Vixynne

I LOVE EVERYTHING YOU JUST SAID. Also--their chocolate truffle is wonderful with a bit of PB2 powder added to it for extra Protein. Peanut Butter + chocolate = yum!

It sounds like a really great option to consider; even though right now my focus is on the sleeve surgery, afterwards I will definitely want a better b.c. choice that doesn't involve the Pill or other hormones. I used the "find a doctor" option on their site and found several certified doctors in my area who could perform the Essure procedure for me at some point, assuming that my insurance is cooperative. I'd love to hear from any ladies here who've had the procedure and might be willing to tell us about how it went!

I have made the fruit flavored ones with water, and I use either water or 1% milk in the double-stuffed cookie and vanilla creme ones. Usually I go with water to save calories since I'm pre-op. Post-op, using milk to raise the Protein level might be better for me; we'll see!

The Caribbean Cooler does taste like piña colada; it's probably my favorite of the fruity flavors. I have a hard time with artificial grape flavor in most foods, so I'm looking forward to reviews on that one! Overall, I seem to lean toward the Syntrax "sweets" flavors (vanilla creme, double stuffed cookie) rather than the fruits. For some reason, the fruit flavors have a taste that my tastebuds read as very similar to liquid penicillin from my childhood. Urgh. Maybe that will change once I'm post-op, though.

My NUT gave me a list of recommended vitamin brands, and the only ones she told me not to bother with are the gummies. I take good ol' Flintstones chewables (1 full tablet is an adult dose) along with Celebrate Calcium and some sublingual B12, to get me in the habit of daily vitamins before surgery.

Kulita, thank you for this! As a pre-opper, I'm going to bookmark this link for later use. I thought the footnote at the bottom was pretty important information for sleeved folks to know (underlines are mine): Dr. Flanagan's research indicates that the average volume of the mature stomach pouch, measured by this method, is 5.5 ounces (163 ml). Additionally, he reached the conclusion that, "sizes ranging up to 9 ounces have NO IMPACT on the person's success in weight loss". This means that unless your pouch holds a greater volume than 9 ounces (267 ml), the exact size of your pouch is not a critical factor in whether or not you can lose excess weight and then manage your weight as time progresses.

I found a pretty good article about ketosis-related bad breath. Hope it helps! http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarbliving/a/Is-Your-Low-Carb-Diet-Giving-You-Bad-Breath.htm

I think it's a standard practice for some surgeons; others use it on an as-needed basis. It seems to be one of the many things that varies greatly from doctor to doctor. It's one of the things I'll be asking about at my next surgeon consult!

I've never been brave enough for a tattoo--but I think after I reach my goal, I'll get one to celebrate. That'll give me a year or so to plan it out!

Ramen doesn't really have much to offer in the way of nutrition. The flavoring is often chock full of sodium and MSG. I'd try to find something a little healthier if at all possible.

My surgeon is Dr. Rayford Kruger, at Tobey Hospital in Wareham, Massachusetts. The hospital is a Bariatric Center of Excellence (since 2007) and is the only hospital in our area of Massachusetts to have received 5-star recognition for overall bariatric surgery by "Healthgrades" for four consecutive years (2009-2012). So, I do feel very confident that my hospital is staffed with surgeons that are well-trained, and that the program is a good one. But it would help my nerves to know exactly how many sleeve gastrectomies Dr. Kruger himself has performed, and what his rates are for complications/fatalities, etc. I've been all over the interwebs, but can't seem to find the data. I know I can ask at my next surgeon-consult appointment, but my appointment is with the nurse practitioner rather than with Dr. Kruger himself. I guess I'm also wondering if he'd take it poorly that I'm asking--I don't want him to think I'm challenging his professional abilities, I'd just like to see some specific data, since the sleeve is a newer procedure than the RNY and lapband. Have any of you been in this situation? How did you handle it?

You've done a great job advocating for yourself--a year-long fight with your insurance company is a huge undertaking, and you WON! You'll win this next battle too; the battle for a new you and a healthier day-to-day life. Remember that the decision to tell anyone is up to you. YOU have all the power over that--nobody can make you do anything you're not comfortable with. If you don't want to tell every person you deal with at work, then that's perfectly all right; that being said, it is helpful to have as large a support system of family/friends as you can. Make the choice that works best for you. No matter what, you know the folks in this forum are in your corner!

Congratulations!!

B12 is just an amazing vitamin. I'm pre-op, but have been taking it for about three weeks now. I didn't notice any change at all in my energy levels until I started taking 3 sublingual lozenges a day instead of just 1 per day. Now I sleep better, and actually wake up feeling...well, awake! This hasn't happened for me since before puberty--it's a real game changer! My mood has improved, too, probably because I don't fee exhausted and grumpy all the time. Give it a try, it's definitely worth it. Meanwhile, don't be hard on yourself, you've been through major surgery, and it takes time to feel like "you" again. Hang in there!

I was just worrying about this earlier today...I've started drinking Protein shakes at least once a day, and I'm trying to actively make better food choices. I've cut way down on my carb intake, eliminated all junk food, soda and fast food, and even completely given up coffee--because the way I was drinking it was putting it in the 350-calorie range! So far, having changed nothing else, I've lost 9 lbs in a month. Almost 2lbs a week, not bad. Then I thought, "hmmm, will my insurance company see this as proof that I don't need the surgery, since I'm making progress on my own?" What do you folks think? Should I ease off on the pre-pre-op diet and weight loss till I at least know my surgery date? It's definitely happening this summer, but the actual date hasn't been given to me yet.

Yikes--has this psychiatrist had any prior experience with bariatric surgery clearances? I guess it would also matter quite a bit exactly what the two sentence write-up said, but in any case, that's no way to evaluate someone's emotional/mental preparation for major surgery. I'd say you definitely need a second opinion--the last thing you want is this doctor revising the writeup and adding something worse, or not improving their first effort at all!

I have the chewables from Celebrate--they're the Calcium Plus 500 version, and mine are a berry flavor. I have no trouble with them as far as taste. I'm pre-op, so swallowing things isn't an issue for me yet (ohhhh boy, that sounds more than PG-rated, but you know what I mean). http://www.celebratevitamins.com/shop/calcium/calcium-plus-500/calcium-plus-500-chewable-berries-and-cream-30-day.html

I agree! On a positive note, I did open up to my mom and one of my sisters earlier this week, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that they were both very supportive and happy about my decision to seek surgery. My support system just grew by two more people--and that just might give me the bravery I need to share this decision with other people in my life who do matter to me. Onward and upward!

Not I, Laura!

Reported.

How about learning a new hobby? That can really pass time. I have friends who knit, and they say it's relaxing and a great diversion. Plus, you end up with things to wear or give away!

What audacity? Laura never critiqued anyone on race, gender or ethnicity. Polar bear facepaw. Annnnnnnd I'm outta this thread.

Oh, lawd. What the girl did was wrong. Period. There are too many stories like MeghannKay's out there for the thread titled "I Faked An Approval Letter" to go without notice. Anyone who'd do such a thing is misguided at best; but to publicly post in an online forum and then whimper when people call you out for bragging about wrongdoing is just lunkheaded. Whether she's Ecuadorian, Ethiopian, Egyptian or from the Planet Zogg is irrelevant, and no one who referenced the girl's self-naming of herself as Ecuadorian is being racist, since what her true name is may not be known. She's not a victim here. She's a judgement-challenged, immature young lady who should have known better. I don't feel sorry for her. Neither do I wish her ill in any way, but she's certainly not a pillar of moral fortitude.

Congratulations on a successful surgery! I hope your recovery is speedy and smooth, too!

Syntrax Nectar is a popular option for protein powder--the website listed below lets you order a set of 11 samples in your choice of flavors to see what you prefer. Right now, I like the Vanilla Creme and the Double Stuffed Cookie flavors; Caribbean Cooler is also good (tastes like a pina colada). I'm hoping my flavor preferences don't change too much after surgery, but we shall see! Here's the site, if you'd like to give it a try: http://www.bjsbariat...&Category_Code=