Arabesque

I struggled too so I diluted (almost doubled the liquid) the one I had every morning & sipped on it for ages. I had soup in the evening also diluted. Try bone broths or consommés (e.g. just the liquid in pho or wonton soups) as alternatives to only shakes. Add milk to yoghurt drinks to thin them down more too as another source of protein. All the best.

I had reflux before my sleeve surgery but because it was not frequent, I managed it mostly with diet & only took an esomeprazole occasionally. I still have reflux but it manifests differently now (less severe hiccups no bad taste in my mouth). I do take esomeprazole every day now & it manages the burning for most of the day (get some late at night fir a couple of hours). My understanding was that heartburn alone is mild & can be managed a lot with diet. Reflux is worse but again diet can play a big role in easing symptoms but gerd is more severe & generally needs regular meds to help manage it. If you have gerd sleeve is not your best bet. As everyone above has said, protein is essential to a healthy body. It will aid your healing after surgery. It’s used as building blocks in our bodies (bones, muscles, etc.) contributes to hormone & enzyme production & is a source of energy. it does seem odd that your surgeon doesn’t require the consumption of protein post surgery. My surgeon was okay if I didn’t met my 60g a day protein goal to begin as long as I was working towards it & I’m glad as I physically unable to eat (drink) more than I was. It easy easier when I got to purées & soft foods (weeks 3 on). It would be worth a conversation with your surgeon as to why he’s a no protein advocate from early on post surgery & why he pushes fruit juices (even diluted).

Just throwing some thoughts out there. First thought was an undiagnosed stricture. Or it could be a psychological block especially as you said you think you will gag when you eat so you do. Our brain is a very powerful organ. Does nothing sound or taste appetising because you can’t eat foods you used to enjoy eating & so don’t want to eat the healthier food options (low fat, low salt, low sugar, low carb) you’re encouraged to be eating now? Honestly, I thought the shakes were the most disgusting thing I’ve every had to consume & they certainly further turned me off eating. I had them on,y because I knew I had too but bleah! I was soooo happy to stop drinking them as soon as I hit purée. What does your surgeon say? Do you still see or have access to a therapist?

My surgeon gave me the Sally Johnston book too (gift with purchase 😂). I found it really helpful in the beginning as well when I was wrapping my brain around everything. Iron is renowned for causing nausea as can general multivitamins (specifically vitamins C, A, D, E & K) . if you’re taking them after eating & your still nauseous trying splitting the dose if you can - one in the morning & one in the evening. Make sure your not doubling up on vitamins - like is there iron in your multi vitamin as well? Look for a lower dose, a different brand or a different form of iron like @catwoman7 suggested. I only had to take multivitamins but I was so glad when my surgeon supported my request to stop taking multi vitamins (at about 8 months & 2 months post goal). I’m fortunate I absorb all the nutrients I need from what I eat Good luck.

I wasn’t given a caloric goal at any stage either only portion size: 1/4 cup to 1/3 to 1/2 etc. as I was able & protein & fluid goals. I did random calorie checks for my own information. I was eating less than 300 calories in that first month & about 900 by my 6 months & goal & eating about a cup of food but it did depend on what I was eating (like about a cup of protein & vegetables but only one egg). Honestly I couldn’t eat anymore than I did & I was fortunate I wasn’t ever really hungry for more than a than a year. I eat about 1300 to maintain at my weight now but I’m not very active, not very tall, have a smaller frame & am in my mid 50s so my caloric needs were & are different. You’re not tall either so that may influence your caloric recommendations. Worth asking your dietician about factors like these that may influence your caloric needs. They may not even suggest a caloric goal until you’re much further out.

The cream soups & cream of wheat may be a little too heavy for your tummy at the moment - we all had different things we could or couldn’t tolerate at each stage. I agree with @ShoppGirl: don't be afraid to go back to clear fluids stage for a few days. We all heal & recover at different times & there’s nothing wrong with going back a step or taking longer to move to the next stage. My surgeon was ok if I didn’t meet my daily protein & fluid goals at first as long as I was actively working towards them. Remember all liquids count towards your fluid goal - broth, soup, shakes, etc. Try room temp water or herbal or green tea. I found warm drinks much easy to drink & more soothing. I even heated some of my shakes. All the best.

I agree with @ShoppGirl. You may have transferred your addiction back to food. Seeking a therapist who specialises or is experienced with bariatric patients, disordered eating &/or eating addictions. Your surgeon should be able to recommend someone to work with you. Unfortunately many anti depressant meds increase your appetite too so you they could be adding to your battle. Congratulations on being a year sober. All the best. Sorry, just read your response above & I’m glad you’re seeking help from therapists all ready. Definitely see a dietician. Sometimes little things have a, big impact on losing or gaining.

The more you have to lose the faster you lose to begin. 20lbs is great. If anyone tells you differently punch them in the nose (not really of course). As @catwoman7 said the people on My 600lb Life have a lot more weight to lose than you - like more than double. So you should expect their initial weight loss rate to be more than double yours. But if you watch that show you’ll notice that as they lose weight, the loss Dr Now expects them to lose each month decreases. Glad you’ve done well & haven’t had any issues. And enjoy every pound you lose.

You just had pretty major surgery. Your insides have been pushed, prodded, rearranged & cut. You’ve been pumped full of gas to expand your abdomen so they can see what they’re doing & fluids. You’ll have lots of swelling too. Unfortunately pain is to be expected. But this doesn’t mean you have to just endure it. If you’re struggling to swallow or keep down your pain meds & are experiencing pain ask for an alternative method of giving you pain relief like an injection, patch, through your drip… The pain does reduce but you had a lot done so it may take longer than others who had a less arduous surgery. All the best.

Food aversions can happen to either bypass or sleevers. Some of us experience a temporary change to our sense of taste & smell which makes certain foods turn our tummies. For others it can be a textural change that makes us go blah!. Then it can be just our tummy being fussy. I often could eat something one day but the next day it was disgusting. And there were certain things I used to enjoy eating pre surgery like certain vegetables, that for a couple of months were awful. It all seems to settle in time.

For years your body has been holding itself in a certain way to compensate for your weight. Now you’re losing weight you will be standing & holding yourself differently & your centre of gravity is changing. Consequently you will be experiencing some muscle discomfort as your body relearns how to hold a smaller you. Back pain, hip & knee pain etc. are quite common. I had upper back pain because my bras were too big - no support. Bought new underwear & pain went.

Agree with what everyone above has said. Try adding an electrolyte drink to your water routine - I found it helped with the energy lags & was a change from drinking plain water (some can be very sweet - just dilute them). Take your meds after or as you’re finishing your morning ‘meal’ so there is something on your tummy. It does get better but it happens in our own time. All the best.

The pre surgical requirements seem to be different in the UK than the US. They’re certainly different in Australia. Here your surgical approval is not given by your health fund & is not dependent upon having a therapy assessment, going to a series of dietician appointments & not does it take a prolonged length of time. Check with your surgeon’s office as to what you will need to do. Good luck with your surgery.

Well said, @Jaelzion. I used to be able to diet & lose weight when I was younger but the reason I regained weight after was because I went back to eating the same foods I did before. I decided to have surgery was because I was unable to lose the 30kgs I’d put on in my late 40s early 50s; damn menopause meant I couldn’t shift more than a couple of kgs even if eating 500 calories for weeks & weeks. If you go back to eating the same foods in similar quantities you will gain weight again after your surgery. Portion control is important but must be coordinated with calorie control. 1500 calories of high fat, high sugar, carb rich food is the same as 1500 calories of protein dense, low fat, low carb, low sugar food. It’s just that one is better for your body & doesn’t lead to major health complications (heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, etc.). If you choose to eat pizza every day that’s your choice as long as the calories you consume over the whole day are not more than what your body needs to function & will therefore eatable you to maintain your weight. I eat more often than I did before (pre surgery: 2 meals & 1 snack - post surgery: 3 meals & 3 or 4 snacks). I eat more food across a day than I did before too. And I eat more calories than I did before to maintain at this weight then I did before to be unable to maintain at a much higher weight. The difference is the nutritional quality of the food I eat & that the surgery kick started my metabolism again. And I still have times I’m not hungry or interested in eating.

How you decide to maintain your weight is ultimately your choice. What I do or what someone else does may not work for you. My advice is, whatever you choose to do, make sure it is sustainable. That is, it’s a way of eating that doesn’t mean you have to make sacrifices & are able to enjoy living your life. A way of eating that is overly restrictive is destined to fail. There are always alternatives that are healthier & more nutritious. For example if you want to eat carbs, look for multi or whole grain versions & not highly processed white flours. Want pizza, try cauliflower or chicken bases or pita bread as has been suggested. There are lots of high protein low carbs pastas available too. There are snack foods that are lower in calories & higher in protein then traditional snacks. Try different cooking styles like an air fryer or oven baking versus deep frying. Some people do eat pizza, burgers, fries, etc. but they do so in small portions, occasionally. You know you best & how well you can manage eating fast foods & foods considered unhealthy. Use the time you’re losing & on a restrictive diet, to research different eating styles & reflect on your trigger foods. You may develop your own eating routine by picking & choosing from various ‘diets’. You may become vegetarian. You may switch in some vegan options or meals. You may choose to reduce certain food types from your diet like sugar or fats. You just need to develop a way of eating that works for you. Good luck.

I agree with @catwoman7: speak with your doctor. My thoughts turned to low BP & drops in sugar (hypoglycaemia). Many have temporary issues with these. I wonder if it’s too do with our body getting used to the changes in our diet & reduced calories. Prior to surgery I had a tendency to low blood pressure (occasional drops) & random hypoglycaemic episodes. After surgery & as my weight dropped I had more instances of low BP & a more hypoglycaemic episodes. Now I live with a low BP every day. If I feel a hypoglycaemic episode coming on I’ll grab some berries but, touch wood, I haven’t had one for about 4 or 5 months. I took a bottle of hydralyte with me everywhere I went for months for a boost of energy but any electrolyte drink will work. It helped a lot & I hope it helps you too. Give yourself time. Once your weight stabilises & you’re eating more you may find you feel a lot better. But do speak with your doctor.

The foods may not be moist enough. Many of us go from liquids to purées then soft. Get a good blender of some sort (or borrow one) & blend away. Add stock, broth, gravy, milk, etc. to make your food sloppy. Think food you don’t really have to chew much (think slide more than chew) to begin then slowly make what you eat more dense so you have to chew a little more. Don’t be afraid to go at your pace through the stages. Honestly, you may find some things taste awful puréed (tinned tuna & salmon turned my tummy). Wish I’d tried chicken thighs blended with gravy much, much sooner. Yoghurt, milky scrambled eggs, milky rolled oats, thick blended soup, etc. Mash boiled eggs with Mayo is good too. Eating slowly & taking small bites is key. Use teaspoons, children’s utensils. I still keep my food pretty moist to avoid that stuck feeling ( then my restriction starting or at worst the foamies). Definitely chat with your surgeon about the hernia to ensure that isn’t contributing or causing your discomfort.

My first thought was the artificial sweeteners too. My second was lactose - the whey protein many shakes use. Look for plant protein shakes (not soy of course) & avoid shakes with any of the sugar alcohol sweeteners (the ones that end in ‘tol’ like xylitol, erythritol, Sorbitol). https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/sugar-alcohols-good-or-bad#other-benefits - scroll down for the digestive side effects. Chat with your dietician & or surgeon about alternatives. They should be supportive of you changing because of the side effects you’re experiencing.

Glad you’re starting to feeling better. The gurgling & growling is just the digestive process doing what it’s supposed to do & not hunger. I think it sounds louder & is more noticeable now because of because our tummy & digestive process are a little different. The strong pain is likely excess stomach acid. For many their tummy eventually reduces production more in keeping with how much they actually need to digest what they eat. If it continues chat with your surgeon. I’m on 20mg esomeprazole too but it doesn’t fully manage all my acid for 24hrs. Previously, I was able to manage a lot of my reflux & excess acid through dietary choices & only needed to take esomeprazole occasionally. It’s why my surgeon approved me for a sleeve. It manifests differently now. Hiccups less severe. No cutting pain, No bad taste in my mouth. Just a bit of burning in my throat at night or early hours of the morning - probably from lying down or it’s just worn off. Hunger is different for me now. I feel restless as if something is wrong. It happens at night & I can logically understand why I am hungry - low protein intake for the day. I don’t crave a specific food or type of food (salty, sweet, carb). I only seek protein (any source will do) when I’m truely hungry but that could be a learnt behaviour because I know it’s what I need. Hope you continue to feel better & the reflux eases.

So happy you’ve been having a positive experience through this & have such a supportive team behind you. So many don’t unfortunately. My bariatric surgeon also drew pictures. The GP I had years ago was the first I encountered who drew pictures & diagrams to explain things better. The best. Taught me how to ask the right questions of all my subsequent doctors & surgeons. All the best for your revision surgery.

Plans are different & so are you. Some do stay on a stage longer because they’re just not ready to move on & that’s ok. Make your first purées really sloppy & runny or go for thick soups at first so you get used to that denser, thicker texture vs a liquid. Don’t give up on a food you struggled with. Our tummies can be a bit fussy & temperamental at first. Or sometimes things just taste disgusting. Try it again in a week or two & then in another week or so if need be. You’ll even find your tummy suddenly says no way to something you’ve eaten regularly but is fine with it again two days later. I used to say my tummy was like a petulant two year old child throwing random temper tantrums. That tightness across your chest is your restriction. You don’t usually start to feel until you’re on more solid food. It’s a signal you’ve eaten too much, too fast or eaten something too dry or too coarse, etc. You’ll work out your triggers - it’s a bit of trial & error. Stalls happen. The first one often is about week 3 +/-. Think of it as your body just needing a break. It’s been pretty stressed & needs to shut down for a 1-3 weeks. It does not mean you’re doing the wrong thing or failing … unless you’ve wildly gone off plan. It’s possible you’ll experience more than one stall along the way. You won’t put on weight by starting on the next stage unless you suddenly start eating huge portions (pretty darn impossible with your small tummy unless you put in a lot of effort to stretch it) or making poor food choices. You won’t be consuming more calories than your body needs to function. That’s the only way you’ll put on weight. And I’m not talking about our normal fluctuations ( fluid, constipation, life, etc.) As long as your general weight loss trend is downwards you’re doing great. It’s ok to go at your own pace. You’ll do fine.

We were always told a rumbling tummy or hunger pains meant you were hungry - not always true. Like how we had to eat everything on our plate - we don’t. Hunger pains can be caused by too much stomach acid. Do you still take a ppi/esomeprazole? If not give some a try & see if that helps. My tummy makes squelching noises & whines every day. My doctor told me it’s just a signal my body doing what it’s supposed to: digesting food & is nothing to do with hunger. What do you mean by wanting to feel ‘satisfied’ after eating? Often our old ‘satisfied’ level was a lot of food or until we felt better. Are these old feelings & ways of eating influencing how you feel now? There’s a difference between eating until you’ve had enough & eating until you're full, & whether you need that next bite or just want it. Just throwing some ideas to think about out there. They may not even be helpful to you at all. Congratulations on your weight loss so far. You’ll be at your goal before you know it. Whoo hoo!

Were you given a caloric goal? If so you could split daily total of calories over smaller meals or split your meal portions into smaller sizes. I added yoghurt, a yoghurt drink, cheese or a little fruit as an afternoon snack I think from soft foods. Check with your dietician for suggestions. The foamies shouldn’t affect your tummy but still are something you should try to avoid simply because they’re not pleasant. Work out your triggers & try to avoid them. (Mine are too dry, too coarse, too fast or dehydrated.) Are you taking a ppi/esomeprazole? That will help with the heartburn (reflux) & the hunger pains & rumbling tummy which, like the reflux, are caused by too much stomach acid & aren’t real hunger (unlike we were always told). Good luck.

No method is full proof ( except abstinence 😉) but I agree with @ClareLynn: double up on the contraceptives with both of you taking precautions. Maybe try an implant vs an oral med in case of vomiting & how & where your pill is absorbed. Better safe than sorry.

The stuck feeling is usually associated with the foamies: just the first stage. For me I feel like something’s stuck, then get a hacking cough to try to bring it up, start producing a thicker saliva (how it got its name) which I spit up, then I regurgitate the last thing I ate. After there’s pretty instant relief whereas dumping lasts for ages & knocks you about. Sometimes I experience the full gamut of the foamies stages, other times I only get part way through the stages. Well that’s how it is for me. I don’t get them very often at all The tightness across your chest (like you have to thump your chest to relieve it) is your restriction. It will kick in if you eat too fast, too much, eat too coarse or too dry food, etc. On a bad day I sometimes get the restriction & then a couple of stages of the foamies. We have slightly different experiences of dumping & foamies attacks & for what might set it off (your triggers). I just discovered being dehydrated will set off the foamies for me.