ShoppGirl

Yea insurance companies seem to have things backwards sometimes. I’m so glad you were able to get it though. I commend you for making this investment in your health!! Is there anything you have learned along the way that you wish you had known going in?

Well you are being such a trooper I’ll tell you. I hope you get it worked out real soon. Probably stuff you already know about the low carb if you’ve had a sensitivity to gluten. I just going to say that I learned that fajitas and Italian sausage witb peppers and onions which I like both (minus the rice of course) are relatively low carb. And cauli rice isn’t bad as long as it’s mixed in something witb flavor. Night before last I learned that crustless quiche is super easy to make and In the muffin tin it’s perfect little portions. Last night I made a low carb Italian bake that was Italian sausage with spinach and cheeses (the recipe called for mushrooms but I substituted onions). That one I’m not sure about the fat though. It wasn’t listed but for 6 servings it has two cups of mozz cheese, a quarter cup Parmesan and 16 oz of ricotta. I’m waiting to hear from my surgeon what my post op fat requirements will be and I need to work that out and see if it’s on plan. That recipe worked out to 373 calories but I didn’t calculate the fat before I tossed all the packages. Tonight I had leftovers of the Italian bake that is probably too fatty and I baked instead of cooking . I made low carb banana muffins that another poster shared with me and they are pretty yummy. They use almond flour and allulose to cut the carbs. They are surprisingly tasty. Basically I am not really a big cook and I did not experiment with healthy dishes last time around. I Just tried to commit to eating like you have to now (meat and veggies) but for life and I couldn’t do it. I got board and I found things that were within the allowed calories while the portions were small but once I could eat more they actually added up too fast. This time I’m just trying ti find at least A handful of things that are actually tasty to me that will work when I finally get back to regular foods. Something to look forward to while I’m in the weight loss stage. And it’s kinda weird but I’m not hating the cooking as much as I used to. It’s kinda like knowing that it’s actually something good for my body makes it a little less of a chore to me.

I just made these and yummm. I made them according to directions except I added the vanilla you suggested but wanted to see if it was sweet enough with 1/2 cup and if I should double the banana and I will increase those next time but even as they are they are quite a little treat. And simple now that I realize it’s just mix together the dry stuff then add in the wet. I kept going back and forth on my phone to get the measurements. Anyways, pretty easy and super tasty too. thanks so much for sharing. 🙏🏼

I am so glad to hear that you are doing so well. Congrats on your loss but even bigger congrats on the “normal” on your blood test for diabetes. That’s amazing!! May I ask if your Surgery was a virgin surgery or revision?

If you are due for vitamin b that could be your culprit. I have a family member who has low b12 naturally and when she is nearly due for her injection it zaps her energy big time. Could be because your body is recovering from surgery too your noticing it sooner? I guess you will know soon enough if that has anything to do with it. If not, it’s also possible it has nothing at all to do with your surgery. In which case a call to your PCP may be in order. I hope You figure it out real soon.

Wow. It’s amazing that your work has healthy options. I can see where it’s kinda hard to measure things at work though. Just a thought if you are measuring by volume. Amazon sells containers that I find handy when I’m eating healthy to pack my snacks that you may be able to use now to measure your lunch. Mine are made by easy lunch boxes and these have four square sections (they sell one that’s bigger also but I usually tend to grab the one with 4) basically they make homemade lunchables. I just measured witb water and each section holds 1/2 cup if you fill it to the line (not overflowing). So half way would be 1/4 cup Maybe you can use or transfer your lunch to a container like this and that way you will have a better idea of how much you are eating?? It’s kinda Like having four measuring cups without having to use an actual measuring cup or a bunch of containers. Plus, you will likely love them later if you need to pack healthy snacks anyways. The ones I got are $11.99 for four and they come in handy to pack smaller portions of fruit, cheese, veggies, lunch meat, jerky, nuts, etc for snacks on the run.

Thanks so much for your reply. I’m sorry to hear you are struggling a bit but glad you are tolorating at least some real foods and getting your protein in. I am trying low carb recipes each day and have found a few that are good for me. I just have to sift through the super high fat ones that I’m guessing won’t be ideal post op. I won’t get into specifics since you are limited in what you’re eating right now. I’m kinda shocked that you are still dealing with nausea and abdominal pain at four months. I know everyone’s body is differnt but Do they act like that is common for recovery? Is the vitamin deficiency related to the surgery?

I was going to suggest it was maybe the amount of time he expected you to be under. They try to keep that minimal. It sounds like you are doing great. And you’re half way there!!. Great job on the pre op diet.

Congratulations!! I am glad you had such a great team and that like you said you were still in hospital. I shiver when I think of if it was me and I was home I may not have even noticed my BP was up. If they specifically told me to take it every two hours, maybe but if not… Anyways, it sounds like you found a little gem of a team over there and I’m sure your sharing will be helpful to so many. I think for my revision I may ask to go ahead and stay the extra night if they give me the option now. I just wonder why they don’t have recovery houses for surgeries other than cosmetic. I assume they check things such as your vitals and make sure you follow all your post op instructions to the tee. That would be good option if you were still in a great deal of pain and lived alone or just live worn someone who has to work most of the day. Or they would have probably reported your BP to your excellent team and he would have requested they brought you back to hosptial. That and visiting nurses. I have had them come to my home for both “cosmetic” procedures I’ve had but never have they mentioned them for the others. Maybe you just have to ask? ignore me, my mind is just wandering. lol. Congratulations again on your goal. I’m so very happy for you!! For that and that all the surgery stuff is behind you.

Talk to your surgeons office. Something may be off in your labs. Low B12 is one thing that can cause low energy really quick but you don’t want to guess and take extra. I’m sure there are a handful of things that could be causing it. Don’t suffer trying to figure it out on your own. Get some labs done and your team should be able to tell you exactly what you need.

I went and bought cauli rice and zucchini spirals today and tried the rice again tonight. I’ve had it before but just remembered it not really having a flavor. Same thing this time but I added more sauce to my meal and it wasn’t bad. I had it with Italian sausage and peppers from the factor meals I ordered that are low calories not but low carb. I tossed the red potatoes and subbed in the cauli rice. If that’s what they are talking about when they say low carb, I think I can do it. Dinner was a hit. I added it to my list of things to try to make myself to add variety. I just need to find a low carb marinara sauce I’m guessing. Raos makes one that 6g carb. I added that to my cart with the Italian sausages to try to make that meal myself later this week. I am also going to pick up a spaghetti squash and the ragu bolognese sauce @Spinoza suggested at publix because they sell it already halved and I find that difficult to do. PS, I am not a big cook historically so fingers crossed it works out for me. Question? Has anyone tried the Italian turkey sausage to cut some of the fat too.

I’m replying to myself so others who are interested in the same topic can learn what I have found. Crustless Quiche low carb and it is EASY to make without a crust. It’s just scrambled eggs in a pan. I just popped some in the oven from a low carb cookbook with broccoli and cheddar. I am not certain whether the one cup of cheese is too much for 8 servings but that can be adjusted I think. The servings are bariatric size. It uses a muffin tin. Anyways, I have been buying quiche for years and now that I know it’s so easy I can control what I put in it. If I’m the only one who didn’t realize this just ignore me. But I’m excited. 😂

Lots of people just mix protein shakes with their coffee. Lots of flavor options and it helps jump start your protein too. I’m off to Amazon to search for your cold brew jar now. 😂

First of all congratulations on your loss. Everyone says that the first place you gain weight is the last place you will lose it when it comes back off. Do you remember being around this size before and gaining in your belly? I know that I first noticed it in my belly and face. Ab exercises may help because I noticed that my ab muscles are practically non existent and I think it’s due to not sitting up tall since I’ve put on the weight. Standing and sitting up tall and holding my belly in makes a huge difference in how my body appears.

If you feel like therapy can help you consider finding one that takes your insurance or even payment plans. I didn’t do it the first time around because I couldn’t find anyone taking new patients and I gained my weight back. Now I am facing revision and working on starting with one that is private pay but I asked if she can give a lot of homework so I hopefully won’t need as many sessions. You don’t necessarily have to do like every week I don’t think. I haven’t met with her yet but I’m hoping I can do like once or twice a month to start and do my homework in between. I have a regular therapist and she wants to speak with her so my hopes are she will basically tell my regular therapist how to help me and I won’t need her too long. I will be posting about how it goes I’m sure. Lol

Hello @ms.sss I actually really do appreciate your response. You are pretty accurate in your assessment, lol, I definitely have my moments but for the most part I tend to be pretty agreeable and sometimes that bites me. i have taken A little breather after yesterday’s meeting with my surgeons’ PA and waking up to a stranger taking their time to say I should too makes me realize I’m not just being overly anxious. Thank you!! I did make a call just now to see if the only other surgeon I would consider does this procedure and he does not So I guess the most obvious options at this point are to just go with the bypass instead or to ask ALOT of questions and pose some really uncomfortable ones about the surgein and that team that I may not like the answers too. Regardless I realize I need to slow this bus down a great deal and really think this one through. My thoughts so far are, when the surgeon sits down with me and my list of questions IF I feel better that HE has done his research and both he and I are confident he has this, then I just need to worry about the aftercare. I need to be bold and require that he gives a way to get HIM, post op if I have any urgent concerns. And I need to know who he turns to if he doesn’t know the answer. I know for my first post op appointment I will see him but maybe I can see him ever so often past that. Especially if I am feeling lost. The PA said yesterday that I may get him or the surgeon if I called with questions immediately post op and he claimed he wouldn’t just give me an answer to give me an answer but it sorta felt like what he did for a half hour with my questions. I am just going to have to go out of my comfort zone a bit and bluntly say that I don’t feel like the rest of the team is prepared to handle my care with this particular procedure. I must get the point across that the PA just can’t answer all my questions at this point and I wouldn’t feel confident in his advice about any post op questions. Or, Perhaps he could just make the PA do the research now? I mean he is practically a doctor. They know how to learn things. I just don’t think he has tried with this procedure yet. He did seem to know alot about the DS, Just not this modified version. I can ask to meet with him again after he has had a chance to prepare and see how I feel with him. My gut has gotten me this far?? As far as the dietician goes. I think I just need a list of what macros he wants me to stick to and to know what type of carbs really count and I think I can take it from there at least witb the help of this community. I also think I can shop around for a different dietician once I have the requirements If I feel like I even need one. I’m hoping that the dietician gets the exact requirements from the surgeon in preparation for our meeting in two weeks. If not I will need to ask him that when I meet with him as well. I guess the skinny about the surgeon, though is that I am going to have to pump the brakes a bit and put on my big girl panties. I need to have some awkward conversations and just mentally prepare myself that the result could be that I don’t get exactly what I thought I wanted.

I am contemplating a revision surgery from sleeve to SADI. I am in the research process now. I asked my doctor what I could do to get started and he said to keep my carbs below 40 for now. Well I have questions what about net carbs? I am looking at a package of wraps and it’s only four net carbs but it’s 32 g of total carbs. I understand that it has a lot of fiber, and that you subtract the fiber from the carbs to get net carbs, but does the post surgical body care that you’re getting the fiber as well. in other words, if my post surgical plan was 40 carbs a day could I have this tortilla and would it count for 4 g of carbs or 32 g of carbs towards my goal?? also, I think I read somewhere that too much fiber may cause an issue post surgery as well- will 28 g of fiber be too much??

I haven’t had my revision surgery yet and I did it the old fashioned way with my sleeve but someone mentioned the Baritastic app. I’m pretty sure that tracks everything.

Well I met with the PA who did not know a lot about SADI at all. I asked several of my questions and he said ALOT if words that actually said nothing to answer my questions. I guess I just need to sit tight and see what the surgeon has to say. I am not a very patient person though. It’s killing my to wait a whole month for answers. 😩

I am currently three years post sleeve sitting ten pounds heavier than when I stared contemplating the SADI revision surgery. I am pretty hopeful and excited this time though. I am already eating better, exhaustively researching the procedure and the future diet. Finally I found a therapist that specializes in disordered eating near me who is taking new patients. It wouldn’t be possible without telehealth because she’s a couple hours away (something positive that came from COVID). Within 15 minutes tonight we discussed my mental health, medications, medical history, potential surgery, a change in the dietician and touched on some of my emotional eating concerns. She thinks she can help me and she asked me to think about it and talk it over with my current therapist and if we agree it’s a good idea she wants me to sign a release so that she and my therapist can work together. I feel so excited and hopeful that this is going to make all the difference this time. I am curious how long the process usually takes. I’m hoping I will have a pretty good idea of how much help I need and know whether I am ready to move forward by the time my surgery date rolls around.

Thanks. 😊

I’m so sorry you are having issues. Hopefully it’s just the one week and you are back on track. If you are allowed caffeine, the premiere protein caffe latte was the only shake that didn’t taste extra sweet to me. Some people said they just mixed a shake with coffee to achieve this as well. Others on here have mentioned mixing the shakes with fairlife milk to thin them out a bit and I’m guessing that cuts the sweetness too. If not, I guess just stick with the soups since they are actually staying down okay. I’m glad you are not vomiting anymore and you are meeting uour hydration goals.

it’s interesting to hear the differnt responses from differnt teams. I think which surgery we had plays a part in it too. I’m meeting with the PA in a couple hours in hopes of getting some of these questions answered. I’m really curious to see the response.

Ooh. PB cookie dough does sound good. Why were you set back to liquids? Have you tried the clear protein. I used the ones by premiere protein my first time around and they are pretty good. Seems like it was fruit punch or peach flavor was the options. I don’t lile peaches but the fruit punch wasn’t bad.

I supposed the OP has already worked this out since the post was 2015 but I just want to add that the surgeons do then to weight loss drugs as one of the tools in their belts post surgery now. They have quite a few in addition to phentermine nowadays too. For anyone out there experiencing weight gain please touch base with your team. I was unable to take the meds because if interactions with other meds I was on but that was definitely an option that was presented to me early on and for someone with only a fair amount of weight to lose it could help. I have taken phentermine in the past and it did reduce my appetite significantly. My problem is I wake up several times and night and eat too so once the med wore off I was hungry. For those reasons they didn’t work for me but they do work for many people.