Kindle

Unless you've been living on ramen noodles and never go out to eat, You won't spend nearly as much on protein supplements and vitamins as you spend on groceries and restaurants now. i'm saving a couple hundred bucks every month. (Of course I've spent it all on new clothes )

They can't Rx it for you to buy in the U.S. unless they are licensed in the U.S. There are a zillion little street pharmacies all over TJ (and a really big one in the Avenude Revolucion area.) You can see if they carry it or an equivalent, no RX required. If not you will have to get your PCP to write a prescription but it is pretty pricey if insurance doesn't cover it.

That may be the best description of long term post-WLS. i see this as Lifestyle Choices, not necessarily Lifestyle Changes.

I guess I should note that everything I posted above was from a long term/maintenance viewpoint. Immediately postop and until I met goal, there were definite struggles and changes I had to deal with.... Preop and postop diet restrictions (which I followed to a T), needing IV fluids for dehydration 3 times when I was sick, making sure I got in all my Protein, staying away from carbs, no appetite for the first 4 months, 2 months of diarrhea followed by a "lifetime" of constipation (which is controlled by adding insoluble Fiber to my protein smoothies), temporary intolerance to lactose, plain Water and artificial sweeteners, etc. But these were all just "blips" on the radar compared to long term postop life.

I am probably an anomaly as I don't really feel like I've made any major changes besides 1) I eat more Protein 2) I make healthier food choices most of the time 3) I drink WAY less alcohol, and 4) I can't drink anything carbonated. Basically my sleeve changed how much I can eat and my brain changed what I want to eat. I don't track or measure my food. I drink with meals. I use straws. I eat dessert. I don't use MFP. I don't exercise. I take NSAIDS. I eat when I'm hungry and I eat what I want. I still do all the same things I've always done, the physical things are just easier (working, riding my horse, hiking with my dog, kayaking, skiing). I'm still a couch potato on rainy, dreary weekends. I still go out with friends on occasion, but I'm still a hermit at heart and would rather stay home in most cases. But I feel great, I look good. My knee and ankle pain is gone and my BP is normal. After a lifetime of failed diets, I do consider this the "easy way". I'm not saying this way will work for everyone, just pointing out one way it can work.

I was told no seeds till 3 months, too. For me, presweetened/flavored yogurts always tasted way to sweet (even before surgery). I use plain Fage or Chobani yogurt and flavor it to my liking using Torani syrups, honey, Protein powder or pureed fruit. Gives me a much better protein/carb ratio and the flavors are nearly endless....vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, cherry, English toffee, raspberry, tiramisu, lime, mango, coconut, peach, hazelnut, Peanut Butter, almond, pumpkin pie, banana, blueberry, salted caramel, etc.

same thing happened to me. I tried to get in the majority of my fluids before I started in on protein...usually not until mid to late afternoon. The other thing is to try Syntrax Nectar or other "light" protein drinks rather than the thicker shakes. They may go down easier. You do not want to get dehydrated, it really sucks.

Most artificial sweeteners upset my tiny tummy. I shoot for Protein bars and shakes that use stevia and/or erythritol. I'd choose ones with real sugar if they made any. When I bake I use raw sugar. I use monk fruit in my homemade protein hot chocolate mix. Regular Torani and Davinci syrups to sweeten my plain Greek yogurt. Real maple syrup on my pancakes. Honey in my tea. artificial sweeteners do the same thing to your brain and body's insulin levels as real sugar and will still give you carb cravings. The only difference is the calories. Erythritol is the only one I know of that doesn't affect your insulin levels.

Just curious, why didn't you have your gallbladder removed at the same time as your sleeve surgery? Why go under anesthesia twice?

I actually hit surgeon's goal (160) at 6 1/2 months. That's when I started using full fat dairy (milk, cottage cheese, yogurt) instead of fat free, eating more fruit and replacing some of my Protein bars with whole grain bars. I then hit my personal goal (150) at 7 1/2 months and got even more relaxed by eating a few more desserts, potatoes, sushi, bread, etc. I finally hit my "new normal" (138-142) around 9 months. Good, healthy food choices 80% of the time and total crap the other 20% . Definitely a lifestyle I can live with! But you are right, we all have to form our own individual maintenance plans. Just do what works and feels good and comfortable for you. It's definitely scary venturing into maintenance, but after awhile it's actually rather boring.

I'm more along the lines of KateP. I never limited myself to just Protein and veggies while losing, so ketosis didn't play a factor with me. I was eating MORE protein and fat than carbs, but I always tried to eat a balanced diet of protein, veggies, fruits, whole grains and nuts. I started adding in more fruit, more grains and more fat once I hit my surgeon's goal. But like you mentioned above, i still continued to lose another 20 pounds until my body found its new set point.....10 pounds below my personal goal. Yes, I can eat much more than I could once I hit goal and I my hunger returned in full force at around 10 months. I just had to find things to distract me from eating too much. I drink a lot of Water and tea, I clean my house a lot, I go outside and do whatever to get away from the kitchen. I don't buy stuff I shouldn't eat (resisting temptation once in the store is easier than resisting over and over if it was actually in the house). I basically just feel I'm eating like a "normal" thin person with no weird rules to follow. I choose protein over other options most of the time, but I don't hesitate to indulge in Desserts, candy, alcohol, or other "bad" carbs in moderation. Too much restriction would just piss me off and make me want it more. I have a 5 pound bounce range that I stick with. If I pop even 1 pound above, I will limit my carbs for However long it takes to get back into range. I'm only 17 months out, but have been maintaining this way for 9 of them.

My first thought in recovery was how great it was that I wasn't nauseous. First time I've ever woken up from anesthesia not wanting to throw up. Then I fell back asleep for another 3-4 hours and the 1st thought upon that waking was where's my iPad...gotta let my parents know I'm OK. After emailing them and Facetimng with my sister, I hunkered down for a night of wandering around the halls and watching TV. Glad it was done and ecstatic that I had no pain or nausea.

My surgeon's instructions were no nuts or seeds until 3 months. Since then mixed nuts are a go to snack I have almost every day.

Do you know what the chemicals are? I don't drink Crystal Light because I can't tolerate the artificial sweetener and I do have high calcium, so would love to know another way to get in the "good stuff" to help avoid kidney stones. (I'm already battling gallstones and would prefer not to add kidney stones to the list.)

Are you taking a PPI or antacid? Are you getting in all your Water? Acid and thirst can both feel like hunger. Bad hunger. That being said, I had no desire to eat for the first 3-4 months. I was thinking "this is gonna be easy!" But then my normal appetite returned and I was able to eat more. Since then I get hungry and eat every 2-3 hours. but since I've been below goal for over 9 months I don't see the problem.

I've always been a big fan of NyQuil Cold and Flu and DayQuil Cold and Flu.

Thanks for the update. I guess one more reason for all of us to make sure we are getting plenty of water. Hopefully the CT brings good news. Best wishes!

I suppose it's a matter of motivation. No, when it came to my pre and postop diet instructions, I did not mess up. (And this involved over a month of full liquids and 2 months before eating something like chicken) My health and proper healing were too important to me. Once you get farther out, bad choices simply result in no weight loss or weight gain, but this early on bad choices can result in very serious consequences. You can do a search for "cheat" to find many others that chose not to follow instructions. But then check out the complications subforum to help motivate yourself not to do it again.

It's a good thing that you are scared and in pain. Maybe that will stop you from doing that again. It's not the stretching you need to worry about at this point. It's the blowing out your staple line and dying from sepsis. Didn't your surgeon provide you with a detailed postop diet plan? I've never heard of being OK'd for solids so soon

You're doing great. Be grateful you are able to keep hydrated so well. I was getting 64oz fluids by the 3rd day and 60g protein by the 5th day. liquid runs right through your sleeve it can't "stretch" anything out and You won't feel full until you start eating solid food.

Never tried liquid vitamins and the chewables all tasted too sweet to me. I found a great whole food based vitamin in capsule form so I wouldn't have to taste anything.... Garden of Life Vitamin Code for Women. Besides this multi, I take fish oil/vitamin D gel capsules and sublingual B12. I'm 17 months out and bloodwork is great.

What are your postop instructions? Have you been cleared for solids by your surgeon? If not, why are you eating these things? I was on liquids for almost 3 weeks, then pureed, then soft foods until 6 weeks. My stomach was cut open the entire length and only held together with staples, so I would never ever have considered altering my surgeon's instructions just to see if I would have a negative reaction.

Ursodial is for gallstones, not kidney stones. @@AlanaRN what are you consuming differently the preop? I guess the urologist would know if there is a correlation of Protein and kidney stones, but I'd think if it were common, a lot more WLS patients would be getting them. I do know certain sports and diet drinks can lend themselves to the development of kidney stones. I had a friend who had to pass 3 of them before they figured out it was all the Gatorade he was drinking at work. Now he drinks Water

You should spend some time reading other posts on this forum. That will help you understand the process you are going through and the experiences you can expect. Pretty sure 90% of newbie's questions and concerns (including the one you just posted) have already been asked and answered dozens, if not hundreds of times. Take some time and educate yourself before getting upset over all these things that are normal

The steroids you are on are just as bad for your tummy as NSAID's, so if your doc is OK with the pred pack, he ought to be OK with occasional NSAIDS. But don't, repeat, DO NOT, take them together! That's a no no even with a regular stomach. Are you currently taking a PPI? Maybe ask about other stomach protectants (ie. Sucralfate) while you are taking all these Meds. Anything to help reduce acid and protect your GI lining during this time. Another "natural" thing to try is aloe Vera juice. It can be very soothing to your tummy and help heal any damage before it becomes a full blown ulcer. I never had very bad cramping, so can't tell you if the ablation really helped with that or not. But the first time I went on vacation after the ablation and I didn't have to pack tampons, I knew it was real!