ShoppGirl

I took it for several months after sleeve. Just a spoonful a day in my crystal light. I used the generic powder at Walmart. Much cheaper. Like arabesque I discontinued it once I was eating larger portions and more variety.

Looks like you’ve got tons of advice here but I will add what worked for me. I had this issue once and I took milk of magnesia the first time it worked like a charm but the NP said to start taking benefiber daily to prevent it from happening again. I took a spoonful of the generic powder one from Walmart dissolved in my crystal light each morning. I continued that until my servings got much closer to normal serving size and I was actually eating some fruits and veggies. At that point I weaned off of it and I’ve been fine since. Many people do have to remain in something preventative forever though.

Not everyone has to do the pre op diet. It varies greatly between doctor and amongst patients. I personally had a low carb type diet for a week and just the normal liquid thing the day before. The purpose of the diet is to shrink your liver so that it’s not in the way during surgery. If your doctor doesn’t require it then they don’t think you need it. Count your blessings. For many people the preop diet is the hardest part.

You can bake your faves and package up the rest in little treat bags and drop them off at an assisted living facility. They love to get treats and some of those people don’t have a lot of family that’s close by so they don’t get many visitors. Someone even popping in to say hi and dropping something off real quick makes their day.

Your hunger will come back eventually but if you are truly having a hard time getting in calories maybe try adding healthy fats to increase calories without increasing portions. Things like oils and dressings or avacado and nuts (if you can have them) or nut butters will increase your calories pretty quick.

If you do get to the point that you need fluids, contact your team first. They should be able to arrange for you to get them without going to the ER. I had to get them and I did go to the hospital building but it was a different part. I thought for sure I was going to be sent to the ER.

Perhaps they would let you keep a bottle of better dressing there so that you can eat salads at least if you can’t bring your own meals entirely. (And maybe a ziplock with sOme lean protein to add to a salad). Or if your friends with who is cooking maybe they will cook it with the spray instead of using oils?? I know when I worked at a retirement community in the restaurant they bent the rules a little making certain to end up with an extra chicken breast since that’s all I really liked On the menu. That was years ago though and I was tiny tiny so of course everyone wanted to make sure I ate something back then. lol. Bringing food would probably be the easiest solution if they will let you. Regardless of where you go whether it’s work or play you will likely have to bring food with you the majority of the time in order to stay on track so it’s not a bad habit to get into. Depending on your usage, You may consider investing in a really good cooler if they won’t let you keep it in The fridge. I bought a yeti cooler post surgery and they are not cheap but it’s amazing. Keeps stuff cold with ice for days and for hours with just ice packs- in the car in the summer even!! The only issue I have are the size choices. I got the smallest actual cooler. The hopper I think and it’s still kinda big for a short outing but for drinks and food for the day it would probably be perfect. Regardless it easily fits bottled water standing up which is not a given with coolers. I keep a ziplock filled with crystal light packets in my purse and carry my water any time I leave the house which has probably paid for the cooler by now (I’m over a year and a half out though).

I hope your co silt went well and you are on your journey towards bypass now. You may have a 3-6 month requorement if you are going through insurance where you have to go in each month and get your weight checked while you try to lose weight under a doctors supervision. That seems to be a requirement by many companies. From then it just depends on how quick you get approval back from insurance and can get scheduled.

I didn’t have any either. I think maybe it depends on what happens during your surgery to warrant them.

Also, have you had your height measured recently? We shrink as we age so you may have a little higher BMI than you think of your doctors are like mine and just use the old measurements for years.

I only recently had elevated cortisol levels and am literally researching Cushings today as I await further testing. There is something called cycling cushings that often leads to delay in diagnosis because the initial test can not pick it up? Just a thought.

My husband bought me a fancy scale for Christmas that measures the body fat percentage and all that. I never use those functions. It is pretty consistent in terms of weight though. Better than the cheaper ones I have used in the past.

Oh wow. So sorry to hear this. I hope you get a date soon.

If is great that you are getting as much ready ahead as you can but also if you have someone who can pop by and tidy a few things while you recover it may be a good idea to call in that favor (if you have someone at home who can do it. Even better). It drove me crazy just to sit and look at all the things that needed to be done and not just get up and do them for days.

I woke up with one on after surgery. I have to admit it was a nice stand in for not having a bra on. Kinda lifted the girls or at least felt like it cause there was fabric beneath them. Lol. I was advised that I could use it or lose it as I desired. I took it off to shower and never put it back on because I didn’t notice a real difference. I have heard people who carried a lot of weight around their bellies say it helps though. I think it’s just a preference thing.

Okay so I have been following but not posting much for a little while. I have been frustrated, feeling like I don’t have much advice to offer others because I have been searching for my own answers and very embarrassed about my weigh gain. Anyways, for those of you who don’t know me, I had my surgery March 9, 2021 at 235 (5’8”). I lost pretty steadily down to 169 but then stalled for months on end until my appetite came back and I started gaining and continue to gain. I have been struggling uphill while searching for answers ever since. The bariatric team blames my psyc meds but the prescribing dr claims they are weight neutral meds. My family dr agrees and showed me an article about the cravings they cause but he ordered thyroid and diabetes tests too which came back fine but I continue to gain so I made an appointment with an endocrine doctor thanks to a few people on here who suggested it. I finally just seen the endo doc and My cortisol was elevated on the suppression test so I just completed the two day saliva test which hopefully will bring some more answers but what they have said so far is that it’s probably sub clinical cushings which takes a while to confirm. I thought about waiting until I had more info but they said it will be another two or three weeks for these results and I may need more tests after that. I guess MY diagnosis is not really the point anyways. My point is I have recently learned of three things that could be the culprit of my weight that were never tested before surgery and I wonder why they don’t mention these tests pre surgery. I mean They are simple blood tests. I even googled to see why the cushings thing isn’t investigated since it doesn’t resolve with bariatric surgery and all I could find was one article that said it is of course suggested if you present with any of the classic symptoms but in terms of a blanket requirement for people considering bariatric surgery this person felt it unnecessary because it’s not extremely common. I guess maybe that’s the view of my doctor too but I sure wish I was presented with the option at least. I am just curious whether these are things that are tested or even brought up by other people doctors prior to surgery or what others think about whether they should be. And perhaps to give some people things they can investigate first if they are on the fence about surgery. I just feel like the surgery was never going to work for me because it seems likely that the root of my issue is still there. I am maintaining SOME of the loss but according to what I understand about what I have read so far, left untreated I will steadily continue to gain. I know this is still up in the air and not a super common thing regardless but I can’t be the only one struggling with this pre or post surgery and I hope my experience can help someone else struggle just a little less cause watching everyone around me try to be polite as I slowly put the weight back on has felt even worse than being obese was to begin with. I am trying to hang In there for answers and give myself grace but it’s hard to not feel like a failure as I continue to gain and everyone now knows I had surgery and of course I have to wonder if I blew my one shot at surgery because I am doing these tests after instead of before surgery. Regardless, if you are someone who doesn’t really make a ton of poor food choices but just eats more than “normal” because you always feel hungry, consider a cortisol test before surgery. I wish I had.

I thought the Hershey ones were good too. I have made keto brownies and they weren’t bad at all. Never cookies but I will for me. Especially after seeing all those cookies and not being able to eat them. Lol

Yea I suggested making some and they politely steered me in another direction. Lol. That’s okay I will make whatever and just not eat them I guess.

As mentioned above straining real soup opens up to more flavors. Try getting soup from restaurants and straining them. Just be sure to use a very fine strainer and get all the chunks out. They will have sooooo much more flavor than basic broth. They have panara soups at Walmart by the deli and they have a Walmart brand that isn’t bad as well.

Have you tried the clear protein drinks. I found them to be a little less sweet. They haze them in so many brands. I did the premiere protein ones from Amazon. But since you are pressed for time I would try convenience stores and pick up a few to try.

Every doctor is different and sometimes it varies from patient to patient as well. I would count yourself lucky like others have said. The pre op liquid diet is not fun. If your doctor doesn’t think you need it though you should be fine.

I know exactly how you feel. I had surgery March 9 of 2021 and I am sure I have something going on with my hormones too as I stopped losing and started gaining. I have an appointment with the endocrinologist December 6th and can’t wait to figure out what is going on and hope there is something they can do. I have seen people with PCOS really struggle and it seems so unfair. Try to celebrate what you have lost though and that you have kept it off. Every little bit makes you that much healthier. Keep talking to your doctors. There are medications and stuff you can try that may give you the extra edge you need. I know how discouraging it can be to compare yourself to others who are doing better but try to just look at where you were pre surgery and don’t give up.

Okay so one year I made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies at cookie day and when I suggested making the healthier cookies this year (sugar free choc chip made with almond flour) they reminded me how much everyone liked the others and it was a very hard sell. Apparently I am making those at cookie day. I am just going to bring myself a nice grilled chicken salad for lunch and some healthy sweet snacks for anyone interested (I’m sure just me cause they are all naturally tiny even if they eat terrible so I’m sure I wouldn’t eat fruit over cookies either, lol) and I will take a few cookies home to give or throw away. I even bought a cute little cookie box so the few I take look nice and I don’t have to waste a lot.

Yea I think I may end up doing that. I did it on thanksgiving. I wanted a slice of apple pie but couldn’t find just one slice so I had to buy a whole pie. I ate one slice and tossed the rest. I felt a little bad being wasteful but no one else likes it and I knew if I had it here even until Monday (when my husband could bring it to work) there was a chance I would break down and eat more and I didn’t want to. I don’t like to waste like that and I don’t make a habit of it but sometimes you have to and I try not to feel bad.

Omg and I think I have it hard just dealing with temptation when I go out with friends and family. I can’t imagine dealing with this in my own house everyday. Do NOT let her win. Every pound you lose In spite or her trying to sabotage you is a little victory over her. And every argument you and your husband do not have is another one. She clearly thrives on causing drama and if you refuse to give it to her she probably still won’t change but it will steel all her thunder at least. I have a family member who is mentally ill and refuses to get help and she likes to create drama too. I had to practically cut her out of my life and keep her at a distance because I struggle with my own mental health issues that I do try to get help with but, if you are strong enough you can have her around and let her THiNK she doesn’t phase you. She surely will get to you at least from time to time but try to hide it if you and your husband do argue agree to do it outside of the house where she can’t see it and she will try even harder for a short while to create issues but ideally it will lose its novelty if she see that you are losing weight as you want to and your husband and you are a united front. No matter what do not let her sabotage this for you. You deserve this.