SqueakyWheel&Ethyl

This is the WORK part. Every sip is a success. Take a TEENY sip every 3-5 minutes. In 24 hours, you will find it easier. In 48 hours, you'll increase the volume significantly. In a week, you'll look back on today and tomorrow and think, 'Wow, I've come a long way already!' Just stay focused on what your job is. Sip every three minutes. Try a variety. Clear chicken broth. Jello. Water. In a couple of days you can have full liquids, and it might take an entire day to get in an 11 oz protein shake, but a few days later, you'll be able to drink two. Expect to feel a 'heartburney' feeling in your sternum for the first 5 days or so. And, DON'T BE A HERO! Take your pain meds. Sleep A LOT! As soon as you wake up, take a sip. This, too, shall pass! It gets easier. I promise.

I bought the blender. I bought the plain vanilla yogurt. I bought the frozen raspberries. I have the whey Protein powder. I can't find recipes that sound good! Help, please???

We are excited for you! I'm in Conroe. What part of Texas are you from? Complete your profile. Blog. The more you participate in comments, questions, blogs, etc, the more you will benefit from this place. Need a friend? I'm here. Need a fitnesspal app buddy? I'm here. I suggest that you take all your measurements the night before your surgery. When you hit a weight-loss stall (typical at 3 weeks post-op), the inches will still be melting away. My first week post-op experience is blogged. Take a look.

I have three comments on this. 1. This is the BEST blog entry I've read on this site. Ever. 2. You should be published. Send it to SHAPE or other health and fitness magazines. 3. Whoever wrote this SHOULD be a mother. Foster. Adopt. Hire a surrogate. Whatever it takes, make a child blessed, because they get to call you Mommy.

My surgery was April 17th. I took all my measurements the night before my surgery. I took them again tonight. I've lost a total of 14 inches! That's A LOT in one month! Here's how it looks. I'm 5' 7". Forehead 23 5/8 23 5/8 Neck 17 1/4 16 1/2 Chest 46 1/8 44 Breasts 48 1/4 47 1/2 Waist 46 45 1/2 Hips 52 1/4 51 5/8 Bicep-L 16 3/8 14 1/4 Bicep-R 16 15 1/4 Forearm-L 12 11 1/2 Forearm-R 11 1/2 11 5/8 Wrist-L 6 3/4 6 3/4 Wrist-R 6 3/4 6 3/4 Thigh-L 29 1/2 27 1/8 Thigh-R 29 3/4 28 1/8 Calf-L 17 3/4 17 3/8 Calf-R 18 17 5/8 Ankle-L 9 5/8 9 1/4 Ankle-R 9 3/4 9 3/8 I'm going to measure monthly. The results from inches lost will be a bigger victory than the pounds.

This is a REALLY GOOD topic to discuss! I felt EXACTLY the same way you do! EXACTLY! I tried to get the insurance company to waive it because of my liver disease, arguing that every day that we delay, more damage is happening to my liver and 6 months is precious time needed to take action to avoid a transplant! They wouldn't budge from this requirement. My surgeon had me meet with one of his partners monthly during the 6 months. I told her I didn't WANT to diet and lose weight because I was afraid the insurance company would deny it because I could lose weight. She told me not to worry about it. She had never seen anyone denied after the six month wait. What I didn't expect was how much I benefitted from that 6 months. My NUT doctor gave me helpful hints to help me to adapt to permanent changes (like no more carbonated drinks, finding alternative beverages). And, I had lots of time to really think about the PERMANENT life change. If I had the surgery as fast as I had wanted (within a few weeks), I would have been second-guessing my decision. I would have doubted myself and maybe even regretted it. As it is, I was able to go into that OR, with an incredible sense of peace, and joyful anticipation of the birth of my NEW LIFE. It's okay to be frustrated, but please know that a lot of good will come from this wait. And, it will DEFINITELY be worth it!

He sure sounds like my first husband. Is his name Gene, too? He convinced me to have a "unique" relationship, too. You need to drag his butt into counseling with you! He's a narcissistic ass who isn't honoring his marriage vows to love you through thick AND thin. I doubt he's going to change. I suggest you lose another 180-200 lbs by shedding that burden. I would never recommend divorce before, but, oh, my gosh, he sounds like my ex and ending that relationship was the healthiest thing I ever did! Whatever you make peace with, start being a little more self-centered. You deserve it and it will throw Mr Have-My-Cake-And-Eat-It-Too off balance.

I'm ConroeCat

My GP submitted 15 months. My GP before him closed her practice, and he couldn't get my records. Insurance was fine with that.

Are you exercising? Toning? As you may already know, muscle weighs more than fat. Exercise beefs up the muscle while melting away the fat. Even if you are moving easier and feel more energetic, your muscle tone may be improving. Measure yourself. Log it. And measure again in a month. I bet you will see significant results that way, that will explain why you aren't seeing more drastic weight-loss numbers.

Ditto

I live with constant body itching, but it has nothing to do with the procedure. All over itching is (in MY case) a symptom of an inflamed liver. I would recommend that you share this with your Dr on your next appt. I'd also recommend requesting a liver function test (routine blood test). A friend at work had the Lap-Band, and a couple of weeks later, her liver function sky-rocketed! She's okay, but had to go to Baylor to be monitored, and, I guess whatever ticked off her liver just corrected itself. Still, I'd not ignore it. Our liver and kidneys carry the physical traumatic stress post-op. It might just be a little ticked off.

One word. Enema. Get flushed out TODAY. You will be grateful you did in a couple of days.

I'm three weeks and in the Puréed stage. I open a can of chunk white meat chicken and mix it with Miracle Whip and chop up the chicken very fine. I eat it on a Ritz cracker. I know it isn't purée, but I crave crunchy, so I eat the cracker to mush and swallow it in tiny increments, chasing it down with Water. Space ONE BITE apart every five minutes. I also like a scrambled egg. It takes 1/2 hour to eat it. And, I like Luby's baked white fish. Eat it to the point of mincing it up. It's good! (Luby's is a cafeteria franchise in Texas).

I would go. Make a plate. Eat two bites of soft food only and make an excuse to get up and walk away for five minutes. If your tummy isn't barking, take one bite and find another distraction, this time, taking your plate with you. Dump what you KNOW you can't eat (discreetly). And if you feel like it, DO graze through the day. One nibble here... Another there. Soft food only. You'd be surprised how easily you will blend in.

You must lead a very lonely life then. Everyone - you included - has cause to lie at one time or another. NOTHING is EVER black or white. Right or wrong. To throw a blanket of disrespect on everyone who lies is throwing a blanket on yourself, too. And, I am bewildered as to why it MATTERS so much to you what a total stranger chooses to share about their own journey in life. Not only, why do you care.... But, why are you getting so worked up about it??? Do you really want to be attacked by people who are SUPPOSED to be supportive of you? That's exactly what you are doing! You don't know the struggles each person here faces on a daily basis. Your life is nothing like theirs. Anyone who believes it has to be 'their way or the highway' needs a reality check.

Fascinating how hostile and threatening these responses are. The irony is that discretion is needed due to criticism and negative judgments by others. And yet, THOSE who should be MOST supportive of each other - those who are going down this same life-changing path - are turning on each other with passionate criticism! I support each person here who NEEDS to be an open book with John Q Public. I support each person here who NEEDS to withhold information from outsiders. And, I support each person here who NEEDS to spin their own truth to minimize the questions and gossip in their own inner circle. So what, if a story is spun? In this situation, how is it harming the recipient? I support whatever my brothers and sisters here NEED to make this transition as calm, peaceful and stress-free as possible. Why? Because THIS is my Sleeve Family and I believe that a family should lift each other up, not tear them down. TO EACH HIS OWN. I may not handle my "story" the way you would, but I respect your need to handle it in your own way.

I haven't asked to be added to the FB page, because I don't want any of it to be co-mingled with my FB network. So, please explain how this page is beneficial and how it still remains discreet. I've deliberately kept this site unassociated with Facebook because of this.

My surgeon said that what I was feeling was more to do with the healing than with GERDS. My date was Apr 17th. I take Nexium. No problem swallowing the capsules. I asked if I'm going to have to sleep propped up on pillows from now on. Nope. He said that discomfort will go away, too. And, I had TERRIBLE reflux before surgery. So bad, that I didn't even feel it burning in my chest because it had burned off all the nerve endings. All the more reason why his explanation makes sense. What I'm feeling now is just the healing. And, just FYI, some foods irritate it. I love tomato soup, but it is acidic. Others here warned me away from it, and I noticed relief when I avoid it now.

It's like sharing the consistency of your bowel movements. THEY DONT NEED TO KNOW! If I get pressed with, "How did you lose all the weight?" I've already decided to say, "I watch what I eat, get more exercise, rest more.... Just learning to be more selfish and focus on what I need and not putting my needs on the back burner anymore. It's working because I found THE BEST appetite suppressant and it is working with no drug interaction or side-effects! And, it's 5-year success rate is higher than any other appetite suppressant on the market!" Then, just walk... away... And let it marinade in their heads awhile. THEN, when they say they want the name of the product, I will tell them it was VS. and, I will immediately say, "People taking pills to help them lose weight are not defined by that pill. And, I am not defined by VS, either. It's just a tool, and one that actually works."

I'm Day 21 post-op. Wassup? How can we help? My appt with the surgeon was similar to Shayes. A commitment to take a Multivitamin daily, exercise (even just walking), stick to the regiment (Clear liquids, then Full Liquids, then Purée, then Soft Diet, then Regular Diet)... Etc. Surgery was scheduled. It was a good appt.

Don't worry about not sleeping. You can sleep a lot the next few days. TOMORROW IS YOUR NEW BIRTHDAY!!! Go into that Operating Room like a BOSS!

This made me think of a hilarious quote in the movie, "Roxanne" with Steve Martin. After the volunteer fire department put out a structure fire, the whole town celebrated at the local pub. The Mayor stood on a table and said, "I would RATHER be with the people of this town.... than with the FINEST people in the world!"

Have you seen a gastro? And, I assume your white cell count is normal... No indicator of inflammation or infection? You've probably searched the web for surgical complications associated with any surgery involving the digestive tract. What about auto-immune conditions? Does it run in your family? Have you ruled out auto-immune issues? What about a CT scan? If you haven't had one yet, I'd ask for one. Pain like that is NOT something anyone should expect you to accept. Don't give up!

I went shopping on Day 3 or 4 and ended up staying in bed most of he next day... Overdid it, I guess. Accept that there may be good days with energy and bad days with weakness. It's all part of the healing process.