Arabesque

It’s from the carbon dioxide gas they use to inflate your abdomen during surgery. This gas escapes by rising & being absorbed into your blood before being breathed out. When it rises it usually ends up under your diaphragm & puts pressure on a phrenic nerve which causes the shoulder pain. It can take up to a week +/- to disappear. Walking, deep breathing, marching in the spot, lifting your arms up & down all help move the gas. A heating pad can help with the shoulder discomfort too.

Like @kcuster83, I too did a lot of reading & I was fortunate who had a friend who’d had the surgery a good year before. My surgeon was very informative & gave me a book to read too. It was very reassuring to know what I was experiencing was to be accepted. Of course sometimes the actual experience can be different from what you imagined. And sometimes the degree to how we experience something can be less or more. If it is more be conscious of what may be too much more like too much pain or too much nausea. If you’re not sure give your surgeon or team a call to be certain all is okay or to get some meds or advice to manage it. My recovery went pretty smoothly too. The only real issue I had was low energy & low blood pressure but that in itself was to be expected based on my own idiosyncrasies with those things. Best advice for the constipation is keep on top of it. If I got to day 3 without movement, I’d take a stool softener. On the odd occasion I’d need to take two the next day but that would fix it. If it didn’t I probably would have tried a stronger laxative. Personally I have an issue with artificial sweeteners. Anything that continues to feed your desire for sweet things isn’t a good thing in my opinion. Xylitol can cause a lot of bloating too so tread carefully if you do decide to go down that path. All the best.

Wait until the butt pain starts radiating up your spine. That happened to me at work & it was horrendous. Took a few days to realise the cause was my bony butt not that I had done something to my back. Three years on & it’s a little better in that I can sit for longer periods of time without discomfort. Must have developed some calluses on my ass. Ha! Oh & I’ve been doing some exercises that are supposed to boost your butt for years & I still have no ass. Nothing there at all. Donut cushions are probably best as they protect & take pressure off your coccyx. Oh, & I bought a thick exercise mat from Kmart a few months back because I was struggling a lot doing sit ups which I’d added to my nightly routine (pain from the bony ass & bony spine). It’s a thick foam about a centimetre thick. Made a huge difference.

So sorry you are feeling this way @miamiman86 and I’m really glad you are seeking help. You actually raised some important points about weight loss surgery. It is not the easy way. It’s hard. Harder than just going on a diet or exercising. It will get easier but I know I will always have to watch what I eat & why I’m eating. The surgery removed part of my tummy but not the part of my brain that was behind my eating. That’s always with me. The decision to have the surgery has to be yours & yours alone. You alone are the one who has to do the work & live the experience. Your wife may have thought it would help you (& there are many health benefits) but if you’re not ready or unsure about having the surgery don’t have it. You need a lot of mental & emotional strength & if your head & heart aren’t ready & willing the surgery isn’t for you (at least not until you are ready). I’m glad you are doing well so far despite your regret. I will add, in time you will enjoy food as much as you did before. These early days are restrictive but it does change & improve. How you manage your maintenance, when you get where you want to be, is really up to you. You make the choices that allow you to live & enjoy your life & maintain your health & mental, physical & emotional well being. In time you may choose to eat differently. For example you may still eat old favourite foods but swap out ingredients or use different different cooking methods that offer better nutrition. You may choose to still enjoy certain ‘less healthy’ foods but you eat them less frequently in smaller portions. All the best.

Congratulations on your weight loss so far. You may not be at your goal but what you have done is a great achievement. The truth is not everyone reaches their goal. This may be the weight your body is happiest at - your new set point. Or your rate of loss could have just slowed right down. Ensuring you get in all your protein, water & other nutrients is vital & not doing so maybe compromising your loss. You just have to establish those better habits around eating & drinking to meet your goals. If you eat your protein first you should meet your goal without too much difficulty. Protein first, then vegetables & then only carbs if you are able. Sometimes all I’d eat was the protein component. Still do sometimes. And make any snacks you eat protein rich too. Keep fluids by your side all the time. I drink during the night, in the car as I’m driving, etc. I have habits like get in the car drink. Get out of the car drink. Red light drink. You can do this if you use public transport too. Remember all fluids count not just water. This far along you probably don’t need to be waiting 30 minutes between eating & drinking. Reduce the time you wait to a time frame you feel comfortable with & doesn’t compromise being able to consume the food you need. In my second year I only needed to wait about 10/15 minutes. Now I wait about 5 but can only take one large mouthful at a time - 2 swallows - any more is uncomfortable.

Perfectly natural side effect which most of us experience. Your natural hair loss cycle has been accelerated so the hair you’re losing you were going to lose anyway. It’s just happening more quickly than it usually does. The stress of reduced calories, the surgery & restricted diet, the hormonal flush & changes all contribute to the acceleration. Remember your body has more important things to use the food & nourishment you’re consuming for than protecting your hair at the moment. It usually only lasts about 3 months +/-. Don’t worry, your new hair is still regrowing but at its usual rate. Any vitamins, supplements you take to try to stop your hair falling may only benefit your new growth. The hair on your head is actually dead. Can’t save that. I know it can be frustrating & upsetting but the best thing you can do is just let it do what it’s doing. You don’t need the added stress of worrying about it. Some temporary hair loss is really unimportant compared to the weight loss & improvements to your health & welll being. PS - Many of us cut our hair if it was long so it doesn’t look as noticeable & it takes less time for the new growth to catch up & be the same length. You can always grow it again if you want.

Shouldn’t be too difficult. A dairy or lactose allergy is quite common & there are so many plant based dairy substitutes for cheese, milk, yoghurt, butter, etc. & plant based protein shakes available these days (thank you vegans) it should be easy. (Watch the coconut ones though as those I’ve seen often have a higher fat content.) The protein content may be something to be conscious of too but as your doctor said, your dietician should help you out with that. As for the sunflower seed products, which is more uncommon, you’ll probably just continue being vigilant with ingredient labels. Actually some people develop a temporary lactose intolerance in the beginning & simply swap to plant based dairy products & shakes without compromising their weight loss.

I’m almost 3 & a half years & I still feel my restriction at times. Though it’s usually not related to how much I ate but what I ate. I felt it Saturday night because of some coarse vegetables I ate. Got a slight case of the foamies too. ☹️ However the goal really is not to feel the restriction just like it shouldn’t be to feel full as an indicator to moderate how much you eat. Once you feel full or the restriction you’ve already eaten too much. I ask myself do I need the next bite or do I just want it. And I only serve myself an appropriate portion. As @summerseeker said we’re all different. While there may be similarities you really can’t compare yourself directly to another. You’ll work out the portion size, the foods you need to eat & the calories you need to consume to lose & maintain your weight & for your body to function effectively & healthily. If you’re determined to do it you can eat around your sleeve but do you want to? To go back to eating how you did will only lead you back to each to where you were before surgery - with a weight problem. I eat smaller portions than I did. I eat more regularly now (was a meal skipper). There are a lot of foods I don’t eat any more or eat very little of or rarely but that’s my choice though there are some that don’t sit as well (bread, pasta, rice, potatoes) I don’t eat. I eat a lot more protein because of an absorption issue. I don’t eat a lot of carbs & very little sugar (real artificial or alternatives) & I feel better for it. But again that is me. You’ll work these things out for yourself too. Remember, no one diet/way of eating works for everyone. All the best.

Yes, it does get better & easier. As @liveaboard15 said you are still healing & your tummy is very sensitive. I used to say my tummy was like a petulant, tantrum throwing two year old. The changes to our sense of taste/or smell is very common & is temporary. And it is also very common for certain foods to make you feel nauseous & blah! This too is temporary though some foods take some people longer to tolerate. You’ll even discover a food you eat one day, you can’t tolerate the next day. If that happens, just take a break from that food for a few days or a week or two, then try it again. The most common foods people struggle with seem to be eggs, chicken & steak but yiu could have different ones. Take it slowly leaving a couple of minutes between bites/sips. Ensure you take small bites & sips. Don’t push yourself to eat a food you think you should if you find you’re unable to not ready to yet. You’ll get there just in your time.

I had this problem years ago when I did a liquid diet not as bad as you’re experiencing though. I was told then it was because the shakes have a lot of fibre & block you up because your stools get too firm & hard. And you’re not eating any fruit or vegetables to balance your diet. I’d avoid additional fibre supplements until post surgery as much of the constipation then is because you’re consuming even less. And initially post surgery you’re consuming more than just shakes - broths & soups, milk, … if it’s so bad ask if you could try the two shakes & one meal (protein & vegetables only) version of the pre surgical diet. They may say no but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

Sorry the lentil recipe wasn’t mine. I just throw them, barley or beans into whatever soup I’m making. I’m a bit of a whatever’s in the pantry/fridge soup maker. Actually I’d probably do really well on those cooking shows when they’re told to just use the provided pantry. Ha! 1/2 cup oats, tablespoon seed mix, good 1.25 cups milk. Use the coarse cut oats not instant. They’re better for you than the instant ones & much coarser/chewier when cooked. I can eat a full serve most days but I am almost 3 & a half years out. The seed mix I buy from the supermarket - supposed to be a gut health blend. An Australian brand called Kapaipuku. The only thing I don’t like is it has a little monk fruit powder. Don’t know why as it’s not needed & there are also raisins in the mix.

Can’t really help on the vegetarian meal suggestions except for beans, lentils & barley dusges. I often throw lentils, barley or beans into soups for extra protein. What about faux meat products? I know some are fine with them but others won’t eat them. I understand the dislike of sweet things (I eat very little sweet foods) but I don’t find rolled oats sweet at all - wouldn’t eat them if they were. I use traditional oats with a spoon of seeds, make them on milk & add some blueberries before eating - 15g of protein (which is more than 2 eggs). I don’t add natural or artificial sweeteners. The natural sugar in the milk & the berries is plenty for me. And this is usually the only fruit I eat in a day & one of my two serves of multi/whole grain carbs.

Lol! Wet or liquid farts. Yep some do experience them. My friend’s surgeon suggested disposable underwear for the first week or so until everything settled. She told me it was the best advice. I think the smell, diarrhoea & wet farts are from all the blood, debris & stomach acid from the surgery working there way out of your body. That first hideous & very sudden diarrhoea I had in hospital was very dark & smelly. Wish I had the disposable knickers that day. 😁

Should add after @SpartanMaker, that my GP did put me on a low BP med. They didn’t do anything. Also when I had my gall out last year they gave me a shot of ephedrine because they were worried at how low my BP was. My BP went up a little but within a few minutes it was back down to where it was. I told them not to worry it was just me.

I found warm drinks more soothing & easier to drink. Cold drinks made my tummy cramp but that was me. I used room temp water or hot water for my shakes too but I believe some don’t dissolve as well in hot water.

Water can seem heavy at times. Try a warm drink. I found warmer drinks (like herbal or green tea, soups, broths, etc.) more soothing & easier to drink. And yes definitely try some anti nausea meds to tide you over until your surgery. Hope the surgery helps.

The stress, change of diet, weight loss, hormonal changes, etc. accelerate your natural hair loss cycle. So the hair the you lose you were going to lose anyway. And yes your new hair is still growing but just at is usual rate. This is the same sort of reaction some women experience after child birth & if you are experiencing a lot of stress. The hair you’re losing is already dead so taking supplements & additional ‘hair growth’ vitamins aren’t going to save it. (Doesn’t matter how much fertiliser you use you can’t save a dead plant.). The additional supplements may only benefit new growth. Many of us cut our hair if it was long. The hair loss isn’t as noticeable & it takes less time for the new growth to catch & be the same length. Keep meeting your protein goal, take your multi vitamins. And don’t worry too much about it - you don’t need the additional stress & anxiety which could only make it worse. Some temporary hair loss is a small price to pay for your weight loss. All the best.

Breaking those habits & identifying what may be behind the head hunger is one of the hardest things you’ll have to do. I go to mum’s & I want to nibble in the afternoon - 4 o’clock is the devil’s time. It’s not that we don’t get on but we can have interesting discussions. A lot of it is years habitual pre dinner drinks eating. I’ll visit my brother & his wife & family to get out of the house for a while - a distraction & a break from my mum 😉. You’ll find ways to take your mind off your desire to eat. Go for a walk, water your garden, check your socials or this forum, read, craft, play a game. Since your devil time is at night, try having a shower or even cleaning your teeth can act as a distraction & the the minty taste can be satisfying.

It actually is quite common & for most it’s temporary. I’ve never had an issue with my blood pressure, 120/80, regardless what I weighed. Though I did always have a tendency towards a low BP - a family thing - where it would drop & I’d get light headed, loss of vision at odd times. Now my BP is low all the time & I experience orthostatic hypotension (postural pressure drops) daily. (And a lower heart rate too.) The vision loss, slight throb in my head, is just part of my life when getting up (from sitting, lying & crouching/kneeling), doing too much, etc. I think carrying weight kept my BP at a healthy level & the low BP is actually normal for me. My GP isn’t too concerned. I guess because I manage it. Keep your fluids up, add a little salt too your diet. Take your time getting up giving your heart a chance to get the blood back up to your head.

It’s perfectly normal to have some concerns & worries. It is a totally new experience even if you had a band before. But, yeah, stop reading the horror stories they only screw with your head & truthfully they are very rare. People who’ve had a complication often post more because they are seeking help & support. You can find horror stories about anything if you look for them. I’ve a good one about a friend who had a pedicure. I eat out regularly (at real restaurants) & socialise often with friends & family & it doesn't cause me any issues or impact my enjoyment of the occasion. I usually order a main now through while I was losing I ordered entrees. And I’m not afraid to ask to take home the leftovers either. I’ll have a glass of wine or similar when socialising but I take ages to drink it. I don’t enjoy it as much as I did before but that’s me & again it doesn’t stop my friends enjoying several more glasses than me. The short time you have to be the most vigilant & restrictive with your eating & drinking is exactly that - a short time. The staged return to eating is only about 6 weeks in total. After that, you slowly introduce other foods back. Use the time while you are losing to explore new flavours & textures as well as trying healthier food options, cooking styles, recipes, etc. I actually wasn’t really interested in eating anything not nutritionally dense while I was losing & I never felt like I was making sacrifices or giving up any foods. I didn’t want to go back to my old way of eating - it’s why I was obese. But that’s part of the being mentally ready mentioned above. As for dumping, if you do experience it you’ll learn to eat around it. Same with any other idiosyncrasies your body may have post surgery. It’s much like how anyone with an allergy or sensitivity to certain foods or food types acts. Don’t be afraid to question your surgeon further about what you may expect with your surgery. Regardless of whether you decide to go ahead as scheduled or decide to wait a little longer. You have to do what’s right for you. All the best.

Start by making small changes. Drop one or two of those snacks. Swap out a poor cooking style to a healthier method. Swap out a less nutritious food for a more nutritious one. Check your protein intake & if it’s low, add more protein to your diet. Same with water. Check your portion sizes too. And so on until you are back to eating much like you were when you were close to or at your goal weight. You don’t have to make all the changes at once. Make one change & then in two or so weeks, make another change. Small changes are much easier to cope with & manage.

I had no gas pain with my sleeve but after my gall i did. But it wasn’t a throbbing aching pain more discomfort. A bit like strained muscles after a hard workout. My back hurts way more when it goes out. The gas pain took about a week to disappear. Really had no surgical pain after three/four days with either surgery. But of course everyone is different & we tolerate different levels of pain. For gas pain, walking is best. You don’t have to walk miles - even lapping your yard a few times a day helps as does going up & down steps, marching on the spot & lifting your arms up & down. A heating pad can alleviate pain too. The gas is used to fill your abdominal cavity not your tummy so very little escapes through your digestive system (burping & farting). The gas is actually absorbed by water in your blood stream & is breathed out. Which is why walking, marching in the spot, etc. helps as you breathe more heavily with the activity. The excess gas rises & often gets caught under your upper lungs which causes the upper shoulder pain.

How low is low? How tall are you & what’s your BMI? I was 200lbs but at only 5’3 my BMI was 35. I lost all my weight and more. Got to my goal in 6 months & lost another 11+kgs over the next 11 months or so. I maintained at about 49kgs for a year. I put on 2kgs in a month because of a necessary dietary change & a change of a med & have been sitting at about that 51kg for almost 10 months There have been posters here who started with BMIs of less than 35 & had the surgery because of existing health issues & they were able to lose weight. The main difference between people with higher starting weights & those with lower is that those at a higher weigh lose more quickly at first. But their rate of loss slow as they lose weight just like everyone else. Recovery is an individual thing - just how your body reacts to the surgery & heals. Nothing really to do with your weight as such but existing health factors may influence your recovery. Some people who carry a lot of weight in their abdominal area sometimes struggle with more discomfort when getting up & down & generally moving as the weight around their tummy pulls at the internal & external surgical sites. A binder is often helpful as it supports the tummy & abdominal muscles.

Fear of the unknown is real & an understandable reaction to something like this surgery. Mine went all so quickly, that I really didn’t have time to worry about anything: 6 weeks from initial GP’s appointment to meeting the surgeon, the dietician, doing the pre surgery diet & then the surgery. Though I’m also not a big worrier. If I have questions I’ll ask or research it myself. Knowledge is power. Think I was more concerned about telling my mum. Lol! A friend had recommended her surgeon & on meeting him I was confident about his ability. I was going to a good hospital. I had a supportive GP. And, after years of watching my father suffer with cancer, treatments & complications, I sort of learnt you can’t worry about something that MAY happen. It’s a waste of effort & emotions. Be aware of possibilities but you can’t be certain of what will happen until it does & then you can plan to move forward.

Best check with your surgeon & dietician because plans have different requirements. Plus we can only do what we can do within those guidelines. I was advised only 1/4 - 1/3 cup to begin slowly increasing to a cup over time but that was my plan. I remember it took me three days to eat two scrambled eggs for months. At about 8 months I could eat one egg. That was all I could do. I was able to eat two scrambled eggs for the first time last weekend & I’m more than 3 yrs post surgery.