Laurie C.

Did anyone else lose their cravings? I'm in shock that I now struggle to figure out what I want to eat now!

I wouldn't know the difference. I'm always overheated.

Hi. My name is Laurie. I had the rny bipass surgery 11 months ago. My one year date is 9/14/20. I am 57. I have lost 132# to date. I have 38# to go to hit my goal weight. Everyone says how great that is, but having low stuff esteem, I think of it as a bad thing because I had that much to lose in the first place! That is more than some people weigh all together! I can't believe I let this happen, but I was in a bad marriage. I don't really have an appetite any more, but the hardest problem for me is the not being able to eat and drink at the same time. I get so dehydrated! It's so hard to wait 30 minutes after eating to drink. Sometimes I have a couple sips anyway because I am so thirsty and can't wait. I end up throwing up. Not good for your health, but on the good side, it's only a tiny amount, so it's worth it to me. I used to drink a huge tumbler glass with all my meals, at least. I am tired of Water. I am lactose intolerant, but suffer through it because I'm tired of water and end up not losing as much as I should because I'm drinking my calories. I am starting the process of a double knee replacement surgery and the skin removal surgery. It's not as bad as I thought, but I want the skin gone. With my living arrangements and health, I have not exercised at all. But I would do the surgery all over again in a heart beat. I can't believe I'm not craving food! I thought that would have been the hardest part. In fact, there's probably under 15-20 things I can eat that agree with me. I had only one problem five days out. I had to go back in for another surgery for aspiration pneumonia. Was throwing up blood big time. Other than that, I'm working on me and finally getting a life because I've been a hermit for probably 20 years because of my weight! If your doctor recommended the rny, do it. I'm so glad I did! Sorry so long a post. My first one. Just joined. Really need a support group.

Sounds like something I need to look into. Dr said VSG surgery releases some extra estrogen cells hence extra pain. Whew the cramps were worst than VSG surgery. Glad had most Meds left took them n went to sleep. Know my husband was [emoji4] I was finally quiet.

What does "turning" mean and feel like?

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Are you drinking with your food? Wait a few minutes in between bites. A lot of people can't tolerate the same foods they used to or it takes a while to be able to eat them again. Try different foods and keep a food diary with reactions. It does get better! It's not easy, but so much worth it!

Are you drinking with your food? Wait a few minutes in between bites. A lot of people can't tolerate the same foods they used to or it takes a while to be able to eat them again. Try different foods and keep a food diary with reactions. It does get better! It's not easy, but so much worth it!

Thrilled to have lost enough weight that I can now avoid incontinence issues. Haven't had accident in over a week. A new life for sure.
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I had the same problem My husband told me if anything happened and I couldn't go back to work he was not helping physically or financially. Nice huh. I arranged my own rides.

When I was younger, I could eat anything and never gain weight. I haven't always been big. I tried all ways to lose weight. 5 years ago, I watched what I ate and exercised. I got down to 310. I was on what some people would call the " broke" diet. I lost a lot of weight because I wasn't eating right. As soon as I got a better job, I started eating more, not better. I gained 90 pounds. Then the pandemic happened and I was sent home to work. I gained 60 pounds in a year and couldn't lose it.
Every doctor I ever had told me I couldn't get the surgery, due to health reasons. Finally I get a PCP this year that suggested it to me. That was in April 2021. I got a referral in a week, went to a seminar and scheduled my first surgeon appointment in May 2021. I fully expected to be told no but the surgeon said I was a good candidate and started the ball rolling.
I have great insurance and didn't need a lot of requirements. Just proof I tried to lose weight supervised, which I had been seeing a nutritionist. Upper endoscopy, psych eval, dietitian appointment, and blood work. I had all that done by July 2021 and got scheduled for surgery August 25, 2021.
I am less then 2 weeks post op and already feel better. More energy, not thinking about food all the time, saving money from not eating out.
My stats are 40 F, 5'10", HW 463 SW 430 CW 410 GW 200
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I’m 60 and had the sleeve done just under 3 months ago. I have lost 36 pounds since the surgery and 70 lbs total. No problems at all.

51, RNY 7months out, lost 97 to date, 34 to goal. I am a slow loser but very happy with my results.

I’m 64 now, and had RNY surgery 8 years ago when I was 56. My surgeon told us that you have a window of about 1 year to 18 months to lose the weight you want - thereafter the ghrelin levels in your stomach and gut (which are disrupted by the surgery) increase. Ghrelin is known as the ‘hunger hormone’ because (amongst other things it does) it triggers hunger. Shortly after RNY surgery you may feel hungry, but this soon passes and you have a ‘honeymoon’ period where you don’t, where you need to build up to a health and sustainable diet. The other thing is that your tiny pouch will stretch in time (the stomach acts as a muscle) and if you consistently eat too much you’ll get a bigger appetite back. It is unusual, but not unknown, for someone to put all the weight back on that they lost from RNY surgery. Of course, why do that to yourself? Probably because you have not sorted out an unhealthy relationship with food.
Another thing I was told was to exercise, to prevent muscle loss and encourage weight loss. To be honest I didn’t do enough of this. However, from BMI of 35.7 and weight of 190lb (at 5’ 1”) I dropped to my lowest weight of 105lb and BMI of 19.7 at 14 months after surgery. That was nearly half my bodyweight lost. I stayed at 112lbs or under until April 2015, when very, very slowly I put on a bit of weight over each year, I guess as my appetite and tolerance grew. By January 2021 I had been just under 140lb for 3 years, but wished I could be less. Then came cancer treatment and radiotherapy to my entire abdominal area. Left with nausea and no appetite at all, I gradually built back up to eating a healthy diet. I lost 16lb in a few weeks with sepsis in March, but after recovery have lost more through cutting back on carbs and walking every day, to get back to my prime 112lb - and this is where I want to stay!
It may be harder to lose weight after the menopause but the equation is still the same - too much food in and not enough energy out = slow inevitable weight gain; keeping to what you need (or slightly less) and more energy expended = slow loss. We have a wonderful tool to help us achieve this - which is very hard for an individual with a normal stomach. Plus we have absorption issues, and potential to suffer if we eat too much fat and sugar (especially at once). We can use this tool to achieve our goal, and use it alongside lifestyle changes to maintain it, whatever our age.
😊

I got VSG ..and ya, no real cravings, at least compared to before surgery. It’s weird. I’m 48, and down just over 40 lbs in 3 months. It has been steady, no real stalls (at least when you compare week to week)....and going into this I thought for sure my age was going to work against me and I wasn't going to lose. I have not hit menopause yet.

I have the same problem. I used to crave and eat huge bowls of tuna noodle casserole, macaroni and cheese, Pasta, etc. I can barely eat any of these now. I also look in the pantry and say why bother? Then I snack out of boredom, mostly things with crunch like nuts. I'm in a stall. In 13 days I'll be 1 year post op. My highest weight was 350 and have I have lost 135 lbs, bringing me to 215. Trying to get to 180. 35 more pounds to go. But I also want to get the Tummy Tuck surgery and they said that should be about 25 lbs. I'm holding off on that until I have my both of my knees replaced. No cartilage left in either with the arthritis. They won't do those together because of this surgery and risk of infection. So I wait on that and am not sure how much more to lose now. Seeing the surgeon for the tummy tuck this month. He should be able to tell how much it'll bring my weight down. It's one huge, long process. But I'm glad I'm doing it. It's long over due. I need to have a life again and I haven't in over a decade. There's major depression, but I've had that all my life. So I deal. Good luck!

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Hi all, joining the party. When I was 21 I found myself at 305 and it freaked me out, and I went on a severe diet. I dropped 112 pounds in a year, but after I met my husband and quit smoking I was back up to 305. And then marriage added another 72! My highest was 377 in 2011. From 2011-2017 I was able to get down to 315, but I kept bouncing back and forth from 335 to 315. When I decided to start the sleeve journey I was 333. On my surgery day, 4/27/18, I was 303, and nearly 4 weeks post op I am 278.
I question my choice constantly. I am discouraged by the 3 week stall, I miss food, I hate the nausea and the heartburn and all the pills. I am super tired. I know a lot of people regret their sleeve the first month. I just hope to get out of this funk soon.
Here is my progress.

Frustr8, I hear you loud and clear. I've recently been "chatting" with quite a few guys on a dating website. It has taken me a long, long time to get to the point where I can just say what I want and wait for someone who is worthy of me (!!) to answer or to step up to the plate. A guy I had a lunch date with today emailed me this morning that he couldn't make it, "too much going on." Really? He's the one who picked the time. Next!!
Another guy wanted to come to my motel room (where I'm currently living, waiting for an apartment to become available) with some wine or beer, even after I told him I don't drink. I've made it clear that I'll meet someone for lunch, but I'm not inviting someone I've never met into my room! And so it goes--I won't give out my phone number (too many scammers out there) and I won't join Hangouts or whatever the latest online chat thing is.
I'll protect myself as much as necessary, and the right guy will understand that. This isn't rocket science: say you want to meet and show up. We can go from there . . . if you seem compatible.
Good luck to all on this journey. I bought new clothes for the first time since my surgery and I think I could have bought a size smaller. Woo hoo!

Pasta doesn't always sit well with me, even at six years out. And Tomato sauce is acidic...

Could be any number of things.
- The penne might be too big (are you chewing all the way to paste consistency before swallowing?)
- The Tomato sauce could be causing too much stomach acid / acid reflux.
- You might be sensitive to the Pasta now.

You've lost 95 pounds in six months and you think that's slow? How much were you expecting to lose by now? I'm not trying to be snotty; I'm seriously asking why you're devastated rather than thrilled.

Sorry your husband is not being supportive. My ex-husband was even supportive with me! Although my loving brother informed me that I was "taking the easy way out and that he was disappointed in me." Like I care! He admitted he hates fat people. He's ignorant and fat himself! So, whose disappointed in whom?! Lol My question is, how are you going to get to the many other doctor visits that come along with this surgery? And how supportive is he going to be with your new eating plan? Is he going to eat healthy with you or are you going to have to cook all the things you can't eat and have that temptation on top of all this stress? Is it just you and your husband or do you have children to cook for as well? That's another challenge you may be facing. I feel for you. That's why I joined a support group. We're here when others aren't. I would ask a friend to help you if they would. A trusting, suppirtive one. Best of luck!

Size 2 & 4? I was hoping for 10 & 12! Damn! I really don't know what size I am now. Congrats!

Thank you all for your responses. I am happy to see I am not alone. I haven’t even replaced my 2X clothes because I’m mentally comfortable In them. How can I be disappointed with them. I’ve always worn 2X tights and 2X shirt. I have no idea what my true size is now. Everything I have is big on me but it’s my safe place for now.

it does take awhile for your brain to catch up. For a long time I was really surprised when I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror, because in my head, I was still obese. The best thing I ever did was have my husband take pictures of me from all four sides once a month on my surgery date - every month until I hit maintenance. It's hard to deny the changes if I look at my "photo journey".

This is exactly how I felt also! I'm finally adjusting now and will actually pose for pictures and post them. It has taken a while for me to realize that I am pretty darn small now. As I was losing weight, I also couldn't really see a difference until about 60 lbs. One time I was in TJ Maxx and caught my reflection sideways as I walked past. I stopped and looked again because I couldn't believe that small person was really me! It took a while for me to stop looking at clothing and wondering if it would make me look fat. I finally had to start telling myself, 'This is a size whatever (6, then 4 then 2) I couldn't possibly look fat in a size 2!" Body dysmorphia is real!
Congratulations on your success!