Sleeve_Me_Alone

I had surgery Tuesday and was back to work the following Monday. I work from home at a desk job, so physical exertion wasn't an issue. What I wasn't really prepared for was how tired I was. That first week back I had to take a nap every single day. If you can, make sure you just pad in time for breaks/rest.

First of all, congrats on your success so far! That's GREAT!

However, Apple Cider Vinegar will have no impact to how or where you lose weight, the elasticity of your skin, or make any other material impacts to your loss or body. It might be helpful for digestion or other things, but it truly will not add anything to your weight loss efforts.

As for weight lifting, most surgeons have a recommended waiting period before working out again, so you need to check with your doctors. Weight lifting WILL help in myriad ways and it CAN help reduce saggy skin by filling it with muscle, but it won't change the skin itself.

The reality is, lose skin is a byproduct of major weight loss. It will happen. The extent of it will vary widely from person to person for a million different reasons. There is very little with any scientific support to be done about it, and most of the recmondtations you might get will be anecdotal at best. Hit your Protein, drink your Water, lift weights, and be patient. Whatever lose skin you may have will NEVER be more detrimental than not having changed your life.

I had intermittent heartburn/reflux pre-surgery. Usually a few Tums would take care of it, occasionally I took a Pepcid if it got bad, I was never on long term treatment for it (PPIs). Post-surgery I took Prilosec preventatively for 6 months. Now I'm nearly 2 years post-op and in maintenance - I do occasionally get heartburn but it is less frequent and less severe than pre surgery.

If you're on IG, @bariatric_meal_prep has tons of recipes. I used Pinterest quite a bit, too.

The gas used to full the abdominal cavity during surgery dissipates within days, so definitely not that. Possibly regular old gas, like digestive gas, but it would be unusual for it to persist for so long. Have you been checked for kidney issues (infection? stones?)? Whatever it is, I hope you get answers quickly! Don't be afraid to advocate for yourself and press for more tests, if needed.

I cannot tolerate mashed potatoes. They make me nauseous and give me the dreaded foamies. Sometimes foods just don't sit well, or we lose our taste for them. That is fairly common. Some folks do find they can tolerate different things later on as you heal and your body adjusts.

21 minutes ago, NP_WIP said:

I was prescribed Ursodiol 300mg twice a day, so for the day it was 600mg. I would have one with Breakfast around 9 and the other around 5pm

Ditto.

IG follows: @metamorphasteph, @one_hungry_mother, @abriatric.meal.prep, @itsryannicole, @theguacwarddietitian

Also check out BariNation - its a paid membership community with support groups, challenges, meet ups and all kinds of other support.

Its pretty universally miserable the first 3-4 days. Hang in there, it DOES get better and it WILL be worth it!

I had a similar issue with an old version of the FitBit, I believe it was a Versa model. If I wore it for more than a day or two, it would leave welts on my wrist and become incredibly irritated. I switched to the Sense 2 and have not had any skin irritation at all. The charging nodes are completely different on this model - they are flush if not very slightly inset, and smaller, which seems to have made the difference for me. I have FitBit premium and LOVE all the data. My husband has a Garmin (one of the "rugged" models) and really likes it as well, but he says he misses the touch screen of the FitBit.

Similarly, I get an obscene amount of messages and notifications and I like that I can set "downtime" hours on the FitBit that turns off on wrist notifications.

My only regret is not having done it sooner. I was 34 when I had surgery and I wish I had done it a decade ago, when I first started thinking about it. It is incredibly hard, it takes a LOT of work, but it is the best thing I have ever done for myself and I'm so deeply grateful that I finally had the courage to do it.

Built Bar or Barebells are my favorites. Great macros, good flavors, hold up well in the bottom of my purse when traveling! Dive Bars are popular but I don't like the texture nor the added caffeine. FortiFX are also very good, but higher on the carb count.

Get back to basics! Prioritize Protein and make sure you hit your protein goal daily. Weigh and track all your food for a while so you can see how much you're eating and get back into the habit of hitting that protein! Get your Water in. Move your body. It takes time but usually, putting those things first and getting back into good routines will help.

12 hours ago, JustJovi said:

Is it an app? I couldn't find it

https://barination.com/

I had VSG, so my experience is very different. But I did find some helpful info.

Sounds like the general consensus is that the bypassed portion of the stomach does continue to produce ghrelin (the "hunger" hormone), but that other changes, including an increase in leptin, may mitigate the "hunger" feeling. So you likely will not lose hunger, but it may change and/or be decreased.

https://oldedelmarsurgical.com/blog/gastric-bypass-surgery-impacts-hunger-hormones/#:~:text=It turns out that gastric,reduced along with the stomach

https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/88/7/2999/2845142

https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/88/7/2999/2845142?login=false#:~:text=The authors examined 66 morbidly,% and 61.8%%2C respectively.

BariNation is a community for WLS patients that I have really enjoyed. They have support groups, meet up, forums, and other resources. Its also a paid membership, which helps weed out trolls and ensures a safe, like-minded community.

First of all, congratulations on your progress! That is amazing!!

Second, I echo @Saxons. Even if you have hit your Protein goal every single day since surgery, muscle loss is an inevitability. Additionally, after having lost so much weight, the way we carry ourselves changes which can lead to new aches and pains as our bodies adjust.

Adding in some weight/resistance work will help build those muscles back up and help your body adjust to its new shape and weight distribution.

sugar free blonde vanilla latte is my go-to. In the summer I might splurge on a cold foam topped cold brew and sub the Syrup for sugar free. I also really like the oat milk shaken espresso, but I typically will only get a tall, given the sugar. Any more than that and I tend to get a stomach ache.

Looking at some of your other posts, it looks like you had surgery 3/20, is that correct? Regardless, as others have said, its far too early for you to have significant loss post-op and you may need to reassess your expectations. Those first few weeks immediately after surgery your body is putting all its energy into healing from major surgery. You need to be patient and consistent above all else. The right will come off in its own time.

I know its frustrating - we have all struggled with the "hurry up and wait" of weight loss - but truly, this is a marathon not a sprint. Stick to your plan and give it time.

I'd be curious to know why they are saying Miralax is not an option as many, many WLS patients use it with success at the recommendation of their surgeons. I've never heard of there being an absorption issue. Personally, I've found using Just Better Fiber works very well for me. I add a few tablespoons into my coffee/water/whatever and sip it all day long. On the very rare occasion I need something "stronger" I use Miralax.

It absolutely could be the shakes or the artificial sweeteners in them or the other zero calorie drinks. Try other shakes - maybe Fairlife or one made with pea Protein? Also try different drinks - maybe tea or lemon Water? I like Body Armor Lyte, they are made with erythritol, which I seem to do just fine with. Some people do better with savor drinks like Bone Broth.

I felt like trash on my LRD as well (2 weeks, liquids only). You are definitely NOT alone. hang in there though, it doesn't last forever but it is an important part of the process!

14 hours ago, catwoman7 said:

this came up yesterday on another forum, so I googled it and found an article on one of the medical sites (may have been an NIH page - can't remember). It said topicals can potentially cause GI issues, but oral NSAIDs are much more likely to.

Interesting! Definitely good to be aware of!

My team allows occasional use, as needed. I use it when my Migraine rescue meds need an extra kick. Tramadol is an option, but it is by Rx only. For topical pain relief, possibly Diclofenac cream (it is an NSAID, but I think any risk of ulcers is essentially null when using topically).

As the need arises, definitely talk to your doctor. There are options out there and there is no need to live in pain!

My PCP put me on a 6 month prophylactic course of ursodiol. I started it 2 weeks before surgery. I'm 18 months out and at goal, and have never had an gallbladder issues. It is not uncommon after WLS, but also not a sure thing. I'm not sure what the value in a proactive removal would be. Definitely talk through options with your PCP/surgeon!

I used Dinnerly for a while and really liked it. Its one of the lesser expensive meal kit services, but the ingredients were always fresh and they have tons of options. Mostly, I just picked meals my family would like and then modified them for myself as needed (skip the Pasta or eat the sandwich without bread or whatever). I didn't use it specifically for surgery, but rather just to make my life easier and it def helped.