tigerbelle

thanks, Kristy...make sure you post here after surgery, and we can compare notes

Have you asked your doctor about this? I am having surgery Monday, and I went over all of this when I had my pre-op this week. I am not sure where you are in the process, but maybe if you don't have a surgery date yet, the topic hasn't come up at an appointment. I am concerned about this as well, but my medical team doesn't appear to think there will be problems...and I figure a lot of us preparing for surgery are on meds--including anti-depressants.

I was holding off grocery shopping for my post-op diet until I saw my NUT...I am planning on doing that shopping this weekend...it's about time, since my surgery is Monday I have been taking notes from the message boards for several weeks now, and I am merging those notes with the packet my NUT gave me Wednesday...I could use a little advice and guidance please My post-op prescribed program is Clear liquids for the first two days...that includes a clear Liquid Protein drink--60 to 70 grams of protein each day...the brand my NUT recommended is New whey liquid...they come in 3.8 oz liquid vials, and each vial contains 42g protein...that means I would drink (sip) 1.5 to 2 vials each of the two days...she is advising I just sip about a third of each vial in a "sitting," which means it would take six sittings throughout the day to get it all in...plus of course the rest of my fluids...I am tempted just to buy the 4 vials of what she recommended--it's only 4 two days post-op, and I think I could drink them very cold and tolerate them for just 2 days...any feedback on this? I am more concerned about shopping for the next 10 to 12 days when I will be on a "full liquid" diet...the NUT says that the New Whey Liquid used during the first two days aren't sufficient nutritionally for this full liquid phase...she gave me a list of suggested brands with her personal recommendations highlighted...here are the highlighted options (in this phase I need 70-75g protein daily): --EAS Myoplex Original ready to drink; 17oz has 42g protein --Oh Yeah! Nutritional shake from GNC in powder or ready to drink; 32g protein in 14 oz drink --Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Protein from GNC in homemade vanilla ice cream flavor; 23g protein/scoop of powder --Pure Protein Shake from Walmart or GNC; comes in chocolate and vanilla with 35g protein in 11 oz drink --Unjury Whey Protein Powder (comes unflavored; also in a chicken Soup flavor) each scoop has 20g of protein From my notes from the message boards, I have these recommendations: --Syntrax nectar shakes --Matrix (mint cookie flavor) --Premier Protein (choc and vanilla) ready to drink has 30g protein per bottle --Isopure fruit flavored (orange, grape) --EAS dark chocolate with PB powder My NUT says during the full liquid phase, I can mix the protein powder with low-fat milk products if I desire; also I can have cream Soups (like cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, cream of celery) and I can add unflavored protein powder to the soups my other two options on full liquid are low-fat cottage cheese (which I don't like now) and light yogurt (not sure what "light" means here) I must complete my shopping on Sunday--any advice, feedback, guidance from those who have "been there" will be appreciated...at this time I am not even planning for the soft food stage, since I won't be there until after my follow-up NUT visit two-weeks post-op

yay, mswanda...glad you are home and feeling pretty good...I am scheduled for Monday...it's gonna be a nervous weekend for me!

you must have reached your goal weight; right? I didn't think salad (lettuce, etc.) was an option for quite some time after surgery...when were you able to start eating salads like the one you got from Subway?

I am also glad you are doing well

laura, how did the book help you? I ask because I have read similar books on emotional eating and overeating...I always understand what the author is saying and it helps me put words to some of my own feelings, but I haven't found any of those books to actually give me tools or practical guidance to overcome the issues

Capricornrose, I understand your feelings...I am scheduled for Monday...I told my therapist yesterday that one of my fears is that when I am sleeved, my "comforter" (food) will not be available for me...and what will I do when I am anxious, or sad, or bored, or lonely? Food has been there for me (in an unhealthy way of course) for as long as I can remember...I start feeling overwhelmed, and that is when I step back and say to myself: you will get through this--take it one day at a time...I am not sure if you are a spiritual person or not, but for me, I try to put it in the hands of God

glad you are home, Beck...keep us updated

keep up the good work...congrats!

after doing research, I decided on the sleeve because I didn't like the idea of re-routing my colon nor the nutritional disadvantages of malabsorption...I have heard that some people who have a very high BMI do the sleeve first and then later do a something similar to a gastric bypass as a second step...that is what a cousin of mine did...I am hoping that the sleeve alone will work for me (my surgery is scheduled for May 6)...I have heard some people say they went with gastric bypass because they didn't want to have to go through two possible surgeries and wanted to do a single procedure...I recommend to keep doing research before making a final decision (like you seem to be doing)...and also talk more specifically with your surgeon about your particular circumstances...the best for you...I know how difficult the decision can be

wow

great to hear...I hope you continue on that path

cinward, thanks for doing that list that we can keep adding to..it is very helpful...I see that May 6 and May 28 are "tied" with each having 4 of us scheduled on that date John's Girl, I know where you are coming from...what I have been doing is making sure I visit each of my favorite restaurants before surgery; I just eat my favorite menu choice and don't over do it...also, there are a few favorite foods that I want to make sure I enjoy before surgery...also, I remind myself that it will just be temporary that I won't be able to have my favorite foods at all; and by that I mean that eventually when I reach my goal weight and have established healthy eating habits, I will occasionally be able to eat out at my favorite restaurants again...with my newfound habits and smaller stomach, I believe I will be satisfied with 1/2 or less of what I would usually eat at the restaurant itself--then I can get a double or triple treat by taking the leftovers home to enjoy at a later day

I pretty much echo what shrinkingbiker said...I am assuming you are in your 30s from the social group you belong to here on the boards...you said you never had the yo-yo thing, so I am assuming again that you haven't tried diets in the past...for me, the choice for WLS was sort of a last resort, although I know that isn't the same for everyone...in some ways, I wish I had done it sooner, because perhaps I wouldn't have suffered some of the complications I have from diabetes...I did lose a significant amount of weight in my late 20s by instituting an exercise regimen and healthy eating plan, but during my 30s I gained it all back and then some...then at 40, I was diagnosed with diabetes, and the struggle to lose weight has been ongoing...leading me to my current decision to have WLS only you know your own history and expectations, and I would never try to give you advice other than to be as sure as you can before having the surgery and also do some soul-searching as suggested by others...all of the best to you

I was relieved when I found out my surgeon doesn't require a pre-op diet...without the tool of the sleeve, I am not sure I could do it for a full week, much less two weeks...I, too, worry that I won't be able to do it even after VSG, but I have to give it a try and do my best...I am praying that the surgery will help get me on track with my eating habits--right now I feel like I am in a vicious eating cycle

I am in Baton Rouge, Louisiana...as is my surgeon

I understand your doubts and second thoughts. It took me a while to feel comfortable to schedule WLS, but I am now scheduled for May 6. I am not going to lie--I am still nervous about it and am still not 100% sure I am making the right choice, but I am the kind of person that will never feel totally certain about any major decision. I would recommend, though, that you thoroughly do your research if you haven't already and to definitely talk with people who have had WLS--this forum is of course a great source of info and personal experiences of others. My biggest fear is a major complication like a leak. I believe my research on the sleeve surgery showed there is about a 1% chance of a leak overall among all surgeons. My surgeon--who as done about 2,000 such surgeries over the last few years--told me that to date he has had no patients with leaks, and he has only had two with strictures (and those two happened at the beginning of when he started doing these surgeries...I know that of course doesn't guarantee I won't have a serious complication, but it gives me the best assurance I think I can get pre-surgery...all the best for you...believe me I know how difficult the decision is

can you only buy Unjury on the Internet? do drugstores sell it? nutrition/health food stores?

good job...you remind me of Halle Berry

I love banana muffins...gonna try to remember this recipe post-surgery...how many weeks will it be do y'all think before I could eat a muffin like this? I am scheduled for the VSG on May 6

add me to those who think 50 lbs in 3 months is awesome...I am having surgery May 6 and would be thrilled to lose 50 lbs by August 6

ok I am pre-op with surgery on May 6, and I admit I am totally new to the protein shake world...I never even tried a diet with one, but I have been reading a lot on here and taking notes...how soon post-op can you have skim milk or almond milk? These Premier Protein drinks: they are powders or come pre-mixed in liquid form? Where can you buy PB2 (the peanut butter powder), and can you use this in the early weeks pre-surgery? My most important questions have to do with ice and/or freezing the shakes. For some reason, I believe I will be able to tolerate these protein shakes better the colder they are...I was intrigued with kakaw's suggestion of freezing the shakes--kakaw, when you do that, how do you "drink" the shake? do you let it melt some and drink with a straw, or do you eat it with a spoon? Can any of these shakes--powdered or otherwise--be mixed in a blender with crushed ice? I know these questions sound ignorant, but I actually am ignorant when it comes to these protein drinks.

I am also scared of all the things others mentioned--the actual surgery, having complications like a leak, not being able to eat the right amount of protein and fluids to heal, not having my "comfort food" to help me when I am down or anxious, failing to follow the program...and just a overall fear of my life being different--I really want it to be better (healthier, more energy, longer life), but I fear that it will be even worse I do have a few friends and family members who are supportive, but also some of the non-supportive side; and overall most of them just don't truly understand the struggle...what I do have personally is a trust in God, so for me that is where I am trying to place my fears

I love dark chocolate...never heard of this EAS brand before...where do you buy it? it is a powder?