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Ally, I hope you can also. I live near St. Louis and it's bad here also.

Here it is. http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/261167-list-of-bariatric-nutritional-companies-offering-free-samples/

I got exercise in today but it wasn't part of what I listed for my January challenge. I shoveled snow for about an hour and a half. I know if I had tried to do this prior to sleeve surgery, I'd probably be having a heart attack. Now hope that winds don't blow the snow back where I shoveled. It is cold out there also. Hope this revved the metablolism up a little. Working out inside tomorrow. Predicted hiigh for tomorrow is 0.

Yes, I had my sleeve surgery on 10/25/13.

Seela, Your thread is the top one listed in reply 3.

Fiddle, I am currently in physical therapy for right hip pain. Saw the doctor for the first time in February 2013 had therapy and got a cortisone shot.. Diagnosis was trochantor bursitis. Got better but still felt some restriction in mobility. Got really bad again and last Thursday got another shot and started another round of physical therapy. Doctor said my hip socket is deep, has arthritis and the labrum is starting to calcify. One thing that helps me is to make sure my hips are in alignment. Even if one side is out by a 1/4" it can be painful. Not sure if my symptoms and problem are the same, but is sounds similar to me.

I know the feeling well. Totally normal feelings to be excited and nervous. You will probably experience those same feelings many times during your journey.

Hi Curvy Cakes, Welcome to BariatricPal and your upcoming sleeve surgery. Here is a forum that is dedicated to patients having their surgery in March 2014. http://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/1000-march-2014-sleevers/ There appear to be two topics posted there already. You may be able to find other March members. There are a lot of topics and many helpful members here at BariatricPal. Good luck with your surgery

ladyd, What does your doctor and nutritionist list for you in this phase as acceptable vegetables? When I was on soft foods my doctor only allowed canned and frozen vegetables which had to be steam cooked. It seems every doctor has a different post-op diet and I would follow what your doctor advises you to have.

The biggest problem with shrimp when ordering at a restaurant is making sure they cooked it properly. If they overcook it, it can be rubbery and tougher to chew. Since your doctor lists foods like tilapia for soft food, I would stick with that for now. When your stomach is ready to move to the next phase and shrimp is allowed, definitely add it. Enjoy going out this evening.

Do you have a book from your doctor or nutritionist identifying the foods they consider to be soft foods? I know for me shrimp and see food did not come until five weeks out, but tuna, cod, and tilapia according to my doctor fell into the soft food group. Shrimp now is a go to food for me. Good Protein source while being easy and quick to prepare.

Congrats and keep up the good work.

Are you doing the basics? Getting in enough Protein first, Tracking food Exercising If not, you might start doing these things to get a picture of your eating habits. For me when I see things written down it helps me get a clearer picture of what is going on and how to modify it.

This is one of those areas that there are a variety of opinions on and no consistency similar to pre and post-op diets. My doctor's office said no straws because it can cause you to take in more air and also can cause you to drink more quickly and gulp which we all know are big no nos with weight loss surgery. Taking in more air and drinking too quickly can lead to more pain. Drinking with a straw may be a nonissue for you. I have used straws since my surgery by accident without incident. I was out for dinner in a restaraunt and the server brought me Water with a straw. I took a few drinks and realized I was using a straw. If you search the forums, you will find a lot of topics on this. Here are a few http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/289965-thoughts-on-drinking-through-a-straw/page-3?hl=%2Busing+%2Bstraw#entry3271094 http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/205248-frequently-asked-questions/page-5?hl=%2Busing+%2Bstraw#entry2798684

Man, do I feel sorry for you. I couldn't get through 1 pages without getting bored to tears. I highly recommend Head First PMP. MUCH more digestible. http://www.amazon.com/Head-First-PMP-Jennifer-Greene/dp/1449364918/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1388950180&sr=8-1 My class is based on 5th ed PMBOK. After class I will be concentrating on PMBOK and 8th ed Rita Mulcahy Exam Prep. I rate PMBOK up there with some of my insomnia cure reading for other classes including con law and admin law. Can't want to read something fun. Hopefully by end of March if not sooner. Just have to pass my PMP exam.

Mrse, If you have any questions about pain, call your doctor they will be the expert.

I don't believe coughing is going to damage anything. I had a band before. Coughing a lot can cause pain. I got a cold 20 days postop myself after my sleeve surgery. It took me a little longer to recover from it. I attribute it to having an additional surgery 11 days after my sleee surgery. I put my body through a lot in a short timeframe and returned to work part-time at 12 days out. I got another the week of Christmas but it has gone away in the regular time frame. Crazy weather temperature differences could be a contributing factor. We have gone from 70 to teens in two days time several times lately. I swear by Zicam. For me if you start taking it when symptoms appear, it helps lessen the length and the intensity of the cold. Hope you feel better soon.

Mama, I found myself not as focused also and attribute it partly to the anesthesia. It takes awhile to get it out of your system. I believe some of it also is tiredness. It is major surgery. I need to have a lot of focus with my current position, and it wasn't there in the beginning. It cleared up by six weeks post-op for me. I too am back in class and finish next Sunday. I hope to sit for my professional exam in mid-March. Good luck with your recovery, weight loss journey and doctoral studies. I received my master's in May 2012 and it took me until November 2013 to take another class.

I have not had one instance of food getting stuck since I have had my sleeve, and hope you have the same. I didn't start experiencing any hunger until a week post-op. At that point it was not uncontrollable nor has it been since surgery. I am 10 weeks out.

Right now nothing exciting. PMBOK 5th edition. I am preparing for a final exam in class and planning to sit for the PMP exam in March.

Snuff, I am a revision patient also. It sounds like you were full. The same area where I feel full now is around the area where my band used to be.

I got fruits with no skin in their own juice at 4 weeks, and skinned fruits at 8 weeks. I don't get citrus until 3 months. It seems every doctor has a different post-op diet. Check with your doctor or nutritionist to see when you are allowed to have them. I am missing clementines a lot.

Snuff, That sounds similar to what I feel when I am full. It is a tightness in the center of my chest a little lower than my bra line. Just eat slow because the difference between full and pain from eating too much can be one bite. It will take awhile for you to learn what full is. After weight loss surgery it is a learning experience to learn what full is, to sip slowly, not eat fast, and to chew your food well.

Have any of you tried Premier shakes? They are ready to drink and do not have a funky protein after taste. They come in chocolate and vanilla flavor. I get mine at Sam's or Costco. I use Torani or DaVinci sugar free syrups to help jazz them up. An 11 oz drink contains is 160 calories. 30 grams of protein, 3 grams fat, 5 grams carbs, and 1 sugar gram. Unjury has some good flavors also. In case you didn't know, you can often times get free samples or reduced prices for sample packs from manufacturers for protein drinks and vitamins. I can't find the thread right now, but TapSnap started one and it has a lot of information in it. Good luck.