BigTink2LilTink

The complications post surgery I surely could have done without. The memory loss is by far the biggest pain in the ass I had to deal with. Second would be the way I have to treat left over food. Microwaves are extremely tricky to me now. Either I'll puke it up, or it will stay down without an issue.

I haven't tried the powder. Good to know. Yeah the powder/shake mix form is way better than the bottled Water. You can mix it into other drinks that you already like and get the added protein without really changing the flavor.

I have heard of unjury and one of my good friends who had her surgery a few years before I had mines swears by it. I however use Isopure Unflavored that I got from GNC. I tend to use that when I am making smoothies or I sometimes mixes it in with my morning dose of Metamucil Fiber to give me both a fiber and Protein boost.

The powerder is great. But the bottled protein waters were beyond horrible

Yup its very gross. I still have bottles from 6 months ago. So glad to get protein from other sources now.

I am 6 months post surgery with my sleeve, and I can say that my hunger level has indeed decreased. I still have the occasional visual hunger (i.e. seeing something with my eyes that looks good to eat), but not to the point that I have to eat it. Honestly I'm trying very hard to follow the guidelines so I don't end up back in the hospital with any issues again.

I do a shake once if not twice some days. I can still meet my protein intake on food source along, but the additional protein I am getting in from the combination of food and shakes, helps greatly with the whole sore weak feeling muscles. Plus if you can incorporate the shakes in pre and post workout they will help greatly with muscle building.

Pork bacon?

Yup, I had those same sort of rashes. They were mostly on my chest though.

I had this as well. Mines started about 3 weeks post surgery and lasted for a good 6 to 8 weeks. I started taking an iron supplement along with my other vitamins, used coconut oil and changed to a coconut based body wash. All that helped to end the rash and itching caused when I was in Ketosis.

Just an FYI...even though the buzz feeling goes away, the blood alcohol levels leave our bodies more slowly so you shouldn't drive because your blood alcohol level will still be elevated even though you maynot feel the classic effects of being buzzed. Thanks for the tip. I have no plans on resuming the old level of alcohol consumptions I had prior to surgery. But knowing that it can stay elevated in the blood stream that long will indeed make me question doing it again. That and a super strict girlfriend that makes sure I follow my doctor's advice and not stray away.

I had my first drink since New Years eve last weekend. And it was a single glass of hard cider. I got buzzed off the one glass fairly quickly, I would say within 10 minutes of drinking the drink. But just as quick as that buzz came, it went away just a quickly. That cider is about as hard of alcohol I've consumed. Prior to the surgery, I could out drink and last some of the best of them without even getting buzzed let alone drunk or super intoxicated. Now, I'm a very small lightweight.

According to your profile you just had surgery a little over a month ago. I would think you eating anything pork or beef would cause you to not be successful. Trust me I know. A month and a half after surgery I tried to eat a taco and puked it up within minutes after taking the last bite. Its so not worth it.

As other's have stated here, you need about 4 to 6 weeks to heal up before you can start doing more strenuous workouts such as weight lifting, swimming, etc. Trust me when I say walk, walk, and walk as much as you can doing those first few weeks after surgery. It does help out, especially with the bowels and needing to pass stool. As for the feeling tired, yup. You aren't getting in nearly as much nutrients as your body was use to so you're burning up that energy really fast. I think for the first month and a half post surgery for me I spent as much of my free time as possible sleeping. That also helped me not think about all the food I was missing too. But that was probably just my thing. The food mentals.

That's great that you've lost that much weight. And I feel you on the loose skin and deflation issues. I'm sure you will figure it all out.

Thanks for the tip. I'm not quite sure I'm ready to go all beans out. But knowing this does help, and if not me now, maybe someone else whose looking for a way to get more protein into their diet.

Yeah I never went away from the dietician recommendations. I mean honestly, the only thing I didn't do was buy my supplements from my physician's office. I'm now back on a fuller workout schedule, which includes walking no less than 2 miles at least once a day, and weight lifting about 3 times per week. Eventually my goal will be to do weights up to 5 days a week along with the cardo (walking, bike riding). My next weight mile stone is under 300lbs, which I am hoping to hit before I see my surgeon again in July. That's about 50-55lbs away. I think the closer I get to that goal the more happier I'll be, which I am hoping will help with the depression I've been suffering through. BTW, the depression has been getting better. I want to honestly say that a lot of it has been due to me actually working out more, and spending time around family and friends that actually are encouraging me. Even the smallest of compliments help keep my mood on the positive side, especially when its one of those down days were my mind just wants to go to the gutter on things.

If I can get pictures to attach here.

Hey I wanted to give everyone an update on this. My memory has improved over the last few weeks. Still not 100% like it was before the surgery but its has improved since the last time I've posted in here. The last round of blood work done on me again showed nothing. I have an appointment with a Neuro doctor however I couldn't get in to see them till basically the middle of July. Hopefully by the time I see them my memory is fully normal again and no imbalance issues. So I'm just dealing with things as is. As its sits right now I'm still losing anywhere between 8-12lbs per week. Still a lot of weight per week, but I am almost 5 months post-op. So I'm still in that magical rapid weight lost phase. Which is to me still good cause it makes going through all of this so totally worth it. Right now as of today I sit at 355lbs. That is down about 240lbs from my all time high of 595lbs. I know about 180lbs of that is from the affects after the surgery. From the time I decided to have the surgery up to the actual surgery date (including the liquid diet phase) I had lost like 40lbs. With all that weight gone and no back issues, physically I've been feeling really good. Mentally again its mostly good days and then some very not so good days peppered around in there. I would still do it again in a heart beat. Just would have probably surrounding myself with a better support group of people. That way the mental stuff wouldn't have been as tough as it has been.

What are good ways to raise one's carb intake besides bread?

The memory loss is by far the worst part of it. Forgetting things that prior to the surgery were mundane at best. I'm planning on seeing a neurologist here soon just to make sure that its only from my VSG and not something more serious like a tumor. I also know that because of the memory thats whats causing the depression to actually take in harder. I really do want this to pass cause where this should be the most joyful time in my life, seeing that joy right now is down right impossible. Case in point last night I went to Wal-Mart of all places to try on clothes. The last time I could fit anything from Wal-Mart was around 95-96. I've been buying my clothes from big and tall stores every since. Last night I was in clothes from Wal-Mart that actually fitted comfortably. A feet that I should be very proud of. Yet still not up mentally.

But the fact that I realise what it is and dealing with it through therapy and writing it had gotten better. I just want to get rid of it.

I've been feeling a few clicks better than I have. It is a daily battle to get, stay, and remain positive. Food is going down a lot better than it was so I'm hoping that whatever weird stomach bug I had I'm finally over. As for the depression, I'm still coping with it. A lot of days are good/okay. Like I said a daily battle at this point.