Bubbaloo10

I sent away for the Syntrax Nectar sample packs. I thought they were ok when I drank about 2 of them before surgery. Now, after surgery, I can't stomach (pun intended) them. If anyone would like to have them, I would be happy to give them to you for the price of the shipping.

At the start of my bariatric journey, I bought, among other things, a vanilla cappuccino mix from my doctor, manufactured by a company called Health Wise. When I used it all up I wanted to buy some more, but when I attempted to call the company, which I located on line, they said that they do not distribute direct to the public....they only wholesale to the doctors. I thought I would have to find another brand, so I started looking and found one offered by Bariatric Choice called Bari-Wise and ordered two boxes. Guess what? The product is exactly the same, same packaging, same nutrients, etc. What kind of game are these folks playing? About a week ago, I ordered a product from a company called Diet Direct. Today, I get two separate e-mails from Diet Direct and Bariatric Choice, offering the same product, listing the same subject matter in the e-mail header, everything. Does this mean the competition among bariatric specific companies is being reduced and they are price fixing? Maybe I'm paranoid, but something doesn't smell right here.... I can understand the same product being offered by two or more separate companies in the distribution chain, but these name games seem to me to be an attempt to fool the public. Does anyone else have any input on this?

I had surgery right about the same time as you (April 16). You're down 36 lbs and I am down 38. I weigh every day (yeah, I know I'm not supposed to) and I've seen a steady loss each day until this morning when I was the same weight as yesterday. I'm not worried if that happens, and neither should you. We all know we will hit stalls at various places along the line. It goes with the territory. However long it takes you to break out of the stall, don't worry. Just keep working the program, get all your calories and most important 70+ proteins per day. Exercise will help, as much as you can do without landing in a smoking heap on the floor. You're doing fine. About that ravioli....I find that a little ravioli or spaghetti about once a week helps to keep the calories up. If I stay strictly to a bariatric specific food program, I don't get enough calories, so I don't think it's a bad thing. If you have to have something like that from time to time, go ahead and enjoy it. My rule of thumb for a blowout meal like that is this: less than 300 calories (easy to do when eating only 4 oz. per serving), less than 1/3 fat, and at least a few grams of protein. You can always make up the protein with a diet shake or whatever you do for protein. Don't beat yourself up. You are doing fine.

I had the same problem, so I started out with chili and chewed real well. Same with baked beans, spaghetti, corned beef hash, etc. I figured I could mush it up in my mouth as well as a blender. I got away with it, but the decision to do as I did is up to you. Take it verrrrrrry slow...

All the suggestions above are good advice. However, as humans, we tend to forget good advice and do what we've always done....wolf it down. When I hit the mushy stage I tended to eat too fast even with baby spoons, but once I got that awful pain just below my sternum I learned really quick. I suspect you will learn this way also...it's part of the sleeve experience.

The Gas-x strips might give you a little relief, but the best thing for surgical gas is to get up and walk as much as you can. I had about two bouts with surgical gas on surgery day, and the pain went away almost immediately each time. Can't recall any problems with gas after that.

I agree with you on the Nectar drinks. I haven't found a single flavor I like. I second the comment on Muscle Milk...very good but a little costly. For the money, I like the Body Fortress Protein Shake available at WalMart. It has 26 grams of protein per serving and, if you use skim milk instead of water, it totals at 35 grams per serving. Hard to beat that, and it tastes pretty good too.

When I had my EGD they gave me Propofol and I felt like a rock star. Easy in, easy wakeup, no grogginess after 10 minutes awake. When I had my surgery, they gave me Propofol to put me under, then gave me gas for the surgery. They infused the Propofol as they were wheeling me out of the pre-surgery room and that's the last thing I remembered. I woke up slightly agitated, but that's happened before, so I didn't bark at anybody, just lay they chillin'. I was alert and awake by the time they got me to my room and had I laid there longer I would never have known any better. They made me walk about 3 hours after I got to the room and I was slightly wobbly but got through one lap. Don't worry about the anesthesia, it's gonna be fine.

This is just one more way to find out what you can eat, how fast and how much. I think all of us have gone through this. It seems to go with the program. I just experienced my first upchuck episode tonight.....boiled chicken breast and carrots. I stopped as soon as I felt that knot in my stomach and sat down, but I had already eaten too much, too fast and ......well you know the rest, no need to elaborate. I feel much better now, and it wasn't all that traumatic, but you can be sure I ain't gonna do it again.

Is anyone else having trouble with eggs post op? I am 16 days out and supposed to be on mushies. My doctor includes eggs as part of the mushy stage, but I can't tolerate them yet. I'm starting to wonder if I ever will. I've tried fried, hard boiled, even a bariatric specific omelet mix with protein. Nothing sets. Just wondered if I have any sleeve bros and sis's with the same problem.

When I was on the 2 week pre-op liquid diet, I got scatterbrained too. I don't think the diet had alot to do with it. I think the problem was that I was so single-mindedly focused on what I needed to do to keep my head in the game that all other things went to the back burner. Not to worry.....it will get better after surgery

Astounding, ain't it? I'm experiencing the same thing!

I had the same pain when I transitioned to mushies. The problem, I found, was that I was taking too large bites and eating too fast. I found that when I used the baby spoon and slowed down, it got better. Take a small bit, chew like crazy and swallow. If that sets after 5 minutes, take another small bite. I have sort of trained myself now to eat slower and that has made a big difference. I'm told the pain you're feeling is because, at this stage, your esophagus is still larger than the opening to your sleeve. Before you panic, try eating slower....I'm betting it'll get easier for you.

I'm in the 3rd day of mushies and have not gotten too adventurous with different things but I have been eating refried beans. Tonight I mixed in some of my wife's homemade chile without pureeing it. I found as long as I take tiny bites with my baby spoon and chew alot, it sets well. Cottage cheese with pureed fruit, greek yogurt, fried eggs and pudding are some of my favorites. I feel tempted to eat soft food and chew it well, thus bypassing the blender, but I haven't done it yet.

I don't think that's so unusual for us sleevers. I went 6 days before it happened for me, then again the next day, then another 6 or 7 days before another victory. Now that I'm on mushies I can feel things rolling around more often. I never felt constipated or bloated but became concerned that I was growing cobwebs back there......lol

Being grouchy is not unusual.....in fact, I even expected it and warned my wife ahead of time and asked her to be paitient with me when I act like a jerk. She did, to her credit and my good fortune. Try talking to your loved ones and ask for their understanding. Explain that this is a big step that means alot of hormone and habit changes and that you just have to work through it. Trust me, it will get better very soon after surgery. I'm 12 days out and feel great. I got very airheaded and forgetful and I think that was part of what was making me grouchy, knowing I was not 100%.

I have BCBS of California. I had a BMI of 41.6 with comorbidities sleep apnea and joint breakdown. I saw the surgeon first time on February 1 of this year, completed all my testing on 3/16, submitted to BCBS on 3/19 and approved 3/26. Had surgery on 4/16 and doing fine. I was told that BCBS is one of the few insurances that is fairly easy to get approval from. Good luck.

Don't worry....BCBSCA took six days to approve mine.

I can relate. I'm 8 days post op and today I hit a wall. I can't say I felt that hungry, but I had no energy at all. I knew I needed to boost my carb intake. So, even though I'm not supposed to start on mushies till the 14th day, I broke down and pureed 1/3 cup of pork and beans. It went down very well and I felt better immediately. I'm going to try to stick to the diet until day 14, but if I get like this again, I know what I can do now to fix it. And yes, until I had those beans, I was grouchy as an old bear with a sore butt.

I lost 11 lbs in 2 wks on the full liquid diet. It was tough, but it can be done.

I'm six days out and this morning I barked at my wife for the first time since surgery. It surprised her because she thought I was doing great, and I was, up till this morning. I don't feel in a particular bad mood, but for some reason, she said something that just hit me sideways....don't even remember what it was, so it was probably my crazy talking. Don't fret about it...we all knew it was gonna happen eventurally and it will get better.

You go girl!! I didn't have much resistance from friends and family, probably because I didn't care what they thought. I was going to do it no matter what. I can certainly relate though. Had I been as young as you, I probably would have encountered some opposing opinions. This gray hair seems to garner a little more respect, I think. Keep you eye on the prize. You're gonna love your sleeve. I got mine last week and love it already.

I'm 63 and just had mine on April 16. The Canadian health care system may put restrictions on age, but you should be able to get it done somewhere else....Mexico seems to be a good choice.

The two week liquid diet is something that some doctors require and others don't. I had to go two weeks and it was miserable on the first two or three days, then smoothed out. The biggest problem I found with it was that your social life doesn't stop just because you're on a liquid diet. We went to a community potluck dinner for Easter and it was hard to watch others feast while sucked on my little protein shake. A couple days later, we went to a western dinner show and BBQ and it was the same experience. If you can control your environment, it is more doable than if not. It is tough, but you can get through it. If nothing else, it shows a commitment to this process. I lost 11.6 lbs in 14 days before surgery and I honestly believe it made a big difference in how well I bounced back after surgery. I'm only 5 days post op and I believe I had fewer aches, pains and problems because of it. Don't stress over it. If the doc requires it, just do it. If he doesn't, all I can say is LUCKY YOU!

I just had my surgery on April 16. Here's what they told me prior to approval. BMI must be at least 35 with co-morbidities (HBP, Diabetes, Respiratory problems) or 40 without co-morbidities. Here's something to cheer you up: my doctor's insurance girl told me that BCBS is one of the easiest to get approval from. I had only joints breaking down and severe sleep apnea with a BMI of 41.6. I got approved in six days after submittal. Don't let anyone in the doctor's office tell you that you don't qualify. They are there to make money and your money is as good as anyone else's. Keep pushing, put your b***h hat on if you have to and stay in their face. You will be approved eventually.