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A record of my experience... from start to finish... rants and all!



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I love this thread, I'm so sorry you had pain. How are you going now?

Thanks!!

Oh, I’m loads better.. so much better in fact that I have been experimenting with my intake. I’m one of those who are worried they can eat too much too soon but except for one or two minor offenses I’m sticking to the prescribed program. It’s all about changing your mindset after all.

16 lb down since surgery... but I mean, who’s counting. Right??

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I'm confused & need help/advice. My questions are about vitamins: my surgeon & nutritionist recommended Bariatric Advantage Multi EA chewables & calcium citrate Chewy Bites 500s, each 2x's daily. The cost: $71/mo! I'm on a fixed disability income & Medicare/Medicaid doesn't cover them. What does everyone else take? I can't afford the $71/mo, but I understand we need help due to not getting enough nutritional support to meet common standards. My surgery was 05/24/17, down almost 75 lbs. Thanks.

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I'm confused & need help/advice. My questions are about vitamins: my surgeon & nutritionist recommended Bariatric Advantage Multi EA chewables & calcium citrate Chewy Bites 500s, each 2x's daily. The cost: $71/mo! I'm on a fixed disability income & Medicare/Medicaid doesn't cover them. What does everyone else take? I can't afford the $71/mo, but I understand we need help due to not getting enough nutritional support to meet common standards. My surgery was 05/24/17, down almost 75 lbs. Thanks.

Well, I can tell you what my surgeon has me on and it is as follows:

1 x multi-vitamin/day (any as long as it has 400 units of folate in it). i.e. Centrum

1 x Calcium citrate (to be taken 3 hrs after multi because multi has Iron in it)
1 x Vitamin D 5000

1 x calcium late afternoon

I also take a weekly Vitamin b nasal spray

Now the multi runs at $16 for a 200 count at Amazon so what, a 6 mo supply?

The calcium is a bit more pricey but as long as it is citrate you can shop around. (Don’t get the carbonate version)

The vitamin D is easily shop-aroundable. I got mine at Trader Joe’s.

And the vitamin B is $25/mo but is rx so your doc needs to call it in. Alternatively you can take daily pills.< br>
Hope this helps!


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Oh yes, this helps. TY.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using BariatricPal mobile app

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Alrighty folks! Update time.

I am now 2.5 weeks post op and am slowly learning to listen to my body. I’m experimenting with food but find that variety isn’t that attractive at the moment. I’ll eat something a couple of days in a row if it works.

I plan for the whole 4 ounces at each meal but mostly push it away about halfway through. I also still drink Protein Shakes twice a day.

I’m not feeling hungry, except for when I go way past my designated eating time.

I’ve lost 20 lbs but honestly I only weigh myself for the record, I am more concerned about establishing habits.

I’ve been spotting on and off since I came home and there’s slight bruising on my left side. Both minor inconveniences really.

My knees don’t hurt anymore and I’ve already sent off one bag of clothing.

I always make it a point to reach my goal of 10k steps everyday. That usually involves 40-50 minutes on the treadmill at 2 mph, no incline. I was advised not to do exercise that breaks a sweat just yet but honestly it’s what I feel comfortable with anyway.


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I've loved reading your progess. Thank you for being so candid, can't wait for future updates.

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I've loved reading your progess. Thank you for being so candid, can't wait for future updates.

How kind of you to say, thank you! [emoji120]


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Yay! I just had my 1 month check up and I am through with flying colors! I can eat anything (slowly) and I can exercise anything (taking it slowly) going forward. So onward we go.
I’m down to 3 square meals, 1 afternoon snack and 2 Protein Shakes in between meals. Looks like this’ll be it for the foreseeable future. And onward we go.

Really, the only thing I get to complain about now is that I am so fricking cold all the time. My husband keeps teasing me “welcome to the normal side”. But even that has a silver lining; I finally get to wear some lovely sweaters!

Carry on everyone!


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Yay! I just had my 1 month check up and I am through with flying colors! I can eat anything (slowly) and I can exercise anything (taking it slowly) going forward. So onward we go.
I’m down to 3 square meals, 1 afternoon snack and 2 Protein Shakes in between meals. Looks like this’ll be it for the foreseeable future. And onward we go.

Really, the only thing I get to complain about now is that I am so fricking cold all the time. My husband keeps teasing me “welcome to the normal side”. But even that has a silver lining; I finally get to wear some lovely sweaters!

Carry on everyone!





Wonderful! I can't wait to get where you are. Well I've always chilled easily and had to carry sweaters everywhere even in the middle of summer. But I am looking forward to everything else!

Sent from my XT1635-01 using BariatricPal mobile app

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Wonderful! I can't wait to get where you are. Well I've always chilled easily and had to carry sweaters everywhere even in the middle of summer. But I am looking forward to everything else!

Sent from my XT1635-01 using BariatricPal mobile app


Should be interesting to see if it effects you at all, maybe it’ll just stay the same? Good luck!


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Should be interesting to see if it effects you at all, maybe it’ll just stay the same? Good luck!



Thank you for writing your story. I’m 4.5 days away from surgery and am getting more nervous. I’ve been on a liquid diet since 10/31 and I’m ready to get this done!


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Thank you for writing your story. I’m 4.5 days away from surgery and am getting more nervous. I’ve been on a liquid diet since 10/31 and I’m ready to get this done!



I know it is terribly difficult; it’s the anticipation, right? Just hang in there... 4.5 days makes... hmmm tuesday? Hey! I was a tuesday sleever as well :) good luck and let us know how you fair afterwards.

In the meantime, either try different Protein Shakes or different temperatures. I heard people like cold and not warm or vice verse? Maybe that’ll do the trick.


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I love reading your posts! They are real and hilariously funny (that part about draging your husband to the pre op appointment and your reasons struck a cord😂😂😂) so i will be doing the same thing.

I’m 33 yrs, 5’3, over 250 lbs (meant to weigh in first thing in the morning to be exact and forgot 😅) and dealing with painfully weak knees, thyroid fluctuations, pre diabetic and been TTC for the last couple of years with complications.

i finally got approved and my surgery date is Dec 12th!! I still have 3 appointments left, pre op with my surgeon and two appointments/class with the NP and NUT.

I'm so nervous and super excited and can’t wait to get to the losing side😍

can’t wait to be healthy and being able to wear what i like, not what barely fits👗

Please keep sharing your daily experiences and/or any tips pre op or post op

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I love reading your posts! They are real and hilariously funny (that part about draging your husband to the pre op appointment and your reasons struck a cord) so i will be doing the same thing.

I’m 33 yrs, 5’3, over 250 lbs (meant to weigh in first thing in the morning to be exact and forgot ) and dealing with painfully weak knees, thyroid fluctuations, pre diabetic and been TTC for the last couple of years with complications.

i finally got approved and my surgery date is Dec 12th!! I still have 3 appointments left, pre op with my surgeon and two appointments/class with the NP and NUT.
I'm so nervous and super excited and can’t wait to get to the losing side
can’t wait to be healthy and being able to wear what i like, not what barely fits


Please keep sharing your daily experiences and/or any tips pre op or post op

Thank you ***blush***

December 12th is a good day, I wish you all the best. How is your surgeon’s post-op program? 1 week liquids or 2? Do you feel you’re ready? When the going gets tough think of how this time you’ll stay true on your new year’s resolution and actually become a healthier person in 2018!!


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    • LeighaTR

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    • Doughgurl

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      1. Selina333

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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