wannalise

I think that you are right on track. I was going to say the the thing that I wish I had started with sooner was an exercise routine. I also think if you have any addictions that could affect your surgical outcome, like smoking, caffeine, I would try to get those in check or possible get rid of them all together. Easier said than done, I know! I got really gung ho and any product I heard anyone say helped them pre or post op and I hopped online and bought em. Don't do that! I ended up with crap that I hated or just don't need. Don't buy tons of giant different tubs of Protein. Most places will send you samples. I bought a ridiculous amount of Proteins that I ended up hating. Thankfully, my best friend is also getting the surgery and she liked the ones I thought were NASTY!

I am so glad you came back!!!! You were one of the original posters I used to obsessively read, and yes there has been quite a lot said that has been left. Kind of cool that people with different perspectives were all allowed to be heard.

Hey this is just a silly question. I have read some of you experience this also, but does anyone know, why it is that I can't drink just plain water? It feels weird going down, it scares me that I may even throw up it feels so strange, but if I add crystal light I'm golden. It doesn't make sense to me because that doesn't change the density or anything. Just wondering if anyone else knows!

I can't speak to all surgeons, but I know many of us took part in swallow studies post op, and stood in front of xray machines and watched what it looked like as we swallowed and how small our tummies are. I promise you that I do not have the same stomach. I can barely drink 2 ounces at a time. Hunger post op is a phenomenon that for the most part feels very different to me than it did pre op. I still sometimes have a difficult time distinguishing between actual hunger or if my stomach is just producing too much acid. Please oh please do more homework, even if you do decide to get the surgery and you decide to do it out of the states it is your responsiblity to learn everything you possibly can. The surgery is not something you get and then bam, all your weight related issues disappear.

Jillian, I am so sorry to hear the struggles you are going through. Many of us understand the compulsion, the binging, and the feeling out of control. I noticed that you said you are young and I don't know what age that is exactly... I know that thirty pounds seem daunting, and I know that the boards have a lot of positivity about the surgery, but ultimately it is surgery. There is the risk of death. You lose 80-85% of a vital organ. I hope I don't offend you by saying this, but if you are able to consume that amount of food in a sitting it is not because you are too hungry. You, like me, and like most people who get morbidly obese, have an eating disorder. I can't tell you what I would give to go back in time and tell myself when I was only 30 lbs overweight that there would be hope for me with counseling, and with support. I could have avoided so much hurt. This surgery is hard. I still have all those compulsions in me and I am in a place where I can only eat a few bites in a sitting, but there are days that I am white knuckling it still sometimes. I know that your are desperate for that feeling of being out of control of your own body to go away. I don't want to burst your bubble, but the surgery will not do that. I pray that you will keep seeking out alternatives to help you and there are still loads of us who wish to be a support to you, but please oh please don't rush into surgery.

It is really exciting isn't it! Can't even wrap my head around what new changes we could have going for us in the next month! Keep me posted on your progress. Its fun to have people who started their journey when I did. And I'm always up for new food ideas!

I don't think the nausea is universal. I have ALWAYS been really gaggy and struggled for quite a bit. I still have days that when my multivitamin hits my tummy I have to really psych myself not to throw up, but food and I are learning a new kind of friendship and its loads better. One mistake I made that was avoidable, was in the hospital after I had thrown up a few times I became really leary of taking in the fluids, and it is super important that you take the time and slowly get them in. You'll be great!

It also was a relief to my mouth when i couldn't get all my fluids in to have popsicles.

Thanks thanks thanks!

I have only gotten em in the last couple weeks. I feel way better now though, you will too soon. A ppi is nexium and prevacid. It helps control acid production and that will also help you not have false hunger.

You will be grand. The anticipation of something is often a bigger deal then the actual thing. Be careful to not compare you and your girl too much. You might not recover the way she does and you are gonna drive her crazy with how fast the pounds fall off you! How cool to have a partner that will understand your journey.

I dunno for sure but I am guessing it would be related to your hydration. There was a two week period where I would wake up every day feeling like I had spent the night sucking on dirty socks. It is no fun! Hopefully you don't have a sour tummy. Are you taking a ppi or anything?

Awesome! I called around and found a store here that does sell ground bison. I'm gonna go look at it and price it. I'm kind of finding that I am learning to love food in this whole new way. Its exciting. Its not compulsive, its challenging and fun to create things for myself and for my clients that are enjoyable but that fit into my new life.

I haven't been to carb village yet, but I know that in the preop low carb/high protein that if I deviated and introduced carbs, my cravings for them were more intense. There are chemical coorelations, high processed foods tend to have chemicals that we crave the more we eat them. I will probably keep stearing clear for a while.

Yeah, I am a huge baby about what I eat. I next need to learn to incorporate fish, but the only time I like it is when I lived in Washington and it was actually fresh. You are very lucky!

I've been looking at previously posted recipes (thanks Tiff, I am now obsessed with allrecipes.com) I am trying a few new things and trying to make things that I loved preop more post op friendly, it is exciting to find that there are still a world of options! But, I do have two questions. I need a website that allows you to enter all your ingredients and then get the nut info. I tried it on OH and it only gave me the amounts per total, rather than by serving. Secondly, for those of you who have had bison, what is the taste comparable too. I am not a fan of anything remotely gamey. Also, I live in a relatively small town, any ideas for where I could purchase it? Thanks all! Anna

This may sound kookie, but there was something very comforting to me about being on liquids, I knew precisely what the rules where, I knew that my sutures would be safe, I knew I wouldn't be consuming too much, and I knew that if I focused I could be hydrated and get in all my protein. There are times that it is emotionally challenging, but it can be a big boost to your weight loss and I always think its a good idea to respect the post op diet. Good luck to you! And how exciting to get a two day head start.

Awesome!!!!! Keep it up sounds like you are recovering well.

I remember Vegas Angel talking about it and I think if they do a swallow test on you they can see if that is whats going on. I don't know what the treatment would be.

If you are within 30 days of purchase you can return things to GNC

I think this is pretty similar to the Ricotta bake that eggface does that I've seen in several forums, but I made it my way and loved it. 1 c ricotta cheese (I used part skim) 1 c spinach 1 c cherry tomatoes 1 egg I used my food processor and blended the veggies then stirred them in with the ricotta and then stirred in the egg. I then cooked 3 jennie o extra lean italian sausage turkey links (they are fatties like a brat, and as a side note are yummy on the grill) in a small amount of olive oil and 1 Tbs of minced garlic. I spread the ricotta mix on the bottom a small square baking dish and then sliced the sausage and placed on top of the ricotta. I chose to put 1 c of spaghetti sauce over the whole mixture but if it is too acidic or carby you can omit it. Then I baked @ 350 for 45 minutes. Yummy and reheats very well.

Have they ever checked you to see if you are having spasms?

I had some post op issues, but pain wasn't the main deal. Surgeons really don't want you to experience loads of discomfort, really advocate for yourself. Let em know if you hurt or need nausea meds or if you can't sleep. Those first few days rest is uber helpful those first few days.

You rock!!!!!!!!!

Tiff you sexy woman! I love the dress. It is exciting to have glimpses of having my body and soul be in sync. Tonight I swam and felt like I was in complete control of my body. It felt like heaven.