Katie Loesch-Meyer

I had sleeve surgery in June of last year, so 9 months out. I typically eat 2 oz of meat per meal, but I'm thinking it may be time to try to up that a bit? I see other people eating more like 4 oz, which seems like a ton. but I do snack more than I probably should, and maybe if I ate more Protein per meal I would stay full longer.

This happened to me too. Not sure why. But lots of women said the same thing. Now, at 9 months out it is much better, although maybe not perfect. But much much better. I still have vaginal dryness though. Not sure if that is related to surgery but it seems to be. My doctor (ob/gyn) tested my hormone levels and DHEA and Testosterone were at the low end of normal. He put me on DHEA and said if that didn't help I could do testosterone cream as well. Talk to your OB/Gyn.

Often over 1K a day differential when I'm on track. But I'll be honest, that's HARD. And I still lose way less than the 2 lbs a week predicted. Often when I'm not totally on track it's more like 800-900. Calorie intake ranges from about 800 to, on a really heavy eating day (say once a week or less, o the weekend) 1,300. Most of the time calories are about 1K, which is about what my fitbit adjustments say to have.

Which ones did you have? The regular chewable ones make me immediately nauseas, but the Multi EA don't bother my stomach AT ALL. I have NO idea why one does and the other doesn't, but I think it might have to do with the flavoring agents? Celebrate also make me want to puke. The Multi Ea is the only one that doesn't. If you haven't tried that one do ask the for a sample, they are so nice about their samples.

I'll bite I'm 9 months post sleeve. 5ft tall, 158lbs, 39 years old (for a few more months anyway). On a good week I walk (with some burst of running) for an hour 3 times a week. The rest of the week (and even on bad weeks) I am up and down all day taking care of 3 kids, homeschooling, grocery shopping, etc. I get about 7K steps a day on days I don't exercise. My nut said to eat about 800 calories a day, so I put that as my starting point in myfitnesspal, then it syncs with my fitbit and adds whatever extra exercise calories. I aim for a minimum of 60 grams of Protein. Today I "earned" 226 calories extra, so it set my goal as 1026 calories. I ate right at 1,000. I lose very slowly...I know I need more exercise but we've had a nasty chest cold running through the family, and if I'm sick I don't exercise and if the kids are sick I can't take them to the gym daycare, so I'm just getting back. But days I don't exercise I try to walk around the house cleaning, hit the grocery store and walk every aisle briskly, etc. I lose MAYBE a pound a week....probably less. I'm down from a BMI of 41 and 220lbs to a BMI of 29.9 and weight of 158.

I'm 39 right now, and hoping to convince my husband to have one more kid once my weight stabilizes. Which would mean I'd deliver around age 40. Not sure I can sell him on it, but hoping to!

Anyone use him? I can't seem to find reviews, positive or negative on him. I find lots of really good reviews of Dr. Jawad, but I like Dr. Teixeira, and haven't met Dr. Jawad. I am thinking he must be pretty good, or Dr. Jawad wouldn't have him working for him. But I'd feel better finding a few reviews! (this is Andre Teixeira, not Julio Teixiera, who has lots of reviews)

Thanks all! I did have my surgery with him, and he was so caring and compassionate! I highly reccomend him. He also responds to my emails practically immediately, which is great when i have a question.

i think from approval to surgery date was 3-4 weeks.

I lost weight on the pre-op diet, but a week out from surgery I've only lost a few more. I'm down 17lbs, 13 of which was on the pre-op diet. 4 since surgery a week ago. And honestly I lost more than that the first few days (dehydration I imagine) and gained a pound or tow in the last two days. Should I assume this is just my body reacting to surgery, swelling, etc? In the first few days I was home my rings fit perfectly for the first time in a long time, but now they are tight again. I had a hernia repair too and had a lot of trouble getting fluids down do to swelling in the esophogus...they put me on some medication that helped and today is the first day I'm going to hit my 65oz of Fluid. The last two days it was around 40-45oz, and before that under 30oz. I got 60 grams of Protein the last two days, 40 the day before that, and less before that. Was on clear fluids the first 3 days. Now on full fluids, including cream Soups, yogurt, sugar free pudding, and of course shakes (they don't go down so well) and Protein powder added to things. Carbs have been between 39 and 65. Calories have been around 350-500, today I'm higher though, around 650. I was losing well on 800-1000 a day in pre-op, it seems crazy that I'm losing less now while eating less.

Thank you. My brain knows this, but I still need to hear it.

Yup the doctor said it was from the hernia repair swelling. He put me on the sublingual tablets as well, and they do help. I get more in when I take them. it's gradually getting better (day 6 post op) but I still need the tablets or I don't get enough fluids in. Sucks. But it should get better.

Have they done a barium test to look for leaks or a stricture?

yup, it is from the hernia repair. I couldn't get anything down at all barely, so the doctor put me on something called Levsin, that stops those painful spasms. It really helps, and it disolves under your tongue. If I take it I can swallow mostly without any of the chest pain, or at least less. And warm fluids go down MUCH easier.

I'm 5 days post op. I stayed in the hospital a few days longer than planned due to swelling where my hiatal hernia was repaired, so I couldn't really swallow anything for the first two days. I'm doing better now. I'm still fairly weak though. I got in 400 calories yesterday, probably less than 100 the days before that. I'm up and about in my house, doing things like making the bed, picking up kids toys, loading the dishwasher, etc. And today I had my teen drive me to walmart and I shopped for a few things, walked around there for 20 minutes or a bit longer, then came home and heated up leftovers for the kids and some Soup for me. And now I'm exhausted and ready for a nap. I see people talking about going to the gym and I can't imagine it yet. How much exercise are you getting in the first week or two?

You are sweet! Yes, I have friends dropping off meals every day this week, so all I had to do was put things on paper plates and heat them up, no actual cooking. The most cooking I've done is to make some creamed soup on the stove with campbells condensed soup. My husband is working, but my teen has helped some, with say getting the laundry out of the washer for me since I can't reach in, and putting the basket on the bed so I can fold it. And he drove me to walmart, so that was a help as I am not strong enough to try driving yet. I think you are right, I'm getting plenty of movement for now, I will stop worrying about it. I'm wearing my fitbit and just checked, I have nearly 3k steps today, and it isn't 2pm yet. Time for a nap!

Yeah, I've had a hard time hydrating because of the swelling from the hernia repair...when they did a barium swallow to look for leaks the fluid just sat there in my esophogus for a while, before it started to barely trickle through. Yesterday I got 40oz of liquids which was a high for me, the day before it was only 30 oz. Today I've had only 12. I imagine I'll feel perkier when I get more liquid in.

Just wanted to say that I bet you notice those flabby bits more than anyone else. I have a friend that i know had lap band 10 years ago, long before I met her. She lost 200lbs. She does have the saggy skin/bat wings on her arms and thighs, but I only noticed because I knew she had the surgery. I have discussed with others that she had lap band (it's not a secret, she doesn't care if people know) and everyone single one has been shocked. They NEVER NOTICED any of the saggy skin and thought she was naturally thin. Even my husband, who is very observant, hadn't noticed. So really, try to remember that although you know it's there no one else is paying attention or bothered by it.

I think looking at other career options is a valid thing. Maybe even into restaurant supply, versus the food side of things. Dealing with equipment might be something you would be good at, having been in the industry so long, but wouldn't be about food exactly. Or taking this time to explore other interests entirely, get a new degree or certificate of some sort, etc. Hugs (if you don't mind hugs) coming your way.

I was worried that something would happen too, but so far all is good. my surgery is june 12th. I just paid the hospital, they let you pay 1/2 up front and then make payments on the rest, so that was good.

Hi! I'm being sleeved with Dr. Texiera on June 12th!

So, I'm currently on the fence with sleeve vs rny. I have GERD. Normally, that would mean I would just do the RNY, forget sleeve, from what I'm reading. However, I do have a hiatal hernia, which he would repair during the surgery. Of course, I had heartburn 20 years ago and no hiatal hernia at that time, at least not that was identified during gi series and endoscopy. So maybe fixing the hernia won't fix the GERD. The surgeon also says he will do a Dor fundoplication to strengthen the LES during the sleeve surgery, to prevent heartburn. So he's not ruling out sleeve. However, when we met one on one, he did say if the reflux was "too bad, and went up really high" he would suggest RNY instead, as the dor fundoplication won't be enough to stop that. So he has me doing an upper GI and manometry before we decide. I did the upper GI, found hiatal hernia this time (wasn't there 20 years/3 kids/70lbs ago) but saw no episodes of reflux. I guess that is common, not to see it even though you have it because it isn't constant? I am scheduled for Manometry on the 14th. Part of me wonders if I should just say, go with the RNY, and lets not chance it. Plus, maybe I'd get better weight loss. The other part of me (probably the more logical part) realizes that long term, Sleeve is probably the safer option as far as not having to worry about ulcers at the anastomosis, strictures of the anastomosis, dilation of the anastomosis, not to mention the ability to take NSAIDs if needed. What would you do? If it matters, i'm turning 39 in a little over a week, I'm 5'1" and weight 213lbs (naked, in the morning, lol). BMI is 40.

Thanks, I tend to overreasearch, if anything, lol. In fact, whenever a family member needs research done, they just ask me to do it. It's my super power And yes, we did discuss that I could always convert to RNY later. In fact, one of the reasons he likes sleeve over RNY in general is there are more options down the road. Not as many things to do if an RNY doesn't work out, for whatever reason. It's just hard, not knowing what is best. Recovery of an RNY sounds longer too, and I have young kids to take care of. My teen son and mom will help, but the sooner I can be lifting, etc the better. Not sure if that is only my perception, or fact, as far as recovery time.

Vitamin absorption is a big worry of mine, as there is a family history of severe osteoporosis in the women of my family. Like, breaking bones just opening a door or coughing. Also, I would prefer to be able to take NSAIDs if needed. So I'm hoping for the sleeve. But we are doing manometry testing on the 14th to see about reflux issues before deciding for sure.

True, I picked up a copy of the Vitamin reccomendations from my surgeon today, and the only difference between RNY and Gastric sleeve is additional Iron.