Katie713

They give the kit at Kaiser, but I guess every facility or lab takes samples based on their own protocol. I would ask the lab how they want the specimen collected.

They give you a kit for the stool sample. Basically you put this tissue like thing over the seat, then go, and then they give you a q-tip like thing to take a sample and it fits into a test tube, then seal it up. The tissue thing is kind of like a seat cover, it flushes right down the toilet. No big deal. I would cut back to half a tablet and call the nurse. You shouldn't feel like that. Decades ago I took phen-fen and it is strong medicine. Do you really even need it? It made me feel high and jittery. I was glad they banned the combo years ago.

We were told the same thing at Kaiser, and that later they would run a tox screen before surgery. Luckily I was only a social smoker and quit without a problem.

You have lost so much weight. I hope you are proud of yourself for doing that! Give yourself credit girl! Yeah it looks like you will have to step it up to get your weight loss going again, our bodies get used to things we do everyday and you have to change it up to get your body to respond differently. Try and walk everyday at least 30 minutes or more if you can. I bought a couple of DVD's and I work out to them as well and I go to the gym but I am not by any means a gym rat - I have to push myself to do this. Track your calories and up your water intake to 64 oz. Keep the carbs down if you can, summer is good for that a nice crisp salad for lunch! Good luck!!

Welcome! Yeah, getting to the pureed/mushy stage is a welcome change from fluids..luckily the fluid stage isn't too long...one of the first things I added was just soft - canned chicken mixed with chicken gravy on soft mashed potatoes. In the early stages this meal sat well with my new tummy. Good luck....enjoy your soup!! (inside joke)

Try not to let it get you down. We are all different and I am also a slow loser - slow but steady...but the good thing is I feel great and I look better than I have in years. I changed my diet somewhat and lowered my carbs and it helped a bit, but I also have the confidence that as long as I eat healthy and excercise, this old extra weight of mine will be a thing of the past! I am currently taking in around 800 calories and under 40 grams of carbs/ 70+ grams of Protein. Had to give up my crackers, but then I broke through a serious stall so I can live without them! Are you trying different things to test how your body loses? Mine is just stubborn...always has been....I get stuck then drop like 5 pounds all at once. In the old days of dieting, this is about the time I would give up and return to my old habits....but not anymore...I'm in for the long haul.

Hi Joni - love the spelling of your name - just like Joni Mitchell, one of my favorite singers. Since we are all around the same age, I'm sure we have similar experiences of coming of age in the 60's-70's. My son was downloading music on my Ipod (my daughter got it for me for Christmas - for working out) I asked him to download Joni Mitchell - Miles of Aisles, one of my favorite albums. So looks like we had surgery around the same time Joni - April 2012. I have found that I have to just keep my head in the right place and hopefully my body will follow. The weight loss is much slower than some others I have seen, but if you look at my profile picture gallery - at my highest weight of nearly 280 - I have seen positive change and I feel better than I have in decades. How are you doing and are you struggling with anything related to your new sleeve?

Kat....look forward to hearing how your appointment went. Thanks for the welcome to the 50's group!

Kat...hope you get thru this ok. I know this must be difficult. Hope the cleanings and meds take care of your infection and you get stronger each day.

Just jumping into the mix here looking for an easy group to fit into and I read some of all your posts and you sound like a good strong group to mingle with. I'm Katie from L.A. almost 57, had my sleeve surgery 4/6/12 so just about 11 weeks out. Down almost 70 pounds since last summer, pre-op weight loss about 30 pounds, 12 week pre-op program. Losing slow but steady, keepin the faith in this process. Still getting the hang of what my sleeve will tolerate, days are good, evenings harder, sleeve picky at night. Doing low carb about 40 grams or less a day, not easy but getting used to it to keep the weight coming off. Hope to get to know you. Had surgery in Los Angeles Kaiser without any complications.

Losing slow as well....maybe menopause has affected our metabolism more than we thought. I am hanging in there and very committed, I try not to let it get me down and keep trying different strategies to get thru the plateaus. My surgery was 4/6. Currently doing low carb, under 40 grams with 70 grams of protein and daily exercise.

Are you tall? I have heard that the stomach is longer in a taller person, and also the bougie size is a factor in how much the new smaller stomach can hold. When I went to pureed/soft foods I felt some restriction (but not much) with 4 ounces. Your intake (2 oz) seems too small to me, and I am barely 5 feet tall and the doctor used a 32 bogie. Once I got to solids, then I felt real restriction, an almost urgent uncomfortable fullness, and if I ate a bite or two too much, I might have to go for a walk to let it settle in, or worse vomit. I wouldn't overly worry about whether you are feeling restriction at this point, you can test it out gently to see what works for you, and I have heard when you are fully healed and say 6 months down the road, you may be able to tolerate over a cup of food at a sitting. You are losing weight...that is the point of this surgery, and we are all different. Give it time, and hopefully you will find just the right serving size so that you feel full, but are not eating too many calories. Good luck!!

Onestopplus.com or avenue.com carries a tummy/thigh shaper called "easy up, easy down firm thigh slimmer" that is fantastic. I have tried so many over the years that just would not get over my abdomen without tying me in a knot...but this particular shaper goes up like a dream and it keeps everything firm and tight. I bought a few and they are perfect for working out too. It also does not roll up or down, it stays put. It's about $30 but worth every penny!! Comes in black or nude.

Ashlee....prayers are with you. Hope they can help you with this awful situation so you can move forward. Take care.

Gum can get stuck in the stoma for gastric bypass patients but we have our normal pylorus which does not get stopped up. I enjoy SF gum, but wouldn't think of swallowing it anymore, as our stomachs are so small, no need to challenge our digestion.

The higher quality food, the better. In the beginning, when on clear and full liquids, you may have to supplement with a clear protein drink like Isopure, but once on solid food it should be no problem.

Giada De Laurentis was making these on her show using just parm, shredded from fresh. She calls them" frigo" and serves them with a salad. I am trying this for sure. You can buy" just cheese" chips on amazon too, a whole bag of them for snacking. I agree you could prob overdo it with too many and the frigos will become the new SLIDER FOOD : )

They absolutely count as do all solids that return to liquid form like jello, pudding, the water you add to make hot cereal, popsicles. Anything that starts with a water base. I mix my protein powder with 8 oz water, count the water only beause about 1/4 to 1/2 cup are the solids.

Some people just make comments because they don't know what to think, or some can be rude, others are overly concerned. Everyone loses at a different rate and there are so many factors! I have been slowly but steadily losing since my pre-op days and of course after surgery but when I really look at myself, I know that I am thinner than I have been in decades, and I am gettting there and I am committed. You will be just fine girlfriend...watch those pounds go!!

I felt pretty good and was driving in a few days, but watch out for bumps, that jiggling did not feel good. I took my grandson to school a few times, he is 9 and able to get himself ready. Your 10 and 8 year olds may have to help with the younger kids. Just take it as easy as you can, and no heavy housework! It will be hard to not pick up your youngest, but you don't want to tear an internal or external stitch. Sit on the sofa and let the younger ones snuggle up to you. In a few weeks you will feel so much stronger. Take good care of yourself, and if the house gets a little messy, let it be...there will be time to bring it up to speed. The main thing is not to compromise your recovery.

I had my first drink about two months out with no issues. I could only have one though, it felt like I had two. Now on occasion I will have a cocktail (not a sweet one) but because it makes my weight loss stall, I don't do it often, maybe at a party.

You should take in between 65-80 grams of protein per day. During clear fluids, pick up some Isopure at the Vitamin Shoppe or GNC. It's 40 grams of protein per 20 oz bottle and it's a clear fluid - they have different flavors. I liked the grape ice. The orange flavor was ok too. This counts as fluid as well.

This is real life. Stuff happens and on occasion we will have our weak moments. Don't beat yourself up over it. Sorry to hear about your loss.. just keep up all the good work, you're doing fantastic.

Some of them have a little caffeine, but way less than a cup of coffee. I never had any problem with them. I love the sweet tea MIO drops!!

Dr Zelada did my surgery at West LA on 4/6/12...he is a fantastic doctor and he did beautiful work. My scars are small and there were no drains or anything, he closed me up tight. I had hardly any pain and I have been feeling wonderful since the surgery! He has a sweet disposition and he is not bad to look at either :wub: