MrsGamgee

I had what I think was an episode of dumping syndrome a little over a week ago (4.5-5 weeks post op). It wasn't sugar, but really bad scheduling on my part... I was late with my mid morning protein shake and then ate lunch (roasted red pepper soup with unflavoured protein powder) a half hour later. Within 15 minutes my heart was racing, I was dizzy and had to lay down, nauseated, and many trips to the toilet. Learned that I have to give my body time to process everything I consume.

Mine too... nothing red.

I'm clinging to that promise that things will get better too... it has for countless others, it will for me (and you!) too. I've been dealing with similar situations with regards to eating, pain, and the added bonus of vomiting. It basically comes down to me eating too fast, taking too big of bites, and not chewing enough. There's also the possibility that your body just isn't ready for whatever it was you were eating. If you are having problems with meats or whatever, going back to fluids/full fluids/purees for a few meals can help. Are all your follow ups with just your surgeon? That seems odd to me, but it may attributable to the differences between the US and Canadian systems. I will only see my surgeon (a decent guy and great surgeon, but definitely not in this because he's a people person) if something needs to be fixed. I see my assigned nurse and my dietician, both of whom are much more personable and helpful when it comes to explaining things and answering my questions. Surgeons are the big picture guys, the support staff are there to walk through the day to day stuff. Hang in there! I know you don't want to hear it, but it will get better. Trust the process and listen to your body. You aren't alone.

You know the basics... but we all need that kick in the pants every once in a while. Track everything you put in your mouth. Drink your water. Walk. Practice mindfulness... not just with food, but with your thoughts, with your activity, with your relationships. Good on you for catching the bump in the road early and getting on top of it!

I've been obese pretty much my whole adult life. I would give just about anything to go back to before I developed co-morbidities and have the surgery then. It could have saved me so much physical and emotional pain, not to mention the $$ spent on prescriptions, weight loss programs, and plus size clothes. And apnea and reflux are 'small' problems, the way pre-diabetes is a 'small' problem. They lead to the big baddies, quicker than you can blink.

A year and a half ago I put a moratorium on buying anything but the barest of essential clothes because I was working toward surgery. As a stay at home mom, I basically live in jeans, yoga pants, leggings, and tshirts, so it's not like I'm a major shopper. I also had a closet full of my fat, fatter, fattest clothes to work my way through so I thought I'd be okay for the first while after surgery. Now, 6 weeks post op, I'm feeling a little frustrated with my wardrobe. Most of it is tired/worn and baggy, and looks terrible. I caved yesterday and went bra shopping (ugh!) because the situation was getting absurd. I'm not excited about shopping for new clothes, because all I see is a waste of money as the clothes I get will only fit me for a few months, and that just feels so wasteful. One saving grace has been a friend who's similar in size to where I am now, so she's leant me a few things to help me get through the summer. Maybe in the fall I'll feel more into shopping for clothes. We'll see then.

Chocolate is something I'm surprised I don't really enjoy any longer. My regular breakfast is (and was for over a year before surgery) chocolate berry overnight refrigerator oats. I bump up the protein with protein powder and chia seeds (all 100% ok'd by my RD, and helps with my regularity), but I don't enjoy the taste as much any more. And I thought I was craving some chocolate the other day so I made some sugar free/fat free chocolate pudding for the wee-lings and had a few bites... it tasted like paste. I see something chocolatey and it looks great, but I'm beginning to understand that my body doesn't like it any more. I've also been craving cabbage... raw cabbage, shredded and dressed with olive oil, lime juice, chili powder and cumin (what I've always put on tacos rather than lettuce). I'm hesitant to try it, so I've had some sautéed cabbage that's gone down okay. Good tip about the chicken thighs over chicken breasts...

I've only had one go round with dumping syndrome so far, thankfully, and it was triggered by eating too soon after having a protein shake. No fun! Otherwise, I haven't been drawn to surgary stuff yet. It's a beast I hope I don't have to face soon.

lol... I think fried okra would have given me the foamies long before surgery! Never could tolerate okra at all.

I can foresee popcorn being a problem for me down the road, as I REALLY miss it. I'm going to have to keep it out of the house.

I'm almost 6 weeks post op, and I'm still dealing with itchiness. And not just around my incisions, but everywhere I have stretch marks (stomach, boobs, arms, legs). Some days it drives me insane. I'm using boatloads of lotion (hypoallergenic) but it doesn't always help.

Hi all, Just about 6 weeks out from surgery and I've been having some issues with eating real foods. Not any one thing consistently, but getting the foamies/slimies/vomiting just about every day for the last couple of weeks. And it's gotten me wondering... what are the foods that you all just can't do any longer? And if you're further out from surgery, have you found that you were able to eat them later on? I totally get that everyone is different, I'm just curious about the experiences of others.

I hear you. I'm not a month and a half post op yet, but today looking in the mirror was hard. I had been noticing some changes in my chin and neck, but today all I could see was my big round face. We all have good days and bad days. Try to hang on to those major victories you've achieved when you're feeling down.

I'm right there with you... just over a month post op and I've lost a fair bit of hair already. Started when I was in hospital. I can't pull my hair up/back in front any longer. If it continues at this rate, I'll likely shave my head next month. I've done it before, and I think I look okay bald.

Day 6: What depletes my energy? My expectations. I expect things to happen a certain way, and then things don't happen that way at all. I need to lower my expectations.

Hi Libby and welcome to the boards! I think you might be looking for one of the June surgery threads. This particular thread is a challenge thread (we commit to certain goals each month and cheer each other on). You absolutely are more than welcome to hang out with us and participate in our June challenges (see Cheesburgh's post above), but if you are looking for more general RNY/Bypass discussions you might want to check the Gastric Bypass board or the General WLS Discussion board. Best of luck with your journey! Hope it all goes smoothly for you!

I've considered writing it many times. I told myself I would wait until after they had both passed. Grandma passed a number of years ago and Grandpa passed away last fall. I guess the time has come.

Day 4 - whoops... missed this one entirely. Spent the day in bed trying to get rid of this wretched cough. Day 5 - worries? Biggest one right now is that my hubs has a job interview happening in less than 10 minutes. We *really really REALLY* need him to get a new job, but I'm not sure that this is the right option. Add to that, my hubs is on the spectrum (aspergers), and he doesn't always do well in interviews. At least my cough is improving now, and I woke up this morning to a 3.4lb weighloss. B-side: Time machine question... I would want to be a fly on the wall throughout my grandparents' courtship/love story. It's a long rambling story that involves a young man lying about his age to get into the army during WWII, a Dear John letter, an Irish woman named Molly, and her father with a gun, D-day and the Liberation of Holland, my grandmother going to visit my grandfather when he came home from the war and then writing to her family a month later asking them to send her clothes because she got married.

Crossing my fingers and praying real hard that things get back to normal for you!

My weirdest one... not having to analyze a parking spot to see if I will be able to open the car door wide enough to get in and out. Others... Go on rides with my wee-lings at the fair. Weigh less than my hubs (which I achieved last week!) Not worry if a lawn chair will hold me. New, pretty clothes! Feel confident going into a job interview. Not constantly be calculating if I will fit into somewhere... not as in 'will they like me?', but rather 'will my fat behind fit down that aisle'. Be at a restaurant and not worry about others judging my food choices.

That's right where I'm at today. Coughing hurts so much. I was doing really well until this cold hit. The only thing that's saved me has been Ricola no sugar added menthol cough drops.

Really try to focus on your fluids. Dehydration leads to fatigue as your body tries to reserve resources. Hope you're feeling like yourself again soon!

I would talk to your doc, as it sounds like your mask isn't fitted properly to you. (I don't have apnea but my dad did... he had to try a few masks before he found one that worked for him). Hope you're able to work things out.

Off my diabetes meds, and down to one blood pressure meds, and it's been less than three weeks. I'm hopeful that I'll be off the remaining in a couple of months. I also don't have to get up multiple times a night to use the bathroom... a happy side effect of having stable, normal blood sugars I think.

Pinterest is my jam!