IronDruggist

Think I mistakenly said I used "Caltrate" in my last post. Citrical has calcium citrate "petite" tablets that I've been taking since 6 months post-op with no problems. I take 2 tabs twice daily and 4 tabs of my Optisource multivitamins throughout the day. I couldn't tolerate the awful chewable calcium, I just wouldn't take it. The calcium petites have never gotten stuck or anything, and the MV chews are not gross tasting. Honestly, at 6 months post, reasonably sized tablets are just fine...forget the chewables!

I'm 7 months post-op, and I take Bariatric Advantage sublingual b12, Optisource multivitamins that I get at Walgreens, and Citrical petites calcium. All my blood work had been normal so far :-)

Honestly, I quit cigarettes and used ecigs about 2 months before surgery. I didn't use any nicotine for 24 hours before any of my pre-op tests. I stayed clean for a few weeks following surgery, not even ecigs, but slipped back into smoking. My mom lives with me and is a life-time smoker, so it's always around. Seven months out, still smoking, haven't noticed any ill effects. I know I need to quit, I'm not advocating it. I also am genetically pretty tough stomach-wise...no intolerances or ulcerations pre-op. It's a gamble, there are consequences beyond the GI tract, but we are all adults here and we decide what kind of life we live.

Really normal to have messed up menstrual cycles after surgery...your cycle has a lot to do with diet and weight. When all of that stabilizes, so will your cycles

I had significant pain for a full 2 weeks...forget OTC pain meds. Be honest and direct with your surgeon/primary care doc...you'll get what you need.

How far out are you? I'm 7 months, and I started taking Caltrate Petites about 2 months ago. Not chewable so you do have to eat chalk, but small enough to agree with my sleeve. I take 2 tabs everyday along with my chewable multivitamins that have calcium citrate...Optisource that I get at Walgreens

It will get better, just give it time. Don't feel guilty, you'll get it! Everybody has a different formula that works for them, everybody has to figure it out, you will too :-)

I've had diet soda, mostly in the form of every drinks, a few times. I work shift work on my feet for 10 hours a day, so sometimes I need a pick me up. I find I need to drink it very slowly, in small sips, but it's doable. Have to burp a lot, but no huge deal. I would definitely avoid full calorie soda like the plague, really empty calories. I'm seven months out tomorrow and almost 100 lbs down. I say enjoy things in moderation, the sleeve is a tool to help.

Not everyone has the gift of tact. Take it how you will, but I personally love the attention. It is a sign of a job well done in my opinion :-)

The peer-reviewed evidence is shaky on "pro-biotics." However, I have been drinking kombucha from about 3 weeks out, and I've rarely had intestinal issues. I make my own, but occasionally but GTs brand. While the benefits are questionable, there are definitely no drawbacks. Lots of good organic acids in komucha, so that is how I roll :-)

Safeway/Vons/Pavilions soup from the deli...throw that into a blender and yum :-)

Honestly, I can't remember exactly when, but I did add back in "normal" foods fairly quickly. My mom and I are foodies, so I got tired of all the crap really fast. I remember having a sliver of pizza and a chicken wing at about 2 months (okay, not the best example of clean eating). I've had a remarkably uneventful recovery and progression though, and I started with an iron stomach. I've only had 2 things that didn't agree with me...Thai iced tea (too sweet, made me queasy) and white wine (like red better anyways lol). I do behave myself the vast majority of the time, but I'm not going to deny myself a few bites of noodles or rice when we eat Asian, for example. Just have to walk the fine line between vigilance and obsession :-) like I said, that may change down the road when I'm able to eat more, we'll see!

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I live near to Phoenix, so I imagine I can find mist of these places! It's funny, but I'm kinda bummed I won't be able to shop at Torrid anymore. Worth it though!

I would say yes...at least one option for my pre-op included milk with fortified milk powder. I would say any low-cal, low-fat item is fine...I ate green veggies with zero-cal dressing and pickles everyday during my pre-op just to let myself chew something! The point of the diet is to reduce calories and "liver food". When you are in a calorie deficit, the body burns glycogen (a type of carbohydrate) stored in the liver first, then fat stored in the liver, then body fat. You starve the liver of carbohydrate to make glycogen, and fat, the liver will shrink. Anyways, the moral of the story is make sure your are under calorie goal, and your food is low carb, low fat, and low cal. An occasional glass of skim milk will not ruin anything.

I don't eat "diet" foods, nor am I "low carb". I am 4 months out, I've never stalled, and I'm 90lbs down. I eat whole, real foods. I eat my protein first, but I do enjoy small amounts of *gasp* rice, bread, and pasta. Eating Thai food tonight, and I'm going to enjoy the hell out of my 1/2 cup of grub. There is no point to diet food...especially when at the early stages we struggle to get ENOUGH calories to not go into starvation mode (weight loss stalls, hair loss, etc). Add to that the unnatural chemicals, preservatives, and artificial sweeteners that can't be good for you. Maybe farther down the road when I am able to eat more volume it might matter, but right now I enjoy being able to eat normally, for the first time in my life!