DanaInNewOrleans

Did your senses change instantly or from month to month? Nothing grosses me out except Splenda and I wish sugar and fat grossed me out but it doesn't

I was hoping that I would suddenly be repulsed by all the "bad" stuff but no, apparently it won't be that easy...

I wish I could say that my taste buds have changed, but no such luck. I do have moments when I'm fixing something to eat and then suddenly I realize I just do not want to eat..... but it's not about the specific food...

If you're having such a hard time right now, I'd take the IV fluids without hesitation. It would take the stress out of the whole fluids thing. You could probably relax and just concentrate on getting better....

How about joining Weight Watchers and schedule monthly visits with your doc. Based on what your listed as your insurance requirements, wouldn't that work?

Here's my dilemma. Coordinator told me 3 month diet history was all that was required. Print out WW progress notes and all will be well. However everything I see about Cigna says I need a 3 month supervised diet by a RD or MD. I have attempted to find someone local without success--as I don't want to waste 3 months. I'm already 5 weeks into my diet.

So here's the problem. I travel for my job and am away from home from Monday am to Friday pm. It doesn't leave much time to see anyone. Do any of you have a nut that does phone visits for out of state patients? I am willing to pay cash.

I appreciate any referrals! Thank you.

Your doc doesn't have an a nutritionist they work with?

At 5 weeks I was ravenous, all of a sudden. Even after a meal. Had been taking Prevacid daily since surgery. Changed to nexium twice a day, and had immediate relief.

It was sudden for me too. In fact, I posted on VST that I was starving suddenly and everyone convinced me that it wasn't hunger but acid. I'm going to try the Nexium --- taking the Zantac ( in addition to my Prevacid 2x daily) has helped but not completely. Maybe the Nexium will wipe it out.

There is a good chance your "hunger" is actually acid. It can feel like extreme hunger -- a very empty gnawing feeling. A PPI like Prilosec or Prevacid can help! Mine started about 3 or 4 weeks after surgery ...I was already on Prilosec ( my doc prescribes to everyone before surgery but some docs don't do that) but added Zantac, which helped.

Call your doc!

I was afraid I would not be taken seriously as a professional, and its a major reason I had this surgery.

I agree with this completely. My weight has fluctuated so much, although I've never been "normal" weight as an I adult. It just went all over the place from merely overweight to obese to morbidly obese back to obese....you get the picture..

I was treated MUCH differently in my professional world during each category..... sad but true.

One of the perks of being over weight is having a fat personality.

A fat personality is someone who is sensitive, loving, funny and caring. Just like a teddy bear!

I'm not trying to discriminate, this is only my way of seeing things and I don't take myself seriously, so should you!!

Ok so, I think most fat people always have better personalities than most skinny people!

People who have always been overweight may care more about having a good personality and a sense of humour, they also tend to be more affectionate and forgiving. Maybe it's a psychological compensation mechanism?

I hope I never lose my fat self..

Dear god, please make my body thin and my personality fat.. Amen.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this!!! Great post! And so so very true..

You'll probably be telling that story for years!!!!! Glad to know you are sane!

You really should call your doc and explain what is going on. Many people think they are feeling hungry but it is actually acid, which Prilosec, Prevacid, etc would help. You also need to clarify your eating plan. You sound confused about your eating plan and you really need some guidance directly from the source....your doctor!

Basically i should b on mushies or soft foods. I c my dr again at the end of march... i think im just confused on what to eat n how many times to eat... im only eating max 3oz but i feel like im doing sumething wrong bc im always hungry...

I think you need to contact your physician/nutritionist to clarify what your plan allows. Being on only mushy/puree food for almost 3 months sounds like a long time. Did they give you written guidelines? Also, are you on a PPI like Prevacid or Prilosec?

When does your plan move to the next phase? And what is it?

I still struggle with Water and im 8 months out.

Me too. Water has been the most challenging thing for me with this whole process.... Yesterday I started using a straw and let me tell you, it has helped a lot! I have no idea why but I can get it down MUCH better and faster.

Add me to the slow loser list!!

Tomorrow is 4 weeks post op and I have only lost 11 pounds. REALLY???? I lost more weight during my one week pre-op diet than I have in the month after surgery.

Surgery weight 202 (lost 15 pounds during one week pre-op liquid diet)

week one -6

week two -0...zero, zilch, notta!!

week three -4

week four -1

Think of it like this ....in about a months time you lost 26 lbs ...that is a LOT for a low BMI. Your body is probably trying to figure it out. You can't compare yourself to someone who is 350 lbs and loses 30 lbs the first month.

You don't list your stats but lets say you are 5'4 with a goal weight 130. You started 217. You are now 191. That means you have lost 30% of your excess body weight in 1 month!! 30%!

Of course you need to adjust the stats for your actual height but still ....that is pretty awesome !

I feel the same... i cam eat other things.. im tired of puree n liquids plus im hungry n have a headache... dnt k ow what to do...

Ive onlt lost 7 pounds. :-(

I go back to liquids n then im hungry so I eat....

I honestly dnt know what to do

When was your surgery?

DOS Dec. 13th.

Started: 208lbs

Today: 178lbs

Im happy. I know its only 30lbs but I expected that bc my bmi was 34 to start. Since I haven't been working out, I've gotton pretty soft. Uhhh, time to start lifting weights.

Hold on....ONLY 30 pounds!!! Do not diminish your accomplishment!!! 30 pounds on a 34 bmi is significant!!

Congratulations!

I reached a 50 pound loss today! So happy to have reached a milestone!

Congratulations!

Hi!!

Happy to see all the familiar faces!! How are you doing?

My leak presented as a low dull back ache. I was about two weeks out and doing great other than the nagging back ache. I spent weeks in the hospital, all of the holiday season! . Stents for six weeks. Then was going to have a claw in place- thankfully I didn't have to have this.

I have been through a lot.

My leak was on the upper part of my stomach. It caused me to have Fluid on my heart. I have been pretty sick. But starting to get a lot better. Today I start PURÉES.

I am still receiving a lot of care. But I don't have a PICC or midline anymore!! I no longer require daily transfusion care.

I am alive and adjusting. There were several moments and times I asked the dr if I was going to die. I have been to the bottom of the pit!! Things can only get better from this point on!!!

I am trying to figure out how to post photos. So you can see the leak and stents.

I hope your doing well! .

I am typing on my phone. It's hard. I hope all makes sense.

Girl Girl Girl! I am so sorry about what you've been through! Wow... Thank God you're on the road to recovery. Do they know what happened to cause your leak? I hope you are not staying alone -- you need moral support! You do have a great attitude though....

Keep us posted as much as you feel up to it!

Take Care!!

Dana

You're not alone. I did Atkins too about 15 years ago and lost 90lbs over 9 months and was slim... that lasted all of about a year then I was gaining back. I was a dumb teenager and didnt think and put it all back on plus some.

I also get tired of just eating meat... So today I went to subway and got a 6" oven roasted chicken breast with NO cheese and mustard - it's only 350 cals.. and will take me a few hours to eat lol. bread doesn't affect me negatively either...

I also couldnt stomach the pre-op liquid diet and would eat subway once or twice a day and ran about 1200-1400 cals a day... I lost 6lbs in that week before surgery so I don't think the carbs will impact me in that way. Only 14g are sugar. This is also getting in Protein with the chicken which is good too...

So trust me.. I can totally relate lol.

You know what I am beginning to realize? Everyone is going to have to find their own way on this journey. If eating Subway works for you, the eat Subway! If eating a biscuit with tablespoon of chicken salad (with real mayo) works me for than I'm going to do it. If I still have to get in a Protein Shake to get my required protein because I just cannot stomach eating another piece of chicken that I've got to chew, chew, chew and it still feels like a brick in my stomach, well so be it! And if that means I lose a little slower well, ok, so I lose slowly.

I do believe that we've got to keep our protein up so I will do whatever it takes to make sure of that, but as long as I keep calories say around 800 (and my protein around 70grams) I am going to eat whatever works for me.

I remember way back when I joined this site in August I kept reading about people of just couldn't get in enough calories and they felt weak and their weight loss had slowed down. So I posted a response saying, well, how about trying to get more calories in by say, adding real mayo to chicken salad. Or eat a couple of tablespoons of ice cream. Anything to keep your calories up. Well, I was attacked! People posting that I needed to reevaluate whether I should do the surgery, questioning my commitment to this way of life, etc. I was shocked. But everyone must find the way that works for them...

Yay for Subway (for you) and yay for REAL mayo (for me)! I somehow feel like a subversive saying that! LOL

Sleeved December 5th.

Had a leak, but in track with my weight loss. Down 64 pounds. Still on liquids only and I hope to transition to puréed foods soon!!

I haven't seen you here in a while! What happened with your leak? What is sudden? I'm so glad you're ok!

I know what ketosis is, but I still did not think it was healthy to be "in it" for a prolonged period of time. Someone else on this forum (maybe not this thread) posted that they were in ketosis and trying to "get out." I think it was a guy and he said that he perpetually smelled bad (was giving off an odor). Atkins may have a following, but honestly, I think his diet was just as much a fad as many of the others. If anything, one of the hardest parts about this surgery (for me) is the dependence on Protein. I was almost a complete vegetarian for 20 years and of course plant-based protein is less efficient than dairy/eggs/meat when your stomach is small. You need to eat a lot more quinoa and the ilk to get the same amount of protein.

I really wish there was a more standard approach to our surgery, because all the variables brought out on this forum get me a little crazy. Obviously, whatever your surgeon/NUT tells you to do is what you should do. I haven't gotten so much specific direction from mine, so I think that adds to my confusion.

I'm apologize about explaining about ketosis. It was that it's been my experience that many people are confused and think you mean ketoacidosis, which they know is dangerous.

I'm a believer in Atkins because 13 years ago, for the first time in my life, I was able to lose 160lbs following the Atkins philosophy. ( I was still overweight but a size 16 and I was pretty happy). It was the right fit for me because I am definitely a meat eater. I managed to keep the weight off for a long time because I continued following a low carb lifestyle. About 5 or 6 years ago I started slowly gaining -- about 10 pounds a year -- and I just could not lose it. (I've still managed to keep the other 100 lbs off). I thought maybe my body had adjusted to low carb and maybe I should try Weight Watchers, which I did, and GAINED weight on 1200 calories a day. I really believe that I fall into the category of people that carbs must be kept as low as possible in order to lose and maintain. I realize it's not for everyone -- some people can do fine with carbs. Unfortunately I am not one of them.

I totally agree with you about the inconsistencies with post-sleeve diets. It's crazy. The only thing they do seem to have in common is that it is a high protein/low carb diet. My plan does not state specific calories, which I find completely annoying. My issue over the last few weeks (since I began solid food) is that carbs are so much easier to eat with the sleeve. One or two bites of dense protein and I am miserable. Right now I'm sitting here eating lunch - 1.7 oz of sliced roasted chicken breast -- and I feel like I ate a 2 lb ribeye. It is no longer l pleasant to eat meat and I don't look forward to it. Last night I had Special K and low carb milk for dinner because I just could not bring myself to eat something dense. Sometimes I just eat soft scrambled eggs because it's easier. The other day I ate a biscuit (which was heaven ) and it went down so easily. Apparently I do not have the same issues with bread as some sleevers (which is not a good thing as far as I'm concerned). I also still rely on my Protein Shakes to get my protein count up. It's very easy for me to drink, it's low calorie (175 calories) and high protein (29 grams). I guess this is all a learning process.

that is a day! we are not allowed Snacks or Protein Drinks but I have been told the cals. and Protein is too low so I am trying to bulk it up more.

I think I remember you posted about this before right? WOW.... I am still shocked that your doc has you on 300 calories a day...I think I would lose my mind. How long are you on that extreme calorie restriction?

Here is a WebMD piece about low carb and ketosis.....

http://www.webmd.com/diet/high-protein-low-carbohydrate-diets

Surgeons WANT us to get into ketosis? :-(

Ketosis is when your body is actually burning fat. That is a good thing, at least in my opinion (I totally believe in the Atkins way of life). You're probably thinking of ketoacidosis--- which is extremely dangerous for diabetics. There are some that believe long term ketosis may not be healthy but there are plenty of studies that show that is is perfectly healthy. Just depends on what side you end up on in the debate.