ChunkCat

Yay! Here's mine for all the weight/health related stuff. https://instagram.com/shrinkingmytiara My other account is pretty much solid cat photos. ?

That's wonderful Jill! You are already in Onederland! I hope the rest of this process continues to go well for you and it is a straight shot to your goal weight!

Wow, what great success, you look fantastic! And I'm sure having all that pain gone is a huge relief. I think everyone worries about regain. The sad fact is there is a level of vigilance that it seems will always be there because obesity is such a sneaky disease. But I've noticed those a few years out seem to be more at ease with the process and while watchful, are not quite as anxious about it as time goes on and they maintain for longer. Still, I think some anxiety about it will always be there...

Woohoo!! Congrats on hitting Onederland! You are doing a great job, that's amazing progress for 6 months!

Awww, that is such a bummer! I hope the tests show something useful!!

Female hormones can make your gums more sensitive. My doctor told me sometimes pregnant women have this issue because of the increase in hormones. I had this happen when I was taking progesterone, but I wouldn't be surprised if estrogen can do it too. Also I have bleeding, pale gums when I'm iron deficient. So something to watch for...

I really like creamer in my oatmeal, so I feel like vanilla protein powder would work! I'd mix half a scoop of powder with 1/4 cup of cold water, then stir it into the oatmeal once it has been cooked. You don't want to heat protein powder very much or it'll denature the protein and it'll clump and be gross. But stirred in after the oatmeal cooks should be fine...

My doctor's offices all ask if you've had a positive test within 10 days. Past that they don't care. Given the CDC's recommendations I don't think you'll have any issues at all. Your immune system should be over it well before your surgery date!

Oh, I just remembered an article I read about hyperallergenic foods. It was about a clear whey protein water sold in New Zealand. It cited several cases of extreme reactions to small amounts of the beverage in children known to have a dairy allergy. It seems that in concentrating proteins into drinks we've created a new class of "hyperallergenic" foods that may send some people's immune systems into overdrive. The interesting part is that their reactions were much more dramatic to the protein water than to actual cow's milk because the protein was so concentrated in the protein water. So I guess it is possible you are developing a dairy allergy and it is showing up when you drink the shake because it is much more concentrated than any other source you are ingesting whey from? Something to think about anyway... Here's the article: https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2010/12/22/Hyperallergenic-functional-foods-raise-protein-concerns

Oh that's no fun... I've heard of people having various issues from too much biotin. It is why not everyone advises supplementing it. I think it is unlikely to be the shakes, mostly because a true allergy comes from reactions to a protein IIRC? For the shakes that protein would be in the whey. That means you'd react to ALL whey, which means essentially all cow's dairy products. It is possible to develop an adult true allergy to a protein, but they are rare... However, we can develop intolerances to things and it is possible some additive in the shake is doing it. The reaction you are describing sounds like eczema, it causes that textured skin feeling and sometimes pigment changes. I have a friend that gets it every time she eats cheese! But if it is hives taking benadryl should help noticeably. I'd quit the biotin, give it a week or two for everything to calm down, then try the shake again. If the rash shows up from drinking it again you should go be tested for a dairy allergy by an allergist. I'm not a doctor, but that's what I'd do...

Congrats on finding out what was wrong and having it treated! I hope you can progress normally now and have no further issues. Yay for being on target with your weight loss!! That has got to feel really good despite the challenges you've been having.

ejm, did you have a DS done? I have read that in rare circumstances low protein levels or excessive weight loss can cause the small intestinal portion of the DS to have to be reversed. Have you spoken to your surgeon about the extra weight loss? Have you had your vitamin levels checked lately to make sure you aren't deficient in anything? It might be worth an appointment with the surgeon to talk about your concerns... I wouldn't cut out fat so much as just make sure your fat is coming from a heart healthy source. DS patients have malabsorption of fats which is part of what leads to their better weight loss/maintenance outcomes. But some DS patients find they need to eat more fat or calories to maintain a healthy weight, and things like nuts and avocadoes can help with that. sweetsmith78, I'm sorry you felt scrutinized. I have generally found people on this site to be quite kind and helpful. It is hard to know what to say to someone experiencing excess weight loss when most of us here don't have that issue or anything even close to it. Which procedure did you have? Have you talked to your surgeon about the extreme weight loss? I would think focusing on calorie dense food might help. Full fat yogurt, milk, and cheese. Maybe adding MCT oil to your coffee? Protein shakes with peanut butter added, in fact, anything with nut butters added. And adding more nuts and avocadoes to your diet, as they are good sources of healthy fats. For most of us fat is where we start to gain calories back (or sugar, but I generally don't tell people to eat sugar LOL). I'm sorry you are losing so much weight, it must be very distressing after having surgery to treat the opposite issue! My sister sits in the 90s/100lb range and when under stress she really fights to keep her weight up. She hasn't had any surgery, she was just born that way. She uses meal replacement shakes and fats to help with that. Good luck to you both with finding answers and viable solutions to this!

So exciting!! Congrats brandycsiz!! I was scheduled for December but we had to change things due to a shoulder surgery. So I'll be having the duodenal switch done on November 1st! I started the pre-surgery diet today since the surgeon wanted me to do 3 weeks if possible...

Well, it seems I'll be getting the surgery sooner! We had to cancel our trip after I visited the ortho doc and found out my MRI shows a rotator cuff tear, damaged bicep, and bone spurs. I have to have surgery on it as soon as possible. But I'd have to wait 3-4 months after that surgery to do the bariatric surgery and I didn't want to wait. So we decided to do it first! I'm having bariatric surgery November 1st and a few weeks later we'll do surgery on the shoulder, this way we can get both in under this calendar year. I'm tired just thinking about it. LOL I started the pre-surgery diet today since he wanted me to do 3 weeks. I'm hungry already. ?

Oh that BMR calculator made me laugh... It estimates around 2,000 calories at my current weight and about 1,600 at my goal weight! Both are actually higher than my norm. I average around 1,200 to 1,400 calories a day (yes, tracking EVERYTHING, even drinks and junk). I've averaged that for the last 10+ years and still managed to gain about 100 lbs. But medications and health conditions helped with that gain... Still, if I actually end up at around 1,600 a day with no exercise and no gains I'll be one happy bunny! I guess it really is a matter of perspective and what we are used to. I've always thought the 2,000 calories a day thing was a load of garbage. Caloric needs vary widely depending on body composition, activity level, health issues, etc... I'd hate to see what weight I'd be at if I was actually eating those 2,000 calories it thinks I need right now.

I'm so excited, I got my surgery date today and we finalized all the details of the surgery!!! I'll be doing the duodenal switch with a longer common channel since I have a history of vitamin D deficiency and anemia. The surgeon talked to my GI specialist and they signed off of on it so everyone is on board thankfully. We picked December 13th, since I'll be in New Zealand for most of November. He said 2 weeks is standard for their liver reduction diet but if I added in a gradual 3rd week it would probably help as a bonus week. Their liver reduction diet is 2 shakes, 2 snacks and a lean, green dinner until one week before surgery, when it switches to all fluids. So basically I'll be starting the diet as soon as we get back from traveling... I already have 7 flavors of premier protein shakes in my closet. LOL (They require the shakes be either those or the bariatric advantage powder as per some study they are following). I'm really happy to be at this stage of everything, I know the 2 months will fly by fast!

Yayy!! I hope your surgery has gone well, you got a good nap, and now are waking up on the other side!! Speedy healing to you!

I agree, this may be bile reflux which is different to stomach acid reflux. They might be able to give you a medication that will help absorb the excess bile in addition to the PPI to protect your stomach. I'd definitely call your surgeon, mine today mentioned that sometimes bile reflux can happen as a flare up in certain surgeries, but often calms down with the right meds.

Though you may be an unhealthy weight, you still have to fuel your body with protein and vitamins for that size or you will lose muscle mass. Losing muscle mass is enough of an issue post surgery when you are super restricted so you don't want to induce it before the surgery does. Does that make sense? I have found some dieticians to be very erratic when t comes to what they advise you from meeting to meeting. I have no clue why. I'd ask her for a print out of what macros she advises you to be at and follow the percentages, aiming for over 100 grams of protein. This should keep you at a healthy balance give or take a few grams of protein. The sad truth is that many obese people are nutritionally deficient because we've restricted ourselves down to 1200 calories or lower which shuts down our metabolism. But we do it because we gain with anything more! Our bodies are rather broken metabolically. Don't stress yourself out. If you are losing at a steady rate and feel good with consistent energy and aren't starving between meals you have probably found a decent balance. As for the scale I have the same issue from place to place. It is so irritating. In the end go with the scale you will be weighed on for the insurance company (which is probably the surgeon's scale). Then weigh yourself in one consistent spot at home and calibrate your scale to match. This should get you in the right neighborhood...

What is his reasoning for all these restrictions?? I'd consult a dietician trained in bariatrics, most doctors and surgeons have NO CLUE about nutrition and come up with these odd plans that have no medical basis because they don't think about the patients who will actually try implementing them. If the dietician there supports his weird restrictions, find another one. There is no medical data saying bariatric patients should avoid cheese and protein shakes post surgery. Are they checking your vitamin and mineral levels? You'd become deficient eventually without proper supplementation on a plan like that. Early post op recs are different than maintenance when you are over a year out and your restriction has eased up some. I know some docs favor a no snack plan because they think snacks will lead to mindless eating, but planned snacks can actually PREVENT mindless eating. Anyone can hold out for an hour or two when they know when they will eat next... Again, some people can survive on this sort of plan long term after the first year, but to try forcing it when you are still healing is cruel and misguided. You will end up with a lot of fatigue and weakness because you aren't getting enough nutrients.

I would get the drinks with the sweetener of your choice and just add the unflavored protein to them, or brew tea and add the erythritol to it, then add the protein powder. I hate artificial sweeteners but I have decided part of my journey to surgery is learning to tolerate them as this is a lifelong change and I don't do well with sugar alcohols like erythritol. My surgeon requires the 2 week pre surgery liver reduction diet to be done with the Premier Protein premade shakes and those are sucralose based... I think I have like 10 flavors of them now. LOL I still cringe with the first few sips but having them ice cold helps. With fruit drinks I find a sour component helps cut the artificial taste and sometimes watering them down more than the package states. I like adding cold brew coffee concentrate to the shakes, the bitter component balances out the sweetness. I'll have to get decaf for after surgery! But really, the pumpkin spice flavored one with coffee concentrate makes a pretty decent pumpkin spice latte!

I'm sorry you regained, that is so frustrating! 80 lbs in 3 months is a lot, I'd talk to your doctor about checking your thyroid and your fasting glucose level... Most of us gained weight during Covid due to less physical activity, comfort eating, and more time and accessibility to snacks. Snacking is notorious for gaining weight back after surgery. The hard thing is we don't feel like we've changed anything big in our eating habits but unless you are tracking literally everything you put in your mouth you really won't notice how much extra you are eating. Changing drinks from water to other things is a big culprit too and easier when we are at home next to the fridge. And tasting things/snacking while cooking. There is no shame in regain IMO, life happens in unpredictable ways. Covid was a huge hit for most of us and caused a lot of changes in living habits just to get through! I haven't had surgery yet but I gained about 50 lbs in the years around Covid, I'm immune compromised so was on strict lockdown for forever. Converting to a DS can help with more weight loss and maintaining weight loss better, it has the highest statistics for total excess weight loss and weight maintenance. However since it is a conversion for you (not a virgin surgery) the weight loss will be slower than it was with the initial sleeve surgery. You will still lose weight with it if you are diligent, you can still get the weight off if you got it off before, but in order to do that you need to figure out what is causing you to gain weight so you can correct it and help the surgery work. Revisions can be game changers for some, but they aren't miracle workers, they still require hard work and effectively using your tool.

Ugh, I'm so sorry that you have to have another surgery! I had a hysterectomy 2 years ago (cancer) and the doctor is right, it IS major surgery and man do you have to for real do nothing...and more nothing...and get really good at rolling out of bed and not clenching your abdominal muscles for things! The recliner was my best friend, along with a small pillow to brace against my tummy and an abdominal binder helped a lot! Oh and post partum underwear because you don't want anything tight on your tummy... Feel free to message me if you want some tips for surgery and recovery...or just to vent. I had reproductive issues for years before the cancer. I don't do nothing very well so I had to take up diamond painting and adult coloring books to keep my brain occupied. But, like with bariatric surgery, you only get one chance to heal well so best to go along with it. You have had so many other procedures I can't imagine this will keep you down for long. I was upset I had to have one, but now I am honestly soooo glad. It is fun to pack for travel without period gear! LOL I was one of those women who would bleed for months on end and no longer dealing with that is a huge relief...

I'm on Rexulti for depression along with a few other things. It is an atypical antipsychotic. I haven't had surgery yet so I can't say how it affects weight loss but my psych feels it is pretty weight neutral so shouldn't be a problem. She said most of her patients lose the weight on their meds, it just takes a bit sometimes. I'm guessing some meds can slow the process if you know they are contributing to your weight already, it just depends on the individual, as with most things.

Echoing RickM, bile reflux is different than acid reflux. Make sure you are dealing with a doctor who understands the difference, it matters a lot because best treatment and best course for revision are different between the two. I believe they should have you on something like cholestyramine for the bile reflux, it absorbs the excess bile. And yes, if bile reflux is the main issue, a traditional DS would be a useful revision because it cures it... So I'd research that and talk it over with your surgeon!