bakawaka

For anyone who might find it helpful, here are some tips I have on the pre-op liquid diet, which I am following for one month. (1) My favorite product is Bariatric Advantage shakes, which have to be mixed in a blender at home. I'm permitted to put fruit into them and my favorite is a banana. I use fat-free/low-fat soy milk or almond milk instead of skim milk or Water. It does help to add some ice. The fruit can be frozen. I have a Vitamix blender, which can handle anything put into it. Sometimes I mix in soft tofu. A blender is going to be an important part of a post-op life, so I recommend investing in a very good blender that will not burn out quickly. There are alternatives to Vitamix (but i cannot remember the names). (2) I cannot take a blender to work. So I use ENSURE and/or GNC Total Lean shakes. When I am traveling, I find it easier to find ENSURE in a drug store. SlimFast is another alternative. (3) When I drink a Protein shake by itself, I am hungry after about 2 1/2 hours. So I drink another! I am permitted up to 6 per day. I never let myself feel hungry - that way I don't crave food solid food. (4) Inbetween shakes, I find chicken bouillion in a cup - hot - to drink - to be helpful in managing hunger. It is great to have something savory instead of all of the sweet Protein Shakes. (5) I did order the vegetable Soup from Bariatric Advantage and use that inbetween protein shakes. (6) I use FitnessPal to track calories. I try to stay at 1300-1500 calories per day. I am not interested in rapid weight loss pre-op. The goal is to shrink the liver. I am losing a bit of weight. But I prefer to lose it slowly. (7) I have to drink a lot of water. The protein shakes make me very thirsty. (8) The first three days I had headaches - now they are gone. I have 17 more days of this liquid diet, then surgery. Of course, then I start ANOTHER liquid diet. (9) I view the pre-op liquid diet as good preparation for a new lifestyle - changing my relationship with food. Not every moment is fun. But I am convinced that the discipline of the diet is a good preparation for a new post-surgery relationship with food. I plan to use protein shakes occasionally for convenience for the rest of my life - particularly for Breakfast. I am not an employee of any company that produces or is affiliated with any weight-loss products, protein shakes, tofu companies, Vitamin manufacturers, blender manufacturers, food production, etc. I'm simply a consumer of these items.

One of my neighbors has the RNY procedure and experienced a diabetes cure within hours after surgery (or maybe I should say "remission" - I'm not a doctor). My primary care physician also stated that my hypertension, hyperlipidemia (I think that means "high cholesterol") would be "cured" right after surgery due to the calorie restriction and the pre-op liquid diet. I'm curious: have others who have had the VSG who suffered from diabetes, high cholesterol and/or hypertension been "cured" right after surgery (or experienced the diabetes going into remission)? I'm fascinated by this idea. My PCP states that several of his patients who have had the VSG are able to stop hypertension medication the day after surgery.

I went self pay for gastric bypass - it might be worth considering self pay

I asked for extra versed preop an the anesthesiologist agreed - so I was asleep when I was wheeled into the operating room and literally slept through the whole thing. I told them I was nervous and they helped out. My gastric bypass was my first surgery and I was very scared and nervous. I would be nervous again but less so because it is more familiar. I found it helpful to tell the surgeon and the nurses that I was nervous - and they all said it is normal. That dialogue helped.

After gastric bypass I am not able to sleep through the night - even Ambien does not help other than to help me initially fall aslerp

I've had two VitaMixes - one for ten years. I think it's worthy the money. It does outlast other blenders - and it has more power than regular blenders. I do see advertisements for other powerful blenders at lower cost (can't remember the name at the moment). So there certainly are alternatives. I'm sticking with Vitamix. I'm also purchasing a masticating juicer so that I can extract nutrition from greens without all of the fiber. It will sit alongside my Vitamix.

i love martinis and gin & tonics. But i no longer want the empty calories. Post-op I am happy to give up alcohol. Maintaining weight loss is more important to me.

I started with a BMI of 34.9 going for the sleeve but I opted for the gastric bypass because of its better results against long-term regain. I would encourage people with lower BMI's to get the sleeve or the bypass - don't wait until morbid obesity approaches. I am three weeks post op and I am so grateful I did this surgery. It is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I had to pay out of pocket an t was worth every penny.

I have used Prozac since the 1980's. I amusing weight just fine - even on Prozac. I watched depression rip apart my parents' lived (my father would not take his medication). I refuse to fall into that trap. If you need antidepressants my recommendation is to take them. Untreated depression has horrible horrible consequences.

I had a catheter. It was inserted while I was under anesthesia. I truly needed the catheter because the anesthesia shutdown everything. I truly felt nothing when it was removed. I was so tired at the time of removal I did not care who removed it. The female nurse was 100% professional. Truly it was no big deal. Do not worry about the catheter.

I needed a catheter due to anesthesia shutting down the urinary system. I did not feel anything when it was removed. Truly no big deal.

I was worried about the catheter but I can truly say that it was painless - absolutely no big deal. And I was grateful to have it because the anesthesia shut down everything. Do not worry about the catheter.

then why don't you have an affair? life is to short to experience an asexual life (unless you want it that way). the physical part of life is a very important part of life to be celebrated.

I am going to remain on decaf coffee to avoid the dehydrating and appetite-stimulating effects of caffeine.

I vomited all the way to the hospital out of fear and nervousness. But now that surgery is over, I think that I will not be as nervous if I have surgery in the future. The gastric bypass was the first surgery under general anesthesia. It was the fear of the unknown. I'm sure that I will be a bit nervous for future surgeries, but much less so compared to the first. It helped me to be able to tell my surgeon and the preop nurse and I was nervous and scared. And it helped me immensely when they both said that fear and nervousness are completely normal. They gave me extra Versed before the procedure (I requested it specifically). And that truly helped.

Decaf coffee with soy milk or almond milk as the creamer

It really does get better and better each day. I am 11 days post op and find myself irritable and emotional. I think it is a normal reaction. When I started on puréed foods I did feel better. Staying hydrated and getting Protein in truly made me feel better. I still am emotional - feel like Icahn cry easily. I don't know why but have a feeling that it simply comes from all of the stress that our bodies have been under. I had to stay in the hospital five nights. But I definitely can say that every day I feel a little by better. I am sorry that you are feeling bad and hope you feel better and better each day. I hope this helps somehow and I am wishing the greatest success for you!

your comment has convinced me to terminate my participation in this forum.

You can gain weight back with the lapband, with the sleeve and with gastric bypass. There is no 100% surgical cure. I chose gastric bypass. But my cure for my obesity is using the bypass to achieve diet/behavior modifications.

i had gastric bypass. I am 8 days post-op. I want to achieve 1000 calories per day but no more.

i had gastric bypass with Dr. Kane at Alexian Bros. in Elk Grove. Dr. Kane provided excellent care. Alexian Bros.' nurses provided excellent care.

i am 8 days post-op from gastric bypass. i am feeling a bit better every day. i find that weight loss increases as i am able to increase my protein and fluid intake. i think that i can stop taking my pain medication. i still have some staples and a surgical drain.

i stayed on the pre-op liquid diet for one month and then had gastric bypass. post-op i am so glad that i stayed on the liquid diet. it truly helped prepare me for the obligatory liquid diet post-op.