PdxMan

Pre-surgery, I had this talk with my surgeon about hunger. He said that with the change in gherlin levels, I would not be hungry in the conventional sense ... my body would be sending me new signals when it needed food and I would learn those new signals. So, if my body is running short of some nutrient, I will get the feeling that I am running short on something. I will continue to get that feeling until I refill that bucket. Eating well balanced meals will continually keep all those nutritional buckets filled which limits my body telling me to eat. It made sense to me, but I don't know if I am explaining it well. Think of all the different elements you absorb from food ... Vitamins, minerals, carbs, fats, Proteins ... Your body needs a certain quota of each and if you are lacking, your body will say, "HEY, I NEED SOME Calcium BECAUSE I GOTTA DO SOME REPAIRS OVER HERE IN SECTION #4356." So, you get the urge that is usually settled by having a glass of milk or some cheese. But what if you eat popcorn or a steak, instead? The craving will continue and you'll think, "Jeesh! Why am I hungry all the time?" Well balanced meals So many people get sleeved and then think they need to go on some kind of "diet". Limit fats and carbs ... our sleeve is doing that for us. Our job is to well balanced meals. It's been working for me. Your milage may vary.

So, FYI, the pulled pork I made Saturday was/is awesome! Just follow that recipe. Took me no more than 10 minutes from start to finish. If you have seen my other food/cooking/recipe posts, you know I use the mason jelly jars (8 oz) to put all of my Soups and leftovers in, toss them in the freezer and pull them out as I need them. Did the same here. I now have a bunch of yummy Protein packed meals waiting for me in the freezer. Just pull that crock pot out of the coat closet and start using it. Now I'm going to have to make a pot roast ... thanks Less ...

Put the utencil down between bites and assess how the last (small) bite felt. The point is to change our old habit of just inhaling food, but to be conscience of how the food is going in. Starting new habits is difficult, but is important to your long-term success. Put down the fork!

I also did not have any scopes pre-surgery. I didn't know I had a hiatal hernial until I was in post-op. My surgeon comes on by for the usual post-op visit and he says, "Oh, you also had a hiatal hernia, so while I was in there, I yanked your esophagus back down through your diaphragm and then sewed your diaphragm up tight, so you will experience a little tightness with swallowing for an extra few days." Since I was self-pay, I asked him about cost and he said it basically takes him about 5 minutes to do and there would be no extra charge. I had reflux on a daily basis prior and have had no issues since! But he was right ... swallowing, even liquids, felt like a lump in my throat for about 10 days.

Yeah, that one had me wondering, too. How about the one from the Powder Room asking whether to wax or shave prior to surgery downtown. Really? I have heard of this prior to giving birth which raised my eyebrows, but women think about this stuff? Really? Now don't get me wrong. I do a little manscaping, too, but in prep for surgery? Did you tattoo your phone number across your belly, too? "Doing anything after you take out my stomach?"

I was told to wait 3 weeks to ensure everything was closed. And not just closed with a scab, but closed, closed. Complete with scar tissue and everything.

I have been thinking about pulled pork since I posted this so, I stopped at the store this morning and picked up a pork shoulder. It is smelling heavenly already. BTW, I didn't mention that after it is done cooking, remove the roast, drain the grease and use two forks to "pull" the pork apart. Put everything back in the sauce and you are good to go. Cabbage is one of those things that does require some serious mechanical digestion to take place, just like salads, so you don't really want to tackle that too early out, but like Frye mentions, he shreds it, so that is going to aid in the process.

Pork butt (which is actually the shoulder) cooked reeeeeeaaaaalllly slow. Crock pot works. Way easy. Google a recipe, but I use a butt, diced onion, garlic, 8 oz ketchup, 3 oz balsamic vinegar, 1/2 cup brown sugar and two tablespoons hickory liquid smoke. Put it in the crockpot at the lowest temperature. Drain the grease off after. Add bacon, avocado and canbage ... I guess ...

Just a suggestion ... Let your husband read this thread. It can be difficult to be rigorously honest, but it can be so liberating as well. It's funny how we like to think we have an intimate relationship with our spouses, yet we won't share the biggest issues we struggle with. Then together, as a couple, you can work on whatever the struggles are. Your spouse will also learn it is OK to share deep, intimate things about themselves and you will come to know a whole new level of intimacy.

That is all that is required of you ... When they started noticing a slimmer me, I just said I am eating smaller portions, watching what I eat and exercising more. All very true statements ... no lies. I don't have to explain that I have a tool helping me. Just like people don't have to share they use contacts to see better or inhalers to breathe better, you are not obligated to tell people your life story. Do what you feel comfortable with and don't let anyone here or there try to shame you into doing something you don't want to do.

But to respond to the OP, these days are the most difficult. You don't really get a lot of variety. I was loving the broth from French Onion Soup, broth from veggie beef soup ... things like that.

LOL! I'm guessing you thought you were posting to the ... uh ... other post. Question for you, though, since you brought it up ... how many calories did you burn?

Wow, those are quite the progression pics. You must be proud of yourself. You look great!

Be sure to do measurements. One of the things I regret not doing. Don't weigh yourself everyday, either. scales measure weight, not fat.

I am sorry to hear of your complications. I am one that had no issues post, except maybe I delayed my progression to the next stages just because I was overly cautious and scared of how my stomach might react to re-introducing foods. I will definately be keeping you in my thoughts and following your story.

Did you have a hiatal hernia repair? I did and that can add to the discomfort until the swelling there settles down. This may be a sign you are eating too large of bites, eating too quickly or not chewing enough. Try smaller bites less often. Make sure your sweet potatoes are really mushy or chewed well. Only have a couple bites and stop. Your body is not going to be able to tell you when you are full, so you are just going to have to stop after about 2 bites at this stage.

I told my HR that I was going in for a surgery and would be back in a week. I had the PTO, so it wasn't a problem. They are smart enough not to ask any more details. If a supervisor, manager, co-worker ... whatever ... asks you more, just say, "If you need any more detail, HR can assist us with whatever you need. Thanks!"

Then drop the 100 post requirement ... I thought the point was to give veterans a place to discuss issues and not have a thread hijacked by a newbie.

Just received a PM from someone who joined 3 years ago, surgery date 2 and a half years ago. Doesn't have > 100 posts, though. Should this person be considered a veteran? I am offering no opinions on this topic ... just putting it out there for discussion.

You may be looking for THIS page.

Because I (used to before back surgery) work out a lot and run somewhat competetively, I get PMs about, "What are the differences in the types of Proteins?" "Why should I workout at my target heart rate?" "What are good carbs vs bad carbs?" These are all general questions that can get FAR better answers with more breadth and depth out in the GoogleVerse than from me. I will give my opinion from my personal experience and then give them a link. A few replies to this have been thankful but a few have also been oobstinate ... "I KNOW HOW TO USE GOOGLE! YOU DON'T HAVE TO TREAT ME LIKE AN IDIOT!" Uhhh ... I do not have the power to make anyone feel like an idiot. That comes from within. I'll be the first to admit that I feel EXACTLY like you Cheri and I will take a break from the board for a month or so. And when I come back, I find about half the time when I respond to a thread, I stop, erase what I have written and move on. Otherwise, I just get too invested in the site and other people's struggles to the point where it occupies space rent free in my brain. And that is not good for me.

How far out are you? Have you tried to drink them at different temperatures? Since it is consistency, if too thick, add Water or milk. If too thin, mix in some yogurt. In my experience, after trying dozens of Protein drinks/powders and not liking them, I found Premier the best for me. Early out my tolerance for anything was low, but as my stomach healed, that changed. It may just take some time if you are early out.

I've had two in the past 4 months checking my spine. You know ... that long thing right behind the stomach ... no problems. Felt nothing unusual. I've had them pre-sleeve as well. Nothing different. Titanium = non-ferrous metal

How far out from surgery are you?

I, too, have answered the same PM over and over, or had the PM where there are about 5 "active" threads on that very topic. I usually check the asker's join date. If they are new, I will answer them as completely and honestly as possible. I will also give them links to the search function and suggest they use a non-mobile device for researching this important topic. Mobile devices should only be used to check up on posts and PMs, not researching removing 85% of your stomach. Too much good information is not shown on them. For the asker who has a join date a few months old, most of the time I feel they are looking for me to validate whatever it is they are wanting to do. I don't do that. I will find a few threads that answer their question, tell them how I found them in less than 5 seconds and give them the obnoxious LMGTFY link which always has their answer. Nothing will shut a (chronic) PM'er down faster than giving them a LMGTFY link. (and yes, I wrote the text you find there, it doesn't come that way, in case YOU are not familiar with LMGTFY)