Jason In Houston

8 months ago, the biggest belt I own didn't quite fit. This week, it doesn't quite fit.

Get off the scale. For another week or two at least, just focus on recovery, not weight loss.

Same here. Also, I'm incredibly humble. Computers and I get along great, and I find some humans tolerable. It's that second part that really makes me one-of-a-kind!

Besides the rides, consider what's available to drink / eat... Skim milk, chicken broth, and SF jello aren't exactly everywhere in an amusement park.

Hi folks. I've been lurking for a few months. My surgery is scheduled for 2 1/2 weeks from now. My reasons: I couldn't be in my brother's wedding. They don't make suits in my size. I had to stand up in the back during my sister's wedding. The chairs were too small and weak. I hate my CPAP. My dad had a health scare last year. I'm tired of getting pulled aside for "I love you, but..." lectures when the family gets together for the holidays. I've lost around 50 pounds since I got serious with my sugar-free high-Protein diet back in October, but it's already starting to stall.

I am two days shy of two months post-op. I'm down 117.2 pounds from my high weight, and 43 since surgery. Another 5 pounds will put me exactly 1/3 of the way to my goal. After a very frustrating two week stall, I've dropped 11 pounds in the past 5 days. I assume this was Water weight. I'm getting between 80g and 100g of Protein a day, and just shy of 1000 calories / day. Water is still a struggle. A few people at work, including the VP, have said it's time to get new clothes, so I did. I've starting buying a few meals from My Fit Foods. I really like some of their stuff, especially the protein snack pack with hummus, which is a perfectly sized meal for me. Protein-wise, some of their stuff is really great. Some of it may be nutritious, but is certainly not protein-dense. The meals I get have between 8g and 12g protein for every 100 calories. I've also started drinking an EAS Myoplex ready-made each morning. This is 300 calories for 40g of protein. I found a 4-pack at CVS once, and now can only find them online. This works really well for me, since I get 1/2 my protein for the day first thing.

My surgeon said leakage would most likely feel like upper abdominal cramping. I didn't experience anything more than a constant dull pain for a few days, except for the sneeze-of-death. A lot of people don't have any pain to speak of, so I'd say contact your surgeon's office ASAP.

I (stupidly) stopped taking my HBP meds out of fear of pills during the healing, and because it was smack dab in the middle of normal during my hospital stay. Thank you, morphine! By two weeks post-op, mine crept back up to 144/95. At 6 weeks out, it was still 132/something. I started back on the same meds, but at half the dose. Medicated, it's hanging out right around 100/75. Tomorrow, I will be 2 months post-op. I still have a long journey ahead, so I'm still hopeful (and fully expecting) to kick these meds completely.

EAS powder or pre-mix are my favorites. CVS brand is a close second to EAS powder. Muscle Milk 100 Calorie was okay. It was smooth and had the creamy mouth feel of a smoothie. I thought Isopure Grape Frost in the glass bottles would be amazing, but the aftertaste was horrid. I finished it because it was expensive, I'm cheap, and I didn't have another Protein source ready to go. I won't be trying any of their other flavors. On the candy front, Quest Peanut Butter cups were amazing, but that's 1/2 my calories for the day.

Same here... Heparin / Lovenox injection caused two huge bruises that lasted about 3 1/2 weeks.

I checked in to the hospital early on a Monday. 10 days after, I started working from home. 3 weeks after, I went back in to the office. I could have started working from home much sooner, but I'm very glad I didn't rush back in to the office. Besides all the physical stuff, learning to eat again, etc., my tolerance for drama was at an all-time low, and there was some out-of-control crazy shit going on back in the office.

I have lost 103 lbs since I started the pre-op diet 6 months ago. Today is 1 month + 4 days post op. I am 28% of the way to my goal weight. I have to hold up my pants, my underwear won't stay up, my shirts are baggy, and I don't wear my college ring for fear it'll fall off and I'll lose it. Problems. Problems. Problems.

For me, sleep got a lot better post op - about 1 1/2 weeks out.

I'm 14 days post-op and having the same issue with sudden diarrhea once or twice a day. My supplements (Celebrate multivitamin & calcium) don't include iron.

I wish I had done this 10 years ago when my doctor first suggested it. I'm glad I postponed my surgery, but only because it was originally scheduled for the week before Christmas. The first week after surgery, I had more than one very emotional moment, so I'm glad I didn't go through that in front of all my aunts and uncles and cousins.

I'm 13 days post-op. For the first time in LITERALLY years, I've slept straight through the entire night.

I'm 13 days post-op. For the first time in LITERALLY years, I've slept straight through the entire night.

I bought some coconut cream flavor this afternoon. I get to start liquid purees (including Greek yogurt) tomorrow, so I'll let you know how it is.

First things first: Victory! I lost my 60 lbs that the surgeon wanted so that my liver would shrink, plus a little. Also, I've negotiated a much shorter (and hopefully less stressful, as a result) out-of-town recovery. Now, back to work then scrubbing down the house. After all, Mom is going to stay here 2 nights unsupervised. I'd rather not be lectured about forgetting to dust or not unloading the dishwasher.

From what I've seen on labs, office visits, and an EGD, the billed rates are sky high, but the contractually negotiated rates are only about 1 / 10th that amount.

Before Surgery: 1) No added sugar, 25% carbs, 25% fat, 50% Protein for 3 months. Shooting for 50-60 pounds lost pre-op. 2) Back-to-back appointments for NUT & shrink + monthly weigh-in with NUT + separate pre-op follow up with NUT & surgeon. 3) Easy approval through insurance, once we figured out that United Healthcare set up the company's plan wrong. HR sorted it out. 4) Blood work in September, endoscopy in October, blood work & chest x-ray yesterday. 5) Multivitamin. 6) Told to start exercising. 7) Told to drink 64+ oz of Water a day. 8) Still logging food 9) No constipation, no advice in that area. Pre-Op (2-3 weeks prior to surgery) 1) Same diet as before, no special instructions except absolutely nothing after midnight the night before. Only a sip of water with HBP meds. 2) Bring CPAP to hospital just in case Surgery: 1) Dunno about drain. 2) No mention of catheter. 3) Sends home with oxycodone for pain. (forgot to ask what they use in the hospital immediately after) - ditto 4) 1 night hospital stay - ditto 5) Four ports for surgery - ditto 6) Leak test done with barium morning after 6) First follow up visit is 2 weeks after. After Surgery: 1) 2 weeks of full liquid diet (goal 32oz of Protein shakes a day, and approx. 700+ calories a day and 100+ grams of protein a day). Supplement liquids with non-sweetened other stuff (crystal light etc.) - ditto but 2 weeks only 2) 2 weeks of pureed foods - ditto but 2 weeks. 3) 2 weeks of soft foods - ditto but 2 weeks 4) No instructions on gum, but I imagine it's a no-go for a long while at least 5) Don't remember instructions on caffeine, but not my drug of choice anyway 6) No soda pop ever - ditto 7) No NSAIDS - ditto 8) Two weeks off work is the general rule - ditto 9) No heavy lifting for 6 weeks - ditto 10) Showers only. No instructions on creams that I recall, but not my thing. 11) I have a whole bag of Vitamins and supplements from the drug store. All will be crushed. 12) Have instructions on this, but don't recall. 13) Cramps may mean leak = call surgeon or get to ER. 14) No straws - ditto

I'm set for Monday, the 19th @ 6 AM. Ditto to what everyone here has said - except the pre-op liquid diet. My surgeon has had me dieting for 3 months to shrink my liver, and I'm supposed to continue that until 12pm the night before.

Hi! My surgery is scheduled for the same date. I'm going through most of the same things as you. I plan to have my brother check in on me every afternoon. If we're up walking around soon after like everyone says, I'm sure we can take care of ourselves at home pretty well. Not worried about hair loss. My hair is thick, and worst case, I don't think I'd look too weird shaved bald. Glad to be a guy. I told my boss because I needed the time off. Mistake. He brought it up in performance evaluation. On the other hand, our HR benefits person has been wonderful and helped me navigate our insurance plans to get the best coverage possible. I haven't done any support groups either. I've also been doing the no sugar / low-carb / high protein thing since October. My brain hates me. I would trade my right arm for a bowl of pasta right now, but I'm not actually hungry. I've only recently learned the difference. I also am grieving food. We're both weird, I guess. Good luck! I wish you lots of success.

Thanks everyone!

What did you need help with while you recovered at home?