KimA-GA

Wow that was rough. The issue is that it’s a complex question with many factors to answer it properly. Yes it can be normal with a long list of what it could be.

How many days off work did your dr suggest? how many days did you take? Do you think you should have taken more or less or go part time to start? my surgeon has said he recommends a few days off after surgery. I plan on at least a week off and then part time for a week or two as I go through the first part of the recovery. My job is mostly in an office. I do go out in the field to do some work, but will be putting that on hold during the first part of my recovery. I would love to know real experiences!

My nutritional consultant talked about reprogramming my swallowing center with surgery; learning to chew more thoroughly to process foods into a paste before swallowing to get the most nutrition and satisfaction from meals. since then I have been trying to pay attention to my swallowing while trying to begin my preop diet changes (no surgery date yet but I will do 3 weeks at 50 carb hard limit) . It really i difficult to do properly without paying 100% attention to your mouth’a actions!!! I like to gulp drinks and take only a few chews before swallowing. It is making me even more mindful of my eating process. what was your experience with reprogramming your swallowing center? How long did the process take to “stick”? Is it like other habits which take a month or so of constant attention to start to change?

What do you use for food tracking? you might be eating more than you think if you start weighing and logging. Do you track your emotions when you eat or boredom level? Boredom or stress can be sneaky with food. have you consulted a nutritionalist recently?

congrats on the losses!!! You are doing amazing ? keep up the good work

Thank you!!

Which ones are recalled? I haven’t seen that

Great thing to be mindful of. My post op guidelines are no more than 8 oz of juice a day.

Just got done with the nutrition consult. Another tick box down! I got a lot of information. Glad that I am already working on food issues!! my pre-op diet will be 3 weeks of carb control (50 carb limit) or meal replacement protein shakes for breakfast, lunch, snack and protein and vegetables for dinner. I believe I will do the carb control. how does this compare t other pre-op diets?

It’s great to see the changes make a difference everywhere in your life!!

Since you are not in the immediate post op, it would be concerning that a wound was created or never actually healed. Pay attention to your body and if you have any doubt go to get it checked out.

(Sorry for all the questions.. as my possible surgery date comes up my mind keeps thinking of new and interesting worries) Married people post surgery: what changes to your relationship did you experience ? how did your spouse adapt to change to that comes with weight loss or well, did he/she not adapt? I know that my husband will be there 100% right before and immediately after surgery. Unfortunately, a week or two out I don’t know how he will be (he will be “done” with it and wanting to “go back to normal” which won’t be possible.) and I really don’t know how he will cope when hopefully my confidence continues to grow and my self esteem continues to grow after surgery. wanted to hear some good, bad and ugly from people who have been there with marriages through this surgical process.

A few things pop to mind with the info you provided. He may see some eating habits you need to address before surgery. You may want to ask his viewpoint on that. He also may be scared of the change to you and your relationship after losing the weight. My husband was/is 100% supportive - but he is scared of it some now since I talked to him about what happens a LOT to marriages after surgery. At the very least the dynamic is changed; but often people pull apart. He sounds like a very active individual - maybe you could allay some of his fears by starting to talk about some of the activities you could do together after you lose weight that you are limited on now. Showing you are wanting to enhance your relationship with the change. you know him beat and he knows you well. It’s good for both of you to understand before where the other is coming from.

My sleep study revealed mixed sleep apnea. Though I know that morbid obesity or greater can cause a type of central sleep apnea that can sometimes resolve with weight loss - so I am hoping to get off my nighttime torture device (but my stick thin Grandpa had to use one, so know it might just be what I gotta live with)

Greetings, for those of you with issues of reflux post surgery: did you have a hiatal hernia repair with surgery? (Side question, did you get any special instructions because of that added to surgery) through the medical literature that drops the incidence of reflux post surgery but want to know experiences. thank you!!

Greetings, Those with sleep apnea; did you have improvement after surgery? Anyone successfully get off bipap or cpap? How long did it take? did sleep apnea/bipap/cpap impact your post surgical recovery? thank you

Greetings, Post-op people - what was sleeping/resting/moving around like in your immediate post op time (first two weeks)? I have read some people couldn’t lay down for a bit and other similar issues. what was your experience?

Greetings, Kim from central Georgia - I am going to have VSG surgery late September or early October per my surgeon yesterday. I understand what you are saying about lack of support! Struggling a built with the reality of my support network right now. Adding stress! It’s tough to know you will be vulnerable and be unsure of who to turn to.

Exactly! I love to hear experiences and understanding the thought process of others because we are on similar but very individual journeys. The only right answer is the one for you! an update for me: I have let some family know and, well, I can’t say they are being supportive or not because it was almost a whatever response. Kinda disappointed because I hoped for some encouragement but at least haven’t gotten discouragement! Still have not told anyone else. Endoscopy is scheduled and surgeon says may be September instead of October, so it’s getting close. I still know I will be open about it, but I am not ready yet. I have lost about 50 lbs already, but unfortunately I have lost a bit all over so it’s not really noticeable on me (I fit better place and some clothes fit more comfortably). I am entering my next phase of self preparation before surgery so it may become more evident soon.

Excellent! Find out the requirements from the insurance plan that you have and the surgeon you want to use. You may be able to tick boxes faster that way. Also, take time to work on any food related issues (overeating, unbalanced diet etc.). It will help!

Thanks to everyone so far! what about pms/hormones around periods/cycles?

That’s not a question that can be answered by anyone but your provider/surgeon. Have you asked them?

Ok, ladies… this is the stuff many of us wonder about but don’t talk enough about… we all understand the impact of our hormones and cycles on our lives, but how does the presurgical diets, surgery and post surgical steps impact your hormones and cycles? Did it have little to no impact? Leave you a quivering mess? Make periods come more or less often? Or randomly? experiences from any stage of the process and stage of life is helpful!! I am pre-surgical but have been loosing weight and my cycles have gotten longer and less consistent when I have them (it also could partially be my age of 42). I also used to feel a hormone surge right before my cycle would start and that has shifted. I am going to talk to my regular dr in two weeks about me, but wanted to hear other experiences. Thanks for sharing!!

Have you seen an actual endocrinologist? Sounds like you have a problem which does not need bariatric surgery but an endocrinologist

Look at good rx for discount coupon… might save you a ton of money