theantichick

Oh, I almost forgot... I just started using Fairlife milk, it has more Protein than regular milk, and the chocolate variety is really tasty.

Oh, and my inflammatory factors are down post-op. My rheumy was talking about biologics before I decided on surgery, and now biologics are off the table indefinitely.

I have had occasional reflux in the past, generally I could tie it to specific foods, or overeating, or laying down too soon after a meal. And it got worse as I gained weight. It was always treatable with over the counter antacids, and had not recurred since I was put on PPIs with my RA/PsA meds. So given the need to be able to take NSAIDs/steroids for the RA/PsA, my medical team and I decided to risk possibly exacerbating the reflux into full-on GERD and went with the VSG. I've had no real issues. Almost 4 months out and other than sometimes getting the uncomfortable over-full feeling when I eat too fast, no real reflux. Of course, I'm on PPIs but I would be anyway.

Depends on your doctor's instructions. If they gave you an explicit list of foods, then they likely intended for you to stick to that. Generally chunky soups/stews, even if blended, counts as purees. Each surgeon has their own food stage progression plan.

Hi Mian , do you know if GENEPRO mixes well with hot coffee. Everything curdles on me.

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I'm not Mian, LOL but the key to mixing any Protein powder with hot liquids is to mix it with a little bit of warm Water or milk until it dissolves and then mix that into the hot liquid.

@@Raymia here's all the samplers I ordered:

https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders/products/syntrax-nectar-protein-powder-sampler-variety-bag-15-flavors

https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders/products/bariatric-fusion-meal-replacement-single-serving-packet-variety-pack

https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders/products/bariatricpal-fruit-protein-drinks-variety-pack

https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders/products/bariatricpal-variety-shake-pudding-7-packets-per-box

http://www.unjury.com/products/unjury-starter-kit.html

https://www.gotein.com/sample-pack

I also have not tried these, but another place that's offering sample sizes is:

https://truenutrition.com/p-7425-tn-proteinflavor-sample-packs.aspx

I've also been told you can go to some health food stores like Vitamin Shoppe or GNC and they'll let you try some of the Protein powders/drinks, but I haven't tried that myself.

It's a lot, and I didn't order them all at once, but I was glad I did. A lot of them, I just couldn't stomach. This was a LOT less wasteful than ordering stuff I hadn't tried. I am VERY picky about tastes/textures so I knew I couldn't just grab something off the shelf.

Oh, and I also got a sampler of ready-made Premier Protein from Amazon.< /p>

https://www.amazon.com/Premier-Protein-Chocolate-Vanilla-Strawberry/dp/B01LWU0BP5/ref=sr_1_9_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1481650883&sr=8-9&keywords=premier+protein+flavors

The other option a lot of people go with is just getting the unflavored stuff and adding it into other liquids and foods. I found that the Syntrax and GENEPRO unflavored affect the taste/texture the least. Some of the samplers have unflavored to try. Some people don't trust the GENEPRO hype (more available Protein than should be available by mass) but I haven't found any reason not to use it.

Good luck!!

You'll get a range of responses. Pain is individual.

I had very little pain. I didn't even experience the gas pain so many people report. I had some nausea, but never actually threw up. I have rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis and had to be off my meds for surgery, so by day 3 post op, that pain was worse than the surgery pain.

I was sore like I'd been kicked, and it was worse getting up out of bed, and I was slow to move, but walking helped once I got going.

I will tell you that the hospital will be prepared with meds to deal with nausea and pain. And they will push you to get up and walk because it does help.

You'll do great!!

Oh, yeah... and I got sick to death of sweet... found the trick to putting unflavored in bouillon or broth... mix it with a tiny bit of warm Water so it dissolves, and make the bouillon with less hot Water than normal, then mix it together. That way it doesn't clump.

I ordered samplers from every brand that had them available. I liked the Syntrax Nectars the best, and a couple of the powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury flavors were OK. You can mix them with less milk/water to make pudding, or more milk/water to make them thinner. The fruit flavors, I froze them in tubes to make ice pops (found the tubes on Amazon) which made the first couple of weeks a lot easier to get Fluid and Protein down.

But don't stock up TOO much before surgery. After surgery, I couldn't stand the ones I'd bought tubs of, and ended up drinking the pre-mix Premier Protein they gave me in the hospital, and for the most part since surgery that's been all I could stand. LOL.

I don't think I met the Protein goal until late the 2nd week. And then it wasn't consistent until late the 3rd week. My surgeon made it clear that the most important thing is to stay hydrated, so focus first on getting enough fluids in, and the 2nd most important thing is Protein. Just do your best. There are clear protein options like Isopure and Syntrax nectar (some flavors) that can go down easier. I ended up freezing Syntrax Nectar Roadside Lemonade into tubes like ice pops to get both fluids and protein down easier the first couple of weeks. Just keep at it, it does get easier!!

Headdesk.

He doesn't have the facts. The surgery seems to for some reason give us a do-over related to our set point. Science doesn't know why yet, but that is the current evidence. I have a post on my blog that's linked in my sig called the Easy Way Out. I don't have the citations for my evidence, but I'm a post-grad nurse and everything I talk about is from medical and scientific literature. If it will help, forward it to him.

You may have to just quit responding to his input about the surgery and let the results speak for themselves.

My Dad (also an engineer) just can't understand why I had to have the surgery, after all it's just a question of willpower and deciding to eat the right things. He just doesn't get that willpower doesn't work. I explained the medical reasons and what we know so far about the science behind the surgery and then just quit discussing it with him. I know he was worried, and it is out of love for me. He got to see me 62# down at Thanksgiving and more active than I've been in years. That's the proof in the pudding.

Hugs, and good luck! It'll all work out.

I have a blog entry The Easy Way Out (link in my sig) that addresses my responses to people on the subject. I'm 4 months out and already seeing improvement in my RA/PsA. There's good medical reasons for having the surgery, hold your ground. These people are not on your medical team. If you and your medical team have decided this is a good option, then that's all that needs be said.

Good luck!!

I'm a side sleeper and went back to side sleeping a little shy of a week post-op, but used lots of pillows to support my abdomen and back. Wasn't back to normal until about 3 weeks post.

I'm not surprised at a doc advocating lots of Beans and veggies and fruit. I AM surprised that there's not more emphasis on the Protein content of the foods, because Protein is key to recovery and weight loss. That being said, it sounds like he's emphasizing high protein plants (beans), just not talking about the protein content.

Be VERY careful adding Tylenol/acetaminophen to pain medications - most narcotic pain killers are already mixed with it, and it takes VERY little beyond the prescribed amount to poison your liver. The abbreviation APAP indicates acetaminophen.

The maximum dosage for healthy adults with no liver impairment is 4 grams (or 4,000 mg) a day. Most dosages of narcotic pain killers have 325 mg of acetaminophen. So just keep an eye on your total acetaminophen intake.

Made BBQ pork loin from frozen last night. Don't recommend from frozen for large chunks of meat like that, it took longer to get it to temp so it was a little crusty on the outside, but it was still super yummy and super easy.

Will be trying some chicken tonight.

I don't watch network TV anymore. Almost everything I watch is Netflix or Amazon Prime. LOL.

I didn't feel any real hunger for the first couple of months after surgery, which was both good and bad. I'm starting to have hunger and cravings again at almost 4 months out, but I'm able to tell what's real hunger and what's just cravings, so it's going well for me.

Starting around 3 months post, I started having huge amounts of shedding. My research says that it either happens or it doesn't, supplements don't make any difference. Getting enough Protein in is what lets it grow back fast.

The cardiologist is needing to get more information about what is possibly going on in your heart in order to make the surgery as safe as possible. I don't know how often they actually refuse clearance, I know with several kinds of heart issues, it just affects what they have to do for anesthesia, but it's possible to get cleared anyway. Unfortunately, there's no way to predict, you'll have to consult with the cardiologist after the test. Good luck!!

My surgeon said pretty much the same thing. You can't really exercise off the weight, but it's vital to keeping it off. It also helps to maintain muscle mass during the weight loss.

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Hugs. I went to RN school mid life while working full time. Divorced while doing my pre reqs. It took some time but I met the guy who is the perfect match for me and we're deliriously happy.

Sorry this all came down right when you were dealing with surgery and all, but you made it through RN school you'll make it through this. Best of luck with the boards and the job hunt!

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I love my soda stream. I haven't tried it post op but the syrups don't have aspartame (which is a Migraine trigger for me) and you can control the carbonation. I can't handle regular carbonation yet but want to try the soda stream soon. I've been craving a little soda taste.

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Melanie Hafford in Irving Texas. She's great, I'd recommend her to anyone.

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I'm still working on this one. I started therapy back in the spring about my food issues. I'm doing better, but it's a struggle. food doesn't give me the emotional satisfaction it did before surgery, so I am having to find other ways to deal with my emotions. My therapist has me working on making lists of things I can do instead of eating when I'm bored, angry, frustrated, sad, or anxious.

Link in my sig to "The Easy Way Out" essay on my blog.

If it's someone I care about, I take the time to educate them and assure them that I didn't do this on a whim. If it's someone I don't care enough about to take that time, I shrug and say "agree to disagree" and walk on.