QueenCityGal

I had IH too and everything was accepted until the last minute when my doc was required to supply the proof of the 6 month supervised diet stuff... I freaked out because I personally had no record but he worked his magic and submitted what he needed to (I was seeing him for over a year with weight-related stuff) - so it all worked out. Talk to your doc office if that becomes a requirement. They can figure it out for you. Hopefully!

Yes, Dr. Cavaretta is as stone cold as an ice cube. No emotion. So weird and awkward. I only saw him when Dr. Caruana couldn't make my follow up during my hospital stay. Thank goodness

My update: I'm coming up on my 3 month mark and down 51 pounds. It's like I turned back the clock 8 years - so freaking cool to wear my old clothes again! My knee pain resolved itself. sleeping a little better. Able to eat anything now (good choices and very small portions though!) with no problem and still losing. It's a darn miracle! I thought for sure I would NEVER lose. No regrets, best decision I ever made. Fingers crossed that the dreaded hair loss phase will pass me by....

Good news finally! My angst about this process have (hopefully) come to an end...

I got the news I was approved today! **happy dance****happy dance****happy dance**
Sorry I've had a little negativity before - just dealing with so much medical nonsense for the past few years; medical red tape is sooo frustrating to get through.
Anyway I'm stoked! Nervous and anxious now too. Awaiting calls/letters for the date and other pre-op stuff now. Maybe this will be a nice Xmas present for me!

So today I got the most depressing news, my thyroid bloodwork is still out of range so now I have to wait ANOTHER 6 freaking weeks for another reading after another med adjustment I was ready to submit to insurance on Friday as long as all my labs came back normal today
Independent Health requires the thyroid level to be at least 0.4 minimum before consideration... I am now at 0.06... how the hell am I gonna get up that high if they only decrease my dose by 25mcg?! (apparently I've been taking too much synthroid hence the low reading)
10 years and I cannot get this goddamn thyroid regulated, always having to change doses. Do yourselves all a huge favor and STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM SOY PRODUCTS. Soy is a thyroid killer!
I'm doomed
Good luck to everyone else here you all seem to be doing great. Seeya in 6 weeks unless I book a flight to Mexico and get it done there!

Ugh. I bought a case of the stuff. I could stomach the first few times I cooked with it - mostly Asian type noodle dishes to help mask the smell (there are other types of Asian mung bean noodles but made from the starch not the whole bean like these)... I can usually handle disgusting stuff, but I can't do this product anymore. The benefits are great - high Protein and super high Fiber - (and the Fiber does it's job, lol) - but I can't get past the taste and texture anymore no matter how I dress the noodles.

They are worth a try though. They are very dense when cooked so not a lot can be eaten. I'll let them sit in the cupboard for a while and go back to them when I'm feeling adventurous again!

Hi all, so there IS a group at Synergy tonight? Is it back on now every month? I agree there should be something on their website!

Hooray I made it!!
I had a wonderful experience at Sister's and Dr. Caruana was a charm! My incisions are barely noticeable and don't hurt a bit. I even have pictures because I asked him... pretty gnarly! First two days (at hospital) I did well but after coming home yesterday I hit the wall of cramping and nausea that was almost intolerable! But tonight the storm has calmed, and I feel much better especially after slowly eating a small bit of cream of wheat. After being so empty inside for almost two weeks no wonder all hell breaks loose in the guts. Looking forward to feeling much better day by day...
If anyone has knowledge of the support group dates please post, likewise I'll keep trying to find out the next one for Synergy.
Cheers and happy holidays everyone!!

A couple days ago I told my mom and two aunts about my decision to have the WLS.
My one aunt is ok with the idea, but pushing me to the band (I don't want that) because she thinks it's "safer". I have not heard from the other aunt, but I'm guessing she is against it. My mom, on the other hand, has shot down the idea hard and wants to know why I want to "risk my life" for this drastic procedure, and that I don't need it if I only "put good food in my mouth".... THAT, coming from a wheelchair bound 400+ pound woman who has been obese most of her life, struggling with compulsive eating disorders herself. In fact, all the women on my mom's side have been heavy, riding the non-stop diet wheel most of their lives.
I have people who depend on me, I refuse to be in a wheelchair myself by the time I'm 50, I want to be comfortable again and gain quality of life back for as long as I have left on this earth. I've tried hard my whole life to keep the weight off, it goes then comes right back again. I'm trying hard now and it just doesn't work anymore. The most discouraging thing is that I'm eating way better and around half the volume of what I was over a month ago and I haven't lost a freaking ounce.
For the first time since I've started pursuing this surgery I have an inkling of doubt about it. Will this even work for me, is what I think. I should have never mentioned anything to anyone.
I'm hoping my fellow Buffalonians here who have gone through with it already can give me a little push back in the right direction... ugh

Have you guys tried the Syntrax Nectars? If not you definitely should! They are DELICIOUS. Not thick like shakes, they are JUICY tasting and thin like juice, you cannot tell there is protein in it. Well at least I can't! The only tell-tale sign is that you get a little foam on the top after mixing but you can skim that off. My favorite is the Fuzzy Navel, especially for Breakfast. Tastes like a nice juice glass of peachy Tang... anyone remember Tang?? LOL. You can experiment with the flavors, add some Crystal Light or Mio and create your own flavors. Someplace online I forget where sells a sample pack of all flavors. Seriously I swear by the stuff, it's that good. You get your protein and Water in, boom.

Day 3 update... got home yesterday and by last night the gas pains and cramping were kicking my butt! Had a horrible night last night, it felt like there was a war going on in my belly. Up and down, walk, bathroom, took Gas-X, drank Water, I had to force myself to dry heave to let out some of the "stuck" gas. With all the gas I let out in the hospital I was hoping most of it was gone but boy it was still there and putting up a fight!

I finally got my meds delivered this morning and thank goodness for the Bentyl. I took one this morning and it calmed down my belly almost immediately. Anyone else taking that? My doc released me with Reglan, Bentyl, and Prilosec (and liquid Lortab which I haven't needed yet). I never had an acid problem before and I hope I don't get one now
Trying some warm herbal teas right now, and it feels good going down. So far I have no problem swallowing pills or drinking liquids (knock on wood!!)... no abdominal pain now other than the gas cramps.

And about the gas, I wonder this - ok they fill your belly cavity with it, but it obviously has no where to go until it's absorbed by the digestive system? Which is the reason for the awful burping and tooting, right? Just seems like there is way more gas coming out that there was put in, lol...

Have you guys tried the Syntrax Nectars? If not you definitely should! They are DELICIOUS. Not thick like shakes, they are JUICY tasting and thin like juice, you cannot tell there is protein in it. Well at least I can't! The only tell-tale sign is that you get a little foam on the top after mixing but you can skim that off. My favorite is the Fuzzy Navel, especially for Breakfast. Tastes like a nice juice glass of peachy Tang... anyone remember Tang?? LOL. You can experiment with the flavors, add some Crystal Light or Mio and create your own flavors. Someplace online I forget where sells a sample pack of all flavors. Seriously I swear by the stuff, it's that good. You get your protein and Water in, boom.

Have you guys tried the Syntrax Nectars? If not you definitely should! They are DELICIOUS. Not thick like shakes, they are JUICY tasting and thin like juice, you cannot tell there is protein in it. Well at least I can't! The only tell-tale sign is that you get a little foam on the top after mixing but you can skim that off. My favorite is the Fuzzy Navel, especially for Breakfast. Tastes like a nice juice glass of peachy Tang... anyone remember Tang?? LOL. You can experiment with the flavors, add some Crystal Light or Mio and create your own flavors. Someplace online I forget where sells a sample pack of all flavors. Seriously I swear by the stuff, it's that good. You get your protein and Water in, boom.

I also just made a post about this last night. I'm 5 days out, yesterday I was SOOO hungry. It's weird because I have no desire to eat, yet I have that severe empty "I gotta have some food in me" feeling because I AM so empty inside. Leftover grehlin? Who knows... but we have not had any solid food in ourselves for weeks now (well me at least) and after trying to survive on an average of 600 cals a day I'm sure our bodies truly ARE hungry. It's a shock to the system no doubt. Most likely once we progress our food stages it will go away. I hope.

I woke up this morning hungry. Yep hungry, my gut feels empty but I can't fill it. But nothing sounds good either. So I'm just confused. Would love to chew something but afraid I would become nauseated. Anyone on this thread in East Tennessee. My surgeon is dr. Williams?

I too today had a pretty raging hunger. It was odd. Just like you describe, hunger pangs in the pit somewhere... I truly believe we ARE hungry. We have been depriving our bodies of food for how many weeks now?? It's a shock to the system. Fundus or no fundus, our bodies are hungry. I don't have an appetite or wish to eat, but I AM HUNGRY. Once we get to move on to more substantial foods I think we will be fine and satiated with whatever little bit we can eat. Right now I am empty. Like completely empty in the guts. It's not mental for me. My body needs to eat something because it's starving. What a complete mindf*ck....

I am 6 days post op. The first several days I was not hungry at all, however the past couple of days I have been hungry. I don't know if it's in my head or what, but it scares me. I don't think it helps that the past 2 days I have gone to huge Christmas party/feasts, but I'm so paranoid that I will still be hungry after this sleeve! Is this normal?

I too today had a pretty raging hunger. It was odd. Just like you describe, hunger pangs in the pit somewhere... I truly believe we ARE hungry. We have been depriving our bodies of food for how many weeks now?? It's a shock to the system. Fundus or no fundus, our bodies are hungry. I don't have an appetite or wish to eat, but I AM HUNGRY. Once we get to move on to more substantial foods I think we will be fine and satiated with whatever little bit we can eat. Right now I am empty. Like completely empty in the guts. It's not mental for me. My body needs to eat something because it's starving. What a complete mindf*ck....

Ahhh I so hear you on this! Granted I am only 4 days out but definitely am with you on this. Anyone who says WLS is the easy way out is a complete jerk. Food smells are killing me too even though my stomach isn't physically hungry. Or maybe it is? I can't really tell... Last night my husband made himself dinner (aww poor guy has to eat!) and the smell was driving me mad. I wanted some but I couldn't. I wanted to eat but knew it was impossible. It's definitely a mind/body game. I think we just have to remember to be patient and wait until we are able to enjoy our small little bites of "normal" food again. When we can do that and still enjoy losing weight it will all be worth the crap we are going through right now, right?!
PS: Thanks Sandi I forgot my own trick of the vapo-rub!! aack must keep that handy at all times

Ahhh I so hear you on this! Granted I am only 4 days out but definitely am with you on this. Anyone who says WLS is the easy way out is a complete jerk. Food smells are killing me too even though my stomach isn't physically hungry. Or maybe it is? I can't really tell... Last night my husband made himself dinner (aww poor guy has to eat!) and the smell was driving me mad. I wanted some but I couldn't. I wanted to eat but knew it was impossible. It's definitely a mind/body game. I think we just have to remember to be patient and wait until we are able to enjoy our small little bites of "normal" food again. When we can do that and still enjoy losing weight it will all be worth the crap we are going through right now, right?!
PS: Thanks Sandi I forgot my own trick of the vapo-rub!! aack must keep that handy at all times

So...
Its my 1st day (post op day 9) that I woke up without moaning and groaning in discomfort and 2nd day without the need for roxicet
I do still have mild incision pain and I know I could take e.s. Tylenol for that but I don't think I will .... Yesterday my surgeon told me the abdominal binder I was using is really preventing me from taking deep breaths which could lead to pneumonia (yikes!) and I thought I was doing myself good cause it helped with moving around and the incisional pain.. Will be tossing that out
Like many I've never felt a hunger pain since surgery on dec 12 but I do think about dream about and miss my fave foods --- the smells are so inviting and seeing people around me eat normally is a bit sad ... WLS is NOT the easy way out!! I probably won't be able to eat normal solid foods until very late january or early February which is a bit depressing but hoping that time goes by fast cause I really need better energy for everyday tasks and fitness routines... I'm losing weight but I'm also very much fatigued which I don't think is a very healthy combination
What helps a bit with blocking food aromas is rubbing a bit of vapor rub around my nostrils
Good luck everyone! Hoping your recovery and post op diet experiences are smooth and not so depressing.

hope. Your surgery goes well and and I hope so too with the support group

Wishing you the best of outcomes tomorrow!!! See ya on the losers bench:)

I'm going home shortly, yes!! My surgeon and the hospital were just amazing through my whole experience. The meds were good, the care was good, gas is finally almost gone. Just a little sore on the left which is to be expected. Incisions so small I won't notice them when healed. I had so much anxiety going into this but I was prepared in mind and body and now I am having no regrets at all. Everyone on the forum has helped so much I can't thank you all enough for tips and advice and support!! I hope all the December people do well and happy holidays to all

Haha thanks Dee glad I could give a smile Yeah it's weird I actually like some of the stuff BETTER than before. I'm a freak of nature what can I say!!
Oh and PS: I asked my surgeon for pictures and he happily gave them to me! It's all recorded anyway so all they have to do is print snapshots. Let me tell you that my monster stomach was just that... the ALIEN!! Soooo glad that thing is gone haha... I swear it had teeth!! Muaahahaaa

Hey Queen, Tysm for that info. Ive been on this site since I started the journey in May this Yr n ur the first I've read whose said that about ur taste. Actually, I'm glad to read that bc I was just thinking about that not even 10' ago! I don't want mine to change, I just want the tool to help me to manage over doing it on the things that I do enjoy. So, for me, I'm smiling big bout what u wrote ))). N congrats on all of ur success thus far!

Oh I LOVE the Syntrax Nectars! Such a nice break from the thick stuff. They're so nice and juicy. I love the Fuzzy Navel and the Vanilla Bean Torte. The Vanilla tastes so decadent and is good thin with Water on it's own or mixed with other flavors or even mixed with milk or added to other powders. Good stuff!
EDIT: I wanted to add that nothing about my taste after surgery has changed one bit so far. I thought I was making a mistake by stocking up on a supply of different products for post but there is nothing I don't like. I'm happy about this because I can actually use all the stuff I already have without gagging but not happy because I may still like all the old foods I used to... hmmm