tx2az

I have Sjogren's Syndrome. Mine is moderate, mainly causing a lack of moisture in my mouth, sinuses, throat, and eyes. I take OTC guaifenesin (generic Mucinex) to help thin down the mucus in my throat. I had the sleeve on 9-1 and have had "the foamies" more than I have ever had. Often after I drink a Protein Shake. "Foamies" is such an accurate description! If I miss even one day of not taking the guaifenesin I get this awful "plug" of slimy mucus in my throat that basically chokes me until I can get it up and get rid of it. I have had this problem for years, finally I went to an ear, nose, and throat dr that correctly diagnosed my problem and put me on guaifenesin. This is not medical advice, just my experience. Maybe finding a different kind of doctor would help, as it did with me. Best wishes to you.

Sjögren's is a systemic autoimmune disease that affects the entire body. Along with symptoms of extensive dryness, other serious complications include profound fatigue, chronic pain, major organ involvement, neuropathies and lymphomas.

I think everything is normal because everyone is different. It could be so many things that effect weight loss. . Just keep following your program and give it more time. Everyone looses at different rates and maybe next week you will have a large loss or maybe you will be slow by steady and still reach your goal. Hugs! Its hard not to have huge losses after going through all of this. But its going to be a long journey so don't stress too much, just keep at it and every little pound will add up.

My progress is very similar as yours. Sleeved on 9/1. I'm a little under 5'2". Started the pre-op diet at 203 and surgery weight was 199. Since surgery date I've lost 14, with 7 of that during the first week. Mine has gone a tad up and down a little which was disappointing. I went up 2 lbs in one day! The day before I had drank Gatorade Protein sugar free drink which had a lot of sodium. Good for 10 grams of protein but not the salt. I am being more careful with that now. Just gotta do what is best for us individually and, as you said, don't stress about it. Best of progress to us all!

I’m happy that you didn’t experience any nausea or pain. I’ve asked GOD to cover me and I’ve also prayed for no complications, nausea, or pain as well. It’s getting closer for me. My surgery date is Monday September 26. Not too sure how to feel right now

So stinking proud of you! Feeling like a failure in comparison (not really…we are all different) but I am so glad you could skip the nausea. It is truly the worst. Congratulations!!!!

Hi there, it has been wonderful to read all of the stories here. I'm a 39-year old mother of three from Finland and have had RYGB 17 days ago. Here surgeons actually operate more RYGB than SG (contrary to US), and although I was set on SG before when I decided on needing the surgery, the surgeon did convince me with RYGB suiting me better in the end (and she is the surgeon in Finland who gets referred with the most difficult cases and operates a lot both in University hospital as well a privately, so I just ended up trusting her expertise).
I don't know anyone personally who has had the surgery so nobody to really have discussions with about the downs (ups is another matter as I do have a family but obviously not all of the NSV's (a new term I learned today, yay) can be comprehended by someone who really has never been there.
I started my journey with the decision in May, first appointment at the clinic June 2nd weighing 352 lb (160kg, I'm 5'10 tall so BMI about 50 at this point), 11 weeks later August 10th had a meeting with the surgeon and internist for approval (weighing 320 lb), had to have ECG and gastroscopy due to medical history to be approved, and the surgery was done 26th of August so jyst over two weeks ago. My weight that day was 317 lb (143,8kg), and currently it is 301 lb (136,6kg).
Here in Finland we have the possibility to get the operation through regular healthcare system if we fullfil the criteria (BMI over 35 with obesity related diseases or BMI over 40 plus you need to have had experience before atleast of 6 months of conservative weight loss (can be from the past, does not need to be just then) and you need to lose 8% of your weight prior to surgery with atleast 3-4 weeks vlcd to make sure liver loses its fat to make surgery less risky). I obviously fullfilled the criteria and was referred to the process, but unfortunately due to Covid having resulted in so many cancellations of elective surgeries, the waiting time for surgery was more than a year in every University hospital (we have 5, so I called everyone of them). Here we have this wonderful thing, called progressive taxation which ensures that people who make decent money, don't really get to keep more than 50% of my paycheck so having good healthcare and free education (like University is free, free school meals up until you're 18) comes with a prize tag that we just have had to accept, so obviously I would have preferred to get the surgery for that regular prize (which would have been probably around 300 euros in total with the doctor's pre visits and the hospital days). However I quickly decided, and my hubby agreed, that waiting for a year, maybe even two, was too long as my body had gone through so much already last year. I was worried that too long of a wait would result in me yoyoing with my weight and more complications could have a really bad impact on my long term health. So, I ended going to a private hospital in Finland which in overall was a good experience, and I was able to go home the next day as planned. Tried to go to work 3 days later, but had to go back home after a couple of hours and just work from home the amount I was able to. After leaving the hospital I only took a couple of acetaminophens a day, which I found quite surprising. A week later I was already working regularly normal hours (mostly a desk job, no heavy lifting). No vomiting but a couple of times now that after two weeks I was allowed to have crisp bread (and somehow thought it was a good idea to make it less dry by combining it with cream cheese) have I had it block the stoma or just become just a big clump inside the pouch. Not a pleasent feeling, and tried to drink a bit, and I could feel the Fluid staying in the esophagus so just waited it out...
Thing I find most annoying is that I have never been a person to drink my calories, not a Soup person, especially pureed Soups are not at all my thing. Vlcd with the shakes was already a 5 week misery and the the liquid and pureed food phase now after surgery. I already hate all the things I previously used to like such as Protein puddings and smoothies. I like the textures of differents foods, fresh fruits and vegetables and can't have most of them in a long time. I have started to chew foods like sweet paprika in my mouth to get the experience and then spit it out to not cause problems. I had no idea I would grow such a disgust (it really is like a physical feeling of nausea) towards so many liquid and pureed foods so quickly..
Feels like right now, at this point when I really don't have any of the NSV's etc effects yet, that it is quite hard to stay in positive at times when the physical nausea, inability to join the family dinners etc. makes you feel down. Maybe atleast some of you understand where I'm coming from, some support would be encouraging. At least reading threads about different topics related to WLS is already something to keep my mind of negativity.
Final note; WLS aka weight loss surgery sounds so much more upbeat than our translation in Finnish which is Lihavuusleikkaus (direct translation to Englush for it is Obesity surgery). It sort of has the emphasis on the obesity rather than what it aims to do. Person who came up with the terminology must not have been obese themselves...
For anyone who actually read the whole post, thank you, I appreciate it!
Sent from my AC2003 using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi Sept Surgery Buddies!
I just wanted to report an astounding success that all of you would understand. I go in for surgery day after tomorrow so I am neck deep in my liquid diet. I only had to do it for a week and messed up the first two days. But I got myself totally focused and have done well since and was feeling great yesterday after not even feeling hungry.
Today we had company lunch out at a restaurant that I couldn't avoid. I'm talking bar and grill with ALL the food, starting with many apps across the table. Everyone ordered food, I ordered a refill on my Water. It was tricky because I haven't told anyone about my surgery. Just said I wasn't hungry. And it was true! I wasn't!! Whoda thunk it?!?
Felt good to have my head in the right spot and still enjoy the company of my co-workers in the face of such temptation.
Going in at 11am on Sept. 15! Will report back on my experience - thanks so much to those of you that continue to do so. It is incredibly helpful!

Had my VSG yesterday. Came home today. No nausea, no pain (of course that may pop up) lol
Now on to the Stage one for 14 days. - broth, and Premiere Protein Shakes, SF 1 popsicle . 1 SF Jello.

Had my VSG yesterday. Came home today. No nausea, no pain (of course that may pop up) lol
Now on to the Stage one for 14 days. - broth, and Premiere Protein Shakes, SF 1 popsicle . 1 SF Jello.

Looks like you figured it out. haha

Hope all went well.

Had my VSG yesterday. Came home today. No nausea, no pain (of course that may pop up) lol
Now on to the Stage one for 14 days. - broth, and Premiere Protein Shakes, SF 1 popsicle . 1 SF Jello.

Welcome!

I'm so glad to hear everything went so well! Hope things continue to go that way and that the next 14 days go fast and easy for you too.

Welcome! Good luck on the diet, I start mine on monday and I'm also having the bypass.

Had my VSG yesterday. Came home today. No nausea, no pain (of course that may pop up) lol
Now on to the Stage one for 14 days. - broth, and Premiere Protein Shakes, SF 1 popsicle . 1 SF Jello.

Had my VSG yesterday. Came home today. No nausea, no pain (of course that may pop up) lol
Now on to the Stage one for 14 days. - broth, and Premiere Protein Shakes, SF 1 popsicle . 1 SF Jello.

Had my VSG yesterday. Came home today. No nausea, no pain (of course that may pop up) lol
Now on to the Stage one for 14 days. - broth, and Premiere Protein Shakes, SF 1 popsicle . 1 SF Jello.

Hi Buddies - Two weeks away and I've got a lot of head trash going on that I just need to get off my chest. ::deep breath::
Fair warning - this is kinda long, rambling and full of woe is me. Feel free to exit stage left now.
I am afraid. Not of surgery, not of complications, but of failure. I've tried so many things and failed. Or succeeded, then gained the weight back and then some more. I feel so out of control of my weight, I've gained steadily for two years straight. 50+lbs. Nothing stopped it, not even my usual approaches.
And I can't help but think, if starving myself didn't work in the past (I mentioned I've tried everything, including very low calorie diets) and led to regain plus some, why will this work? If I couldn't stop the gain, how will I possibly lose the 100lbs I need to lose? If I am in control of the successful outcome of the surgery based on adherence to the rules - then that makes me shake in my boots. I've been down that road before, "You will be successful if you just follow the program!" Didn't work so well obviously.
I'm feeling defeated because of my past, but trying to find hope. My hope is all the success stories. I'm almost hesitant to feel TOO hopeful because of my fear of failure.
I also know I'm not alone in how I feel, that many of you feel or felt the same. And if you don't feel this way, please don't let my fear become your fear! I KNOW you all will be successful!! It's my own failure that I'm all too familiar with.
Sorry to be so negative. I just had to get this **** out of my head and get honest with how I'm feeling.

VSG Surgery in scheduled for Sept 1, 2022. 4 years ago I started having a lot of gastric problems. Random and often
vomiting, severe diarrhea, heartburn, indigestion, etc. I had 2 colonoscopies and 2 endoscopes. Finally, diagnosed with gastritis and microscopic colitis but no reasons why those happened. I took lots of different meds, changed when and what I ate, etc. Nothing worked. It was so bad I was afraid to even leave my house at times. I went to a bariatric/general surgeon about a VSG. He ended up being just who I needed to help solve my huge gastric problem. At first, he said I would probably need to get a bypass instead of the VSG because he thought I may have had GERD/reflux. He sent me for another endoscope and discovered from the last endoscope (a year before) I had newly developed a hiatal hernia, stomach ulcers, and deformed pyloric. Did some more tests and found my stomach acid was about 5 times too much. My pancreas was not able to produce enough of the necessary stuff to neutralize the stomach acid traveling through the intestines, which in turned cause the gastritis and severe diarrhea. The bypass leaves a still somewhat function stomach so I will get VSG instead since it removes a large portion of the acid producing fundus. I will also get a repair for the hiatal hernia and pyloric. I am so thankful to my doctor for finding my gastric problems and explaining to me in a way I could understand. AND lose the weight, too! I ended up not having GERD/reflux at all, even I develop due to the VSG, I think I can handle it! Thanks for listening to my story!

It's getting real! Tuesday -Pre-op bloodwork. VSG on Thursday, have to be at the hospital a 5:30AM.

I’m scheduled for the 12th also. I’m super excited too.

Thanks for the info on getting my ticker to appear. I will give it another try.

I've changed the way I'm eating anyway. I keep feeling like there must be some mistake, but the letter I got was pretty clear. I still want to shrink my liver...just in case. 😂 Why make it harder on them than it has to be?

Thursday Sept 1st for me. There are a lot of different dr requirement, isn't there? Mine is 2 weeks of Protein Shakes, 3 oz lean Protein and 2 cups non starchy veggies per day. Day before surgery only Protein Drinks and nothing not even Water after midnight. Good luck, it's getting close!

Wow, that was a long journey to get to this point. I'm glad you finally found your answers and now you get to lead the way for our sept group and start feeling better soon. Thanks for sharing!

VSG Surgery in scheduled for Sept 1, 2022. 4 years ago I started having a lot of gastric problems. Random and often
vomiting, severe diarrhea, heartburn, indigestion, etc. I had 2 colonoscopies and 2 endoscopes. Finally, diagnosed with gastritis and microscopic colitis but no reasons why those happened. I took lots of different meds, changed when and what I ate, etc. Nothing worked. It was so bad I was afraid to even leave my house at times. I went to a bariatric/general surgeon about a VSG. He ended up being just who I needed to help solve my huge gastric problem. At first, he said I would probably need to get a bypass instead of the VSG because he thought I may have had GERD/reflux. He sent me for another endoscope and discovered from the last endoscope (a year before) I had newly developed a hiatal hernia, stomach ulcers, and deformed pyloric. Did some more tests and found my stomach acid was about 5 times too much. My pancreas was not able to produce enough of the necessary stuff to neutralize the stomach acid traveling through the intestines, which in turned cause the gastritis and severe diarrhea. The bypass leaves a still somewhat function stomach so I will get VSG instead since it removes a large portion of the acid producing fundus. I will also get a repair for the hiatal hernia and pyloric. I am so thankful to my doctor for finding my gastric problems and explaining to me in a way I could understand. AND lose the weight, too! I ended up not having GERD/reflux at all, even I develop due to the VSG, I think I can handle it! Thanks for listening to my story!