SportCub

I did not care for the nectar brand of Protein powders. I also did not like the Click brand. So far my favorites have been in the following order: ON Performance whey Isolate - Vanilla (got this one at costco, red and black tub). They also have a ready to drink chocolate but I find it too sweet. GNC Pro Performance AMP - Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60 - Chocolate GNC Pro Performance AMP - Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60 - strawberry unjury - Chocolate and Vanilla Unjury - Unflavored My surgeon specified whey protein isolate so my choices were limited to that. I hope that helps.

Here in Ohio I found the flavored broth at Giant Eagle. Target also has small boxes of soups. Not all are appropriate for WLS patients but I did buy the butternut squash soup that I can thin down with broth or milk. I like that it's a small box and I don't have to open and use 2 quarts.

I was sleeved 4/8/14 and was in the hospital until 4/10/14. Like many others my biggest issue is just the bloating, swelling, gas, etc. I have not had real pain since coming home and have not used pain medication so I am glad about that. On my left side above the biggest incision there is a swollen area about the size of an orange. I am not sure what that is from but I do know they did a liver biopsy while they were in there so maybe it's from that, although I think the majority of the liver is on the right side???? Immediately post op I did have quite a bit of pain and certainly questioned myself at that point but each day is better and better and I have absolutely no regrets at this stage. While in the hospital I was on Clear liquids. Once discharged I was put on full liquids which is the consistency of skim milk. Yogurt Soup anyone? :-) I have my follow up with the surgeon on 4/23 where I am hoping to progress to the next stage which is blended foods (pudding consistency). Who knew I would get so excited over pudding....lol! Easter dinner this weekend is going to be interesting to say the least but I know I have to follow the rules and don't want to risk injuring my new $40k stomach....haha! Anyone in central Ohio want to trade emails? Message me! Tony

I am having a horrible time with the bloating, swelling, etc. I was starting to get concerned but as usual these forums have been a big help. GasX does help for a bit but the swelling returns. I even switched to unsweetened almond milk instead of regular milk just in case I have a touch of lactose intolerance. I never really drank a lot of milk prior to surgery. I am sure once I am able to move on to the next phase things will get more "regular" and some of the gas, bloating, swelling, etc. will resolve itself.

Having to cook while on a liquid diet does not sound like much fun. I prepared my other half and told him that I did not know if I would be able to cook food if I wasn't eating any of it. So far it has worked out ok but I did notice last night as I was helping him finish dinner (he needs lots of coaching since he is not a good cook....lol) that my stomach was growling from the smells. :-) I was sleeved on 4/8/14 so I am still in the post op full liquid phase. Speaking of broth, I found flavored chicken broth at the grocery. They had a thai, Italian, etc. It is just plain chicken broth but its seasoned. I did strain it to be sure but that is an option for you and would provide some variety. I am not sure who it is made by but on the front it has "Chicken Soup for the Soul". I hope that helps. Hang in there and good luck with everything in 4 days! Tony

Kasee...so true! I have noticed the past couple of days when it got cold again that I didn't want to go out of the house but I forced myself to go walk around Target and Old Navy yesterday. We got to do it, right? :-)

What katmando12 said....haha! Walking was the single most important thing for me after surgery

I was sleeved on 4/8/14 and on 4/14/14 I had lost 9.7 lbs. It sounds like you are doing all of the right things so just keep on that path and I am sure you will be successful! As yodasplash says, just relax and don't get stressed out and everything will work out the way it is supposed to for you. We are all different and will lose at different rates. Great job so far!

Hey Alex, You are not alone buddy! I had my surgery on 4/8/14 so I am definitely in the same phase as you. The bear community is what it is. Don't let how they react to the new you determine your success with weight loss surgery. We didn't do it for them! Private message me if you ever want to chat. We will be going down this path together timing wise so it would be nice to have someone to compare notes with. Thanks, Tony

A week of clear liquids post op is a new one for me but as everyone always says, every doc is different and always follow what your doc says! I am having my surgery tomorrow (YEAH!) and after discharge I will be on full liquids so I have stocked up on Protein powder, skim milk, Isopure (ready to drink clear protein drinks), several kinds of broth, cream of Soups (I will have to thin them out with milk and strain out any bits), Greek yogurt (again I will have to thin out), sugar free Jello, etc. In addition to food items I have another shopping list for all of the non food stuff like chewable Vitamins, milk of magnesia, miralax, gas x, etc. At least gathering all of this stuff keeps me occupied so I don't start dwelling on the big event tomorrow!

Hey guys.....thanks for all of the honest and open conversation. This thread is one of the best I have read so far. The willingness to share is wonderful. FYI - I am having sleeve gastrectomy on Tuesday, 4/8/14.

BuckeyeMom....I hope you are doing well. Congrats on starting your new life. I am having my sleeve gastrectomy on Tuesday 4/8/14 by Dr. Sonnanstine at Riverside. I am excited but nervous at the same time. All of the posts here and all of the videos on YouTube have been immensely helpful. Thanks to everyone who has offered advice!

Congrats!! I start my journey on 4/8/14. I hope on 4/8/15 I can post a similar message with as much success as you have achieved. It is good for us that are just starting our journey to see others doing well and succeeding so we know that it does work. Thanks for sharing your milestone!

Quick update....I got the approval from the insurance company! Tomorrow I am doing an H. Pylori test and then they will put me on the schedule. Keeping my fingers crossed a get a date the week of 3/31. Unfortunately I have work commitments 3/10-3/28 so nothing happening during that time frame. I hope you all are doing well!

I will be having VSG the first week of April. Would be great to find a mentor, buddy, pal, etc that is in the area. Would be great to meet up and talk on occasion. These forums and message boards are great support but it would be great to talk with a real person on occasion. Someone that is LGBT would be great. Thanks!

When did you find out you needed to do the liquid diet prior to surgery?

Thanks guys....all good stuff!

I hope this isn't too personal.... I was wondering how soon after surgery did you all start to feel the sex drive improving or returning? I have low testosterone levels but had to stop taking the testosterone replacement after I started having problems with swelling in my legs. I don't know if I will be able to start using it again after surgery but hopefully if the sex drive improves I may not have to. Thanks in advance for the help!

Great results!! I hope I can say the same at 5 months. Hopefully I will hear from insurance soon and I can get the ball rolling.

Way to go....I hope to be hearing some good news soon also!

I am waiting on my surgery date and I have many instances of second guessing my decision. I am sure once I get a surgery date and the time get closer I will have many more "break downs". Reading these forums and watching all of the videos on YouTube have been a great help. Thanks to all of you that take time to answer questions and talk us that are waiting for surgery or just had surgery off of the ledge. :-)

I started this process back in October. Insurance required 4 months of monitored diet with a dietician so I knew going in it was going to take at least that long. Luckily I was able to get everything done in that 4 months so once I had my last visit with the dietician everything was ready to go to the insurance company. So, now I am just playing the waiting game which is killing me!!

ashrn80.....I have Aetna also. My request for approval went to the insurance company on 2/18/14 so I am just waiting on a response. Keeping my fingers crossed it comes quickly. Bariatric surgery is covered under my plan so I am hoping the process is smooth and fairly painless. How are things going with you?