OrchidFan

Hi all I haven't been posting much on here, but I read the board daily. Everyone is doing so well, I didn't want to scare the newbies. I'm struggling. I only lose weight when I eat around 400 cal/day. I can do this because the sleeve keeps me from getting hungry, BUT I'm very worried that this isn't anywhere near enough food for proper nutrition. I sure don't get to eat vegetables at that amount. I feel way better if I eat 600..also if I have little Snacks during the day (which Dr. A disapproves of.) I'm not sure what my question is.. I guess, do I eat 400 and lose 1-2 lbs a week or 600 and not lose/gain? I'm behind everybody who had surgery when I did, I think. I'm sticking about 90% to the eating plan, not doing too well with Water, taking Vitamins every day. You can see my daily plate record, I'm CanuckPlantFan. (the bread this last week was actually home-made south African traditional bread made by a coworker, I had a 2" square) Anyone got some good advice? Ivy

I'm stalling too! What the hey? Might be that TOM although it'd be a bit early. Ivy

Heh I don't think I've ever been thanked for giving someone something to worry about before.. Did you hear back from your team? Ivy

Could it be a hernia? Just guessing. I hope your team can fix it right up for you. Ivy

I had a 1/4 cup watermelon...chewed it really really well and it went down fine. Tasted deeee-licious. I couldn't find any papaya, we're too far north for real fruit. :confused: I hope by Xmas I can have mandarin oranges. I hope you're taking care of yourself, those dang colds can knock a person for a loop. Lots of chicken soup! Do you like those Atkins shakes? Several people have told me they're yummy, they're just expensive. Ivy

Heh, I meant like cheesecake flavoured jello, stuff that's probably creamy. Great advice on the canteloup, thanks! I think I'll start one food at a time in case my stomach rebells. Ivy

It takes me about that long to drink a Protein Shake too. Crystal light goes down a lot faster. Wonder why? I can take a couple of sips at once but I still have to wait or I get a really tight feeling in my chest. Ivy

Hey sistas! A bunch of us should start full liquids tomorrow. I thought I'd just check that these are ok: What're you all having? :confused1: yoghurt watermelon (ooh) canteloup applesauce pudding (sf) fancy Jello almond, rice, hemp milk (lactose intolerant) fruit smoothies I'm craving fruit can you tell? :w00t: Ivy

Hi Claire, Your boyfriend has that male metabolism, guys just lose more, and lose faster than women. It's totally unfair. My best friend's a guy and we've dieted together, he ALWAYS drops more. I agree with everybody else on the wait, you HAVE to lose weight eventually. Is it close to that time of the month for you? Maybe you're retaining some water/iv fluids. I think I've said this but it's worth repeating..Dr A has us do 2 weeks of high Protein low carb. I did a classic Atkins induction, only cheated one day, and it was with pecans. Went right into ketosis and lost...nothing. Not one little ounce. I just about cancelled my surgery! But I weighed for the first time post op today, (9 days out) and yup, I'm starting to lose weight. Sheesh! Bodies can be very weird things. Ivy

Eek Ky, that sounds awful! I didn't have any headaches after surg. (Kind of surprising as I had cut down severely but hadn't quite given up caffeine on the pre op diet). My ears were weird from the flight for days tho. How are you today? When my sinus allergies are really bad I get a headache that's much worse when bending forward. Do you have allergies? Ivy

Can you gulp it? If I take too big a swallow I get a sharp pain in my chest. I'd sip it, wait a sec, sip. Ivy

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I'm still having trouble getting enough liquids and Protein in. :001_huh: My Dad's worried I'm not getting enough in and bought me some Isopure RTDs. I had one today and they are *stupidly* high in sugar/ carbs. 33 carbs, 11 sugar for one small bottle! Also, alpine punch is revolting. Sorta cough syrup heavily dosed with aspartame flavour. I hearby swear to stop whining about the powdered isopure, it actually tasted better! Orange juice was a bit acidic for me pre surg too, but I like your idea of cranberry, BookGal. Tomorrow I will have one small cup of it. I don't know if I'm losing weight, I'm afraid to weigh myself in case I'm not. :crying: Ivy

I was rereading the post op instructions from Dr. Aceves and I see he says no sugar. I have been drinking broth, crystal light, Water, etc but I'd really like some juice for variety. Can we have it? I'm not talking about the punch or cocktail stuff, pure juice no sugar added. It's got some major sugar/carbs goin' on! Ivy

"Magician with a scarf" lol that's exactly what I thought too! Ivy

One of the ToonTowners here Sure, meeting someone face to face is more convincing than a bunch of messages. Meeting someone with an RNY put me off that surgery for life! (Yes, I know it works for a lot of people, and for them it is the right choice.)

Interesting that a couple of us are on Effexor, it has somewhat of a bad reputation up here. It works better than the newer fancier ones for me so I love it. I am really sensitive to antideps, and if I miss a day, or am even very late taking it, I get very bad nausea- that hasn't happened since surgery. (Except for the day 2 barf-fest, but I really don't think that was the effexor!) I poked around the web, drugs.com says: Swallow Effexor XR Extended-Release Capsules whole. Do not break, crush, chew, or place in Water before swallowing. If you cannot swallow the capsule whole, you may open it and sprinkle the contents over a spoonful of applesauce. Mix the medicine with the applesauce and swallow the mixture right away, followed by a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the medicine before swallowing. It's awfully bitter if you miss a little speck and bite it accidentally. I haven't noticed anything going out the other end.. Ivy

Isopure perfect 0 carb "chocolate mint" (it tastes like neither!) 50g protein I have the same brand apple melon but I'm kinda wary of it after trying a store's apple melon *pre* surgery and very nearly tossing my Cookies. Syntrax nectar lemon iced tea-mmmm. only 23g protein but I mix w/double Water and sip it all morning. I put a tiny pinch of benefibre (soluble inulin fibre) in my morning shake, but I don't think I liked it. I know a lot of Dr A patients say they can't do Protein Shakes on clears, but I asked Dr. Campos about those specific brands and he said it was fine. We should do a protein swap, I have a ton of different kinds. Ivy

I'd love a ride, that'd be awesome! thanks :thumbup: Iv

Funny you should mention that....I take effexor extended release, and was told that as long as I didn't chew the little specs inside the capsule, opening it and mixing with liquids was fine. :thumbup: Ivy

Oh wow! I keep hearing stories about how the band works fantastically well for some period of time, then everything goes to heck in a handbasket. I'm glad you got that thing out! My craving for sweets hasn't change at all, and nothing so far tastes too sweet..rats. Ivy

Hey all :001_unsure: This morning Ms banana Stomach is a happy camper. :scared0: Yesterday she did NOT want another Protein shake and told me so in no uncertain terms. I'm thinking of making a little sign saying 'listen to your body' (Dr A kept saying that) or "Obey the Sleeve!". I'm amazed at the lack of bruising I have, even where the iv was is just slightly sore if I give it a good poke. (I can hear my Dad saying "don't poke that!") My drain incision bugs me a bit when turning over in bed and once in a while if turn or bend, but otherwise I have nooo pain. Didn't need painkillers except for the flight home.. And I'm a wuss. I'm not making the protein goal or the Water goal but getting better every day. I had trouble getting 2L of water down pre surgery too so that's not too surprising. Jello was amazingly 'crunchy' and went down fine if I 'chewed'. Yay, chewing! Still not physically hungry, but my mouth wanted some of the bbq someone in the building was having. Hope everyone else is hanging in there, and just maybe starting to love the sleeve a bit Ivy

Do you have Gaviscon in the US? It doesn't do anything for acid production, but it makes a foamy barrier at the top of your stomach that keeps the acid from squirting upwards, and neutralizes burps. Works really well on half a pill, they are chewable and last a lot longer than tums or maalox. I took a lot of them pre surg as I didn't want to take yet another prescription drug. Ivy (reflux seems better after surgery! Either nexium is da bomb or I got really lucky)

You rebel, you! I don't know for sure, but I imagine it's to protect the staple line.. Didn't the tylenol taste *&^% horrible? My asthma pill tastes so bad I haven't taken it since surgery. :001_unsure: Yea, I'm dead when my pcp finds that out. If you don't want to buy a pill crusher, wax paper and a spoon works perfectly well. Ivy

Tonight I had homemade chicken broth, oh was it ever good! for dessert, (I am still sipping on it) am having Welsh's light grape juice with a bit of Water added to it, delicious! Yum! I'm a wuss and asked my Mom to make me traditional Greek chicken Soup and strain it. Mmmmmm. I'm glad you're home and doing well :thumbup: Anyway, hope you will be able to attend the upcoming support group that will start first Wed of November. The more, the merrier, we are getting a nice little group going here in Toon town! They are talking of doing a clothing exchange. Worth checking out! Sign me up! I couldn't get to the pre op meeting (I don't drive) and missed it. Where're you holding it? Ivy

Hey Bookie I'm having that weird skin reaction from boobs to pubes too, but I think it's a random rash in my case as I still have it. Maybe from the pink stuff they paint on you? (Speaking of which, I hope that wears off, because it's a little startling in the shower) I get a lot of weird rashes, I once had a dermatologist take pictures of my butt for a paper. Did not appreciate it a lot. Great to hear from you :love: Ivy