lollyfidy1965

Liquid Tylenol is the only thing I am allowed to take. I can tell you, prior to surgery, Tylenol wouldn't have touched my lower back pain. Since surgery, I've had low back pain twice, and just 3 tsp (yes...tsp...not TBSP!) took care of the pain for me. You might try it before you give up on it...you might be as surprised as I was! Best of luck!

Don't worry about what others think, and go out braless!! I wasn't able to wear a bra for the better part of a month post-op...the only time I wore one (and dealt with the discomfort) was Friday evenings when I went to services at our synagogue. It'll get better soon!!

I'm 46, and 5' 11" tall. My starting weight was 330, and I'm at 266 this morning. My surgeon didn't really give me a "goal" weight....but MY goal is 180-185. I know from experience that I look anorexic at 160... No desire to go there. 180-185 will look great with my frame.

I had my surgery on June 19th. On the morning of the 10th, they took me down for a swallow test...and found that my sleeve was so inflamed it was completely closed...nothing would go through. I went back to my room, where they put an NG tube back in (to suck out any acid/fluids that worked their way out of my sleeve), and I was NPO for 4 1/2 more days. Thank God I experienced no hunger, or I would've gone mad!! LOL I experienced horrible nausea for 4 days, and the acid reflux was terrible...even though the NG tube sucked it all out. I stopped using any pain meds after 3 days. They finally removed the NG tube after 4 1/2 days, and allowed me to try sips of Water overnight. With water conquered, I was allowed Clear Liquids the following morning...chicken and beef broth...which went down with no problems. On the 25th I was released to go home, on "full liquids". When I went home, I was given a script for liquid Zantac (remember the bad acid in the hospital??). I took it religiously, but still started experiencing breakthrough acid about 4 weeks after being home. An added Prevacid has kept the acid under control. Unfortunately, when they added the Prevacid, they bumped me back to "full liquids", after having been on "soft/pureed" foods for a week. 3 additional weeks of "full liquids" ended yesterday, so I'm slowly reintroducing some soft foods again. Even with these challenges, I'm so incredibly grateful for the change I've been given...to get my life, and my relationship with food, under control!! I felt like crap the first week, and was exhausted the first month after coming home, but I'm finally feeling really good...most days, at least. What's my point?? Hang in there...I promise it WILL get better!! Follow your doctor's instructions to the letter, be as active as you can be, and don't let low-energy days get the better of you, psychologically. You've made an amazing decision, to get healthier, and get healthier you will!! Best of luck!

At 7 1/2 weeks post-op, bread, pasta, and rice are on my "do not eat" list. I'm so focused on protein, I really have no desire for heavy starches/carbs. I'm enjoying being in ketosis too much to risk blowing it for the sake of some bread! I do eat 3 or 4 whole wheat crackers from time to time, with hummus or Laughing Cow spreadable cheese (low-fat only)...but even that is only rarely.

I'm 7 1/2 weeks out, and bread is still off-limits. Knowing how I'm feeling, and how my sleeve is handling food, I can't imagine eating a sandwich at this point!

I wasn't able to lay/sleep on my side until I was about 3 weeks post-op.

Pasta, bread and rice are on my list of "don't eat them" foods. You might want to check with your nutritionist before eating noodles. Best of luck!

The "lite" version of the RTD Muscle Milk is sugar-free. It does have a few carbs in it, but not sugar.

If you're doing high protein/low carb, you should go into, and stay in, ketosis...burning fat for energy, as long as you keep your carbs below 30g/day, give or take. I've been in ketosis for 9 weeks now, without dropping out once....and its working beautifully.

Have you tried the ready to drink Muscle Milk products? I love the "lite" (sugar-free) chocolate flavor...drink 2 every day, for a total of 60 g of protein. I've tried the vanilla, but I'm not a big fan of anything vanilla. The banana creme is too sweet for me, but tastes like southern 'nana pudding'. A lot of people drink Isopure, but I, personally, find the ready to drink bottles disgustingly sweet. If you can stand the taste, it packs a whollop of protein. Best of luck!

I like the chicken broth flavor, mixed in low fat canned chicken broth. Just be sure your liquid isn't hotter than 130 degrees F!! I also use the unflavored powder, mixed in broths, oatmeal (only did that once...too many carbs for me), etc.

My loss has come in fits and starts. I'll sit on the same number for several days, then drop 2 pounds a day or 4 or 5 days in a row. I think that quick loss throws my body for a loop, and the "stalls" are its way of catching up to its new self. I work hard not to get discouraged, but I sure do feel better on the 2-pound-down days!!

I came home from the hospital taking liquid Zantac twice daily. After 4 weeks I started having horrible breakthrough acid reflux. I called my surgeon and he added a daily dissolvable Prevacid tablet (I take that at night). I've been great since, with no acid issues at all.

I have had no significant issues since my surgery, 7 weeks ago. I take care to follow my surgeon's instructions to the letter, and pay very close attention to my nutritionist's guidelines. I work hard at the gym, 3 or 4 hours a day, and take all my meds/supplements. Maybe I'm just lucky....

Definitely check with your surgeon regarding the possibility what you're feeling is actually acid reflux, and not true hunger. I had horrible acid reflux after my surgery, came home from the hospital on liquid Zantac, and have since had a dissolvable Prevacid tablet added, as well. I wouldn't advise using anything without a script from your surgeon, and definitely get liquid, dissolvable, or capsules you can open and mix with something else (no tablets). Best of luck.

Remember....you were pumped full of IV fluids while in the hospital, and it takes a few days for that to work through your system. I didn't lose any weight until the 8th day post-op....and then lost 16.8 pounds in the following 8 days!! It can be very frustrating to "stall," but it is a normal part of the process. I just experienced a 7-day stall....I kicked up my time at the gym (walking and water aerobics), and have lost 4 pounds in the last 2 days. Fits and starts....and Rome wasn't built in a day!

I use the cherry flavored calcium PLUS 500 (it has Vit D in it, as well) from Celebrate. My daily schedule for supplements/meds is as follows: early morning - 1 Flintstones Complete chewable 1 Celebrate sublingual Vit B12 1 Actigall capsule (opened and poured into 2 TBSP sugar free applesauce) 2tsp liquid Zantac 10am - 1 Celebrate Calcium PLUS 500 chewable 1pm - 1 Celebrate Calcium PLUS 500 chewable 4pm - 1 Celebrate Calcium PLUS 500 chewable late evening - 1 Flintstones complete 1 Actigall (mixed in SF applesauce) 2 tsp liquid Zantac 1 dissolvable Prevacid tablet If I'm going to be away from home during the day, I always take calcium chewables with me, so I don't miss a dose. Best of luck!

I use Flintstones Complete (at my surgeon's recommendation). I take them twice a day (1 morning, 1 evening). Multi-vitamins should be taken apart from your Calcium supplement...at least 2 hours before or after, and the Calcium tablets should be taken at least 2 hours apart. (The iron in the multi-vitamin will interfere with the absorption of the calcium.) In addition to these two (and I do use the Celebrate Calcium PLUS 500 chewables), I take a Celebrate sublingual Vitamin B12 (every morning), Actigall (morning and evening, to reduce the risk of gallstones), liquid Zantac (morning and evening), and a dissolvable Prevacid (every evening). I have reminders set on my iPhone, to ensure I take everything at the right times...and I always take calcium with me, if I'm going to be away from the house during the day.

My suggestion....order broiled fish, and a soft(mashable) veggie, if they have one. Don't be afraid to just get the fish....and don't be embarrassed to take a pass on the pasta, or anything else that's bad for you!! You've made a huge decision to have surgery, and to take control of food.....this is just an opportunity to do just that. Be in control of the situation, do what you need to do...FOR YOU...and don't worry what anyone else thinks about it! Best of luck!

I'm 7 weeks post-op, and haven't felt hunger once since surgery. I plan all my intake in a daily food journal, and this helps me remember when and what to eat. (Very helpful to ensure I get more than enough liquids and protein!). I'm taking in between 550-650 calories a day, and burn between 1400-1700 a day at the gym (I typically do 1-2 hours of fast walking on the treadmill, and 2 hours of water aerobics every day). Even with that calorie deficit, there is no hunger. Lovin' it!!

I regret buying new clothes for a trip literally weeks before my first doctor's appointment!! Now, 7 weeks post-op, and all those beautiful clothes have gone into a donation box, because I was swimming in them! (Never mind I hadn't really contemplated having surgery prior to buying those clothes....I still regret it!! LOL) I felt a little better about it yesterday...I went shopping and bought 2X blouses, instead of the 5X ones I gave away!! Its all good!