Born in Missouri

"Totally get it.... but I do believe this is one legit area of being treated differently." Hence, my reason for pointing out that my comment was silly. Sometimes we type faster than we think. In the back of my mind, I knew the reason and importance of a pregnancy test pre-surgery, but something got triggered in me when someone here mentioned that they were post-menopasual, had their tubes tied, or haven't had sex in years -- and yet these women were still required to take the test. Again, I understand the common sense of it all, but like everyone else, sometimes emotions make us say foolish things.

I have my appointment with my bariatric team tomorrow (Monday, July 30). I'm planning to take along all of my vitamins, any recent lab reports (even though they probably have access to my labwork since they belong to the same health system as my hospital). I understand how to take my iron and calcium, but thank you for pointing that out. Thank you for the article. I see several flags for me in there. My diet is lacking in many respects. I am woefully dehydrated. Water is worse than liquid protein. Some days, I probably get fewer than 250 calories. It's embarrassing because I know better. I plan to be brutally honest with my doctor tomorrow.

I get that you are trying to point out what you see as a double standard... but having WLS with an STD doesn’t put lives at risk in the same way. It just isn’t similar. No one is gonna sue them later for it either. And they don’t test women for STD’s pre op and we get them too. I wasn't trying to suggest that an STP is a man-only thing. I think I was venting because it seems that women are often singled out arbitrarily. Perhaps my comment was a bit misplaced and silly, but it was coming from a place of frustration. I've had far too many experiences in which I felt that I was treated differently and taken less seriously because of my gender. I meant no harm. My own personal demons.

I missed all the drama but got here in time for saygrace's good news. I wonder if they test men for STDs before surgery?

What's your barrier to eating better food? If it's financial, I'm sure there are many ways to cut corners and still enjoy healthy meals. I used to live in Wisconsin, but I'm not familiar with your city. Are you far from grocery stores? Do you have a garden? Are you able to afford your vitamins? (If you have to choose between food and your vitamins because you can't afford both, I might be able to help you with your vitamins.)

@nibble. As I said, my calf pain is not bilateral... it's only on the right side. I wish I could figure out if this is something that I did to myself or is it something that I should have done differently. This has definitely put a kink (no pun intended) in beginning a post-op exercise program. I suppose I'm afraid of aggravating my cramp even more. I've thought about water therapy because of how gentle it can be to one's joints and muscles, but I'm embarrassed to admit that I have an irrational hangup when it comes to being seen in an integrated area with men. Maybe it's my age, my upbringing. This has nothing to do with feeling old, ugly, or afraid of being laughed at since those can happen in front of men or women-- anywhere. Does anyone else feel uncomfortable exercising in or out of the water with men around? I was uncomfortable with this girl-boy thing even when I was young, pretty, and slender. I repeat: It's not about appearance. It's about modesty. I don't wear shorts or low-cut shirts. I prefer skirts and dresses. Nothing tight either. I don't know anyone who owns a private pool. And it would also have to be an indoor pool, since I have a year-around aversion to sunlight. (Hence, my vitamin D deficiency).

Don't be a hero. If you have pain, speak up. Typically, pain meds for mild pain help most people. If your pain medication makes you feel unusually nauseous or "out-of-it", it's probably not the right med for you. Some pain meds are notorious for creating an upset stomach. Those containing codeine are often the culprits. Don't feel embarrassed or ashamed for needing pain medication. You won't become an "addict" for short-term use. For those of us, like me, who require heavy-duty narcotic pain meds every day for chronic pain (unrelated to my bariatric surgery), we understand how pain can affect our lives. Don't let pain ruin your recovery. This should be a time of healing and celebration. Being in pain or trying to convince yourself or others that you don't need a little something to get through this temporary time, is just deceiving yourself. Don't lie to yourself. You'll know when you know longer need help with the pain. Do a little research on pain meds. Talk to a pharmacist about pain medication options (over-the-counter and prescription-only). Talking to a pharmacist is a way to get solid information BEFORE talking to your doctor. I can't emphasize enough the differences between what pharmacists know and understand about medication vs. doctors. Talking to a pharmacist is free, they are non-judgmental, and are required to keep your conversations private.

I found a few links to help you get started. I would recommend searching under "strength training" / "weight training" / "resistance training" AND "bariatric surgery" on Google or another search engine. https://www.livestrong.com/article/373100-how-to-build-muscle-after-gastric-bypass/ https://renewbariatrics.com/weight-loss/exercise/strength-training/ A past discussion on this forum: It shouldn't matter that this is about a woman's journey. It's all good. https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/lyss-remaly-from-bariatric-surgery-to-bodybuilding.html

Back at you, nibble. I haven't increased my dairy, if anything, I consume less, but I like where your theory is going. Funny thing about the turmeric... it's been a mainstay in my cooking for decades. We add it to stews, rice dishes, etc. Once it became "trendy", it was no longer just available in specialty grocery stores or available in tiny, almost-disposable containers. I can buy it in bulk now. My leg pain isn't bilateral, but it changes in intensity along the same pathway on my right leg. I have osteoarthritis. Both knees have been replaced. My metatarsophalangeal or MTP joints in my big toes have been fused together. No more wiggling my big toes or even standing tiptoe!

@RickM. After rereading your initial post, I can now see how "we" could have been referring to our hunting-and-gathering ancestors. Perhaps I misread your post because of all the survival shows one encounters on TV nowadays and because the scenario of you being Mr. Antelope-Gorger was just more interesting. None of this changes the information in your post. Thank you.

Hi, @nibble ... my research buddy! I've been averaging about 1/2-1lb per day. No complaints, though I wonder if there's any connection between my rapid weight loss and the painful cramps in my legs. (And the pain has to be substantial for me to even notice. Being opioid tolerant, almost nothing surpasses the source of my chronic pain: my right ankle.) I'm taking a separate magnesium supplement, hoping that it'll help with the cramping. So far, little relief. It's a conundrum: do I rest my crampy legs or do I try to walk off my cramps so my calf muscles won't become even more atrophied? I've been doing a lot of both. The walking actually helps while I'm walking, but afterward, I wonder if I overdid it.) Maybe I should try an "antelope shake" as a remedy for my aching calves.

@RickM I enjoy your posts because they always seem to include quirky little personal details. I love the idea of you gorging on an antelope instead of the usual, "I just had a really big protein shake with like, uh, 60g of protein." Your "antelope shake" story is the ultimate protein intake comparison. (And by "story" I'm not suggesting that this is something you made up; I believe it. Where did you eat this antelope, by the way?)

I tried to make my image larger, but it always seems to lock in at this unreadable size. Any suggestions?

@Chrisb428 Your surgeon's view supports the message in this article. A steady supply of protein throughout the day makes more sense than trying to consume a "super high protein shake". This little-by-little advice is consistent with many of the vitamins many of us already take. For me---calcium citrate chewable wafers*, 4x/day, a multivitamin (Solaray®Spectro® 250 capsules) with low doses (in each capsule) of all the fat- and water-soluble vitamins plus important micronutrients like zinc, copper, and selenium. My vitamin also contains probiotics, various herbs, and digestive enzymes meant to be taken 6 times a day evenly spaced throughout 24 hours. One sublingual B12 every day. Supplemental (heme) iron 18mg; I also have some non-heme iron 22mg that I alternate with the heme iron. I take magnesium citrate 400mg twice a week to help with all the cramping in my legs (not sure if this is helping.) I've been on prescribed Vitamin D-2 (ergocalciferol) 1.25mg or 50,000 U; this I take twice weekly. I also have to work in my antidepressants, low-dose blood pressure medication, and, of course, my narcotic pain meds. It's a lot to work out, and most days I don't get in everything I should. I sleep late, I forget... I find it incredibly hard to follow any schedule that parcels out my day. Don't combine this vitamin or mineral with this or that, eat food with this one, not with another one. I try my best. I still have difficulty trying to get in even minimal amounts of protein, so at least knowing that a little protein here and there is how my body likes it is good news for me. Still, I have to try harder. *I take a seperate calcium supplement because the calcium in my multivitamin is calcium , which can't be properly absorbed by gastric bypass patients because of decreased stomach acid.

I just bought some matcha powder and was wondering what to do with it! Thanks! Hard to find it without sugar in it, had to order online! @jess9395 I haven't opened my matcha protein powder yet. It's a small container, 30g, of ceremonial grade Matcha. Quite pricey. Recently, my adult daughter and I had a little tea party like we used to have when she was about six years old. Of course, there was no Matcha tea back then. The party was prompted after she ran across the teeny-tiny hand-painted tea set I bought her when she was young. I only have one daughter. The other three are boys. BTW, I had no problem inviting my boys to join our tea parties (back in the day), but they had already been "indoctrinated" by society as to what is boylike and what is not. Sad. It's not easy being a little girl... or a little boy.

Is it true that a person can only absorb a certain amount of protein at a time, like 20g or 30g? This is mostly FALSE. The body absorbs the amount of protein it needs at any given time – it doesn’t turn off or automatically stop at 20g or 30g or 40g. There is a myth that protein absorption is capped at a maximum amount for a given period of time. While the body is able to absorb as much as 300 to 400 grams of protein during a 24-hour period, this is not recommended because there are complications associated with a protein intake that high. The high end of protein-per-day recommendation is 100 to 120 grams. Absorption of protein relies on many factors including – source of protein, length of the Roux limb in gastric bypass, size of the sleeve or pouch and one's intake of micronutrients like zinc. The myth probably has something to do with the recommendation that it’s always better to spread out one's protein. The human body is full of variations for different circumstances – sometimes the body needs more protein such as right after surgery or sometimes less protein, as in the middle of a long sedentary workday. Five small balanced meals or three meals and two protein snacks is a universal bariatric recommendation. https://www.bariatriceating.com/2016/08/faq-dietician-told-can-absorb-20g-protein-time-limit-shake-size/ Bariatric surgery isn’t mentioned in this article, but there’s this: "while it’s technically true that we aren’t absorbing 30 grams (let alone more) of protein all at once, it will eventually be absorbed." (In other words, we don't just poop it out.) https://www.marksdailyapple.com/dear-mark-how-much-protein-can-you-absorb-and-use-from-one-meal/

I've also been having fun with non-dairy milks. It's amazing how many kinds there are: hemp milk, almond milk, quinoa milk, hickory nut milk, pumpkin seed milk, barley milk, pistachio milk, sunflower seed milk, Brazil nut milk, black walnut milk, hazelnut milk, soy milk, pecan milk, brown rice milk, peanut milk, yellow split pea milk, coconut milk, rice milk, cashew milk, oat milk, banana milk, flax milk, chestnut milk, pine nut milk, spelt milk, poppy milk, paradise nut milk, jacknut milk, heartnut milk, sorghum milk, candlenut milk, tigernut milk and macadamia nut milk. The milks in red are the ones I've tried. Does anyone know of a "milk" I missed?

I use "tera's whey"/ unflavored, unsweetened, 22g protein. Whipping your concoction in a blender or bullet will give it a silky creamy texture without any tiny floaty bits.

The lesson learned by those of us who had to follow a pre-op liquid diet continues to serve us. I'm still amazed at what a little ketosis can do. And I'll always remember the sense of pride I felt when I was able to successfully complete those seven days. It doesn't surprise me, then, that this reset worked. A pouch reset. I think I'll add that term to my weight-loss glossary.

I'm 6 weeks post-op. After hearing over and over, that this is a temporary time for us, it's finally sunk in. Our lost appetites, our inabilities to get enough protein or fluid, our rapid weight losses, or ---these "unfun" mysterious stalls. Since three weeks and six weeks are in themselves short periods of time (in the big picture), a few days probably doesn't qualify as a significant time period to be classified as a "stall". Maybe three weeks or six weeks (total) might be a time period worthy of this classification, but not a few days. Heck, I was amazed at the rapid loss right out of the gate... 1/2 to 1 pound per day... so when I didn't lose that magic 1/2 lb once or twice, I decided to stop weighing myself every day. Or every other day. I tried to go beyond two days, but I couldn't resist. I have to admit that standing on my digital scale and seeing the numbers fall... 35 pounds in my case was... well, it was great! Maybe it's just me, but I don't want to spoil all this greatness by somehow convincing myself that I've already done something to mess things up. My body is just taking a little break from losing weight. At least I'm not gaining. How about you?

I haven't found any that taste good. Some are just less horrible.

Do you have any known food allergies? Peanuts? Are you lactose intolerant? There are non-dairy protein sources. When I was able to tolerant my protein replacement shakes (which was only during the post-op period), I preferred goat whey. After surgery, I can't stand my protein powder without some trickery (mixing unflavored protein powder with Greek yogurt. I can't even detect the powder in the yogurt.) What protein powder are you using?

@George OG. After hearing about the betrayal and pain you've been experiencing at home, it's emotionally stirring to see how big your heart is and how mindful you still are to the pain of others. Not only do you have a deep, abiding love for your child, but you also seem to have an endless capacity to love and care about others. Don't allow the people in your life who used to embrace you, harden your heart. It's easy to become bitter. Be strong. You are a good person. You deserve to be loved and cherished. @lilybilly I am six weeks post-op. My body is still trying to figure it all out, too. Our problems are different, but our struggle is the same. I keep repeating to myself what I've heard others say, "It'll get better, every day. Hang in there." The one thing I know for sure: I made the right choice to have this surgery.

@James. First, an apology. My last comment on this thread was unacceptably whiny and surly, and for that I'm sorry. My response was triggered by a misguided impression that my idea for a weight-loss glossary was being sidestepped as unworthy. I was hurt when I saw your abbreviations list posted --and pinned-- while my project idea for a weight-loss glossary seemed to be unacknowledged and ignored by the administrative staff of this forum. I was being the star of my own pity-party reality show! My behavior was childish and silly. I expect better of myself. I will continue working on my glossary so that it's more than just an idea. I still run into acronyms, updated vocabulary and new terms (for me, at least) like orthorexia, trocars, Circle of Discontent (COD), twilight sedation, ARFID (formerly SED), surgiversary, and "disordered eating". In the near future, and when I put together something more substantial, I hope to find a way to share it with this community. P.S. Did you pin your abbreviations list yourself... or was it pinned for you?

Please share more information about the vitamins you currently take. I never had a problem taking my meds whole, even my horse pills, post-surgery. Have you been told that a multivitamin is the only supplement you'd need after your surgery?