Nancy Rivers

Congratulations on your surgery. And, yeah, this is normal. The hives maybe not so much - I'd call your surgeon about it to make sure it is a reaction to the meds and not something else though. I'd hate for you to think it was that and it end up being some sort of bug picked up in the hospital (unlikely - but slightly possible). I didn't weigh myself until 1 week post op because of the Fluid retention. Don't sweat it yet. My surgeon and dietician recommend weighing at the very most once a week.

I've realized as I've been journaling my food, the last 3 or 4 days, I've been getting 60+ g of Protein from actual real food (mushies/pureed) and not from the Protein powder shakes. Tomorrow I'll be 6 weeks post-op. Is this normal? Should I still be using the protein powder anyway? I'm never hungry and am eating at least 4 or 5 times a day - have to keep reminding myself to eat since I'm not hungry.

Congratulations! You are my hero!

Tonight I ended up making a single serving size of chili. I wasn't sure exactly how it would come out, but it wasn't bad at all! I'm a single person, so it's tough to find recipes for just one to make. I'm sure you could multiply the ingredients to size it up if needed. 4 oz lean ground beef (I used 96/4 Meijer brand angus beef that I found on sale a week or two ago) 1/4 cup Ragu Old World Style Sweet Tomato Basil Pasta sauce 2 ounces left over chicken Soup sans chicken (chicken broth, diced onions, diced tomatoes, diced bell peppers - green, red, yellow and orange that was part of my crockpot chicken soup that I made a couple of days ago - but I didn't cut up the chicken, so it was without chicken) 1/4 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp pepper 1/4 tsp Mrs. Dash salt-free fiesta lime spice 1/4 cup shredded low-fat cheddar cheese Brown the ground beef, add in the pasta sauce and chicken broth with veggies. Let it simmer for a while and then add the spices. Continue simmering until liquid is reduced to about 1/2 of original. Serve in a bowl and top with the cheddar cheese. I'm sure you could substitute any meat for the ground beef. But I wouldn't use anything that would have more fat.

Based on the feedback here, I ordered some bison meat and am waiting for it to be delivered now. I've never had it before. Just wondering what seasoning goes best with bison? Of course I'll try it plain, but plain gets boring so quickly... LOL

Good luck LMD! Personally, I'd love to be able to go braless and have no one notice. I hate bras since 99% of the time it's the straps that stretch out and never stay put! I have rather rounded shoulders, so the straps would have a tough enough time without having to worry about the girls. So, if I go from a C to an A or less - I'll be a happy camper!

Well, TOM just came for another visit today - a week later than I thought it would. I hope this is not the new norm - I was a clockwork 28 day cycle before which I liked because well - it was clockwork. This is a 35 day cycle this time. Just a note for those who are curious: July 12 - surgery (I was supposed to start period then, but did not - probably because of the surgery). July 18 - TOM came for his normal visit of 6 days. August 4 - a 4 pound weight gain that stays for 1 week. August 11 saw a 4 pound drop and then an additional 3 pounds in the next week came off. August 18 - a 1.5 pound weight gain and a migraine (normal timing before start of period). August 22 - TOM returned. I had cramps and migraines before the surgery that always came with TOM. Unfortunately, he has brought them back this month. That was something that I was hoping would change. Oh well...

You're best bet will be to contact your insurance company to find out if they cover the procedure or not. If they do, then ask what are their requirements for covering the surgery. Every POLICY is different - just because BCBS covers for one person does not mean they will cover for a different person. I have BCBS and any type of wls was specifically EXCLUDED with my policy. I had to pay out of pocket for the whole thing. Once you know if the insurance will cover and what their requirements will be, then your surgeon's office will follow those guidelines at the very least. He or she may require more depending on your medical history.

It varies depending on the person. I lost 11pounds the first week.

I was never put on a PPI. I've never had any problems with acid.

Yeah, you should be fine to go back to work unless you have complications. Just don't overtax yourself.

Your surgeon or dietician should have given you a food plan of what foods you can eat and when. Follow that. Otherwise you could end up damaging your new stomach. I had clear liquids for 2 days after surgery, then 3 weeks of full liquids and pureed foods and am currently on 3 weeks of soft/mushy foods. I won't be able to eat solid foods until at least Aug 29 when I next see my surgeon again. Just make sure you are getting in all of your fluids and then concentrate on getting Protein in. Once you can do those 2 things on a regular basis, then you can move on to incorporating other healthy carbs.

Tylenol is always a safe bet. If your surgeon allows, and Tylenol doesn't work, you could take an Advil - but double check that with your surgeon first. Some won't allow NSAIDS for a specific amount of time after surgery and Advil is an NSAID.

It will last as long as you are on a liquid/pureed diet. Once you start having soft foods, it will subside. My surgeon said that unless I was going like 7 or 8 times a day to not worry about it.

What tests that are done before surgery really depends on the medical history of each individual patient. I had to do an EGD because I told my surgeon that I had the occasional acid reflux and he wanted to make sure there wasn't an ulcer or something before surgery. He ordered a complete blood panel and Vitamin levels before the surgery - but had my PCP do it because that way insurance would cover. The hospital required an EKG and blood typing before the surgery because it was a different hospital than I had used before. Some doctors order more tests than this, but I didn't have to because of my medical history.

You folks are lucky in my book. I have not experienced the cold and wish that I would. I would love to cut my air conditioning bill....

Congratulations! I'd go for a fish bake instead.... LOL

Largest: pants: 28W, shirts 3-4x Now (just 5 weeks later): pants: 26W, shirts 2-3x (I actually have a 2x on right now and it is large on me).

Keep to the plan and it will come off. I had actually had a gain of 4 pounds 2 weeks ago and that stuck around for a week before suddenly it started melting off again. I know it's hard when the scale doesn't move, but as you realize, your losing inches, so it's just your body trying to cope with what you did to it. The stall will break eventually. One thing my dietician told us - don't weigh every day. Only weigh at the very most once a week. I try to do that. It's not as depressing then.

That's some amazing weight loss! Congrats on that! Don't give up on short term goals. They can be helpful and motivating. However, do a short term goal of loosing a specific amount of weight - not by a specific date, but a specific amount of weight. For example, set a goal of loosing 10 pounds - and then give yourself a little "non-food" reward for reaching that 10 pound weight loss goal when you do. Then set another goal like that. Keep repeating it until you get to your ultimate goal. If your weight loss is stalling, then go back to the basics. You already have an idea about that. You can do it!

If you think it might be hypoglycemia, get yourself a blood sugar tester and some test strips and test your blood sugar when it happens. If your blood sugar is below 60 then have a teaspoon of peanut butter, or some cottage cheese or something that has some carbs and protein in it. Wait about 20 to 30 minutes after eating it and test your blood sugar again to make sure it came back up. Track those numbers and take them with you to your doctor's appointments as that will help your doctors figure it out.

Congrats on the weight loss! Sorry you've had so much pain. I hope it's getting better for you. I was sleeved the same day you were and I'm not allowed bread yet. In fact, I won't be allowed bread for a good 6 months. I'm hoping that when I go back to see the surgeon on the 29th that he will clear me for "solids" and they will approve some form of crackers for me as I'm wanting some crackers. Focus on getting 60g or more of Protein a day - that will fill you up (trust me). Once you meet that goal (and getting in at least 64 ounces of Water a day), then start filling in with some non-starchy veggies like broccoli, green Beans, carrots, etc. The veggies should be "over cooked" - not raw. Steam them or throw into a Soup that is simmered for a good long while. That way they won't irritate your sleeve nearly as much.

You want to use the Greek yogurt that is not "pre-sweetened" - no fruit, no honey, no jelly. Carb Smart, Fage Total or the like that are plain. You can use SF syrups like Torani or Da Vinci to sweeten up the yogurt if needed. This will get your carbs lower. The yogurts that are pre-sweetened have way too many carbs. You want to be on a relatively low carb, low fat, high Protein diet for the first 6 weeks at least (possibly the first 6 months) to 1) allow your sleeve to heal and 2) so you will start burning your fat reserves instead of getting your energy from the carbs that are in the food. It will help promote the faster weight loss that is expected in the first 6 months.

Yes, it's normal. Liquids go through your stomach much faster than solids do. Once you hit more solid foods (soft foods/solid foods) you will definitely feel the restriction. Don't panic yet. Stick with the plan your surgeon and dietician gave you and it will work.

Current: 253.8 Goal: 249.6 Pounds to Goal: 3.8