Off topic: What can I tell someone who has had a gastric sleeve surgery about diet?

Shouldn't she be getting advice from her surgeon and follow up care people, like the dietician, etc? She probably knows what she needs to do, but is having difficulty with portion control. It is not as if she cannot eat certain foods, but that she must eat only small portions. If she was vomiting with the lap band, it was because she was eating too large of portions. Slowing the gut would just defeat the purpose and probably cause more problems. Remember, she still has her colon, so you do not want her to get constipated. Anyway, I stress that it is a different issue that needs different strategies.

I would suggest that you encourage her to continue with her post op support group so she can learn to adapt and learn that bariatric surgery is not the cure, but just the tool for learning new habits. She is on the road since she had had good success with weight loss that should motivate.

Jan

Thanks Jan,
But...What post op support groupe???? This is France! I don't even get post op support for surgicial issues...they cut, send you home with 'guideline' such as...chew your food well, avoid red meat and white bread and call if your fever spikes.
that is it.
No information (they did not tell her that she would be spending a lot of time in the toilet...she discovered that post op!
There is no dietician, no information and no surgical follow-up past the 30 day post op visit (maybe at 1yr).
She has been hung out to dry on this one and has no idea what to do.
I am glad that you warned me about the lomotil etc so I will warn her.
Let's see if I can help her to find a good dietician to walk her through this.
Sharon

I bet there are oodles of online bariatric surgery support groups. Maybe you could do a search for some. I guess I should say shame on them (medical system) for not providing adequate after care, but at least she got the surgery she needed.

Good luck and good for you for being supportive. Many people have no patience for people battling weight loss. It can be a very lonely process and there is no easy way.

Jan

Hi Sharon I can relate to your friend with the gastric sleeve. Any weight loss surgery is difficult to adapt to. If she just eats smaller portions, healthier choices and stay clear of soda and high sugar/ carbonated drinks she will be ok. She should stop eating when comfortably full. She should have a treat if she wants it, just in moderation the goal is to make better choices, smaller portions and don't torture yourself. Drink plenty of water do some form of exercise at least 3-4 times a week. It's also good to eat like 6 smaller meals instead of 3, the stomach fills up fast and makes u full faster but it also empties faster than a normal stomach, hungry again.

Thanks Jan, Thea,
She was my very first friend in Paris and became my 'adopted sister' over the years...her mom adopted me and made my life bareable...she means a lot to me. She suffers from severe depression too (not surprising all considering). Obesity is a symptom IMO of something larger and if I can help her I will...here in France group therapy, support groups etc are not 'fashionable' and therefore are very rare. People do not talk about their diseases or illnesses...They are considered weaknesses. They don't even use the word sick...They say that they are feeling a bit 'tired'(euphemism for ill). Drives me, as an American, nuts.
The surgery is free here...The follow-up is left up to you.
It is very tough and secretive to be ill in this country...digestive diseases are considered 'embarassing' and not mentionable. I have lived with it for years.
I will call and give her your advice
Sharon

I'm glad I don't live in France then I'm glad she has a friend open to listening to her issues (physical health and otherwise).

I have had a gastric sleeve, with my J pouch. My wife has had a gastric sleeve. It is interesting because my sleeve is bigger, and I need to eat a little more than she does. One of the biggest challenges is the portion control. I had to make mine work so I could lose the weight so they could do my take down. That being said, one thing I have learned is if I over eat it is coming out fast at either end and sometimes both. One thing that my wife and I done that helped was switched to small plates at dinner. We eat dinner on a salad plate. It helps, then if we get hungry again we a small snack.

Thanks Torg,
She is starting to adapt to her new anatomy and digestive system. In the begining it was all coming out as fast as she was filling it up...now things have slowed down and she is starting to master portion control a bit better.
Still a bit confused I think but the wqeight is coming off and she has a bit more energy.
I keep my fingers crossed that this is a final fix for her. She has been battling yo-yo obesity for most of her life.
Any foods that you would advise against?
Sharon