Amanda 3.0

I usually hate children's menus. Even when my stepdaughter was young, we wouldn't give her a children's menu, unless they had the same type of food on the kid's menu as on the adult menu. So she would often eat from the same menu as us. She is a very versatile and adventurous eater and loves good food, and I think that is a result of being exposed to good foods. When we were kids, we didn't go to places with kid's menus that I can recall, and the "happy meal" wasn't introduced until I was in high school! But if we go to a mexican restaurant, and they have one taco, rice and Beans on the kid's menu, I would perhaps ask for that. I don't mind leftovers so much, we eat leftovers at home all the time. I just don't want to see the same thing over and over again, especially restaurant food, which is plated for immediate consumption and doesn't always reheat well. It took me a while to quit the clean plate club, but I am glad I did. We don't eat out a lot, so when we do, I would prefer to spend a little more and get some really nice food. I eat fast food maybe once or twice a year, and avoid chain restaurants whenever possible. The split plate charge is silly if they just bring out an extra plate and let you duke it out with your dining party . But some places split the entree back in the kitchen and each diner has a beautiful plate, and each receives a full-sized salad and sides. That, to me, is worth the split charge. I am planning our spring break (I make a binder with stuff to do and restaurant choices with reviews for each city we visit) and there are definitely split plates on this trip. Ethiopian food! I wish I were near you, I would seek out some Ethiopian food with you. I just noticed you are in San Dimas - we used to go out there as kids for some reason. I grew up in L.A. and Long Beach.

I am not normally a huge stickler about expiration or "best by" dates. Even bottled Water has an expiration date. Not that I keep things around that long on a regular basis, but I don't assume that something is spoiled or gross because it is a little past it's date. However, with supplements, they can lose their potency. It would be terrible if you thought you were getting your Protein at this crucial time, and you were not. And, everyone is right, it would be tragic if the product was somehow spoiled and you caused injury to your post-operative stomach! Just not worth it, IMO!

I just took tiny bits from the buffet and tried a little bit of each. It was my first time trying quite a few of the foods and I didn't want to be too brave. I probably looked ridiculous, a largish woman carrying a plate with pathetic little portions. I even took about a tablespoon of wild rice, which I didn't have room for and therefore didn't touch. I didn't ask for a child's price. We rarely ever go to buffets as they are the devil, but we had a certificate from our club so we went for brunch. I really should have ordered from the a la cart menu, but will do that next time. Rather than ask for a child's price, I may from time to time ask to order from the children's menu. I don't mind a split charge from a restaurant, as it is nice for the food to be served and presented nicely to both parties, and for each to have the salads and bread, but it isn't going to work to have the kitchen divide the meal because they won't divide it up right. I'll probably order my own stuff, try to keep it small, and let the family "inherit" what I don't eat, or just leave it.

Not being a revision case, I can't completely understand all your concerns. But, to address the "extreme" part: I think the process is fairly easy, unless there are complications. Most people don't have complications. I am seven weeks out and feel very good. I don't even feel like I have had surgery, I just can't eat like I used to. Overall, the surgery itself just seems like a blip in the big scheme of things. Of course, taking advantage of the processes leading up to surgery and readying yourself for this change will help you adjust better. Not preparing or living in denial of the changes that must occur may make things harder. I'll bet you'll be just fine!

Holy moly, $400 for a prescription? Was there not a less expensive option? I don't know your circumstances, obviously, but the only blood thinner I had was injected during my stay in the hospital. I didn't take anything home with me. The only prescription I left the hospital with was some liquid Lortab pain killer, just in case. There is a thread on here about someone who was going to make Protein ice cream with the Premier Protein shakes. I will try to dig it up and see if she ended up doing it.

I am at seven weeks and just started to eat arugula (not a fan of regular lettuce). My surgeon said to go ahead and try salad if I had the urge. I have mixed arugula with a little chicken and dressing several times, and it gives me no problems at all.

I am not enjoying the Vitamins at all. I am going to finish taking the bariatric vitamins I've purchased, and then switch to the liquids that I took prior to surgery. While I tried samples ahead of surgery, and those were okay, taking them every day has become burdensome. I try to follow them with a couple of teaspoons of cottage cheese or similar, which helps. But, I'll be glad when they are gone.

I have only been to one support group meeting so far. It is also a mix of bypass, VSG and band patients in varying stages of post-op. I think it was somewhat helpful, but it was a little hard to remember who had what procedure. The issues are different to each, so I was trying to remember who had what and if the situation being discussed was something I needed to worry about for myself. I will go again, I think it will be more helpful next time and as I get to know the people.

I have plenty of empathy. I also know that coddling and agreeing with every bad feeling never solved anything. Logical thinking is not a bad thing. Warm fuzzies aren't very effective in most cases. I also know that people will do what they are going to do. But if they come online and ask a question, I am going to assume they are logical and really want an answer. I know, silly me. I hope you remember what it is like to be in a smoker's shoes too. What that has to do with whether or not smoking against doctor's orders during recovery, I am not sure.

No, I didn't take your points completely out of context. And, my entire post isn't just about what you posted, or I would have quoted you and addressed your points specifically. The original poster came on here looking for validation that it was okay to smoke following the surgery. There are discussions all over this forum started by people looking for "permission" to deviate from their surgeon's program. When the original poster got advice she didn't like, she accused the very people who took their time to try to help of being rude, and then she flounced off. Fact is, at the time of surgery, WLS patients are not supposed to be battling the food addiction for the first time. They should be well on their way to recovery. They should be able to handle a few days (or more) of not smoking, without becoming suicidal. That sort of issue should have come out in the psychiatric exam. I smoked rather heavily for 25 years. I totally get that it is addicting. I surrounded myself with smokers as friends, because smoking is one of those deal-breaker habits when it comes to hanging out with people. All but two of my friends have quit. It is not an intelligent or considerate habit and I wish I had quit earlier. I had to clean my life up to give it up. Yes it is hard. Regarding bias against overweight people and smokers: Yep, have been on the receiving end of both of those. Is there bias against smokers in this thread? I don't see it. Facts are facts: It can cause complications in recovery from surgery. Many surgeons advise against it because it is unhealthy and can cause complications. That isn't bias.

My insurance coverage required that I have two blood tests for tobacco, one at 45 days before surgery and one the day of surgery. They don't cover this surgery for smokers. Period. Regarding surgeons requiring patients to stop smoking, I am not sure now many actually require it. I don't think mine required complete quitting, but then it was a non-issue for me so maybe he did. There are plenty of WLS "mills" out there though who will do anything for a buck and just go through the motions as far as prequalification. My surgeon's team was not like that at all. My psychiatric evaluation was rather grueling and I even had to see a counselor for several sessions. She insisted that I buy and read several book suggestions (not her own books) before I would receive a letter of recommendation. All addiction issues were addressed, not just food. Also addressed was how well I was equipped to handle life as a thin person - would my marriage suffer, etc. I guess my point is that while the smoking and other behaviors should be addressed well before surgery, I don't think they are in many cases - whether it is through deception on the patient's side or apathy on the surgeon's side.

Wow, what a turn of the thread. If any smokers get suicidal when they put down the smokes for a few days, and I hope that comes out at the psychiatric evaluation. Also, the severe eating disorders are supposed to be discovered at that time. People should not be having this surgery until they have worked on their addiction issues, of all types. An out of control binge eater should be well on their way to recovery before ever setting foot in the operating wing of the hospital, and that was addressed during the quailification process, at least with my surgeon's team. My surgeon won't even knowingly operate on an alcoholic or drug addict. No one here answered irresponsibly, insensitively, or inappropriately. I do personally feel that it is irresponsibly of a patient to ask for internet forum advice that overrides that of a medical professional, but we see it all the time. It amazes me (although it shouldn't anymore) when someone asks a question on the internet and then gets upset when a non-coddling answer is given. The internet is not a magic place where you get to ask a question and only get answers that support your side. Once a question is thrown out there, everybody gets to answer, and the answer is usually worth exactly what was paid for it. Anyway, smoking: Of course it is far better for a person not to smoke after the surgery, and if someone wants a different answer than that, maybe they ought to find a pro-smoking forum and pose it there. We all have the phone number to our surgeon's office, and if we really wanted the honest answer, we would call up and ask. I would say that most surgeons are actually going to be pretty honest about what will and won't kill us, and most surgeons are going to tell you that if you absolutely must smoke, then go ahead. But at least discuss it with the surgeon instead of being upset at people on an internet forum. On a side note, many people are able to make multiple health improvements at the same time, and for many, it is a great idea. We are already leaving the hospital with what should be a new outlook on life. It's an ideal time to try to turn over a new leaf. I actually gave up booze, cigarettes, and started an exercise regimen all on one day. I did great for a while, then fell off the exercise wagon. Never smoked again, and now I do drink a bit here and there. The smoking was hard, but a great accomplishment. I do feel sadness when I see a patient sitting in their hospital gown in front of the hospital, smoking. It is getting less and less common now, as most hospitals in our area do not allow smoking anywhere on the grounds.

Have you thought about the Luigi's no sugar added Italian ice cups from the ice cream section of your grocery? They are 60 calories per serving, and the no sugar added box comes with three strawberry and three lemon. They don't have any Protein, but they can satisfy that desire for a frozen dessert. I have tried the no sugar added ice cream, and it is pretty good. In Texas we have Blue Bell ice cream, which also comes in no sugar added, but it has that sweetener taste. I've had a few dairy items that were higher in sugar and were not tolerated well. TMI alert, but search on "dumping". Also, like Tai29 said, I don't want to open the door to "small" indulgences that will slow my progress. Or, even worse, lead me back to the habits that got me in this place to begin with. Ice cream is a slider food. It would be easy to eat a lot of it.

[quote name=Lisa ' timestamp='1328508884' post='264084] I was not required to do a pre op diet other than clear liquids 24 hours prior to surgery and nothing after midnight. The reason my surgeon doesn't require it is because she requires 10% weight loss leading up to surgery. This is to ensure patients prove they are committed AND to shrink the liver. I think the pre-op diet depends on several things, but like you posted, I also had to lose weight leading up to the surgery, although not 10%. Insurance required that I lose 5% of my body weight before approval, and I didn't have as high of a BMI as many, so my pre-op diet was simply two weeks of a low-fat, vegetarian diet, and no food or drink after midnight before surgery. This foiled my plan for a birthday steak dinner, but it was worth it!

. I get email coupons for the Brazilian all-you-can-eat meat places all the time. I'm sad for a moment, then happy!

It is frustrating to see all the different plans, especially when your own is not going so smoothly. I haven't had a hard time at all, but I was on liquids for five weeks and was reading about others eating real food one week out! And here I was, excited about adding a cracker to my soup several weeks later. I would suggest that you call your surgeon's office first thing in the morning to discuss dietary options. Tell them about your troubles and ask for options. Yes, I am one of those people who follows the surgeon's direction over what I can google. It's not that I don't google things or look for answers myself, but if I have complications of any sort, I want to look my surgeon in the eye and tell him I was 100% on plan. I am very vocal in my healthcare. An example of this related to my sleeve is alcohol. I googled it and searched this forum, and the consensus was that most could have alcohol at either three or six months. I called my surgeon's office to find out his guidelines, and to my surprise, I was allowed alcohol at something like five or six weeks (in moderation). If you have developed lactose intolerance, you could try an alternative milk such as goat milk (pricey, but well tolerated), or even a soy, hemp or almond milk with an unflavored/plain Protein powder (unjury comes to mind). Another possible solution is to use a more protein-intense shake. The Premier Protein shakes available in chocolate and vanilla at costco and Sam's have 30g protein in 11.5 ounces. That's a lot of protein in a small package, and those have been a lifesaver for me. You can drink two of those in four servings and get in 60g protein daily, with very little sugar. They are not very sweet, although the vanilla seems a little gritty to me. I picked up some tomato basil bisque at Costco. It is Cambell's brand, but also has a Kirkland logo on it. It is very good, and you can add either chicken or plain Protein Powder to it and puree it (since it has tomato chunks). Long story short, this post-operative diet is a blip on the radar of the rest of our lives. I had terrible gas shoulder pain for almost two weeks, and was really miserable. At almost seven weeks, I hardly even remember that. I had a hard time swallowing even an ice chip in the hospital, and had to stay an extra day, and at this point I can't even describe that pain. I just don't remember. Hopefully, you will soon not remember this difficulty and you will be a happily recovering person, well on her way to goal. I am glad you are here.

I would also suspect head hunger. Were you told where your stomach is located? If it is in your abdomen that you feel the "hunger", it is quite likely head hunger. Sometimes I get that feeling too, but it is lower in my abdomen than where what remains of my stomach is located. Knowing that my stomach isn't down there has been tremendously helpful in avoiding eating when I shouldn't.

You are so brave for going ahead with the surgery in spite of all that craziness the night before! So glad all went well for you. Also, what a good thing your brother heard you fall. lovePink, I am sure you will be just fine. Don't be afraid of the anesthesia. I have been under quite a few times and it is really a pleasant thing. You go to sleep and wake up in what seems (to you) like a few seconds. Of course it could be hours later! Over a year ago, I had a breast reduction which took eight hours. It seems like a few minutes to me! Or course my poor husband had to wait around in the waiting room in "realtime." When I need surgery I can't wait to get the show on the road. lol. The time spent in pre-op is so miserable, I welcome the anesthesia.

What would you tell them if you were getting a hysterectomy? I am assuming something vague, yet not a lie? I would keep it very vague. Maybe just say you had to have your tummy fixed.

Hi janerose, Just wondering if you have ever taken any cooking lessons? Considering the high cost of eating out, you could easily invest in a few cooking lessons and come out ahead in the long run. recipes are more than just following the ingredient list, as you already know. The right temperature is everything, and knowing your own equipment makes a huge difference. For example, I love my gas cooktop, but it does run hot, and I have to keep that in mind when I cook. You could take a cooking lesson in your home, perhaps from a friend whose cooking you enjoy. Or, you could check if one of the local higher-end grocery stores has a cooking class (Central Market, Whole Foods, etc.) Or another idea is to do as another suggested, crock pot meals. You really can't go wrong with those. Even look on Amazon and purchase a highly rated children's cookbook. Learning to cook would be very liberating. There are so many hidden ingredients in restaurant foods. We've all ready about salads that manage to cram tons of calories in. Also, it is so much nicer to cook and immediately freeze portions for later consumption, rather than throwing food away or eating the same thing for three or four days in a row. Pulling a small portion of frozen casserole or soup from the freezer is like having freshly made food. Even though many of the restaurants have food that is "decent" on the nutrition panel, there are often additives that are kind of gross. Examples are treated lettuces in salads, and meats that are "conditioned" with chemicals. You could even buy a tray of frozen turkey meatballs and a healthy organic jarred Pasta sauce and reheat at home. You would still end up spending less and eating, for the most part, better. Good luck, and let us know if you find a good resource!

Actually, I'm with Lissa. I smell a big ol' troll. Think about it. LOL

I also have the blender bottles. I bought three of them from Amazon.com and I use all three almost every day. They are one of the best purchases! One thing about the lid blowing, though: Even though these have a very secure screw-on cap, if used for hot liquids like coffee, the lid will blow. So when I make my coffee and Protein, I let the coffee cool a bit first. The reviews were kind of dicey for a certain period, but if you sort the reviews by date, they are all very good. I got three of the 20 oz (in black) and they are all the perfect size for me, and none of them leak. I put them in the dishwasher each noght. These: http://amzn.com/B001KABV52

I had mine six days after my birthday last December. I tried to put it out of my mind for as long as possible leading up to the surgery, as I was 100% sure I had made the right decision. Well, when we got to the hospital, I cried a bit in the waiting room. Then, when I was in pre-op, I really lost it! My surgery was delayed and I was so upset that I considered pulling the IV out and leaving! The nurse came in and gave me a couple of valium and then I was out cold. I think I would have left without the valium. I am so glad I didn't. Thank God for valium!

Actually, the issue is deeper than YOU can comprehend, my friend. Good luck to you, you'll need it. Over and out!

You mention that you are giving up coffee because cream is not on your menu. Did your doctor tell you that you cannot have coffee? I am six weeks postsurgical and I have a cup of coffee every day. I was also allowed to have it before surgery and even a little in the hospital. I let the coffee cool a bit and add a scoop of chocolate Muscle Milk in my shaker cup (no sugar or sweetener of any kind, no milk or cream). I get 16 grams of protein and my caffeine, and it is very smooth. If you don't want to give up your coffee, ask your surgeon if you can continue?