Lissa

Early post-op, it's more important that we get our fluids in than our protein. I'm hearing that your surgeon wants you to stick to the liquid diet and try a variety of full liquids rather than get dependent on protein shakes. Am I understanding that correctly?

Okay, for those of you who are making ice cream. Do you just wash your freezer part and put it back in the freezer or do you let it thaw, then wash it and put it back in the freezer? I did the second, but would like to know if it's sanitary to do it the other way or would the freezer part crack?

Jocy, What kind of protein do those packets have in them? If it's whey or whey isolate, or almost any other kind, it's good. If it's collagen protein, it's not a protein that our bodies can use as building blocks, so there's no point in choking it down.

The one in my leg was the worst charlie horse EVER. If you suspect a blood clot, do NOT sit here on the computer. Get to the ER NOW NOW NOW. A blood clot can kill you in minutes if it releases smaller clots into your heart and/or lungs. Go to the hospital. Do not pass go, do not collect $200.

What is on your doctor's plan? You should have received something telling you what stages to follow. If you're on mushies, you can have mashed. If you're still on liquids, you probably can't. But, some doctors do consider mashed to be okay on full liquids. .Best advice? Call your doc or nut.

Oh, Protein shakes were SO nasty to me post op. I drank lots of broth and Soups during the liquid stages. Have you tried making a Protein shake from unflavored protein and something you actually still like drinking? Maybe get some unflavored (it's not tasteless, just not sweet) powder and add it to something that tastes good. Can you have cottage cheese? It's got some protein in it. Also, as for the Water, I like decaf unsweet tea with splenda. It tastes good and was easy for me to drink. Other people have had good luck with decaf coffee and with adding crystal light or mio drops to their water. Try changing up the temperature and go from sweet to savory. You definitely need to be getting the liquids in, and working toward getting all your protein daily. It will take time, but you will find a way to do it!

I agree about the head hunger and/or acid. Also, liquids tend to go through much faster than solids and dense proteins go through our sleeves.

Rachel, Welcome to VST! It sounds like you're ready to do this and get on with your life! Yes, it does require being a little selfish, but that's okay. It will pay off BIG dividends for those who love you because they'll get to keep you around longer!

Thanks Joni and Minnie! I couldn't recall the name of that thing to save my life!

Good luck, Fern! I hope you beat your time goal!!

Unjury makes a chicken soup flavored protein powder...and you can order samples rather than huge containers. I liked regular broth because warm went down better for me than cold. I also couldn't stand sweets early post-op.

I agree, Laura! Whipping air into it is crucial, just like Egg Face says. I mushed a banana into mine last night, too, which added to the yumminess. It tasted pretty good when I was kicked back watching tv last night. Ahhh, life's simple pleasures...and it was easy, too.

You do look great! Isn't it fun to try on clothes these days?!

Woo Hoo! Dooter, that's great! I know you're on cloud 9 right now.

I haven't seen the picture of the bougies (Google, here I come), but that's 32 millimeters versus 34 millimeters. That's about the size of a set of quotation marks. " I doubt that is going to make a huge difference in the amount of restriction we feel. I think mine is a 34, but it's been so long since I asked my surgeon that question that I don't remember for sure. I know I am still only capable of eating about a cup of food, and that's when it's chewed well and eaten slowly. What actually turns out to make more of a difference in capacity is how LONG your stomach is apparently. Usually taller people have a longer sleeve and that may give them an extra 1/3 of a cup of capacity versus shorter people. That's still not much food and we're supposed to under-eat our sleeve anyway.

Mine has improved some, but I'm not off the machine YET! I've upped my cardio to exercise the heart and lungs, which my doc and I are hoping will eliminate the machine. Even if it doesn't, my energy levels are through the roof and I'm no longer tired every minute of every day like I was before surgery. I'll take it.

I'll play. I tried Egg Face's Protein Ice Cream recipe and I'm in heaven! It's yummy and gets me an extra shot of protein...plus I get ice cream again!

Multivitamin is for life. The others will vary depending on how your labs come out when you have them done. Good luck!!

Congrats on your anniversary and on your weight loss! Here's hoping that you have continued success with your sleeve!!!

Yay!!! That's a great NSV!

Amy, Have you looked at the surgeon's reviews on here? There are tons of threads from various patients of several mexico doctors with their experiences listed. Read through those threads...there's a search box at the upper right part of the page. Maybe reading what others have said will help to clarify your thought process. Good luck!

Hopefully you're just having residual effects from the dehydration. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

Teach, As we've talked about before, it's worth a little discomfort to save our lives. My pain wasn't bad at all. My thighs hurt worse than anything else and that was only because I kept trying to use my legs when I got up rather than my stomach muscles. Once I realized that my stomach muscles were intact, that improved and the pain wasn't bad at all. I took pain meds the first day/evening in the hospital and that was it. As Urbanddecay said, everyone's pain threshold is different, but the pain is worth the amazing results we get!