Dave In Houston

Long term use of proton pump meds can also cause bone density problems. That's the reason I wanted to get off them after 20 years.

My surgeon didn't require a sleep study, though I told him I suffer from sleep apnea and I can't tolerate the CPAP machine. I think my sleep apnea is better after my surgery. Getting another sleep study is on my to-do list. I understand the CPAP machines are better than they were 10 years ago, so maybe I could tolerate one now if I still need it.

I also chose the RNY because of reflux. My voice doc had been prescribing proton pump meds for 20 years, and when I mentioned to him that I wished I could get off them, he asked whether I'd ever considered weight loss surgery. I hadn't because, I wasn't as big as the people I had associated with surgery, but I was big enough, considering my various co-morbidities. The weight loss surgeon said the bypass is the way to go for reflux, so that's what I did. I'm off the proton pump meds now. I go to the voice doc 2/25 for him to take a look at my vocal folds. It will be interesting to see whether he sees any sign of reflux.

I never had a problem with the Premier Protein brand shakes or similar. I like them even better, though, when blended with ice. My favorite is chocolate, blended with ice, a serving of PB2 peanut butter powder, and a tablespoon of reduced sugar Hershey's syrup. The PB powder adds another 8 grams of protein and only 2 grams of fat. Blending with ice makes them more like a shake and less like medicine. I also blend a strawberry or vanilla flavored one with frozen strawberries. No added protein, but it adds a fruit serving. My favorite healthy snack is half a cup of pineapple tidbits (the juice-packed ones, of course), and half a cup of low-fat cottage cheese. I think the cottage cheese is 13 grams of protein.

I used a personal trainer at a gym 10 years ago, the last time I got close to the weight I am now. Of course, that was before I had surgery. I don't remember for sure, but a probably did 2 or 3 dozen sessions. It definitely made me feel better. I've been thinking about doing it again. As I near the supposedly ideal BMI of 25, I notice that my legs and especially my arms are looking pretty scrawny. I also have some wrinkly skin on my arms and legs that could really benefit from adding back some muscle mass. (Of course, at 68, I'm a certified Old Guy, so maybe the wrinkles are par for the course, but they weren't there when I was bulked up with fat. ) And though I look good in clothes, I still have a couple fat places that could really look a lot better when I'm standing shirtless in front of the mirror to shave. What I've been wondering is whether I need to find somebody who has experience with bariatric surgery patients, and if so, how to find such a person whom I could afford.

I'm an amateur singer, and I have a voice doc for when I have problems. He had been prescribing proton pump meds for reflux for 20 years or so. When I mentioned I'd like to get off the meds, he asked if I had ever considered weight loss surgery. I had never considered it, since I wasn't as big as many weight loss surgery patients. I had the surgery 6 months or so ago, and I'm off the meds now. I'm experiencing only very minor reflux symptoms. I plan to go in soon to get him to take a look at the vocal folds, because it's about time for a procedure I need every ten years or so. It will be interesting to see whether he can see a reduction in the inflammation caused by reflux.

My doc also told me no NSAIDs. The acetaminophen works pretty well for me, ad since I also have chronic neck pain, I don't mind sneaking a narcotic pain reliever from time to time.

Nerves are normal. And I wouldn't worry about the anesthesia. I've had general anesthesia 10 or 12 times over the years. I get nauseated, but the nausea meds are good. You are changing your life for the better. That's the thing to remember.

Welcome. You'll like it here.

Thanks for posting. You're very generous with your time, and it's much appreciated.

I get a bit depressed after any big life event I've been working toward, even when it's a good one like the surgery. I'm a singer, and I get down after a big performance, even when it goes well. I think it's a letdown of sorts when something big is over.

For the record, I'm not a professional singer either. But I'm a very enthusiastic amateur. I sing in a couple of men's quartets.

I'm a singer, and I tell them I am. I always ask for the smallest possible tube. I think they remember and try to be gentle. Recovery from intubation depends on the skill of the anesthesia doc and the duration of the surgery.

Two sneezes? Too easy. I sneeze half a dozen times. Maybe a dozen if I overeat. LOL.

I sometimes put a little guacamole on a sandwich. Just a tablespoon or so, though. It's really high in fat.

I'll mention a couple things I tried, because everyone might not think of these. I got same prepared chicken curry from Costco, then put a couple ounces in the blender cup, added an ounce or so of chicken broth, and ground it until it was smooth. I did the same with prepared chicken marsala. A bullet-style blender is good for this kind of work.

I had my surgery in late May. I drink two Premier Protein protein shakes a day, one for breakfast and one for an evening snack. Most days, my lunch is one fried egg, one strip of bacon, and an English muffin or a slice of toast. For an afternoon snack, I have half a cup of low-fat cottage cheese and half a cup of canned pineapple tidbits. For dinner, I'm eating four ounces of protein (chicken, pork, beef, or fish), two ounces of starch, and two ounces of salad with 3/4 ounce of dressing. (The first couple months I ate half this amount.) I generally have a couple sugar free popsicles during the day.

The night before my cataract surgery I was a little nervous, so I took an Ambien. (I was supposed to eat nothing after midnight.) When I got up the morning of surgery, on the counter I found remnants of a ham sandwich and an empty carton of chocolate ice cream. I had absolutely no memory of getting up and eating in the night. When I told the doc, he asked what time I took the Ambien, then said, "People usually sleep-eat after about 3 hours, so I think it's safe to go ahead with the surgery." Now I take Lunesta instead.

Wow... congrats!

Do they actually taste like hot dogs? I really like the taste of Beyond Burgers. To me, they're as good as a burger or better, but they have so much fat I don't use them. Your hot dogs are pretty low in fat for a hot dog. Edit: Also, do the buns taste like buns? I've had some bad luck with keto bread.

You can also fry a week's worth of eggs in advance and keep them in the refrigerator. Warm them in the microwave along with a slice of Canadian bacon or pre-cooked bacon and a bit of cheese in the time it takes to toast an English muffin. Then assemble and eat in the car. (Sorry for being unresponsive to your actual question. I don't use yogurt of any kind, including plant-based.)

I developed a couple aversions that are noteworthy. The first is yogurt. I used to eat lots of yogurt, specifically a Kroger artificially sweetened one they call Carbmaster. In preparation for surgery, I bought 40 or 50 cartons. Almost 6 months after surgery, I have forced one or two down. The rest are in the garage refrigerator waiting to be thrown out. I also used to drink protein shakes from an outfit called Diet Direct. They cost about $11 for a box of 7, powder in envelopes. (They have to be mixed up in a blender.) The Premier Protein shakes taste better to me and they have more protein. But I own 50 or 60 boxes of the kind I don't like any more. My recommendation to anybody who hasn't had surgery yet: don't stock up on anything, even things that are mainstays of your diet. You might be wasting your money.

I mainly had protein shakes and water. Once in a while I would have a Progreso canned soup, ground in the blender and with some added broth to make it a liquid. Things will get more interesting when you get to the puree phase.

Do you use a deep fryer to make these?

I take these: "Bariatric Choice Once Daily Bariatric Multivitamin Capsule with 45 mg of Iron." I get them from Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HZ3YQ5X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1