Loz77

Gosh, I forgot about this site! So nice to go back and follow everyone. As per the beginning of my journey, things continue to not go very well and I am fighting to stop losing weight. I have had my MiniMizer removed as it had slipped and also my gall bladder removed. My surgery anniversary will be on the 18th, so nearly a year out 158 pounds down. I really struggle with digestion issues including constant diarrhoea and really poor absorption. Good news is that food aversion (taste and small) has pretty much gone. But now I eat, it overstimulates my intestines causing the above, which means continued weight loss. I have been on a feeding tube for a while and am currently talking to surgeons about reversal. Congrats to all of you with your upcoming ‘surgiversaries’!
Much Love,
Laura

Gosh, I forgot about this site! So nice to go back and follow everyone. As per the beginning of my journey, things continue to not go very well and I am fighting to stop losing weight. I have had my MiniMizer removed as it had slipped and also my gall bladder removed. My surgery anniversary will be on the 18th, so nearly a year out 158 pounds down. I really struggle with digestion issues including constant diarrhoea and really poor absorption. Good news is that food aversion (taste and small) has pretty much gone. But now I eat, it overstimulates my intestines causing the above, which means continued weight loss. I have been on a feeding tube for a while and am currently talking to surgeons about reversal. Congrats to all of you with your upcoming ‘surgiversaries’!
Much Love,
Laura

So it’s been a year (or close to it) guys! And what a year it has been! Who would have thought so shortly after our surgeries COVID would explode and effect all of our lives!
I am so very grateful I was able to get this surgery before everything got shut down though in some ways it was hard to get support that I probably could have used. I also think I might have lost more weight if Covid didn’t happen, as I have been stuck home with a baby, toddler and young child with not much to do in the cold rainy months we experience here in Vancouver Canada. I am afraid if I hadn’t had the surgery though my weight may have gotten worst due to stress and boredom eating.
I have lost 80lbs but I’m still 25 away from my goal. (I was 270lbs before surgery and now I’m 190lbs I’m 5’8 and would like to weigh 165lbs) I’m really hoping I continue to lose but weight is very slow to come off now. I’m trying to up my exercise to hopefully help keep the pounds coming off. I struggle with Water intake which is another area of improvement.
I love not having intense cravings anymore and to be able to stop after just a taste of chocolate or a sweet. I love that I can run and chase after my kids and take them sledding in the snow. I love that I can sit down on the floor and get back up no problem. I am sleeping better now and I feel a million times better about myself.
My only lingering side effect is Hair loss. My hair is constantly falling out and it’s super annoying. It’s regrowing but still a constant shed.
anyway, where are my feb people at?! I’d love to read some updates to see how everyone is doing.
☺️

Hey Guys,

I just found this site after a hopeful search looking for someone who has or is going through something similar.

I had RNY with a Minimizer Ring on the 18th of February 2020. I am 43 and 5ft 9In. My surgery weight was 296 pounds and I am now 238 pounds. A loss of 58 pounds so far.

I had been planning/researching the surgery for 5 years and after my last failed attempt of maintaining, went ahead with surgery with full knowledge of what to expect (well so I thought).

For full disclosure, my weight problems I think were based on years of yo-yo dieting. Mainly extreme calorie cutting and exercise to get to normal weight. However, when off the ‘diet wagon’ I would only eat a huge meal once a day after not eating all day and being starving when I got home. Usually meals were very much carb based with heavy sauces. I would eat normally on the weekend, but overly big portion sizes. I am not a sweet tooth or an emotional eater, nor am I a fussy eater. I also loved coke zero, which I have just found out is apparently a trickster. Anyways, I think I ruined my metabolism and losing weight was no longer working like it used to!

What I expected:

· 5-10 days of a Keto kind of flu whilst my body adjusted to fat burning mode
· Minimal appetite, but still some kind of signal I needed to eat
· Being easily satiated with small amounts of food
· Having to chew my food 20-30 times
· No Water 30 mins before or 60 mins after food
· Protein first, avoid simple carbs
What I did not expect

· Persistent nausea
· Aversions to all meat/poultry/fish and eggs (physically make me heave) and other random things (sour cream, mushrooms, pumpkin Soup, cheese that has been grilled)
· Complete and utter exhaustion to the point where my personal hygiene is embarrassing because sometimes I can’t muster enough energy to have a shower for days
· Dumping sometimes trying food for the first time, sometimes after having food that did not make me dump last time (for me it is sweating, heart racing, severe cramps and diarrhoea within 30 mins of eating)
· Being so uncomfortably full even if it is just water, or a couple of tiny bites of food. I get less than 1000 calories in a week
· That chewing the food so many times would make most foods unpalatable and having to spit it out or throw up
· The amount of times I belch, heave and bring up thick saliva……all day…..its disgusting and embarrassing!
I had read many stories before the surgery, some positive and some negative and was always quick to judge people thinking they were just negative Nancy’s or hypochondriacs and like attention. So it hard to write this post knowing a lot of people will think what I did.

I have had scans with contrasts and there are no issues. I have been hospitalised for dehydration, low potassium and high blood ketones. Ketones are normal due to weigh loss. Dehydration and potassium easily fixed with IV Fluid.< /p>

I have a gastroscope tomorrow morning to check if there is scar tissue etc causing my issues.

BUT WHAT IF THEY FIND NOTHING???? WILL THIS BE MY FOREVER??? HAS ANYONE DEALT WITH ANYTHING SIMILAR OR IS IT JUST MY BODY FREAKING OUT AND TAKING LONGER THAN NORMAL TO ADJUST?

Thanks if you read this far, it really means a lot. I would love to hear from you. I am open to all feedback.

Best,

Laura (Alice Springs, Australia)

Hey Guys,

I just found this site after a hopeful search looking for someone who has or is going through something similar.

I had RNY with a Minimizer Ring on the 18th of February 2020. I am 43 and 5ft 9In. My surgery weight was 296 pounds and I am now 238 pounds. A loss of 58 pounds so far.

I had been planning/researching the surgery for 5 years and after my last failed attempt of maintaining, went ahead with surgery with full knowledge of what to expect (well so I thought).

For full disclosure, my weight problems I think were based on years of yo-yo dieting. Mainly extreme calorie cutting and exercise to get to normal weight. However, when off the ‘diet wagon’ I would only eat a huge meal once a day after not eating all day and being starving when I got home. Usually meals were very much carb based with heavy sauces. I would eat normally on the weekend, but overly big portion sizes. I am not a sweet tooth or an emotional eater, nor am I a fussy eater. I also loved coke zero, which I have just found out is apparently a trickster. Anyways, I think I ruined my metabolism and losing weight was no longer working like it used to!

What I expected:

· 5-10 days of a Keto kind of flu whilst my body adjusted to fat burning mode
· Minimal appetite, but still some kind of signal I needed to eat
· Being easily satiated with small amounts of food
· Having to chew my food 20-30 times
· No Water 30 mins before or 60 mins after food
· Protein first, avoid simple carbs
What I did not expect

· Persistent nausea
· Aversions to all meat/poultry/fish and eggs (physically make me heave) and other random things (sour cream, mushrooms, pumpkin Soup, cheese that has been grilled)
· Complete and utter exhaustion to the point where my personal hygiene is embarrassing because sometimes I can’t muster enough energy to have a shower for days
· Dumping sometimes trying food for the first time, sometimes after having food that did not make me dump last time (for me it is sweating, heart racing, severe cramps and diarrhoea within 30 mins of eating)
· Being so uncomfortably full even if it is just water, or a couple of tiny bites of food. I get less than 1000 calories in a week
· That chewing the food so many times would make most foods unpalatable and having to spit it out or throw up
· The amount of times I belch, heave and bring up thick saliva……all day…..its disgusting and embarrassing!
I had read many stories before the surgery, some positive and some negative and was always quick to judge people thinking they were just negative Nancy’s or hypochondriacs and like attention. So it hard to write this post knowing a lot of people will think what I did.

I have had scans with contrasts and there are no issues. I have been hospitalised for dehydration, low potassium and high blood ketones. Ketones are normal due to weigh loss. Dehydration and potassium easily fixed with IV Fluid.< /p>

I have a gastroscope tomorrow morning to check if there is scar tissue etc causing my issues.

BUT WHAT IF THEY FIND NOTHING???? WILL THIS BE MY FOREVER??? HAS ANYONE DEALT WITH ANYTHING SIMILAR OR IS IT JUST MY BODY FREAKING OUT AND TAKING LONGER THAN NORMAL TO ADJUST?

Thanks if you read this far, it really means a lot. I would love to hear from you. I am open to all feedback.

Best,

Laura (Alice Springs, Australia)

Hi Rachel98,
im just a newbie two months out. I’m one of the people that currently regret it. I’m not sure if I’ll feel the same in another 3/6/12 months!
They don’t tell you about the food aversions, the weakness, the lack of energy, how even fluids fill you up so you can’t fit anything else in for the rest of the day, the taste changes or the constant nausea. Dehydration is something easily fallen into. I understand I may be one of the very few, but I dump after nearly everything, sometimes new things, sometimes food I’ve had before......it may be a piece of roast pumpkin or a couple of grapes, a piece of cheese or a waterthin cracker. It starts after about 20 minutes......sweating, heart pounding, cramps and then severe diarrhoea. This in turn brings about other medical issues.
I know if I read this before hand from a true and trusted friend, I still would have gone through with the surgery as I never would think it would happen to me, I was healthy, just really fat! I had been researching the surgery for years and thought I knew everything there was to know, but you don’t know how your body will react. For me it was the first surgery EVER! Please be aware that the first few months for some are an absolute nightmare (I am hoping that it’s not forever anyways!).
L x

Hey Shanto
I struggle so much with water too. Weird that diluted juice or diet cordial seems to go down easier......I have only been managing 150 - 250 cals a day so dietitian is fine with it just for the calories. I wonder if less water slows weight loss? I am officially 12 weeks today and am down 71 pounds. I have had a bit of a rough run since surgery, but really feel like I am turning a corner.
I am thinking I will need to start looking at calories and macros soon when I start to be able to eat more. I am lucky to get any Protein in a day, but really it is only early days and if my body has gotten through the last 12 weeks ok, then I'm sure I will get there in the end! Has anyone else started looking into this kind of thing yet or still in the healing phase?
All the best February Guys and Gals
Loz x

Morning Feb Surgery Stars 😊
Not much has really changed here in my little Australian town with regards to the pandemic. All my family continue to work (have 3 adult children all at home still), as do I in the health service. All food is takeaway though, so no date nights, which is fine because I don’t really eat, but I miss that special hubby and I alone time. Other than that, life just seems to be carrying on as usual.
I do feel a bit sad for my sons partner and our grand baby who have been living with us for about 8 months now. Her family is back in our old home town in another state, which means she hasn’t been able to visit her parents, nor them her. Seeing as bubs is growing so quickly, they are missing out on so much! She took 3 steps yesterday!
i haven’t been getting in the fluids and Protein either, but I’m improving each day with just getting something in at least. I’m still at the stage where I deeply regret the surgery, but just because I’ve been so unwell. I crave things like grapes and watermelon. Isn’t it odd how our tastes change from the surgery!
Sending lost of love and positivity to you all who are in the areas of mass suffering.
L x

Hi Grace,
it’s a soft ring that goes over the small pouch to inhibit pouch stretching later on down the track. My problem was mainly that I used to eat one giant evening meal a day. I’m hoping I learn to eat like a normal person, it was just kind of insurance against regain in future years.
The scope was normal, which is great news, but it confuses me as to why I am struggling to live with theses changes whilst others seem to be having a smooth run.
Yes, I’ve lost 58 pounds from the day of surgery, my last weigh in was Tuesday. I was a few kilos more before I travelled for surgery (I live in a fairly remote town in the middle of Australia). It’s been 2 calendar months since surgery today, it feels like forever, it really has been a terrible time!
Hey Jaymmee,
I can’t eat that much yet either, I get a weird hiccup after 2 teaspoons of whatever I can manage and I stop. I have an aversion to all meat and egg so don’t get any of that in. I’ve been managing a really thin watercracker with cheese over 20 minutes, but the cheese has to be cold! Are you eating too fast, or is it a new type of food you are trying?
Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.
L x

Hey Guys, I am a bit late to the party after just finding this group. I had a RNY with minimiser ring on the 18th of Feb. Things haven’t gone as smoothly as expected, but it’s nice to see that I’m not alone after going through this topic. I’m down 58 pounds but am only managing 100-200 calories a day. Having constant nausea, no appetite and the thought of food repulses me. Getting a scope tomorrow, so hoping I will get some answers. If not, then will have to find a way to get used to this new norm. I hope everyone is well. All the best, L x

Hey Shanto
I struggle so much with water too. Weird that diluted juice or diet cordial seems to go down easier......I have only been managing 150 - 250 cals a day so dietitian is fine with it just for the calories. I wonder if less water slows weight loss? I am officially 12 weeks today and am down 71 pounds. I have had a bit of a rough run since surgery, but really feel like I am turning a corner.
I am thinking I will need to start looking at calories and macros soon when I start to be able to eat more. I am lucky to get any Protein in a day, but really it is only early days and if my body has gotten through the last 12 weeks ok, then I'm sure I will get there in the end! Has anyone else started looking into this kind of thing yet or still in the healing phase?
All the best February Guys and Gals
Loz x

I experienced food aversion for the first 3 months after surgery. Physical hunger was completely absent until the 5 1/2 to 6 month mark. At nearly 7 months out, the beginnings of a physical hunger-like sensation are occasionally present but so far it's unlike the sensation experienced prior to WLS (less tenacious, not persistent, dull or muted as opposed to pressing). I don’t really experience much emotional hunger because I spent thousands of hours working on addressing and managing that well in advance of being sleeved.
Feeling physical hungry is healthy and desirable, and it will return—and so it should. The good news is that there's no correlation between physical hunger and habit development: you can create new neural pathways and develop new habits whether or not you’re feeling hungry. There's not enough information in your post to know exactly why you’re asking this question, but if you're asking because you're an emotional eater, the best thing you could ever do for your future post-surgery self is to begin examining that and altering your behaviours as far in advance of surgery as possible. And I'm not talking about during the 7 or 14 day pre-op diet. Start embracing making completely different foods choices by cutting out processed foods and fast food, instead focusing on high quality vegetables, fruits, Beans, pulses and legumes, healthy fats such as nuts and seeds, tofu, tempeh, and sustainably caught wild seafood/clean antibiotic and hormone-free meats and eggs in moderation.
During the first 6-7 months after surgery, you are not driving the loss and will lose the same amount of weight no matter what you do. There are many who don’t appear to comprehend this and resume eating the way they used to once they're able to tolerate more food at roughly the 6 month mark. All you need to do is look around this or any other WLS forum to see that this never ends well. It's extremely common for post-ops to not reach their goal weight, or regain some or all of the weight back. Even those who work at maintenance can gain weight back, just like anyone who's never needed WLS gains weight if they don’t follow a healthful eating plan and don’t exercise.
It's not hunger that drives this, it's a failure to make the correct nutritional choices every day for the rest of their lives. So if you already know you're typically hungry for love, calmness, stability, reassurance, attention, or some sense that no matter what, everything will be alright, address it prior to surgery. Invest in a therapist if you need one and start working with them now. To be successful with WLS long-term, you will need to learn how to give these things to yourself without food.

I had the best one this morning, half a banana, half a cup of baby spinach, 1/4 cup frozen mango, 1/4 cup frozen blueberries, 1/3 cup kefir, Water as required. I make it with my 10 month old granddaughter, as it is part of her routine. Then we divide it between myself, DIL and bubs...…..she loves all smoothies!
We don't usually have blueberries, its usually strawberries or passionfruit with the same of the other ingredients (frozen because it keeps your drink cold). You can use anything really. I use it to swallow down all my vitamins/minerals, which is 8 capsules. I always have a really sore tummy after and feel full all day after having it, but I still think that getting that in with all its nutrients is better than nothing at all. I think we have about half a cup each.
Kefir has more Protein than milk and lots of Probiotics too, so I think it is an improvement on my 3 crackers with cheese...…….that I now dump...…... but used to be the only thing I could keep down. I had some roast pork and roast carrot last night with some thin gravy. It was lovely :)
Still lots of issues with dumping, stomach pain after intake, diarrhoea, zero energy and being puffed just walking/getting dressed...….but right now that's the norm for me and I know its just trying to learn my new system!
Best,
L x

I am so glad there are so many of you that are going through what I am! I posted about a week ago pretty much the exact same, it's been so hard! But the relief just hearing it from you guys that what I am going through is normal...…...what a blessing! My bypass was on February 18th.
I have been averaging 100-200 cals per day. This week (other than this morning, because I ran out of baby spinach and used four leaf mix and it made me gag too many times) I have been having a half cup or so of green smoothie. It takes a couple of hours to get down and makes me feel full (and honestly a little sore) for the WHOLE day. I feel like it is a bit of an accomplishment because I'm keeping it in and its nutritious! On the down side, I am too full to drink much plain Water for the rest of the day.....just a few ounces.....but the smoothie itself has water in it!
If I never had to eat ever again, I would be happy.....it such a chore and super stressful trying to keep up with everything and then feeling like a failure when you don't.
Thinking of you all
L x

Hey Guys, I am a bit late to the party after just finding this group. I had a RNY with minimiser ring on the 18th of Feb. Things haven’t gone as smoothly as expected, but it’s nice to see that I’m not alone after going through this topic. I’m down 58 pounds but am only managing 100-200 calories a day. Having constant nausea, no appetite and the thought of food repulses me. Getting a scope tomorrow, so hoping I will get some answers. If not, then will have to find a way to get used to this new norm. I hope everyone is well. All the best, L x

My heart hurts. How dare you make fun of my glorious scrambled eggs. I worked for minutes on those and they tasted just as boring as every other scrambled egg meal I've made.

Weighed myself yesterday morning, and I was 227 lbs. The weight I was that got me to start this journey to begin with was 427 lbs., almost two years ago. Sure, today I fluctuated up 4 lbs. due to Water retention from what I ate yesterday (and not having a bowel movement until after I'd eaten breakfast), but I count that as a win. For reference, I was 360 lbs on the day of my surgery, 13 months ago.

So I’ve been trying to get pictures every month to allow ME see the progress. I was sleeved 1/7/20. LOOK!

Here’s an interesting development:
When I started this post 3/26, I was 2 weeks post op, still on liquids, dreaming about eating real food again, never yet having overstepped my Portion Control boundaries with new pouch.
Fast forward to now 5 weeks post op, and my new pouch having made me KEENLY aware that SHE is the new sheriff in town making the decisions on what and how much I will eat, not me. And if I didn’t believe her? Just try it. I did, a few times, I took that last bite that I shouldn’t have taken...😩
Whoa, at 5 weeks I would no more ask when I could eat a BIG salad!😖 The very thought of it reminds me of how sick I would be. The beauty of this “new tool” we have, is that it truly is like Pavlov’s dog...a few times of hearing the bell has a way of shaping behavior, because you sure don’t want to revisit torture again.
Moral of the story, SO much changes in the weeks following surgery, the behavioral changes that I certainly needed. Thanks to all of you veterans who already know this stuff, and patiently guide us newbies along! And yes, of course they “told” me this stuff, but some of us hard heads only learn hard lessons through the fire of experience.

Hi RNY pals! I’m almost 2 months post op and have been really struggling with food and fluids. I had an endoscopy a couple of weeks ago and the doc stretch my pouch a bit but not too much since it’s still early on. I’ve had this continuous horrible taste in my mouth, I have no desire to eat anything due to my taste buds changing and every day I’m fatigued or just don’t feel good.
When do things get to a baseline? Will I enjoy foods again or be able to have dinner with friends? I guess I’m just in a rough spot and wanted to see if anyone is or had experienced anything similar or can share so tips or stories?

thanks so much!

I'm almost two months out also, bypass was on 2/14. I feel good about about the weight loss but wonder how to live and enjoy food again. I'm 43lbs down and also discouraged about my taste buds which are gone. I eat about 350-500 calories per day and struggle with almost everything as nothing tastes good anymore. I am just trying to keep food down-everything smells bad and makes me gag a little. I tolerate canned Soup and broth And strangely, diet low carb ice cream but only about 3oz at the most. I saw someone suggest refried Beans with cheese. I didn't think it would wrk, but I have had 1-2 oz a day for two days and they have been ok. I'm hoping the taste buds get better because I want to enjoy food Especially meat, again and balance it with my new life. Good luck to you in your journey.

Hey Guys,

I just found this site after a hopeful search looking for someone who has or is going through something similar.

I had RNY with a Minimizer Ring on the 18th of February 2020. I am 43 and 5ft 9In. My surgery weight was 296 pounds and I am now 238 pounds. A loss of 58 pounds so far.

I had been planning/researching the surgery for 5 years and after my last failed attempt of maintaining, went ahead with surgery with full knowledge of what to expect (well so I thought).

For full disclosure, my weight problems I think were based on years of yo-yo dieting. Mainly extreme calorie cutting and exercise to get to normal weight. However, when off the ‘diet wagon’ I would only eat a huge meal once a day after not eating all day and being starving when I got home. Usually meals were very much carb based with heavy sauces. I would eat normally on the weekend, but overly big portion sizes. I am not a sweet tooth or an emotional eater, nor am I a fussy eater. I also loved coke zero, which I have just found out is apparently a trickster. Anyways, I think I ruined my metabolism and losing weight was no longer working like it used to!

What I expected:

· 5-10 days of a Keto kind of flu whilst my body adjusted to fat burning mode
· Minimal appetite, but still some kind of signal I needed to eat
· Being easily satiated with small amounts of food
· Having to chew my food 20-30 times
· No Water 30 mins before or 60 mins after food
· Protein first, avoid simple carbs
What I did not expect

· Persistent nausea
· Aversions to all meat/poultry/fish and eggs (physically make me heave) and other random things (sour cream, mushrooms, pumpkin Soup, cheese that has been grilled)
· Complete and utter exhaustion to the point where my personal hygiene is embarrassing because sometimes I can’t muster enough energy to have a shower for days
· Dumping sometimes trying food for the first time, sometimes after having food that did not make me dump last time (for me it is sweating, heart racing, severe cramps and diarrhoea within 30 mins of eating)
· Being so uncomfortably full even if it is just water, or a couple of tiny bites of food. I get less than 1000 calories in a week
· That chewing the food so many times would make most foods unpalatable and having to spit it out or throw up
· The amount of times I belch, heave and bring up thick saliva……all day…..its disgusting and embarrassing!
I had read many stories before the surgery, some positive and some negative and was always quick to judge people thinking they were just negative Nancy’s or hypochondriacs and like attention. So it hard to write this post knowing a lot of people will think what I did.

I have had scans with contrasts and there are no issues. I have been hospitalised for dehydration, low potassium and high blood ketones. Ketones are normal due to weigh loss. Dehydration and potassium easily fixed with IV Fluid.< /p>

I have a gastroscope tomorrow morning to check if there is scar tissue etc causing my issues.

BUT WHAT IF THEY FIND NOTHING???? WILL THIS BE MY FOREVER??? HAS ANYONE DEALT WITH ANYTHING SIMILAR OR IS IT JUST MY BODY FREAKING OUT AND TAKING LONGER THAN NORMAL TO ADJUST?

Thanks if you read this far, it really means a lot. I would love to hear from you. I am open to all feedback.

Best,

Laura (Alice Springs, Australia)