grannyk

I have always liked pickles, just never ate them. Now they provide a little jolt of flavor, something to give a treat to the old taste buds. I have eaten more dill pickles since my sleeve that in the last 10 years. This may sound really bad to some, but I diced up a dill pickle spear in cottage cheese the other night and it tasted great. Next time I will add a few chopped black olives too. I know...you're not the first people to think I'm weird...Kathe

TP is right. The noodles are sliders...they go right on through without restriction. I can eat Mexican food with hardly any restriction, but only 2-3 bites of steak without feeling it. The Proteins take longer to digest so they stay in the tummy longer. But then that is what we need the most. So stick to the proteins and chew, chew, chew. I am 9 or10 weeks out (haven't really counted lately) and I am really still having to pace myself when I eat. If I am eating while working or watching TV, it is very easy to go that one bite past discomfort. Doubt you have stretched your sleeve; don't stress, just pay attention. Kathe

OK, all I want to know is WHERE DO YOU GET BEANITOS????? Kathe

As an oncology nurse, we daily tell our patients that their Calcium is much better metabolized if taken in divided doses, that is half in the AM and half in the PM, and citrate with Vit D is the best formulation. I have never heard not to take your calcium and Vitamin together. Will have to research that. Kathe

I am so sorry you are feeling so bad and so desperate. But I believe you have done yourself and your sleeve a disservice by not being faithful in taking vitamin supplements for the last 7 months. This may very well be a self perpetuating problem. You say you feel ill when you take vitamins, but you are now weakened and in pain because you haven't taken vitamins. Please let me recommend you visit www.starrwalker.com and read some of their information. I understand that vitamins can taste really nasty, but Starr Walker's liquid Vitamin Perfect actually has a very pleasant taste. They are taken under the tongue, held there for about 30-45 seconds and then you swallow the liquid. At least get started on some kind of multivitamin supplement. Your pain below the waist is probably from just what your doctor says...malnutrition. We inherently now simply cannot eat enough to maintain our nutritional needs. My cardiologist says even though we do not have the profound malabsorption syndrome that comes with RNY, we do have some malabsorption because 85% of our stomach is gone, which does have to do with getting the nutrients we need. Please, please, please find some sort of vitamin supplement you can take because your body is demanding it right now. I will keep you in my thoughts, because the sleeve should be the tool that makes us healthier, not becomes our undoing. Kathe

I tried a recipe today that I heard on food Network. Claire Robinson on Five Ingredient Fix made these PB Cookies with no flour. I'm not going to post it here because it may be copyrighted, but you can find it on the website. I made it just like the recipe except substituted Splenda of course for the sugar. I scooped the cookies out with a 1 tbsp scoop and I got exactly 20 cookies out of the recipe. That means each cookie calculates to 84 cals, 3 carbs and 3 Proteins. I baked them on Pampered Chef stoneware. They are very fragile with they come out of the oven, don't even feel like they are cooked. So I left them on the stone for 5-10 minutes and then placed them on cooling racks. When they cool off, they are still tender, but they do hold together. If you like PB cookies, these are worth the time...very easy to make. I also think I baked them for about 12 minutes instead of 10. PB is one of my weaknesses. Because it is a good source of Protein, I do not deprive myself. I certainly cannot eat it by the spoonful anymore, but I do have a taste now and then for my sanity. Hope this helps someone out there who just wants to have a little healthy sweet now and then. Kathe

Welcome to the forum and good luck on your journey. Sounds like a pretty rough time getting to this point. I was scheduled for the sleeve in 8-2010, but had to delay it because of a fall injury that required a total knee replacement. I was finally sleeved in 4-2011. I don't quite understand why you said "NO" to the knee replacement. I didn't have a choice because I couldn't live with the pain of the injury. It is right up there with the sleeve as one of the best things I've had done. I was very afraid of the rehab, but it was much easier than I thought. I went into it thinking I was going to be the best and quickest rehab they ever saw, and I was. I know you may have your reasons for not wanting the knee done, but give it a little more thought...a new knee with considerably less pain plus not having to carry around all that extra poundage. What a combo!! I look forward to hearing your progress reports...Kathe

I've been skinny and I've been fat and skinny is better!!! I have many goals, but two really important ones to me are: 1) Do the zipline in Branson, MO. 2) Sit on the floor to play with my great-grandson and be able to get up without making a spectacle of myself. Kathe

Actual hospital bills can be very misleading. That bill is probably what the hospital charges for all the expenses related to your surgery. However, hospitals have contracts with insurance companies where the hospital agrees to take "X" number of $$$$ for procedures/surgeries, which is usually considerably less than the actual charges. The patient is then responsible for their portion of the bills. Don't worry about the hospital getting all of its money or the insurance company deciding not to pay for the surgery. They all take care of themselves...Kathe

Ditto to all of the replies here. It sounds like you desperately need this surgery physically, but be sure you are at least partially ready mentally before you actually get sleeved. With your extreme compulsion to eat massive amounts of food, you will need to prepare yourself for mandatory restriction. Eventually you will be able eat almost any food you want or love, you will just eat much less of it. I can now have two bites of peanut butter instead of half a jar, two bites of mashed potatoes instead of two cups. Keep you eye on the goal and yourself in counseling to deal with the drastic change, and I would bet my last $$ that you will end up happy you did this. I know your family will be glad to have you around, and the forum will always be here for your to rant, rave and just remind you that you are not the only one on the journey of a lifetime...Kathe

FANTASTIC!! If I can do as well as you have, I will almost be at goal in 6 months. Good job!!!! Kathe

Welcome to the forum, Salease. Keep us posted on your journey of a lifetime...Kathe

Yes, our stomach is on the left, but they use multiple trocars to enter the abdomen to perform the procedure. The one on your right lower belly went in at an upward left angle. That is why it seems weird Kathe

I started having hair and nail problems a few months before surgery, so I was very anxious to restart my supplements. At about 2 weeks post-op, I started taking liquid supps...a multi, B12/B6/folate combo and D3, all sublingual (SL). I am now able to take all of my other meds without crushing, but I will continue the liquid supps because no matter what is said, we have lost a large part of out digestive tract and our absorption is somewhat impaired. The liquids are easily absorbed both in our mouths and guts. I use Starr Walker vitamins. They are a little expensive, but fortunately I can afford them now. Also unlike many other vitamins, they don't taste bad at all. I am sure they will not appeal to some, but they will not gag a maggot like many others I have tasted!! I purchase them at Doorway to Health, but I don't know where all of their locations are. They have a website, www.starrwalker.com, but I have not been on it because they are available just a couple of miles from my house. These nutritients are absolutely necessary to maintaining our health now that we are sleeved, so please find something you can use consistently. I believe our health depends on it. Hope this helps.

I agree with putting the scales where they are hard to use. I don't have scales at home, but I work in a clinic where there are scales in every exam room. I have one specific scale that I use for my "official" weight and it is not always available. Not to say I don't get on it a couple of times a week, but I officially weigh every Monday morning and that is my guage of weight loss. That is when I update my ticker. It is about health, but I've been skinny and I've been fat, and skinny is better. I can't wait to get there again...not skinny, but much smaller than I was Kathe

How long ago was that? It sounds like he may have several issues. Is he overweight? Will he be losing his pig-out partner? Does he really prefer overweight women (there actually are men like that , I guess, although I cannot imagine why. I know I'm alone in the world, but fat bodies just aren't attractive to me.) I think it might be good for you to reevaluate your relationship. Sounds to me like it's a good thing he took his "baggage" and left. You will have your hands full taking care of yourself without coddling someone else too. Good luck!! Kathe

How long ago was that? It sounds like he may have several issues. Is he overweight? Will he be losing his pig-out partner? Does he really prefer overweight women (there actually are men like that , I guess, although I cannot imagine why. I know I'm alone in the world, but fat bodies just aren't attractive to me.) I think it might be good for you to reevaluate your relationship. Sounds to me like it's a good thing he took his "baggage" and left. You will have your hands full taking care of yourself without coddling someone else too. Good luck!! Kathe

OK...even though you are not diabetic, those are the classic symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). I am diabetic and a registered nurse. I lost about 40 lbs before my sleeve due to a nasty fall with bad consequences. I had to cut my oral medication in half because I started having hypoglycemic episodes in the morning at work. The symptoms you indicate are exactly the same...profuse sweating, nausea, decreased wakefulness and with me an intense feeling of anxiety. This is from your sugar spiking and then dropping like a rock after you eat refined sugar or dense carbs. When that happens, you need to take in something with a little sugar in it to raise your blood sugar to stop the episode. It will probably take 10-15 minutes to feel better. Then don't eat those things again. Also, my daughter who was sleeved 7-1-10 and has lost 90 lbs (she was never diabetic) has the same reaction when she eats rice, refined sugar and pancakes. I took her blood sugar one time when she started feeling bad and it was 53. Gave her a bite of Peanut Butter and something else i can't remember and she was fine in a few minutes. Just start to be aware of the things that do this to you and avoid them. It is a horrible feeling, so I imagine you won't have a problem identifying them and avoiding them. Good luck, We are all in the learning process of how to live with our sleeves. What an adventure!! Kathe

Dr. Aceves sleeved both me (4-14-11) and my daughter (7-1-10) and we think he and his staff at Almater Hospital in Mexicali rock!! Check it out...Kathe

WELCOME TO THE FORUM!! You will find lots of support and information here. See ya later...Kathe

Mina, it will be OK!! You are not the only person in the world addicted to chocolate, trust me. Both my daughter and i are also "addicted" and we have both been sleeved. She has lost almost 100 lbs over the last 10 months at a very steady rate and I was sleeved 4-14-11 and have lost about 20 lbs. Once you have been sleeved, gone through all the post-op diet regimen and begin adding in regular foods as you tolerate, you will be able to occasionally a piece or two of Hershey's without irreparable damage. There are probably some on this site that will have fits if they read this, but it is OK. Don't despair or beat yourself up. This is all about taking the journey together and learning how to live a whole new life. It's all good!!! Kathe

Welcome and congrats on making your decision even when your close friends try to sabotage. You will always find lots of empathy and encouragement here. Having your hubby in your corner is more than half the battle, so jump on this train and we'll make the journey together...Kathe

I'm betting with all the good food and snacks you ate, it didn't even come near what you used to eat during a day at the beach. Don't castigate yourself, just take a deep breath and start using your handy dandy tool, that is your sleeve, to continue on your journey. Beating ourselves up doesn't help anything...it just beats up our self esteem. We are better now than we have ever been!! YEAH US!!

You're like scheduled for tomorrow. WOW!! Best wishes and keep up posted about your progress...Kathe