CanyonBaby

Welcome! May I suggest using the search feature, found in the upper right-hand corner? Just type in a subject you're interested in, and you will find all kinds of posts! It's good you have a book to refer to, bring it with you the appointment. Ask about pre-op diets, post-op diets, risks, complications, whether he/she thinks you're mentally prepared (you probably will have to pass a psychological evaluation), and anything else you have the slightest curiosity about. Good luck to you on your journey!

One thing that saved me was...yes, baby food. Stages 1, 2, and 3. You can add your own seasonings to them, which is essential as they are not seasoned AT ALL! Just an idea, but the baby food prunes really helps things "go smoothly"! The fact that they are in small containers make them ready to go. And when I was finally onto normal foods, the food bank was ecstatic to have the leftover jars! You are so smart to get this done ahead of time! Make sure and ask about the N-Saids you MAY be able to take (such as liquid Tylenol) for issues that may come up, like arthritis (if you have that). Your Dr. may not allow N-sids, it seems all have different opinions about it. Also ask about taking cold meds when and if the time comes for that, even WAAYYY down the road. Some won't allow it. I'll try to remember more, then let you know. My old brain forgets easy these days!

Try drinking luke-warm water instead of cold. Not hot, just softly warm. And SIP gently. Good luck to you, this WILL pass!

Good idea showing up early! My own experience was this: I was on time, but the person scheduled to go in BEFORE me chickened out, so I went in immediately! Man, did they shove me through! Didn't even get to kiss my husband by-by or anything! The thing is, though, I sat in recovery for 4 bloody hours waiting for my room, because they didn't have it ready yet! So I got to watch all these poor folks coming out of different surgeries wake up! Got to know the recovery nurses pretty well, too! Saw stuff I probably shouldn't have!!!!! Good luck to all!

Welcome to your new life! The journey appears to have started for you already, so here we go! sugar-free popsicles! Lots of them (my favorite brand is actually the Popsicle brand), it gives you the crunch and chew you will want. Check out the search feature in the upper right hand corner for topics that interest you. Since you have not had surgery before this, it is probably a little scary, but it really isn't if you read up on the procedure, and fill your head with the facts, and not hear-say. I've had 22 surgeries to date, and the sleeve was the least painful and easiest to recover from. Trust me, that says ALOT! There will be lots of challenges ahead, so it's best to prepare for them now, like getting your shopping done (all the different foods you will be allowed at the different stages, any Vitamins in the liquid/dissolvable/chewable forms, any and all comforts you might need (heating pad, comfy pj's, extra pillows to prop you up, teddy bear...), just ask your surgical team for possible necessities they suggest. Get a couple of books on the subject, there are a few on Amazon.com. Information is power, and if you are informed, there is little that will get by you! You should do fine! Oh, and maybe get some Nioxin shampoo for the potential hair loss that may come your way in a couple of months. The Biotin Vitamin just won't grow the hair back, but it will make what you have look great! Research the Protein shakes/powders you will need to have, so you can choose the ones you like that will have the most protein per drink. I like GENEPRO for the fact it is a small scoop and 30g per serving. It is unflavored, so you can add it to all kinds of beverages. Also on Amazon. Amazon LOVES me! Lots to do and lots to look forward to! I wish you the best on your journey, and write if you need anything!

My hernia was a SURPRISE, so was repaired at the time of surgery. No issues to date, but then again, I had no hernia issues prior to surgery, either. Didn't even know it was there. But apparently she was a good sized one, and took awhile to fix. The only thing was after the surgery, taking water was very difficult, and sometimes it still is. So we take care of that by drinking warm (not hot) water 1st thing in the morning, so as to not shock the already contracted tummy, and eating a couple of bites of soft food before eating anything hard or crunchy, to sort of "prime" the tummy for other foods. I've been told it will take about a year for my hernia to fully heal, and to not lift anything over 10lbs until cleared, again about a year. Good luck to you all....

We'll be praying for you! Make sure you let us know how it all turns out, ok? Bless you on your ADVENTURE!

@@ajones3300 So when are YOU due?! The cami idea is brilliant! Thanks, I'll have to try that! I think we'll have to consider ourselves as part of the "Immaculate Conception" part two! And here I thought was all alone in this-NOT! Thanks for sharing, and let me know how you do, we pregger-girls need to stick together! All the best to you!

@@Elode Here's to the BUTT of the jokes! So where do I find these miracle jeans (for me, they must be miracles!!!)? Any particular store that carries them? It is 4:43pm, and hunger is seriously getting the better of me, so I better do something about it! Thanks for your help!

@@ssourgirl Maybe try GENEPRO, found on Amazon.com. It is a tiny scoop (compared to most unflavored whey powders), and you hardly notice it is there. It can be mixed in hot or cold beverages, and has virtually no taste. It has different size packages it comes in, up to 3lbs. And I think it is very reasonable. As for being nauseous, try drinking tepid Water as opposed to cold, so it isn't such a shock to the new tummy. Use the Water Enhancer drops (SOOOOO many flavors to choose from, as well as different brands) to help get in the fluids she needs. This is a life-time thing we need to do for ourselves, so find something you really like. Try mixing different flavors, too. Good luck! OH! The GenePro has 30g of Protein per tiny scoop! Hurray!

@@Elode Jeans are SUCH a scary thing! I mean about the waist-part. With my stomach area the way it is, I need to do a higher-rise in the waist, or they just fall down. SOOOOO, do they carry a higher-rise waist at all that you know of? I have been using elastic-waist jeggings and pants for an eternity, it seems, as they (if they are tight enough) kinda cling to my waist, preventing them from sliding down. Picture this (you poor souls for having to do this!): a PERMANTLY pregnant 53 year old, with a belly that appears to be in it's ETERNAL ninth month..... yeah (head hanging VERY low), that's me. Sad, but true. So now that the belly is GRADUALLY going down, I'm excited about wearing REAL jeans! But they will never be able to be the crotch-grazing wonders that the slogan "say no to crack" was made for!!! NOW, enjoy THAT vision! Sorry....I'm hungry now! That always explains why I get so strangely odd at times........

It's times like this when I am SOOOO glad my surgical team made me recover sooooo slowly from surgery, so all would be healed appropriately before I ventured in to the hard and crunchy world again! And now that I am there, I am having no difficulties with the hard/crunchy nuts, popcorn..... I really wondered about it when I read about so many people eating solid food so much faster than I was allowed. NOW I KNOW, and THANK YOU, SURGICAL TEAM!!!!!

If your medication for the hypothyroidism is on target, you really shouldn't have any trouble losing weight. SPEED of the loss varies from person to person, depending on a lot of factors such as how much you have to lose to begin with, IF you are following the plan religiously, amount and types of exercise, your personal biological make-up.....it goes on and on. If you think your not losing fast enough, or even enough period, consider this: If you lose what you are losing now (say 2lbs per week), that could be up to over 100lbs in a year - depending on how much you have to lose. My Dr. has said to expect losing UP TO 65 percent of the EXCESS body weight, NOT 100 percent, from the surgery. IF I follow the plan. And this would occur in the first year. He said the first 3 months of weight loss were "FREE", meaning that weight that came off during those 3 months were coming off NOT really because of me, but because of the effects of the surgery. AFTER that weight is the weight I HAVE TO WORK OFF!!! By being diligent in my following the plan set up for me. Good luck to all in your endeavors!

Slowly try to integrate new spices to your routine meals, but maybe avoid the spicy-hot ones for now. And Teachamy is absolutely SPLENDID about telling us what food should mean to us....I wish I would have though about that sooner in my life!

Welcome to head-hunger! Try to feel your tummy. It will probably say "no thanks, I've had enough!". BUT your head just can't wrap itself around that! Use the search feature in the upper right hand corner to find the many posts about this subject, and if you have more questions, don't forget to ask!

As a few others have mentioned, getting those hulls worked into your staple line COULD be your undoing! Probably not the best thing to do right now. So, what CAN you eat? Have you tried the puffed popcorn? There is the original flavor and cheese flavor. One brand I can think of off the top of my head is Chester's, I believe it is Frito-Lay. There are store brands, as well. It is just like cheese puffs in texture, tastes similar to popcorn, but BEWARE!!!!! It melts in your mouth, so it is easy to eat more than you should (calories!!!). Also, for farther down the road, try Popcorn Pete's Virtually Hull-less popcorn, it still has hulls, but they tend to be softer. Now, for the REALLY naughty ones: make caramel corn with the puff corn. This stuff should be ILLEGAL!!! But if your going to do it anyway, this is the way to go! Just use puff corn instead of regular popcorn in your caramel corn recipe. Yes, I know I should be shot for this, but it is my favorite (even though I can honestly say I haven't had this for years). And ONLY for the holidays! MODERATION, people, MODERATION!!!!

@@pink dahlia I'm 53, and I, too, have noticed a real change in my face from the weight loss. 53lbs to date, and 4 months out tomorrow. I'm using the CeraVe cream (in the big tub) to help fight the tiny turkey waddle that has appeared "out of nowhere"! And it seems to be working! I got my hair cut to just under my chin, and it has given me a few years! In a good way!!! As for my belly, I'm hoping with additional weight loss, it will flatten out and I won't NEED suspenders! It is getting there, but it is the last to go, wouldn't you know! I am focusing on more feminine clothing, as well, as my typical garb is sweatshirts and jeggings. Sure, they fit the farm-type life I live, but I want to look a little better when I step out of the homestead. And I want to DO things, not necessarily related to earthy-things, which is fine for everyday, but I want to be able to enjoy life outside of my world a little now that my body can do more, know what I mean? My husband is fine with anything I wear, bless his heart, but I am SOOOO ready for a change, I just need to do it. And what better time?!!!

@@pink dahlia Don't laugh too hard; my husband has said the same thing! If I'm gonna do it, they will be RED!

@@pink dahlia Thanks for the great ideas! I feel like I have been out of the "fashion" world so long, I don't know what to do (and I'm sure it shows!). I actually had a gal 5 years ago tell me I needed a makeover, she is half my age, and I gotta say it didn't go over well! Now here I am, with a "new" body, and what to do with it?! Your help in invaluable!

If you can't find someone your age and stats, and still want a buddy, just let me know. I'm 53, and am 4 months out from surgery. We all go through pretty much the same stuff, so it's good to have someone to go through it with. Good luck on your journey!

So look at all the support you have just from this one post! Just tell us what you need, someone is bound to have an answer, and there is always someone who will reply. All you have to do is ask!!! Bless you....

Ah, how a person's true character is revealed when they feel threatened or jealous. How YOU feel about you is the most important, and I'm glad you feel strong enough to take charge of this issue that has taken over your life. Now it's time to take back that life, and people can either support you, or not. The thing is to NOT give importance where it is not deserved, and these people who have shown their true colors have not earned and do not deserve to go on this journey with you, so keep them out. All they can do is pull you down to their level, and honey, you have enough on your plate with this surgery that will bring the strongest man alive down. This deal may be the hardest thing you'll ever do, and you need good, decent , supportive folks who will be there when the going gets tough. And it will. Start by getting yourself a mentor or buddy off of this site, someone who's been there and help you through it all. Do you have anyone at home or friends whom you can trust with all this? Another good place to start. Then get yourself some books and read all you can on it. Read any and all posts from this site to help you figure it all out. Remember, information is POWER, and you're going to need it in spades! You are NOT alone, ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD!!!!

Exactly as McButterpants has said: when you are full, you are TOO full. Sated is where you want to be. How do you know? Take each bite slowly, chewing millions of times, then the next. Take some time between bites, put your fork down. FEEL where the food hits, then take the next bite. This takes lots of practice, so be patient with yourself. You should feel the food getting near the top. At the top is TOO full, and now food is sitting in your esophagus. Not good. So learn to recognize WHERE the food is, and stop before being full. Sated. That's the ticket! And it's the famous "sweet spot" we all like so much!

Oh, yummy! Hey! They have frozen pop molds on Amazon.com, very inexpensive! Might help keep those fingers clean! And I think I will add my powdered calcium citrate to the mix.....oh, you are really giving me ideas! Thanks.....off to the kitchen....

@@CowgirlJane I guess I haven't thought about dresses so much, wow....me in a dress! My husband might fall over from shock! The last dress I wore was on my wedding day.....uhoh......18.......YES, 18 years ago!!! This is my situation: I am the classic apple. So many abdominal surgeries have left me with a belly that is hard (yes, hard) and round, and is so much bigger than it should be, and it doesn't fit with the size pants or the size tops the rest of that part of the body should fit, if that makes sense. Loose and flowy tops, and waistbands that HOPEFULLY won't slide down to the crotch area. The belly is just so hard, and there is no way to wear a belt, it either slides up, or it slides down. No staying where it should, oh no. That would be too easy! So maybe dresses are the KEY! THANK YOU SO MUCH for the idea!!!