buzzly36

Did your prescription change for the worse? I noticed that right after my surgery my eyesight was definitely worse for a couple of weeks but it has returned to "normal" since then. My doctor had not heard of that happening before.

Haha VSGAnn2014, that's awesome! Your response just gave me a big smile!

I reached my goal weight of 150 pounds at 8.5 months after surgery. Surgery day I weighed 216 pounds. But my highest weight (2 months pre-op) was 235. During that pre-op period I lost 11 pounds on my own diet and another 8 pounds on my surgeon's pre-op liver-shrinking diet.
I was SO ready to get that wagon rolling! I'd had enough of being fat, immobile, agoraphobic, yuck! I wanted my health and my life back more than it is possible for me to communicate -- even to others who understand what that's like.
Since I reached 150 pounds in mid-April 2015 I've very slowly lost another 15 pounds and am now at 135 pounds. I eat so well -- healthy and tasty food and also have some treats. My calorie goal in maintenance has been 1700 calories on the average. I recently just determined I need to raise that to 1800 calories/day to stop losing weight.
I don't need or want to lose anymore. If I looked any hotter (at 70 years old) it would be a felony!

It seems that at least 50% of the posts on BariatriPal are bemoaning a stall. Daily, and sometimes hourly, I am reading about how someone ONLY lost x number of pounds and now the scale hasn't moved in ___ [fill in the blank] days/months, etc. Oh no, they write, I am a failure/unique/my surgery didn't work/life is not fair, ... Why am I in a stall?
I know I am exaggerating but I think you get the idea.
Guess what? STALLS are a NORMAL part of the PROCESS of losing weight. If you want to lose weight, you will stall. Not just once, but over and over. And, guess what? A stall is where your body actually does the hard work of becoming smaller. It takes a lot of work and energy to dismantle a structure that has been holding up, in some cases, hundreds of pounds.
For those who think they have to DO something to somehow "break a stall" (in my opinion, you do not break a stall, you just ride them out), here is my response:
What can you do to "break" a stall?
1) STAY OFF THE SCALE
Relax and stay off the scale if it bothers you so much. Weigh no more than once a week, or even less often. Weighing only at your doctor's appointments early in the process is a good strategy if your mood and self-worth are dictated by the numbers on the scale.
2) PICK UP A TAPE MEASURE
In addition to using the numbers on the scale to measure your progress, take your measurements. Inches lost are also a great way to see physical progress when the scale isn't moving. Most people see the biggest physical changes in their body when the scale seems stuck.
3) TRACK YOUR Protein AND Water AND MEET OR EXCEED YOUR PROTEIN AND WATER GOAL EVERY DAY
As long as you are getting in all your protein and water and following your NUT and surgeon's instructions, you are doing what you are supposed to do.
If you aren't getting in all your protein and water, then increasing your protein and water is something you can do (and should be doing anyway whether or not you are in a stall).
4) EXERCISE
If you aren't exercising, then you can exercise (and should be whether or not you are in a stall). You can start slowly by walking or even moving more around the house. Exercising will help you feel better, tone your skin and build fat-burning muscle.
5) MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR NUT
If you are unsure or unclear about what you are supposed to be, or should not be eating, then make an appointment with your NUT (which you should be doing whether or not you are in a stall).
6) REASSESS AND REEVALUATE
About the only good result I see that comes from complaining about a stall is when you take an honest look at what you are doing and realign with the program recommended by your NUT and surgeon. Have you started eating more outside of your plan? Are you restricting calories? Are you eating enough carbs and protein for your exercise? Are you taking your Vitamins? Are you eating often enough? Are you eating slowly with protein first? Sometimes, all you need to DO is go back to basics.
7) JOURNAL
One of the biggest things I have noticed from the various posts is how anxious and out-of-control some people feel when they notice a stall. Journaling can help you gain some perspective and deal with some of the emotional turmoil.
-- Write about how you are feeling about the stall and your weight loss, and surgery in general.
-- Write about why you had the surgery in the first place.
-- Write about what life was like before surgery.
-- Write about what you hope and dream about accomplishing in the future.
-- Write about your fears.
-- Write about your NSVs.
-- Make a gratitude list.
-- Make a bucket list.
-- Write a letter to your old self; write a letter to your new self.
Just write.
8) SEEK HELP
Stalls are when too many people seem to revert to old, counterproductive dieting behaviors (restricting calories, over exercising, bingeing, etc.). If this is you, then another thing you can DO is to talk to a counselor or therapist or consider joining a bariatric support group or a twelve-step group like Overeater's Anonymous.
The discomfort of being in a stall can also drive people to develop new, unhealthy coping habits or even transfer addictions. This is where you want to marshall all the resources you have available to you and use them.
The last, and most important thing you can DO is:
9) EMBRACE THE STALL
Stalls are a normal and natural part of the process.
Our bodies are complex systems and not simple machines.
Stalls go hand-in-hand with weight loss.
If you had Weight Loss Surgery, then you probably want to lose a significant amount of weight. So, get ready to embrace the many stalls you will experience as your body is transformed. It will be worth it.

I think for me, how I learned to deal with stalls is the biggest difference from before the yo-yo dieting pre-op.
Pre-op, when I hit an inevitable stall, it was easy to throw up my hands and give up. Often with my appetite urging me to do so.
Now, not only have I learned how normal, natural, and necessary the stall is in the process of losing large amounts of weight, I have the evidence to prove that if I do what I am supposed to do and use the sleeve as a tool in the way it is intended, then I will lose weight (because of the stalls, not in spite of the stalls imho). If I didn't allow my body to do the important work it does during the stalls, my body would not be able to efficiently shed all this weight.
Everyone stalls if they intend to lose a lot of weight.
Just follow your program and stay off the scale.
Make sure to get in all of your Protein and fluids, take all of your Vitamins and supplements as instructed, exercise and stay off the scale.< /p>
Embrace the Stall!
http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

I know that when you are in it, it is so hard to hear other people say things like "just hang in there" and "this happens to everyone", but you really need to HEAR it. There is nothing wrong with you. Your surgery hasn't failed. Everyone's body reacts differently to surgery and drastic changes in diet. This is your body's reaction for right now. You have to remove the word "only" from your vocabulary. It will drive you insane. I was in your shoes after my surgery. I "only" lost 14 pounds the first month when other people were losing 30-40 pounds. And then I "only" lost 8 pounds the second month. And then I "only" averaged about six pounds a month for many months after that. And then I was "only" losing 2-4 pounds a month. And you know what? Eventually all of those "only"s got me to my goal weight! I've been maintaining (and even losing a little more) for the past three months and life couldn't be better!

Not to worry. I lost 23 pounds pre-op and then gained back 12 while in the hospital from IV fluids. It took me two weeks to lose that and then I hit that third week stall for about two weeks. Geeze o pete! So, I really was fully past my first month before I actually made progress at all, when many people are down 30-40 pounds already.
But now I am just three weeks away from being two years out and am very close to goal. It just takes some of us longer. Hang in there, kiddo.

I took mine like at midnight before my surgery. That held me through till after the surgery.

Yes I took mine the day of surgery as instructed by my surgeon. They don't want you having gas or acid so take yours the day of as well.

I was allowed to take my three blood pressure meds the morning of my surgery.

I too was weak from the pre-op liquid diet and didn't drive because I was afraid I would have a wreck. My NUT had me increase my calories up to 800 to 1000 with addition of milk. That really seemed to help.

The timeframe to be rid of the nausea & to regain strength/energy varies, I guarantee, you will not feel like this for the rest of your life. My nausea began to subside within 24-48 hours after surgery. Each day it got better & better. You'll be okay.
Best of luck to you. Your fellow losers are routing for your success!

Have you tried changing the brand of Protein Shake you use? Maybe try a Protein Drink like Isopure no carb or Syntrax Nectars?
Post-op the liquids phase whether you do clears then all liquids or go straight to all liquids is the most challenging part, then it's just slowly re-introducing foods. I was fortunate enough to not have any nausea at any point. It's a good idea to check in with your NUT and see what she recommends. Good communication with a competent NUT is invaluable during this process. If you have one you trust, definitely lean on her.

buzzly36,
Hang in there! 500-700 calories is a really low amount of calories. It may be about ¼ of what you would need if you were trying to maintain your weight! Since calories are “energy,” it’s no wonder you feel terrible!
Like the others said, just be patient. You don’t want to do anything to jeopardize your surgery. What you can do during this time is support yourself by getting plenty of fluids so you stay hydrated. Also, try to get plenty of sleep so you’re going into surgery as strong as possible.
Best of luck with surgery on Monday, and let us know how it went!

@@HopeandAgony - I do not have my gallbladder either. I talked to my sister-in-law, who is a Nurse Manager and who had the gastric bypass about 13 years ago. She said to go ahead and take the Omeprazole that I have prescribed to me for heartburn. Just since last night I haven't felt as nauseated so I am really happy about that. A few days ago I saw my surgeon and told him that I was taking the Omeprazole as needed so I'm pretty sure that it is okay that I take them up through tomorrow. Just nothing after midnight on Sunday night. One and a half days to go. I have to keep my eyes on the prize! Good luck to you!!

@@HopeandAgony - I do not have my gallbladder either. I talked to my sister-in-law, who is a Nurse Manager and who had the gastric bypass about 13 years ago. She said to go ahead and take the Omeprazole that I have prescribed to me for heartburn. Just since last night I haven't felt as nauseated so I am really happy about that. A few days ago I saw my surgeon and told him that I was taking the Omeprazole as needed so I'm pretty sure that it is okay that I take them up through tomorrow. Just nothing after midnight on Sunday night. One and a half days to go. I have to keep my eyes on the prize! Good luck to you!!

@InnerSurferGirl - I am at least consuming all of the Water that I need. I will stay in touch with my NUT. I probably should have called her already.
@@MissMac - Thank you for responding. All of your responses have made me feel better. I really appreciate it and really needed it hear it!

Thank you all for your responses. They do help.
@@cbruce125 - I couldn't agree with you more!
@@BLERDgirl - fruit or fruit juices are a no no for me but thanks for the idea.
@InnerSurferGirl - I have the same pre-op diet as HopeandAgony. 2 Protein shakes, 4 ozs Protein (food) and 1/2 cup veggies. My doctor said consuming 500-800 calories is the goal. You are allowed to have 2 sugar free jellos, 2 sugar free ice pops and 2 servings of chicken/beef broth each day, in between meals. My problem is that I feel so nauseated all of the time that I have to force myself to get in the 2 shakes, 4 oz protein and sometimes I can't even get the veggies down. I know I only have two days left so I will deal with it but my original question was do these feelings go away? I just don't want to live like this for the next year.

I think we will feel better post op. I really believe that. I can't guarantee it, but I have to believe that. This weekend so far, being home is even harder than being at work. All the food around is very tempting. Like you I am not hungry, but knowing it's here is a mental battle. I have headaches daily, yet I'm drinking 100oz of water a day. I don't have as much nausea as you, but I have diarrhea everytime I drink a shake or eat dinner. I too wonder how I can do this for another week, but I keep telling myself why i started this process in the first place. We can do this.

Post-op it was all I could do to get a couple ounces of food or Water down at one time. As I made that gradual transition to solid foods (4 1/2 weeks), I began to feel a little better each day. By the time I was at that point, I could eat 1/2 cup of food, maybe minus the last bite.
I really did not have much energy until I got to solid foods, but even soft foods helped. By six months I could eat one cup of food or two ounces of meat plus a few small bites of veggies. I am fast approaching two years and can comfortably eat one cup, which sounds and feels like a lot, now.
It's hard to remember how I used to eat a big ol' plate of food, go back for seconds, add a dessert (or two) plus about a quart of soda pop. And sometimes I felt like I was starving two hours later. Maintenance is not so bad. I can eat anything I want, but what I want has changed. My body is used to receiving Proteins and veggies, and balks at anything sugary or starchy.
The process becomes more automatic as you go along. In a few weeks you will be able to look back and encourage someone who is where you are now.

No wonder you aren't feeling well if you can't even consume the small amount you are allowed. Are you at least able to get in all of your Water?
I don't know if you will have the same issues post-op or not. I was never nauseous.
The issue initially post-op for me was just being able to consume the volume required. I had to sip continuously to get all of my fluids and Protein in.
One thing you can do both pre-and post-op is to stay in contact with your bariatric team. If you aren't feeling well, can't keep down your food, etc., you should be on the phone with your NUT an/or surgeon's office.
Don't wait until you are so dehydrated and/or malnourished that you wind up in the hospital.

Not helpful. I'm not sure why people feel the need to be condescending to those looking for support.

The weakness doesn't last forever. My energy started to return about two weeks post op. I am almost two years out and have more energy than I've had since I was a kid and I'm 46!

I struggled with the 10 day pre-op diet as well. Kicking the caffeine is what drove me nuts. But I got through it because I wanted so bad to have this tool to get healthy. I too had some doubts, even before enetering the OR. So glad I didn't run the opposite way. This is the best thing I've ever done for my well being.
I actually went for my 3 yr post op follow-up appointment today. All numbers & counts in the perfect range & I've never been healthier.
I do get the hunger feeling, it doesn't last long, it doesn't happen as often. But the ultimate is that it takes very little to satisfy it. Best diet tool ever.
Hang in there, be patient with yourself & follow your program. I assure you that you will be pleasantly surprised.
Good luck to you!!!

Haha. Don't you love when they sell it so well with the side effects? It'll be worth it!