MrsSugarbabe

With the exception of one piece of birthday cake (mine ), which I told my nurse about the day she called to change my surgery date, I followed the pre-op diet (full liquids) to a T. My pre-op diet was for 13 days rather than 14 only because my surgery date was moved up sooner and 13 days was all I had. About 5 months earlier I had started using powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury Protein shakes for my breakfast and lunch, Monday-Friday, so adding one (or two) more to my day and on the weekends wasn't a big deal. It was more of a challenge to my husband because he really did not want to eat in front of me, but it truly was okay if he did. Even though I behaved during the pre-op liquid diet, and the purpose of the pre-op diet is to shrink your liver, my liver did not shrink as much as my doctor was expecting it to. He said after surgery that it was larger than he was expecting to find it which really surprised me considering. Different surgeons have different pre-op plans for their patients for a reason, so do what your surgeon tells you to do. You'll be better off for it.

Vanilla unjury Protein Powder mixed with Great Value (Walmart) Orange Sunrise drink - kind of like an orange dreamsicle - a nice change from vanilla or chocolate flavors. Also, the Unjury chicken Soup is a great option for something hot and not sweet.

4 months out - No problem with dumping at all. What I have encountered is either eating too much and/or eating too fast and then I get very uncomfortable and a lot of gas builds up and I start belching. Once I get to the point when the belching subsides a little, I'll chew a couple of Tums and the horrible discomfort is eventually alleviated. Key for me: very small bites, very slowly, and no more than about 1/2 cup per meal.

Welcome Jadama22! Sounds like you're on the right path in your journey to have a sleeve. Good luck!! @@bncbabe2015 -- When you have a sleep study, not only do you learn if you stop breathing while sleeping, but also if you're getting enough oxygen when you breathe. Even though I did not snore, my husband encouraged me to have a sleep study done a few years ago. What I learned was not only do I have sleep apnea (fortunately not severe), I also have hypopnea which involves episodes of overly shallow breathing or an abnormally low respiratory rate meaning I was not getting enough oxygen during the night. I had more episodes of the hypopnea than apnea. Once I started using a CPAP, I slept better and felt better overall. Granted, using CPAP isn't sexy at all, but this is about my health and not whether or not I look sexy. My husband loves me regardless . He uses a CPAP machine, too. It can literally save your life.

@@tmlawson - The hair loss can be a bit worrisome, but it will grow back. My experience is similar to @JamieLogical. No one else seems to notice that my hair is considerably thinner than it was 4 months ago, but I do and my husband does. Just know that YOU WILL NOT GO BALD...lol!!

@@ChaiTea - I have no regrets about having the surgery. @@alwaysvegas made some excellent points, as did everyone else who has commented on your post. And, I agree with them. Traveling should be about the destination you'll be visiting, the food is a bonus. Will you be traveling with a friend? It helps to have someone along with you because you can share a meal. When my husband and I go out to eat now, I eat off of his plate because it takes so little to fill me up now. My taste buds did not change after surgery, I still eat the same foods as I did before surgery, some more highly seasoned than before. Fortunately, my new tummy has tolerated everything I've eaten, i.e. spicy foods, beef Jerky , etc. This past weekend my husband and I wanted to eat at The Dillard House in Dillard, GA, while on a weekend trip. They serve family style and it's not cheap - $20+/person. Before being seated I told the hostess about my surgery and that I ate very little anymore and wondered if they could maybe charge me for a child's portion. She called over a manager who totally understood and said they've accommodated others who have had the surgery and then asked if $X.xx was okay, which it truly was because it was a much bigger discount than I was expecting. It wasn't about the $$, but about the amount I knew I could and would eat. Once you're past the earliest part of your recovery and starting to eat regular foods, you will find your way. Initially you'll be thinking about food a lot because you'll be planning what you eat, when, and how much. Your new tummy will definitely be your guide. Just be sure to listen to your surgeon and nutritionist.

Don't worry about whether or not you lose weight on the pre-op liquid diet--losing weight is not the goal. I only lost a couple pounds during that phase, although I had lost about 12 lbs. prior to starting the pre-op liquid diet. Even though I did what I was supposed to do during that time, my surgeon told me after my surgery that my liver was "fattier" than he was expecting it to be. Just keep doing what your surgeon and NUT tell you to do and you'll be fine.

@@donnag53 - Congratulations on your upcoming sleeve!! I'm 59 (turning 60 in October) and I'm 4 months post-op as of yesterday. So glad I made the decision to have this surgery to help improve my health (not just for weight loss). When I was diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver, my PCP strongly recommended I have the RNY. I spent about a year researching the surgery, learned about the sleeve, talked with everyone I work with who has had either of these procedures, and decided the sleeve made the most sense to me. Despite having complications several days after surgery, I'm glad I had the surgery. Complications are NOT common for this surgery so please DO NOT WORRY about that. Some things I've learned along the way -- and, as others have mentioned, after surgery you will have to (and need to) SIP your water/liquids because taking too much in at one time can cause some momentary discomfort. That's been the hardest change for me because I like taking a big, long drink of cold Water at times. Also, once you transition to solid foods, be gentle with your new tummy - eating too much or too fast can cause some discomfort that last more than just a few seconds like the drinking too much lasts. I was a slow eater before surgery, but now I have to eat even slower so as to not cause discomfort. Needless to say, your hot food doesn't stay pipping hot long enough to get it all eaten (even though we're talking about just one egg, or 1/4-1/2 cup of something. Take your time eating!!! Very small bites, too. Also, your new tummy will make all kinds of gurgling sounds whether it's empty or full. It's funny to listen to, but a little embarrassing when others are around - my tummy gurgles are so loud sometimes. Don't overstock on Protein shakes or Meal Replacements pre-surgery as your tastes may change afterwards. I use powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury shakes to supplement my protein intake because without them I can't get to the daily minimum. I started using Unjury about 6 months prior to surgery and found that after about 2 weeks my craving for carbs, i.e. Pasta, etc., had decreased considerably. I bought some 1/2 cup containers to use for my lunch at work and they are the perfect size since that's about all I can eat at a meal. Know that you will lose hair with significant weight loss - this in only temporary as it will grow back. It was about week 12-14 when significant clumps came out while shampooing. The clumps have decreased in the past 2 weeks. My hair is much thinner now, but it will grow back. Increasing my exercise has helped a lot, too. I was exercising before surgery (walking on my lunch break), but that wasn't enough to really help facilitate the weight loss which is the only thing that will help reverse/stop my fatty liver condition. Another huge benefit of the surgery - I no longer have to take my diabetes or blood pressure medicine - immediate results following surgery. You will do great after surgery as long as you do everything your surgeon and nutritionist tell you to do. Each person's journey is different although there are a lot of similarities. @livingfree! made some great points which prompted me to contribute to this thread. This journey is about improving your health, not just the weight loss. Good luck!!!

Yep. Been there, still there. Aggravating. BUT....last week after being there all week, all of a sudden 2 lbs. are gone; now I'm doing this dance at the current weight. It has to be fluids more than anything else causing the fluctuations, because I'm sure not eating the calories to gain it.

I concur with what @@bobbyswife and @@Bobby46 have said. You will find your way one day at a time. Everyone's journey is different, but having all this information on BP available has been a huge help with giving me ideas, encouragement, understanding why some things happen or not. You will do fine!!! Just do what your surgeon recommends along with your NUT, and anyone else on their staff who is involved in your care. As a side note - Several days after my surgery, I started having some problems and had to be admitted to the hospital again (for 19 days) which was so totally not fun. I won't go into the details, but mention it only because my recovery from the sleeve surgery was delayed until I returned home and was able to begin adjusting to my new tummy without all the other cr*p I had to deal with. That being said, I took it one day at a time and began figuring out what worked for me food-wise and exercise-wise. During those 19 days in the hospital I lost about 30 lbs. and a lot of muscle and strength so I was recovering from that as well as the sleeve surgery. As I got stronger each day, I was able to do more physically (not jumping huddles or anything) and was able to begin regular foods as tolerated. All is great now and I have no regrets about the sleeve surgery or the challenges that followed.

@@frankie152 - Today marks 4 months post-op for me. The biggest hair loss started about 14 weeks post-op. The excessive shedding started sooner. I don't know for a fact that the supplements will make a huge difference in slowing the hair loss, or encouraging the new growth, but my surgeon and his staff, my PCP, along with a lot of BP members, all have said the same thing so I'm hoping it helps and I'm not just making expensive urine

@@theotherfatgirl - I agree with @@Jennifer4775 about my weight loss expectations after surgery - the weightloss is slower than I would have expected. Also, my NUT did suggest that I NOT stock up on too many Protein powders, drinks, etc. prior to surgery (which I did not do) because taste preferences can change following surgery.

@@Elode - the clumps were/are rather scary! I want my thick hair back! Just have to be patient until it starts growing in again.

I never considered the lap band because the one woman I work with who has it has not been as successful as the those who have had the RNY and the other woman who had the sleeve. The sleeve made the most sense to me from a lifestyle perspective and physically since the intestines aren't rerouted, etc. My surgeon was encouraging to have the RNY because he felt like it would be the best option for losing 100 lbs. After discovering BariatricPal.com and learning of so many of you who have already lost 100+ pounds, I knew it would be possible for me to accomplish that kind of loss also. Regardless of the procedure chosen, in order to be successful, you have to do the work to reach your goal and maintain it, i.e. healthy food choices, Portion Control, physical activity. It takes work regardless.

I have to supplement my Protein intake with shakes to get enough protein each day.

Sounds like you're doing exactly what you need to do for yourself. Each journey is different. Keep up the good work! Tomorrow will be 4 months since my surgery. My NUT and surgeon recommend 1000-1300 calories/day, min. 70 grams of Protein, max. 100 grams of carbs. I'm tracking my food via SparkPeople which is a huge help because it is so easy to consume more calories than I realize if I do not track. Some days I do eat fewer calories and some days I go over. I walk about 25 mins. on my lunch break more days than not and go to the gym 2-3 days for either some circuit training or elliptical and a couple other weight bearing exercises. I've found that when my weight stalls, the inches do not

I used to enjoy an rare Diet Coke or Diet Orange Crush pre-surgery, but have not had more than a small sip once in a blue moon when my husband drinks a Diet Orange Crush. A small sip is just enough to satisfy my "taste" for something other than Water or whatever sugar-free beverage I'm drinking.

About 2 1/2 weeks ago, while shampooing my hair, it started coming out in clumps like never before. The clumps have gotten a tad smaller each time I shampoo, which is only once a week now, but it's still coming out. Plus I'm shedding like crazy!! I knew hair loss was going to happen at some point post-surgery, but sure did not expect it to be this much all at once each time I shampoo. I've always had really thick, nice hair regardless of what length I'm wearing it, but now it has gotten so thin, especially at my crown. I am taking additional Biotin, continuing with the Iron and have read that others are taking folic acid as well. Does the folic acid help? My PCP and surgery have assured me I will not lose all my hair, that this is only temporary, and that it will grow back and I know this to be true because of all the other WLS patients who have already traveled this road. I've started collecting the hair I lose so I can share it with my backyard birdies to use for nesting material...LOL!!! They might as well benefit from it

So far my new tummy has been accommodating just about everything foodwise, including fruit albeit in smaller portions, i.e. 1/2 of a SMALL banana, a few sections of orange, cantaloupe, raspberries and blueberries. Because I love most fruits, I have to be really careful about how much I eat and how fast I eat it. I've always been a slow eater, but now it's like I'm at a micro-crawl!

59 I took a year to research gastric sleeve surgery, think about it, discuss with my hubby, and to talk with everyone I knew who had already had either the bypass or sleeve surgery before I committed to having it done.

What is chike coffee and where do you find it? It sounds interesting. I'm 3 mos. out from surgery and have returned to drinking my morning coffee some mornings, but not every morning. And when I do drink it, I cannot drink all that I prepare and was used to drinking pre-surgery. I, too, use the unjury Protein powders and make a variety of flavored shakes, one being a combination of vanilla powder, chocolate splendor, skim milk and a little brewed coffee for a mocha flavor.

Happy Birthday!!! Congratulations on achieving Onederland!!!

I just finished reading this article and thought everyone on this forum might find it interesting and/or helpful..... http://www.obesityaction.org/educational-resources/resource-articles-2/weight-loss-surgery/weight-loss-surgery-nutrition-and-hair-loss

I'm 3 months out and haven't had any problems with any particular food.....yet.....although I have not tried Pasta yet, and actually, we eat soba noodles instead of regular pasta. Since I've not been craving carbs like I used to before using

Thanks for starting this conversation! I was thinking of starting one on this topic today because this morning while shampooing and conditioning my hair in the shower, my hair started coming out in chunks. Really freaked me out! I knew to expect some hair loss following surgery, and have been losing hair along the way, but never in clumps like today. My surgery was 11/10/14 and I've lost about 52 lbs. I get at least 75 grams of Protein a day and I'm taking Biotin. After my surgery, and the complications that followed which put me back in the hospital for another 19 days, I came home on Coumadin. Just this morning I read where it can cause hair loss as well. Sure glad I have a thick head of hair if it's going to be coming out in clumps for awhile. Sure hope it doesn't last months and months!!!