joatsaint

I had lots of upper stomach pains my 1st week post-op. I went back to work on Day 10 and wore the elastic stomach support wrap the hospital gave me. I felt some pulling and stretching, but no real pains. I think the wrap had a lot to do with it.

I've only tried ISO Pure. I tried some of the powder right out of the tub and found no taste and it was powdery. I have mixed it in with food, Protein drinks and with Crystal Light lemonade - I never noticed a change in the food's taste, it was just a little thicker. I got some unflavored ISO Pure whey protein isolate off of Amazon. http://goo.gl/w6wHE

Way to go! **Does happy dance for you!** Keep Pimpin' that Sleeve!

I really like the taste of Premier Protein chocolate drinks - get it at Sam's Club 12 for $18. http://goo.gl/kT5Ff June 26 - July 21 Sams is selling it for $4 off regular price, limit 1 case per membership. I got some unflavored ISO Pure whey protein isolate off of Amazon. I add it to things like re-fried Beans or pureed cauliflower or soup. I even added a scoop to my Crystal Light lemonade. http://goo.gl/w6wHE

At my third or fourth week post-op, I walked past a banana. And had a craving thrown on me! I had to have that banana. I had no idea I wanted one so bad till I walked past it!

Way to go! **Does happy dance for you!** Keep Pimpin' that Sleeve!

I'm at 6 months post-op and that "stuck" feeling is the only sense of fullness I ever feel. The old feeling of a satisfied stretched stomach where I sit back and say, "Oh, I'm so full" has not returned. And I don't care if it does. I've learned to eat slowly between bites and have a pretty good sense of how much I can eat before "one bite too many". I've had a few of those and don't like'em - No sir! I don't! It just took practice and careful eating habits to teach myself this new way of eating. Keep Pimpin' that Sleeve!

Congrats. **Does happy dance for you!** Keep Pimpin' that Sleeve!

I think it was good that you staggered your surgeries. If something had gone wrong for both of you post-op, you'd both be unable to be there for the other. At least this way, you can be there for her.

Congrats on your success! **Does happy dance for you!** Keep Pimpin' that Sleeve!

Keeping my fingers crossed for you. Hope it all works out well.

Congrats on your success! **Does happy dance for you!** Keep Pimpin' that Sleeve!

My 1st week, it was not a priority to get in all the Protein and Water. It just wasn't possible. I sipped and sipped Crystal Light lemonade all day and ate sugar free popsicles. I just did the best that I could and if it felt uncomfortable, I stopped. It was 5 or 6 days before I could get any fluids down in large quantities. My 2nd week I started eating Cream of Mushroom Soup, and even then, I was only eating about 3/4 of a can per day. My main priority was fluids. I knew I had enough "stored energy" - read: fat cells :-P - that I wasn't in any danger of being malnourished!

I was there 2 different nights. I had to sleep both nights. 1st time to measure how many times I stopped breathing. 2nd time was to wear the mask and tweak the air pressure settings. I did them both on Friday nights, that way I could get up Sat morning and not have to worry about going to work the next day.

I was only required to do the pre-op diet for 7 days, but it was very hard to break old habits. Just try your best and stay away from sugar and starches. I think it is kinda ironic that the doctors and insurance companies require us to go on a liquid diet pre-surgery. If I could have done the liquid diet on my own, I wouldn't NEED the surgery in the 1st place!

My sleep study was in 2 parts. 1st visit was to measure how many times I stopped breathing - I was covered in those little sensors. 2nd visit, I was covered in the sensors again and had to use the CPAP machine. That visit was to fit me for a mask and calibrate the machine.

I was in the hospital 2 days. They wouldn't let me drive myself home either. I was still on pain meds the 2nd day and in no condition to drive.

My first month or so, I was losing weight almost daily. But longer term, I seem to get stuck at a certain weight for a few weeks at a time, then suddenly start losing again. I was stuck for the past two weeks at 280, after dropping as low as 278. Yesterday, I woke up and was 278. Today I am 273. It gets annoying, not losing weight consistently, but I'm getting used to it.

You go girl! You deserve 2 snaps up in a Z formation!

Yes, it happens to me about every 2 weeks. I think it is dependent on how many carbs I consume. The body stores more Water when it converts carbs to glycogen for energy. I have gained as much as 4lbs over a weekend - without changing the amount of calories I eat, just by eating more carbs. And then I lose it over the course of the week and drop an additional pound or two. You didn't mention if your weight was measured on your home scales or the doctors - when you noted the weight gain. I know that my home scales do not measure my weight the same as the doctor's. So I go by my home scales, since I don't see the doc but once a month.

Congrats, you're doing great! Keep Pimpin' that Sleeve!

I still remember my cruise from last July. It would have been very hard for me to keep to my "approved" foods list. Lots of high fat/high carb stuff in the food court. Very few soft foods.

Here is my favorite Mexican recipe, be sure to use the Taco Bell seasoning if you want that Taco Bell flavor - it makes a big difference from the other seasoning mixes. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/blog/2115/entry-5538-my-favorite-mexican-food/

My first thought was that this guy has been listening to the pickup artist gurus. They often say to approach a beautiful woman and instead to just telling her how pretty she is - just like the last hundred guys that tried to pick her up - to tease her by pointing out a flaw in a playful manner. This guy just hasn't mastered the program yet - he picked out the wrong thing to tease about! Keep Pimpin' that Sleeve!

About day 9, I was able to sleep on either side without being uncomfortable.