Lissa

You're so early post-op that you can still use Protein shakes as your primary source. I think it's fine as long as you are working your way up to solid foods, and you are doing that. Just don't forget that the goal is to eventually get all of your protein from real food rather than the shakes. I just started using up some of my Protein powder by adding it to my decaf coffee in the mornings. Someone suggested adding protein powder to OJ to make a smoothie and a light bulb went off in my head! I decided I'd use my chocolate protein powder instead of flavored powdered creamers, and it's pretty good. So, I'm giving myself a daily protein boost while enjoying a nice cup of joe!

All of my incisions but one healed completely by the third or fourth week. The one where I had my drain took several weeks longer to heal over completely and is still pinker than the surrounding skin at 5 months out. It is also the only incision I can still find. I have been sporadically putting oil on my skin to aid in the healing, but I dont do it every day because I forget.

Yay, Kara!! I'm still scared to run on the treadmill, so you're doing awesome!!

Amanda, how scary!! Hopefully you will get some answers today. Did you place a call to your doctor as well? S/He may have some suggestions for safer Vitamins for you, or have some recommendations for tests that may be needed besides just the cardio test. Good luck and please keep us updated!

Mina, Only you can decide what the final goal weight should be, but you may want to listen to those who are telling you that you have lost enough. I don't normally advocate listening to others on what is a personal, private decision, but you said that you don't "see" that you're small, except in a picture. Are you healthy and fit at the current weight? If so, it might be time for you to start maintaining instead of working on losing. If I remember correctly, even Lil Miss Diva is in the 160-170 range, and I think she's a huge success with her surgery. I'm not suggesting you judge yourself by someone else, but it was eye-opening to me because I would estimate from Irene's pictures that she weighs much less than 160.

I went to Curves several years ago, but didn't find it especially rewarding as far as toning anything. I've done much better on my own with my 3 workouts a week at home using light weights and high repetitions. I now have definition showing in my upper arms and thighs. I'm so proud of my biceps that it's sick! I do think that a good exercise routine is very important in this journey. I'm just not sure that Curves is it.

There is a thread or two here from vegetarian sleevers about how they get in their Protein. You should really be concentrating on the protein and liquids, then worry about fats or carbs, although my doctor suggests that fried foods be a very limited part of my diet. Cottage cheese is an excellent source of protein and you should eat whichever one works for you. Check the protein content of the low-fat vs. regular versions and choose the one that is higher in protein/ Also, I can usually eat a chicken leg and thigh if I dont eat any veggies. I'm a little over 5 months out, if that gives you any idea. Very early post-op, I couldnt eat a full 4 oz chicken breast. It would make at least two meals for me, sometimes 3. Good luck on your journey!!

I eat a mini babybel cheese most mornings just before taking my vitamins. Then I usually wait an hour or so before eating breakfast because that's my preference. I haven't had any nausea problems, and I'm super sensitive to the iron.

Oh, I'm so sorry you're having complications! It really brings home how brave we all are to have this surgery when someone has problems! I'll pray that you recover quickly and have no further complications!! Good luck!!

Welcome to the loser's bench everyone!

I don't know the answer to your question. What I do know is that it is our job as patients to research our surgeons and physicians until we feel comfortable with our selection. So, maybe the better question would be: Are too many WLS patients failing to do their due diligence before choosing a surgeon? With that said, ANY surgeon can have a complication. All it takes is for a stapler (the tool used to do the sleeve) to misfire and leave a gap that isn't found during surgery. Or, the patient could fail to comply with the post-surgical instructions by eating solid food too early, and cause a leak. Also, surgeons sometimes take on higher risk patients, and those patients can have more complications or even die. Is that the surgeon's fault? Or is it just the luck of the draw? Having been a higher risk patient, with both blood clots and pulmonary embolisms, I am truly grateful that my surgeon did my surgery. We did as much as possible to eliminate risks, but there still were huge risks to my surgery and I truly believed I would not live through mine. I was okay with that, though, because I would have died within a year without the surgery.

Welcome to the loser's bench, Nadz!! good luck on your journey and please do keep us updated!!

Yay, Deb!! You are doing awesome on your pre-op diet and you will ROCK that sleeve!! It's tough, but it will get easier!! Take it one day at a time and it will ALL be worth it once you see more weight just dropping off you post-op!!

Capt Kirk, Mine went pretty quickly, but I was self-pay. Doing all of the required doctor's visits, etc. takes a good bit of time. Downsizing, I am LOL at your avatar! I can't wait till you change it to a picture of those pants all but falling off of you!

Foxbins, Have you ever posted before/after pics from the facelift? I'd love to see if you don't mind.

sugar free applesauce, SF popsicles and Jello, refried Beans in a can, canned chicken and tuna (can be blended). Little cans of everything because you won't eat more than an ounce or two of anything probably. I bought some tiny bowls to eat out of, the kind that they use for dip at a restarant. I also bought a few pretty china saucers and baby spoons and forks to help me eat small amounts. Tiny containers for leftovers. There are a couple of pinned threads about what to take to the hospital and what to buy for after surgery that might be helpful. Do a site search for those and it should help. Good luck!!

Great job!!

I missed the part about pain! Sorry! I didn't take any pain meds after the first night. I have a pretty high pain tolerance, but lots of people don't have much pain. Make absolutely certain you have something to measure the liquid pain meds in the right format (metric or english)! I wanted a dose of my pain meds the second night before bed but didn't have the correct measuring spoon and was too far out of it to safely figure the conversion from mL to tablespoons.

I need new jeans again, too! I am planning to hit Goodwill and pray for some that will fit me. I started at a 26 as well, and I'm now shopping for 18/20. I bought some killer new heels that I wore out last weekend. The jeans I wore with them last Saturday night are now so big that my belt creates a blouse effect in my pants if I tighten it enough to keep them up. Oh, the tragedy of needing new, smaller clothes!

Gman, if your avatar is a pic of how you look right now, I don't know where even 50 pounds will come off you! Unless you have a big ol' hump on your back! LOL I agree that the insurance charts are nuts. I keep reading 140-160 for my height of 5'8. At 160 I would look like I died last week! I ran track in HS and weighed 180+, but could wear a bikini without making anyone sick. I'm aiming for 190 now and I'll see how I feel at that point. I can always LOSE more!

I was thinking ketosis until you said you had a white coating on your tongue. Go to the doctor and get some antibiotics. LMAO at the thought it could be HIV. I seriously doubt it's HIV. That usually doesn't start showing symptoms for months to years after infection.

That's a HUGE NSV!! I bet you feel a million times better than before. And you're probably looking fantastic as well!!!

Thanks to this post, I added some protein powder to my decaf coffee this morning! Great protein boost to my day and I can't even taste the powder! Thanks for the inspiration!!

I'm on Pantoprazole for acid reduction and it helps a TON! I didn't have that "hungry" feeling that most have, the one that means you need an acid reducer. My pulmonologist decided to put me on the acid reducer anyway at about 3 months out and it has made a huge difference in how I feel and in what foods I can eat! I still can't do super spicy stuff like jalapenos, but I am able to eat salsa and other mildly spicy foods again. I couldn't even do regular black pepper before! Yes, the acid/nausea meds do help! You may have to experiment a bit with which works best for you. Good luck!

YAY! No, I almost didn't recognize you now that you've lost so much weight! Congrats!!