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Has anyone tried the B-12 nasal spray, Nascobal yet? I was so not going to do injections and am not handling pills/sublingual well just now so a sample of this was given to me at my surgeon's office today. I cannot wait to try it. http://www.nascobal.com/

So far I have been okay with grapes and plums, too afraid to try any other fruit just yet. I have zero confidence in raw veggies. My doc's nurse said to give it a couple more months unless they are steamed very, very well. I'd almost kill for a salad right now!

I am addicted to Blue Bell sugar-free bullets. DELISH! Think my record for one day is 6. That was a couple of weeks ago when I was dying of thirst. Thankfully they really do assist with hydration. Now I average two a day, one in the morning and one before bed.

Same here!

(copying this from another post I made elsewhere on the forum) I was on a liquid diet for two weeks prior to surgery with a non food/drink after midnight the night before admission. I cheated and had chicken most nights for dinner but was very honest with my surgeon about that. While I am sure he was not 100% happy, he did not chastise me. I am not a medical person but honestly, I think they expect a certain amount of cheating. You are asking people with serious issues concerning food and weight to stop eating! I would say that if you cheat, keep it simple, do not go overboard and really try to stick to liquids the day or two before surgery.

Once I hit post op, all of the protein shakes I enjoyed previously tasted disgusting. I am still struggling to find something that can get past my taste buds for they are extremely picky! Some people have an easy go but I am not one of those!

Great pics and congrats on the NSV's!

Not to sound cruel but if you really want this, stop smoking. You can do it and once you're past about a week, it is not longer physical but mental. I say this as someone that smoked for over 20 years. I quit prior to my surgery, cold turkey, because my surgeon refuses to operate on anyone that smokes and yes he tests as well. My only choices were to quit smoking and have surgery or keep smoking and not. It was difficult but I had a decision to make and did it. You can as well.

The itching and pain can and will come and go.

Yep, this is normal. I wanted to jump in a swimming pool to quench the thirst! Just keep sipping and in a few more weeks you'll be able to drink a more normal sized portion of liquid.

I was on a liquid diet for two weeks prior to surgery with a non food/drink after midnight the night before admission. I cheated and had chicken most nights for dinner but was very honest with my surgeon about that. There were no requirements of a bowel prep but I did an enema the evening before for my own personal comfort level. A friend and I used the same doctor for our WLS procedures and we each had different instructions for our whole six month nutrition program and beyond. I understand it as we had different medical histories and general differences in body structure. Every person is an individual so comparing yourself or journey to another, even when using the same physician, is probably not wise. Follow the rules given to you and proceed from there.

UHC is awesome when it comes to approvals. If the doctor's office in question is on top of their game, submitting everything requested, it should be a breeze. My doctor's office submitted on a Monday afternoon and by Friday mid-day I had my approval via phone call from my bariatric care coordinator. She called me before the surgeon's office did!

What does you doctor think about your weight loss at this point? Every person's journey is different, trying to compare yourself to another will probably only cause unnecessary anxiety and stress.

I know exactly what you mean! When I first discovered that site, I was on it for hours, LOL. Now it's bookmarked and I do not travel without it.

4 weeks

Check, out eggface, she has some great recipes. http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/

I'd say stay away from both forever if possible, why risk it?

I use this site to check hotels and so far, so good. http://bedbugregistry.com/

No but it was a standing threat from my surgeon's office that helped me to quit smoking like I was supposed to prior to surgery.

Honestly, Protein powder is an individual thing. I had several that I enjoyed prior to surgery that I can no longer stand the sight/smell/taste of. I've not had an easy time with the pre-mixed liquids either. Perform a search and you will find many threads about protein with people providing reviews of their favorites. I am trying Jay Robb next as he has an unflavored powder that I hope to mix into Soups. Good luck!

Best wishes for a quick and uneventful recovery!

Considering the small amounts being eaten, I'd say have 4 to even 6 meals a day. I am averaging 3 to 4 bites before becoming very full. It's frustrating because I need to eat a bit more plus I am wasting food like crazy which makes me feel bad.

Honestly I think outside of the US they do not baby the sleeve as much as we do. I am receiving additional support from a friend's mom in Ireland who had RNY in January. She is constantly telling me to start eating real food because I need the nutrition. Per instruction, she went from liquids to real food without anything in between. At this point, I can see the benefit because it cuts down on the opportunity to become afraid of food, which is what has happened to me.

I wasn't. My surgeon's office works like a well oiled machine. They have a general list that is followed and believe me, that list fulfills all of the insurance requirements. They just check off as they go, making for an easier approval process. A good office knows what is required and works to insure it it met prior to submission, cuts down on the denials and wasted time.

Whoops, HEB is a grocery store in southeast Texas. Check with Walmart, just remember to look in the protein powder section. If all else fails, you can purchase on Amazon. You will love the bottle, it is perfect for mixing drinks.