After a long process, and being denied from my insurance company, I thought it would never happen for me. After thinking about it for a month I decided to do an appeal.

on Christmas when I went to get the mail at my place after spending the break with my family, I came home to the best letter. They approved the surgery. Yay!!!! I had everything all done that when I called the first of this month, my doctors office scheduled me for the 16th. Omg it's next week. I'm really nervous and I don't know many people who have had the surgery. I'm afraid I will forget the things I've learned. Nervous but def excited!

What was your starting weight? Everyone is different. I mainly eat yoplait 100 calorie Greek yogurts. And reduced fat cheese. Lots of Protein and the yogurt has many flavors. I don't think I could do the shakes. Keep it up though' date=' the weight will come off.[/quote']

So, how much sugar does the greek yorgurts have? No dumping...I'm going to try

So' date=' how much sugar does the greek yorgurts have? No dumping...I'm going to try[/quote']

The Yoplait 100 calorie ones have 7 grams. Others have more. There are a lot of different kinds out there and these are the ones I've found to have the lowest sugar content. I get them at Walmart, they tend to have the best flavor variety. No dumping at all.

The Yoplait 100 calorie ones have 7 grams. Others have more. There are a lot of different kinds out there and these are the ones I've found to have the lowest sugar content. I get them at Walmart' date=' they tend to have the best flavor variety. No dumping at all.[/quote']

Oh, ok thanks

What was your starting weight? Everyone is different. I mainly eat yoplait 100 calorie Greek yogurts. And reduced fat cheese. Lots of Protein and the yogurt has many flavors. I don't think I could do the shakes. Keep it up though' date=' the weight will come off.[/quote']

My starting weight was 221. I hope it comes off.

My starting weight was 221. I hope it comes off.

My starting weight was 275. I think those heavier at the beginning lose a little faster at first. It will all even out. Keep it up and don't get down.

I had my surgery on January 16th also. I don't know my weight loss yet (I've never owned a scale), but I am down almost two pants sizes so far, from 42 to a loose fitting 38.

I've found that the vanilla Protein powder that I have tastes best in sugar free hot cocoa. I haven't tried other flavors or un-flavored yet, but I think the unflavored MIGHT be better as vanilla doesn't really go with many things. I've used the protein enhanced Soup that my doctors office carries and the tomato broth was the best so far (mixed with V-8 juice and beef broth). The Cream of Broccoli makes everything the consistency of paste, yuck. Do any of you have any good "recipes" for using the protein powders? Tim

My starting weight was 275. I think those heavier at the beginning lose a little faster at first. It will all even out. Keep it up and don't get down.

Thanks MrsMandolin! Ill def keep optimistic. I knew this process would be tough but I wasn't thinking on how emotional this would get. Thanks for your advice it really helped

Thanks MrsMandolin! Ill def keep optimistic. I knew this process would be tough but I wasn't thinking on how emotional this would get. Thanks for your advice it really helped <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

My emotions are bananas. I didn't think I'd care so much about all the little things. Glad to have this support, just for that!

Congrats to you 16th and 18th post ops! How is your pain on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest?

Congrats to you 16th and 18th post ops! How is your pain on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest?

I was the 16th and I have no pain at all. It was harder for me to do the liquid diet. Thank god I'm now onto the soft foods. But it's still limiting, I don't know of any good recipes.

Thx that's music to my ears. I believe my friend doesn't have a tolerance for pain. Many have said they've gone back to work after one to two weeks. I have a desk job so I'm going to see as I'd much rather use my time for a vacation to an island.

Congrats to you 16th and 18th post ops! How is your pain on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest?

Congrats to you 16th and 18th post ops! How is your pain on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest?

My pain levels were a steady 6-7 in the hospital IF the pain meds wore off ( I tried not to let that happen more than once). With the IV meds, it was very tolerable (2-4). When I came home, the pain got steadily less (4-5 on oral pain med) until the morning of day 10 post-op. That morning I woke up thinking I had ruptured something or popped my staples. The pain was easily an 8+ and the meds were doing nothing. Finally, that afternoon I called the doc on call and when I described my pain (All on the left side, centered on the drain incision and feeling like a Charlie Horse that just wouldn't release) he said, "Yep, you're right on schedule." I said, 'Great, now make it stop!"

It turns out that the big incision for the drain cuts right through a core muscle group and the heavy stitch needed to close it up causes severe muscle cramps after you start getting up and around and begin walking. He said it happens to 9 out of 10 people and nothing but time will make it better. Today is day three of the cramping and I can tell it's subsiding, about a 5-6. At this rate it will hopefully be gone by the weekend. But man do hiccups and sneezes hurt! Tim