Back~To~Amy

Too funny! It makes me think twice about saying I'm getting sleeved without futher explanation.

With all do respect your comment sounds like a justification of this eating disorder. Eating disorders, like other addictions, are listed in the medical diagnostic manuals as psychiatric disorders. The actions of these psychiatric disorders have negative effects on our bodies. I agree that gum starts the digestive process. However, you aren't missing getting nutrients when you spit out gum as you are when you spit out food. Also, if you Google it, you can find people talking about stomach ulcers, rotting teeth and other issues from it just as people who suffer from anorexic and bulemia do. I hope anyone doing this seeks help if they need to in order to stop this behavior. It is dangerous to your body. Best of luck to everyone on their journey to a healthier self!

It is an eating disorder if it becomes something done on any regular and consistent basis. The danger of it is when you start chewing, your stomach starts to produce all the acids to breakdown what you are about to swallow. If nothing is swallowed, there is nothing for the stomach to breakdown except itself. I read something a long time ago and, to my best recall, this is what it said. If you Google it, I'm sure you can find out all kinds of info on it. ~Amy

I'm still preop but had a thought about Protein. Why don't you pack Protein powder and Protein Bars in your suitcase? ~Amy

Thanks for posting this. It was a very good read and to tell you the truth, it makes a whole lot of sense to me.

I see a lot of recipes out there that tell you how much Protein powder to put in the shake which is great if you use powder. The only protein I've found that I like is a ready to drink protein. Is there a way to know how much protein liquid in my shakes is in terms of scoops? In other words, if a recipe calls for.one scoop of chocolate powder, how much of my liquid chocolate protein is that? I hope this makes sense. Thanks! ~Amy

I would assume each surgeon in Mexico does things differently just as the US surgeons do here. I'd suggest you call you particular surgeon. Good luck to you! ~Amy

Lookin' good! Congrats on your success so far. ~Amy

Cute!

I have a few questions: 1.) How many milligrams of calcium does your doctor recommend you take everyday? 2.) Does your doctor allow you to take small vitamins in tablet form? If so, did you have any trouble early postop with them? 3.) What vitamims/ supplements can you not take together besides the multi with iron? 4.) what acid reducer do you take? Is it a pill or a chewable or liquid? 5.) I am making a list and starting to buy things I wiill need. I put a funnel on my list, but have no idea why. Do you have one and if so, what do you use it for? 6.). I will be in the hospital up to two days. I live alone but can stay with my parents afterward. Do you think I need to? If so, how long would you recommend? I think that is all for now. As always, I love this place and all the support I get here. Thanks!

I am a Water chugger and have worried about controlling that once I am postop. I recently bought one like this only in pink: http://www.camelbak.com/Sports-Recreation/Bottles/2012-Groove-Insulated-6L.aspx It has a bite valve. The part you drink from is a pliable plastic. Think baby bottle nipple. Anyway, it come with a straw which I immediately removed. All you have to do is raise the bottle up like you would any water bottle without one. There is still some sucking but not like you would if it had a straw. I dont know how much water you'd get if you left the straw in but without it, it greatly reduces the amount of water you take in thus you don't chug. Perfect solution for me. You might wanna try one of these water bottles if you having trouble with chugging.

Premier RTD Protein from Sam's or costco. ~Amy

Oh, the post is "Do You Hate Protein Powder/Liquid?" or something very similar to that. ~Amy

I got a case of 18 today at costco for right at $25.00. I just made a post about them a few ago you might want to read. In short, I'm EXTREMELY picky and tried these today and like them. It made me do incredibly happy! ~Amy

I 2nd this! ~Amy

I love chocolate milk and chocolate shakes, thus my decision to try chocolate. Premier does have strawberry and vanilla too. I've heard strawberry hasn't made it to costco yet but that it is coming soon. Mine didn't have it yet. However, they did have the vanilla and the strawberry flavor can be ordered on line. Good luck to you!

So, I am about the pickiest person in the world about what I eat and drink. I like absolutely no type of artificial sweetener which presents a huge problem in finding a Protein source for the preop and post op diets. I have tried so many already and cannot stand them. They all make me gag. Needless to say, I have been very stressed about what to do and was even trying to figure out if I could do this without having to use a protein powder/liquid. Yeah, I know, not a good thing and I knew that. However, in being totally honest, it crossed my mind to try and avoid the liquid/powder forms of protein and just start getting it in once I could do it post op with food. I totally understand that we all have different likes and dislikes but in all my reading and trying to find something that could work, I noticed that for every person who recommended a protein powder/liquid, there were just as many or more that said they couldn't stand that particular protein. But, recently I noticed so many posts recommending Premier RTD Protein. The opposite though wasn't true. Unlike the other protein recommendations having just as many or more people hating a particular recommendation, I didn't see that trend with Premier RTD Protein. I thought there just has to be something to these things so I made a decision to try yet another protein recommendation. However, you can only get it at Sam's or costco and I don't have a card for either of those places but my Mom does. We had plans to hang out today so I asked her if we could go there to get some so I didn't have to buy a membership only to find out I don't like the darn drinks. Off to Costco we went and I bought the chocolate ones. As soon as I got home, I put one in the freezer to get it cold quickly. After about an hour and a half it was nice and cold. I opened it up knowing I wouldn't like it, but I was wrong. Yippppeee!!!!! I've never been so happy in my life to be wrong about something.. The chocolate has no Vitamin, protein, gritty, lumpy or chalky taste. I cannot taste any artificial sweetner and it has absolutely zero aftertaste. It tastes just like a chocolatey chocolate milk. Just like the full flavor stuff with all the calories and sugar. It was really good, If I had to pick one thing "negative" to say about it, it would be that it is very chocolately. That could be good if I'm having a craving for sweets. If I'm not, I could tone it down with milk. The benefit of that is I've added a little more protein to it by using some milk. I totally cannot wait to try different things with this drink lke making it more of a shake and by adding some banana and/or PB2 to it. So......to all of you out there who have yet to find a liquid/powder protein souce and you haven't tried Premier RTD protein, I highly recommend you try these. I seriously cannot tell you how picky I am and the fact that I'm highly recommending these is something else. Now, all this being said, I know not everyone will lke these. I just wanted to tell others my experience in hopes it can help someone else like others helped me by what they posted about it. ~Amy

I vote #2 also. ~Amy

Unfortunately, it is your employer who is evil. They choose what coverage you do or don't have, .it the insurance company. My company gave us bariatric coverage but it is so crappy that cash pay is cheaper! Good luck to you! ~Amy

Thanks for sharing your experience. You look absolutely gorgeous! ~Amy

I haven't read through this entire thread so I apologize if my advice repeats someone else's. First, I would call the providers, all of them, and tell them not to refund the money as you are fighting this. Next, make sure you keep all your EOB's from them showing the payments. Then, I would contact the Department of Insurance in the state you live in to file a complaint. You'll be able to Google and find it. I work in insurance so let me know if you need help. By paying the bills, they've pretty much admitted liability and I'd be surprised if the Dept.of Insurance didn't rule in your favor. Good Luck and keep us posted. ~Amy

I live in Coppell and am scheduled for surgery on June 5th with Dr. Nicholson. ~Amy

Wow girl! You look awesome. It's people like you who inspire me. A big congrats to you for your success!

I'm preop but I have heard some people say it is head hunger. If your tummy is rumbling, I think I've read too that is also something else and not a hungry tummy. I'm sure someone with experience will post soon. ~Amy