RedCardinal

3 meals a day, no snacking is what my doctor recommends as well. Right now, I'm only 3 weeks out, and I can't eat enough at meals to get enough proteing/calories in. I've been told to supplement with protein shakes until I can eat 3-4oz of protein at a time. I expect in a few more weeks, I'll be able to get in the nutrients I need, and cut down on the supplements.

3+ weeks out and still unable to put my socks on easily, never mind tying my shoes. For me it's the spot of the largest incision.

I don't know if it's stretching so much as healing. My understanding is that things are pretty swollen, as we heal up, we can eat more. I'm not worried about this though, as I'm still only able to eat about 2oz at a sitting.

I was sleeved the same day, and I've moved on to mushy foods. The plan prefers eating protein to drinking it. Right now I get about 2oz in at each meal. Scrambled eggs, meat ground up (chicken) with gravy or meatballs. I drink a protein supplement 45 minutes later or I have a SF jello made with unflavored protein powder. So far seems to be working pretty well.

I had my surgery at Emerson Hospital on Feb 4. It went really well, but I'm sick of not quite being up to snuff. I still have trouble putting my socks on.

I think part of the problem is that we are more than a weight on a scale. I want people to notice me, not my weight. I've tolo my family that the best way to be supportive is to not treat this like a big deal, it's just something I'm doing to be more healthy. I actually find it annoying that personal questions about ones weight are considered acceptable.

I just bought a 1.5 quart crock pot for making chili and other dishes. It's small enough that there won't be tons of leftovers.

Driving depends on comfort. It was a solid week before I coold drive any distance. I also found sitting to be the hardest because it uses the abdominals. I would take it easy and not push it.

As an alternative, I love the Edys no sugar added popsicles,

I hear you. My current gripe is people who tell me how glad they are that I'm doing this. I want to reply "you're not the one undergoing permanent mutilation, so that's easy for you to say" That said, you're doing this for your children, so you'll be there for their weddings and children.

Iwent with the sleeve because it's most like lormal operation. Success is still dependent on eating habits for any surgery. I worked with a nut for a few years, 1. to try one last time w/o the surgery, and 2. to make sure Iewas ready for the changes in eating habits. Because of this ri'm confident I will be very successful with my sleeve. 2 more days 'til real food..

I've made my own jerky, it's a lot more tender than the store bought. Youalso have more control over the sodium.

sf jello made with unjury unflavored protein powder. It's also good mixed with crystal light fruit juice. A nice change from milk based products.

It doesn't have reminders, but I use trakr for the iphone. It's an easy way to set a goal and increase a counter as you consumer protein and water.

I'm only one week post op, and the unflavored

I used sick leave. For the most part I just tell coworkers I'm out on medical, and that usually does it.

So, surgery is scheduled for Monday. I got a pedicure so that I have something pretty to look at when I'm trying to get out of bed. I just got my hair colored to hide the gray because anesthesia can affect that process. And tomorrow I have a facial, just for pampering. It seems like alot of fuss for what promises to be a miserable experience.

I have surgery on Monday, so I've been doing the shakes. I've tried premier Protein and pure protein. The Pure protein are ok. I wouldn't go so far as to say good, but very drinkable. The Premier Protein ones were vile. I like the chocolate splendor from unjury the best. You can order a sample pack from them to try the different flavors. A couple of tricks. Get the drinks as cold as possible. That masks the aftertaste. A tsp of instant coffee granules to the chocolate splendor is the bomb. Again just a little something extra to mask an oddness. You can add crystal light to the vanilla for a change of pace. Good luck.

I'm getting a sleeve, and my cousin is getting a lap band. I went with the sleeve because it has the fewest restrictions on what food you can eat. I also didn't like the idea of having a foreign object in me for life. I've been working with a NUT for a while, and am very confident in my eating habits so that I just need the help to lose all this weight I'm carrying around. My cousin wants the band because she wants the extra restrictions to help enforce the diet. She's afraid that the sleeve will let her slip back into all her bad habits. Good Luck. Ann

I just finished week one of my pre-op diet. I allow myself two weigh-ins per week. It's been really hard to stick with, but I know it's the right approach.

I would give it another try. Check out the Swift LT mask, it's a very lightweight non-confining mask. The sleep studies are generally awful. The experience can be much different in your own home. I had such severe sleep apnea that I loved the CPAP. I was sleeping so soundly with it, that it was about a week before I even noticed the mask was a uncomfortable. I went through quite a few different mask types until I found one that was most comfortable. This was 15 years ago. At the time, everything was targeted to middle-aged white men, so my head was much smaller that most. The therapist will fit you with the mask. Do some research before they come, and let them know what you want to try. Too often, people just take what they are given without realizing all the options available. What pressure setting did they say you needed? The ramp feature is useful that others mentioned. Also, make sure you have a BPAP (not a CPAP). With a BPAP the pressure is reduced when you exhale to make the experience more comfortable. CPAP.com has some good information on the different masks that are available. Good luck.

Start by going to the information sessions offered by the various centers around you (go to more than one to see the difference). They will tell you the different options, and also give you and idea of how that particular center approaches the surgery and after care. You want a program that has good follow on nutritional support. My cousin is pursuing the lap-band through Sun Coast bariatrics in you area, and she has very positive things to say. They have a program to satisfy the 6-month requirement and a good reputation. Also, the sleeve is a newer surgery. IMO you want to find a surgeon who has done the procedure a lot.

The sleeve puts fewer restrictions on you regarding what you can eat. This is good (we can eat what we want) and bad (we can eat what we want). Some people like the enforced restrictions caused by the bypass, as they don't trust themselves to eat right, and need the extra aversion theory.

I've been using a CPAP for about 15 years, and I couldn't sleep without it. I thought I'd use this question to say a few things. For the sleep study, they connect sensors to your legs, head, and various other places, and then tell you to have a good nights sleep. LOL. Fortunately, you don't have to sleep long for them to get enough data for results. Once they measure the apneas, they may fit you with a CPAP to calibrate it for you. Once they did that for me, I fell into a deep sleep immediately. I was very sleep deprived. This was done a long time ago, so I don't know if the procedures have changed, or how they vary from place to place. About the CPAP. I know people have a lot of trouble with the mask, they feel claustrophobic, etc. The right mask is critical. There are many different styles, and it's worth it to find one that's right for you. The therapist will give you the one they like. What do they know? They're not using it. I personally use the SWIFT LT with nasal pillows. It's very lightweight and non-confining. cpap.com has many different masks that you can research. Finally, My sleep apnea was debilitating. I fell asleep in meetings and suffered migraines. That has all cleared up. Good Luck.