BigNana

Hi guys, Here's what I do...I get the chocolate protein shakes from Costco, they are really good, drink one of them in the morning and one at night and a protein bullet during the day, I just sip on it until I get it down. All that is around 100 grams. the costco shakes are 30 gr each. Why do you say the protein bullets aren't really good source of protein. When is says 42 grams of protein, isn't that what is means? I'm going today to get some powder to add to my hot cereal also..

Hi Donna! I'm glad to hear that the 3rd or 4th week is kind of slowing down point for some...you can't get any info on the internet about this and calling my doctor is a joke. He would just tell me to go and see me so I can drive for 2 hours to get there, and be with him for 2 minutes for him to tell me everything is ok. That's why this forum is so helpful. I think too you're right about the starvation mode thing, that makes perfect sense, your body is trying to hold on to any measly calorie they can find. I can eat just about anything...I am still on soft foods but have expanded my choices a bit....just about anything that looks soft, I will try, the only thing so far that didn't settle was some potatoes, I think they were too greasy (hash browns) so I won't be doing that again at least for a while. Yesterday I had a few bites of salmon with some blue cheese, I felt fine and it was delicious! I also eat cottage cheese and a few tbl spoons of refried beans with some cheese goes down great also. I did finally lose one whole pound...but I told myself not to weigh every day (hard not to do that), my body just has to get used to eating small amounts, go up and down with the weight until I guess it will just start coming off at a more steady pace. So how much have you lost since the surgery? You were throwing me off with the kg thing, I only know pounds...sorry!!! Anyway, all my incisions look great, I peeled off the last of the brush on adhesive last night and they are barely visible. A little vitamin E every day should do the trick to erasing them completely. I feel really good otherwise, no side effects at all, to me this was definetely the way to go over gastric bypass, that just seemed so drastic and complicated to me. it just makes me feel better to know that my insides have not been altered, only a piece of stomach taken out so I can still eat whatever i want, just in tiny portions. Thanks for answering me, I feel better now..... Also how many times a day do you eat? I eat 2-3 times a day, then just liquid the rest of the time. I'm getting my protein down (HUGE fear of losing my hair), about 80-100 grams a day, but the water part is killing me. It is so hard for me to push that much water. I never have been a big water drinker and I'm just not a thirsty person. I'm lucky to get 30 oz a day in....How about you? I am noticing tho that my skin and hair is getting a little dryer so I'm really trying harder........... Thanks for your help! Big Nana

Hi everyone.. I have a question maybe someone can answer me...I had my surgery on August 19th, today is Sept 8 so it's my 3rd week...I lost 16 pounds since the surgery, all in the first 2 weeks, nothing in the third week. Is that normal that my weight is already at a standstill? I'm starting to worry, like it didn't work or something...do you think because I started on my soft foods that it is preventing me from losing any more weight? I can't beleive with the amt of food I eat, that I am not losing. I eat a few bites of egg, cottage cheese, and small amounts of cheese mostly. has this happened to anyone else? thanks...Big Nana

Hi Everyone! I'm on my 3rd week now, been eating a little hot cereal, cottage cheese and egg salad. Just a few bites but the best thing I ever ate...It's hard not eating!!! Mostly tho, I'm just sticking to the liquids, protein shakes and those protein vials that taste like syrup, so gross, but they have a lot a protein in them. I find the chocolate protein shakes at Costco are the very best tasing, and they have 30 grams of protein. The water is the hardest for me to get down....I'm constantly sipping, but getting nowhere, I guess I just have to get used to it. I can't beleive how good I feel, no side effects at all. I really could go back to work now but my Dr won't let me, he wants to me take a full 6 weeks off....so ok then, I guess I better enjoy it while I can.... In 6 weeks (3 more to go), I'll be able to eat regular food which will be great. Just a few bites will be just fine with me. I've lost 18 pounds since the surgery date on August 18. AND my Diabetes is completely gone so far, blood sugars around 85 consistently. I noticed my skin and hair is dryer, I'm sure it's the not enough water thing, I'll have to work on that. How come you guys didn't tell people at your work? I don't have that luxury...I told a few friends at work but my office is like a spreading wildfire....I'm sure everyone in there knows everything by now.... Take it easy everyone!! Big Nana

Soo....I've lost 12 pounds but the last 2 days I've not lost anything. is that normal? I'm still on clear liquids plus liquid vitamins plus the protein....My initial weight was 256 now is 244. I've been walking and today I drove a short distance to see how I felt. did okay...only one of my insicions hurts, that must be the one where they took my stomach out thru. Also My stomach kinda dents in right there. But I'm still swollen and the bruising is coming up from the inside....So interesting this whole surgery thing, I've never had any kind before. Do not wish to experience it ever again that is for sure.....But Im sure it will be a distant memory you know, like giving birth... Oh, I meant to ask, I don't have stiches, he just glued the incisions. Anyone else have that done?

Well I'm on day 6 not counting the surgery date which would make it day 7. I'm actually feeling good today. The 2nd day post was the absolute worst, but each day gets remarkably better. For some reason all this week my family has been having get togethers, birthdays, etc, and food has been in abundance. The smell kills me it smells so good....I just want one bite of that cheeseburger....but I'm ok. It's a weird feeling, like I'm hungry but not, I look at food and think mmmm that would taste good but really don't have the desire to eat it. I can't expain it. I lost 10 ten pounds already and my Dr took me off all my Diabetes meds and cholesteraol meds before I left the hospital and my sugars have been perfect. That is exciting....I go for my post op tomorrow and see what the Dr says. I've been only on clear liquids so far....sipping sipping away. I've been getting at least 80 gr of protein a day but slacking a little on the water I think. It's harder than you think to drink all that liquid...in the hospital they pushed me hard to drink a ton of protein and water, at one point I nearly threw up, that was the scariest feeling ever because I knew it would hurt BAD, but it worked it's way back down after I sat straight up(hard to do also) after a minute or so. I learned my lesson real quick, do NOT throw up...so now I'm very careful how much liquid I have at time. So good luck out there if you're having the surgery, watch out for that 2nd day and from there on it's downhill (in a good way). Big Nana

Hi Everyone, Very new at this computer thing....so please be patient...It is SO hard to find any info about the sleeve, no one I talk to has ever heard of it, so it's frustrating. I researched everything I could get...I was all set to get the gastric bypass but never felt 100% good about it, I was so stressed out about the malabsorption thing. When I started hearing more about the Sleeve I knew this was the surgery for me and luckily my doctor does the procedure so I just switched my procedure from the bypass to the sleeve. NOW I feel 100% sure and my mind is at ease. I have been going thru trying to get bariatric surgery for nearly 3 years now. Problems with my medical group switching contracting hospitals (4 times), having to start all over again...a very grueling process. I finally ended up at South Bay Surgeons in Torrance. All the Dr's there do the VGS. I would love to hear from those who have had it already....when did you go back to work? What were the BAD side effects? Any? Did you lose hair??I would love any feedback...thank you!!

Hi KMB, I'm having my sleeve on Aug 18th by Dr Solomon from the South Bay Surgeon group. Who is your doctor? It's hard to find someone who even does the surgery, it's so new comparatively speaking. but I really feel comfortable with my decision to go with the sleeve. I hope I am right..... I can't wait tosee how we do....! good luck!!! BigNana

Hi White Rice, I can't get this reply box by clicking on Quote, only if I click on Quick reply, so I don't know what the problem is or if it makes any difference? My Dr also had me go to about 4 support groups. I didn't really get much out of them, for one thing I am super painfully shy and can not talk to a group or to anyone I don't know. I know, I'm weird...I do much better in a writing mode....they want me to go after also, but I know I won't. Besides no one in the groups were having the sleeve done, and some of the stories were pretty depressing, it kind of freaked me out. and WOW VegasAngel, just DAYS after you had surgery, you were back at work? That is awesome!!! For some reason my Dr is really persistant about taking SO much time after surgery. I'm hoping to convince him to let me go back early tho. I know I will be bored hanging around the house. Especially since I can't cook or EAT!! I can sit at my desk and sip protein and water all day. About the hair thing AGAIN....i

Hi, thanks for the info...I know I feel like such a big baby about the hair thing, I don't have that much to begin with, it's pretty thin, so hopefully with the sleeve, the hair loss won't be that significant. My Dr doesn't have me on a pre surg diet, just tells me to try and lose some or at least stay the same....You're right about the last meal thing....the only thing holding me back is that everytime I eat what I want, I gain 3 pounds...it's so discouraging...but I don't feel so bad knowing I will be able to eat anything I want, just in little portions and that is fine with me. I will just have ONE piece of Bloomin' Onion!!! I'm going on a vacation on the beach one week before my surgery, that will be a challenge.....my surgery is 2 days after we get back....I'm already hoping for a short recovery, mr Dr is saying 4 weeks off work, I'm saying 2....we'll see.....I just can't wait to be in the ONES.....(under 200)...I haven't seen those numbers for YEARS..... I tried hitting the quote button to reply but it didn't give me an option to reply when it went to that page...if I don't figure this out soon I'm going to give up..!!!

Hi VegasAngel, Ruthi and Susan, thank you SO much for your fast replies. I don't see where to reply individually, maybe I'll get the hang of this, but for now, it will be a group thing....wow, finally I don't feel so isolated!!! I loved your replies....and makes me feel even better about this surgery. Shoot, I can do eyebrow threading so this should be a breeze!! I'm going into it with a positive attitude and I'm not a big cry baby so I think I will be fine....I know it sounds petty but the HAIR thing is the big issue with me....I know several people who have gotten the gastric bypass and lost almost ALL their hair and their skin looks terrible from the malabsorptive effect of that surgery. My doctor tells me that is not a big deal....but to me it is....I think he was pushing for me to have the gastric instead of the sleeve but was good about listening to my concerns and ultimately was ok with my decision to switch. the hardest part for me right now is trying not to gain weight. My Dr is really strict about me not gaining one pound before the surgery....that is HARD to do...so is this surgery strictly laporoscopic? I hope so.... so you guys had your surgeries in Mexico? I have a friend who had lap band down there and had great results.... Thanks again for answering my questions....and I'm in AWE that you went back to work so FAST...that is what I'm hoping for..... Thanks again! BigNana