LT1002

Part of the problem is how some people resort to hyperbole in criticizing how others are eating. I had started a thread last week about how I drank a little bit of flat, watered down, caffeine free Diet Coke and you'd have thought I had eaten live babies. People were outraged and all I did was say how I was amazed how it made me feel better to be just a little normal again. But I was told I was going to cause a leak, ruin my weight loss, etc., all over a few ounces of soda. Yet when I started another thread asking if anyone had actually gotten a leak from making poor eating choices, you could hear crickets chirping. It's become the equivalent of "your face is going to freeze that way." People need to stop acting like they know everything and know what's right for strangers on an Internet message board. They don't. Only your doctor and nutritionist know what's best for you. The lesson to be learned is, if you have a question, call the doctor, don't look for a reasonable dialogue here because it's not going to happen. I'm almost 3 weeks out and spoke with my doc and nut about how I've had no problems getting anything down, no vomiting, no reflux, but I'm having trouble dealing with puréed food because it's just too gross. They said to move on to softs and just chew well. If I had asked people about that here, my head would have been chewed, rather puréed, off. People should just say, "if you have a question, call your doctor, but I did ____ when I was in your situation." I'm not sure why that's so hard to do.

The first couple of weeks are miserable, a fact that, time and time again, people here forget. I went for my two week post-op with my doctor and NUT yesterday and was telling them about some of the stuff that goes on here. They both read some of these boards and basically said to ignore people, that it seems like people get sleeved, lose a little weight, and suddenly become experts who have nothing better to do than be on the Internet all day criticizing people. I wanted to hug them both for that. Some of the people here can make you feel even worse than you already do, it was nice to get some validation from people who really matter.

The nutritionist at the hospital said it would be sugar entering the intestines too quickly without being digested properly that would cause dumping. Doesn't sound like you ate anything that would fit that bill.

I'm two weeks post-op. I tried drinking a cup of hot coffee about a week ago and it immediately made me kind of queasy. Tried it again yesterday but iced from McDonald's with the sugar free vanilla syrup. I'm so sick of protein shakes, that I used it as a treat -- a couple sips of protein shake, a quick sip of coffee to cleanse my palate! Coffee went down okay (even though I only drank about an ounce or two over the course of hours), and it got me to drink more protein shake than I've been able to lately.

I always thought the hair loss was from the rapid weight loss, not from the surgery itself. If that's the case, them I'm guessing it's on a person-by-person basis. I've had 4 other surgeries over the years and have never experienced post-op hair loss. Hoping (praying, begging, bartering to the gods) that I don't lose any now!

Have any of you guys had your metabolism tested? I've had mine done a couple of times pre-VSG because no matter what I did, it was impossible to lose weight. To lose, I would need to keep my calories between 800-1000 per day, which is why VSG seemed to be a good fit for me. Metabolic endocrinologists can do the testing in office, and it's as easy as relaxing and breathing into a tube. Really opened my eyes as to what was going on with my ridiculously slow metabolism and made me readjust my weight loss expectations.

I was just reviewing the post-op diet I was given upon discharge in the hospital (I'm two weeks out today, so I'm anticipating changes this week). The paperwork clearly says "Gastric Sleeve Diet" but yet makes reference to a stoma (as in, "don't eat ____ it will block your stoma"). What gives? I thought our openings remained in tact and nothing was rerouted, just our stomachs were made smaller. Disconcerting when even the hospital paperwork is wrong!

Same problem here. I'm two weeks out today and can finally take a deep breath without discomfort. My doctor said the pain was from irritation to the diaphragm. I also had a lot of throat pain, which I'm guessing was from the tubes during surgery.

7/17 sleever here. Same problem - dizzy, lightheaded, weak, whole bed was spinning. DW was so concerned she called my NUT who said to move to blended/mush just to get some nutrition in (protein shakes were making giving me diarrhea). Also started sipping on some G2 to replace some of the electrolytes I was losing.

I'm two weeks post-op and will probably be a slow loser - always have been. I'm fine with that, I'm sure it's better skin-wise, plus won't put as much stress on the heart. I'm wondering, though, does losing slower prevent hair loss issues?

I'm sure most of us here are petrified of having a leak. My doctor, at least, never really discussed the possibility of it, and it wasn't until I started reading these boards post-op (doh!) that I realized how real the threat of it is. In a number of threads (including one in which I was a total poop-stirrer ), people always threaten the idea of a leak due to not following the post-op diet to a T, but then always add in the caveat "that's not what my leak was from." So I'm wondering, has anyone here who has had a leak, actually gotten one from not following the post-op diet religiously? Also, why do the doctors wait and see if it will just heal on its own over the course of months, rather than go in and fix the leak? I'm sure there must be a medical reason for that, I'm just not sure what it is. Anyone know? Thanks!

The problem with stairs, for me at least, isn't so much the pain from the surgery, but the lack of energy. I live on the top floor of a walk-up and pre-op I was having difficulty going up the stairs due to two herniated disks and a labral tear in my hip. It was painful, but I had the energy to pull myself up using the hand rail, rather than put the weight on my hip. Now, two weeks post-op, I just don't have the energy to make it up the stairs. I'm sure some of it is because I've been pretty sedentary post-op -- being off my NSAIDS for my back and hip has made the pain unbearable. Part of it must also be from diet - as hard as I try, I still can't get enough protein or fluids. I dread having to go up the stairs. I go back to work next week and am already stressing out about having the energy to make it through the day. I'm hoping to have my diet modified when I meet with the NUT and doctor this week so I can get away from the protein shakes.

Losing does feel good - I'm down about a lb a day, now 15 since surgery on 7/17. How can losing this much this quickly be healthy?

I was intentionally trying to be a d-bag and for that I apologize. Knee jerk reaction - seems out of left field for someone to comment on one's appearance, especially here, when we've all had that shared experience of being overweight and somewhat outcast because of it. I immediately thought she was just trying to be a jerk, so I responded in kind. I do sincerely apologize Peacequeen and appreciate you reaching out to do the same.

Picture = done I hate having my pic taken and I've only been using my iPhone to post, which has about 1000 pictures of my cat and dog.

Go back and read the earlier replies to my original post, those are the ones that got me defensive. Diet coke is not a sensible choice, but at this point it was a lifesaver. I've been miserable. Gag at Protein shakes, sick of Water (which I don't really like to begin with). I'm tired, I'm weak... I miss my life. That soda gave me a little sliver of normalcy back. I wasn't seeking validation or criticism, I was just saying how it was amazing that one sip of normal life made me feel so much better. And why does everyone think I'm a guy? I'm definitely not.

How high are we talking? I asked the same question when I got out of the hospital and folks here said it was normal. Called and spoke to the doctor and he said the same. Highest mine went was about 100.4.

LouiseC, alcohol = empty calories. Only a person with a hardcore drinking problem would dare sabotage their diet by drinking not one, but TWO glasses of wine! I can't believe you would do this to your body! So irresponsible. And to post it where newly sleeved folks for whom alcohol may pose a bleeding risk can see it? Tsk, tsk, tsk. Really, you should be ashamed of yourself. Now, see how ridiculous that sounds coming from some stranger on an internet message board?