Jennifer Rogers

WOW! Fantastic! Major change already just in 25 days. Way to go, bud!

I've not posted since i was in the very early stages, but thought I'd post a before and after. My surgery was Oct. 21, 2014 and I weighed 247. I've currently lost 80 pounds putting me at 167lbs. It's been much slower this past month, and it's been depressing me a little...I'm so afraid I've lost all I'm going to. I hope not!! Anyway,

 ta-dah!

I used to have such a cute, round, perky butt after I got fat, I avoided looking in the mirror or having pictures taken at all costs. I'm sure it was hideous, but I guess I was expecting to have my old butt back after I lost weight. Apparently,.I'm gonna have to give it some help cause at this point, I ain't got enough back to hold my pants OR panties up

@@Jennifer Rogers

i hear this is common

hormones and stuff

systems gets screwed up for a bit

things should get back to normal sooner than later

if things don't improve, then call your doc

down 26 lbs pre-op and post op

thats great

keep up the good work

good luck

kathy

@@proudgrammy

LOL! It took me forever to figure out where you were getting that I'd lost 26 pounds. Then it hit me...MY TICKER! My ticker that I hadn't updated in quite awhile I've actually lost 39lbs and I'm so proud! I updated it immediately! LOLOLOL!

OMG! You mean this is COMMON!?!?!? Nooooooooooooo! :*(

Before surgery, my periods were like clockwork, heavy the first 2-3 days, then normal flow, and lasted the full 7 days. I started the day after my sleeve surgery, and because of the heparin shots, it was excessively heavy and lasted about 10 days. I should have started again a week ago, but I'm not even showing signs of starting yet. Before anyone asks, no, I'm not pregnant. I'm 39 years old with 3 adult sons, a teenage daughter, and 2 grandbabies. I had my tubes cut, tied, and burnt 16 years ago, and hubby had a vasectomy just to make sure! LOL! Anyway, I've been reading some of your posts here talking about the surgery regulating your cycle...anyone have the experience of it becoming irregular like me?

I'm not even kidding you right now. I don't know why. I mean, of course, it's expected that with the loss of weight, my hips will get smaller. But it's not just that it's getting smaller, it doesn't even look like the butt I had 10 years ago when I was still slim. It's literally gone. I don't know if that's just the way it looks since my belly isn't as tone as it was back then, or what. But crap!!! I liked my poofy butt I used to have. I'm kinda bummed.(Well not really...I'm lovin the weight loss and the measurements loss...still. *sigh*)

I was nauseous until last week (4 weeks out). I took my prescription nausea meds everyday until I ran out because I truly needed them, but it just went away by itself last week.

Taking my time and not drinking before, during, and after have been my biggest issues. At 5 weeks out, I'm getting better, but I still need to work on it.

I'm 5 weeks out and the MAXIMUM I can eat at a meal is 1/4 cup....but it's normally closer to 2 Tbls. For those of you at the same stage as me, how much can you eat per meal? (Or those further out and can remember how much you could eat at the 5 week mark)

I rock my high heels fat... Lol but I am excited to rock any outfit I choose! mostly I'm excited to be able to have the ability to tumble and play with my 5 yo daughter. ????

I haven't worn heels because I don't wear anything nice enough that requires heels, especially dresses/skirts because I couldn't stand my fat ankles and calves. Plus at my heaviest (268), I did well to walk period! But things are changin! And I'm pretty sure I'm gonna be a shoe diva again like I was when I was younger and MUCH slimmer.

Yeah yeah yeah..I know all about the 3rd week stall, but I was hoping and praying I was "special". Well, damnit, I'm not! Go figure! My sleeve surgery was one month ago tomorrow and I've been stuck at the same weight for a week. Now, granted, I'm a little greedy, I think, considering I had an amazing first month. I lost 36lbs. And I'm beyond pleased, don't get me wrong, but this really sucks. I was prepared for it..I thought. But honestly, it doesn't make it easier to accept. I know I should be focusing on other victories and forget the scales, but I'm not losing inches either. I've struggled with quite a few things this first month, and I was just now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. It's pretty sh*tty to suffer (not hunger or cravings or anything like that) and not see results. I'm feelin crummy this morning, I'm sorry thanks for lettin me vent.

I think he said he uses a 36, but as I understand it, the doc's technique can affect pouch size as much as the bougie size. My doc does a smaller sleeve in general, 85%-90% so technique may explain that. Doesn't seem possible that I'm living quite contentedly with 90% of my stomach gone, but I am!

My surgeon used a 38F and removed 85%-90% of my stomach as well. Interesting.

He only gave me a 30tab prescription. No refills

Yes but I've taken it everyday since surgery...I ran out awhile back and have tried to suffer through it

In one hour, me, my husband, and two of my kids will be on the road from SC to WV for early Thanksgiving at my Mommy and Daddy's. I'll be one month out on the 21st. Problem is, my stomach is extremely sick and nauseous today. Can I take Emetrol?

Hi I have the opposite problem, sleeved 10/22. Lost 36 lbs which is great but dr still has me on clear liquids because i had to be hand stitched and not stapled. No nausea, or pain except hurts when i drink or eat anything. And i feel overly full all the time. Im getting dehydrated can only consume about 16 oz per day and that is pushing my self . Anyone else having this issue?

I was sleeved the day after you. I'm also down 36lbs and having the exact same issues. I'm really really struggling

Thank you so much @@Kindle THIS is the exact thread I was looking for.

Very interesting that you've been told that bariatric patients can no longer absorb the nutrients we did before. That was the NUMBER ONE reason I chose VSG instead of gastric bypass, because my surgeon told me that VSG patients don't deal with malabsorption like bypass patients. I'll have to speak with him about this on Monday when I see him next.

Gulping down anything is not a good idea. You need to sip slowly or you may end up vomiting everything back up. If you don't like the Protein you are taking why not switch up? There are zillions of them out there. You may get bored only drinking but keep searching until you find one that is at least tolerable.

As for "time" I'm assuming the means each meal. Since we are aiming for 60gms a day that means at least 20gm each meal.

ETA: Are there any support groups offered by your doctor in your area? It might be helpful to drop in to some of them.

ETA 2: How are you doing with your Vitamins & supplements?

Yes, my surgeon offers a support group every Tuesday and every Thursday.

My surgeon only has me taking one Multivitamin daily, and one B-complex supplement. I'm taking both each morning with no trouble.

I'm past the point of not being able to "gulp". I can drink normally, and when I say enough liquid to "shoot" I mean its maybe one ounce. I have shopped around and tried many many many different Protein sources. I simply can't tolerate any of them. My source of protein isn't in question at this point, my concern was mainly for how long I should be waiting between consumption of it. If I could take it all at once, that'd work so much better for me.

I have two questions that may seem silly to some, but I genuinely need answers to them. I've read information about both these questions on here, but can't find it again to save my life.

We're supposed to take 15-25 minutes to consume our meals because our stomachs begin to empty any time after 30 minutes? Is that correct?

AND here's the one I mostly need an answer to. Somewhere I read that our bodies only absorb a certain amount of grams of Protein at a time. "At a time" what does that mean? For instance, let's say it won't absorb any more than 30g "at a time"....when will my body be to absorb 30 more grams? I'm probably losing my mind, and this is probably something I even dreamed, I don't know! But as you all know, I'm struggling with ANYTHING I consume right now and my surgeon has put me to bed for rest and back to square one...protein, full fluids because I'm extremely weak. So this morning, I decided I was going to down the protein no matter what, so I made a homemade protein "shot". Basically just enough liquid to mix my Tbls of protein to turn it back and gulp it, holding my nose. I hate it I hate it I hate it! I can tolerate it, but if there's a certain amount of protein my body will only absorb at once, I need to know how many grams that is and how often per day. I'm sorry if I make no sense but I'm hoping someone knows what I'm talking about. Thanks!

@@Jennifer Rogers, have you spoken to your NUT Or surgeons office about this yet?

Yes, I spoke with them both and they both told me that I was early out and this would get better, and to trust the process. I mean, I guess I have no choice. LOL! I've been permanently altered by surgery, so I'm going to have to learn to live with the outcome, good or bad. It's too early to regret it, and I don't, just need to figure out how this all works.

Thank you to everyone that has replied and offered words of wisdom. I will keep trying. Yogurt of any kind, unfortunately, isn't an option for me. It's probably the only food I've had an aversion to my entire life, and it hasn't changed since surgery. I've tried mixing it into smoothies and dinner recipes...if yogurt is in it, I can taste it and I simply cannot tolerate it. My daughter is the same way when it comes to yogurt. However, I will continue to try getting my GENEPRO down and trying to eat high Protein foods the best that I can. I will trust those of you who have said it's a phase and will pass. Good luck to those of you in the same boat as I am.

If you are using the GENEPRO - they have a small scoop in the bag. One scoop is 30 grams of Protein. I would start with that. I think if some things have more protein, they are harder to get down. I had to force myself to drink my Protein Shakes. It's not a matter of "this tastes great", right now it's a matter of - I've got to get this down.

I do use the scoop. The scoop is 1Tbls in size. My repulsion isnt about how anything tastes...I just can't seem to swallow anything without activating my gag reflex. If it comes right back up, it was pointless, right?