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Tomorrow morning marks my one year anniversary! Seems like so long ago that I was anxiously awaiting my surgery. Nervously wondering if I was doing the right thing or was I taking drastic and unnecessary measures. And then post-op dealing with the pain every time I tried to re-position... the stabbing pain from the main incision with movement. The barely being able to take a sip of fluids, much less actually eating! What an adventure this year has been. Do I regret any part of this crazy year? Well... I totally regret this Coronavirus nightmare that has taken over my life, but I am so proud of myself for taking control of my body and my health. I lost over 100 pounds. I wear a size 4. I look healthy. I FEEL healthy. So, my first weight was 226.8 pounds at my first weigh in. I was about 205 on surgery day. I got down to 123 (point something). I am maintaining at about 125-128. My goal was 135 and a size 6-8... so I will take it! And today, just at the 365 day mark... I saw my cardiologist. My labs are PERFECT!!! Well, not my bilirubin (you may recall that is a long time issue for me), but everything else is perfect! Not only were my LDL cholesterol and triglycerides WAY DOWN... my HDL cholesterol was REALLY GOOD! So much so that I am OFFICIALLY off my metoprolol for tachycardia (stopped taking it several months ago due to low blood pressure) and I am OFFICIALLY off my Lipitor for cholesterol!!!!! I had asked 6 months ago if I can try to go without it... he insisted on 6 more months, repeat labs, and then he MIGHT consider it. Well, I didn't even have to bring it up. He was so happy he just told me to stop it. He wants me to get follow up labs at my PCP in 6 months, and see him again next year... but he predicts he will be releasing me from his care altogether. YAY! We also discussed my never ending mysteriously high bilirubin and the tests I did this year that left us with no answers. He has determined that I probably have Gilberts Disease which is a benign liver disease. He wants me to see a specialist to do the differential diagnosis.... but I predict that will be quick and I won't actually need any ongoing treatment. But... I do want to do it because I want to finally put a name to whatever causes my bilirubin to be elevated all the time (my whole adult life at least). I see the FNP at the surgeon office for my one year follow up tomorrow. I did those labs the same day, and they too were excellent (besides the bilirubin lol). I think they are having me see the nutritionist too... somehow she didn't show up for my last appointment which was supposed to be by phone call. Exercise.... I love walking and hiking, although work has been crazy so that has been a challenge. I try to do 3-6 mile walks in the early AM (at 4:30 before the AZ heat rises), but this past month has been a challenge. Getting better again though. Food: I eat pretty well, although I could do better. I have to be careful because lately I have been craving salt and sweets again. Depending on what it is, I tolerate most of it well. It's funny because I can always go a long time without them.... but when I want them I want them. It just dawned on me though that I haven't had protein bars in the house for several months. I found one that got hidden among other items and just ate it... and was reminded that this is exactly what I need to fulfill my sweet tooth without filling my stomach with crap. As soon as I came to that realization, I hopped online and ordered 6 bags of the Unjury Mighty Bite protein bars. They are the perfect size and fill me up quite well. Anyhow... that is my 1 year update! Stay healthy everyone!

That doesn't sound surgery related. Loss of taste and small is a big sign of COVID. You should definitely get tested and isolate from other people. Sorry

Hi there! I have been having 1/4 cup of plain chicken breast a few times a week on the liquid diet. It’s pure protein and I know will get me into Ketosis to shrink my liver. Now that I’m 3 days out I’m sticking to liquids so my stomach is clear. I’m looking forward to the surgery!!!

" ... anyone have any tips that helped them?" 1) Upgrade your seat/saddle. I got my GF this one (wide version) https://www.rei.com/product/152865/bontrager-boulevard-bike-saddle. 2) Make sure you're in a nice low gear for even slight inclines until you build some endurance. It will seem that you're pedaling fast but not getting anywhere but you'll be getting your exercise and not over taxing your joints or muscles.

My doctor at one time used premier solution but stopped after further investigation. One of the reasons you should use simply whey protein and have to be careful is the amount of time it takes to digest the specific protein type. When I was a gastric bypass patient as you all well know your body only allows a specific amount of time to digest the food and the it passes through quickly a lot faster then a regular stomach. The whey protein that is no isolate takes to long to digest and therefore it passes through before the body as a chance to benefit from the protein. Therefore you are counting the shake into your daily protein allotment but you are not actually getting it. I learned the hard way about this. Unjury is a great product and the ones I have tried do taste good. Not sure about other products.

Here are the ingredients in Premier Protein. As I mentioned, these forms of protein aren't as readily absorbable as whey protein isolate. Some programs don't seem to care as much as others, though. Mine wanted us to stick to whey protein isolate (at least for the first few weeks), too. Water, Premier Protein Shake Protein Blend (Milk Protein Concentrate, Calcium Caseinate, Whey Protein Concentrate), Cocoa Powder (processed with alkali), Contains 1% or less of the following: High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Inulin, Cellulose Gel and Cellulose Gum, Magnesium Phosphate, DATEM, Salt, Natural and Artificial ...

It seems to me like she might just have a personal preference due to what ingredients she might think are unsavory in the Premier? That's odd. Premier are pretty popular among the bariatric community.

No I definitely didn’t experience anything like that. Good luck and please get tested!

Sounds like your husband might be scared of the coming changes that he has no control over. Have you said to him something like, " I understand that you can't feel happy about this, but I would like your support. It is going to happen with or without it, and I would rather not be resentful that you didn't support me during this time." Then tell him how to support you, specifically. Most men I know do very well with specific instructions. They just are not very intuitive!😏 The man in my life has had NO reaction to all of this. Neither positive or negative. When I asked what he thought about all of this, he kind of shrugged his shoulders and said, "Do you" and "I hope it's worth it". That was it. My surgery is scheduled for September 2nd, and he is still like, "Doo-dee-doo-dee-doh".🙄

3 weeks out and eating veggie burger with asparagus? That seems rather advanced at 3 weeks out. I was still eating very soft and mostly mushy food at that point. I agree with AJ Tylo above. You're not hungry. Your mind is playing games with you. I think I also read somewhere that in some people the part of the stomach that senses fullness is damaged or cut in the surgery process. Maybe shocked or numb. Please be cautious. Your stomach and the suture line are still healing. I recommend that you measure out your food and stop eating when you've eaten the portion prescribed by your doctor (usually 1/4-1/2 cup). If you need to, set a timer for mealtimes and don't snack in between.