Lisa :)

I was not required to do a pre op diet other than clear liquids 24 hours prior to surgery and nothing after midnight. The reason my surgeon doesn't require it is because she requires 10% weight loss leading up to surgery. This is to ensure patients prove they are committed AND to shrink the liver.

I'm a swimmer and my surgeon gave me the go ahead to swim at 3 weeks.

I did try several of the Quest bars and although they tasted "okay"...they are SUPER dense and chewy. I really wanted to love them....

My favorite is Power Crunch in Peanut Butter Creme and Peanut Butter Fudge. They are a wafer which I like because so many of the bars are too chewy and sweet for me. I also like these b/c the protein is hydrolyzed which means almost all 14 grams are absorbed.

Try http://www.calorieking.com/

I ate a few Cheetos about a month out and they tasted HORRIBLE!!! They were way too salty and had a very artificial taste. I've not had a craving for them since!!! Your taste buds will change....so hang in there and don't go for the Cheetos!!!!

My Dr said I could add it back at 6 months!!!! But I've had a cup here and there. It just doesn't taste as good as I remember it, which is actually a good thing. I had really bad headaches pre op but I've not had one headache in three months since surgery. So, I think it was the coffe and why go back to that!!!!

Give Powerade Zero a try. I think it tastes better than the Gatorade G2 and it's calorie free. I've been drinking it since week one. I love the grape and fruit punch but it also comes in lemon lime, orange, strawberry and (I think) blue raspberry.

I had a post op appt at 5 weeks out and asked the NP if I could swallow pills and she said yes...her suggestion at that time was to take them with something like applesauce, yogurt or SF pudding and not to take more than two at a time. But I've been taking them with my protein drink in the morning since about week 10. So call and ask but it probably depends on how far out you are.

I was given herparin through an IV before and after surgery until I was discharged. I then self administered Lovenox shots twice a day for 2 weeks after returning home.

You look FABULOUS!!!! Congrats!!!!!

I also drink Premier Protein because I like the taste of it and because it's convenient. There have been other posts about different protein sources but basically, hydrolyzed protein is more absorbable than isolates and isolates are more absorbable than concentrates. But honestly, I don't know how much of this REALLY matters for us!!! Here is a link explaining the differences: http://www.wheyproteinfiend.com/best-whey-protein/

So, here I am almost 3 months out, down a total of 75 pounds and almost 50 since surgery....YAY me!!!! These first three months have been relatively easy for me. I healed super quickly, I'm hiking 4 miles a day and getting my 100 grams of Protein in each day has not been a problem. I LOVE my sleeve!!! I posted a while back about how my relationship with food changed much faster than I thought it would. The first two weeks after my surgery were torturous. I came home from the hospital to my family which includes my 18 and 22 year old sons. It was so hard to watch what they prepared and ate....I felt a little trapped because I couldn't lay in bed so I was confined to the recliner in the living room (right next to the kitchen). So, I mourned food and just tried to look forward to the day when I could chew again. Fast forward to the present. I have no restrictions where my diet is concerned but my little sleeve just doesn't like bread, Pasta, rice or anything else that's white and starchy....and that's probably a GOOD thing!! I guess what's difficult is the fact that I just don't derive enjoyment from eating anymore. In my head I think I want something and then when it's there in front of me it has no appeal. Is this all a continued part of the mourning process? I mean, I feel like I have a more "normal" relationship with food than I have EVER had. But part of the reason I had the sleeve was so that I could still eat foods I enjoyed....just much less of them!! I guess I'm hoping that there will come a day when I will enjoy food again....and if that doesn't happen, then I hope I'll get over it!! Again, I love my sleeve and I wouldn't trade what I've gained (and more importantly LOST) just to love food again. I'm just wondering..... Has anyone else lost their love of food? And if so, did you get over it or do you continue to struggle?

I know the feeling!! I got everything done by the time I saw Pat the NP in March and then I still had to wait!!

Hmmm, not sure about anthem. I have BCBS ***.

Me too!!! she's really the best!!!! You're in SUCH good hands!! Even if you do have to wait until June, it's worth it!!!!

I started the process in January 2011. My NP appt was at the end of March but I had gained weight so I had to WAIT!!!....I was so upset with myself but I also didn't know at the time how serious they were about the pre op weight loss. I did, of course, lose the 10% and was scheduled for my surgery in Sept for November. Insurance approval was only 5 days which really helped!!! Are you going through insurance? And if so, what insurance?

Since you have Dr Takahashi I will tell you that because she is the bariatric medical director at Torrance Memorial she is booked solid (but she's the best surgeon in that practice IMHO!!). I will say though that when they called to schedule my surgery I was expecting the first available to be 3 months out and it ended up only being a month and a half. Also, make sure you've lost at least half your weight by the time you have your NP appt....they will not move you forward to your pre op appt with Dr T if you haven't lost the weight. Lastly, your appt with Dr T is supposed to be 2-4 weeks after you see the NP but because she is so over booked the appt probably won't be for months. MAKE SURE YOU GET YOURSELF ON THE CANCELLATION LIST!!! I ended up seeing Dr T only days after I saw the NP....I think there are a lot of cancellations.

Dr Takahashi did my surgery on November 9th. She is a phenomenal surgeon and the care at Torrance Memorial was great!!! She is not all warm and fuzzy but I like the fact that she is very to the point. I would be happy to answer any questions you have about her and/or the practice itself.

I lived off the unflavored Isopure for the first 6 weeks!! I mixed it with SF Hot Chocolate, cream of chicken soup, and Powerade Zero. When mixing it with something that will be hot, I would suggest mixing it in a shaker cold and then heating it up in the microwave. Just be sure not to get it over 130 degrees or it will start to coagulate. But even if that happens, you can always pour it through a fine strainer before drinking it. Now, I only use it in recipes when I'm wanting to up my protein a bit.

Before my sleeve, I used to get really bad headaches if I went too long between meals. Since my surgery, I haven't had one hunger headache!!! I never really feel hungry but I do know I need to eat b/c I will sometimes get an empty feeling in my sleeve--but not the same empty feeling I would get pre sleeve. My relationship with food changed much faster than I thought it would. I can't believe how much food I used to eat and I cannot even imagine consuming that much EVER again (I don't know, maybe that will change over time?)!! And when I have ONE bite too many, my body lets me know as I get pain that radiates up into my left clavicle area (the denser the food, the worse the pain).

Welcome to the other side!!!!! Each day will get better and better!!!! Sip, sip, sip!!!!!

Here's a link: http://www.surgicalreview.org/asmbs/ Hope this helps!!

My surgeon uses a drain on all sleeve patients. I had heard a horror story from a friend and was so worried. It ended up being NOTHING to worry about!!! It wasn't uncomfortable at all and the nurses would empty it every few hours or so and measure the amounts. When my doc came in to release me, she pulled it out (which I hardly felt) and threw some dressing over it, which I had to change twice a day for 3 days and then it closed up. If you do end up with one, don't worry...it's no big deal!!! Good Luck!!!!

185 seems pretty high. Several years ago I had a gallstone blocking my hepatic duct which caused pretty high AST and ALT levels....but it took weeks to determine what was causing it. Have you had an ultrasound of your liver done? I would think that your doctor would want to know what's causing it....Does your Dr's office have the results yet? And, are you feeling sick at all? I know you don't want anything affecting your surgery but you also want to make sure that everything else with your health is okay before you have major surgery. Good Luck....hope everything works out okay!!!!!