Lee

Tonya, please be careful with the immodium. I was not able to tolerate a Protein shake from days 5 to 10. I had violent runs when I tried. I discovered that it was the "whey" protein powders causing the problem. I tried Muscle Milk Light which is lactose free and did just fine. The runs stopped as soon as I quit the Whey protein. Now at three weeks out I can tolerate dairy and whey again just fine. I think we lose some of the enzyme necessary to process the lactose but then regain it when we're out a bit further from surgery. I did not worry at all about my protein in the first two weeks. I did what I could and knew that I'd have lots of opportunity to up my protein grams. In the first two weeks, just be sure to get all your fluids in so that you don't get dehydrated.

Brenda, I consider this a very very big compliment. Thank you for your kind words. Around here, we look to those ahead of us on the path and learn from their process. I know that you will be there for those that follow in your footsteps. This is a wonderful "pay it forward" kind of place and I've been learning from the best!

Yes, there's pills for lactose intolerance but I didn't want to do that. I wanted my body to have it's natural progress. Around Day 13 it left me and I was able to go back to my Optimum Nutrition Rich Chocolate Shake.

I like to add some Toriani SF liquid to my chocolate shake to give it a little more flavor. also like to use 1/2 unsweeted soymilk and 1/2 Water to give it a little more substance. I like my shakes best when I put them in the blender with some ice to make them a little creamier. Toriani has a lot of different flavors. I have chocolate, caramel, vanilla and strawberry. What about trying some different brands of shakes? GNC is good about letting you return ones that you don't like. I recently got a canister at Whole Foods that I returned the next day because it was vile. I like Bodytech Dutch Chocolate pudding as a change from shakes. You can get it at Vitamin Shoppe. Mixed with 5-6 oz of water it has 25 grams of Protein (if I remember correctly) and around 145 calories. Nice change of consistency.

I'm delighted that you liked your first shake! Please let me advise you to wait until after surgery for some of those samples. Many of us have found that our tastes changed post-ops. For me I became lactose intolerant on days 5-10 and had violent issues in the bathroom when having anything with lactose. I then found that I could do shakes with 0 lactose. It's gotten better now. Also, everything that was sweet pre-op is now doubly sweet post-op. I'd save a few samples until after surgery and give them a taste then. Good good good luck on your surgery!!

I too did not have a drain.

I too started pureed foods at two weeks out. I will start soft foods at 4 weeks. I can really relate to that wall of fatigue. During week two I worked in my office and on Friday I worked from home. Friday afternoon I hit that wall and stayed in my jammies watching movies until Sunday morning. During week three I hit that wall one day after lunch in my office. It passed the same day.

Try no sugar added fruit popsicles (25 calories). They work great in the clear stage. I personally didn't have pain when sipping slowly, but I really forced myself to get in 32 oz by day 4 so that I could move to 64 oz on day 5 as required by my plan. Everyone is right, you'll feel so much better if you can hydrate. I immediately had more energy when I was getting in fluids. The popsicles were cold and felt great to my swollen sleeve. They each are 2 oz of fluids so I'd put the sticks in a glass and add them up at the end of the day. I found that I loved Sobe Lifewater 0 calorie in the fugi apple pear flavor. The pomegranate was too sweet for me. The Lifewater is 0 calorie but has around 15 carbs per 20 ounces and I found the carbs helpful in giving me some energy. Find what you like and then focus on that. Today at three weeks out I can gulp tea or Water with no problems.

Congratulations on making it to 100!! That is an amazing task that you have accomplished. Bravo!! My surgeon gave me a goal of getting to a BMI of 30. He said that at my age that would be perfect and he would consider the surgery a huge success. He said that a BMI of 25 would be phenomenal. I want to lose 100 pounds just because I would consider that an amazing accomplishment.

Ladies, Please trust your decision. Know that you will be so happy post-op. I am three weeks out and wearing clothing that I haven't worn in 3 or 4 years. I move more easily. I'm so much happier. The obsession with food has passed. I am not hungry between meals. I drink tea and Water as I did before surgery. My visit to my surgeon yesterday was perfect. He removed my label of Morbidly Obese. Have trust in your surgeon. The greatest odds are that you will survive the surgery and flourish and your children will be so much the happier for it. If you do not trust your surgeon, find someone that you do trust. In the week before my surgery I had only calm and delight at the upcoming event because I trusted that I was in the best possible hands and that my surgeon would not let anything happen to me. Find your peace and hold onto it. Visualize yourself as you would like to see yourself in a month. Down on the floor playing happily with your children perhaps? I am happy to take any PM's if you would like to give over your fears. I will hold them until after your surgery and return them to you afterwards if you want them back. My mantra preop was "everything always works out for me... everything always works out for me". Visualize the best possible outcome and keep it close to you.

Big hurrah!! That's is a terrific story! Did you dance your way out of the store?

That's great news! 24 hours in the hospital was quite enough for me!

Brenda, I loved every word of your post. I know that you think that your journey is just beginning and I can relate to that, but I think it's our journey thus far that has brought us to this place. You're going to be just fine!

YAY Lynda!!! I've got a cozy spot on the Loser's Bench just for you!

Good Morning Team, I'm looking forward to my call from Robin this morning. Maybe soft foods are in my future! Tomorrow I'm seeing Dr. Baggs. It's a little earlier than one month, but that's what they scheduled for me. Dr. Baggs told me that I don't need to see my PCP for followup until I have other reasons to go see her. I guess throwing out all my medications means she doesn't need to monitor me. I too am so freakin sick of pureed foods. Nothing tastes good. I'm still jealous of John's weightloss! :thumbup: John and Tamra, I hope you get over your colds soon. CoCo, I was so sad to read about your arm wound. Are you ready for tomorrow? :ohmy: How's everyone else? *waving hello to everyone*

Hi Kara and welcome! Thank you for sharing your story. My surgeon had only done 20 Sleeves prior to mine. He had never had a leak. The Sleeve is new to the facility that I went to but the surgeons had performed 100's of other Bariatric Surgeries. I didn't think that Kaiser would start offering the Sleeve if they weren't qualified. I totally trusted my surgeon going into this. Everyone's stories are different and I'm sure you'll get lots of responses. Please keep us updated on how you're doing!

I just wanted to say hello and welcome you to VST! I've been using the GNC Optimum Nutrition Rich chocolate Flavor. I also have Chike Protein powders but don't like them as well post-op as I did pre-op. Muscle Milk Light in the RTD container is ok. It tastes like chocolate milk. I got them by the case at costco.

Hi AJ, Welcome! I had to laugh at your post because I wanted to go to sleep and wake up on day 4. First sip for me didn't come until my leak test 24 hours post-op. It really didn't hurt. I had to drink some concoction so that they could view it going through my Sleeve. I wasn't allowed Water or ice chips until after the test. After that was done, I had to sip 8 oz of fluids (took 4 hours) and then they let me go home. It wasn't bad at all, just strange. By day 5 I was working on 64 oz a day. You'll do just fine!

Gra8py, I'm glad you're figuring out what works best for you. I was a vegan from 1989 to 1997 and loved it. I went raw vegan from 2003 to 2006 and thought it was great. I have the juicer, deydrator and every raw book. It will be interesting to see how this surgery plays out in the coming months/years.

Breek, on the day of my surgery, my surgeon threw out my Blood Pressure and Cholesterol meds. Done! I really understand your fears. I'm 59 years old and have had three surgeries in three years. Ankle repair July 2008, Gallbladder November 2009, and VSG last month. I came through each surgery easily. I sat down and weighed the risk factors prior to committing to VSG. I realized in the end that the risk of not having the surgery was greater than having it. My family has a history of kidney failure, heart disease and stroke. I fully discussed it with my 36 year old son who totally supported my decision. Why spend the rest of your life battling your weight, being consumed by bad health, obsession over food and weight, when you can take this step and end the battle. Give yourself the gift, you truly deserve it and so does your daughter. She will be so happy to have a mom who is active in her life. You deserve a life with no shame or regret. We're all hear to support you! I'm sending you hugs. You're going to be just fine!

Congratulations on your Sleeve! Good luck and I hope you post often how you're doing.

Oh WOW! Just this morning I was thinking how happy I'll be when I have that experience!!

Wishing you all the best!!

Tonya, welcome to the Loser's Bench. Day three is definitely better than day two.