BLERDgirl

Welcome. I hope this board is helpful. My only recommendation is focus on the positive.

Worth a try. I also make sure I have protein both before and after a work out. Typically a drink before and either the rest of my drink, nut or a protein bar after. It takes away the jittery feeling I would sometimes get post workout.

WOW! So sorry this was the lessor of evils for you. I couldn't be more opposite. I had zero pain, zero negative effects. I eat whole foods so constipation has never been an issue for me. I like working out. In fact I was a regular at the gym for 3 years prior to surgery. I LOVE that totally unexpectedly my chronic uterica is in remission. I eat pretty much what I want. Enjoy EVERYTHING I eat and really don't mind eating small portions. I view every meal as my own special version of tapas.

It also depends on the protocol set up by the bariatric program you choose. This is a good question to ask at your first appointment so you know exactly what you are signing up for.

@@Mommabird - sounds like a latex allergy. I break out in a rash every time I get any bandage put on. I now remove them ASAP or ask the to cover wounds with bandages. Non latex bandages don't work because there is a small amount of latex in the glue and if you are super sensitive that will break you out.

Mine was way over 50 with no comorbs and I didn't have one. My cousin is going to another hospital here in the city and has to do a 10 week pre-op diet..

@@nprcowboy - So how is that treated or managed? Space meals further out? I sincerely hope you are onto something. Perhaps then the doctors cna figure out how to manage this.

@@cruummbs - Just remember men lose a LOT easier & faster than women. Don't be surprised if your weight loss is not as fast as his.

Please don't stress. I eat pretty much the same foods I ate before WLS. I just make sure I'm hitting my protein and then focus on getting in my exercise. Don't drive your self crazy with this.

You can do a compromise. Help you kids not to ever have to worry about WLS by transitioning some of their food choices and Snacks to healthier ones. This may also help relieve you of that "on a diet/deprived" anxiety you appear to be having. Mexican food can be a pretty decent choice if once you learn to make the right choices. I also strong recommend food diary either at Myfitnespal, Sparkpeople or some other place at least for a few months. It will help get you in the habit of making better choices. I often fill mine out for the day first thing in the morning and then edit at night before I go to be. My diary for yesterday include snack choices of either an orange or half an apple with almond butter. By that evening I didn't want either and had a cup of tea instead.

My NUT said for me to eat around 800 calories but honestly I just try to eat sensibly and don't stress it. I tend to fluctuate between 650 and 950 calories. If it's a gym day, my calories may be a little higher. Today I had Pre Gym/Breakfast - I make a 28 ounce Protein shake and drink half before workout and half after. This morning it included apple juice, greek yogurt, Protein powder lunch was low sodium black bean, sunny side up egg, shredded cheddar and salsa dinner was stir fry veg and 4 ounce Beyond meat Chickenless strip (could be subbed w/ chicken breast or lean meat) I had a cup of peppermint tea with raw honey. My totals for the day were: 738 calories 73carbs 17fat 73protein 1,186 sodium 53sugar This includes a sauce I made for the stir fry that was garlic paste, soy sauce, honey & sirarchia. None of theses ingredients were organic. In fact the veg were free because they are on sale at the market this week and I had a coupon for the sale price. (I'm actually going back tomorrow and pick up 3 more packs and put in freezer bags.) I'm on a fixed income and rely on coupons and sales to eat healthy. I think keeping a food diary has given me a better idea of what I can eat to stay within that 650 - 950 range and still hit 70+ in protein. I then fit my Water in between meals. At 4 weeks out you're still figuring it out. Keep working at it and you'll find a happy balance.

Bonus side effect of being a vegetarian. Lots of fiber = regular poops. I can't imagine having to strain that hard.

I haven't experienced any hair loss, but I am menopausal and wear locs. I was already taking Biotin before surgery. What I have noticed is that my fingernails are shot. They constantly split and break off. I just cut them down yesterday. I've found a vegetarian friendly supplement I may try because I really dislike fake nails. @@Redefined - There are many different protocols and food plans. I was allowed oatmeal on purred stage as well.

The general consensus is no NSAIDs. However there are circumstances under which they are allowed, however you doctor needs to monitor this because the use of these increases the chances of developing ulcers. As for other meds, check with your doctor. I take a ZyertecD daily for chronic sinusitis. My doctor was aware of it from the start and had no issues with me resuming post-op.

Isopure unflavored. It's just whey isolate. Bob's Red Mill Soy Isolate, Bob's also had a whey concentrate, but it's not 100% isolates. Orgain Organics uses stevia in their RTD high protein. You have to read the labels carefully because the regular RTD uses sucrolose.

@@chikesweightlossjourney - Nope. It really depends on the insurance company. There are plenty of people on here who had BMI's over 50 that still had to do medically supervised diets.

You can try exercises designed to target those areas, but there's no guarantee that will work.

@@brighteyes64 - I was skeptical, but I liked that it has nothing else in it. I don't need or want extra flavoring and I can't have artificial sweeteners. I make oatmeal from scratch so I dissolve a scoop of the Isopure in a 50/50 water/almond milk mixture and cook up my oats. I then add dried cranberries to it for sweetness. When I was in the pureed stage I soaked the cranberries in a bit of hot water and pureed them and then added them to the oatmeal. I still use the Isopure as a pre workout drink. It's better to not to work out on an empty stomach and I can eat solid food and workout. I've also successfully blended it with 0% Fage greek yogurt. I add my own fresh fruit. The combo gives me anywhere from 30 - 38gms of protein and makes getting in the rest of my protein easy. With soup I take a small amount of soup and add to the protein powder. Almost like making old school gravy. When that's mixed and smooth I then add the rest of my soup. I don't taste the powder at all.

@@Avhick - So glad that worked for you. It's hard to comprehend that when they told us to eat slower they meant suuuuper sloooooow. @@Onward - I didn't add grans like quinoa and farro back until I was 3 months out. They are good proteins, but I wanted to make sure my tummy was ready.

The frothy saliva comes from eating too fast. It's got to be super slow, especially early on. On teeny bite, wait 2 full minutes. Repeat. My first egg as in single egg took an entire hour to eat!

@@brighteyes64 - What instructions did you nutritionist give? I had 2 week phases. 2 weeks Full Liquids, 2 weeks Purees and then 2 weeks Soft Foods. So at your stage I was on purees. I could eat hummus, soft scrambled eggs, Soups ( I made my own with purred Beans and vegetable broth), and almond butter. I discovered Isopure unflavored Protein Powder and I could add that to my soups. Check with your nutritionist, she should be able to give you better direction.

Nope, not a single thing. Walked in recovery. No issues with gas, constipation, nausea, etc... I think my meniscus repair was more painful.

If you were given a list the sleep study should be no surprise. That's pretty much a given. They need to know if sleep apnea is an issue. Other than maybe self pay patients, it's rare that a sleep study is not part of the pre-op plan. It sounds like you are just a bit anxious and may have overlooked a few test. Rest assured these are all being done to ensure you have as safe a surgical process as possible.

Agreed. My program give me a handbook and the NP reviewed all the testing required with me and wrote scripts for all of them in case I had to go to the hospital my insurance company was capitated to. (I did for the PFT, Upper GI, sleep Study and chest xray) At each f/u with the team she reviewed with me what I had completed and what I hadn't completed. She also forewarned me that I might have to pay out of pocket for the psych eval or the nutrition class. (My ins. covered the psych eval, but not the nutrition class. It was $200.) Anytime I was unsure of what I should be doing next, I could consult my handbook. If I still had questions I could call my doctor's office.

@@Kimpicc - Did no one review this process with you at the beginning. There are often numerous test required before you can get a surgery date. Before I could even get an appointment with my surgeon I had to attend a mandatory informational seminar. Then I got my appt where I met the team (nutritionist, Nurse practioner, nurse and surgeon). I then had to have 3 meetings with them. In between I had to get bloodwork, a chest xray, an upper GI, a sleep study, a nutrition class, a psych eval and a pulmonary function test. My doctor also recommended and IVC filter to prevent clots so I had to meet with the vascular surgeon and have an ultrasound of my legs. I was fortunate. Some insurance companies require supervised diets that can range anywhere from 3 to 12 mths. Since no one appears to have given you an over view of the pre-op requirements, you need to call and ask them to let you know exactly what other pre-op requirements there are. People can end up waiting anywhere from 30 days to 12 mths before they get a surgery date.