Annie B

I wasn't allowed to start the vitamins until 2 weeks out when I started moist and mushy. I had no problems with them - all chewable except for the sublingual B12.

Hair loss is something I am worried about as my hair is naturally thin anyway. My NUT says protein is the best tool against hair loss, but it seems that almost everyone has experienced it, regardless of protein intake. What levels of protein were you each taking in?

Good idea - never thought of that, but I also never heard about the NG tube part.

Congratulations! Very exciting! I wish you all the best!

I'm with MOMW. This is worth checking with your physician! Feel better!

Congratulations!! Amazing!

Oh my gosh!!! You look amazing!! 15 months! So cool!! Congratulations!

If you get a chance, read the post "Major victory for me" - it is a perfectly suited to your post and very inspiring!

Congratulations!!

I'm so sorry you are dealing with this. I put off telling my family till just before the surgery (a week) because I was worried about that kind of reaction. I was very pleasantly surprised that they were extremely supportive, but it would have added to my stress to have to deal with that on top of the rest. I'm just very sad that you have to deal with this as well.

Congratulations!!

I'm handling mine by staying off the scale and on my plan. My body has been shocked by the surgery, shocked even more by the 2 weeks of clear liquids and probably is more confused than I am! I'm thinking it is just a matter of time before things normalize.

What is C25K?

Beachmommy, I woke up in recovery with that awful chest pressure and let them know immediately since I thought I might be having a heart attack. They told that was gas. It stayed with me for several days, ever-so-slightly better each day. It would come back every time I swallowed a sip of liquid and I realized I was swallowing air. I'm almost 4 weeks out and haven't felt it for quite awhile, but I do empathize with you - it was the most difficult part of my post-op period. However, anything with chest pressure/pain, etc. should be run by your doctor!

Carol Watts - thank you for sharing - very encouraging!

Congratulations!!! I so can't wait to get out of the 2's - 204 this morning...

Hi Mel, I was on clear liquids for 2 weeks following surgery. However, it almost did me in. I was weaker than a baby, and close to collapsing on a regular basis. I was absolutely not getting in enough calories - still don't know how I could with clear liquids and taking in a max of 4 oz/hour. My doc's rationale for the 2 weeks of clears is to protect the stomach incision site. They never mentioned calorie goals - just clear liquid goals. It's actually something I'm going to bring up when I go back, because I don't think almost collapsing in the shower is what they had intended either!

Welcome! It's a great forum for sharing, commiserating and bonding!

Yes, I did struggle with this. However, I had a 20 year history of losing/gaining, etc., was on 8 medications, plus insulin for Type 2 diabetes that I was unable to control and was facing the possibility of long-term, life-altering (blindness, amputations, etc.) complications from diabetes. When I faced the reality of my situation, removing a healthy part of my body in the hopes of saving my life seemed completely appropriate. I was sleeved 3 weeks ago and am down to 3 medications plus much, much lower amounts of insulin, which I hope to be off of entirely in the next 2 months. Your situation may be completely different, and only you can make that determination. I do understand the struggle, though! I wish you all the best!

First, you were beautiful before and you are beautiful now! And, wow! You are in an inspiration - you look wonderful, healthy, and happy! Congratulations!

I don't have the answer, but I am treating it as a meal. However, the shake I'm having is not even as thick as chocolate milk, so it's a question I want to ask the NUT next week. It seems to me this would go right through like any liquid.

Poor the sprite in a glass and then stir with a spoon until it's flat. It takes care of the carbonation but leaves you with the right taste.

Ha - I had no idea what the altitude meant! Are you puree-ing your tuna? I haven't had anything like that. I have a protein shake for breakfast, soup for lunch and cottage cheese for dinner. Only 4 oz per meal, though, and I get hungry about 2 hours after eating. I've tried yogurt, but really don't like yogurt. I also will eat the SF puddings - which I enjoy, but try to go with the protein of the cottage cheese instead.

Feverish? How high? Mine will be 3 weeks tomorrow. Began getting my energy back once I was switched to moist and mushy (pureed). Before that I was pretty weak.

Eat the salmon first, finish up with the potato... Protein first, then carbs. I'm guessing you're not having a baked potato at every meal, so I think if that's what you're wanting, have it once in a while and enjoy it. Of course, I'm not even on solid foods yet, so there are way more people with more experience. However, the protein first, then carbs, makes sense to me.