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my comfort food : Tonight I took a head of cauliflower, boiled it until slightly stiff, then drained it, placed it on a baking sheet, spread greek yogurt mixed with crushed garlic over the entire head, graded some parm. cheese to finish it, then into the oven@ 450 for 20min. Wow! it was delicious! When eating it, I sprinkled hot sauce--just a few drops on . Full of flavor.

It gets easier, but truthfully i am 10 weeks out and if i eat anything to dense( ie i still cannot eat chicken salad!) its like your having major chest pains. And then whoopsie, back up it comes. Stick to the purées and yogurts as long as you need, good luck!

Hi DivineRN, What really helped me were my Premier protein shakes about 30g of protein per serving really helped me get a good amount in quickly. I also kept a large bottle of water with a natural protein flavor packet with me all day and sipped as much as I could! Lastly, greek yogurt, cottage cheese and pureed chicken pot pie were go to's. Hope had helps! The scale moving kept me pretty motivated during that time.

My nutritionist has similar guidelines. Too lazy to look for my handbook, but I think the rules were 20 gms Protein, low carbs and sugar under 8 gms per serving. It also had to be isolates and not concentrates. My own issues were allergies to food dyes, artificial sugars and stevia. Sucrolose was okay for a bit but eventually started irritating me as well. I also can't eat processed foods, so they needed to have minimal ingredients. I finally settled on Isopure unflavored whey isolate. I then make my own in the nutra bullet with FAGE 0% greek yogurt. I added fresh fruit, almond butter or cacao powder to flavor them. Premade I like Orgain Organics.

I'm a fan of Unjury, but I don't think I'd try to put it in Crystal Light. I tried the jello recipe on the Unjury site and it's tolerable, but I don't think I'd stand in line for it. Unflavored Unjury is best when mixed with milk-based products. I put a tablespoon or so in my greek yogurt to get an extra protein kick. If you're looking for something clear, Premier Protein makes clear protein supplement drinks. I haven't tried them, but others on this site speak highly of them. I bought the Isopure from GNC but they leave a weird dry-feeling in my mouth that I just can't tolerate. For me, if I'm tired of milk based protein supplements, I keep Unjury Chicken flavored on hand. I like it because it's a nice change from the sweetness of most protein shakes and it is warm/soothing. Warning: it is high in sodium.

Protein shake twice a day, crystal light, broths, sugar free jello and popsicles, 1 cup raw veggies (lettuce, cucumber, tomato.) with Greek yogurt with no fruit....with which I add crystal light to or I'd go insane. My liquid diet starts tomorrow but I started it on Monday. I'm surprisingly not hungry or craving food anymore, surgery on the 16th.

Try to find shakes with higher protein count, especially if you can't drink as much. I know you said whey protein is making you nauseus but try. It's very important that you get that protein. Are you on soft stuff yet? Greek yogurt is high in protein. Met-rx protein plus has 51g per serving.

You are absolutely not being dumb. I remember before surgery, every time I would eat hot bread at my favorite italian restaurant, I would think... I will never be able to eat this again. And it was almost a panicky feeling. And many other foods I was afraid that I would not be able to eat as well. Well, I am 6 months post op and can usually eat most everything. I try to eat slowly and take small bites, and if something gives me a problem, it is usually bread. Funny thing is, (pre-surgery) we used to go through about a loaf of bread/week here at home, but I have had a loaf of bread in my freezer forever and we finally took it out and now it has sat on the cabinet so long it is hard and needs to be thrown away. And honestly... I haven't missed it one bit. I am losing my weight much more slowly than many in the lapbandtalk community, but I am very happy with my weightloss this far. I feel so much better, and I have gone from a size 22-24W to a 16W and xl clothes and that has been awesome. My desire from the beginning has been to learn some healthier habits. I have found that I now love yogurt, turkey meats, vegys and fruits. Granola is my best friend when I get the munchies at night instead of something that comes out of a box made by the miniature chef named Debbie. It is all just a process. Hang in there. You will be fine, and hopefully you will find that anything you have to give up will be replaced with things that are much more significant. Good luck and God bless!

Chobani plain Greek yogurt has 4g sugar, 6g carbs anx 80 calories.

I had mine August 8 and yogurt is on week three of the gastric sleeve but if you had the gastric bypass it is on week 2.

Whats your food look like each day? that is a good question. I usually wake up at 6 AM, I take a protein shake or a bar (Quest). Then I go to the gym from 6h45 to 8h15. 15 minutes elliptical to warm up, a 30 minutes weight lifting with 80% of max weight and high rep until failure of the muscle group. I usually do 3 x 10-12 reps of different exercises, then 30 seconds rest and another set of 3. 30 minutes running to finish. Once I get to work I have another bar / shake. At lunch I usually take a salad (2 boiled eggs, some chickpeas or beans, couple of cherry tomatoes, green. No dressing) and a fat free yogurt for later. no snack in the afternoon. If I am hungry, I go for another yogurt. in the evening I usually go for scrambled eggs (2), or sea food (shrimps, squids, smoked salmon) and a smoothie (Watermelon, light cranberry juice is my favorite). no late snacks. During weekend I usually take lest protein shakes / bars and eat poultry, fish, etc. I don't have any cravings or things I want to eat. I select food I know will work for my sleeve, but I don't miss anything...yet. it may change later. I don't know. I don't enjoy eating as I used to (which is a good thing because that is the reason why I am obese), even if I still cook for my family during the weekends. This is a good thing as I want to move on with my life and have other objectives. Hope it helps.

My one cent: my band does swell on flights.... I have to Baby it with yogurt. Or string cheese. Stuck in the air is no bueno. I spent too much time uncomfortable or in the bathroom before I learned this. Almost 12 years for me, and still I need to keep certain restrictions at times ...flying is one of them (For long flights and trips, I do have a small amount removed.... not going to Italy on my dream vacation and fighting my band)

Another day at work, more intense and no issues. Today some colleagues had lunch delivered to the office . Usually I would have been craving of hunger at lunch with nice smell of well cooked Spanish dishes....but now I noticed that if my head remembered very well, my stomach remained completely indifferent . This is magical. I scheduled a shake at 1 pm that I took at 5 pm. I can drink plenty of water now (as long as there is flavor). And I lost my daily pound. I can't ask for more. I am 9 days post op and I am thinking about remaining on liquids an extra week. Did anybody do that? I am worried about purées since my episode of liquid yogurt and protein powder was not a success.

I’m looking for some breakfast ideas that are NOT sweet (ie. shakes, yogurt). I also have an egg allergy. It’s making it very tough to find anything to eat for breakfast :/ What’s your favorite go to breakfast??

Avocado with a dash of tahin and everything bagel, yogurt with berries, oatmeal with berries, cottage cheese with a dash of balsamic vinegerette, spoonful of fresh ground peanut butter, 1/2 protein shake...depends on the day and how much time I have. I left off all my egg options lol Sent from my SM-N975U using BariatricPal mobile app

Whats your food look like each day?that is a good question.I usually wake up at 6 AM, I take a protein shake or a bar (Quest). Then I go to the gym from 6h45 to 8h15. 15 minutes elliptical to warm up, a 30 minutes weight lifting with 80% of max weight and high rep until failure of the muscle group. I usually do 3 x 10-12 reps of different exercises, then 30 seconds rest and another set of 3. 30 minutes running to finish. Once I get to work I have another bar / shake. At lunch I usually take a salad (2 boiled eggs, some chickpeas or beans, couple of cherry tomatoes, green. No dressing) and a fat free yogurt for later. no snack in the afternoon. If I am hungry, I go for another yogurt. in the evening I usually go for scrambled eggs (2), or sea food (shrimps, squids, smoked salmon) and a smoothie (Watermelon, light cranberry juice is my favorite). no late snacks. During weekend I usually take lest protein shakes / bars and eat poultry, fish, etc. I don't have any cravings or things I want to eat. I select food I know will work for my sleeve, but I don't miss anything...yet. it may change later. I don't know. I don't enjoy eating as I used to (which is a good thing because that is the reason why I am obese), even if I still cook for my family during the weekends. This is a good thing as I want to move on with my life and have other objectives. Hope it helps. Awesome post. I love it when members detail what they eat and their activity level- it's very helpful and I always get some good ideas. Can you share how you make the watermelon smoothie? I'm convinced I'm part fruit monkey- can't get enough. Btw way to go!!! You are on fire!!! Love your attitude. Thank you for your nice comments. I do what I can, and it is not working too bad for now. For the smoothie, I take some watermelon I put in the blender, some ice (a few cubes) I add light cranberry juice and voila! I also do it wiith unsweetened peach ice tea. I like the combined flavors. Sometime I add a full peach in it. I try to avoid high sugar content fruits such as cherries or grapes. Mango juice was not a good idea as the flavor overtakes the watermelon completely. I tried to mix pineapple and light coconut milk. That makes an awesome alcohol free cocktail. Something else I do in the morning: I put an espresso shot in my chocolate shake with skimmed milk. Awesome cappuccino ! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Split Pea is a Fav - but not for most people. Progresso Tomato Basil is very good. Old fashioned Campbell's Tomato is a standard. Gazpacho - I make a very chunky version, but blended it for a better tasting and thicker V-8 type deal. Cold Cucumber - Yummy. Made the old Cabbage soup - blended - looks gross but tastes good. Lentil is very good. Sweet potato - It was good - the whole 3 spoonfuls i got before it was consumed by others. Butternut Squash w a swirl of greek yogurt. I am going to make taco soup - blended - can't imagine that it is going to look pretty, but flavor wise I think it will rock. Italian tortellini - it is basically an Italian Minestrone with tortellini in it, that should be good too. I love to cook, and I have been cooking since day 3 and the only thing I have made for the family that I have even wanted to have is a slice of cucumber and onion that I pickled in vinegar/sugar. I am handling all the food prep and eating with other much better than I had expected to. Good Luck!

Hi, My daughter is 9. I loosely explained to her what was happening. I also tell her that the reason I am making this decision is because I let my habits get out of control when I was very young and I want to make sure I get healthy so I can be around to take care of her for a very long time! I have also used it as a learning tool as to why we only have healthy Snacks and we stay active, etc. Her only concern was the possibility that something bad could happen to me in the hospital. I let her visit me for about 20 minutes. She still does a daily check on my incisions/scars and absolutely loves all the new foods we have introduced into our diet (greek yogurt, soy milk, etc.). Your children are a bit younger than mine, but I think you should be honest with them. Simplify it as much as possible, but be clear. My daughter definitely does not have the perspective that you can have an operation as a solution. She tells me she wishes I hadn't had to do it, but that she will take good care of me and is glad I did something that will make sure I am healthy for a long time.

4 1/2 months out. Examples of things I can eat in a single sitting so that I am satisfied but not full..... 1 egg with no more than 1 tbls meat or cheese added 1 Chobani flip yogurt 1" x 1" chunk of pork loin with 1 brussel sprout and 1 piece of yellow squash 1 Natures Valley Protein bar 1/4 can of tuna or crab with a bit of mayo 10-15 mixed nuts 1/2 of a 1/4 lb burger no bun 1/2 avocado 1/4 cup refried Beans 1/3 can Soup cheese stick wrapped in a piece of thin sliced deli meat 1/3 apple with 2 tbls PB2 I drink at least 1 large (20-32oz/35-40g protein) everyday. I often blend 1/2 banana in my shake and try to nibble on some fruit and veggies at least once/day....blueberries, apples, spinach, squash, green beans, edamame, and V8 juice are go to's. Haven't had bread, Pasta, or rice, but I have had a bite or two of chocolate cake, ice cream and tiramisu. Also had 1/2 glass wine on 2 occasions and 1/2 Bloody Mary.

I am kind of in this stage too. I have restriction for the first time since I got my band in october 2008. It is very difficult to know how much to eat. I am very tight in the morning. So I usually can only get down 1/2 a yogurt. Then the afternoon is better. 1/2 cup of food at lunch. I just got my fill on monday, so if it gets any tighter I may have to have some removed. Hope we all get this thing figured out. The hardest thing for me is to slow down, at dinner. By the time dinner comes I am starving.

Hello all, I am 10 days post op and was excited when my doctor approved me moving on to Phase 2 a few days ago. Phase 2 for me is pureed foods such as puréed oatmeal, cream soups, yogurt, mashed potatoes, etc. Unfortunately I take about two bites and I feel very full. This fullness lasts for hours and I can't take anything else in. I am thinking about going back to liquids to be able to get all my protein and liquids in. Is this to be expected every time I advance to a new phase?

It is really unlikely you can eat 7 ounces of food IF you are following the rule PROTEIN FIRST, VEGETABLES SECOND. Most of us can eat endless quantities of slider foods and larger quantities of liquids/soft foods. 3 weeks ago I mindlessly ate potato chips and there was no restriction whatsoever (fortunately I stopped myself quickly). I can eat a 5 oz Siggis yogurt with no restriction either - but that food is 15 G protein and 13 G Carbs/sugars. When I eat a solid, lean animal protein I can barely do 2 oz at a time. But 7 oz of a dense protein? No freaking way. Now, if you are eating 7 ounces of dense protein, you should definitely contact your surgeon because your sleeve should not be able to hold that much food. You are 3 months out and have lost 30 lbs. The sleeve does not work magic. You have to WORK THE SLEEVE. Anytime you don't do that it WILL cost you progress in your weight loss. I would recommend you track everything you eat and drink and if you are not following the PROTEIN FIRST principle, start following it. You can see my weight loss below - I am now at about 3 lbs a week. I am tweaking as I go. I have just added training/exercise into my routine. I think I can get this up to loosing 4, maybe 5 lbs a week for the next few months but we shall see.

I'm so grateful to have found this site and have read a number of stories that made me feel less alone in my own struggle. Here is my story: March of 2008 I saw a weight loss surgeon who said all the right things to convince me I was too fat to lose weight on my own and the only way to have lifelong success was to sign up for WLS which required a thousand dollar deposit. I weighed 265 lbs at the time and in my late 30s was far too tired to try another diet and exercise program that would inevitably result in another 10lb weight gain. January of 2008 my employer switched to a new insurance carrier, I submitted paperwork in March for coverage for WLS and eventually got the definitive "no" in November 2008. Fast forward to October 2009, same doctor, same spiel, weight now 295lbs and co-morbidities presented to insurance carrier requesting coverage- denied. Februaury 2011, made a "lets just see" call to insurance carrier to find out if requirements were met........found out that one more year of a documented weight and BMI over 40 and the coverage would be extended! I put my ducks in a row and within 2 weeks of my initial doctors visit in February 2012 I was able to schedule my surgery for mid March. I was shocked to find my weight ballooned to 347lbs but thrilled when I lost 16 lbs pre-surgery in a short 12 days. I took 5 days off work, gave away all the food in my pantry and bought the cutest pajamas I could find for my 3 day hospital stay. I packed my bag on Sunday and even though I was nervous and exited I slept until 5am when I took a luxurious bubble bath and set out for the hospital @ 7am. In pre-op my precious daughter sat and prayed with me, my anesthesiologist joked about just turning the big 40 too, my surgeon came in and smiled, answered my questions, quelled my fears and prayed with my daughter and I. Nothing but blackness. I barely woke to find myself in PACU alone and asked for my daughter to be allowed in.."sure honey, which one is she?"..."hmm, oh, she's the one with pink hair!". My sweet daughter came in and praised God with me that I was breathing and everything seemed fine. Fade to black again. I'm in a private room now and my daughter is sleeping on the sofa. The nurse comes in, the IV is checked, "here's your button for the morphine pump. Any time you feel pain coming on you press it." I'm not in pain, I feel my stomach and it feels flat already, stupid, it must be the drugs. My surgeon comes in with his PA and he looks flushed, sweaty and triumphant, "eveything went wonderful! no problems, a textbook case if there ever was one." we smile and I joke about calling What Not To Wear to get a new wardrobe. I get up to the bathjroom as soon as I can. I'm anxious to see how I look and change out of the hospital gown. It's been 3hrs since surgery and i'm in my pajamas, robe and snuggly slippers and my daughter takes my arm and we begin our walk around the unit. I walk and walk, smiling and thinking what a good patient I am, no DVTs for me. My stay is uneventful, day 3 my surgeon smiles and says "time to go home!" I fill my prescriptions but I haven't touched the pain medicine and feel so powerful that I drive myself home. Then the horror begins. The first noght i'm home I wind up in the bathroom with forceful diarhea that comes in waves of gut wrenching spasms. Over and over again, just foul smelling liquid, I sit there too long and now i'm sick, I pull the trash can over and vomit clear liquid until I think i'm going to pass out. My daughter gets me to bed, time to take the meds and not try to do it on my own, I slump back and its daytime now. My head is spinning and the spasms come again, diarhea, vomit.... I step on the scale, smile in a drug haze and think wow i've lost 2 more lbs! Nothing is clear anymore, what day is it? what time is it? did I take my pills? was it a dream or did I really eat a piece of chicken from the refrigerator? why won't the nausea stop? why do the Protein shakes suddenly taste like dog butt? I can't get anything in, i'm trying to force 2oz popsicles down but when I finish one its back to the bathroom with waves of diarhea and vomiting. Day 6 post-op, I manage to take a shower with my daughter holding me up, pack 2 Protein Shakes and my giant Water bottle and trot off to work. I make it 2hrs into a ten hour shift and spend most of it in the bathroom vomiting blood...time to call the doctor. I talk to the nurse who tellls me to drink as much water as I can. I can't. I call and talk to another nurse who says to try a different Protein shake. I'm weak and sick and starting to lose it...I scream at my daughter "why won't you help me?". I call the nurse again, the PA calls me back "have you been able to take your meds and get some water in?" no, NO! It's been 11 days since surgery and now we're worried for some reason and my daughter has my bag packed and we're back at the hospital where they have my room ready and they put me back in a hospital gown. I don't see my doctor until Monday but Fri, Sat and Sun a variety of PAs mand other surgeons from the office come in and tell me things and they'll support me and some people have a harder time and just give it time, time time. Monday the first of many PICC lines come and the tests start. In 3 days I blew 11 IV lines. The PICC line sounds wonderful but they hit my ulnar nerve and the vein occluded and I went back to my room with an open hole in my arm, a second PICC and a gown covered in blood..how did that happen with a sterile drape? So I can't eat but they think I won't and they tell me all the reasons I need to and they threaten if I don't its time for TPN. I try, I puke. I try everything, Unjury- ick, water-gross, eggs-vomit, pudding, ice cream, sherbet, yogurt, Jello... the nausea wells up from my toes and never ends. The TPN starts on Tuesday, I leave the hospital 13 days later, Maundy Thursday, I beg because tomorrow its Good Friday and I can't bear to be away from daughter on Easter. Monday after Easter I have lost 8 lbs in the 4 days i've been home, somethings wrong. The doctor says to get a liter of Fluid and some Vitamins, it'll be ok, it's not. Friday the nurses come and set up the home TPN and show me how to do IV push meds, the saline, phenergen, saline, heparin, again, the zofran, again, 8 times a day. My house becomes and infirmary, boxes and boxes of supplies, dressings, medicine, saline, alcohol swabs, heparin. The dog can't be out when the dressing is changed, the TPN bag is changed once a day, add the vitamins, push the medicine. It takes a few weeks and the meds are doubled, the nausea just won't fricking stop. The TPN is my savior. another month, double the meds again, brief periods of relief, my weight stabilizes @ 317....I had WLS for this? I can't work, i'm constantly sick and besides I have a doctors appointment every week and another test, EGD, swallowing, emptying studies, another EGD, but nothing is wrong "everything is fine, it may just take time for you. You might be on liquids for 6 months" my doctor says... liquids? it's been 3 months and I can drink about 12 oz a day... liquids? i'm still on TPN?! It's been 4 months, I can't stand the TPN, we decrease the time and I try to eat what I can when I can. My weight is 318, d?@$ WLS! We double the meds, the phenergen is 4 times the dose it was when I had surgery, does anyone know this causes heart problems? We decrease the TPN, I can only eat right after I push the meds and I do it again right afterwards, then I pass out... weight loss is tough work, I manage to get down to 314. Somethings wrong, I feel sick, sicker than usual haha...my daughter is talking to the nurse at the ER, "no she feels really sick, her heart is skipping beats maybe? her blood pressure is up. look at her arm, do you think it's swollen? what's that black mark?" They tell me I have a UTI and send me home, its Monday. I can't breathe, i'm having a heart attack, I know it, its Wednesday and we're back at the ER, the doctor smiles and says its anxiety, take some Ativan and keep taking your antibiotic...are you kidding? I throw up the antibiotic, it stinks, I crush the Ativan and sleep for days. Its Friday and the nurse calls, "how are you" my arm hurts and its swollen, "GO BACK TO THE ER" I can't, I fall back asleep. Its Saturday and I can't find my wrist, my arm is a thick puffy balloon like they use to make balloon animals. My fingers won't bend, doesn't matter cause I can't feel them anyway, i'm sick, I vomit and try to push my meds, I get in 2ccs of saline and it feels like my arm is a water balloon...I push a cc and I think I see it literally filling up, theres a black gnarled line around my upper arm, looks like a barbed wire tattoo, thank God for WLS. I'm at the ER again, its Saturday night and i'm sure they'll admit me, they HAVE to pull the PICC and give me a new one, surely they'll see that, I can't breathe, please give me some Ativan and phenergan, i'm gonna puke again. A nurse comes in and says he's from Interventional radiology, doesn't even touch my arm but smiles and leaves, we hear him outside the door "you've gotta pull that PICC, it's really bad!" a tech comes in with an ultrasound machine and pushes on the outer part of my arm, over and over, slimy gel, pushing harder, my arm isn't quite so numb now, its killing me on the underside, my armpit aches and the inner portion of my upper arm feels like someone is firing a gun into it every time they touch me. "Good news!" the ER doc smiles and tells me its just a little superficlal blood clot...yay! all we need to do is apply warm compresses and it will go away, have some noroc for the pain...great, more crap I can't swallow. "What should I do if it gets worse? what if it swells up more?" don't worry "It's fine, no need to come back even if it gets bigger, warm compresses and you'll feel alot better" It's Monday and the weekend went by in a drug induced haze. I can't use my PICC, I crush the norco and ativan and try to stay asleep, no not asleep, blacked out, like anesthesia until the doctors office opens Monday. I tell the nurse, she sets up an appointment at Interventional Radiology for them to pull and replace the PICC on Tuesday, good, hopefully i'll die by then. Its 6pm Monday and I can't take it, I might be hallucinating, I know i'm dying, I moan and rock, i'm in the car, off to the ER again. I wait for hours while people scream and cry, everybody is taken before me, I pull my sweatshirt and cover my head, I moan and lick the blood from cracked lips, I can't even stand up to go to the bathroom and vomit, 4 hours later and they wheel me back. Nurse after nurse comes in to try to start an IV, "she's dehydrated and a tough poke" "I KNOW! she's so ill tho, what are we supposed to do???" check her feet, no veins, we're gonna have to go in thru the femoral.....God no, I can't remember if I have underwear on and they're gonna cut into my groan to find a vein. "Great news!" we found a cluster of blood clots under your arm, no not one, there are several vericose veins bulging out of your arm, the PICC went bad and they strangulated and now they have clots in them. You're gonna die if you throw one to your heart or lungs, we're starting the lovanox, you're gonna be fine. 3 days of terror, I'm admitted to the hospital and the doc upstairs decides she knows what I need, they pull the PICC from my grossly swollen arm and I beg for some dilauded "this isn't a painful procedure, you don't need anything for pain." and she teaches the student nurse how to yak=nk 4 feet of tubing and wire from my arm while I sob, my daughter cries and starts to yell. The doctor leaves, she won't come back or write orders, i'm sick, no pain meds or nausea meds, try some tylenol, f**** you. I cry and demand to see another doctor, I call my doctor and the oncall doctor screams at the charge nurse...they give me ativan and phenergan, my daughter yells and threatens, the nurses hate to come in my room. Wednesday morning is the first and last time I see my surgeon, he pops his head in and smiles "so your PICC is gone now, thats what happens" when you screw up and get a blood clot is what he doesn't say. I'll see you in my office next week and we'll talk about a feeding tube. What? I had WLS 4 and a half months ago... I cry and turn and face the window, I keep the shades down. I'm sick of this, I finally get to leave @ noon on Wednesday. I have a script for Warfarin and an order to have my blood drawn every day, I have no PICC line, no IV push meds, no TPN and my arm looks like I was going for a Popeye look. I sob on the ride home. When I go to the lab the next morning they stick me 6 times and still don't get enough to run the PT/INR to check my clotting times. I fall out of the car as I try to go inside, I just sit on the grass and contemplate throwing up on the lawn, I see the neighbor and when she waves I think I should strip off my clothes and just run shrieking down the street... I need a laugh, otherwise I just cry. I'm so depressed, I see my primary doc, he orders me oral nausea meds, a compression sleeve for my arm and listens to me cry. I tell him my heart is skipping a beat, he says "phenergan can cause permanent heart damage" f*** phenergan. It's 12 days since I left the hospital without a PICC. The last thing my surgeon said was that they couldn't find a reason for my symptoms, he even asked the doctors at a seminar in California and they were all puzzled, oh well, too bad for me. My weight is down to 300 lbs now, it was 312 when I left the hospital. I made the mistake of going back to the ER last week Tuesday because my chest hurt and I was coughing and that same shortness of breath and heart thing came back. they said I was fine and were sending me home when I looked the ER doc right in the eye and said "with all due respect, the last time you said I was fine I had a blood clot that almosgt killed me, please, can you just check everything to make sure i'm ok?" tears in my eyes, he smiles, lets run another test. Theres a shadow in my lung, likely pneumonia but we can't be sure the clots haven't moved. We'll keep you for observation but we won't admit you, you're probably fine buit we'll do some IV fluids and antibiotics to be sure. They take me upstairs, I know whats coming next, nurse after nurse tries to start the IV, IM pain meds, I ask for nausea meds at 6:30 am and by 2pm I still haven't gotten any. I can't stand it so I leave, they chase me and try to make me sign something saying if I die its my own fault. I get home and chew a phenergan, drink some lortab and pass out. My primary doc said he would figure out how to get me seen by a specialist, I won't return the calls from my surgeons office, if I could put a stop payment on his check I would but insurance has already paid his fee. Maybe he's right, there's nothing to explain my symptoms, I doubt that, my skin is grey and I look like a chemo patient because my long thick brown hair has fallen out in Patches and I have a kind of crazy eyed look to me. I'm hungry and thirsty, I think I look like I could be a victim of starvation but then I laugh because i'm still so fat. I knew the risks of the surgery, pulmonary embolism, DVT, sleeve leak, infection. I was a nurse for 10 years and took care of hospice patients who looked better than me. I signed on for a magic pill, a fantastic surgery that would finally help me get to a healthy weight so I could see my daughter graduate from medical school, get married and hold my grandchildren. I wanted to avoid diabetes and stop heart disease, funny how it all worked out. If you have experienced any of the pain, nausea, depression, sadness, fear, frustration, anger or disgust like I have, tell me your story and let me know i'm not alone, i'm not crazy and it does get better. :-)

My diet consist of broth, protein shakes, hard boiled eggs, light yogurt, sugar free jello, any sugar free drinks. I start April 18th

Unfortunately, yogurt is the one thing I've had a negative reaction to so far. But there are a ton of recipes available out there for every stage, and it helps immensely to have choices. When you're limited to Protein shakes (I was for the first few days until I ordered a bunch of different things on mybariatricpantry) it is almost an effort to drink your protein. I lived on juice, gatorade and Water for a few days. It really gets better once you find a protein source that you can tolerate (hooray for Chike and Syntrax. Loads of flavors that really helped me). Walking and mild exercise are so much easier once you start getting some protein in. I was in miserable pain for the first...six days? It was hard to walk even part of a block, let alone the whole block. I wasn't sleeping well because I've never been a back sleeper either, so the first week I was pretty miserable (never enough that I regretted the decision, mind.) Coming to the forums here, plus a few other friends who have had the surgery and gave some pretty decent advice during that time kept me going and kept me positive. I think it was Day 7 that something just clicked. The pain was less. I was able to walk. And the more I walked, the better I felt. Prior to that, it was a lot of distracting myself so I didn't think about the physical discomfort. Reading, watching some of the shows my bf recorded while I was in the hospital...it helps if you focus on something else.