CrazyCatLady

What you can and cannot tolerate post-op is really a "Your Mileage May Vary" kind of situation. For the first 3 months post op, I was totally lactose intolerant. Now, I can ocassionally have hard cheese and cultured things like yogurt, in measured quantities. Protein shakes still make me nauseated, bloaty and gassy. I cannot tolerate bread in any form, any type of rice, or Pasta. I have a difficult time with chicken in any form still. I can do a few bites of baked potato, but any type of fried potatoes make me very ill (so no fries, hash browns, etc). PB makes me very nauseated. On the other hand, I eat steak often, which many post-ops have a difficult time with. There is really no good way to predict how your body will react.

OHMYGOSH, that's where I want to go on vacation when I meet my goal weight!! I've been ranting for years about how I've always wanted to go to the Carribean, see blue Water and white sand, but I was always "too fat". How we limit ourselves! Thank you from sharing your insight from "paradise"

I've had similar experience with Bariatric Advantage...ordered from them twice, both times it took almost 3 weeks to from order to arrival (they didn't even ship order till over a week after I placed it!). What agitates me is - they ship from California, and I'm in Arizona. No way 3 weeks is acceptable time in transit. I now order from Celebrate....fast shipping, great customer service. Sure, they cost a little more on some items, but at least I get them when I need them!

I am 4.5 months, and two of my incisions are raised, tender, and pale pink still. My normal MD says that this ocassionally happens *shrugs* I did use Mederma, on the recommendation of a dermatologist friend. The other 3 are small, flat, pale and barely noticble. But, as others have said...no bikinis here, it's all good.

Many of your issues mirror my own. 1) I miss Pasta terribly....I have dreams about it. Truely. And bread. Neither of which I have any tolerance for. 2) My breasts look TERRIBLE. I'm back to turning off the lights for "adult time" because I'm so embarrassed! 3) My hair continues to fall out in huge, noticible clumps. Patients at work comment that I must be "shedding", because no matter how dilligent I am, I always have stray hairs all over my scrubs, my back, etc. 4) I REALLY despise when people ask how many lbs I have lost....if I tell them an actual number, I can see the mental calculations taking place. I've had a coworker comment that I was lying about the amount. If I tell people "some amount", they keep pressing. I admit, I've become a bit bitter and have inelegantly snapped back, "You never told me - are you a nazi or a communist these days? Because that's about how offensive your question was to me". 5)It has reduced my already miniscule social life - I never get invited out now, because "we know you can't drink, and it wouldn't be fun for you"....BS. 6) I sag everywhere....like a candle left out in the summer sun. I knew that there would be some loose skin, but I wasn't prepared for this. And last... 7)I hate the running commentary from those who know about my surgery, and feel the need to contribute their opinion as to the morality of an operation that has already taken place. "It goes against God's design!".....well, guess what, buster! Surgery already happened. So unless you have a time machine, feel free to put a sock in it. Or two. /endrant That being said, I would never have reached this weight alone. And for that, I am greatful.

Would you rather have Lovenox injections for a few days, or be on Coumadin daily for the rest of your life?? I developed a 70% occlusive portal vein thrombosis 10 days after surgery. I will now be on anticoagulant therapy....forever. And because of that medication, I cannot do many things I want: roller derby, football, snow skiing (I'm not joking, these were on my pre-surgery "want to" list, and now I can't). If I lean up again my bathroom sink while brushing my teeth, I bruise. Take the darn Lovenox! Deal with is for 14 days! Get on with life! You can do it!

I STILL have not managed to find a protein shake that my sleeve will tolerate at any hour of the day. HOWEVER....I have discovered that an Oh Yeah! protein wafer will go down nicely in the morning....sometimes two. Just keep hunting around for things that will work when your sleeve is tight/rebellious. It's a common phenomenon. I have been known to eat some refried beans when my stomach goes on total strike - they're my one "I can eat under any circumstances" food.

This is PRECISELY my go-to meal when I'm stuck out in town at work, etc. Kid's meal with grilled chicken bites, fresh fruit for the side, small sugar-free lemonade. Huzzah!

Oh thank goodness...I thought it was just me! I have lost off of almost everywhere, except my stupid abdomen! It's crazy - my legs are slender, my arms are slender, but I'm huge all through the torso still...I look like a potato with toothpicks for limbs. I still have another 50lbs to lose yet, so this abdominal stuff needs to hit the road

Yah! I just discovered these this week...finally, I can eat yogurt without getting "the runs" afterwards! Huzzah! Now, if only it came in lemon and lime...

Oh dear goodness, yes! My libido is on steroids since after the first 40lbs I lost....I'm sure it doesn't help that my husband and I are still waiting for immigration to process, so he had to go back home to Canada after my surgery....I feel like I almost need some salt peter >.< It's distracting.

Just wanted to pitch in my two cents for bars... If you have QT stores in your area, you may want to pick up a couple of Oh Yeah! bars to try. The usually run approx 180 cals (for the "Good Grab" size), 10g or less of usable carbs, and 15-18g of Protein. Aftertaste is minimal and the taste is good too Oh Yeah! also makes yummy protein wafers (think along the lines of a Kit Kat in texture)...sure kills my craving for crunchy sweet goodies! I especially love keeping them in the freezer and sneaking a couple bites when I can. Someone earlier mentioned the Power Crunch bars, which are delicious as well. The Kroger family of grocery stores (Kroger, Frys, etc) carries them, and puts them on special every few weeks if you keep an eye out. I have not been lucky enough to have one of those cooperative sleeves that permit me to eat "real food" while at work. As a nurse, I barely have time to pee, let alone eat. Protein Bars have been a godsend! I finally gave up trying to find a Protein shake that would work with my tastebuds....I'm on Coumadin for a portal vein clot, and the smell just kills me.

I do that often with our favorite chinese buffet - I can get yakitori and some hibachi meat and veggies for $3 per lb, which is not too shabby...and then eat out of my take-out box for 4 or 5 meals, lol.