Tracy1978

I ended up sick a few weeks ago and threw up for a couple of days. I've noticed since then I get this occasional spasm-like feeling in my stomach. I can literally see it jerk. It's almost like my stomach gets hiccups. It can last a few minutes to maybe a half hour then goes away. Its happened a good half dozen times. Its not painful just odd. My illness may not of had anything to do with it, but I worried with the act of vomiting maybe I pulled something or god forbid, damaged something. Have any of you ever experienced this?

21 minutes ago, Letsgetgoing2018 said:

Im Losing a lot of hair also. 😰

1000 mg Lysine daily is known to help with Hair loss. You could give it a try and see if it works for you. Its a cheap solution if so.

I know how you feel. I lose in weird increments. I try ask myself when the last time was I actually lost weight. Ten pounds doesn't sound like a lot but try carrying a ten pound bag of potatoes with you all day. Plus, your body is in shock - you have really been through an ordeal. Be good to yourself. I promise your body will catch up eventually. It just needs time to get settled after such a major procedure. You got this and everything will be great!!!!

I was forced to buy about 200 worth of food from my surgeon's office. I ended up throwing most of it away. Maybe its just me but I found the Soups and shakes to be gritty and bland. Huge waste of money in my opinion. If I were you, I would buy a container of Protein Powder and add it to homemade soups.

12 hours ago, lviz said:

Man! I'm down only 30 lbs PO. I've been fighting the same 3 lbs up and down for 10 weeks. Probably time to call my NUT, but last time in I was doing everything "right". 😕 I've added in 4 days a week of an hour of crossfit. I'm up to 900 cals, keeping carbs under 50 g and fat under 30 g, and Protein over 80 g. Water is probably around 80 oz, not inc my shake.

I know this sounds bad, but when I hit my 4 week plateau and nothing changed I decided to pick a day during the week to eat whatever I wanted (without feeling sick). After that week I dropped 5 pounds. Its like if your body gets too into a routine the scale refuses to move. lol

Same here! July 20th and I too am down about 50 pounds.

I too suffer from anxiety an depression; I have for at least 20 years. I've been on several medications since diagnosed, but the one I remain on consistently is Zoloft. I take 200 mgs a day, which, from what I understand is a pretty high dose. I also have Xanax and Valium to help control my panic attacks. I'd be lying if I didn't say I self medicated with alcohol as well pre-op. It was hard getting it under control but I did. Since surgery, 9 weeks ago today, I am still on my medication. However, I haven't needed the Xanax or Valium. I feel like the exercise I am getting is helping me cope with the stress to the point that I don't need those medicines anymore. Also, seeing weight come off has really helped boost my morale overall. I haven't tried to lessen my Zoloft dose, but as things progress I plan on trying. Over all I feel better both mentally and physically.

On 9/17/2018 at 7:28 PM, PPMom said:

Eating at a restaurant is difficult because the portions are so large! I do the same...share, but sometimes people want all of their food. Lol. If you like yogurt, you might like the yogurt drinks I make with yogurt, coconut milk and strawberry (Polaner all fruit) preserves and a bit of stevia. Oh, my gosh. They are so good! I might not have made it through the first month if it weren't for those drinks.

Sounds yummy! I just might have to give that a try. Looks like it would be high in Protein too from the yogurt. I could probably add some protein powder to it too....Thanks for the suggestion!

I'm about 8-9 weeks out right now. I can eat pretty much what I want just much smaller portions. I make much better decisions now too when it comes to meals. For example, Breakfast I have a triple zero oikos yogurt and coffee. lunch is usually some sort of Soup or Kroger brand omelette bites (4 count). When I get home from work around 3:30 I have a snack. Usually v8 with some hummus and crackers or cheese spread with crackers. Then we make dinner about 6-7pm. I make stuff for tacos but I usually make a small taco salad no shell with some ranch on the side. Or, a few pieriogies and chunky marinara. When I go out to eat I no longer order my own meal. I just eat off my husbands and daughter's plate. I refrain from eating any appetizers or free starters like some places have: bread, rolls, chips and salsa or peanuts. I don't buy a drink at restaurants because I cant drink while I eat anyway. So I am a cheap date these days! It's been so nice on my wallet.

8 hours ago, Orchids&Dragons said:

That is wonderful! I'm so glad that you can be in those pics and feel like you're contributing rather than detracting from the special moments!

I have to admit that part of my interest in losing weight, outside of the obvious health benefits, was so that I could feel "not grotesque" at my kids' weddings. No, that's not how a healthy-minded person should think about themselves, but I did.

I totally understand what you mean. I felt like people would be looking at me in the wedding pics like, "Daaaannnnnng that chick is Huuuuuuge! and not at my beautiful niece on the best day of her life.

My Niece and her fiance announced their engagement a year ago this month. At the time, I had only been to one diet visit with the clinic I went to for surgery and I was still debating if I wanted to have the procedure done. A month after their announcement, she asked me to be her maid of honor. But inside I was already dreading it. At that time, I had maybe 2 outfits that fit correctly and was always uncomfortable. I knew I was going to have a struggle trying to find a dress that fit and that I could afford. I was already thinking of how fat I was going to look in the pictures....I felt like I would ruin them. I never said it out loud, but I was certain she would regret asking me to do it due to my size.

That is very mean and shallow thinking on my part. I know my niece loves me regardless of my size. But that is the way I thought of myself at the time. I hated looking in the mirror. I hated having my picture taken. I flat out didn't like looking at myself. Being part of the wedding didn't make the decision to have the surgery, as I had already been considering it. But it did help push me in the right direction.

Here it is a year later, post op, and lost 40+ pounds. The best part? I went from a size 28 down to a 22 in 2 months. Not only was I able to buy a dress at a regular department store, but I ordered in ONLINE and it FIT!!! Something I have NEVER done!!!! First pic is of me and my niece the day she asked me to be the MOH. I know you can't see my body but that's as good as it gets. I had to approve the photo to be posted and I wouldn't have if my body was in it. lol The other is me in my dress!!!!! (Forgive the awful lighting and basement background, lol)

54 minutes ago, AEdoesRnY said:

I got Chipotle last night - turns out their chips are a MAJOR slider for me, didn't feel the restriction at all with them. At least I realized that fairly quickly and gave the bag of chips to my husband...after I'd eaten about half of them :/

I got a burrito bowl with no rice and double chicken, double black Beans, and double fajita veggies. I barely made a dent in it for my lunch. Went back and made a tiny dent in it for dinner, and 80% of it is still in the fridge. I'm torn between "well, this isn't TOO bad" because I made sure that there was a lot of Protein and lower carbs and on the other hand thinking about the amount of fat from the cooking oils and from the cheese and sour cream and guac makes me feel completely ashamed that I had any of it.

I'm six weeks post-op tomorrow, so this was my first time 'eating out' and my first time eating anything remotely like this. I'm hoping I can avoid eating similarly for at least another six weeks but...it was REALLY good!

You could have had so many more worse things than what you had. Look at it this way, you have to have some fat and dairy in your diet. Avocado is awesome for you. You literally probably ate 10 bites at the most. You would have loaded it up and ate the whole thing pre-op right? This is all about a life change. You're not going to be able to avoid going out to at all the time. This was a good test for you and I think you passed with flying colors. My first trip to Chipotle included rice in my bowl so already you are doing better than I did! LOL!!!!!

18 hours ago, sillykitty said:

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Well, EFF!!!!! I had no idea. Knowledge is power, thanks for sharing.

4 large chicken breasts and a whole bottle of sweet baby Ray's buffalo sauce in a crock pot on low for 4 hours then turn to high for two more. Shred with a fork and you got a versatile meal you can eat post op. Get Hawaiian Buns and make sandwiches or use it in tacos, top as salad with it. Make nachos. It's low fat, low carb and low calorie but full of flavor. It's been one of our go to's.

Went to lunch with my mom today at Cracker Barrel. I got my favorite meal. Pre-op I would have gotten the dinner size with 3 sides and ate every single bite. Today I got the lunch portion with two sides. I don't order drinks at restaurants anymore either, just Water. No reason to pay 2.50 for something I can only take a few sips of. Anyway, here is my before and after lunch plate. Ill have the rest for dinner.

I drank beer and soda up until 3 days pre-op. I also got myself out of an event I didn't want to go to using the "I'm on the pre-op diet" excuse while I was sitting at home drinking beer. bahaha, sorry I had to laugh at myself for that one.

Seven days post op I got my cycle. The cravings were worse than they had ever been. I took a plain Hershey bar and broke it up and put one piece in my mouth at a time and sucked on it until it was melted liquid. Pure heaven.

I've tried to drink regular coke since surgery but it tastes funny...it almost has a black licorice taste to it, which I hate. I think the Universe knew I wouldn't be able to stay away from it so now it tastes tainted. lol!

5 minutes ago, Orchids&Dragons said:

Best line of the day!

Right?!?!? I'll chalk it up to PMS, lol!!!

Today I am 45 days out. I take my Vitamins daily, get my fluids in with no problem and am tolerating food very well. I almost feel like I'm doing too well...reading some of the things on here have me perplexed. I have to remind myself that everyone is different, everyone heals differently.

I'm down 38 pounds. Whenever I get the thought in my mind that I am not progressing fast enough I remind myself that this is the most weight I have lost in ages. I continue to gain and lose the same five pounds, then it finally falls off. Then I plateau and gain/lose the next 5 pounds. Like I said, its frustrating me to no end, but I am trying to be realistic with myself. Slow and steady wins the race, and I am giving my skin time to adjust to the loss as well.

Observations and Weird sensations:

Sometimes I can barely finish a yogurt while other times I can eat quite a bit more. (For example, a bean burrito from taco bell or a 6 inch sub on flatbread from Subway)

I can feel the food shift in my stomach; I've never had that sensation before.

Sadly, the sleeve doesn't get rid of PMS cravings. I still have to fight myself about eating crap. The difference is now I can talk myself out of it 95% of the time whereas before I was 95% sure I would eat it anyway.

Since I am not consistently on sugar/carbs like I used to be I can actually feel myself crash from eating something carb/sugar rich. It's enough to make me not want to eat them.

I've found if I've eaten a few bites too much, I can get rid of that feeling much faster by walking. Walking actually helps move my food. Before surgery, walking while I was stuffed was sheer torture. If I was overly full, I would feel that way for a long time. a couple hours even, before I would get any relief,

I definitely feel restriction. I eat maybe a 1/4 to an 1/8 of what I used to.

I can't throw up. I've had the sensation a few times and even tried to on one occasion that I overdid it by accident. I didn't feel the restriction til it was too late. I've since learned to slow down when I eat so I have time for my body to signal to me. But the point is, I used to be able to puke almost on command. Not so much anymore.

Its not really worth going out to eat at a sit down restaurant. I cant eat like the rest of the folks. While that is a exhilarating feeling, I found myself sulking because I couldn't eat my favorite meal at Chuy's. I had to laugh at myself like really, Tracy? You have wanted to be thinner for years and now that you have the chance you are crying about a chimichanga?

I still have to silence my inner fat kid on the daily. I'm hoping that becomes less and less. I didn't realize just how addicted i was to food and food routines. I'm slowly re-learning how to have fun without food or booze and how to incorporate exercise into daily life again.

5 hours ago, kasensmom said:

I'm feeling a little under the weather next month I will be a year out of surgery. Anyone taken emergen c?

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Yes! I am about 6 weeks out and I have taken it since I got home from the hospital. I usually take it 2-3 times a week proactively. I have a 7 year old and every little bit helps. It really really works and felt like it helped me heal faster post op. I stir mine up until the carbonation is gone. I haven't had any issues with it.

Just now, Frustr8 said:

I don't drink,but I understand a little of your motivation. You were checking" Hmmn let me see if I'm still Tracy after my surgery?" And you body said No No little girl! You're still Tracy but you are a remodeled refurbished Tracy. That expensive surgery, it did something to you. Beer tasted yucky, couldn't stuff things in like you used to? Honey, the surgery worked ,didn't it? No more eating like a field hand, no more cowboy benders, no more just" one of the guys" Road house Ruby turned into Calm, Careful Claire and you're better for it. I don't drink but my own Ah Ha moment will be ahead. My grand-daddy and late Hubby's grand-daddy both had a saying, his in Dutch, mine is country English " Them that don't listen, gotta feel!" Very true,very tru!

Thank you!!!! You get it exactly. For 30 of my 40 years I have been obese. I ate and drank what I wanted when I wanted. This has been a major change in my life. This hands down the hardest, most eye opening experience of my life. At this point I have been on a strict hardcore diet for at least the last 6-7 weeks. My husband has been a great support. I felt like we both deserved a night out as a treat. While we had a nice time and it was awesome to find out how cheap of a date I am now (it was good to get out as a couple again) we both agreed it just wasn't the same and that a we could find new things to do together that don't necessarily involve food.

And yes, the surgery worked...and I am grateful for it. Part of learning to live again after WLS is definitely a learning curve. Just because you feel mentally prepared doesn't mean you wont have to deal with old habits. Its trial and error and you find what works best for you. Thanks for your words of encouragement.

Maybe I should clarify that at my one month post op I was cleared to resume normal activities as tolerated. You know the saying opinions are like a-holes? This goes for doctors too. If you read these forums you will see just how different pre-op and post op diets/rules are depending on the surgeon or practice.

As for beer "eroding" my staple line; Would you say the same thing if I said I drank a fountain coke? I could understand your worry if I had said I drank a six pack. The fact is beer is heavily carbonated, and like soda, we are to refrain from it because it is empty calories and can cause excessive gas - which you have after surgery anyway.

Why on Earth would I do that? Because I am a normal human being and being social is part of that. I am not swearing off alcohol for life and I wanted to see how it effected me since I was cleared by my doctor. Thank you for your judgmental concern.

Before surgery my husband and I would go to Texas roadhouse on Wednesdays for date night, They have an 8 oz sirloin special for cheap. We would sit at the bar. Usually before dinner I would have at least 3-4 cans of light beer (so I didn't spend as much money at the restaurant trying to catch a buzz). We would order an appetizer and eat the bread and peanuts while we waited for it. Then we'd eat the app. Then the salad. Then the meal; steak and mashed potatoes. Not to mention I am drinking probably 3 large beers during the meal. Afterward, we'd go home and chill for a couple hours. Then I would go in and snack off anything we brought home.

I celebrated a month post op this past week so I told my husband Id love to have some steak so we thought wed give it a try. Going in I knew I would NEVER be able to have what I used to have. But I missed our nights out together and thought it would be a good test.

WOW.

We sat at the bar and I ordered a beer. I know, I know I know - But I am an adult and I wanted to see how I would react to a beer. I couldn't even finish half of it. I only ordered a salad planning on eating off my husbands plate. I ate some peanuts but skipped the rolls. We got our salads and I was able to take about 3 bites. The meal came out and I literally had 4 tiny pieces of steak from my husbands meal. I was a so full I was sick!!!!

It was a lesson to be had. No more beer for me, At least not for a long time. I felt like **** and it kept me from being able to have regular food because it was so bloating. I knew I couldn't drink after I started eating so I don't know why I even bothered. But at least I know now. And any thirst I had for beer is GONE. So, I don't have to worry about missing out on it.

I can't believe how much I used to eat and it makes me sad that I let myself get that way. Its been rough replacing food with other things, but that's what I've been doing. I had let my life revolve around food and my next meal so much that I was missing out on actually living. Everyday is a new adventure and a new lesson.

49 minutes ago, newmeinfla said:

Had surgery on July 25 and the last week I have not lost anything but still watching what I eat and just eating a few bites of my meals. I guess the 3 week stall is really. But i also feel that i have not lost much in total 20 pounds 10 pre and 10 post. Just keep telling myself this is more weight loss that i have seen in a long time. Just hoping that i start losing again and that this surgery was not done for nothing. Sorry just had to vent.

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I totally understand. I think I was expecting way too much from myself. My surgery was 7/20 and I had a stall for over two weeks. I just finally broke it Monday but then today of course I gained two pounds back. People tell me NOT to look at the scale but I feel like I have to. I've been trained to obsess over it. lol. I keep telling myself that my body has been thru a major change both physically and mentally. Its hard, but we need to be gentle with ourselves.

My surgery was July 20th. I am down a little over 20 pounds and 8 inches overall. I hid a plateau that started after week one and ended this past weekend. l gained and lost the same five pounds which was frustrating. However, I am down a few more pounds from my lowest weight so I think I made it over that hump. I'm eating pretty much whatever I want want but I am sticking to easily digestible foods and I can only eat very small amounts. For example, we went to a Mexican restaurant with the family. I was only able to eat 2/3 of a soft taco. Instead of eating a basket of chips by myself I took 4 chips and broke them into small pieces and ate them slowly with the salsa and chatted. no one even noticed how little I was eating and I didn't feel deprived. It made me feel like I was back into the social groove; no funny looks and no questions and i was able to blend in. it was great. Best decision I ever made in my life.

While I agree with honesty is the best policy, you can always use the Hernia/gallbladder defense. You will be on a liquid diet at work, and if people notice that you aren't eating out with them or see you not eating there wont be any question when you say, I'm on my pre-op diet for gallbladder/hernia surgery and it sucks!!!! It shuts down any questions immediately, because most people know that abdominal surgeries require a fast. When you start losing weight you can tell them the dietary change you had to make post op led to better healthy choices and over all you feel better so you are going to stick with it. Just a thought. I know how hard it can be revealing your plans and when you are already vulnerable you don't need other's opinions.