Hey everyone,

I went to my PCP on 2/18/19. I weighed 298 lbs at 6 tall. I was huge. Depressed, sleep deprived, eating disordered etc. My Dr. recommended me to the options program at Kaiser. 12 weeks of weekly classes to see if I was ready for the surgery. During those 12 weeks I researched weight loss drugs, and went on Metformin every morning and Bupropion x2 a day. I immediately lost interest in food and over the 12 weeks lost 45 lbs. I'm not diabetic but very hypertensive and sleep apnea severe. They approved me with no out of pocket costs for the surgery tomorrow at 7 am PST.

The reason I'm doing the surgery is that I have a 3 year old daughter, and I want to be around for her. I'm late 40's and sick and tired of being sick and tired. My Dr. requires a liquid diet for 2 days before the surgery. I had five fast food dreams last night and dreams about chocolate candy bars and dreams about triscuits and cheese plates, etc. I cant believe I didn't struggle for 12 weeks of losing 45 lbs but 2 days of no solid food and its a huge struggle. Clear liquid protein, broth and lots of caffeine.

I got really irritable at dinner time tonight and was frustrated. Even after losing 45 lbs I still ate unhealthy and had trouble controlling my appetite and had serious unhealthy disordered food cravings etc.

The frustrating part was after losing 45lbs the teachers in my weight classes and my pcp and my specialists were all like why are you doing this? You are now on the border of obese and look really good. They all tried to talk me out of it!

My Bariatric surgeon was very supportive and immediately scheduled my surgery. I'm excited and nervous. The really hard part is that not eating solid food for the last 2 days has been difficult and made me want to regress and go back to junk food! I didnt and I'm ready for the surgery but I hope my taste buds change and I become much healthier and practice mindful present eating habits. I know the Metformin and Bupropion were temporary battles won but not the war - which is why I signed up and I'm ready for surgery.

I have my sugar free popsicles, and Premiere protein clear gatorade looking bottles and my vitamins and crystal light sugar free.

I'm ready to win the war and this is a battle I knowingly go into with open eyes and a clear heart. I hope the surgery really helps the anger and depression and manipulative hormones that emanate from my stomach when it doesnt get its fast food or junk food fix.

I want to enjoy not having an appetite and eating small healthy portions of healthy food.

I want to be the 190 lbs guy from my college days. I have broad shoulders and a football players body and played in college but really just get healthy again.

Two things I enjoy in moderation is 1 cup of coffee a day and once a month having a drink of alcohol or two socially. I hope I can regain both of those in the year after the surgery.

I don't care about the junk food, fast food, and sugary or fried food. I hope I don't ever want those again. (My stomach is talking now) literally 8 hours before the surgery!

Mark

PS I hope losing weight helps the sleep apnea and lessens it, since the cpap doesnt work very well. I also hope to stop the 4 blood pressure drugs I'm on as well.

Thank you everyone. The struggle is real.

1. My body is in ketosis and I’m only getting at best 2-600 calories a day and it’s an uphill battle.

2. Sugar free popsicles are really helping. Idk why?

3. I’m craving salty chicken. Idk why? I will try broth and see how I do.

4. I tried normie cinnamon oatmeal today since my plan is to start on creamy stuff third day, and I had dumping syndrome! Lots of gas both ways and stomach really upset. Sugar free popsicles saved me.

5. I’m craving peanut butter so so bad.

I’ve lost 12 pounds since Monday.

Stitches are doing well. I found out my stomach had crept into my throat and the surgeon moved the stomach back down into abdominal area along with 3 different types of hernias I suffered from that he fixed.

Lots of diaphragm pain. Sleeping a lot too. Trying to keep stress down.

No B.M.s lots of gas. I figure I’m not generating enough calories to do one yet.

Protein shakes are okay with 1 gram of sugar but makes me sick and is too sugary tasting.

I will try broth, and pb2 from Whole Foods?

7 minutes ago, Mark1107 said:

Thank you everyone. The struggle is real.

1. My body is in ketosis and I’m only getting at best 2-600 calories a day and it’s an uphill battle.

2. sugar free popsicles are really helping. Idk why?

3. I’m craving salty chicken. Idk why? I will try broth and see how I do.

4. I tried normie cinnamon oatmeal today since my plan is to start on creamy stuff third day, and I had dumping syndrome! Lots of gas both ways and stomach really upset. Sugar free popsicles saved me.

5. I’m craving Peanut Butter so so bad.

I’ve lost 12 pounds since Monday.

Stitches are doing well. I found out my stomach had crept into my throat and the surgeon moved the stomach back down into abdominal area along with 3 different types of hernias I suffered from that he fixed.

Lots of diaphragm pain. sleeping a lot too. Trying to keep stress down.

No B.M.s lots of gas. I figure I’m not generating enough calories to do one yet.

Protein Shakes are okay with 1 gram of sugar but makes me sick and is too sugary tasting.

I will try broth, and PB2 from Whole Foods?

You just had surgery I thought you'd be liquids only for the first few weeks.. Take it easy. Don't rush it.

Kaiser said 3 days of clear proteins then creamy stuff like shakes and oatmeal etc. I will go back to broth and popsicles since nothing else helps. Oatmeal was a hug Nono 3 days after...

Hope all is well - best of luck with your recovery!

Good luck

Mark1107 I'm glad to see you are doing well!.

I am schedule for the Sleeve on Oct. 22nd, very happy and excited right now. I KNOW EVERYBODY IS DIFFERENT, But from everything I have read it seems like you are rushing the PROCESS. Just curious, is Kaiser your Bariatric Doctor/Surgeon or your Insurance Co.?

Kaiser is the health plan. Dr is Edward Zane.

On 10/11/2019 at 12:45, PJ49 said:

Mark1107 I'm glad to see you are doing well!.

I am schedule for the Sleeve on Oct. 22nd, very happy and excited right now. I KNOW EVERYBODY IS DIFFERENT, But from everything I have read it seems like you are rushing the PROCESS. Just curious, is Kaiser your Bariatric Doctor/Surgeon or your Insurance Co.?

He is just following his doctors plan... my doctor also has me from day 5 to purées and soft food. As long as he is following his doctor plan and sees what he can tolerate and what not everything will be good ?
Happy recovery !

Wow just wow. So my surgery was 6 days ago. They gave me a morphine drip after the surgery. That morphine shut down my intestines and ability to go bms. So this whole week protein shakes and clear protein drinks have made physically nauseous. I can’t tolerate clear or milky shakes. The only thing attractive to me are green tea, Campbell’s chicken noodle soup broth, sugar free popsicles. So I tried a cookie today. I tried a protein chip that I chewed 30 times. Same with the cookie. I also didn’t get any stomach distress from both!

Ive literally been taking miralax powder every morning as well.

But this afternoon, I went to the bathroom 10xs @#$&&*(()))’,, wtf! My stomach is so freaking sensitive! I went into immediate dumping syndrome after my stomach and intestines woke up a week later.

I know I need protein, but shakes and clear sweet drinks make me physically sick. I hope I can start on puréed eggs scrambled, and actually chicken noodles and soft chicken. I need protein and I don’t want dumping syndrome that I went thru 10 times today after my intestines woke up finally after being shut down for a week.

My stomach is so sensitive. I hope I can try blended bananas too since my stomach is freaking out. Now I see what is crazy sensitive about my stomach.

It didn’t feel like I had surgery until today. I also lost 10 lbs today.

Most ppl say it takes time for your body to adjust to the new system

Of course you dumped all that miralax lol

You'll be fine mark just stick to it.

On 10/13/2019 at 23:47, Mark1107 said:

Wow just wow. So my surgery was 6 days ago. They gave me a morphine drip after the surgery. That morphine shut down my intestines and ability to go bms. So this whole week Protein Shakes and clear Protein Drinks have made physically nauseous. I can’t tolerate clear or milky shakes. The only thing attractive to me are green tea, Campbell’s chicken noodle Soup broth, sugar free popsicles. So I tried a cookie today. I tried a Protein chip that I chewed 30 times. Same with the cookie. I also didn’t get any stomach distress from both!

Ive literally been taking miralax powder every morning as well.

But this afternoon, I went to the bathroom 10xs @#$&&*(()))’,, wtf! My stomach is so freaking sensitive! I went into immediate dumping syndrome after my stomach and intestines woke up a week later.

I know I need protein, but shakes and clear sweet drinks make me physically sick. I hope I can start on puréed eggs scrambled, and actually chicken noodles and soft chicken. I need protein and I don’t want dumping syndrome that I went thru 10 times today after my intestines woke up finally after being shut down for a week.

My stomach is so sensitive. I hope I can try blended bananas too since my stomach is freaking out. Now I see what is crazy sensitive about my stomach.

I remember being so incredibly stressed out after surgery bc I couldn’t eat anything.
I literally had an 800 calorie week during week 2, so please don’t stress out getting in much besides water at this point.
I know everyone touts how important protein is (and it IS!) but trust me, you can go a few weeks without and you’ll be fine.
If the new tummy isn’t ready for even shakes, then wait a couple of days. The shakes will still be there.
I had a complete and utter aversion to any kind of sweetened protein shake.
It was so bad that I turned to plain milk (fairlife bc of the higher protein levels) and that’s what I primarily used the first month to get my protein in.
Cottage cheese (starting week 3) was also a huge go-to for me as it’s a “slider” and it’s very protein rich.

You’ll get this: go slow and easy and listen to your body. You’re absolutely doing the right thing by focusing first on water.

Hey everyone. Just checking in. I’ve tried some carbs and all of my old “trigger” foods make me sick! Pretzels yuck, potato chips I throw up, cakes and ice cream I can’t look at. French fries are absolutely disgusting. Hamburgers taste like wax.

I like boiled eggs, a little slice about 2 inch by 2 inch gluten free bread with boiled egg on top for breakfast and homemade iced coffee. I also loooove ceasare salad with chicken.

I hate and throw up butter, peanut butter, guacamole, etc. I hate fat. Chicken and turkey skin. No mashed potatoes.

I love carrots broccoli green beans, bananas and oranges.

I love sushi still. Spicy tuna roll. But I can’t really eat much. My whole meal is 50% of one roll.

I still dream of food. I still cheat and love hard candy but I don’t keep it in the house.

Im down from 295 to 260 day of surgery to 212 yesterday.

Most fish makes me sick. I can never look at another protein shake. I like crock potted moist fall off the bone meat with veggies.

Im still hungry a lot!

I sleep the night thru and no cpap!

I cant believe how much attention I get from the opposite sex even though I’m married. It’s so weird. Like I’ve been hit on 1-3 x a week!

I struggle with calories in. Only getting 1200 per day. Still losing weight.

Im really happy with the surgery.

Still struggling with food is NOT a reward. Food is NOT a comfort. Food IS sustenance only.

Like they say in The Mandalorian, “I have spoken!”