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Welcome Katrina, I am relatively new to this site as well and find the people here SO amazing and supportive and quick to answer your questions... a great place to be!!!

Wonderful! Good Luck Judy.. can't wait to hear your updates!

My good intentioned hubby bought me clothes that were too small, man that is just no fun! Later he learned to give me a gift card if he wanted to buy me clothes ... :thumbup:

Drink Recipies: Made with unflavored Protein powder (bought at GNC) but I think some would be yummy with vanilla Protein Powder too! JUST PEACHY One scoop protein powder, 1/2 cup frozen peaches, 6 oz vanilla yogurt, 8 ounces of vanilla soy milk, 1/8 teas. of cinnamon. BLEND AWAY. VERY berry One scoop protein powder, 1/2 cup frozen berry blend, 1/4 cup cottage cheese, 8 ounces of milk, 1/8 teas. of nutmeg. BLEND AWAY HAWAIIAN DREAM One scoop protein powder, 1/2 cup crushed pineapple, 1/3 cup silken tofu, one cup of milk, 1/8 teas. of ginger .. add a few ice cubes. BLEND AWAY ***Had this for Thanksgiving.. very good*** CREAMY pumpkin One scoop of protein powder, 1/4 cup canned pumpkin puree, one cup of milk, 2 tablespoons sugar free maply syrup, 1/4 teas. of cinnamon and a few ice cubes. BLEND AWAY ORANGE CARROT BLEND One scoop of protein powder, one half of an orange, one small jar of baby carrots, 6 oz of vanilla yogurt, 6 ounces of milk, one half teaspoon of vanilla and a few ice cubes BLEND AWAY Peanut Butter banana One scoop of protein powder, one cup of chocolate soy milk, 1/2 banana, 2 tbls. of peanut butter and a few ice cubes. BLEND AWAY. *** Please note, they encouraged us to use all natural peanut butter, and these recipes are going to make more than you can drink at one time, if so.. save some.. or maybe freeze them? **** Enjoy guys! ~Chandra

Welcome Dan! I hope that whatever your choice is whether it's GB or VSG that you utilize the support systems out there, they have been a live savor. I am 2 weeks out VSG and feel SOOOOOO good already. I can put a ring on that I couldn't wear and can see a big difference in my belly. Every day I wake up with hope and restored desires for what I can achieve in life. I hope you find your way and live a great life! :thumbup: ~Chandra

Ok ladies.. for all you who have been sleeved a while and for all of us new comers... I'm on week 2 of being sleeved and have my menstrual period and am wondering how that will effect my loss on that week every month??? ~Chandra

I am 2 weeks out, sleeved on Nov. 17th, and was on clear liquids only for 2 days..went to a full liquid on day 3..including hot cereal, oatmeal, yougurt.. anything you can make drinkable through a straw (but now straw)... I am doing fine.. today I took vegetable soup and blended it up and had that and it was fine as well... I am hungry and finding that I can get 6oz in of soups now and worried that is too much..... will ask surgeon on Wednesday if I'm on track....

Hi there.. I'm only 2 weeks out from surgery but I was told fish oil is huge for this..and making sure you get enough protien.. Fish oil/ EFA pills/ capsules or Bariatric Advantage has some in a chew that is supposed to be like eating a starburst candy and not expensive... Let me know if you try them.. and how it works out!

I am home today after having the sleeve on Tuesday. My surgery went well but I was in recovery for over 10 hours.. NOT due to a bad recovery..the hospital I was at didn't have a bed for me until after midnight it was horrible being down in recovery that long..and I was so grateful to get into a room. I'm doing ok, however, I am really tired and though the surgery went well, my stomach pain is like a bad bruise I am experiencing nausea and chest pains. It is hard to get in 50+ oz of Fluid, as it is now it's going on 5pm and I am at about 22 oz.. Has anyone else out there had the chest pain.. sharp..when you drink or try to even nibble on Jello. I'm told it can be from the gas and esophageal related.. how long does it take to subside? AND how much fluid were you able to get in the first few days after surgery? Please pass on some words of encouragement I know this is the hardest part, the first few days but anyone who can relate to these things please share your information... Also.. did anyone else have to bring home injections for blood thinners? I am home with 2 weeks worth of injections into my tummy (dont' get scared..really easy to do)..and nausea medicine as well. Just never read anything on that before so was curious ... one good thing my surgeon was able to do surgery without a drain tube... so I wont' have to go back (2 hour trek) in a few days to have that taken out. Hugs to all and thank you for sharing! ~Chandra

WOW WOW WOW BOB... amazing... you have lost 97 lbs in 4months???? I just can't imagine it... so happy for you! I will go look at your tatoo now! Congratulations!! ~Chandra

Thanks for responding Chancie!

My Christmas goal is to be down 40 lbs.. is this even a realistic goal? I was sleeved on 11-17 and lost 17.5# in first week so I would have to average 5 lbs a week to do so.. I'm guessing that will be hard to do... feedback anyone?

WOW Gingin.. First off congrats on the loss 19 lbs in a week that is AMAZING! I was sleeved on 11/17. I have found myself hungry too... we are eating very few calories and if you are on Protein shakes and mostly liquids I was told that it passes through quickly and that is why you are hungry again... once we get on solids it won't pass through as fast.. the feeling "full" lasts longer.. As far as the acid... I had acid-reflux before VSG so still take a daily prilosec pill..... I have to open the capsule and put the inside on a spoon... (I just dip the spoon in yougurt).. but it works, the one day I missed my dose I did notice more heartburn... so I'm wondering if you can just call you surgeon today, hopefully open, and inquire re: the acid. Good luck!

Good Luck Judy, I think you have it covered pretty well. Tuesday is my 2 week post-op and already feeling so much better, have lost 17.5 pounds and had a wonderful experience yesterday being at Thanksgiving not a slave to the food for the first time.... keep us posted as soon as you get home! ~Chandra

Welcome Linda! I agree.. this is a great place to come and find people that understand what you are going through.. give advice on what you may go through and just feel no pressure to have to explain yourself. Keep us all posted on your surgery when you get a date! ~Chandra

Mona, My name is Chandra and I'm 9 days out and I have some "what ifs" too.. I guess we won't know these things until we cross those bridges but I do take into consideration all the people here that have already been through it and the fact that I'm feeling full on the liquids I'm drinking so I'm sure we will with food as well. The challenge for me will be in always making the best food choices and not giving in to eating something that really doesn't benefit me too often. I have some drink recipes from my surgeon that are really good.. the one I'm drinking now has pumpkin pure in it, and sugar free maple syrup and cinnamon so it's like I'm drinking pumpkin pie.. let me know if you need any..... Hang in there.. try to take it one day at a time. ~Chandra

Hi everyone, Today has been a very weird day for me and I'm not sure how to describe it... I just felt "off" all day, like I'd cry on a dime but wasn't really sad... feeling different being fat and now had a day of feeling "different" being a WLS person... good thing there are people out there on forums to remind me that I'm not alone. I have not wanted to be alone today but not really wanted to venture out much or be around people either.. I am tired but not enough to get a good nap and I just feel out of sorts.. is this "par" for the course... I did read that our hormones go crazy after surgery.. anyone else experience anything like this... not feeling quite right mentally?? ~Chandra

Ok.. I'm officially a week from surgery tomorrow and tonight when my family ate dinner I noticed that I really missed the food.. I really wanted to just have one noodle and one bite of ham... is this normal? The urge wasn't like it used to be but suddenly these liquid are really bland. I'm concerned that it will be super hard to stay on full liquids but know I have to.. how do you cope? suggestions... ~Chandra

Ok... sponge bathing is getting old.. when can I get in the shower? the tub? Would love to stand under the hot water..have been chilled alot since surgery. ~Chandra

Thanks a ton, I have really bad heartburn so will definitely try a little honey...

Hey Angela, I was sleeved on the 17th, here in Michigan. I'm doing pretty good. I have not had much pain at all except for chest pain(gas or heartburn) and am gradually adding full liquids in already... how are you doing getting in your fluids? Keep in touch... we are only a day apart in our surgery.. will be fun to watch each others progress. By the way I want to lose 120# .... 5'6 and 310# One thing I've learned so far.. warm liquids seem to be the best or "room temperature" Talk to you soon, ~Chandra

Hey Dalite, I agree with the previous posts about the pain.. I have a very LOW pain tolerance and the pain at worst was a 4 for me. Mostly a 2-3... it amazed me there was so little. My surgeon did not use a drain tube for me, I guess that is a surgical choice combined with the surgical candidate. My diet was clear liquids for 3-4 days, then I started adding in Protein powder, by day 5 I have been adding in full liquids, you know yougurt and cream of wheat Cereal very runny but still yummy. Also in the hospital it was hard to get one ounce of Fluid down and now I'm able to do about 6 .. that is over about a half hour but it's making it much easier to get Water in. Hope this helps, ~Chandra

Hey there, I'm only 6 days post op but let me tell you that SWEETS was one of my biggest problem area. If I could eat pizza and ice-cream daily I would be happy. If I could have a cookie or 2 with my coffee then I would be happy.... I am amazed that yesterday I had some f. free raspberry yogurt and that was super sweet to me. It is really early for me but if this is any indication of the control the sleeve will bring to me than I'm already thinking it's 100% worth it. I think mentally I will miss my time with my sweets and it will be nice to allow myself one bite with a sip of coffee when out with girlfriends.. it's a social thing as well but honestly if I'd rather not have the experience of going to far so I'm not even going to try unless I develop some crazy craving down the road. ~Chandra

AWESOME.. you go girl!