ShelterDog64

Congratulations! It feels so good to hit those interim goals! You will be GREAT on this trip...look how well you've already done! Don't forget to have a great time, too

I wish I could believe like you do, but that kind of thinking got me to almost 300lbs. No the worst case scenario isn't that my head will explode, it's that I will wind up back there again. Yep, couldnt agree with you more, Jess9395. That is exactly my worst case scenario...and I'm avoiding it by giving a LOT of consideration to 'broad based format diet guidelines' instead of having this surgery then heading off merrily trusting my own instincts. Those instincts got me to 262 lbs.

I had a massage 2 weeks post-op, but I had a remarkably easy, trouble-free, nearly pain-free recovery after the first 3 or 4 days.

Yes, it will get better! Your period is probably screwed up because you're releasing a lot of estrogen that's been stored in fat cells in your body. The constipation is usually a symptom of dehydration...are you getting the recommended amount of fluids each day? I'm very iron-sensitive, so I take a Fiber gummy daily and it does the job as long as I'm drinking plenty of Water, too. Hang in there, this is just a bump in the road

I'm 3 months out and I have the same under one of mine...it's the site where they pulled my stomach out. The incision gets a bit stretched so the stitch is more like a loop (it's called a purse-string suture) that's pulled tight then tied off. The lump will eventually go away as the body absorbs the suture.

I'm so jealous...can't find the caramel Premier Protein anywhere around me

I had to have anything done that I'd need done during the year following my surgery...for me, that meant a pap smear, mammogram and colonoscopy because of my age. The GI clinic did an endoscopy while I was out for the colon scope. My doc would not have done a sleep study unless I was symptomatic for apnea.

I'm Standard and we are also at JBLM! So I have all my appointments off post Sent from my SM-N920T using the BariatricPal App Its so easy through Prime here, you do all your appts at Madigan as well as the surgery. Where is your surgeon located off post?

Everything is covered, since I'm Prime. My PCM documented my prior Weight Watchers losses and that was all I needed. We're at JBLM, there's a huge bariatric program here. Are you Prime or Standard? That will make a difference as to how you're covered.

We're Tricare Prime, I had my surgery at a MTF. The pre-op pathway was thorough and took a while

@ I do still have my gallbladder, and although this doesn't feel like classical GB symptoms, it could be! I figure I'll have to lose it at some point along the way, I'm the only female in my immediate family who still has her gallbladder I'm still on my PPI, so I hope this isn't an acid issue breaking through...that would not bode well for life after PPIs.

@@suzzzzz Good thinking about the shoulder surgery maybe triggering something. I'm not pleased with the CRNA who did the anesthesia for it; I have a very strong, negative reaction to inhaled anesthetics, and my recovery is always better if I'm only given IV sedation during surgery. The doc who did anesthesia for my VSG wasn't available for the shoulder, but he wrote a great note in my chart about exactly what he did, etc. as I had no nausea at all post-op VSG. The CRNA was skeptical that inhaled vs IV drugs would cause much nausea, so she used inhaled. I woke up nauseated and threw up in the recovery room. Maybe this is an extension of that...grrr. Why won't they just listen to us? Today, I'm pretending I'm on soft foods...refried Beans will be my Protein

@@higher http://www.povertybay.com/ The Hylebos Creek and Icicle Creek blends are my favorites I'm drinking Stumptown hair Bender again this morning...I love living in the land of great coffee!

I put mine right below my bra band, or on my hip. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@OutsideMatchInside I can't find any logic to it...they've been grilled, baked and cooked in a tomato sauce. I always weigh my portions, and it's happening within the first bite or so. No pain, just horrific nausea and I have vomited once. @@Babbs I thought it was size at first, so I've been cutting my meat until it looks like ground meat and still no bueno. @@higher Jesus, I hope not! I'm 52 and have had an endometrial ablation and my husband has had a vasectomy. It does feel just like morning sickness, though! I guess I'll take a week off from meats and go slowly back to them. I'm going to be PISSED if meat is a problem long-term. I LIKE meat. I LOVE meat!

For the past week or so, I've been getting very nauseated every time I eat meat. Previously, I've done great with all of it...chicken, beef, fish, pork, no issues at all. Now, I nearly vomit when I eat any of them. Any insights as to why this might be happening? Hopefully it's temporary? Should I go back to supplements for a few days and give my stomach a break? Help

I used Stumptown this morning! Have you ever tried Poverty Bay? So good....

The Protein requirement is to promote weight loss and to support your body as it heals and functions in a severe calorie deficit. You're going to HAVE to figure something out and at less than a month post-op, it will be some kind of supplementation. If the RTD shakes like Premier Protein are too thick/rich, try blending them with ice. They end up being more like a shaved ice than a Protein shake, which made them easier to get down. I tried virtually every unflavored protein out there and by far, GENEPRO had the least smell/taste/texture. You probably need to try adding it to something very savory and flavorful, to mask whatever taste you're detecting. I personally like it in my morning coffee, and I like it mixed with refried Beans. There are some good Protein Bars out there: Atkins and Quest are my favorites, and there's a Caramel Nut bar sold on this site under the Bariatric Pal brand that are reallyreallyreally good...almost too good! Bottom line: you HAVE to get protein in, period. Figure out something, even ONE thing, that works and do it every day. As time passes, I've gotten less sensitive to things that made me sick to my stomach early on, so it does get easier

@ I still use a scoop in my coffee every morning...it really helps me to get that hit of Protein early in the day. Glad it worked for you

Temperature mattered in the beginning for me...only room temp Water felt 'ok' in my stomach for about a month. Try warm, cold, etc.

I see almost everyone here saying 'nut'...do you all really see nutritionists vs dietitians? There's a HUGE difference between the two; my program only employs dietitians because of their education and expertise. "Nutritionist" is an unregulated, non-accredited title that can be self-given vs the 4 year bachelor degree or 3/2 advanced degree plus accreditation that the title "dietitian" brings to the table. There are good and bad in both areas, but I'm always going to go with the one who has a degree and whose title requires continuing education for accreditation.

@@frozengrapes Odd that they won't stick to you. No lotion, oil or powder on your skin before you apply them? Mine stay on till I peel them off!

No restriction on when from my doc, just whenever I felt up to it. So, 3 or 4 days post-op.

@@LisaMergs **I LOVE variable speeds!!!** Who doesn't love a good variable speed drilling??

You can get Quest bars at GNC. They have good sales now and then, a great time to stock up.