BLERDgirl

Call Aetna to be sure, but I'm pretty sure you have a window of at least 30 days before that approval is no longer valid.

It took a while to get the hang of it. I can't drink artificial sugars or food dyes so I drink my Water plain. I occasionally add a bit of apple juice but mostly it's plain H20 for me. I switched to Isopure unflavored. It's 100% whey isolate. I can add it to anything, even water although it does make the water cloudy. My trick was to add a bit of water to my Protein drinks. Not a lot, maybe ¼ cup. I think added loads of ice. This helped thin out the shakes and get more water in. My other trick for getting in my protein was to mix 1 scoop of protein powder with ½cup of plain greek yogurt ( I use FAGE 0%). That would give me anywhere from 30 -38gms of protein with that first drink. Blended and serves over ice with a bit of water I could then relax for the rest of the day. Soup for lunch with a scoop of Isopure (26gms of protein) and I've hit 64 gms of protein by noon. I can then spend the rest of the day sipping water. Have dinner and sip some more before bed.

MEH, I used to use it in my smoothies before WLS. I wasn't overly impressed. I prefer adding spinach instead. I have the powder. A little goes a long way.

@@elladvyne - I'm a vegetarian so I don't know about beef. I can say however that I am eating everything I ate before surgery now just in smaller portions. I've tolerated every food I've tried with no problems.

I look at it this way. You ever go to a restaurant for one of those fancy tasting menus or multiple course meals where they start you off with an amuse bouche? I view my food like that. So when I go out and there's something I really want, I take that one bite and savour it. I don't wolf it down and allow myself to be sad that's all I can have. I eat chocolate. Most times I like the fancy stuff, Godiva, Vosges, Perugina Baci, etc..... but sometimes I just want a Hershey's kiss or a Reeces. I pop that one piece in my mouth and slooooowly let it sit on my tongue and melt. It's not an every day thing for me, so when I have it I want to make it special.

Gosh let me go into detail about what my surgery was like. EASY. I went in on Thursday. When I woke up in recovery I had to pee. I was given the option of bedpan or toilet. I choose toilet. I was able to sit up unassisted and get into the wheelchair. I was surprised at how little it hurt. My abs felt like I done a really vigorous workout the day before. When I got to the bathroom, I darn near ran inside! I really had to go from all the IV fluids. I spent quite a bit of time in recovery because the room I was assigned to wasn't ready. My mother was there and we chatted and watched tv. I went to the bathroom 2 more times in recovery. The nurses were impressed I could get out of the bed on my own and allowed me to walk to the bathroom instead of using the wheelchair. I was given a cup of ice chips to suck on. After about 2 hours in recovery I was finally taken up to my room. Since I was walking they didn't use the compression things for my legs. They offered me the morphine pump and I explained I didn't really have any pain. I turned on the tv chilled. Later that evening my sister came by. She had my iPhone and iPad. I had her plug in the charger. The evening was spent talking on the phone to friends, playing candy crush on the iPad and watching tv. Later the nurse brought in colace (stool softener) and omeprazole (antacid). I was given Jello, broth, tea and Prosource no carb liquid Protein. I sipped on the Liquid Protein and ice chips. Meanwhile I was still peeing like crazy. I had an overactive bladder prior to surgery and since they were still running IV fluids it was coming out as fast as it came in. The nurse thought it was funny that I was in the bathroom every time she came in. They checked the drain and took my vitals. I was offered the morphine pump but I explained I didn't have any pain. (I also didn't have any nausea). I ate too large a piece of ice and vomited a little. The next day was more of the same. Since I was drinking well they disconnected the IV, but left the PICC line in. Friday afternoon I asked if I could go home early. They said probably not, they preferred to watch me for another day. Again with meds, broth, liquid protein, ice chips. I was careful to keep the ice piece small and take slow, sips of the liquid protein and Water. The nurse asked who would be taking care of me and offered to arrange a visiting nurse. They finally took the morphine pump out since I wasn't using it. Saturday I was told I could go home. I was happy to finally get that PICC line taken out. The drain being pulled felt odd, but didn't really hurt. Home was easy. I was on all liquids to start and gradually added back in foods. I have tolerated everything I eat. I can and have eaten out many times. IHop, my favorite diner, a Japanese rest. I don't eat much. Everything ends up being a doggy bag, but I eat more than 5 bite. Probably a ¼ - ½ cup. I was allowed to drive after 2 weeks. I was back in the gym at 3 weeks. I had a bit of discomfort with acid and the doctor increased my omeprazole to 40 mgs a day and now its fine. I had my first BM on Monday, 2 days after discharge. I have been regular every since. I go at least once a day. Occasionally 2 -3 times a day depending on what I eat/drink. Meanwhile I am losing steadily. I don't weigh more than monthly but as of 2 weeks ago, I am down 55lb since my surgery on 9/18/14. I tolerate every food I have tried so far. I have zero regrets.

@@sukik - You should be specking with your NUT regarding this. They would help you increase your calories to maintenance level.

I started working out 3 years prior to my sleeve. It wasn't that I liked working out, it's just that I disliked the idea of knee replacement surgery even more. The one thing I found out was the more I went the more I liked it. Especially once I go to the point where it wasn't all post work out soreness. My point is don't wait for motivation to strike. It may never come. I truly think my regular work outs are part of what made my surgery so easy.

Sometimes the adjustment in how you now need to eat changes our relationship with food. However for some more help is needed. As long as you stay cognizant and honest with yourself you'll be fine. If you feel you need something more there is OA or even therapy.

I had a radical hysterectomy 10 years ago. I was already overweight but the hormonal changes seem to speed up my weight gain. I gained nearly 100 lbs since my hysterectomy. I wasn't put on hormone replacement therapy since I had uterine cancer. As far as effecting my sleeve, I don't think it has. I didn't go through any emotional changes post sleeve. In comparison I'd say the hysterectomy surgery was a more difficult recovery.

Welcome. Sorry I don't know your doctor. The only regret I have is not doing this 20 years sooner. I've had an extremely easy and pain-free surgical course and recovery.

So do you still have the drain in or is the incision itself still oozing? I would have it looked at by my PCP just to be safe. Incisions are funny and can heal weirdly even when you take every precaution. Better safe than sorry.

Prunes or prune juice maybe?

The only regret I had is that I didn't do this 20 years ago. I'd do this again in a heartbeat.

Try to relax. Not everyone wakes up in pain. I didn't. I had a radical hysterectomy. Everything was removed including lymph nodes. This didn't even compare. Some soreness and tightness in my abs and that's about it.

Pain thresh holds vary. I had no pain at all. Just a little soreness. I would recommend walking as much as you can. It help push the gas out which is often the source of much of the pain.

That's when tact is lost. Why make you feel like crap? Why not say, "that's good now let's review you diary?" Then the doc or NUT can make helpful suggestions as to ways to increase your weight loss without discouraging you. In fact done that way there would never be a need to mention you aren't losing enough. Please don't feel discouraged. Stick to your program and keep your chin up!

Yep I'll be happy if I make it to Onederland!

I never used the app, but I did make a conscious effort to eat slower. I never used baby utensil, I just only put food on the tip of the spoon or fork and focused on chewing really well and slowing down. So far so good. I've never gotten sick eating.

2 gowns. I felt fine. I showered before I went home.

YES! Yesterday I tried on a $200 Anna Scholtz dress that no longer fits. I'm going to handwash it and try to sell it.

Here's my tip. Join a gym and start working out now. I take an aquafit class 4 -5 days a week. Each teacher has a different style. Some are more yoga like, some aerobic and some focus more on weight training and core strengthening. I was in class this week and we were doing this core strengthening move and it downs on my that this may have been why I was pretty much pain free. It was a move that stretched the core and ab muscles. When I woke up in recovery I didn't have any pain. My abs were sore but I could sit up and get out of bed on my own. I didn't need to use any narcotics or pain meds in the hospital. Other than my surgeons skill I can't think of anything else that accounts for why I felt no pain when so many others did.

I'll have to talk to my doctor about it. WebMD says it's used primarily for arms & legs. My neuralgia is on my face. There's also concern in patients with thyroid disease. I have a pitutitary adenoma.

Just adding my voice to the chorus. Your friend's issues are not typical at all. I had zero issues or pain in the hospital and since being home. No issues with swallowing and can tolerate anything I eat.

I care because keloids are uncomfortable. The rub against your clothing and be quite irritating. I don't see anything wrong with correcting something that can be corrected. I've had major surgery before. Several times in fact. There is nothing wrong with using a simple fix to correct the after effects.