Brian88ss

Splenda (sucralose), Truvia (stevia), Equal (aspartame), and Agave Nectar to name a few. On some natural sugars like agave nectar be sure to read the nutritional information on it. My wife and I primarily use Splenda. We use to use stevia but it would tend to leave an after taste. It may very well be up to your taste what you'll like. Hope this helps. Brian

Hey everyone i'm doing ok. Third day post op not feeling too bad as long as I take the correct amount of pain med I suppose to. I was using the wrong measuring cup for my pain meds that sucked but all better now. Hope everyone is doing great and anyone coming up best of luck. I'll be thinking of you. Brian

Amylynn, She is almost post op a year she had her sleeve on July 2 2014 and she has been my inspiration for my decision to have the surgery. She took the whole week off to help me get through the first week or so. She has lost 115lbs in a years time frame with the greatest majority of weight loss in the first 6 months. I'll be on clear liquids for week 1 and can advance to just liquid diet after my drain is taken out on Monday. Thanks again for asking... Brian

Yes, I had my surgery Monday. Getting around ok pretty sore but after looking at my pain meds we figured out I was using the wrong measuring cup. In turn not taking to little hydrocodone hence the extra pain. Got that straightened out feel lots better now. I hate it when I put myself through more pain than need be but being 47 years old you'd think I would be used to it. I have always seemed to learn the hard way. Oh well better to catch it on my first day home rather than later find out. Thanks for asking. Brian

Pretty sore trying to get around hopefully walking will help. Best wishes to everyone else. Brian

MzAlice, I personally think that insurances and doctors make it so difficult because like getting a job interview they want to know how serious you are about making the commitment in changing your life around to make this surgery work for you. I took me almost 9 months from start to finish ( once I restarted documentation with my primary care doctor). Needless to say I was pretty upset that I had to start over and do 6 months of diet and exercise consultation with my PCD. But actually that was a blessing in disguise it allowed my to attend over 12 different support group sessions (between my wife's support group and mine) and allowed me to get a better understanding and get my head wrapped around this mentally of what exactly I'm about to get myself into. As far as eating more, that probably is true I found myself rather bitter on days and I seemed to think that eating that extra snacks or bowl of popcorn while I watch TV would make me feel better about the situation. So I get what your saying and so will so many others at Bariatric Pal will too. Keep your head up focus on the prize. (The New You) I just had my surgery on Monday the 15th and I am so glad I went through all of the requirements that UHC required. Best Wishes Brian

Amylynns, Congratulations on your engagement!!! How exciting for you also, congrats on hitting your goal!!! Weigh to go!!! I agree it's go time, now time to focus on me. Just wished I was a little more patient with myself, I see how well my wife has done with her sleeve and just wished I could skip over the beginning part of my surgery. But if was easy and painless I probably wouldn't feel as invested in my future. I know it'll be worth it just need to find some patience to get through the first part of my recovery. Thanks for the encouragement, it means a lot to me. Brian

You are among friends here we understand your need for privacy. Brian

Resting at home feeling pretty good , but if it weren't for liquid hydrocodone I would be pretty miserable. Dr had to push my drain tube back in while I was awake (Not much fun btw). But other than that the nurses and staff took very good care of me. I just need a little more pateince in getting through the first part of my recovery after all the dr did have to disturb a lot of my guts to complete the surgery so I should expect to be in some pain.. So guess that's my little bit of whining, but good so far. Hope everyone else came out fine. Brian

Guckynums, I am at home just got out today. If it weren't for liquid hydrocodone I would be hurting for certain. But with pain meds on board not feeling too bad. They had to push my drain tube back in while I was awake and put an additional stitch to hold it in. That wasn't much fun, but Monday I'll be getting it out. How about you anything you'd call unusual pain? Brian

Grandma, Really sorry to hear of your nausea and vomiting. I guess I should suck it up cause I haven't had that problem I have just had plenty of abdominal pain. Also, my drain tube came out a little and started to bleed pretty good Dr had to put an additional stitch in it to keep it in after he pushed it back in while I was awake. Ouch! Not much fun but sounds like have it a little better than you. Did your doc give you zopolomine patch behind your ear for nausea. I hope he at least set you home with a script for zofran. Hope things get better for you. Good luck! Brian

Sorry about not messaging back right away. I'm doing just fine hopefully going home today. I hope everyone else is doing ok as well. Thank you very much for asking. Brian

Your very welcome. If you need anymore help/advice you can message me, no question is out of bounds. If I know the answer I'll tell you or hopefully where to possibly look for answer. Your goal should be if you going to have the surgery get yourself as educated as possible. It will make your journey seem a lot easier. My wife has anxiety so I understand your husbands point of view, but he most likely never understand it and hopefully never be able to. Most people who don't have anxiety don't understand and shouldn't say they do, because it's one of those things that if you don't have it you will most likely not ever completely understand. He will at best like me understand how it effects your relationship. The best he can do is admit he doesn't know what your going through and just keep supporting you and hang in there it could be a rough road. Hopefully he will see how important loosing weight for your health is to you, and he still can be amazing support just he will need to keep an open mind and communicate with you if he has concerns don't let things fester. There will be enough stressful things to handle no need to make more. Also you need to be doing this for YOURSELF and your health. Even as you go through the period before surgery you most likely learn a lot about yourself and the people currently in your life and also you'll meet new acquaintances along the way. I wish you great succession your journey. Best of luck. Brian

Mrs. Youngblood, I just had my surgery June 15th. I'm still in the hospital should be discharged today. I really feel for you about your support from your family. It has been my experience that bariatric surgery is hard enough to get your head wrapped around the the changes you'll be making in your life. Not trying to discourage you but this will a lifelong change and I say there are three kinds of people, there are the people that have never had a problem with their weight, then you have the people who haven't admitted they have a problem with their weight, last but not least people like us that have admitted and are making changes to break the cycle of failed attempts at weight loss. I personally have had the opportunity to attend over 12 different support groups and have gathered the needed information to successfully change my life forever. Statistics state that people that attend support groups will generally do better than one's who don't. Having a local support groups that I was able attend has given me the advantage to what kinds of hurdles I will need to face to become successful. Not everyone's story will be the same but you can use all the information you can soak up from support groups to your advantage. My wife had a sleeve and she has managed to loose 115lbs, I personally lost 30lbs on the pre surgical diet. The point of the pre surgical diet is to change the way you eat and give you a chance to practice logging your calorie, nutrients, and also to shrink your liver, to make the procedure go smoother for the surgeon and in return you'll benefit from it because you'll have a real good idea of what you'll need to do. I have also experienced that if something is difficult to do it is usually we'll worth the effort you put into it in the end. Once I look back at something I've done I usually think to myself that wasn't as big of a challenge as it looked to be coming at it head on. Best of luck you are among friends here.

Here are some examples that I got from the girls at the weight loss clinic. Hope this helps.

Thanks everyone for your show of support, the education and show of support for me on this forum. Your help and support is greatly appreciated. Brian

Hello everyone, WELCOME TO THE OTHERSIDE!!!! I would also want send out a (HUGE THANK YOU) to all my friends on Bariatric Pal, your posts make me feel great and I'lll try to be as good as friend as you've been me. Made through surgery,and resting comfortably. Getting ready for my 3rd walk since surgery. Brian

I've heard time and time again. These three words on hair loss Protein, Protein, and Protein. My wife did so and has had minimal hair loss. But Boitin has also been brought up a lot at support group. Hope this helps. Brian

Thanks Everyone for the wishes I will try to do the same for you...

It's ok I don't always get to my messages right away either. After tomorrow should have a lot more time to check messages and so no work for a while Yeah!!! Just get to concentrate on ME...

Good Luck to you both I'll be thinking of you. Tomorrow can't come fast enough.....

Are you pre op or post op? The reason I ask because lots of people in my wife's and my support group have said their sense of taste for some protein shakes can change after surgery. When you buy good protein shakes they can be $$$$ spendy. Look for samples, Bariatric Pantry.com sells samples and some protein manufacturers do as well. If you do happen to buy a big container and can't tolerate it, if you happen to have a local support group you might be able to donate it or share it with them or they might have some you can try. Unjury, syntrax nectar, quest are a few that I've tried and have liked for now. With that said my surgery is Monday so all bets my be off who knows. Best of luck to you. Brian

Wishing you luck I go in 10am Monday as well. Sorry to hear about your sleeve. I'll be sending you good vibes on your bypass and you'll be in my thoughts Monday. Best of luck. Brian

Polly, Remember you will have an IV in the hospital to help you with hydration. But you will stiil need to drink what you can. It be will after discharge you'll have to focus on getting your hydration. Sorry didn't mean to mislead on this, my surgery is Monday June 15th. At least that is the case with my wife's sleeve a year ago I assume the bypass will be similar. Brian ************************Please Look Again********************** *******************************Edited******************************