JeanZ_RN

I have read in other posts on this site that hunger like you describe could be remedied by starting, or increasing the dose of, a PPI - proton pump inhibitor. Those are the meds like Prilosec, Tagamet, etc. that reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces. As with every medication change, though: ASK YOUR SURGEON BEFORE YOU DO IT.

Tomorrow I will be 4 weeks out, so while I'm very early in my journey, would I do it all over again? Yes, absolutely!

I've already lost 25 pounds since the start of my pre-op diet, which is way more than I would have without the sleeve. I've been able to cut way back on my insulin, and hope to be off it altogether soon. I'm still taking a BP med but hope I'll be off that soon too. I was self-pay (because my employer wrote into their health insurance that they won't cover any WLS) and I'd pay all over again to have it done.

I am finding it difficult to not drink 30 min before -> 30 min after eating, but I'm adhering to it. In addition to the difference in "mouth feel" during the meal, I also have to notice what time the meal ended (so I'll know when I can drink). Similarly I have to note when I took my Calcium supplement so I'll know when I can take my Iron - and vice versa.

The constipation... is bad. I think it's due in large part to the lack of fat in my diet. So, with my surgeon's consent I started taking Colace 100mg twice a day about 10 days after surgery. That has helped a lot.

One of the best things for me is that I'm no where NEAR as hungry as I was before surgery; that's what made the pre-op diet tough for me. I'm very fortunate to have had an easy recovery, and I am so glad I found this site!

Best of luck!

My surgeon and nutritionist told me it's the lack of sugar that shrinks the liver.

Oh, and I forgot to say ... I'm 5'3" tall and small boned.

I started at 204, and the pre-op diet got me to 192 - 12 lbs gone in 6 weeks.

Surgery day was 11/13/13, and I weighed 192 that morning.

Today, at 3.5 weeks out, I weigh 180 - another 12 lbs gone since surgery. (I'm tickled pink with that, but at the same time I'm kinda disappointed when I see a picture of myself and I'm not thin yet! I know, I know, I didn't get to this point over night either.)

So my post-op rate of loss has been about 3-4 lbs per week, and I'm not exercizing. I've been trying to convince myself to start an exercize plan, and I even have one selected... but I just hate exercize! I work at a desk job, so that's no help.

When I went back to work, which was 1 week after surgery, my surgeon said my only restriction was not to lift more than 20 lbs for six more weeks - so at 7 weeks out I'll be able to lift again. However, I had a ventral hernia repaired at the same time my sleeve was done, so my restriction may be a bit more stringent than for someone who did not have that.

I haven't tried probiotics, but I am taking Colace twice a day and it is helping. I think a significant part of the problem, for me anyway, is lack of fat in my diet.

The main thing is: Whatever makes you comfortable.

For me (an RN) and my nurse friends, we agree that none of us will have to be alone that first night in a hospital, ever. It's great having someone right there without even having to ring the call light, so if you wake nauseated the basin is handed to you and then a cool cloth.

And then there's the tiny chance that something could come up that needs a rapid response - bleeding or very high blood pressure or pain that's not controlled. In that case it's best to have an advocate who will speak up for you if need be.

For Protein shakes, I like them better almost frozen. I put mine in the freezer for 25-30 minutes (shake well before and after the freeze part). They come out with ice crystals in them, which I like a lot.

Bet it's comforting to know there's nothing you've missed in your research. And perhaps your contributions in class helped someone else....

Congratulations! Sounds like you've got everything under control! You must have been working on the arrangements for a while.

NMJG, twice on this thread you've included "Bump" in your post. What does that mean?

Congratulations!

Since the original topic was Vitamins and coffee for Breakfast, I gotta say ... Vitamins are put to use best by the body when taken with food.

I had the same thought re proactive. I didn't think to ask for samples, though - I just went to the 2 sources recommended by my surgeon / NUT: BariatricAdvantage.com and CelebrateVitamins.com.

My way of going about it was to make a list of each Vitamin and mineral recommended / required by my surgeon, and then make notes out beside each re cost at each of the 2 sites. Be careful to figure in the units of measure for each one... eg if the Multivitamin you choose has 200 mg of magnesium in each tablet and you'll be taking 2 tablets a day, then you can subtract 400 mg of magnesium from what you'll need in the form of magnesium tablets.

Then I looked at the flavors listed, and since I really dislike orange / citrus, it was pretty easy for me to choose. I've only had to make one change re Vitamins since surgery: Turns out the flavor of the Calcium citrate I chose is too intense for me, so I changed to the chocolate and the caramel chewies instead. The latter have only 250 mg per chew, so I'll have to order twice as many of those compared to the chewable tablets. And, I have a great big tub of the tablets I no longer want.... Oh, well ... cost of getting used to my new way of eating.

I paid the surgeon $5,000 and the hospital $7,500 in Dallas - total of $12,500.

I wish I had practiced that before surgery. I'm still on liquids only, so I haven't faced implementation of it yet... but it worries me. I'm very reassured to know it will get easier.

At the top right of each screen is "Hello" and your name. Click on your name, and from the submenu choose My Tickers. Follow the prompts.

No problem here either.

At the top right of each screen is "Hello" and your name. Click on your name, and from the submenu choose My Patient Profile. (Not My Profile, but My PATIENT Profile.) Scroll down until you find the field for the type of surgery.

Not positive this will do it, but it's worth a try.

I am 8 days post op today, and I have that main-incision "stitch" too. The discomfort in mine seems to come and go without rhyme or reason, though. I'm glad to hear it will go away.

Your ticker says surgery was just 16 days ago... that's pretty fast for scar tissue to form and be that size. Maybe ask your surgeon for some kind of imaging study - maybe sonogram -- just to be sure it is what he thinks it is?

I've been taking my Prilosec in capsule form since 3rd day post op, and no problem.

I'm 8 days post op and doing VERY well - getting in my Protein & Water without difficulty. Had been taking a chewable Calcium tab from CelebrateVitamins.com but decided the taste was not to my liking so yesterday rec'd my new kind from same company - chocolate chew calcium. Took 2 last evening, and no problem. I'll take chocolate taste over berry any day! The caramel flavor is yummy also. (Just note they're 250 mg each, not 500 mg.)

This morning while driving to work I was having my Premier Protein shake, and decided to have a calcium chew also. After a few minutes I was a little queasy (first time since hospital), then definitely nauseated. It went away after a half hour or so, but then I was light-headed and a bit dizzy. I started drinking water, and that helped. All symptoms are gone now. I think I had a very mild episode of dumping.

Lesson learned: Wait until later in the day to have anything that tastes the LEAST bit sweet, even if it's sweetened with maltilol.

I'm in Dallas also. Dr Jeffrey Henke did my sleeve a week ago - Wed 11/13. He's in practice with Dr. Joseph Kuhn, who is better known. I haven't had any difficulty getting my Water / Protein in since post op day 2. I'm going back to work tomorrow.

The Vitamins I like are from CelebrateVitamins.com, and the Protein shakes I like best - actually, the only ones I can stand - are Premier Protein chocolate. I actually like them!

Welcome to the group! Everyone has been VERY supportive, and very helpful.