mousecat88

I just tell myself that this is how it is for everyone. lol! It's easy not to eat when it hurts to, so I really don't mind it. It's the new normal.

I've gone on several dates from online sites and none of them were "bad". They didn't work out or anything, but no different than randomly meeting someone out in the real world. You never truly know what you're going to get. lol. The people I've ever actually dated I always met through friends. And let me just say that my friends, personally, have a crappy choice in men for me, so I don't recommend relying on your friends to hook you up with anyone. LOL. I'm hoping that somehow, magically, me just going to work and going straight home every day... someone will just happen to fall into my lap without me putting in any effort whatsoever. Maybe the paid online dating sites are better than the free ones? Maybe people are more serious when they are paying for the subscription. I may try that some day. Match or something.

Well. It happened. Someone (online) said to me "seems like dieting and exercising would have just been easier" in response to a convo I was having with other bypass/vsg patients. I wrote this long snarky reply along the lines of "WOW! I never considered that once in the 10 years I've been super morbidly obese and struggling with eating disorders since I was a child! You could have saved me SO much time and money!" etc etc. And then started explaining energy expenditure rates between bypass patients and dieters. But then I deleted it. UGH. WTF do people truly think? That we just wake up one day and decide, without ever attempting to lose weight via other means, that you just jump into the OR and have 95% of your stomach chopped off? I mean WTF. Sorry, but it is so hard to bite my tongue, but I did. And I am proud of myself for not engaging. lol. Not something I do regularly. My mother was like this, too, pre-op. She just hammered that I never *really* tried and that if I stuck to a diet for years I would *eventually* lose the weight, albeit being completely and utterly miserable and at-risk for rebound weight gain exponentially higher than WLS patients, etc. You all know the stats. BUT, I did argue back and forth with her. She never supported it, but is really my only family and pretends to be supportive now. When I have problems she blows them way out of proportion, but generally has cooled her jets about the whole thing. She tries. Do you guys ever engage with the "why didn't you just diet and exercise" people? Or just roll your eyes so far in the back of your head they get stuck there for a while? Sometimes I feel like I want to educate, but I also know it's a lost cause.

When I was skinny I was told often I looked like Zooey Deschanel. Also basically any famous woman with bangs. lol.

I'm down! Make sure to bumpy bumpify this thread on Jan 2nd so we all remember. lol! Well, me anyways. I'm counting on you. haha.

Maybe if you're concerned ask about Actigall. It's to prevent any gallstones from forming when you're going through the rapid weight loss period of the first 6 months. I'm scared of having my gallbladder removed. Moreso than I was this surgery. Irrational, I know. lol.

My OBGYN mentioned bypass to me numerous times, even when I was much smaller. I found it sort of offensive at the time. SO many people think it's an easy way out... but this is a billion times harder than any diet. Because with a diet, you can always slide off the ride if you really want to. There's no sliding off this ride... without serious repercussions. This is the strictest regimen I've ever followed and I've certainly never had complications from "mere" dieting.

Do they have you on gallstone dissolving meds? I'm on them for 6 months (Actigall). They put everyone on it, no matter starting size. I already have gallstones but they aren't stuck anywhere that will cause trouble (for now), so no need to get it removed.

I had 1oz of shrimp dip and 1oz of port wine cheese. Everyone else shoveled in ham, mac n cheese, rolls, Chick Fil A catered nuggets, spicy green beans, deviled eggs, etc etc. I just looked at them like they were total freakos because HOW THE HECK DO THEY FIT ALL THAT IN? And everyone else looked at my plate and told me they wished they could eat just that small of an amount. I think they felt more awkward than I did. I was like two bites, done. And look at ya'll. SMH. JUDGEYYYYY. lmao.

I can smell plastics super strong now. It's weird. I threw away a cheapo cup I had the other day because it just smelled too plasticky. Probably saved myself from some Chinese spray chemicals I never noticed before.

My secret wish came true. That I would never have to progress to a normal diet. Just kidding - I DO someday want to be able to eat normal friggin' food again. But a few days before my ER visit I started getting crazy nausea and dry-heaving and today my surgeon agreed I should drop back to full liquids from purees. The nausea really doesn't specifically seem food-related. Sometimes I wake up at 1am and dry-heave. Sometimes it's an hour after I eat. Sometimes, after I drink. Sometimes, 4 hours after I've eaten or drank. No rhyme or reason to it whatsoever. Whenever this all heals up, whatever it is, I feel like I am going to have a hard time "trusting" food again, after all of the horribleness from the ulcer and me correlating it to the nausea in one way or another. I'm on full liquids again until January 7th when I see the surgeon. Then ???? I can't even guess anymore. I've been on Zofran, Phenergan, Scopolamine, Pepcid, Reglan, Mylanta, Prilosec, and Compazine for nausea and nothing helps. I think I need an antacid or anti-nausea that hasn't been invented yet or something. Fortunately I have my BEEF/SALMON protein isolate apple pie shakes to keep me company. lol. Mmm fish apple pie.

I was starvinnnggg for the first 2 or 3 weeks. Then it went away. Poof.

I have Mirena. I've had Mirena for 5 years now. The first 4 years I had it, I loved it and had NO PERIODS YAYYYYY. I got it taken out when I was diagnosed with pseudotumor because apparently levonogesterol can cause that, but decided eff it and had it put back in last October. I've had random one day sporadic periods once in a while. It's annoying because there is no rhyme or reason to it, other than it seems to happen when I am under a LOT of stress. I got a random one day period pre-op back in July... but have had 4 random one/two day periods since surgery 11/1. My hormones are overtaking the IUD's power. lol. BUT, still much less annoying than dealing with a period on a regular basis. You do not have to check the IUD periodically. The OBGYN can see it at your annual visits. I recommend it to everyone.

It is really frustrating because I am SO. THIRSTY. basically all the time. But once the nausea kicks in, I can't stomach any water so need to wait it out, which could be hours. And then I want to chug, but that hurts, too. =( Ughhhh. My best day will be when I can actually finish my 22oz thermos in my 8 hour work day.

So I was looking on Baritastic and noticed it had "groups" and you could invite people based on email address to these groups. Is that like the friends thing on MFP? Like if I added someone to this group, could I stalk their food logs? Who wants to be my guinea pig? lol.

Not saying it's okay, but I cheated several times on my pre-op diet (Burger King... Taco Bell... pizza....) and I'm doing fantastically these past two months sticking to my new lifestyle. I don't miss anything or want any of that junk. You didn't ruin anything. What matters truly is if you can mentally handle the changes post-op.

Ohhh I am still on teeny tiny sips because the ulcer situation. Hurts like cray cray if I take larger sips. Still on hot water, too. I figured tiny sips were a forever thing.

7.5 weeks here... hard: getting my water is still impossible and meeting protein is improving but challenging. Also wasn't "anticipating" an ulcer so that's been annoying, pain-wise. Not weighing daily is a struggle. Finding a good, non-whey protein was hard due to my allergy. New poop habits can be a challenge, lol. Not drinking within 30 min of eating is hard because I am thirsty. Easy: Had NO gas pain at all post-op... so that was easy. Have no cravings anymore. Very easy to control any hunger. No desire to snack. No desire to switch up foods. All that has been super easy... following an ultra strict regimen. Eating out easier than expected, no temptation.

Hahaha I would never actually do this. My friends are grateful because they usually end up with my leftovers since it's still multiple meals-worth of food for me.

no explanation necessary

I am usually really good at my small sips, but sometimes I just get SO thirsty I NEED to chug a bit of water so I do. It hurts briefly and passes. Never have spit it back up. I've only done this like 5 times.... out of being desperately thirsty. Can water alone stretch the pouch over time by doing this? I always heard water basically passes straight through... hence only the temporary discomfort. Never have any gas or anything. I've tried biotene and spry mouth spray to stave off thirst and dry mouth, but it doesn't help. I just HAVE to drink some quantifiable water sometimes. Is this a serious issue I have to stop? Or is once in a while okay if it isn't upsetting my stomach?

Update on the topical Diclofenac. My right knee, hip, and ankle were murdering me a bit ago and I applied some to my knee and ankles and the topical NSAID actually helped some. Nothing like pounding prescription NSAIDS or 2400mg of Ibuprofen... but it did provide some relief! First time since surgery I've had a flareup.

Honestly, my first 2 weeks I only managed like... 15oz a day. I could have sworn I was dehydrated. I felt pretty rough and my urine was darkkkk. I had labs done but my electrolytes and kidneys were perfect despite the very low water intake. So, they said not to worry. After that, I tried to get it more warm broths... didn't start protein shakes until 4 weeks. Every liquid counts, not just water. I try to remember that because of water I usually only get 30oz a day at most... but I also have my shakes. I am still low... in the 50s... but not dehydrated. Building it up slowly over time. Haven't needed an IV. If for whatever reason you struggle with water, remember that popsicles count and shakes and soups and broths.

I measure/weigh virtually everything. If I can't, I try to eat verrryyy slowly and usually know that 4-6 bites is the limit. I've eaten too fast just once and gotten sick. A few times a tiny bit too much and it is uncomfortable. Learning curve. But yeah... I try to pre-portion everything I can... I even eat out of measuring cups half the time. lol

I had a ton of fairly expensive hot sauces from pre-op and they are all gunna go bad (no preservatives). I am heartbroken. lol. My favorite hot sauces are from Heartbreaking Dawns and I can't wait until the day I can douse everything in their sweet (spicy) nectar.