Creekimp13

It'll be over before you know it. You'll have a couple of rough days, then on to your new life! This wasn't a random decision...you put a LOT of thought into this and jumped through a lot of hoops. Trust your saner self....who isn't freaking out over the immediate circumstances. You got this. It'll be ok!

Good luck and best wishes for a safe effective outcome!

I just wanted to say I'm really sorry you're hurting and that I'm sending good thoughts. Sure hope you feel better soon.

I don't have pain when I swallow...but if the swallow is too big I have an uncomfortable tightness. I equated this to trying to put something in your butt without the benefit of lubricant. (I know that's gross...but that's what it makes me think of...it feels tight and unyielding..lol) Sometimes, I'll feel food move though and it's like a little cramp...goes away in a few seconds, but it's like a charlie horse in your esophagus.

Or...you know...ask your doctor. The extreme dry mouth after surgery can sometimes get a thrush infection going and you might need a little medicated mouthwash to slay it. Also wouldn't hurt to get in to see the dentist....the scarce nutrition right after the procedure can cause an underlying dental issue to worsen...so getting a fresh cleaning and staying on top of any problems would also be a great idea. Don't forget to floss those back teeth regularly, since any trapped food back there is a common culprit of halitosis and you're not working it loose by chewing daily.

Oatmeal, cream of wheat, soup....all of the above.

I'm not remotely thin yet, but I'm freezing, too. I've been taking three hot water bottles to be every night. Yep...Three. One for me feets, and one under each armpit. LOL.

One thing we don't talk about is the link between mental health issues and obesity. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/758035 Everything from the biology of some mental health conditions contributing to extra weight....to behaviors (lack of sleep, poor impulse control, addiction, emotional disregulation)...to the weight gain side effects of meds used to treat them.....a massive number of folks with mental health issues are heavy. Not to imply we all struggle with mental health issues....but a big chunk of us probably do. Put a population prone to mental health issues together in a room...and it might get interesting. I absolutely agree with cocojay on all points. We should make efforts to always be kind and try to live and let live. It's important to keep in mind that posters here and on all weight loss message boards might be suffering from mental health issues that limit their self awareness, emotional regulation and tact. Not playing apologist for crappy behavior....just sayin....there's a reason. Having a good reason for behaving like a turd doesn't absolve you from accountability, though.

I would suspect gallbladder issues if you still have yours.

Cake pops are fun. Awesome bakery here does really tasty Orange cake pops with dark chocolate coating. Very yummy and can be arranged really pretty. Flowers are nice, too.

Get a fitbit or other kind of pedometer. Even if your activity is low, just challenging yourself to take a couple hundred more steps will keep your activity moving in the right direction and boost your metabolism. Best wishes!

Im suffering the healing itchies, too! Good job, both of you, on the health improvements!

White Rice, Sugar, Corn syrup. This is kinda like eating candy. A tiny bit once in a while won't kill ya, but it's not doing you any favors. The chips are a much better choice:)

Constipation is a common problem after weight loss surgery. My doctor talked about this yesterday. Was told that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Prevention: Drink 60+ ounce of fluids per day! Fiber supplements...fiber gummies, Benefiber, Wheat germ 4oz of apple or prune juice with 4oz of water. Probiotics like Greek Activia Yogurt 1 Tablespoon Allbran, 1 Tablespoon applesauce, 1 Tablespoon prune juice. Combine ingredients and refrigerate over night. Take 3 Tablespoons and repeat daily as necessary. Rescue: Milk of Magnesia Miralax Enema Suppositories Stool softener (Colace) All of this is from my doctor...you should check with YOUR OWN doctor before trying these....just putting them out there as things you could ask about. Good luck, and feel better:)

You can get coco wheats anywhere:) Very common item, sold in a box by the oatmeal and other hot cereals. But make sure your plan allows it and your dietitian approves.

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/too-few-calories https://www.livestrong.com/article/485503-will-eating-too-few-calories-make-you-gain-weight/

Yes, Coco Wheats is a hot cereal.....like Cream of Wheat with Cocoa in it. It's 110 calories a serving, only I can only do half a serving thinned with about a third of a protien shake. Still comes out to about 100 calories. Good stuff!

Can be very easy to forget to stay hydrated, particularly if the park is warmer than home. Remember your fluids! Sip, sip, sip! I would call your doc to get clearance on the rides. That's one where a professional opinion is probably best.

My surgeon said in one of his presentations that at least once a week or so someone bursts into tears after surgery and says they've done a horrible thing and they regret it. He says these same folks usually do just fine and within a few months they're happy with their choice.....but YES, it's an emotional time:) Don't feel bad if you find yourself double and triple guessing yourself and wondering if you did the right thing....it's very very common.

I've taken Lisinopril and a diuretic for 20 years. After surgery they took me off both, and my BP went up to 146 over 90...too high! So I started taking just half the lisinopril again..... 5mg instead of 10mg......and it went down to 124/82 (livable!). Talk to your doc and monitor it at home. Get a cuff and record it every day so your doc has more information to work with.

Yummy, I am one week post op today:)

Definitely! I am LOVING me some cocoa wheats and sugar free oatmeal....I found the little pouches in apple cinnamon and maple flavor. I thin them with Premier protein, too....more bang for my buck spacewise. I also put caramel permeir protien in my decaf coffee....not bad!! Have to try cream soup yet...having a little greek yogurt after I finish this shake:) Feeling blissed out and high energy. Got 10,000 steps today and feel great:)

For the past week i've been on protien shakes and clear liquids. I've worked up to three full protein shakes per day 33oz...and about 33oz of clear fluid. So only getting about 480 calories. Today we added cocoa wheats, oatmeal, cream soup and greek yogurt....and lifted hourly restrictions on fluids. I think I can get get up to 700 calories this week, and then on to mushy foods. I seem to be tolerating everything really really well.

1. What are things you wish you had known before surgery? how easy it would be. I freaked myself out expecting misery and it was a cake walk. Not a universal experience...but I am really thankful the fates went easy on me. 2. What is gas pain? And how do you deal with it? They pump your belly up with gas for the surgery...the gas gets absorbed by tissues and moves around and causes pain. Feels like a deep miserable ache, kinda like a pinched nerve or pulled muscle. For me, the gas pain was awful in my shoulders. Walk, walk, walk and move your body....this will help it reabsorb. Ginger tea was also helpful for me. My group frowns on gas remedy medications. 3. What is the normal expectation of lbs lost per week? And what has helped you deal with stalls? Differs for everyone. 4. How are your energy levels as you increase in time since surgery and increasing Protein? I feel terrific. Been driving myself places and shopping the last couple days, doing housework, going to appointments, wrapping gifts. I'm a week out today. 5. For those of you that have been to the hospital for dehydration what were the warning signs? headache, dry mouth, nausea....if you lift the skin on the back of your hand and it stands up in a tent, you are probably dehydrated....it should snap right down. 6. When did you start feeling like you could do a normal day without feeling dead exhausted after a few activities or outings? Day 4 after surgery. Again...this might not be a typical experience. *answer any and all. Appreciate any input. Also anybody else like me have questions put them out there! Like this

Had an interesting talk with my dietitian today. She is hell bent that we work up to 1000-1200 calories per day as soon as possible. I'm on week two...she doesn't expect me to get there until week five or so, but encourages me to try. I asked, Why not take advantage of the natural desire to eat fewer calories and....you know....lose a little more weight? And what she said kinda floored me. She said that prolonged low calorie diets will switch your metabolism to a starvation mode where body processes are slowed, energy is conserved and *gasp* YOU STOP LOSING WEIGHT. Worse, you can lower your metabolic set point to sluggish starvation levels. She goes...I know, I know...seems counterproductive, doesn't it? After a lifetime of being heavy, someone's telling you that you have to eat more to lose weight...but it's true! 60-80g of Protien, and 1000-1200 calories. Both are equally important if you want to lose weight and set yourself up for a healthy metabolism later. Balance your diet. Protein absolutely, but fruits, veggies, healthy fats, and Healthy low glycemic complex carbs, too. Balance is important for good metabolism for life. You can lose weight fast on all protein, but you can create a healthy metabolism that lasts a lifetime with balance. She also said that diets under 1000 calories are correlated with nutritional deficiency, bone loss, more hair loss, and muscle loss. Ouch. So yeah....eat Bubbalah...eat.... Seems absolutely unreal. On the plus side, I found a comfort food I absolutely love that's legal: Cocoa wheats thinned with chocolate Premier Protien. Slides down easy...and the energy lasts.