Everything posted by Thomas CPA
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7 Months Out From Gastric Sleeve Surgery And Knocked Up
Just keep in good with pediatrician. I suspect you should not worry about losing weight at this point. You already had two children so you know the baby will take their nutrients from you, you probably can't afford to lose nutrients or weight. However, I would rely on what your doctors say. Congratulations on the pregnancy. Hope it goes well and you both come out good. Have a safe pregnancy.
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Vitamin Confusion!
Pre surgery is to prep you so they want you to start Vitamin regiment. I am now starting month 4. Vitamins consist of daily Multivitamin (women's one a day has iron), B12 (every other day), B1 (every other day), Calcium (3 x 500 mg daily), Vitamin C (every other day). For first two weeks post you will not get fruits in except what you can do is on Protein shakes add some banana. Avoid things with seeds for 4 weeks (you don't want seeds getting into the staple area until it mends). Weeks 3 and 4 you will have mushies including smashed peas, mashed potatoes, pureed soup (yes puree the chunky Soups that have vegetables). Fruits in Protein Shakes. It is easier once you get going, you will find lots of things to eat.
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The Stall From Hell!
I am just barely into month 4 and loss is moving slow, only a pound here and there. This is normal. The body keeps adjusting the metabolism. I swear by eating more I have lost weight. This last week I have been bad nibbling on a couple of pieces of excess halloween candy, Pasta etc and lost 1 pound and haven't been to gym in a week. Hang in there, you will move the scale other than to the closet
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Milk for protein?
forget the carbs, drink the milk. It is calories and Protein that really count at this point. You might try the Protein shakes using milk and a half banana or some other fruit. Also try cheese, turkey, beef. I find Protein Bars to be good source and filling.
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Sample 1,200 calorie menu
attached is a sample menu provided by Kaiser dietician. I am starting month 4. I was eating most of these foods at three weeks.
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3 months.. somewhat slow
I started at sleeve at 235, now starting 4th month at about 190. Sort of leveled off about a month ago, hovering between 190 to 193 for last few weeks.
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Another bump in the road
You should be able to sign the release forms at the doctors office and get the records immediately. At Kaiser if I sign the release I can get copies of xrays, ct scans etc put on a computer disk the same day. Many doctors have the information on computer systems. I know kaiser does and can can pull down all my blood work. If you are going to do self pay, just get Kaiser insurance - as long as they deem a medical necessity and you take the two month course you will get surgery. I had good policy and had zero copay. Didn't even have to pay to be in hospital. All I paid for was the antacid medication at the pharmacy. Don't let the medical offices fool you, they can get you the records without it taking 30 days. They can get in in 24 to 48 hours.
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Whip out your crystal balls please!
Starting month four now and I am eating regular food. Only got sick from spicy shrimp and trying untoasted bread to soon. You should be fine barring any other problem like leakage. Just be wary of the type of food ordered and how they prepare it. In Holland they tend to undercook chicken, Germany you have spicy sausage, England (what can I say except that I found the nearest pizza Hut) Don't forget a pepperoni pizza to the Europeans is made with Hot Peppers not American Pepporoni. Last bit of advice, try to avoid the alcoholic beverages they tend to be a bit stronger (hide the bad taste of some foods no doubt) and with smaller stomach you may be a buzz a lot quicker. At least go slow to test drive the stomach and system first. Enjoy your trip!
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Setting a Goal Weight
Be flexible. My original doctor said 150 based on height and bmi of normal weight person. Okay, I am 25 years out from college and 150 was inane. I set original at 170. Now at three months I am at 190 and my new primary doctor and I both think 180 is the limit. I am happy with the person I see in the mirror and now that I can feel pain in the tail bone while sitting due to loss of cushion and can feel my ribs and shoulder blades quite easily - yeah anything much below 180 will make me a skeleton. Be flexible, be willing to adjust goal as you go. Don't just stick to some arbitrary goal, like high school graduation weight, a dress size, bmi index (though we all want to get rid of obesity diagnosis). My goal changed twice since it was originally set. Enjoy the change and stop when you are comfortable.
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Itchy incisions?
Try some lotion, sometimes a little alcohol swab helps, else just try not to bother it, my staples came out two weeks post and itched like crazy for a another week but once those scabs fell off I went to town scratching - felt good.
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Emotional eating....HELLLP
Try the best as you can to grab a glass of Water instead of food. Don't go grocery shopping when hungry, keep food out of the house. Do the usual affirmations in the morning. When you get the emotional hunger, I do all the time and lose sometimes, get up and do something - I find picking up a crossword puzzle book, soduko book, browsing this website, anything to keep mind active and emotions at bay.
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What's a "slider" food??
sliders are more of a liquid/liquid-like item - ice cream, pudding, soup. Forget the carb red herring, it is those things that don't need a long digestion in the stomach. Technically, water is a slider, it doesn't stay in stomach long and can be a slider catalyst by drinking water while eating or soon after, it can flush the food out of your stomach and into the intestines.
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Eating with VSG
Classes of doctors are different. Mine said yes get the 64 ounces in if you can, try to at least get 32 but he knows many can't drink that much like me and I tried Water cold, warm, hot and found it needs to be iced cold for me. During the first two weeks I had Protein shakes, broth, apple sauce, Jello, pudding, juices (though you should avoid these). By the way gatorade does not count as water, neither does tea. Only pure water counts as water. You need protein, you will lose a good portion of muscle mass along with fat in rapid weight loss, you need to get your 50 to 70 grams of protein per day.
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Allergy Medicine
I have a couple of prescription medications, none of which can be made into a liquid and if chopped will through off my dosage. I had and still have no problem taking them whole. While in hospital they gave me 8 - 25 mg pills instead of my usual 1 - 200 mg pill. I think some doctors think the amount of Water you take for a pill may be to much at once or disturb the stomach. Try a regular pill and see how you feel. The worse is you throw up?
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3rd day post op
I am three months out. Yes, you should be having liquids first week or so including protein shakes, water, jello, apple sauce, tea, chicken broth. You will lose a lot of muscle mass along with fat in the first couple of weeks. it is important to keep protein up.
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At 2 months out, how much could you eat?
You should be able to eat a regular meal. At two months I was eating a full five in plate of food. One night I had a regular size piece of lasagna and a small salad. I am at three months and for lunch I had half of a hamburger patty, 1/4 cup cottage cheese, 3 slices of canned peaches, 2 tomato slices and two saltine crackers. Some typical breakfasts are 1/2 grapefruit, bowl of Cereal, and a cup of fat free milk another version is an omelete of 1 egg, some diced tomatoes/mushrooms/garlic, slice of fat free cheese, slice of toast and cup of fat free milk. My dietician and physician assistant (this is all they handle is bariatric patients) says to make Protein shakes the inbetween meals but that Breakfast, lunch and dinner should be regular meals.
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A Litttle Help Needed, Always Hungry After Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Hey, I am with you. Around day 8 I was eating well chewed solids. Still at 3 months can't drink enough Water so I get some through fruits high in water content. The gas is normal and you will have it for awhile, just learn to live with it. Hang in there, we all have our off track periods, just don't let it take over. Do try to avoid fried things like pork skins, all fat no nutrients. But, if you only have a little once in blue moon don't sweat it, we are human and have the same cravings after surgery as before surgery. Mostly it is head hunger from smells than it is tummy hungry.
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getting back on track
Nothing wrong with a treat once in awhile. I have Peanut Butter and crackers and lord knows a couple of pieces of candy for Halloween. My dietician said to have real food Breakfast, lunch and dinner - I am ending third month postop. He said use Protein Drinks and bars for the mid morning and mid afternoon Snacks but to eat real food for the three meals - 1/4 Protein, 1/4 vegetable, 1/4 fruit, 1/4 carbohydrates. So, there is nothing wrong with Pasta or potato with dinner, you need you carbs to burn energy instead of protein and muscle.
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vitamins
I shop around, Albertsons and Walgreens typically have a two for one on some brands like Nature Made. Costco has some decent prices. Look out for coupons.
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Probably a dumb question..but..
The purpose of all the Water is hydration. You cannot drink a bottle at a time so you drink throughout. Also, unless you like hard stools you want water to keep them soft. Water is water. coffee, sodas, juices do not count as water. Yes, you can add flavorings and have it count as long as it is water.
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Having Trouble....
Chances are at this stage your solid foods will be mushy - apple sauce, mashed potatoes, anything blended (my dietician said one person put a bacon cheeseburger into a blender), things that can be mashed with a fork like peas, yogurt, cottage cheese. Be careful transitioning - you really should avoid fried/battered food like LJS - the battering is just hollow calories and you get less Protein when you eat stuff like that because it fills your limited stomach space.
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More calories equals weight loss??!!
Well nearing end of month 3 I have maxed out the surgery goal of 50% excess loss and trying to maintain. I increased calories to 1,200 and still losing even adding in some meaningless calories (ice cream). Eating more calories gets body out of starvation mode and can cause metabolism to increase. Now eating 1,200 calories per day is not going to add a pound on you very quick. Remember even if all you do is lay in bed all day you will burn calories. Now add in getting up, showering, making meals, walking around, working all those things burn calories. To gain weight you need more calories going in then out. So, you need to determine your caloric output, you can find some calculators by googling. Once you know how many calories you burn then you can determine how many calories you need to eat to maintain or gain. Weigh yourself once per day at the same time so you keep comparison, don't weigh after eating you get false reading.
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When Did You Add Salad?
Week 4 to 5. Met with dietician and physician assistant near end of week 4 and was told to add salad in. I make my salads with some chicken, meatloaf or other protein meat.
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Walkers- How far do you walk and at what pace?
Just walking at a normal pace is fine. Typically if you get in 30 minutes per day is good and 70 is great. Concentrate less on distance/speed and more on time spent walking.
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Compression Garments
If you are going to lose a lot of weight fast save the money, the garments will not stop the sagging skin from coming. You were the compression clothing after to keep things together. With exercise and the compression wear (I like Under Armour) I show a good form. How do you think molding the skin is going to help once you lose 40 pounds quick? Being younger, you skin will have a little more elasticity but still you will have loose skin. Think of it like soft ear plugs, once you pull them out they puff back out.