JennyNH

I would stay away from Soups with Pasta. I am just under 3 weeks out and on purée for a week now and my favorite soup is Campbell's cream of chicken made with skim milk. I make the whole can and eat a half cup at a time. Takes me a good hour to an hour and a half to get it down, with multiple reheating a in the micro, but its so warm and yummy. Really gives me that feeling that I'm eating food.

I had my surgery on June 12th and i have to say i feel amazing! I was expecting the typical shoulder pain and bloat that i have experienced with other surgeries that i have had, but i surprisingly didn't have them at all. I left the hospital on day 3 with a drain that had to stay in for a week and i wasn't allowed to leave the hospital until i could get down two 8 oz shakes, which i was able to do by 4:30pm. The next day my husband and i walked through the mall (slowly) and i stayed as active as possible for the entire weekend with a short nap in the middle of the day. By monday i was feeling normal and was virtually pain free. I have only taken the anti inflammatory that i was prescribed once a day since then. Overall i can say i have had an amazing experience and love the fact that I AM NOT HUNGRY. My relationship with food has changed for the better and i am so happy that i will no longer be controlled by piles of unhealthy choices and lack of will-power. I love the unjury shakes and the chicken Soup flavor is nice for something warm and savory. Down 11 lbs since my surgery date and couldn't be happier to see that my efforts are finally showing up on the scale!

i just got a Multi that i can tolerate!! GNC Womens Ultra Mega now comes in a soft chew. Tried one in the store and it went down well. SOLD!

What brand vitamins are you using? I am 4 days post op and also find it difficult to get down my huge chewable. I have been using Opurity vitamins. They are optimized for bypass and sleeve. I used to crunch them with no problem pre op but now I take tiny bits at a time, chew that little bite to dust and dissolve it with a tiny sip of water before swallowing. It's a process but worth the extra time to avoid any trace of nausea. And congrats on your progress!!!! I'm still waiting to lose all the fluids from the IVs.

I was sleeved on the 12th as well and I agree that the gurgling is annoying. I only have pain if I take too big of a sip or if the water is too cold. Also I have noticed less gurgling if I take tiny sips with a couple minutes apart. I just came home from the hospital today and I'm feeling great otherwise. Good luck to you and I hope you have a speedy recovery.

I will be right behind you one Wednesday!!!

The staples are made of surgical grade titanium. The same metal used in hip and knee replacements. A reaction to them is very rare. I had the same concern myself and was all over the internet looking up info. Although I knew this in the back of my mind, i wanted reasurrance.

I have a wonderful juicer from Omega. I am pre op but fully plan on juicing vegetables in order to get the nutrients as soon as I get the ok from my nutritionist.

I have been noticing this trend too. As a pre-sleever i have to admit i have been staying off the forum more than usual because i keep reading regrets. I am in this and keeping my mind positive and dont want to be scared out of doing it. I am thinking that some people have a lack of education going into it and afterwards as well. I couldn't imagine doing this without the support of the bariatric team for the weeks/months before surgery, and i would be so scared afterwards if i had not a clue what to post op. I myself have educated my self as much as possible before making a final decision and i am ready to go for it! I am sick of fighting this life long battle and looking forward to the new me. I go to pre-op support groups and hear the good, bad and ugly from both post sleevers and post RNY-ers. I am happy with my decision to have VSG and look at it as the most positive decision i have made in my adult life.

I just had mine yesterday. The dr found that I have mild gastritis and prescribed omeprazole and said it should clear up in a couple of weeks. I was out for only about 10 minutes but when I woke up I felt like I had the best nights sleep.

I just had my 5th behavior modification group meeting with the bariatric psychologist tonight and this is one thing that he did go over, as far as the stalling goes anyway. After surgery, because our intake is so low, our brain thinks we are starving ourselves and forces the body to hold on to the weight for sometimes as long as a couple of weeks. This is typical of the sleeve surgery, more so than the gastric bypass. The weight loss will be in more of a gradual stair step type loss instead of a constant down-slope. He said as long as we stick to our plan we are given by our nutritionists and follow our exercise plans, our bodies will catch up with our brains once it realizes that we are not starving and the weight will come off again. Are you in a program that offers post-op support groups? How far out are you? From what i understand, the head hunger can last a few weeks after surgery. I have not had my surgery yet, but i am ready and looking forward to a healthier life.

I see you were sleeved last thursday. How are you feeling so far? i dont have a date yet but i am getting through all my steps... Nut, PT, 5 group therapy sessions, etc. I am in Portsmouth and loving the team here!

i stopped chewing gum after i read this article... http://www.collective-evolution.com/2012/09/11/is-chewing-gum-the-most-toxic-substance-in-the-supermarket/

I just saw my Nutritionist last thursday and she put me on an up-to-1600 cal diet. Replacing a meal (usually breakfast) with a protein shake along with healthy options to make each meal around 400 cal with no more than 50 carbs, and snacks 150 cal w/no more than 15 carbs. All protien based meals. New habits.... NEVER eat in front of the TV.... small bites, putting fork down and chew, chew. chew... nothing to drink for 1/2 hr before or after (really hard for me as i like to wash everything down) and measure and weigh EVERYTHING. Also i made my nutritionist friend me on my fitness pal so it makes me feel like she is always checking up on me. And Now......OFF TO THE GYM!

I got mine at target, but you can get them at walmart too. Try the the ready to drink shakes to see if you like them, and if you do, you can buy the powder to mix your own. Or if you have a nutritionist to consult, ask him/her for advice as well.

I am on my pre-op diet to lose my initial 5% before surgery, and i am required to replace at least one meal with a protein shake. I have tried some good ones. try Muscle milk light, and EAS carb control. Both have around 100 cal and 17-20 protein. Don't taste too bad either.

HI There, My husband and I are also going through this together. We are just starting out on our journey and looking forward to a healthier life together. Congrats on the weight loss and your new baby.

As long as your bag is big enough, you can bring anything in! I will have to try it!

I have seen Jessica in the past. She is the sweetest! Looking fwd to meeting w/ her again. I'm wondering if she takes a different approach for the bariatric patients than just traditional diet for high BP/ pre- diabetic.

Phoenix, have you been trying any protein drinks yet? We have been trying a few so we know what will be tolerable. Muscle milk light is pretty good. The fact that it is dairy free is good for me since I have had issues with dairy since I had my gallbladder out.

Yes. I feel blessed that we moved to an area with a great medical community. If you don't mind me asking, what is your starting weight/ goal. I was @ 300 when I met w/ nancy and I refuse to get on a scale until my nutrition appt. I hope to get down to 140.

HI Kate, I am in Portsmouth as well!!!! I just saw Dr Wagner yesterday and start the behavior mod classes next week. How far are you into the program? Do you have a surgery date yet? My husband and I are doing this together. Its great to connect with someone else that is in the same program. Jenny