4ALongerLife

I responded... no worries. I'll get it in the mail by tomorrow at the latest! Best luck to you!

The premier Protein shakes from costco rocks! No issues on the tummy here. I bought some strawberry ones from online. After my leak, they are suppppppper sweet so if you want one, inbox me your address and I can send you one to try. Otherwise the vanilla case from costco I think was about 25 usd. I think!

I have to say I'm glad that I found this thread. Some days I feel totally like "wth is wrong with me" ... I bounce between not liking people and like I'm caught in my own world where I'm lonely. Sad? Perhaps. Issues? Oh yes, I have a few (lol) I admit it. But my size made me stop wanting to be around anyone for a while, made me doubt my interactions with people, etc. Losing weight is bringing me 'out of my shell' again. So will I be angry at them? Maybe.... but I'm more angry at myself. I hated my own self for the size I was. I wasn't less of a person, I just hated what I looked like, how I felt, scared of what I was doing to my own health, but no matter what I did, I felt so out of control. I was going to the gym 5 days a week, 5 miles a time on the elliptical, attempting to watch what I ate (off and on) and it was a vicious cycle I couldn't escaple. So was the surgery worth it? Even with my leak, abscess, pneumonia, etc? Thinking on how I felt then, just uploading my "fat" pix to my page... recalling the emotions behind all of that...... YES, it was worth it. But I am scared. I will be honest. I pray that I will lose and not regain. I always have regained before surgery and I don't want to be the person that I was before. The recluse that hated herself and avoided people. There is so much beauty in all of us, we just have to have faith and let it shine. So I'm trying to work on what's in my head and fix that during this journey too..... surgery is a tool to help up get there and I pray this go that I'm successful. And that you all are too.

I was stuck on a clear liquid diet for so long that I finally had to find something I could stomach but was clear. I prefer the RTDs and found that I love the Cytomax Pure Performance Protein drinks. I like two flavors - tropical (it's green and tastes like pineapple and coconut) and then tangerine (which is orange and tastes as the name implies, smile). I buy them at Vitamin Shoppe, they are 3.79 a bottle of 41.99 a case. They have 40 g of protein in 20 oz and it's whey isolate protein powder with very little else "others" in the bottle. I've also gone online and found the unjury protein powders and am added the non flavored to different things, trying it out. It's pretty decent! Hope this helps you!

Congratulations!

I was put on 'full liquids' this week so I'm starting to feel more 'normal' again. I just never thought it would be possible to get to 140 or 150 lbs. Mind you I'm still 203 right now, but I'm trucking on that direction and gonna get there! Not sure when, not sure how, surely bumps in the road, but gonna keep trucking on. Thanks for your tips everyone and your experiences. I'm unsure of the road ahead, but appreciate your stories/tips/etc to give me an idea of the journey.

My dr. told me a story of his family the last time I went to see him (this past week). He's from a bunch of "foodies" and they all were shocked at one point in his WLS journey. They asked him if he missed eating as he did before and if he missed food. You know what he told them? I think it's a brother in law that takes pills for HBP, diabetes, etc etc. He told them, they made their decisions to take 15+ medications every morning so that they can eat obnoxious amounts of food. And he decided to have surgery to live medication free, where food doesn't rule life. He chose adding life to his years over his addiction. Is our "love addiction" to food over? Yes, but your mindset has to be 'in the right place' or this surgery isn't the tool that it's intended to be. Sleeving is NOT a magic "cure all." It's only a tool - your mind is the final and biggest frontier that has to be "overcome" in order for you to be successful or not. Thanks for your positive post. It's true in anything in life. I used to see it whenever I worked in the hospitals and visitied cancer patients and older folks who were going through rehab due to taking a fall or something that they usually didn't plan. It always amazed me what a positive attitude did vs. a negative one. Your attitude can make you - or break you. It's all up to you.

Cytomax Protein Pure Performance drinks in either tropical or tangerine (I haven't tried the watermelon yet). I'm also liking these much better than the Isopures (sorry but it's just my personal preference). 40 g of protein per 20 oz bottle. A bit tart at first bite, but they rock! Made with whey protein isolate, no carbs, no sugar, about 160 cals per bottle.

Has anyone had any issues with getting health insurance after being sleeved? My time for "open enrollment" is coming up and I just called BCBS. They automatically deny anyone with a sleeve or RNY. I didn't know that! Hope I can find a provider for a reasonable rate........ (my health options through my company are lacking)

Lemme explain... I have insurance through my employer; however I am a contractor. The three options (last year) that we had was $400 a month for 150K+ coverage or two options that covered an annual amount of 15K total. After I had a leak and an abscess after my sleeve, I thought I was gonna "be smart" and find an individual plan to get this fiscal year for my insurance (open enrollment starts next week I think). Well so far, I am appalled at the American HealthCare System myself. Cookies said it right, these ppl must be smoking crack. You wouldn't insure someone 230+ with health conditions but if you have been sleeved or have had gastric bypass, to some underwriters, that's an AUTOMATIC denial of coverage. Now that I am off of my high cholesterol medication and etc, you won't even consider me? How's that make sense? I can understand 'preexisting condition' should I end up with a gallbladder removal or something (I don't know the likelihood in numbers, but seems I've read that before).... but automatic no way Jose you are a bad candidate because I paid, out of my own pocket, for an elective surgery that has put me in better health long term???? So I can get quotes alllll day long, but in the end, who will give me a policy with a premium that I can afford that will give me better coverage than that of 15K a year? Y'all we SERIOUSLY need an overhaul of this system. I could write on this for days..... but thank you all for your responses. And Pookey if you find out anything from your dr, pls tell me and us. I just wanted y'all to be aware..... this can happen to you (and I sho hope it don't). And Iowa Andy, just get a job and don't worry... it sounds like as long as I accept the insurance through my employer, I'm fine (the underwriters then don't see my medical history, I'm just "part of a group"... sad right?) Hugs to you all! xoxo

I'm sorry I didn't explain that very well....I'm trying not to go with my employer's options (because they stink).

Good luck to you Jani on your surgery! Be positive and know my prayers for an easy surgery and recovery are with you!

Ok whomever is sick of me for saying it, my apologies, but I can't stomach the Isopure - I tried the purple, which is supposed to be wonderful. It just wasn't my cup o' tea, so's to speak. I DID find Cytomax Pure Protein/Performance drinks at Vitamin Shoppe (3.79 a piece) and I love them. Tropical flavor (it's green - tastes like pineapple and coconut a bit) and then Tangerine (it's orange). They are made up of whey Protein isolate and have 40 g of protein in 20 oz. I highly recommend them as they were and are the only things that so far do not make me wretch for protein intake. Before my leak, I loved Premier Protein Drinks. Since I think that was what was mostly in my abscess, so far I'm having a hard time sipping them. I tried the strawberry ones I ordered yesterday and they are super sweet grrr .... I don't really do chocolate but vanilla I love, so they will be what I try for lunch today. I'm gonna hafta try those Lean shakes vsg30815! Ty for the tip!

I'm struggling with this as well; however I'm still sticking to my Cytomax Pure Protein/Performance drinks. 20 oz drinks with 40 g of whey isolate protein in them. If you incorp two in your day that's an easy 80g and it counts as 40 oz of your water. Now it's just getting that much into me in the course of a day.....sigh.....

Best of luck to you! Be positive, God is with you....

I've only tried the Isopure purple and didn't like it, but I hear many people do so thank you mamacorney! Hope y'alls week is wonderful!

Hey guys, I need input please. I JUST got off of Clear liquids (yeah) and now am "officially" on full liquids (yes, it's been about 6 weeks I guess but that's with an abscess)..... does your tummy 'contract' whenever you eat something that is 'full liquid' whenever you initially start trying to progress? Or is that the carb content possibly? Sorry I didn't have the benefit of seeing a nutritionist in my sleeve journey and I have many questions. So far I have eaten cream of shrimp Soup (by campbell's) with a can of added ff milk in it and this morning I tried fiber/protein cream of wheat. The carb content in the cream of wheat is A LOT and I realized that after heating it up and trying it. I think the same was true of the shrimp soup. I've read not to have over 15 g of carbs in anything at a time - is that right? I'm sorry, I have so many questions and sometimes I just feel lost so I'm "putting it all out there" and asking for your inputs pls. Thanks to those that respond!

TY so much beautifulnewme.... I wish you the best of luck in your WLS journey too btw!

One of my staples ... for lack of a better term, "slipped" as my skin necroted (if I spelled that right) away from the suture line. My dr just moved me up to full liquids yesterday late afternoon and I had the final drain removed! I haven't been "wire free" since IDK when so I'm happy, it's GREAT taking a shower and to be "free" of everything. I AM struggling with moving to another phase of food though (my tummy's acting weird... it feels like it 'contracts' whenever I've eaten soup or cream of wheat). Thanks for asking (Artsy specifically! smile). It's a pleasure to meet you all.... How are you guys doing? I hope wonderful!

I am in Carrollton and am a "newbie". Original sleeve date 3/5, revised 3/20 due to leak/abscess.

Julie I got you beat on this year with hospitalizations and insurance just be glad that you can be taken care of ....Seriously.... good luck too!