Orchids&Dragons

There's no magic window. It can develop months or even years later. My reflux started immediately. I'm on prescription omeprazole 2x/day, and TUMS as needed. Surgeon will decide before the end of the year if I need a revision to bypass.

Try a TUMS, if it helps with the hunger, you have acid issues. I pop several TUMs a day to stave off "hunger". I usually find that I'm not really hungry.

Very few of us who've had wls surgery can do the big hair thing! We're lucky to have any hair!

Thank heavens we don't have those at our house now that the kids are grown! We used to buy the huge cardboard carton of those at Sam's. Portion control? We don't need no stinkin' portion control!

If some anonymous person on this site said, "Sure, go ahead!", would you really act on that? Don't be ridiculous. Call your doctor's office.

Just took my lunch-time walk with Pandora - Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Guns N Roses, Whitesnake! The first dance at our wedding was to Whitesnake - "Is this Love?" Gotta admit, I love a good power ballad!

Is that for plain or flavored?

@Matt ZBargain at twice the price!

I have a Blues Traveler station on my Pandora! Love 'em! Have fun! '80s was definitely my concert-going decade! Although, one of the best ever was Alice Cooper in '75. My mom thought we were going to see a female folk singer! (I was 16) I still have the tee-shirt!

OMGosh, I consider it an NSV that Texas doesn't list your weight on your driver's license!

What Matt said! You're just not quite ready. Everyone progresses at their own speed. Give it a few days and try again. Good luck!

For anyone who's nearby: There's a support meeting at USMD hospital in Arlington at 6:00 tonight. It's open to all. There will be a nutritionist speaking.

Wow! That's a lot of successes for 6 weeks post-op! Congrats!

An upper GI following surgery to see if there are any leaks. If your surgeon orders one, you can't drink anything after surgery until the test is done.

You're a lucky man. Congrats on being healthy and getting healthier!

You gradually increase your calories until you stop losing.

Just burst my melanin-challenged bubble, why don't ya! I might just have to go to the spray-tan place and buy one just to show you!

Vitamins cannot make up for protein. They satisfy different body needs.

Yes. Now that you put it that way, I am going to force myself to drink those 3 shakes a day. I do force myself. But drinking 8 oz takes me 2 hours because I drink small sips not to overload my stomach or cause pain. So I guess I’ll just be drinking the shakes all day long. Very soon your swelling should go down enough that you can drink much more "efficiently". So long as it doesn't cause pain, you can start drinking in larger sips. Some of us could drink almost normally after a week. You won't stretch your pouch with liquids.

You don't need to drink the shakes, but you do need to meet your protein goals. Until you can eat enough "regular" food, if you don't like the shakes, try protein water (I like Protein2O, myself). Or add unflavored protein powder to broth or soup, etc. If you don't hit your protein targets, your body will cannibalize your muscles to get the protein it needs. This really isn't negotiable. You can do yourself serious, long-term damage. (Your heart is one of the muscles than can be damaged) /Mom-mode OFF/ Good luck!

Wow, awesome transformation! I hope I get a tan when I lose enought weight, too! Seriously, thanks for sharing. Very inspirational!

I guess we're polar opposites. My fingers are still fat and I've got no a$$! Belly's still hangin' in there, though And, no, nobody but my hubby thinks to come up and pinch my butt (and he's under obligation!)

Love the Bruce Willis pic! I never noticed that his head is pointy before Congrats on your long-term success! Thanks for sharing. It's so inspirational to us newbies! Signed, A fellow Celtic Texan

I'd give you ten s if I could!

Prepare so that you won't get tongue-tied. Have a list of all the issues you currently have that are tied to your weight and have some information on the odds of successful outcomes with surgery. Good luck!