catwoman7

I was in my 50's and *extremely* lucky I hadn't developed any co-morbidities. I knew they were just around the corner if I didn't get the weight off once and for all. I'd tried so many times on my own and would manage to lose 30-50 lbs before hitting a brick wall - and then it'd all come back on. I think what convinced me, though, was looking at a PowerPoint slide of all the benefits of WLS when I was at one of the numerous orientation sessions I'd attended (I'd been thinking about surgery for probably five years and had been to several such sessions). Just looking at those statistics - that diabetes was <x>% resolved, high blood pressure was <x>% resolved, etc (there were several listed) made something click. I *knew* this is what I had to do....

I took three weeks off work. My husband was home with me for the first week (I was on my own for weeks 2 and 3). It was great having him around to do things like take care of the pets and bring me things (my abs were pretty sore the first few days), but I probably could have managed on my own if I had to.

my dietitian suggested eating the broth first, then the solids. I *usually* remember to do this...

I use it mostly in shakes and smoothies, but pre-op I used it in Thai curries in place of regular Peanut Butter, too. I'll go back to that as soon as I can eat things like Thai curries again...

I mix a lot of the fruity proteins (from Syntrax) with Crystal Light.

I've never had a problem with mushrooms (I'm also seven weeks out), but then, everyone's different. As someone else said, you may have just eaten too fast, but if that starts happening more and more, call your surgeon. I started having problems keeping things down during week five, and it turned out I had a stricture.

My surgeon said either would be fine for me, but I had GERD so I went with the bypass. GERD often (but not always) gets worse with the sleeve, but usually improves or goes away with the bypass. If it weren't for the GERD, it would have been a much tougher decision for me. I"m sure I would have been happy with either choice.

I was really worried about safety, too, but these surgeries have become so routine and the techniques have advanced so much that, according to my surgeon, they're really no more dangerous than having your gall bladder out. As I recall, the RNY has a 0.3% fatality rate, the sleeve even lower. That's safer than a hip replacement. Plus they're going to put you through a whole bunch of tests beforehand to make sure you're a good surgery risk. That's not to say it's impossible for something bad to happen, but the risk is really, really low. As some of the others have said, I felt like I was at higher risk by weighing over 300 pounds than I would be by having the surgery.

another vote for Dannon Oikos Triple Zero coconut creme - it's fabulous! I also like Fage coffee-flavored, but it's hard to find.

I'm not very far out, but I've been told at full maturity, your pouch can hold about a cup of food. So that'd probably be like half a sandwich. Although the bread is really carb-y, though.... some people can and do eat a lot more than a cup, but then, doing that regularly would kind of defeat the purpose.

Six weeks out, never hungry - and I love it! And yes - I definitely have to remind myself to eat.

Having the same problem. Started when I moved to soft foods (two weeks ago). Some of the times I may have been eating too fast or too much, but other times - no way. I'm back on pureed for now and have an upper endoscopy scheduled for tomorrow. They want to check to see if I might be developing a stricture. If not, I'll just have to take it really slow, I guess...

I just take Centrum chewables for my multi (2 a day). I take Superior Source's sublingual D and B12. Still trying to find a B-Complex that doesn't make me nauseous.

Hhbbmm4 - I've been taking pills since about the second week out.

I blended my cottage cheese when I was in the pureed stage, but now that I've moved to "soft foods", I don't blend it anymore.

my dietitian said it's not a problem (I asked because I was worrying about that, too). She said your pouch will let you know if you're drinking too fast.

I don't get resentful or try to change anyone's habits, but I've noticed I've become much more aware of what people are eating. Like my husband (who's never had a weight problem). Yesterday we went out for Breakfast. I got a thing of yogurt. He ordered this platter piled high with pancakes and fried potatoes. All I could think was "good Lord - look at all those carbs!!!"

I had that problem - for me, it was the ursodiol (Actigall). Hives aren't a particularly common side effect, but they *are* a potential side effect. But hives can be a reaction to lots of things - meds, food, bug bites...

my surgeon's office doesn't even do the band anymore. Too many issues with it.

I had gastric bypass. The PA in my surgeon's office said gel caps melt really fast once they hit your stomach, so I could start taking them within a few days of surgery (and I did...). Never had any problems with them.