Gabbee

You look AMAZING!!!! Would also love to hear what you did to avoid sagging skin. Your tighs no longer touch!! Is that the best feeling ever? I can't wait til I can say the same!!! Congratulations!

I have this "modified" omelet I make that is TO DIE FOR. It's crispy and springy and does not taste like eggs. Try it! 1 tbsp of cottage cheese 1 tbsp of tapioca starch (gluten free) 1 egg white 1 whole egg Salt to taste Herb to taste (I like thyme or oregano) Mix everything until smooth, cook in a nonstick pan until golden brown and flip it over. Top with cheese of your choice and shredded chicken, or whatever you want. Sometimes I fill it with just a little bit of mozzarella, cottage or ricotta cheese. It fluffs up and becomes huge! I fold in the middle like a taco when it's ready. I'm looking fwd to eating this again when I'm back on softs!

Here's another perspective. I've always been pretty open about my surgery. I've told relatives, friends, neighbors, co-workers. Yes, even strangers. I started out at 222lbs, and often heard comments like "you don't need it" and "you're taking the easy way out". The comments have now stopped and people just root me on with my weight loss. I did hear negative comments from some of my friends, and they stung. But rather than chalking it up to them being bad friends, I realize that this is scary for them too. They dont know as much as I know about WLS, and they think it's much more dangerous than it is. I've always been the "fun" one in the group, the first to plan outings, meals and push drinks on everyone. They worried that after surgery our relationship would change and they'd lose me. It's selfish, but it's human. The way I navigated this is by opening up to them. Telling them how much my weight affected me all these years. All of the things I was looking forward to doing when I lost it. How committed I was to it and how much I needed them to be a part of this journey with me. When they told me I was taking the easy way out, I told them it's not easy! I'm still going to have to do everything a normal person trying to lose weight does, plus the surgery and liquid diet phases. It's REALLY hard. And I wouldn't be doing it if I felt like there was another way. Today I'm 3wks post op, and happy with my decision to have told everyone. I have so many cheerleaders! Of course, I know some people can have a deeply negative effect on you and if that's the case, avoid them. But I'm just saying before cutting people you love out of your life, or leaving them out of this major journey in your life, try opening up to them about why you're doing this and tell them what you need them to do. Most will realize they were being jerks and be there for you. If they don't, well #byeFelicia. Good luck!

Nice! Im planning to order 2 cases today because my walmart doesn't carry in store. But I was thinking about purchasing a case of the lemonade and a case of coconut. Have you tried those flavors and are they any good?

So exciting!@lmichelle310, where is your family from? I ask because I'm Brazilian and we also use smoked meats to season our beans. My mom (who is awesome and has been cooking for me during the VSG process) adapted her recipes and I found that her vegetarian beans still tasted delicious (I'm still in liquids for another week but she makes a mean bean soup with it). One thing I struggle with being from a different culture is not knowing which of the foods I eat will be allowed going forward since my dr's team has no idea what they are. Do you have that problem?

Thank you!!

Hey all, I can't stand store bought broth so I have always made my own at home. I usually just count it as the same nutritional value as store broth, but I've recently started to do this really concentrated broth that I know has a much higher protein content. Here's how it's made: How should I count that towards my protein totals?

Lucky!!! [emoji38] i got another 2 weeks to go but soooo looking forward to this moment! How did you handle it?

Banana and Strawbery are my favorites! I do also like vanilla and hated chocolate pre-op, love it post-op. Still yet to try Caramel but saw Walmart has it available in 5 packs.

Don't beat yourself up about it. I can't tell you how many "last suppers" I had before starting my pre-op liquid diet. I spent the two weeks before eating every last piece of junk that I could get my hands on. By the time I had to start the liquid diet, I was kind of ready to take a break from food for awhile. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not recommending you do this at all. If you can abstain now that will be much better for you in the long run. But if you can't do it now, it doesn't mean you're not taking it seriously or that you won't be able to stick with it for you surgery. I handled my liquid diet like a champ and didn't cheat once. Part of the reason I binged was because I knew it would be the last time. It was my goodbye to my old self and lifestyle. You can do it! Don't let your brain tell you you can't!

Wow, I didn't even know these patches existed! Where do you buy them from? Are they much more expensive than pill form?

Lea? You're a genius! I was put on Bentyl yesterday and can finally drink my liquids! What a difference. Thank you!

Thanks, Lea! I'm calling my doctor first thing tomorrow to ask about this. So glad I found this forum!'

I'm 4 days post op and having the same problem. To make it worse, I had an allergic reaction to the pain med and had to stop it, which I feel has been making my nausea worse. My doc never prescribed me an anti-spasmodic. Will that help the spasms that come on immediately as liquid hits my stomach? I might ask for it tomorrow.

Yess, milk of magnesia is going to take care of that for you, i have found that a single dosage sends me running to the potty within a few hours and I dont have to take the second one of the day. Fingers crossed for you!!

Thanks for sharing, Lea! I wonder if that will come in the next few days. I normally tend to bruise easily. @lisabme thank you! This is what i was most worried about!

Gabby, 31, single and based in Dallas. Sleeved on 7/28.

Hi Lea! That's exactly what happened to me and the liquid hydrocodone, except it was both sides of my face, arms, and neck. I took it 2x more with benadryl but then decided to switch to liquid tylenol only. Interesting that your incisions look so different than mine. Do you have that "dent" near your bellybutton incision as well? Im slightly concerned that it'll stay like that.

Yeah im still scared of weighing myself. Think I'll wait til i feel less bloated. @dimples58 how are you doing? Im entering day 3 so hoping the internal stomach pain goes away today. It feels like there's so much activity going on in there, my stomach's noise woke me up 2 in the night! [emoji15] hopefully it's just working to heal itself. Best wishes to all of you!

Yess, enjoy it! I was in a rush to get out of the hospital too (i was outpatient, but they told me to stay as long as i wanted), but now i wish i could be back there. The bed is comfy, the blankets are warm, and mostly importantly, the pain meds go straight into my IV.

Thanks, Lanie! I switched to liquid tylenol overnight, but woke up feeling intermittent pain. I'll see how I do when I try to eat, but it's always here that I realize I still need the pain meds. I dont know what would be worse: sticking to the tylenol and being unable to ingest fluids, or taking the hydrocodone and benadryl and being able to take in liquids. If i really cant handle my liquids with tylenol, i'll have to call my surgeon again.

Wow, so many typos! Lol i meant to say my belly has a weird "dent" on it, right around the belly button incision. Here's a photo! Anyone else experience this before? Im also having a mild skin reaction to the liquid hydrocodone. I know it's normal to itch on it, but my cheeks got REALLY red and warm (no fever though), and it spread to my chest and arms. No difficulty breathing or anything like that. Still it scared me a little. I texted my surgeon and he told me to take benadryl with it or stop taking it and switch to liquid tylenol. Im just scared im not ready to wean off yet, im still in pain. .

Thanks for the clarity, friends! I'll ask the doc when I see him Wednesday. They might have told me at the hospital, I dont remember much! Lol, these meds are strong!

I haven't weighed myself yet since being back from the hospital b/c I'm so bloated and my belly feels so huge. They told me at the hospital that they had given me more IV than needed because they assumed I wouldnt be able to get all my fluids in at first. (They were right, i feel like ive been drinking pretty often but am still at half of my liquid requirement).@QueenCity, I wouldnt worry about the weight gain. I'm sure they did something similar to you and you'll drop it in no time. I was able to go #2 twice already today, which I think is a good thing given that my doc was worried about constipation. It helped with the bloating, but i still can't for the life of me burp or pass gas. I never wanted to so bad in my life!! Lol I also have this weird "depression" in my belly right around the belly button incision (photo attached). It looks bigger in person. It wasn't there before surgery and it's freaking me out that it will stay this way (the nurse assured me it wouldnt). Have any of you experienced similar?

Yaaaaas! Way to go RedOrangeSunrise! How are you feeling today? Although it feels crappy, it also feels so good to be "on the other side", doesn't it? The anxiety was killing me before!