Chimera

A lot of times we would use our "special shampoo" prior to chemical treatments on clients - this was dishwashing liquid and baking soda Sometimes the buildup is so much so that you need to chelate quite a bit over time - a few times a week for a month - followed by a good conditioner. You also see the same type of buildups with chlorine and the minerals from well Water - when wet your hair feels almost gritty, and it is very easy to tangle. Ultraswim products are also good chelators. This also helps get rid of the post-surgical chemical smell if anyone still has that.

At first it is pretty tough to swallow much of anything but like Legal Loser above me - it has taken just about 4 weeks to get up to 64 oz. Just do your best and try hard to get in as much as possible at first. Your tastes may change drastically with surgery so it is good to have a variety of things on hand to consume after surgery - protein drinks I loved prior to surgery made me wretch post, so the protein chicken soup is what saved me the first couple of weeks. I used to like everything room temperature - now drinks have to be ice cold. I think because it helps with the aspartame after taste for me.

It can also be your body ridding itself of surgery stuff - i.e. anesthesia. I was a haircolorist for 20+ years and it can really be a p.i.t.a. after surgery. I usually recommend mixing a coupe of table spoons of baking soda into your shampoo to make a paste and let it sit you your hair for a bit once a week. This is called a chelating treatment and helps scavenge the icky substances that our bodies are ridding themselves of.

Welcome! As you know there is a massive amount of information here and a wonderful group of supportive members to help you on your journey with vsg. Best board ever

I didn't end up using anything and I was there a week. Didn't read my Kindle - but I did use my phone when hubby brought it to me. Bought a nice new robe - used it at home not at the hospital. You could bring a toothbrush and paste - but they have that too lol.

I am one month out next week - my diet was advanced this past week. Lets see yesterday I had a Premier Protein shake for breakfast (breakfast lasts a couple of hours, it takes a long time to get through that shake now lol.) Later on I had 1/4 c homemade chicken salad (the 1/3 C is too much food for me right now) - I can eat about 1/8th C and have to take a break and can hopefully finish with in the next 30 minutes, because then I am on to really wanting to have a drink and it can be a challenge to wait 45-50 minutes. For a snack I had about an ounce each of deli turkey and sharp cheddar cheese - very satisfying. dinner was a one egg omelette with shredded sharp cheddar. And my last snack was about 1/4 C greek yogurt and 2 prunes (trying to keep things moving) This was along with all of my Vitamins and meds and about 55 oz of Water - still working hard to keep hydrated. As many have mentioned the amount of food that you can no longer consume is astonishing - I was laughing to my husband this morning that if I was to even attempt to try and gain back the weight that I have lost I would have no clue how to do it - other than maybe eat spoonfuls of caramel sauce every hour lol. It just isnt possible to get the volume in. I do find that I am enjoying my meals much more now that the weird post sugery "everything tastes like heck" phase is fading. So far the sleeve is a remarkable tool I think you will find what works for you once you are post op and try out some different things, everyone is different - it is a whole different world when you no longer need to feed the hunger/volume beast.

Just know that the process has already begun! You are on your way and just take things one day at a time. For some folks (like my husband for example) the process is very fast - I had a very long journey before my recent vsg - my family went to the seminar on April 13, 2011 - I finally had my surgery on may 21, 2012. Just the way work schedules work out and the 6 month MWL requirement (which they changed and eliminated the month after I finished my 6 months lol.) can sometimes push the surgery out. I am grateful for the time I had prior to surgery to learn and plan and try out lots of different Proteins and Vitamins. I lost 44 lbs pre-op, which is 44 more lbs. I dont have to lose after surgery Hang in there, everyday is a bit closer!

Here are my doc's recommendations on supplements: Multivitamin mineral supplement - bariatric specific or 200% dose of standard multivitamin. Should be 100% of at least 2/3 nutrients. Should contain at least 400 IU of Vitamin D, 400 mcg folic acid, 1.2 mg thiamine B-1, 15 mg zinc, and 18-27 mg. Iron. It should also contain copper and selenium. If you take 200%, it should not exceed 10,000IU Vitamin A, or 1,000 mg (1500IU) of vitamin E. Elemental Iron - ASMBS guidelines call for a minimum of 36 mg per day. For menstruating women or those at risk of anemia total intake should be 50-100 mg per day. B-50 complex daily - the B50's I take are Bariatric Advantage in capsule form and have 50 mg each of thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin and 400 mcg of folate, 250 mcg of B12, 500 mcg Biotin, and 50 mg of pantotheric acid. also contains choline 25 mg, inositol 25 mg. B-12 - 500 micrograms per day or 1,000 microgram injection monthly calcium citrate - 1,500 to 2,000 mg calcium citrate Vitamin D: Dose dependent on labs - since we are in Seattle I am still taking 10,000 IU's a day in liquid form.

the bariatric chicken soups and the proti-diet fruity drink mixes helped me.

So beautiful I have hope that this immediate post surgical phase will fade away soon enough and I will have more energy soon. You are an inspiration!

I had surgery on the 21st as well and am still creeping along - hoping energy comes back soon. I too think I am a pretty slow healer, I go in for my 3 week check up today so it will be nice to see how how I am doing and have my diet advanced and find out when I can take a swim in the tub I am down just shy of 20 lbs since surgery so far. Good luck guys - from what I hear this gets easier as time passes

From what I know of bariatric surgeries - the vsg and the Duodenal Switch are the procedures that remove the stomach. The vsg is technically the first part of the DS sugery, and is now a stand alone surgery.

Woo I am very excited for my 3 week check-in appointment tomorrow. If all goes well i get to be advanced to the mushy food stage - I do have to admit i have been doing a bit of head-hunger fantisizing about solid foods the last two days, nothing too obscene, just salivating over my husbands scramble eggs or chicken strips. I am thinking maybe I will try an egg first, or 1/4 c of refried Beans, or thicker Soup - it is so funny how exciting this is after consuming only liquids for so long Things are finally starting to taste better. What did you guys have as a first mushy meal? any favorites that you would like to share?

I did not go to Lynnwood - further south Kennedy The Chimera nickname is totally random, it just popped in my head when I was signing up.

Another thing to consider with the two surgeries - with a vsg you are not left with a 'blind stomach' that still produces the hormone ghrelin - with the sleeve, the portion of the stomach that secretes this hormone that makes you feel hungry is gone. That was another big reason I went for the vsg - other than head hunger, I have not felt actual hunger since surgery.

Welcome!

Ooops i see that there is a thread just below with many mushy favorites - I did not mean to be redundant Yay for mushy stage!

The chicken soup mixes with protein and the Proti-diet brand drink mixes (sorta like crystal lite but with 15 g protein) saved me the first few weeks - I find that my tastes changed drastically with surgery, and continue to change weekly. Just keep trying to sip as much as you can when you find something that is palatable.

I was originally planning to have a roux-n-y - then discovered during the insurance vetting process that my insurance covers the sleeve - my surgeon was thrilled and recommends the vsg over all of the other procedures. I do beleive the statistics are very close between the roux and the sleeve, its just that the sleeve on its own as a procedure is much newer and we dont have the years of info that other procedures do. My surgeons office says that with VSG one can expect to lose 80% of one's excess weight in the first year - and the rest in the following year. I am very happy to still have a normal albeit tiny functioning stomach I have quite a bit of weight to lose (188 excess lbs from my start weight) but at 3 weeks out I think I am off to a fine start. My sister in law has a roux and loves it - I guess everyone needs to select what is best for them.

A pal from my WL support group shared this one~ Eight Signs of Emotional Eating A lot of people ask, "How do I know if I am over eating for emotional reasons?" If any of the following statements sound like they could apply to you, then it's likely you are struggling with emotional eating. 1. My hunger comes on suddenly. Physical hunger comes on slowly. Hunger from emotional eating often comes on quickly and suddenly. 2. I crave specific foods-generally not carrot sticks or steamed broccoli. Cravings for specific foods usually unhealthy foods are signs of emotional eating. Often people like the rush they get from satisfying their cravings. The rush is fulfilling emotional hunger.　 3. My hunger feels urgent- I need a particular food right away and I am willing to walk out of my way, or get in your car late at night, or raid my kids Halloween candy to get it. Physical hunger, unless you haven’t eaten for a long time, is usually pretty patient. It will wait for food. Emotional hunger demands to be satisfied immediately. 4. My hunger is often paired with an upsetting emotion- if I backtrack a few hours or a few days I’ll usually find an upsetting event and feeling that triggered the urge. Hunger thats comnnected to an upsetting emotion or situation is definately emotional hunger. Physical hunger is not typically triggered by emotions. 5. My eating habits involve unconscious eating-all of a sudden I’m eating ice cream and I find the whole contianer is gone. 6. I don’t stop eating in response to being full- I keep wanting more of the taste of the food. Physical hunger doesn’t need to be stuffed in order to be satisfied. Emotional hunger on the other hand often demands more and more food to feel satisfied. 7. My hunger isn’t located in the belly- I crave the taste of a certain food in my mouth or I can’t stop thinking of a certan food. Feeling hungry in this way is usually a sign of emotional hunger or binging. Physical hunger is happy to get what it can, while emotional hunger usually focuses on specific tastes and textures. 8. After I satisfy my hunger, I am often filled with a sense of regret or guilt.Feeding your body what it needs is not something to feel guilty about. If you feel guilty after you eat, it’s likely because part of you knows you’re not eating just to satisfy physical hunger. When you’re eating for phyiscal reasons, you are usually mindful of what you’re doing. If you catch yourself eating, “just because”, then its likely you’re eating for emotional reasons.

This is reposted from another WL forum - thought it could be useful to add to a blog post to remember~ Ten Mistakes that Weight Loss Postops Make 1st Mistake: Not Taking Vitamins, Supplements, or Minerals Every WLS patient has specific nutritional needs depending on the type of surgery you have had. Not only is it a good idea to ask your surgeon for guidelines, but also consult with an experienced WLS nutritionist. Understand there is not a standard practice that all surgeons and nutritionists follow in guiding WLS patients. So, it is important to do your own research, get your lab tests done regularly, and learn how to read the results. Some conditions and symptoms that can occur when you are deficient in vitamins, supplements, or minerals include: Osteoporosis; pernicious anemia; muscle spasms; high blood pressure; burning tongue; fatigue; loss of appetite; weakness; constipation and diarrhea; numbness and tingling in the hands and feet; being tired, lethargic, or dizzy; forgetfulness, and lowered immune functioning. Keep in mind, too, that some conditions caused by not taking your vitamins, supplements, or minerals are irreversible. For example, a vitamin B-1 deficiency can result in permanent neurological deficits, including the loss of the ability to walk. 2nd Mistake: Assuming You Have Been Cured of Your Obesity A "pink cloud" or honeymoon experience is common following WLS. When you are feeling better than you have in years, and the weight is coming off easily, it's hard to imagine you will ever struggle again. But unfortunately, it is very common for WLS patients to not lose to their goal weight or to regain some of their weight back. A small weight regain may be normal, but huge gains usually can be avoided with support, education, effort, and careful attention to living a healthy WLS lifestyle. For most WLSers, if you don't change what you've always done, you're going to keep getting what you've always gotten -- even after weight loss surgery. 3rd Mistake: Drinking with Meals Yes, it's hard for some people to avoid drinking with meals, but the tool of not drinking with meals is a critical key to long-term success. If you drink while you eat, your food washes out of your stomach much more quickly, you can eat more, you get hungry sooner, and you are at more risk for snacking. Being too hungry is much more likely to lead to poor food choices and/or overeating. 4th Mistake: Not Eating Right Of course everyone should eat right, but in this society eating right is a challenge. You have to make it as easy on yourself as possible. Eat all your meals--don't skip. Don't keep unhealthy food in sight where it will call to you all the time. Try to feed yourself at regular intervals so that you aren't as tempted to make a poor choice. And consider having a couple of absolutes: for example, avoid fried foods completely, avoid sugary foods, always use low-fat options, or only eat in a restaurant once a week. Choose your "absolutes" based on your trigger foods and your self knowledge about what foods and/or situations are problematic for you. 5th Mistake: Not Drinking Enough Water Most WLS patients are at risk for dehydration. Drinking a minimum of 64 oz. of water per day will help you avoid this risk. Adequate water intake will also help you flush out your system as you lose weight and avoid kidney stones. Drinking enough water helps with your weight loss, too. 6th Mistake: Grazing Many people who have had WLS regret that they ever started grazing, which is nibbling small amounts here and there over the course of the day. It's one thing to eat the three to five small meals you and your doctor agree you need. It's something else altogether when you start to graze, eating any number of unplanned snacks. Grazing can easily make your weight creep up. Eating enough at meal time, and eating planned snacks when necessary, will help you resist grazing. Make a plan for what you will do when you crave food, but are not truly hungry. For example, take up a hobby to keep your hands busy or call on someone in your support group for encouragement. 7th Mistake: Not Exercising Regularly Exercise is one of the best weapons a WLS patient has to fight weight regain. Not only does exercise boost your spirits, it is a great way to keep your metabolism running strong. When you exercise, you build muscle. The more muscle you have, the more calories your body will burn, even at rest! 8th Mistake: Eating the Wrong Carbs (or Eating Too Much) Let's face it, refined carbohydrates are addictive. If you eat refined carbohydrates they will make you crave more refined carbohydrates. There are plenty of complex carbohydrates to choose from, which have beneficial vitamins. For example, if you can handle pastas, try whole grain Kamut pasta--in moderation, of course. (Kamut pasta doesn't have the flavor some people find unpleasant in the whole wheat pastas.) Try using your complex carbohydrates as "condiments," rather than as the center point of your meal. Try sprinkling a tablespoon of brown rice on your stir-fried meat and veggies. 9th Mistake: Going Back to Drinking Soda Drinking soda is controversial in WLS circles. Some people claim soda stretches your stomach or pouch. What we know it does is keep you from getting the hydration your body requires after WLS--because when you're drinking soda, you're not drinking water! In addition, diet soda has been connected to weight gain in the general population. The best thing you can do is find other, healthier drinks to fall in love with. They are out there. 10th Mistake: Drinking Alcohol If you drank alcohol before surgery, you are likely to want to resume drinking alcohol following surgery. Most surgeons recommend waiting one year after surgery. And it is in your best interest to understand the consequences of drinking alcohol before you do it. Alcohol is connected with weight regain, because alcohol has 7 calories per gram, while protein and vegetables have 4 calories per gram. Also, some people develop an addiction to alcohol after WLS, so be very cautious. Depending on your type of WLS, you may get drunker, quicker after surgery, which can cause health problems and put you in dangerous situations. If you think you have a drinking problem, get help right away. Putting off stopping drinking doesn't make it any easier, and could make you a lot sicker.

I enjoy a good rant Like most folks here - I have done everything under the sun - every diet, Optifast, working out with a trainer for months on end, you name it and while there would be success I was never able to maintain it, nor was my husband in his own efforts. when we attended our bariatric WL seminar - my surgeon started with statistics, that the reality of someone losing 100+ lbs and maintaining such a loss is about 1%, about the fact that if one's BMI is over 40 and you do nothing that the chance of dying is much higher than after bariatric surgery, and then the high success rates of surgical patients. When the very slim couple stood up and told the group they had both lost about 130 lbs each in the last year, and were unrecognizable from their before pictures my husband and I were convinced. Pre-surgery I struggled with diet and excersize as I always do - slow, arduous - always knowing in my heart that once again I will fail - that it is my destiny. With close to 200 extra lbs. to lose it is not easy to feel one will evr reach goal - and I never have. I have never reached my WL goals ever. Post-surgery - the other day I said to my husband "Oh my gosh - we are really going to lose all of our weight" -for the first time in my life I know that I will succeed. Pre and post surgery is dramatic, and I mean DRAMATIC. While I may have head hunger there is no possible way I could ever again eat the way that I used to - it simply is not possible physically. Whereas I was always a volume eater before - 4 oz of liquid makes me feel like I have had a Thanksgiving dinner lol. My tastes have alos changed since surgery - very few things tastes good - sweets are waaaay to sweet, luckily things that are good for me are tasting okay. The Protein shake was was so nasty right after surgery is getting a bit better to get down. Just my thoughts - I am pretty early out, 3 weeks from my VSG. Perhaps I too will have more issues the further out I get - I know I will always struggle with food addiction. I am sorry that any of us has to deal with this junk. I always try to keep in mind the great quote Eggface has on her site: "There is NO finish-line. Healthy food choices, move your body, work on the head. Rinse, lather, repeat. Forever."

Every dr. is different - we did not have to do liquid before surgery except the day before (clears) - did atkins induction with 20 or less carbs a day. Fat is not the problem - carbs are. Watch the bread - the eggs are most likely a non issue. I think you will most likely be fine - the pre-surgery liquid diet is rough, hang in there

I did two weeks of Atkins induction with clear liquids the day before surgery - surgeon says my liver was so tiny they hardly had to move it I had minimal surgery pain, I did have the gas pains in the shoulders and a bit of nausea the first night, but it was not too bad at all. The pain was really not bad at all - lots of days in the hospital I didnt even use my pain meds. The drinking/bathroom issues with a new sleeve I found much more challenging.

5'3" here - started at 318 with a BMI of 56 - today's weigh in read 257 and I have my sleeve on the 21st - so far so good