Matt Z

So measure it out. Start off with a small amount and see if that does anything. Figure out how much is your "max" and work backwards from that. If you find you can only consume 4 cups, then you know not to eat more than 4 cups. Just take it slow and you'll figure it out. The reason they don't tell you how much is because every one and every surgery is different. So if they told you "eat X" and then you did and got sick... you'd be mad. It's one of those "your mileage may vary" type of deals.

I took a full 2 months for both surgeries. The Band back in 2011 because I was driving upwards of 4 hours 1 way to work. And I didn't want any issues. For my Revision to bypass this past March, I took 2 months because I have to do a lot of lifting things, crouching and crawling under desks etc, and I wanted to make sure I had enough time to get into the full foods stage and have the time to figure out what foods would be ok and what wouldn't work. I'm glad I did, I would have hated being at work and getting a dumping event.

Primarily out of Collyer Street. But she works a few places. https://www.lifespan.org/beth-ann-ryder-md

Pretty easy actually. I knew what I was in for from when I had the band installed. I already had mastered the "log roll" technique to get in and out of bed, etc. Post-op was a breeze, actually had the nursing staff calling me their "Dream patient" before the first night was even half over. I did everything I could myself, didn't need any extra medication for anything, I was maxing out my incentive spirometer on the second day, etc. I had Dr. Ryder for my surgery.

I'm in RI as well, there are a few of us and a bunch from MA. I had the band installed in 2011 and was just recently revised to the Bypass in March.

Sounds just like my revision. My band had a lot of that, but didn't need the diet. The revision to the band had all that junk as well required. Totally normal. Just make your appointments, follow your instructions as you get them and keep in mind, this whole process sucks for a while, both before and after surgery. But, it DOES get better and it is very much worth it.

Weight loss is going to happen. So anywhere you've got fat, you have the potential for fat loss. It's not unhealthy, you'll be fine. As far as loose / saggy skin, depending on how stretched it was, how old you are, how much water you consume... it *could * shrink up.

You'll be cleared at some point down the road, typically at the 6 week to 2 months. Once fully cleared, take your time and be sure to pay attention to your incisions. But otherwise once cleared and you are feeling well enough, it's game on.

Are you trying to get the Sleeve? If so, then yes, doing WLS and a hernia repair at the same time is very common. If you are only looking at getting a hernia repaired and they are trying to "throw in a Sleeve"... that sounds a bit odd.

What type of proteins have you tried? Not all proteins are "created equal" and certainly not all brands of protein are as good as the others. Have you tried any plant based proteins? Soy? Pea? Some folks end up being lactose intolerant after surgery, are you having issues with milk at all? At 3 weeks post, I wouldn't stress TOO much, just see if you can find a protein that works for you. Have you looked into the Isopure Zero Carb RTD drinks? They are clear, high protein drinks with the consistency of water, so you can get your liquid count in as well as your protein count at the same time. A nice 2 for 1 combo deal.

Congrats on getting that bull back under control!

Both my band and revision to bypass were the first up. I don't see it as a problem because the staff has already been at work for a while prepping so it's not like you are going to get some bed headed nursing staff / surgeons strolling in without having their coffee yet to open you up and hope things go smoothly. They take it seriously, I wouldn't worry about it at all.

You can just reply in the reply box at the bottom of a thread. Or you can hit the "Quote" button like I did to add a quote, this alerts the user that someone replied to them. Or you can use the + and select several quotes (you'll see a pop up in the lower right hand side of your screen with how many quotes you've selected, you click that to put them into the reply box) Also, if you use the @ and then a person's name, it will tag them. This works when you want to get someone's attention but don't want to quote them. So like @Ms. K FLA will also work to alert you that I've commented or tagged you. I see you found where to change your call out (under your avatar) as well, congrats on that! So many active users haven't figured out how do that yet.

It certainly wouldn't be an issue to change up your diet to see if the new intake would help you out. Upping your water intake can help shed a few extra lbs as well.

miralax is listed as approved for short term use only. Get yourself some fiber chewables and use them in the morning to supplement your fiber intake.

OK, lower starting weights make it harder to lose the overall. Since no one can predict EXACTLY what you will lose this following statement is just absurd. There is no "set" amount you should lose, anyone that told you that, even your doctors, are just guessing. Check out this page and see what your average lose expectancies are. Since you don't have your height listed I can't figure it out for you. https://www.obesitycoverage.com/weight-loss-surgeries/gastric-sleeve/gastric-sleeves-how-much-weight-will-i-lose That said. Stalls happen. Are you tracking your intake and burn? Is your intake lower than your burn? Are you tracking fat % or just weight? If you are just tracking weight, this is only 1 part of the whole picture and ***IS NOT*** the end all for WLS. Even though it's called "Weight Loss Surgery" Fat loss is actually just as important, if not more important overall. Are you hitting your water intake goals? If not, that's a problem. The human body needs water to process and eliminate fat, if you aren't giving it enough water to meet it's daily needs, plus extra for fat processing... it's just not going to process fat as efficiently as it could. Are you exercising? Daily? In addition to your normal activity?

No worries! For the first 2 weeks minimum, just take your time with EVERYTHING. Don't rush, don't stress, don't worry, just relax, follow your instructions to the best you can and REST REST REST! (outside of doing some walking every hour).

It's normal... For some insight, you aren't on any of the meds they were pumping into your IV now, so you are going to feel more. It'll go away. Being weak, tired and sore after major surgery is completely expected.

nice score man!

LOL yes, age related shrinkage also occurs!

Good luck! Keep us posted!

Congrats! Don't forget to update your stats and change yourself to "post op" in your account settings.

Try room temp (I know it's not as good!) Or using a smaller cup and setting a timer. It sounds like you are drinking a bit too fast. Worth trying to pace it out or see if temp changes things. Colder water is denser than warm, AND cold water makes our body work harder to warm it up.

Would you agree that if someone was protein deficient, their A/G and TP tests would also reflect that they aren't consuming enough protein? Can't have enough protein in the blood if we don't have enough protein elsewhere. I don't see how, if the test doesn't prove anything of merit for the medical professional requesting it... why they would request it. Anyway, all the posts about blood work is a bit out of place for this thread. Back to the cheating!

I'm using Isopure Zero Carb proteins for my morning proteins, 25g per scoop. The flavors are good and they have a fantastic unflavored version. I used Gold Standard Casein proteins for my nightly protein, Casein is a "Slow protein" so it's good for night time consumption. Anyone stating that they need X amount of protein per shake... I'm curious why you think that. We've all got targets, I've never heard of anyone with a hard set requirement to consume exactly a set number of grams of protein per shake...