nienie

I also took in sugar free Popsicles, strained soup, broth, water, crystal light and protein drink. You are not going to be hungry. Just sip on liquid all day long and I just usually prepared 1/4 of soup or something at lunch and supper.

I use a 16 ounce rubbermaid bottle. I know that if i fill it up 4 times in a day I have had the 64 ounces of liquid I need. I use alot of crystal light and continuously have the bottle filled and drink from it. I usually go over the 64 ounces recommended in a day.

I know it can happen to some. 70 is normal but sometimes people can be symptomatic. The best thing you can do is eat protein. Good thing to stay away from juice as it will bring your sugar up but then drop it again right away. So eat meat or cheese or PB toast something that will stick. You might be one of those that needs to eat more frequently every couple hours to keep your blood sugar in a happy place...

Try taking Senna S 1-2 tabs at night. This works great for me. Initially surgeon wanted me to take Milk of Magnesia but that did nothing for constipation. So he told me Senna S and if that doesn't work try Mirilax. You can buy these over the counter. The Mirilax is powder and you mix in a liquid and drink. This gave my diarrhea so I have found if I don't have a bm daily that night I just take the Senna and I go the next day. If you still can't go within the next 1-2 days you need to contact your doctor as bowel impaction is no fun and serious. Make sure you are drinking enough fluids and try adding some soft fruit if that is something you can have.

I still take my flexeril for my back with no issues. You can always double check with your doctor but most muscle relaxants are fine to take.

You can put unflavored in anything, yogurt, Jello, soup, potato...

You can't over heat the water for the chicken soup or it will clump and be no good. I put my microwave little pan in for 1 1/2 minutes and it is under 140 works great.

Hmm, I am almost 3 months out and have had no hair loss. I have read some lose some don't I did see some threads about special shampoo/conditioner that people used. I think your best bet is to keep that protein up and make sure you are taking all your vitamins daily. The dietitian with my program says if you follow the requirement you shouldn't have too many problems but she also said some people just lose some hair and biotin can be taken but wont necessarily help prevent this. From reading threads, most people have hair problems somewhere between 3-9 months and then it slowly resolves. I have decided that if my hair gets bad I will cut my hair shorter and go from there.

Well there are a few things that might help. One is track your foods. There are tons of apps out there for computer and phone- I have found this helps one truly see what they are eating in a day. Also with that go back to measuring and don't go over a cup a meal. Second, Increase Protein decrease carbs. Third, go back to basics when you drink a protein supplement for a meal or two and eat a meal and or a healthy snack. Or even go back to liquid diet for a week or two. Fourth, change up your exercise routine, your body might just have decided it likes your routine and doesn't want to let go of anymore weight. Fifth, make sure you are measuring yourself along with jumping on the scale. We often are losing inches and the scale might not be moving much. If you are really athletic and building muscle remember muscle weighs more so the scale might even go up a bit-however that is okay because muscle is good. Other things to think about-how far out are you? How much have you lost? Are you getting close to goal? Are you taking any medications that can interfere with weight loss? As we lose weight we won't see the big numbers and might stall out a bit. Also if you had some great months of loss of 15-30 pounds you might have a month with nothing. Look at the big picture. Work the program your surgeon has designed for you. If you are really getting frustrated call your surgeon/dietician and see if they can game plan with you and figure out what is causing the stall. More then likely this is just a normal bump in the road. I think we all get to anxious and want to see immediate results. Remember we didnt put this weight on over night so it will take some time to come off. Plus, for me I would not have lost the 45-50 pounds I have in 11 weeks without this surgery. My favorite quote is "Slow and steady win the race." Good Luck

My favorite is the chicken soup as chicken broth was something I used alot post op those first few weeks. I also really like the strawberry kiwi nectar from Syntrax. Thank goodness there are many protein drinks out there because we all are a little different...

That is almost 5 pounds a week. That is good weight loss. You wouldn't have been able to lose that before surgery. Don't be so hard on yourself.

I measured so if they wanted me to have a 1/4 a cup that is what i had. Ate slow and did fine. Still like to measure my food and I use small plates so that it looks like i have more food.

The longer you can take the better. My first week I was absolutely exhausted and slept alot. My second week I was a tad bit better but only being on full liquids I felt like I was weak. Day 13 post op went to surgeon, diet increased to soft and stitches out so I started to gradually feel better. By one month I felt great. I took six weeks but was able to and I don't regret it at all.

Nice to see another North Dakotan on here even if we are on opposite sides of the state.

North Dakota

Don't take it. I had some of the strawberry ones actually drank almost all 16 ounces and it made me feel awful, jittery, heart flutters, I was anxious/nervous. It has 120 mg caffeine and other stuff in it and it took from 1230-9pm to feel better. I am a nurse and thought I was going to have to go to the ER for some valium. I also couldn't fall asleep that night until after 2 am. I gave the box away. I was almost 11 weeks out and couldn't tolerate it.

Mine did. I am glad I kept old shoes around because i have needed them.

I had surgery the same day as you and you have me beat by a few pounds. I know that without this surgery i could not say that i have lost 45 pounds. I am 4 pounds away from getting out of the 200's and with that I do know it will be slower weight loss. I think you should just relax and not worry about if your losing enough weight- it didn't come on over night and no matter what we do it wont come off over night either. My favorite saying is "slow and steady win the race," So keep working the program, eating Protein first then veggies and fruit. Get all your liquids in, Vitamins in and some type of exercise and it will all fall into place... Summer is still a few months off so We got this!!!

Basically what was said about. We no longer have a pyloric valve so if you drink while eating you will flush the food out of your new pouch hence being hungry sooner. The longer you can wait post eating the better. My surgeon did say that if you need to take a few sips during your meal because of dry food that was okay just don't get into habit of drinking with meals.

I showered two days post surgery in the hospital but that was because I had a little too much narcotic and some nausea problems the first 48 hours. I took six weeks off and it was the best thing I could have done. If you have a desk job I would say 2-3 weeks. If you can do 3 weeks I would you just feel better by then. You will have lifting restrictions first two weeks nothing more then 10 pounds and no more then 30 in a month. I am a RN and lift patients so I really needed the 6 weeks and by the time I returned to work I was eating regular food, had the vitamin and water thing down pat.

I would ask your dietican/surgeon. I would think if the carb count is lower and not alot of sugar it would be an okay treat on occasion-just not and every day event.

Wow- what an interesting and well needed post. I have to say my surgery was January 24 and I have had a successful recovery with no complications. We all know that there are complications with any procedure big and or small. It is nice for all those out there pre-op to hear the successful stories. There are just too many uneducated people out there bad mouthing WLS when they have NO clue what they are talking about. So for all of you that are getting ready to take the plunge always know there can be complications that is just part of life. For many of us this was the BEST decision we have made to get healthy and live our new lives. I feel it is important to research your surgeon find out how long he/she has practiced, talk about complications and risks and do as much research as possible to make this a positive change/event in your life. Best advice is to follow your surgeon's program. Each program is a little different and that is okay as long as we get the end result and live out the rest of our lives healthy and happy!!!!

I was told anything you can mash with fork- yogurt, cottage cheese, mashed cauliflower and prepare like mashed potato (doesn't have as many carbs), Soups strained made with milk for added Protein, flaky fish, chicken and or tuna in a can with a little miracle whip, eggs- lots of scrambled, string cheese, cooked veggies, cream of rice, cream of wheat, oatmeal, pureed lean meat, unsweetened and soft canned fruit and or veggies, tofu, applesauce, refried beans mixed with cheese. I also purchased the Atikins bake mix and made low carb pancakes and used sugar free syrup. Toward the end of my weeks on this diet and did chili used hormel chili and made homemade and just chewed like a mad women

I would be careful with anything that has the word "energy". last week I purchased Crystal light strawberry something energy individual packets. Well i almost had finished the 16 oz drink and felt like I was crawling out of my skin, my heart felt flighty and I felt awful like I was on some drugs. This lasted from 1230-9pm. I then couldn't fall asleep until after 2 am. I later found out it had 120 mg of caffeine and b vitamins and something else. Just be careful

Well at least you caved on Protein. If you have to cheat that is a great cheat.... Not a failure just very difficult to be on liquid diet with a normal size tummy