Inner Surfer Girl

I agree with previous posters. If the first mask you get doesn't work then keep trying until you find one that does. I use the nose pillows, too. I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea several years before I had surgery. Other than surgery, getting that diagnoses was one of he best things I had done because I had no idea what a good night's sleep was like. Getting a good night's sleep on a regular basis literally changed my life. My sleep apnea has improved a great deal since surgery. I made an appointment with my sleep Doctor within about 10 days post-surgery because the pressure was too high. He switched me to an automatic machine and I love it.

WLS has changed rapidly, especially over the last few years. I don't know enough about how GPs and PCPs keep up with changes in medicine other than by reading journals. I wonder if there are a couple of good journal articles out there that could help bring some of these folks up to speed. Have any of the research whizzes on BariatricPal run across anything?

I have experienced well-meaning strangers approach me in public and usually in parking lots. It is a trip. This was definitely another sobering episode. My heart ached for her. Talk about a poster-child for poverty, abuse, and neglect. Her son is adorable and I truly hope the surgery will help break the cycle. What I still find unfathomable is how young so many of the recent people on the show have been. Over 700 pounds by her mid-20s is crazy. I weighed a lot when I had surgery, but that weight was gained over decades. It is like we have a whole generation that is being poisoned by our culture's unhealthy relationship with food and all of the fast, cheap, convenient, unhealthy food, that is a staple in our diets. On another note, I am currently taking a nutrition class through our county extension office for kicks. I am sure there are some SNAP and WIC recipients in the class. In addition to some pretty sound nutritional info they are also teaching things like potatoes and rice are great staples for your diet because they are cheap. It wouldn't be that big of a deal except that at least 75% of the class is overweight and it sounds like their families are, too. I have been open about my surgery and the food plan I am following so hopefully some of what I share in class may be helpful for some folks. I even showed a couple of people MyFitnessPal and helped one woman download it to her phone. I am seriously considering contacting the folks who develop the curriculum to see if it would be possible to develop a WLS-friendly or even a generic Bariatric-friendly version. Shaking my head.

It sounds like he may need to brush up on his information about the disease of obesity. GPs can be a great resource for general health but they aren't specialists.

Do your best to get in all of your protein and fluids right now. Don't worry so much about calories and the numbers on the scale. The most important thing is to stay hydrated and get your protein so you can heal.

Welcome! Best of luck with your surgery.

Since I ate everything with a tablespoon pre-op, switching to a teaspoon is using s smaller spoon. I did get some appetizer spoons rather than toddler spoons. I still use one of those to eat things like yogurt. It really does help me to take smaller bites. If you use a teaspoon then try using just the tip rather than a full teaspoon full. It takes practice but I think that taking smaller bites, eating slowly, and chewing thoroughly really makes a difference. The benefit is that I get to really taste my food.

Yeah! I won. Am I invited?

My answer: the best exercise is the one that I do. Whatever gets me moving!

I agree, polite persistence and patience shouldn't hurt.

This sounds great! Just one question. How are your Iron levels? I was told that Calcium interferes with the absorption of iron so not to take iron with calcium. Since you take your iron first thing and then drink calcium fortified juice soon after I would think it might make a difference. Thank you so much for sharing!

This is great. Thank you so much for sharing your experience.

Try it again in the summer with ripe, juicy, fresh tomatoes and you might feel differently.

Embrace the Stall http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

I took a PPI as prescribed for six months.

Sleeve and hernia repair. No drain.

You might also want to check out the blog The World According to Eggface for recipe ideas.

Every surgeon has a different pre-op diet. The best thing for me was to focus on what I COULD have instead of what I COULDN'T. Definitely call your NUT if you have questions or if you aren't clear on what you can have.

You could do a bean dip (or similar), chili as other's have suggested, or even something like a crock pot full of meatballs.

I am not diabetic, but this sounds like something you should work out between your regular doctor and your surgeon. I assume you have talked to your NUT about this?

I understand where you are coming from. It reminds me when my boss decided we should all read "The Secret" because it was the best thing he had ever read. I thought it was a not very well disguised recycling of ideas that has been presented much better by other people. I learned many years ago that what is old hat to some is new to others. I think it comes from working at a University and with Freshmen. Everybody has to learn something new for the first time. And, for some of us, we have to hear it a million times or in a million ways before we really get it.

What are they giving you? Mine gave me packets of ProtiDiet liquid Beverage Concentrate and it really helped me get in my Protein. Initially, I ate it undiluted over a little bit of crushed ice.

For me, I have eliminated: carbonation, alcohol, anything fried, sugary things like cake, most starches most of the time, pasta, and anything sugary like fruit juice.

Ha Ha Ha Ha! Perfect.

I believe you started out right by asking the question. Knowing what you need is also a big step in the right direction. Do you want someone local you can see independently or are you open to someone you can communicate with remotely? I have a friend who does some coaching. I haven't used her services but am contemplating doing so when I get closer to goal so I can only vouch for her as a personal friend. I believe she does group work and one-on-one counseling. I'll PM you her website. You might also want to look at an organization that provides credentials to coaching. You might ask your other physicians (your PCP, etc.) if they know of someone. I am looking forward to seeing the responses you receive from this post.