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Low bp/ orthostatic hypotension
Tomo replied to Krasavitza's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I think it's natural to temporarily feel a little light headed no matter what extreme diet one may be on. Low calories can do that to a person. I had a friend who was on a liquid diet for months and she fainted every now and then. She did not have WLS. She was in one of those medical liquid diets. I have low BP since my weight loss but it was fine when I was 160 but after I got down under 120 lbs is when it happened. The doctors do not seem overly concerned, told me to drink coffee and tea, and add some salt to my food... Etc. I don't ever feel dizzy or uncomfortable. When I was over 300 lbs I often felt dizzy, unwell and always uncomfortable. I, too, am so thankful for WLS. -
I'm getting so frustrated, 7 months out and almost 2 months stalled
Sunnyer replied to SuziDavis's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
I totally understand what you are going through, and I'm with you in the frustration. I'm 8 months from surgery and I've stalled for the last three months. I've only lost around 20 kilos (44 pounds) and I'm still 15 kilos or 33 pounds from healthy weight. I can't believe this is all the result I will get from a very costly and difficult surgery. I'm halfway there, and I don't know how to jumpstart my weight loss. It seems to make little difference what I eat. I don't eat a lot. A typical day for me is 8-900 calories. I went on a week long trip this Easter and decided to eat whatever. I still didn't eat a lot at every meal, because I get full really easily, but I ate regular food and didn't write down calories. I normally use myfitnesspal, but skipped it this week. The result? I still weigh the same as I did three months ago. Now I've gone back to low carb and I've gained 100 grams. During my vacation, I walked a lot. Didn't make any difference. I haven't exercised as much as I wanted to, because I've had repeated injury, but I still try to move as much as possible. And I cannot fast during the week, because it makes me so tired and cranky, and I need energy for working with difficult teenagers. I'm at a loss what to do. -
This sounds about right. There’s something doctors and others call a “3 week stall” where your body is recovering water lost and rebuilding the stores it expended during the first week or so of very low calorie/healing. The stall can happen earlier for some (it happened at the 10 day mark for me), or a week or two later. Regardless of when it happens, it usually lasts 1-3 weeks (mine lasted a week) and breaks as long as you stick with your guidelines. YouTube has some great info videos on this stall, worth checking out!
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Your experiences are quite common at this stage. I wasn’t hungry or interested in eating either and I too just sipped my shakes & soups for hours in the liquid stage. I got in less than 300 calories in the beginning. I only ‘ate’ two meals during the liquid stage & from purées started to eat to a routine so I could better get my nutrients in. However, I was never given a caloric goal only protein & fluids & portion size recommendations. And it took a while to regularly reach those goals & that was okay. You can only physically eat what you can especially this soon after surgery. Doesn’t matter how much someone tells you you should be eating. If your tummy can’t tolerate more then you just can’t. I was barely eating 900 calories by 6 months. My surgeon & dietician were okay with this because I was eating a variety of nutrient dense foods & my blood work never showed I was lacking or low in anything. It was almost my 3rd year before I could eat 1400/1500 calories. Many eat more but this is fine for my age, height, gender, weight & activity level. That was my experience but others will have very different stories because we’re all different. Keep working at getting in your protein & fluids. Try explaining to your dietician that your surgeon is okay with what you’re doing. That you physically can’t eat that many calories at the moment while you’re still healing but you’ll keep working at it. If they won’t listen maybe try to find another dietician who is more understanding & willing to be more flexible for you & your needs. No one way will completely suit everyone. Plans should be flexible enough to be modified so it works for you whether it be your calories, portions, activity level, specific nutritional needs, medical needs, progress timelines, etc. PS - Try diluting your shakes, broths etc. & count the extra towards your 32oz water goal. Fluids don’t have to be just plain water. Try green or herbal teas, squeeze some lemon, lime or orange juice into your water, protein water, milk, yoghurt drinks, electrolyte drinks (an little boost of energy too) & then rotate the ones you enjoy throughout your day.
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I'm not sure if this helps or not, and I know that everyone is different...I have had more success with a "clean" diet: hard boiled eggs for breakfast, grilled or baked chicken with a veggie for lunch and dinner. Whenever I do low calorie diets with processed food, I can't seem to lose any weight.
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I had my 2 week post op appointments yesterday with my Nutritionist and the Dr. in charge of the Nutrition Clinic, the pharmacist and my surgeon. The Nutrition Doc put me on the bariatric scale and my body fat % is the same, so I'm losing as much muscle as fat. During the full liquid phase I was consuming an average of 534 calories a day, 66oz of water/shakes and 72.4g protein. I didn't just drink shakes, I ate yogurt 2x a day and pudding/protein too. I walked around my house quite a bit, but I only got about 2 hours of "exercise" because THAT incision was so painful the first week, and the second week somehow I triggered my back pain (the surgeon said that since it started hurting when I tried to increase my walking time, that the surgery could have triggered it). OK, that's the background. My Nutrition Doctor was disapproving of my calorie intake and told me I should have been getting at least 800 calories a day (she never told me that, my goals were 48-64oz of fluid and 60-80g protein). She said if I needed to, to sip on protein shakes during the day to bring my calorie and protein up. My surgeon said that getting less than 600 calories a day isn't unusual and not to worry about it, don't make myself eat. That I should take it easy until the episode with my back ends and then try to start walking and use some light weights to start building muscle. So, it wouldn't be a problem if I could do both, but now I'm on pureed/soft foods and as much as I was looking forward to it, I just don't want to eat. I didn't feel hungry during the last phase either, but I ate and drank as scheduled. It wasn't a problem, but it did take ALL day. Now, I get a few bites down and I don't feel full, nauseous or in pain, I just REALLY don't want it. It's confusing because I don't know how to read the signals anymore. Since the surgery, my stomach will growl and my mind says "I must be hungry" and at the same time "I don't feel hungry". So now, am I full or am I just repulsed because my tastes have changed? I used to drink plain water all the time, now it tastes bad. Do I go back to full liquids and add more shakes so I can get the 800 calories or do I press on with Phase 3 and try to find soft foods that I can make a whole meal out of and not worry about the calories? I don't feel like I can do both because while I had no problem with Phase 2, I don't think I can get the extra calories/protein while trying different foods that I may not want to eat after a few bites. I'm supposed to get at least 32oz of fluid from water, not shakes.
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Am I recovering TOO fast?
Arabesque replied to JustJovi's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Everyone recovers differently & can or can’t tolerate different things at different times. Not everyone experiences temporary changes in their senses taste &/or smell. Some can drink cold drinks easily while others find warm or hot drinks easier & more soothing. Some people are advised (by their surgeon) to progress through the stages more quickly while others need to stay at a stage longer. You won’t really feel your restriction (a tightness across your chest) until you’re eating more solid foods & the nerves that were cut during the surgery are healed. The pain you initially felt would have been from stressing, straining or irritating your healing tummy. You shouldn’t use your restriction or discomfort as a signal you’ve eaten or drunk too much or too fast. Not everyone dumps. Less than 30% with sleeve & less than 40% with bypass. But it is easily managed by avoiding those foods that cause it (fats &/or sugars) which you should be doing while you’re losing weight. In time even those who do dump may find they can eat a small amount of these foods without issue. It is important to follow your plan. Remember all because you can doesn’t mean you should. The plan is in place for a reason. Initially to protect & support your healing tummy (think of all those sutures & staples holding your tummy together) & then to support your weight loss (awareness of portion sizes, calories, nutrition, food choices, reflect on old eating habits & establish new habits, etc.) Conversations with your surgeon & dietician would be of benefit to ensure you are making the best choices - behaviours & foods. If your surgeon feels you are healed enough to progress more quickly, they’ll let you know what you are able to do & eat now. I am worried you chose to eat cake at 4 weeks post surgery. It was your choice but was it a self sabotaging behaviour? Cake at week 4? What will you eat in subsequent weeks? Only you know the answer to this. Maybe a conversation with a therapist will help. And yes you will lose weight while your calorie intake is in deficit even eating cake but your focus should be on the nutritional value of what you are eating when your intake is low. Protein, protein, protein then vegetables & eventually some fruit & complex multi/whole grain carbs. -
Post op calories per day?
Arabesque replied to mcipanda's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
This is one of the negatives of artificial sweeteners. Because your body tastes sweet it reacts as if sugar is being consumed & available to be used as an energy source hence the insulin reaction. The body also reacts by storing calories because there actually wasn’t any sugar which results in weight gain. (There are academic papers on this if you’re interested.) And of course artificial sweeteners continue to feed your desire for sweet. Your body needs some sugar (as glucose, fructose, lactose, etc.) as an energy source. Look for natural sources not ‘added sugars’. I get mine from fruit - blueberries predominately - and keep my added sugar intake to less than 10g a day total (usually only 5g). But it has been my choice to continue this from maintenance. -
Post op calories per day?
mcipanda replied to mcipanda's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I never did get an answer to my calories question… my nutritionist just reiterated that the calories matter less as long as the following are true: - get your 70-90 grams of protein per day no matter what (I am in soft foods stage) - get your 64oz of fluids every day (and I’m allowed to count protein shakes and milk as fluids) - no more than 5g fat per serving - no more than 5g sugar per serving When I watch these rules, I end up with around 700-850 calories per day and I’m steadily losing. If I don’t get enough protein or water, I stall over the next two days. Oddly, I noticed that if I drink artificially sweetened things like Gatorade Zero, I stall out. She said I may be insulin sensitive where my brain sees the fake sweetener as the real thing and releases insulin to counter it. I try to have maybe one of these drinks every two days to get my Miralax in. Not sure if any of this helps but I hope there’s a nugget in here that adds some value 😊 -
GBP exhaustion and shortness of breath When does the exhaustion and brain fog and weakness get better?
Kels WG replied to Kels WG's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
Thanks so much! I am trying to consume more calories and I think I need to have my doctor revisit my BP meds maybe. I am dizzy often when I exert myself or even think too hard about moving fast! -
I’m surprised you haven’t been prescribed any anti nausea meds. Also wonder if it’s a sensitivity to something you’re eating. What if you try sipping a protein shake on your way home to help offset the afternoon nausea. Grazing is fine. Many do graze or eat several smaller meals. It just depends what you’re grazing on & if you’re still keeping to your daily total calorie & portions sizes & meeting all your goals. For example you make an appropriate meal and eat it over two or three sessions.
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Post op calories per day?
Boofaloo replied to mcipanda's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I wasn't given a calorie goal but I've been up to 1000 calories and walking 1 hour at 2 1/2 weeks. Everything I find on the internet says 300 to 600 calories! Am I eating too much? Ugh...I don't want to mess this up -
Constant pain during work
summerseeker replied to Veritas34's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
I am going through a similar thing. I begun volunteering in a charity one day a week. Its very physical for me and entails lots of steps and carrying. I come home drained and aching all over. My calories are low, 1000 to 1200 so I run out of energy quickly and need to eat a protein bar and drink a glass of milk just to get me through. When I get home I collapse on the sofa. I need to build up my muscle mass again. I hope it will get easier in time because I love this little job -
GBP exhaustion and shortness of breath When does the exhaustion and brain fog and weakness get better?
summerseeker replied to Kels WG's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
It can be a rough ride in the first few months. Be really kind to yourself, this a a big surgery and we need time to adjust to all the new things we need to learn. The anaesthetic makes you feel spaced out for a while Once I got to the liquid goals, I felt incredibly so much better. Then as @Happy with two says I came off my BP meds too. This stopped me feeling dizzy. It took me a few months to get to enough calories inside me so that I had energy to do my daily chores. I am not a spring chicken. Little by little, my calories increased and I could do more. I always carry a protein bar and a drink when I am out. At times my energy levels still drop and I get a glass of milk or a skinny latte and a protein bar to get me through. Listen to your own body, rest as much as you can, treat yourself like a princess for a while. This time will quickly pass and you will be flying along again -
Bariatric Friendly Starbucks Coffees
Erin18 replied to Erin18's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Coffee and tea is allowed on my plan. I drink coffee once in a blue moon tho. Soy, almond and coconut milk are all allowed on my plan and I have unsweetened vanilla almond milk and even before surgery. It tastes great in things, but non fat has more protein. It is hard to get in the calories. But super hard to get in the fluids and protein for me too. -
Bariatric Friendly Starbucks Coffees
Erin18 replied to Erin18's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I'm not a huge coffee drinker and they told me I can drink coffee and tea. I asked at my dietician appointment today. I know im not supposed to have sugary drinks and what not. That's why I'm asking what everyone's go to bariatric friendly Starbucks drinks are 🤣 to give me ideas if I want to get a Starbucks drink. I see a lot of people getting a shot of expresso. 2 packets of zero calorie sweetener, in a large cup and they fill the rest with their protein shakes. But due to the fact I can't stomach protein shakes, I wanted something that I don't have to add it in. I saw another Starbucks recipe for bariatric patients for the pink drink. -
Share your latest updates!
Lisa XO replied to qtdoll's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
I am a little over 3 months post-op. I have lost close to 60 pounds now. I would like to lose another 20 pounds, and am on track to do that. I sometimes worry that I will lose too much but I know I'm just being ridiculous. 😂 I feel good even though I am still having issues meeting protein and fluid goals. I think I am going to go back to having protein soups for lunch to help with that. I've been trying to up my calories but having a hard time going much over 600-700 a day. I have tried all kinds of meat and veggies at this point and have only had issues with some chicken thighs one time, when I ate too much, too fast and got the foamies. All of my rings, shoes, and clothes are too big. It is expensive to lose weight. Today, I had someone not recognize me, which was wild. -
Bariatric Friendly Starbucks Coffees
pintsizedmallrat replied to Erin18's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Venti hot or iced Americano, black, with Splenda. Zero calories. Zero carbs. I also want to point out that Starbucks will make most or all of their drinks as a "short" which is 8 oz as opposed to the 12 oz tall size. It's cheaper, and if you prefer something with milk in it, you might want a smaller portion of it, -
Bariatric Friendly Starbucks Coffees
Lisa XO replied to Erin18's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Unfortunately, after surgery, coffee now tastes like poison to me. 😢However, when I was in pre-op, I enjoyed light caramel frap. My doc allows coffee and I would have tried it after surgery. It uses sugar free syrup and low fat milk. I am sure you could switch up the milk to soy if your plan doesn't allow dairy (mine does, any kind that is sugar free). 100 calories for the tall size. If I were to attempt this after surgery, it would have been about 1/4 of my daily calories so I would have waited until maintenance since eating any amount of calories is difficult enough as it is. -
I'm getting so frustrated, 7 months out and almost 2 months stalled
Char9196 replied to SuziDavis's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
I’ve researched my BMR and what my maintenance calories are etc. and to maintain is 2560 a day and I’m averaging about 1850-1900 max most days. I’ll just keep pushing lol. My dietician is having a look at my food diary to see where she can help. -
Bariatric Friendly Starbucks Coffees
Smanky replied to Erin18's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I imagine Starbucks iced coffees etc are absolute calorie bombs due to the fat and sugar. Honestly, I'd be taking this time post-op to wean yourself off drinking your calories, and especially in the early months drinks really need to have a protein focus. I was never given a coffee restriction (I was offered coffee the first night in hospital), so once my stomach had some time to heal, my daily treat was a small soy latte, no sugar. Soy has a good amount of protein in it, and a small soy latte is an acceptable 75 calories. -
BMR and my future self ???
Arabesque replied to LandofHopeandDreams's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
Two bonuses of the surgery are a reset of your metabolic rate & of your body’s set point (the weight your body is happiest at). As others have said your pre surgery BMR will have no impact on your maintenance BMR. Before surgery, I’d struggle to lose a kilogram eating 800 calories & would gain weight eating 1200 calories. Now I eat about 1400/1500 calories to maintain my much lower post surgery weight. I am also an almost 58 year old woman, with a smaller frame, only 5’3” & not very active. -
Bariatric Friendly Starbucks Coffees
Recidivist replied to Erin18's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
First, you should ask your surgeon about his/her guidance on caffeine after surgery. Most surgeons don't want you to consume caffeine for a certain period. (Mine recommended a year after gastric bypass, which is when I resumed drinking coffee.) I think the only acceptable option would be black coffee, with skim milk and artificial sweetener if you like. (That's my go-to drink every morning, made at home.). You really shouldn't do anything with sugar or fat after surgery, including whole milk, syrups, whipped cream, processed sugar, etc. Any of those would be empty calories when you should be prioritizing protein. When your surgeon says you can have caffeine, you could do an iced coffee with skim milk, but I'm not sure there is any way to make a Frappucino bariatric-friendly. -
I'm getting so frustrated, 7 months out and almost 2 months stalled
Arabesque replied to SuziDavis's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
It does seem a lot of calories if you’re still trying to lose. But if it is what your team advised based on your body & needs, activity levels, etc. that’s fine. You may be in maintenance. With a BMI of 27 & at your goal, this may be at your new set point (the weight your body is happiest at & is easiest to maintain). To lose more weight you’ll have to be more active & consume fewer calories but to stay at the lower weight you will have to continue to do more & eat less than you do now. My restriction kicks in more quickly if I eat food that is too dry, coarse or dense or if I eat too quickly. If a food is dense, like certain meats, it will feel heavy in your tummy & feel like you’re full more quickly setting off your restriction. Sometimes I feel it but can’t work out why - just a quirk of my tummy. -
I'm getting so frustrated, 7 months out and almost 2 months stalled
xoxoMeli replied to SuziDavis's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
Honestly, what works for me is 1 day where I consume more calories then usual. I eat foods that are healthy but higher in calories (butter in my eggs, a bigger portion of avocado, 2% milk vs skim, etc) so it isn't like a day of pizza and burgers. LOL. This has always worked for me both pre and post op. There is a lot of info about this online. It basically tricks my body and I usually have a nice loss after.
