lollyfidy1965

check with your pharmacist to see if any are available in chewable or liquid form. If they are capsules, can you open them and mix the content in something like unsweetened applesauce. (I do this with one of my meds...Actigall...it works well, and doesn't taste bad at all.) Everything I take is either chewable or liquid (except for the Actigall). When discussing meds with my dr, that is the first question I ask...is it available in liquid or chewable/solutab/sublingual form, or can it be dumped, or crushed, and mixed in applesauce). Your pharmacist will be able to tell you if something can be crushed, opened and mixed, etc.

This is another example of different surgeons giving different information. Mine instructs to not attempt any pills/tablets/capsules for at least a year. Personally, it'll probably be a lot longer than that before I try something that isn't chewable, sublingual, or liquid. I hope you find a solution!

As with everything on here, it seems every surgeon/nutritionist has their own approach to things. I've been taking the sublingual for 11 weeks now, and my B12 level (drawn yesterday) was 1056 (the high end of "normal" is 900). No problem at all.

I started a sublingual B12 (from Celebrate) when I came home from the hospital. At first I was taking at night, so I didn't notice much difference. When I switched and started taking it first thing in the morning (along with my chewable Flintstones Complete), I noticed a definitely increase in my energy during the day! My vitamin "snack" is the first thing I do when I stand up in the morning...never miss a dose!

I keep my carbs below 30 grams/day, and have beautifully steady weight loss since surgery (June 19th). I found a Lean Cuisine yesterday...steak portobello with broccoli...that was really quite good! AND...it had no noodles, rice, mashed potatoes, etc...no garbage starchy carbs in it at all! It was 160 calories, with 16 grams of protein, and 12 grams of carbs (from the broc, and whatever they used to thicken the gravy)...and it was more than enough for a meal (it took me an hour to finish it LOL). THAT kind of Lean Cuisine is, in my opinion, fine. Its been recommended to me (by both my surgeon and nutritionist) to avoid anything with starchy foods (the rices, potatoes, noodles, etc), so most of the "quickie" meals (like Lean Cuisine, and even the Weight Watchers choices) are off-limits for me. I will be getting more of the one I tried yesterday, though!

It was explained to me as 1. filling the stomach (prior to eating), reducing the amount of food you will be able to eat. 2). working to empty your stomach more quickly, after you eat. There was no mention of the possibility of stretching the sleeve. I'm sure others (here) have been told different things by their surgeons....we none of us seem to get the same instructions!

You should always be fasting for a glucose level. The HgbA1c does not require fasting, as it is a measurement of glucose levels over a 3-month period of time. (I don't answer many medically related questions on this site, because they should be asked of the surgeon, but, having worked in the medical laboratory world, as the director of operations, for the last 11 years, I feel I am actually qualified to answer this particular question. ) If your doctor is ordering lipid testing (cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides), you should also be fasting. Best of luck! Laura

I just had my 3-months abs done yesterday... Basic metabolic profile (fasting or the glucose) CBC with platelet count PTH Total Protein Albumin Iron and TIBC B12 Folate Vitamin D 25 Hydroxy HgbA1c That's about it. (I'll double check the online report and add if I missed anything.) Laura

Funny....I got my statement from the hospital yesterday! Total cost of my surgery, and 6 day hospital stay ? $26,268.07. Total amount owed (by me)? $100! Thank you Harvard Pilgrim ***!!!

Do as much mental work as possible. By that I mean identify the psychological/emotional reasons why you eat, when you eat, what you eat, and start working to get those things under control now. Find books related to food addiction (I highly recommend "The End of Overeating"), and read them with an open mind and heart. Start eating with cocktail forks and "baby" spoons...taking tiny bites, chewing til its liquid, taking at least 30 minutes to finish a meal. Start eating those meals on small plates (mine are about 7 inches across) and bowls, so your brain starts to recognize smaller portions as "plates full" of food. And start walking, or doing Water aerobics (if you're able)....whatever you're able to do, in terms of exercise. It'll get your body going, and it will help make your recovery easier. Most important....do every single thing your surgeon and/or nutritionist tell you to do. Their instructions are given for a reason....and you're paying them for their wisdom. Take advantage of it! And remember....every time it feels "difficult"....every time you think you can't possibly drink one more Protein drink...every time you think you can't not eat something you're not supposed to eat....that you have chosen to take your life, your health, in your own hands...you've chosen to get healthy...and you can do it! You can be strong enough to make better, healthier choices! Your journey will be amazing!! Wishing you all the best as your day approaches! Laura

I use Microsoft Excel to track my weight loss on a spreadsheet. Its really incredible to see! LOL My "Diet Minder" journal (for tracking diet, exercise, and meds) also has a couple graph pages in the back, so you can track things in a graph format.

So....I stopped by the hospital this morning, to have my 3-month post-op labs drawn. When I started this process, my fasting glucose was slightly elevated (111)...in the "pre-diabetic" range. My HgbA1c was also slightly elevated (6.5)...also marking me as "pre-diabetic). Today's results?? Fasting glucose - 78!! HgbA1c - 5.6!! Both perfectly NORMAL (as were all the other tests performed)!!! I'm SO thrilled with this!! One of the major reasons I decided to have surgery was to avoid being diagnosed with diabetes...its truly a vicious disease, and I wanted nothing to do with it. NOW...just 11 weeks after having my surgery done...I am exactly where I wanted to be.....NORMAL!!! To be honest, this feels better than being able to say I've lost 100 pounds...because these numbers matter, in a real health sense, ya know?? WooHOO!!

Perhaps some therapy would help you with your compulsive snacking? There certainly couldn't be any harm in it. I wish you the best of luck! Laura

Yep...that's a question for your surgeon or nutritionist. Best of luck!

My first OMG moment was being able to fit...comfortably...in a theatre seat!! Fitting in booths, in restaurants, is also a HUGE one!! (Never again will I have to say "could we please have a table?"!!) I have an OMG moment every time I get dressed now....because I can't believe I'm wearing (loose) size 20 jeans, and (as of this past weekend) a 1X blouse!! I hold up my clothes and think "I can't possibly fit in something this small!"...and then I put it on, and it fits!! And, this morning, the biggest yet....weighing myself, and finding that I've lost a whopping 100 pounds, since the end of March! (48 pounds since June 26th!) Unbelievable! A big WOOT!! to you, for each of your OMG moments!! Laura

Correction...you are THE man!!

I use fat-free Miracle Whip and sugar-free pickle relish...cuts way down on the fat and carb content.

Hey, Jennifer! There don't seem to be too many on here from the Boston area....but I am one! I live in Arlington, and had my procedure done at Beth Israel Deaconess, in June. Welcome!

Very cool!

I have these feelings when I a). eat too quickly . eat too much Try taking tiny bites, chewing like mad, and taking LOTS of time eating. At 11 weeks post-op, I eat roughly 1/2 cup at a "meal", and take between 30-45 minutes to eat it (if I want to avoid the discomfort you describe). Best of luck Laura

Your "hunger" may be acid reflux. My suggestion would be to contact your surgeon, to see if an antacid would help. (I'm assuming you're not on one, or that one isn't enough....apologies if my assumption is incorrect.) Best of luck

I only have sugar-free hard candy...very careful about carb intake. Werther's sugar-free caramels are very tasty.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Singulair a steroidal medication? At least according to the program I went through, Steroids (and NSAIDs) are strictly off-limits after WLS. Please verify with your surgeon before you begin taking this again (if I'm correct about it being a steroid). Best of luck Laura

His VSG patients stay 3 days.

Thanks thanks thanks, everyone!!!