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I drank a glass of wine yesterday at a lularoe party, i would say i have 1-2 glasses/week and it's working for me, my Dr is fine with it (by the way, lularoe is a great line of clothes for when you're losing weight bc it's flattering, stretchy and grows/shrinks with you! If you get invited to one of the events definitely go) Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

Well I brought him up bc I looked up who has had the surgery famous!... Then here I am going to have my surgery so I look up to him and his ways.... And your not in the public eye so really 14 years from now would be a total difference. Go Al for not eating a s'more!!!!! Positive vibes Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm someone who is like Al I tell the world bc I am proud of doing something life changing!! We all should! Can't Waite lalalalalala Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

swallowing the stuff - especially after taking the fizzy powder first was a struggle! but i did think it was cool that I got to watch everything on screen and see it flow down into and out of my stomach. thank goodness I have didn't have to do it post-op - there is no way i could have gotten it all down. for my leak test, the surgeon did a dye test before closing me up while the tube was still down my throat - fed dye into and "stressed" my sleeve with some pressure and made sure they didn't see any dye escape from the staple line. so hopefully they'll do that leak test and you won't have to do the barium swallow again. definitely drink LOTS AND LOTS of Water - i felt gross pretty much the rest of the day afterward. I think this was the one that turned my poop a chalky white as well but that could have been the nuclear contrast from the cardiac stress test. good news is - another hurdle down!

Brand? Some have workout enhancers or things that promote quick recovery and to get the full effect it needs to be consumed in a certain time. Not that it matters for us bc of our altered guts lol Sent from my SM-J320P using the BariatricPal App

Yep, @@MulvaRN is right, every employer chooses different options, and mine lessened the usual UHC requirements. All I needed was psych eval, BMI over 40; no wait period. Now I wound up doing lots and lots of tests (blood tests, barium swallow, endoscopy, EKG, chest X-ray, psych eval) and meetings with NUT, support groups, surgeon, pre-op classes, etc. anyway BC that's what my surgeon requires. And it was all valuable. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I chose dr verboonen bc my mother in law had surgery with him in April and she's doing great. She also went with 3 of her patients this past weekend who asked her to go with them. (She's a nurse) And their surgeries were all successful as well! So, I scheduled my surgery for October 21st. Has anyone heard of dr. verboonen or can provide any feedback regarding him? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm a month and 2 days after surgery and today I hit 20 lbs weight loss. This has been the most frustrating and rewarding process all in one. It's weird bc it seems like it's been months. I was wondering if someone else struggled with being healthy. I have been sick for over two weeks. I've had this cold that just won't go away. My throat is on fire. I was wondering if it's from the lack of calories. Immune system being down. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Very heart braking, sorry this happened to you but I wouldn't rush into dating until your ready. When you go look in the mirror and say, I'm one sexy girl with confidence! Is when you should take dating by storm. Your ex is a coward and will always be one...so if you get a oz of the man you end up talking to be like your ex runnnn and don't feel sorry for the man! But lol I don't look into men's eyes either bc I don't want them to fall for me, I'm not ready myself b.c I'm not happy with myself yet. I don't want to bring the guy down if I end up changing my interests.. Good luck with it all though Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

cheese Itz are baked yes, but the have 8 grams of fat per serving. That's the same amount of fat as Doritos, which start out as fried tortilla chips. I would stay away from them bc of the fat alone. How about string cheese, or a mini baby bel cheese, so you get some nutrition as well? Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Got into a discussion today with a co-worker who always mixes his shakes from powder in the office (I always have premixed at home and brought in). He said his wife told him they should be consumed within 10 minutes of mixing. I called BS on him...only to find out that the label does indeed say that. Imagine that- a man who never read the instructions For adults, add one (1) scoop to 6-8 ounces or two (2) scoops to 14-16 ounces of your favorite beverage. Consume within 10 minutes after mixing. Why??? Hell, I have lost 115 lbs in 7 months, if I mixed and consumed immediately maybe I would have lost 150?

All I have lost 60+ lbs in the 3 months since post open, but I am losing strength...like I can only bench 60 to 70 percent of what I used to before surgery. I don't want to get a trainer bc I don't want them to try to tell me what to eat or admit that I had surgery to some meathead trainer in the gym. Recommendations? Eating about 900 calls per day, 90 grams Protein...minimal carbs...I get fats from peanuts. Sent from my SM-G935V using the BariatricPal App

Wow, trying to blame your surgeon BC you COULD disobey your post-op diet rules? If something goes wrong now, this is NOT your surgeon's fault. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@jaysmm I weighed 173 pounds at surgery. I'm 5'6". I was sleeved 7/22 and at day 14 I was down 11 pounds. I'm on vacation right now so I'm not weighing, but I'm not worried. I know I'm losing bc I'm sticking to plan. You're too early after surgery to be concerned with loss. Your stomach is still super swollen and you're retaining fluids. The first two weeks post-op suck. You're sore, you're hungry, weight loss is iffy (for us low BMIers). But, stay positive. It gets WAY BETTER. I'm into my third week now. I just went to a Broadway show and enjoyed an early dinner. It was delicious. I ate the 2 oz of lobster and 3 spoonfuls of bisque. I was stuffed and happy and did NOT feel like I was missing out. Normally, on a vacation like this, I would have had said, "Becky, treat yo' self!" And had 3 glasses of wine, the bisque, a Pasta course and chocolate dessert. Did you really need the surgery? I don't know. That's a question for yourself. Only YOU know if you were going to keep creeping up the scale only to wind up with diabetes, high BP, etc... As for me, I'm the lowest weight/height ratio of anyone I've ever talked to or heard of so far that has been sleeved. But I KNOW I needed the surgery. The past week has been euphoria. Small portions, Protein first, no carbs. I can FINALLY end my disease of binge eating which is what was leading me to be completely unhealthy and would have had me at a BMI to qualify for surgery in no time. I say, be thankful you got to do it while you're young enough not to suffer from all the other things you might have eventually had to deal with. I also say to anyone telling low BMIers they didn't need the surgery to keep their opinion to themselves. Their negativity to someone POST OP is ridiculous. This is not something that's reversible. Everyone has their own reasons why they need this. I've lost all my weight on my own 15 times. I'm exhausted from dieting. This is a tool I needed. #noregrets You've got this. Get passed full liquids and you'll be fine. Weight loss will be slow. But it will be steady. This is isn't magic. It's a tool. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I can totally relate to you! It is very sad how people judge and talk-as if you dont hear it. The same happened to me. I was sleeved in 7.5.16 and did not tell many people at all. Like you-its my business and bc I know the gossip that goes around the office already I didnt want to be the one they were adding to the list of current trash. Well-i work in the registration dept of where i had my surgery. Went to my boss and asked her to handle my acct so no one else would know bc i wanted this kept confidential. What a joke that was-i came back to work and get 101 questions. Ppl that shouldnt have known a thing were asking me 'how do u feel?' I am not happy. Would like to go to HR but it will just point me out at the 'tattletale' and then my job as I know it will be 'hell in earth'. Frustrating. Oh well... I know that I will soon be healthier and happier than they will be and thats what keeps my head up for the moment.. Lol Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had the Mirena for 5 years I think? But a few years ago I had moved on to a tubal ligation, BC of some issues I had. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Really talk to your doctor bc there are so many different opinions like my doctors office doesn't push Iron Vitamins bc it can slow the bm's Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Wish someone would have told me that you lose all your weight via explosive diarrhea followed by a hot/cold sweat that you feel like you'll pass out, bc then I would have passed on getting this surgery done. Is this something that lasts forever? I've been trying to follow directions with drinking enough Water and getting Protein in....I did eat maybe 8-10 soft macaroni elbows like 3 days ago which is when all of this started. Is it too late to get my stomach back? How does anyone live a normal life like this? I'm supposed to go back to work next week, little do they know I'll be working from the restrooms I guess. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

It sounds like this surgery was the right decision for you. I like that I used to like food. My health conditions need me to be well fed and nutritionally sound. My immune system needs the boost that a good well balanced diet brings. My lack of interest in food feeds into the lethargy of CFS, I simply haven't enough interest to keep my nutritional health up. I am not sure that my outlook will ever change much about my decision to electively disable myself further. Regardless of six more weeks, months, years, I will still regard this as an idiot move. I just wish stomach transplants were available so I could undo this mess! I will now have to use supplements as food replacements. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi Gina. I have IBS as well. I was hospitalized as a toddler for a week - diagnosis: nervous stomach. Which of course became Spastic Colon, then IBS. Now, at 54 I got so fed up with how I was feeling that i decided I wasn't going to feel like it another day. I started doing research. I discovered while doing research that sorbitol and other sugar alcohols are in so many things (xylitol, mannitol, etc.). Even in my toothpaste. And more importantly, I was taking Cipralex Meltz which contain sorbitol - I can honestly say I felt poisoned. So - lactose intolerant, IBS and a pretty bad intolerance for sugar alcohols (something I figured out 5-6 years ago but didn't know I was ingesting every single day). When I went to my doctor and explained all these thing she said - "I know what's wrong with you!" - She told me about the Low FODMAP diet - a Doctor in Australia (with celiac) discovered the correlation between certain foods and intolerances, and sugar alcohols and their effect on people with gastro-intestinal problems. The biggest factor for me has been removing sorbitol completely. I'm super vigilant about this. My brain-fog just disappeared, my gut/bowel was so much better after that. I'm fairly good at not eating the many fruits and vegetables, fructose, fructans, etc that are all part of this. I just could not understand why when I ate I avoided dairy but my almost instant diarrhea happened all the same. It was awful. I'm not completely out of the woods, but I feel control for the first time in my life! I downloaded the app, bought the book and haven't looked back. My IBS is one of my major concerns when it comes to getting the gastric sleeve operation. I'm very concerned about foods going through my system too quickly and making my life miserable due to the food bypassing the absorption in the small intestine and through to the large too quickly resulting in chronic diarrhea. I see my doctor August 11 and it'll be a question I'll be asking for sure. She may not know the answers but she may be able to send me to see somebody that does. I really think that you should try this diet, especially as you have IBS. Perhaps you already know about the Low FODMAP diet? If so, sorry I've wasted your time with this very long message! lol The protein shakes you're drinking - check the ingredients. Become familiar with all the sugar alcohols so you can recognize them when you read ingredient lists. Most people with IBS also have lactose intolerance. Do you have it? Protein shakes are an issue for me - it's also a concern if I get the sleeve surgery as the protein shakes are a necessity from what I know. I can't have things like sugar-free popsicles (probably have sorbitol), shakes if they have dairy or sugar alcohols/sorbitol, etc. Dieting usually means low-fat, low-sugar foods. I won't be able to ever have those items, so will need to always have whole foods only - no processed. I will need to have a protein shake chosen beforehand that doesn't bother me. If it bothers me before surgery it'll be a nightmare after. Please look at this diet - there are so many doctors that don't know about it. Find a dietician who knows about it and get some help from him/her. Check your toothpaste, your foods/drinks, gum, mints, sugar-free pop (btw I can't have aspartame either). Good luck - would be so nice if this is a big help for you :-) I was put on the low fodmap diet six years ago. I was not lactose intolerant before my sleeve but I am now. Thanks for the thought and the time you took to message me.

Like I said before, I am 3 months out and STILL have never eaten Pasta. I want to try Quest pasta because it has 0 grams net carbs and a good amount of Protein, but I wouldn't try it until much closer to my goal. I wouldn't ever suggest regular pasta, and definitely not before you are at a comfortable weight. You should avoid "trigger" foods because even though it will be hard to avoid, trying to eat a small amount to give you satisfaction has been proven to make it much harder because your body will crave it more. Also, I had to do 2 weeks of liquids, 2 weeks of pureed, 2 weeks soft foods, then I could slowly introduce other foods. However, I was told no lettuce (salads) until 10 weeks out. Check out theworldaccordingtoeggface.com for some awesome recipes at every stage, although the beginning stages are limited bc you are limited on what you can eat. Good luck y'all. Sent from my SM-N910P using BariatricPal mobile app

You can eventually have .5-1 glass of wine, but no hard liquor bc it goes into your blood stream a lot quicker (or something like that) since it doesn't just sit in your stomach. However, that is way down the road. I am 3 months post op and have tried a 1/2 glass and did fine, but I also got the OK from my Dr first. Soda can make your stomach stretch bc of the carbonation and give you bad gas. Also, sugar content is bad anyway. Good luck, it gets a lot easier! Sent from my SM-N910P using BariatricPal mobile app

I apologize for not being helpful, but I just wanted to say that I also have PsA and am worried about possibly withholding treatment. I'll be having surgery in a few weeks, and so far have had to only stop daily prednisone and birth control, which I take continuously to avoid the wicked flares that come with hormone fluctuations. I was on NSAIDs too but had to stop those almost a year ago due to unrelenting gastritis. I'm also on weekly methotrexate and Remicade infusions every 5 weeks (just had it today.) I'm already miserable without the daily prednisone and BC! What's your treatment involve and what is your expected amount of time off of it? I'd imagine that if I have to stop the methotrexate that it'll be before my next dose is due (I see my surgeon on the 10th to talk about this stuff and schedule surgery) and I'm super worried about not being able to deal with a pause in therapy.

What have you done to lose weight so far? Hard to pass along advice or tips if we have no idea what you might have already tried My standard advice is to get a digital kitchen scale and a myfitnesspal account and religiously track everything. Exercise 30 minutes per day but do not eat back exercise calories. To lose 2 lbs per week, aim for a 1,000 calorie per day deficit. To make a rough estimate at a 1,000 calorie per day deficit: Your weight x 10 = approximate calories needed to maintain your weight If your weight is currently 250 lbs, you would set your daily calorie limit at 1500 to lose 2 lbs per week. I find it easier to stay on track when I eat high protein, low carb: lots of dense protein (meat, fish, eggs), healthy fats (olive oil, grass fed butter) and green veggies, limited amounts of fruit, nuts, legumes, and dairy NO grains, sweets, or high carb veggies -- possible exception is sweet potatoes NO drinks with calories in them NO processed meats (sausage, bacon, jerky, deli meat). Good luck!

I was sleeved 8/1, which also coincided with the onset of my period (yuck, haven't had one in a while but had to stop BC prior to surgery). I had terrible cramps and gas pain in the hospital, slept 80% of the time, but reasoned it was what my body needed. Going to the bathroom (after catheter -another yuck- was removed) took all my energy. First day home was super uncomfortable and even with walking still hurt. Today I woke up and am able to finally drink a bit more normally (up to 32 oz already) and am actually a bit hungry since I haven't really eaten since Sunday night. The one thing that would make my life supreme right now is being able to go to the bathroom, but hopefully the miralax and the fact I'm finally actually ingesting something with nutritional content will move things along. It dies get better!