NovaLuna

I lost 15 pounds on the two week pre-op diet so you could always go on that early... If I remember correctly the diet was 6-8oz of Protein a day (meat or dairy), 1 yogurt a day, 1/2 cup of fruit a day, 2 healthy fats a day (such as 1/4 avocado or 1/4 cup of nuts), and all the veggies you want. I tended to live off of a Veggie soup most of the time.

My insurance didn't have a weight loss requirement. I did have 6 months of monitored weigh-ins but I was just told not to gain weight in that time. I ended up losing 68 pounds though. I did an elimination diet where the first month I cut down my portion sizes and didn't go back for seconds, the second month I cut out soda, third month I cut out rice, fourth month I cut out pasta, fifth month I cut out bread, and sixth month I cut out potatoes and beans. As for exercise, I have two back injuries so what I could do was really limited. I just walked 3-4x a week 10-30 minutes. It worked for me. Plus, it made it easier for me not to cheat and I was better able to prepare myself for how I would be eating after the surgery.

I can't take omeprazole because it increases my acid. I was paranoid that I would react like that to all PPI's so I take famotidine instead and it works great. Though just to be on the safe side you should call your surgeon.

Every surgeon has their own theories about what works for maximum weight loss so they differ depending on who you go to. My surgeon doesn't allow beans or potatoes at all until you've lost 70% of your excess weight. I haven't touched potatoes at all even though technically speaking I'm at like 75% excess weight loss, but I did add beans into my diet.

We were looking forward to Thanksgiving and having my sister, her husband, and their 3 kids over along with her dad (we have different dads) and his fiance, BUT two people in my household tested positive for Covid and one of them is now hospitalized so I've hoarded myself away in my room hoping I don't get it and Thanksgiving was canceled...

Well, I had a different surgery than you so my required protein intake is different. My surgery has the highest protein requirement and I was told to always get at least 80g-100g of protein a day on average (though for men I believe it's 100g-120g). I usually get around 90g-95g though at two months out I was barely scraping by with 80g. I drink one 30g protein drink a day and then get a minimum of 50g of protein on my own. I'm almost 10 months out right now and it's not quite 3pm here right now and I've had my protein drink as well as an additional 54g of protein so I've already met my goal and haven't even eaten dinner yet. I take into account everything I put into my mouth since my protein goal would be impossible without doing so. And I ALWAYS have a protein shake. A lot of people try and attempt to do without, but it would stress me the hell out if I even tried so I always have a protein shake either in the morning or afternoon. I never actually tested it, but there is a theory that if you drink a protein shake first thing in the morning it curbs most of your hunger through the day. Like I said, I haven't tested it, but I've had a few people I work with give me this advice. My problem is that I have to take my thyroid meds in the morning and can't have calcium or vitamins within 4 hours of taking the pill so depending on when I wake up I can't drink the shake until 4 hours have passed. Sometimes I wake up at 5am and sometimes I wake up at 9am so it just depends. I woke up at 7am this morning so my protein shake was in the afternoon today. So yeah, I personally, can't test the theory as I've eaten before I drink the shake.

Are you measuring yourself to see if you're losing inches? You may be gaining muscle as you lose fat and muscle is heavier than fat so you may actually be losing but the scale won't show you that due to the muscle gain... Also, I would personally lower your calorie intake. I was getting between 500-600 calories when I was 2 months out. And if they advised you to up your carb intake (my nutritionist did the same) make sure that the carbs are good carbs that you get from oatmeal, grains, fruits, veggies, beans, seeds, nuts, etc. and not from over processed crap. I was told rice cakes are bad carbs because they have no real nutritional value and don't really add anything to your diet (from the mouth of my nutritionist).

Rice is heavy, sticky, and swells. It's not a good thing to eat, especially so early on. Rice is generally a food that is hard for your body to tolerate after surgery and can give you symptoms of that intolerance which includes chest pain or discomfort, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, indigestion, stomach pain, or diarrhea. Perhaps going back to liquids for a few days would help. Listen to your body, it'll tell you what you can and can't tolerate, but keep in mind if your body CAN tolerate something, it doesn't mean it's good for you. If you miss rice, and you are in stage 4, after soft foods stage, you can likely substitute it with cauliflower rice. Cauliflower rice has a different texture and is more moist so you have to be careful with how you prepare it, but it doesn't have a flavor so any sauces you add to it will take the flavor and other then the texture I can't tell the difference when I use it for the rice in my stir fry. I'm not going to get on you for eating the rice because it's already over and done with, just try and make better choices. I know it's hard, especially when everyone around you is eating 'normal' foods while you're so restricted. Just try and remind yourself why you had the surgery. Focus on your end goal, it's what helps keep me on track so perhaps that'll work for you as well. Sorry that you're struggling keeping things down and I hope it gets better soon!

Changing one's entire way of eating is never easy and sometimes you'll fall off, but the important thing is getting yourself back on track. You can do it!

I just realized I didn't read your whole post... I understand chronic pain VERY well! ESPECIALLY nerve pain! I have TN (Trigeminal Neuralgia) and had brain surgery 3 years ago in an attempt to relieve myself of the agony even if it would likely be temporary (there isn't a cure for TN the surgery just stops the pain for a few years). I have atypical trigeminal neuralgia. It's on both sides and I had both type 1 and 2 pains on the left side and only type 2 on the right. I can handle the type 2 pains, but the type 1 pains... there is nothing comparable to it. It's the worst sort of agony imaginable. NOTHING has ever equaled or surpassed it. The best description for it I can give is most times it felt like I had a scalding hot poker jab into my face where it would twist and twist and twist and twist before pulling out only to repeat itself endlessly. I had the surgery (Microvascular Decompression) on the left side of my brain to get rid of the type 1 pain and it amazingly got rid of the flare ups and I had no pain for 2 amazing years. Around the time I started my weight loss journey last year I started having type 2 pains again on the left side. I couldn't stop CRYING! I was paranoid and panicking and CONVINCED that the type 1 pain was going to return. If my surgery hadn't worked to get rid of the type 1 pain I wouldn't be here. TN is called suicides disease for a REASON. It's recognized as one the most painfully excruciating conditions know to mankind. I was in absolute agony with my TN with a flare that lasted for 10 MONTHS before I had my surgery. I was barely sleeping because it was worse at night. Everything set it off. I was in a never ending world of absolute AGONY and I only held out for my family. I had overdosed on my meds on at least 3 occasions... 1 particular one I was incredibly lucky that I didn't end up in a coma because I'd taken 600mg over my dose (900mg was my dose and overdose for me was 1000mg, I'd taken 1500mg). If the surgery hadn't worked... I wouldn't be here. I was BARELY holding out for my family. I thought I was losing my mind from lack of sleep and pain and I wanted to cry all the damn time but I didn't have the energy or the tears because I'd cried myself dry months before. EVERYTHING set it off. Sleeping, eating, bathing, talking, touching my face, brushing my hair or my teeth. The happiest day of my life was my surgery day. I woke up with the worse headache of my LIFE and at that point the worst nausea I'd had in my life (only beaten by dumping syndrome), but it was 100% WORTH IT! When my TN came back in the form of the type 2 pain I felt like my life was over. I had been so strong and held out to make it to my surgery, but I just didn't know if I could have that kind of strength again. I didn't think I'd survive a repeat. So I fell into a very deep depression. My doctor put me on anti-depression and anxiety meds and when I saw the psyche doc at the bariatric clinic I told her my TN coming back to how it was before my surgery was my absolute worst fear. I honestly don't know how I even passed my psyche eval because I was a MESS! While I was going through that I read a lot. It DID help to take my mind off it a bit, even if it was still there lurking in the back of my head. I also watched quite a bit of anime to distract myself lol. I'm 33 and yes, I watch anime. It's an outlet and very easy for me to turn my brain off when reading doesn't work. Also like watching home renovation shows and anything that'll make me laugh and let me turn my brain off. I ended up getting a really bad rash due to the anti-depression and anxiety meds and had to get off them, but by that time my mind was in a much better place. I made the determination that the very SECOND I get the type 1 pains back I'm calling up my neurosurgeon and scheduling another surgery lol. I won't wait it out. I won't let it EVER get that bad again! And if for some reason he recommends me to do the Gamma Knife instead, I'll do that (my surgery was really difficult as I had a lot of tissue damage and my 3 hour surgery turned into a 6 hour surgery. I had a lot of brain swelling and there was talk of putting a stint in, but I didn't end up having to have one. I did end up with meningitus though... so I just have the feeling he'd probably want me to do Gamma Knife instead). I'm so incredibly sorry that you're going through chronic pain issues. I don't wish that kind of pain on ANYONE! It feels impossible and makes you feel so helpless. I felt so very, very, very alone. Like nobody understood it. Understood me or what I was going through... So that's the reason I told you about my own experience. I just want you to know that you are NOT alone in living with chronic pain. I really hope that the pain clinic gets back to you soon. My mom has fibromyalgia and they gave her Gabapentin for it (it also helps her neuropathy too and helps her sleep). I don't know what meds they'll start you off with, but I hope the first one they give you works for you!

Welcome to your first stall. They will happen FREQUENTLY (at least in my own experience). Your body has been through a lot and sometimes it needs to catch up with itself so it stalls you weight loss to do so. Your weight may even fluctuate back and forth from 1-3 pounds. It happens. stalls generally last between 1-3 weeks but can go on for longer (my longest two were 23 and 27 days respectively). Try not to stress about it because it's NORMAL (almost impossible not to do, I know). My first stall was at month 3 and it was the 23 day one. I questioned ever little thing I did and, yes, I thought 'am I doing something wrong?' but if you stick with your diet plan and just ride it out the weight loss will kick back up again naturally. In the 9.5 months since my surgery I've lost 110 pounds, so it DOES work. Some months you'll lose more than others, but you'll still lose.

When I'm stressed out I tend to read... a LOT. It always takes my mind off things. I also will just watch random things on youtube or netflix.

I think it really varies on 1. your insurance and 2. if you are self pay. My insurance covered the surgery 100% and I didn't have to pay anything.

My recommendation is to read over everything and make sure you bring up any and every concern you have. I had the Loop Duodenal Switch, myself, and my biggest advice is if you do decide to have the DS or Loop DS is make sure you never skip your vitamins because every single dose is important and make sure you always get your protein in (I average around 90-95g a day). Any and all concerns you have remember to bring it up with your surgeon! In the end though the decision on what surgery you have is very much YOUR choice. Read up on your options, make lists of pros on cons and decide which surgery you want that way. Good luck on your upcoming appointment and the beginning of your weight loss journey!

I lost 23 pounds the first month HOWEVER, you started out at a hundred pounds less than me. So 17 pounds in the first month is fantastic! Be proud, you're doing great!

My doctor told me when I started to just start off slow at 2x a week and then just slowly up it. I was exercising 4x a week when I had my surgery. Now I can't exercise at all due to a non-surgery related health issue... but it was good advice for me when I started. You can always ask your doctor for their own advice if it'll make you feel more comfortable.

Well the cut looks really flattering!

I think it's different with every surgeon's office, but mine said don't take your vitamins until day 7. But call your surgeons office just to make sure.

Here's a funny thing I learned. Most times that 'hunger' you're feeling is actually thirst. Try drinking a little more and it should subside. Also, the roof of your mouth being raw may also be because you're dehydrated. It happens. Also, I wouldn't try peanut butter. I was told to avoid all nuts and nut butters for the first 3 months because your stomach will not like it. At all.

If it helps I know someone who had the DS and lost too much weight and they just went back in and fixed her intestinal bypass portion so she was essentially just left with the sleeved stomach part. I know someone else who had malnutrition issues and had his intestinal portion reversed and was also just left with the sleeved stomach part. If the surgeon notices abnomalities and they can't get them under control you can always have the intestinal portion reversed. Just keep up with your labs and see a therapist about the anxiety if it continues to bother you, but rest assured that they can always reverse the intestinal bit (that's the bit that causes the malnutrition as it's your malabsorbative aspect of the surgery).

Try the vitamin patches if you can't take chewables

Congrats! But, being on the pre-op diet during thanksgiving... I don't envy that. It'll be hard! I felt hungry CONSTANTLY on the pre-op diet. I did lose 16 pounds in that two weeks though so... was definitely worth it.

I was told that after maintenance you can have those things in moderation. But they advised me to never have rice or soda and to not eat too much bread. Every surgeons office is different on the soda issue, but my surgeons said the carbonation will stretch your stomach back out over time so it wasn't a good idea, but it was ADVISED, not ordered. I don't plan on ever drinking soda again since it was never important to me anyway, so that isn't an issue for me. The rice thing bugged me at first, but my surgeon said that rice SWELLS after you eat it so it'll stretch your stomach out and it wasn't ADVISED to add back into my diet. I've since started using cauliflower rice instead and it works perfectly as a substitute so I have no issue giving up rice. Though I will miss it in Chinese food whenever I may eat it again. As to bread... it's filling and takes room away from your protein so that when you DO add it back in you should eat very little of it and make sure you're getting your protein in. I was also advised about pasta... but I've added veggie made noodles into my diet instead such as zucchini, lentil, chickpea, etc. and the surgeons office was fine with that. There really isn't anything they said absolutely not to, they just said moderation is key. You're getting into new eating habits after your surgery or even before and when you add new things in you just have to cycle it with moderation so that you don't overindulge and put the weight back on. So don't think about it as giving up the 'good food'. You're just temporarily taking a break from foods you love and then added them in moderation later. You WILL be able to eat them again.

9 pounds in less than two weeks is good. I lost 10 pounds in the first two weeks so I was about the same and I was well over 300 pounds. Trust me, you're doing good! But, try not to set unrealistic expectations. It's not healthy to expect to drop 30+ pounds every month. Some months you'll lose less than others. The first six months you'll lose the most, but your weight loss WILL slow down. I'm 9 months out. Last month I lost 4 pounds, but this month we're only 9 days in and I've already lost 5 pounds. And stalls WILL happen! You can't avoid them. But when they happen I just look at my weight loss since surgery and it stresses me out less. I've lost 109 pounds since my surgery. I'm probably losing slower than most due to thyroid issues and not being able to exercise like a normal person, but it's still coming off even if it's slow. Try not to stress through your first stall when it happens. It'll pass.

The risks are low so I wasn't worried, especially since I figured my bad luck already happened as when I'd had brain surgery in 2017 and there was only a 1% chance of getting meningitis... I got meningitis. So I figured I'd already had my run with bad luck and I wasn't worried about anything bad happening for this surgery. I figured positive thinking would go a long way and... I'm 9 months out and had no issues so everything went fine for me.