Momonanomo

You made me LOL!

You made me LOL!

There is a wide range of experiences, so it's hard to say. For me personally, I stayed one night only in the hospital but definitely needed someone to drive me home of course. I mostly slept for days and it was nice to have my family there to wake me up periodically and make sure I was staying hydrated and walking a bit every so often. Also it gave me peace of mind to know someone was there when i went to shower the first couple of days. But I mostly slept, so if no one had been there I would have been fine too I think. I never needed help walking around.

BUT -- like I said everyone is different. If Kaiser makes you stay several days in hospital, you may be just fine once you are released to be on your own. If at all possible, ask your mom if she can be on "stand by" to come stay in case you feel like you need her to. It's like a lot of things with this journey : You simply won't know until you are there.

Best of luck to you!

Here's what I wonder about. There are people on this earth who are naturally thin, naturally eat like birds, always have & always will. Do they get harassed for what is on their plate or how much they eat of it? I find myself wondering that when I feel self conscious about my intake in public.

I try to imagine that *I* am one of those naturally thin people with a small appetite, and I adopt that attitude so that if anyone messes with me I can deal with it in a way that conveys the proper amount of nonchalance -- the amount of nonchalance I imagine someone who has always been thin would have. LOL this I am sure will be more convincing once I am actually thin. But for now...I try to "create my own reality" and project the energy that say "Why yes, this IS what I am eating and what I want to eat, I find it odd that you concern yourself with it!

And yes, the ONLY person (a coworker) who has EVER harassed me has been one of the handful of people who knows about the surgery. People who don't know just don't even notice what's on my plate. That's a big reason why I never told a bunch of people. WLS is not what defines me!

But I must also say that once I was "accepted" into their bariatric program I was welcome to lose if I was able to presurgery. You should probably check with your surgepn for his requirements and guidelines.

My insurance, as well as my surgeon, had a requirement of at least a 40 or at least a 35 with comorbidities.

Don't forget hormones that have been flooding your brain for years are gone. I believe the post op is difficult because of that. Our bodies are going through a ton. This in addition to the physical and emotional....it's tough!

To add to the hormone thing -- you're only a little over a week out from a major surgery. Your body is recovering and your hormones are out of whack because of it. Think of it as PMS on overdrive. Be kind to yourself, and know that this will pass. Many, MANY of new sleevers experience the "buyer's remorse" phase. Just ride it out -- you WILL feel better!

Like Red said above, i started way early weening off of caffeine so I could avoid the headaches of going cold turkey. I ordered some Protein powders and got some small shot glass sized measuring cups. Got my gas x strips too. Other than that, i spent a LOT of time on VST reading as much as possible. So, even though everyone has a different experience, I knew the possibilities, and nothing that has happened has been too much of a surprise goodluck!

I recently started laser treatments & i wish i had done it years ago! I have had problems with ingrowns, even when i got professional waxing. Never again! It does seem expensive, but if you calculate the cost of razors or waxing over a lifetime, it is actually cheaper. No more fussing with it, and no more ingrowns!!!

I've had mirena for almost 5 years now and I intend to replace it this winter. I never felt it was a factor in my weight at all. The depo shots I used to get years ago DID cause weight gain though!

I'm 4 1/2 months out, and no Hair loss (yet, knock on wood). I was able to get my calories up to average of 900 per day pretty early on with good clean food. I have half an avocado in a green smoothie every day (my smoothies also have green leafy veggies and fruit). I take Biotin daily, and early on i was able to meet my Fluid and Protein goals. I have a lot of hair so if i lose some it is all good.

But i am hoping that i will be like sanks51!

Check out people who make ANY comment on ANYthing I buy are a huge annoyance to me. I just find it so UNcalled for. I understand they want to make small talk or be personal and voila what I'm buying is a perfect conversation starter. But come ON. I didn't bring my stuff to your register for you to review and make commentary on.Please talk about the weather or something.

My husband and I have joked about what weird combinations of items could we come up with to take to the register and see what the cashier has to say about it. Shower cap, bleach, and tongs? Cucumber, vaseline, and lysol? Condoms, cat litter, and hair dye? LOL I'm sure we could really mess with their heads!

And the thinner hair wont be forever. It will come back. Then you will have great hair again as well as your health!

Okay so I am 9 days out from surgery and I've gone from Clear liquids a couple of days ago to full liquids last Tuesday and today I decided to try some fat free cottage cheese. It's delicious and just what I needed mentally and I chewed it up to a very liquid consistancy and it went down just fine and it's hanging out in there just fine.

Should I stop? Do I need to do some pennants to the weight loss surgery Gods? Is 9 days too early for cottage cheese?

nope, I couldn't bring myself to advance my food progression sooner than I was supposed to because of the thought that 85% of my stomach was removed and there was a cut & staple line several inches long down the side of a major organ. It was never about "cheating" on any old diet like I had done in the past. This was major surgery, my surgeon had set up specific rules, and he's smarter than me. I also figured that even though I might be able to "handle it", my stomach was likely still numb early on and any stress put on it could cause damage without me knowing it.

Are you always, always eating dense Protein first?

However hungry I become, if I eat the dense protein first, the small meal gives me a full feeling.

Do you have a NUT you can consult with? I understand how it doesn't feel right -- because it is a vastly new way of eating -- soooo different from how we all ate BEFORE surgery. Your stomach is healing so sticking with liquid is the norm. Most people do find it a challenge to meet their Protein and liquid goals right away. And, everyone's doctor seems to have a different plan as far as food progression goes. I had to do Clear Liquids the first 3 days if I remember right, then "full" liquids (protein shakes) for like the next 10 days. So it was a while before I could have cottage cheese. Oh you better beleive I was day dreaming about cottage cheese by day 6 of the full liquids!

ANYways, you should be following your surgeon and NUT's plan to a T at this point. So if it doesn't feel right, definitely check in with them! Good luck!

yep you've got to add some fruit to kinda disguise the leafy greens. The nutriblast literature says the basic formula is:

1/2 fruit

1/2 veggie

(this includes either 1/2 small avocado or banana)

and then a sprinkling of a 'booster' like goji berries or healthy nuts.

and some Water

I also then add a packet of Syntrax nectar to add Protein and give it extra sweetness. Otherwise ti would likely require splenda.

One of my fave recipes is to use a cored, unpeeled red apple, 1/2 small avo, 1 c kale or baby spinach, vanilla Protein Powder, 1/2 oz almonds, and a sprinkling of cinnamon.

Another fave is frozen cherries, 1/2 small avo, 1 c kale or baby spinach, chocolate Protein Powder, 1/2 oz almonds. Voila! blackforest cake!

Or frozen peaches, 1/2 small avo, 1 c kale or baby spinach, the Syntrax fuzzy navel powder, 1/2 oz dried goji berries.

I have these green shakes 5 days a week. Love em and I feel like they've done me a lot of good! I really haven't had any hair loss (yet -- knock on wood) and I attribute it to getting my calories & nutrition up early on with these shakes, and also the avocado.

Yum yum YUM!!!!

I know the liquid diet gets old, but you have to think of it not as if it's just another diet --- this liquid diet is because you had your tummy cut and it needs to heal. Do not be tempted to advance your diet too fast, because it is dangerous and could result in complications. You can do this. Time will pass and you'll get through it!

I work in accounting, so I am a real nerd about keeping exact numbers and averages etc. At 16 weeks post surgery, I am down 67 lbs but that includes the 2 week pre-op diet. So 57 lbs since surgery. Big losses initially, then a pattern that follows my TOM. I'm averaging minus 1.36% per week.

HOWEVER! i completely agree with Arts that you will lose exactly the amount that is right for YOU when your follow you plan. It is fun to think about where you could be in the future though Rest assured that it WILL be at a smaller size than you are at now. And I agree with Pretty as well --- you WILL look and feel fabulous!

Gas x strips are good to have on hand, and some lip balm.

Other than that, plan to sip, walk, sip, rest, and repeat! Over and over!

Also, don't over do it if you're feeling fine. You will get tired easily. Give your body some good TLC healing time.

Good luck!

I was sick and tired of being sick and tired!

I ave more energy and my balance has gotten better. Also I am thrilled that I can easily cross my legs again!

I love those things, and I am the same way -- it's a once-in-a-while treat for me!! very satisfying!

Sending positive thoughts your way! I wish you a fast & easy recovery :)good luck!

Oh yeah! Another favorite recipe is to use a leafy green & the 1/2 avo plus a cored apple with vanilla Protein and a dash of cinammon! usually put some lemon juice in to keep it from browning. It is SO yummy!