mi75

i'm a sleever and that doesn't matter, this is a universal issue for ALL bariatrics... i have noted some snarky behavior from people around me as well. it's sad that people can't just realize that our choice to have surgery is NOT a vanity thing. i didn't have surgery so i could lose 100 lbs and flaunt around in a bikini and rub it in people's faces. i had surgery so that at 38 years old i would LIVE. see my kids grow up. maybe see grandkids. have a chance at collecting my 401-k someday! seriously. just realize that your new life will be better without so much sludge (those people) holding you back. you certainly won't have to worry about going to eat with them and they constantly trying to sabotage you! maybe find a good support group and make some NEW friends there. good luck!

i used them for 2 days post op just to try and get Protein when i couldn't hold much volume. my understanding is that they are a hydrolyzed form of protein and not the most preferred option. i don't know if all surgeons feel that way. i know my nut encouraged them for use, but i've read lots of threads on here that people's docs do not encourage use of it.

just don't overthink it. get a last meal that you REALLY enjoy, and move forward to surgery. i figured out during my 2 wk pre op just HOW much i had obsessed about food prior to that. best of luck! here's to life and health!

i had to do just a generic pre-op diet of shakes, etc but it's my understanding that MEDICALLY supervised diet generally consists of something like Medi-fast or Opti-fast or comparable. just a low carb, very disciplined lifestyle.

for me it's either a Protein shake and milk OR some leftovers from dinner. i have found that adding cheese to just about anything makes it go down easy and sit well. too bad i LOVE cheese. but it's such a tiny amount... the other day i had a TBSP of leftover sloppy joe with a little bit of shredded cheddar melted on it and one nacho chip crumbled on top. VERY tasty and filling.

Like everything else bariatric, every program, nut and surgeon is different. my nut/program never really encouraged counting calories, just to make sure i'm getting my Protein and liquids. i don't count calories. i'm eating very little and losing steadily.

I find it terrible that there are docs out there who aren't concerned with the liabilities of not informing their patients. in the hospital patients are required to sign an 'informed consent' prior to surgery. it basically says that you are FULLY INFORMED of everything that is going on, your post op care plan, instructions, etc. it becomes a legal part of the patient chart... i think that the reason so many people have questions that make some of us cringe is education. my nut AND surgeon were both amazed at everything that i knew about dumping, diet, portions, eating plans, infections, drains, etc. I AM a nurse by training, but just because i'm a nurse doesn't make me knowledgeable in all areas of medicine. i did a TON of research before i even started the process. i downloaded every book i could find to my Nook. i spent HOURS on this site and asked all sorts of questions. i read many MANY threads on the pre-op boards and the post op boards. i felt like i went into it VERY educated and aware of what was happening. as a result, there has not been ONE thing that has happened surrounding my surgery and after-care that has been a surprise to me. i feel like i was fully prepared. i also agree that maybe the folks who have a lot of hoops to jump through for insurance purposes MAY be better informed. just due to the simple fact that so many insurance companies require multiple visits with a nut, support groups, psych evals, etc. i know for me it was many months, even AFTER i had done all my research, before i got all the insurance requirements met.

i am at 6 wks right now and i'm still having a Protein shake daily OR a Quest bar in it's place. it's still tricky and i'm eating several times a day, mostly protein to get my counts in.

awesome!

could be remaining side effects of anesthesia, dehydration, or your body hitting the brakes from the shock of surgery/lack of calories. i was sleeved 6/23 and whenever i wake up with a headache i track my liquids the day before and am ALWAYS short, like this morning...try your hardest right now to get your fluids, which is most important this soon after surgery. also report to your surgeon so they can check blood pressure, blood sugar, etc. good luck!

Having an echo OR a stress test can be a routine part of most pre-op work ups if you are over 40, have hypertension, or any cardiac history. some surgeons will require it regardless as a part of pre op workup, no matter your age or history! a regular echocardiogram is insanely simple, you simply lie on a table and various pictures are done. an echo is an ultrasound of your heart and will check your valves, structure, and pumping mechanism of your muscle. a stress echo is a little different, they will first take resting ultrasound pictures, then you will walk/run on a treadmill to stress your heart a bit, then they will VERY quickly take more ultrasound pictures. a stress test is something else all together, just a simple treadmill test where you will walk at various speeds and inclines to make sure your heart can handle activity and look for signs of ischemia (blockages). there are also non-walking forms of stress testing where you have an isotope injected into an IV. these tests are all pretty easy and designed to make sure that you are going to tolerate anesthesia well, can undergo the rigors of surgery and won't have any cardiac issues. better to be safe than sorry. best of luck!

I was told to do New Whey for the 2-3 days post op that i was Clear liquids only. i did use them but didn't really care for the taste. i cut them with Water and a TON of ice to get them down. the Muscle Milk 100 pre-mixed are the only Protein shakes i have been able to have since surgery. i loved them pre op and still do post op. i mix them with skim milk and ice for a little more protein and a little more liquids... Syntrax nectar comes in a LOT of flavors. you can order sampler packs for under $20 and you will get a variety of their flavors to try. i used them pre-op as i was told to start getting my protein habits in, but post op i don't care for them anymore. the fuzzy navel, fruit punch and roadside lemonade were my favorites. the only issue i had with Nectar was mixing it thoroughly. it seemed however i mixed it, there were still little lumps of whey floating in my drink and not at all appealing. good luck!

i have not really had much fast food in the 6 wks since my surgery, however...a few people have suggested the grilled chicken wrap from McDonalds...i think ONE hard shell taco from any taco place would be good, some good Protein. Pintos and cheese from taco bell. grilled chicken from KFC. Soups are a good option. Chili from Wendys is awesome which i have had a couple times. this is about my only eating out experience so far at a fast food place!

my HP laptop has stopped playing videos from youtube, flipo, etc. don't know why. it stopped about 2 weeks ago, played for a day, stopped again completely, then played some yesterday without issue, then again today it won't play them. i am INCREDIBLY computer illiterate so i have NO idea what to do or where to go to figure it out. our AVG virus software did a virus update about 2 weeks ago but that wouldn't affect it, i don't think. and why yesterday then nothing today??? when i click onto a video it will bring it up and show the opening frame only. no further play or sound...anybody have any ideas? i've done multiple virus scans and it seems clean...

i had the same issue for a while. now i think my brain is starting to catch on and i'm taking smaller portions. but still, i take more than i can eat every time. it's sort of embarrassing to have work luncheons when the food is brought in, take a plate, and have to throw most of it out... getting better though, and i'm 6 wks out...

I posted a thread about having this for dinner and got responses about people trying it so i figured i would post the recipe for all to try! these pizzas use a portobello cap for the 'crust' and you can put anything on them you want. super easy and really good. First off, you need to remove all the 'gills' from the mushroom. i found if you leave them on, it becomes watery and murky looking. i use a sharp knife and just run it along the caps in a circle to remove them. also remove the woody stem by cutting through it. i learned early on if you just pull, the mushroom cap will likely break. Rinse the caps and place on a baking sheet. sprinkle with salt and place in the oven to start cooking (i use 375). meanwhile... Brown up some ground turkey sausage, hamburger or whatever meat you want on your pizza. i have always used turkey sausage. brown it and scramble it until done. i also use shaved ham, cut that up very finely. lastly, cut up your veg to whatever size you want. i pre-cook my veg in a saute pan for a couple minutes to soften. unlike a crusted pizza, these will only bake for a few minutes and if you like your veg crunchy, you could skip this. i like my veg a little cooked on my pizza. I use green pepper, onion. you could easily add hot peppers, olives, whatever... now it's time to assemble. i use a tiny bit of canned pizza sauce for the pizza, and if i don't have it i will use a sliced tomato instead. take the caps out of the oven, they should appear to be cooking at this point and look softened. if not, you can wait to assemble until they are cooked. layer your toppings however you want to, i sprinkle with a bit of dried italian seasoning too. place back in oven and warm through, then top with whatever cheese you like. i use low fat mozz and a little fresh grated parm. finish in oven until cheese is melted. DONE! so gummy and super filling. one smallish cap is enough for me now, hubs can eat two bigger ones. no carbs there to worry about. enjoy!

sounds awesome!

my post op was Clear Liquids for 3 days, full liquids for about 10 days then on to a puree/softs hybrid type thing. i was on to 'what i tolerate' at about 4.5 weeks and now almost 6 wks out the only things i won't eat are the soft breads (untoasted bread, tortillas, pizza crust, etc) and stringy meats (roast beef and stead). all other foods that i have tried so far i am tolerating just great.

my folks have been hosting all their grandkids this past week and called us today inviting us out to eat. the place they were going to was my ABSOLUTE favorite place pre-op. of course it's an italian place but very small limited menu and pretty much ALL Pasta dishes. my kids love it there too so i was happy that they were able to enjoy it since we haven't been there in quite a while. i ate a meatball from there when i first started on softs and had terrible heartburn for the entire night afterward. i finally figured out it was their tomato sauce-way too acidic for me right now. they have broth but of course i need some Protein, being almost 6 wks out. it was just easier to not eat. i think my mom got sorta insulted and maybe a little annoyed by the whole thing but believe me, it wasn't that i didn't WANT to eat. i could have eaten half the menu! the worst part is this place has THE BEST garlic bread which they ordered two orders of, then when it came, the family parked it right in front of me because 'it was the only open spot'. URRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!! i came home and ate a 'portabella pizza' which is a baked portabella cap, with some turkey sausage, lean ham, green pepper, onion, and cheese on it, baked until soft. SO GOOD. i'm proud of myself but also a little disappointed. of course we couldn't have gone somewhere where they had some basic grilled fish or chicken or a broad menu...

thanks for your replies. i know my family wants me to succeed, i just think that in their minds i can just 'eat a little' and that's it. the importance of nutrients would not really occur to them at all. my portabello pizza recipe is an oldie, i forgot to mention that you can use either a little bit of pizza sauce, marinara or even a sliced tomato for the 'sauce' of the pizza. i LOVE these and hadn't made them in a long time since i let my health decline. they are super easy. thanks!

i could actually feel it. well, let me clarify... i had terrible fatty liver prior to surgery and i had chronic pain in my liver from the poor processing it was doing. as my liver shrank i could honestly tell that i was having less pain and inflammation. surgeon said it was still significant at surgery, but i DID shrink it some...

i agree with walking!!! honestly i didn't have any issues with dry mouth or anything and i could not have a THING-food or drink, or ice,etc- for 24 hours afterwards. it went quickly and most of the first day and night i just slept. walk as much as you can. it also will decrease your blood clot risk and also gets your lungs going again after being intubated...

I did some research and expected some spotting post op, which i had on post op day 3 and 4. Then about 16 days later i SWORE i ovulated and then a couple weeks after that i had a spontaneous period. the first in over 20 years. i know i had to have ovulated when i thought i did- also the first time without fertility drugs- probably since high school! estrogen is stored in fat so melting off pounds may help to induce normal ovulation and menstruation. I called my OB and got back on birth control pills. I have PCOS and although this first 'natural' cycle is good, it will take many more pounds to shed before my PCOS is affected. tmi- it was a VERY heavy cycle (having been off the pill for 6 wks prior to surgery) and lasted for many days.

so happy to finally have hit the 'ones'!!! got on the scale this morning and it has been teetering for days and days around 201...today i finally hit the one-derland numbers! can't wait to see it go down and down. haven't been in the 'ones' for about 14 years and it's an awesome feeling. now i'm feeling super motivated again to just keep up the momentum!

i just hit onderland today!!!!! WHOOP!!!!! i too haven't been here in about 14 years. it's awesome. SO motivating. keep up your efforts it will happen! i stalled at 201 and sat there for 2 weeks before it moved and i'm really sorta shocked that i'm there! can't wait to see that scale just keep moving downward.