I just had my meeting to discuss the pre-op diet, what the surgery will prevent me from having forever, B12 shots for the rest of my life. protein shakes for the rest of my life. I am feeling extremely discouraged. I am not sure i want to go through with this

I can only speak for myself but I'm so glad I had the surgery. I'm almost 3 weeks out and of course getting tired of protein shakes. I know in the future I may need to drink one shake a day to keep up the protein, but I can also have yogurt, pudding, Malt-o-Meal, cheese until Friday, the I can blend up anything that will fit through a straw. This means a lot of different foods. I have pernicious anemia so I have to have B12 shots once a month anyway. It's really not a big deal. I strongly encourage you to talk to many people that have already had the surgery before you make up your mind.

I think most programs expect you to get to a point where you don't need the protein shakes. The pre-op diet is for a couple weeks at the most. I take b12 in a sublingual form, I think the shots would be if you get low. What were you told you can never have again? I have heard soda/carbonation and alcohol. I have seen lots of people on the boards who either incorporate these in to everyday life or special occasions.

bigserv, I think you need to think long and hard about whether you want to have this surgery since you are having doubts. I knew I'd be giving up some things, like alcohol and sodas, but I'm gaining so much more: health, longer life (I hope) and the ability to move more freely than ever. I had serious health problems from my obesity and I see the surgery as a way to overcome those problems.

Perhaps you need to do some more research. It IS possible that the sleeve isn't for you. It's a big decision and one that only you can make. I will be cheering you on no matter what decision you make. It's your life and your health, which means it's up to you. Good luck!

I just had my meeting to discuss the pre-op diet, what the surgery will prevent me from having forever, B12 shots for the rest of my life. Protein shakes for the rest of my life. I am feeling extremely discouraged. I am not sure i want to go through with this

Hi,

Protein Shakes for the rest of your life....I don't think so...I was off them by week 5 post op, so was my husband. We had our surgeries over this past summer. Even my surgeons office doesn't want you on them....they say move on to real food as soon as you can. B12 is no biggy as all. As far as food, I think it is only coconut, celery and that's about it, I think. Rethink it, it's fine and I'm about 2 months out and enjoying the new life!!!! Tracy w.

My surgery was eight months ago and I don't have a protein shake unless I'm running out the door, and that's because I want one, not because I have to have one. I take sublingual B-12 twice a week, no shots for me. I can eat anything I want but stick to protein first, green veggies, fruit. Granted, the pre-op diet stinks, and the immediate post-op diet does, too, but it's a few months out of your life and then you start losing and life is great!

im 4 weeks post op and havent had a shake in 2 weeks. my doc didnt want me to get my protein from shakes. havent had any problem eating whatever i want, just a whole lot less, and a whole lot more time chewing and eating. do research! then chose what is best for you. i would do it all over again tomarrow!

Thank you I feel better! You guys are awesome!0

I'm a year out of surgery and I NEVER have a Protein shake. I freaking hate those things. I stopped drinking them like 2 weeks after my surgery. I, too, take my B12 in a sublingual form, it's seriously no biggie. Ask your doctor some more questions. Why shots? Why protein shakes the rest of your life?

Basically, the only things I "had" to give up was carbonation and drinking with a straw. I eat normal food... and I'm now only 8 pounds from my "goal."

The surgery may or may not be right for you. It was the best thing I ever did for myself, but you need to ask more questions... lots more. Good luck!

Soup-a-Woman

I'm on board with the "no Protein shakes," too. In fact, I never did regularly have them--can't tolerate them at all. I take B12 in liquid form, so no shots here, either. There are things I know I will never have again, but it's not because of some kind of rule; it's because either they're not good for me and I choose not to eat them or because my sleeve doesn't really like them (and strangely, most are both!)--fried foods, sugary foods, foods with little or no nutritional value. There's just no room for that kind of thing any more, and that's 100% okay with me!

Before surgery, I was totally prepared to do whatever it took to get the weight off. I didn't drink soda much before surgery, so giving that up wasn't a biggie. I would have done a lot more if I needed to.... honestly, at this point, I don't feel deprived, hungry, or hopeless--I feel happy, healthy, and so much better!!

I told my surgeon that I was not drinking protein shakes, eating nasty protein bars or anything like that. His repsonse was okay, dont. I get my protein from my food. Its a little harder during the liquid stage but i had soups like bean and bacon and the ones with a lot of protein. I was on soft food after three weeks and so I had soft eggs, yogurt, cheese, milk, etc to get my protein. I am 6 weeks out and I refuse to drink protein drinks. I just wont do it. I take a b12 sublingual most days. It melts under your tongue and taste like a sweet-tart only its not tart.. like the powder in the straws we had as kids. Its not bad at all. Sort of a treat! Dont let that scare you off. Do more research and make sure its the right thing for you but I am loving mine!

If you really need to take protein, you could always get the unflavored kind (now foods has an excellent unflavored protein isolate) and mix it into your milk, tea, or juice.

I agree with everyone else. Those "rules" just don't sound right.

I do the sublingual B12, never used Protein shakes/drinks regularly because they made me sick, and I eat anything and everything. I drink soda, alcohol, through a straw, and I'm over 2 years out with zero issues. The pre-op diet (if yours is all liquids, mine wasn't liquids at all just low carb) yep that sucks, and the couple of weeks of liquids to allow your staple line to heal suck, but those things are temporary.

So, by your program's rules, I would be the least compliant patient. By my program, I'm one of the biggest successes ! ! ! I would ask more questions, and really evaluate the "why" behind these rules/suggestions.

Although i'm not sleeved yet, I agree with everyone else.. AND if I were you this early on I would DEFINITELY get a 2nd opinion.... Obviously there is a lot more information that you need to allow yourself to absorb.... Good luck!

Well thank you all for your advise and information. I realize this state of mind i have entered is what is giving trouble. My addiction to junk food has really come more into light in the past five days then it ever has. I am not even scared about the surgery its self, it is more about the life style i live and wether i would run into regret. but I have seen nothing but happiness regarding this procedure. Today is my last day for solids, i will be going on pre-op diet going forward. any advise towards that?

BigServ, Since you've made the decision to be sleeved, I assume you've resolved some of your issues. Remember, the surgery is just a tool. The REAL work happens between our ears. It's easy to decide to eat something we shouldn't, and it goes down easily. However, taking the easy way is what got me here. I call it sleeving my head when I'm working through some issue to find a solution that works for me and for Rex (my sleeve's name).

As for advice for the liquid diet, don't let your "wants" run your "needs". You need to follow the liquid diet for many reasons, including to help shrink your liver. It's also a way of getting you used to how you'll be eating for several weeks after your sleeve. Stick to the diet and it will make recovery from surgery easier and help you get started learning how to eat and drink after surgery. For me, the liquid diet helped me kick my addiction to diet soda. I'm glad I did that during the pre-op diet instead of being forced to go through that on top of after-surgery pain.

Good luck! I think you've made the right decision!!