Phoenixrising

Maybe I am dense but I fail to see what the problem is. You had surgery you did not commit an armed robbery. I suspect he/she will notice you have lost weight, I suspect he/she might inquire about that. Help me understand what you are concerned about. Are your worried he/she will say something negative about your weight loss, are you worried he/she will not approve? The way I see it and the way I handled my post op life is, folks notice I have lost weight (135 lbs). Some folks ask how, some don't. If they ask I tell them the truth. I know my pcp has been very supportive if me.

I am just a few days past my 2 year post op mark and the transformation I have made has been incredible. I lost 135 lbs in the first 10 months and have easily kept that off for the past 14 months. I went from being a total couch potato to being an avid hiker, hiking almost every day (even in the Phx summer heat). I went from size 26/28 to size 6 and some size 4. I have a different relationship with food and myself and for the first time in my life I eat like a normal person (whatever that is). I eat average sized portions, I get full faster, I stay full longer. I do not count calories or measure my food. I am mindful of carbs (average around 100 gms per day) and about the same amount of protein. I do not have a diet mentality and do not obsess about what I eat, when I eat it or how much of it I eat. I do not do low calorie or low fat. I eat full fat cheese and mayo. I love the skin off rotisserie chicken and dislike white meat chicken or turkey. I do not eat much pasta or bread but did not eat much of those before surgery. I take a multivitamin and calcium daily and all my labs and health have been great. I can still falll back in to old emotional and unhealthy choices regarding food but am able to easily get back on track. I have not posted in here in over a year, I got tired of the bull but thought I would pop back in and let folks know there is life after the sleeve and it is as great or as awful as you choose it to be.

I had the sleeve done in Jun 2008 and walked a half marathon (13.1 miles) last Sunday is just under 3 hrs and 15 minutes (about 15 min/mi). I would hardly call that NO energy. I am not sure where your family go their info from but it is just wrong. There is NO malabsorbtion so I am not sure how anyone could die of malnutrition unless they just stopped eating altogether. Please educate yourself from folks that have actually "been there done that" personally not stories from someone who knew someone that told them about someone who knew someone.....

Go For It. It works like everything else in life and this journey just keep putting one foot in front of the other. I had a sweatband on that read The miracle is not that I finished but that I had the courage to start in the first place.

18 mos ago I weighed over 260 lbs and could not walk half a block without huffing, puffing, sweating and stopping. Yesterday 1/17/09 I walked a half marathon (13.1 miles) in: 3 hrs 14 min and 7 Sec I wore a sweat band that said The miracle is not that I finished but that I had the courage to start in the first place. The sleeve surgery and MY major life changes allowed this to happen.

I was sleeve in June 2008. It was not a revision from the band, just virgin sleeve. I am currently 54 years old, 53 at time of sleeve. I am female and 5 ft tall. I lost 135 lbs in about 10 mos and have easily maintained that loss since. I had my surgery in MX on a Friday, was out of the hospital and to hotel Sunday morning. I took no pain meds after Saturday. By Sunday I was drinking liquids with no problems and even able to swallow small pills. I flew home on Monday morning and have had no problems post op. I went back to work 10 days after surgery ( I have a desk job). I could have gone back sooner but was enjoying my time off. Hope this helps

Thanks for responding. I was pretty sure what the poster had said was not medically reasonable. I appreciate the reality check.

I started this journey about 18 mos ago and weighed 263 (I am only 5 ft tall). I lost about 135 lbs in less than a year and have easily kept if off since. It has been an amazing journey.

That is part of the reason I posted this where I did. I thought the Dr might know as I had never heard of something like this.

Thanks for the replies. I know about how protein can impact the kidneys what got my curious enough to ask this question was that the poster said it was the CALCIUM in their protein drink that led to the kidney stones. I am puzzled because 1) I did not think there was that much calcium in protein drinks 2) I had never heard before that there is a link between calcuim in food products (like protein shakes) and kidney stones

I saw a post elsewhere from a woman who said she developed kidney stones directly attributed to the calcium in her protein drinks. While I am by no means an expert I have been around these boards for almost 2 years and have never heard of this before. I also did lots of research on many different boards and sites before I had my sleeve procedure done in June 2008. I looked at all the protein drinks I had and have used and there does not seem to be overly high levels of calcium in any of them. Please help me understand how this can happen. I am not worried about myself but am just very curious about calcium in protein drinks after I read that post. Thanks

I do an itemized return so I just calculated my expenses from my surgery, transportation to and from surgery and related expenses.

I am another "oldster" with the sleeve. I had my surgery 6/27/08. I have lost around 135 lbs and have kept if off easily for the past 4 months. I was 52 when I had my surgery and was 263 prior to the pre-op diet. I have had no problems post op and have no problems tolerating any foods. I am eating "normally" for the first time in decades. I am healthier than I have ever been and generally walk 6-10 miles per day (training to walk half marathon in Jan). I don't know anything about body shapers but I am happy to share my sleeve success.

I have a history of Chron's and for the most part am asymptomatic with a 2 day flare up once every few years. I was told that the sleeve is the recommended weight loss procedure for folks with Chrons or IBS type illnesses. Since I am so infrequently symptomatic I can't really speak to what, if any, impact it will have on the Chrons itself. I do know that I have been healthier than I have in decades overall. I lost 135 lbs in less than a year and have easily kept if off for the past 4 months. I started with a BMI over 50. I am 54 years old, 52 at time of surgery. I have had no problems post op, and was off pain meds the day after surgery and out of the hospital 2 days after surgery. Hope this helps.

I applaud your efforts to get input from others but not sure it will help YOU find something YOU like. I have tried other protein drinks that folks have RAVED about and thought they were nasty and gross. On the other hand I really like Muscle Milk light which many folks find disgusting. It is all about trial and error and finding what you think tastes good or at least tolerable. The best protein drink is the one you will actually use. Most post-op folks will not be using protein drinks for the rest of their lives so it is not like you are making a life long commitment to any product. I would encourage you, and any one else looking for the "best" protein drink to go to somewhere like GNC or Hi-Health or Vitamin Shoppe and get some of the individual packs/cans/bottles/envelopes of different ones and see what works for you. As for the bullets, I agree they are not the best quality protein however if it is what someone can actually tolerate and ingest they might be a place to start. 100% of 42 gms of poorer quality protein is still better 0% of the best protein on the market. Before I get piled on, I am not suggesting anyone make the bullets their sole source of protein for the rest of their lives. I am just suggesting that something is better than nothing.