ChristinaRose

It took a full 3 weeks for my approval with UMR. They are slow but I was approved on the first try.

It is normal to some, not others. I don't want to over step my bounds or anything but with wls, you may need a meds adjustment. Have you had any bi-polar tests done? That could put you on different meds as well. I hope it works out

Thanks for the feedback! No worries, you did't overstep anything, I appreciate the suggestion for sure! I have been tested but I'm not bipolar. I will definitely mention something about adjusting meds if I'm finding this to be a reoccurring type deal. Come to find out, I had miscalculated my cycle and I started like the day after I posted this haha SO PMS was probably just magnified because I am feeling pretty great now.

Hope you're having a good week!

Thankfully no, that's not applicable to me (nausea with chewable bariatric vitamins). I've tossed the proverbial Cookies twice - both I believe from eating too fast. Bad habits die hard I like the citrate chewables for Calcium (about $10 at walmart) and spectravite chewables from cvs (i don't remember the cost, sorry) for my Multivitamin.< /p>

Hang in there mama! U r rocking - 48 lbs. gone... awesome! hugs

Thank you so much!! I will have to try those out and maybe see which ones work best! Feeling a good bit better this week! Come to find out, I definitely started, my monthly soon after I posted this haha. Explains everything

Ok so maybe that was a bit dramatic BUT at this point, I feel like the devil has a Magic Bullet and 102 canisters of Unjury with my name on it. It seems so many people on the forums have a favorite shake that they love & promote but to others it tastes like barf in a glass. (sorry for the visual) haha Here's the thing...Now that I'm off of the liquid phase of the postop diet and onto pureed foods...I can't do Protein Shakes. Every single flavor, additive, texture, blender, and sneaky attempt to hide the flavor has backfired and I've dry heaved. I'm all about sucking it up and doing what needs to be done to get the job done, but I 100% can't tolerate them. I don't want to spend my days sipping and dry heaving for the rest of my life. With all of that said, any vets or people that are a few months along who don't drink Protein supplements/shakes and are able to get in a decent amount of protein through food?

Thank you all for the encouraging comments and helpful tips...I absolutely think it's a combo of things (especially hormonal junk!). THank you ladies for lifting my spirits and giving me hope to keep going.

Another quick question, have you all experienced any nausea with chewable bariatric Vitamins. I tried to take mine and ran to vomit about 10 min later. (i haven't thrown up at all this whole experience, but I have been nauseated here and there).

Hi all,

So I just kinda needed to vent. I've struggled with depression/anxiety for as long as I can remember (I'm on Pristiq). I KNOW when I am experiencing the "usual" depressed or anxious moments. This is different, much different. I am going from being elated over this whole experience to confused and hopeless. The awesome moments are more often than the lows, but I must say, the lows come out of nowhere sometime. Earlier I was on Cloud 9 and then within 30 minutes I was confused, crying, and frustrated. This is really out of character of me to "flip a switch" like this. I know my body is still probably in "shock mode" but it's still disheartening I guess. There will be better days and there will be bad days, but these mood swings are intense. Any thoughts as to if this is normal or if I'm doing something wrong? I sure am trying my dangdest (if that's a word lol).

I would probably keep a close eye on it. Dehydration usually gives people headaches as well. Have you been maintaining/tolerating fluids? (Don't let dehydrating go long without treatment if this is the case, it's not a big ordeal to go to the ER and get some IV fluids. Don't freak yourself out but be cautious as well). Most doctors say that fluids should be between 64-100 oz. per day. Hope you get to feeling better!

Hey! SO good to see so many SC people! I'm from Charleston and had my sleeve done a little over 2 weeks ago. Feeling awesome and if there is anything I can help any of you with (even though I'm only a few weeks out), please let me know!! Nice to meet everyone!

Angela..

Girl...I have been there. Last year at this time I weighed 360 pounds! I began my weight-loss journey on Aug. 3, 2011...and my surgery was Nov. 23, 2011. Since that time I have lost 150 lbs! Yes...150 pounds! I went from a size 28 or 4X...today I wear a medium shirt and a size 14 jeans!

I thought the same way you do... but the reality is YOU can do it! I did it..I weigh 207 pounds... and I love every pound...every wrinkle and every day that I have had this sleeve! I call her Bertha... and "she" and I have really went through a lot together...and we love each other! LOL

I am 6 months post-op... and can eat anything I want...and have NEVER been sick (dumped)...not even once. If you follow the rules.. you will do great!

You can find me on Facebook... Barbara Bush-Thompson...you can see lots of before and current pics!

God Bless...

Barbara, that is TOO funny calling your sleeve Bertha. I love that!! Congrats on amazing success!! You are an inspiration for sure!

Thank you for the encouragment. I weigh 326 today. No encouagment from my husband who thinks its a waste of time. He is 6'7 abt 275 so he justdoes not understand. I thought about starting the liquid diet early with replacing two meals until i start the pre diet. At least I would be doing something other than waiting.

Angela,

I think that's a great idea, but I also think that you are already taking steps in changing your life. This is a hard, intense, but beautifully fruitful journey you are embarking on. You have more courage than you know for taking these first steps. You are not alone, you have support here from people who know what each emotion feels like that you are experiencing. I'm rather new at this, only have been sleeved around 2 weeks (preop diet prior too). But if you have any questions or just need an ear, feel free to shoot me a message! God Bless and I pray that you continue to press forward into this awesome opportunity in front of ya.

Best wishes to all of you on your pre-op! I was there only a few short weeks ago and can totally relate. It's not the easiest but it definitely prepares you for post op and makes your surgery go as smooth as possible. Take care and enjoy even the hardest of moments, they end up being the most memorable/meaningful!

Congrats to you and Happy Happy Anniversary! You look fantastic now and your wedding pic is beautiful too!! Enjoy the moment, I am so excited to do before and afters as well!

It's pretty cool, Sonic sells it for pretty cheap I believe. I think my husband said he got it for like $1.50 or something close to it (it's a big bag too!)

Oops sorry! I saw it was on May 17th! Wow so close!! May 17 is my birthday lol. Hope all goes wonderfull!

thanks for all the tips, I will def have to get a bag of sonic ice!!!!!!!!!! you are doing great on your weight loss that is amazing 40 some odd lbs in 2 weeks amazing!!!!!!

Sonic ice is the best!! I didn't lose it in 2 weeks, sorry for the confusion. That would be magical though lol. I lost 30 preop and 13 since surgery (2 weeks exactly from today). Best of luck to you, when is your surgery date?

WOOHOO!!! What an awesome feeling! Congrats on 36 lbs down and more importantly, feeling great .

I am sure it is so surreal at this point and you have been kind of hurled into reality. Unfortunately some doctors forget that each patient that steps foot through their doors is a new life that's ready to be changed. You have made a fantastically huge step into changing your life for the better. Shell shock is normal...you were just presented with an option to choose life/health or continue down an unhealthy path. You are STILL alive and can still make the choice to LIVE. Don't write your death certificate or allow anyone else to, it's good to be aware but YOU make the choice and have already taken the first step. If you have any questions or need to talk, feel free to shoot me a message! I'm no seasoned vet by any means (2 weeks post op) but I'm living the life of a sleever and can relate with where you are for sure. Take care and enjoy this moment!

That is SO what I was thinking 1 hour ago after I had to remind myself lol. I have been sipping from hour 1 of waking until now and it's not adding up. Follow up appointment is on Wednesday, I will ask the doc and try to remember to post back here!

Congrats on the upcoming sleeve!! Sorry to hear about stomach issues, hopefully they will be able to clear everything up for ya asap! Definitely follow the guidelines that your doc gives you but some things that were a staple to me during the liquid phase were:

• Water (with Crystal Light, Mio drops, any sugar free flavoring)(Stay hydrated at all times, don't gulp, sip on liquids)
  
• Protein Shakes (if on your docs recommendations) (everyone on these boards have different tastes so what may taste good to some, tastes pretty nasty to others)
  
• Thin Broths (I eventually moved to creamier Soups that were strained and blended-- soups with NO rice/noodles) (you can add unflavored whey Protein to these to bump up the protein intake)
  
• Sugar Free popsicles, Jello, pudding. (No added fruit chunks)
  
• Crushed Ice helped me during any nausea. It's weird but I still start my day with some crushed ice. (We actually buy a bag from Sonic because their ice is THE best! I know, it's lame to have a favorite ice lol)
  
• Milk (with Sugar Free Chocolate syrup). You could also do soy milk or almond milk to suit your tastes. (some people find they are lactose intolerant after surgery for some reason; it actually reversed for me and I could finally tolerate milk. VERY odd but it is what it is lol)
  

Your tastes and preferences may or may not change after surgery but take it slow with each new thing you try. Sip slowly & walk if possible. Nothing strenuous, just get your legs moving a bit. Best of luck to ya and if you need any more help, feel free to shoot me a message!

Keep up the awesome work!! You look wonderful!! It's so cool to see how quickly the body changes and adapts to a new lifestyle. And with caring for 6 children on top of a new lifestyle, I must say, you are ROCKING that sleeve!! Congrats!!

Sorry to hear about the egg pain! I've heard the same thing regarding eggs! SO weird because so many docs list it as a good food to try during pureed/soft phases. Curious if the same thing happens to people when they eat egg salad or eggs in tuna salad? Good luck with eggs next time though

In the beginning it's normal to feel alien like. I say that because I'm still in the beginning and feel alien like. It's odd to not be constantly crunching and chewing that's for dang sure. The surgery definitely pushes you to find satisfaction elsewhere than the refrigerator. It also pushes your focus on to more important things than food for once. It's been pretty cool to see things I've been missing out on because all I could really think about was my next meal. It's been a difficult 2 weeks facing obstacles I was never forced to face before, but I'm thankful that I'm finally able to see reality through new sleeved eyes haha. Zero regrets; I couldn't regret something that's aiding me in living a longer healthier life.

That is AWESOME!!! Such a great feeling to not be hiding behind anyone in pictures. I usually try to find the best camera angles and flattering poses...sometimes it works out, sometimes not so much lol. Sometimes ya just gotta laugh at the awkward picture moments and enjoy it, they end up being the most memorable.

My plan is to start doing it once a week. I had been doing it daily but I decided against it for the future because I don't wanna get stuck in any kind of "obsessive mode".

Hi, Marimar & D! The link to the recipe is http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2007/08/pureed-foods.html.

Just scroll down a bit and you'll see "Shelly's Ricotta Bake". It's a popular one around the forums. I used part-skim ricotta cheese instead, but do what you feel most comfortable with! How are you guys doing? I hope y'all are having a great weekend thus far!