Sleeve_Me_Alone

Most of us will tell you to "follow YOUR plan!" If your plan prohibits coffee/caffeine, then stick to that. If your plan says no whole milk, then don't drink it. Every plan is different and the best advice is always to consult with YOUR team to make sure you're on track. BUT - that being said - my plan allowed caffeine after 2 weeks post-op, so I had decaf until then but immediately switched back to the good stuff when I was allowed. I take my coffee with a splash of fat free half and half and a little sugar free flavored syrup. When I order coffee from a shop, I'll do a latte (regular milk) with a sugar free flavoring. If I'm feeling really sassy I'll do half SF and half regular. I've heard that DD has some great SF flavorings you can add, though I've not personally tried them. Cold brew is always a safe bet, too. I'll do a cold brew with a splash of cream and some stevia.

Most surgeons and dietitians agree that "pouch resets" are just crash diets. They don't actually reset your pouch (and nothing will, its an organ, its doing what its supposed to and doesn't need to be "reset") or do anything for long term weight loss. What WILL help, is tracking what you eat and staying in a calorie deficit, hitting your protein goal, ensuring you are getting in plenty of water and staying hydrated, and moving your body regularly. Go back to the habits that helped you lose the weight to begin with. Additionally, some amount of regain is completely normal. Most WLS patients find that their lowest weight isn't their healthiest weight long term. If possible, maybe check in with your surgeon's office and get their insight as well.

Definition of "stall" varies pretty widely, but generally 3+ weeks with no loss is a stall. So if you haven't seen the scale move in a few days, that's really not a stall at all, especially so early out when you are still very much healing from surgery. And in fact, many surgeons and dietitians HIGHLY recommend not weighing daily, as your weight absolutely WILL fluctuate from day to day. And, as others have said, the 3 week "stall" is pretty notorious. Stick to your plan, consider weighing once a week instead of daily, and just give it time.

I think we all struggle with different aspects of the process at various times. that is completely normal. As others have said, it mostly becomes second nature over time. That being said, I would HIGHLY recommend some counseling before and likely after surgery. Making sure that you are mentally and emotionally healthy is a huge part of this process. Having tools to help you cope with all the changes and learning new habits/coping mechanisms is really key. I would also add that it might be helpful to do a few couples sessions to make sure you and your partner are on the same page, that you have the support you need, etc.

Agree with @kcuster83, just about all flavored powders, shakes, and drinks have artificial sweeteners in them. I'd recommend using an unflavored powder and adding it to things and/or making your own shakes. I'm not aware of a plant based flavorless powder, though I'm sure they exist. I used ISOpure.

I used ISOpure and it was pretty tasteless. The trick is to watch the temp of whatever you mix it into. Over 140 degress and it splits.

VSG will not resolve IBS. VSG is solely a bariatric surgery and is only indicated for weight loss. That being said, some people do find their symptoms improve as a result of the drastic diet changes. Talk to your GI and your WLS team to get their input.

I track, but I only track to ensure I hit my protein. I had surgery to break the cycle of dieting, and counting calories and carbs and all that just perpetuates the cycle. I would suggest before you start, have a conversation with your team. Its very likely that they didn't give you macros because they don't want you tracking and obsession over them. Protein is really your only hard and fast "goal" and the rest is far less important, especially this early out.

Recently I ran into a friend that I hadn't seen in a while, since very early in my weight loss - she looked me up and down and said "You need to be done" That was it. Nothing else. I've lost 110lbs, but I'm in no way unhealthy or thin to a point of concern. I'm still solidly 20lbs over a "healthy" BMI. It sent me into a bit of a spiral for a few days and really ramped up some dysmorphic thinking, but my husband (GOD BLESS THAT MAN) was able to talk me down. I think some of it is just thoughtlessness; people don't realize what they are saying and how it sounds. Some of it is internalized insecurity; they have their own junk and it spills out on everyone around them. I think very rarely is it intentionally mean, or at least that's what I choose to believe (most of the time!).

Time. Give it time. You just had major surgery, you haven't eaten any solid food in days (if not weeks) and your caloric intake is drastically reduced. You just need to rest, heal, and give it time.

I do the ProCare 1 a day capsules. Every single multivitamin chewable (soft chew, tablet, gummy, ALL of them) upset my stomach. The only one I've been able to take that has not made me sick is the ProCare one a day capsule. I also take their calcium - I do the soft chews of those, and tolerate them really well, or the chocolate when its available.

I have a Cubii under my desk and I usually pedal about an hour or so off and on throughout the workday. It isn't much in the way of "real" exercise, my heart rate doesn't go up and I never break a sweat, but it does give me some movement when I would otherwise be completely stationary and I find that I'm less sore/stiff at the end of the day when I've used it. I do not have knee issues, so can't speak to that aspect, though in doing research before I purchased, I did read a ton of reviews from folks who had mobility issues and loved it. Maybe check with your Dr/PT and see what they recommend?

Yes, it really is important and yes, you need to start now and stick to it.

Some cold meds have NSAIDs in them, so that should be cautioned (I think most are Tylenol, but some aren't so just be careful). That being said, I have taken NyQuil liquid and it did upset my stomach a bit, but I think that was just from all the sugar on an empty stomach. I did just fine with the capsules.

What stage of your plan are you on? Are bread products/simple carbs allowed at this stage? Are you hitting your protein & water goals consistently and have "room" for simple carbs? Personally, at one month out, I was still on soft foods and was not getting all of my protein from food (still supplementing with shakes) so I was definitely not eating any simple carbs yet. But most folks will tell you to follow YOUR plan. Each plan is different so do what your doctor/dietitian recommends.

Generally, I don't think doctors give med schedules, but it certainly doesn't hurt to ask! You could also speak with your pharmacist, who may be able to help. There are a few good points to remember when timing your meds/vitamins: You can only absorb about 500mg of Calcium at one time. Most bariatric patients are encouraged to take ~1,000mg so you'll probably want to split that into 2 doses at least a few hours apart. Some research indicates calcium can inhibit the absorption of iron so if you take an iron supplement or a multi-vitamin with iron, you'll want to take it spaced out from calcium by a few hours. Early out your supplements may very well upset your stomach. Spacing them out even further, taking with food, etc. can all help. So don't get too hung up on a rigid schedule. Getting them in is most important; you can adjust as you go. Personally, I take my multi, a biotin, and a calcium along with my regular meds (no interactions) after I've had a protein shake each morning. I take another biotin and another calcium in the evening after dinner. My multi does NOT have iron, but when it did, I would take my first calcium with lunch instead. Hope that helps!

First of all, I'm so sorry you are struggling. Know that you are not alone and that many folks experience some wonderful things after WLS as well as some more difficult things. That is just part of the process; its definitely not always sunshine and roses. 1- Constipation is VERY common. Are you taking an iron supplement? They are notorious for exacerbating constipation. If you're taking any additional iron, it may be worth getting your labs checked - if they are normal, maybe you can drop that? Another option would be to add a prebiotic fiber supplement. I take about 15g of Just Better Fiber daily and it is a HUGE help. Make sure you are well hydrated, especially when taking laxatives, stool softeners, etc. Lastly, are you getting in any fiber in your food? This goes with #2.... 2- The return of hunger is normal and expected. Your body is doing EXACTLY what its supposed to do. It may be helpful to start introducing more fruits & veggies, which will help you feel fuller longer and help with constipation. Also, are you hitting your protein goals? If not, definitely focus on getting that protein in. If you're hitting your goals, adding in nutrient rich fruits & veggies, and STILL feeling uncontrollably hungry, then it may be time to consult with a bariatric dietitian. Hunger is normal, feeling miserable is not. 3- I think a LOT of us struggle with body image before and after surgery. There is a trade off that happens - we lose the weight and are healthy, but it can make the physical effects of a lifetime obesity more obvious to us. Therapy therapy therapy. I can't encourage it strongly enough. Learning to cope with those feelings, learning to be kind to our new bodies, learning to love ourselves well, THAT is the hard work of weight loss and it is truly a lifelong process. Get help, and keep getting help. Outside of that - buy clothes that make you feel good, as much as you can focus on what you LIKE about your body instead of what you don't, if its practical for you, you can always look into plastic surgery, and of course, you could just refrain from looking in the mirror naked. I know, easier said than done, but if its causing your harm emotionally, then maybe hold off for now. You aren't alone and you aren't crazy. WLS is hard work and there is a lot that comes with it that doesn't get talked about much. We are rooting for you.

I've had a c-section, a very large ovarian cyst removed, and various other abdominal procedures in addition to VSG. VSG was hands down the easiest and least painful recovery. The first few days the gas pain was pretty uncomfortable, then it sort of turned into general abdominal soreness, then it was just when I moved funny or did too much. By week 2 I really didn't have any pain at all. Of course, this varies WIDELY from person to person, but for me it really was not terribly painful.

Yes, I do. And no, it will not. We didn't become obese by eating fruit and it absolutely will not prevent weight loss. Learning to break these types of "diet mentality" habits and thoughts is really critical to long term success. Its really important to not approach WLS as just another "diet" where you have to determine good/bad foods, foods that are safe vs off limits, etc. But rather learning to eat WELL to nourish your body for long term health & wellness, which includes ALL foods (assuming you can tolerate them, of course).

Yep, I had them all.the.time when I was early post-op. They slowly decreased in frequency and severity, but they are still my "full" queue, even a +year out. As soon as I hiccup, I know I'm done!

CBD is a cannabinoid - cannabinoid is the name of the group of chemicals/compounds found in pot. THC, the compound that makes you feel "high" is also a cannabinoid. No, the tests cannot tell what the source is. However, if they are CBD only gummies, then you should not have tested positive for THC and therefore it really should not matter. In fact, it probably won't matter regardless of whether of not you had THC, except that they will likely tell you to refrain for at least 2 weeks pre-op as it can interfere with anesthesia.

First of all, I am so, so sorry you are dealing with such a heartbreaking diagnosis. My best friend of nearly 25 year received a stage 3 HER2+ IDC diagnosis earlier this year, so it is all too familiar to me. My heart goes out to you. Secondly, I would say, right now you just have to focus on your health & healing. Your body is going through tremendous stress, fighting a terrible disease, and being bombarded with incredibly difficult medications. I know its hard to see the scale go up, but your body is doing exactly what it needs to. Additionally, much of that weight is likely to come off once treatment ends. So for now, maybe just be patient and let your attention be on healing, knowing the weight can be dealt with later. Truly, I wish you the best.

I think I did my deposit by debit card over the phone and then brought the balance in a cashier's check. I honestly don't know if they take cards or not, but maybe call just to confirm?

I had VSG at HospitalBC and they also do plastic surgery, specializing in post-weight loss stuff. I'm not familiar with that side of their work, I just know that many patients return for plastics. I did have a wonderful experience there for my bariatric surgery though,

Agree with others that surgery options may be limited. Have you talked to your PCP about the GLP-1 medications? Mounjaro is newest to market, specifically for diabetics, and has pretty significant results. Wegovy/Ozempic are similar but a little older and easier to get insurance approved.