Keys Pirate

Good Morning and Congratulations on superb weight loss!! I'm hoping to hit the same 50 by tax day... Have you tried the iced tea flavors of Crystal Light? That's all I drink of the entire line; I really don't care for the fruit flavors and they don't seem to hydrate like the tea. I buy the individual waterbottle size packets and go through four or five a day easy; over 100 oz. Lipton also sells the same kind of packets and they are lighter tasting. I like them too. I was told a million years ago when I was preggers with my first son not to worry about artificial sweeteners; yes they cause cancer in rats in huge quantities but we are not rats and we don't consume nearly the quantity... Good luck! Carol

I haven't reached 3 months yet but I am planning on an upper GI, yes. And full blood work. Here's the interesting thing; I contacted a couple of standard docs in the area and found out I am looking at thousands (4-7+) of dollars for an upper GI. I was stunned to the point of cashing in more miles and going back to Mexicali where I could have it done for $150 (!!!!). But, then I contacted a clinic here that does all kinds of radiology including upper GI's - guess what? $150! So, I'm going locally although secretly I was looking forward to seeing the Aceves team again... :tongue_smilie: I've found a similiar place for bloodwork but they require a script. I will see if they will take one from Aceves or I will have my local doctor friend write one. Voila! And good luck. And yes, I think it's a very wise idea to have this done. Carol

I finally feel comfortable posting here!! Down 38 pounds; surgery six weeks ago today. I lost 6 pounds pre-op. The list of NSV's in my life already is huge!! But that's another thread. I can't wait to be below 200 again - it's been so long - and I'm hoping to make my tax day a little better -that's my goal date for 200. Or should I say 199!! My loss has been a little odd lately; I only had one stall to speak of and that was at three weeks out and lasted for a week. Sucked. Then, things started moving along pretty well averaging about a minimum of 1/2 pound per day - 4.5 pounds per week. Perfectly satisfied with that and I could DEFINITELY tell when I went even one gram over 30g's of carbo's - no weight loss that day or a few ounces, maybe. Yes, I weigh every day. Just the way I am and it works for me. Some days - and I can usually feel it that morning when I wake up - I'll have dropped 2 pounds overnight. It makes no sense to me but I love it. Has been happening about once a week for the last three weeks and seems to be when my calories are between 800 and 900 but still with very low carbs. I cringe when my calories end up that high and am figuring out why (cheddar, very fatty, Bubba Burgers - even just the patty, lo carb and yummy but forget it) but my weight seems to keep dropping. Exercise... well, um yeah... need to work on that! I've never been constipated ever before in my life but am experiencing some of that. Gonna have to figure out a good way to get lo-carb fiber in. Any suggestions? I also want to thank everyone that replies to my posts. My internet connection here stinks so I can't always reply in the moment, so to speak. But know that I am sending good vibes and thanks your way. I also wish I could be more of a cheerleader for those of you hitting rough spots. Do know that my heart is with you and I am happy to share experiences via PM or e-mail. Just holler. xoxoxo Carol

Hey Guys, thanks for all the feedback, I am so happy to hear Aleve is ok! Nothing works better than that stuff, IMHO. I'm assuming the solid pill form is ok at this stage? Being down almost 40 pounds has (duh) already made a huge difference in my muscle stuff; there's only been one day when I was really sore and that was when I posted this question. Thanks again, you all rock!! Carol

Hey Again! Was also wondering what I should do for leg cramps at night. I'm not having ridiculously painful charley horse type cramps but my calves and ankles are tending to kinda just shorten up. I can get it to stop by pushing my feet on my wall but it's weird. My first thought was a lack of potassium but, lo carb, we should be getting plenty of potassium and I surely am not going to start eating bananas! :crying: I am taking my multi's (solotron) religiously, Iron, Calcium and b12. Also getting plenty of fluids and not getting crazy with exercise... Any ideas? Thanks again, everyone here rocks!! Carol

Hey Gang, Wondering what everyone uses for headaches/muscleaches? I'm almost six weeks out, and, although I feel so much better already, I still get occasional muscle aches that I used to take Aleve for. I understand Aleve is not a good choice, post-sleeve. What do the rest of you post-opers use for occassional pains? Thanks! Carol

Hi, It's amazing how different our tastes are. But, I think if you mix the nectar correctly, they recommend less than half the Water you used (I use 8 oz) you might like it better. I "overwatered" one time and it was indeed horrible. Correct measurement makes all the difference in the world IMHO. I just reordered a double Nectar sample pack from Vitalady.com as Nectar is the only one I can do mixed with water and I really like their high Protein, no carbs and pretty good taste. Another thing I do is shake it like crazy, in a shaker, of course, with lots of ice. I think the cold helps too. It does foam but I don't mind it. I have to add also, that I have not tried the strawberry Mousse but have had most of the other flavors and liked them all. unjury is another one that I can do easily but many here despise it. I find the unflavored goes great in Soups and I throw the vanilla in yogurt or whatever sweet. The chickes Soup wasn't bad to me either. They have sample packs available. I think Unjury is available on-line only. Good Luck!! Carol

Hello Madam, Anyone else, please feel free to chime in. My question is; once you start on soft food and then on to a regular diet, how in the world did you manage to stay below 30 carbs per day? Can you give a few examples of what your days consisted of, food-wise? I like to think I'm pretty good with watching carbs but man, below 30 is tough! I'm managing between 40-50, which isn't too bad, but I want to keep steady loss continuing and avoid any more stalls if possible. This transition phase is trickier than I expected too; going from sip, sip, sipping alllllll day long to several hours per day total around meals is tricky. Also, I find I want to lightly graze throughout the day rather than have actual meals. I know better though and am working towards that. I also find I am having more head hunger but am dealing with that ok. I think it's just now that so many more food doors are opening back up that I want to play!!! Oh yeah, and it does seem that my sleeve volume has gone up quite a bit even though I can only eat very small portions, of course. Guess all the swelling is gone and the healing is pretty much done. Yay. Luckily, nothing has disagreed with me so far, I have been eat just about everything I've slowly introduced to the new tummy. Thanks so much for everyone's support in this amazing journey! Carol

Howdy Lee, Unless you had lactose issues before, that's probably not what's happening to you now. Like they say, liquid in, liquid out... I was in the same shoes you are in - pretty much non stop squirts (eew, I know) until the minute I started on mushies. It was no fun and I wanted to take a picture of the first "real" one after that!!! You're doing great, hang in there. Oh, I loved (still do for that matter) cream soups while on full liquids. Just be sure to strain out any pieces and watch the carbs, as always, but eating such small amounts, it's not much of a worry at this stage. Carol

My jaw hit the floor when I read that outpatient is even an option. NO WAY!! And I consider myself pretty tough when it comes to pain and whatnot. WOW! Day two was, as predicted, the worst and I would not have wanted to been anywhere else but in my hospital bed. We are still so delicate those first couple of days afterwards; why risk it? Also, what about leak testing? Will you have to go running back to the hospital in a day or so? What if you develop a fever? Aceves keeps his patients three nights; two would have probably been fine but none??? Definitely not. Please re-consider, everyone here wants you to SkAtE through this procedure and not suffer, it really is a big deal that you come thru the surgery safe and sound so you can focus on the big picture and all you will have to deal with regarding eating! Good luck!!!!

coffee first! Then, 1 sublingual B12 500 mcg's 1 Nexium 20 mg mup 1 Solotron multi from GNC chewable (thanks Tiff, they're great!) 1 Bariatric Advantage Iron in the evening, 1 more multi That's it but I am thinking of adding Calcium soon. Maybe Biotin since my hair is already so ridiculously thin and fragile. Aceves, however, only requires a multi and iron...

I know this sounds like a total lush question but really, when can we safely drink a little bit again? I get the calories and all the ramifications but, I miss my occasional glass of red every now and then. I'm a month out on the 25th. Thanks! C

Yayyyyy Lee! Welcome home, Sister! Can't wait to hear more! The first two days are no fun, without a doubt, but, like having kids, we forget the pain quickly. Curious too about that liver biopsy... did they see something that warranted it or was it just standard procedure for this surgeon? HUGS!

So we went out to eat with some friends tonight and it's chilly - even here in S. Florida ( I can feel the sympathy! ) and all my stretchy pants are either stained or dirty at the moment... the 16's (jeans) were calling... I was scared... last time I tried them on just before my surgery I could barely get them on, thought I was going to explode; the whole lay-flat-on-the-bed-and-suck-it-in bit... even worse cuz they fit just fine a little over a year ago... they were calling... guess what?! They fit even better than they did a year ago. In fact, I almost fell over cuz I slammed my left leg in so hard first putting them on figuring I would have to stuff myself into them as before. Woooooohoooooo!!! LOVE this crazy sleeve thing!!

I don't think we are damaging our sleeves but possibly creating more acid and therefore false hunger... I might try one of two things; a. decaf (ughhhh!) or b. coffee and then nexium and see what that does.

Alright, so I can't/won't give up my coffee in the morning. It's a power cup of java with powdered creamer and three packets of Splenda. It's a large mug of which I drink about half. Two questions; how bad is it really and, I drink it right after I take my Nexium. I think the Nexium part is more my concern - that the coffee might be washing away the benefits of the Nexium which is the last thing I need... Anyone else a coffee sinner? Just how bad is it? I know the docs all say it's the worst thing in the world but that is their job, no? Thanks guys, I know I can always come here for "in the trenches" advice... :001_smile: Carol

Shoot, mine says an hour and a half! Glad I'm not the only one that sees that as impossible! Oh and Tiff, just how much weight are you planning to lose?? :svengo: I keep seeing your ticker getting ready to run off the right side of the screen! Take care of yourself, ok?? C

I know it's Tuesday but I had to share! BROKE the week long stall - finally! I'm actually quite grateful that it was only a week! Yipppeeee! Hit 229 today - haven't seen that number in a long time. Added a 45 minute bike ride to the repertoir and, I think moving to mushies has helped. It's actually been quite the last couple of days; found out that a hard boiled egg eaten quickly does NOT count as a mushy - found that out the very painful, slimy way. Will my sleeve ever forgive me??? I'm so sorry oh Great Sleeve Master!!! Then, had my first real BM in almost a month! TMI, sorry. :thumbdown: And - as most know by now, discovered how very important acid reducers are in regards to "hunger". What a ride it's been already!! Yay! C

Hey Tiff, You were right, once a day. I'm not sure where I came up with three times per day but, truth be told, I only took it twice per day anyway. Then I started slacking off to nothing for a couple of days when I read this post. Back on it, of course, an unbelievable difference. I really was starting to sweat all this "hunger" which is now totall gone!! Yayyy! Thanks again to Oregon Daisy for bringing this up for us. Oh yeah, I take my mup version of Nexium in the morning. C

was prescribed to take it three times per day but only have been taking it in the morning and at lunchtime. Might start in the evening - as prescribed - too. I've never really not felt ok, fortunately!! Just had this darn "hunger".

Hey Wonderful People, Happy Valentines Day! I think it was just yesterday I stumbled across a short blurb, I believe from Cajun or Oregon Daisy - I can't find it again, sorry - about the importance of taking your acid reducer. What hit me like a ton of bricks was this poster mentioned that acid production, post sleeve does not feel like heartburn, but rather hunger. Yep-o!!! I was getting really frustrated with the almost constant- albeit very manageable - hunger I was having, especially still being on full liquids (mushies tomorrow - hallelujah!). Well, the last couple of days or so, I had very much been slipping on my Nexium consumption; I've never previously had problems and didn't feel like I was now. Thought it was just hunger. Before I had finished reading said Sleeve Angel's post, I had a Nexium down last night and now, some 12 hours later, guess what, no annoying hunger!!! So, stick with your acid killer as prescribed, especially if you are having a lot of "hunger" - it's so true how much this acid production feels like hunger I can't even believe it. Thank you whoever that was that posted that line!!!! Carol crossing my fingers that my stall has broken today. Now THAT would be a great Valentines present!!!

I've had really good luck with all of the Unjury flavors that I've tried; van, choc, chicken and unfl. I use the unflavored the most because it does go in everything and you can't taste it. That being said, I really only use it in non-sweet foods like soups. You could surely add it to yogurt and puddings, however, I just haven't tried it. The chicken broth was not bad either. You have to order on-line and they do offer sample packs. Voila!

Thinoneday, you're probably right but I just can't do it. The curiosity kills me and I want to know what's going on. This stall is a bummer but it's not consuming me (bad pun). It was expected I guess. Also, I live where I work (marina/scout camp) so I'd probably get in trouble if I threw away their medical quality scale!

Snow, thanks for the great reply and data, it's needed. Loosing; I was just about to write the identical post; sleeved on the 25th, down 23 pounds, stalled since Monday. Talk about a bummer, I was charging through 2 pounds a day until Monday. Now, not a stinking ounce! ARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!! I'm suffering right along with you, sister. Hopefully we'll have shorter stalls than longer ones... Hang in there! Carol

What perfect timing! I was just thinking about posting the same question but I'm only a few days late. I assumed my body was just trying to figure out what the heck I'd done to it. Enjoy it while we can, right?! Guess what else? I'm two weeks and two days post op and it seems I've hit my first stall! That was NOT going to happen to me!!!! :001_tongue: Oh well, just gonna ride it out and not weigh everyday anymore, maybe twice a week until it starts moving again anyway, as it ruins my day. I know I'm getting smaller, I just wish the scale agreed, for once. Hit a brick wall at exactly two weeks out. Perfect. Sorry for rambling!