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I weaned off caffeine a couple months before surgery and actually mixed my morning decaf coffee with premier protein vanilla during my preop diet. Post op I replaced coffee with decaf tea. I tried decaf coffee a couple times 2 and 3 months out, but it was too irritating to my sleeve. Now at 4 months I can finally drink it again. I still drink decaf when I make it at home, but I've had regular a couple times when I get it to go (love highlander grogg!)

Are you on PPI's or antacids? Besides thirst, acid can feel like hunger. I was on 40mg Omeprazole daily but early on I'd still get hunger pains. 2 tbls maalox or 2 rolaids would take the sensation away immediately. When you do eat, dense proteins will keep you full much longer. My go-to snack now when I'm on the run is Natures Valley protein nut bars. I hate the texture and taste of protein bars made with whey isolate, but these are actual nut bars with peanuts and almonds. I chew each bite at least 30 times and they are quite filling.

At 6 weeks I gained 2 pounds and then stalled for a month. I just kept drinking and getting as much protein as I could. I was actually sick from medication during that month so probably taking in less than ever and not exercising at all....Had to get IV fluids 3 times. As soon as I was off the Meds, I doubled my water and food intake and the stall ended. I did, however lose a pant size while the scale never moved.

I found out I wouldn't "qualify" in the 10 minutes it took me to read my policy....it doesn't cover WLS for ANY reason. I was actually kind of relieved. No doctor visits, no support groups, no psych evaluation, no 3-6 month supervised diet, no piles of paperwork or whatever other hoops you have to jump through. Just focused on finding a great bariatric surgeon in Mexico, scheduled it and I was at home, recovering and losing weight before I would have even started the insurance scam ( I mean process)

My surgeon required a 5% weight loss preop to prep liver for minimal complications. I lost 22 pounds on my 16 day Protein shake/green veggies preop diet (only required to lose 12). Just heard from another gal who was at OCC last week and another person's surgery was cancelled because she didn't lose enough weight before surgery. But every surgeon is different, so if he didn't give you a specific goal, then you are probably fine.

Retried beans. My staple puree's were refried beans, mashed potatoes with Unjury unflavored powder, scrambled eggs, plain Greek yogurt (the flavored ones all tasted way too sweet to me), cottage cheese, laughing cow cheese, puréed tuna salad, deviled ham, puréed split pea and bean soups, and the "carryover" protein shakes and cream soups with Unjury unflavored powder from liquid stage.

Yes, the Unjury products are available online. I'm on my 3rd jar and still add the unflavored powder to a lot of stuff to up my protein intake. I almost forgot I also went through a whole 5 lb bag of Syntrax Matrix vanilla. I added different water flavor drops to that, too, to change up the flavor.

You know there are dozens of other things you can have...I mostly had premier protein chocolate and vanilla. Changed flavors by adding Mio and Dasani drops to the vanilla and PB2 or banana to the chocolate. Also had muscle milk and Syntax Nectar (dozen different flavors) Added Unjury Protein cheese powder to tortilla soup broth, added Unjury unflavored to chicken broth, beef broth and hot and sour broth. I was on liquids 16 days preop and 18 days post and almost never had the same thing any day. You can do this.

Miss Mac, Oh, this wasn't a confession of guilt or blame or looking for support, just a happy tongue in cheek "I'm living my life and I love my sleeve" kind of post. It was all definitely in moderation...one bite each of everything I listed (except the green Beans I had 3). No rice no noodles. The wine was a little experiment. Didn't really taste that great and Had no effect on me whatsoever (bummer) so I probably won't even bother with it in the near future. Fortunately my stomach of steel has transformed into a sleeve of steel, and after the 3rd month, I've been able to tolerate anything I've tried. I'm one of the "bad sleevers" that doesn't track or count anything. I drink all day, eat when I'm hungry and always Protein first. Down 66 pounds and 4 pant sizes and I'm thrilled!

Hi Brooklyn girl, I had my surgery in Tijuana after I was denied by my insurance. My PCP was more than willing to do my blood work every three months that was recommended by my surgeon to have for my first year post-op. I was also given in Tijuana by Dr. Quinones and surgical summary (in English) and all my hospital and medical records. What my PCP liked having was a video of my sleeve surgery. Good luck, Stacy That's so cool that you got a video! I asked for one, but was told their equipment didn't have a built in recorder and they couldnt have someone in the OR videotaping the screen. They probably could if they REALLY wanted to, but, oh well...

I had a small rash, and used hydrocortisone cream. On the rash, only, not on incision itself.

HW 238 SW 216 CW 172 I thought last week's 2 pound gain was the beginning of a stall, but I was wrong! Lost those two pounds plus another 3. Love being wrong. And I wore a size 14 out to dinner last night. Down from a 22.

I tolerated warm liquids better, so I had broth (chicken, beef, tortilla soup base, hot and sour base) with added unjury unflavored Protein powder everyday. Also had diluted, strained cream Soups with Unjury unflavored during full liquid stage. Pretty sure you have to get the Unjury from their website. I still add it to soups, mashed potatoes and even pancake batter to up my protein. I plan on using it in my crab cakes mixture this weekend.

At 4 months out, I haven't needed any surgery-related followup visits. I have been in phone and email contact with Dr. So and Dr. Martinez from OCC to coordinate with my PCP's treatment plan for a non-surgical related infection. Both my PCP and OB/Gyn have been very supportive and offered to do whatever followup blood work is recommended. My OB/Gyn has actually recommended OCC to a few of her other patients.

Are you getting plenty of healthy fats in your diet? Are you taking your Vitamins with a meal containing some fat? Vitamins A,D,E and K are fat soluble and need to have fat present in your GI tract for your body to absorb them. Another thing to try is a different brand of multi. I take whole food based vitamins (not specifically bariatric) with the idea my body can absorb and utilize "the real thing" better than synthetic vitamins. The whole food vitamins also contain a lot more micronutrients than just aren't duplicated in "artificial" Vitamin supplements. Kind of along the lines of your PCP wanting you to get real nutrition, not just supplements.

Have you tried scrambled eggs? I added water to mine so they were super moist and soft. How about soups? I ate a lot of diluted cream soups with added Unjury Protein powder during puréed stage. Heck, I still do....I had split pea with ham soup for dinner tonight. The veggies in canned soups are also super mushy. As long as you are kind "stuck" with soft stuff for now, hopefully you can mix it up with some variety. Fortunately I can now eat pretty much anything, but because I can only eat such a small amount, I still have 1-2 protein drinks everyday to meet protein goals. As for veggies, I rarely eat any (and haven't even tried salad or raw veggies yet). because I always do protein first then I'm stuffed. I try to drink V8 every day.

Everyone is different, but... I needed no pain Meds after being discharged. I shopped all over Tijuana day 1 and 2 post op, I flew back from San Diego by myself on day 3 (had to ask for help with my luggage because of lifting restriction), went grocery shopping for everything I needed for my full liquid diet and then drove myself home 5 hours day 4, plowed my driveway with the ATV day 5 (I had to get someone else to shovel the steps because of my weight restrictions). I live by myself and was able to take care of myself, 2 horses, 3 dogs, and 3 cats just fine. Back to work part time day 7. I was pretty tired, but my 1/2 days at work allowed for a nap everyday.

Congratulations! Glad you're feeling so good. To be honest, I liked Dr. Martinez better than Ortiz and I actually just talked to Dr. Martinez about 3 weeks ago.

At 4 months I still have at least one protein shake/ day sometimes even 2. I can eat anything I want, but I can eat so little before I'm stuffed, I wouldn't come close to my protein requirements without it. As for soup...well, I just like soup!

Actually skim milk has 11-12 carbs. An egg doesn't. Most nuts have patients on carb restricted diets. I am not to do milk but can do eggs. You're right,the carb argument makes more sense than the calorie part.

In my full liquid stage I was adding unjury unflavored Protein powder and eating chicken broth, beef broth, tortilla Soup base, hot and sour soup base, every cream soup. I could find ( asparagus, shrimp, leek, tomato, chicken, mushroom, potato to, etc.). The cream Soups I diluted and strained. I also used PB2, Mio and other flavored Water drops to mix up the flavors of my Protein shakes....dreamsicle, grape, banana chocolate, Peanut Butter, cherry, sour apple, etc. When I started puree's, Greek yogurt, refried Beans, cottage cheese, puréed tuna salad, scrambled eggs, hummus, and puréed split pea and bean soups were some of my staples.

Other than the 3 days of clear liquids immediately post op, I added protein powder to almost everything through my full liquid, puréed and soft food stages. What is the thinking behind not being able to?

My post was made out of concern for her welfare. I wasn't trying to put her down. The term stupid was a quote directly from her previous post. And yes, from a healing and avoiding complications standpoint, I think it's in our own best interest to be "super vigilant" immediately after this surgery. It has nothing to do with being "holier than thou". You shouldn't compete in a boxing match with a concussion, a diabetic shouldn't sit around and eat candy bars, if you are allergic to shellfish you shouldn't chow down on oysters. At 3 weeks post op eating stuff until you hurt just to test yourself is not simply cheating on a diet or going over your carb limit for the day... You are potentially doing damage to an unhealed surgical site. That was the motivation behind my post. Sorry you were offended.

I only just started feeling normal at 3 months. Now at 4 months, I finally have at least as much energy as preop.

You are only 3 weeks out. Your staple line is not even healed yet. Please stop being "stupid"