Tiffykins

At 15 months out, I can eat no more than 6-8 oz of mushy/slider foods. Super mushy chili, Beans, yogurts etc etc are all mushy stuff that I can eat almost an entire cup. Now, for meats, I'm good to get in 3-5oz of meat. If I use any type of sauce, I can get more in, but I stick with 3 oz of meat and few bites of veggies/starch. If I want to eat super slow, I can fit in more. If I drink warm fluids before my meal, or have a half a glass of wine, I can fit more food in, but never more than 8oz. I've never pushed it. Never had the desire to really push the limits. I've taken that "one last bite" a couple of times, and I hate puking up that one last bite. I eat half of what my 12 yr old son eats, and am completely satisfied with my portions. There are ways to eat around the sleeve, it's easy to do, but making the best choice is easier with the sleeve. So, to answer your questions, you'll never really be able to eat normal portions unless you're ordering from a tapas restaurant menu. I typically do not drink or sip with my meals. I broke that habit with the band, and only do it now if I'm drinking wine with my meal, or if I'm eating uber spicy food, and even then it's tiny sips just enough to wet whistle. Currently, I can eat 1 soft taco from Taco Bell, if and only if I tear off the entire top part of the tortilla. I can only eat 1/2 crunchy taco, and I do not get lettuce on them because I'm a lettuce snob and refuse to eat iceberg, especially shredded iceberg. My typical meal is less than 6oz of food unless it's steamed veggies with some sort of sauce then I can eat more. I do have to still eat slow, but not as slow as 2 months post-op. Tonight, I wanted a beef and cheddar and curly fries from Arby's so I stopped and got a small one(they come in 3 sizes now, I had no clue as it's been at least a year and half since I've had one). I got home, dug all the dough out of the top bun, put 3 small slices of beef with the cheese and 2 packets of Arby's sauces in the little bread bowl, folded it like a taco, and ate it. I had to eat slow because of the bread, but it was indeed divine. I ate 5 curly fries 15 minutes before the little sandwich with a few sips or Dr. Pepper before I started eating the sandwich without issue. It does get better. But, it'll never be what others consider normal. How I eat now is normal for me, but by all public standards, I eat like a toddler for the most part.

It depends on what you've been prescribed. If it's a PPI, you have to take it on an empty stomach for it to work. If you're mixing it with pudding, it's not going to work as well if it goes in on an empty stomach. Gaviscon can be used and is often recommended when people want to wean off their acid reflux medication. With Nexium, Prevacid, and Prilosec, it's labeled to take on an empty stomach and wait a minimum of 30 minutes before eating anything.

You're tummy is healed, and per my surgeon there are absolutely zero medication restrictions with the sleeve. Like with any NSAIDS before surgery, we should take them with something on our stomachs. So, I eat a little bite of something (typically a couple of crackers), pop the pill, and then a little swallow of Water to get it down. I've taken 800mg RX motrin without issue. I've taken everything under the sun from Dayquil to Nyquil liquid caps which I find easier to take. I've taken the kid's Mucinex meltaways because they taste good ha ha ha, and it works great for allergy/sinus/head cold stuff. One thing I do take to help ward off stomach issues is a good quality probiotic. I especially take Probiotics and double up on greek yogurt when on antibiotics to prevent "sterile" gut from the antibiotics, and I've never had a yeast infection after taking antibiotics and I swear it's because I take probiotics, and eat yogurt every day to keep the "good" bacteria in my gi tract on even kilter. I've taken all types of liquid cough syrup, one that's a RX that is an antihistamine, decongestant and cough reliever all in one. It's potent stuff, but I've never had any issue taking any medication since having my sleeve. When I was hospitalized in July, I was sent home on 3 huge antibiotics. These were potent drugs to kill off the infection and abscesses I had in my abdomen. I stuck with my probiotics, and yogurt regimen, and really never had any issues taking all of those drugs with a 7 week old sleeve. Since my kiddo is in middle school, he brings all kinds of fun germs home. I lysol and oust the house, doorknobs, bathroom faucets, toilet flusher handle, microwave buttons, cabinet door and drawer pulls, any common area gets a good dousing of lysol or oust to kill all the germs.

It's really common with family. My mom and I got to a point where we didn't discuss my weight loss. She has a band, and all the problems with the band. She got super pissed when I surpassed her with my loss. She's been stalled for over a year, can't get a fill, she already pukes on oatmeal, and is just frustrated. But, she won't revise to the sleeve because she believes it's reckless to remove your stomach. I told her for me it was more reckless to puke all the time, and not be able to eat a healthy diet. Once I dropped below her weight, the evil comments started. "You look sick", " you look like an Ethiopian", "you're going to look old if you don't stop losing weight". . . All of it led to a huge confrontation, and blow out war over my weight. It was pure hell, but since then we've patched things up, and we just agree to disagree on my weight.

I've read about it, and never considered it for my own personal needs/wants from WLS. He's pretty awesome from my research as a bariatric surgeon. Last I heard, he's moving to AZ.

My dream outfit was a gorgeous, clingy formal. I had missed out on 4 military balls because I refused to go looking like I went to a tent maker to get my dress. This past May, I went dress shopping because I was not missing this ball. I refused to NOT go. I found "the" dress, and it fit like a glove after I had it taken in, and hemmed. It was the best feeling in the universe, and I was complimented on it all night. It was nice to not have to wear any type of shapewear underneath, not even hose, and not worry about the dimples, rolls, and other assorted worries I had in the past with clothing. I still have zero desire to wear a bikini, but hot, clingy dresses are my thing.

You rock chickee ! ! ! I'm so proud of you.

I have to take mine in first thing in the morning. I pop it, wait an hour and then eat. I've never had any issues doing this way for the last 15 months. I've only had breakthrough heartburn after eating a bunch of jalapenos, and some chipolte ranch dressing with greasy Mexican food.

I've been sick a couple of times since my VSG. Several months post-op I had a massive sinus infection, was on antibiotics and Mucinex, everything was fine, it's ran it's course, and I was all good. I've caught a "stomach bug" twice, and it didn't bother me to puke because there was nothing in there, and it wasn't induced from overeating. Once the healing period is over, your stomach is the same as it was before just smaller. I haven't had any issues taking any type of medications since having my sleeve, and I refuse to be vaccinated for any of the flu strains. I feel like things run their course through me faster now, not sure if it's related to my weight loss, or the fact that I am just healthier now than I was pre-op. I don't tell my surgeon anything about my common colds, or any ailments that are easily treated with OTC meds. The only time I call him is when I know it's related to my sleeve. My PCP is well-versed since having me as a patient, and he keeps up with all my stuff.

Yeppers, every month during my high and peak ovulation day I'm a junk food junkie. It never happened pre-op, but now I look like a Hoover vacuum sucking down the Cheezits. I wish I could tell you it gets better, but I found that the cravings, moodiness, bloating, and cramps all have gotten worse since losing all my weight. My periods are regular now, and super light. My husband said "so that's why skinny girls are so grouchy, you used to not be like this when you were my chunky monkey." He tries to be sweet, I still would like to smother him gently in his sleep during my PMS week ha ha ha.

I would go because you'll be amazed at just how much you enjoy the social aspect of spending time with your family vs. worrying about what to chow down on from the menu. That has been my experience all along. I enjoy social events weekly, and sometimes several times a week those events all involve food. I never realized how much time I spent eating vs. time spent with good friends and fellowship. Don't sit at home staring at 4 walls, go sip your soup, love your family, and remember in the near future, food will not be a challenge, nor will eating out. Go in with a positive outlook on the situation, and what you can gain from it rather than what you think you'll be missing out on.

Glad to hear you are home Carrie ! ! ! I think you'll love the sleeve, and really be grateful to have a much improved quality of life vs. what you've been dealing with the band.

I guess you'll just have to email your nut and ask how you're getting such high fat counts on such small portions of food, and find out their suggestions. I was trying to help you get the fat counts down. I checked out the fat counts on hard parmesan, and it was 8grams per ounce. I was just trying to give a suggestion on cutting fat with removing the yolk since that is where most of the fat and cholesterol is found in eggs. Since there is 4.5grams of fat in a hard boiled egg with the yolk vs. 0.1gr of fat with no yolk, but then you lose half the protein count. I know it's frustrating trying to get in the protein grams without getting in too much fat. My nut did say that fat from nuts, avocados and Peanut Butter were better options for me. I don't know how much is too much because fat grams were not a focus of mine. I never counted fat grams. Just carbs, protein and calories and it never affected my weight loss.

Can or do you access to a Wii? The Wii active sports is pretty great if you ask me. I just got super bored with it. I need more fast paced, and it has a great 30 day challenge on there.

Yep, that's what I do. I kind of roll into myself, tightening everything I can as I roll. I started doing 25 a day for the first 5 days then each day I'd add 5 reps until I got to 100. It's a slow roll, and crunch to really isolate your core. You can intensify it by crossing one leg over your knee, but I found this impossible to do when I was heavy. I also put a basketball or soccer ball behind my back and roll up and down the wall. The big workout balls are just too cumbersome, and I don't "feel" it like I do with a smaller ball.

Isn't parmesan high fat? Out of everything you've posted that's the only thing that is dinging my noggin for high fat, other than the yolk of the egg. We need fat to function properly, and 5 pounds is great. But, take the yolk out of the egg, get non-fat or low fat cheese if you can. Dairy was always my main source of carbs, and fat because I didn't go fat free until after my gallbladder surgery forced me to do so.

I was released to do full exercise including weights at 3.5 months out, and I had major complications, an additional hospitalization. My surgeon releases patients for full exercise at 6 weeks out if there are no complications. I would recommend doing stand up crunches first. They're easier on your back, and let you control the pressure that is on your abdomen more than the ones that you do laying down. I swear by stand up crunches for shrinking my tummy, and "pulling up" belly. I squat against the wall, roll my shoulders slightly forward and down, while tilting my pelvic up and tightening my core muscles. It not only helps your tummy, but it'll help tone up your thighs as well because you're in the sqatting position with your legs shoulder width apart.

It'll take a couple of months, but you know what's so weird? As soon as I tried my favorite pizza from Pizza Hut, I thought it tasted like cardboard. Literally, it was so disgusting that I took 1 bite, and spit it out. Now, I can eat 1 slice of pizza as long as it's thin crust, and I never eat the doughy part of the end crust if it's a medium crust. Pizza used to be a favorite, but now it's kind of an "ehh, okay I guess I'll eat it."

I had complications, and know it's scary. I wrote out my issues in your previous post. Just hang in there, and please know we're all thinking of you.

My surgeon recommended 2 forms of bc just to because of the major hormone changes that occur with rapid weight loss. I refuse to use hormonal bc so we were a condom couple until we started TTC. I figured if I could still get pregnant on the pill, I would rather just risk a condom and leave the hormones out of the equation.

Go to USER CP at the top of the forum. Edit Signature On tickerfactory, after you've made your ticker there are code boxes. Highlight and copy the bBCode. Come back here and Paste the code into the signature box. You'll need to hit preview signature to make sure it is to your liking, then hit SAVE signature. It will then appear on all your posts. In the future, to edit your weight stats. You'll just click on the ticker from any of your posts, enter your PIN, and then update your weight. It will automatically update it anywhere that the ticker is posted.

Talk to your pharmacist on your RX. Anything that is time released will need to be adjusted, and I'm pretty sure anything that is a gel cap can be swallowed, but check with your surgeon and pharmacist.

It could be that you are healing at a quicker pace than others. Also, try to remember that your stomach has just been cut, stapled off and removed. Your nerves have been severed, and you are not going to feel full. That is why measuring food portions early out is so vital in the healing process. You don't want to overeat, or eat the wrong foods just because you don't have pain. Your stomach is healing, the staple line is still fresh, and you don't food pushing on it, or things getting lodged in the staples that can then abscess, and cause a leak. Just because you don't "feel" anything doesn't mean things aren't going on inside of your stomach. Your body is unlike any of ours, and your stomach swelling might not be as severe. Please, use caution with eating, and remember your body has been through a traumatic event. Do not focus on losing weight today. Focus on healing, and recovering. Drink your fluids, follow your eating plan, and do not risk damaging your sleeve. It's just not worth it. You can be successful, and the surgery will work for you. You're a week out, and it's not a sprint for us. Endurance and patience is the key to success. We all were overeaters, we all struggled with some sort of food demon, and right now the battle begins on getting on track with good food choices, being conscious of what you put into your stomach. Do not think you will fail, and normal doesn't happen for awhile, all of this takes time, and you'll figure it out as you go. Think of your stomach as a 1 week old infant, would you put a bunch of solid food into an infant's mouth? No, and your stomach is just as sensitive, and new as an infant's tummy. Be gentle, and slow with progression.

I've tried a few, and I think since surgery my tastes are just too picky to eat pre-packaged, heavily processed foods. I cook a lot, and haven't mastered scaling down portions, but I freeze a lot of foods, and make many meals out of my cooking adventures. During my losing stage, I didn't touch them because of the carb counts, and there was no way I'd be able to even half of one. It was just a waste of money for me. But, if they work, they work. It just wasn't my thing. I can now enjoy about 2/3 of a hot pocket, or one of the little pizza pouches by weight watchers, but I'm still left feeling like I've just consumed my entire daily allotment of sodium. For me, they just taste preservative ridden so I steer clear of them.

Do you use them as a Meal Replacement? The only reason I'm asking is because during my losing stage one of those would be 1 entire meal, 1/4 of my max calories and 1/3 of my allowable carbs for the day.