Dub

It went pretty well........for a while, at least, thank you !!!! It sure was great getting back and seeing everyone and meeting my new boss. I think we are going to get along great and it is clear just from our initial two conversations that she is right on the money on the big picture in life and work philosophy. I really like her already. I'm very fortunate. My boss prior to her was a tremendous family man, active in his church and very sharp. He had a great attention to detail but I was concerned that we'd lose out with his departure. Man of great moral character. I am encouraged that his replacements has great values and fundamental beliefs as well. Sadly, this isn't a given....even at their level. Again, I'm fortunate. I hung in there from 6-1:30 and had to tag out and head for the house. No issues with the sleeve. Wearing a belt sucks with the hernia. It simply went from mildly uncomfortable to "Okay, Haus....time to jet" in that last hour. No big deal. All is well. Got a couple long days tomorrow and Sunday and big audit coming up next week on top of the normal fast paced fun. My workgroup really made me proud. It is quite evident they've handled things well while I was sidelined. Great people. On another note......I've got a big priority on my mind. Something I aim to resolve in the weeks ahead. This sleeve surgery was initiated based on the strong recommendation of a spine surgeon I've been seeing trying to resolve a disc injury. He assures me that getting the load off around my middle will allow it to heal. I fully believe him. The ongoing problem I'm encountering is the complete and total waste of a few thousand hard earned dollars my wife and I spent on Tempurpedic bedding last year. This freaking mattress is killing me. I slept on it the last 3 nights and it has about done me in. I'm convinced that not only is it not going to offer the support I need at my current weight.....but neither at my goal weight, too. I'm done with it. sleeping in the recliner or an older conventional bed (firm) in a spare bedroom until I solve this riddle. I wish we had have shopped around more and at least gone to the sleep Number store. Didn't even give it try them. Dummy. I was foolish for thinking that thing would be the "perfect fit" for my big arse and my wife who is a third my weight. I'm a back sleeper and want it flat and firm. She is a side sleeper and likes the give and contour. I'm going to the Sleep Number store next weekend. I can move this Tempurpedic Nightmare into the guest bedroom and be done with this crap......assuming they have something works and not just another mousetrap that is ill suited for the purpose. Rant over.

@@Dub

Let me see what I can pull together. A lot of the grilled stuff is done so with commercial meat rubs that I like......various types for the different cuts. I'm scared that I'll have to get past using so many of them, though, and start making my own rubs with a stronger control over the sugar & salt content. The grilled salmon you saw in my pics is often brushed over with olive oil and hit with one of these rubs.....sometimes I'll glaze it during the last few minutes with Frank's Red Hot Sweet Chili Sauce. This stuff is awesome in everything: glazes, dips and sauces.

I will gladly do so..........in a few months.

I agree on the unflavored and chicken Soup. chocolate and vanilla were good. The strawberry, though.....worst tasting stuff I've ever encountered. I don't know of any deals at this time.

Hey, you are a dog-lover. We never stay down !!!! Dog-lovers always perk up.

Thank you. Once I hit my goal I would like to paraglide, or jump out of a plane. Maybe a hot air balloon ride will suffice. My challenge is to face my fear of height. Much respect. There is absolutely no way that I'm doing any of those things. My fear of heights will have to remain unchecked.

A massage sounds like a nice reward. I've been mulling over what I'm going to do when I hit goal weight. Not sure yet. I could always do like Mrs Name Change (from the "with a new body comes....." thread) and start romping around with multiple partners and getting my rocks off......never telling my wife, of course, thus exposing her to everything I've been exposing myself to. Sport humping. Being a regular old Dirk Diggler. But then again.......I wouldn't be able to look myself in the mirror and would no longer have a shred of self-respect. There are better rewards (fun things to spend money on besides doctor's bills....gotta love improved health). My old pickup is going to need replacing at some point......a new ride would be nice. May hang onto to the old truck and use if for hunting and such......and get something sportier and fun to drive. Yeah, that's it....that's the ticket !!!!!!

Identity change ????????

Not sure. Had my sleeve done the day before yours. I've not experienced much in the way of hunger......only mid morning if I forget to have a Protein shake. Even then it's not really a normal hunger.

Very cool !!!!

http://www.blenderbottle.com The blender bottles work fine for me. It's all I've needed.

Cool. Understood. There are three different blood pressure meds. I'm hopeful for cutting them back or out altogether. As far as returning to work.....they are gonna be like, "What's Up?....How's it going?......Never mind that....you aren't going to believe what's been going on here......better get your ass busy". It'll be like I never left....only it'll be piled up. I'm looking forward to it, bigtime.

Following this same exact diet from pre-op through these first weeks of post-op has most of us in ketosis. No complaints from me, because I like knowing the fat burning machine is flipped on and working. It comes with the side effect of ketosis breath. Bad stuff. Brushing 3-4 times and day and using Listerine along with breath steps in between still doesn't kill it. I think I may go to my dog's vet and see if he can give me something............

You nailed it. That's exactly the feeling. Thank you. Thank you. Excellent advice. I appreciate it. Have not had my meds today and will be holding off, too. I got through to the surgeon's assistant. She advised me to contact my primary doctor since he is the prescriber of these meds. I'm waiting on a call back from my primary doc's nurse. She's golden and has been a huge advocate for me getting this sleeve surgery. Supercool gal who is probably going to see this as I now do......a victory. Getting off these meds is going to feel great. I hope I'm at that point. I feel stupid for not checking and confirming my blood pressure prior to this. I used to hate the process........now I'm grinning thinking it's going to read favorably at long last. Here is a bit of irony, too: My final 2 meals yesterday & last night were chicken broth with added unjury chicken Soup Protein powder. For the first time since surgery I added salt, too. I was trying to get a different flavor from the meals. Salt. Dumb, I know. Now, the next morning after eating this stuff....my diastolic number is 60. Crazy turn of events. Feeling better about jumping into the work grind already.

Third week here. Running out of gas every freaking single day......mid-afternoon. I'll go out and run errands to get out of the house and get stuff done prior to returning to work this weekend and will have to stop and rest. Made a big, big discovery this morning, though, that may very well explain some of it. It may or may not be applicable to you. After years of being treated for high blood pressure.......things may now be swinging the other way. Last time mine was checked was 6th day post-op. 140's/90's. This is about what it's been running during my last few years. Today.....I checked it again 23rd day post-op.....106/60. I've not had my meds yet this morning and will not be taking them until my doctor calls me back and advises. There is no doubt that some, if not most, of my weakness is from daily periods of low blood pressure. The tides are turning. Not sure if this may be something you are feeling, too.

You are only 3 weeks out. Me, too. I personally don't see the harm in delaying the stages of progression a week or two......but that's just my untrained, unprofessional opinion. The way I look at it is simply allowing your new stomach a little longer to heal. Just make sure you are drinking your Protein and getting down the amounts you are supposed to.

Thanks everyone. I'll tell ya.....I may be onto a revelation of sorts. I just sat down put on the blood pressure cuff. I have not taken my blood pressure meds today and the reading was 106/65. I waited ten minutes and ran it again with similar readings. I haven't had it checked since the last visit with the surgeon.....six days post-op. It was 146/94 then.....which is what it had been running during the months leading up to the surgery. I'm thinking that the aggressive weight loss has brought down my blood pressure overall......and taking the meds for it is dropping it waaaaay low. I've got a call into his office now for advice. I'll not be taking the meds until I get further word. I don't know why in the hell I didn't strap on the cuff sooner. I'd just assumed the weak and puny feeling was from the low calorie intake. Dumbass. I should have been taking daily measurements all along. Idiots will idiot. On the brighter side of things......I may have reached the point where I can toss these bp meds in the trash. Life without side effects from them will be much appreciated.

Yeah.....I'd heard and read all the gas stories, too. I took 8 boxes of Gas-X strips with me to the hospital in hopes of combating the stuff. Had my sleeve and umbilical hernia repair done and woke up with minimal pains. Was up walking 3-4 hours after surgery and every 3-4 hours afterwards throughout the night. The only discernible pain that I ever experienced was resultant from the hernia repair. That was it. Localized to that region only. It also hurt much less than two prior hernia repairs I've had due to not being an open-wound repair. I never experienced a single gas pain event that I'm aware of. I did burp some the next day.

Yup. Sure did. The surgeon that did my sleeve wanted to be the one who did the EGD. It was a breeze. I scheduled for early in the morning. Fasted after 10:30pm. Arrived there at 6:15am. They had me bag in the room in just a few minutes. It was like taking a really nice nap. A non-event. I was instructed to have a driver due to the anesthesia meds. No problems.

You are right. It's frustrating. Especially frustrating when you care for someone's health more than they apparently do. I think there is a great misconception that has been permeated into urban legend that weight loss surgery does the work for you. We all know that it does not and that it takes effort and discipline to be successful post op. Seeing a lack of effort or discipline from folks post-op is sad because you know they are simply prolonging their struggle and if they don't snap out of it they may even be worse off now.

70 pounds lost these past two months...........outstanding !!!! Your surgeon has to be grinning at every visit. Very well done.

I wouldn't touch it.....or any food type that I haven't been cleared for. I wouldn't even think about those foods or be out shopping for them. It's just a way to torment yourself and remain food-focused. Hopefully the NUT has given you a safe list of foods that are appropriate for the stage you are at. You just have to form you daily menus from there and be done with it. Let it go. Sure, it's going to be a limited menu......but it's supposed to be restricted to safe foods. Looking beyond at future foods is pointless and constantly doing so may keep you from breaking free from it. My two cents, anyway. Unsolicited, of course.

Guacamole ? One of the simplest and most flavorful homemade foods I've ever encountered. Maybe by then you'll be able to eat Quest chips or could make some kale chips to spread it on. Another thought that comes to mind would be a Crockpot of chili, stew, Soup. Sure is the right time for it and everyone could enjoy it. Happy Birthday and you have a great supportive family. Good stuff.

I agree with @@RILEYSMOM22 in that they are okay.....tasted fine to me and were actually on our approved list of Protein drinks......but they only have 15 grams of protein if I remember correctly. The 100 calorie / 20 gram protein MUSCLE MILK shakes are usually sold at the same locations and were better for me. Premier Protein Shakes were even better flavor and had 30 grams protein, I believe, but weren't as easy to find. The blue-topped Atkins shakes became my last choice.