SkinnyDown

Before surgery my A1c was 9.2, and before that it was over 10.0. 3 weeks after surgery it was 6.1 I'm almost in full remission. From the time I got home from the hospital, I've been off two oral diabetes meds and 2 types of Insulin My blood sugars remain normal, stable, and I feel a world of difference. It works.

@@Bufflehead What a great post! These are the very things I have been working on in therapy, and continue to work on. I know for me, as a person with food addiction issues, I need that kind of continuing help. I am glad I invested nearly a year into therapy before surgery. Again, great post. I'm going to save it for future use, should I need it. Thanks!

I was the same weight after I left the hospital (I was in one week) as I was when I came into the hospital. It's all the IV fluids. My legs and feet were so swollen I could barely walk, or fit into my shoes. That will go away with walking, better rest, which you're sure to get at home, and before you know it, the weight will start coming off! Don't get too discouraged, it took me to week 2 post-op to lose my first 10 lbs.

Almost 6 weeks out, still not experiencing real hunger. My surgeon told me he "disconnected" the connection between the main part of my stomach and my new pouch, from a hormone named Grehlin. It's also called "The Hunger Hormone". It's what makes you feel hungry. Now I'm assuming that is the case for everyone who has had bypass surgery. Why some are hungry and some are not after surgery...well I think that might be worked out in therapy. If this disconnection is normal to all gastric bypass surgeries. I am still unable to get all the Protein in I am supposed to, and barely meeting my Fluid requirements. I try, but when you aren't hungry it's hard to force yourself to eat. I just end up feeling sick and nauseous when I force it. I tried one day and got in the right amount of protein, and I was literally stuffed and felt ill all day. I see the NUT and NP tomorrow, hopefully I'll have some ideas from them on what to do. I personally don't care if I ever feel hungry again. I could care less about food right now, and that's helping me a lot. I see food, smell it, it just doesn't bother me. With exception to a hot dog I saw in an ad in a magazine when I was in the hospital, I haven't had a craving for anything. I just wanted the hot dog, didn't care about the bun. lol which in all actuality, I could totally have the hot dog if I wanted. I just might too. Well, maybe a few small bites. Not like I could eat a whole hot dog at this point. LOL I don't think it's anything to be worried about....I barely ate anything the first week after surgery and next to nothing the next few weeks. I'm still living. If you are worried though or feeling weird or weak, I'd call your Bariatric center. As long as you keep getting in fluids , that's way more important they say, than food right now. I wish you luck with everything!

I used Lactaid milk. I didn't have any issues with gas, diarrhea or anything Pre-op. I had to use 2% milk, because I needed the extra fatty acids. I was told. I am still supposed to use 2% milk if I do Protein shakes now. I had issues with regular milk pre-op, but not other dairy products. Remains the same after surgery.

I have issues with going out....period. I bought a treadmill for that purpose specifically. I live in a tiny town with no place to exercise anymore, anyway. It closed. But...as I work on things like this in therapy. I remember my therapist once reminding me, just because it seems all eyes are on me when I walk into a room, I have to observe when others walk into a room. Most everyone just naturally looks up/over to see who has arrived. That makes me feel a little better, and it's true. I've observed people doing it. Look up, quick glance, and back to whatever they were doing. I think as most people have said, people are focused on themselves and their goals and not really all that worried about anyone else.

I'm never supposed to drink caffeine again, as it causes ulcers. Again I am so surprised at how different these programs are. There is no standard it seems. That worries me. I agree, colace or miralax. I've had diarrhea since the hospital, 5 weeks out, and still, every day. They even tested me for C Diff, negative.

This is just my opinion, but I think they have far far too little psych work/evaluations for this surgery. I see people all the time on this board, sorry, but I do, who are having serious cravings, eating bad junk, gaining, putting too many carbs back in their bodies, and complaining about a constant hunger. Why? If people wanting WLS had gone through just as much therapy pre-surgery as we go through NUT appointments, we wouldn't be feeling that way. I know that's a pretty grand sweeping generalization. I was surprised. One test, and one psych visit was all that was required, for me. I just don't understand why there is not so much more importance put on identifying and treating food addiction issues. I mean come on, we didn't get fat by just looking at food. This didn't just happen because food tastes great. I also have PCOS and Hashimoto's but that's only a part of why I am fat. I ate my way to 343 lbs. I spent a lifetime trying to comfort myself, and protect myself with food and fat. That deserves more exploration than one visit. I spent nearly a year in therapy before surgery to work on my addiction to food. I still work on it, post-surgery, twice a month, with a therapist who has helped other people through WLS, and has experience with food addiction counseling, I think this is hard enough, without making it harder. I am an addict. Just like any other addict out there, and I know that I can fall off this wagon at any time. But I like being aware of that. It just might get me through hard times. I am surprised at what I read here, only 5% don't make the cut. That number seems so wrong, when I read of how many issues people have post-surgery. Either they aren't testing right, or asking the right questions. Again, just my opinion. You don't have to like it, but I felt it was worth being said, about this topic.

I only want to drink Water from it. I stopped diet sodas months before surgery. I don't plan on going back at this point. I"m fine with other drinks without a straw. I see my NUT next week, I'll hold off until then and ask what she thinks, then make a decision. I just know I can get more water in me if I drink through a straw.

I did almost a year of intensive therapy on my own, to deal with my food addiction issues. I continue to work on it in therapy, now that I am post-op. I don't think I could have done this without some serious head work first. Or I'd be hungry and craving foods, "treats" and junk, right now, and I'm not. I'm not even hungry, and still can't get all my Protein in daily. Barely getting in my fluids. Food really means very little to me anymore. I think that's healthy. Food is for nourishment, not for comfort. I love feeling like this. Everyone has to find their own way, I haven't had real hunger since surgery so I haven't had to deal with cravings or anything like that. I don't know if I am normal or not. I am thankful for this feeling. But I have a backup plan, a list of things to do besides eating, and am adding to that list all the time, just in case at some point it is needed. You have to have distractions. Identify other ways to comfort yourself, other than eating food. Like polishing your nails, or watching a movie, or taking a walk, drinking a hot cup of tea, or painting....something. Anything other than eating. Great question! Looking forward to hearing what others do.

That's a good question. Wish I had an answer. I figured out that is the biggest difference between me getting in plenty of Water pre-op vs. post-op. I always drank out of a straw. Maybe someone will have some insight on this topic. I hope.

I had a lot of problems with nausea right after surgery until about 2 weeks after. I took Zofran at home, in hospital I was taking Phenergan and Zofran. I'm surprised that they let you do cream soups so soon. I had to do clear liquids except for Protein shakes, for a bit, then at about 1.5 weeks post surgery I was allowed cream soups and sf pudding. At one month, I'm transitioning now from pureed diet to soft diet, and will be on soft diet for 3-4 weeks. Still having a terrible time getting in all protein. I have managed one time to get in all my protein since surgery. I just barely make my liquids daily. It's just too much food and fluids. My suggestion as most people's is call your Dr. get something for the nausea. Don't wait on that. I know my bariatric center has a 24 hour hotline, to call, anytime day or night if you aren't feeling well or need questions answered. I'd also back off the cream soup and try clear liquids, but none of us are Dr's. (as far as I know) You need to talk to your Dr. I hope you feel better soon.

I am one month out from surgery, and maybe it's the remission of my diabetes, or that I'm almost 50lbs down, but my drive has greatly increased. Much to my dismay, because I am single right now. Wishing like heck I wasn't! hehe That's good exercise too! Right? lol

Your foundation is already weak if you are trying to build something on lies. Even lies of omission. They will always come back and bite you in the behind. I hate to say it, but the truth will always out! If this lasts....at some point, someone is going to say something in front of him, about your surgery, or how much weight you lost, and then you're going to have a LOT of explaining to do. The trust will be broken at that point, and good luck with salvaging things after that. If you don't feel comfortable enough to share this huge part of your life....how will you build a relationship? I just speak from my own experiences. Every new man I meet, I tell him right away about my surgery. I did it last night in fact. He had no issues with it, asked a lot of questions, doesn't have issue with my size now, won't have issue with me smaller. Who knows what will happen, but I know that I can't lie about my weight, or the surgery, or the struggles I've had. Yes, we always run the risk of rejection, but if that person runs away because of that, he was not the person for you. These of course are only my opinions, out of many you have gotten here. I wish you luck!

I was taking two oral meds Glucophage and Glipizide and two insulins Lantus and Humalog daily, before surgery. One week after surgery all diabetes meds and insulins were stopped. Almost a month out and my blood sugars are doing great, so far. You can "reverse" your diabetes. I've done it before, by losing about 100 lbs, but when I gained the weight back, I also gained the diabetes back. So I'm not sure it's a true permanent reversal, because I know for a fact it can come back when you gain. Maybe it's called a remission?

I've mentioned in other posts that my tastes changed pretty drastically after surgery. I hate Water now, I've been trying to find the right mix of ice and bottled water...it's kinda' driving me nutty. Everything with sweetener in it, like the shakes, yogurt, pudding etc. are so super sugary sweet tasting to me too. I have no idea why. I loved water before surgery and this might only be me. I don't know that I have heard a lot of others saying their tastes changed drastically. I'm just hoping it changes, at least the water part, that's important to me.

When all is said and done....if I reach my weight loss goal, because honestly....I don't fool myself one bit, that's a long shot in my opinion. I'll be just a few lbs shy of a 200lb weight loss. I am faced with this daunting task, even with this amazing tool. I've lost 100 lbs a few times in my life. Gained it all back, I know my track record. I was (not typical for me) pretty suicidal when I first got home from the hospital. I had so many complications and felt horrible, I thought...this is my new life? Those feelings have passed, thank goodness! I have spent almost the last year in therapy, twice a month, working on my food addiction issues, the reasons I got fat, and believe me, this has been me since age 5. I had some traumatic events take place when I was very young, and the pounds just started packing on and on and on and I just never seemed to be able to stop it. I also had some other things that were working against me, PCOD and Hashimoto's. But for the most part, my eating has been predominantly emotional. The need to feel comforted was key. The fat, a suit of armour to protect me. To let that go at this point is probably the scariest thing in the world to me. The least of my worries is failure, my biggest worry is success. That's about as honest as it gets. You are not alone @@SoulGlo There is help to be had, therapy works. It's been a lifesaver to me throughout my life, but mostly now. I wish you strength, and resolve, and peace. This is a good place to come for support, and information, and help.

I have a hernia, the surgeon didn't even bother fixing it at this point he said it was about 6" and that was big enough that nothing bad would happen because of it. I am a little unsure about why nothing was done, except that I know that hernia was repaired in Feb of 2013 during a colon surgery, and by May of 2015 it had come undone. Or whatever you call it. Not sure if repair will be done in future, but I'm going to ask my PCP about it, I see her on Wed. I surely don't want another surgery, as I have a few more ahead of me, but maybe they want to wait until I've lost all the weight I am going to lose, that might be the reason the hernia fix didn't hold in the first place. My weight. You'd be surprised at what Surgeons say is ok. LOL Seriously, they don't sweat things too much, in my opinion.

I guess I am not having a true stall. My weight continues to go down, a lb or two every other day or so. I went 4 days without a change at one point. So I'll just count myself lucky. Not sweating it, just trying to get my Protein and fluids in.

Thanks for sharing this!

My stall seems to be coming in sputters. LOL I went 4 days with no loss, then 1 lb down, then the next day 2 more lbs down, now today, no change. Who knows what this all means. I'm as confused as anyone and I'm not eating more or less, exercising more or less...makes no sense to me at all. I'm not going to worry, obviously my body is doing whatever it's doing. I FINALLY got in over my Fluid goal yesterday, and drank 72 oz! First time since surgery I went over my goal. That's something I'm excited about. I will still continue to wake up and weigh before the sleep is out of my eyes, every day....hoping for some progress. Wishing luck to everyone, that they see their scales move too!

@@sarahbee Great questions. I think your smart to think of this before surgery! All I can do is give my account of my experience since surgery. Hopefully will give some insight. I have not experienced hunger since my surgery (3 weeks ago). I've been around food, smelled food, have gone grocery shopping, walked past everything I have ever LOVED in my life on those shelves, and I could care less. Or if others eat, it's kinda' just all gross to me right now. I went through pretty intensive therapy, on my own, for almost a year before surgery, to deal with life long food addiction issues. I knew if I didn't, I'd be on the other side of surgery, hungry, and trying to fill that same hole I always did. That has definitely helped me. Now, actual hunger, is just not there, and as I've said in other posts, it can stay away forever, for all I care. I only eat because I have to, and right now I am only managing to get half of my Protein in. This is all just my opinion, but I don't understand why these Bariatric programs are not only inconsistent, but why they don't require much more psychological work/treatment, to address the real reasons why/how we got fat in the first place. Not all of it was just food intake. I know I have PCOD and Hashimotos, that didn't help, but I was also eating like there was no tomorrow. Like I said, just my opinion. Well wishes for your surgery and a speedy recovery!

I'm always kinda' snarky and impatient. lol I had more issues with serious anger right after surgery and the first week home, than now, 3 weeks out. But I had a lot of complications and was in a lot of pain. Actually, I was very emotional across the board. I was crying a lot out of nowhere, frustrated, and upset. Worried, stressed and annoyed at everything and everyone. I actually feel I am mellowing a bit, now. Not quite the angry fat chick I used to be. lol It might just be adjusting to our new lives. I wonder if our bodies aren't literally in shock, because we are essentially in starvation mode now. I'm not experiencing hunger, but others do...so it would make sense. It's also a huge lifestyle change. I wouldn't be too hard on yourself about that. If you trace your emotions back, they can only come from one of two places. Love or Fear. Trace each emotion back, and find the roots, that might help solve things for you. Keep posting, vent, let it out.