CHM

Definitely a good NSV. Congrats! I'm getting here myself...kind of. I'm comfortable with head shots now, but full body pics still freak me out. I think I'm opposite of most WLS patients in that I perceive myself as SMALLER than I actually am. Seeing myself in a photograph doesn't match what I see in the mirror. They remind me how far I still have to go, and it makes me sad. But I'll get there! Lol

Tomato soup was the very first thing I dumped on. Read the labels and watch the sugar, or make it yourself! Lol [emoji4]

At my first WLS appointment, I also had an enlarged, fatty liver, along with a very high BMI (55.6). No liquid diet was required - just the 3 month medically supervised weight loss plan required by insurance. After the op, my surgeon said that my liver looked absolutely beautiful. Therefore, in my highly unprofessional opinion, I don't see how the liquid diets are all that necessary.

I'd definitely look at the blood pressure meds, and also your caloric intake. I had quite a good dance with dizziness post-surgery. It got to the point that I would just randomly drop to the floor a few times a day. I knew that if I didn't get down RIGHT that second I was going to faint and end up there anyway in a far more dramatic fashion. Initially it was definitely related to my blood pressure meds. I was still on three at the time. I stopped taking the 3x/day med, and the dizziness resolved. Then it returned a week or two later. My blood pressure was normal this time (110s/70s), so it wasn't that. I learned at my 6 week follow up a week later that I'd only been getting half of the calories I was supposed to be getting. Calories were increased, and it again resolved and has yet to come back now.

If you're a freak then I am as well! My surgeon allowed absolutely no liquids at all until the leak test the morning AFTER surgery. The technician was apologizing for the taste of the barium, but I was just so grateful to be drinking ANYTHING that I really didn't mind one bit.

My favorite purée was my chicken 'baby food'. I oven roasted a package of chicken tenderloins after seasoning with salt, pepper, and garlic and onion powders. Then I threw them in the pressure cooker with a box of good, unsalted chicken stock until they were falling apart. Finally, to the food processor - I just kept adding more stock until the purée was nice and smooth, then spooned 1/4c portions into lined muffin tins and froze them. I admit it: it does not look appealing, but damn it was a welcome flavor! It's also a lot of cleanup, but it will give you enough to get you through the entire purée stage, so you only have to do it once.

I have a friend who had bypass about a year and a half ago who relied on NSAIDs for relief of significant back and shoulder pain. Her doctors are both aware of and in agreement with her use of marijuana for managing her pain post-surgery. She was also given the "edibles over inhalation" advice.

That's about the age I was last under 200 as well. I was hoping to be there by the time I have to fly in the first week of June, but at the rate I'm going I don't think I'll quite get there. Not that it matters...as long as I don't need a seatbelt extender again (and I already won't) I'll be quite content!

When asked my goal at my first appointment with my surgeon, I said "somewhere in the 150's". That would be the upper end of a normal BMI for my 5'7" frame. My surgeon disagreed and said she would be more comfortable with me in the 170's. Apparently when you have a very muscular body type the BMI charts don't apply to you. Either way, I don't really care. I just want to be able to be active and healthy and look half decent in a pair of jeans. I'm not overly committed to any particular number, other than knowing I want to be in onederland. I'll stop losing when I stop losing.

I've had sushi rolls a couple of times in my 3 months. It was one of my first indulgences once I was released to 'regular' food (can't remember what week that was). I take no more than 1/4 of the rice with all of the filling, and leave the other 3/4's of it on the plate. Rice-less rolls would make me sad...I just love the flavor too much.

I probably shouldn't admit this out loud, but I'm going to be honest: I completely ignored my Protein requirement for the entire 2 weeks of the liquid stages. My NUT knew about it. It was hardly encouraged, but as she said "You can only do what you can do. Hydration is by far your top priority. You do have protein stores from your pre-surgery intake that should carry you through to purees." I did try. During the clear liquid week, I tried Syntrax nectars, unflavored protein in Crystal Light, etc, and

I use straws quite regularly. Anytime you swallow any food or Water or even saliva you're going to take in some air with it. It's entirely unavoidable. My surgeon's office agrees that the concern over straws is just so silly and unfounded. I too was given straws in my cups of water at the hospital after surgery. As for carbonated beverages, my NUT insists that it is merely an issue of tolerance. Some people experience pain from them, and some experience nothing more than an extra burp or two. I was told that if I turn out to be in the latter category, then don't worry about it, provided my choices are sugar and caffeine-free. I have elected to wait until my 3 month mark to find out, which is next week. So on Monday, I very much look forward to learning if my old love Pellegrino and I still have a future together...

From the app, just tap anywhere in your own post. It should bring up a menu of options, one of which will be 'edit'. [emoji846]

I agree that it may be a little too early for a goal outfit. Its difficult to tell where you're going to end up. Personally I'd be concerned about the mental effect of possibly buying it too small and diminishing all of the work I HAD done by becoming overly concerned that my 'goal' outfit doesn't fit. I always keep an outfit one size smaller than I'm wearing, but that is strictly because A: I want to know when I've officially dropped a size, and B: I always want at least one outfit that fits properly. For 30-something clothing in the meantime, however, I'm another avid Old Navy shopper. Almost everything I currently own is from there. The clothes are cute enough that you don't feel matronly, but still reasonably modest for our age (no super short hems or overly revealing bustlines). If you keep an eye on the sales its quite an affordable place to stay in size for those of us who would rather not bury our new bodies in our old clothes as we lose weight. .

Great guys, now I'm going to be hankering for scallops... I like mine salted and peppered, seared, glazed with a pan sauce of brown butter, white wine, shallots, lemon juice and zest, then finished with a sprinkle of fresh flat-leaf parsley. Yum!

Personally, I went in to meet my surgeon set on bypass for a couple of reasons: First and foremost was the presence of dumping syndrome, which I view as a benefit rather than a complication. As it turns out, I can handle both fat and sugar just fine. I haven't deliberately tested it or anything, but hey, I'm still human, life happens, and I've made out just fine. It has, however, given me a good kick in the pants the couple of times I've O.D'd on carbs, which I greatly appreciate as a recovering carb addict. Second is that, as previously mentioned, the average percent of excess weight lost is higher with bypass than with sleeve. Having said that, I have since read articles that indicate that the weight loss rate from the sleeve does catch up to bypass somewhere in the 2-3 year mark. Therefore, depending on how patient you are, this one may not be a factor for you. In the end, my preference for bypass was enthusiastically supported by my surgeon. She stated that bypass is what most surgeons will recommend in the presence of a very high BMI (mine was 55.6), and that it was what she would have guided me towards anyway had I been undecided. So bypass it was!

I had lost a lot of weight pre-op, so I was already plenty tired of all of the attention before I even got around to surgery. It was fun for the first 40 lbs or so, then I slowly became more self-conscious about it. Compliments now get an awkward smile and a timid thank you, and any requests for numbers (pounds lost, current size, etc) are met with "I'm sorry, I'm no longer sharing that." Thankfully, the attention has started to die down now that I've stopped feeding it.

I can't help with any signs to look for, but what I can suggest is to stick with the portions advised by your medical team. At 10 weeks out I still have no physical way to determine fullness - I experience no 'signs', and I certainly don't feel it. Not everyone does. You can't go wrong if you stick to the prescribed serving sizes in your plan.

I would love to be able to answer this! Unfortunately as I was leaving town to head to my appointment on Friday, the doctor's office called saying they had to reschedule me again, so I now have to wait until April 28th. I'll get this thing in eventually, dammit!

I wholeheartedly second this recommendation. I believe it to be www.crazymeds.us, however.

What thread? This thread? http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/351046-embrace-the-stall/

I know I've seen several people stating this, but I am personally not convinced. I lost a lot of fat pre-op (86 lbs), but I didn't experience the surge in libido until after surgery. I believe it to be something else, although I haven't the foggiest notion as to what that something might be.

Oh hell yes. This is not uncommon. You are in good company. [emoji6]

As did I. Why don't we have those here...not fair. I suppose I could order some from Amazon, but that just sounds dangerous!

I love how none of these comments are about the pie. It's all about walking around half nekkid and Tim Tams! Which I will have to google...