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Vabeachlady

Gastric Bypass Patients
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Everything posted by Vabeachlady

  1. Vabeachlady

    Ice?

    I use ice all the time. I also found it helped get Protein down when I had issues getting my protein for months after surgery. My nutritionist even said it helps burn more calories.
  2. Vabeachlady

    Baked mozarella Sticks...yay or nay?

    I'm not sure if it is OK for you. If you are able to have cheese i would think it is OK if it isn't breaded. I'm 4 months out and recently have been taking a jalapeno string cheese stick, wrapping it with a couple of slices of lunch meat and heating it in the microwave until the cheese melts. About 14 g of Protein total.
  3. That is a very good question. And it is hard for me to answer. I've lost 107 pounds since I began my journey last April. Roughly 1/2 of that was lost during the required weight trial before my surgery on 12/1/14 and 1/2 since then. So, I'll probably always question whether I could have done it without the surgery. I had issues with dehydration and not being able to tolerate any of the Protein powders or ready to drink Protein shakes. I had no energy and felt REALLY bad. I could eat most things that I tried with no side effects, but it wasn't enough to function well. With those difficulties, I think I returned to work too soon. My work suffered because of the mental fog I seemed to be in all the time. I also think that having my surgery during the winter was not a good decision. Starting a walking program in the cold when I felt so bad just didn't happen. The holidays were difficult as they have always been a big deal with lots of food. My new way of eating wasn't engrained yet and I struggled. Fortunately, I recently discovered a powder and a ready to drink shake that I can tolerate. I'm feeling better. The mental fog is mostly gone. I'm off all meds - just take Vitamins now. I've started gardening again. Something I used to love but was unable to do for many years. I'm down to a size 16 from a 24/26. I can cross my legs without having to lift my foot with my hand. I can paint my own toenails. Take the stairs instead of the elevator at work. My joints don't hurt like they used to. I am looking into joining a gym. I can eat just about anything without problems. Haven't tried rice, Pasta or beef yet. There have been a few times when I ate a bit too much...my little pouch let me know. Which is one of the reasons I wanted the surgery. So, would I do it again? Probably. In a few months, I will likely say absolutely!
  4. Vabeachlady

    1 Free Premier Protein Bar or Shake

    I just did it. It didn't seem to accept anything until I clicked that I'd like to receive emails. Then got a page to share on FB then ultimately got screen saying I'd get bar in 4-6 weeks. You may want to try again.
  5. Been having lots of difficulty getting my Protein in. The protein powders and RTD bottles are all gagging me after 1 or 2 sips. I've tried just about everything that my nut has recommended, but nothing seems to work for me. I feel horrible...no energy and just want to sleep. I'm thinking about going off plan a little to get more protein from food. I'm only supposed to have 3 meals a day...up to 2 OZ of yogurt or cottage cheese or just an ounce of "meat" per meal. Thinking if I do to more little meals it might help. I know I can't eat more at a time cause it upsets my stomach. Saw this and I'm claiming it. I will get through this!!!
  6. Vabeachlady

    where did you sleep?

    I slept in bed but had several pillows that propped me up like in a recliner. I had to sleep on my back for about a week. Getting up from the bed was a real bear! Had a laparoscopic hysterectomy several years ago. The incisions were similar to my bypass incisions (just a bit lower). They were very helpful in telling me how to get out of bed without hurting myself. After I remembered that, it was much easier to get up. Here is a video I found tonight that might help you.
  7. Vabeachlady

    How about some NSVs!?!?

    It's the little things that count! I can now: -cross my legs. Don't do it often because it doesn't feel natural yet. :-) -put on socks without being a contortionist to bring my feet up high enough to get then on, -bend over and tie my shoes! -walk up and down stairs instead of taking the elevator Might be a little TMI on this one, but I can wipe front to back now and haven't been able to do that in years. Finally feeling better after problems with dehydration and will start walking again. Life is getting better every day!
  8. I've been having lots of nausea since my surgery. I'm not over eating but am having a really hard time getting Protein and liquids down, it makes the nausea worse. I'm wondering now if it has to do with the hiatal hernia repair that was done during my surgery. The dr. said I didn't need medicine for GERD because I wasn't having symptoms. I'm now thinking that what I have been thinking was nausea might actually be GERD presenting itself a little differently. I'm not having reflux just the horrible nausea. Anyone have issues with "nausea" after having hiatal hernia repair? What did you do?
  9. Vabeachlady

    Lightbulb moment?

    Well, the nausea has a completely different cause. Saw my surgeon today. Turns out I was eating too much...could of sworn I saw in my papers that I could eat 2 oz during the soft solids days. WRONG!!! Also, too much food (and accompanying nausea) was making it hard to drink my liquids so I was dehydrated. Got 2 liters IV today, have to go back to liquids for 2 days then basically start again. Still hard getting liquids down. But I HAVE to or will end up in the hospital.
  10. First week was horrible with pain and bloating. Thanks to recommendations from friends here I got past that. Went back to work yesterday. It wasn't too bad. But I got really tired and took a nap in my car at lunch and another when I got home from work. That really messed with my Fluid intake. Tough to drink when you are asleep. :-) Have been nauseated, tired, weak and shaky all day today. Dr. office thinks its a bit of dehydration. Anyone else get dehydrated? How do you manage to take in fluids when you feel bad or are truly sick? I love naps, especially on cold rainy days...must I give them up for the cause?
  11. Vabeachlady

    3 weeks post op - Naps

    I had asked my dr. to let me go back part time for a couple of weeks. He said no...that I should tough it out. After a couple of days I should be back in the swing of thing. LOL. I'll just have to take time when I need to. Started soft solids today. Official start day is tomorrow but I couldn't stand it. Scrambled egg for Breakfast, a bit of chicken salad for lunch and a few steamed shrimp for dinner. Felt human again, No issues to speak of. Just still have a bit of the nausea and weakness. If it persists, I'll go see dr.
  12. Vabeachlady

    3 weeks post op - Naps

    I've lost a total of 76 lbs since I started my journey back in April 2014. Only 8 since surgery. Not sure how to make that reflect in my displayed profile. I adjusted my ticker to reflect weight loss since surgery. You are probably right about not enough Protein. Just thinking about the sweet taste and protein aftertaste makes me nauseous. But I'm trying. Things are a bit better today. Hope it continues to improve,
  13. Vabeachlady

    Blood Thinners

    I had one before surgery, one the next morning then injections at home for 7 days. Was really worried about doing them, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.
  14. Two days and a wake-up! Excited and scared but oh so ready!
  15. Had surgery 12/1 and got to go home the next day. I've had no problem getting liquids down, can even tolerate the Protein. Problem is the pain. I've had several abdominal surgeries before but this one takes the cake. I used the hydrocodone Acetaminophen elixir as often as I could until yesterday. My tongue got sore and swollen. Read that was a side effect so I stopped it. Today my throat is very sore and it hurts to swallow. Even Water. Abdominal pain is maybe a 3 out of 10 until I move, then probably a 5-6. Top that off with my abdomen being SO swollen that sweat pants I wore for a surgery 4 years ago (at my largest size) are so snug I don't have to even tie them.
  16. I may call tomorrow. Thanks.
  17. Not yet. I see lots of people on here who are/were experiencing pain and swelling. I'm not running a fever, pulse is normal, no change in the incisions. Didn't seem necessary.
  18. Some. Have had bowel movements too.
  19. Ok bypass veterans, are there any things that you didn't find out until just before or after your surgery? One example is, I just found out that I will have to give myself a blood thinner injection for 7 days after surgery. Didn't know a thing about that until I met with the nurse coordinator this week. Not looking forward to that.
  20. I am still pre-op but was having a real hard time getting my protein during liquid diet. I discovered Unjury chicken soup flavored protein powder. I mix it in chicken broth and really love it. No protein powder taste at all.
  21. Vabeachlady

    Pre op diet!

    I had a "last meal" bucket list for the two weeks before I started pre-op. pizza, steak and baked potato, Red Lobster (love their biscuits), pork fried rice and lumpia, Hardees sausage egg and cheese biscuit, a grinder and cheese steak sub. Ate a little bit of pizza; brought home half of the steak and potato; shrimp, crab legs, salad and a couple (ok 3) biscuits; all of the small pork fried rice; all of the small grinder and chips; didn't get the cheese steak sub...shop was closed and it was the night before pre-op started so got another small grinder. Hadn't eaten any potatoes or breads since starting the weight trial in April. I know I will be able to eat them again, but needed the tastes before I started the liquids for a LONG TIME. Started pre-op liquids on Monday and only cheated a little today with a couple of small shredded pieces of leftover turkey in my chicken broth and Protein soup. Now I'm ready to do everything I need to do to become healthy.
  22. Went to big family dinner armed with a can of chicken broth and some chicken Soup flavored Protein powder. When I got there everything smelled so good that I thought I had made a mistake in going. Once I started with the broth I wasn't even tempted! I did however, bring home a slice of pumpkin pie and pecan pie to put in the freezer for when I can start eating again.
  23. Vabeachlady

    This Has Been Quite a Day!

    Great news! Good luck with your pre-op and surgery!
  24. I thought of not going to our family dinner, but want to be with everyone before my surgery, liquids and all. Any suggestions on something that I can drink that might have a "Thanksgiving" flavor?
  25. Started my 1 week pre-op liquid diet today. Doctor had said that my tastebuds would likely change after surgery, but I found that they have already changed. Protein powders and ready to drink shakes that I have been using all summer were nearly impossible to get down. Don't think I came close to the 60-70 grams I'm supposed to get. I found some protein shots online starting at 26g up to 50g in SMALL bottles, 3-4 oz, I'm thinking that would be a lot easier to get down than 8-11 ounces for powders or ready to drink. Have any of you tried them? The one with 50g is from beef not whey or soy. Wonder if it is OK? 2 of those would give more than enough protein for a day a heck of a lot less to drink.

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