katikati

Thanks for the tip, Mark. I'll try to massage the area, though I'm not sure if I'll have the guts. That stuff burns for a while after it's injected. Unfortunately, my injections come in pre-filled syringes, so I don't have a choice. The needle is very fine, though. I rarely feel the needle itself, just the burning from the medication.

Okay, thanks. It just alarmed me because none of the other Arixtra injections have done this. Also, no ibuprofen for me. I thought NSAIDS were a no-no for all WLS post-ops?

That looks divine! I definitely want to give that a try when I get to the stage where I can. I liked a lot of recipes she had, actually. Thanks for the link!

The thing that keeps me encouraged about the pureed stage as I approach it, is that my nutritionist said that meats like tuna and chicken in pouches don't have to go through a blender or anything. They're already pretty mushy, so just make sure to break up the bigger chunks with a fork and chew them well. I think about tuna every. single. day. It will be the first thing I eat, for sure. I just started full liquids yesterday, so it's still two weeks away for me. When you guys talk about eating soups on your pureed stage, did you blend up the soup? Like, for beef stew, did you just make sure to take small bites and chew them really well, or process it? What about chili? Also, did your stomachs tolerate chili okay? It's not too acidic that early?

Hey, bonita19. I was sleeved on the 6th and was cleared for full liquids yesterday. I too was so over the clear liquid stage. It definitely served its purpose, but I was just reaching the end and starting to feel so weak and shaky much of the time. I did feel some times of hunger. It was nothing like the way I used to experience, but it was there. I also got my drain out yesterday morning. I was definitely over that after nearly two weeks too. I didn't have any staples, just one stitch that held it in place. The surgeon clipped that and pulled out the drain. I felt absolutely nothing. No pain, no weird feeling as it came out. no pressure. I wouldn't have even known it was happening if I hadn't seen him doing it. Life is about to get even better! I'm not feeling totally back to normal yet, I'm still tired a lot, but I'm definitely happy to drink something I can enjoy now and to not have that drain in the way all the time.

Oh, no! D: I hope everything turns out okay and you feel better soon.

Today was my first post-op appointment with my surgeon. My day kicked off to a great start to find that I had lost four pounds since my weighing yesterday morning. I've been losing anywhere from one to three pounds every day, so that one about knocked me over. That being said, there's a reason I'm losing so much weight. I'm drinking mostly Water and managing an Isopure about every other day. I'm really starting to feel my body beg for something more. Not as in cravings, but as in just pure sustenance. Two weeks is long enough. My follow-up went great. As much as I was beyond ready to have this drain removed, I was still dreading the actual removal. I literally felt nothing. No pain, not even the weird feeling some people talk about. I wouldn't have even known he was pulling a foot and a half of tubing out of my belly had I not seen his hands doing it out of the corner of my eye. I felt so silly for asking my Mom to hold my hand for that. xD He cleared me to move to Phase 2, which is full liquids, and to start my Vitamins. I had decided I wanted to try Premier Protein, as I've heard so many people say they like it. Part of me could not wait to start drinking something else, as I could barely stomach the Isopure for another day, but I was also afraid that I wouldn't like it and would have trouble finding one I did. Now, please understand me, I know how to make myself just drink something anyway when I don't like it, but my new sleeve has done a number on me. If it makes me feel icky one time, then it's like my body starts rejecting it before I even try to drink it again. The nausea starts at the mere thought of drinking it. My sleeve really is picky. I think I'm going to have to find a prissy name for it, like Lola, or something. Only the best for her, apparently. Anyway, I digress. I just finally opened up the chocolate Premier and... *angels singing* I love it. It's the first flavored thing I've tasted since surgery that I didn't have to just tolerate. I'm actually enjoying it. It tastes almost identical to Ensure, which I've always liked, oddly enough. I'm so grateful in this moment. I can totally do two weeks of this. I drove for the first time today since my surgery, and even though I've lost 32 pounds, I am just not feeling it in my clothes yet. I wasn't really expecting to feel any different behind the wheel, but lo and behold, I could totally see and feel the difference. My stomach still touches the bottom of the wheel, but just barely. It's not pressed against it and with the wheel rubbing against it while I drive. I guess that's my first NSV!

12 pounds at birth! Your mother has my respect. Welcome to the forums, Brian. I'm newish myself. I had my surgery on February 6th, and am also impressed and very pleased with the results so far. Having surgery is such a drastic step, but rewarding too. You are doing an incredible job on the liquid intake. I can only aspire to do so well. You've made me decide to try even harder to get all of my Water in. Please keep posting!

You look incredible! Thanks so much for sharing, nikki82! You really do look 20 years younger. Way to go!

(Warning: If you're a pre-op, you probably don't need to read this. I'm pretty sure it's all an effect of dehydration and hormones and won't be the most encouraging thing to take in right now. With that said, if you do read this, please know, I'd still get this surgery again in a heartbeat. It's actually been much easier than I could have ever hoped.) I don't even feel like I have the mental capacity to make this a complete paragraph. This will be a lamentation in list form. 1) I'm hungry and I'm tired of liquids, popsicles, and jell-o. I'm still on my clear liquid phase until my post-op follow-up on Monday. 2) I'm so freaking emotional. I know why I'm emotional, the sudden weight loss, hormones released, etc. Knowing why doesn't make it feel better or make me more rational in this moment, though. 3) Having actual hunger pains now is really bothering me a bit, and giving me these little moments of panic. I literally have not eaten in two weeks. Yes, I've had Protein drinks here and there, but not every day, and I'm still fighting to get all my liquids in every day right now, so Water is taking precedence. Yes, I know I'm not going to die of starvation. I have plenty of stores built up, but again, rational thoughts blah blah blah yada yada yada... no comprende. 4) Today was the first day I had that thought again of "What have I done?" I had it a day or two post-op and it passed. I'm not sitting here thinking it right now, but it did drift back through today. 5) I had this dream last night that refuses to stop floating through my mind and is absolutely torturing me. I dreamed that I made a plain turkey burger and folded a piece of the most amazing bread I have ever seen around it. The turkey burger was really juicy for some reason and soaked into the bread and was the most incredible, ecstasy-inducing thing I have ever placed in my mouth. No seasonings, no condoments. Just a heaven sandwich. 6) I am effing over this stupid drain in my stomach. I've had double the drainage since day before yesterday and I'm afraid the surgeon will say I need to keep it when I see him on Monday. If he says that, I'm afraid I'm going to say he's going to need to keep my fist in his face as well. (Okay, I'd never say that. I love my surgeon. He's the best.) 7) I texted my best friend yesterday. She's been a wonderful support in this, and is also an RN, so has been there to help with some advice a couple of times post-op. I told her that I was really missing chocolate on Valentine's Day. (I swear I haven't spent the whole time thinking of food. I've been remarkably okay without it. The turkey burger dream and the chocolate have been the only two occurrences.) She said, "One square won't hurt you. Couldn't you just let one square melt on your tongue?" That's when I suddenly remembered that I really do have to be so careful who I talk to about food. I'm still on Clear Liquids because I had the majority of my stomach removed. I'm not going to jump from that to a square of chocolate. Also, if I were able to be satisfied with one square of chocolate, I wouldn't have needed this surgery. Also, just... wtf crazy lady? What an incredibly inapropriate suggestion. I know that all of this is 100% because of hormones, and I can tell I'm also dehydrated today. I'm way behind on my liquid intake for the day. I was just assaulted with this extreme lethargy from the moment I awoke and every sip just feels like so much work, and I'm really fighting this part of me today that says I don't care. Just... eff it. (Only less politely.) For some reason, every sip I take is making me feel immediately full. I haven't had any full feelings prior to today. I'm really sleepy right now and all I want to do is just go to sleep, but I know I've got to get some more Fluid in, because I really can tell I'm on the edge with a slight headache and a little dizzy. Plus, I spent a good amount of time sobbing today, and I think I may have cried out everything I took in. Okay, please don't jump on me. I know I was never told this would be easy, and that I have to work this for myself. I'm normally very docile and compliant. I just really needed to set politeness and the fear of what people will think of me aside for just a moment and say all of this. I'm feeling so alone in it. None of my friends will understand this as well as you all will.

@bsjuskidn Which Isopure flavors have you tried? There are several that I think, I kid you not, taste like parmesan cheese and are perfectly revolting. The two that I find most tolerable at the Apple Melon and Alpine Punch. I don't love them, but of all the clear liquid proteins I've tried, I find them the most tolerable. I hear a lot of people say they dilute them with ice water. I haven't tried this, but I may next time, because the flavor is just so strong some days.

I had no idea about the ten day phenomenon! I just read this post via your profile after you posted a reply to my emotional topic. Lo and behold... it's been ten days. Very interesting.

On the bright side, I'm losing two or three pounds a day. I'm pretty sure that's outstanding.

Thank you. I will take as many hang in theres as I can get. Knowing that other people went through this and survived really helps. Except, I don't know if I should read them because the minute I saw both of your responses I started crying again. God, help me. I am really pathetic right now!

Hi, Sherrichr, I'm in Memphis too! I had my surgery in Nashville (long story) a little over a week ago. I've heard wonderful things about Dr. Weaver. Welcome to the forum and best wishes on your journey.

Well wishes to you! It's going to go great!

My sweet, sweet Mom made chicken broth for me because I don't care for canned chicken broth either. I've been such a ridiculous red meat eater my entire life (I'm a born and bred Texan, I came by it honestly), that I thought I'd prefer some beef broth on my pre-op liquid diet, so got some of the beef broth in paper cartons. Three to be exact. I heated one mug full, and it was just disgusting. I was already feeling a bit ill, and for some reason that beef broth smelled exactly like wet dog to me, and didn't taste much better. As a result, I can't even imagine drinking it post-op, homemade or not, because my sense of smell and taste is just so completely sensitive and out of whack. Those three cartons are still in the fridge. x[ The chicken broth my mom made has been an incredibly nice break from the plain Water, sweet popsicles, and sweet Protein drinks. She just put a whole chicken in the crock pot and covered it with store-bought chicken broth (low sodium). She did salt it some and put a bay leaf and let it cook for hours and hours. After that, she strained it to get all the the meaty bits out. Then she strained it again through cheese cloth to make sure it was perfectly clear for my clear liquid phase. Then she let it chill for a bit and skimmed all the fat off. I know it sounds really plain, but it's not. It's very savory, and I'm glad now it's on the plainer side because my new stomach is so picky a week out from surgery. The only time I regretted her making it was my second night home when I got really nauseas (I was dehydrated) and a chicken was cooking in the crockpot. The smell was so unbelieveably potent and I would have gladly hurled it out the window if I could have lifted it just to get away from it. Thankfully, a Promethazine, a cool and damp washcloth over my nose, and about 30 minutes saved me, the crockpot, the chicken, and the window from disaster.

The throat pain was intense for me those first few days too, especially while my mouth was also dry. It felt like sandpaper. The thing that helped the most and gave me a lot of relief was the sugar-free popsicles the hospital provided. Can't recommend it enough. Hope it feels better soon!

I was getting really distraught about not being able to stomach the clear liquid proteins that I'm bound to for two weeks post-op. (No offense to the following companies, as everyone's taste buds are different.) I tried the Unjury chicken flavor and am still having nightmares about it. Not only that, but one serving has permanently scented one of my shaker cups. I was drinking the Syntrax Nectar Fuzzy Navel flavor and was barely able to swallow it. At the hospital, they brought Nectar Strawberry Kiwi, and it smelled so incredibly foul to me, and tasted only slightly better than how it smelled. To try to get some of it down, I poured in some of the sugar-free fruit punch they brought with the tray, which only improved it slightly. I guess it was a fantasy that I would find some magic flavor and think it was delicious, or at the very least just... good. I tried my very best to drink some of the fuzzy navel when I got home from the hospital, and managed to get down about 2 ounces of it over a couple of hours by mixing it with orange Crystal Light. I had one last option, and that was to try the Isopure Zero Carb ready to drink bottles. I asked my mother to pick up some while she was out today. She picked up a few flavors that I requested. When she got home, I took one and eyed it suspiciously. Alpine punch flavor... it sounds like it would taste okay, but I've been down that road before. It's nice and clear, doesn't look so offputting. Hmmm... I tentatively opened the cap, and gave it a sniff. Okay, not completely vile. Not the most pleasant scent ever, but it doesn't make me want to cry. Slowly, carefully, I raised the glass to my lips and took the tiniest sip. Had I not already been concerned about my current low levels of hydration, I would have allowed myself to sob in relief. Is it delicious? Nope. Is it tolerable? Absolutely. I can drink this every day for two weeks and not feel like throwing up at the mere sight of it. I don't have to cringe and try not to taste it when I sip through the day. It's a very light flavor. It does leave a strange, sort of dry feeling in your mouth for just a moment after you take a drink, but it doesn't persist. I haven't tried the other flavors yet, but I'm so relieved I have found what I needed. It's more expensive, but hey, I was still spending way more on food every day prior to surgery. Plus, I don't have to mix it! Just a grab a bottle from the fridge. I cannot begin to tell you how much better I feel about things now. The whole world brightened for me at this discovery. Thank you, God!

You bet! I wish I could tell you how to convince the people who think it's cheating or lazy that it's not, but I really haven't found a way. I just choose not to talk to those people about it. They can say that the whole time they're watching you shrink, if they want. All that matters is that you're taking care of yourself. If they become genuinely interested in how it's working, then you could talk openly about it. I'm very protective of this process. I consider myself in a vulnerable state and want to do everything I can to keep myself positive, encouraged, and on track, and for me, that means not opening myself up to the criticism of the misinformed right now. I noticed I completely missed your main question, which was what to expect from your initial consultation. I think it's probably different for everyone, but it will most likely include getting your vitals before the appointment, discussing the requirements of your insurance for surgery, the requirements of your individual surgeon, and laying out the path to surgery if you're approved (i.e. tests, pre-op diet, etc.). Have you already talked to your insurance company to find out the requirements for approval of the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy? If not, it doesn't hurt to go ahead and call and find out so that you know that going in. Common requirements are a bmi of 35 or higher, certain comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, or arthristis, etc., and sometimes a physician-monitored diet for a specific amount of time. After your consultation, you will probably be expected to get a psych evaluation, an Upper GI, and/or some other testing. I had to get the psych eval and a clearance letter from my PCP before I could even get a consultation with my surgeon. It was fairly easy from there. Pretty much all that was left was to schedule the surgery date. You will find that most bariatric surgeons are scheduled weeks, or sometimes months out, so don't expect your surgery date to be immediate if you've met all requirements.

Hey, Celtika, and welcome to VST! Don't be nervous about your consultation, there will be plenty of opportunities for nail-biting moments later, so you can just save it for that. Right off the bat we know those people making assumptions are wrong because they don't even make Twinkies anymore since Hostess went out of business. Seriously, though, being stereotyped is one of the worst of the evils of dealing with being overweight in this world. I found I got the same kind of reaction when I discussed surgery with people as something I was thinking about. When you present it as a possiblity, I guess people think that means you've asked for their input on it. Once I decided I was doing the surgery, the surgery was scheduled, and it was about a week away, I told a very small group of people. I was firm and presented it confidently, and not one person said anything negative about it. They were all very supportive. I think it's a combination of being wise about with whom you share this decision, and sharing it confidently once the decision is made. Few people would poo poo the idea or criticize you for taking insulin for diabetes, or wearing foot supports for fallen arches, or wearing a CPAP machine for sleep apnea, and you most likely wouldn't consult them on the decision to do so. This is the same deal. You're doing this for your health and to aleve these problems/almost problems before they get out of hand. I'm glad you're here! I'm one week out from surgery and this forum has been my biggest tool along the way.

I had the morphine pca and made me nauseas something terrible. They took me off of that and put me on IV Tylenol and IV ibuprofen (this NSAID was okay because it wasn't going through my stomach), and they did the job. That said, I really never experienced much pain. I cannot begin to tell you how grateful I am for that!

You'll have to switch to competitive sipping.

80% of my stomach.

Lol. I'm the opposite. I think I'd rather a month of painless, than a week of stinging twice a day. I forgot to mention, mine are only once a day. Also, the duration probably has more to do with my increased health risks. Either way, it's no fun for either one of us! The irony is, one of the reasons I decided to have surgery was that I was terrified of becoming diabetic and having to give myself shots every day.