Hi Gang! I'm Meow. I was scheduled for a 100cm Bypass on June 29th and they just moved me UP to June 9th! AHHHHHHH! I'm usually pretty grounded with life's hurdles but all the sudden my mind went blank and I thought "I'M NOT READY!" Any other May, June, July Bypassers want to join up and share and support? I'm not sure how to put my stats in my profile but I am 5' 5" female. Late 40s. 220# at the Doc yesterday. Goal weight is 150. Having BYPASS instead of Sleeve due to life-long reflux. Told I only need to do 3 days liquid liver shrink beforehand since my BMI is only 36. Feel both overloaded with info and under-prepared to say goodbye to the contrasting albatross/joy that is FOOD in my life. Both glad and nervous about the timing as it feels like an easier time to stay away from friends and family who social-eat until I get a handle on my new digestive system. But also I'm pretty bored as my line of work is largely halted until the conditions are far safer. Likely won't have regular work until 2021. I'm ashamed to say the last 2 months have been more of a food funeral than I anticipated so I have a lot of mind-prep to do in the next 2 weeks. I am keeping this a private journey. Only my husband and best friend know. Even keeping my tween daughter in the dark at least for now. Would love some buddies who check in frequently to go thru this with. I've been posting on other June thread but thought a BYPASS thread would be great. And of course Veterans are WELCOME to pop in and share. Share your stories with me! Let's do this together!!

Hello,

I am a newbie, and this is my first post. I have lurked on this forum a lot but never posted. I got my vsg 0n 29th June. Its been a rough ride. First I was in a lot of pain, and nausea. That ended by first 4-5 days.

But now the only food my new tummy seems to be tolerating is greek yogurt lassi. Protein shakes make me gag I do think I am getting my protein though.

Since this forum has helped a lot, I feel I should also share what is working for me. The greek yogurt (chobani 0%) is protein-rich, and I think I am getting ~40g protein (1/2 container) or more from it every day. The Protein2O tropical coconut is also saving me, I drink ~2 bottles or more - 15g protein/bottle/ I cannot tolerate many flavors, but this one is so soothing with coconut and pineapple. Also, I take everything very cold, like freezing, nowadays.

Another thing I love is making popsicles from syntax nectar flavors. I ordered some, and though I feel by itself it is too bland for a popsicle, I add tang(no sugar) 1 tbs or more in 20 oz water and 1 or 2 pouches of nectar. Then freeze as popsicle- makes 6. That is like 4 g protein/popsicle, and I love SF popsicles currently. I also love putting some fruit chat masala on my popsicles, gives me the savory taste. This chat masala is from Indian grocery.

From reading another thread I also got a pregnancy pillow from Amazon and I am using it continuously, for sleeping or while sitting. I love my pillow, it has made such a difference in comfort. I have to sleep on my side(right), and I can do that with this pillow. Also I put one side on my tummy, then sit and type on the laptop, and do the same thing when sleeping, to prevent my dog from jumping on my stitches. This was very helpful when the incisions were fresh, now I feel they are mostly healed.

I hope this helps someone.

On 7/10/2020 at 3:54 PM, WishMeSmaller said:

Well friends, I was doing great until I wasn’t. I had been wearing a scopolamine patch since they put it on me in pre-op and took it off yesterday per my instructions. Then I was nauseous. Then I had pain. Then I was miserable. I did have a hiatal hernia repair and I believe it started to cause some spasms to my diaphragm which were less than pleasant. I think ??????I finally found the recipe of anti-nausea med and Tylenol where I feel almost functional. The actual plain Tylenol is working so much better for me than the narcotics. I have not eaten anything since about 24 hours ago and I am afraid to try. Just been focusing on my Water, which I am doing much better with today. I think I will probably just be conservative with Clear Liquids only today and then see about advancing again tomorrow.

I hope you all are doing well with recovery!

I also have bad nausea, if I drink anything other than greek yogurt. Try greek yogurt lassi, 1 cup yogurt, 4-5 ice cubes, little puryne ( I think that is stevia), and little salt to taste, mix into liquid at nutribullet. It is so refreshing. The probiotics in the yogurt also help with my BM. I cup yogurt is like 15-17 g protein.

Edited July 12, 20206 yr by itsmylife20

6 minutes ago, itsmylife20 said:

I also have bad nausea, if I drink anything other than greek yogurt. Try greek yogurt lassi, 1 cup yogurt, 4-5 ice cubes, little puryne ( I think that is stevia), and little salt to taste, mix into liquid at nutribullet. It is so refreshing. The Probiotics in the yogurt also help with my BM. I cup yogurt is like 15-17 g Protein.

I don’t think I could get down a cup of anything, but that does sound good. Maybe I’ll try later today. ? thank you!

Just now, WishMeSmaller said:

I don’t think I could get down a cup of anything, but that does sound good. Maybe I’ll try later today. ? thank you!

Try it, and best of luck!

Hello all I got the bypass july 6th 2020. I am 5'3 and at my heaviest I was 333 I got down to 321 before surgery and now I am 309. This has been a struggle for me because I couldn't keep liquids in. I just now started yesterday being able to drink a full bottle of water in just a few hours as opposed to a whole day. But I'm excited for the journey and the weightloss.

15 hours ago, Mommyof03 said:

Hello all I got the bypass july 6th 2020. I am 5'3 and at my heaviest I was 333 I got down to 321 before surgery and now I am 309. This has been a struggle for me because I couldn't keep liquids in. I just now started yesterday being able to drink a full bottle of Water in just a few hours as opposed to a whole day. But I'm excited for the journey and the weightloss.

Welcome! So sorry to hear about the water struggle. It does get easier! You've had some GREAT losses!!

Well... I went from 200 for 10 days to 199 this morning. ((sigh)) I'll take it! ONWARD BYPASSERS!

@WishMeSmaller How are you feeling today? Wondering if that hernia repair is still keeping you from making strides. Happened to read a few posts today from another who seems to be struggling with the repair part of their Bypass just like you are. They had to go in for fluids and then were told to go back to their 1st stage of just fluids and protein powder for a week to give their body longer to heal. Made me think of you. Are you able to keep your fluids down yet? Have you spoken with your surgeon or nurse prac? I'm hoping it's a better day for you.

6 hours ago, MaybeMeow said:

@WishMeSmaller How are you feeling today? Wondering if that hernia repair is still keeping you from making strides. Happened to read a few posts today from another who seems to be struggling with the repair part of their Bypass just like you are. They had to go in for fluids and then were told to go back to their 1st stage of just fluids and Protein Powder for a week to give their body longer to heal. Made me think of you. Are you able to keep your fluids down yet? Have you spoken with your surgeon or nurse prac? I'm hoping it's a better day for you.

Meow, thanks for checking in. My surgeon’s nurse did call today and told me the surgeon says my symptoms are related to the hernia repair and I just have to let it heal. I have been feeling pretty good though, except I ate too much for dinner ??‍♀️ I am able to eat puréed foods right now without anymore GI distress and vomiting. Yay!

I know it must feel like a pretty small victory, but you did make it to Onederland. Congrats! Keep on keeping on!

Hello everyone! Yesterday was one month since surgery. I'm now eating normal food (mostly) in very teeny-tiny quantities. I eat itty-bitty meals about six times a day. Yogurt, cottage cheese, cooked chicken thighs, no-sugar-added juice, lunch meat, mashed potatoes, green beans, watermelon, cherries are all working out great, although lately I seem to get heartburn anytime I eat chicken. Yesterday and today I ate cereal for the first time. I had the Kashi version of Cheerios, only about 2 tablespoons worth, with about 1/4 cup of skim milk. It is a laughably tiny serving of cereal, but it caused me no problems and was very satisfying. In particular it was psychologically comforting because it felt so unbelievably normal. What a relief!

I think early in this thread someone might have mentioned that they really needed to adjust their thinking. That pre-surgery, they had focused so much on food, and afterwards, only being able to eat a tiny bit and having to avoid certain things, it forced them to realign their thinking and their priorities. I am finding it SO TRUE.

I'm pretty sure I'm not getting 64 oz of fluids a day, but I'm getting enough to not be dehydrated. I'm surely not reaching 70g of protein most days, but protein DOES still make up the majority of my diet, and I feel pretty good. I'm continuing to lose a few pounds a week, which really amazes me. My husband says my face looks thinner, and I can tell my pants are much looser.

Still having some issues with constipation, but that's a lot better since I switched to the vitamin without iron. I take colace a few days a week, which helps a bit.

I have learned to hate my calcium chews. Taking them is no problem, but they cause a bad taste in my mouth for hours afterwards, and even drinking water doesn't get rid of it.

Also I'm cold ALL the time! Has anyone else noticed a change in body temperature or comfort level? It's so weird.

Hope you're all hanging in there.

@Groovymommy I hate calcium chews too. An alternative is liquid calcium citrate until you heal enough to take the tablets. I use Reviva Liquid Calcium. It's vaguely blueberry flavored and the texture is like milk of magnesia, but I can put it in milk, shakes, or just slurp it off the tablespoon. Also, I've been cold since my sleeve in 2011. I wear a sweater most days and have a heated mattress pad on the bed. You are doing wonderfully well, congratulations!

I am 3 days post-op today, and it is the first day I have not maxed out my painkiller allowance. It feels like great progress!
So, now that I felt better, I stopped to take some "post-op pictures". But when I looked at them I was quite shocked ?
My complexion is very, very fair so every bruise stands out a lot. And boy, am I bruised! I have bruising around the incisions. I have a huge bruise on my forearm from the IV dislodging and sending fluids to my muscle instead of the blodstream. The other arm is super bruised as well from a nervous nurse having a hard time finding a vein. And my surgeon has me on these anti-thrombotic injections each day, so more tiny tiny bruises appear each morning.
It looks dramatic, but really I feel fine ?

How Is everyone doing?

13 minutes ago, Repeatingthoughts said:

How Is everyone doing?

Well today I figured out that I can eat an ounce of chips and feel fine. So that sucks.

@Groovymommy Happy 1 month! Great to hear from you! Cheers to feeling unbelievably normal. And being able to poop. And having a "break thru" regarding the way you see food! You are killing it!

@Repeatingthoughts How are YOU? I'm doing well. I've just started feeling "normal-ish" after some unexplained pain last week. My surgeon sent me in for an ultrasound to rule out gallstones. But by the time my appt rolled around the pain was nearly gone. Lasted about 4 days. So who knows. I went to an imaging center. Didn't get the results yet but don't expect any gallstones. I've lost 20 pounds as of today and today is the 6 week mark. I will say my daughter took a video of me dancing tonight and I watched it and was shocked at how heavy I am. I have avoided cameras and certainly videos for the last couple years since ballooning up in weight and I guess I was seeing myself as smaller in my head since losing the 20. It was a wake up call. To press ahead. Groovy I admit I haven't been taking my calciums. I decided to wait until my first bloodwork to see if I was calcium deficient. I've read it can increase your risk of kidney stones and I've had one and I don't want one again. I have several servings of dairy a day. So we'll see. I'll start them if I need to. My appt for blood work is at 7 weeks so a week from today.

@613cnn I too have made a few discoveries I wish I hadn't. I've mentioned sugar in moderate amounts doesn't bother me at all. I was very happy about that at first. But now I'm seeing how that might, in the long run, be a bad thing. I did have a low blood sugar episode after walking in the park the other evening. Felt great when walking, then got home and realized I was low. I grabbed an oat and nut bar my husband had purchased at Whole Foods. It had chocolate chips in it but I picked them out, however it also had honey in it and as I was low I ate it. I had about a third of the bar before I realized it. Felt certain I was going to throw up for about 45 unhappy minutes. But I didn't., thank goodness (still wonder if I'm physically able). Anyway, the next morning I felt GREAT. It was interesting.

That's about all I have to share. I'm getting 60 pro a day. Still working on 64 water. Eating about 600-700 cals a day and keeping carbs around 30. I'll update when I get the ultrasound results back and have my bloodwork done next week. Would love to hear from everyone. ONWARD BYPASSERS!! Thanks for checking in, Repeating!

Edited July 22, 20206 yr by MaybeMeow