laceemouse

The change in my taste buds has been the biggest issue for me. I am 7 weeks out tomorrow. I had no pain after surgery (morphine is amazing) and zero pain from my incisions ever. I have never vomited. My stomach gurgles and can be loud after I eat but I have no foaming or saliva issues. BUT, I really thought I could just force myself to eat/drink whatever I needed to get it. I just can't stand to force down Protein shakes (I have tried dozens) or those chewable Vitamins I bought from my surgeon. The old me would just force it all down, I have never been a picky eater, but I feel nauseated when I try to make myself eat or drink something I just can't stand post-surgery. The main challenge for me has been starting to eat again. Lots of things I used to love taste terrible now. That may change over time but for now it is so hard. I feel hungry but 3 or 4 bites of something fill me up. I struggle to get enough protein and calories in. I see people eating things (and amounts) at 3 or 4 weeks that I STILL can't eat now.

I have the opposite, my mouth is dry as the desert 24/7 no matter how much I drink.

How far out from surgery are you? Are you getting all your water and protein in? How many calories a day are you getting?

Glad you are hanging in there, it gets better every day!

Sometimes people are just scared for you to have surgery, especially family members. Thin people are never going to understand. They think you should just have some willpower, eat less, and get off your butt and exercise. Fat people are not going to be supportive because, let's face it, they don't want to see you losing weight while they get fatter and fatter. This isn't just for vanity, it's for our health. Tell them that your doctors think you need the surgery to get healthy and quit discussing it with them.

Excellent, thanks for posting

Ask your surgeon. My hospital said no fake nails and no nail polish. I don't get acrylic nails anyway, my natural nails are strong and grow well. But I did remove polish.

I had to have my gallbladder out 15 years ago after losing 40 pounds on Weight Watchers. You could get gallstones even without having weight loss surgery. I am thinking I will probably lose hair, but it will grow back. I had gas pains after my gallbladder surgery but none at all after my sleeve. You never know. Most people go back to eating chicken but do you love chicken enough to stay obese? I am almost 7 weeks out and I could not care less if I ever eat chicken again or not. There are lots of other things to eat. So many people go into weight loss surgery thinking they will never eat a "normal" amount of food again. But our idea of "normal" is way bigger than it should be, if it wasn't we wouldn't be obese! I am slowly eating more and more, the way I see if is after a few months out we WILL be eating normal amounts, normal for people who are a healthy weight.

Most people seem to breeze right through and even cheat and eat things sooner than they are supposed to. I am not one of those people. My stages were much shorter than your's. 3 day easy pre-op, 3 days clear liquid after surgery, then full liquids weeks 2-5 (including yogurt, creamy Soups, Protein shakes, etc) I tried a million shakes and have a hard time getting any of them down. Around week 3 I started complaining to my surgeon. At week 4 they put me on an anti stomach acid med (a PPI called protonix, some people get it right from the beginning) I still had problems getting much down except for Water. I feel hungry but after a couple of bites start to feel sick. At week 5 I was SUPPOSED to be able to try to eat almost anything that sounded good. I was still struggling so I called my surgeon. He started me on another med called carafate. It is supposed to aid in healing and sooth any possible ulcers. My surgeon told me to call back at week 7 if I am still struggling. I get very few calories a day (maybe 300-400??) I am slowly eating more and feeling better. I can eat a scrambled egg. I can get down a Babybel cheese and a couple of almonds. Tonight I had 2 tablespoons of Peanut Butter and a couple of apple slices. So my answer to you is YES I have struggled to eat again. Call your surgeon if it doesn't get better in a few days. BUT if you are getting all of your water and all of your protein in they will probably tell you to just slowly keep working at eating. Hope this helps. I am honestly shocked at what I see people eating at 4 or 5 weeks out. Not just what they eat but the amount. I am not saying they are doing anything bad, just that I couldn't force that much down if I wanted to. I don't understand how they do it.

Every surgeon recommends something different. I bought the ones mine recommended (Celebrate) and can't tolerate them. I was told not to take swallowables. They told me to try prenatal gummies and those make me sick too. I am trying children's chewables next.

The best advice is to follow your surgeon's advice.

You should be given details about what you can eat during each stage. Every surgeon is so different you really have to just wait and see what they tell you. Most people go from Clear liquids to full liquids (Protein shakes, Soups, I was allowed yogurt) Then people go to pureed foods and then soft foods. I have been eating a scrambled egg daily for a while now. It varies so much from surgeon to surgeon it's hard to make suggestions for you.

It depends on your insurance. My first appointment all they really did was weigh me and take a good medical history. They also asked me in detail about all the times I have tried to lose weight and failed, or failed to keep it off. They gave me a check-list of everything my insurance requires for approval. The only thing I was missing was a psych eval, which they set up soon after my appointment. Some insurance companies require several months of recorded weights, some require a letter from you primary care doctor, some require numerous visits with a nutritionist. Lots of variables out there. Oh, and most surgeons will discuss the different types of surgery and pros and cons of each one with you.

I didn't even weigh at home the first 2 weeks, I only weighed at my week 1 and week 2 visits with my surgeon. You have a lot of extra Fluid in your system now. And a lot of swelling. It's normal.

I think because so many people are overweight or obese now our idea of "normal" is all messed up. If we see someone who is normal weight on the BMI chart we probably consider them too skinny. Also, shows like "My 600 Pound Life" make people think you have to be so fat you can't even walk to need something as drastic as weight loss surgery. I have a suggestion for you.......quit telling people. Thin people will never understand and other fat people don't want you losing weight while they get fatter and fatter. Many people keep their surgery a secret. Afterwards when they notice the weight loss just tell them you are working with a doctor, eating low carb, etc......which will be the truth.

It sounds like you are doing great! How do you get your protein in? I am struggling with it.

I agree about the Protein, I cannot eat enough food even at 6 weeks out to get the protein I need. But the shakes are making me feel yucky too. I am struggling but it gets better every day. I can't imagine anyone 9 days out being able to get enough food down to eliminate the shakes??? You have already lost a lot, don't compare yourself to others, you had a low starting weight.

I felt starving the day after the surgery in the hospital. The nurse told me it's common, you won't really feel full until you are least get to the pureed stage when you get some real, solid food in there. Some people say stomach acid can feel like hunger so maybe ask you surgeon about it. Are you taking meds for stomach acid?? Many cravings are just in your head. Don't give in and eat something you are not approved to eat, you will regret it (it will hurt, you may vomit, etc) Also, it takes several weeks for your staple line to heal, eating the wrong things can cause a leak which could be deadly. I honestly didn't crave carbs, still don't 6 weeks out, I just wanted something soothing that would make my stomach feel normal (not hungry or gurgling or nauseated......) It comes with time.

It depends on your insurance. Some require several months of documented weights from your primary care doctor. Mine went off my weight from my first surgeon's visit and didn't look back at anything else.

I think most people keep it a secret. Other people just don't understand. I didn't tell anyone besides my husband and kids before surgery but I have been open about it since then. I am a big mouth though, I don't keep secrets well. Before the surgery I didn't want anyone trying to talk me out of it but now it's too late for that. After the surgery you can just tell people you are working with a doctor, eating healthy and low carb, which is all true! Then when they notice the weight loss just say thank you.

Hair loss doesn't start until 3 or 4 months post op.

I think I have had a slow recovery compared to most people. I now have meds for stomach acid and possible ulcers and am feeling better. I still can't eat much and have to eat really slow, but I am losing well and feeling better every day.

@@Anna Nim Do you live with your father? Do you live alone or with someone else? Honestly if you don't live with him just quit talking to him. Have the surgery and don't see him or spend time with him for a while. Tell him to leave you alone. That's what I would do.

Wow, what a history! Praying for you.

I do, but usually when I get to the point of having had enough. I don't burp so I just figure it's my body's way of getting rid of excess air/gas.