entrophykitten

Eight weeks out and I'm in the shower...minding my own business and washing my hair like usual when out comes the biggest clump of hair on my palms. Then another clump. And another. By the fourth clump, the drain was already clogged...and I had the worst breakdown over seeing so much hair on the ground. My poor husband thought I was dying in the shower. Heck, I thought I was dying in the shower!! I never realized how much my hair is a part of my identity...seeing all of that loss was so incredibly scary. Even scarier is that I'm decent on my proteins and take all of my supplements religiously. You're never prepared for the shock of hair loss. Luckily, I've got a really thick head of hair and faith that everything will grow back in time. This is only temporary...yet, I'm over the ability of shedding more than my corgis!!

I've been cleared for normal foods now and I still crave and make the ricotta bake....soooo good!!

I had the same problem, I just switched the type of milk. I was using almond milk and switched to soy milk and that solved the shake problem for me. Also, to change it up a bit, I also drink trusource protein water, which has 20g of protein in a bottle. It kinda reminds me of drinking Tang when I was a kid.

Instead of the normal rolls, look to see if the sushi chef can make you a protein roll which is just a roll without rice...usually wrapped with soy paper, seaweed, or thin long slices of cucumber. If they don't offer a protein roll on the menu, most sushi chefs will gladly make you a custom roll!

Have you tried fruit infused water? Freeze fruit and simply adding it to a bottle of water? Or blending fruit with water? It's subtle flavoring, but a natural alternative!

Was sleeved on 10 feb in Mexico. So far, I'm down about 18 pounds. I'm two weeks post op and having trouble getting Water in and I just can't seem to finish more than an ounce of a Protein shake (which used to be quite tasty) without being disgusted with them. I'm trying to keep drinking protein water but that too is a challenge. I'm beyond over the liquid blended phase of this post op recovery and have been tempted greatly over taking a little nibble of shrimp or chicken. I keep telling myself "it's only head hunger", but I'm getting worried that if I can't get these stupid protein shakes down, I'm going to have more to worry about than just losing hair. Trying other flavors of shakes are just as repulsive...all I can taste is the sugar alternatives. I'm worried about dehydration (gatorade g2 is also disgusting) as well as protein. I can't believe I am desperately longing for a salad... Sorry about the venting and am open to advice, suggestions, and strategies. Thanks

Hey there! The shuttle driver will highlight the pharmacies along the way to the hospital. I actually live in San Diego county so it's common to cross over for prescriptions (like, if you're looking for Latisse for eyelash lengthening...it's way cheap). After they released me to go back to the hotel, we just asked the driver to stop at the pharmacy in the way back and we tipped him like 200 pesos ($10) for the trouble. The preop diet straight up sucks. I asked the nutritionist if I could have a hard boiled egg or a small piece of chicken. They told me that as long as the scale goes down, to keep it limited. The three days before surgery, I stuck to the liquid diet religiously. I had lost about 20 pounds on the two week preop. The goal is to shrink your liver so that the surgery will be safer for you. So I'd be more reserved about the cheating....willpower is the key. I'm still dealing with rolling bubbles...they're ridiculously annoying. Keep moving and go on walks around the hotel to help get them to pass. Bonus...the hotel will provide you popcicles and broth. When you check into the hotel, be sure to have the bell clerk unlock the minibar so you can empty it and use it for Water or Jello or Protein shakes. Your companion also gets 15% off the room service menu, restaurant, and deli as long as you charge it to the room. Tomorrow is check out for me, I will be going back to the hospital for one last barium swallow and as soon as I'm cleared, the shuttle will be taking me back across the border and taking the others to the airport. Hope that all helps!!

Edit....I have no idea why this app is providing inaccurate links!! Every time I put in my surgeons name doctor a-r-i-e-l O-r-t-i-z, a link would come up with another Dr. Ortiz that is not with the Obesity Control Center and actually had a news article about a patient dying...this is not the doctor I went with. My doctor actually teaches his procedure to other Bariatric surgeons. BariatricPal has a link bug!! Edit: the link for obesity control center is NOT The Oasis of Hope!! Wow, this app has major bugs!!

Hey there!! Back with an update!Yay!! I just got back to my hotel and my surgery was done yesterday (2/10/17). I was a little surprised by how quickly everything went. I mean super duper quickly! But I did have a few complications as I have been cursed with hard to locate and even harder to hit veins. The anesthesiologist had to put my iv lines in. The shuttle take you in at 6:15am and you're in the waiting room with final paperwork stuff and final payment. They call you in to finalize your dietary plan and also do the EKG...then you wait until your room is ready. When you go to your suite, you quickly change in your gown and then the phlebotomist comes in to give you a little Xanax and does your IV. The surgeon comes in and chats with you for a moment and then it's show time. The procedure took less than 45 minutes and he not only staples but he also does a reenforced suture over the staple line to prevent additional complications. Past that, walking around after surgery went pretty smoothly and I still have "rolling" gas bubbles which are annoying beyond belief! Before they release you from the hospital, they have you do a tiny barium swallow to make sure your tract is completely clear and then you're released to go back to the hotel!! You have to keep walking...the more you walk, the faster the rolling bubbles will be relieved. I've got a final follow up on Monday and head back over the border by about noon that same day. Feeling pretty good (past those bubbles) and have no regrets whatsoever. The only major things I will also add: If you buy your meds that are prescribed there at [/url]OCC, it's about $190 with a credit card. If you ask the hotel shuttle driver, he can take you to a local pharmacy that will sell you all the drugs for about $70 bucks. Bring or buy a pill crusher. (There's a Walmart near the hotel or if you go to an offsite pharmacy...or pack one with you. I have the vitaleph shakes, but I also bought unjury Protein powder (online only) the chicken broth and the unflavored variety...to break up the chocolate/vanilla shakes...you will get tired of those flavors quick. The unflavored powder can be mixed with juices or just water! That's it!! Sorry for the novel!! But you're going to do great!!

Unjury medical protein powder is some pretty great stuff....pretty tasty. They're relatively inexpensive for powdered protein and they also have an unflavored powder that you can mix into anything as well as a chicken broth flavor to break up the sweet drinks. Bonus is that they offer a sample pack of two packets of every flavor that they offer with a shaker for like 25 bucks if you're interested in trying it. So far, this is the winner for me!! Bad thing is that they only sell online. Just google it and try it out best of luck to you in your journey!! Just got out of surgery yesterday...it's all good!!

Worse comes to worse, consider Mexico! The flight and the procedure alone is much cheaper than paying cash on the US side. (Just had mine done yesterday and had the same issues with my insurance on the US side. Zero regrets!)

I had to giggle a bit as I kinda did something similar....like "last meal/last rites fat girl walking" thing...it's so silly, but it was a fitting good bye to the old me and now I'm getting ready for the new me. Kinda like feeling like you're on a roller coaster and the last meal was getting in the car, getting strapped in is your first liquid diet meal and that long long climb up to the top of the first drop is the pre-op diet...oh the anxiety...and the excitement!!

Dr.Ortiz is my surgeon and I'm scheduled for this coming Friday on the 10th. Will be staying at the Marriott. I just live on the other side of the border in North San Diego, so I'm glad to not have to deal with traveling more than an hour.

I am nervous now. A week out from surgery and I managed to catch a bug from my husband! (Hiss!) I'm worried they will cancel my surgery. Has anyone had the sniffles prior to surgery?

Mine is feb 10 with Dr Ortiz at OCC in Tijuana...nervous beyond belief!