TheGamer

You're going to still be a little uncomfortable. That's normal. After all, they did just take out most of your stomach As long as you're continually feeling better, don't sweat it.

A couple other things to note, especially if you physically feel something when you call it hunger (and not just head hunger). I've learned the hard way that the stomach will do some things that mimic the feeling of a REALLY hungry stomach. If you physically feel hungry, make sure it's not gas, stomach acid, or esophageal spasms. The last is physically painful, but the other two are just that annoying "I need to eat" feeling, regardless of if you really do or not.

I'd imagine the closer you get, the more obvious it would be. I've got a LOT left to lose (about 140 to my personal goal, down 60 so far) and I've noticed that my skin texture has changed and that the skin isn't as tight and smooth as it was with all that fat under it. There are a lot of factors, including age, skin condition, and amount of weight to lose that will all contribute to how your skin rebounds from the weight loss. That's why they won't generally do any cosmetic skin fixes for two years. It gives the skin time to do all it's going to do as far as tightening up.

Actually I've noticed more back/shoulder pain since surgery and the only thing I'm thinking is that it's chest related. I've lost weight everywhere else, but not there so there's less fat to hold them in a comfortable position and maybe they're stressing out my back

Chewable multivitamin (which I can't stand), sub-lingual B12, calcium citrate as needed (what I don't get from diet), acidophilus, and Biotin (potentially help hair loss/regrowth). Post surgery I'm also taking Zegerid for stomach acid, ursodiol for gall bladder protection, and norvasc for esophageal spasms.

I've been taking Prilosec and am currently taking Zegerid, which is the same as Prilosec but with added sodium bicarbonate for absorption. Unfortunately it seems that either the spasms or the medicine to fix them (which loosens the esophagus) is giving the acid a way out.

Thanks They're thinking that the opening between the esophagus and stomach is too small, hence the issues. I've been sticking with the recliner because otherwise I am one of those that sleeps on my arm on my side. It's the only way I can be sure I don't roll over

I've been sleeping in the recliner because laying flat tends to cause my esophageal spasms to activate. Well, I was peacefully asleep this morning until I remember sitting up and being hit with a wave of nausea. Next came a burning sensation and the next I knew, there was this vile taste in my throat and I thought that it was just some acid. Went to go get the tums and at that point I realized I had aspirated something and my lungs started burning with the acid. I started coughing it up, freaking out just a bit. There was some blood, which cleared out in 2-3 coughs, but mostly this bright lemon yellow looking substance that I'm assuming was stomach acid because it was vile tasting - like bile. I'm still a little freaked out, but not enough to run to the ER now that the sensation has subsided. I am working closely with my PCP and surgeon's office, but I'm wondering if anyone has tips/suggestions on what else I can do while waiting for this to resolve itself.

I was sent home with liquid hydrocodone.

I've developed problems later in the game (6 wks out) that have included esophageal spasms and some severe acid reflux. I'm basically back to a nearly all liquid diet, with most of my nutrition coming from Meal Replacement shakes, soups, and yes, mashed potatoes. While higher in carbs, potatoes are not inherently fattening as they have no fat. Even the potato flake variety has very little fat if you don't dump butter on it. Sweet potatoes are not nearly as spiky in terms of the glycemic response and are a better choice. Honestly? I'd rather *not* be eating mashed potatoes, but given how very little of anything else I can tolerate, I'll take some extra calories where I can (literally) stomach them.

So I've been having problems and they've narrowed down the source as esophageal spasms. They're interfering with my ability to work, to eat, to even sit up straight. The only comfort I'm getting is in sitting in a recliner with a heating pad on my stomach drinking warm liquids. They've put me on some medicine that is supposed to relax the esophagus, but I'm not noticing much of a difference yet. For a while I thought it was just really bad acid reflux, but even after switching to a different PPI and trying all sorts of remedies, I was still in pain. One trip to the doctor later and now I'm wondering what the next steps are. Has anyone else dealt with these? If so, what did they do to fix it?

I've been using net carbs, personally. Since I want to avoid sugar, not fiber, I figure it was more logical to operate that way. I may be wrong, though!

I was sleeved 10/22 and am down 40 pounds since surgery. I am down nearly 65 since I started pre-op. I have exactly 100 pounds to go until I hit my first goal weight of 220

I've been digging the Quest protein bars. They've got a little under 20 carbs per bar but it's all dietary fiber (like 17g) and very minimal sugar (like 3 grams). They're not meal replacement, only protein though, and that's a bummer.

When I quit, I used the patches. They tend to give some people strange dreams if you wear them at night, though. For me, it was just kind of an added benefit to them It also helps to have something close that you can distract yourself with.

Breakfast is usually a Protein drink. I like GNC's Total Lean shakes. lunch is some salmon or tuna or a Protein Bar like Quest. I'll have a cheese stick, yogurt, or pudding for a snack and then maybe chicken for dinner and steamed broccoli for a snack. I should point out that I live alone and quickly learned that if I cooked a lot, all I did was waste food. I still end up getting rid of at least half of all the perishable things I buy. I've started buying the small, individual servings of shelf stable milk (like you'd get for a lunchbox), for example, because it doesn't go bad. I buy small amounts of lunch meat from the deli for the same reasons.

I am 5'10" and my pre surgery start weight was 383. I was sleeved on 10/22 and as of today I am down 60 pounds. I lost 30 pre surgery, regained 15 in the hospital, and have lost 45 since. This includes about 2 weeks on the week 3 stall where I regained 2 pounds eating 600 calories a day. The nerves are normal. When I woke up after getting sleeved, the first thing I did was question my sanity and think that I had been happy fat (which, I was). I hurt a lot and because of my size, moving really hurt. I had a rough first week, but with no major complications. My biggest annoyance was struggling to find some Protein I could stomach. I had a few bumps in the road and a blood clot scare last week (it was negative), but now I think I'm pretty well adjusted. I thought my weight loss would be one nice steady drop, but it hasn't been. The body reacts in strange ways to what we've done. Am I losing overall? Yes, very much. But one day I'll drop a pound and a half, the next I'll be up a pound, then down a half pound, then down a pound, then lose nothing for a couple days... ultimately the scale moves in the right direction. I started out in 5x tops and size 32 pants. I am currently baggy in a 3x, happy with a stretched out 2x, and comfortably in a size 28 pant. I am fanatical about watching what I put in my mouth, and frequently keep a food diary to record how much I eat and to make sure I get my protein in. I walk about a mile and a half more days than not. Also, Water. Water, water, water. It's a change. A big one. I'd do it again, though. I couldn't have done it without taking this kind of step.

It's not uncommon to stall. Do a search for week 3 stall and you'll see what I mean. It seems that for some reason, a LOT of people stop losing weight for a while in that time frame. It can last for a couple weeks or more, but what I found is that even when I gained two pounds over the course of a couple weeks (even while I was only eating 600 calories a day!) I lost inches even though the scale went the wrong way. Just stick with what you've been told to do and it will work.

You'll be surprised how huge they become immediately after surgery I never thought I'd look at a quarter cup of food and go "How am I supposed to eat all that?"

I drank plenty of broth when I was on liquids. I love Better Than Bouillon chicken flavor. It's high sodium, though, so be cautious.

One specific pre-op drink? I'm not quite sure I know. A lot of us were on liquid diets pre-op, which is just a fancy way of saying "too many protein shakes and drinks".

Unless the instructions (or your doctor) tells you to crush the meds, be cautious about doing so. Medications are designed to be taken in the form they are dispensed in. What you're doing can cause you to absorb way more than you're supposed to at any one go and can have serious repercussions.

Honestly? It's going to come down to what you can tolerate. Pre-surgery I was okay with just about everything I tried. Post surgery? I had trouble tolerating anything and even now there are just a few I can stand. There are lots of places you can get samples of protein powders and I'd highly recommend you spend the $5 getting a few of those before you make any major buys.

If you have a local Asian market (Korean, Chinese, etc.) you can get the seaweed strips (Yamamoto Yama makes some) in large packages for much less. They have flavors like teriyaki which are delicious Dried seaweed is one of my favorite snacks.

I struggled to get my protein in until I was out of liquid phase. My taste buds did a major 180 after surgery and I really couldn't tolerate the smell and taste of protein drinks any more. I recently found the GNC Total Lean shakes which are perfect for me. They're meal replacement and they don't have the nasty smell or chalky taste I experience with a lot of protein drinks. I wish I had these things the first two weeks