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My dr instructed me to take whatever pills I hafta take as soon as I was able. I cut back on my pills the first few weeks (also PPI in capsule form, but I just take the whole capsule) but had to resume taking my Gabapentin ( a HUGE horse pill) after 3 weeks cuz my back was KILLING me. Now, I take whatever pills I needs to take (Chewable vit, b12, Calcium, 2 different pain pills, pill for my thyroid, PPI, and birth control. Oh and my nightly sleeping pill). I've had absolutely no problems taking pills. I used to pop about 8-10 of them at once, but I've vut that back to 2. Then 5 minutes later, another 2 And so on

Protein: If I am driving anywhere, I pack a cooler with all my protein shakes, water, vitamin water zeros etc. I also pack the small protein bars and any other foods that I like. If I travel by air, my plan is to bring electrolyte and protein powder packets to add to water that I will buy after I to through TSA. I will also pack nutritious snacks for the plane and/or buy something at the airport (for bigger airports with more dining options). I will be doing a long haul flight in May. The airport I will be leaving from has lots of food options. I will buy food and bring it on the plane (again, after going through TSA). This way, I am not stuck with airline food that I may or may not be able to eat. For the breakfast meal later in the flight I will probably bring high protein granola something. Dinner Out: I do eat out with my family. I do NOT eat at buffets. Sometimes I buy something on the menu that is high protein and perhaps veggies, but I skip the carbs (unless they are something like beans with protein too). If I order my own meal, it will be 2-4 meals for the day. Or, I tell my husband to order something that I can eat and I will take a little of his food. In the beginning it is really hard to find something other than soup you can eat... but as time goes on you can eat more variety. I look at the kids menus too, but most of the time they are crap I shouldn't eat. Another option is to order a side dish only that meets your needs. It varies. Cooking: I hate cooking, but I find I am cooking more than usual. I often cook something in bigger batches and eat it all week. I find a few things I LOVE to eat (that are healthy for me to eat)... and eat them more often. Work luncheons... I have had 2 since surgery. The first was a Thanksgiving style meal. I put turkey and essentially a teaspoon of everything I wanted to taste on my plate. My plate was ridiculously empty (since it was a fullsize dinner plate), but I enjoyed the meal with my peers. I ate the turkey first, then the other stuff until I was a little full. Talked to everyone. Then ate a few more bites. It was fine. The second luncheon was mostly sandwiches and pastas and such as sides. There WAS a salad, but I couldn't digest lettuce yet. Since it was all food that I knew I really shouldn't eat... I chose to go home early that day. I just couldn't handle being around so much food that I couldn't eat that day... so I made the decision to avoid it. I could have just as easily gone out to get something I could eat and bring it back to the luncheon. Everyone would have understood. But I wasn't in the best place emotionally that day. For future luncheons, I will continue to find out what the menu is in advance, so I can make the best decision for me, on that day.

Glad to know I'm not by myself. 🙂 We will get through this. Good luck next week.

I actually worked more before surgery. First, I had to make changes to several applications to ensure I was not going to be needed for them to work properly; Second, I didn't want to be sitting around doing nothing but worrying about surgery and my pre-op diet or anything else. I kept myself busy. After if I recall I was home for two weeks. The first week I did some noodling for work but I just couldn't focus well. Second week I was more able to focus. I think I prepared the company for 3 weeks just in case. But I only intended to take 2 weeks. To note, I had an open RNY with Gaul bladder removal and a hiatal hernia fix. I ended up with a drain for a week or so. Not the average surgery. I was in hospital for 3 days. Good luck and enjoy the ride. Tek

It’s a week tomorrow I had my sleeve and I’m the same weight today as I was the day of the op , I know we’re all different but I thought I’d have lost something. Ive resisted weighing myself until now because I don’t want to be obsessed with the scales just thought I’d weigh once a week , bit disappointed with no loss at all Has this happened to anyone else here ? Any tips or advice would be gratefully received. Hope everyone one is doing well xx

I was; I was on "soft foods" starting at week 4. The lower sugar Maple & Brown Sugar tasted so good to me!

Awesome! Rock your sleeve! I got on the WiiFit a week after surgery and it yelled at me. Said I made my goal BUT the deadline had already past so I'd need to set a new goal; tsk tsk on me. Then I got on it a week later and it told me I am losing weight too fast which is dangerous. Then I learned it asks other users in the household (namely the boyfriend) how my sleeping habits are ("Is she getting too much sleep? Too little sleep?"). The WiiFit is a backstabber! I won't let it take away from my successes Glad you're doing so well with it, though.

Each doctor varies greatly. Call yours to check in. I will tell you that my calories intake the first several weeks was very low. It will increase as you add in more healthy foods.

Thank you for this thread! I am 6 weeks out and not losing yet. I am terrified to eat anything without protein in it (like fruit which I am craving) and I constantly feel full between getting protein and water goals met. I am freaking out (because that's what I do) and feeling as if I am eating way too much. Tomorrow I plan to start tracking everything that goes in, just to prove to myself that I am not eating too much. My surgeon said not to get in a hurry with solids, so I still eat a rather soft diet. He also told me to eat as much as 1200 calories a day, as long as I get 90 grams of protein. I was feeling physical hunger because I was not eating enough until about a week ago. I am somewhat confused and overwhelmed with transitioning from liquids to solids, because with liquids you just sort of "keep it coming", but with solids you can't do that. I went through a quite thorough program prior to my surgery; I was given so much information and thought I was an expert. I am not. This is no easy path, so thank goodness it's worth the struggle if it works. I have to admit that I AM really wanting to start losing weight for the sole reason that I do not want to be one of the few who don't lose. I just can't imagine being able to lose anything much if I get 1200 calories a day. I lost more weight on my pre-op diet than I am losing right now and it's super frustrating. I almost feel like I went through this for nothing. My body seems to know how to get around it. I guess it's time to recognize that I will have to work just as hard as I did pre-op to get the same results I got then, which sucks because I wanted it to be a little easier...but then nothing worth having is ever easy. I just need to see some sort of advantage to having done this!

Surgery is scheduled for the 15th, I am so excited!! Can't wait to start the next chapter of life...the healthy one!!

Hey! How exciting!! I am hoping to get an April date too. My program is backed up and the soonest psych eval I could get was 3/24. After that they said 4-6 weeks until surgery. I am hoping someone cancels their appointment so I can get in sooner.

I also have an office job. I took two weeks off to recuperate. My surgery was a week before Thanksgiving so I had a few free days in there. I had a pretty easy recovery overall, no complications or anything like that. For about my first week back, I would hit a wall in the afternoon. The first day it was noon. it got later throughout the week. When I hit the wall, I went home so I knew I was still safe to drive. I would take a nap and be ready for the next day. Tiredness really was my biggest factor through most of my recovery. Just take it easy and don't push too hard and as you hear frequently on here, make sure you are getting your Protein and Water and you should be good. pam

My dr said no hot tub for the first week to 10 days after surgery so I'm guessing after that it would be fine. I'm sure if you are healed from your surgery the hot tub would be fine.

hi guys anyone have amerihealth administrators I did a three month dr thing which wasn't required by insurance however my surgeon named dr harrison required it, anywho the papers were submitted and insurance requested I go for a thyroid and igg test ( maybe igg is wrong) and everything came out okay so now waiting for approval again has this happened to anyone else I know people in my 3month class already had dates for surgery:confused:

I experienced the same as you with the exact same incision area. I did exactly as told, remove the first bandage the day after I came home from the hospital, and then remove the 'steri strips' from all the incisions a week after that. At first I used a regular band-aid (not the one with antibiotic in the center pad) to cover the center incision because it was slightly leaking and it kept in that same condition for two weeks, off and on. I decided to keep the band-aid off and use a cotton towel to cover my stomach area underneath my shirt so that my incisions would be able to 'breathe' without any covering. They healed fine after that. Hope this helps somewhat

I was on the pill before surgery. But stopped about 2 weeks before. I'm not on anything right now. And I'm afraid the pill will affect my weight loss. What's your experience with weight loss post op??? HELPP

I am having trouble too. So far, I take them very slowly with HOT water. Hot water will open the band a little. If I take them too close together, I PB them back up. I am going to look for a pill crusher. I started having this problem mainly a week ago, after my 3rd fill.

Most of the patients who go to Mexico fly home after a day or so, with little problem. However, your energy level will be a bit low for a couple weeks. If you are talking about a "lie around the pool and relax" vacation you would be fine, and some gentle strolling is good for you. Strenuous hiking wouldn't be.

I too am 10 years out. I was getting hungry, gained about 35-40 lbs. then, I started watching some documentaries about our food supply like "food, Inc.", "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" ....all on Netflix. Anyway, it changed everything . I bought a Vitamix, and now I 'drink' 6-8 servings of fruits and veggies 5-7 days per week in green smoothies. I lost 40 lbs and have kept it off for over a year...I don't crave a lot of the stuff I used to, and don't count calories or anything like that. My weight before gastric bypass was 344, and I hover around 176-182 now, which is just where I want to be. Best wishes!!

Myself & my 6 yr old are both lactose intolerant, while my older 2 kids are not. Instead of continuing to spend a fortune on 4 gallons of 2% and 2 half gallons of Lactaid every week, I just buy Sweet Acidophilus and we are all happy! I just wish I had known years ago that it was better for us than Lactaid! I believe it helps my new tummy and contributes to keeping things...regular! Sent from my iPhone using VST

I have a two-week liquid diet starting on the 17th for my surgery on September 1 and I am definitely dreading it more than the surgery or any of the post-op discomfort. I keep referring to it as "doctor-sanctioned" anorexia to my friends and family. I'm only supposed to have 500 calories a day of Protein shakes, sugar free jello/popcicles, and green salad with zero-calorie dressing. Meanwhile I'm supposed to continue working out, which is currently burning 500+ calories 5 days a week. And all of this while I still have 100% of my stomach! Seems INSANE! Good luck to you tomorrow and for the rest of the week. Hopefully it won't be as bad as we all fear.

Of course I might just be over thinking everything because I'm a paranoid freak BUT I have been having some "symptoms" recently and I'm not sure if I should worry. I had my surgery a week ago, Nov 5th. and I feel fine for the most part but I notice when I walk straight for more than 10-15 minutes I begin to feel short or breath, dizzy, and EXHAUSTED!! I've been trying to call my doc but it seems because of the holiday nobody is in so any suggestions/ideas would be appreciated! By the way I do admit I can be drinking more water but if I'm not drinking water I make sure to replace it with a Popsicle or other clear liquid... Thank You!

My BCBS TX plan specifically covers bariatric surgery in the plan with a $5000 co-payment. All I had to do was meet with the surgeon and complete my psych evaluation. Once the surgeon sent in the paperwork, it was quickly approved within a week or two. The surgeon I picked required a couple of things not required by the insurance (thus not covered by the $5000 co-pay) which were a one time NUT class, and an endoscopy. The endoscopy was covered by my insurance minus my yearly deductible.

You can add protein powder to anything, so have it on hand, in the original packaging. You can buy single portion, samples of protein powder, as well. This may be helpful when travelling with "white powder" through airports. Take some protein drinks in your checked luggage, as well. Soups are a wonderful option, especially in the early stages. You have to eat so slowly after surgery, so most people won't even notice your small portions, like a bowl of soup. It's not like you are going to gulp it down and then sit there watching everyone else eat. I actually do more meal planning and cooking now than I did before surgery! I love trying out new recipes and new ingredients. A couple weeks after my surgery, I cooked a full Mexican buffet meal for a family gathering. Everyone was so busy with their own plates that they did not even notice me sipping my bowl of broth. And it was amazing to me to see how much food everyone else was eating! You will do fine. It's all about prep, and when travelling, have your "emergency rations" with you. PS: I am using the once a day, BariatrilPal multi vitamins with iron. I take one of those with a B-12 with m first meal, and then my Calcium citrate and D3 with my last meal. This keeps it very simple and easy. All my labs are fine.

I am 7 months post op and have a protein drink for breakfast every day. I used them three years prior to the surgery and had actually picked up the habit while working with a trainer. My Dr feels that is fine and actually suggested the protein bars as a substitute since the shakes didn't seem to stay with her. I am picky and exclusively use Iso-Pure chocolate. I like the thinner protein shakes and just use water to mix it. Low cal, lots of protein and a great way to start the day.