goldenraisin214

Congratulations! Very impressive indeed!

I think you should definitely go spend time with your daughter ...can you maybe bring a drink or some Soup to have while others are eating? I also wasn't hungry at that stage, so being around food didn't bother me much, but I don't know how it is for you...10 days seems way soon for Pasta and breadsticks and whatnot...I had someone suggest that I say I'd just gotten over a stomach bug and didn't have much of an appetite to explain why I wasn't eating as much as everyone else. I didn't end up doing that, but it might work to fend off people who will be asking why you aren't eating...just a thought.

Thanks, Kimmy--we have the same surgery date too! Keep it up, you're more than halfway there!

I was cleared to start cardio about a month out, I think--weights took a couple of weeks longer...have you already had the surgery?

carbgrl--I forgot to reply to you earlier--hey twin! it looks like our goals are pretty similar as well...

Thanks everyone for the support and encouraging words! D1, to answer your question, I haven't been doing a lot of calorie counting at this point, just the usual of trying to get in enough Protein. It's been a challenge most days to get the protein and Water intake up where they should be-I get full so fast, but things are getting easier every week. I don't eat much fruit or veggies, mostly because after I eat protein, there's no room! But I do get in the occasional fruit cup (in juice) or a few prunes. I started out doing a little cardio (treadmill or elliptical 2-3x/week), but that got boring, so now I'm doing Chalean Extreme, by Beachbody. It is mostly strength training, but incorporates cardio 2x/week.

Hi all,

I just wanted to share that today marks 3 months since my surgery, and I am down 40.6 lbs and have finally made it into onederland! Never again will I have to look at a '2' as the first number in my weight--yaaay!

Congratulations! Sounds like a really fun trip!

Dr. Weiss did my surgery 2/9/12. I was in the hospital for 2 nights. I didn't have any complications, but I don't know that I felt up to going home the day after surgery. Honestly, I don't remember that day very well--lots of naps and pain meds

My pre-op diet was only 8 days and I lost 4 lbs. It wasn't very strict either, it was just low carb/fat and all liquids the day before.

That same thing happened to me--I didn't used to care very much either way, but shortly after surgery, I needed tons of ice in everything I drank--I even made slushies with a couple of ounces of juice and lots of chopped ice. It's not as big a craving now, but I still prefer to drink cold vs room temp or cool.

^{You should do something to substitute the Protein you were getting from the shakes. Lots of companies make 3oz liquid "shots" that are 25g each, or Unjury makes a protein chicken broth powder (21g per serving). You will start to feel the lack of protein eventually (fatigue, slow healing, etc). Hope you're able to find something that works for you.}

Thanks for all of the advice and kind words--I just needed some reassurance, and you've all definitely given me that. It's good that I couldn't take these feelings and use them as an excuse to eat--there's no room for it! It's been pretty easy for me to resist the office Cookies and candy and whatnot, so I'll just take your advice and keep doing what I'm doing--maybe add more cardio and do less with the weights until I lose a bit more...thank you again!

Congratulations! You look great!

At my 2 week appointment, they weighed me and took my temp, checked blood pressure, checked my incisions, and asked about Protein intake and generally how I was feeling, but the bloodwork to test Vitamin levels wasn't until my 1 month post op visit. I think it was just because so soon afterwards they expect some level of deficiency since I was still on liquids and couldn't get a lot down due to swelling. Hope this helps.

I'm 7 weeks out as of today, and last week the scale didn't move. I thought, ok, this is just the stall everyone talks about, it'll be fine. But this morning, I get on the scale and it's UP 0.8lbs!! I know this isn't a lot, but if it had gone down that much, I'd be happy, so I am equally upset about the gain. I started some weight training last week and am wondering if I'm retaining Water from the swelling (I know I haven't actually gained any muscle yet). Making matters worse is the fact that previously when I've dieted, I've gotten around the weight I am now and stalled or started regaining, so part of me feels like it's happening again. *SIGH* I'm just wanting some feedback; hopefully others have had this happen and can provide some insight--I am not a happy camper today!

2/9 sleever here. I'm down 26.6 total (gotta count that 0.6!) and 22.6 since surgery. Feeling pretty good, but the scale didn't move last week (I weigh in on Thursdays since the surgery was on a Thursday). Hopefully things will change soon, but I didn't have the 3 week stall, so I guess at 6 weeks it was just running a little late! Thanks for starting a check in, glad you're doing well and losing like a champ!

I didn't have a catheter either--I think it depends on the doc and how long he/she thinks the procedure will take. Plus, they want you up and walking pretty soon afterwards anyway, and having to "go" gives you some motivation to get up

Hi Sarah,

My TOM started the day before surgery and they gave me some gauzy panties and a pad to wear during surgery--as long as you're wearing what they give you and not you're own stuff, it's all good...good luck!

What Dooter said (American) Engish is notoriously difficult and often makes no logical sense, so non-native speakers get a pass

I totally agree with all of this...so many your/you're, their/there/they're, lose/loose, its/ it's mistakes!

Hi Karma,

I was self-pay so there was no approval process for me, but I wanted to let you know that I had a really good experience with BBSA and Dr. Weiss. Everyone was really helpful and sweet--they worked with me to get my test results released from UK (my ins would only pay for testing that was done through the university) and they even helped me get things scheduled. I had an issue with my ins not covering the EGD, so the nurses and Dr. Weiss let me do the barium swallow instead so I wouldn't have to pay $700 out of pocket for the EGD. Hopefully someone else can chime in about insurance approval stuff--good luck!

...because you've (we've) wanted it so badly for so long, and you're SO CLOSE! Others may disagree, but I would suggest leaving the scale alone for a few (a couple?) of days, or even a week if you can manage--at the very least it'll increase your chances of seeing 199 (or less!) when you do weigh yourself again...sending you calming, sane vibes

thanks for the suggestions...yep, i take a Centrum chewable twice a day, and i used to put a lemon or lime slice in my Water before surgery--maybe i should try that again!

Hi guys,

I am about 5 weeks post op. I'm wondering if other people have had the experience where one day everything is fine and the next day you're inexplicably tired and have a hard time making it through the day (or need a nap)? Just curious about where other people are with energy. I was told at my last appt two days ago that my Protein needs to be above 70g/day when I thought it was supposed to be right at 70 (which I have not been great at hitting), so that may be playing a part as well....

...also, plain Water makes me nauseous. It always made me feel sick to drink water first thing in the morning, even before surgery, but now, I get really nauseous drinking it at all (cold, warm, room temp--it doesn't matter) unless I mix about 4 oz of juice with maybe 16 oz of water and put in tons of ice. I told the PA and she said other people have complained about the water-nausea thing, but she didn't say anything about when or if I can expect to be able to just drink a glass of water (I know everyone is different, but still...). It's funny because everything I drink has to be watered down with plenty of ice but plain water is an absolute no right now...

I also used carecredit to finance part of my surgery (used the credit union for the rest)--got approved within a few minutes online...hope everything works out!