della street

There's a great calcium chew from Bariatrics Advantage (google them) - almost too tasty )

They should have told you it's very normal, and in fact, expected because of the IV fluids you received - I weighed about 8 lbs more day after surgery (very disheartening, I know, even if you know why...), but had lost 4 of those by the next day and quickly came off during recuperation. I'm 13 days out from bypass and have now lost 15 lbs from day of surgery (not including any of the fluid weight; using weight from morning of surgery in the hospital). Hang in there!

@_ItsAun_ Hi there, I'm about 11 days post-op (bypass). I've been vegetarian (mostly) for about two years - completely vegetarian for about six months. I did a diet that sounds very, very similar to that - mine was called PSMF - Protein sparing modified fast, thru a D.O. It was ALL meat for protein, with very little carbs/veggies added. Had to had labs every two weeks, got checked for ketosis every two weeks, etc. Very strict - I did lose about 80 lbs or so over about 6-8 months (I was at about 390 at my highest). After that time, (I wasn't veg at that point), I just couldn't face another piece of meat/fish! I asked about a veg option and was told I could have cheese like once a week instead of meat. I. JUST. COULDN'T. DO IT. Adult son is vegan, so that helped me -- but after going off that strict diet, I did start to gain weight, which eventually lead me to WLS. Post-surgery, I eat cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, and have had a bit of tofu w/soy sauce, too. I'll work up to Beans and more, but I don't see myself EVER eating meat/fish again for so many reasons - personal preference, health, animal health, etc. I don't begrudge others, but it's not for me ever again... That all said, you can indeed be vegan/vegetarian after WLS... PS - tempeh is great too, I espec love Tofurkey brand Smoked Tempeh Bacon - delish!

@gofigure I don't think Vega cares if you add 'reg' milk to it -- I'm vegetarian, and can't tolerate most milk products (cottage chz, yogurt okay), so that works for me --

Document your weights, etc, in a simple, one-page cover letter and make sure your surgeon's office submits it - maybe bullet-points with co-morbidities, etc -- make it easy and overpowering for them -- good luck!

@@gofigure I haven't noticed any weird odors from it, plus when it's mixed with milk/yogurt, whatever, I just get the chocolatey taste as prominent ) My fave Protein drink to do so far (I'm only 10 days post-op bypass) is this: Soy or almond milk (soy has more protein) Vega One choc powder PB2 powder (Peanut Butter powder) Splash of chia seeds for Fiber Crushed ice Whirrr it up in my Ninja - and voila - like a choc slush w/a hint of PB! Use whatever proportions taste best to you (mine's heavy on the choc, lol) and fit what your doc/NUT says you need in terms of protein, etc. Oh, and adding some Vega One to Dannon Light and Fit Greek yogurt is really super-good too!

@ I second Vega One -- I use their powder and mix with soy or almond milk or even Greek yogurt --- delish! And at Sprouts, you can buy 'sample packs' - maybe $3 or so - so you can try flavors - I've seen vanilla and chocolate, and haven't tried vanilla, but the choc is super-good. To buy the 'tub' is kinda pricey, but not really more so than any others - and lasts a very long time. It's def worth it to have protein foods you truly look forward to --

My face is Dannon Light and Fit Greek yogurt - 12 grams of protein and very tasty -- add a little chocolate protein powder - and delish!

Great advice!

I just had bypass surgery 9 days ago -- Advice I guess would be keep your eyes on the prize, listen to relaxing music if that calms you, and just go with the flow -- I had virtually no pain -- just uncomfortable, achiness -- but if you're in pain, don't be a hero and try to stay ahead of it w/pain meds -- walk, walk, walk and sip water, sip water, sip water -- ice chips were a dream for me, loved them -- nurses w/offer to you after surgery -- best of luck!

Does your program have a psychologist who could maybe help you with some ways to deal with these feelings? Don't give up - hang in there!

@@Wannabeskinnie I, too, was very confused about this -- I'm one week today post-op from a bypass. I really had no idea about Protein shakes -- what I've figured out that works for me (at a very early stage anyway) is this: Almond milk (I'm vegetarian; unsweetened Almond Milk has no sugars) Vega One Protein powder, chocolate PB powder (I'd never heard of it, but it's powdered peanut butter; avail at a store like Sprout's, Whole Foods, and I even saw it at costco yesterday) Chia seeds for Fiber Use the right amounts for whatever your NUT says you need in terms of protein, cards, etc. I blend that stuff, then add about 8 oz of finely crushed ice that I get from my local Sonic drive-in. Blend again, pour the right amount (I've been making enough for two at a time, since I'm on soft foods plus two protein shakes/day right now...) It is DELISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@ Of course, everyone's different, but I had bypass 6 days ago - I work at home (I'm a writer/reporter)... Had surgery Thursday; Thurs night/Fri night in hospital; discharged Sat about noon. Took it very easy Sat/Sun, Mon worked at computer a couple of hours; Tues/yesterday, worked about 4 hours; today/Wed working about 6 hours or so... I'm doing fine, just get tired much quicker than before surg -- Assuming all goes well, two weeks would seem to be plenty, espec given your situation where you can leave earlier if need by during week three -- but again, everyone's different and your mileage may vary, but that's my happening-right-now experience so far -- best of luck!

@@necol - Best of luck! I, too, wanted to do this for 10 years -- hubby's insurance specifically excluded it, so this year, I purchased my own policy which covers it -- we all know *exactly* what you've been thru and how you're feeling -- I just had bypass last week and am already feeling pretty good, just get tired in the p.m. - but it's only been 6 days... Suggestion would be to start making healthy changes now, one at a time, so that you're that much farther along on the path to weight loss -- best of luck!

And I had surgery last week at Scottsdale Healthcare w/Dr. Swain - he was fab - there are two other surgeons there, also with great reputations - Dr. Robin Blackstone and Dr. Jason Reynoso --

I told my sister and my brother and SPECIFICALLY said not to tell our 90-year-old dad who is in very frail health. I also asked them NOT to visit or call me as that would just stress me out, but feel free to send emails and/or texts and I would check and reply when I was up to it. I also had my husband text them both when I was in recovery and let them know all had gone well. So far, so good.... Then in my room day after surgery, my cell phone rings -- it's my dad's caregiver!!! "Your dad wants to know how you're doing" etc etc. Now you can think I should have told my dad, but I didn't want to worry him and it's too complicated to explain and I was just too exhausted pre-surgery to deal w/all of that... So I immediately texted my sister and asked if she told dad and she said yes! That he would want to know, she explained it to him, etc. She said she told him that I didn't want phone calls, but if he had his caretaker call, it was because he loved me, etc. etc. Which may very well be true, but I am p*ssed beyond belief...

Agree w/above advice and also agree about the pillow. I'm not sure that I needed it, but I felt better with it between my stomach and the seat belt for sure. Sip, sip, sip water, and what I found was to eat the ice chips they offered -- gave some 'crunch' and was also counted as water -- be prepared for a bit of bruising, at least I am, mostly from the heparin (blood thinner) shots they gave me every 8 hours in the hospital to guard against blood clots. Take pain med as needed, don't try to be a hero, but if don't need, ease off - you're the only one that will know -- At my hospital, we were required to be in the recliner in the room from 6 am to 10 pm; no bed till 10 pm. (day after surg) - again, to guard against blood clots and to encourage walking - it's easier to get up from a recliner than the bed. Of course, I dozed a bunch in the chair and that was fine. I took a spare set of clothes--didn't need. Just take some toiletries and clean undies, plus electronics and chargers, ie phone, tablet, whatever...best of luck! I'm 5 days post-op and, while tired, otherwise doing well --

@@Kellsbells I'd call my surgeon's office right away and ask - ( Even if it's allergies, that might not be safe for anesthesia -- but I really don't know for sure, so if I were you, I'd call right away - good luck!

I'm 4 days post-surgery (bypass). A couple of years ago, I went on a doc-supervised diet (very high protein, few veg, not much else) and gave up my 4-6 cans a day of regular Coke at that time. Kind of weaned before starting that and transitioned to 3-4 cans of Diet Pepsi a day. Somehow, that did the trick for me. But then came bypass surgery and the no diet sodas/no carbonation rules, sigh - I first (may 6 weeks before surgery) cut back on caffeine soda by mixing half-caf/half non-caf Diet P in a big glass of crushed ice from Sonic. Over a couple of weeks, (maybe 3?), got to just non-caf Diet P. Then had to start weaning off of Diet P altogether, so I started switching out one of my DPs with decaf tea, etc etc. Took probably 6 weeks to get completely off. For some, cold turkey will work better, but that's what worked for me. Good luck!

59...bypass three days ago. Still gas pains, but pretty good so far

Also home sweet home! Loser,s bench here we come!

I made it!!!! Bypass yesterday. Doing well. Walked a lot today.a!most 4000 steps on my fitbit. Watching Godzilla to pass time lol.

@@BloomingLotus Sounds good! Our daughter and her fiance live in Boston - snowed in/working @ home last couple of days -- ) Plus, I have a friend on Cape Cod who was buried as well -- I'm so glad it worked out for you! Keep in touch! Here we go!

@@joleno bypass --

@@BloomingLotus YEA! I am over the moon for you!!!! My time is 9:30 in the morning (was 6 am, for 8 am, but they moved me to 7:30 arrive, 9:30 surgery) -- what's one more hour and half after all this time, sigh -- Are you ok w/the snow?