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I take a tiny pill--levothyroxine--and my surgeon is still making me crush it for the first 6 weeks. He is pretty conservative but I just can't bring myself to try to swallow it whole!

I've been a strict vegetarian for most of my adult life (more than 20 years). I am eating more dairy and eggs post-VSG than I did before, which I'm not exactly happy about, but it will do for now. As I get farther along in my journey, I may try to eliminate them or at least reduce my consumption. For me, vegetarianism is a lifestyle and deeply rooted in my belief system--akin to others' religious beliefs. It is founded on kindness for all living things and a respect for all life (not just human life). I do not eat cheeses that contain rennet. I do not wear or buy leather, wool, or silk. I do not eat things with meat stock, and I definitely don't eat Jello. I don't buy Protein drinks that contain Gelatin. So although I am "just" a vegetarian and not a vegan--I consider this belief to be a huge part of my way of life and deeply rooted in my belief system. It comes from a love for animals--all animals--that I have had since I was a small girl and met my mom's friends who became vegetarians after watching pigs they had raised get slaughtered. I don't think that vegetarianism has lost its meaning--to me it is more meaningful than ever.

http://www.vegsoc.org/page.aspx?pid=508# What is a vegetarian? Vegetarians today come from all walks of life, and all sections of society. They don't generally want to cause a nuisance when they eat out, they just want what most people want: good food and a choice. Sadly this isn't always available. Identifying a vegetarian This is our definition of a vegetarian: A vegetarian is someone who lives on a diet of grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits with, or without, the use of dairy products and eggs. Or A vegetarian does not eat meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacea, or by-products of slaughter. There are different degrees of vegetarianism which may be what causes confusion with caterers. The four most common forms of vegetarianism are: Lacto-ovo-vegetarian. Eats both dairy products and eggs. This is the most common type of vegetarian diet. Lacto-vegetarian. Eats dairy products but not eggs. Ovo-vegetarian. Eats eggs but not dairy products. Vegan. Does not eat dairy products, eggs, or any other animal product Eggs: Many lacto-ovo vegetarians will only eat free-range eggs. This is because of welfare objections to the intensive farming of hens. Through its Vegetarian Society Approved trade mark, the Vegetarian Society only endorses products containing free-range eggs.

OTR: "Duck" in this thread was referring to a tofu skin dish that does not contain any meat. So yeah, it's vegetarian in this context. I've seen you post before about vegetarian/vegan (when I first searched the board for posts about vegetarianism and VSG), but don't agree with your assessment of what constitutes a vegetarian. I think you are confusing vegan and vegetarian. A lacto ovo vegetarian is a type of vegetarian, and a vegan is a type of vegetarian who does not consume any animal products. A vegetarian does not equal a vegan--but you can be a vegetarian without being a vegan. All vegans are vegetarians but not all vegetarians are vegans. Obviously there are many types of vegetarians that fall under that broader term. So yeah, milk and eggs are vegetarian (lacto ovo vegetarian to be exact)--they aren't vegan....

Careful OTR...brains aren't vegetarian.

I think the glue is called dermabond.

Internal stitches that dissolved where the 5 incisions were with glue over a few of them. There are staples of course on the stomach itself (titanium). Also, on the biggest incision where my stomach came out (still kind of creeps me out to say that, lol), my surgeon uses one big stich with a few runner stitches after it. They are internal. This is where the muscle wall is cut. You don't have to have these stitches but my surgeon likes to use them. The PA said they would come out one at a time and at about 6 weeks I will be able to feel the biggest one pop (glad she warned me). I can feel/see a dimple from the stitch by that incision. Someone on another thread mentioned a dimple and wondered if it was normal but I can't find the thread now. Anyhow, if your surgeon uses internal stitches here, the dimple is normal. That's how the PA knew that the stitch hadn't popped on me yet when she examined me.

Your new world is full of wonderful possibilities! Great job!

Wonderful progress--you look great!!!

I put mine in a little disposable shot glass (they sell them at the liquor store or party store--of you can buy pill cups like they have at the hospital) then add some flavored Water. Stir with a little paring knife (perfect size) and down it. I can't taste anything I take this way except for Ursodiol (yucky) but even that isn't too bad. If there's any residue in the cup I add a little more flavored water, stir it up again, and take another few sips.

when I first started on oatmeal, the RD had me thin it out to the consistency of a protein shake and also puree it. It tasted almost like cream of wheat--it was tasty. I added some protein powder...

You look like a different person! Congratulations!!

Did you get an incentive spirometer (breathing exercise tool) in the hospital? If so, do make sure you use it. Should be 10 times every hour (not all right in a row). Breathe as deeply as you can when you're not using it (I know it hurts but it's so good for you). You really need to avoid getting pneumonia, especially bc you have something respiratory going on, and this will def help. Glad your checkup is tomorrow. Hope you feel better soon!

Kelly, did you buy a pill crusher from the pharmacy? They work great! Just a little plastic container with a point inside and you screw on the cap and then screw it back off--pulverized. Like a modern-day mortar and pestle. Very inexpensive!

I haven't had that, but when I was in Montreal on vacation, I went to a well-known restaurant in Chinatown and they had the best sweet and sour tofu--it was made with the tofu "skin." I wonder if I could recreate a low-carb version....

Good luck with the pre-op diet! I'm sure that you will do great, Wrinkle!

LOL, no, that's good info! It is true, I believe it has something to do with "denatured protein," whatever that is. unjury and I would imagine some of the other brands can be heated up to 140 degrees without losing effectiveness or clumping (I use a candy thermometer to check and then keep using the same "recipe" if it's okay--since I'm sure I won't be needing my candy thermometer for much else in the future). Once it starts clumping, I think that's a pretty sure sign that you might as well pitch it and start over. Goodness knows, you don't want to have to drink protein that's not giving you any protein!

I'm just transitioning to soft foods and today made a really good version of "The Biggest Loser" pancake: 1/4 cup of low-fat cottage cheese, 1/4 cup of instant oatmeal, and 1 to 1.5 egg whites (I used Just Whites in a carton). Blended it all in my vitamix. Very tasty!! I did the egg whites in the blender first to give them some volume. Ate with some SF Carey's maple syrup.

I do if I go too long between meals and if I'm eating really low carb/high protein (because of ketosis).

Very wise words and especially meaningful given your current situation.

You should go with your surgeon's advice. Mine says walking is fine from the beginning, water walking within a couple of weeks if you are scabbed and cover with a waterproof bandage. We are told to wait 6 to 8 weeks for organized exercise classes, including water aerobics (which I really miss!). Can't wait to get the all-clear but don't want to pull out stitches prematurely or rip muscle. Walking is one of the best exercises you can do, though! You might need to wait longer to do light strength training--I would go with the advice of your surgeon's office.

I wouldn't be brave enough to try Triscuits at about a month out--but maybe if you chewed them to nothing before swallowing. I would email or call my RD or PA/MD to ask.

Wise words, Laura-Ven... I just added you as a friend!

I am a vegetarian and was probably eating about half as much Protein pre-op as I am now. I have a few bits of advice that helped me get down my protein during the first week or two (it gets easier): 1) Find a premade Protein shake that you really like. A lot of people recommend Premiere (available at costco and elsewhere) or Muscle Milk Light. Look for one that has around 150-180 calories with 20 g of protein or so and not super-high in carbs (maybe 10 g or fewer). If it seems too thick for you, put it in a shaker and add a little almond milk or skim milk--maybe just an ounce or two. Shake it gently (since you don't want a ton of extra air right now)--and put it in a pretty glass. Now is the time to break out those wine glasses you never use. :-) I have never thought of myself as a chocolate lover, but I seem to like the chocolate shakes the best bc they seem to hide the protein flavor the most. You can also go to GNC or Vitamin Shoppe and try individual ready-made shakes (or the dry shake packets that you add liquid to and blenderize--I use a Vitamix but there's also the Magic Bullet and an imitation Magic Bullet at WalMart that a lot of people like). 2) Get a good unflavored protein like unjury, which you can order online. Use about a scoop in a Soup. I found some Soups I really like called Imagine. They are organic and the carbs are decent (60 calories and 10 carbs in cream of brocc--and it's REAL food--not like the Campbell's stuff). Make a little slurry with some almond or skim milk with the unflavored protein and add to hot soup. It will cool it off a little but this way the Protein powder won't clump like it would if you put it in before heating. You can barely taste the protein powder. 3) Make a little slurry of almond or skim milk with the flavored protein powder of your choice. Add to Fage greek yogurt (thinned out if you are still on purees). My favorite combo is chocolate with some PB2 and one splenda (PB2 is a powdered Peanut Butter with the fat removed). 4) Make hot chocolate! This got me thru my first week. We bought diet Swiss Miss hot cocoa. I would make the hot cocoa with almond or soy milk (you can use skim if aren't lactose intolerant) and then make a slurry of chocolate, unflavored or vanilla protein powder--just 1/8 or 1/4 cup of additional milk for the slurry--and then add to the warm hot cocoa. My husband would make it for me by mixing everything at once and heating for 1 min 40 sec in our microwave (all vary in power--ours is pretty strong). Just be careful using that method b/c if you heat most protein powder too long it will be come a solidified spongy mess. But he figured out a good amount and it would be just warm enough. The warm drink was easier for me to get down than cold ones at first--opens up your esophagus from what I've heard. 5) For clear Protein drinks, I would try drinking them when they are more room temp and less ice cold. These aren't my thing but I was on full liquids right away. If I were on clear, I would try them. I have some in my fridge that I really need to drink...the other things are just so tasty, though. Good luck!!!!!!

it gets better soon! that was the worst part for me post op, bc I'm a side sleeper too. I was sleeping on my side by about 1 week out, and doing so comfortably within 2 weeks. In the hospital, one of the night nurses was so amazing--she rolled up blankets and things and put them under my arms for comfort, which made me feel more comfortable sleeping in my back for some reason.