LosingItForMe2011

Yay Paul! I can't wait to be off my BP meds!

Sounds like you need some adjusting to your diet. How far along are you? Best bet is always to call your bariatric center/surgeon and nutritionist. They can help!

If people ask I tell them. Most figured it out anyway. My family was worried...not my immediate hubby and son but, my mom and brother. My sister had the surgery and lost a lot of weight...she's actually underweight now, even she says so. So they were worried I'd do the same thing. I told them that this was something I needed to do for myself regardless of anyone elses outcomes, experiences etc. Each journey is different yet similar in many ways. So they got the hint that this was my own journey. I know I have to take my vitamins, drink my water and get in my protein and I intend to do all of that as much as I can. They were fine after that. Well mom still asks me weekly if I'm doing ok, how I'm feeling and if I'm taking my vitamins but, that's a mom. Oh and yup I'm 48 and she still worries. ha ha

I'm looking forward to being in pictures instead of hiding behind other people (says tinkerbel LOL)

Funny thing is I saw the babyfood just the other day in the store......I couldn't do it though. I only like the fruits but, I'm still working on trying to get all my proteins in first so passed on them.

Hey Aimee...Welcome to the boards and join on in! You're on your way to a healthier you Congrats!

No splurges for me this weekend other than 1 piece of sugar free Russel Stover English Toffee. I can't have too many sugar alcohol products or I'll get too friendly with the rest room so 1 was plenty. LOL

Looking awesome! Great work chaotica!

whoooHooo Congrats Don!

When you chew your food really well it does tend to add air to it. I know for me some meats that I have to chew that well cause issues. If you had eggs.....maybe switch the way you're having them? If scrambled try soft boiled or poached. I know scrambled for me aren't good......hubby learned how to poach them for me and it's been working out great.

How far out from surgery are you? I'm 7 weeks out and once in a while will get the cramps/gurgling in my intestines. I can't guess if it will be gas or that I have to go so I get up and go just in case. Most of the time it happened earlier after the surgery for me and has gotten better. Just occassionally it happens now. Pay attention to what you've had to eat that day....you could be sensitive to milk/dairy, sugar alcohols etc.

whooo hooo You can do it!

Hello thenewme.....first off you're not failing or falling behind. You're traveling your own path and you're already doing well....you made it through surgery! You made it to the losing side and you're on your journey. You're just starting so need to relax and enjoy the none hunger that you're experiencing but, at the same time....concentrate on getting your fluids and Proteins in that your doc has asked you to get. At 3 weeks post op....I was on mushies. What stage are you on? Once you have your stage down...read any material your provider gave you and take it with you to the grocery store. Pick up the items listed even if you think you may not like them. It's amazing how much taste buds change. I didn't think I"d like turkey chili and I love it. I thought I'd love a lot of the shakes I tried before surgery but, nope some I do some I don't. Just have to keep trying until you get to the point where you're able to drink and eat following the plan. liquids first, Protein after and in the best case both! A Protein shake you like counts as both liquid and protein. Awesome! At three weeks my surgeon wanted me to get 50-60 grams of protein and then upped it to 70 when I got an infection because the protein helps with healing. It wasn't easy but, I got it down. I had to take in one shake a day at least because it was 25 grams of protein so it helped edge up the protein count for the day. Then I worked on the rest of it a little at a time. You can do this....lost of experimenting and trying different things and temperatures you take them in.

During your first week after surgery most folks can't take in much. It's VERY important to get your Fluid in. You don't want to wind up back in the hospital for dehydration. Do what you have to to get it in. Sip it but, keep it with you and sip it again after 1 minute. Your pouch is healing, and yup it can be sore or feel painful to swallow but, try a different temperature fluid and different flavorings. The liquid you put in those Protein shakes count towards your fluids for the day so kill two goals at once and find a Protein shake that works for you that you make by adding Water to it. Two Protein Shakes and you got in 30-50 grams of protein and 16 oz of water. I did have discomfort drinking plain water. My pouch would tighten up or get crampy but, I forced myself to keep taking sips...it works. If you're really having issues with lots of air getting in while sipping then you may be gulping more air...change cups etc. SF Popsicles also count towards your fluid goals and those go down much slower. licking a SF popsicle or sucking on it helps wake up your pouch too because it really goes down so slowly. It does get better but, you have to push yourself to do the drinking of at least your water. Protein and shakes are the next thing to go for. Fluid first...protein next were my docs words to me. Proteins will help you heal so you do need them.....keep trying different protein shakes until you like one enough to get it to go down YOU CAN DO IT!

Absolutely. Turns that bad thoughts of OMG I REALLY HATE EXERCISING to ...welll ok this isn't so bad and the next thing I know I've walked the distance I planned and find I want to do a little more to finish the song

welcome to the group! Yup it does get better. When I first came home they were more concerned with me getting the Fluid in. My doc said try to get in 50 grams of Protein but, if you can't just make sure you're getting fluids in preferably 64 oz. I can tell you I didn't get all 64 ounces in and more often than not, fluid was uncomfortable going in. Your new pouch will get use to it but, you have to keep sipping. After a while the pouch will adjust and feel ok taking in the fluid. I still have an occassional morning where my pouch is picky and so I switch from something cold to something warmer or room temp. Once my fluid intake is up a bit it gets better again. YOu can do it! Skim milk (I get the skim milk that tastes like 2%) counts towards your liquids AND you get protein from it. Any liquid counts towards your liquid if it's no to low calories. shakes that you add Water too also count. You will also find some liquids go down better than others. I LOVED plain water before surgery...but after couldn't stand it! I used Mio and burnt out on that so switched to SF Grape koolaid and that worked. Now I can drink just about anything but, man I was frustrated at first too. Keep trying different flavors and temps. You'll get there! it will get better Welcome to the losing side!

Nothing necessarily will happen. At 4 days out I was doing fine and dandy myself but, I ran into issues at about two weeks with an infection in one incision. Other than that I've been good with eating and drinking.

I stayed in the hospital gowns they gave me...one opening in the back then the other opening in the front.Being a Bariatric ward they had plenty in big sizes to cover everything. It was the most comfortable because of the catheter. I went to the hospital with comfy clothes and a pair of clean underwear in my hospital bag. Went home in the same outfit with the clean undies of course. So two things I actually used that I brought were my clean undies home and chapstick. Everything else stayed in the bag and were never touched. I was too busy walking around so didn't read my kindle stuff..

Make sure to stress the stenuous work and lifting etc you'll have to do. If you have short term disability it will kick in for you. I had to use it. All my surgeon had to do was complete her side of the paperwork bascially indicating a date to go back to work and her signature.

These boots are made for walking and that's just what they'll do...... (hee hee) I've made a song list just for my walking....beat paced songs that help me get a walking! It sure helps pass the time as well

I bought the Quest brownie bars in North Dartmouth and love them. I'll have to try a few others. I agree with DL on the Pure Protein ones as well. I like the Peanut Butter and chocolate chip ones. The chocolate ones are good if you like dark chocolate flavor. I'm a milk chocolate flavor girl so skip those but, hubby likes them alot. You can get your quest bars online as well. I don't believe we're suppose to post links to other websites though....you can google them

Happy Belated Birthday! I hope you bought yourself something nice! 50 pounds gone deserves a nice new pretty something

Hail Oz DL!

I would think you'd be ok as long as it doesn't sit in your lungs but, you could probably call your surgeon and ask the what if I have a head cold question

My surgeon said 6-8 weeks for most folks is the best for healing. I know desk job folks (like me) feel pretty good at 3 weeks but, for me I ended up with an incision infection then an infection in my bowel due to the antibiotics for the first infection. UNREAL! Took me 6.5 weeks to get back to work and I can tell you my first week back was rough. Not pain wise but, trying to get all the liquid and Protein in and I was light headed sometimes. I'm far from a wuss! Can take a lot of pain but, my surgery kicked my butt with the infection issues.