Getting There

I'm 6 weeks post-surgery and am VERY happy with my experience. One of my best friends is now considering having the surgery as well. She has asked me what questions I asked during my initial consultations in order to choose my surgeon. I have my list, but I'm sure I didn't (and still can't) think of all of the most relevant questions. So, what questions did you ask or do you wish you had asked during your consultations that I might add to my list for my friend? Thanks for your input!

Check out Amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com - they have some excellent WLS cookbooks. Make sure to read the reviews - some looked good until I read the reviews.........

I'm 6 weeks out too. I have had some occassional minor diarrhea but nothing too bad or prolonged. I took Amodium AD and was fine. If you're still experiencing trouble, make sure you're getting plenty of fluids for hydration - and if it were me, having taken something as strong as Lomotil, I'd call the doc's office in the morning. Hope you feel better soon!

And mine says no drinking at least 15 minutes before, no fluids during, and nothing for 30 minutes after. I think that no matter what your surgeon says to do, there will be 100's out there that don't agree. Crazy!

10 minutes between bites does seem excessive. We're told to take small bites, put utencil down bewteen bites, chew VERY well. I'd go nuts waiting 10 minutes between bites......

Not losing enough. Saggy skin. Failure.

I got samples of both Calnet Chewy's (lemon & chocolate) and Bariatric Advantage Chewable (caramel & chocolate). Like them both. Haven't done a price comparison, but 1 Calcet is 500 mg and 1 Bariatric Advantage is only 250 mg so you'll have to take twice as many of the Bariatric Advantage. My surgeon recommends 1,500 mg calcium daily. I started tracking the calcium from the food and my multi-Vitamin. Most days I only take 1,000 supplemental calcium. To convert RDA % of calcium, remove the % and add a "0." 25% of RDA is equal to 250 mg. This works with calcium because the RDA based on a 2000 calorie diet is 1000 mg. It won't work the same for other nutrients.

I think Iggy said go up TO 1,000 calories, not go up BY 1,000 calories. Big difference......

You can get liquid Tylenol - it's cherry flavored. A bit nasty but maybe better than crushing the pills.

NGM - you may have read this on our Sept Sleevers post already but....... I'm 6 weeks post. The PA told me 60+ Protein, 64+ oz fluids, about 800 calories, and up to 90 carbs. I can;t get much past 600 calories and I'm around 50-60 carbs. Heck, a Protein shake is 11 carbs. A yogurt is 14 carbs. My Calcium chews are 6....... No clue how some people can stay at 20-30 carbs! I was in a stall for 4-5 days (apparently typical when going from pureed to "normal" foods), but I lost 1 pound yesterday so hopefully the stall is DONE! Like you, I've been wondering about this and have finally reached the conclusion that the best thing FOR ME is to do what I'm comfortable with, what I can live with and as long as I'm losing, it's good. I don't want to limit carbs to only 20-30/day. I enjoy yogurt and some veggies. I'm eating "good" carbs - the fruit does add some to the yogurt, but I'm tired of sugar-free syrup in everything. Mostly, I fill up on just 2 oz of protein and perhaps 1/4 C veggies right now. It does get overwhelming at times, thinking about all of this. But keep on truckin' - we will be better for it later

I didn't know that about Centrum. Going to have to do some research. Thanks for the info!

I'm taking a chewable multi (Centrum). It tastes better than the bariatric ones I've tried, is less expensive, can buy at local pharmacy - and the nutrients are about the same as the bariatric ones. calcium citrate (Citrate is recommended over other forms due to the way it is absorbed). I like Calcet & Bariatric Advantage chewables. D3 - I'm taking 2500 IU's daily in a softgel B12 - 500-1000 mg sublingual is recommended most commonly. Biotin - optional but supposed to help with hair loss/regrowth. Fish Oils - optional but recommended. I'm taking one that is strawberry flavored softgel.

Alexander Graham Bell said: “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” The door on some of your current friendships may indeed be closing, but the journey you are embarking on will certainly open many new opportunites to make new friends, friends who will support and encourage you. Suggestions: Attend the support group if your surgeon has one; if not, find one in your area. Start walking now - look for others who are overweight at the track and engage them in conversation - you already have something in common! Best of luck Dexter! It will work out

I'm going to try this with Egg Beaters. I've also found some sites that sell low carb bread - a bit expensive but may be worth it. Thanks for the idea!

Another Dr. Kim sleever here! I'm almost 6 weeks post-surgery. I'm really glad I did this. It gets easier and easier - I promise! Hardest thing for me is getting focused on the exercise part. Tomorrow is "check out some gyms day." Good luck all of you!!!!! And remember - post-surgery: SIP SIP SIP WALK WALK WALK (and then walk some more!!!). It helps so much with the discomfort from the abdominal gas. Let us know how you do

My fear is absolutely that I won't lose enough. I started the 2-week pre-surgery diet at 265. I'm 5 1/2 weeks post-surgery now. I've only lost 29.5 pounds so far. I'm 5'3 and would like to get to 130-135. Please oh please 130-135.......

Wait! You didn't go through the pre-op, the surgery, etc. to cheat now. By following the guidelines you are teaching your brain new behavior (in addition to allowing yourself a chance to heal). Try some chicken or beef broth, hot herbal tea - Hot drinks can be soothing. Best of luck!

I had surgery on 9/10. If I had an orange and wanted it, I would eat it (or at least 1/2 since I doubt I could eat a whole one )

I'm only 6 weeks post-surgery so I don't have a lot of experience, yet. I've just been eating "soft" foods for a week now. I do enjoy eating, but not in the same way. I've always been a foodie and loved eating out. Now I'm perfectly satisfied with a simple chicken salad. Had part of a shimp cocktail at one of my favorite restaurants today. 3 nice size shrimp, some cocktail sauce, 2 saltines and I was perfectly content. I enjoyed visting with a couple of friends over the meal. Probably the hardest thing was not drinking iced tea before, during or after....... If you and your family enjoy cooking, it might be helpful to order some of the WLS/Bariatric Diet cookbooks. While it will be a few weeks post-surgery before you can enjoy many of the meals, it might give you hope for some normalacy after your surgery. Best of luck! It will certainly be worth the changes!!!

I understand your points, but there are times when my surgeon's "plan" just doesn't make any sense. I'm almost 6 week post-op. I went in yesterday and the PA told me up to 90 carbs/day is OK. Well common sense tells me that seems like way too many carbs. Even if they are "good carbs." So then you start 2nd guessing. And so I called the surgeon's office today and asked for verification. I heard the conversation in the background - and I heard 3 different answers!!! That's just crazy........

I think the first 15 pounds I lost all came from my face Great job - keep up the good work!!!

It's so frustrating not really knowing what to eat, when to eat, how much to eat. 3 meals and 3 meals only? Eat something every 2-3 hours? 3 meals & 2 Snacks? Fruit is OK. Fruit is not OK. salad is OK. Salad (as in lettace) doesn't have any nutritional value it's not OK. Drink Protein drinks. No, don't drink Protein Drinks. Eat your protein. Protein Bars are good. No they aren't. Yes, they are. HUH??? 60-80 grams protein. 80+ grams protein. Only 20 carbs. Up to 90 carbs - if they are "good" carbs. 600 calories/day - 1000 calories/day (within the first few months of surgery). We get one set of guidelines from our surgeon and think "OK, sounds good. I'll do this." Then you read 100 other opinions on here. I KNOW it all boils down to some common sense, etc. but gosh, it sure would make life easier if all the surgeon's could agree on Protein, Carbs, Fluids, etc. for each week post surgery up to say 12 months post. I'll volunteer to host their meeting if they'll promise to come to a concensus! And I'm still not sure I understand why the big push for 60+ ounces of fluids daily. OK, I get the dehydration angle, but I didn't drink 60 oz/day pre-surgery and wasn't dehydraed, what makes post-surgery so different? I need the EASY button!

Offer them! Just be careful in how you word it. I went through the same dilema just a few days ago. I was careful not to say that the clothes were too big for me now. I just said that I was going through my closet and found a few things that I thought she might like and I'd like to give the clothes to her instead of donating them if she wanted them. She was thrilled! Most things fit her and she liked them. I donated what she didn't want to a woman's shelter and felt good about both experiences!

Yesterday was my 6 week post-op (well ok, 5 1/2 weeks - LOL). A bit disappointed that I haven't lost more. My starting weight was 265.4 (where I was when I started the 2 week pre-surgery liquid diet) and yesterday was 238.5. I've only lost 27 pounds I really thought I would have lost more by now - like at least 35. But hey, it's 27 pounds that I don't have to lose going forward, right? Plus I've been in a stall for the past few days (those SUCK!). And due to a cold I haven't been walking. OK, maybe 27 pounds is OK. Not great, but OK. The PA told me I should be getting in 800-1000 calories/day - WHAT??? I've been in the upper 500's/lower 600's for several days now - no clue how (or why!) I would get to 800 - forget 1000! She also said 30 carbs per meal/90 carbs per day. That just really doesn't sound right. I did go up to 730 calories yesterday to see if it will help break this stall, but I didn't really feel comfortable with what I ate (I had a protein bar that was 160 calories/15 gr Protein in the late evening - it tasted wonderful but think it's probably not the best choice for me right now - too close to a candy bar!). Do you agree that 90 carbs/day seems like too much? And the journey continues........ Happy weekend Team September!

I also use the clear, ready-to-drink protein drinks like Isopure. I've found one that I like that's a bit less expensive than Isopure. It's CytoSport Whey Isolate (they have Tropical, Watermelon and Mandarin). One bottle has 32 grams protein,1 gram carbs & 130 calories. I think both this and Isopure have very strong flavors so I pour 1/2 of the drink into an empty bottle and fill both bottles with water & ice cubes. I sip on these at my desk throughout the day. This gives me a great amount of protein and 1/2 of my liquid intake for the day!