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Protein and veggies in the crockpot!! I tell you that this combination will fill you up (I eat more than what I thought I would be able to.) if you eat good things that will keep you full for longer periods of time you will do better. salad does not stay with you very long and you will be hungry again soon after. Try adding protein to your salad and see how much that helps. Tuna, chicken, or any other type of protein you prefer would do so much for your hunger. I was banded on October 19th and find I cannot eat as much as I used to. My problem is learning to slow down. I tend to still eat fast and then feel so tight all I want to do is lay down and groan. I am learning each day how to work with my band. I do not get my first fill until November 30th and while I am looking forward to the first fill, I need to really use this time to learn how to eat slower and get into the habit of taking my time and chewing more. Good luck to you!

Hello, I'm sorry to hear about the complications you've had following your bypass surgery. Now my curiosity is up concerning the hot flashes after surgery. I am getting hot flashes like crazy, but mostly at night when I'm sleeping. They are so annoying and uncomfortable. I am hot, so I kick the covers off, then I get cold... and it can just continue like that for hours, which is really tough because I'm losing sleep. Makes me feel like poop the next day. Anyway, I had my bypass revision around May 1st of this year. I guess the hot flashes started about 2 months ago. I am starting to wonder if I am perimenopausal, although I don't have any of the usual "symptoms" other than the hot flashes. I am 47 and had a hysterectomy 8 years ago, but my surgeon left my ovaries. Not much help to ya, but wanted to jump in on this topic since I'm experiencing something similar. I might dig around and find some of the posts/conversation on this topic. Wish you the best, get well soon and congratulations on your bypass surgery.

November 17 I meant to say Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Chewing is part of the digestive process. It releases chemical in your stomach that help digest food. So it is quite natural to feel a need to chew. After my RNY gastric bypass, my regiment was 4 weeks of full liquid, followed by 4 weeks of puree foods, and then only in week 9 was I allowed to transition to solids. Transitioning to solids can be quite difficult. So there is no need to push it. I found that softer foods (such as chili and soups) went down much easier than solid foods such as steak. So therefore I relied heavily on soft foods. I have included some recipes at the end in the following article. http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery.pdf

Hi there November Nymphs. Shortgal invited me to join. I guess I am a little dense because I can't figure out how. I looked around for something called November Nymphs to try and joing, but I couldn't find it. Could someone tell me how to do this? So I am going to read some of the other things going on in the section, and see what the challenges are so I can join in. This month, my goals currently are: 1) Get my life back, claim it back from the place (work) that has been stealing my energy, body and soul, for quite some time now. 2) Love approximately 5-6lbs. I want to weigh 249 by May 1st. 3) Walk at least 2 miles, 3 times a week. 4) Tomorrow I start a Water jogging class on Monday and Fridays to help relieve my knee and foot pain I hope this isn't to many goals. The first one is a doosey, let me tell you.

Hello - here's a doozy for a first post - every since my gastric bypass on June 17, wearing any kind of a bra causes pain at worst, and discomfort at best right above my pouch. And to give bras a break, I also feel discomfort in that area without any bra. I feel ridiculous because the only thing I can tolerate long enough to wear to work is a sleep bra which does nothing for form or shape, only restricts bounce a bit. And by the end of the work day, even that is driving me crazy. In fact, it's the beginning of the work day right now and it is already moving from discomfort to pain. Will this go away? Ever? Not that I'm a fanatical bra wearer but it really makes me feel very unlike a 'normal' person when I should be feeling more like a normal person each day due to the weight loss. Thanks for any help. Shelley (takenote61)

Surgery week is here! My surgery is Wednesday, November 18th. I've got most of my stuff packed. I am packing for the hospital and the weekend after as I am staying with a friend at her apartment that has an elevator! My kitchen is cleaned out except for post-surgery items. I have the rest of today and the morning tomorrow to work and then two weeks+ off for recovery. One more trip to the pharmacy to refill prescriptions and get a few things and I'm ready. This journey started when I was put on my first diet at the age of 6 because I wasn't thin. (I wasn't fat either, but I wasn't thin.) I've never been thin, but its only been the last 10-15 years that I've really put on the weight. Like everyone else, I have tried everything. In July I realized that I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. My knees were starting to hurt climbing stairs, my feet were starting to become a problem, my diabetes (A1c) and blood pressure were creeping up, my wardrobe was soon going to need to go up another size and that was getting harder to find, and I realized that I had reached the point that I was ready for surgery. I had exhausted my last option and was ready and willing to make this step. So here I am almost the eve of surgery excited, contemplative, and scared. Ready to just get on with it and not have to be anxious anymore. To everyone else have surgery this week! Best wishes! pam

Hi Dody, Thanks for the prayers and encouragement! Same to you, my friend! Yep, I imagine I'll certainly have quit smoking by the time I have bypass surgery. What a wake-up call that is! And yes, I'v ebeen on furosomide (and 21 other meds) for quite some time now. I'm hoping to come off most of them in time...especially the coumadin. That stuff really is rat poison, but I suppose it keeps the blood thin, and avoids any possibility of stroke, due to clots. Bless you and yours, and keep on fighting this deal. You sound like you're really doing all the right stuff. You'll be running circles around most 30 year olds at that rate! Godspeed, Shannon

hello there. I got sleeved on November 11th. had a great surgery and recovery. I started my week pre diet with Protein shakes, it actually wen great. My problem right now is that i cant stand those shakes i am actually gagging on them, having a very difficult tine finishing them , and the chicken broth and and greek yogurt gives me goose bumps just listening to the words. i would like any kind of ideas on how you managed to go thru that liquid stage. thank you!!!

I just had the gastric bypass this past Wednesday as well as gall bladder removal. This is my first day home and I was able to get in all my vitamins. Been sipping liquids all day. The only thing I'm having trouble with is getting in the protein!! How come nobody told me it would smell so terrible?? Today I tried Nectars Vanilla Bean Torte, Optisource strawberry, Isopure alpine punch and passion fruit(which this is my fave so far) and a pure protien shot that's 42g in 3.8 oz of liquid. The taste on most has been tolerable but the smell is really getting to me! Does anyone have suggestions on some that are better to get down smell wise?

I was banded in November of 2011. I lost 12 lbs the first 2 weeks and then nothing for the next 3.5 months. Late March I got my 3rd fill and had a visit with my nutritionist. She really made a big difference. I was able to clean up about 300 calories I was eating a day and the 3rd fill gave me enough restriction to start my journey. I was eating the wrong foods so that the band couldn't work it's magic. Unknowingly I was eating slider foods that didn't stimulate the valgus nerve. Once I made that correction, I started to notice the signals. Not always of course. Unfortunately with the band, most of us have to pay closer attention to what goes in our mouths than other WLS patients.

Hi Sue, I have to get a sleeve to bypass revision, it will be fixing the stomach, as well as doing a partial bypass. They don't do a full bypass with the rerouting of all the organs they would for a full bypass, but partial. I was very much not for the bypass, that's why I had the sleeve, so this takes an emotional toll on me even more so because at this point I really don't have a say or option. I'm just trying to maintain a positive attitude with the 'everything happens for a reason' attitude. It will be laparoscopic, and they said they will try to go into the incisions from when I had the sleeve (I really pushed that one), but I may have an extra on or two. Because of the way this one is done it is unlikely. I am very happy with the healing of my scars from the sleeve as they are pretty much non existant. My recovery will be a couple to few days in the hospital, three day prior liquid diet (only had to do a day for the sleeve), as well as doing post op diet as if I was getting the full bypass. I was made aware this surgery has only been done once by my facility which draws extra concern and anxiousness, as this is a newer procedure. The one person that has had it has had an great out come.

yes - I know. But she asked the following question near the end of her post - so I was responding to it: "just out of curiosity has anyone had a bypass and went to sleeve?"

My mom is notorious for saying one thing one time and then flip-flopping on it later on. She suggested surgery to me a couple times in the past, but frankly, the only surgery I knew about was gastric bypass which scared the bejeepers out of me and was a huge NO in my book. However, I know if I told her before the surgery that I am doing it, she would probably start talking against it. It also doesn't help that one of her neighbor friends is a very opinionated nurse. You can do the math from there. :sad_smile: Heck, even hubby doesn't know yet, and I just got my surgery date today! I was going to tell him about it last night, but we are still so jet lagged from a trip we got back from on Monday and he was so tired I said I'd tell him today. I wanted to be sure of what I was wanting and getting myself into before I involved anybody else.

I'll preface this by saying I am not a doctor or work in the medical field. However, I have been told that VSG patients do not need to worry about having an naso gastric tube puncturing their sleeve. That is "old" thinking based on the fact that it is a SERIOUS issue for those with an RNY gastric bypass and could easily puncture their pouch. The sleeve is a completely different animal but it seems the advice still sticks. Kinda like how NSAIDS are fine with a sleeve.....but some surgeons still tell their patients they can't have it. Just my two cents.

But I'm terrified. I'm definitely a rule breaker (hence the slipped band 3 1/2 yrs later from frequent vomiting. Never did learn how to eat slowly). My band had a minor slip last year, my dr took out 1/2 of my fill and it worked. no more reflux, so he decided to leave it alone. In the last year I gained 21 lbs. I HATE dieting, why I got the band in the first place. So I've been on the fence for months whether I wanted to just go ahead and revise it even tho I had no symptoms. This past Friday nite, I started having stomach pain. Not bad, just bothersome. Monday nite (after having constant pain for 3 days) it got unbearable and I ended up in the hospital. My band was herniated (a bad slip). They unfilled my 6cc and told me I'd need a revision. My band dr is 3 hrs away, so I haven't been seen by him yet. I called the insurance girl at my drs office and asked if revision would be covered under my Medicare. It is, even tho my bmi is now 27 cuz it's a complication. They don't cover plication, however, which is what I wanted with my band - to improve my chances of future slips. She talked a little about the sleeve (which is also covered) and said most band patients convert to the sleeve. Like I said, I haven't even talked to my dr about it yet so I'm not sure what he's gunna say, but I started doing research on the sleeve today. I loved my band. Helped me to lsoe 104 lbs. But it's so much maintenance - always going 6 hrs round trip for fills/unfills/tweaking and alot of money involved (Medicare only pays for fills for the first year) and worries about slipping. The sleeve doesn't require maintenance, does it? How long do you spend in the hospital? Is it like gastric bypass where over the years your stomach can stretch back out? Whats the difference between GB and the sleeve? Any and all info is greatly appreciated!! Even tho I'm only about 28 lbs from my 135 goal, I know I'd gain back every lb that I've lost if I don't have a tool to work with. I proved that this past year with less than optimal restriction. I never did learn how to eat healthy - the band just stopped me from eating too much. Thanks! Marci

Oh my god that's exactly how I felt I was sleeved November 13 Tuesday and i was just like you I went in and And before I knew it I was out with regret I couldn't believe what I'd had done to myself I was thinking .. god had made me perfect and I just ruined my system... ...eating wasn't so bad I really didn't hate the treadmill so much that I would never feel the same I was in so much pain. I can go on and on but today I feel better not only mentally but physically my back doesn't hurt as much I've only lost 7 pounds but I'm looking forward to feeling better as I lose more weight ... I know eventually I'm not going to regret doing this <3

I think I agree with Paula. Unfortunately, the people I've known of that had eroded and were rebanded eroded again, even more quickly. :mad: I just don't think I'd want to take that chance the second time around. I have a friend there in the LA area who had a laparoscopic bypass with an apparently very impressive doctor. She has lost 110lbs since December and doing very well. No complications whatsoever. She is also about 60 years old. I am so very impressed with how well she's done. If you want, I can find out her doc's name as well. Whichever way you go. I sure don't envy you the decision or having to go through a second/third surgery, but I'll sure be sending good thoughts your way!!

My doc said about 50% of sleevers will have worse reflux after surgery and tried to talk me into bypass because I currently take Pepcid. I told him I believe weight loss in itself will help my heartburn (and it has) and I'm willing to risk it because I really don't want bypass. My endoscopy showed no Barrett's esophagus or any other damage from reflux so I'm comfortable in my choice. Do meds not work to control your symptoms after surgery? It seems a little drastic to me, to have additional wls just because of reflux.

Any other sleevers on that day? Have you started your liquid diets yet? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

oh good!!! I hope you're able to get a surgery date that soon!!! My partner is having bypass with Dr. Soloman and we're hoping for the end of March/beginning of April!! Oh, and after you see Dr. Takahashi, they are going to have you do a 4 hour bariatric surgery class over where the support groups are. I had to wait 3 weeks to get into that class because the first one was full and I think it's only offered every two weeks. They sure make you jump through a ton of hoops!!!!

Hi everyone. My name is Stacy, I am 34 years old and I was just approved for surgery on November 5th. My date is January 2, 2019. This was my third time trying for surgery. The first time I weighed 427 lbs. I barely lost any weight during my 6 months doctor supervised visits so I was denied. Discouraged but determined to show them I could do it, I counted calories and excised and went from 427 down to 202 lbs. The irony was the "healthier" i became, the sicker I got. I dealt with continual heart issues giving me symptoms of heart attacks without the blockages... one attack happened while on the treadmill and landed me in the hospital for 2 weeks. I continued my diet and exercise until the final episode landed me in the hospital yet again and they finally found out/assumed my arteries were constricting from stress...which was probably from all the missed work... and they put me on medicine. My gallbladder decided to check out at this point... but not before going out with a bang--I was in the hospital another 2 weeks because my pancreas and liver were inflamed... after the gallbladder removal the weight loss got harder and the pounds started packing on. I was afraid to exercise and miss more work--so I started walking. Because I wasn't getting the rush I normally did from exercise my depression came back full force. I slept the day away any chance I got... I'd eat my calories one day, the next hardly touch food, and the following day, I'd eat garbage. My choices were terrible. Terrified that I would go back to my old weight I tried a second time for surgery--the entire process I battled depression and diets--trying to find what would work and give me the success calorie counting did. Instead I gained--at this point I was denied a 2nd time. My weight, 350 lbs. Something happened where I made the decision to buckle down... and from October of last year (when I was denied) until March of this year, I lost 15 lbs. I worked hard to see the scale move. It wasn't until April that I read about low carb--most of the foods I couldn't eat anyways because they made me sick--like bread and sugars--so I went for it. When my doctor saw my progress she said--whatever you're doing is working! Try one more time--I think you'd get it! I had no faith in being approved and I said if I was denied again, I'd stop...and take it as a sign. Since starting low carb I've lost an additional 58 lbs for a total of 73. I have my appointment with my dietitian on December 5th, pre-op appointment is December 12th and Upper GI is December 19th. This is also the same day I start my 2 week pre-op liver shrink diet. I do have some before and current pictures in my gallery and what I look like currently... I am having anxiety about it all... and a lot of people are saying I don't need it done... I look fine... I kinda wish I would have taken the route where I didn't say anything to anyone. Thanks for reading ❤️

my friend did not weigh enough she gained 40 lbs to get the bypass done ...soo crazy

Hello Everyone! I was sleeved this week Monday November 8th and today was my first full day home from the hospital. While in the hospital I had a few what have I done moments, especially during my upper GI the tech was trying to force me to drink 5 oz of Fluid with a staw next day after surgery. My first 3 sips made my stomach hurt really bad it's like I could feel my stomach fill with air each sip I took. It was awful, but once testing was done I had no leaks thank God and I made sure I told my surgeon what happened during my upper GI and he was not happy about it at all. Right after my upper GI the male nurse from hell told me to get up and walk even after I explained the amount pain I was in after my test and that I had already walked the floor twice that morning he just explained that they saw me walking but know one documented my time so I had to do it again and kindly told him to step off. In the end he forced me to to get out of the bed so I walked exactly five steps from my room turned arounded and walked backed and demanded my pain killer. The head nurse Cindy was really nice to me and after I explained to her that I had been moving and taking myself to the bathroom it was just the pain from my upper she understood and gave me my pain meds. I also informed her that nurse man from hell had not changed my sheets and I had been setting in chair all day long this was on Tuesday he did not change the bed untill Wednesday afternoon and I was discharged Weds. evening which was fine because I got up and change the bed myself. Other than nurse man from hell my hospital stay was find, I did everything I needed to do to go home. My first full day home has been crazy I have not been hungry so I put a chart together to track my full liquids I was only able to take in 25 grams of Protein today I did go outside and walk twice 10 mins each time it was really a nice fall day. I wanted this so badly and I do not want to mess anything up any long timers or newbies out there who have any pointers for me it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for allowing me to vent while providing my summary of the start of my new journey.

I had the same thoughts when considering which surgery I wanted....i considered the sleeve for several reasons...a few being that the actual surgical procedure was less than half the time it would take to do the bypass and I heard recovery wasn’t as bad. I also have a few close friends who had the sleeve and are more than happy with their results. I ended up deciding on RNY due to my occasional acid reflux and I was nervous about regaining my weight and falling back into the old habits that got my in the situation I was in before surgery. I didn’t want to have to deal with the possibility of needing revision surgery and having to go through everything twice. I figured I was already going to be under anesthesia so I just thought “I’m not going to know how long I’m asleep” lol But I know several people that had the sleeve and it was a perfect fit for them with long term success to back it up! It’s really just up to you!