terry1118

I tried a little tuna mixed w/spicy hummus one time. It was tasty and the tuna stayed down. I haven't done it since, but only because I threw out more than 1/2 the can of tuna so it didn't seem worth it. Hard boiled egg mixed w/hummus is good, too, and I have that more often because there is little waste. :-)

A few days is not a 'plateau'. It could be water retention, constipation, or nothing at all. Relax and stay away from the scale for a week or so. I started my soft food stage 1 1/2 days early with no trouble, but I had an easy time following surgery with no issues or complications. That being said I would never advise anyone to go against their own doctor's instructions. They may have a reason for or against it so check with them first. :-)

I've learned to love salad w/o dressing. You can use a little balsamic vinegar, or the popular WW tip - dipping your fork in dressing before taking a bite.

Schoollass, I get the 'dry as the Sahara' reference. I am finished w/menopause (I'm 54) and am dealing with that issue myself. What exactly helps w/that?

I would imagine it could injure your healing pouch (if RNY). At the very least it will be painful and you may throw it up. Dehydration is a serious but easily avoidable problem so follow your doctors instructions...

I am 54. My surgeon never set a goal for me but I never dreamed I'd reach 116lbs. Initially, I had no goal other than to feel good and be healthy. I sort of thought that being around a 12 - 14 would be awesome for a woman my age, so I stocked up on those sizes... and passed them by. I'm in a size 6 or 8 and a small top w/some extra smalls. It's mind boggling to me! I am literally one pound away from what I weighed on my wedding day 32 years ago. You will end up where you end up. My body may correct itself and hit a comfortable set-point here or maybe a little higher - who knows? I am just enjoying the ride! :-)

I agree. A lot of people who make comments never knew me as a thin person so to them this is a drastic change.

I had no drain. Some docs do it, some don't. I don't know what determines if you need one. My surgery was easy, no complications, quick recovery.

Sorry! My desktop died and my tablet limitations won't let me update (or if it does, I can't figure it out - I'm a low-tech person who still uses an eight year old flip phone!). :-)

I can still drink fast but I can't drink as fast as I could before. I can also drink w/a straw with no trouble. My surgery was 5/30/13 so I was also very concerned about staying hydrated during the summer months. It takes 3 hours to cut my grass w/a push mower, a chore that I love, but I was especially concerned about doing this. I bought a Camel Back backpack-style Water bottle that has a tube system w/a valve that heps prevent swallowing a lot of air. It was about $50 at Dick's Sporting Goods but also available online. I never used it and returned it for a full refund. I found initially that I needed frequent short rest breaks so I had plenty of drinking time during this activity. The backback option is great for hikers, bikers, family vacations, or people who work outside. :-) For the first 1-6 months while you're healing you really need to drink slowly.

Chike high protein coffee. 20gr of protein. I make it w/water and crushed ice in the blender. It tastes just like a coffee frappe (shake) and has the equivalent of two espresso shots so I get my morning 'kick'. And, as a very happy bonus, I've been regular ever since I began using Chike three months ago. My constipation problem is no more! :-)

I showered the third day, but they said no baths until the incisions were healed (completely closed).

That is a good point. I'm 120 pounds lighter now. I'm at 116 lbs, only one pound away from what I weighed on my wedding day 32 years ago! :-)

I know with RNY they say no carbonated beverages. And no alcohol for a year. I'm over a year and am having my Saturday night wine again. I get very tipsy on a single 4oz glass, where before it took a whole bottle. And I mean VERY tipsy - slurring words and unsteady on my feet tipsy! I haven't noticed that it wears off faster, either, though some people say it does.

This site was invaluable to me before and after surgery. I learned a lot, both by other's mistakes and successes. I knew what to expect before during and after surgery and got good tips to prepare for it. Tips about what to buy, what to do and not do, and tips for easing discomfort of painful gas. VERY valuable - the threads regarding constipation! Reading about successes was a great encouragement and kept me focused so I could someday be in that category. Recipes helped me eat foods at each stage that met my dietary needs and tasted great. Sometimes all I needed was a little sympathy after a 'foamies' incident from someone who knows what 'foamies' are, and I got that too. And so on, and so on... As a 'vet' of just over one year post op, I have to give other vets a lot of credit for tirelessly answering the same old questions over and over and over again. And occasionally getting bashed for it. Sometimes people don't want to hear the plain honest truth, but the best help you can give them IS the truth! After my surgical team, this site is the most valuable resource I have had since I made my decision to do RNY back in Feb 2013 (my actual surgery was 5/30/13). I thank the vets for being there when I needed it. With your example to follow, I hope to continue to share my personal experiences when it may help someone else. :-)

My shoulder hurt a good 6-8 weeks. I seriously was afraid my rotator cuff was torn again. It'll go away eventually - maybe sooner, maybe later, but it'll go.

Through this forum, I met a local girl who had her WLS about 2-3 months after me. Every month or so I'd pass clothes on to her that no longer fit me. She was temporarily unemployed and it helped her transition through the sizes w/minimum expense. I was glad it helped someone I knew. You can organize a clothing swap with other weight loss patients, place gently used clothing in a consignment shop, donate them to a shelter, pass them on to friends or family, or even have them picked up at your house (Big Sisters in RI will do pickups).

When people tell you to eat more or that you're too thin just tell them "Thank you for your concern, but I'm following my doctor's orders and I'm healthier than I have been in years!". Who can argue with your doctor? I know, some people still will! Lol. But you can also listen politely, nod your head, and let it go in one ear and out the other...

Search for the "Ricotta Bake" recipe. Made w ricotta cheese, egg, sauce, and mozzarella, it's acceptable for pureed and soft food stage - and it is delicious! Think lasagna w/o the pasta and meat. :-)

Even moistening chicken doesn't make a difference for me but it may with others. Chicken salad, pureed or drowning in gravy or broth - it still makes me sick and comes up. I'm okay with it. Someday it may change but for now I'm content w/ground chicken. Every now and again I give it a try. Funny, white rice or anything made with rice flour still makes me sick too. Brown rice - no problem! :-)

Post ops at 1wk, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 yr, 11/2 yrs, 2 yrs, 3 yrs, 4 yrs, 5 yrs, then yearly after that w/PCP only. Labs at 3months, 6 months, 1 yr, and yearly from then on. Nutritionist, twice pre-op, once post-op, and whenever needed after that. Monthly support groups mandatory for 5 yrs. I had to sign an agreement to meet all post-op appointments and attend support group or, if that was not possible, to regularly see my PCP for follow-ups and labs. I intend to take advantage of every tool and all support available to me for continued long-term success. :-)

I got my very first tattoo in California when I visited my son back in April. It's a pretty blue Forget-me-not on my foot. It's sort of an all-encompassing reminder to remember lost love ones (including my best friend, my beloved Basset Hound Moe), people who are still here but can't be with me, life lessons I've learned, and where I was before surgery so I never go back there again. :-)

I'm sorry! I don't buy them on Amazon but someone told me they were available there. I apologize for incorrect information! I actually buy mine from Faunce Corner Nutrition in Dartmouth MA (located very close to Exit 12b off RT195). They carry a lot of nutritional supplements, Protein bars, protein Snacks, and Vitamins for WLS patients and seem to cater primarily to them, although they do have some other types of nutritional products available.

Is that where Lymerock Racetrack is? That is the most beautiful area I have ever seen...

I was amazed at how little pain I actually had following my RNY surgery. It hurt some but not as bad as I feared and it was easily managed w/meds. I stopped all pain meds after only four days, and felt good enough to cut my grass after eight days. My gallbladder removal six months later was way worse, but neither surgery could compare to my rotator cuff surgery six years ago - that pain was intense and long-lasting! And that took about a year before I was pain free!