Lissa

Why not switch out between weights and cardio? You could do them on alternating days. IIRC, aren't you a nurse? You may be getting in enough walking for now to only do weights every other day. A cheap pedometer from walmart could tell you that and you could easily add more walking on your shifts, I bet! This early post-op, you won't be doing "serious" weights anyway, so you may be able to work a quick routine into your day with hand weights at home, adding some pushups, lunges, squats and planks without having to even go to the gym. As your fitness level improves, you'll be able to add more weight or a regular gym weight routine...and you'll WANT to add that to your routine. It's better, truthfully, to ease into a routine than to jump in with both feet. Easing into it lets you build your strength and endurance and helps you get in the mindset that is required to keep yourself going with exercise. You're looking for a routine that is sustainable long-term and I think it works better if you build up to working out x amount of time a day rather than jumping into working out for hours every day and then feeling frustrated when you can't keep up. At least you're already working on building exercise into your life. A lot of people aren't even considering that this early in the game!

I agree with everyone else that you need to have more than 1 shake by 3 in the afternoon. Ask your doctor or nut for a written meal plan for the pre-op diet so that you can make better choices to keep your blood sugar levels in check. BTW, EVERYONE here is a big loser, so welcome to the club! You're going to do fine. The pre-op diet is absolutely the toughest part of this whole process and you WILL make it!

Great news!! Thank you for the update!! Tell her welcome to the losers bench for us!! Lissa

Discordya, CVS and Walgreens both have muscle milk in their coolers, as do the vitamin shop and a couple of the local walmarts for me. I think they are gross, but others swear by them. GNC often has single servings of protein drinks for sale from a refrigerated cooler as well. I think that's where I tried Isopuke...I mean Isopure. LOL

Does every bite hurt, or does it start hurting before you finish your recommended portion? If every bite hurts, you may need to drop back to the full liquids stage for a day or two. It's possible that the swelling in your sleeve hasn't gone down enough to have pureed food yet. If it hurts to finish your recommended portion, you may not be able to eat a full portion yet. Try taking a bite or two, then wait a bit to eat more. A call to your doctor won't hurt anything, either.

It does seem unusual that you haven't lost anything. I hope you find out what's causing it soon.

Lisa, Leave out the cheese later and see if the reflux improves. My bet is that the dairy isn't liking you right now. Wouldn't that be great if it solved the issue? Here's hoping!

Keeping you both in prayer!

I wasn't assuming your feelings were hurt. Just pointing out that we've had those reactions from some folks who have travelled through and wanted the head pats. As I said, post the questions you honestly have and someone will be able or willing to answer the questions. This is a great group of people and we're all here to give and get support. Plus, we're not shooting at you! Which has to be a bonus after combat! Thank you for serving!

Ask the doctor about switching to the prevacid if it works better for you. As for the pain, it's somewhat normal. There are some stitches in there and they may be pulling a little as it heals. You're early post-op, so it may be difficult to get the Protein in...just keep trying, it will happen. Any time that you eat something that doesn't agree with you, it's a good idea to drop back a stage for a day before trying that food again. One question: Did you have any dairy products yesterday? I became lactose intolerant after surgery. I'm just now getting to where I can enjoy a little milk-based dairy again. You're doing great!

Oh, I'm sure that some people have experienced being awake without being able to say anything, but pain drives your blood pressure up quickly, so they would realize that something was going on and fix it quickly, I'm sure. Aside from that, most of the relaxing agents they give you beforehand last long enough to complete the surgery. I had an IVC filter installed and removed surgically before and after my VSG surgery. I figured I'd panic because I did too much internet reading on it. But, the combination of Versed and phenergan that I was given in the OR let me lay there calmly and joke with the technicians while a doctor did the installation and removal three weeks later. Outside the OR I was a basket case, but those drugs made me so calm and laid back that even I was surprised. You'll do great!!

Have you called your doctor? It is possible that you're still retaining Fluid from surgery, but that seems unlikely at one month post op. It's also likely that your exercise is keeping you from losing because you're at such a low BMI, you could really be converting fat to muscle quickly. How are your clothes fitting? Have you taken your measurements? Those two things show a much clearer picture of loss than that stinking, lying scale shows. My scale shows I've gained 3 pounds, but my pants are falling off and I've lost 10 inches this month. I'll take the physcial proof over the scale's number any day of the week. Good luck!

I'm not sure about international travel, although we have a couple of people who travel overseas regularly for work and have posted about that here. I know that Michell at The World According to Eggface blogged about what she takes with her when travelling. Perhaps a peek into her blog would help you figure out what you should take. IIRC, she carries a blender bottle and baggies of protein powder, along with a couple of protein bars, but look at the blog post for specifics. She's a great resource for WLS patients.

Literally, anesthsia puts you to sleep so that you don't experience any pain. You'll meet the anesthestitist (spelling?) probably in the prep room before surgery. Tell him or her about your anxiety and they'll give you something to calm you down if you're nervous. You get the easy part of surgery. You get to go to sleep and wake up what seems like a minute later and it's all over. I was worried because I had a couple of bad anesthesia episodes as a kid with getting sick, but they've improved it so much that I had no side effects from the anesthesia at all. You'll do fine. Cross this worry off your list and start imagining all the pretty new clothes you'll buy when you're thinner!

Pookey, Are you a Larper? I remember seeing some guy who was into that on a reality tv show. It looked like he really enjoyed himself.

Can't Believe, I'll address your second question first. Use Protein drinks to supplement your diet for now. Find one that you can tolerate and try to drink at least one serving a day of it. I like the ready to drink Premier Protein Drinks myself, but you might have better luck with an unflavored powder that you can mix with something else. That will help you to raise your calorie consumption. Do this in addition to whatever you're eating at your current stage. Keep calling that dang surgeon, too. Eventually they have to call you back. If not, ask your PCP if s/he will call them for you. As to being unsure what to post, post what you wish to ask. Stay out of the rants and raves section unless you have something to rant and rave about. It's just as frustrating for those who are farther out post-op to answer the same question over and over, especially when we get negative feedback from some newbie who doesn't want to hear that this is a tool, or takes offense to advice that is literally the standard answer because we know it works. I think that 99% of the people who are here are looking to give and to get support from others. I know that's why I'm here, because VST is literally my support group. My IRL group only meets once monthly and isn't geared really to long-term sleever support. It helps if you can use the search function, but that's tough when you (generally) are in the middle of a crisis and just want an answer right now. There's almost always someone here who will give you an answer. Lastly, even support groups aren't always about patting us on the head and saying "You're so perfect." There is an element of tough love in all support. If someone posts on here that they're eating a steak and a fully loaded baked potato the day after surgery, bet your sweet bippie that someone is going to call them on it! As Tiffykins says "If you want something sugar-coated, go eat a donut." I think most of us try to be polite to one another, but we all have bad days, too. Good luck on your journey!!

Patrick, If they decide to do the filter, say yes as long as they will remove it afterwards. As scary and PITA as mine was, it caught two clots that could have killed me. Adding in the exercise pre-op like you're doing helps tremendously as well!

7 months out? If you think you're ready for it, go for it!! Just be sure to post your experience here so we can all celebrate your victories with you!

Good luck! It's probably just a little extra swelling that will go down very quickly. Praying for you!

DS is duodenal switch. I'm not sure what's involved mechanically inside our bodies, but that's what it's called. It's the worst, from my reading, in terms of malabsorption issues with Vitamins and Proteins. It's also JUST another tool. If you want to beat it, you can beat it, just like you can defeat a lap band, a sleeve, or a gastric bypass. The DS and the GB both cause dumping issues for many patients, which I'm scared of having. My sister in law has had a GB, two revisions and a DS...and she's till over 100 pounds from goal because she defeats her tool daily. I think the OP and her hubby have done a tremendous job of working their sleeves! Their calorie intake is a little high, IMO, but it can and does happen to many sleevers. I'd recommend cutting back the calories, or at least making sure they raise their Protein intake, and then adding in (more?) exercise to help them get to their goals. I'm only 9 months out, though, so my advice may be out of line for their personal situations. Good luck! The first step to dealing with a problem is admitting that there is a problem.

Walking, weights, one of those little pedal machines, all will help you to get started. Every little bit you do will add to your muscle volume, which increases your metabolism and will help you lose weight faster. good luck!!

BTW, will they refuse to perform the surgery if you don't purchase their brand? I'd ask.

I agree that it sounds like a racket! You shouldn't have to buy their preferred brand for any reason. Perhaps they're getting a kickback or a great profit from those products, but it's not right for a surgeon to require one brand. You may hate that brand of drink or food and be stuck with all of the extra.

I like the yoga pants with the fold down top and a t-shirt made from wicking fabric. The fold down part of the yoga pants means that I can wear them longer size-wise... just fold the top part down a little further as you lose weight to keep them from falling off. The shirt made from wicking fabric helps keep you from looking like you've been in a wet t-shirt contest after a good workout! I got most of mine at walmart and they are relatively cheap, about $14 for the pants and $5 to $7 for the shirts.

Patrick, the lovenol (lovenox?) shots arent' that bad. The worst part is figuring out how to give them to yourself the first time and the bruising they leave. Since I wasn't showing my abdomen to anyone, I didn't really worry about that too much. I had to go online and watch a video on the lovenox website to figure out how to open the syringe and give one to myself. If I'd realized that would be so difficult, I'd have asked the nurse at the hospital to show me before I went home. Do you already have clotting issues or are the shots from an abundance of caution?