LAN2k

Best wishes to all of you having surgery on March 11th. It's a great time of the year on the cusp of Spring! As you already know as soon as you are allowed to drink just keep sipping. For me I loved sipping on ice chips with some apple juice mixed in...that helped so much. And walking was really important as well, to prevent blood clots and to alleviate gas which can cause pain. Don't stress, breath deep and release. Be patient with yourself and you should fare well.

I am so sorry about your dad. My heart goes out to you. I am christian and believe in the power of prayer. I will pray that your dad pulls through this and for you and all your beloved to be strong throughout. Please give us an update when your able.

String cheese is too heavy for me also even though I have tried the part skim!. I love mozzarella and tried it fresh in Water and although it is made from whole milk it went down so well and it is 0 carbs. I find shrimp and fish fillet the easiest of any kind of fleshy meat to eat.

I had that same thought, before surgery I had a large glass jar of Raw Cacao powder it was organic too. It was not sweet and I used it often to make chocolate and mocha smoothies for myself, family and friends. I sweetened it with Stevia powder that I buy at Trader Joes (but can be found and bought these days just about anywhere) and online. I think I may get some and try it again using my Solgar whey Protein Powder. For variation I can add a bit of instant decaff coffee and I bought pure flavor extracts like vanilla, and hazelnut. Although I get enough protein now from my food, fish, cheese, etc. It would be nice to be able to have a filling shake now and then and not bother with meal prep.

Sorry Hugapug...but it's good that you know what the problem was and are being treated and when it's erradicated you'll be all the more healed and ready to move on with your new tummy. God speed in your healing and may he bless the life ahead of you.

I am curious and think it's pretty cool that you were able to be admitted the night before your surgery. How did you manage that? I had to leave my home at like 5:30am and when I arrived at the hospital was routed through the process right into the operating room. Hope to hear from you shortly. Best wishes for an uneventful surgery and recovery.

I would not have been able to go home on day 1 no way. Maybe it has to do with the technique of the surgeon but I was was watched round the clock for a full 4.5 days and went home on day 5. My surgeon checked in on me 2x per day and I had a visiting home nurse twice with one day in between. Anyway I see it's been done and successful so best wishes to you.

Yum I'm going to try that too I shop at Costco. I find fish such as Halibut goes down so much easier than chicken or beef. I also love to boil shrimp and have it with lemon and shrmp cocktail sauce. Fish is high in protein too. Happy it went well with you.

Try to stretch your arms out above your head and also do walk as much as you can. If it's gas it should release. Hope you feel better shortly.

Stacie try to focus on that part of you that is feeling alright and not freak out. I know it's easier said than done but by obsessing you won't change anything for the better. Just make sure you get this resolved asap (to ease your mind). I think if your entire staple line were coming apart you'd be very ill and hospitalized. Please keep us up to date and let us know the outcome. I hope you are able to enjoy the day...continued prayer here your way.

I use a brand of magnesium oil or gel topically on the skin. It helps me to sleep and puts an end to the leg cramping. There are many brands just google it. I don't like the brand I have it smells awful but it works so I'll finish using it and switch to another brand. I found an interesting article on home remedies for leg cramping you might like to read...Relieving Muscle Cramps the Natural Way

I had to take the test for H Pylori pre op too. I came out positive and had to take what is called a "Prev-Pac" It consisted of antibiotics and an antacid-probably Previcid. I had to take that for 4 weeks! After that I was good to go for the surgery. I asked my surgeon if I needed to be retested and he said "no, not necessary". About 2 months ago (at nearly 4 months out of surgery, I went to a GI doctor because I was having mucus and sinus problems. I requested that I be tested again for H Pylori only through a stool sample and it tested negative thank God! H-Pylori is very common and many people have it and don't know it, so I've been informed. It is a bacteria that does cause ulcers and untreated over time, can even cause stomach cancer. You can just put it through a search engine and find plenty of info on it.

I'm almost 6 months out and I didn't begin to feel like myself until around 4.5 months out! I'm a head case though...anxiety, and depression hit me immediately after the surgery and food repulsed me until I went on an antidepressant. After that things began to feel normal and my desire to eat was restored. That enabled me to get adequate protein and fluids and made me feel so much better. I have off days and/or moments but I feel much better and I am only tired when I awake but once I'm up I feel wide awake. My psychiatrist told me that if I didn't have access to medication to help me along, it normally takes about 6 months for the body/mind to regulate itself after a dramatic change or traumatic experience. If she's correct (and I think she is), I should be looking at weaning myself off the head meds really soon.

Congrats to having your date for the sleeve! My hospital stay was a bit longer than usual, (5 days), so by day 4 they switched me from meds through the IV to pill form but they were crushed and brought to me by the nurses with (at my request) a cup of apple juice. I mixed the crushed pill in with the juice in the 1oz cup and then washed it down with some plain apple juice. I was instructed to crush my pills at home as well. I did for at least 2 weeks maybe 3 and then I asked my surgeon if it was safe to swallow them and he said as long as I was able to it was fine. The greatest concern is being certain that nothing interferes with the healing of the staple line. You don't want to risk a leak so as previously suggested, be sure to discuss this with your doctors early so you are clear on what to do.

It doesn't sound crazy mamab...I would not worry so much as to be cautious since your only a week or so out you want to be sure your staple line is thoroughly healed before eating too much or too soon. I guess there are some exceptions, since I could hardly get in 2 oz. of anything that early out. I was on full liquids after about a week to 10 days out and then on "mushie" foods for another 7-10 days before I graduated to solid foods. What is most important is that you stay hydrated and try to keep the Protein count as high as you can. It sounds like your very aware and doing just fine though so keep it up!

For me I think the 12 steps are the missing link. I circumvented much of the self reflective work by having this surgery and when I was obese I'd not the patience to endure the 12 step commitment. I now feel compelled to work through my issues and feel fortunate that I've the sleeve as a tool to keep me in check. This is a way for me to find myself anew, sotospeak--something I have avoided my entire life with food as my solace and self as my worst enemy. Having this procedure has not only forced me to consume less but it has compelled me to learn about my nature and potential. Better late than never. I've been fortunate to have always looked younger than my age. People like to say it's never too late however eventually it is. In considering how quickly time passes I think now is the time.

There is much support and sound advise here so welcome. It's the same situation here for me...where there are support groups they are mainly people with the Lapband or who've had the gastric bypass...very few if any sleeves. :crying: This place is a very integral part of my support system. I am also going to a local 12 step group (OA) Over Eaters Anonymous since being near the 6 month out mark I can now eat and nibble more I am seeing my old self defeating patterns once more and need support to handle that part of the equation.

Toss that tomato right in there sounds yummy. I was not much of a fish eater either (besides shell fish) and cooked! I can only eat boneless fillet of sole or orange ruffy etc. ,(if the fish doesn't have that fishy taste or smell). I am reminded by you to get back on track with tracking my food. I did that pre-op and right after my surgery but have been slacking and at this point I feel the need to be accountable. Thanks!

Great news and with only one incision???!!! That's awesome.

The last few days before my surgery date I began to wonder about the very things you are questioning. I wanted this surgery badly because I wanted to finally have a way to rid myself of obesity. I too prayed. I prayed that God would be in this surgery and keep me/my stomach safe etc. I remember a scripture the new testament where it says... So if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your body parts than to have your whole body thrown into hell. International Standard Version (?2008) That is how I felt about my body part (the stomach). I felt like I've lived the life of a glutton. My insatiable appetite caused me to hurt my entire body and hinder my life. I prayed that God would open the doors if it was alright for me to go through with this. I had no resistance whatsoever from every preop test to the insurance approval. Of course I was scared and had some intense fear that I might still be going according to my flesh and not the will of God. On the morning of my surgery around 5 am as I was getting into my car to drive to the hospital I told myself that I still could back out of it right then and not go through with it. I was scared and I almost didn't go. Instead I went forward and prayed that the Lord be with me in spite of myself and forgive me that if I were mistaken He'd protect me nonetheless and I believe he was with me then and is with me now. I hope you will get clarity and do what you believe is in accordance to His will for you.

CONGRATULATIONS CAMom! It's so great to know your doing so well. up2me-Best wishes on your upcoming surgery.

You're high on life! I do hope I will feel that level of energy and motivation soon. Congratulations on all accounts,

You may want to try lentils, black beans, refried beans, white kidney beans, steamed spinach mixed with a bit of olive oil and fresh chopped garlic and a touch of sea salt is a great soft and wet healthy vegetable to mix with drained white (or red) kidney beans, or boiled shrimp. Fillet of your favorite fish broiled also goes down easy. I'm almost 6 months out and I've got to use caution when I eat chicken or ground beef. Uncle Ben makes a whole grain cream of wheat hot cereal that I mix with a little milk and a rounded scoop of whey powder, (solgar vanilla), that give me fiber and about 24gr. protein in the morning. You can use greek yogurt and mix the protein powder in to up the protein. I love fresh mozzarella, and sharp cheddar cheeses. I've really upped my protein count since I am able to eat solid food, now I hope my thick head of hair will finally grow back!

That was sweet Tiff, and BTW, the pic on your ticker of you and your husband is a really nice black and white portrait. You two look like siblings.

Brilliant! Congratulations!