ShoppGirl

Welcome and congratulations on your decision to have surgery. As others have mentioned there is a mens only forum if it’s really gender specific question but it usually does not get as much traffic as the general forums. You could try there but if you don’t get many responses possibly just start the topic with men only please and your age preference and then ask your questions in a more general forum if you just are wanting answers from a males perspective.

I was told if I had any issues progressing through the stages to go back to the prior step for a while. If you just feel sick at the idea of purée foods maybe you should stick with the liquids until it’s safe for you to move to solids. I couldn’t eat things that were not usually purée consistency either. I ate the ricotta bake and refried beans or mashed potatoes during that whole stage.

I have bought cauliflower Mac n cheese and it was just cauliflower with the cheese sauce like from a packet and I have made it. I actually posted the recipe on here and it used real cheese which was healthier but not quite as cheesy so it may or may not hit the spot like boxed or homemade Mac n cheese. I know you can buy just the cheese sauce packet at dollar tree. It would certainly be better to have it over cauliflower than pasta but it should probably still be just a special treat on rare occasion once you get to maintenance ideally.

I find that I can participate in the major holidays with a small portion if I am reasonable. By that I mean don’t celebrate ALL day, just the one plate at the dinner or event and no leftovers later. And I mean truly only the major holidays as in I only celebrate my own birthday with food not everyone else’s and not every graduation or baby shower, wedding, etc. i basically try to keep it to once a month or less that I eat off plan whether that’s a holiday or not because it’s too easy to find an excuse if you partake in everyone’s celebrations you could be doing it every week and that can get you in trouble. One job I had did what was called a “life celebration” once a month on the first workday of the month and that was to celebrate everything happening that month whether it was someone’s retirement, bday, or an actual holiday like thanksgiving, etc. everyone brought in food and treats that one day and some were holiday themed and others bday theme or whatever applied and most people would choose a plate of food and one treat and be done with it. That would’ve worked out well for us post surgery. as for excuses for the events I don’t want to partake in, I usually either say i just ate, my stomach hasn’t been really feeling that great today or I am not a big fan of seafood or carrot cake or whatever it is. If it’s at work and they will see you eating your own food you could go with I’m dieting or I’ve had some medical issues and I’ve been working with a nutritionist and I can’t have it. I find that people like to hear that it looks delicious and you’d love to have it but your not allowed. And if they press just say no I’ve been bad too much lately or something like that. I love the idea of I’d love to take some home to have later if you don’t mind. You can offer it to someone at home who doesn’t struggle with weight or just toss it. Most people just want to think their hard work is being enjoyed and most likely don’t care when.

You could consider telling the insurance company about the issues you are having with finding an adequate dentist that can see you timely. Perhaps they will work on adding new providers in your area.

Idk. I would say it’s not the same thing and not to worry but if it’s enough to produce burping I think I would let it sit just to be on the safe side. Or like arabesque suggested stir it until the bubbles dissipate.

Just try to be patient is my suggestion. It is unfair that you seem to be being held to a higher standard for having admitted to your previous diagnosis but I’m confident they are really just trying to keep your best interest in mind and that’s why they are being so strict. It’s just another hurdle you have to get through but you WILL get through it. Perhaps your regular therapist can help by talking to the person who says you have mild BED rather than saying you are in remission. Do you still see them??

That’s awesome and every pound you lose pre op is just less you have to lose post op so keep it up.

I have a friend who is a teacher and she has been told that her insurance does not cover WLS. Has anyone else appealed this or anything to get insurance to cover the surgery?? Any suggestions welcome. Thanks.

Crystal light isn’t bad with flavored rum. Not sure how to accomplish that when your out though. I guess you could order a shot and a bottled water and mix it but it would depend on where you are. That’s exactly what I did at the sand bar but it’s super casual. People even bring their own glass to keep their drink cold there. Plus we had the “boat” rented out for a party so it was all people that knew me around that could see.

Could add a few tablespoons of hummus maybe. I would say avocado to just add calories but not a lot of protein there. I’m not home or I would just look at the container but according to google four tablespoons has 5 grams of protein and that 106 calories. 1/4 avocado is 80 calories and 1 gram protein according to FatSecret.com.

You shouldn’t have to go to hospital if you see signs of dehydration and don’t wait till it’s emergent. Just call your team and they should be able to arrange fluids as an out patient. I was so anxious about that for no reason. I just went to a different part of the hospital building and sat In a recliner while I got two bags of fluids. It was no big deal and I was good as new.

I actually thought you would be up to 350 calorie meal sooner than that. Does your team have you restricted on calories. I was just given amounts of food to have which if I was eating protein restricted my calories but by the time I got to regular food I could have eaten 350 calories at one of my meals if I tried. I personally have a shake for breakfast, a low calorie lunch and a higher calorie dinner so I would have taken it with dinner and made sure to add in something to get closer to the 350 if I had stayed on it. Of course if that puts you over calories for your teams plan then talk to your doctors first.

I wouldn’t advance your diet faster than you are supposed to. That staged return to eating is to protect your healing tummy. That being said. It most likely that the nerves aren’t healed yet and your restriction will kick in but even if it doesn’t (mine didn’t) and you can eat more than expected without feeling full you can still do this. You just have to measure out your portions and eat until you are “satisfied” instead of “full”.

i just got out this chafing ointment that I used between thighs as preventative after it went away and read directions again. It says ot can be used on chafed skin. It’s called camois butt’r and it’s anti-chafe skin that’s used by a lot of cyclists. It works. I got it on Amazon. Chamois Butt'r Original Anti-Chafe Cream, 10-pack of 9mL packets https://a.co/d/71kRtha

How are you feeling now? Did your prescribing doctor adjust your meds??

I woke up from sleeve surgery with one on. Wore it while in the hospital. Dr said it was for my comfort and I could remove or put it on as desired. I took it off to shower and didn’t notice any difference so I didn’t put it back on. I was lower BMI, though. I think it helps most if you carry alot of your weight around the belly area. I wore a long slimming cami though just to keep my clothes from rubbing the incisions.

Try the clear protein drinks if things taste excessively sweet. I’m not sure why but I had the same issue and those weren’t nearly as bad. Also I found one flavor protein shake that wasn’t too sweet but it has caffeine so check your plan if you are allowed to have it try premiere protein caffe latte. I had the clear protein drinks by premiere protein as well but there are many brands that make them. I suggest trying to find these at convenience stores so you can try just one without buying a case. Walmart sells a four pack of the caffe latte though and it’s much cheaper than convenience store so may as well get that.

Congratulations on your surgery date and good luck on surgery day.

It gets so much easier as you progress through the stages. It does take SOME planning though if it’s a new restaurant. Most places have the menu online so you can study it before hand. I am in maintenance and I will usually order alacarte and get a grilled protein and veggies. If that’s not an option I will get an entree and have just a couple of bites and I get a salad or veggies as the side. Depending on how the protein is prepared sometimes I really have literally just a taste and I just have a protein shake as a snack to compensate. If I can get grilled protein I will have that and a few bites of the salad. If it’s not a healthy choice I will cut off what I eat and box up the rest right away to send home with whomever I am dining with and if not I will waste it (something that is still a little difficult for me but I know if I take it home I will eat it). The biggest thing I find helpful is to review the menu the night before because EVERYTHING looks good in the moment, of course, and it takes me a while to talk myself out of ordering that junk. Usually If I study the menu the night before I can talk myself into a relatively healthy option by the time I get there but if I just wait till I get there I am very tempted to order those less healthy options. Also, I never go to a restaurant when I am starving. Everyone who I dine out with knows I eat on a schedule. If I am out with family or my best friend we stop to eat on my schedule if at all possible. If it’s not possible I will have a protein snack so that I am not feeling super hungry when I get there because that’s when I make bad choices.

If you are allowed caffeine try the caffe latte shake by premiere protein. If not try their clear protein waters. I was the same way with sweet post surgery and that caffe latte and the fruit punch clear were the only two things that didn’t taste too sweet to me. A lot of people also speak about the fairlife protein shakes for this situation. I have not tried them though.

I brought pajama pants to slip on under my gown since the back is open on the hospital gown. I figured with all the tubes and wires it would be too difficult to change my top. And I wore the same thing home from the hospital that I wore there. You will be wearing it for probably less than an hour unless you have a long drive. I just brought fresh undergarments and the pajama pants. I also brought a sports bra because I hate being in public without a bra but couldn’t figure out how to put it on with the wires and stuff. Even the one that totally unzips in the front by shefit. I’m sure they would’ve unhooked me and I could have gotten it on but I didn’t want to bother them just for that.

I would just ask what they do to be sure you are ready to go home. They probably have specific criteria that you have to meet. I mean the dr should have the authority to just admit you if you aren’t ready to go home but make sure that they are at least flexible on that.

I would wait until your cleared for actual exercise.

I really hope you get to go off all the meds but as you may already be aware some people do not. My husband doesn’t even like salt and has always been very fit as is his entire family yet almost all of them have high BP. It’s just a genetic thing sometimes. i am glad you are messaging your doctor. Not sure if you will get a response today (Sunday). They may not even look at emails before Monday. You may actually have more luck if you call the after hours number and tell them to look for your message or consider urgent care if you want answers sooner (I know I would). Of course if you have any other symptoms or it gets suddenly worse you should go to the ER.