. There are people like AmySDMom, who kept a video log from pre-surgery to three years out. I learned a great deal there!

I'd recommend spending lots of time reading on boards like this, obesityhelp.com, and thinnertimesvsg.com. I am pre-op and have been reading every day since I first learned of the sleeve in February. I still have days when I feel afraid... but more often, I feel hopeful and excited. There is great success here, with some adjustment and struggle. Take the time to read past posts and blogs. I promise you will find inspiration and comfort there.

I suffer from chronic fatigue. I'm wondering if there are supplements you can take during the pre-op diet that might help you. I keep a sublingual yerba mate at my desk for when I start falling alseep at work. It seems to help. Also, could you take a nap in your car at lunch time? You could set your cell phone timer to wake you. Are you drinking enough Water (perhaps you are on a liquid diet)? Dehydration causes fatigue. Ginko Biloba, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vitamin D3 and B12 all help with energy. Good luck, dear. I know this struggle so well. I've struggled to stay awake while driving, which is terrifying and stressful.

My surgeon reports statistics that are pretty equal to bypass surgery. I do have a friend with diabetes who had bypass surgery last year. She recently learned that it did NOT make her diabetes go away... but will surely lower her medication requirement. Still a win!

I am wondering about mixing unflavored protein powder with a low sodium v8, or the like. I've not tried it, but it seems like getting your veggies with your protein would be a good idea.

I was told the fear is not to stretch the sleeve, but to cause ulcers. You really don't have any more stomach to cut away should you ulcerate it now. I'd err on the side of caution, personally.

I have PCOS, too. Over the years I've joined WW with friends and watched them go down to a size 10, while I got all the way down to a size 18. Woohoo. I am beyond hopeful that this will be our solution to years of struggle. I often wondered if I was lying to myself about my eating, because surely I should be losing weight on less than 1600 calories a day. I was affirmed by the nutritionist who said that the only way for me to lose weight was through surgery. I wish it was not the case, but 20 years of doing the same thing (different types of diets) over and over again has not delivered a different result. It's time to stop the insanity! (I think that was Susan Powter... I did her program, too.) All the best to you on your journey!

My surgeon says 1-2 nights in hospital for VSG and recommends being out for two weeks, three if your job is more physical. I've read of folks in sedentary jobs who have gone back after a week, but if you're insurance is covering it, and your doctor recommends it... I'd take the two weeks to adjust to your new tummy.

Fat loss releases hormones into your system that were trapped in the fat cells. This makes sense, though it does not sound pleasant. All the best to you on your journey!