DoggieMama

Try GenePro. You can get it on Amazon. It is unflavored, you can mix it with anything. Even HOT. you only use a Tbsp to get 30g protein so it doesn't make your drinks thick or change the texture of your food. I have put it in mashed potatoes, cr of wheat, cottage cheese, yogurt, etc. My favorite is: 10-12 ounces of unsweetened vanilla almond milk 1Tbsp GenePro 1tsp instant coffee 2tsp unsweetened baking cocoa 2 pkgs Stevia I can't stand those thick drinks, yuck. But this is yummy, I have one everyday.

I am 10 weeks out-before my surgery I asked the Dr if I should have the RNY instead of the sleeve as I had been dealing with GERD for a long time and did not want it to get any worse. He assured me it should get better when the hiatal hernia was fixed and as I lost weight and that he thought I should have the sleeve. So, I did. Well, when I went for my 1 month post op visit he told me to stop taking my Nexium and just use Tums or Rolaids if I needed something. Can't do it. Even with still taking my Nexium I sometimes have reflux that wakes me up in the middle of the night, sometimes have the acid in the back of my throat. NASTY. So, for me, it has NOT gotten better. Maybe worse. Going to ask my family Dr about maybe going to twice a day dosing. I'm still hoping it will get better. But, acid reflux CAN be treated so don't let the worry about that keep you from getting the sleeve!

I had a Lap hysterectomy a few years back and it was a piece of cake. I figured the sleeve would be similar... WRONG! I was in a lot of pain and felt like total shit for about 36 hrs. Found out that because I had hiatal hernia repair and they had to put a couple stitches into my diaphragm, also found a small tumor on my stomach that they removed, the nerve from the diaphragm goes up to your shoulder. At the time I thought it was the "gas" pain you hear about, but found out later that my pain was actual pain from surgery. However, my case is not typical. My Dr said had it been just the sleeve, I wouldn't have had near as much pain. But, I was SO not prepared for it. 23 days out now, and doing great

I decided to look into bariatric surgery a couple of years ago. I was always thin, until I hit about 40. Then I started to gain every year. I have Rheumatoid arthritis so my mobility is impacted,had a hysterectomy, arthritis meds can cause weight gain, etc, excuses, blah, blah, blah! But, I just turned 55; I have legal guardianship of my 10 yr old grandson who has some neurological issues. I am the only stability that kid has ever had and I decided that I needed to do something to make sure I was around for him for awhile yet. I also want to be able to do things with him. I didn't want him to someday be embarrassed when some kid asked him who was the fat, old lady. I'm 23 days out. I'm doing well. Surgery weight was 200, and I will go for my 1month post op in a few days. I think I'm gonna be a slow loser seeing as my BMI was a little lower to start with. But, that's okay. Like I said, I'm 55 and the skin doesn't bounce back like it used to. I just want to be able to go for bike rides, go swimming, etc. with my boy BEFORE he gets "too cool".

I, too, use Genepro ALOT. I have noticed that even when I mix it in crystal light some of it seems to settle in the bottom. I just give it shake whenever I take a drink. However, I can see whee that wouldn't work too well in a cup of coffee. I guess I would just keep a spoon handy and give it a stir every so often. I also use it in my sugar-free pudding. SF Caramel pudding in the microwave for 20-30 seconds, mix in my Genepro, put Tbsp of cool whip on top--- YUM! Get my "sweet" snack and protein too!

I agree with original poster-- haven't we all heard multiple times "if you would only make better choices, get more excercise, etc". Usually from a thin friend or relative. And it was usually hurtful and annoying and we thought to ourselves " they don't understand how hard it is". Now to hear the same from people who DO understand is worse. Did they forget? I do not plan to live on salad either. I want to eat as a "normal" person. Normal foods, normal meals with my family, (even dessert once in awhile), but in much smaller amounts. That is where I need help and my new tool gives me that. Some people with certain co-morbidities can't do a lot of strenuous excercise or strength training but can still have success from their surgery. So, let's all remember where we started and not be judgmental about how others choose to go forward with their tool. We are all different, but we've ALL experienced enough judgement to last a lifetime. I for one will not be part of that culture just because someone is losing slower or doing things differently. P.S. I don't believe those "perfect" people never put a bite of cake or a brownie or a bite of ice cream in their mouth!

At my 1 wk postoperative checkup I was cleared to move to puréed/soft foods. My Dr doesn't actually require us to purée our food in a blender, he says that what teeth are for. I've been doing pretty well, I think. NUT has a goal of 40 g of protein and 48 oz of water right now, with working up to 60 g protein and 64oz water. But, tonight I ate a small turkey meatball and a couple of bites of potatoes and OMG, I felt like I was gonna die. I know that I'm doing well with the chewing really well, but I'm having a problem with eating too fast. Doing okay with the not drinking while eating. So, all in all I think I'm doing pretty well. Just got to SLOW down.

I did find that app. I will try it out. What is good amount of time to shoot for between bites? Anybody know?

By the way, from start to surgery for me was about 7 months. And that included the couple of weeks of the whole appeal crap.

Medicare requirements are very similar to Medicaid. Make sure that you have seen your Dr and have actual medical diagnoses in your medical records. Make sure the acid reflux is in there as GERD, make sure if your body pains are in the joints that your Dr has done x-rays and that there is a diagnosis of degenerative joint disease, etc. Just saying you have heartburn or body pain will not be enough. You need documentation in your medical records of ALL of your co-morbidities.

I, too, went though the process with Medicare and Medicaid. First off, find out their requirements. You can call the number on your card or look online. Medicare does NOT do a prior authorization but Medicaid does. Medicare will be your primary. I was denied by Medicaid and told by the hospital that if Medicaid denied then it was very unlikely that Medicare would pay. However, because I felt confident that I did meet the requirements, I sent a letter to Medicaid requesting an appeal hearing. Within a week I got a letter with an appeals date, then 2 days after that I got another letter saying that Medicaid had decided they cover my surgery after all. Makes you wonder if they just automatically deny and hope you don't appeal. Anyway, my point is- do your homework and don't take "no" for an answer.

Try a little bit of REAL maple syrup. Yes it has sugar but at least it's natural, not high fructose corn syrup. AND you only need about a tsp to make it taste awesome. I don't know about you all, but I did not have this surgery with the intention of never eating anything "good" ever again. I do not want to "diet". I want to make healthier choices and take advantage of the restriction so that when I do eat something with sugar I will only have a small amt. I have also heard that after surgery many people get more sensitive to sweet foods and eat less. I say go for the good stuff! Just use common sense and moderation.

I had surgery on Friday at 1:00pm and was discharged around 10:00am on Sunday. My original plan was to only stay 1 night, but I also had hiatal hernia repair and I guess it turned out to be larger than they anticipated. They ended up putting a couple stitches in my diaphragm to keep everything in place. Because of this I was in a lot of pain. Dr said if it's just the sleeve there's not usually a lot of pain, but with the hernia and the diaphragm, that's what caused my pain. There was NO WAY I was ready to go home the next day. BUT, by the morning of the 2nd day I felt better and was discharged. Make sure if you have pain to let them know!

Update.... I had my 1week post-op today. Feeling good, Dr said everything looks good. I've lost 12 pounds since starting the pre-op diet. He cleared me to move to the puréed stage; scrambled egg, cottage cheese, very thin sliced deli meat, banana. Can't wait. Sick of broth, pudding and yogurt. Still get tired easily, Dr said it can take 4-6 weeks to get your energy back. However, I can say that I feel like I've turned a corner and am feeling pretty damn good.

Shell88- They're actually stockings. They pull up to the top of your thigh and have a little rubbery band thing that's supposed to hold them up. Mine kept rolling down. They're not horrible, just annoying.

Don't be scared of the drain. It's just one thing in this whole process. I know one person said they had the drain for 5 days but I don't think that's common. Mine came out the day I was discharged (about 48hrs). You can do this. I am 5 days out and had my first poo this morning and am feeling pretty damn good. Just get through to the other side and you can stop being anxious and start looking forward. Best wishes to all of us!

I had those hose on too. Dr told me when I was discharged that I didn't need to use them at home. They were a pain. Kept rolling down my thigh. I think my legs were too short.

I agree. Ask your surgeon as not all of them use it. I also had a catheter for about 24 hrs and I know not all surgeons use those either. But in my case, the cath was my friend. I had a rough time for the first 36 hrs and since I had the cath I didn't have to try to get up.

Similar to childbirth/placenta BUT-think of Sigourney Weaver in that Alien movie. And to me the drain being removed was painful. It only lasted a few seconds, but ouch.

Yup. That picture says it all. And it DOES feel like an alien being pulled out of you're body. You will be amazed at how much (length) of that tube is on the inside! I'd say about a foot. Not kidding. What it is draining is just blood and ooze from the surgery. When they take it out, take a big breath and hold it! (and try not to punch the nurse in the throat)

Hi, I had my sleeve done on the 7th. Came home yesterday. The first 2 days were awful! But by the 3rd morning I felt like I had turned a corner. How come nobody talks about that drain coming out? It was horrible. Otherwise, I am glad to be home. No problems so far with keeping things down. I got a shower in today and that helped a lot. I am in Wisconsin and in the middle of a snowstorm. I guess I got discharged just in time!

Had an ultrasound yesterday, Dr said no more kidney stones SO... I am having my sleeve tomorrow (Nov 7) around noon. I hope nothing else goes wrong! Hope everyone else who has been sleeved recently is doing well. Let us know!

So pissed off! Was scheduled for today, nov. 4th at 1:15. Ended up at the ER yesterday morning in extreme pain, lots of blood in urine. Turns out to be a kidney stone! Horrible experience. I wondered if the pre-op diet, which includes a lot of artificial sweeteners (SF pudding, SF jello, etc), could have contributed, but Dr said more likely dehydration could have something to do with it. So, I will be re-scheduled, probably the 18th, and will get to my 10 day pre-op AGAIN! Thinking of the rest of you and wishing you a complication-free surgery!

Good luck! I am also right behind you on Nov 4th. Let us know how everything goes.

I agree about the pain killers too. Am hoping to get scopolamine patch and put on the night before. Also going to tell them I don't want narcotic pain meds. There are other alternatives. I am in Wisconsin, where are you?