#9grammy

I had to quit cold turkey 18 years ago! I was using a inhaler every cig I smoked! Yeah not good, now I still use inhalers 2 a day 2 puffs in am then pm. I also went into COPD and I'm on O2 at night and during day when needed. I'm not telling you this to get you to lose the cigarettes, it took me so long probably couple years to get really out of the habit of what to do with my hands! I would get in car light up, phone light up, had to have one sitting on the pot, yeah tmi. Now when I go past the smoke I get sick from the smell. Sometimes my lungs will get choked up from it, yep second hand smoke is horrid now. Good luck on quitting I have a lot of respect for you for your effort to stop.

Well it does ease up I think I'm usually the opposite I know tmi. Probably the drugs I'm on has done that to me. But really some people have said when your eating solids it returns to normal, some say drinking shakes have them still checking. In the meantime RUN don't walk when u get the urge

Ah yes he good ole wait increased pills! I have been on some good ones and just went off Seraquil 200 because the Abilify wasn't working. So many reactions to it, was on for 3 months and now I have the non stop moving. If my legs aren't moving my fingers are, if I try stopping my feet still then my body starts to jump. On Requip, not helping...started Latuda July, my ins for off military base has copay, they don't have most of the new and high priced drugs, so have to pay 50 dollars for it. You know these meds must be part of the reason I can't shake my extra pounds!

Unjury has packets also to try, I'm 1 1/2 yrs out and still have a shake when my protien is down. They also have non flavored powder and you actually don't taste or smell it. I will cool my coffee down to 120 degrees and put the vanilla in my coffee. Mainly I use milk to mix it. It is pricey but I don't like the premier protien anymore, can't tolerate chocolate in anything so I use strawberry in with vanilla for a shake. I did buy a chicken soup canister of it just haven't tasted it yet. Good Luck

I did, they kept it in 3 days, when I was to go home they pulled it out OMG was I in pain from it. Dr said it must've got tangled up in there. They gave me a pain shot right after that!

Once you start your protien drinks you will feel a lot different. You will get some energy back hopefully, then you will also feel what others have felt about, when you can tell when your full. You also can have sugar free jello, Popsicles. Once on puréed I saw some eating baby food, I never thought of that. I would have refried beans with cheese as my go to eats. Also cottage cheese, yogurt, I even did a plain sweet potato which was put in my tiny food musher. My daughter mad some white chicken chili! It was amazing blended up. There are other members who may have more tricks to eating puréed foods, this is just what I can remember. Good luck with your journey!

Are you having at least 3 protien shakes a day? You can also do unsweetened jello and unsweetened Popsicles. You do need the protien to help with energy. Start your vitamins also, my surgeon had me taking Flinstones with iron chewable, also calcium. I still take them today. You sure don't need to go into surgery with low energy, call your surgeon ask for nut dr and get their recommendations. Wishing you great success on your journey!

I had a sleep study in 2012 and needed a machine. Already diagnosed with sleep apnea. Tried doing it but with COPD with Asthma I just couldn't breath with it. Felt like I was fighting for oxygen, threw it off more than on. Now I have been on O2 for 4 years, in beginning was 24 /7 now it's for night use. Losing the weight has had a positive result for me.

Oh my that was an awesome message you left.

Oh my I hear your pain as I too had this excruciating pain. It took me 2 weeks before it eased up enough that I didn't need vicodine. My dr ordered the liquid 7.5/325 of vicodine. No one can tell you what you have to do, it's totally up to you. I can tell you for me it was from the stomach coming out that hole! I called my surgeon and he told me I had one of the largest stomachs he's pulled out! I was like really? It was 38" he said most are like 36" or less. Why was mine so big? I really don't know. My love was a heating pad on med with a pillow to my belly I hung onto. Then the walking gosh it hurt so bad, but passing all that gas from surgery was a welcomed relief. Remember your stomach was cut on down to make the size of a med banana. That's what my surgeon told me and all the staples put in. Was going to take 4-6 weeks to heal, yes it's gonna hurt but not excruciating pain as your referring to. Good luck

Hey Congrats to taking the best step I your life! It's been that for me and more My husband and I took a cruise for our first Anniversary, it was wonderful. We aren't those who like to "party hearty" first cuz we're both getting so old LOL I just turned 59 and he is 63. Anyway back to the cruise... We went to some late night parties and I did have a drink ☺, but it took me 2 1/2 hours to drink it! I've never been a party goer and big drinker, ah well does in your 20's count? But I personally have no comment on others who do. Has my weight loss changed me??? Sure has! I have more confidence in myself, I've also learned to love my new body. I'm not in the excruciating pain I had been in for many years. I enjoy my grandchildren more and more every time I see them. Before I couldn't get out to enjoy them, I also have COPD which does limit me still. But I'm 59 and so so Happy! Good Luck to those having their surgery! I'm sure you will feel so much better as time goes on.

I was told by my surgeon that I needed to lose 10 pounds before surgery. Well I lost 16, he wants to make sure you are serious about this weight loss. This is just a tool, you will need to work on losing weight. It's been awfully hard with being 1 year and 10 months out staying on track! Yeah I fell off about 3 months ago, a slice of pizza, a white chocolate kit kat! Was so good, I don't like anything in the brown chocolate categories. Just a lost of smell and taste 3 years ago made my taste buds way off. So yes it is important to lose some weight before surgery so you can show your surgeon and insurance that you are committed to this. I'm back online now and the weight is very hard for me to lose, have gone down 4 pounds in 2 weeks. I know the last 10 pounds are the hardest, but I'm back and ready to do this! Good luck on your upcoming surgeries

Oh my the dreadful hiccups! I get them probably 2 to 6 times a day and they are hard ones! They don't just come on from me eating fast or taking that last spoon when you know its going to put your belly full. I will just be sitting here and out they come! Went to movies last night saw Bad Moms, while everyone was laughing I had the loud hiccups. Great movie though.

I was referred to Flinstons vitamin with iron, yes they are chewable. But I take 2 a day, am and pm and same for calcium two times a day, they are like gummies.

You could ask the doctor about pain medication.. Maybe you can use MotrinTylenol after surgery? Being in recovery this long is Awesome Would hate for you to go back to using with pain meds? Just something to think about. Good Luck :-)

That's a great product, I use a microwave bowl and scramble the eggs in bowl. Put in for 2 min,stir then cook about 3 more min. Adjust time for dif watt microwaves.

Yes a payment plan! I have Tricare for life as my second ins, well they didn't pay anything for the surgeon or hospital. I had to stay 3 nights when I had surgery, my O2 stats were crashing every time I got up to walk! The hospital had to wait for a denial from sec ins then I had to pay over 2,000.00! They called and I set up a payment plan according to what I could afford. They were the nicest people that I've talked to about owing a bill.

I just ordered the Instant Pot from Amazon.com If I like it I will be ordering one for my two kids for Christmas. Thanks for the link to this, # Cowgirljane !

-loriemoms, I hear you on the rotator cuff surgery. Had my left one done 3 years ago before VSG. My right one I had done end of Feb, I am still recovering!!! Yes here it is 5 months down and I'm still in pain, not bad pain as it was first month or more. I went to PT 30 days out from surgery, twice a week for little over 2 months. Before surgery I had to do PT for 6 weeks, so my time was all used up for any more after than the 10 weeks I did. I still can't use a vacuum cleaner! Hurts pushing my mop, raising my arms way above my head, still not enough energy in it at all. I'm no longer taking the pain pills but I do have muscle relaxers I can take. They cut my deltoid muscle, reason for the muscle relaxers. It the muscle goes straight up the arm to the neck and at the base of the skull. Didn't know it effected there. So returning to work in 2 weeks you say? Let me know how it goes, I don't work because of disabilities I have. Pick up a veggie tray all ready cut up! Crunch on those they are great when you don't know what to eat. Keep apples peaches grapes or other fruit in fridge, you can do most with 1 hand. My right was my dominate had, we'll still is lol, I have to tell you my husband was right there for me. Heck I couldn't wash hair or shower without him! Cooking dinner was next to impossible. So I feel for you, the pain is horrible and not doing what you could before, well you will be able to do more later on. My surgeon said recovery is usually 6 months to a year! Good luck.

My dog groomer was losing a lot of weight and I asked her how. She referred me to her bariatric surgeon about 45 minutes from where I live. Seeing my own PCP wouldn't recommend, or help me get clearance from Medicare. So I made the appointment and went in for the initial group meeting. Wow what a big decision to make! The surgeon explained everything to a T and I signed up. He even referred me to a PCP I could see in his area just for weight loss. I had to do the 6 months and things went great. I love my sleeve, I did go through a 3 month period where I fell off the wagon, but didn't lose or gain. So I'm back in the sadle with my foods and the apple fritters and whatever else I found that was a no no are gone.

Welcome, I'm sure you will love all the topics you want to read about on here. And great friends who will give advice or tell you their story. This is the best site I have found, not way to many grouchy people, for the most part the people on here are friendly.

I was told to wait 6 months before I could even sit in a bath tub! With colder weather coming on I had to miss out on our hot tub also. Not now, I go in all the time :-)

I still do shake or 2 everyday. I order from unjury.com, they have a few choices to order from. They are pricey, but only one I can drink. I order vanilla, strawberry, and unflavored. This time I did order a chicken Soup just because I still have 11 pounds to lose and seems like that is the hardest to lose. I do drink with milk so that gives me more protein.

Hi, I'm 19 months out VSG and I still have 11 pounds to go When I had my surgery the bariatric dr said 2 Flinstons with iron chewable then a calcium chewable. I also take 10,000 of Biotin for my hair and nails. Started that when I was on my 6 month before surgery weigh ins with my PCP dr.

I too still look in the 1x to x-large sizes and for the most part I go for the x-large shirts. I don't like a top to be form fitting at all! I've not had any plastics done and yes when I sit you can see my belly :-( I'm 59 years old and these tops have been in my closet for years. I did also use some 2x tops before surgery. I've lost most my weight in the "boobs" and from the hips down. I'm in a mostly size 8 skinny jean at old Navy, and some 10's if I buy them elsewhere and they are an off brand. But I am happy with my weight loss so far and I reckon I will still look in the x-large size shirts. Oh and yes I have gotten rid of all those huge shirts and pants more than a couple times. I've had fun shopping for clothes now that I've lost weight.