I'm so sorry to hear this. Did you have another surgery to repair the leak? Get well soon.

Get well soon!

Hoping for a speedy recovery

I agree..fight with your insurance later..(plus what is insurance for..these agencies drive me nuts!) and just get better...soo glad you discovered this!!

Thank goodness you went for medical help when you did...take care of yourself. Try not to think about your insurance just concentrate on getting better right now. Keep us updated!

Good grief! I am so, so, so sorry to hear this.

Are you sure you don't have reflux? Acid can create a feeling like hunger which isn't. If you're not treating for reflux, you might try a PPI and see if that helps reduce the hungry feeling.

One option that might help is some dense protein at breakfast rather than cereal. An egg, or some cold meat or salmon? Keep you feeling fuller longer.

Another option for upping your calories if you feel the need is switching to full fat milk.

Good luck

I agree about the cereal and mac and cheese. I'd cut all the carbs completely. I get a jr. breakfast burrito at Sonic sometimes or Bean/chicken soft taco (with no rice) at taco bell and just eat some of the insides with a fork, never the burrito. A. It makes me feel full, B. I want to get off the carb cravings and not get back into the habit. I LOVED cereal, but I haven't bought any since surgery.
I have been eating about 4 times a day. I eat breakfast about 9, lunch at 1130, snack about 2 (usually yogurt or finish some more the chicken/cheese/veggie/fruit from lunch), and usually I'm pretty full for the day but I can sometimes get a few ounces in at dinner of something. But, Dinner, I usually just want to finish the protein left from lunch, a yogurt, or a milk protein shake (I use unflavored plant based powder) with PB2 - a peanut butter powder, and a scoop of cottage cheese just for added thickness and protein (can't taste it). I have been able to get the protein shake down faster in the evening than in the morning, the morning it takes hours and by then it's gross and I don't want to finish it.

Maybe keep in mind PORTION SIZE. If you can stick to the 3-4ounce meal size, I think 4-5 times would be OK. I envision the little glad cups that are 4 oz. If I have eaten more than that in a sitting, I will not allow myself to eat again til the next "big" meal. And if all you can have is 4oz, it better be good protein or you 'will' be hungry.
my shakes are about the size of the baby bullet jars.

My proteins are about 50-65 / day doing this, I really can't imagine doing more but I wish I could. There was a cute british girl on youtube that was saying she got bored of food and wasn't eating enough. Sometimes I feel like that; focusing on all the protein is boring/laborous, but I know that's what will work, along with more more than 4 oz portions.

let me know how it goes!

I kind of have been doing the same thing. I had not had a period pretty much in 8 yrs, and then right after surgery, it awakens. Here's my TMI, it's been "active" for almost 4 weeks. And I've been hungry that whole time. I keep trying to "Just" eat protein, but I've had veggies, and a sneak bite of poptart here and there, and .... unfortunately a few sips of diet coke (my nemesis). And weight 'loss' has been portions of a pound, not more than a pound. i really feel like the 'hunger' is weird, it's not the same, and almost feels upset, so I try to make myself drink some water before I allow to eat, and try sweet low cal yogurts (cake flavors etc) for cravings instead of the greeks.

I know 2 large girls that had the bypass (lap band first) that are on tons of vitamins but can't absorb them and eat like freight trains. i can't believe it either, how in the world can they eat so much with just a tiny pouch???

I've yet to really exercise other than being active with housework; which is another reason why I got the surgery, I work 10 hr days, 2 hr homework, and i want family time, I don't really want to get sweaty for 30min-1hr to take that hr then another to shower/do hair way from my family. (they are tired from the busy day too).

You're doing great, just stick to the rules. I think the people that fail just forget the rules and throw them out.

To give yourself peace of mind, send you surgeon an email and ask point blank if he took it out. Hormones are another subject altogether, I am perimenapause and still go through your situation and once my period starts, gone are the needs for chocolate and sugar. I think 6 weeks after my sleeve I ate a poptart, I wanted sugar really bad. It tasted great on the tongue but after was awful, the sugar hit did not go well for my tummy at all! Dont be afraid, it is a process and menstruation is a part of the process you have to adapt to, which you will. It is pretty evident your sleeve is working perfectly. How your moms coworker stayed huge is beyond my understanding but decide for yourself that wont be you. Protein, water, supplements and excersice, that is going to have to be your life from this second on.

All things considered, I think you are doing great.

I too have been at the same weight for three weeks. When people would say 3 weeks stall I thought they meant the stall would just start at 3 weeks post op but mine started at 3 weeks post op "and" has continued for about three weeks. So maybe soon the wait will start dropping again. You and I did lose a lot the first couple of weeks so maybe our bodies are just trying to catch up. My clothes this week are not fitting any looser but the first two weeks of no weight loss I was seeing inches lost as well. We can just keep doing what we know we need to do and once our bodies regulate our new diets and all the prior weight loss I'm sure it will restart.

You look great! Congratulations!

Looks as if you are doing great! Keep up the good work!

Looking good.....keep up the good work

Yeah, I totally agree with Ann.

One thing I wanted to suggest is if you are eating real food, are you able to get enough protein in without the shakes. I have learned that for me, all they did was fill me up and add to my ginormous sweet tooth. I hear of people eating their regular meals, snacks, AND eating protiein bars and shakes. That would be way too many calories and carbs for me. I esp agree with the others about rethinking macc and cheese. Even now after 3 years, I will have a few bites AFTER I have eaten most of my protein and veggies. When I was losing, I just avoided it altogether. To make up for it, I woul stirfry veggies (I love broccoli, cauliflower, and zucchini) and piled the cheese on to melt. It was just as good to me and few carbs.

My best wishes to you. It sounds like you are early out and you will have your ups and downs, but process all the advice and do what is working for you! Melissa

I use Baritastic. It tracks everything!

Ann2, thanks so much. All this helps out so much.

Ann2 is right on!

aldugan, I agree with most things posted above.

In your shoes, only a month post-op, I'd avoid all high-carb foods like cereal, grits, mac-and-cheese, all pastas, potatoes, white rice, breads -- especially since you're only a month out right now. Those foods just make us feel hungry sooner.

Instead, focus right now on other high-protein foods, like the chicken you mentioned, Greek yogurt (without sugar), cottage cheese, high-protein beans, skim milk, etc. If you have to use more protein drinks to get all your protein in right now, that would be fine, IMO.

Re the grazing, it's not that the extra calories are a problem now (since you can't eat all that much with your poor, swollen little tummy). It's that you're building (or reinforcing) a bad habit.

Two months out, you'll be able to eat more. Three months out, you'll be able to eat even more. Ditto six months out. And if you're used to eating "all day long," that will become a big challenge.

One final thought ... many patients’ new stomachs produce more acid post-op than they did pre-op. This extra acid mimics hunger. If you're not taking an antacid, you probably should do so. After surgery, my surgeon prescribed a "PPI" (stronger antacid Rx) called Protonix, which really helped. I took it until about 6 months post-op. I now take Ranitidine / Zantac again (like I did pre-op). Not saying your situation is like mine, but just offering up what worked for me.

the issue is you dont want to learn to graze or eat around your sleeve, but in the begining you are learning...so take it as a time to learn...

GW- thanks so much for your input. I take everyones input and do what is best for me.

Thanks traci816 and GoPackGo.

FYI - my dr.s plan allows me to drink water before/during/after drinking protein shakes. Also I'm not sure where you are in your weight loss journey but if you are still in the losing process you might want to re-think the mac-n-cheese.

From my experience if I have protein first before anything else I get full. Maybe you should change up breakfast to a higher protein meal. Good luck I think that will be the key to your problem.

I wouldn't say it's really really really really bad however, It's not great. The fact of the matter you both are missing is, if you had the sleeve, then you no longer have hunger pangs. It's mental NOT hunger. We are used to eating or grazing throughout the day without the sleeve so we are programmed to do this. The top part of the stomach that surceets fluid which the drops into the bottom of your stomach into the stomach acids has been removed. When the top fluid drops into the stomach acids at the bottom of your stomach, when the fluids are combined it sends a message to your brain telling it that your stomach is empty and that you are hungry.

I don't agree that nibbling will make you gain your weight back. I would suggest drinking more liquids to give you the sensation of being full. Go for low calorie snacks, like cold sugar free jello is good as when it's cold it is more volumness than normal. I tend to freeze red grapes and eat them frozen. They are frozen so they stay in your mouth longer than normal and it gives you the sensation of a substantial amount of food. And low calorie, natural sugar. That's my go to snack.

Mind over matter. You can do it. I hope you get more positive feedback. You shouldn't be beat down for asking a question. We are not doctors and can only give experiences that we have gone through personally. I had the lap and for 5 years and I nibbled and I went from 296lbs to 140lbs and maintained with nibbling. My band slipped and was removed in 2009. I know have a gastric sleeve. So, if you feel you need to nibble, do it, but be cautious and smart about what you are nibbling on. I refuse to deprive myself because that turns into beconing resentful that you can't eat it and you may binge. So, be smart but listen to your stomach, it's not telling you that you're hungry. I promise!!! It's all in your head. Hehe.

You can do this!! You got this. You were ready for surgery and you had it. Now you're ready to lose weight and you can do it. Weigh weekly on Sunday, after your first morning urination and weigh naked. Don't become obsessive, weigh weekly. That's how I do it. Again, not a doctor but have had some personal experiences I can share.

Don't judge your fellow sleever. Give them knowledgable feedback and positive reinforcement to help them through their experience.

Stay focused and you'll be successful.
-GW

I responded to the post. Take a look.

Thanks guys!!!!

myfitnesspal.com I love it!

I use my fitness pal, also.

I use fitday.com