LAJ23

Somehow in the last couple of days, I've GAINED 2lbs. Not sure how. My food log reflects that I'm getting in about 50oz - 60oz of liquids (between water, Gatorade & protein drink) and approx. 40g of protein daily for the last week-10 days. The dietician wants me to "up" my protein intake big time, but I just don't know how I can do it. She suggested different foods and adding another meal daily, but NO snacking - even on healthy, protein-rich foods. I still have very little appetite and when I do eat, I'm full almost instantly. How I'm going to get MORE food in is beyond me. She said if I don't do this, I will likely stall or even start gaining again. Ugh...this is getting frustrating!

UPDATE! Hey everyone - so I had my 1 month (actually, 5 week) appointment with the dietician this afternoon. She told me that "one or two Triscuits" with tuna salad or hummus would be fine. I asked about the Quest Protein chips and she told me to avoid them but didn't really say why. She said, "You don't want to get your protein from there". So, I don't know what that's all about. I bought mini smoked gouda Triscuits and will try a couple slowly, knowing they are very dry and can get stuck. She also said Wheat Thins are a good option as well. Thanks for all the suggestions!

Well, it seems I've hit my first plateau. I've been fluctuating between 206-207 for close to two weeks now. Nothing has changed as far as my diet (in "phase 3" - soft/ground meat, soft veggies, most fruit, etc.) and I still have a minimal appetite. I do weigh myself at the same time every day (morning) and under the same conditions (after going to the bathroom, before eating/drinking, etc.). While I'm down 41# since my highest weight - which was in February 2020 - I'm really only down 16# since surgery on 8/19. I'm sure this is 100% normal, but I find it frustrating. I've increased walking & bike riding (can't really work out as I have terrible arthritis in my back & hips) but I'm not sure what else I can do to jump-start weight loss again. Any suggestions?

Yesterday I had my first post-op dr. visit (surgery was 8/19). When asked what protein shake I was drinking, I told the PA "Premier Protein". She nearly had a heart attack. While she was never rude or nasty, she was very firm and clear that I should NEVER drink that "junk" and I should ONLY be drinking Unjury Unflavored powder - which she made me order during our visit! I thought this was so odd. I went thru the bariatric program at another hospital before changing at the last minute, and PP shakes were not only acceptable with that program, they were encouraged, so I bought two cases of it at Costco pre-surgery. I didn't want to waste it, so that's why I'm trying to use it up. Any idea why this program is being so incredibly strict about only being able to drink a certain protein? I realize programs vary, but this seems unreasonable.

Aside from unnecessary/unwanted carbs, is pasta actually bad for you? As in, will it tear up your sleeve or make you sick? I’ve literally had probably less than 50 carbs in the last 3 weeks (surgery was 8/19) and I’ve had issues eating & drinking period. Can minimal carbs really be that terrible? The only response I’ve gotten from my dietician is that “pasta should be avoided”, but she refused to be specific as to why.

Thanks, Alex. I understand the importance of whey isolate (which I've since found out I have an allergy to!), but I was more curious about why this particular PA was being SO insistent that I ONLY use Unjury powder. It just seemed odd. I'm not sure if you read the other comments on this post (some of which were very rude and uncalled for), but I explained that I went thru the entire program at one hospital where PP was not only accepted/approved but encouraged. I ended up switching hospitals at the last minute and only met with the new dietician once, pre-op, and she kind of glossed over the post-op diet, seeing as I had already gone thru the program at another hospital. While she did say she wasn't a fan of PP, she didn't disallow it - only the PA did, two weeks after my surgery - that's when I got the stern talking-to. That's where my confusion & concern about her pushing a particular product so strongly came in and why I posted.

I had VSG on 8/19. Everything had been going well until I started my latest "phase" of food intake. As of Thursday, I'm in the "soft" phase and can eat ground/shredded meat and other things. Friday night, I had about 2 tablespoons - if that - of very moist shredded chicken and about 1 tablespoon of refried beans - I felt comfortably full. Since I had leftovers, I had about the same amount for lunch yesterday (in addition to a few teaspoons of cottage cheese for dinner, a protein shake, and lots of water throughout the day). When I weighed myself Wednesday (as required prior to my first post-op dr. visit that afternoon) I was 211. Last night, I literally felt heavier, so I weighed myself this morning - I'm at 213.5. My food & water intake have been below what they should be as I seem to get a stomachache every time I eat/drink (the doctor is aware) so I don't get it. Any idea why this is happening? I'm going to the bathroom (ie, not constipated) and eating/drinking less than I should be. To be clear, I am NOT weighing myself daily, however this 2.5# gain in 3 days is disheartening. 😞

I'm not sure what you think I lied about - I didn't lie about anything. I went thru the entire program at one hospital, then changed hospitals 3 weeks before surgery. The reason for that is because I found a hospital much closer to my house, and the original surgeon was pushing me to get gastric bypass when I didn't feel that I needed such invasive surgery and was more comfortable with VSG. I only met with the dietician ONCE pre-op and that was 10 days before surgery for 30 minutes, as they were already aware I completed all of this at the first hospital. At the first hospital, Premier Protein was not only approved, but it was also encouraged, so that's what I was drinking. While the new dietician wasn't a fan of PP, she didn't say I COULDN'T have it. My entire pre-op diet, I drank PP without issue. I never went "awall" (it's actually AWOL - absent without leave) as you seem to think. Please don't comment, especially so rudely, when you obviously don't have the facts about my situation and are comfortable making false accusations. If you didn't want to answer my original post, you could've just scrolled by without being so insolent.

Oddly, they totally push Fairlife. It just seems to be PP that they are against. To be clear, it was the PA at my post-op visit that was REALLY against it. I only met the dietician once before surgery and while she said PP was not a good choice, she didn't really explain why she didn't say it wasn't allowed. Pre-op I drank two PP shakes a day and they seemed fine with it.

Here's what I'm taking: 2 Flintstones Complete B-12 D3 B50 Fish oil Biotin Vitamin D (1/wk) Calcium chews Olly women's multivitamin in the evening (per Dr.) Ursodiol AM & PM (Rx - prevents gallstones) Rx meds (2/day - was taking before surgery) GasX or Colace as needed Just seems like A LOT!

Thank you. It's not my "goal" to get carbs, I just need to get some kind of food in me one way or another and absolutely nothing is appealing or tastes good. Pasta smelled great the other night when he made it, so I was going to try a small bite and see what happens, but I didn't want to risk being in excruciating pain or causing damage to my sleeve. I was able to eat about a teaspoon of garlic hummus last night - that was dinner. 😞

Thanks, everyone. I'm not planning on making a huge bowl of spaghetti for dinner! The reason I asked is because my husband made a cheese lasagna the other night and it was literally the only thing that has seemed palatable to me in over a week. I had a UGI x-ray yesterday morning and it was all clear. For the past week or so, any time I eat, I just can't stand the taste (no matter what it is), and when I try to force myself to eat or drink, have almost instant stomach pain and feel full. I've felt very over-full, even though I go days without eating anything. I was asking about the pasta because I thought I would try one or two bites, but I was afraid I'd be in agony. At this point (just for a day or so), I'm not concerned about carbs or calories. I need to get SOMETHING in my body. The radiologist who did my UGI x-ray - although not a bariatric doctor, he works with bariatric patients frequently - agreed (my bariatric doctor only sent me a note saying my results were fine, with no other advice about what could be wrong or what I could do to try to eat). I'm also deep in ketosis and am concerned I might actually have ketoacidosis, based on the symptoms I've read. I'm going to ask my doctor about this as well as I have every single symptom for it. No worries for future consumption of "real" pasta...I don't plan on indulging frequently or having much of it.

I’m still dealing with A LOT of pain at the big incision site. Every time I move, it feels like my stomach is going to rip open. Honestly, it doesn’t feel any better, whatsoever, than it did day one (surgery was Wednesday morning). Also, I’m having a lot of pain/pressure when eating & drinking. I realize this is normal, but I guess I didn’t expect it to be this bad or for the gas/air pain to last this long. It’s in my ribs, shoulders, back, etc. Plus, I’m achy from sleeping on the couch. I get comfy there, but end up pretty much in the same position all night, so I’m super stiff in the morning. I’m making myself move around & walk, but even standing for more than a minute or two is agonizing. Is all this normal? Is there something else I could be doing? Attempting a shower this morning and hoping that will help. 🤞

Well, it's been a rough few days. Since last Friday evening, I've felt like an overstuffed turkey. My sleeve has felt like an overinflated beach ball (as I previously posted). I messaged my doctor's office and they think I might be having an allergic reaction to whey protein, so I've stopped that and need to start on soy-based protein drinks (not a fan of those either). What worries me is that they also asked me to schedule a UGI x-ray "ASAP", so I'm going Friday morning. I'm eating/drinking less & less every day, but not really losing weight (1lb. since Friday). I can hardly get down 15oz water/drink per day, and if I have more than a couple forkfuls/spoonfuls of an "approved" food each day, I feel like I just ate a massive dinner. I bet I'm not getting more than 100-150 calories a day in, and probably not more than 10g of protein. Takes me two hours to get all my pills/vitamins in. I'm extremely weak, my muscles hurt, my gut hurts, nonstop diarrhea, headaches GI system is constantly gurgling...ugh. Have any of you experienced this?

I'm 3 weeks out and down 40# from my highest weight which was in February 2020. I lost about 15# pre-op and 25# post-op. HW 247 CW 207

Sorry to hear you're not feeling well. Yes, it does get better! I felt pretty miserable for the first 4-6 days, then I literally woke up one morning and felt really good. I'm now over 3 weeks out and having a (hopefully) minor complication and have to go for a UGI x-ray this morning. I've hardly been able to drink or eat anything for nearly a week as my sleeve constantly feels full, my abdomen is distended, and other things. Hoping it's nothing major. That said, all surgery-related pain is long gone. Feel better soon!

Hang in there! It does get better! The morning I checked in for surgery, I was 223.2. When I left the next day I was about 9# heavier due to the air & fluids they pump you full of. Within a week, I lost that weight, and now I'm down an additional 15# on top of the 10# from surgery. I had surgery on 8/19, so I'm 3 weeks out. This past weekend I was stuck at 209.5 for about 4-5 days, but I think it was due to a whey protein allergy. I'm also having a minor complication, so I'm having a UGI x-ray tomorrow morning to see if I have a blockage or something else. As long as you're feeling ok, follow the instructions and things will get back on track! 🙂

Thankfully, I didn't have to do any kind of "test" before leaving the hospital. I was able to drink, go to the bathroom and the pain was mostly manageable (with meds), so I was released. Glad to know it's not that bad though! 🙂

OMG! I had no idea what was all involved with this test! No one has mentioned that. They just told me it was 30 mins, and I had to have an empty stomach. I have terrible vertigo, so this might be a problem, but thanks for the warning! I'm sorry you had to go thru all that. 😞 Funny you mention Premier Protein. When I first started this journey, I was planning to have the surgery done at hospital "A". They were all for me drinking PP shakes (basically let patients choose what they wanted). Then, I switched to hospital "B" as it was much closer to home and I decided I didn't want to get pushed into GB, and opted for the sleeve instead. Hosp. "B" is absolutely, 100% against Premier Protein! They won't allow it for the pre-op or post-op diet - although I've been drinking it anyway - until they made me switch to Unjury whey isolate powder last Friday. Now I'm back to PP until I can get to the store to try soy stuff - which I really don't like. It'll be interesting to see what this xray turns up.

Hi everyone, I'm 17 days out and for the last couple of days, I've been feeling strange. I've been completely drained of energy (nearly passed out while driving last Thusday - I did mention it the dr., who oddly didn't seem too concerned) and have been feeling increasingly "full". My sleeve feels like an overinflated beach ball. I'm not in pain, but it's definitely very uncomfortable. I try to force myself to eat & drink, but it just makes me more uncomfortable and borderline nauseous. I haven't mentioned the fullness part to the dr. because it really started Friday afternoon/evening, after they were closed for the holiday weekend. It's also very uncomfortable if I lay on my back and cross my hands over my stomach when taking a nap or trying to sleep - or if I put any pressure on it whatsoever, even super light. This never bothered me prior to Friday. Any idea what this might be?

Thanks. It's such an odd feeling! I literally feel like I'm force-feeding myself. I've also been VERY weak. Oddly though, my 18 yr. old son came home from work yesterday saying he felt very weak and has now been sleeping 13 hours. We both have a very slight cough (nothing terrible), no fever, etc. but I wonder if we have some kind of bug. That said, he didn't have WLS, so no issues with his tummy. I will send my doctor a note today and hopefully will hear from them first thing in the morning (today is a holiday here in the US).

Thanks, but this actually started after I was doing only shakes & water. I'm in the "soft" food phase now (sleeved 8/19), but can hardly eat anything. I constantly feel like I'm force-feeding myself after eating a 10 course Thanksgiving dinner and can barely move. I literally can't get down more than about 20oz-30oz of water and less than 10oz of my protein drink per day. I could go days without eating as it just makes me super uncomfortable. It's not a gas thing (just fine in that department! LOL!), so I'm not sure GasX would help, but I guess it couldn't hurt to try.

Thanks, everyone! Oddly, I got onto the scale a few hours later and it read 209.5 - which is more like where I should be. I'm guessing it has to be the scale, but the stupid thing is brand new! I bought it when I started this journey, so I'm not sure what happened.

Thanks for the tip. The scale is in the same spot in my bedroom - never moves - and it's brand new. 😞

Hey everyone! Thanks so much for the feedback and info. Sorry I didn't reply sooner - I was under the weather big time with allergies yesterday (still pretty bad this morning). Yeah, I don't know what affiliation - if any - she has with Unjury, but it seemed pretty weird that she was so firm on me ordering it. She was also extremely firm on me ordering the Bariatric Advantage calcium citrate chews (which I also did). The hospital I went thru seems really hung up on being anti-PP. Even the dietician who I met with pre-op denounced it. Anyway, Unjury and BA chews are on their way! Thanks again for all the feedback. 🙂