Rebuilding the Temple

Sorry that I haven’t sent and update. I’m doing great! All issues resolved and down 50lbs from highest weight. I eat anythinwithin reason of course still no sugar or cards no processed foods etc. I generally do 2 protein shakes and a high protein diet. I have a smoothie in the am now that helped. Staying on my vita minds. Food can be cumbersome but it keeps my appetite low. Any way I think it was just a bumpy start. Anyone struggling a few weeks post op take heart it gets better!

I am one month post sleeve tomorow. It has been harder than I anticipated. It has been an extremely isolative process. I had to go back in for 4d after the surgery for minor (mostly preventable) complications. From the surgery on 4/11 to 5/1 I was drinking maybe 20-30 ounces a day (that's being generous). I was taking about half my vitamins and eating maybe 3-4 ounces a day of the program recommended 6 ounces per dy. Popscicles have been my best friend. I couldn't get enough protein, barely 8oz. I had to be put on infusion week 3. Now at week 4, after the infusion of fluid and vitamins, I feel relatively normal. I drink water when I wake and take my vitamins. Then I drink close to a complete protein shake. By 10 or 11 I can maybe tolerate something to eat. I got VERY conflicting info about what constitutes puree. The surgeon said if I can mash it with a plastic fork it's ok so I have been going by that which has widened the availability of foods I have eaten. I've had oatmeal made with a little butter and skim milk (very liquidy), carrot pasta (with tomatoe sauce until I realized no tomotoes on my list opps), pureed chicken salad, chicken with zuchini pasta and alfredo (until I realized alfredo even homemade isn't on the list), all kinds of mashed well chewed fruits, tons of yogurt (not light because I don't eat artifical sweetners) and soups/broths. I haven't been nauseous nor have I thrown up (though my carrot pasta and eggplant no sauce dinner just now gave me cause for concern). I do get hungry mid-day and evening, my sugar seems to drop because by hungry I mean hangry, otherwise I'm fine. I do think about food, food prep and what I can or sometimes sadly what I can't eat. I am probably grieving a little. I have an extremely strong faith so I stay positive. I have lost 30lb from my highest and 23 since surgery day-I can't see it which makes me a little sad. I am extremely self conscious and wear mostly my bigger clothes. Now for anyone who is still reading this extremely I know long post, is my experience similar to anyone!?! Mostly referring to the food as I am not certain if I am eating the right things and since the infusion I haven't spoken to the dietician because they said focus on the protein so I have and now I get at least 40g a day not including the 3 proteins I eat a day. Also the sense that I haven't really lost. I know what the scale says but that doesn't connect with my brain. Also I still can't get enough water which is odd because I LOVED ice cold plain water pre-surgery but now the gurgling sound it makes and the way it feels going down grosses me out. Also the only thing cold I can tolerate is popsicles . All of that to say.... any logistical insight anyone can give great. Mostly it just feels good to get all of this off my chest because I haven't talked to many other bariatric patients (missed the support group with readmit and infusion). If you read all this wew God bless you!

You and I are close in age, starting weight and bmi. I agree with comments that when you don't have "as" much to lose it is slower. I lost at about your pace of little less than a pound a day loss. I have lost nearly 40lbs since surgery on 4/11/18. I don't regret it one bit and I had a LOT of complications. It's been well worth it. So try not to focus on the negative. For me this was a "new life" and there isn't any room for past behaviors or ways of thinking. Lose the voices in your head that say your going to fail or it's not enough. Do some self work to explore these issues because facing those issues will help make this more than weight loss but losing the weight and freeing yourself from the things that caused you to gain in the first place. Good luck!

@ t101ross Thank you so much for sharing. I’m so sorry for what you are going through but so grateful we can both not we aren’t alone. Despite my misgivings I have flavored my tea just a tad. I have gone back to the supper cup. I do feel a bit better. I also found the more active I am (hiked a mile Saturday) the more I am drinking but it’s not easy. God bless you!

Your not a failure. I’m learning this is really hard! Everyone says you just have to find your own way which isn’t how it seems pre op and can be discouraging. Sleep is HUGE. It can lead to a sense of hunger or thirst. And when your body isn’t functioning optimally it is difficult to lose weight. Right now post op I need 10-12 hours and when I don’t get it I am not ok. Talk to you doctor about natural sleep supports and google sleep hygiene-there are a ton of resources. Best of luck

Good suggestions and thanks for the encouragement! I am a mental health provider lol but I definitely need a support group! Thank you:)

Severe pain in my chest. Turns out I didn’t notice (3 days post op and still doped up on Percs) I was supposed to tak Prilosec). Severe abdominal pain caused by damage to the nerves, apparently common and resolved with a nerve block. Fever and chills probably needing fluids which they gave me. Good luck I think my issues have been the exception not the rule:) I only eat veggie pasta aka carrot or zucchini spirals. It’s purely made by spiraling a long vegetable. No carbs low in sugar no different than eating a well cooked soft carrot. I haven’t made enriched pasta in probably 20 years. The water thing is very very true. Trying to do better. Any tips on how? I’m getting down as much as I feel physically able to.