Arabesque

It has weakened over the years but it is still there. Some days it makes itself known quite strongly. Some days it’s more a gentle reminder.Some days I can eat more (all of my portion) without any restriction & some days I can’t. Certainly isn’t as strong & restrictive as it was in the beginning though. Think it’s a combination of being more conscious of how much I can eat of different things & just a general softening/loosening over time much like our tummy loosens a little.

This is the only time I miss bread. An egg & lettuce sandwich or a cucumber sandwich, on white bread, are heavenly. I used to soak my cucumbers in balsamic vinegar for an hour or so before. Mmm? Now I’m wondering if it’s worth the groaning & complaining tummy & general blah feeling of eating bread just to have one of them.

I don’t add protein powder to mine but you could. Just started adding collagen powder to mine for no other reason than to make me look young & beautiful again LO!!

It can’t hurt to see if you need them or need them as frequently. And it may reveal what your reflux (GERD) is really like. I still take mine every day because of my reflux is worse than pre surgery but the PPIs manage it. I used to take them just when I needed them before surgery (maybe once every 2 months +/-) & managed my reflux by dietary choices back then. Still do which I think helps.

Wouldn’t say there are complete no nos (except for sodas/soft drinks except soda water or tonic water fir my gin ?) though there are things I avoid or eat rarely. I don’t eat bread, rice or pasta as they tend to sit heavily & are simple carbs. Apart from fruit & vegetables, I eat 2 serves of multi or whole grain carbs a day (multi grain crackers & rolled oats). Potatoes tend to sit heavily too especially mashed, baked/roasted aren’t as bad but I rarely have them. I rarely eat sweet things like cakes, desserts, chocolates, etc. except on special occasions. Like I have dessert at Christmas & may have a small piece of cake or dessert at a special event like a wedding (couple of times a year). Generally avoid foods with artificial sweeteners or sugar substitutes & I know those that do like my yoghurt & protein bar. My added sugar intake is less than 10g a day usually only about 5g. I don’t use pre prepared sauces except Asian ones like hoi sin, oyster, etc. & gravox. I still enjoy a drink every now & again just not every night like I used to & one glass is usually enough. I prep & cook most of what I eat myself to keep my foods primarily no or low processed. I used to enjoy a dessert when I went out or something sweet like a biscuit or cup cake after dinner & 4 or 5 meals a week were rice or pasta & ate bread every day before surgery but I really don’t miss them now & I think I’m better without them. Sometimes it would be a little easier when I go out but there are always alternatives or work arounds. Mind you it’s harder to avoid chilli or heavily spiced foods (have a sensitivity to them) when I go out than avoid pasta, rice & bread. This is what I learnt worked for me. Your way of eating in maintenance may be different to mine and that’s okay. It just has to work for you. As I said you have to be flexible, you can’t control every thing every day. And you have to accept that sometimes you might go off piste & that’s okay.

Haven’t had a revision @FifiLux, but I think if I was in your situation, I‘d ask for a second opinion or tell your surgeon you‘re not ready/interested now but will keep it in mind as a possible option in the future. Considering your GERD is so mild & manageable, there doesn’t seem to be a medical reason for the revision. If you are happy with your weight loss (& you should be - congratulations) what is the need for a revision for additional weight loss? At ten months, you have plenty of time to lose any additional weight you may want to lose (many of us continue to lose for a total of 1-2 years). The cynical side of me wonders if your surgeon wants to buy a new house, go on an overseas holiday, etc. Said cynical. ?

Only you know the answer. Simply because you know your history with weight loss & gain & you know yourself best. You have to be ready, because it’s not easy & there’s a lot of work you have to do. If you need more time, that’s fine. As @ms.sss said, you’ll be ready when you’re ready. For me, the surgery provided an opportunity & the time to really understand my relationship with food. I regularly dieted & until the last few years, I could lose weight but as soon as I stopped the diet I returned to eating the same way I always did, for the same reasons & in the same situations. And of course I’d regain the weight I lost. With the surgery & the post surgery eating plan I slowly developed a way of eating I was comfortable with. I worked out what foods were best for me & which weren’t. I became more aware of portion size. And I learnt to recognise the situations (physical, emotional or psychologically) & behaviours that influenced my eating. Because it was a slow process, it was easy to adopt & adapt to my new eating style. Something that diets never did & I never did while dieting. I realised I saw diets as restrictive & a punishment. Now, how I eat is just how I eat. All the best whatever you choose to do.

It is pretty common & it can be a challenge to find foods you enjoy & can tolerate. It can be a lot of trial & error to find foods to eat. Don’t give up a good though. Sometimes you eat something one day & it’s fine but the next day your tummy is no way that’s disgusting. Then a week or so later it’s great again. It does gets better & easier as you progress. I began eating to a routine to help counter not being hungry & having no appetite because I knew I had to eat. Didn’t matter if I didn’t eat all of my portion or only ate the protein portion, as long as I was getting some nutrients in. My fridge always had leftovers in it which I’d eat for another meal that day or the next. Actually there’s still leftovers there everyday & I’m 5 years out. ? Eating to a routine continues to be part of my day. I’m not as rigid anymore but I find it helps keep me focussed & helps ensure I only respond to real hunger not head hunger.

Also told no carbonated drinks. But I didn’t drink much anyway pre surgery as it stirred up my reflux (terrible hiccups, discomfort, etc.) & I wonder if that’s one of the reasons we’re told to avoid it - stirring up the stomach acid we overproduce in the beginning. However, I did start drinking sparkling water a couple of months out. I was finding still water sort of heavy & difficult to drink so I would let sparkling water go flat (would break the seal on a large bottle when I’d put it in the fridge) or at least let a lot of the bubbles reduce & drank a glass over several hours. I found the slightly mineral taste easier to tolerate. I still drank plain water just swapped out one glass of still water for a glass of sparkling.

Oh yeah, it is terrible. I don’t experience it all day every day like you, but I randomly wake up in the middle of the night almost gasping for a breath but breathing rasps over my dried out mouth which is almost stuck open. You want to swallow but can’t cause there’s nothing to swallow. One of those fun menopause symptoms very few talk about. I usually just hold some water in my mouth & swish it about to remoisten everything & that seems to work in my situation. Was aware of the heat wave in NY, but I guess I am a bit blasé about temps in the 90s - that’s our usual summer temps. LOL! Plus our BOM issued heatwave warnings almost every day last summer for temps in the low 90s or not even 90 which was ridiculous. Everyone was saying it’s just summer & asking why they were fear mongering. You’d think it strange if I talked about a cold winter with our winter temperatures. (Actually it is damn freezing here - your 46 last night - bbrrrr. ?) Do hope you find some answers and a solution soon.

I do my own variation. I control the ingredients that way. Cheaper & I get about 30g of protein. It’s easy & there are lots of recipes online you can use as a starting point.

Besides our usual daily hair loss, we also experiences more major hair loss cycle about every 7 years. (I just had one which was a bit scary). We also tend to shed more in summer than winter. I’m more conscious of my regular hair loss since my surgery & because I have a protein malabsorption issue. Maybe you’re more conscious of it too. Don’t forget stress & anxiety can increase hair loss too. As to vitamins, we get told so many different things & then we all have our own individual needs. For example with my sleeve I was only advised to take a multivitamin & vitamin D in the beginning. After a couple of months I was told to drop the vitamin D. At about 8 months, my surgeon okayed me dropping the multi vitamins too. But my blood work continues to come back fine (except for the protein ?). I do take D3 in winter as my levels drop a little then. It’s a mouth spray which you may absorb better than capsules - worth a try. If you’re concerned about your iron levels, there’s nothing stopping you taking a supplement even if your doctor says not to worry. May be take them every second day to reduce the possible nausea & constipation side effects associated with iron supplements. There are studies saying taking iron on alternate days is actually better so …. Something to consider anyway.

Sorry, no suggestions for your dry mouth. Presume your doctors have ruled out medications (prescription & over the counter), snoring, smoking, menopause, infection in your saliva glands, mouth breathing, etc. Be careful drinking an excess of water as you can flush essential nutrients out of your body which are so essential while you are so early out & not consuming a lot. Overhydration is as much a potential health risk as dehydration. You wouldn’t be crazy exercising & sweating out a lot of fluids at this stage that you would need to increase your fluid intake. Unless you are working outside in the heat you’ve been experiencing in NY, 120ozs seems a bit excessive. The usually recommended 64ozs of fluids includes any shakes or soups, etc. you are consuming. Does your 120ozs include those as well or would they increase your fluid intake even more? https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-is-too-much-water-intake

As well as the above great advice, have a look at the you tube videos by Dr Matthew Weiner (he has podcasts, books & website too) & Dr John Pilcher. They are highly informative & easy to understand what you might experience after surgery. Everyone here is always happy to share their experiences & offer suggestions so feel free to post any questions & concerns from I’m confused, how do I, what on earth, etc. Also make sure to share your successes too. All the best.

Have you spoken to your surgeon about this? As you lose weight lots of things that are stored in your fat are released into your blood stream: hormones, toxins & uric acid. The more rapid weight loss we experience in the beginning can trigger gout attacks so it may be gout you are experiencing. But do give your surgeon a call.

It has been an exhausting & emotional journey for you but I’m glad you have your date. Sounds like you have a supportive and understanding surgeon which always puts you ahead. I really liked his response to you about you feeling you failed with the sleeve: it just wasn’t right for you & the reasons why weren’t discovered until you actually had the sleeve. All the best with your sadi-s surgery.

What do you mean by ‘during fasting periods’? Are you doing intermittent fasting? Are you experiencing real hunger or head hunger? Feeling real hunger is usually a sign your body needs fuel especially if you haven’t eaten for a period of time. Distraction is the best strategy when head hunger hits. Read, go for a walk, craft, play a game, meditate, check your socials & this forum, call a friend or family member, clean out a drawer or cupboard, etc. Sometimes a warm drink is helpful like green or herbal tea. If it is head hunger, take the time to reflect on why you may experiencing it. Check your emotions: are you stressed, anxious, frustrated, angry, sad, etc.? Is it habit eating? Like you always eat at a certain time or when doing a certain activity (like watching TV). Are you bored? Are you hungry or thirsty?

Oh no. I’m so sorry @Starwarsandcupcakes. You & your family are in my thoughts & prayers.

Looking pretty fine there @Lilia_90. Actually @GreenTealael started a thread the other day where a few of us have started sharing our maintenance stories which you may find interesting. Link below. ? What you have gleaned already is certainly true: there are many different ways of successfully managing your maintenance. As I say, & say very often, the only right way is the way that’s right for you. In the beginning you may find you are a little more controlled about what you are doing but over time you become more flexible in your food choices, eating style & how often & how much you eat of certain things. As you progress you continue to learn more things about what you can & can do. Well that’s how I was & am now. Certainly more flexible about some things. Bring in maintenance didn’t stop me going out & socialising with friends & family. I just was & still am very conscious about what I chose to eat, how much I ate & ensured I still ate slowly. Sometimes you have to make the best decisions you can in the situation. They may not be perfect but you can’t beat yourself about it. It’s not like you’re doing it everyday. I don’t track, but do random checks especially when I introduce new foods or new recipes. It may be checking calories or looking at ingredients & swapping some out, weighing serves t check portion sizes (weighed my cooked vegetables last night as I’ve added some extra ones & wondered if I needed t adjust the portion) or changing the cooking methods. I usually weigh a few times a week. I do this as previously if I thought I was gaining I wouldn’t get on the scales - it’s not true if there’s no proof. So weighing myself every second or so day keeps me honest. PS: It takes time to get past the body dysmorphia & being able to see how you really truely look now with your weight loss. Even with the evidence of body measurements clothing sizes, photos, number on the scales it can be hard to see the reality. Those fears of looking ‘sickly thin’ are very real with the dysmorphia. Doesn’t help when people around you may still be playing catch up too: Oh, you’re so thin. Don’t lose anymore weight. You look too thin now. Try to ignore those comments & in some cases you may need to tell others to butt out & mind their own business. In time & with regularly looking at the evidence you’ll come to accept & see how you look now. Though I still am surprised sometimes by how I can comfortably fit in small seats & squeeze through tight spaces. Understanding the space I physically take up in relation to the physical space around me.

Get your protein up to your recommended intake. That should always be your focus. Then ensure you reach those fluid goals. Are you having regular blood work taken? Is that indicating you are lacking in anything? Actually there aren’t any rigorous scientific research into the benefits of collagen on hair growth or strength. The studies that exist are funded by companies that produce collagen supplements. Best to get all your protein in so you’re getting all the complete amino acids your body needs not the few in collagen. Hair is made of keratin, not collagen, and you need the complete range of amino acids (protein) for your body to produce the necessary keratin. The different lengths of your new growth hair could just be from the different times it starts coming in (it doesn’t all grow in at the same time). But maybe give the bleach a rest for a while until things settle. Have a chat with your doctor &/or maybe a dermatologist to check your scalp & hair health. Has your hairdresser said anything?

I agree with the others, it’s too early to make calls about what your final stabilised weight may be. Don’t make decisions based on the number on the scales. It’s not uncommon for your weight to bounce about a little before it stabilises. Bounce back regain is real for many whether that be your body resettling or you making adjustments to complement your lifestyle. And don’t forget your remaining weight resettles itself, even though the scales don’t move, so how you look now may not be how you look in a couple of months. I initially lost my curves and was sad about losing my hour glass shape. A few months on & there it was again - smaller ratios but there. Body dysmorphia comes into play too: how we. See ourselves & how others see us. I thought I’d be too thin & gaunt if I got lower than my goal but here I am 11+kgs less and I’m far from gaunt or skeletal. And like @ms.sss, people who said I was too thin many kilograms more than I am now, think I look fine now and don’t say anything. Remember your goal is not necessarily your body’s goal (new set point). Working out your maintenance isn’t always easy. It wasn’t for me. I was still adjusting to how much food I needed to eat & what I could actually physically eat & I was subconsciously ignoring where my body wanted to be. Enjoy the ride and only worry if your surgeon and doctors aren’t happy.

Sometimes I think they talk from a standardised sheet (like help desk support). There are good ones around though there are a lot that aren’t. Mine didn’t even weigh me & as a didn’t have to track my intake just took my word for what I ate. She did come out with some interesting & helpful tidbits now & again. I did a lot of my own reading & then would have questions to ask her & would ask for alternative food sources, strategies, etc. Looking back I guess I was advocating for myself & taking control of the appointment & the direction it went in. Maybe find a dietician vs a nutritionalist (a dietician is more qualified & specialised than a nut). And if they tell you to do or change something ask why & what are the benefits for you specifically not a generic justification. Good luck.

Interestingly, i just watched a medical program (hosted by the late Dr Michael Mosley) and a top UK gastro consultant said 2hrs is pretty average time frame for your tummy to empty of food. (His patient had delayed emptying - less than half after 3 hrs.)

Mine was stitched I would expect yours was too but of course stitches aren’t a total seal like surgical glue. Not sure how to clean it. Gently with a cotton bud??

Okay here we go. 1: Pre op stats 91kg BMI 35 2: Surgery Gastric sleeve 3: Lowest weight post surgery 48.5kg BMI 18.7 at about 18 months. 4: Maintenance weight 48.5kg. Stayed there for about 18 months when I suddenly increased to about 51kg. Realised I wasn’t absorbing my HRT med after my gall removal. Changed my meds and my weight slowly settled at around 49kg after another 18 months. The last 6 months has seen me back to 48.5 again though I was 48.2 this morning. Strange is I actually eat about 300 calories more now (last 2+ yrs) than I did when I initially stabilised. 5: Fluctuation Initially my fluctuation was exactly 1kg so 48.5 - 49.5. Weird I know. It’s been more 700 - 800g the last 18months so very narrow. 6: Methods to maintain & what worked or didn’t work. Work out a sustainable way of eating which doesn’t restrict or limit what you want to do & how you want to live your life. (I know I say this a lot but it’s worked for me.) Still be flexible with your eating style. Don’t be afraid to make changes: different foods or food types, frequency, etc. If it works & you can still maintain great. If it doesn’t drop it & try something else. I don’t enjoy traditional exercising. No gym for me, running miles or getting sweaty. Around 18 months ago I started my exercise snacking (stretches & using resistance bands) habit. Not to burn calories but to regain flexibility & to support my back. Muscle toning has been a bonus. I enjoy it, it’s easy and I do it or a variation every day. 7: How my life has changed It’s just easier in a whole lot of little ways & other things are much sweeter. Yes, I work at maintaining. I’m more aware of what I put in my mouth, its nutrient value & how much I eat but a lot of this is second nature/habit now so not as much ‘hard’ work anymore. Generally I feel more confident though I wouldn’t say I was lacking confidence before. I’m honest enough to say I’ve become more vain though I was always conscious of how I presented myself to others. It’s just a lot more. Just ask my cosmetic physican - LOL! 8: Cautionary tales & words of wisdom Always advocate for yourself. Not happy with an answer ask more questions, for more testing &/or a second opinion. Do your own research & go back with more questions. Be honest. Ask for help. Be flexible. Make the best decisions you can in the situation. Don’t compare yourself to others. Don’t beat yourself up if things don’t go the way you thought. Things/life happens. It’s how you pick yourself up & move forward again that matters. Find what works for you in regards to how & what you eat, what activity you do & so on. Research, cherry pick across many strategies & plans, test them out & adopt those which work for you. There is no one right way just what’s right for you. This journey isn’t a straight, flat road in one direction. There’ll be hills and valleys, rugged mountains & deep, wide rivers. There’ll be blind corners & round-abouts. You’ll face detours, delays & road works. Your destination may not be where you initially planned but it will be a wonderful, amazing & far better place to be than where you were before you started. And there will be many other fabulous destinations ahead of you.