IowaAndy

where are you having your surgery and who is doing your surgery. Have you had problems with anesthesia in the past or have you ever had any other major surgeries?

My stomach was swollen for the first month after surgery. I think that it is normal as you have just had major surgery. Checking with your doctor is great but I would guess that it is from your surgery. Are you having any drainage, fever, nausea or diarrhea? If you are having any of those then you may have a problem.

I am approaching 3 months and I can not wait until I can have hamburger with cheese and tomato and lettuce. I have tried a little chopped up hamburger and it does not work for me at this point......guess that gives me something to look forward to.

For those who are having trouble with just 2 weeks of a liquid diet.....I was on a liquid diet supervised by a doctor when I lived in California for 8 months. It was hard but then I was looking at my health and weight loss. I lost over 80 pounds on this liquid diet and at that time I have 3 choices.....vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. Since that time the Protein shakes have come a long way and are much better now. If you can not make it on a 2 week liquid diet then you are in for a big surprise after you have your WLS. This is a life change and not a quick fix. You will still have to say not to foods that are not good for you. This will not control the food that you put into your mouth. Remember that you are doing this for your health and a longer life. So really what is 2 weeks.

Sorry you are having so many problems. I am just wondering what foods that you are eating at 3 weeks that are getting stuck, At 3 weeks there were not that many things that were on my diet plan. I know that diets vary a great deal from doctor to doctor so just wondering what types of food you are trying to eat at 3 weeks post op.

I went to MuscleMax and got some flavored Very Berry drink mix that is high in protein. This cut down the number of shakes and it was like drinking a fruit drink and not chocolate, vanilla or strawberry plus it was good over ice. I only wait 30 minutes prior to and after eating a meal to have some liquids so I imagine it depends on what your NUT or doctor tells you. It seems that there is a very wide opinion on many post op instructions that patients by different doctors are given. This applies to foods, exercise, work, drink, what to eat, what to drink, alcohol and many other things.

That can be one of your major problems with not losing any weight. Your body thinks that you are starving to death and has shut itself down to save itself. I think that if you increase your protein and get in your water that you will see that scale start to move again. It happened to me and I was amazed that I could eat more food and start to lose weight again. It sounds just the opposite but it works. Never give up.

What type of surgery are you thinking of having....band, sleeve, bypass as each has more relavent questions.

If you have to have a catheter then have them put it in once you are under. That way you do not have to indure the pressure and discomfort of it going in. Then you only have to worry about it coming out.

I am so glad and happy for you that you will be having the surgery. I know that I did not tell very many people that I was having surgery either as many would have just said "Oh you are not that heavy and you can lose weight if you watch what you eat." Hell what do they think that I have been doing over the past 30 years with as many diets as I can remember. I am also sorry that you do not have the support of your husband but he is just scared for you and maybe the thought of something going wrong during the surgery is scaring him more than he can admit to you. He will come around once he starts to see not only the physical change in your but also the tremendous mental change in you. You outlook on life and how you live the rest of your "NEW LIFE" will be totally amazing to you and to those around you as they watch you change in front of their eyes. You will wonder why you waited so long for this as many of us do. The main thing is that you have made a decision and you are sticking to your guns. Congratulations and please keep us posted on your surgery and progress. God Bless.

I went out Friday night with friends to a pizza place that also has chicken, potatoes, a salad bar etc. I have been craving pizza for a while now so as I knew that I could not eat the pizza crust I just scraped the toppings and the sauce off and enjoyed every last bite. I even had enought topping left to put in a little box to bring home for another meal. I too have not gone to a fast food restuarant or a drive through. There is not much I could eat and I do not do coffee or sodas anymore so that does not leave much to choose from.

I would go to my GP in the morning and to the ER if you symptoms get worse. It could be any number of things and many which may not have anything to do with your WLS. I would definitely check it out to make sure.

Welcome to the site. You will find lots of support and great information here. Any questions just ask and any number of people will answer and tell you about their experiences. Good luck on your journey and I hope that you wife's health improves.

I can now see my nether regions without looking in a mirror.....................

Never had to take mag citrate before my surgery. I was on liquids for 2 week preop. As you said there is not that much in there. I just had to be NPO after 9pm the night before surgery and I had no problems. I would check with your doctor regarding this issue.

That is too funny.....have you ever had to undress at the front door on the tile floor and head directly to the shower???????????????????? My tummy took a tumble and every step that I took I leaked a little more. I was so glad that nobody saw me walking to the front door as my butt cheeks were so tight that I probably looked like I had a cob stuck up my butt. Funny now but I did not think so at the time. Its all good........

Broth, sugar free jello, protein drink, gatorade or vitamin water. I first bought gummy bear multivitamins, calcium citrate(I buy the petites at Walgreens or Walmart) they are smaller in size and can be cut, pill cutter, Vit B 12 for vitamins. I also bought some baby food for the pureed phase and I liked the chicken and noodles and the meat lasagna. With some salt and pepper they are edible and you do not have to worry about cooking. The others I would not recommend. You can buy a pill cutter at the store but before cutting any prescription medications check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure that it is a medication or form that can be cut. Some meds are time release and have special coating or capsules that can not be cut or it changes the way they will work in your body. I am sure that I am forgetting some things but I am sure that others will post some things that they got for post op.

Oh and you also mentioned that you were feeling depressed. I had this problem before I had the surgery and I am so glad that there is good living through chemistry. You might considering visiting with your doctor and maybe they can give you something to get you through this time. When your life gets to where you feel like new again and it will you can always get off the meds if that is a choice you and your doctor make.

Check with your local community or school district as they have classes on many different things that you might be interesting in learning. I know I have taken a photography class, I got into family ancestry research, and orgainzing my many, many, many photos that I have taken over the years. You might enjoy scrapbooking, knitting, crocheting, stained glass, or any number of things. I too have been out of work since last Nov so I know how long your days can get. I am now 2 months post op and I am starting to make up some creations in the kitchen that are high in protein. Also I did puzzle books and there are many different types that you can do. Just think about something that you have always wanted to do but never had the time.

I used to go there in the evenings and there were maybe 1 - 2 people there and always the same. Not sure as you can ask questions one on one. I will start popping in again and if I see you I would be more than glad to chat a little with you.

I started off with some slightly sliced deli ham, turkey and chicken. I also ate beans that I chewed really well as they are also high in protein. Cottage cheese and also yogart are a good start.

I never was put on a bloood thinner after my surgery. Did you have some medical issues that your doctor put you on heparin? I know some doctors use the heparin and some do not and I am wondering if it is due to past medical issues.

Do not rush yourself. You are only a few days post op. I know that I was not getting in much in the first few days and each day seemed to get a little better. I was drinking protein shakes that had 14g of protein in 8 ox. I went to Musclemax and got a flavored fruit drink that had 40g of protein in 2 scoups. It takes like berry fruit punch. At least you can try and get in most of your protein if not all of your water to start. Just do the best that you can and it will all come. Try to get in as much fluid as possible. Jello is also good and can be counted as fluid. Keep up the fight.

I arrived Sunday morning around 10am and I was picked up immediately by the driver. I would guess that is was about a 30 minute ride from the airport to the hotel. The driver got me checked into my room at the hotel and gave me his number to call if any questions. I went out and did a little street shopping on Sunday afternoon and then went to bed early Sunday evening as they picked me up at 8am on Monday morning and took me to the Hospital. I had all of my preop, and my scope as I had a lapband that was removed and then the sleeve performed. The cardiologist came into my room and did the EKG and said everything looked good. They did my blood work and when all was back and my scope was done I was cleared for surgery and went that same day. I was released Wednesday afternoon back to the hotel. I know that some people have gone back to San Diego and stay in the US for a couple of days before flying home. This way if you should have a problem you are close and not half way across the country. I stayed in Tijuana at the hotel Wednesday night and Thursday night and on Friday morning around 8 am Hector came and picked me up at the hotel to take me back to the San Diego airport to catch my flight back to Iowa. They have a special permit to get you across the border by going into a special line so that you do not have to sit for 2 hours waiting to cross. It was very fast and convenient to have this. I checked in at the airport and waited for my flight to board and then on home. Any other questions you might have just ask.

Congratulations...............I think that the scale can be a lot of people's worst emeny. It is like you get on and if you do not lose or gain a half a pound then you get all depressed and feel like eating......sound familiar to anyone. I know that I was a mood eater....happy, sad, depressed....it did not make any difference as food was my comfort. I know that just after surgery I was weighing everyday and this would happen. I finally started to weight only once a week and now that I am 2 months out I am only weighing about every 2 weeks and since my weight continues to drop that is all I need to know. I think that those who depend on the scale too much may be setting themselves up for failure. I do agree that you should go by how your body feels and not what the scale says.