Daisee68

This sounds really good. I have been craving sausage. Haven't tried Morningstar yet. I tried turkey sausage and hated it but I just tried to eat the patty not chopped up in something so maybe that was the difference. Will have to give this a try.

I think a stall is really defined as 2 weeks without any loss at all (though some will say 1 week is a stall). Either way, if it makes you nuts, stay off the scale. I actually gained the first couple of weeks because of fluids from the hospital, so the fact that you have already lost 20 pounds is pretty amazing. Give your body a chance to catch up. If you haven't done it already, take starting measurements. These will be very important as you move through the process because you will often lose inches when you aren't losing pounds. Don't get discouraged. Remember this is a long journey and the pounds will eventually add up. I was thinking this morning how going from 30 pounds down to 50 pounds down seemed like forever and then 50 to 80 seemed nearly overnight as I look back on it (though it wasn't). You are doing great if you are following the plan. Stay focused on the food, fluids and exercise and it will all come off eventually.

I love the Premier Protein ready made drinks. I hated Synthrax Nectars. I also use Precision Engineered whey Protein Isolate and I really like it - both the chocolate and the vanilla. My favorite shake is Orange Crush Water Enhancer (either drops or stick of powder) mixed with vanilla Protein powder and water and ice. Farther along, I was able to add a little banana to it. Really yummy. I also will mix 1/2 scoop of vanilla powder with 1/2 container of greek yogurt (really good with key Lime or strawberry cheesecake). I have also mixed a whole scoop of chocolate powder with a sugar free fat free chocolate pudding snack. It makes it pretty runny which is helpful during liquid stage (depending on what your dr will let you having during liquid stage.) For unflavored protein, I use Doc Hale's Whey-licious. In the very beginning when I couldn't get very much down, I could mix a scoop with 4 oz (yes as little as 4 oz) of Propel Fitness berry water. it didn't taste too bad and was such a small portion that I could get it down easier (though I might take an hour to get in 4 oz that first week until swelling goes down some). Everyone's tastes are different and even things you can handle pre-op, you may not be able to handle post-op (though that hasn't happened to me). You will eventually find something you can tolerate - even if you don't love them, you can get through it.

Have you met with your surgeon yet? Mine had a referral for me. If you haven't met with the surgeon but have one in mind, I would bet you could call their office and get a referral.

You will get all kinds of responses to this. I too have a desk job. I took 2 1/2 weeks at home though I was working from home after a few days. I wish I had taken 3 weeks. I was very tired when first going back and I struggled with a lot of nausea. I had to leave early and go home several times. The thing you have to remember is that it is not just the surgery recovery but the new lifestyle. So you have to be prepared to be sipping Fluid often and pack your food to take with you, etc. If you can get longer off without an issue, I highly recommend it. You can go back at 1 week. Lots of people do it. But just be prepared that it can be tough - at the very least mentally as you adjust.

Re diet soda, I had a bad diet Dr Pepper habit pre-op. I gave it up about 3 weeks prior to surgery and then the last week (on my liquid diet), I drank a couple thinking it would be my last chance. (My soda funeral) It didn't taste quite the same. I will tell you that post-op, I probably miss carbonation more than anything BUT honestly, what I miss is the "habit" and the "choice". I am almost 4 months post-op and what I crave is that part of my old lifestyle and haven't quite found a good substitute. I drink a lot of unsweet tea. BUT it does get easier. The first month as I drove past my favorite Breakfast stop, I really had to focus to keep driving. The last few weeks, I don't even see it anymore. Years and years ago when I first started considering WLS, I said I would never do it because I couldn't have soda or alcohol. Soda will never be a good choice and alcohol can be done in moderation after the weight loss phase. I wish I hadn't let those things keep me away this long though. All the benefits make it more than worth it and the "cravings" get better. Don't let this part hold you back. Re Cookies, I have not tried this yet, but I have read lots of folks cutting up Quest Protein bars into pieces (like maybe 8 pieces) and put them in the toaster oven, and they come out like cookies. A treat and you get your protein. If it is a trigger food for you that might lead to more not so healthy cookies, then don't do it, but if you can find a substitute for that craving that fits in to your food budget (and even better helps with protein needs), then all the better.

​Shirts you can pull off different sizes for a while, but I have to have pants and they seem to be changing faster. I found one pair of jeans I like at Avenue, and when 1 size gets too big, I order the next 2 smaller sizes. When those get too big, repeat. Same with a pair of dress pants from Lane Bryant. I have been wearing a lot of smaller dresses but easy for me to do in summer in Texas. I can pull that off a little longer, but will be tougher as we get in to winter I suppose. If you haven't done so already, check out Poshmark.com. People sell their used clothes for less and you can even sort by brand (including Old Navy). You can pick up pants for $15 to $20, so maybe that will help you.

​I am a bypass patient but I had a stricture that developed same time frame. It was awful. By the time we figured it out, it was because I hadn't held ANYTHING in for 4 days. When they did the first procedure, I had only a tiny pin hole left open so nothing was going down. As the day went on, food / Fluid built up in to my esophagus and it had to come back up. I had 2 balloon dilations about a week apart and I feel so much better now! Do you have any insurance at all? I was always told any "Complications" would be considered covered by insurance. I wonder if you go to a GI specialist, if the insurance would consider it differently than procedure from bariatric surgeon? As far as losing weight faster, clearly that person did not have a stricture. it is horrible and being malnourished is a real possibility and awful.

I remember the post and recall that it was San Antonio. I will search and see if I can find it. Update: I found this post talking Dr. Fisher in San Antonio. Was this it? http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/333460-looking-for-plastic-surgeon-in-north-nj-or-mexico-cost/page-2

Don't chug Water. It may not hurt (for some reason) but it could be a bad habit to get started again. (I suppose it depends on what you mean by chugging but more than an ounce in one sip isn't a good idea. By 2 1/2 weeks it seems reasonable that you could drink 16 oz in an hour though.) Don't drink while you eat. The rule doesn't apply because "it will bother you". It applies because a) it can take up space in your stomach when you are trying to get sufficient Protein and food in and it will too quickly wash the nutrients out of your stomach. Stop 15-20 minutes before you eat and at least 30 minutes after. It takes getting used to, but eventually it becomes habit. I set a timer when I finish eating for 30 minutes and don't drink until timer goes off.

Have fun on your trip out of town. Be careful not to dehydrate. Tiny sip of fluids all day as much as you can. It may be best to stick with fluids until you can see the Dr. I agree it can take some longer to move thru the stages. I was struggling with more than soft food at 3 months and then held nothing in for 4 days. That's when they figured out the stricture. 2 balloon dilation later, I can now eat real food! Have had grilled chicken from restaurants twice this week and had no issues. I can't eat more than 1 1/2 of before feeling full but that's OK. That's how it is supposed to work! The resin I said your sounds like a stricture is that mine got worse throughout the day as I put in more and everything built up. Once I could vomit it all up I felt much better. Turned out I had a very tiny pin hole opening and not even liquids were moving thru very quickly. If that sounds familiar, try to get them to skip the upper GI especially if u have to do a barium swallow. That will make u pretty sick if u have a stricture since the stuff is thick and may not go through. I ended up in ER where they did a CT scan and said everything looked perfectly normal (even the possibility of astenosis). That was on a Wednesday. On Friday they did the EGD after much complaining and found the stricture soothe CT scan was a complete waste of time. Hang in there. As soon as they fix this, u will feel much better!

I'm sorry u aren't well but I am glad u decided to go to the ER. Hopefully they find quickly the issue and get u fixed u fixed up fast. Keep me posted! Best wishes!!

Sorry you didn't get a response earlier. I hope you are feeling better by now. The left side pain (and shoulder pain) is likely gas but the fever would probably concern me. I hope it has come down by now. Fever after surgery is one of the things they always tell you to watch for. If it hasn't come down or it comes back up, be sure to call the dr office again - even the on-call dr over the weekend. If you are too concerned, don't be afraid to go to ER.

Congrats! Great news!!!

January 26 was first consult. They told me to expect about 5 months until surgery because I had a 3 month per-op diet requirement. Surgery was on June 4.

Oh my gosh this all sounds so good! I am getting out my crockpot this weekend!! Keep 'em coming! I don't have a good suggestion except I have made one similar to @@Cervidae except lots of lime juice instead of red wine vinegar. Yummy! And the broth afterwards is very good too! I didn't like mine when I made it with thighs because of the fat left in the broth, but that's just me....

​I think it really depends on your shape partially. I had my RNY on June 4 so I am coming up on 4 months. I was wearing a 28Tall from Avenue in a jean before surgery but it was a little loose. My tops (mostly from Lane Bryant and Avenue which I really think run a little big) were 22/24 or 18/20 depending on the stretch / shape. I found today I need to go down to size 20Tall jeans (Avenue slightly snug - Lane Bryant T3 technology pants which run a little big fit well). My tops are now 14/16 though some are a little tight. 18/20 slightly too big. (Sure will be glad when I can buy clothes in 1 size not 2 sizes because the bottom size is too small and the top size is too big.) Anyway, not sure if that helps but thought I would give you that for a little perspective. Seems to me your goal of May and those sizes seems reasonable but do not spend too much because I have actually gone through pant sizes without ever wearing them. LEAVE the tags on and keep the receipts or be prepared to sell them (check out Poshmark.com if you haven't. Cool site of users selling their clothes. Some retail but mostly individuals.) Hope that helps!!

@@gigis - It definitely is overwhelming! I mix half of a container of low sugar yogurt with 1/2 scoop of vanilla Protein powder on most days which gets me 21g protein and that helps. I am hoping once I can actually eat more dense protein (meats) that it will become much easier to get it all in and not have to do shakes. I asked my nutritionist last week and she said drinking 2 shakes a day at my stage (3 1/2 months) was ok. (I had a set back with a stricture though so I am running a little behind schedule though.) My schedule is even a little more complicated because I have to take Synthroid in the morning and then wait an hour to take anything in PLUS I cannot have calcium (or most other vitamins) within 4 hours of Synthroid, so I feel your pain! I also have kidney stone problem (pre-op) so my endocrinologist took me off my calcium supplements as long as I was eating 2 servings of cheese or milk and 1 Premier Protein shake per day. SO MUCH TO REMEMBER!! ​

Same happened to me but I thought it was because I was eating spicy Soup (Swansons Mexican Tortilla Broth). Even after I stopped that, I still had the problem. I think it is just a matter of liquid in / liquid out. (Although strangely the same was not true for me post-op liquids....strange.) A month is quite a challenge! Mine was only 7 days. I feel for you! It does get easier after Day 3. You got this! Best wishes!

Oh I am so sorry! That is very disappointing! I hope the 6 weeks goes by fast for you!

The first few days are the worst. You just have to sort if get thru it and don't dehydrate. Sip tiny sips all day. Try a heating pad and keep taking the Gas-X. (Depends on what form you care taking but I take whatever max dose is on the box). I don't know about the dry heaving. If you cannot keep fluid down, you will need to call the Dr and get back toothed hospital for fluids. Hang in there. Gets better on Day 4 or 5

#dangermouse007 that sounds like sciatica. Chiropractor should definitely be able to help but know that it will tak several visits and some at home care Luke exercises, stretching, ice packs, etc. Been there done that. ????

@@Blueeyes66 - Cigna does require psych approval so if he will approve you after the 3 visits, it will definitely help. .are sure you have everything else done including letter of recommendation from a Dr other than the surgeon (this was the last thing I needed and luckily my endocrinologist did it very quickly).

It is very overwhelming in the beginning, but it does get easier and become more routine. I had a schedule in the beginning as well. The only real tip I can give is drinking (and I am not so good at this) but sitting with an 8 oz drink in your hand and sipping every few minutes until it is gone. if you do this several times per day, it will help get the fluids in. I take my Vitamins with lunch (one multi & Calcium citrate) and dinner (other multi and iron). B12 is nasal spray once per week for me. Try not to stress about it too much. Just do the best you can. It will all come together for you eventually. Hoping others will chime in with tips because I could use some too!

This might help... https://cignaforhcp.cigna.com/public/content/pdf/coveragePolicies/medical/mm_0051_coveragepositioncriteria_bariat. ric_surgery.pdf But remember not all Cigna plans cover bariatric surgery. Call customer service at Cigna and ask if your plan does. There are "greater than 89 days" of NUT visits spaced 30 days apart, so it is actually 4 visits - the first visit starts the clock and then 30 days from then, etc. (Weight Watchers / Jenny Craig, etc. counts as diet attempts as long as done in the last 6 months and monitored by a dr. I also had to have a letter from a PCP (or other dr that is not the surgeon) recommending me for surgery and the psych approval. I also had to have a sleep study per the surgeon for sleep apnea but Cigna wouldn't approve it because they didn't feel medically necessary. They eventually did peer-to-peer consult with my surgeon and approved me for an at home sleep study. Was actually pretty convenient in the end but it was a hassle getting to that point Having said all that, once all was done and submitted, they approved me right away (submitted Friday at noon and approval Monday morning). I had BMI over 40 AND co-morbidities so I am sure that helped. Good luck!