catwoman7

In spite of what happened, I think you'll actually like both products. I use/have used both. Plus they're both highly reputable.

I had the same worries because I was a slow loser, but it all came off. I kept losing until I was 20 months out.

I would ask your clinic. I didn't have to take one pre-op.

I gag easily as well, but you'll be under anesthesia, so you won't gag.

that actually makes a lot of sense.

btw - Unjury is supposedly very high-quality and is used in some hospitals. So you can't go wrong with that - but if your practice is one that recommends whey protein isolate early out, there are other options out there, as I mentioned above.

you're bound to get 100 different answers here because people's tastes vary so much, but I'd get a bunch of individual packets (some companies sell them by the packet) so you can try them before you invest $30 or $40 in a big tub of something you might not like. Syntrax, for one, sells sample packets (you can get them through the Bariatric Pal store) - and a few other companies do as well.

I should add that if your clinic wants the patients to drink whey protein isolate early on, there are other brands besides Unjury that use this form of protein (as I mentioned above, the Syntrax Nectar line does as well - but there are others). It seems really inappropriate for her to force you to use a specific brand, though.

Here are the ingredients in Premier Protein. As I mentioned, these forms of protein aren't as readily absorbable as whey protein isolate. Some programs don't seem to care as much as others, though. Mine wanted us to stick to whey protein isolate (at least for the first few weeks), too. Water, Premier Protein Shake Protein Blend (Milk Protein Concentrate, Calcium Caseinate, Whey Protein Concentrate), Cocoa Powder (processed with alkali), Contains 1% or less of the following: High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Inulin, Cellulose Gel and Cellulose Gum, Magnesium Phosphate, DATEM, Salt, Natural and Artificial ...

I believe Premier Protein is a whey protein concentrate or a protein blend, which isn't as readily absorbed by us as shakes made from whey protein isolate. We were told to stick to whey protein isolate the first few weeks after surgery when it would have been tough to get in our 60+ grams of protein through food. Unjury products ARE whey protein isolate - so are Syntrax Nectar products, and a few others. Still, it's weird that she reacted that way rather than just explaining it to you! (I drink a lot of protein blends now, but I'm quite a ways out and can easily get in my protein requirements through food - but I did drink whey protein isolate when I was early out)

how old are you? A lot of us have surgery in our 50s and 60s. I've even seen a handful in their 70s. EDITED to add: never mind - I just saw your other post. You're on the other end of the age continuum!

I haven't had it but would have considered it if my insurance would have covered it (they didn't - they just covered sleeve and bypass). It's the most powerful of the common WLS surgeries - but there's a greater chance of malabsorption that there is with the bypass, so it's even MORE important to keep on top of your supplements. Most people I know of who've had it (although there aren't many I know who have...) have been really happy with it, though.

personally, I'd just bring your phone and a charger. And maybe a pillow to put over your stomach on the ride home. Wear baggy clothes when you go - and you can wear them home, too. Maybe a clean pair of undies. The hospital will have everything you need (hospital gown, non-skid socks - I think mine even gave me a disposal toothbrush and a small tube of toothpaste to use). A lot of us just end up sleeping most of the time we're there. some people bring Biotin mouth spray - so I did as well - but I don't think I used it. I pretty much just slept....

they may want to be assured that you're not going to be prone to transfer addiction - there are a minority of patients who become alcoholic (or whatever other addiction they turn to after having to give up a food addiction). I would think as long as there's nothing that shows up in your blood, and your doctor writes a note, there's no way for them to know whether or not you've had a drink in the last 12 months, though. That does sounds like a pretty extreme requirement. i have a glass or two of wine about three or four times a year - it would be weird if I was denied surgery for that!

people lose at all different rates depending on a host of factors. Just follow your clinic's plan and you should be fine. And although I don't know about the ESG specifically, weight loss after surgeries tend to be fast the first month, then it slows down quite a bit.

five years out here. I can eat anything except for really fatty meals. For example, before I had surgery, my husband and I loved to go out for Friday night fish fries. Two or three fish filets, battered or breaded and deep-fried, topped with tartar sauce, with a side of fries and a side of cole slaw made with mayo. That would be a no-go for me now. I'd be in the bathroom getting sick after eating that. I could maybe eat half of a deep-fried fish filet. Anything else I ate with it would have to be non-fatty. but pretty much anything else - yes. Just less of it. I used to be able to eat half a large pizza in one sitting. Now I can eat one or two pieces. but when you think about it - that's the way normal-sized women usually eat (unless they're exercise fiends or were blessed with great metabolism). A few weeks before surgery, I watched what my female co-workers ate for lunch. There were a couple who ate what at the time I would have called a normal lunch. A sandwich, chips, maybe a cookie. Or maybe take-out from a deli or a fast food place. But a majority of them ate things like a sandwich and an apple. Or a sandwich and some baby carrots. Or a thing of yogurt and bagel. Honestly, I think that's just normal in the non-obese world. Unfortunately, I might add... But that's the way I usually eat now, too. I started counting calories when I was about a year out. I still do. As long as I stay at or under 1700 calories most days of the week, I can maintain my weight. I do occasionally go over that - and sometimes by a lot (like on special occasions), but I try to keep that to only special occasions. Most days, I do stay within my range. That calorie range will vary for everyone depending on a lot of factors. But anyway, to address your first concern, yes - I could work ribs into my daily plan and still stay within my range...

most of those you could mix it with either. With these flavors, it'd probably taste better with almond milk (or some other milk), but I'm sure you could mix it with water.

it's the IV fluids. Some people gain up to 10 lbs from them. It takes them a few days to work their way out of your system - and then you should be on your way!

I'll leave it up to a sleever to give you the amounts (although some of that may depend on your surgeon - as well as what your labs look like), but as far as frequency of labs go, I had them every three months the first year, and then annually after that. Although if something is trending in a negative direction in my annual labwork, then they adjust my supplement dose and re-test that particular item 2-3 months later.

eating plans vary pretty widely - so no, I'm not surprised. I never had a liquid diet post-op (I just had the pre-op one). I went directly to purees as soon as I left the hospital...actually even BEFORE I left the hospital.

I love this quote!

I'm always buying things that look good and giving them to my husband. It's my way of living vicariously through him...

your rate of weight loss is fine. Not sure why you're thinking that's not enough (???).

I'm five years out, so life is very different now than it was when I was newly post-op. I can maintain my weight now if I stay within 1500-1700 calories a day - and I exercise probably five days a week. I have tons of energy - and I haven't sipped water in quite awhile - I can drink normally. The sipping all day thing is more common in the early weeks after surgery. I'm not sure how many calories I was taking in the first few weeks after surgery - but not many. Maybe 300 or 400 (??). And yes - you do get very tired. It's the trauma from the surgery plus the limited calories that cause it, I think. I was very tired the first few weeks - and it was probably two months before I felt like my old self again. I started walking as soon as I got home from the hospital. At four weeks out, I was cleared for all exercise except for weights. And at eight weeks out, I was cleared for weights. At that time, besides walking, I did mostly yoga and water aerobics. after the first month or two, I ate 600-800 calories a day for most of that first year. After the year mark, it was more like 1000-1200. I finally stopped losing weight at about 20 months out. And as I said I earlier, I can maintain as long as I stay in the 1500-1700 range. But that varies among people - some people can eat more than that, and some less...

I think leaks are one of those things they discover pretty quickly after surgery - usually before you leave the hospital. EDITED to add that I just checked. Yes - they can in fact appear a few days later, but what you described doesn't sound like a leak. Symptoms of a leak are rapid heartbeat, fever, chills, shortness of breath, low blood pressure, and several other things - but burping is not on that list.