Lookinupin2010

WOW !!! Thanks for the info....increasing Water and exercise could help...then that's what I'll do. I get dizzy in public places too. Sunday was at church, bent down to get my purse off the floor and thought I was gonna embarrass myself AND my daughter by passing out. I had been in a hurry to leave the house that morning, and had not had any water at all. I was also having leg cramps all day...got on the treadmill to see if that would help, but just made it worse.

I also think that it is my blood pressure. My cardiologist has taken me off one bp med entirely, cut the other 2 in half. He thinks I'll soon be off all of them. One night my bp was only 90 over 63. He wants me to keep an eye on it. But I haven't taken it when a dizzy episode hits cause it's usually when I'm outside....maybe the heat and not enough Water along with bp.

I'm 'feeling' for you. My first few weeks were awful. I couldn't stand the taste of the bottled Water that I had been drinking for years...couldn't find any Protein powder that tasted like anything descent...and all that and knowing that I had to down 70 grams minimum of protein a day sent me into "what in the world have I gotten myself into". I'm 3 1/2 months out now, and am beginning to be able to get SOME foods down, and my taste buds have returned to enjoying my usual bottled water again. But the protein, I still have problems with. The only one that I personnaly can deal with is Premier Premade Protein shakes sold at costco. They also sell it in powder form, but I have to put it in vanilla soy milk cause making it with water is again....gross to me. BUT, that takes the calorie count up to 250. When all I'm allowed is a maximum of 600, that takes up too much for one meal. I'm looking forward to the day when I will be able to get my protein strictly from food, and not shakes. But, I DO 'FEEL' your dilemna. I too bought tubs before my surgery, as well as Isopure, that just sit on the shelves now. Take a peek at that web site where you can get samples. And best of luck to you. You DID make the right decision with this surgery.....it just takes us time to find a 'new normal' as to what we can eat and enjoy.

Well...in my humble opinion...the hardest thing about this whole thing is giving up diet soda. When I go to a restaurant with my husband, I order Water, but don't drink it cause I know I can't drink for 30 minutes after I eat. So why pay for a soda or tea. However, just like when I was pregnant, I look at him drink his tea or soda and my mouth WATERS !!! I have even asked him to describe to me how it feels swirling around his tongue !!! I see the condisation (sp) on the outside of the glass, hear the ice jingle in the glass, and watch that delicious Fluid go up through the straw and it almost kills me. So tonight, I bought some Diet Rite and some Diet Root Beer. I am planning on leaving them open on the counter before I drink them, but I'm gonna give it a try. Forget the icecream, cake, Cookies...even the Mexican food...give me a Coke !!!! By the way...I'm 3 1/2 months postop now. Hoping I can do this.

WOW !! I'm so sorry to hear you are now going through this. We have enough issues to go through just learning how to live our new lives without turning to food. You are on my prayer list. Who better to turn to. Hugs coming your way...

Going to OA (like someone stated above) brought out more demons in me that I already had. It was like listening to someone else's issues....manifested them in me !!! Didn't need that !!! However, we are all DIFFERENT, even though we have the SAME food addiction. We just have to handle it in the way that seems the healthiest for us. I stay away from my monthly support group from fear of the 'manifestation demons' that I have experienced from before. And quite frankly, sometimes people just seem 'whiney' to me. I don't mean to offend anyone here, that is just my impression of some of these meetings. Hence, another reason why I stay away.

I still use it sometimes. I like getting the fiber from my Protein. I also use seitan (make it takes like barbeque ribs). But the protein is not as high as actual poultry, fish or beef. I wish it were....I'd like to get rid of these Protein Drinks and get my 70 grams from food. I'm still struggling with that !!!! But, back to your question, Yes I do. And really like it. My husband says he can't stand it though, so I only make my stuff from it.

Pretty much the same as above...I start out with 1/4 c eggbeaters with a slice of low fat cheese and just recently started adding 1/4 c canteloupe on the side. lunch is usually a Protein Shake (30 gms of protein) and dinner is usually tilapia, salmon, chicken, shrimp or some other Protein with a couple floweretts of broccoli, or other veggie. If I REALLY feel like I need a snack..I have a couple of pieces of turkey Jerky. I have a difficult time adding foods....today I tried a sandwich (1 slice of whole wheat bread with 2 1/2 oz of salmon with lite mayo) and within minutes it came back up. (ugghhh) So no more bread for awhile. It was an experiment to see if I could handle it yet....NOPE !!!

That was a cute idea. Looking great !!!!

OK...you also said get the right carb/protein/fat ratio. I'm curious....what would that be...is it like the Zone's 40/30/30 plan. I have the most energy when I eat like that...but have not been able to since this surgery. I lift weights, and can see and feel the muscle, but the skin is droooppppiiinnnnggg. Would like to hear the combo...sounds like you might be getting advice from a trainer. I can't afford one, so I exercise at home with my videos and weights, treadmill, and recumbant as well as the ball.

Sounds like your getting the hang of it...CONGRATULATIONS !!! Your willing to experiment staying within your guidelines. Be proud of yourself !!! Learning to be the 'new version' of us and our thinking will make you successful. GREAT JOB !!!

Penny, I hope I see you tonight at our WLS meeting. I know how you feel, and I also know that Dr. C has us on a pretty strict routine. You have done so well. You are still my mentor, and though you don't feel worthy right now, you will be able to help me later too. I'm so thankful that God has given you to me to know. You have had the stress of personal issues in your life and we all got over 300 lbs by not knowing how to handle it. We turned to food, and now it makes us sick when we turn in that direction. That in itself is stressful. You said it yourself in so many words...we are our own worst enemies. Someone above posted the scripture from Matthew about if something offends you 'cut it out and cast it from you' I feel like that scripture is exactly what happened when we went through our VSG's. We NOW ARE FREE...we just have to figure out how to live in that freeedom. And you know what...that's simple. Just follow the advice in our VSG books that we got from Gayle. I also feel that you may need to call her...she has been through all of this. I still rely on her through issues, even though she is not the one we are supposed to call right now. She has lived it, she still lives it...and loves being there for us. You hang in there, girl. You are gonna make it. WE ARE SET FREE !!!!

You are doing great !! I also feel that we need to listen to our health professionals as to what they feel is best for us. If he told you 400-600 a day (hopefully he also told you to monitor your Protein count to make sure he has a high healthy level for you) then that is what you should do. My Dr. told me to not go over 600 calories a day while I'm losing. I have no idea what he will have me on after I've reached goal, but for now I trust him and his advice. That's why I chose him. I trust that you felt comfortable with your surgeon of choice, or you would not have allowed him to perform such a serious surgery on you. We all have our advice...and I love this sight...but I also trust my surgeon. You have to trust your own instincts... Keep up the good work. We all need each other to keep us going in the right direction...GOOD HEALTHY WEIGHTS

Throw some sliced fresh pineapple or peaches on the grill next to those grilled veggies.....grilling just brings out a whole new BETTER flavor to food doesn't it? Do it a lot in this Tucson temp.

I feel your frustration and know you want to get this done and start your new life. I don't know why all of these health issues are keeping you from you best state of health right now, but I DO believe that when it is time for you, it will happen. I was turned down for rny for at least 6 years before I was approved for VSG. I thought that this year would just be another denial. But it happened for me very quickly this time. I'm 58 yrs old and started out at 365...I'm sure that I have been as high as 375 at one point of my life. I also know that you MUST be in the best physical and emotional health that you can possibly get yourself in before this surgery. It WILL drain you, you will probably lose hair, lose energy and go through depression for awhile after the surgery. I don't want to be a downer, but most of us have gone through this in the beginning, after the surgery. It takes a toll on us physically and emotionally....so get yourself healthy before all of this. Afterward....we will all be better !!!!

The preop IS hard, but stick to your surgeons plan. Getting that liver to a safe size is crucial. Your surgery could be jeopardized if it isn't shrunk. Your preop sounds pretty good to me. I had 2 Protein shakes a day and only one meal of ONLY protein. No carbs.....for 2 weeks....and the day before surgery was only 3 liquid Protein Shakes. yuk.... But I was amazed the day of surgery and found that I had already lost 16 lbs. !!!! But it well prepared me for what was to come after the surgery. Hang in there....one meal at a time.

Are you flying? I just came back from vacation and we drove. I was able to pack a cooler with all the Premier Protein shakes ( I drink 2 a day) with me for the entire trip. I get them at costco and they are premade. No shaker cups, or blender required. I had a horrible time finding a Protein shake that wouldn't nauseate me. These are the only ones I can get down. If you are flying....you may have to contact the airline for approval of the containers. They are 6 oz. containers. Have fun and enjoy your vacation....they don't last long enough !!!

Prayers are with you KKrandrod....know all too well what you mean....we need to be set free....

Does your surgeon's office have a bariatric advocate? One that will talk to the insurance company FOR YOU? This made ALL the difference with my approval. The years past when I was turned down by UHC for bypass, I had to do the footwork all myself. I'm actually glad the bypass approvals never went through...didn't know about the VSG yet. The surgeon I have now, has an advocate that first called to see what I had to do, I did it, then she submitted the paperwork and got the approval. At the informational seminar, we were told that she knew WHO to talk to, where as we might get the runaround. I knew from years past, that was true. Good luck to you....even though I went through some depression from getting over food loss...I would do this again in a heartbeat.

I was approved quickly also. Paperwork faxed over on Friday morning, was approved following Monday morning. I have been over 300 lbs since 1988 however, and I have been to every one of my yearly physicals. I have been turned down for bypass several years in a row...but vertical sleeve was easy. I too had to do 2 sleep studies psych visit blood work nutritional counseling EKG and approval from cardiologist PCP request letter and all of that took about 2 months.

I am so excited !!! May not sound like much to those who haven't weighed over 300 lbs......(and thank goodness for you). I hit 300 lbs when I was 35 years old...and haven't gotten down below it in 23 yrs. till TODAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT WORKS, IT WORKS, IT WORKS !!!!!!!

Yep, had to wear them the whole time I was in the hospital, then when I was released, the Dr. told me to wear them as long as I could. I was having real bad pain around my knees, and after getting home, I took them off to have a shower (wasn't able to have one in hospital because of IV) and saw that they had made this horrible mark on my knee from being so tight. Never wore them again.:thumbup1:

I was on vacation about 3 weeks ago and was SURE that I had gained. My stomach didn't feel as flat as it did when I was home drinking my 2 Protein shakes and one meal a day. I was eating 3 meals a day. But I could eat very little cause food would either get stuck, I'd get the slimes, or I would just stop like I'm supposed to when I get full. Lo and behold, I came home 3 lbs. thinner. I acutally liked not having access to my scale every morning, and now know that if I just eat like I'm supposed to, I will be OK. You will too....vacation doesn't last forever, so just have fun.

Just be careful.....you have a new stomach with staples. You waited a long time for this surgery, it's literally a new way of eating. I'm only 11 weeks out and I remember the liquid stage very well. I wanted to chew so bad, but I also got severely dehydrated which made me extremely tired. Then depression set in....WOW what a horrible state that was. Just take your time...this is a lifetime committment. I read some of Tiffy's posts on how sick she got from various trials she went through in the beginning and though I felt for her, she is an inspiration now. Remember how you felt a year ago, and today won't seem so bad. Hang in there and learn to be patient with yourself and your new stomach and lifestyle.

I've had UHC since it first became UHC in Arizona. I tried on my own to get approved in years past for bypass, and was always turned down. I'm thankful for that. In January I went to my information seminar and learned of the sleeve. I had never heard of it before. The Doctors office did all the work this time. I spent the next 6 weeks doing all my appointments....sleep study, psych, blood work, nutritional counseling, pcp letter, etc. The liason for the Dr's. office sent the paper work in on Friday morning. On Monday morning she called to say I was approved. I've been super morbidly obese (over 300 lbs) for the last 23 years. I had (notice I say now...HAD) high blood pressure and on 3 meds for it. Osteo arthritis and on Celebrex, gout, and prediabetic. Maybe this was why they gave me approval so quickly.