johnlatte

This one, is a big bone of contention on this board. There's a couple of schools of thought. 1 is that alcohol should be avoided all together (empty calories, bad on the gut, goes to your head quicker), then there's a group that wants to do it (yolo, lifes a party, don't want to be the only one not having a good time etc). Personally for me, I was a big drinker. That's part of why I was almost 300 lbs. So...climbing up on an operating table and letting them cut out a perfectly good organ, changed my perspective to a large degree. For me, it was more about my ultimate goals and changing my lifestyle. That meant that some things just didn't make sense in my life. Alcohol is one of them along with fast foods, white carbs, sugar and a whole lot of other things. I'm not saying that I won't ever take a drink again, that would be foolish. But what I am saying is that until I reach the goals that I set when I started this process, I have to stand firm. I don't feel that I am missing anything, my life is full and I like sobriety quite well actually. If you do decide to drink, understand that you may feel quite uncomfortable and you might feel the effects of the alcohol quite a bit faster than you might have otherwise. Just make the choice that you feel that you can best live with and go!

Mine told me the same thing. I sip along as I need to. I can't understand how you can't drink a little bit to help get the food down. I've never felt hungry quicker so I think it is one of those things like the pre-op diets, that every Dr. does differently.

I think that asking the Dr. might give you a better answer. Were they specific about the bar, or just said eat 200 cals and 5 gms of protein? if you are on a liquid diet, i might assume that they pretty much are looking for you to stay on liquids primarily.

I'm not a big fan of them. They taste fine upfront, but have this funky after taste. I like the Premier brand that you can get at Costco or Sams. They only come in chocolate or vanilla, but you can doctor them up all kinds of ways. They aren't terribly sweet and don't have an aftertaste. I am also not a fan of the powders. They never seem to mix well and the taste is never what you expect.

I know right..I wish costco or sams would carry strawberry.

Premiers are the best. Don't do powders. I just found the recipes on the Premier site to amp up the shakes. I can't wait to try some of those.

I never drank coffee...funny because I used to be in the coffee business. I drink tea fully caffeinated. They can take away my cheezeburgers, but they ain't taking my caffeine. My surgeon thought it was a pretty good compromise and let it go.

I liked (and still do) the Premier brand of RTD protein. Not overly sweet, comes in vanilla and choc. You can get them at Costco or Sams. You can amp them up flavor wise. Premier website has lots of recipes for making them even better. I also ate a lot of yogurt. The Yoplait Greek 100 calorie was suggested by my nutritionist and they are pretty good. I made a lot of home made egg salad, and pureed cans of chicken or tuna with BBQ sauce or Italian dressing. Not great to look at, but was really tasty.

thought i had posted in the thread awhile back. I live in Waxhaw and was sleeved by Dr. Pirello in Matthews on 11/20. 92 day out and every thing is just great. down 43 lbs since surgery. Only 57 more to go. Good luck to all that are starting the journey. Let me know if I can answer any questions. It's not that bad of process, just takes patience and hard work, but so worth it in the end!

I usually drink my protein when I'm done with the workout. I do my cardio first, then weights then eat or drink the protein. I don't think that there is a right or wrong way. Some prefer to protein up before working out some do it after. I just never liked working out with anything on my stomach.

PJ please know that I'm not judging you at all. I was a pretty solid drinker in my day. But I never felt that I had to drink to be normal. A lot of times, I went out with friends and didn't drink, just wasn't into it. Other times not so much. But before this surgery, I made a commitment to my self that if I was going to crawl up on that table and let them cut out 85% of my stomach, I was going to do my part and get my body and mind in a place that I could be as healthy as possible. I wanted to eliminate a lot of my demons from my past so that they would not be part of my future. Drink was part of that. I used the opportunity that I was given to make the kind of lifestyle changes that I needed to make in order to live the kind of life that I needed to live. That was my normal. Again not judging and not trying to be all soap boxy but try to understand that normal takes on a lot of different forms and some people are just as passionate about not drinking as those that want to drink are.

I used goof off, the same stuff that you use to take stickers off of stuff. They make a type that smell like orange and it worked great. sprayed a little into a washcloth in the shower and it cleaned up every spot really nicely.

Didn't get any either sucksazz and now I am sad. May go eat a Cheezeburger and a beer.....

I hate to say it, but I think you answered your question. Cheating daily really does tell you that your aren't ready to commit to doing this sleeve. I would seriously think about having an honest conversation with your Dr and your nutritionist and possibly someone who deals with eating disorders. Part of the reason for the pre-op diet is to get you ready both physically and mentally for the road ahead. There will be a time in the near future that you have to make significant lifestyle changes or you will have complications that you aren't ready to deal with. Your recovery from this surgery hinges around your ability to follow the course laid out by your Drs. and your nutritionist. If you aren't able or willing to do that now, my fear is that post-op you are going to have a lot of issues. Before you crawl up on that table and let them cut out your stomach, you owe it to yourself to reconcile your relationship with food. You start by being honest and talk to the professionals that are there to help you. Good Luck Hang Tough

Okay, just trying to keep it real here. Statistics do show that the weight loss with the sleeve is slightly less than RNY, that makes it about 85%-87% of the total weight needed to be lost. That doesn't mean that we won't hit our desired goal. It just means that last little bit might be a bit tougher than than it would be just through the surgery alone and you might have to work a bit harder to hit that goal. NOW, the Dr. shouldn't have brought that up, but if you research it that's what you'll find. My surgeon even said that in our orientation session. We see people on this board all the time that has loss 100+ on the sleeve. It seems to me, just by what I follow here is that more than 100 lbs with the sleeve is a tougher, but it is certainly doable. Just just have to work at it. Don't let the knock you off your game, hang tough

The actual drain they took out before I left the hospital. The covered the spot with more steristrips. They took out the staples on my first post op visit at his office. You will totally love Dr. Pirrello. He's very thorough. He seems very straight forward and stiff , but has a pretty wicked sense of humor once you get him to open up. I was sold the night at the orientation when he talked about why he does what he does (his dad). Which nutritionist are you seeing? I see Cheryl as she went through my preop diets with me. The other nutritionist and I got off on the wrong foot, so I moved on. I think if you follow his plan of attack, you will do really good. Good luck Hang Tough. Let me know how you do!

I'm on 1500mg of Metformin and was taking Actos. Before surgery I was at 2000mg. Preop I stopped taking the Actos and never went back. (to many horror stories). I plan on cutting back to 1000mg after my next Dr appt in March. I never stopped taking the Met. I was only in the hospital for a day, so I kept taking it after I go home. I did crush them for a while, but didn't have a problem being nauseous. My goal is to be drug free by 1 year post op.

You should be following what your Dr. told you for your protein consumption. Every Dr. does it differently. Typically it is between 40-60 grams of protein. Doesn't have to be all shakes unless you are on liquids only.

Typically - Low blood sugar, dehydration and low consumption of protein. Give your Dr or Nutritionist a call and see what they say.

Agree with gamer, there are days that I really just don't want to eat anything at all. Eggs have been the only thing that has remotely made me nauseous. My nutritionist doesn't seem to know why. But, that's what I had for breakfast this AM and it was fine. Try a little sugar free torani syrup in your premiers. I love the sugar free caramel and sugar free english toffee.

At 9 weeks, I really wouldn't do it. But hey, yolo right? I think your stomach is going to settle the issue for you, but why be denied if you are craving it? If you do it, come back and tell us how you do.

Brandy, you have to tune out the family. This surgery can save your life. Yes, absolutely there are risks, but those risks, are very manageable if you get your surgeon, your nutritionist and your primary care dr. on the same page. Do everything they tell you to do. If you don't know something ask them. Follow the plan to the letter. Get in as best physical shape as you possibly can pre-op. I don't say that you have to run a marithon but be able to walk a mile without having to stop and not be winded. The better shape you are in, the better your recovery will be. Second, you have to get your mind around that this will be a major change in lifestyle. If your recreational life revolves round food and drink, then you have to reconcile that. Many people come on here and be just a week or so out and want to find out when they can have a glass or wine or go out to eat with their friends. All that will happen, but it takes some time to heal, and it takes some time to restructure your relationship with food. Make sure you are crystal clear with your drs. and your nutritionist about when you can do certain things, and STICK to that. This is how you minimize the risks that you are afraid of. I would rather be slightly uncomfortable for a few weeks or months, than live with obesity. Everyday you live like that, is one less day you have for your kids and your family. Obesity is a killer, just like ciggies, just like heavy drinking and drug use. You can do this, PLEASE don't let the family sway you. You've come far and you will do well, but you have to get your head and your body in the game. Good luck! Hang tough

Not a fan of the powers. too much trouble, never seem to fully mix and leave all that crud at the bottom of the cup. I second the Premiers from Costco. Easy going down, aren't too sweet. They sell the vanilla and chocolate (Premier has a strawberry flavor but I have never seen it). The vanilla can be touched up with a splash of Tornai sugar free caramel or English Toffee. Good stuff!

Mine wasn't but about 4 inches long and was taped to my side with steristrips. Didn't have to pin it to anything. Was a little sore around the area, but I had staples there too so that was more of the where the soreness came from.

nerd...