Sleeve_Me_Alone

Just Better Fiber has been a game changer for me! You are definitely NOT alone. Hang in there, you WILL find something that works for you.

So I have a cold brew maker from Amazon. Basically a large mason jar with a wire filter in it. I fill it with cold Water and put in the filter and add 1 cup of decaf coffee grounds. It goes in the fridge overnight and I pull out the filter and its ready to go

Generally, the pre-op diet isn't about weight (although it can be if you have surgery or insurance requirements to meet). But more frequently, its to reduce the size of your liver to make it safe for the surgeon to do the surgery. Obesity OFTEN enlarges your liver which can get in the way of WLS and can pose a risk of complications, so the pre-op diet helps to shrink your liver and open up space for the surgeon to operate safely.
My suggestion would be to do exactly what they tell you to. ONE - its for your safety and, TWO - having the knowledge that YOU DID IT will absolutely help you stick it out when it gets harder post-op. And it gets much, much harder. You'll want to start getting into the mindset that there are simply non-negotiables post-op and that doing what you need to now will set you up for success long term and help you commit to those changes.

Thank you.
I just called my insurance company and they quickly with no questions gave me a few names of home healthcare companies in my (very rural) area who cover the area for my PCP to submit the order. No preauthorization required. No more complicated than an Rx. Stress gone. Thank you for suggestions.

You should follow the plan set out by your surgical team. Every team has their own nutrition plan, and no two are exactly the same. Some plans heavily restrict carbs of various kinds for longer, some don't restrict at all. It is HIGHLY dependent on your team, so the going advice is to defer to your plan.

There are companies that will come out and do it. You can just call them directly and schedule. (Just Google "at home IV infusions" or something similar.) They don't typically take insurance, so you pay out of pocket, but because this is ALL they do, its usually not terribly expensive.
The other option is to work with the surgeon's office or your PCP to submit it through insurance and have a home health company come in and do them. That's going to be more leg work for you, but then it cuts the cost.

I'll definitely try that. Thanks for the tips. Here is what worked for me so far:
- sucking mints (sugar-free ones) really helps. I carry them with me everywhere I go.
- I don't eat before cooking my food (which I do once a week). Otherwise I won't be able to do it.
- Going for a walk after the meal also helps

You should follow the plan set out by your surgical team. Every team has their own nutrition plan, and no two are exactly the same. Some plans heavily restrict carbs of various kinds for longer, some don't restrict at all. It is HIGHLY dependent on your team, so the going advice is to defer to your plan.

You should follow the plan set out by your surgical team. Every team has their own nutrition plan, and no two are exactly the same. Some plans heavily restrict carbs of various kinds for longer, some don't restrict at all. It is HIGHLY dependent on your team, so the going advice is to defer to your plan.

You should follow the plan set out by your surgical team. Every team has their own nutrition plan, and no two are exactly the same. Some plans heavily restrict carbs of various kinds for longer, some don't restrict at all. It is HIGHLY dependent on your team, so the going advice is to defer to your plan.

You should follow the plan set out by your surgical team. Every team has their own nutrition plan, and no two are exactly the same. Some plans heavily restrict carbs of various kinds for longer, some don't restrict at all. It is HIGHLY dependent on your team, so the going advice is to defer to your plan.

Black tea does have caffeine, though usually less than a cup of coffee. If your plan restricts caffeine, look for a Decaf option, which they also sell.

I am OFFICIALLY in a size 7 ring!!! And my size 18/20 clothes are beginning to get a little loose. Holy crap!!!!
I'm having my 1st procedure to remove (hopefully) half of my pre-cancerous polyps in my stomach on Friday the 17th. The 2nd (and hopefully last) one will be on March 10th.
I'm thinking my revision (going from my gastric sleeve to a gastric bypass out of necessity, because of what the sleeve is doing to my stomach and my esophagus) will be in May or June. I can't wait to get through that and just get back to living my life.
So tired of all these medical issues. I just want to go back to working out the way I used to and FEEL BETTER. So tired of this.

Generally, the pre-op diet isn't about weight (although it can be if you have surgery or insurance requirements to meet). But more frequently, its to reduce the size of your liver to make it safe for the surgeon to do the surgery. Obesity OFTEN enlarges your liver which can get in the way of WLS and can pose a risk of complications, so the pre-op diet helps to shrink your liver and open up space for the surgeon to operate safely.
My suggestion would be to do exactly what they tell you to. ONE - its for your safety and, TWO - having the knowledge that YOU DID IT will absolutely help you stick it out when it gets harder post-op. And it gets much, much harder. You'll want to start getting into the mindset that there are simply non-negotiables post-op and that doing what you need to now will set you up for success long term and help you commit to those changes.

Generally, the pre-op diet isn't about weight (although it can be if you have surgery or insurance requirements to meet). But more frequently, its to reduce the size of your liver to make it safe for the surgeon to do the surgery. Obesity OFTEN enlarges your liver which can get in the way of WLS and can pose a risk of complications, so the pre-op diet helps to shrink your liver and open up space for the surgeon to operate safely.
My suggestion would be to do exactly what they tell you to. ONE - its for your safety and, TWO - having the knowledge that YOU DID IT will absolutely help you stick it out when it gets harder post-op. And it gets much, much harder. You'll want to start getting into the mindset that there are simply non-negotiables post-op and that doing what you need to now will set you up for success long term and help you commit to those changes.

Generally, the pre-op diet isn't about weight (although it can be if you have surgery or insurance requirements to meet). But more frequently, its to reduce the size of your liver to make it safe for the surgeon to do the surgery. Obesity OFTEN enlarges your liver which can get in the way of WLS and can pose a risk of complications, so the pre-op diet helps to shrink your liver and open up space for the surgeon to operate safely.
My suggestion would be to do exactly what they tell you to. ONE - its for your safety and, TWO - having the knowledge that YOU DID IT will absolutely help you stick it out when it gets harder post-op. And it gets much, much harder. You'll want to start getting into the mindset that there are simply non-negotiables post-op and that doing what you need to now will set you up for success long term and help you commit to those changes.

Flavorless? Yes. Tasteless? Not really. The closest I've found is the Isopure unflavored. It doesn't taste like anything specific, but you can taste it when mixed in to other things, if that makes sense. Its not bad or off putting, but vaguely there. I had better luck with it when mixed into savory foods (soups and purees) vs. sweet things (pudding or drinks).
Have you tried Bone Broth? Its a good source of savory Protein and hydration. You could also try the protein waters @Voogs mentioned- they are more like Gatorade; less sweet than the shakes and no chalky texture.

I could not stomach chewables. Every single variety I tried made me sick, no matter how/when I took it. Switched to capsules and haven't had a problem since!

I use Baritastic. The database isn't as extensive as MFP, but it does everything I need and its free. My surgeon & team also use it, so its nice to be able to link up with their office as an accountability thing.

With as much love and grace as I can muster, get him out now. If he is truly that bad, he will absolutely sabotage you, harbor resentment, and create so much angst and stress that you will be miserable. Verbal and emotional abuse IS ABUSE. You deserve to be happy, you deserve peace, your kids deserve to see you well.

JBF is a fiber supplement. Its Prebiotic insoluble corn fiber. I mix it in to my coffee and Water every single day and haven't had an discomfort or side effects. I did start small, about one TBL a day, and worked up to about 4 TBL. So I would definitely suggest easing into it. But for me, its been super helpful and easily tolerated.

As others have said, how you experience restriction will be different than others - it varies widely from person to person. For me, I feel chest pressure. No pain, nothing uncomfortable, but its definitely nothing like feeling "full" before surgery. This is more just a sort of immediate awareness in my chest. That's when I stop eating. That's nearly always followed by one really loud hiccup. It has changed a little over time (I'm 15 months post-op), but by and large its pretty consistent and I've learned to listen to it.
On the exactly ONE occasion I ate beyond that, I was nauseous and uncomfortable, so I walked laps in my living room for 20 minutes or so and it settled.
No violent projectile vomiting ever.

Just Better Fiber. Game changer! Yes, it gets better, but you'll need help for a while, possibly forever.

I'm about 16 months out and I never make 2 meals. That wasn't the case when I was immediately post-op and could only eat mush, of course, but after about 8 weeks when I had been cleared for a "normal" diet, things were pretty status quo. If I make Pasta, I use Banza and then serve myself more meat/sauce/veggies and very little pasta (if any at all). If I make burgers, I eat them on lettuce. If I make a casserole, I might eat it as-is, depending on what's in it, or I might just pull out a scoop of the meat/veggies and forgo the carb addition. If I make a pot roast, I might have a portion of the meat and a small salad and skip the potatoes. All in all, its pretty normal for us. I adjust for myself as needed, but its very minimal.
Only you can decide what the right approach is for your family. But if they currently live off of nachos and ice cream, something will absolutely have to change for you to be successful. And if you are the primary cook for the family, it may fall to you to make those changes. Or, you'll be faced with making 2 meals, which is really impractical (and may very well lead to resentment).

Get back to basics - hit your Protein, get your Water in, take your Vitamins, and move your body. Weight and track everything - it will help you stay accountable to yourself. And, get help! Find a counselor, someone who deals with eating/food issues if possible, talk to your medical team, etc. Can't stress enough how much the mental/emotional piece of WLS is really the biggest. But the help is out there and you CAN be successful! You've got this!