11 Signs You’ve Had Weight-Loss Surgery
11 Signs You’ve Had Weight-Loss Surgery
I know I’m not Buzzfeed…but I thought this could be fun. You know those “10 Signs You Were Raised in the 1980s” and other fun articles? Hmmm…it makes me wonder. What would the signs be that you’ve had Gastric Bypass or Gastric Sleeve Surgery? These are based on my years working with bariatric patients. I’d love to hear what you’d like to add!
1. Your co-worker heard a strange noise and doesn’t bat an eye…knowing it was your stomach.
Patients often ask me why their new pouch makes odd gurgling noises. It could be too big of bites or eating too quickly (careful, a culprit to hunger issues and even weight re-gain) It could also just be your stomach moving around and making noises for all to hear :)
2. You have a space heater under your desk in the middle of July.
It may be in part to losing some “insulation” but many post-op WLS patients are colder than they’ve ever been using more blankets at night and space heaters to keep warm!
3. Your alarm just went off for the third time today to remember your next vitamin.
While bariatric vitamins have become much more simpler in recent years, it still takes reminders to get in your vitamins. Your family might even hear the alarm and hand you your calcium! Thankfully bariatric vitamins are much more simple than they used to be! Here’s a post I wrote on Keeping Bariatric Vitamins Simple.
4. Protein is always first on your mind at your meals – it might as well be plastered inside your forehead.
Protein…protein..where’s the protein? Protein is what fills you up and keeps you full! You get the most out of your surgery when you focus on lean and solid protein sources. Find protein focused recipes on the FoodCoachMe weekly meal plans – written by a dietitian with the post-op patient in mind!
5. Your waitress keeps asking if the food is okay. And if you’re sure you don’t want a drink.
When you can only eat an ounce or so, the wait staff may think something is wrong with the food. And what do you mean you don’t want anything to drink??
6. Your pants are barely holding on but you’re still holding off to go shopping.
Just make sure you don’t carry a heavy object and walk up a flight of stairs. At least not around anyone :)
7. Speaking of shopping, you still go to the plus sized section first out of habit.
It’s hard to wrap your mind around your new body. Leave plenty of time and stay patient with yourself as you find out what size your body is. Take a good friend to be your “runner” and someone to talk it out with.
8. You get overjoyed at the release of a new protein bar flavor…or a sale on your favorite protein bars.
Quest® has a new flavor?!?!??! Ahhhhh!!!!!!
9. You rejoice at the small things like crossing your legs or getting a pair of boots that zip up your calves.
Some things you’ll never take for granted again. It may seem like nothing to others, but to you it’s something big.
10. You use lingo like “wls”…”bariatric friendly”…”pouch”…”vsg”…
You gotta know the lingo to be in the club! #wls #vsg #vsginstacrew #vsgcommunity #vsgjourney #vsglife
11. You smile as you think of how far you’ve come and get excited to think of where you’ll be soon.
I hear it all the time. Patients wonder why they didn’t have their surgery sooner. While I’m a firm believer that the timing works out perfectly, I love hearing someone describe their experience with such appreciation for the change they’ve experience. ***Sigh**** I love this job. (Enjoy some inspiring weight loss success stories like Kay losing 180 pounds and getting on a plane for the first time in 30 years or Kelly’s 124 pound loss who is now enjoying her days on the back of a motorcycle!)
Had the sleeve on 10/6 still having diarrhea. Still not sure what to expect.
Hi Tamatha!
Congratulations on your recent surgery and I certainly hope you feel better every day. With all the protein shakes, medication and diet changes, many patients do have diarrhea in the early weeks after surgery. Hopefully soon your diet will be transitioning and this will get resolved! I do encourage you to stay up on your water intake to make sure you don’t have dehydration with loose stools. As always, contact your doctor if you have cause for concern. I hope you utilize some of my softer, high-protein recipes on the site on this page.
Best of luck in your journey to health!
Steph :)
I have the Sleev done in aug15 . Have lost 45 lbs. After surgery I moved to Eureka/ Blue Lake and don’t have a support group or a doctor to do my check up since I did my surgery in fl. Feeling very lonely without support.
I had the other side effect of the proteína in the first 2 months. Lots of constipation:-( thank God it stop and everything is normal now.
I am considering Bariatric surgery but I am hesitant. I’ve heard some have major food allergies and gut leakage after the surgery. I’d love to hear from others on the forum about this.
I had my gastric bypass on 02-02-2017.. Uggh I still feel like I am slow motion. I am so happy I have had this done, I am ready to start my life on a healthier journey. to become a better me.
Still on clear liquids with a little .. cottage cheese. I can not eat yogurt makes me want to throw up. The protein shakes do help but I am not sure what else to take. I am living on those shakes and crystal light.
I keep wanting to push myself to feel better physically. I am not use to being this sluggish or with no energy.
Any advice ??
Hi Maggie! I know each bariatric program has very different recommendations (I’ve worked for 3 different programs with 3 different ways!) so I’m unsure the details about your diet. I always support you following the program you are with. That being said – 12 days out is very common to feel sluggish and not yourself. Some patients feel full of life and others feel sucked dry of it. My best advice is fluids. I know you’ve been hearing it…but it’s true!! Drink up buttercup and try for as high as 96 oz of fluids. You’re doing great. The energy will certainly come back and probably as more food can come back. I do have several soft phase recipes on the site once your program allows them. (Even more recipes for members to the site and you can find out more about that here). Wishing you all the best in your recovery and your road to health!! I hope you find the website to be of help on your journey! – Steph :)
I know you would like to hear from others as well but thought I would put in my two cents! I have been a bariatric dietitian for 8 years and I do see complications from time to time, like all things. However, far and away the experience of my patients has been very positive. The most important thing I’ve seen for food tolerance is related to eating tiny (TINY) bites and eating slowly, stopping at the first sign of fullness, and not drinking while eating. It’s very common patients find a food isn’t agreeing with them but refocusing their eating habits resolves it. Some foods that do cause intolerance can be foods that are high in starch and swell up in the small stomach such as rice or pasta. Those foods also slow down weight loss so it’s ideally something out of the diet anyway. Sometimes lactose intolerance occurs but mostly just in milk form and not cheese or yogurt. Leaky Gut Syndrome is a pretty gray area and not technically a diagnosis so I can’t say that I know of my patients struggling with this particular issue. Some patients who have had IBS in the past may still have it, and some report it’s highly resolved. There is more I could say on the matter but I hope this helps a little! Wishing you the best in health whatever journey you may take. – Steph ;)
I am over10 years out. I have lost my way and gained 20 lbs Advice anyone?
@Lorraine Lee welcome to FoodCoach.Me! Regain is the most common reason members join the site. I have a back on track video course that focuses on finding motivation as well as covering the different eating plan options to get back on track. If you’re not quite ready to join as a member you can sign up for emails and follow along with recipes and blog posts from me :) Thanks for your comment! (Click here to find out about membership, click here to sign up for emails)