Arabesque

Lol! My scars wouldn’t have helped - he used the same incision scars from my sleeve. Oh the pain. I said to someone if I didn’t know what it was I thought have thought I was dying & they said their daughter did think she was dying & was distraught - sobbing uncontrollably.

Go back to your team & ask (demand) more support & guidelines & to see a dietician again. You may need regular appointments with the dietician for a little while until you feel more confident & comfortable about what you have to do & are doing in regards to your food choices & eating. You shouldn’t have to do this alone. All the best.

There are good ones, bad ones & so so ones. I saw one years ago. She told me I wasn’t eating enough & that was all. No advice on food choices, eating plans, etc. Four months later I hadn’t lost a pound, though my own research, so I left. The one I saw with my surgery was so so. I’d have ten minute appointments. She never checked my weight. Told me I was doing great. But every now & again she’d come out with a nugget of information gold. Friends saw a bad dietician a couple of year ago who, even though they told her they were long term pescatarians, vegetarians who eat seafood, proceeded to give them meat based recipes & menu plans. Check with your clinic & insurance to see if you can change dietician because I agree you have to feel comfortable with them & trust they will be helpful & supportive of your needs & circumstances.

Healthy skeptics isn’t a bad thing these days. I tried the light therapy on my face for several sessions with my beauty therapist. Didn’t really see any improvement. Sad thing is there’s never going to be enough light therapy to tighten the amount of loose skin & facial laxity we usually end up with. It may help a small amount for normal aging laxity. I always laugh because to promote it they usually use a woman who is barely out of her teens. I mean what laxity do they have. And they never tell you want other treatments are being used. But if it makes you feel good I say go for it. I also did RF (radio frequency) & did it for a while simply because it felt good - I enjoyed the tingly vibrations. Though I love the results I’m getting from my dermal needling/RF treatments. Still have laxity along my jaw & my old lady chin though 😆😆.

Bony butt pain is real. I would love to say to eventually stops but I can’t. It isn’t as bad but if I’m sitting for any length of time I feel it again. I have no butt at all (except what has crept down the back of my thighs. Never have to ask if my butt looks big in this. Lol! I chuckle every time I see this pxt - which is my front & which is my back.

I thought one of the treatments for pillaris is regularly applying heavy moisturisers as dry skin & pillaris tend to go hand in hand?? Also thought it’s not always caused by excess keratin but from inflammation from twisted hair follicles. As for looking older, for a period after your weight loss you may look older or tired - drawn. Much of this is temporary until your body resettles. My uncle told my mum I looked like death after my weight loss. Not nice but a few months later he was telling her I was looking so great. The other thing to remember is you may end up with skin laxity on your face from the loss of fat & your wrinkles won’t be plumped out any more. ☹️ The benefit of the loss of facial fat though is the appearance of your cheekbones, a longer neck, a jaw line, etc. Even my hooded eyelids went as I lost the fat that caused them. I have some skin laxity but haven’t gone down the face lift route. I am also almost 58 so it is to be expected. But I get some Dysport (Botox), had a little filler just in front of my ears where I had no fat at all, & have done micro needling/RF (mainly fur acne scars) Even before I started those treatments, I was told I look younger than my age. I do take care of my skin but genetics play a big role.

Most of us experience some pain as our joints, muscles, tendons, centre of gravity, etc. relearn how to stand (better posture) & move without our carrying our excess weight. And it sometimes doesn’t start straight away. For example, I was slouching a lot & had to consciously not & sit upright. I also had upper back pain because my bras were too big. Bought new bras & my back pain went. Forty pounds is a good amount of weight to lose (congratulations). Had you started to become more active with the weight loss? If so, using your muscles, etc. more may have contributed. A chiropractor, physiotherapist, acupuncturist or massage therapist may help. I did an acupuncture session to release the tight muscles in my back which helped until I got my new underwear. Don’t give up.

Congratulations on your weight loss. Whoo hoo! Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as a pouch reset. It’s just a myth. You can’t regain those surgery honeymoon period bonuses like reduced hunger or appetite. Remember your smaller tummy is still there which is a big positive. It just comes down to how you use it. If you seem to have stabilised at your new current weight, it’s possible this is your new set point (a gift of the surgery). This is the weight your body is happiest at & is easiest to maintain. Our old much higher set point is one of the reasons we would regain any weight we’d lose so easily in the past. Remember not everyone reaches the goal weight they have set for themselves & that’s okay. To lose more weight you need to reduce your calorie intake. Though to maintain the lower weight you will also need to continue use to eat less than what you do now. For example my BMR at my weight, age, height & activity level is about 1500 calories. If I weighed 10kg more at 60kg my calorie needs would be about 1700 calories to maintain. Is a lower calorie intake sustainable in the long term? This is something only you can answer knowing your lifestyle & how you want to live your life. Also you can’t exercise the extra weight away. Exercise only accounts for about 10% of the weight you want to lose. Want to lose 10lbs? Exercising accounts for about 1lb. Not everyone experiences the 2nd/3rd year bounce back regain (usually 10-20lbs). I didn’t. Some of the regain is your body settling at a slightly higher weight with your set point. Some of it is because how you were eating (calories, activity level, eating style) wasn’t sustainable. Some of it is because of lifestyle choices. And yes some of it is from becoming complacent, less vigilant or falling back into old habits. Some of the regain you have control over. Some you don’t. When I reached my current weight, I too thought I’d have bounce back regain wriggle room & it would be okay if I ended up at or around my goal. At 4 years I’m a about 1-2lbs (depending upon the day lol!) more than at where my weight first settled.

Great list @omrhsn. I really relate to #1. You should see my credit card bills 😱. I always loved clothes & fashions & had a large selection but now. Clothes, shoes & bags oh my. I’ve filled wardrobes in three bedrooms & have many things I’ve worn once or am yet to wear. Quite terrible & a little embarrassing really. #4 - I’m still selective as to whom I tell. If I don’t want them to know I usually say I saw a dietician & changed how, what & why I eat. All true. Though I did tell the doctor who shaved some moles (Nevis) off my neck today. We were talking about knee length boots so #1 again. 😆😆😆

Yep, I tend to have a low pulse rate too. When I had my gall out two years ago, the nurses commented on it & asked if I was an athlete which is hilarious. They were rather surprised when I said I really didn’t exercise at all. Have to admit I haven’t checked it lately. I believe it’s because fat cells produce the hormone leptin which, besides regulating how much fat we store, also plays a role in moderating the cardiovascular system. So as we lose our fat we don’t produce as much leptin & our heart rate drops.

Gall bladder pain is on the right side not left and wraps around to your back. You really know about it when it hits. The pain can be very severe. I was rolling on my bed, sweating with the pain. It’s truely awful. Hey @Hope4NewMe, adhesions can be removed but they only do it if they cause problems or pain. If no pain or problems they usually leave them. It does mean another surgery (laparoscopic) & the risk of new ones forming though.

Nope not just robotic surgery. Mine are in a straight line too but in line with my belly button so much lower. Think it’s more likely to do with the amount of weight you carry in your abdominal area and where they have to situate the incisions to best access your tummy, etc.

Wouldn’t be surgical gas this long out. I wondered kidney stones too or pancreatitis, ulcer, lung infection,… I hope your consultant gets of their butt & looks at your scans soon. No one should experience pain for this number of months with no answer as to it’s cause. I hope it’s nothing serious. All the best.

Check with your dietician to be sure as different plans have different requirements at different stages as you progress & you may have different needs. Ask how much protein, how much vegetables & how much of any carbs you may be allowed. I was advised by my surgeon that by goal, which was 6 months for me, I’d be eating about a cup of food. He also drew a circle about the size of a side plate. He then drew another circle about half the ‘plate’ (about inner palm size for my medium size hand) & said that’s your protein. He drew a third circle which was about a third of the ‘plate’ circle for my vegetables. I still basically still follow this at 4 years but do about half & half protein & vegetables now. I take 30-45 minutes to eat this. I sometimes experience what I call a slow full signal. It can occur 30 or so minutes after I’ve eaten. I also don’t eat until I feel full but until I’ve had enough & don’t need anymore whether I’ve eaten all my appropriately sized portion or not. Don’t know why it happens though. It’s pretty random but seems to occur more often after breakfast. 🤷🏻‍♀️

It’s quite common for our taste buds &/or sense of smell to temporarily change after surgery. Things we enjoyed before can be too sweet, too salty or just taste disgusting. Or it can be an aversion to certain textures or smells. I found the shakes awful after surgery: too sweet, grainy & blah! I’d have one in the morning (diluted) & then had soup for my other ‘meals’. I tried bone broth, which is a good alternative, but found it too salty. It can last a couple of weeks or a couple of months.

I agree with the others: it’s not the cashews. Stalls are a common & important part of your weight loss. It’s when your body shuts down to take stock of your changing needs & then resets things like your metabolism, digestive hormones, etc. They usually last 1-3 weeks. Do look for a lunch that is going to offer more protein (1oz cashews provides only 5g of protein) & includes other foods for a wider variety of nutrients. Try a meat like chicken or tuna, or tofu or a boiled egg, etc. with a small side of salad vegetables, or an omelette, soup, etc. Have a chat with your dietician for some meal ideas

Your experiences may be totally different to mine or others. We have different pain thresholds, there may be subtle differences in our surgeries, our health & physical statuses/situations are likely different, etc. There are some generalisations though. Most find the pain is gone or greatly reduced by day 4 or so. The opioids you’ll be given will manage it & you may only need the odd over the counter non NSAID pain med by day 4. You may have continued discomfort from gas pain (shoulder region) for a few more days - heat pads help. Some have localised discomfort around the surgical sites or experience pain spasms on getting up or down or lying in certain positions like your side - move slowly & carefully. You may have difficulty swallowing for a day or so due to swelling. You may experience sudden diarrhoea, constipation, or nausea. If intense pain persists & your prescribed meds aren’t managing it contact your surgeon. My pain was pretty much gone by day 4. I had difficulty swallowing for two days. I could sleep in my side in hospital and the few days of discomfort on getting up & down was more like the muscular ‘I’ve been exercising’ type. I didn’t have any gas pain (my surgeon made up for it when he removed my gall two years later 😁) My back went into spasm in hospital & that pain was way worse than the surgical pain. I wasn’t hungry or interested in eating at all which is the general accepted effect of the surgery. Some people do feel hungry but some of this is likely head hunger not real hunger. I do recommend warm drinks over cold. Cold can cause your poor healing tummy to spasm/cramp while warm (room temp or hot) can be more soothing. Some find a pillow t hold against their tummy when travelling or get them my up & down helpful. Som find a binder supportive too. I didn’t use these at all. Don’t be reluctant to ask for pain, anti nausea meds or anything else you may need in hospital & to seek medical advice or help when yi get home if you need it. You’ll be okay. All the best.

I agree, you wont need much. I took my own toiletries & changed into my own pjs - made me feel better. I was glad I threw in extra pjs & knickers though (you can experience very sudden diarrhoea - unpleasant). Different surgeons will have different advice & restrictions in regards to activity post surgery & when you can begin more strenuous activity, usually everyone is told to walk - gentle slow walks as you’re able (a couple of short walks every day even just around your home your yard is a good place to begin). Remember you will have restrictions on how much you can carry (lift, pull, etc.) in the first couple of weeks while you are healing. Check with them before embarking on an exercise program. Oh, those surgical gowns can be thin too. I’ll never forget the man wearing his gown sunning himself in front of the windows in the ward lounge area without a care in the world. The sun was highlighting everything under the gown & believe me when I say he was only wearing his hospital gown. 😱. all the best.

American health insurance is crazy to me but would it matter if both your doctor & the dietician sent in the form? I mean your doctor would provide the most relevant information about the benefits of the surgery to you medically in regards your health status while the dietician would provide information in regards to your eating & nutritional needs. 🤷🏻‍♀️ If your insurance says your doctor sends in the form they should send in a form. It’s the insurance company approval you need not the clinic’s.

I think your goals are admirable. So many get caught up in how much they lose, how fast or slow they lose, how long it takes, etc. as they’re losing. Of course when we’ve lost our weight we all feel pretty darn happy about what we have achieved (& deservedly so). How you eat after you’ve stabilised is really up to you & how you want to live your life. If eating carbs fits in better with your lifestyle & your family then eat carbs. Just maybe choose better carbs - complex, whole & multi grains, low processed versions, smaller portions, or less often. You’ll work out what & how much of certain foods or food groups you need to eat, can eat, can eat occasionally, or those you may be better off avoiding. It’s your choice. Of course we can’t go back to how we used to eat - that’s just asking for trouble 🙂. Accompanied with this may be that your weight settles a little higher than at your lowest as you work out your caloric needs (what your body needs to function effectively to maintain your weight & activity level), eating style & lifestyle preferences and that’s okay. For me deciding not to call how I ate after I stabilised a ‘diet’ was a positive mental move. I’m not on a diet this is just how & what I eat. Diet had such negative connotations & memories for me: restrictions, being limited, missing out, etc. & failure. Personally, I cut out a lot of sugar & generally avoid artificial sweeteners & sugar substitutes whenever I can so I don’t eat cakes, biscuits, desserts etc. except a couple of times a year like Christmas. Don’t miss it. Don’t feel I’m missing out or being restricted & my friends & family accept it, no fussing or pushing me to eat. For example my niece was serving out cake for her 13th birthday earlier this year. When she got to me she asked what I’d like and added we have strawberries too. (I had strawberries.) It didn’t happen overnight but slowly it became just me. All the best.

It could be just your fussy sensitive tummy. Many of us experience temporary changes to our taste buds &/or sense of smell. For some certain textures upset them. I was so excited when I was able to eat vegetables again but nope my tummy said no to some of my favourites. But it was only temporary. At best it’s just a ‘this is yucky’ reaction. At worst it may cause you to vomit. And yes certain artificial sweeteners (usually the alcohol ones) can cause digestive distress - bloating, vomiting, diarrhoea, etc. I actually had a reverse experience. Before surgery, I often found smoked salmon too rich & strongly flavoured. After surgery I surprisingly could eat it (smear of cream cheese wrapped around a wedge of cucumber - yum). But a few weeks later - nope awful & still avoid it. Give your tummy time to relearn flavours, smells, textures, etc. This is often a great time to try different foods or foods you fed isn’t enjoy in the past. Avoid those foods that upset you fur a couple of weeks & then try again.

Exactly everything @catwoman7 said. There is no right or wrong rate at which to lose your weight just what is right for you & your body. The stats only give you an idea of what you might experience. As with all stats there are always outliers: those who lose more & those who less less. Your rate of loss doesn’t affect whether you’ll lose your weight either. Just may mean it takes a little longer or a little more quickly. By the way 15lbs in 3 weeks is not slow. That’s averaging 5lbs a week. Can’t be unhappy about that. I’d lost about 13lbs at the three week mark & my surgeon & dietician were always happy with my rate.

Check with your team. While there can be similarities, different surgeries can have additional vitamin needs. Bypass often has very specific vitamin needs but sleeve not as much. I only had to take a multi vitamin with my sleeve & stopped taking them at around 8 months. Surgeons have different requirements too in regard to whether you can swallow vitamins or need to get gummies/chewies or patches. Plus your blood work may show you need or don't need a specific vitamin/s as well. Vitamins are too expensive to just randomly buy them without finding out exactly what you need first. Some will make you nauseous so be warned & yes don’t take your iron with your calcium. Spread them out through out your day if yiu have trouble with them.

Oh yeah a food replicator like on Star Trek. Do you notice no one every seems to have to wash up after a meal either. No loading or unloading the dishwasher. Yay!! Teiyaki salmon looks delicious.

I took a gulp of water the other night & half went down the wrong way. I burped which is incredibly weird for me as I can’t burp. Then I could feel it starting to come up - my last bite or two of my dinner. I sometimes think it’s because I can’t burp that I do have issues with the foamies & can’t release what may be a gas bubble adding to any blockage or slowing the passage of what I’ve eaten. I often worried about having an attack when out @Lisa XO. I quizzed my surgeon’s colleague at a follow up. She agreed that my worrying it might happen was likely tightening my oesophagus & my tummy increasing the odds of me getting the foamies.