lilac lass

Well, if you aren't already seeing a therapist who specializes in food issues, do so. Also, since you are aware of your behavior, you can take steps to modify it, you know you are a comfort eater, so eat, just eat differently. Are you a cruncher? A chewer? A sipper? Since your sick, maybe go back on the mushies phase diet, beef broths, ricotta bake, etc. that way you are still comforting yourself, making healthy choices, and taking care of your illness to boot. good luck

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I really appreciate what you said and your support.

Well, if you aren't already seeing a therapist who specializes in food issues, do so. Also, since you are aware of your behavior, you can take steps to modify it, you know you are a comfort eater, so eat, just eat differently. Are you a cruncher? A chewer? A sipper? Since your sick, maybe go back on the mushies phase diet, beef broths, ricotta bake, etc. that way you are still comforting yourself, making healthy choices, and taking care of your illness to boot. good luck

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I really appreciate what you said and your support.

Hi,

I got to my goal and was doing well. Then Oct 15, I started to get sick. I thought it was a cold but it turned into bronchitis. My doctor put me on an antibiotics which has ended. I am still coughing and tired but they say that can last for 3 weeks with bronchitis. Here is the thing, I hate being sick and it is wearing me down. I don't want to fall into the old habit of comforting myself with food. I already slipped up a couple of times. I know it isn't going to help me get over the bronchitis soon. I am just tired of being sick and tired. How have any of you handled this kind of thing. I know in the past, getting sick is one of my triggers for lousy eating and I have to overcome this. I know my attitude isn't helping my bronchitis either but then I beat myself up over whether I should work out or not. I try to ride my exercise bike but not at the intensity level as before but just end up feeling more tired. So I have this issue of perfectionism and how to deal with that. I knew with my surgery I would have to deal with emotional stuff, well here I am.

Where are you located someone in your area may buy them that is having the surgery. What flavors are they?

I am on edge of north Dallas, TX. I have 2 containers of Unjury unflavored and 1 container of chocolate Splendor. I also have single packets of almost each flavor of Unjury. I have single packets of most flavors or Syntax nectar. I used the stuff right after surgery but now my taste and diet has changed. So yeah if anyone is close to surgery, they can private message me. I don't want to break any forum rules.

Thanks! I hadn't thought of those options!

I have 6 containers that fit the recall. I read the article about this. A few months ago, we had a container that bulged and called the company about it. They said to throw it out and they sent us a coupon to replace it. When I went to check for this recall, one of the six was bulging. I will take it to Walmart on Friday and see if they will exchange it.

Hi,

I have 3 unopened containers of powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury powder. I want to return them or sell them. It was great but my taste has changed and now I don't like it. When I first had surgery, I could put it in coco or Soup and it was great. Now, no matter what I put it in, I taste it. I still have an opened container and I try it again every so often to see if I can eat it but it is a no go with my taste buds.

What is the easiest and best way to do this? I emailed the company and they sent me the return form. I don't have the box they came in so I have to get a box to ship it back if I go that route. So has anyone done this before? What is the best way to ship it?

Can you keep the food down? Are you changing anything ( what you are eating, bite size, speed, chewing)? I would just look for any change that you have made. If it isn't that, it could be a virus and if not that, give your doctor a call. Hope you are feeling better soon.

I have. I worked very hard on the NUT program pre-op and lost about 25 pounds. Now I am at goal and learning this process. It is new to me and at times I laugh when I am folding my clothes to think that fits me!! My shoulders are wider than my hips!! That is shocking. I am not perfect or a super workout freak. I ride an exercise bike, lift some weights (5-10 lb), and do stretches. But I read the information the clinic gave me (several times) and do what they said. I have slipped up but I get right back on the plan.

First of all, I would consult a dr. about your heartburn. Lots of VSGers have to use a PPI to reduce stomach acid (I don't so I'm not an expert by any means.) Secondly I do NOT think that going 'above' your Protein goals is bad at all. Dense Protein will help keep you feeling full longer. Basically you are getting 50g of protein before noon because of your shake/bar for Breakfast. (shake 30g bar 20g roughly) Calorically your shake/bar combo for breakfast is equal to about 360 calories. Do you eat REAL food the rest of the day? Just not at breakfast? If so, I think maybe you are probably ok for now, but I would suggest an either/or option. So for breakfast you can have either a shake OR a bar, but not both. I think a shake or a bar here and there is ok (actually my NUTs rules are NO shakes after 6 weeks post-op and no more than One Bar per day, less than that is better.) but I still do have an occasional shake or bar. Finally, I think that 5 hours between meals is probably asking a bit too much. 3-4 is what my surgeon aims for.

Since you are only 6 months out I think you are still in that mode of food being more of a chore than a joy. That is ok. Things take time to settle in and once you are further out, food may appeal to you much more than it does now.

And glad your husband found a job, that is great news. I would highly suggest seeing a NUT now that you are 6 months. My surgeon now has a mandatory 6 month post-op class (when I was sleeved in 2010 it was just 1 week, 3 week, and 6 week classes that were mandatory.) So I think that would probably be worth the money spent to do a check-in.

Thanks! What you wrote made a lot of sense. I have been trying to have yogurt sometimes instead of the protein bar/ shake. I know it will be a process. I don't want to pick up any new bad habits as I am sorting this out.

At six months, your stomach is still adjusting to post op life. At two years out, I eat more and tolerate a wider variety of foods well. I do still have Snacks between meals most days.

Some people continue to use Protein drinks for the rest of their lives. See Shelly's blog, http://theworldaccor...e.blogspot.com/. She is several years post-op. She had a RNY, but the long term eating habits are not that different than VSG.

I never ate Protein bars, but Fiddleman loves them.

I hope you are taking a good Vitamin regime. Are you taking a PPI, such as Prilosec? If not, perhaps you should try one. Acid reflux can be an issue for VSG post-op.

Lynda

Oh forgot to say I love Eggface's blog! I adore the containers and cookware she has. I used some of her ideas but mostly when I was pre-op.

Part of being a vet is not just getting to goal, its going though all the stages of the surgery maturing. 6 months is still quite early in the stages. Like lsereno said... you will be able to eat more later on. Some people don't start to get hungry again for 4 years! Others are hungry from the start. Just use your Protein drinks to get in enough Protein, and work on developing a well rounded eating plan. I personally have always eaten 5-6 meals/snacks. I used Protein Drinks and bars for almost 2 years. I sometimes still will if I need to. With a small stomach, you may have to eat between meals. Just plan it, keep it healthy so it doesn't turn into grazing. Your hunger and ability to eat more WILL return. You will find that is a main topic among the vets that are here. Many have not gotten to goal after 2 years... others have gotten to goal and gained back some of the weight. These are the main topics of Vets here. Some are still trying out how to maintain... how to stop losing... when to say enough.

... and by the way... Congratulations on losing to goal!!! That is fantastic! As you are finding out, you are not at the end of your journey, so listen in, it helps me a lot and at 2 1/2 years, I am not through with my journey either!

Thanks and you bring up many great points! I know I am going to be 'working this' the rest of my life. I had a weight problem for over 40 years so this is going to be a long journey of learning how to manage life, food, exercise now. My body is at goal but my head isn't yet. I often don't recognize myself and when I hold up my clothes when I am folding it, it doesn't seem real. I guess I just need time and to keep doing it.

I will start taking some sips of the protein drinks and saving for later the rest. For your 5-6 meal/snack, how much time do you have between them? What I mean is that I am afraid of slipping into grazing. But I can't sort out how to follow the information the clinic gave me with how my body feels. That is why I really wanted to hear what the vets on this forum had to say.

I have read some of the posts about hunger. I have felt hunger a times, it is just that food I was hungry for is so disappointing. It is never satisfying. It's like when you see the picture of the commercial and then you see the actual product and they are very different. My taste is that way and I feel like yeah I am hungry sometimes but why bother for this so-so disappointing taste. The protein bars and shakes take care of the hunger, don't disappoint with taste and aren't any work. But I am doing multivit twice a day, Calcium twice a day, and B-12. I am doing benefiber so it is like I am getting all the aspects of food. But in a few months, maybe I will be able to eat more things and enjoy them.

Thank you for taking the time to answer. I really appreciate it!

At six months, your stomach is still adjusting to post op life. At two years out, I eat more and tolerate a wider variety of foods well. I do still have Snacks between meals most days.

Some people continue to use Protein drinks for the rest of their lives. See Shelly's blog, http://theworldaccor...e.blogspot.com/. She is several years post-op. She had a RNY, but the long term eating habits are not that different than VSG.

I never ate Protein bars, but Fiddleman loves them.

I hope you are taking a good Vitamin regime. Are you taking a PPI, such as Prilosec? If not, perhaps you should try one. Acid reflux can be an issue for VSG post-op.

Lynda

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Thanks! Yes, I am taking my Vitamins and am very careful about it. I am on a PPI. I really appreciate you taking the time to write. I love the forum and need to hear from actual people. The information the clinic gave me is great but I want to learn from people who are living it in the real world. Now I won't beat myself up for not eating just 'real food'.

Thanks again!

Hi,

I am so excited to find this section of the forum and now I am six months and can officially be here. I pledge to not be an annoying newbie with my questions. I am at my goal weight and due to go back for my next appointment in a couple weeks. My questions come because of unusual situation. Right before my surgery, my husband lost his job and he is our only income. Praise God, he got another job and starts on Monday. Also the week of my surgery, the NUT at my surgeon's office quit. I had attended all the classes before, read the book they gave me ( three times) but after surgery it is now living it. I know clinics vary in guidelines and it is important to balance the guidelines with what works for you personally. The nurse practitioner would answer NUT questions at my post-op visits. The clinic did get a NUT eventually but I didn't want to spend the money on a visit while my husband was out of work. I was doing splendidly in losing weight. But there are some things I am struggling with. So I am coming to the experts for clarifications.

I have the pattern of eating that is a Protein shake and Protein Bars for 2 meals a day. Whenever I try to go to 'real food', I can't get enough in to keep me satisfied for as long as it should. The clinic said I was to go 4-5 hours between meals. If I make a half a sandwich, an egg, or other things, I fill up but get hungry before 3 hours. Also often 'real food' sounds tasty but by the time I take a bite, it doesn't taste as good so it is like why bother. I don't think it is still the taste from surgery change because I couldn't drink Water for months after surgery and now I enjoy it again. It is more like most of the time I see food as the fuel and yeah it should taste good or worth the process. I am not saying I haven't had emotional slip ups, I have but I have gotten back on track.

I usually have a Protein Shake ( Premier Protein) and sip it for 30-60 min. I often am not hungry when I first wake up but the clinic wants me to eat within the first hour that I am awake so I start with the Protein Shake. When I finish sipping it, I may get hungry and have a Protein Bar probably within 10 min of my last sip of the shake. But doing this, lets me go 4 hours from start of Breakfast to lunch.

Also I am to have Protein first for meals and Snacks. Well, with what I am doing, I am exceeding my protein limit. I am to aim for 60 and could possibly go to 100. There are days I am up to 115. I feel fine and my labs ( another doctor does) are fine except for BUN. I may have a couple of bites of vegetables at dinner and some fruit a few times a week.

So am I so off the mark with depending on Protein shakes and bars? I do try each week to do 'real food' but it is discouraging. I also had a hernia repair and don't want to repeat that damage so I do focus on small bites, chewing, no liquids before and after meals. But my heartburn has come back in recent months. It is sometimes at weird times that I don't think it is related to a meal.

Any advice or suggestions would be helpful.

Well I am three years post op and so grateful for this journey. Having lost the weight increased my fertility dramatically, and allowed me to conceive and give birth to a healthy beautiful boy. However, the strangest side effect has come with my epilepsy. Medications that once managed my seizure symptoms are no more. I have been working with a neurologist for 2.5 years trying to find the magic combo. Taking way more than I had to at 320 lbs (I am at 160 now) the best guess that my medical professionals have. I once had a fatty inefficient liver. I no longer do. My liver is so effective that it chews up more medicine than the FDA's maximum dosages. I am so grateful for the changes I have made. I have so much joy in this body. But my epilepsy before was not even a part of my life. I went for a decade with no seizures. I had friends who had no idea this had even been a part of my life. Now I am unable to get up in the night with my small fry and my husband has graciously taken that role. I am often dizzy, or disoriented from the high doses of medicaion. Yet I still often feel on the verge of a seizure. Its hard to know what to wish for.

I love this new forum but am a few days short of being here. But I just had to write to you. Has any of your neurologists mentioned VNS (Vagus nerve stimulator)? It might be an option to consider. It is a surgery but it is a process that takes time to find the setting that could help you. If it does work for you, it can be great! It isn't brain surgery but a small device put in the chest, like a pacemaker. There are wires that go to a nerve that leads to the brain. It is set to send a charge at certain times and at a certain amount. You are given a magnet that you can trigger a charge if you feel a seizure coming on. Doctors can change the settings with a machine in their office. It could allow you to have a lower dose of medications. Ask your doctor about it!

Hi,

I am just under 5 months from having my surgery. It was a great success and I am so thrilled I did it. During my surgery, they repaired a hiatial hernia I was unaware that I had and I don't want to get another one. My mom had one and developed an esophagus condition ( Barrett's esophagus) because of it. This weekend, I started having heartburn. I am taking Pepcid twice a day. I am not doing anything differently but the heartburn is in the middle of the night and up to 6 am. I am looking at my diet. I was eating some cinnamon sugar free mints in the evening and stopped that. The heartburn continued. I was taking Celebrex which my doctor allowed and I stopped it. The heartburn continued. When it happens, I have taken an antacid but it comes right back. Any ideas before I call my doctor ( husband out of work and don't want to spend $ on office visit if I can avoid it)?

Thank you for sharing. I had a similar thing happen to me in a fold of skin and it is very painful. I even tried the over the counter yeast creams and they didn't work. But the prescription cream took care of it really quickly. It's actually really common. Hope you feel better soon:)

My doctor said it was common. It does hurt but I am mad at myself for not going in to the doctor sooner. I kept thinking it was dry skin and putting more lotion on it. I guess that is why the forum is so important.

I know this was sort of an embarrassing thing to share but thank you so much. Might help someone out who ends up with the same problem.

Hope your butt gets to feeling better soon

Yes so now it is in the archives for anyone else to find if they have the same situation.

I went to see my primary doctor and she said it was a yeast infection in the wrinkles of my skin from losing weight. I was putting lotion on it and that wasn't helping the situation but helping the yeast grow. She gave me a prescription cream to use for 2 weeks. It still is sore but she said it should help.

I will go to the doctor. Parts of it is red, more so at times. I kept telling myself it was just really dry skin but it should be checked out. Thanks!! So glad I posted and got other views.

I was told the same but stay near the bathroom when you do. Pain meds can block things up so they don't want you to have too many days with out some 'flow' so to speak. That would give you a whole other problem. Call your doctor and see what they say. Even if you are just doing liquids with some Protein dissolved in them, you should be going a bit.

Eventually, you will find a balance once your system is adjusted. Some people use Mirlax and or Benefiber with their fluids to keep things moving.

maybe you need to wear Spanx or something to keep the loose skin from rubbing. As for the dry skin, I find using Vitamin e oil helps my skin a lot. You can find a small bottle of it in the Vitamin section. I find it keeps my skin hydrated very well. Also, make sure you are drinking enough fluids...this will help with dry skin also....good luck.

Thanks for taking the time to write, I appreciate it! I don't know about spanx, they don't sound comfortable and I live in the south so how cool are they? I am good about watching my fluids but you have given me some things to consider. I will keep all these ideas in mind and trying working on this with the new information.

Try one of those gel seat cushions. Like the kind people with wheelchairs use.

Or if your office will allow one of those giant balls.

Or you can try one of those inflatable donuts.

allons-y

I will check that out as well. By evening, I am miserable.

Have you been to Dr to determine if it's not a fungal infection etc?

Hmm, hadn't even thought of that. Thanks for taking the time to write.

That was poorly thought out comment and I am glad you called him on it!! You are doing great and keep up the good work!! Maybe the guy is a good surgeon and not so much known for bedside manner. But focus on how well you are learning new skills and on your way!!!!!!