rsr53

Hi All- I've read so many great posts here I decided to ask YOU, the experts. My pre-op consists of 3 days, full liquids, which I understand should be low calorie. Basically we're starving ourselves for 3 days to shrink our livers so surgery is easier. Post -Op when I'm on Full liquids for 5, yes, 5 weeks I'm wondering if I need to really worry about the carbs? I know I will search for low fat, low calorie, lower sodium but the soups all have tons of carbs as do alot of other things. Aside from boiling Water and adding some onion, celery and chicken and cooking until it falls apart and then pureeing I don't know how to do LOW carbs except for only drinking Protein shakes. What has everyone done and what has worked best for you? Thanks for your insight! You don't want carbs or sugar. I did 18 days of preop diet: General rule is 60-80g of protein each day. Also do your Vitamins. I prepped lean cuts of meats and fish by roasting or very light saute using ev olive oil. I use alot of sugar free jellos that I will stir in my Greek nonfat yogurt into--or the nonfat cot cheese tastes great in the Jello, too. To puree, first cook the food, use some of that broth or juice to run all into your blender for puree--about like jr baby food. I don't use cow's milk but soy or Almond Breeze light is a good mixer for blending foods and making your shakes postop. I ate canned tuna, light string cheese, and really loved the jellos. Also sugar free popsicles are good for between time hunger pain. It is important that you plate your foods pleasingly--to take boredom out of this process. I also used low salt chicken broth or beef broth to sip on. It was not a bad experience for me, but I really missed chewing--not a gum chewer. Propel Zero is very good, or Powerade Zero--now that I am out of hosp, I find plain filtered water suits me also.

Well I made it everyone! Surgery was yesterday at 3pm. So far im extremely nauseated and have this terrible pain like right above my tummy... I guess its the gas pain??? Man its no joke... It hurts how long till that and the nausea goes??? Thank u for al ur well wishes! Fantastic! I am sending you my hugs and warm wishes for a super recovery! I was operated on 5/31 here in Phoenix. Doing swell. I never got gas, or any nausea. BUT my doctor was INSISTENT on walking on the hr and moving about.--he still is, btw! I have lost about 23 pounds overall. Just make sure you sip all liquids/shakes. Don't gulp or drink a full mouthful as that will make you swallow addition air into your system. Once you pass gas and have a soft stool, you will find all is alot better. I was weined from my pain meds pretty fast, and once that happened, walked the halls with a walker. Dr sent me home early evening on Day 3. You did great, I am sure!!! Just move and walk because it makes your recovery so much easier. You are now a Sleevah Sistah, like me!! Hoorayyyy!!!

I buy my Protein at costco. I won't buy choc because you can do more with a vanilla base than choc. Costwise, it is cheaper to do it that way. I know GNC has a membership plan that discounts cost of their products, tho. I am 2 wks out now and doing swell!! May I offer some suggestions about drinking shakes?? First, sip--don't drink. wait at least 2 min bet each sip. I tend to sip mine at least an hr or so when I make them. Most shakes taste best chilled or cold--I mean chill your mixing ingredients for about 15 min before making them. This, too, might improve the flavors and tasting. EcoDrink is a liquid Multivitamin drink that is good. Costco sells a month supply for $20, but it has berry and orange flavor packets that you mix into a bottle that comes with the packets, and use bottled Water with (or filtered)--plain, Each packet makes the 16 oz needed. t As for sugars, and lactose: I won't use cow's milk. Love Almond Breeze Light and light soymilk, tho. I would limit the artif sugars as much as possible. I am trying to use natural ways to sweeten my foods like honey, and stevia. My stomach tends to gas up otherwise. So far, have been very good with my limits in this aspect.

Protein Plus is lactose free powder and has 27g protein per serving. I use the vanilla one only--I like to freeze berries fresh to actually flavor my shakes with. Since I am now doing pureed food, I also use either Almond Breeze Light or light soymilk to blend my shake or foods with. It is very good with strawberries and /or banana in a shake. As for the sugar alcohol issues, I would limit those and try to sweeten naturally with stevia. The art sweeteners have left my tastebuds uneasy, and I decided early that I would limit using those and to cook with natural ingredients as much as possible. I won't use cow's milk anymore. That tends to bring on gassy stomach aches. Knowing my lova affair with some bars, I would not stop at one or a half of one. So, for me, I avoid those--the GF ones sound like they are delicious, tho.

MLD, All of the ins co's require the Preop Diet. I lost 15 pounds on mine---am 2 wks post op now. Lost 17 pounds, 22, overall, so I am writing a book on WLS--your docs are great. May I use them in my book? Please email me here with proper citation info . Thanks! Good luck--with this, you are well on your way to success!!! So Kaiser requires a pre-op diet and at first I was pretty nervous about it, thinking to myself, "Dang, I don't know if I'll be able to eat such small amounts!!" but you know what? This has really not been nearly as difficult as I originally anticipated. I pre-measure out my meals ahead of time so that they are handy and convenient. If they aren't convenient, I will just grab whatever delicious, carb-filled treat is near me when I get hungry. I have been on this diet for 2 weeks now and I am down 7 pounds. Not too shabby, especially compared to how little I have lost on diets in the past. Honestly, it is very easy to stick with once you get the portions down right. And it is good practice to be measuring everything I put in my mouth. It has really opened my eyes to just how much I was eating before. I went ahead and attached the meal plan and I also attached a little file that I made myself called the "weekly diet". I wanted to be able to write out my meals ahead of time so that I could get them prepared and put in baggies to take to work. Like I said, so far so good. If anyone else is going through Kaiser and is on this diet, let me know! I have a few recipes that I have come up with that use the foods that are allowed and I would love a recipe buddy Anyone else just looking to lose some pre-op weight, feel free to give this a try. It's a very do-able diet. Actually, it is suitable for post-op as well. Anyways, just thought I would share with everyone! meal.plan.pdf weekly.diet.pdf

So happy for you!! Revision was a long journey for me, too. I am 2 wks out and doing great!! I am finally approved for my revision!! It has been a long month... I am now just waiting for the date, hopefully it will be soon so that I can get the contraption (band) out of me!

Glad you had your sleeve surgery and doing well!! We are Sleevahhhh Sistahhhhs!!! I had my surg 5/31 and doing swell at home. Lost 23 lbs overall now. It would be great to share progress and experiences.

<font color="#000080" size="4">It never ceases to amaze me how stupid and plain rude people are. They have no compassion or understanding for other folks who are trying to correct a health problem. I hope your incisions are OK, and for sure the last laugh will be on the ignorant ones who fail to think about another's well being.

Don't give up! The Peer-to-Peer call is probably a blessing in disguise because your surgeon can discuss the reasons needed for your surgery to the med director at Aetna. My surgery did this with my Medicaid insurance carrier here in Phoenix. I needed the VSG revision surgery to get my health back on track. Your GYN probs, and the family history matters do play into the consideration. If your doctor is competent enough in facing the ins co, your surgery will happen. Mine did, and I go to the hosp on May 31st for surgery. I was exactly 1 week away from my gastric sleeve surgery date and the bariatric center called me and said my insurance (Aetna QPOS) denied me the procedure. They have a ton of requirements to qualify for surgery, 1 being 6 months of doctor visits, 2 years of weight loss history and what they told me was that because I was not over 40 bmi for the past 2 years that it wouldn't be approved. What a punch in the gut that was. Of course, my surgeon is out of the country on vacation so he can not call prior to next week - so surgery put on hold. I called the insurance company and they said the doctor had to do a "peer to peer" consultation, the surgeon and the medical director at Aetna. This is a phone call to explain why the surgeon thinks I should have the surgery. If all goes well (please cross your fingers for me) then they will be able to reschedule my surgery asap. If not - then the appeal process begins. I am hoping this is not the case, but I can only play this by ear for now. I never knew that being a "healthy" obese person could work against you, but since I don't have any co-morbid problems like diabetes or high blood pressure - they have to hope that my history with PCOS (Polycyctic ovaries) or a family history of high blood pressure and diabetes will work to my advantage. If you pray - could you send one up for me??? Thanks!

Diabetes in your family history is reason enough to appeal, Friend. Ask BCBS of CA whether they want to forever pay for your insulin in later years, or even support major heart attacks, strokes, hypertension and weak bones!!! Also, your doctor should go before their board of doctors in your behalf as mine did. I got approved the week of Apr 27th--surgery is May 31st. Appeal to them again and with fervor--you mean business!! I am rooting for you! I looked into appealing, but as the reason for the denial was "experimental procedure" and I don't have any other health concerns (other than mild edema) at this time. I don't really have a leg to stand on for appealing. I am doing this because everyone in my family has diabetes for 3 generations back. All due to being overweight. Most don't live over 65. I don't want this to be me.

Glad you are doing better!! Continued success with your wls. Mine is a week from tomorrow. Will be here before I know it!! Keep us posted on your progress. One week out today, I just wanted to thank eveyone for your well wishes!! Sugery went successful, worst part was my three hour recovery full of dry heaves (no worries pre-op'ers that is an abnormal length of time) after I go tback to my room it was smooth sailing Again, just wanted to stop in and let eveyone know I was doing well and on the Loser's bench!

You can also swirl it into sf Jello for a great taste. I like orange, lime, or any of the berry flavors in it. I have struggled with trying to find a way to eat greek yogurt. I can not stand the bitter stuff! Finally, today, I had a co-worker tell me to put some Swiss Miss in it. So I grabbed a pack of the sugar-free and dumped some in, stirred and WOW!! What a difference. It is actaually do-able. I am so glad because I wanted to like it. 5 oz has 15g of Protein. Lots of protein for such a little amount of food. YAY!! Kelly

That is sooo awesome!! I will be at goal at that rate!! I get sleeved on May 31st .

So happy for you!!! Your wedding will be a wonderful time, and I am sure that you will be a beautiful bride!! Ok, I'm really 8 months and 4 days out! Work has been crazy, so I'm just now posting my update! Eight months out and going strong! I've gone from a tight 26/28 to a size 14/16. I am now down to 210 this morning from my highest being 325, but my surgery weight was 312. I am enjoying life to the fullest! I can now run and keep up with my three year-old little boy. It's the best feeling ever! As far as eating, I still can only eat 4 oz at a time, and still eat my Protein first. I do on occasion treat myself; popcorn is my weakness! Oh! Some would consider it a "curse", but I still can not eat breads and Pasta or even ice cream. I really don't miss it much. I'm Italian and grew up with my far share of pasta and pasta dishes! Haha! I am getting married in three weeks, and crossing my fingers to be under 200 lbs! Eleven lbs in 21 days??! Maybe! As far as my final goal is to be 160 or 170, only 50-60 lbs to go!! Wish me luck! Thanks for listening! Suzette

You need to walk, this helps the body function regain its activity and reduces the gas pains. Vitamins: Try liquid Multivitamin drinks to sip on with your other fluids. Very important!!. I got one at costco called EcoDrink. It comes in a box of 30 packets in orange and berry flavor. You mix one pkt with 16 oz of bottled or filtered Water. It comes with a bottle you can use to sip it with. They said I had to sip very slowly--you should make sure to be sipping your drinks and liquids slowly. I have had a bypass--similar prep 10 yrs ago. My sleeve will be revision surgery, so I am taking extra care in doing my preop diet, sipping, and getting my Proteins and liquids in each day. I hope this suggestion helps you feel better--it will get better!!! I was sleeved on Monday and omg!!! I hurt so bad and now the gas pains hurt really bad. I don't feel like myself, i am dizzy and i feel like i can't care for myself. I guess i thought that this surgery would not be as bad as having a gall bladder removed or something, but i was wrong. I can't hardly sleep and my stomach keeps turning into knots. Im not trying to be negative, i just want ppl to know that this surgery is serious and is not an easy answer. The gas pain hurts alot and i also had severe diarrhea. The diarrhea has calm down some but the gas hurts. I too am worried about getting in all these Vitamins and proteins. I felt as if i wasn't getting nutrients which was the reason why i feel so bad and lacking energy. However, taking these vitamins on an empty stomach seems to be too much. Can anyone help me or give me advice about feeling better and making this healing process go a little faster? I feel so miserable. How long is this going to last? What happens if i don't get all my vitamins or Protein in? Arrrr....Im so worried about everything. PLZ help!!! Love u each. Sheena

I am in Phoenix, but it sounds like you guys will have a great time. My dr has support mtgs each month, and have reserved for July 11. Cannot wait!! If I was in Sac, I'd be there!!! Keep posted!

((((((HUGS))))))!!!!! Glad you got good news from the doctor. Take care.

Congrats on your progress! Wishing you continued success in your recovery and weightloss achievements. Take care!

<FONT color=#000080 size=4 face=Tahoma>I have my surgery in 12 days on the 31st. Dr says it is very important to follow Preop Diet to shrink the liver--I call this my detox-of-fat stage. I got a page of OK food n drink that I eat with my protein shakes. This is revision surgery to a bypass I had in 2001. Hubby needs to follow dr's orders--let dr deal with his prep with the preop diet.

Talk to your surgeon about this. They can order stool softener for you to take after Recovery. Drink lots of fluids, too. You want to keep yourself flushed out.

Deedee! Kiss that precious little Lucy for me!!! She is a Doll! Congrats to you and your DH!! I love Jazzercise and will go back to it once I get closer to my goal weight.

You have moved me to tears, DeeDee. I have had the same yearning my entire life!! Right now, I have no husband. It was my conviction that my kids would 2 loving parents like I had. I was adopted 57 yrs ago. For 20 yrs I was raised alone, and then when I was a freshman in college, my mom reconnected to my birthmother and siblings. The rest is history!! I have 2 moms, had 2 dads, now I am auntie to 10 and great auntie to 33!! Life is grand!! BUT, I have not given up hope of having the dreams of a loving marriage, this time grandparenting some kids, and just feeling very healthy and "complete". Adoption is a worthy endeavor with special meaning. Keep us posted on the little one's arrival.

Glad to hear you are doing well, Griselda. Hoping the other ladies are recovering nicely, too. Take care and keep us posted on your progress.