BKLYNgal87

I agree with Mark. Taste is totally subjective. What one person loves another will hate. I used Jay Robb in pre-op because I could buy it in Whole Foods where it was cheaper than GNC. After surgery I couldn't stand the taste so I started using Isopure (I order it off Amazon) which I tolerate fairly well but I'm creative with recipes. If you can get brand samples, I highly advise giving a few a try. But your taste buds may change after surgery or you may just get sick of a flavor or brand so don't stock up too much at once.

Disallowing caffeine, even in moderation is alarmist and unnecessary, IMO. No, caffeine does not cause ulcers. H. pylori bacteria is the primary culprit. However, caffeine stimulates acid secretion (so do SO MANY other things) which can aggravate pre-existing ulcers. It may aggravate the still-healing sleeve, however, so it may be wise to wait a few weeks though I drank iced coffee since 5 days post-op and have had no problems. There is such thing as drinking too much coffee, though. If you're one of those folks who drinks more than 2 cups a day pre-sleeve you may find yourself tormented by increased acid reflux post-sleeve. Doesn't sound fun to me. Moderation is a beautiful thing!

This is how I got my fiance's attention, mind you I met him a few years ago long before my surgery: We saw each other across the room of a restaurant. He looked at me, I looked back at him and saw how handsome and intriguing he looked, and I smiled. He took that as an invitation to come over and talk to me. The rest is history. Just be inviting but also be yourself. The good guys will pick up on the great personality that radiates from you! And as others have said, if there's no connection that's okay, move on until you find a keeper .

I am very sensitive to most laxatives because increased peristalsis (contractions in the GI tract that move waste through) give me miserable cramps that last for hours. If you find yourself not tolerating the laxatives well there's always fiber powder you can buy (like benefiber) and I started eating a couple prunes in water warmed up at the behest of my NUT. I'm on my way to regularity!

My surgeon cleared me so I hit the gym yesterday, was sleeved 2 weeks ago. I did about 30 minutes of light strength training, mostly upper body (no abs) and 20 minutes on the elliptical. Felt so good to get the endorphins going!

Way to go!! Wishing you continued success!

Wow beautiful! Congrats!!

So far so good at 2 weeks post-op! I'm eating pureed foods, which is way better than the all liquid diet. I also started going back to the gym and I have more energy. I was sleeved at NYP - surgeon Dr. Bessler. He and his team were amazing!

I'm bklyngal1987 - would love MFP friends! It's a great tool!

Washington Heights/Inwood sleever! I'd love to get in on a meet up. Was sleeved June 12th. Christina I also can't find you on Facebook.

Awesome work! Wishing you continued success on your journey!

I agree with the others. Wait for the IV in the ER, get rehydrated and when you get back home drink 1-2 cups of regular sodium chicken broth every day. You need more sodium so you can hold onto liquid better. Worked for me. Feel better soon!

Everyone has different tastes! I have used Jay Robb since the beginning of my pre-op diet and I tolerated it for 2 weeks pre-surgery, but after my surgery I cannot stand it . Stupid me for buying it in bulk! I have several different extracts I use like almond, raspberry, mint, etc. - it's not cutting it anymore. But since I'm cheap-o I'll finish what I have and maybe try Isopure. I have bought Jay Robb at the Vitamin shoppe and also Whole Foods (much cheaper at WF).

What does your surgeon's office say? Before taking any new medication I always pick up the phone and ask.

First off, it would be good for you to determine what your insurance will and won't pay for, and generally unless they specifically say they will not pay for elective surgery complications or complications from surgery done outside the US, you'll be fine in terms of coverage . I'd check your policy handbook to rest your worries. Secondly, I am also in the pureed stage and I've been able to eat about 1/4 cup of fat free refried Beans and a little cheese. I eat about 2oz of meat Protein. The only food I can eat about a half cup (4oz) of is greek yogurt. I have been trying to gauge the full feeling too, and since my surgery that has manifested in the gut feeling that I've eaten enough. I don't know how else to explain it! I eat pretty much exactly what my nutritionist outlined and no more and usually about 5 minutes after I eat I stop thinking about eating entirely and go on about my day. I'd say always measure your food because you don't want to inadvertently eat too much. Personally, I'd go to the seminar because I am one of those people who needs guidance. You may only need a few sessions with a nutritionist before you have the skills you need to move forward. In the meantime, use whatever take home guidelines you got in MX and eat the recommended protein each day so that hair loss will be less of a worry!

I slept every night the first week with a heating pad under my back because my chronic back pain flared up after surgery. It helped immensely. No, heat is not going to hurt your belly in any way.

Everyone is different and heals physically and emotionally at their own pace. I am 10 days out and some days have been better than others but I keep up the hydration and walking and I just believe firmly I'll be back to normal soon. Can't wait to get back to the gym. You should ask your psychiatrist (or whoever is prescribing you Zoloft) if there is any way to get the meds in liquid or capsule form (with granules/sprinkles, not a whole tablet). Sprinkles can be mixed into Jello to make it more palatable.

Chili can have a lot of fat. You certainly don't want the dinner celebration to turn into a dumping syndrome nightmare. You need to ask for nutrition guidelines at the restaurant if they are available, before heading to dinner. If you can't find something suitable, get your son the dinner he wants and sip water. Better than sabotaging yourself or getting sick at this stage.

Well according to my surgeon who has been a bariatric surgeon since 1996 and some small patient studies drinking and eating can overload and eventually stretch out the sleeve. There is at least a correlation. Drinking before eating can also quell hunger pangs so you eat less. I'd say it's important.

My nutritionist allows us to add in fruit to our diets starting in the pureed stage. But it should only be one serving. One serving a day is really all you should need. And there should be no skin or seeds so I actually bought baby food fruit stage 2. The goal is to reduce carb intake as much as possible, but you do need a little carbs just to get through the day! I think disallowing fruit is extreme. It's a better carb choice than many other things. There are fruits out there that are less sweet but still satisfy like melon and watermelon.

Congratulations! I'm almost 1 week post-op and glad to hear it gets better!

I told quite a few people, my direct relatives (mom, dad, brother, fiance), some select friends, and some select colleagues because I knew they would be supportive and knew I would need that support in the coming months. There were people though that I purposely did not tell because I knew they would say insensitive things and not be supportive - my extended relatives. It's mostly actually because they do not like my fiance. He is from a different race and culture and they can't see past that. I fully expected they would say things like "well, when you're skinny you can find someone else to marry". They already make similar comments. As if I am doing this for vain reasons and not to improve my health and quality of life. I'd tell the people you already lean on in your life for support because most likely they will continue to be. The unsupportive ones will also most likely stay that way, you'd just be adding a new dimension to their callousness.

At it's highest mortality can be 2% in the US. At lowest .1%. Why the range? Because that's the nature of mortality statistics. Oftentimes when you have a large N number (sample size in statistics) making an absolute average is impossible because there are too many conflicting factors. Hence the range. I have no clue about Mexico or whether they even keep such medical tourism stats. But you have a right to ask your surgeon how many of these cases he/she has performed and their mortaility and complication rates. Surgery is a scary prospect for everyone, and the best way to get the best outcome is to be screened properly for underlying conditions, choose your surgeon, anesthesiologist, and facility wisely, and get as educated as possible. That's how to become an informed patient! Good luck!

Ladies all this talk of guac and beans is making me so hungry here in pre-op diet land >_<... 5 days to go until surgery!

Unless you're on an H-M-O that makes moving to a new PCP difficult, what is keeping you with this woman? Doctors can have opinions, yes, but that doesn't mean it's an informed opinion. The fact is, many PCPs don't keep up with medical research. They don't have the incentive. Yes there are risks and you have to weigh them against potential benefits. The VSG mortality rate in the US is somewhere between .1-2%, which isn't nothing. But since more than 95% of people who lose weight without surgical intervention gain it back, simply advising someone to "eat salads" isn't sufficient medical advice. Ditch this doc and find someone who will be more supportive. After all, this is a permanent procedure and you will need a lifetime of specialized follow up and care. My PCP became a royal pain when he refused to write a medical clearance letter because my surgeons office was the one who ordered all the precertification labs and tests. He wanted more to bill for. I told him I would leave his practice if he didn't do what I asked so he acquiesced .