DebDUtah

I have spoken with several physicians surgeons nutritionists dieticians and post op patients. I have found the overall agreement is to stay away from the "concentrates", especially when it is one of the first few ingredients. For me it is what is best absorbed by my body and hey I didn't like coffee when I first had it but I acquired the taste to many things, so taste for me is second to value of what I am putting in my stomach. I am staying away from the ready to drink items now, but this may work good for you, I think it is preference.

I had a 6 mos supervised diet requirement from insurance and my surgeon requires a 2 week liquid diet to shrink my liver (eliminates a lot of complications), I will do whatever it takes, and I really have confidence in my surgeon, everyone is different.

I really really like the GNC Pro Performance AMP Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60 protein powder (cookies and cream my fav). 4 oz has 20g of protein and its good.

No one said this was going to be easy, it is a challange every day. Good luck, and right now who says you have to sit and watch them eat, leave the room, go do something else for now, they will understand.

I would give anything to have a 27lb 2 week weight loss, for that he should be proud. I would put up with whatever the dr told me to do, this is major surgery, it's a lifestyle change we sign on for. His body is healing, and we are given the post op diet because our stomachs have been cut away and are stapled. I personally, could never cheat during this healing period it is all too important. I read about others eating sooner than some and it goes on, but what happens IF that LITTLE something causes pain or something worse a leak, is it worth it? You will do what is right for you, nevereltheless, congrats on the amazing loss.

I wouldn't care what the scale said if I had your body, congratulations

I would wait until after your weight loss, a lot of times the chest is the first to go so you may want to wait to avoid wanting to do it twice.

Good luck I am sure your surgery will go well, and a speedy recovery and new life lay ahead....enjoy

Ok I had my tsh (thyroid) tested 6 months ago and it was in normal range. I then went and had my labs required by my surgeon done and my tsh came back .17....way abnormal!! My PCP immediately had me redraw it and it came back normal! So redraw the worse you can get is another abnormal lab and get on meds. It is all for your benefit. Sometimes labs make mistakes, get it rechecked. And in the long run it will all be worth it.

No matter what your % or your cost will be the maximum of your annual out of pocket. You should be able to call and find out or just look on line for the annual maximum out of pocket and that will be the MOST you have to pay for everything in a calendar year that is covered by insurance.

The only person who can determine your success or failure is you. You have been given a great tool, something that is proven to work, you CAN and WILL do this. You did this for YOU not for the person or people who thing you will fail. Prove them wrong, SUCCEED. You know what to do and you can make the changes and do it. This is not easy, it is not a given but you wouldn't be here if you couldn't succeed. So relax and lean on those who are there to support you and you WILL succeed.

GNC Amp Wheybolic Extreme 60 the cookies and cream and chocolate are my favorites, I will have no problem drinking this protein. And it is affordable

I came straight out and asked my insurance company if my success or failure of the pre-op diet determined my approval and I was told no. I didn't want to lose too much and I thought I would work on my exercise which I have but I think I am building muscle staying the same and not losing on the scale but that does not mean I have not succeeded. Good luck my last visit is next week.

I got it and I am just shy of 50! I am not post yet but I get the training and the acceptance that we will have a new normal. I am more than ok with it my family is behind me I just want to get to surgery!! These new habits will be better for everyone effected.

You may want to look at a whey isolate protein, it is better for us. It sounds like you need more good protein.

I cannot wait to be able to do zumba it looks and sounds so fun

I can appreciate how you feel. But aren't you afraid not following the surgeon and nutritionists orders to achieve the best possible outcome from your sleeve, that you could hurt your stomach and its recovery? Don't you think doing whatever it takes to get the maximum weight loss possible is worth following their instructions? I would be afraid to go against what my physician says. I say this because (for a much less invasive outpatient surgery) a co-worker and I had our knees scoped by the same surgeon for the same repair, and both her and I are the same age and did the exact same job (although I was over 150lbs more than her) there was no major difference in us. However, my tear was more severe and my surgery took longer. The surgeon gave me strict instructions to follow, as he did her. The most simple one being non-weight bearing for 3 days, not even weight bearing to the bathroom!! I was mortified, I thought I can't do this but I did, I knew I could walk on it, the knee I felt 100% better. Well I didn't, I kept my knee imoblized. My co-worker didn't she said she was walking on it after 24 hrs "lightly". My knee recovered and it is 100% back to normal. She on the other hand had major inflammation and developed fluid on the knee which had to be drained, more than once. After 6 months of no improvement from her surgery, she had a total knee replacement. The only thing I did differently than her was I followed post-op instructions until I was released by the surgeon. I am only saying this to show that it is so important to follow our physicians instructions and know that this is short lived. Remember the only person we are "cheating/pushing" is yourself. You trusted your surgeon and his team to do the surgery, trust them to know what is best now.

The easiest way to answer all the questions, is "I did what I needed too" If the questions continue, just say you did it the old fashioned way cutting back on food intake and exercise (which is not a lie). Only say what you are comfortable with my standard answer will be the "I did what I needed too." Then change the subject!!

A LOT smaller about 4 oz capacity and if they were to not know that a small stomach is your "normal" it could cause all kinds of red flags.....its all personal preference

I work in a hospital ER and I will get a bracelet (one of the ones that doesn't look like the traditional medical alert bracelets) for one reason. What if I am unconscious for whatever reason (trauma/drug reaction) and my family is not avaiable, I want the treating physician to know this there are several treatments done in haste that would need to be modified if you stomach can not handle the traditional volume. Better safe than sorry.

I cannot imagine it will be easy, but isn't it worth it, the end I mean? There are some things I truly enjoy and love, but you know what I will give those up for all of those "little things" we all think about not to mention to big things like health and happiness. You can do it.

It is not those that are asking for input that frustrate me, I do it and will do it too, and have gained some great insight. It is those that are the outliers who want to eat "normal" like they did before the surgery. The questions on what someone can and cannot eat or should I go to the ER that are asked, as not many on here have any medical training, are absurd. Maybe one heals faster than another, maybe one had issues in the surgery that they are not sharing, this is where my frustration lies. It is the input as to "you can eat XYZ on day three because I did and had no problem"......we need to be careful. Just because I can do something doesn't mean someone else can. There is valuable and important information shared here not to mention a great support system, but really we all need to exercise common sense when it comes to medical questions regarding our recovery.

Don't hate me, this is more of a rant than a question, and I do not mean to come across as insensitive, mean, cruel, hateful, etc. But really there is not ONE person on this site who does know know what it means to be on a liquid diet. I just read a post asking "is it ok to eat a bite of chicken 3 days post op!". I have seen posts that ask when will I be able to "eat normal again" (key phrase there is normal. Here is a statement that we all can relate to, none of us here who are canidates for surgery have ever eaten normal. If we had, we would never be here. So if what you relate to normal is how you ate before, my answer is never, if you want to succeed that is. My surgeon has spelled out the diet, pre-op and post op and is very specific on what my stomach can and can't handle. I cannot imagine coming onto any site and asking permission to break away from my doctors orders. Now if your doctor did not tell you what you could eat or did not answer your questions thoroughly, then ask him AGAIN, until you understand. This goes without saying for those asking if "symptoms" they are experiencing warrant a visit to the emergency room. Now, know that I work in an emergency room and let me just say this. If you are bleeding out of any part of your body that does not stop or is not supposed to be bleeding, go to the ER; if you have an unexplained fever, go to the ER; if you have uncontrollable pain, go to the ER; basically follow your discharge instructions from the hospital, and you will have your answer. Dehydration is serious, don't let it go. Ok I will get off my soapbox and yes I will still answer the posts with compassion and honesty and more than anything with a smile on my face and know that it is more difficult for some than others.

Try Isopure from GNC it is flavored protein but like water not a shake several flavors and you get it by the bottle with 40gms of protein with each bottle! It is the best I have found

Realize too that the hospital has a financial counselor who can help you with financial costs (even writing some of them off). I am getting a 25% discount by paying the hospital before they ever bill my insurance (lowering my out of pocket). I was shocked and asked if they did this for everyone and was told that normally 30-45% of the bill for a self pay patient can be written off if a large payment of 800-1000 dollars is paid at admission. Something to think about. I am so blessed that I have insurance that will consider covering the surgery, we will see, have yet to have my approval, at least I know that cash is option if I needed to.