WildcatGirl71

Rubbish. Even on this board there are people admitting they never lost weight more easily.

YUM! What a fantastic lunch! So what's hijiki salad?

That looks yummy! I’m gonna try to find your Instagram page. You have some great recipes.

sugar free popsicles and chicken broth were both life savers for me. Regular Water just did not sit well with me. I could only drink ice water or Powerade zero orange (ice cold). I am almost 4 weeks out (sleeved 4/11) and still am drinking the powerade zero. It’s constantly sipping away at it, every second you’re awake. Exhausting but better than more IVs at the hospital.

The Celebrate calcium citrate soft chews I've got are filling the sweets void for me right now. They're sugar-free and they do taste a little "off" if I were to compare them with normal caramel or chocolate, but I'm not jonesing for candy and I think they're a part of it. (I'd recommend the chocolate over the caramel, the caramel's got a bit of a weird aftertaste).

I miss soda - have not had one drop since my vsg last May. A word of caution - sugar free is not always the best selection. I finally bought a Yonanas machine so I can make my own sorbets. I've found that while eating whole foods (beans, lentils, potatoes, etc) fill me up quickly, things like sweets, ice-cream, chips, etc seem to go down way too easy. I have to really be conscious not to eat these

Sent from my VS501 using BariatricPal mobile app

I feel this way now and I’m 6 days post-op. I’m teary eyed reading it because I feel this way now. I hope to and will get there soon.

Today was my first trip to the grocery at 10 days post op. It was much harder than I anticipated. My husband went with me and as he was casually throwing his usual junk food in the cart, I felt a huge wave of sadness just looking at all the things that I would no longer get to enjoy.
I had a committed relationship with each one of those tasty morsels. I had mentally broken up with this food about 5 months ago via the usual food funerals but seeing it all piled up in the cart, it was like ripping a huge bandaid off and boy oh boy, it was painful. The reality of the break up hit hard.
I felt myself tearing up in the frozen food aisle, surprising to me since I’m not overly emotional. I dropped behind my husband, as he pushed the cart along, and tried to regain my composure.
Once we turned the corner to the next aisle, I pulled it together and remembered that this phase is temporary. I just have to let myself heal. Two words came to mind.... SUGAR FREE!! I can have treats similar in about 4 weeks except I now have to be smart and choose the better options. They are out there. I just have to take the time to find them for me. It was like a giant weight lifted off my shoulders.
I was so busy feeling sorry for myself that I forgot - this is temporary and it too shall pass.

Gosh, let me tell you what the VA did to my hubby. For 5 years they kept telling my hubby was fine and didnt have cancer on his kidne. Well, he did and he finally got a few gahonnas with me there looking at him to push forward unless he wanted me to step up!! Finally, we went to a URolgist local he stated he want him to go to a Specialest in Eugene. (we live in Oregon) Come to find out he had full blown cancer in his kidney!! So the VA in Portland realized it was a BULL S*** thing and they did the eblasion and thought they got it all!! THOUGHT!!NOT but they seem not to concerned with what is left on his kidney, now he has something on his liver and something on the other kidney. I have almost come to my end with these duffist DR. I tld my hubby they were not concerned for 5 years and look were this has put you. The only thing is I have Champ VA for the rest of my life. Even the Adovate said that we should sue the Goverment for all of this...but do u think we can find a Lawyer to take the case!! HHMM I can't believe how all of this has come down the pike. I am going to insist he makes a trip to Portland, which is a 4 hour trip but they are scaring me! Sorry I just need to vent I guess. Good luck for your WLS. Thank you for listening as if you have a choice right. LOL

Will do. Just sip sip sip and keep chugging on [emoji4]

Thanks!! I decided to continue on my journey. I talked with my dr. about my concerns and he calmed me down a lot. Congrats on your surgery and keep us updated!

Thanks!! I decided to continue on my journey. I talked with my dr. about my concerns and he calmed me down a lot. Congrats on your surgery and keep us updated!

Thanks!! I decided to continue on my journey. I talked with my dr. about my concerns and he calmed me down a lot. Congrats on your surgery and keep us updated!

The last thing I needed to get my surgery date was a CPAP machine. I decided to go through the VA for this, because they appeared to be pricy. They scheduled me an appointment after I sent my primary physician the results of my at home sleep study conducted through SNAP diagnostic. I paid $375 for the sleep study test which was done over the course of three nights. The VA scheduled me an appointment date that I thought was fairly far out, when I asked about getting an appointment sooner, they advised I had to have a physician appointment in order to receive the equipment. So, I am excited about getting this last little bit done, but I can wait.
I get to my appointment and the guy in front of me is asleep, in a wheel chair, and on oxygen. I go to the counter and make sure he is checked in before I check in. As I am waiting in the lobby I witness every other person checking in do the same thing I did. I am feeling good about people and my fellow vets taking care of each other. The nurse (LVN) calls me back for vitals and the standard questions start. I interrupt her and ask, do you really have to ask the same questions for every single visit? She said they have to because so many vets commit suicide. So I answer all her questions without her asking them. No, I am not depressed, suicidal, having trouble at home, in an abusive relationship, or homeless.
Next stop Doctor right? Nope, it is another nurse (I think nurse practitioner, but the fine print was too small to read). He spends 10 minutes advising me why SNAP Diagnostics isn't really very good and that their algorithm for determining pressure is outdated. Why they are going to go ahead and provide a VA CPAP even though the VA in-house sleep study is so much better. He then tells me how dangerous it was for my oxygen to go down to 77% for 20 minutes and how I stopped breathing 22 times. I am thinking, I read the report before I gave it to you, I want the machine, you don't have to talk me into it. He then describes how the new machines works and it is pretty cool, they calibrate automatically based on your breathing. Then I am thinking why did you spend all that time telling me about the math problem SNAP uses to calibrate pressure if the machine is going to do it automatically anyway. Then he says, we will see you back in a month or so to get you fitted for your CPAP. Wait, what about my dangerously low oxygen?
I really wanted to go off, but instead stated, I thought the reason I had to wait so long was for a physician appointment in order to receive a CPAP. He then advised that this is my physician appointment. I really don't care if they count a nurse practitioner appointment as a physician appointment, but I am thinking to myself I can read and your badge and it does not say Doctor, so someone is lying to me. But alas, I know if I don't stay calm I will not achieve my objectives. So, I explain to him that I will have to pay out of pocket again to re-do labs if I do not receive this CPAP machine. I also tell him that I know I can buy one on Amazon or go through the medical supply store that SNAP recommended. He starts telling me why those are both bad ideas and I tell him I have to do what I have to do.
He then says he will see if he can get them to double book so I can see the Doctor today. Then he has the gall to say that my appointment will cause other 100% disabled and service connected vets to have to wait longer. So, I sit back out in the lobby feeling a little guilty, when I get called back sooner than expected by a tech who fits me for the machine and goes over all the instructions in less than ten minutes. She was super nice and wished me luck on my surgery. I thanked her for squeezing me in and told her how much money she saved me.
So, I will have my surgery date by next week. Since I am not officially on a pre-op diet I am going to have a 97 calorie shot of vodka later to Celebrate not losing my sh** at the VA.

Got my date for May 1st. I’m super nervous and freaking out mostly because I’ve never had surgery before and I watched some post op YouTube vlogs last night and their pain is freaking me out! I like to think that I have a higher pain tolerance but again I’ve never had surgery so maybe it’s a different kind of pain idk...So now that the date is nearing I’m thinking is it for me? Can I do it on my own since I’ve lost 30lbs these last couple months? Anyone else having these thoughts?

East Tennessee is where my family is. They're about 2 hours give or take from Knoxville. Washington State is far from family. I don't associate with any of mine so I could care less if I was in Alaska. Lol.

Sent from my Z983 using BariatricPal mobile app

That's where I live. I live in Ashland City, Tennessee. I'm from Nashville which is about 30 minutes from me.

Sent from my Z983 using BariatricPal mobile app

OMG, I'm going to try that. My family eats ice cream for dessert every night almost and I've cheated with 2 teaspoons. Tonight I had a few teaspoons of yogurt. I went and got a Sam's membership because they had 12 packs for $17. I got chocolate, peaches and cream, caramel, and Cookies and cream. But tomorrow a Cookies and cream is going in the freezer.

Sent from my Z983 using BariatricPal mobile app

I can 100% relate to the Snapchat filter one!

Mine are

being able to keep up with my 4 & 7 y/o

Running up a flight of stairs without being totally winded

My husband being able to hug me without a struggle

Not be super hot and sweaty during the summer due to my fat rolls

My boobs getting smaller (I was DD in the 6th grade, now a size G)

Good question. They said it had to be low carbs. So maybe some kind of almond milk or something along that line that's lactose free. I'm just guessing though. I just went ahead and bought Premier Protein because my hubby tried milk with the Protein Powder I was using and he said it tasted awful, so I didn't want to go that route.

Sent from my Z983 using BariatricPal mobile app

You're right, my husband and I have talked about the different drs requirements. Mine is 2 weeks Clear Liquids and clear Protein Drinks, 2 weeks milk Protein, then 3 weeks soft/pureed, then solids. My tummy makes all kinds of crazy noises constantly. Not really growling, but like when I used to make myself burp and swallowed the air.

Sent from my Z983 using BariatricPal mobile app

Mines been doing that too. Gurgle gurgle. Lol For your stage 2 what would you be doing if you were lactose intolerant?

I just started stage 2 this past Tuesday. I was drinking Protein Drinks before, but now I have to have Fairlife milk added or a milk based Protein. I go to my Dr on May 1st to hopefully change to pureed/soft foods. I have to be on stage 2 for 2 weeks. Ugh. But, I wonder how I will be starting thicker things. I finished a Protein Drink earlier and apparently drank too fast because my nose started running.

Sent from my Z983 using BariatricPal mobile app

Isn’t it so funny how every program is different? I’m 1 week Clear Liquids, 1 week liquids with Protein or cream Soups, 1 week puréed, 1 week soft food, then move to regular food. I have my first follow up appt on Tuesday. Then next Wednesday I can try the purée but if I have issues I have to go back to liquids for 2 days and then try again. I just had some cream of potato (little less than 2 oz and not the chunks) and I’m trying to decide if my belly is gonna like it. It’s roaring right now. No pain but loud and grumbly. Nose, of course, is running.

I had mine on the 16th and I’m questioning why I did this:(. I feel like I feel hunger like real hunger but it could be head hunger... idk. However it does feel real to me. I’m on liquids and trying to get in my Vitamins. I’m 3 days out. Has anyone felt this way?

What stage are you on?

Sent from my Z983 using BariatricPal mobile app