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I'm 3 days post op and I'm using the Mango Peach and Orange Frost. Didn't really like Alpine Punch too much before surgery but will be going to GNC in a couple of days and will try the Alpine Punch and Grape Frost again. Great way to get the Protein in, but I agree that it does have a dry aftertaste. On the bright side, though, I find it REALLY easy to sip Isopure slowly so it that a definite plus.

Absolutely fabulous. What a terrific transformation. Keep up the good work. You GO GIRL!

I got home from the hospital last night (sleeved Tuesday). Here's what helped me: biotene mouth spray to moisten my mouth whenever it felt like cotton (used before I could drink anything or stomach ice chips); ear plugs (VERY important to be able to sleep soundly whenever possible), robe, pony tail holder (I have long hair). The hospital supplied the socks that keep you from slipping so you won't need your slippers. I wore the gown they gave me (just easier in my opinion). The hospital I was at provides a "Bari Bear" for all its bariatric patients and it was SO helpful. Just in case you don't get one bring a small pillow that you can hold against your stomach for moving and coughing. (Yes, you have to do both). Brought my CPAP with me, they provided the distilled Water. My advice when you're in the hospital is to walk as much as you can and sleep whenever you feel like it. The earplugs came in extremely handy because the hospital does not have private rooms for bariatric patients. When I was tired, I popped them in and dozed off. Finally, with any hospital stay, ask what you're getting before they give you anything; if it hurts tell them, if you want quiet tell them to keep the door shut. It's about YOU getting better so if something doesn't feel right, SPEAK UP. They won't take it personally (they're not mind readers) and sometimes they forget that not everyone heals, responds, acts the same way the last patient in that bed did. But they're there because they want to help so help them help you. You're going to be very sore and wonder what the heck you did this to yourself for (on purpose no less), but it's normal. Rest and recuperate!

Fabulous! Keep up the great work!

Lila: Congratulations on these two tremendous NSVs! Isn't it amazing how we let so many things that make us happy fall by the wayside when we're gaining weight? It's also an incredibly amazing feeling when we "rediscover" these lost bits of happiness, right? You go girl!

Simply fabulous news! Can't wait to catch up to ya girlfriend! Shopping could very well become one of our outtings now couldn't it? Way, way, way happy for you!:rockon: :hurray:

RK Fantastic news. Keep up the great work. E

I know it sounds so cliche, but I got up this morning really thinking (and believing) that this is the first day of the rest of my life. I was sleeved on Tuesday and got home from the hospital around 5:30 last night. As I sit here musing (because there's not a whole heck of a lot I can do just yet) it struck me that my new life is truly underway. I prayed and believed that I would have a successful surgery, a miraculous recovery and a complete restoration to perfect health. The surgery was a success, the recovery is going as well as can be expected -- I surprised the nurses with my mutliple trips around the hallways Wednesday and Thursday, and by the amount of air I could manage in my incentive spirometer (1750). One of the nurses said she had never seen anyone get to that level so quickly post op in her 20 years as a nurse. Told me I had a great set of lungs (I do, I do!) and, since I'm so motivated to succeed, I will do anything and everything I need to to make that happen. I've waited over a 1/2 century to start living happily and comfortably inside my skin and I have an intense need to try to make up for lost time. Impossible I know, but I want to enjoy every moment from here out. I'm sure that because I've had multiple extensive surgeries in the past I was better prepared to deal with the recovery from the sleeve surgery. Have to admit though that I was a bit surprised how much the incision where they pulled my newly divorced tummy through hurt like a hummer for the last few days. The "Bari Bear" that I got at the hospital has been most helpful with that pain. Love that little guy now!!! It really does help to have him to hold against my tummy whenever getting out of bed, coughing, turning over and I highly recommend using one (or a pillow) to help ease the pain. I'm down 14 pounds since my preop liquids (3 since Tuesday). Haven't had a real issue with the gas (intestinal or otherwise). I had to laugh though because I've been telling my DH for years that "ladies" never pass gas and had to explain to him why I was so happy yesterday after a short farting session (one of the requirements for release from the hospital is being able to burp and fart (though not at the same time)). Loving my sleeve. Can't wait to get this baby really rockin'!!!! If you're sitting on the fence and can't decide whether or not to have this surgery, just do it! Life will happen to you whether or not you're doing something to get healthy, so why not go for it???

Meggie: I did some research on Premier and even viewed the comments about them on Amazon.com. Seems that they changed the formula not long ago, and it's not going well from what I can tell. Check it out: http://www.amazon.co...howViewpoints=1 If you haven't opened any more, return them. I thought Bariatric Advantage was tasty after I added the Torani SF Syrups. I tried the protein powder with Torani - Chocolate, Hazelnut, Caramel, French Vanilla and Almond Roca. (It's a toss up between Chocolate and Almond Roca for 1st place with Hazelnut coming in close too.) The liquid diet is hard enough without having to try to stomach camel barf! MonkeyAss? You get the picture (of course, YOU'RE a photographer, er videographer.....) Try the other samples and ditch the Premier. Donna

Meggie Baby! You can do it girlfriend. You have endured WAY, WAY, WAY more than mere words can express and you STILL somehow manage to be an incredibly beautiful ray of upbeat pure sunshine in a boa! You are an amazing, inspiring and brilliant woman, and this will be just a speed bump in the race to onderland. Have you gotten any of the Torani SF Syrups? The helped me make the shakes MUCH more palatable, and on days when I absolutely could not seem to choke down a shake at one meal or another, I drank Isopure Zero Carb liquid protein. I liked the orange and peach flavors best. For some reason it was also much easier for me to sip them slowly -- taking about an hour to finish. I thought would be good practice for my "road trip to beautifuler" (cause I'm SOOOOO full of myself I know I'm already beautimus!) Hang in there, it's going to be a blast when we get to doin' our happy, happier, happiest dance! I'll even break out my boa (which, surprisingly enough is the same colors as yours!!!!) The Empress of the Universe (my full "actual" title.....)

LOL, loved it!

CW TOM, POS* and computer crud at the same time? Ding, ding, ding you've just won the crappy day "trifecta". And, now that you've got your new life groove goin' on (slinky sleevette in training) you can't even kick back and chill out with an old movie, a warm blanket and a bite of chunky monkey yet! Shopping for a new computer can be just as, um, "therapeutic", right? *Piece O' Sh..... Been there, done that, got the ENTIRE wardrobe! Lucky for me after my short (thankfully) stint with said POS I found THE love of my life and we've been happily married for 32 years. It's amazing what the love and support of and protection by a good man does for your self esteem. He's loved me through thick and thin (mostly thick) -- fat thighs and all. Keep your chin up girlfriend. Life's too short to waste any more precious energy on toxic relationships that drag you down -- you still have too much real living to do. E

Connie Thanks for the prayers. I can use all I can get! You'll be surprised how quickly the next 6 days will go and then how slowly that 7th day takes! Going to save a seat for you on the losers bench!

:woot: :woot: Congratulations. Keep up the good work!!

Thanks, Lisa. I totally get the one day thing -- I think my "fleeting glimpse" lasted 15 minutes (my 15 minutes of "fame" don't ya know). I remember the Liquid Protein (predigested) diet and all the other kooky straws I grasped at. Wish I had all THAT money back! Finally realized that Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Nutrisystem, and all the other "professional" weight loss experts are in business to make money. Since they really couldn't accomplish that with pyramid schemes, they need to help people stay fat or they'd go broke. Sadly, the fat chumps in the cheap seats are the only ones going broke.......but enough of that old rant. Can't wait to start b*tchin' about my wrinkly skin, batwings, and saggy lady bumps! Keep up the good work! You're OH SO WORTH IT!!!!

Raine: Good luck and godspeed to you. I hope to be back to my abbynormal self shortly. Kind of like "out of my mind, be back in 3 days" Then we'll be doin' the Loser's Limbo big time! Now ain't THAT appealing????:bananapowerslide: Empress

Thanks! I'll be back in a couple of days with the scoop on my newly divorced stomach with all the news that fit to print (or not!)

AS Congratulations on being sleeved and feeling normal -- that's fabulous after any surgery! Best wishes for a speedy recovery. E

GS: Sending prayers from our mouths to God's ear for a quick, complete and miraculous recovery for you. Keep believing -- "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen." I'm holding you up in prayer and standing with you in faith! E

Brandynd: That's FABULOUS. Dancin' right there with ya!:bananapowerslide: E

Kelly: Thanks for the encouragement. I can't begin to express how grateful I am to have found this site and this incredible group of fellow sojourners. I'm so looking forward to my place on the losers bench, and I'm savin' your seat too!

It's been one amazing roller coaster ride to this point. From the informational seminar to surgery in 7 weeks. Of course it only went this fast because I decided to pay for it myself. Through all of the doctor's visits (and there were plenty), the psych eval and preop preparation it just seemed to be something I was going to make happen "in the future". It reverberated in my mind like every other attempt I've made at "permanent" weight loss -- something that I was going to accomplish in the future. Funny thing though, no matter how hard I tried, how much I dieted, spent, read, exercised, ate (or didn't eat) the goal was never within my grasp. The stick seemed to get longer and the carrot farther and farther away. Now, I stand on the brink of my new life and I'm out of snappy comebacks and urbane witticisms. I'm just, well, just QUIET --- quiet -- which is something incredibly unusual for me. I'm not scared, I'm not worried about any "what if" scenarios, I'm just peaceful. I usually never sit back long enough to contemplate my navel so to speak, but here goes. I've had enough surgeries in the past to understand the risks and complications surrounding any procedure. I've faced total disability and helplessness and been knocked flat by life and the only way I could look WAS up. Somehow this seems so different. Maybe because I've struggled with my weight for 50 years and have had only fleeting glimpses of victory. I know what it looked like and I know what it felt like -- it just never lasted -- ever. Somehow that's what I can't seem to get my mind around -- lasting success at something I've failed at for years. It just doesn't seem real. But, I know it is. I know because I've seen proof here on VST. (Which I think has been a godsend for me.) I have been in a quasi funk -- quasi because I really am not down so I'm not sure that "funk" is apropos. I haven't really been able to muster much energy for anything other than "consuming" every post and link on this site. Not sure what I was looking for, but I had to be connected somehow. I've been able to shove every other thought about what I should, must or need to do aside for the last few days and just "be". I'm not sure that that makes any sense, maybe it's the lack of carbs from the 2 week liquid preop stage, but it makes sense in my head (and since everyone there knows me it's all good). I have started pulling together my ditty bag for the hospital, readied my nails (haven't seen them without a silk wrap and polish in so long they look "funny" au natural) and double checking my preop prep list. I have my last consult with the surgeon today at 5:00 pm. I'm down 10 lbs from my first consult so it should be ok. I have to be at the hospital at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow and I wish it were here already. (I really don't like the waiting game!) I'm not sure what the future holds, but I know WHO holds it, so I'm not worried or afraid. I'm just sitting back for now and saying that final "adieu Madame" to the old me and anxiously awaiting the long hoped for and dreamed about introduction to the "new" a/k/a "real" me. The "normal" body finally hooking up with that "such a pretty face" gal. After all these years, Who'da thunk it????

That's fantastic! Congratulations. You GO GIRL!!!!:hurray:

I thought BOLO'd meant "bowled over", but he told me it was "Be on the Lookout" So, once you're sleeved I'll be BOLO'd for that sleek GTO roarin' down the road -- it's gonna be the winner in the PASQUINI 500........ OREO'd? E

I, too, am having my surgery on Tuesday. I must admit that I'm a little anxious, but that's because I've had some really MAJOR surgeries in the past -- the last one in 2009 which lasted 11 hours. So, for me, I keep thinking less than 2 hours should be a "cake walk". Nonetheless, any surgery that employs the use of general anesthesia and results in the removal of all (or most of) any organ is still a "major" surgery. At this point, I think the only thing we can do is trust. Trust our surgeons to be skilled in the procedure and just as hopeful of a successful outcome as we are. For me, I have realized and internalized that everyone dies -- it's not negotiable. So, if it's my time to go, it won't matter if I'm on the operating table, sleeping in my bed or walking out my front door. I can't control it so I have to let go of it. I'm choosing to believe and hope for the best, trust my life to God and my surgeon, and look forward to getting really healthy and fit for good. I'm anxious to be on the other side of the surgery, but the only thing I can absolutely control is my reaction to the information. I've done the research (thank you VST) and understand the pros and cons along with the risks. Living life is a risk. I am ready to step out of the "life on hold" mode and really live life to the fullest extent I possibly can. I'm looking forward to next summer when I can finally say -- for the first time in over 50 YEARS - it's summer and I'm NOT fat! Lookout life, HERE I COME! My very best wishes to you for a successful surgery, miraculous recovery and complete restoration to perfect health. That's what I'm claiming and believing for me too.