Arabesque

Now I’ve had the foamies a few times in my 2.5yrs from just the hacking cough of something feels stuck & a little saliva to the full regurgitation of whatever I’ve eaten. Each time the foamies related to eating something too coarse, too dry or too fast. Last night the coughing started like something was stuck but I actually hadn’t eaten for hours (8hrs - no lunch no diner - long story). Was understandably hungry so grabbed some chicken when I finally got home. Still coughing. Few minutes later, coughing worsens, salvia starts coming up & then the one bite of chicken I’d had bubbled up. Thing was it wasn’t the chicken, that was just the final straw. I believe the real cause was that I hadn’t really had anything to drink either (same long story). I was way below goal & was likely dehydrated. Moral is seems you have to stay hydrated to avoid the foamies or the potential foamies too. So we keep learning new things even when we think we’ve a handle on what doesn’t work for us.

With foamies there’s a feeling of something being stuck. You produce thick saliva which you spit up (hence the name) & then regurgitate (not vomit sort of bubbles up) of the last thing you ate. I often get a hacking cough to begin as if trying to bring up what’s stuck. Usually caused by coarse or too dry food, eating too fast … or being dehydrated as I discovered. It was actually a good afternoon & evening: a farewell to a former work colleague & a catch up with people I hadn’t seen in about 3 yrs (pre surgery). The bad was that the venue had horrendous food choices, predominately pre mixed high sugar drinks, a storm came up & prolonged rain which left us stranded in an outside area & then a long wait for taxis/ride shares.

Remember the liquids you’re consuming as food (broths, shakes, etc.) count towards your daily fluid goal. I wasn’t interested in eating either. I sipped on them just like I did water. It is essential to ‘eat’ to get some nutrients into your body. It’s going through a lot. Do t stress it further by starving yourself. Start establishing a good eating routine, like three ‘meals’ a day, from the beginning to help set your new eating habits. (Mind you in the liquid stage I only had 2 ‘meals’ a day.) I continue to eat to routine 2.5yrs out. I just make adjustments to what I eat if I don’t feel hungry or don’t want to eat (like yoghurt instead of a full ‘meal’ or drop a snack). It’s how I ensure I get my protein in, don’t randomly pick at food between my meal & snack times & still consume enough calories to maintain. Good luck.

This sounds more like the foamies. Did it sort of bubble up (regurgitate) with saliva? With dumping you may feel bloated, too full or nauseated. You may vomit &/or have diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, flushing, dizziness, cold sweats, lightheadedness & a rapid heart rate.

Ok ladies as it’s almost Christmas let’s see some of the outfits you’re wearing to Christmas parties. We need a bit of cheer. But do better than me. I’ve been to three Christmas events in the last couple of weeks & didn’t take a single pxt 🤷🏻‍♀️ so I need to enjoy yours. Challenge issued.

I love so called medical people who don’t understand what being a vegetarian (even quasi) is. 🤷🏻‍♀️😱. Try beans & lentils as a source of protein, like you probably often did. Add them to your soups & blend them up till super smooth (strain after to be super sure). Many find anything that’s not super smooth too harsh to swallow & tolerate at first so go slowly. As a quasi vegetarian do you eat meat stocks? If so bone broths & the broths in pho, wonton soups, etc are also good protein options but only drink the broth part of course. Generally you can purée most things if you add enough liquids (stock, broth, gravy, milk, water).. Just doesn’t always taste pleasant but it’s only two weeks.

That’s the acid pain @vikingbeast mentioned. I’ve over produce stomach acid for years & regularly experienced a strong cutting like pain across my tummy. The only thing that stopped it was eating carbs because they absorbed the excess acid which was literally eating my tummy. Are you on a ppi (esomeprazole)? Once they diagnosed my problem I was prescribed them because they reduce the amount acid. Many are prescribed them for a period of time post surgery to counteract the excess acid. I still take them every day because I still over produce acid just less in my smaller tummy. It’s a new learning to understand that hunger pangs & a growling tummy don’t indicate you are hungry as we were always told but just stomach acid & the digestion process. It’s also a struggle to understand it’s not a bad thing for your tummy to be empty. Many of us kept feeding it before & it was rarely actually empty so it’s a new feeling. Most of us are advised not to drink about 30 mins before & after eating as it can wash what you’ve eaten through your system more quickly & temporarily fills you up. As time passes, you’ll reduce the time frame before & after & even drink a little while eating but how much & how long is individual. Your world’s probably feeling pretty upside down & not recognisable at the moment either. It does get easier & better. But have a chat with your medical team if you’re still concerned. All the best.

This is fascinating but also a terrible thing you are experiencing @MandoGetsSleeved. Who’d have thought that could be a side effect of weight loss. God yeah, being able to cross your legs is super awesome. I even do the more extreme twist the ankle behind the crossed leg thing. Think I’ll be more careful about crossing my legs in the future.

Artificial sweeteners continue to feed your desire for sweet. They’ve many other negative issues too. And you’re right, they seem to be in everything these days. Monk fruit is being pushed as a better alternative but it doesn’t stop the sugar cravings either. Neither do natural sugar alternatives (honey, coconut sugar, molasses, etc.) which are still basically sugar with slightly different glucose & fructose content. The weight loss stage made it easier to cut out or greatly reduce added sugar & sweeteners. I was only eating protein, vegetables, dairy & fruit after surgery so little opportunity for added sugar & sweeteners. (I stopped shakes from day 1 purées.) I prep most of what I eat from scratch myself. It’s the only way to control the ingredients. I carefully check the ingredient list & nutrition panel on any products I do buy. I avoid sweeteners but know there’s some in the yoghurt & protein bar I eat but that’s all. I’d rather choose products with low quantities of real sugar than artificial. I don’t drink carbonated drinks like colas, etc. or juices. I only have cakes, sweet biscuits or desserts, etc. a couple of times a year. I have a glass of alcohol about once a month. Our bodies do need some glucose. I get most from naturally occurring sources: dairy & fruit. My daily intake of added sugar is harder to define as total sugars on nutrition panels include naturally occurring & added as one total. I don’t add any myself. I know there’s 2-3g in my salad dressing & 1g in my crackers & about 6g if I use a condiment like mint or teriyaki sauce (couple of times a month). My desire for sweet has changed greatly & sweet foods are crazy sweet now. This is just what I do. Others may have better suggestions, alternatives, experiences or made more changes. It just depends upon how much you’re willing to omit or reduce from your eating plan & if it’s sustainable for you.

I still eat from a side plate but have graduated to dessert forks now. 😉 I try to distract myself between bites: read, watch tv, play a game on a device, check social media, etc. I even fold my laundry between bites. I know on the surface that seems to defeat the mindful eating recommendations but for me it takes my mind off eating & just shovelling the food in. Bout then when I go to have the next bite I think about why I’m having it. I’ve said this a lot but ask yourself do I need this bite or just want it? If it’s ‘want’ put the fork/spoon down. You don’t ‘have’ to eat that bite. You may eat it in another couple of minutes or you may have had enough to eat. I also check the time I have my first bite & randomly check as I eat to make sure I’m not eating too fast. It takes time for new habits to become established & just your everyday. You’ll get there.

100% agree with @Jaelzion. I had tried many diets & eating programs & lost hundreds of kgs. I’ve run, walked, swam, biked 1000s of km. The 60-75kg weight fluctuation I’d struggled & fought to maintain for decades suddenly became 91kgs & I could not shift a single kg. I could see what was ahead of me & it wasn’t good physiologically or psychologically. The 31kg (67lbs) I needed to lose was a lot on my short & smaller framed body & more of a challenging given I was 54 & menopausal. That I lost 42kg (92lbs) has been a blessing & I’m thankful every day. And yes it was worth the $10 000 out of pocket cost (Australian health insurance is pretty crappy.) But I can understand your feelings this close post surgery. It’s all very scary & many question their decision the first couple of weeks. Hopefully, as the weeks pass you’ll feel more positive & confident about your surgery & what you’ll achieve. All the best.

Add to all the above is the emotional & stress aspect. You have had pretty major surgery. Are experiencing pain & likely confusion & worry. Plus you’re on a restrictive diet. In the past you likely would have turned to food to provide you with support & comfort when experiencing similar stress & emotional upset. You can’t turn to food this time but the cravings & desire to eat for comfort remains. The surgery changes you physically but unfortunately it doesn’t change how you think & feel. Wish there was a simple, instant solution. Give yourself time to heal & come to terms with the changes. A conversation with your medical team, dietician &/or a therapist is always helpful. All the best.

That’s fantastic. Especially enjoyed the 1lb you assigned to your poop too. 😆😆😆

What did your medical team say at your first check up? If they weren’t concerned by your slow loss you probably don’t need to worry too much. Remember they’ve seen it all & understand the vagaries of weight loss. We all lose at our own rate. If it is really worrying you, ensure you measure/weigh & record everything you eat & drink & have a chat with your dietician & medical team. Sometimes a small tweak can make a difference. @WildWill has a point. What I weigh at my doctors & what I weigh at home is never the same. I always weigh more at my doctors. Clothing, time of day, empty/full bladder, empty/full bowel, how much you’ve eaten or drunk, all affect the number on the scale. My doctors monitor my weight based on their records & I do it based on my own records. If they’re happy I’m happy. A loss is a loss. (Or maintaining is maintaining as in my situation now.) All the best.

I love bio oil. I’ve even used it on old scars & it improved them too. I applied it morning & night & massaged it in to help break down any scar tissue. I only have tiny faint lines left which you have to look for to see. Just wait till the scars are fully healed (no open skin). As for bruising it really depends. I bruise very easily but surprisingly I didn’t have any bruises after my sleeve or my gall removal but my surgeon is very gentle. If you do scar try the silicon tape as well.

As long as you’re taking your daily dose it shouldn’t matter too much when you take it. I used to take one multi vitamin in the morning & one in the evening to reduce the nausea taking them brought on. Just make sure to take them after you’ve eaten or with the last few sips of your shake, broth, etc.

I swear I have never read about, thought about or written about bowel movements more since my surgery than I had in my entire pre surgery life. 😆😆😆. Some people really struggle with constipation & go for multiple days or a week or more without a bowel motion. You’re eating very little & all liquids so you don’t have a lot of solids to poop out at first. Small bowel movements every couple of days is not unusual. I only took a stool softener when I got to day 3 without any movement so on day 4 there would be some action & it would still only be a small poop. Watch the psyllium husks as they absorb fluids & swell in your tummy adding to your bloating . Look for non swelling fibre. All your shakes, broths, etc. count towards your daily fluid total. Are you drinking so much fluid to manage your dry mouth? Give some of the biotene dry mouth products a try to help with your dry mouth. Dry mouth can occur after surgery but it’s usually temporary. I’d suggest giving your medical team a call.

Happy anniversary & congratulations on your weight loss @Betty1971. Whoo hoo!

Generally the average daily recommended amount of sugar an adult woman should consume each day is 24g but we should be consuming a less while losing. Check with your nutritionalist as to what she requires as plans are different. I wasn’t given a specific maximum amount not to exceed. Some protein shakes have a lot of sugar so you’ll have to shop around to find the ones you like with the lowest sugar content. I only had to have shakes for the first two weeks post surgery. I wasn’t overly worried about sugar (or fat or carbs) those first two weeks but then I wasn’t eating much anyway -<300 calories. I only had one a day & a serve of soup/broth so not a big issue really. Once I stared purées I was very vigilant. But again check with your nutritionalist about this. While losing I only ate meat, dairy, vegetables & fruit so the only sugar I had was in yoghurt & the naturally occurring sugar in milk & fruit. I still keep my sugar low & continue to avoid things with added sugar, articulate sweeteners or sugar alternatives as much as I can. But that’s my choice now. You’ll discover that everyday you’ll decide what you’ll eat based upon the food’s nutrient value. Checking the sugar, fats, carbs, protein content & keeping a running total of how much you’re eating as the day progresses becomes a daily part of your life & will influence your food choices throughout the day. Reach your maximum sugar in the morning then avoid it for the rest of the day. Oh, and while dumping is uncommon with gastric sleeve it can happen & sugar is often the cause. So tread carefully. All the best.

The vomiting would have been more painful because of all the strained abdominal muscles you have from the surgery & the sutures & staples. Definitely contact your surgeon to ensure there is nothing untoward causing you to vomit. Were you given anti nausea meds in the meantime?

Once skin has been stretched there’s really nothing you can do about it (think of a well used stretched out hair band) except to surgically remove it. The younger you are, the shorter the length of time you’ve been obese& if you’ve been blessed with good genes you will have less sagging skin. I chose not to go down the surgery path to remove my bat wings (or tuck shop lady arms as we call them here in Australia - tuck shops are school canteens). I still wear sleeveless clothing. I avoid strapless, narrow straps or cut away shoulders as they tend to show off the loose skin more. I just don’t go waving my arms about in the air so others can’t really see anything. It must work as I was told a few months ago that I had beautiful arms. 😂😂😂

I love soup & made it quite regularly while I was losing (especially if I had people over for a meal). I tried to make thicker soups so closer to a purée than a liquid at first. I’d add pearl barley, beans or lentils as they tend to make the soups thicker & add protein. When I ate a chunky broth soup I’d eat the chunky solid pieces first then sip on the broth component. It would take a long time to eat a serve though. If I sipped too much of the broth with the chunks, my restriction would kick in so was worth the longer eating time for that price not to happen. And yes it does count towards your fluid intake too.

Over time you’ll get to recognise your signals & what you can & can’t eat easily. Some say they sneeze or get a runny nose when they’ve eaten enough. I don’t. If I eat too quickly or eat when stressed my restriction kicks in. If I eat food that’s too dry I’ll get the foamies or if really dry or coarse I’ll bring it up (not vomit but regurgitate). Dairy makes me gurgle more. I’ve discovered my ‘I’m full’ message sometimes seems to take a lot longer to come through. This morning I ate my milky rolled oats over about 35 mins then some 30 mins later I started to feel full, then fuller & fuller. Groan! Felt like I’d bring it up but didn’t (I was driving so probably a good thing). To counter my sometimes slow full message I eat slowly: 30-60 minutes depending upon what I’m eating - it works most times. I ask myself do I need this next bite or do I just want it - this was a big thing for me. I also try not to eat until I’m full but until I’ve had enough - another big learning. Never be afraid to put your cutlery down & sit back from the table. Use the pause to examine how you’re feeling & what you really need versus just want. Good luck.

We all experience different levels of pain & have different pain thresholds. You have been through a pretty major surgery. Your insides have been pushed & prodded & cut. Plus there are a lot of sutures & staples holding your tummy, etc. together. Pain also tells us if we’re doing too much or need to be more careful moving about. You’ll probably find in a couple more days there is a decrease in the amount of pain you are experiencing. If it’s not decreasing or your prescribed pain meds aren’t helping contact your surgeon. All the best.

It can be a challenge to increase your calories to stop losing & maintain. It took me about 11 months after I reached goal to stop losing. I understand just not being able to eat any more. I slowly added more snacks as I was able. I also noticed over the months my portion sizes for meals started getting larger. By the time I stabilised I was eating 4 or 5 snacks a day plus 3 about recommended portion sized meals. My snacks were combinations of whole & multi grain crackers, hummus, fruit, liverwurst, string cheese, nuts, protein bar, chia pudding & yoghurt. I used full fat salad dressings & added a seed mix to my rolled oats. So I upped carbs (no over processed carbs) & fats but still ensured everything I ate was nutritious (liverwurst & salad dressing aren’t good but yummy) & included 5-10g protein (except no protein in fruit). My dietician suggested I add powdered milk to my milk to make it richer but I found it too sweet. Honestly, I did feel like I was eating all day long. My lowest weight was 48.2kg & I’ve been maintaining at 49 (48.5-49.5) for 14 months now. My BMI is around 18.7 so on the low end too but I’ve got a smaller frame so it’s ok. Initially my surgeon & doctor wanted me to put on a couple of kg too. I said I didn’t want too because of the possibility of 5kg bounce back in the future. Now they’re fine with my weight & tell me I look great & have done well (& I’m actually a couple of kgs less then when they wanted me to gain). I eat about 1300 calories a day & only 3 or 4 snacks to maintain my weight. I’m not very active. I still have days or times when I don’t feel hungry but I always try to meet or be close to my protein goal. So if I don’t feel hungry say for lunch or dinner I’ll graze on a high protein yoghurt. I was a little worried I wouldn’t stop losing &/or I’d get too thin & I had some ‘well intentioned’ family & friends saying it too. But I really like how I look now. Yep, I still get surprIsed when I see my skinny legs & thigh gap or buy size 4 (US 0) clothing but it’s a good feeling. It does take a while for your body to resettle too. I initially thought I’d got so slim I’d lost my hourglass shape but it came back (still don’t have much of a butt though 😉). I should mention I haven’t had any plastic surgery. Have a chat with your surgeon & medical team & tell them honestly about how you feel about your current weight, the possibility of a reversal, etc. Do you still have access to a therapist to talk through how you’re feeling. I hope you can reach a point soon that your weight settles so you can fully embrace what you’ve achieved. All the best.