Tracy46545

your carb count is killing your loss. 30 grams a day is the maximum that most weight loss doctors insist on post op. Best wishes

I'm told there is a depilitory similar to Nair that you can get in "adult" stores....and it works better than Nair for pubic hair. going on hear say only....never looked for it and I don't know what it's called. My BF likes the natural look...thank goodness because the first time I waxed I said "I'll live a celibate life and devote that life to a nunnery if this is expected for me to have dates!"It's my story.. and I'm stickin' to it.

Get your protein in and you'll be fine. Weaning yourself off carbs is going to cause some "withdrawal" symptoms....headaches, fuzzy thinking....but it will sort out as your body gets rid of the last of the "empty carbs". Stay hydrated to flush the toxins from your brain and body.

definitely use Gatorade if you aren't getting in the proper amount of Water. At least then you're getting a balance of electrolytes, Vitamins and carbs. I remember an episode of dry heaves while I was still in the hospital...day 3 if I recall. I felt very "loopy" and a bit spacey on day 4....glad I was able to just stay in the hotel bed and sleep away most of day 4. By day five I was flying cross country to get home...no issues. Dehydration can cause nausea...so try to sip something all the time.

I was sleeved on Dec 14 and had the same experience with my first menstrual cycle after surgery. It came early, weird discharge for a few days first, then a pretty heavy cycle. I think it's your body telling you it has been stressed by major surgery and every part of your body is responding to the challenge. Perfectly normal.

ok...how do I add a picture into this post? can't I do that?

I use Unjury also....but I drink the chocolate as a hot cocoa drink in the mornings. I used the vanilla flavor as a creamer in my coffee back when I could drink coffee. Never liked the strawberry flavor in Unjury products. The chicken broth flavor is a welcome change from all the SWEET protein drinks. I've used and tolerated Body Fortress available at Walmart and Meijers (recently). I recently tried the Chike samples and liked all of them except the chocolate. LOVED the Orange Creme flavor of the Chike and will be ordering a tub of that.

Overall that's a pretty high carb recipe with the rice, cornstarch, peas and bread crumbs. sounds good, but not suitable for a high protein, low carb diet plan.

Homemade clear soups put in the freezer in 2-3 oz portionsDiet GatoradeNo sugar added Apple juice

The only things I "stocked" before surgery for after surgery were:Homemade clear soups in 2-3 oz portions, put in freezergood quality chicken, beef and vegetable broth (boxed or canned)G2 (diet gatorade, really helped me feel better when I couldn't drink much)No sugar added apple juiceindividual packets of Unjury. I had used this in the past with the band and knew I could tolerate the taste. I bought SF jello and pudding...but the pudding is too sweet for my taste now. It's really cold here and post op I've been fighting feeling chilled...so most of my protein drinks have been made along the lines of hot chocolate (protein powder) or unflavored protein added to broths and soups. I prefer hot tea to cold drinks at this time of the year and even heated my Crystal Light to drink it. I dilute my Crystal light into a 20 oz bottle of water instead of the 16.9 oz. they recommend. This keeps it from being so strong and so sickening sweet.

at my Krogers it's in a freezer case near the seafood dept......but we have a very tiny seafood dept.

My favorite fish is swai. It's available at Kroger's in individual ( 4 oz ) servings for about $1. I prepare it a number of different ways. I've coated it with an egg wash, whole wheat panko and parmesan cheese and fried it in the skillet. I've coated it with egg white and a light dusting of flour and cornmeal and fried it in the skillet. I've spread it with a teaspoon or so of Dijonaisse and baked or broiled it in my toaster oven. It has a very mild taste and is a perfect fish for someone that doesn't really like fish and is trying to add it to their diet.

Chike Orange Cream protein powder....mixed with 2 oz reduced sugar orange juice and 6 oz water. mmmmmmmmm goood!

Wow...cream of wheat on a pre-op diet????? that's an extremely high carb food!Why would a pre-op diet cut you off of most options for protein? the body NEEDS that for healing after surgery. You're right...this is a bizarre pre-op diet. I hope your surgeon explained why.

When you go back to work is a very individual thing. I went back 1 week post surgery, but for me, going to work is very much like staying home in that I'm in a home environment with access to my fluids, soups, etc. No strenous lifting or anything. I could even take a nap if I needed to while my patient napped. However, I still had days where I came home and could have taken a two hour nap! Fatigue is the surprising side affect of the surgery because with laproscopic surgery you tend to heal pretty fast, and you don't expect "tiredness" to affect you. As for being in the hospital one night. I had my revision from lapband to sleeve with Dr. Aceves in Mexicali, Mexico. He keeps his sleeve patients 3 nights in the hospital and checks for leaks with a different test each day. I felt very secure traveling on the fourth day knowing I had passed all my leak tests. I know I wouldn't have wanted to go home after only one night in the hospital but I guess everyone is different.

O M G I tried the Chike Orange Creme yesterday.....mixed it with reduced sugar orange juice (about 2 oz) and 5 oz Water plus a couple ice cubes...didn't blend it...just stirred it in. Anyone remember Orange Julius that used to be in the malls? that's what it's like! I'm ordering a large tub of this! Tried the Chike banana cream and the Chike chocolate Wednesday..not impressed with either. I still have the Vanilla Creme and the strawberry Creme to try (I bought their samples pack. 5 full size samples, free, just pay shipping of $6.95. VERY WORTH WHILE!

BarbAnne, glad you're on the mend. I had a day like that too....My surgery was on a Monday and on Thursday I was very emotional, feeling dizzy, achey and just overwhelmed. I got discharged from the hospital and went to the hotel and basically hibernated for 23 hours. What a difference! I felt strong enough the next day to handle my flight home to Chicago and even went to a meeting the next day. I couldn't have done it without my "fall apart" day. Keep on mending!

Just new Info... I ordered the Chike samples last week... shipping isn't $3 anymore..it's $6.95 ....samples were still worth it and I really enjoyed the Orange Creme...didn't care so much for the chocolate as it was really thick....probably would have been better in a blender with ice but I like my chocolate hot....(as in cocoa). I'm going to try the banana today. Buying these sample kits really gives you a great way to check out alot of products for minimal cost and gives you a great variety to prevent boredom too.

I bought a 3 month supply (5 boxes of 14 pills) of Nexium Mups in the 40 mg size. (can be split in half) and it came to $196 American dollars. As others have said...it's quite a bit more in the States. As for pain, I find that Liquid Tylenol handles any lingering aches and pains.

RCarter, yep....I meant the stomach...not the band. (reflex from having the band for the last two years...sorry). As for quantitiy, my understanding is that our new tiny stomachs hold 4-6 oz at this time. 4 oz is 1/2 cup. I try to only eat about 1/4 cup at a time of "solid" foods but I'm still on pureed/mushy foods so those are solids that have been pureed. Soups, no more than 1/3 of a cup at a meal. Again, wet, soft foods like soups, scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, applesauce, pudding etc will go through the pouch much faster and may be emptying as you take another bite. Remember, count your calories, drink your fluids, get your Proteins, restrict your carbs, respect your portions and you'll be fine. Also, take your time eating. Give yourself time to get the signal that you're full, perhaps before your portion is gone. I'm sure other experienced sleevesters will chime in here....I was sleeved a week after you so I am only telling you my experience.

RCarter, wet foods will go through the band much easier so you'll be able to eat more of them before you get full. To deal with thirst during a meal, instead of taking a drink, try a teaspoon of unsweetened ice cold applesauce. It will clear your palate but not Water down your pouch. Dry foods ....(ie meats, dense proteins) "catch" better in the pouch so you'll feel full longer with them. Measure your quantities...1/4 cup is plenty at this time. Eat it slowly, enjoy the flavors, explore the textures and most of all.....realize that you can have more LATER! stop when you're supposed to, avoid the misery of being over-full and have some later! I hope this helps...I'm rambling too. Happy New Year

I just remembered....my other goal is to make it through this winter without dislocating any knees! (same knee, two dislocations last winter...within a 6 wk period).

Tennessee1031, Yes by all means bring a support person. There is no extra charge if they stay in your hospital room with you and the staff is very accomodating. I keep saying...once you go to Almater, you'll wish you never had to have surgery stateside again! Good luck!

Tysmom, Your doctor will tell you if you need to be on a pre-op diet or not. You might start trying the variety of high protein- low carb drinks, powders, ready-to-drink shakes etc so you'll know what you can tolerate after surgery. Beware of buying alot of any one thing though because your tastes may really change after surgery. I have become very aware of how sweet things are since my surgery...many others have mentioned that their Protein shakes or drinks were too sweet also. There are pages and pages of excellent information here on this site about where to find Protein Drinks or you can Google the info too. Good luck!

Excellent post of why we "stall" ... please read before you panic! http://verticalsleevetalk.com/post-operation-vertical-sleeve-gastric-surgery-vsg-questions-answers/2544-why-we-have-evil-stalls.html