mali

I also wonder about the discrepancies between surgeons. I never went off coffee/ caffeine and never seemed yo do any harm although I’ll say that it took a long time before I could get through even half a cup before it got cold

I actually learned a magic solution from someone on these boards. Smooth Move tea which has senokot. My gastroenterologist approved it for 2-3 times a week. You take it in the evening and by the next morning after your first coffee or tea you’re a new person. Whoever i recommended it to can’t stop thanking me- it is a lifesaver

As a fellow back pain sufferer I understand your struggle and how it can mess up your life. I too have a few herniated discs from a bad car accident but I’d encourage you to explore the dr sarno method. When pain becomes chronic- this method has been a new lease on life for many who had given up on ever feeling better. It’s easy to look up on the web or you can order the books online. I pushed a friend to do it recently after her foot pain could not be helped by any specialist and she’s pain free. It’s not for everyone but thousands have used this method to change their lives and rid themselves of chronic pain and it’s free

I had a great experience- the only thing I’d do differently would be to push myself more not to cheat at all; sugar, snacking etc… during the first year when you can lose the most. I would have liked to reach my goal. I’m almost there and I know I could reach it but at 18 months out it’s already slower

As we’re nearing our one year mark i’d love to hear where everyone is holding!!
Starting weight 234
Day of surgery 223
Current weight 169
Total loss so far 65 pounds!

I’d like to get down to 145 or at least 150. ( i’m a 5”5 female) but I’m thrilled with where i am. I’m in normal sizes, shopping in regular stores. There’s a lot on these forums about wls having negative effects on marriage but in my case it made my husband super attracted to me!

Sucralose is splenda

On 03/06/2022 at 11:37, idk4w said:

Obviously not looking for a psak on this forum and I'll end up asking my rav, but curious to know what you've all done about arba kosot and shiurim of matzah if up til now I've been makpid with shiurim (even the smallest shiurim are still a lot!) and how it worked out for you.

(Sorry to those who are reading the question and have no clue what I'm talking about, I don't mean to be exclusive, but I'm using terminology referring to Jewish law)

I know others who had the sleeve, weren’t careful on pesach and got themselves quite sick so I’ll be speaking to my rabbi….

On 04/01/2022 at 12:18, vikingbeast said:

(I am not Jewish, but have Jewish family and have been immersed in Passover for decades.)

It would depend how far out from surgery you are and how strict your particular observance is.

If you follow a rabbi who insists on five kezeitim during seder, you might have a lot of trouble fitting it in. But Halachic observance does take second place to medical reality, which is why the very sick (or those who would become very sick) are not allowed to do ta'anit on Yom Kippur or Tisha b'Av.

At six months out, I would be able to eat five kezeitim, but not much else. I am not sure I would be able to eat an entire Hillel sandwich, for example, not with maror and karpas and extra charoset and all the rest of it. If I drank arba kosot, I'd be drunk off my tuchus.

But if you are willing to abide by the Halachic spirit if not the strict letter of the law, you could use a thimble-sized glass for the arba kosot, you could eat a small Hillel sandwich and a total of two kezeitim during Seder and have room for bites of other things depending on your tradition (Ashkenazim would have things like beitzah and gefilte fish).

You should have a serious discussion with your rabbi about it, because your interpretation and mine are probably quite different, and it's your observance, not mine.

Explanation for those who are scratching their heads at the random Hebrew sprinkled in these posts:

The OP wants to know how a religiously observant (frum) Jewish person who had had a sleeve surgery would manage to do the required eating of the unleavened bread (matzah) during the Passover seder. Some rabbis say that Jewish law (Halacha) requires that every person eat five pieces of matzah during Seder, each one being about 26 square cm or 4 square inches (kezeit). Some require two kezeitim. Some have different requirements depending on what the matzah is made out (you have to eat more if it's made from oats and wheat, less if it's all wheat). And some don't have any minimum amount required. There are also other things required—dipping herbs into salty Water (karpas), eating bitter herbs (maror, usually horseradish), making a sandwich out of matzah and fruit compote (charoset, called a Hillel sandwich), eggs (beitzah), etc., and you must drink four cups of wine (arba kosot), though they can be very small. Ta'anit means fasting, which happens twice a year for Jewish people, on Yom Kippur and Tisha b'Av holidays.

For someone who isn’t Jewish, you sure know a lot! I’m an orthodox jew and there are thousands of us although not sure how many on this site. I’m nervous about this too with passover coming up. I’ll be speaking to my rabbi for guidance. A lot depends of course on how far out you are. At seven months out there’s no way I’d be able to eat all the amounts

I’m actually going through this Hair loss cycle for the third time in a year and a half. It basically happens anytime your body experiences a traumatic/ hormonal change and in the last 18 months I had a baby, got Covid and then had the sleeve done. Each brought on the hair loss so as an “expert” I’ll tell you that though it’s distressing, for most people it slows and then stops. When you start noticing fuzzies around your hairline you know you’re on the rebound. Good luck!

Amazing post and awesome results!!

On 11/30/2021 at 07:40, sunshineangela said:

I had the surgery gastric sleeve a few months ago. My weight has stalled at 45-50 lbs lost. I understand your frustration. I have a issue getting all the Protein. When I do consistently get all the Protein 60grams a day thats when I start losing. Maybe that can help you too. I don’t lose weight when I am not getting the protein.

I find the same thing happening with me. I’m 4 months out and sort of stalled at 50 pounds.

Definitely!! It’s a hard process but don’t buy into the all or nothing thought process. It’s a slip but if you move on it won’t make a difference to the overall process

So guess what? After three weeks on the same pound the scale finally started to move again!! For me I think the trick was eliminating carbs to shock my system and drinking a lot. I also added a probiotic and stool softeners to get my digestive system back in order. Hoping I could ride this wave for a while now! Good luck to all of you!

Thank you so much for the encouragement!

Hi all, I’m three months out from my sleeve. I lost 46 pounds and feel so grateful but now I’m stuck!!! I haven’t lost a pound in three weeks! Is this normal? Please tell me it’s not😩

I wanted to use the Patches but my nutritionist said there’s no research on them and strongly recommended not using them

For those struggling with fissures and hemmeroid pain- the best product out there is a suppository called Calmol. Not all stores carry it but you can order on Amazon. My gastroenterologist recommended it when i had fissures and it was a lifesaver

On 08/09/2021 at 21:50, Grace85 said:

Mali, Dr. Sadek 😁 is my list. I'm just uncertain about the follow up care. Did you have Robotic or regular laproscopic surgery?

Hope your doing well. Thanks.

So I’ll be honest- I’m just three weeks out so i only had one post op visit so far. I only met him once before surgery. Otherwise I addressed concerns to dr antoine who has the most amazing bedside manner. I’m not sure if it was robotic but I will say that i had an amazing quick recovery. With a large hiatal hernia I barely needed pain meds and was back to normal a week later except for lifting. Three weeks out i can eat everything, my incisions look great and I’m lifting my twenty pound baby. Most of his patients had similar experiences. I know some practices might have more of a focus on education which I found lacking here. I did a lot if my own education

I used dr sadek and was thrilled!

I’m scheduled for July 21! So excited but getting very nervous that I’m not properly prepared with my Vitamins and for the liquid diet and the prospect of never eating and drinking together again

Has anyone done the sleeve while caring for a nine month old baby? I’m nervous I won’t be able to take care of her post surgery?