2twinkle

I use the ones for sale on the BP store.

They are one less pill to swallow!

The adhesive is not great,

but it stays on for 24 hours

if you stick it on when you are dry.

Been post op (RNY) for 15 months. Only felt a little hungry a couple of times.

You just don't THINK about it anymore.

Just got back from mayo last night. I've been having what I thought was gastric reflex, which started at about 6 months post op.

So I did antacids, prilosec, ranitidine, and baking soda. I am really not doing anything that could cause it, no alcohol or drugs, no caffine, no eating before bed (well OK, very little), no smoking, no chocolate. At my year visit, the nut wanted to either put me back on prilosec for a month, or scope me. I said "Scope me."

They did and found a slight narrowing at the base of my pouch.

Then they did a contrast upper GI which was fine.

Then they did a contrast lower GI which was fine.

Then they decided to stretch my "narrowing" and go further down the GI with scopes.

Turns out I have an enormous ulcer just below my pouch.

The swelling around it was causing the narrowing they had noted.

I saw the scope video yesterday and it was scary.

But, they assure me, fixable.

My symptoms?

burping, and gas,

burning sensation,

Low meat tolerance,

Waking in the middle of the night with intestinal discomfort.

So now let's get me healed.

I'd also suggest bodybuilding.com for Protein drinks and meals. They ship fast - it only takes a few days to get an order.

It was a little hard to get past all the pictures of the jocks they have plastered all over their website. But if you look on the left menu for "protein" then at the lower part of that page for "low carb" it is really worth the bother.

They have sorts where you can look at "customer ratings" of each product, and list "cost per serving." I find their customer rating agree with my tastes, and like the pricing transparency. I believe they carry Isopure, but they have the largest selection of any I've found, AND if you have any questions at all, just give them a call. Their staff are happy to talk with you personally.

Well, its good your pains were resolved.

I've had similar issues, but I think mine is from digesting Protein.

Happened about an hour after I finished my morning Protein shake.

Every day.

I found some stuff at Walmart call "Me+my digestive Results" and that works for me.

Some kind of enzyme stuff for digestion that sure solved my problem.

They say it works for gluten and lactose as well.

I should say,

to be more honest,

I lost 10 pounds, gained back 5 pounds,

THEN stabilized.

Krissy

Hey I relate!

As strict as I have been with my diets,

Cabbage, Weight Watchers, Atkens,

South Beach, calories counting, etc.

I started to gain weight after the initial loss of 5-10 pounds.

This also happened in the pre-op stage of my WLS.

I lost 5 pounds, then stabilized for 6 months.

It made me feel determined, by pretty unworthy.

I was under the care of the world's best docs at the mayo clinic

who told me not to worry about it.

The thing is, they also measured me.

And, I was loosing inches.

They told me my body knew what to do,

and as long as I followed their guidelines

it was all good.

Well, I was very determined.

And, have now lost over 100 pounds.

NEVER have I regretted my decision.

Just that I hadn't done it sooner.

I feel (and look) fabulous.

So I mainly puke when I eat too fast, gulp liquids, or eat too much.

It was hard at first, then I bought some tiny little souvenir spoons.

They helped me to slow down.

And the drinks were so strong I usually watered them.

You'll be OK if you just sip, sip, sip.

I lost five, and stalled for 1/2 year.

The docs at the mayo Clinic were cool with it.

They took my measurements too and could see the changes.

They said everyone is different, not to worry.

But OK, I worried.

And I said, I've worked so hard,

and done the five damn journals,

and seen the shrink,

and exercised like a hamster on a wheel,

and I am not loosing weight!

That has happened so many times before.

What if I go ahead and do this and it doesn't work?

And they said, "IT WILL WORK."

And it did.

That is so kwel!

A bubble of joy for you!

I say, "Pick one scale and weigh yourself once a week."

My scale is at the gym so I don't use it nakid, although I could.

The best information comes from my measuring tape,

cause it doesn't care if its fat or muscle being considered.

Yes veggies have Protein, too.

Would it take a truckload to get in your daily requirement?

When I was in my puree stage, I stoically at 3 meals a day and did my Protein drinks.

I felt like a stuffed sausage.

I complained to my docs"Why do I have to eat SO MUCH? I feel like I am bursting!"

They said a Protein shake = a meal.

And, if I am full, just stop eating.

That's been working much better for me, and I love trusting my body to know what it needs.

I sew.

My advice for a beginner is:

To alter your clothes, first turn them inside out and pin.

You can gather shoulder seams for a quick and easy top alteration,

add an elastic waistband, or make tucks in front and back.

Sew before you cut, then try the garment on and look it over.

Elastic waistbands are the best. You can add elastic to skirt waists that did not have any stretch to them and can make them last as you go down the sizes.

If you are making clothes from scratch, sew the "Easy" patterns. Folks at the fabric store will give you good advice on fabric choices once you have selected your styles. They usually sew!

There are a lot of cool T-shirt alterations online that are fun and snappy. They usually don't require sewing.

Awesome!

I'd like to hear more.

I am a recovering addict and asked to have the bare minimum of pain medication. So, after surgery I had one medium level med, the next day only Tylenol.

Frankly, it was the caffeine withdrawal that gave me the headaches, the surgery was not a problem.

When I awoke, my diabetes was gone.

I had a catheter, and I was grateful for it.

Wear the Gown! They are fluffy clean and there is and endless supply of them. You will fit right in with everyone else strolling about the halls.

Isopure and Unjury are tops for Protein.< /p>

You can feel like a failure if you want to, or you can choose to succeed.

Sipping Protein powders all day can solve two of your obstacles:

Getting enough liquid and Protein.

Now, they are not all equal.

Some are loaded with fillers and taste like it.

unjury brand is really good.

They have unflavored which you can add to anything,

and some pleasant flavors.

That is a great place to start.

The products sold on this site are pretty good, too.

A lot of people seem to like nectar, but its pretty sweet.

Ordering online is the best way is a good way to shop around.

Many companies have sample packs so you can discover what you like.

And cheer up! You waited a long time for this.

In the words of the mayo Clinic Bariatric support Team,

"IT WILL WORK!!"

chicken wings are extremely fatty.

And any meat is harder to digest.

If you crave variety try the deli in your local food co-op.

They usually have interesting veggie Soups or entre`s.

Your body is healing!

That takes energy.

Pamper yourself,

and enjoy your break from life.

Yeah, I can relate.

But really, some cheese off a slice of pizza?

How bad is that?

At least you didn't eat the slice of pizza,

And another slice,

and oh that was really hitting the spot!

After you finish the pizza and order another (or two)

you have a food coma on the couch,

Then eat most of the left overs for a snack.

Yes, it gets you amazingly far without having to panic shop.

Then comes the day where there's just no getting around it -

the back of your pants looks like the saggy baggy elephant.

Then its time to buy more.

Here's some info I found online about Protein powders:

Protein powder: What Ingredients to Look For and associated Risks

Some products use additive to enhance the flavor, mix-ability, texture, longevity, convenience to transport, or just to bulk the product up and make it cheaper to produce – think popular lines like Muscle Milk, Apex, and Vi. When reading labels, it’s valuable to know that ingredients are typically listed in the order of the highest amount used in the product to the least amount.

Aspartame and Sucralose – Sucralose is sometimes sold as “Splenda”, both are sweeteners containing no calories and are sweeter than sugar. There may be a link between sucralose and leukemia in mice, so its safety rating has changed from “Safe” to “Avoid.” Regarding Aspartame in 2007 it was found that long-term exposure to low doses of aspartame increased cancer in rats.

Maltodextrin – Maltodextrin is an artificial sugar that has a mild, sweet taste. It’s also known as a polysaccharide, or chain of sugars, and is created by applying acids or other enzymes to cornstarch. Maltodextrin is actually a term that applies to any starch hydrolysis product containing fewer than 20 glucose units. Therefore, maltodextrin refers to a family of products rather than one specific product.

It has side effects and health risks similar to most food additives. These include allergic reactions, unexplained weight gain, bloating, and flatulence. Specific allergic reactions include rash, asthma, itching, and difficulty breathing. Wheat-derived maltodextrin may pose health concerns for individuals with celiac disease because it contains gluten. However, in most cases the maltodextrin production process completely removes the Protein from the wheat resulting in a gluten-free wheat-derived maltodextrin.

Soy Lecithin – This additive is extracted from soybeans, either mechanically or chemically, using hexane. It’s actually a byproduct of soybean oil production. It can cause side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, or fullness. Soy lecithin has been linked to negative effects on fertility and reproductionand there are links to a promotion in the risk of cancer.

Xanthan Gum – Xanthan Gum is made by fermenting corn sugar with a bacteria. Xanthan Gum can be derived from a variety of sources such as corn, wheat, and soy. Individuals with an allergy to such sources should avoid foods containing Xanthan Gum. As a carbohydrate with 7 grams of Fiber per tablespoon, it may cause bloating in some people.

Safety pins and elastic are my friends!!

I can make a small hole in a waistband and hook a safety pin to a piece of elastic and tread it through.

Then I pin it on both sides and this makes a skirt that can be quickly adjusted.

Just remember to ALWAYS wear pretty panties.

Yes!

Forgiveness!

We embrace freedom through forgiving the unforgivable.

Step One: Look at how you were effected by what happened. Really examine it and feel the pain.

Step Two: Write it down. Use a timeline to focus on the impact it has had on your life. Then compose a letter stating what they did and how it effected you. Lastly, state you want to move on with your life and so you forgive them for the pain they caused you.

Step Three: Read the letter out loud to an understanding friend.

Step Four: Burn the letter

Step Five: Cleanse yourself by burning sage or taking a salt bath.

That's it.

Tip: Be careful selecting who will listen to your letter. You want some one who can listen compassionately, let you feel your pain, loves you, and does not give advice.

I was getting along fabulously until at about 6 months I awoke from a deep sleep with the strongest bile in my mouth I have ever experienced. It reoccurred in a few weeks, then I started having stomach pains in my lower left quadrant, AND periodic heartburn during the day.

My docs said it was two different problems:

• a) I needed to start a probiotic, and
• switch from tums and rolaids to prilosec for two weeks.

I did this, and it worked for a week, then started again.

Now I do Ranotine or prilosec nearly every day, and LOTS of ant-acids in between.

My local (non-bariatric) doc says it may be for the rest of my life.

I am starting to have more trouble eating, and often awake in the middle of the night with sore stomach, heartburn and from bile - erping.

I'd like to see an end of this discomfort.

Is there any hope?

So one of my best responses was from a 9 year old grandson who said "Yeah, my grandma USED to be bigger."

It felt like he was confirming his relationship with me, we love each other not matter the size. I always tell him when I notice he has grown. He is now taller than me and quite proud of it.

When folks say "Wow, you look great!" I say "Thank you!"

When folks say "You have sure lost some weight!" I say "Yes. I have."

Two more great moments that I treasure are when on separate occasions two women I truly admire told me

"I really like your style!" I felt so honored.