WombatVSG

Thinking of you today. Hugs.

I was sleeved on Dec 30th... we're almost sleeve buddies!

There are times I feel really fatigued, and don't want to get out of bed, but I've also noticed that when I do get out and move around some, I feel better. So dragging our butts out is another healthy way to fight the blahs. And I totally get mourning the loss of your fat! It's a cocoon. A lot of my good qualities (empathy, humor, introspection) came from that fat. But you know, all of that fat isn't going away. So yeah, be sad, but focus on what you're trading the fat for. Physical activity, hot monkey sex, walks to scenic overlooks... Whatever brings you joy. The other thing I wonder about, though I haven't read any research... So my stomach isn't producing the hormone ghrelin any more. Does that mess with my other hormones in some way? Because I won't lie, I've got some crazy-making hormones.

I didn't have bruising like that. I guess trust your doctor, but if it's painful go to your primary care doctor?

Sorry to hear about that, it must be scary. The good news is, they've figured it out, and now they can work on addressing it. Take care.

Is there a support group available to you through your doctor's? I think we all occasionally have regrets, but I'm worried about the fact that you've been unhappy about the surgery since you got it. Someone in another thread talked about finding your "new normal." It's true, you won't be able to go back to the life you had before. But there are other things that can fill the void. What limitations did you face that made you want to have this surgery? For me, it was stuff like wanting to play Frisbee, or fly a kite, or go for bike rides. Well, it's too dang cold to do any of those things right now, but when I feel like I've lost something because I don't want an Oreo, remembering the things I'm working towards gives me a positive focus. You're not alone. There are people who can help you work through this. Take care of yourself. Be good to yourself. And PS: I miss drinking lots of Water, too! I think it will get better.

I am so sorry for your loss. Be gentle with yourself. Just try to keep breathing, and stick to the basics with your sleeve. Keep sipping. Keep your Protein intake up to stay strong. Sending healing vibes your way.

It does sound like the carb monster! Slider food can also be an issue. My doc goes with 2 roughly tablespoons of textured Protein, followed by 1-2 tablespoons of vegetables, so you're feeling satisfied and it's slow to go down. Are you keeping a food diary and tracking calories? That might help you figure out what the issue is. I don't know about you, but it's so cold here that I'm having trouble getting out and getting moving! I know that will help me with my goals. Good luck-- you'll figure this out!

I'm about a month out and drink about a half ounce of Water at a time. Otherwise, I get slime, or my throat hurts. I miss chugging water, but figure in time I'll be able to at least drink instead of sip.

About 20-35 g carbs a day. I'm on soft foods now. When I was at the end of the liquid phase, I snapped and had potato soup. THAT was high carb! I did have some Fritos and queso for the Super Bowl, but even that was under 50 carbs.

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming!

Adding this comment about Disney vacations in general... We did the park hopper pass and stayed on Disney property. So we'd do the early opening magic hour thing, and after lunch, went back to our room to nap/swim. Then off to another park in the evening. It was a great way to get a break from all the standing/walking and cool down. I highly recommend!

So sorry about the migraines! That sucks. Keep sipping your fluids and drinking your protein. Are you moving around okay?

I'm 4 weeks out and am having trouble getting all of my fluids in, so I'd worry about sweating too much and being dehydrated. Give yourself 2 months?

The differences in what the surgeons have us do is really interesting! My doctor says no steak until after week 9. I'm at 4 weeks and am still not supposed to have chicken.

I get a lot of gurgling, especially at bedtime after I've had my last drink of Water and some pills.

I treat Protein drinks like liquids. Even when they're thick, they go through pretty quickly. You're not drinking them to feel full, but for the nutrients. At least, that's how I understand it.

I should have added, revised to sleeve last month. That stinks that your hunger came back so fast. I'm only a a month out. Not very interested in food, though still having bouts of head hunger.

I don't like the bypass because you're re-routing stuff, which means there are more things to go wrong. Vitamin malabsorption (sp?) is also an issue with bypass. I originally got a band, because I don't believe in cutting healthy organs. But the thing I learned from the band (though my doctor explained it up front, I still had to learn it for myself!), is that it's great for your body signaling "you're full now," it doesn't address the hunger hormone issue (ghrelin). When you remove most of the stomach, you're getting rid of the ghrelin, which is the nagging voice that says, "...Are you getting hungry? I think you're getting hungry. You're hungry, aren't you? OMG, YOU BETTER HAVE SOMETHING NOW OR I'LL DIE!" I think for some folks, addressing the "you're full now" thing is enough. But those drama-queen ghrelins were making me nuts, and I'm glad things went the way they did. That said, they will come back in 6 months to 2 years (pray for 2 years!), but not as strong.

The milk sounds like a great idea. I should mention, I go to bed around 9, and worry about heartburn if I eat too late.

Mmmm... peppermint tea...

Have a big swig of Water before you go to bed tonight! It's silly, but I miss chugging water.

You know, the other thing I wonder about... so much of the U.S. is dealing with this cold snap. One of the reasons our bodies like to have fat is to help keep us warm. Sometimes I think that every time I go out into these sub-freezing temperatures, my body thinks, "I AM holding onto this fat! I need it! I'm not going to freeze!" So... it will warm up in a couple of months, we'll get out more, we'll drink more Water, and things will kick in once again.

Oh, wow, that's no fun at all. But sometimes the weight can go up or down a pound or two on any given day. This could be part of "the three week stall" we've heard so much about. How is your Fluid intake? What are your potion sizes? Are you writing down what you eat and tracking calorie/protein/carb intake? Are you drinking Protein shakes to supplement the nutrients for what you're eating? Are you constipated? It's definitely worth tracking those things and taking the information to your doctor during a follow-up to see if there's a way you can kick your weight loss back into gear. The main thing-- don't let it stress you out. Develop a healthy eating plan and stick to it! You can do it.

I agree, I think the surgeon does the research and works with their team to develop a plan that they think their patients can work with. My surgeon has a very strict 2 week liquid diet pre op, and the same diet for 3 weeks post op. But I have friends whose doctors tell them the same thing that I've seen on the boards: you can puree just about anything and have that. What I would add is that if you're looking for a doctor, and don't understand the how and why of their diets, ask questions. A good doctor will be able to explain why they think two days works just as well as 14, or why they stress low carb to bump up initial weight loss. And if it sounds like they haven't put enough thought into their recommended diet, look for a different surgeon. There's no sin in wanting a surgeon with a nutritional philosophy that works with yours (though clearly, they need to be challenging your past eating patterns a bit).