Peggy 53

(((BIG HUGGSSS!!!!)))
it can feel so hard sometimes, but it does get better - I can't promise when but it will. Be very kind to your tummy and don't fret too much about the quantity you can get into it. I swear I seriously think the worrying made it worse for me. Keep some unjury unflavored protien powder around, and make smoothies and juices and add that to it. Stay hydrated and just be very good to yourself. You are on a most awesome journey!
you tube 'rawfully organic' for some awesome juice and smoothie ideas.
Good luck!

Try this thread:
http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/1560-depression-after-gastric-sleeve-surgery/

It can be an emotional rollercoaster...if you have challenges with emotional stability, the WEIGHT LOSS, not so much the surgery is very likely to trigger it. Some people do get distressed over not being able to stuff themselves, but I personally was so OVER using food that way...
Okay, I do regret waiting so long as the sleeve has saved my life. However, in the 2 years before I was sleeved I tried EVERYTHING one last time ... just so I knew that I really didn't have other viable options. I am not saying you need to do that, but it sure did get me past any self doubts about the surgery. I never for a minute regretted the surgery - even when I woke up all sick from the anesthesia... even when my Christmas dinner was a chocolate Protein drink....
Here is the deal - I was on the track to early death with a Detour through disability. I know it, handwriting was on the wall. Now, I am active and busy and living the life I could only dream of.
sometimes, I do have some sadness and I no longer have food or extra weight to dull those emotions. I do not take any antidepressants, I sorta feel like I have a lifetime of buried emotions that I need to process - both good and sometimes bad.
Whenever I see someone who is morbidly obese - I remember that stuffed in my skin feeling. That low energy, that feeling so unattractive and incapable of doing so many physical things. I think I WAS depressed and didn't really realize it because I didn't know anything better was really possible.

In addition.... As far as people saying it's the easy way out.... They are not you and do not know what's it's like to be obese and your body not helping you lose weight. The survey is a tool that levels the playing field with dieting. After surgery it is easier to lose weight an control your eating.... Your almost like a normal weight person that decides to watch what they eat to maintain or lose a few pounds... We are not programmed that way which is why we are obese in the first place. This is my opinion of my own situation not everyone's of coarse. I got to a point before and after surgery where I would hear the easy way out comment... And my response was simple... "Sounds like an uneducated opinion" " I guess if your not walking in my shoes... Your opinion should stay inside your own head".

Welcome to the club! Every day is better than the day before!

Hind sight is 20/20...That is what I am referring too....If I knew what I know now I would have been more prepared then I was....I spent 2 years researching VSG. I thought I was really prepared for what lay ahead....Personal experience goes a long way to answer some questions...I had the chance to talk one on one with a successful sleever. I did not know enough of the emotional or head issues...or even how to get used to your new sleeve or your new life....All was very scary....And to top it all off I had severe complications so the distress I dealt with I would have loved to have learned more possible problems that people deal with prior to surgery.....
When I was done and finally home I had so much zeal I shoved the correct answers in peoples faces...Thinking I was helping them...But it is so different when you go through it yourself...I had no idea what it was really like..But she would have had a really good idea..She had done it all!
I know this forum answers a lot of questions..I have learned a lot..But it does not compare to someone who is sitting right in front of you who personally went through a lot of the battles we faced or face now......I hope you understand better what I meant!

I'm a nurse practitioner living in Houston. Had band to sleeve conversion almost three months ago and the next day my daughter got her sleeve. We both used Dr. Ortiz with Obesity Control Center in Tijuana, Mexico. Both our experience there and recovery at home went as smooth as glass. I am finally experiencing a new more healthy relationship with food.< /p>

I am almost 8 months out with a lost of 76 pounds. It has been a wonderful TOOL. And yes it is a TOOL. And yes I can cheat at this point. But thanks to my sleeve I can't cheat like I did in my past. And the BEST THING IS THAT I DON'T WANT TO CHEAT LIKE I DID IN THE PAST. I went thru a major surgery to be healthier. I don't want to sabotage myself now. I do allow my self one night a week to treat myself. But even then I don't eat the way I use to. I'm still losing and grateful for each pound I have lost. It will change your life!!!!!!!

DISCLAIMER: This FAQ is in no way intended to replace or undermine the advice of your physician. Every person is different, every surgeon has different guidelines, and no two situations are identical. Therefore if any of the answers below are unclear or contradict your physicians’ instructions, always follow your physicians’ instructions. The responses given are a compilation from multiple sources and references.
How do I embed the weight loss ticker? Click on the liquid stage? During your clear liquid stage you can have anything that you can sip through a straw that is translucent, meaning see through. For instance: Water, juice, broth, sugar free popsicles, sugar free Jello, Isopure Protein Drinks, Gatorade, Powerade, Decaf tea just to name a few. Once you move on to full liquids you may add liquids that are not translucent. For instance: creamed Soups, soups with the chunks strained out, milk, Protein shakes etc…
When do I start mushies/purees? Every surgeon has different guidelines for the progression of your post-op diet. The majority of post-op diets progress as follows:
Day 1-7 Clear Liquids
Day 8-14 Full liquids
Day 15-21 Purees
Day 22-50 Mushies
What’s the difference between mushies and purees? The major difference is that purees are anything that has been blenderized/pureed to a baby food consistency and has no chunks. These should not be watery, but instead a thicker pudding like consistency. Mushies are soft foods that have not been pureed.< /p>
Should I be counting calories or carbs or both? Both. Again, every surgeon is different, but the majority of sleevers will be on a 600-1000 calorie/day diet with carbs kept at 60-80g or less. The general guideline is this: When eating, protein is always first, veggies are second, and if you have room carbs/starch last. The majority will rarely have room for the carbs.
How much protein should I be getting per day? The recommended protein intake may vary from 55 to 100g per day, depending on your individual needs and the bariatric diet provided by your surgeon or dietitian. The generally accepted minimum protein requirement for women is about 50 to 60g per day and men need at least 60 to 70g of protein per day.
How much liquid do i need for the day? About 60-80oz
When can I eat salad? Once you reach the point where you’re on normal solids you can try salad. Start with a small amount and see how your sleeve tolerates it as it can be difficult to digest.
Best Protein Shakes? This one depends on your particular tastes, however most seem to enjoy powders? utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury.

What else counts as a liquid? Anything that can be sipped through a straw or that will reduce back to a liquid. For example: Jello, sugar free popsicles, frozen yogurt/ice cream (these are generally no no foods)
How long will my surgery last? Typically about 45mins assuming there are no complications or other procedures (ie: hernia repairs) being done at the time of your surgery. Every surgeon is different so for a more accurate answer you should consult your respective surgeon.
Why can't I tolerate plain water, is this normal? It’s called water nausea and it is completely normal. This is very common during the first few weeks following surgery and should eventually subside.
What is sliming/slimes? Sliming or slimes occur when you eat or drink something and then regurgitate a slimy, foamy, saliva like substance, usually when belching.
What is grazing? Grazing is when instead of consuming your standard 3 small meals and 2 small Snacks per day, you simply munch all day grabbing a handful here or a bite there. The rule is that your meals should take you 20-30 minutes to eat and should be about 3 hours apart with only fluids in between.
What do all these acronyms mean?
In no particular order:
WLS – Weight Loss Surgery
NSV – Non scale Victory (ie: smaller clothes, compliments, climbing a flight of stairs etc…)
NUT – Nutritionist
PCP – Primary Care Physician
VSG – Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
TOM – Time of the Month
SF – Sugar Free
WFL/WFD – What’s for Lunch/Dinner
How much did you lose at 1 month etc.? How much can I expect to lose in what time frame? Everyone’s body is different and so is everyone’s journey. There is no set amount you should expect lose in a set amount of time, and you should never compare your journey or your progress to someone elses. As long as you’re sticking with the program and following your surgeons guidelines, the weight will come off.
What is a stall? How long does it last and how do I break it? A stall is a point at which the scale stops moving for a period of time. The length of the stall varies from a few days to a few weeks and sometimes a few months. Non VSG’ers typically call it a plateau. Stalls are perfectly normal and to be expected. As we lose weight so dramatically, our bodies need time to catch up physically - this typically happens during a stall. While the scale may not be moving, you may notice an increase in compliments. This is because while the number on the scale isn’t getting any smaller, you are physically getting smaller. There are many tips and tricks for breaking a stall (increase your fluids and protein, increase your activity, up your calories…) but the reality is it will break on its own.
When can I have sex? When you’re ready. Keep it simple for the first few weeks post-op and don’t attempt any tricky positions. Be careful until you’ve been cleared by your surgeon for strenuous activity.
When can I start exercising? Typically right away, though the types of exercises you can do will be limited. Most surgeons restrict weight training/resistance training for about 3-4 weeks after surgery, but you should be walking/speed walking at least 30-45min daily starting from the day you get home.
What do I do with flabby skin? What's the best exercise etc.? The severity of the flab will vary based on many different factors. While there’s no way to tell how bad it will be or whether it will even be bad, there are a couple of proactive measures you can take. Make sure you’re using a moisturizing lotion with Vitamin E and Keratin several times daily. The vitamin E will help add elasticity back to your skin and the keratin will add moisture, both of which may help your skin bounce back as the weight falls off. The best exercises to target your problem areas are resistance and strength training in order to tone and build muscle to replace the fat. Lastly, be patient. Just as your weight stalls while your waist catches up to it, your skin will sag until it gets the signal to shrink. While it probably won’t ever be as tight as you’d like, it will shrink.
Will I lose hair? How much? What causes it? When does it return? Do Vitamins help? The truth is, yes, you probably will lose hair. Because of the drastic changes going on that are caused by the extreme reduction in protein and vitamins coming in as well as the hormonal fluctuations caused by the rapid weight loss, it takes our bodies a while to adjust. Don’t worry, as our hormones level out and our bodies get used to the new us, it will come back. There is no set time frame for it to do so however.
I’m constipated - what is it okay to take, especially in the beginning when newly sleeved? Will it get better? Worse? In the beginning a simple stool softener like Colace should do the trick. You don’t want to take a laxative or anything that may irritate your new sleeve. While you’re in the liquid/puree stage, Constipation shouldn’t be an issue, but as you reintroduce solids you may have to go back to your stool softeners. If you do find that stool softners are only offering temporary relief, try increasing your fluids and Fiber and decreasing your cheeses.
I’m having very loose bowel movements, is this normal? Totally. You do need to monitor stools of this consistency to ensure they contain no blood, but very loose stools, even watery stools, are completely normal for a few weeks post-op. When in doubt – ask your surgeon.
Will I feel fatigue? Will fatigue go away? Yes and yes. Your body has just undergone major surgery and it needs to heal. While it’s healing you will feel more fatigued than normal. Subsequent to having such a large portion of your stomach removed is the fact that you can no longer take in as much food (read: fuel) and therefore your body has to adjust and find a new fuel source. Your body will eventually begin to burn fat for fuel and some of the fatigue will subside. Your surgeon should also prescribe a B12 supplement which will also help with energy.
When can I go back to work? How much time should I take off? That will be entirely up to your surgeon. Most return to work within 2-3 weeks.
How many days in the hospital? Your hospital stay will depend on your recovery. When you are able to keep down liquids, are up and about and walking as directed, and your surgeon and nursing staff are confident there are no complications, you’ll be released. Your surgeon should be able to give you an expectation of the length of your stay.
Do the staples dissolve? No. The staples used to close the stomach are titanium and do not dissolve. The stomach tissue will eventually grow over the staple line. Your staples do not make metal detectors go off or make you ineligible for an MRI. They are completely benign.
Why am I always hungry? The most likely culprit is either head hunger or reflux/heartburn. Head hunger is a false sense of hunger triggered by boredom/emotions/the clock or any number of things which make you think you’re hungry when you’re really not. Heartburn is the most common culprit of constant hunger. Even though you may not feel as though you have heartburn, you may find that a simple antacid will eliminate that constant hungry feeling.
What is a stricture? A stricture is what happens when scar tissue builds up in your esophagus (sometimes caused by reflux) that causes your esophagus to narrow and makes swallowing difficult.
What is a leak and what are the symptoms? A leak is an opening along the suture line of your sleeve that allows bile and other digestive fluids to leak into your abdominal cavity. The symptoms of a leak vary but the most common symptoms are pain radiating across the abdomen, fever, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, fatigue, and abdominal cramping. It is important to note that leaks are rare and only occur in about 1 out of every 100 cases.
Can you get a leak any time after surgery? Or is it just immediate? Most leaks happen very soon after surgery, but there is still a risk for about 4-6 weeks after. Again, it is important to note that leaks are rare and only occur in about 1 out of every 100 cases.
Some of my incisions are oozing - is this normal? If they’re oozing a green or yellowish Fluid, absolutely not. Green and yellow are the colors of infection and should be reported to your surgeon immediately. If your incisions are oozing a pinkish or clear watery fluid it’s your body’s way of keeping your incisions clean and isn’t usually a concern. When in doubt, ask your surgeon.

This IS a no judgement room. Any judgmental types, are invited to leave their ego's at the door before stepping inside, thank you.
Because, primarily, I am so sick of seeing that kind of BS on this website and I wanted a happy 'yeah, I'm human' kind of a chat thread. In fact, if i see any narkiness of that kind, I actually might have to give a toss enough to get my verbal scythe out for once and trust me, all you've seen is happy-go-lucky, relatively balanced Revs so far.
You wouldn't like her when she's angry.... (tries to lower her BP so that the green tint doesn't start to show too obviously)
Clearly, if someone has done something injurious to their health and there have been a couple of posts which indicate that this could have been a possibility, there is a natural duty of care to offer support and counsel (as was done by laura when she gave a gentle warning to newbie operatives scarfing down normal food too early, which, lets face it, is dodge-o-rama. Or to the lady whose eating disorder is re-appearing and consequently requires some love and medical intervention). However, may I suggest that if you feel so strongly about those who have posted something a little scary, please message them on the side. After all, tone is everything and can often be misconstrued which leads to those ever-so-tedious flaming sessions.
So, now, back to blending doughnuts and tootsie rolls into Protein shakes to get them in more easily... x

Too much!

I had those for the first two weeks or so, they got better as I healed. Just make sure to do small sips. It still happens if I take take big of a gulp.

My husband took me out on a date tonight and wanted to try a new place so he chose The Black Bear Diner.. We are setting there and I realized they put us in a booth and I was like wow I'm setting in a booth and not sideways woohoo then I look down and my legs are crossed!!!! It's the little things !!!!!

I don't think it's WEIRD, but I do think it's extreme.
You are going to be so thrilled with your changing self, you are going to want to go out and let the world see you!! It's an amazing progression as your world seems to get BIGGER as you get smaller. Your car seat, aisles, bathroom stalls, changing rooms, seat belts...just about everything and it's wonderful to measure that progress as you go.
Your sleeve is going to send you on a wonderful JOURNEY and you should Celebrate every step, not just the final destination of your goal weight. I encourage you to enjoy your ride through every single day.
My concern would be if you do not lose as quickly as you are dreaming about. That scale doesn't always budge even when those inches do. I would hate for you to think that you are going to do a big reveal in 3 months and the number you have decided on takes 4, 5, 6... Why miss out on that much of your life while you wait? You never know what tomorrow will bring, who you will meet, who you might lose, so why miss out on a minute of it?
Go out there and SHINE!!!

The unflavored Protein was my life saver post-op. I used the Unjury, although I understand the Isopure at GNC is also good. I mixed it with Jello, Crystal Light, broth and pureed Soup. I get tired of the sweetness and aftertaste in the shakes. I also ate (still eat) a lot of Plain Greek Yogurt that I add stevia and vanilla extract. You can also use the Mio or any of the squirt Water enhancers to flavor the yogurt. One cup is 21 grams of protein. I was amazed how much my taste buds changed after surgery and what went down easily pre-op just didn't have the same appeal post-op. The Unjury chicken soup (broth like) was also great. With the variety of tastes I'm able to get my 60 grams of protein in per day.

The unflavored Protein was my life saver post-op. I used the Unjury, although I understand the Isopure at GNC is also good. I mixed it with Jello, Crystal Light, broth and pureed Soup. I get tired of the sweetness and aftertaste in the shakes. I also ate (still eat) a lot of Plain Greek Yogurt that I add stevia and vanilla extract. You can also use the Mio or any of the squirt Water enhancers to flavor the yogurt. One cup is 21 grams of protein. I was amazed how much my taste buds changed after surgery and what went down easily pre-op just didn't have the same appeal post-op. The Unjury chicken soup (broth like) was also great. With the variety of tastes I'm able to get my 60 grams of protein in per day.

The unflavored Protein was my life saver post-op. I used the Unjury, although I understand the Isopure at GNC is also good. I mixed it with Jello, Crystal Light, broth and pureed Soup. I get tired of the sweetness and aftertaste in the shakes. I also ate (still eat) a lot of Plain Greek Yogurt that I add stevia and vanilla extract. You can also use the Mio or any of the squirt Water enhancers to flavor the yogurt. One cup is 21 grams of protein. I was amazed how much my taste buds changed after surgery and what went down easily pre-op just didn't have the same appeal post-op. The Unjury chicken soup (broth like) was also great. With the variety of tastes I'm able to get my 60 grams of protein in per day.