4ALongerLife

I am so sorry to read this.......... my heart goes out to you and all of your family members at this difficult time.

I was just "promoted" to the next food level and since my info is rather lacking, I been 'researching' what's after full liquids...... so in my research, I just read this: "It takes 6-9 months (possibly longer) for your new stomach size to stabilize and allow you to determine your normal meal amount." Yes I been ravenous lately and I thought wth? You aren't supposed to be hungry on a sleeve, they cut the gherlin out.... is this emotional eating? But per what I put in quotes above, no ladies (and gents) we aren't just emotional eaters, we haven't tummy-stabilized yet. My reading included this tidbit: DO NOT OVEREAT.... your tummy can only hold 4-6 ozs at a time after surgery. Just saying..... hope that helps y'all. It made me feel like phew. Oh and I was stuffed tonight. Scrambled an egg with mozzerella (to increase the protein) and after 3 to 4 bites, I was done. Go figure.

Hang in there! I lost a bunch of weight at first, but I was in the hospital for almost a month. Suddenly the scale's stopped moving (grrr right whenever I'm almost below 200, dang it).... but I just have to be patient.

Cherrybomb, I hated the Protein shots. I could do the watermelon but everything else, I just wretch (still) at the thought. Yuck. But the Cytomax from Vitamin Shoppe I love. Those cytomax's ARE like flavored Water to me and 20 oz with 40 g of protein. I do 1.5 to 2 bottles a day and it counts for my water and that's 50g to 80g a day. Isopure many ppl like, I didn't but I'm a weirdo (go on quote me pttthh lol). Well the guy at Vitamin Shoppe told me too that the Cytomax is better but it's not as well known as the Isopures, so I am not alone (he said the Isopures are nasty too lol). Hey if you like them, great though! I hope you will.... and fyi, the protein puddings are workable for me. Not fabulous, but workable! I split them into 4 oz. for bfast and 4 oz sometime after lunch for a snack. One pudding has 30g of protein in it. So if I get 50g from 1.5 bottles of cytomax, then a protein pudding, I'm at 80g of protein a day. It's just learning something new hon... that's all! And the nutritionist won't fuss at you.... or whomever you see for aftercare.... but perhaps can make good suggestions on how to get real food around it. It IS a learning experience hon. No worries ok? Unjury's chicken Soup is good. Really good. But my durn microwave nukes everything so I have to have my little thermometer with me each time. The premier Protein drinks are good as well (found at costco about 25 usd a case). I also liked the muscle milk light in either chocolate or vanilla... they even sell these in a vending machine at my gym, so they are found everywhere. And the nectar Syntrax isn't bad either btw. I did go online and order the trial pack that they suggest in the protein drinks nutrition thread from this site. Don't give up Cherrybomb. It's all just suggestions and something new! I feel so lost many times in this journey ... but so many ppl will help you and give you input. And suggestions and encouragement... God bless. And just know I for one am wishing you luck in every step! xoxo

Your body, I think, would rob itself of muscle as it needs the amino acids to burn. That's why it won't use fat. But if you have a nutritionist, ask him or her for sure. I have enough hair to lose as well, but .... you know my luck would be it'd fall out in areas where I wouldn't prefer. And since I had a leak, I know I need the proteins/amino acids for healing..... Another possible tip? Protein puddings. I got some from GNC yesterday. Not the best, but they are stomachable! Good luck!

Thank you Dee.... and I'm 5'7". Wishing y'all well in your journeys!

If you don't get enough Protein, supposedly you are apt to lose your hair. It'll take approximately 3 months to show (malnourishment takes time to show in your body). But it's important to get your protein to encourage your body to heal. I enjoy the clear liquid Proteins in a drink by Cytomax. I feel like I write this every time I post, but sorry... everything else makes me wretch. I like the tropical and tangerine, haven't tried the watermelon yet. The Syntrax nectar proteins are supposed to be good too. For a while I could do one in Water, now it makes me wretch. The Cytomax is the only thing that has been consistent for me. Good luck to you and try to get your proteins in! You should incorporate the idea "proetin first" because protein fills you up longer and has less calories, as well as good for body function like healing, etc.

Count every ounce sister! You are rocking it... keep it up!

I soooooo feel you girl. Hang in there! How long do you have to do the pre op diet? Funny how I don't even remember it now, but I DO remember being annoyed ......rofl

Clear protein drinks that I love .... Cytomax Pure Protein Performance drinks in tropical and tangerine. Vitamin Shoppe, 3.79 per 20 oz bottle or 41.99 for a flat/case. They have 40 g per 20 oz of whey protein isolate.

Counseling, counseling, counseling..... can't hurt and as this process has changed your lives, it can't hurt to talk about it with a professional.

I am the 1% I got a leak and an abscess on 3/19 and was originally sleeved 3/5. My stomach for whatever reason necroted by one of the staples and it came apart, causing the abscess (the leaked out fluids from your tummy are isolated into another part of your body), mine went to my diaphragm. My dr's had one other one in 2009 and that was due to the dude taking a gulp from his drink from Sonic. I"m thinking Sonic, carbonation.... um not following the diet? IDK....on his but I followed instructions to a t and still was the crazy 1% that this happened to. It is RARE for this to happen from everything I've read, but do speak to your dr. about any incidents he's had and how he's addressed them. If you want more info, feel free to inbox me..... but no, I don't regret the surgery. I've lost 51 lbs so far... of course I was on Clear liquids for over a month, but.....I just hope to keep losing...... I hope your mother finds a way to support you in your decision instead of giving you reasons to doubt it. Doubt is normal, as is a mother's concern, so not sure If I'm reading your original post correctly or not. I know if my parents had still been alive, well I couldn't have afforded all of this for one, but they would have given me so much negativity I probably would have never gone through with it. God bless my in laws though... they have been absolutely supportive. But did I doubt my decision? Yes.... but still glad I did it.

It's not an easy decision is why! Postpone for now and know it's always an option. Just do whatever you can to be healthy for you and your family. Hugs.

Sweetie, do what YOU think you are ready for. If I could have lost 160 and stayed there, I would have rathered NEVER have this surgery... I just couldn't do it. I HAVE done it many times, but keeping it off never happened for me..... and my cholesterol was up, my thyroid is crazy and I don't want heart disease nor diabetes. My ob/gyn scared the heck out of me and finally just laid it all out for me (God bless). It's not an easy fix, sleeve surgery. I had tons go wrong (I'm that 1 % that you read about, grrr). But would I do it again? Even on my worst day, today I say YES, I'd do it again. Was it scary? Yes. Was it awful? Yes, sometimes. Your feelings are totally normal. But know this.... would I do it again? Yes. After the sleeve surgery, hunger is just head hunger really - or habit. I'm having to learn cues from my body again. Remember, whenever you are sleeved they remove the gherlin from your belly. You don't suffer (as you might be in the pre op diet) - you have to remind yourself to eat, to get your liquids in, to get your Protein in. As for such small portions... well what's 'normal'? We eat these vast quantities and have no idea how little our body needs. Just words for thought. I wish you the best of luck, whichever avenue you pursue! 40 lbs isn't alot to lose... and if you choose to 'stay natural' .. I wish you to lose it AND to keep it off mamacita!

So far I'm only stomaching light activia. I think it's only 8 g protein in the peach flavored (and yes, I'm spitting the peach bits out).

You are too cute. And leather pants are highly overrated ... no matter your size I think. lol Be excited! And if you get bored cleaning your apt, come over to my house... PUHLEASE! smiles... xoxo

I responded... no worries. I'll get it in the mail by tomorrow at the latest! Best luck to you!

The premier Protein shakes from costco rocks! No issues on the tummy here. I bought some strawberry ones from online. After my leak, they are suppppppper sweet so if you want one, inbox me your address and I can send you one to try. Otherwise the vanilla case from costco I think was about 25 usd. I think!

I have to say I'm glad that I found this thread. Some days I feel totally like "wth is wrong with me" ... I bounce between not liking people and like I'm caught in my own world where I'm lonely. Sad? Perhaps. Issues? Oh yes, I have a few (lol) I admit it. But my size made me stop wanting to be around anyone for a while, made me doubt my interactions with people, etc. Losing weight is bringing me 'out of my shell' again. So will I be angry at them? Maybe.... but I'm more angry at myself. I hated my own self for the size I was. I wasn't less of a person, I just hated what I looked like, how I felt, scared of what I was doing to my own health, but no matter what I did, I felt so out of control. I was going to the gym 5 days a week, 5 miles a time on the elliptical, attempting to watch what I ate (off and on) and it was a vicious cycle I couldn't escaple. So was the surgery worth it? Even with my leak, abscess, pneumonia, etc? Thinking on how I felt then, just uploading my "fat" pix to my page... recalling the emotions behind all of that...... YES, it was worth it. But I am scared. I will be honest. I pray that I will lose and not regain. I always have regained before surgery and I don't want to be the person that I was before. The recluse that hated herself and avoided people. There is so much beauty in all of us, we just have to have faith and let it shine. So I'm trying to work on what's in my head and fix that during this journey too..... surgery is a tool to help up get there and I pray this go that I'm successful. And that you all are too.

I was stuck on a clear liquid diet for so long that I finally had to find something I could stomach but was clear. I prefer the RTDs and found that I love the Cytomax Pure Performance Protein drinks. I like two flavors - tropical (it's green and tastes like pineapple and coconut) and then tangerine (which is orange and tastes as the name implies, smile). I buy them at Vitamin Shoppe, they are 3.79 a bottle of 41.99 a case. They have 40 g of protein in 20 oz and it's whey isolate protein powder with very little else "others" in the bottle. I've also gone online and found the unjury protein powders and am added the non flavored to different things, trying it out. It's pretty decent! Hope this helps you!

Congratulations!

I was put on 'full liquids' this week so I'm starting to feel more 'normal' again. I just never thought it would be possible to get to 140 or 150 lbs. Mind you I'm still 203 right now, but I'm trucking on that direction and gonna get there! Not sure when, not sure how, surely bumps in the road, but gonna keep trucking on. Thanks for your tips everyone and your experiences. I'm unsure of the road ahead, but appreciate your stories/tips/etc to give me an idea of the journey.

My dr. told me a story of his family the last time I went to see him (this past week). He's from a bunch of "foodies" and they all were shocked at one point in his WLS journey. They asked him if he missed eating as he did before and if he missed food. You know what he told them? I think it's a brother in law that takes pills for HBP, diabetes, etc etc. He told them, they made their decisions to take 15+ medications every morning so that they can eat obnoxious amounts of food. And he decided to have surgery to live medication free, where food doesn't rule life. He chose adding life to his years over his addiction. Is our "love addiction" to food over? Yes, but your mindset has to be 'in the right place' or this surgery isn't the tool that it's intended to be. Sleeving is NOT a magic "cure all." It's only a tool - your mind is the final and biggest frontier that has to be "overcome" in order for you to be successful or not. Thanks for your positive post. It's true in anything in life. I used to see it whenever I worked in the hospitals and visitied cancer patients and older folks who were going through rehab due to taking a fall or something that they usually didn't plan. It always amazed me what a positive attitude did vs. a negative one. Your attitude can make you - or break you. It's all up to you.

Lemme explain... I have insurance through my employer; however I am a contractor. The three options (last year) that we had was $400 a month for 150K+ coverage or two options that covered an annual amount of 15K total. After I had a leak and an abscess after my sleeve, I thought I was gonna "be smart" and find an individual plan to get this fiscal year for my insurance (open enrollment starts next week I think). Well so far, I am appalled at the American HealthCare System myself. Cookies said it right, these ppl must be smoking crack. You wouldn't insure someone 230+ with health conditions but if you have been sleeved or have had gastric bypass, to some underwriters, that's an AUTOMATIC denial of coverage. Now that I am off of my high cholesterol medication and etc, you won't even consider me? How's that make sense? I can understand 'preexisting condition' should I end up with a gallbladder removal or something (I don't know the likelihood in numbers, but seems I've read that before).... but automatic no way Jose you are a bad candidate because I paid, out of my own pocket, for an elective surgery that has put me in better health long term???? So I can get quotes alllll day long, but in the end, who will give me a policy with a premium that I can afford that will give me better coverage than that of 15K a year? Y'all we SERIOUSLY need an overhaul of this system. I could write on this for days..... but thank you all for your responses. And Pookey if you find out anything from your dr, pls tell me and us. I just wanted y'all to be aware..... this can happen to you (and I sho hope it don't). And Iowa Andy, just get a job and don't worry... it sounds like as long as I accept the insurance through my employer, I'm fine (the underwriters then don't see my medical history, I'm just "part of a group"... sad right?) Hugs to you all! xoxo

I'm sorry I didn't explain that very well....I'm trying not to go with my employer's options (because they stink).