BrighterSide

I had sleeve and I counted myself as someone with no complications, but like most I struggled to get any more than a tiny sip down initially. That’s just because anything hitting a stomach that has been so severely messed about with is going to get a reaction. For me the reaction was a tightening (think a stomach wincing) and I had to take a pause before another sip.

Over first ten days went to shorter and shorter pauses between sips, to two or three sips in a row, to mouthfuls, to two to three mouthfuls in a row. Everyone repeats ‘sip, sip, sip’ as a mantra, so worried that meant I had a baggy sleeve, but surgeon and dietician said no, just less sore and swollen stomach tolerating more.

If you didn’t mean that and meant throat problems then sorry for taking you off at a tangent! [emoji846]


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Been food arranging again [emoji846]

Deli beef, grilled chorizo (almost crispy and far less fat), smoked salmon and pickled onion with the veg, plus a little lightest of light mayo  


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I am glad to to hear that you are doing better. What you shared will help many who are going through the same things. I am 49 years old and so far the only thing I am experiencing is late periods.
Stay positive and I wish you many bright days ahead and a successful future.

Thank you mrs. I am tipping over into angry now as I see the skew immediately in how my concerns are being treated...why expend resources on fixing a body now destined to crumble until I die? Conversely, professionally, I could be at the top of my game and may choose to be when I have gone further in my journey.

Knowing root causes hugely helps, but could have done without two lots of self image reinvention running in parallel.


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Feeling pretty weepy today. Finally forced PCP to do some more definitive tests for menopause having had missed and disappeared periods put down since late 30’s to weight and stress. Conclusion is yes I’m in menopause and likely have been since age 40. Explains so much. Very sad. Stopped my career just about dead as developed flop sweats when presenting, skin crumbled, hair became straw, weight gain ramped, anxiety and depression deepened, sleep was pretty constantly broken and everyone dismissed symptoms as cause.

Beginning to mourn the lost opportunities. Things turned down as I lost all confidence, felt it was impossible to solve and was all my fault.

Edit: Had my cry and hug from OH. I am 100% better place to deal now having had surgery and made lifestyle changes. I wish I had done it 10 years ago, but probably wouldn’t’ have had qualifying BMI and would probably have spent money I didn’t have on a band because sleeve wasn’t about so much and bypass would have felt like a step too far.

Am seeing brightness in the fact that I might get to know a baseline ‘me’ for the first time in many years and have a referral to a top specialist to explore ways to safeguard cardio and other health moving forward.

Had a cheeky win eating out that I wanted to share. Went to Frankie and Benny's with my fella. Plan of attack when eating out so far has been getting as clean a high Protein starter/salad as I can find and he gets a main we both like the look of. Then get it all to come at once with a spare plate and I get bits and bobs from his plate and vice versa. Works out really well 🙂.

This time it was their avocado, chicken and bacon salad with dressing on the side. The chicken was kind of beyond chargrilled to dry, but I was starving and knew I didn't need many edible bits to make me full. So with lean bacon, chicken, avocado to lubricate, bits of salad, and one cheeky sweet potato fry, and taste of burger off his plate, I filled myself up nicely.

Waitress came and cleared and didn't, thankfully, comment on the untouched look of my salad bowl.

Next thing we know she comes back and says "I took that salad off your bill. That chicken was overdone. You should have told me!". Funny thing is I'm really good at calling out mistakes compared to the average Brit, but if I had asked her to replace earlier a) I would have got horrifically hangry and b) Would have still looked like I hated it when I was done.

I hadn't got the heart to tell her the truth so I just thanked her hugely and left a really big tip!

TIP for folk just starting going out: Don't refuse a drink, just accept a glass of Water or get a bottle for the table. My poor waitress was so worried about me not having a drink she didn't leave us in peace for more than 2 minutes!

Thanks all - Better now, but made the silly mistake of weighing myself the day after I felt human again - 3 pounds off in 5 days. 2 of which I had regained by the Monday weigh in 🙂 Such a relief to realise it wasn't just me being lazy and out of shape as I initially thought when I was sickening for it.

21st Jan sleeve here and 30 lost. Weighed in mid week last week and had a 1 pound loss, but gained a pound and a bit back by my normal Monday weigh in, so a weekly gain. Other half was gobsmacked given I’ve never been within 600 cals of what diet app says should result in 2 pounds per week for my metabolism.

But, have been back to work for 5 weeks with struggle to stay as active, had a fortnight of introducing new foods and been ill for 3 days last week with Protein down, exercise down and carbs up. My app shows trends up for macros over last 28 days which will come in handy later. Not fretting right now as last 28 included immediate post surgery.

Even with those explanations I worry about how slow it is, but it’s still 38 down from December highest, lighter than I’ve been for 4 years, psoriasis hugely improved, more energy, on track for 50% EWL in six months, steady enough to maybe give loose skin some chance of catching up and I have totally changed how and what I eat.

I think, for me, it’s maybe psychologically easier because I never lost this big before, so I never had the gut wrench of stall then big regain. Still takes effort to let logic beat fear right now.

I cannot stay stalled if I’m not snacking and I’m eating vastly smaller quantities of better food. I’m likely readjusting cos I’ve gone from nutso all Fluid and purées to something more closely resembling a forever food plan and my body is saying ‘Yey! 70 extra calories. Store that in case this mad b***h tries that again’. Not unless someone reinvented the laws of physics.

In short, I feel for you. So much easier to post your wins rather than your glitches and hope you find a head and scale solution soon.




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Not imagining it being very different then. Thanks folk.

I'm less fretful that I would otherwise be as I just had quite a chunky panel of bloods done by my PCP specifically to look at potential hormone probs. @averysmum knows the story there :-). Tis with a view to referal to gynae/menopause specialist. Will at least help me rule out one set of potential issues including anaemia. Thereafter will work out what to do for the best.

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Take care of yourself. Hope you feel better soon.[emoji855]

Thanks xxx Managed 2 hours sleep before the coughing started, but on the mega brightside I had already drunk 750mls by 5.30am

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I'm full to the brim with cold and up at 2.15am UK time cos I can't sleep with temp, blocked nose, dry throat from mouth breathing, upset stomach and starving cos I've been up about 4 hours longer than I allowed for with food and drink.

Also feeling a tad sorry for myself...did you notice?

Carbs will be thru the roof as the idea of meat, fish or eggs is...well...offputting right now. Crackers all the way. But did do 2250ml Water by bedtime.

Guess I came here for.sympathy but also to say you should remind me of this if I start fretting about a stall :-)
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So you’re 6 weeks out and he hasn’t allowed you to take them at all??

Yep. "It's not my practice to do so as you will have plenty of reserves from prior to surgery and it may stress your sleeve". But not so bothered about that. Bothered that there's been no checks to ensure I'm not dealing with pre-existing or emerging issues I can't fix fast on such a minimal diet.

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Hi all, posted at the beginning that I had bloods 2 months prior to surgery, but no-one did pre-surgery baseline bloods. Now, 6 weeks post sleeve with orders not to take Vitamins until after this consult I drive 60 miles to see my surgeon, let him know I'm knackered, I have joint pain more than before, skin is so dry it cracks, open weeping in skin folds, mucous membranes so dry I'm getting lots of spontaneous nose bleeds, lips are almost blue and he says "But everything else fine?" "Good! Glad to hear you're feeling restriction and eating a good range of food" (yeah, about 1 veg/fruit a day after protein). "Come back in 3 months and we'll check bloods at a year" Seems that is down to bloods budget in my self pay package. Did query. He seemed annoyed and bored in equal measure.

Am I being stupid? Is it irrational to want to get ahead of problems? Is testing now a waste of time cos nothing worth worrying about can have happened since November.

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Looking into Keto, but can I just say thank you deeply to keto dieters and their Atkins forebears for the seas of Protein rich products I now get to choose from at the store other than just shakes, powders and meat. When I think what it must have been like in the olden days with no choice and no useful macro nutrition food labelling Thank you for your sacrifices :-)

On a more serious note will be watching this space as always hover at percent Fats/Protein/Carbs roughly 20/35/45 with 750-850 kcal per day and losing c.1kg p.w., but it's VERY early doors and may need to change things up

HW: 263
SW: 255 (21 Jan)
CW: 229

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My nutritionist suggested milk fortified with dried skim milk powder. I use 1%. 300ml + 30mg powder is 21.6g Protein. Ultra low carb is the aim for many, which milk isn't, but for Protein, Calcium, good fats, and natural carbs to just run the engine when getting anything down is rough, I ignored everything else.

Did also have some Protein Water, but I could JUST taste the whey. I do however have very sensitive tastebuds. Got it down slowly, which pleased me...everything else was so sweet and creamy so the alternative was fab. Arla Protein yoghurt pouches (20g in 200ml) were also a very good as they had sharpness.

I struggle both because I dislike whey (seem to be able to detect it in anything no matter how strong the taste used to hide it) and because I was physically forced to eat as child (forks forced down my throat until I vomited at school), so if my brain starts feeling cornered into swallowing it's about 80% I can't physically do so. That has hobbled many diet attempts. Most, including my OH just close eyes, think of England, and get it done whether they like stuff or not, I usually can't.

Got through by getting creative with nutritonist help and like childbirth, when I got to tle goal the mental pain immediately started fading :-).

(As an asside, as a Brit, I do also wonder how production of their own protein drinks/soups/snacks, or deals with other manufacturers to supply via insurance, influences advice of some programmes).

Gaining weight after surgery and less retriction with liquids/slider foods.

I was up 3lbs from sleeve weight 3 days after surgery, then dropped 8 over the next 3 days. Due to being crammed full of 2+ litres IV Fluid and nutrition for 2 days and portions of that retained in swollen tissues. Also learned not to do weigh-ins more than once a week. Did hop on scales every day (sometimes twice a day!), but only recorded weight every 7 days at same time.of day. Could stall for 5 days and still lose, or apparently drop 2kg overnight (how does that work!? Did I cough up a lung?)

Ref that worrying lack of restriction, after the first incredibly tender and hard 5ish days, when keeping each sip down seems touch and go, I started to be able to take 2-3 mouthfuls Fluid each time vs sips. I was worried that meant my sleeve was broken...sip, sip, sip, etc - but nutritionist said it was totally normal, and just listen to my body. No chugging pints, but not just tiny sips. Same with yoghurts, and Soups. Drunk over time in fluid phase could keep going pretty constantly without fullness as I was taking it slow. Helped hugely to hit fluid and Protein goals. Normal foods taken as distinct meals...totally different. Get a kind of lump in my chest, like I need to burp. That means max one more bite and I'm done. Max I can take is going up, but restriction is still there.

Caveat as always is it's just my experience from my puny total of 5 weeks post sleeve!

Wowsers, 1.5hrs! I wouldn’t be able to feel my legs by then! I liken trapped wind pain to labour pains. When I was in labour, that’s the only way I could describe it, like having the WORST trapped wind. But it’s all for the greater good [emoji53]

Ditto ref labour pain, that's probably why my go to place was panting. Walking helped control it and moved on the process of shifting it, but both getting up and sitting/laying back down caused an acute spike in pain. That made me have to screw up courage to go for the walk for first 48hrs. At about 72 hours the shoulder pain just disappeared...pouff. Was bliss. Not sure if I never felt incision pain, or if the wind pain, then the magical relief of it disappearing distracted me [emoji23]. Went home with pain meds I never needed.

I wish I'd grasped how damn sore wind pain would be. I had pain in my left shoulder that radiated down by back and round to my chest at an intensity that made me pant to cope. Harder drugs were on offer, so was my own silly fault for not taking them. Part of the reticence was that I had scared the wotsits of my fella by being back an hour late from surgery. Aparently I was "very sleepy"

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Thanks folks [emoji4]. Will see if the snaps are more than luck in the next few weeks and that was very kind about my drawings xxx

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After an overeager week as a gym member I deferred that until I can get my money worth. Been walking instead and loving it :-) Adore woods. Feel at peace when I'm under trees. Rewarded myself with a new camera. Pretty chuffed with results :-)

Also do a lot of doodling, so acquired some lovely new pens. The efforts below are a fave and a work in progress. Fabulous head quietening. Reckoned with current gym savings and food savings I should break even in a week or so .

What are your non-food rewards?     

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Idea rather than recipe. Grilled bacon & Tomato with scramble done in non-stick pan with just a squirt of oil. My alternative to an old school fry up with some HP Sauce, just cos.

1 Egg

1 Dry cure bacon medallion (I like smoked)

2 Cherry tomatoes

2 Squirts spray oil

3g HP Sauce

Salt and pepper.

According to my app 118kcal, Protein: 12.4, Carbs 1.1g (Sugars 1g), Fats 4.7 (Sat. 2.4g)

 

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Just wanted to report back that it was a quickish dip so not likely to be brain chemically, more likely hormonal, but will keep a watchful eye. Learned the hard way not to ignore those incremental signs. Thank you all for posts. Great to see so much openness about mental health. Folk often don't get that they only don't know I have challenges because I manage them and reached out to get help and talk to others :-)

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I've haven't stalled so far (only week 5), but would probably have reported a one if I hadn't cut down to weekly weigh ins after week 2. Not that I didn't get on the scale every time I went in that bathroom, I haven't got superhuman control, just that I only log it every 7 days at the same time of day (record evening to morning change was 2.2kg...how the heck does THAT much difference work?). Scale didn't shift for 5 days week 3, but week loss was 1.2kg.

Waiting for a biggie soon and feel for folk hitting them early. It's normal biology so I'm told, but must brew up horrid doubts.

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I understand to some extent (no-one has walked in your shoes obviously). I cried beforehand too asking myself who was I to subject my family to the risk of major surgery and my potential loss just to lose weight I should have moved more and eaten less to lose...

...then I looked back at each of my attempts and attempts by peers that ended up worse than useless. All the cyclical guilt and progressive chipping away of ability and heart to try again.

Then I looked back at the stats that said it's not just me. 90% of dieters regain. Then the stats for serious heart, bone, and blood disorders I was suffering or almost certain to suffer soon. Would I catch some mysteriously different wave, despite the painful joints and crushing self loathing that kept me in the house whenever there was a choice? Would I get enough weight off to counter those almost certain ill effects? How many more years with my family would I lose before I got there, if I got there?

Then I looked at the success rates currently known and the safety record for these surgeries for my surgeon and his team because I had managed that risk pretty hard with research.

Then I reckoned, even if I had moderate regain, it would like be 2 or so years going in the right direction. 2 or so years not going another morbidly obese BMI data point higher. 2 odd years to reset and regain some mobility and motivation even if I'm only as successful as the 30% who struggle the most to lose.

It all added up to a good choice. A brave choice. A kick start and a tool to gift to the strong, resilient, courageous me that has been hiding from a world too stupid to see the help you needed.

Then I did look at the identity I'd forged since being a fat five year old. I'd never been 'normal', never been classically 'attractive', but I'd mostly enjoyed not having to compete on the modern beauty playing field...it always looked an utter waste of money, time, and energy. Not chuffed at the prospect of being involuntarily judged on that yardstick in future if I'm booted out of the fat pigeonhole. I was comfy telling folk to f-off from my cosy corner of the fat pigeon hole because I was usually better than them at my job, and generally at being a worthwhile human. So that will be interesting, but hey, 5 weeks post sleeve I'm already ready to tell them to bring it on. Plus thanks to folk like Jamilla Jamil and many others it's a far leveller playing field.

A long, long, long and flowery way of saying it is of course your choice, but I suspect you didn't make it lightly and all the reasons you are here haven't gone away. I hope you find your peace soon. xxx

@bajansleeve Your post also, apparently, put a rocket up my behind. A real fists clenched 'NO MORE' moment. Found my closest consultant member of the British Menopause Society. Called and found out they take referrals from outside their local NHS catchment area, called my GP and asked how best to get a referral. Threw myself on receptionist mercy to identify a sympathetic doctor Vs the first one they could find, now have a phone appointment in 10 days to get that referral to consultant gynaecologist. Whoohoo! Here's hoping GP doesn't fob me off

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I just made a post about my experience with VSG and my hormonal imbalance. I am not sure if I can copy the thread to you or tag you in it, but I will try. You sound very much like you may be struggling with menopausal hormonal imbalances. Its extremely frustrating because you just don't know what is wrong with you but you feel like you are falling apart. Menopause is something I am learning about through research as of late because I was going through so many strange things (including the anxiety and depression even though I know that is not my nature). Hormones have a LOT to do with how we women function or lack of function. If you stopped having a period that long ago, you are in menopause. It may be worth your while to ask your gyno to give you a hormone test.

Here is the post I made about hormones

Thanks for that. Your reply made me cry. I have been going to my doctor about what I saw as perimenopausal symptoms for 5 years. The response every time was that there was no point testing me and there was nothing they could do and anyway it was probably because I was fat or stressed so until I had that under control a referral was a waste of time. One of my key drivers for weight loss surgery has been to go back to the doctor and say...look, I still barely drink, I quit smoking over a year ago, I work from home 4 days a week now (largely due to being too broken to do otherwise), and I just dropped X stone. Refer me or I will chain myself to your desk and report wilful medical negligence leading to cardiac and bone problems to everyone I can reach with my not inconsiderable social media presence linked to my day job.

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