Fred in Pa

Type 2 here… My last shot of insulin was in my pre-diet phase. My sugar dropped like a stone after. I actually ended up back in the hospital two weeks after surgery with starvation ketoacidosis. My doctor said I was following the post surgery diet to strictly(all protein) and I needed to add back in a few healthy carbs here and there to keep my insulin level steady. I think that shot you took was a mistake. Until it clears, you will need carbs to keep your sugar up. After that, monitor your levels and adjust diet as required. Of course, all of this should be checked by your doctor and his team.

Like you pointed out, it will get a little better after day three. Your body starts to acclimate to the reduced calories. The bad news is, well, it sucks. There’s no getting around it and it’s one of the harder parts of the journey. I tried to find distractions around the house and tried to stay as busy as possible. Use this time also to rest for your upcoming surgery. Get lots of sleep. Hang in there!

In addition to the above, blood sugar can also drastically change your vision. So if you are diabetic, and your blood sugars have now normalized to lower levels, your vision may change.

In addition to the above, blood sugar can also drastically change your vision. So if you are diabetic, and your blood sugars have now normalized to lower levels, your vision may change.

Congrats on your achievement!

You have overcome so much…congrats!

I don’t think you’ll need an electric chair at three weeks but you should be able to sit down and rest when you need to. I found that when I hit a wall it came on pretty quick, and I needed to stop and rest. So if you go into it, knowing you need to pace yourself and rest often, you may be OK. Listen to your body in the two weeks after surgery and you should be able to evaluate what you think you can do at that third week with your family.

Hi Mike, Brain fog comes from the anesthesia, and also the physical shock to the body as it’s healing. Mine took a good six weeks before I started feeling somewhat normal mentally. I still have days when I have the blahs and I’m four months out. Calorie deficit post surgery also plays a role as does hydration, which is why you need to keep your protein and water goals in mind. Walking took a while to build back up. Before surgery I was at 3 1/2 miles about five times a week. I’m now at 4 miles sometimes 5, five days a week and that took me about three months to get to. Of course, your mileage may vary, depending on your age, weight, etc.

Great picture! A true testament to Hard work! Congrats!

At 8 weeks I was at about 800 calories per day. I went mostly on my restriction and making sure to make good food choices. That equated to about 5 to 7 ounces per meal depending on the texture. Most of my calories came from protein. My team didn’t give a calorie goal but instead advised what I outlined above. I am now at four months, and have added in more exercise, and therefore more calories. I have slowly added in carbs while watching my blood sugar levels as well to balance my diet. Looking towards maintenance, I was told to balance calories and activity to maintain weight…all while making good food choices.

Look at it this way, you are about halfway to your goal!! That is not a failure! By New Years you will be at GOAL! You have lost 32 pounds… be proud of that! You are doing everything right, but the mind seems to only dwell on finding fault in the little things. Your hair will return and you will continue to lose weight. Stick to your plan and try to focus on the positives. Congratulations on your fortitude, progress, and determination!

From the Wall Street Journal… https://www.wsj.com/articles/europe-is-probing-whether-ozempic-use-raises-risk-of-suicidal-thoughts-8c82533e

Behind paywall, here is verbiage: Ozempic is under review by European drug-safety regulators after they received reports of suicidal thoughts linked to the popular weight-loss drug and another medicine in the class. The European Medicines Agency said Monday it is evaluating the safety risk for patients who take the drugs, manufactured by Novo Nordisk, after learning that three people who took the medicines reported thoughts of self harm or suicide. Suicidal behavior isn’t listed as a side effect for Ozempic—and a related drug called Saxenda that is also subject to the review—in the European Union, the EMA said. Novo Nordisk said the company’s studies of Ozempic and Saxenda, as well as its continuing monitoring of their use, haven’t shown a link to suicidal thinking or thoughts of self harm. “Novo Nordisk remains confident in the benefit risk profile of the products and remains committed to ensuring patient safety,” a Novo Nordisk spokeswoman said. Depositary shares in Denmark-based Novo Nordisk were flat in trading on the New York Stock Exchange midday Monday. Ozempic, Saxenda and other drugs targeting a gut and brain hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, have exploded in popularity after studies found they can help people lose significant weight. Companies initially developed the class to treat people with diabetes. Ozempic, which is approved for diabetes treatment, has a sister drug named Wegovy that is cleared for chronic weight management in people who are obese. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it doesn’t comment on external research or individual reports, but may evaluate them. It said clinical trials for Wegovy didn’t support an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior. Prescribing information for Wegovy, however, includes a warning and precaution for these risks because it has been reported in clinical trials for other weight-management drugs, the FDA said. The EMA said it would consider whether to expand its inquiry to other GLP-1 drugs. The agency said it began its review after the Icelandic Medicines Agency reported suicidal thoughts by one user of Ozempic and similar thoughts by a user of an older drug in the class called Saxenda. A third case reported by the Icelandic agency involved thoughts of self-injury by a user of Saxenda. Write to Melanie Evans at melanie.evans@wsj.com

I’d wait a bit longer for anything intensive. Like others have said it was about six weeks before I was cleared to lift weights. But until that point, it was mild stretching to stay limber and walk, walk, walk.

Same as Babyspoons, 5 weeks, one cup, no issues.

Welcome to the other side…the scars of battle! 😊

The preop diet puts you at a severe calorie deficit in order to shrink your liver by forcing it to give up fat. And this can be very shocking to the body. You’re also preparing for a major surgery on the body so I would just take it easy. I did a lot of Internet surfing and general office work.

Oh boy can I relate. I keep saying on these forums that the metal aspect is the most difficult part of the surgery and the one I was least prepared. Bariatric teams can’t prepare you for it because everyone is so different. You are mourning food, specifically being able to eat it, like you did in the quantities, and the timings of the past. This was so hard for me. But it does get easier, just like your body healing physically, it heals mentally. Once you get back on solid food and your body gets used to the portion sizes. During the transition periods, I used that time to really search myself for the hold that food had on me. I spoke to counselors and my dietitians about it as well. Try to use this time to really understand what food meant to you and how it got you to where you were before surgery. Go to the picnic and observe the food and the way people eat it. I had a massive connection between happiness at gatherings and the quantity of food I ate. I came to realize this was an addiction. Once I started losing weight and healed, it was easier for me to see the damage that food had done. From there it became easier to be with others, eating at gatherings, parties, etc.. Hang in there it gets easier as long as you use the time to really, really address the mental issues that go along with the physical. Like wolfgirl states, reach out to your team to get any additional help you may need to get you through the stage.

The majority of bariatric surgery recovery is mental. This was hard for me and something I was not prepared for entirely. Your body goes through so many changes, physically and hormonally. The bright side is that the human body adapts quickly and efficiently. Give it time and hang in there as others have said. Try to concentrate on the positive that you are on a new path to a new life. Your GERD and reflux issues should be gone and you can continue on with life. A few small issues are just bumps in the road to long term success.

If you see your diet after weight loss surgery as deprivation, you’re doing it wrong. After the weight is lost, the diet you maintain should be that of a normal weight person at normal caloric intake. There should be no deprivation involved. Getting to your goal weight involves caloric reduction but it should not be to the point that you want to binge… and if that’s the case, then again, you’re doing it wrong. And it should not really be called a “diet”, it should be normal, healthy eating.

In regards to your diet, I would count the calories tightly. There are a lot of empty calories in what you described, specifically carbs. Go online and determine what your BMR is and then compare to calorie intake. Make changes as necessary to obtain a calorie deficit. You’d surprised at what adds up and how easy it may be to remove a few small items to get to negative. Count every dollop of sauce, every vitamin ( yes, vitamins add calories), powders, etc. Are you exercising? That helps your metabolism as well. Finally, losing slow is still losing and succeeding but really try to eat clean and lose some of those empty calories.

Oikos Pro yogurt. 20g of protein per cup. Vanilla and Peach are my favorites. Mix with fruit serving or a bit of granola for crunch. edited to add: I also have used the 3 ounce proteins shots. The taste isn’t so good but it’s only 3 ounces and gives you I believe 20 to 30 g of protein.

2-5 lbs per week is normal…so you are very normal and doing well!

My advice is the get the “extended release” ER. It’s easier on the bowels. I has IBS before surgery so could never tolerate it for long periods. It’s an older med with verifiable track record. I’d try it way before the injectable stuff.

Because addiction isn’t cured…it’s always there and always will be. The strength of its grip can vary, but it’s never gone. Addiction is also sneaky…you may think it’s gone until you gain back weight and wonder how that happened. Then ask about “pouch resets”, or injectable drugs. Make sense? There is no alternative, you just need to accept it and deal with it as best you can. Find support and explore the reasons. Again, I believe this is THE biggest issue people miss in this journey and what leads to most failures.