chubbsey1

For those looking for an exact schedule of what happens when and how you feel when and for those making predictions about what everyone will experience because your experience went that way, well ... it ain't necessarily so.
Most people who have sleeve surgery do not experience what @@MrsDixon has experienced. Thank goodness, I didn't. I had a great surgery, an easy recovery, hit my 60 minimum Protein gram level on Day Five post-op, and by the end of Month One was recovering quickly from a second surgery -- my gall bladder was removed four weeks post-VSG op.
When I arrived at this forum a year and a half ago, it was an era when everybody new was in a funk and complaining about "the complications thread" and begging people to stop posting on it because it was scaring them to death. If you think MrsDixon's first month was bad, search here and read posts by people who REALLY had it bad. She didn't have any complications at all; she's just recovering at a slower than average pace from WLS surgery.
@@MrsDixon , the good news is that your recovery is going to get easier soon. And you'll soon be feeling the benefits you were searching for when you chose this surgery -- you'll become healthier, slimmer and, I hope, happier about your WLS decision.

Wow! You've had a tough time, haven't you? I am so sorry to hear. My experiences at a bit over two years out have been nothing like yours.
I drink carbonation. I consume sugar. I was never depressed nor was I ever crankier than normal. I never hated anyone for eating around me. Why would I? It's not their fault I got fat.
I rarely felt hunger or hunger pains for my first 18 month and when I did, it was acid reflux or thirst. I do feel hunger now, but it's PHYSICAL hunger and I know it's because I've not eaten properly. I realize that I am one of the lucky ones who doesn't feel hunger very often and I am thrilled about it.
I am also thrilled that my restriction is as you mentioned. I can rarely eat more than 2-3 oz at a time so I do need to eat that portion size 4-6 times a day. The restriction is exactly why I had this surgery and I am thrilled that my portion size will forever be so small. It's a fat girl's dream! I get to eat all day, as long as I do so mindfully, I measure, I track and I make great choices.
I sincerely hope things improve for you!
I am 112 pounds down and feeling great! I was a size 20 and am now a size 8. I can do anything I want physically and have far exceeded what I thought this surgery could do for me. I am thrilled every single day.

I understand where your coming from Mrs.Dixon it is a tough process and I agree that some folks here sugar coat things a bit. Kid gloves do not work for everyone nor does everyone have a great journey. Sometimes I feel like you where I say to myself damn I wish I could go back to the way things were but if I did that I'd still have a my health issues. It's a double edged sword and I understand that, IMHO people need to hear the good, the bad and the ugly before making their own decision. Therefore I have been brutally honest with my friends who are interested in this surgery. Good luck and hang in there!

Listen to your Dr.

I understand where your coming from Mrs.Dixon it is a tough process and I agree that some folks here sugar coat things a bit. Kid gloves do not work for everyone nor does everyone have a great journey. Sometimes I feel like you where I say to myself damn I wish I could go back to the way things were but if I did that I'd still have a my health issues. It's a double edged sword and I understand that, IMHO people need to hear the good, the bad and the ugly before making their own decision. Therefore I have been brutally honest with my friends who are interested in this surgery. Good luck and hang in there!

@@MrsDixon Just like you downplayed the preop diet in your OP, the time period you are going through and what you are experiencing is nothing like the rest of your life will be.
The 1st month is WAY different than what your life eventually will be. I, too, had to get IV fluids 3 times. I couldn't tolerate lactose, plain Water or artificial sweeteners. By 4 months postop, most of that had passed. And things kept changing even after that.....The 10th month wasn't anything like the 6th month. At 19 months postop, life is very different than even 12 months. And from what I've read from veterans, I can expect even more changes 2-3 years out.
Believe me, this entire WLS journey is an ever-changing, evolving experience. The best you can do is roll with the punches and keep a good attitude. There's no going back so just keep moving forward.

I understand where your coming from Mrs.Dixon it is a tough process and I agree that some folks here sugar coat things a bit. Kid gloves do not work for everyone nor does everyone have a great journey. Sometimes I feel like you where I say to myself damn I wish I could go back to the way things were but if I did that I'd still have a my health issues. It's a double edged sword and I understand that, IMHO people need to hear the good, the bad and the ugly before making their own decision. Therefore I have been brutally honest with my friends who are interested in this surgery. Good luck and hang in there!

It’s hard to believe it, but July 18 marks my 12-year Surgiversary! 12 years ago, I weighed 255 lbs (at a height of 5’7”). That was at age 25, after years of being overweight and yo-yo dieting. I got the lap-band on July 18, 2003, under the skillful hand of Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding in New York, and the rest, as they say, is history. I have my life back and it’s better than ever.
I feel like the luckiest man in the world. I have a wonderful family with the best children ever, and I have the health and energy to be able to keep up with them and be a real part of their lives. I am also thrilled every day to be able to advocate for weight loss surgery patients through BariatricPal, working with major obesity, WLS, and medical organizations, and I am so grateful for the lap-band and getting my life back.
I also want to thank BariatricPal members and supporters. When I founded the boards right after my surgery in 2003, there wasn’t much other online support out there. The discussion forums helped me through some tough times, and I am so glad it is able to help others as they approach surgery, recover from it, lose weight, and maintain their loss.

I don't agree with your doctor's diet and think everyone has given sound diet advice.... BUT I also don't agree with you abandoning YOUR DOCTOR's Advice. You need to trust your doctor and their judgement. My suggestion is to either question your doctor about the refined carbs/processed foods and perhaps ask for a referral to a nutritionist/dietician who could work in conjunction with your doctor or find a new doctor. If you abandon your doctor's advice now it could be a slippery slope when the advice is necessary and important.

I knew Mrs.Dixon's reaction was possible based on everything I read, that's why I was so scared going in. Very blessed that I had a great and easy experience in my transition. I'm not being judgmental, but I've always been curious what causes the different reactions:
1) Just different genetics
2) Quality of surgeons
3) Preparation of patient
4) Attitude/suggestibility of patients
Too many variables to really study, but if anyone finds some clues, I'm curious to know.

Listen to your Dr.

You poor thing! I know you didn't say this to get sympathy but I just had to tell you I am only 11 days ahead of (bypass on 6/4) and if you were to go read some of my posts from 2 weeks ago (especially in reply to "Any regrets" ) you would see I felt very similar though wasn't able to express it as eloquently as you have ????. Take heart my friend. As I turned the 6 week corner things are starting to improve. You are right, it is not easy but I really think there is a light at the end if the tunnel for you.

@@chubbsey1 thank you

I understand where your coming from Mrs.Dixon it is a tough process and I agree that some folks here sugar coat things a bit. Kid gloves do not work for everyone nor does everyone have a great journey. Sometimes I feel like you where I say to myself damn I wish I could go back to the way things were but if I did that I'd still have a my health issues. It's a double edged sword and I understand that, IMHO people need to hear the good, the bad and the ugly before making their own decision. Therefore I have been brutally honest with my friends who are interested in this surgery. Good luck and hang in there!

I am sorry that you are having a difficult time. I am only 3 days post op so I am not an expert but my experience does not match yours.
Pre surgery on the pre-op diet , I was hungry physical and head hunger and they connected. My head hunger fed my physical hunger. Now I get some head hunger, like food pops into my head but it doesn't connect to my stomach, my stomach has no reaction, and even the head hunger fades very quikcly. My preop diet was 10 days all liquids. I would finish a shake, down 302 oz of Water and still be hungry or not satisfied, and my head hunger was driving me insane I lost all concentration and could barely owrk. I am satisfied now with just a few sips.
I know most people are dying for and looking forward to being on foods again but after the feeling of swallowing a few pills, I am not interested in rushing back to food.< /p>
I think it is important for people like you to tell your story and for other people. I paid closer attention to the people with bad outcomes and negative experiences before I had surgery. It sucks because it seems like the positive experience people run the people with negative experiences off of every board/forum. I read those experiences and thought seriously about them pre-surgery. It took me several years to reach this decision, even though once I decided it all went very quickly. I decided that even a bad outcome was better than the path I was headed down with my health. My health went from good to starting to slide at a rapid pace. I decided it was better to take a chance on this than to suffer a long slow death over the next 10-15 years (still too young for someone like me), or worst disability.
So don't stop telling your truth even if it isn't popular or positive, you are still helping someone.

The Protein requirement is a combination of the Protein you consume from meals combined with the protein you consume from supplements. As my meal volume increased I was able to consume more and more protein from my meals alone. Now that I am up to a cup of food per meal I am consuming 65 grams of protein from my meals alone and I no longer use supplements. I went from 3 Protein shakes per day, down to 2, down to 1, and then down to none.
I concentrated on homemade high protein chili and Soups. I included the recipes in the following article. Hope this gives you some help.
http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery.pdf

I tried a couple of brands, Quest and Atkins...
I felt just yucky right afterwards.
A little bummed as I was hoping to be able to sub them in sometimes .
Anyone else not feeling the love with Protein Bars or have any other suggestions?

I find it very hard to take 20-30 minutes to eat as well. That's probably the main thing I do wrong. I honestly just try to do my best. I try to remember to put my fork down with each bite. Not much help I know but it's the area I still struggle with as well.
Good luck!

You should have Water and Protein coming out of your ears!

I am 6 days PRE surgery but i have talked with BOTH my Therapists (Personal and program) and BOTH told me to anticipate this.
It's about your RELATIONSHIP w/ food. The feeling of Satiety is not just about fullness. Is about FEELING satisfied. That is an emotional feeling, not a physical one.
Think about the first bite of your favorite food, and the warm feeling it gives you. That aint physical. Its' mental and emotional.
So for real success, for many of us. It's about changing your relationship to food. You may not WANT to get that SATISFIED feeling from food anymore because that path leads to where we were when we chose surgery.
It's a mental/emotional battle that CAN be won. find new ways to fill those needs...

You should have Water and Protein coming out of your ears!

You should have Water and Protein coming out of your ears!

Thanks Nikasio, disconnect is an interesting way of phrasing it I definitely agree I'm 3 months out and this resonates big time. I'm never really satisfied with a meal I think it's a psychological adjustment IMHO because I'm not really hungry when I eat I'm not really satisfied with a meal almost a little depressing no?

Ok, looking for the dumbest, silliest, craziest weight loss program you ever tried?
Mine was the Arnold Schwarzenegger diet. I saw it in a newspaper one day. Here was the diet -- (at the time Arnold was the President's Exercise Guru) -- Everytime there was a food decision to make, such as carrots or doughnuts, you just thought "What would Arnold do?". Of course, Arnold would have the carrots. I thought this was silly, but started trying it. Sure enough, a week later, down 5 pounds, then 10 the next week. My wife was pretending I was Arnold as well, but that is another story. Finally, after about three weeks, I said to the Arnold question -- "Well, screw Arnold"!! And that was that.

mental battles are tough for me. I am stalling right now at 9 months out. I find myself wanting to snack. especially at home in the evenings. mental mental mental.... I have a relationship with eating. it is a battle I have always fought. I am happy to say I am winning the war, but lose a battle here and there. I am not sure if the war will ever end, but I am willing to fight it.
Happy that nothing makes me sick and I can eat whatever I want, but on that same note, it makes me sad.... I wish I threw up every potato chip, chocolate, candy....
back to kicking ass. that is all we can do. make a mistake and get back on track. (i.e. my intense gym workout this morning) I am going to get that scale moving again! close to goal. want to be there by my surgiversary!