Pookeyism

How close to allowed weight do you plan to pack?

That has the potential to be a very labor intensive task (pun intended). I would say nay, OR maybe tag-team this with another buddy? Someone who can help out if you are too pooped to do much more than sit in a chair?

I had my hair cut short abotu 2-3 months after surgery. It is now thicker than pre-surgery but keeping it short. I went to sports clips - no kidding. I fiured who else but a men's stylist to know what to do with thinning hair! HAHA! (no offense, guys!)

What an amazing achievement! Keep going! Good luck!

I would so be flipping out! Halloween is my favorite Holiday! Congradulations!

You have already started! Congradulations!

I felt bowling and such for quite awhile. Not sure, cause I threw a 14 lb ball before and that took till last October to comfortably do again, and I was sleeved January 2012. I could do everything almost before that underhanded ooomph...

That is a really good question. I spent the last 7 days or so just keeping busy, getting things cleaned, arranging a to do and how to do list for co-workers, wrapping up loose ends with volunteer obligations I would not be able to get to. Time on the phone with family and friends. I spent ALOT of time on here!!! Read alot of Lovecraft (that may not be what you want to do!). I also began to read "The Power of Habit" by Dughil - a MOST recommended read! It was the holidays too (I was sleeved 1-4-12) and I was decorating packages and such, Christmas outings made it easier. Get out if you can. Look around for things to do in your area. Plan a "walk map" of some places you want to go see once you are felling up to it, etc. Pull down your old exercise equipment, dust it off, oil it up, fix your bike, etc. My last day was absolutely not what I had planned for it to be, so getting all the last minute things done first saved me alot of frustration (I even ended up having to get a new eye exam and glasses on the evening of the 3rd, I broke my glasses and then broke my back up pair). Good luck!

Yay for you! On your way!

When I think back to muscle milk, I immediately think of the inconsistency in taste! BLeGh!

No experience with the CPAP mask, PLENTY of experience with sleep studies! So many, I did not actually take one for the surgery. I had such a background they just transferred a summary from one doc to the next and my surgeon was OK with it. I did, however, have to have the surgery either way so that may have been a part of it.

If you hav egot back into habit of transfat and refined sugar and such it can be hard to supress that, our mind hardwires us to want these things - very similar to drugs. Lots of Water, sensible choices, just like you did at the beginning. Exercise if you can, seek support while you are back into transition! Good luck.

Who told you it was guaranteed weight loss? Weight loss is pretty much guaranteed with any surgery. How much and how long varies for any surgery and the main variable in that equation is the individual, and bypass has malabsorption issues they are just now beinning to understand the depth of.

Protien is essential but do not get overly concerned. Stress can make this step much worse, and it WILL manifest in difficulty holding down your food. Tempeh is 31 g protien to a cup, calorie-wise its a little of a punch (about 9g to 100 cal) BUT it can be sauteed and incorporated the way tofu is, is totally nom nom and my tummy held it well. tempeh is often baked into "cakes". I would take and thin the cake with a super sharp bread knife with a gentle sawing motion, add some almond butter, some canned drained spinnach, applesauce (sugar free), BAM! superb display of vegan awesomness. I will get with my old notes and talk to some friends and see what I can come up with by way of savory smoothies. Veggie are what have the protiens, for the most part.

lol, it sure does!!!

I insisted on a drain due to research I did. I can't recall the reports to cite (not all were online, or are on databases you pay to access, so I circumvented the expense and got print-outs), my apologies but it should be on here, initially I think I cited them in a post that explained my decision (that has been since before my surgery 1-4-12). Drains, done properly, promote the discharge of fluid, the resettling of tissues AND if there is a leak it can aid in noticing that fast. That is why if you have a drain many doctors will encourage blue jello, pops or just tinted water - red is common in a drain, so is yellow - blue is a 'red' flag. If there is additional "minor" bleeding it can also make the doctor aware of that. Minor bleeding is not often addressed here, but I read papers on it and it does happen and can create discomfort, even become an issue. It is thought post-op temporary anemia can be associated with these minor bleeds. You are bleeding out somewhere which you should not be, enough that over time (or not so short of time) that a drain can catch this. It does not even have to be in your tummy. They are rooting around in there quite a bit; a nip in the wrong area can cause this. A drain can catch this. I seriously advocate drains; they keep the doctor honest, so to speak. This is the way I look at it - you go through all this effort - make every reasonable attempt to do what you can to have this go smoothly, because many things are out of your control. So I got the drain.

Is that the stitching to repair a haital hernia? Did they explain why it is coming undone? Perhaps you need a different doctor AND then discuss the sleeve. DO NOT play around with reflux issues, it was a leading factor in my Mom passing away unexpectedly, 58 years old. Not to scare you! Genuine concern. Best of luck and keep us informed.

I hope you find someone nearby, but remember this community is here just for that. I have a group (4 members, lol) called Skype Sleevers - consider joining it, if it gets enough active participants it could be an excellent tool, I think. It would be about as close to having a one-one chat if you can't be there in person. Even if you don't join the group, Skype and such is a good thing to consider. Good luck. PS - you are always welcome to ask me questions!

Well, I don't know who you are talking about specifically, to go back and see so this is my imput: 2-3 bites at 6 months, if they are small bites, well chewed are are not following, say 12-14 additional bites thye are not counting ( ) is not common nor good. A small bite, say a babyspoon shewed well is what you should be aiming for, now and forever. It allows you to mix your food with your saliva, swallow it, and provide you tummy with the most gentle option of digestion available. how many it takes, for me, is pre-measured in advance at a maximum, if I cant eat it all so be it. If you took three of a bite of anything and it equals to a 1/4 of a cup - whoooaaaaaa there - before or after surgery, and even if you never have surery this is something that needs work. that is too much to possibly chew correctly, or swallow well, and is too much to trigger a full sensation.

http://www.bigyogaho...n.com/workshops Very possibly the most awesome Yoga community I have ever been involved with in over 20 years of yoga, Big Yoga started out as an idea and has grown into an amazing, energetic community! Once again they are offering the 40 day program. To quote the website: "Whether you are looking for BIG transformation or small shifts in your life, this program is a means to help you create the results you desire. The 40 Days program, created by Baron Baptiste, will inspire you to transform your body and mind and give you the tools you need to live your BIGGEST life possible! This program is made to be accessible to everyone, regardless of circumstances. It will give you access to clarity of mind; it will cleanse your body; and it will empower you to live your most fun, inspired, and biggest (we mean BIGGEST) life possible! Participation in this program is FREE. You simply must pay for your yoga, and purchase the ’40 Days to Personal Revolution’ book by Baron Baptiste." I will be there, I was in the first forty days offered at the studio and I am super excited to participate again. I would LOVE to see YOU there!

You are awesome, and stalls are common. they happen! You are on one-derland! Yay for you. September 5th, 2013 - your onder-versary!!!

call and see if you are in time to get the post-flu symptom thingy (I sooo forget what it is called). If it is a virus that might help. If it is a cold, fluids and vitamin c and rest. Hippy pills probably aren't going to help much.

I use gummy vitamins, I think they are called nature-something (sorry they are from wal-mart and do well on my tummy) and I eat alot of broccoli and drink almond milk, so I do not supplement any more calcium. I DO make sure I get enough sun because vitamin d and calcium are linked and one needs the other.

I use work to get in my liquids alot. I am often busy no matter where I go, so the way I prepe for work is similar to home. I would evaluate HOW you can eat at work and how easy it is to prep, how secure your food is, if you have a fridge,etc. I have been really fortunate that way we have a full kitchen, only 6 people sharing it, etc. Cans of spinnach are worth their weight in gold. Tasty and hydrating all on their own, they don't need ANY refrigeration and a little lemon and avacado really turn it up a notch, too. I eat alot of mono meals, which is just a bowl of fruit or veggies (at 20 months out I am almost fully raw). You can also "play" with your food. I LOVE BENTO BOXES!!! I have so much fun that way. seaweed Snacks are good, an apple slice, almond butter and wrap it in a spinac leaf is OMG awesome. a small amount of nuts can help fill out your requirements for the day. finely chopped kale, walnuts and dried cranberries with some blue cheese and pears make a nice dry salad - no mess.