chriskre

Hi,
When I was in the hospital the nurses would bring me 4 pills to take all at once.
I was fine with the tablets but the capsules like the Omeprazole kept getting stuck and causing discomfort.
I was sleeved on June 16th and now it's not happening anymore.
I think possibly the pills were turning sideways on the way down and getting stuck til they dissolved.
Now I can take 3 pills without a problem on an empty stomach.
This too hopefully shall pass...........

Just to let anyone under Tri-Care Prime that Insure Nutrition cover them too.
The lady on the phone told me that it would be for two shakes per day, the scar cream and Multivitamins.
Also, it can signed off by your PCM or your Surgeon.
I just emailed my PCM for the correct fax number for Insure Nutrition to contact them and should be good to go.
Xx

I think your first stall makes you anxious because after years of failed diets, your insecurities return and you doubt yourself

You all are inspire me. I'm still pre op until July 3rd and was worried because I started at 316 lbs and started a 2 lbs loss a day, now for 2 weeks, I'm stuck and feel frustrated. I know it's process and cannot wait to change my life next week. I think it's amazing to see how successful all of you have been, it seems more natural to lose slowly than have an immediate change like that in our bodies. I'll be happy if I see any results right away and make the zip line weight limit at Yellowstone this year! keep up the great attitudes and moving forward!

I'm not sure, and please tell me if any of you other stallers have had or are perhaps having the same experience, but I may have found the reason for what seems like a stall.
Since starting to eat more foods, but in very little amounts, I mean I can eat about as much as what fits in a yogurt cup, I have noticed that my bowel movements aren't what they were before my surgery. Prior to surgery, I was very regular, but now that we are eating so little, it seems it takes a little longer to process what it is we're eating and our body rids ourselves of it. I said all that to say this....and yes I'm having to be a little personal....I believe my stall may be due to the fact that my bowel movement routine has been interrupted by going to the bathroom less that before. I'm alluding to this because I woke up this morning, pretty early with stomach cramps and after several times in the potty, in under the 224 mark, but don't feel it's over....ha!
Has anyone else noticed that you go to the bathroom a little less frequently and perhaps it's hanging around a little too long causing us to stall a little? Just saying and asking Hope everyone has a great weekend! God Bless you all!

I've read quite a few posts from those who have stalled at this point. I think I'm going to make my husband hide the scale so that I only weigh once a week. I've got myself weighing several times a day and am driving myself insane with it....lol.

I was at the gym working out by doing laps at the lap pool and when I got out this little girl (probably 3-4 yo) said look mommy she has a baby in her belly (I assure you I don't) and then her wonderful older sister says, no she's just fat. Definitely won't miss comments like these when the weight is gone.

Thanks all.
I almost wish he'd make me do the diet cause I'm having too many food funerals. LOL.
I did gain a little weight and unfortunately will have more to lose.
But I'm in this for life so on with the show.

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth....... But also, don't make detrimental use of it either. Any weight you put on now, you'll just have to lose later and even if your Doc feels he doesn't need the pre-op diet, it can only benefit your outcome.
No time like the present to start your lifestyle change.....Good luck with your surgery.

My surgeon just required a 3 day pre-op full liquids diet to shrink your liver just to help avoid issues. It's not uncommon and is just dependent on the doc and his preference. I wouldn't be too concerned and like you said...it makes it easier for you!
Good luck!

You will get a ton of different answers on this, none are wrong. There are many reasons some are on very strict pre-op diets. I did 2 shakes and one high Protein, low carb meal a day the two weeks before surgery. More than anything, it got me used to the shakes and kind of detoxed me off carbs prior to surgery. Best of luck!!!

Wow, so many familiar stories.
I actually laughed at many of them cause I can totally relate.
Thank you everyone for sharing.
For me it's been lots of things.
I've struggled with weight since my 20's and I started working night shift.
But it really got bad when I fell and tore my knee up trying to run with the BF at 40.
After that it seemed like I ballooned because of immobility.
Eventually I got better and lost a few pounds but then they came back on even worse.
Well the BF is gone, moved onto a skinnier lady and here I am at 330.
He's not the straw that broke me, I broke myself.
I got sick and ended up in the hospital and found myself bedridden for months.
Then I couldn't recover no matter what I did.
That's when my pulmonary doctor looked me straight in the eyes and said if you don't
have the surgery you will be dying very soon.
It's been years of seatbelt extenders, not being able to do Disney anymore,
huffing and puffing with the stairs, knees completely shot at this point,
reflux, sleep apnea, judgmental remarks all the time and on and on.
I can't say it's just one straw, it's years of straws.
But the biggest thing is that I just cannot do what I could do.
I can't walk, breathe, sleep, travel, shop and the list goes on and on.
I'm 49 and feel like I'm 100.
This is definitely not what I signed up for.
Had to take early retirement because I just couldn't be a nurse anymore.
I guess that was the straw. Loss of my life, my career, my identity.
Hopefully I can find it again and find the person I want to be but have never
been able to find.

This has been a roller coaster ride so far and I know it's still going to continue. But for the first time in a long time I am finally finding myself and becoming happy. I was the girl who would always go out of my way to please everyone but now I'm finally do things to please me. I have found out who the true friends are and who are the fake ones. I've learned not to be so hard on my self and things take time. I didn't gain it in a day, I won't be losing it in a day either. It's been 3 1/2 months since my surgery and I've lost 60lbs. That's more then I have ever lost before. I weigh less now then I did in the 8th grade (btw I'm 24 now). I put 3 pictures together today and I can't stop staring at it. I seriously can't believe this is me now. I have never been happier! Can't wait to see what else is in store for the new me!!

Protein-containing foods help us feel satisfied for longer after eating, which is helpful in managing our weight.


In a previous article I introduced the concept of getting the most from what you are eating, in particular, feeling satisfied after eating. Whilst the purpose of weight loss surgery is to help you feel satisfied on a smaller amount of food, the type of foods you choose is important to help maximise this. There are two key ingredients in helping you to feel satisfied after eating:
1. High fibre, low glycemic index carbohydrate-containing foods
2. Protein-containing foods.
The previous article explored the glycemic index, or GI. This article focuses on Protein. Protein-containing foods help us feel satisfied for longer after eating, which is helpful in managing our weight.
Protein is also involved in many bodily functions including:
building and repairing body cells such as bone, hair, skin, nail and muscle
producing hormones to help us burn stored energy, including body fat
making enzymes to help digest food
helping to protect our body against colds, Hair loss, muscle weakness, and fatigue.

Not eating enough protein can result in:
a weaker immune system
muscle loss
hair loss
inadequate weight loss.

Why am I at risk of inadequate protein intake after weight loss surgery?
As indicated in the protein counter (on my website), meat products contain the most protein per serve.
An Australian study from The St George Upper GI Clinic in Sydney, Australia, found that those with a gastric band often find red and white meat difficult to tolerate whilst fish was tolerated more easily. Some people who have had sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass also reported difficulty eating these foods but it was far less common than it was among those with a gastric band.
Red meat and chicken breast can be more difficult to eat if they are dry, overcooked, stringy, or if they have been reheated. Any meat can be difficult to tolerate if you are not using the correct eating technique. Some people will then avoid these foods, when working on improving eating technique may allow them to eat these foods comfortably.
Food tolerance varies from person to person and is found by trial and error. Tolerance of all foods can be improved by following the correct eating technique as I have discussed previously.
Following all surgeries, you will be eating smaller amounts of food. A reduced intake of food causes a decrease in protein intake. In the early stages following surgery, people who have had a sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass are likely to tolerate only very small quantities of food. When you eat your meals, eat the protein-containing food first to ensure you have room for this important nutrient.
How much protein do I need?
There is no one exact recommended protein intake following weight loss surgery. A range of 60-120g has been suggested, however your individual protein needs will vary depending on your age, gender and your particular stage of recovery. It is best to speak to your dietitian about your protein needs. You can then use the protein counter below to see how you can achieve this.
It is easy to confuse the weight of food with the protein content. For example, some may assume 100g of meat provides 100g of protein. This is not the case. Head to my website for a simple table on the protein content of common foods.
Lean protein foods are the best choices, as they are lower in fat, particularly saturated fat. Meat should be trimmed of fat and chicken should have skin removed. Low fat milk, yoghurt and reduced fat cheeses are recommended.

Wow, so many familiar stories.
I actually laughed at many of them cause I can totally relate.
Thank you everyone for sharing.
For me it's been lots of things.
I've struggled with weight since my 20's and I started working night shift.
But it really got bad when I fell and tore my knee up trying to run with the BF at 40.
After that it seemed like I ballooned because of immobility.
Eventually I got better and lost a few pounds but then they came back on even worse.
Well the BF is gone, moved onto a skinnier lady and here I am at 330.
He's not the straw that broke me, I broke myself.
I got sick and ended up in the hospital and found myself bedridden for months.
Then I couldn't recover no matter what I did.
That's when my pulmonary doctor looked me straight in the eyes and said if you don't
have the surgery you will be dying very soon.
It's been years of seatbelt extenders, not being able to do Disney anymore,
huffing and puffing with the stairs, knees completely shot at this point,
reflux, sleep apnea, judgmental remarks all the time and on and on.
I can't say it's just one straw, it's years of straws.
But the biggest thing is that I just cannot do what I could do.
I can't walk, breathe, sleep, travel, shop and the list goes on and on.
I'm 49 and feel like I'm 100.
This is definitely not what I signed up for.
Had to take early retirement because I just couldn't be a nurse anymore.
I guess that was the straw. Loss of my life, my career, my identity.
Hopefully I can find it again and find the person I want to be but have never
been able to find.

So let me start out by saying that I drink alcohol maybe 2-3 times a year. A six pack will go bad in my fridge before I drink it all if I buy it. With that said I do enjoy an occasional ice cold beer. I was sitting on the side of the bed this morning just thinking and it hit me.... No more beer. I am early in he process so i'm sure plenty of other things will hit me as well. I just tell myself that the advantages of being small far outweigh anything I may feel I miss.

I am about 2.5 months post op. My biggest problem is that I sometime eat TOO fast and up throwing everything up. I have gotten very good at throwing up vey discretely.
It's very hard to eat right after eating like a pig all my life. ????

OMG, I feel you.... I'm almost 5 months out. I ate a half cup of chocolate chips. (I have done this more than once) and each time I feel like crap. I feel nauseous and I get acid reflux from it. I don't usually have any kind of "bad" food in my house but I did have these stupid chocolate chips because I was baking something for my mother in law and needed 3 TBSP of mini chocolate chips. If I do this again, I'm throwing the rest away! But why have I ate them more than once? I have no idea, except, I feel the damn chocolate chips are calling my name and drawing me in with a magnet. I feel weak during these times and have to find a different way of dealing with it.

So my husband found this pic from last April 2013 at my sons bday party and my 1st thought was delete it and NEVER show anyone but then I decided to put side by side with a pic from this April 2014. Im 5mo out and down 94lbs

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Wow, so many familiar stories.
I actually laughed at many of them cause I can totally relate.
Thank you everyone for sharing.
For me it's been lots of things.
I've struggled with weight since my 20's and I started working night shift.
But it really got bad when I fell and tore my knee up trying to run with the BF at 40.
After that it seemed like I ballooned because of immobility.
Eventually I got better and lost a few pounds but then they came back on even worse.
Well the BF is gone, moved onto a skinnier lady and here I am at 330.
He's not the straw that broke me, I broke myself.
I got sick and ended up in the hospital and found myself bedridden for months.
Then I couldn't recover no matter what I did.
That's when my pulmonary doctor looked me straight in the eyes and said if you don't
have the surgery you will be dying very soon.
It's been years of seatbelt extenders, not being able to do Disney anymore,
huffing and puffing with the stairs, knees completely shot at this point,
reflux, sleep apnea, judgmental remarks all the time and on and on.
I can't say it's just one straw, it's years of straws.
But the biggest thing is that I just cannot do what I could do.
I can't walk, breathe, sleep, travel, shop and the list goes on and on.
I'm 49 and feel like I'm 100.
This is definitely not what I signed up for.
Had to take early retirement because I just couldn't be a nurse anymore.
I guess that was the straw. Loss of my life, my career, my identity.
Hopefully I can find it again and find the person I want to be but have never
been able to find.

A friend of mine who had WLS last year said that missed "chewing" so much in the liquid stage that he would chew celery sticks and then spit them out. That made me laugh but it was a good idea.

Hi everyone. This is my first post here. But I thought this was a very appropriate place to start.
My straw was getting on a plane for a business trip and having to ask the stewardess for an extension belt. As I sat there tugging at the belt trying to make it fit, I had to decide whether to ask for the extender or pretend that my seat belt fit. In the end I decided my safety was the most important thing. But that experience was mortifying.
When you add that to the fact that at 35, I have been on blood pressure medicine for the last three years and have chronic back problems and arthritis in both knees, I knew I had to do something. I have 10 nieces and nephews that I adore and want to see grow up. And if this was me at 35, I couldn't imagine what 40 and 50 looked like.
I decided to be selfish for the first time in my life and take care of me. I always take care of the people I care about, be it my family or friends. But in the process I neglect myself. Well guess what??? I realized if I didn't take care of me, I wouldn't be here to take care of the people I love. Once I found out my insurance covered bariatric surgery, I really didn't have any excuses left. So I started the process in October 2013 and had my surgery on March 20, 2014. I am down almost 32 pounds in a month (16.6 pounds since surgery). It is hard but so worth it. I have no doubt that as long as I stay the course I'll be chasing down the rugrats for many years to come.

Welcome & congratulations on your choice to have the sleeve & also on your insurance approval!!! Wish you the best along your path to a happier, healthier you!!!

There wasn’t any single moment, I just got tired:
I got tired of feeling like I had to apologize for the way I looked.
I got tired of feeling uncomfortable in my own skin.
I got tired of wearing clothes I didn’t like or fit.
I got tired of fighting my own biology.
I got tired of being a walking scale.
I got tired of being preached at.
I got tired of being labeled.
So on to the next phase of my life. I should have my surgery by February (2013). The bad news, I’m self-pay. The good news I don’t have to jump through insurance company hoops. Just one more doctor appointment and I’ll get my surgery date.
Already making an effort to loose weight, down about 14lbs. Just less to loose later.

My "Straw that broke the camels back" came on gradually, and then finally hit me all at once.
I have never been a tiny person. Even in school I was always just a little bit rounder than everyone else even though it was not morbid obesity. Over the past 7 years, I have steadily gained wait and was pretty much in a state of denial as to how big I am. Until I saw some photos...After that, i was more aware of my weight that ever before. I have an arthritic condition and the extra weight makes it very painful. Like so many of you, I got tired of not fitting into seats at certain establishments...it is so embarassing...I'm always afraid I will have a "Shallow Hal" moment and various modes of seating will collapse under me! I always make that joke to my closest friends who know my struggles and we have a good laugh...but there is always that small fear that that could be a reality for me under the right circumstances. Now please let me preface the following statement by saying that while I am a very "weepy" person , that's just how I deal with things, I am not one of those moping people looking for sympathy wherever I may find it. Having said this, I'm an only 25 and (however true or untrue this may be) I feel that if I continue to look and feel as I do that I will be alone forever! Almost all of my friends are married with children or in serious, heading toward marriage, relationships. I know that everyone is different and no two people live the same life, but good grief!! Something's gotta give! Forgive me for being totally transparent, but I feel this is a real & valid fear! But the one thing that finally gave me a reality check about this whole situation was when my parents (I live at home) sat me down and told me that I needed to do something because they were worried about my phyiscal & emotional health. Now nothing major has happened yet, and I am still in the preliminary stages but even if for some horrid reason I am not able to fund this surgery through insurance, I refuse to allow my life to be stagnant any longer!
...my word... now my fingers are numb from typing!