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gelatin for clear liquids and pudding for full liquids if your doctor allows that (mine didn't)--both sugar free

One thing I've learned is to not taste food while I'm making it...not even a little bite or two...or I can only eat 1 or 2 bites at the table! LOL.

Maybe I'm weird. I really look foward to my meals (I am 5 weeks post-op) and love that I can only have a few bites and I'm done and satisfied. I have realized that food can be good even in teeny tiny portions. I feel like I savor every bite. I love coming up with new ideas or eating my old favorites (veggie chili with greek yogurt instead of sour cream and some melted cheese is probably my fav). I would love to dig into a nice salad, but that will come in time.

My nutritionist said somewhere around 600 calories for the first couple of months--not that it's necessarily a goal, but she said that's where most people end up by the time they get in their protein etc. I'm doing more like 600 to 800 or my blood sugar gets too low and I can't concentrate on work. I am also walking though and will be ramping up to more exercise at the gym this week, so she said that was fine.

I had a little soreness and felt like I had a terrible flu afterwards. I think mostly bc my doctor doesn't let you drink after your surgery until you have the leak test the next day. The feeling doesn't last too long. Everyone is different.

How many calories are you striving to eat per day?

It most certainly would have something to do with it, since hypothyroidism affects our metabolism, which in turn affects how quickly we lose weight.

February sleevers: can you please share about how many calories, grams of Protein and carbs, and ounces of Water you are consuming per day and also what your average weight loss is? Also, how much are you exercising? I am doing about 600-800 calories (usually somewhere in between), 70-80 g of protein, try to stay under 50 carbs, and 80 to 100 oz of Fluid. I track all of my food in MyFitnessPal.com, and I love it! I do not put a morsel of anything in my mouth without tracking it. I try to stick to 4 meals per day but occasionally will have an extra babybel cheese or something if I have a headache or feel lightheaded. My surgery was Feb. 5th. I have only been walking but feel ready to get back to water aerobics and gym workouts (finally). I have lost about 16 lbs since the day of surgery. I am hypothyroid so figured my loss might be a little slow. I'm happy with this so far, even though we would always like to be moving a bit faster. I lost about 20 lbs pre-op on a 6-month low-cal diet and exercise.

Is there some health reason that you might need to see a nutritionist, above and beyond your surgery? For example, ask if you can see a nutritionist to help control blood sugar levels, hypertension, etc., if you have any comorbidities. Basically they probably just want a way to be able to bill it. I would also try calling your surgeon's office directly to ask.

I am sorry that happened to you but I think it shows she wasn't a true friend to begin with. One thing I need to say though is that I think friendships with other women (and guy friends too, if desired) are very important, in addition to having a close relationship with your husband. I think it's great that you have his support and your mileage may vary, but for me, I love having a close relationship with my husband (could be any significant other for other people)--but my friends bring a whole other dimension and depth to my life. I don't think it's good to be insular just with one's spouse. If anything every happened to him or her, it would be very sad and lonely, and I think you just enjoy and appreciate each other more when you have separate interests and time apart from each other in addition to the time you spend together and interests that you do share. With that said, I think it's great that you still have a support system in a loving spouse since your friend didn't have the good sense to stand by you during a time when you needed her support most.

That happened to me with the broken link too, but I looked at the RH column under 2013 blogs and saw it listed there and clicked through.

My surgeon doesn't limit caffeine at all, which surprises me because he is so strict about so many things (like when certain foods are introduced), but he goes by the evidence in the medical literature plus his own experience and makes his recommendations based on that. I even got caffeinated black tea in the hospital on my first trays. I have heard that caffeine can be a diuretic, so that is probably counterproductive when you are trying to get in fluids.

A woman who was in the hospital post-op when I was had a physical job like that (manager at a retail store and had to lift boxes and such) and the surgeon wrote her a note for 6 weeks off.

Mine started early after surgery (which I guess is pretty common according to my PA), which isn't necessarily what I would have picked during the peak rehab time. My next one came exactly 28 days later and amazingly, the cramps aren't too bad (so relieved, since we have to stay off the NSAIDs for a while). I think our hormones do get all wonky from the fat burning and release of estrogen stores, plus the "trauma" to your body from the surgery. Hopefully things will even out for you soon!

I enjoyed your write-up! Very detailed and well-explained. That was very nice of you to help your friend so much--I'm sure that she appreciated it. I have a couple of brief comments: 1. My surgeon also requires Clear liquids and a bowel prep the day before surgery. I believe that it is mostly because if you want, you sign paperwork stating that he has permission to convert you to an RNY if you aren't a candidate for VSG once he gets in there. I don't think this has ever actually happened, but if it did, you would need to have had the bowel prep, or he would just need to close you up. I was glad that I had done the bowel prep because the constipation and gas were bad enough right after the surgery and I think that having done the clean out right before helped alleviate some of that. 2. The semi-private room of course could occur at any number of U.S. hospitals--not sure if that is a Mexico/US difference. But I know you were comparing the experiences that you both had, not just US vs Mexico. Again, very interesting--thank you for posting this!

Heartfelt congratulations! You look one-derful!

Hope you get some answers soon. I was thinking a virus (with a possible inner ear infection as Parker suggested), dehydration or hypoglycemia...but only your doctor can diagnose. Sending you positive thoughts!

Happy Birthday! What a great way to start your third decade--lighter & healthier!

That's awesome! I don't think 4 lbs a week is slow. Four pounds a month, maybe a little slow. Think how much that will be in 3 months, 6 months, a year...etc. keep up the great work!

So very sorry for your loss, Sleeve of Steel.

It sounds like you are being very diligent. If you feel any worse, I would probably recommend a GI doctor. Clay-colored stools usually mean that something is going on with the biliary system, but if you are feeling well, maybe that is what your doctor's office is going on. Hope you continue to do well and your symptoms resolve!

The clay-colored stool is considered normal?

My guess is gas or heartburn. I would try to walk and move your arms around to get rid of gas and try Gas-X. Are you on a PPI like omeprazole? My surgeon said that he repairs hiatal hernias in about 90 percent of patients. All surgeons might not be that high, but I was sort of surprised. I guess it makes sense, though, since excess weight does cause hiatal hernias.

Did you eat anything with sugar alcohols? Not splenda or ace-K but something like maltitol, sorbitol, or erithritol? Our sleeves can be very sensitive to those. Also, lactose intolerance is very commons, as others have mentioned. I would stay away from the cheese so early out. I think I was at 3 weeks before I tried a cheese stick--I did a really soft Laughing Cow cheese first.

My surgeon won't let us do chia seeds until 120 days (I loved them pre-surgery in my oatmeal), but we can do ground flax meal.