maria88

Hi!! I'd say to really "shop around" hospitals if you can... I looked at two hospitals where I live and I opted to one rather than the other because of the support team that the hospital offers, I had to sit through two informational sessions, meet a dietician twice, psychologist twice, and a nutritionalist once, and the surgeon twice before my scheduled surgery. I also had to attend a support group. All this helped a ton, I felt way more prepared before the surgery. If you haven't already contact your insurance and see if your covered for surgery, and if you have to do a waiting period prior to surgery, it'd suck to go to an appointment and start the process then find out that your insurance requires a 6 month waiting period, or whatever, better to know all about that sooner rather than later.

Recovery time is all relative... I was sleeved 4 December 2014. Drinking Water "normally" like 1tablespoon sips, after 3 days post-op... My doc had me on liquids for like three days and since I was able to drink or sip okay, they moved me to pureed. It's a week I'm on soft food. My drinking sips are bigger too, not gulping water but it's definitely not like the first two days of sipping. My stomach still hurts on the right side, but it's random, like electric shocks, but the pain goes as quickly as it comes... In terms of sleeping... I had to sleep on my bad for almost two weeks because it would hurt to sleep on my side. And it's about two days that I can sleep on my right side. Hurts to sleep on my stomach...

Yes I've been told as much at my support group, but my sense of smell has changed so much, I don't know if I could take another restaurant trip again, at least not for while.

So we went to Loveless and had to wait an hour and a half!!! That's ridiculous, then I went to the restroom and passed through the kitchen, they had these big friers, frying chicken and the SMELL made me loose my appetite. I ordered a scrambled egg, and hot water to add to my instant oatmeal, but the waitress forgot my egg, and when I asked, she brought me this bright yellow (not 1 egg) goo that had butter slathered on it (when I ordered it, I asked the waitress to not put butter) anyways it looked worse than hospital cooked eggs, and the smell... Needless to say it was a bad experience. I don't think ima venture to a restaurant anytime soon.

So my mom and I and some of my moms friends are going out to eat at the Loveless Cafe... Southern food, I think. I've always wanted to go out to eat at this place, I shoulda gone before my surgery. So I'm thinking just getting an egg and ham? Surgery date was 4 December 2014. I'm on "soft" food. Able to eat 1/2 cup of food in one meal. But can I eat mashed potatoes? Or grits? Country ham? The menu on the website is not very helpful. I don't know how the restaurant prepares the food, so I have no idea... I'm thinking I should just stay home and let them go. Any suggestions would be helpful.

I heard at one of the support groups I've attended to not order anything, but eat off another's plate... Seems like I might go that way too....now if only I can convince my momma to order some broiled chicken, or I might just stick with a side of mashed potatoes and take a cheese stick for Protein.

Good advice, thanks, I thought about the "I ate shortly before we came" line, and we're going for brunch, so I guess that helps too.

I was told not to use a straw to drink with because you can trap air in your stomach which is painful but also takes up space.... But double check that with your dietician. I've thrown all my straws and water containers that use straws out.

At this point I'd say it's your brain being hungry and not your stomach... If you're eating too much, do what someone else told me to do... Go buy those plastic baby forks and spoons and the small bowls that hold no more than a 1/2 cup... If the food is in a smaller plate/bowl, the food looks bigger.. Make sense, also by eating with smaller utensils you manage how much you eat. Measuring is key. Measure your food out and if you find your still "pushing" to the point of hurting, cut back to 1/3 cup. Measure it out, set the timer like I do, and every two minutes take a bite. Timers are another thing all together that's very important. Hope this helps, sure helped me. Sleeved 12-4-2014. Ima newbie but i got a lot of advice that seems to work for me at support groups. Speaking of which find a support group near you that you can attend in person regularity, it helps too.

Well i was printed to share my story, so here goes.. I'm 26, Mexican-Iranian... That's important because that means that I was raised on rice and corn tortillas. I'm female btw. Both of my parents work two or three jobs, so I was also raised on costco and walmart a frozen meals, like lasagna and chicken and rice... My sister has a disability which mean the I spend the better part of my early childhood in the waiting room of various doctors... Speech therapy, occupational therapy, at the ER, an the mental health therapist... But that not to being said to make you feel sorry, rather so you know that I again was subject to cafeteria food, Jello from the nurses and McDonalds. In high school one of my cousins said I was fat, and a kid in school said I had too much facial hair on my arms and cheeks... Thus the body image phase hit. And so did the diet programs... Slim fast, Jenny Craig, weight watchers, curves, just To name a few. In college I got a personal trainer and a dietician an got put on phentermine, then my knee cap popped sideways and I had to get knee surgery, that was 2009. Then I severely sprained my ankle and was on a boot for 6 weeks... So what brought me down this path for the Sleeve.... I need surgery on my other knee, same thing that happened on my right knee, reconstruction. Due to my weight says the doctor. I've got plantar faciitis on both heels of my feet, that doc said to "to try to loose 50lbs".. Like that was easy before. Ha. I've got pinched nerves on my lumbar and on my neck... That doc said to loose weight, that'd help. And lastly I'm pre-diabetic. My pcp said I'd for sure be on diabetic meds within the next 6 months if no change is made to my weight. No let me also say that since I moved away from home in 2006, after high school, I became semi-vegetarian...eating fish or chicken twice a week, pasta-rice-or-bread three times a week.... Also in high school I learned to cook for the family, and since dad is vegetarian, I learned all sorts of recipes to make. So it's not like I was eating out all the time or eating junk food all the time. So surgery was on 12/4/2014. Thanks to my crap Obamacare insurance I was dropped in June and either way this surgery is not covered. My dad had a good year financially and with the self-pay discounts at the hospital, my dad was able to get a loan for the procedure. Did I mention Ive been living at home with the parentals for the past two years, and I've been in grad school the last two years. My knees feel 1000x better. I've lost 25lbs so far, and even my heals don't get the stabbing shooting pain that they used to after walking for more than three hours. Only negative so far is that I haven't been able to take my anti-depressant/anxiety meds Effixor because when I take it I feel dizzy, light headed, nauseous, weak and that lasts for hours. That's me. Not sure why I had to share.

Well i was prompted to share my story, so here goes.. I'm 26, Mexican-Iranian... That's important because that means that I was raised on rice and corn tortillas. I'm female btw. Both of my parents work two or three jobs, so I was also raised on costco and walmart a frozen meals, like lasagna and chicken and rice... My sister has a disability which mean the I spend the better part of my early childhood in the waiting room of various doctors... Speech therapy, occupational therapy, at the ER, an the mental health therapist... But that not to being said to make you feel sorry, rather so you know that I again was subject to cafeteria food, Jello from the nurses and McDonalds. In high school one of my cousins said I was fat, and a kid in school said I had too much facial hair on my arms and cheeks... Thus the body image phase hit. And so did the diet programs... Slim fast, Jenny Craig, weight watchers, curves, just To name a few. In college I got a personal trainer and a dietician an got put on phentermine, then my knee cap popped sideways and I had to get knee surgery, that was 2009. Then I severely sprained my ankle and was on a boot for 6 weeks... So what brought me down this path for the Sleeve.... I need surgery on my other knee, same thing that happened on my right knee, reconstruction. Due to my weight says the doctor. I've got plantar faciitis on both heels of my feet, that doc said to "to try to loose 50lbs".. Like that was easy before. Ha. I've got pinched nerves on my lumbar and on my neck... That doc said to loose weight, that'd help. And lastly I'm pre-diabetic. My pcp said I'd for sure be on diabetic meds within the next 6 months if no change is made to my weight. No let me also say that since I moved away from home in 2006, after high school, I became semi-vegetarian...eating fish or chicken twice a week, pasta-rice-or-bread three times a week.... Also in high school I learned to cook for the family, and since dad is vegetarian, I learned all sorts of recipes to make. So it's not like I was eating out all the time or eating junk food all the time. So surgery was on 12/4/2014. Thanks to my crap Obamacare insurance I was dropped in June and either way this surgery is not covered. My dad had a good year financially and with the self-pay discounts at the hospital, my dad was able to get a loan for the procedure. Did I mention Ive been living at home with the parentals for the past two years, and I've been in grad school the last two years. My knees feel 1000x better. I've lost 25lbs so far, and even my heals don't get the stabbing shooting pain that they used to after walking for more than three hours. Only negative so far is that I haven't been able to take my anti-depressant/anxiety meds Effixor because when I take it I feel dizzy, light headed, nauseous, weak and that lasts for hours. That's me. Not sure why I had to share.

Gotcha, I misread, thought you were weeks away than you were. I'll have to look into the isopure fruit drinks... The milk version can get quite boring. Good luck! The sips get bigger with time, I was afraid I was taking too big of sips after a week, but doc said since the swelling has gone down, it's okay to do bigger sips.. Granted still can't gulp anything but As I understand it that's never going to be an option.

Well i was printed to share my story, so here goes.. I'm 26, Mexican-Iranian... That's important because that means that I was raised on rice and corn tortillas. I'm female btw. Both of my parents work two or three jobs, so I was also raised on costco and walmart a frozen meals, like lasagna and chicken and rice... My sister has a disability which mean the I spend the better part of my early childhood in the waiting room of various doctors... Speech therapy, occupational therapy, at the ER, an the mental health therapist... But that not to being said to make you feel sorry, rather so you know that I again was subject to cafeteria food, Jello from the nurses and McDonalds. In high school one of my cousins said I was fat, and a kid in school said I had too much facial hair on my arms and cheeks... Thus the body image phase hit. And so did the diet programs... Slim fast, Jenny Craig, weight watchers, curves, just To name a few. In college I got a personal trainer and a dietician an got put on phentermine, then my knee cap popped sideways and I had to get knee surgery, that was 2009. Then I severely sprained my ankle and was on a boot for 6 weeks... So what brought me down this path for the Sleeve.... I need surgery on my other knee, same thing that happened on my right knee, reconstruction. Due to my weight says the doctor. I've got plantar faciitis on both heels of my feet, that doc said to "to try to loose 50lbs".. Like that was easy before. Ha. I've got pinched nerves on my lumbar and on my neck... That doc said to loose weight, that'd help. And lastly I'm pre-diabetic. My pcp said I'd for sure be on diabetic meds within the next 6 months if no change is made to my weight. No let me also say that since I moved away from home in 2006, after high school, I became semi-vegetarian...eating fish or chicken twice a week, pasta-rice-or-bread three times a week.... Also in high school I learned to cook for the family, and since dad is vegetarian, I learned all sorts of recipes to make. So it's not like I was eating out all the time or eating junk food all the time. So surgery was on 12/4/2014. Thanks to my crap Obamacare insurance I was dropped in June and either way this surgery is not covered. My dad had a good year financially and with the self-pay discounts at the hospital, my dad was able to get a loan for the procedure. Did I mention Ive been living at home with the parentals for the past two years, and I've been in grad school the last two years. My knees feel 1000x better. I've lost 25lbs so far, and even my heals don't get the stabbing shooting pain that they used to after walking for more than three hours. Only negative so far is that I haven't been able to take my anti-depressant/anxiety meds Effixor because when I take it I feel dizzy, light headed, nauseous, weak and that lasts for hours. That's me. Not sure why I had to share.

I was on celexa before my insurance was dropped, but I've got insurance again so in January I'll try and get back on it. Good to know there's a liquid kind. Thanks.

I've always loved the feeling of pulling down my pants without undoing the button and zipper, granted I've had these moments with all the diets I've done in the past so it'll be a good feeling to downsize from my 20w jeans and cords to 18w. (24days post-op)

Try Level, it's made for diabetic ppl, 1 g of sugar and 15 g of protein, it's 11 oz, a great supplement to the three meals a day... Also you can get it at walmart, in the diabetic section, chocolate and vanilla, Both taste good to me... I also suggests getting a lot of differnt kinds, try then out, dont invest in a large quantity bc If you can't stand the taste or texture then you'd have wasted money and have a bunch of drink you don't want. Isopure vanilla powder, is my go to protein shake, I use 8oz of Kirkland (costco brand) original soymilk (9g protein), 1 scoop of isopure (25g protein) 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder and a splash of sugar free hazelnut coffee creamer, it's delicious, almost like a cold coffee, minus the coffee, and it's 34g of protein!

I asks my doc about why I had to do a one day liquid when others have more days... I was told that the main objective is to clear the intestine and stomach, also the make the liver smaller... Idk I'd that helps. But I was also told it depends on the bloodwork and test that they run on you too.

I've heard of people using a liquid protein, but I haven't found one yet... Like a no favored one

As for the gassy and bloating... They pump air into you to be able to use the various cameras and perform the surgery. That air gets absorbed slowly, so yes that's very normal... I was also told that walking helps with that.

My doc said that I needs to have BM no later than 4 days post-op. I took milk of magnesia, mom bought me Philips cherry flavored, then I ended up using a rectal suppository. Also said i should have a BM minimal 3x a week... But I was regular before surgery, once every morning, and I'm back to that schedule again... Definitely talk to your doctor though.

My dietician said not to nurse a protein drink all day... But I guess it varies from doc to doc... Said to try and make a protein shake of 8-10oz and drink it in one hour.. As an in between the three meals, so there's two protein shakes a day. But if that works for you and your dietician says that's okay, then keep doing that.

I'd say get both, small quantities.. I don't mind the isopure vanilla, but I add it to soymilk and then add a teaspoon of cocoa powder and a splash of sugar free hazelnut coffee creamer.--- also I've been told that your taste buds change, so what you liked before might not like it after, this has certainly been true for me... Id also suggest to look for variety packs, and walmart sells a good protein shake called Level, it's got 1g of sugar in the diabetic section...

I was sleeved 12/4 and I still have pain... On the right side where the biggest incision is located... My surgeon said the pain is normal and it can last up to 6 weeks if not longer... The way he explained it was that, he had to scrap around my stomach, cut, stitch and remove 3/4 of the original size... He says that the whole area is healing, not just the stomach, and everyone deals with pain differently. I stopped taking my liquid hydrocodine after 4 days postop because I didn't like the feeling of being "high" and then I'd also pass out in dead sleep about a half hour after id take it, which screwed up with my water Intake and meals... Hope that helps.

I've already encountered this with my moms friends who are super judgement, and I've just said that I'm doing a 1000 calorie diet, no pop, no bread and rice and focusing on protein, water and exercising... There are many diets that I've done before so they know I've got a history of dieting... It's technically not lying. Wish you luck at work... I'm starting back at grad school jan 6th, and I've got similar concerns.

Thanks I've have to give the G2 a try... I think what's hard for me is the time restrictions... That I have to not drink fluids 30 minutes before I have a meal, and then wait 45 minutes after I eat to start drinking again... I guess it gets easier with time