Contemplating bariatric surgery.... advice?

[Seriouslyconfused3]

Hi as the title states I am contemplating a gastric sleeve. I am a serial yo yo dieter and my metabolism is fucked. I have pcos and have tried Xenical, saxenda etc- successful until I stop using and the weight piles back on.

I’ve seen an endocrinologist and he said that, in his opinion, sometimes surgery is the only viable option. I’d be paying for it myself as I don’t quite meet the nhs criteria yet.

I’m miserable- I don’t lose weight unless I starve myself ie 600 calories a day and then I’m even more unhappy. I’m worried about my health in the long term, but then the prospect of surgery scares me too.

Any advice from those who have been there before?

I'm now 2 weeks post op tomorrow. Feeling good and thankfully no issues with fluids so keeping hydrated but I honestly think puree is even worse than fluids. 7kg down so far - 16% which is a really positive start. couple of days of regret particularly when extra night in hospital and bleeding. What ideas do people have for the puree stage which are tolerable?

I used the Ella's Kitchen baby food- it was no effort and just about the right amount.

Ohh, that’s interesting re baby food. Did the dietician say it was okay to do that? Would certainly take a lot of hassle out of prep!

Yes the dietitian said it was fine and sooo much easier than making stuff when I didn't know what I would like, and was still tired from surgery.

Deffo going to enquire about that as it’s been stressing me out feeling like I’ve got to find the time to cook and then purée a load of stuff

@QueenOfPain I'd check with your dietitian first. Mine told me to stay away from baby food as nutrionally it's poor but I've heard loads of people, like corona were told it was absolutely fine.

I hated purree stage, ate less than on liquid stage & was too weak still to cook, puree etc. Would have loved to grab a ready to go jar! I did find protein yogurts, fresh soups with added (blended) meat & laughing cow light triangles went down easily. Fish pie (healthy supermarket versions) pureed quite well imo, but carb heavy so not able to eat much!

Its so nice being in normal food stage now :)

Ffs I’ve stalled again I was 1.5lbs away from the first goal I’d set myself. I was aiming to be there before Christmas. I know stalls are normal but they’re so frustrating. Any ideas to push past it?

Are you doing all the boring stuff like recording everything you eat?

Assuming you previously upped exercise and decreased calories when you stalled before?

Sorry don't know what else to suggest.

Have just had a Zoom follow-up with my surgeon - I have lost 33% of my excess weight since I first saw him in August!!!!

Woah! Well done!

That’s fab @CoronaCurls how many weeks out are you?

Yeah the only thing I can think I’ve slacked on is my water intake

Thanks everyone - I'm 6 1/2 weeks post-surgery.

It could be not enough water - I struggle with getting enough water in too. I keep trying different flavours but nothing has hit the spot so far!

Water really is so important to letting the body get rid of the weight.
I find drinking from a bottle with a sports cap helps, and try to have a 500ml bottle on the drive to work, 500ml while I’m at work, 500ml on the drive home and 500ml bottle while I’m at home in the evening. I might not finish the whole bottle in my ‘allocated’ time, but i make sure I have 4 bottles daily, plus 2/3 herbal teas a day.

Really @GingerBreadNurse? I didn’t realise it was that important I really need to up my intake- I just forget tbh. How much should I be having? I’m going to start tracking it today

@Seriouslyconfused3
My weight loss has also slowed right down (only -0.8lbs this week) and I'm wondering if my lack of water intake is the reason. Although I do drink tea/coffee and juice, I'm going to make a concerted effort to up the water.

I have added my weight loss trackers from the start of LRD if anyone's interested. I'm only 3lbs off a 4st loss in total, so I am definitely pleased how it's all going.

That’s really good though @needtoloselots. I wish I’d tracked my loss weekly like that

How much of your excess weight have you lost now? I’m on 49% if my calculations are right

@Seriouslyconfused3
I've lost 47% of my excess weight (aiming for BMI of 25). So close to half way. I was hoping to have made the 4st by xmas, but the way it's going at the moment I'm not confident!

I just want the next 1.5 lbs off before Christmas- then I’m at my first goal. Not sure it’ll happen now I’ve stalled though

Should be aiming for 2 litres of water a day.

100%

All the people who can easily lose weight and keep it off or can eat what they like when they like and never gain a pound will not understand.

I did it 3 years ago and its the best decision ever. I still have —occasionally the whole bar of dairy milk— treats but in general i dont get hunger anywhere near i used to.

I too could lose the weight but id always gain it back, and more. I was “only” 3 stone overweight and I had all the comments - youre not ‘that’ big, just diet and exercise etc.. but it was my money and my decision and I’m glad i made it, as it was for me not everyone else.

Didn’t realise this post was so long ago

No worries @RayOfSunshine2013 it’s great to hear from someone so far out! What’s your diet like now, if you don’t mind me asking?

I had a gastric band, not a sleeve and it works for me but i would definitely go for a sleeve if i had the choice again but only because of the having fluid in, out, in, some days its tighter than others etc.

I’m pregnant at the moment so had to have it almost emptied (I didnt let them take it all out against advice as i was scared of excess weight gain), but i can eat most meats other than pork, any veg but i have it cooked quite soft, i usually stick to fruit without skin (ie bananas, peeled apple, inside of peaches) and cereal or a protein bar for breakfast, generally i can eat everything i used to and don't have to massively plan, i just eat a lot smaller portions, and stick to something soft if i go out for a meal such as soup - just in case I’m having a day where i cant eat much.

I had issues with deficiencies causing extreme fatigue, hair loss etc initially but i take regular vitamins now and have bloods taken every 6 months, which isn't a massive issue as long as any changes are picked up on with my routine blood tests.

What level of exercise is everyone doing or if you're much further out what sort of stuff did you do? My surgeon doesn't seem interested in it at all. Said it doesn't help with weight loss or loose skin that much & far better to concentrate on high protein low calorie diet, especially in the 1st 1-2 years.

Sounds all wrong to me, but, I do need to eat more calories on my heavyish exercise days.