Barry W

For me, it wasn't close to any incisions, but probing cautiously with the fingertip on the tummy showed pronounced tenderness/inflammation when probing just above the navel, still there at two weeks. I called the program nurse to ask if I should come in, and she said wait and see, and the tenderness gradually went away over time. The thing you want to worry about is infection, but infection will tend to get worse over time if untreated, not better. If you have no fever, no heat in the area, and it's growing less over time, I think your situation is like mine. In any case you can always call your surgical team to ask them - always a good idea.

There is really no need to be insulting.

A half a banana blended into a vanilla shake might make the darned thing more palatable! If you want to only use half, cut them in half before peeling, and the other half will keep longer with peel still on it.

Don't be so hard on yourself - you're not a failure. You are running into some difficulties and need to experiment a little with some adjustments until you find a way around them. There is a wealth of practical experience here on the forum. The only thing that I will say first is that if you are experiencing any pressure, pain or nausea after eating or drinking, then you are trying to do too much too fast - it's easy to misjudge how much you can take in, because it's so much less than before. Slow down and use smaller portions and try to spread them out over time. Don't make yourself ill or cause yourself to vomit.

If you have any questions about the basics of what is done in the surgery, and what your new GI tract will look like after each option, the videos at the Cleveland Clinic down in the description of each procedure provide a pretty clear overview. http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/bariatric-and-metabolic-institute/weightloss-options

Because the bypass takes the top portion (first 2-3 feet) of the small intestine out of the food absorption path, it tends to produce the greatest weight loss. There are also more issues with the bypass than the sleeve - reduced absorption of medications, a greater likelihood of constriction at the pouch if the scar tissue overgrows where it should. However, the bypass is well proven and so far as I understand is still the most often recommended for those who really need to lose a lot of weight. I don't think this is a black and white choice. It seems to me that you need to look where you are starting out as a patient and what your goals are, and look at all the risks and benefits of the two procedures and kind of weigh them to come down to a decision. I would not hesitate to ask the surgical team and in particular the surgeon as many questions as you can think of as well as what their personal recommendation would be - "If you were me, what do you think you would choose?"

I have tried the Premier Protein, Pure Protein and SlimFast High Protein/Advanced Nutrition. A lot of people seem to like the Premier Protein here - I actually liked those the least of the three brands in taste, but they were the thinnest consistency, I will say that. It's been awhile since I had the Pure Protein, but I think I'd give those a slight taste advantage over the SlimFast High Protein/Advanced Nutrition. The SlimFast look to me to have the best overall nutritional profile as a Meal Replacement of the three.

All liquids is challenging. All I can say is that if you do feel compelled to stray, don't go to Burger King. Instead, pick up some of the Atkins frozen dinners that are just meat and veggies They are low in carbs and pretty low in calories, and have strong Protein and veggies for Vitamins. They will help tame hunger and you will still lose weight. For example: Beef & Broccoli: https://www.atkins.com/products/frozen-meals/lunch-dinner/beef-merlot Turkey and Cauliflower: https://www.atkins.com/products/frozen-meals/lunch-dinner/roasted-turkey-with-garlic-mashed-cauliflower Crustless chicken Pot Pie: https://www.atkins.com/products/frozen-meals/lunch-dinner/crustless-chicken-pot-pie

Sorry to hear of your trouble - hope you get past this and are back home soon

Thanks for posting that - it is nice to have some info on what one can expect "on average" - my surgeon didn't even want to discuss weight loss in concrete terms. And my experience lines up pretty well with their range at 6 weeks.

You're only 1 week out. Yogurt, soft-cooked scrambled eggs, perhaps a *small portion* of well cooked spinach/ricotta ravioli... I know the routine can be monotonous, but be patient.

When you do get to where you can think about eating some chicken, the stuff I that think is the safest of prepared chicken is the pulled chicken breast in BBQ sauce. That is already shredded in the direction of the fibers, not just sliced into hard chunks, and it's skinless and low fat meat.

*LOL* That one has cracked me up also. Not saying it's not possible to have hunger that's driven by the mind alone, but, when you have someone eating 500-800 calories a day, telling them confidently that they aren't really hungry, they are just imagining they are hungry - that is hubris.

As others have said, the nutritionist gives you targets for Water and Protein, but they are just that, targets. If you can't reach them, don't stress about it, and don't overdo things to the point of nausea and vomiting. With time you will gradually be able to fit more. Taking smaller amounts, more often, is a great way to make the most of your downsized tummy - drink half a Protein shake and drink the rest an hour later, sip water a little at a time and just keep at it.

While certainly there are times that constructive criticism is requested and/or due, I can also agree that sometimes the scolding tone that some people take is a little much. No one is perfect, and no one likes being talked down to.

I am exercising 6 days a week, but I have been using gradual, steady increases in exercise, not aggressively ramping up. I don't want an injury/setback, nor to be completely exhausted. My own view is that you need at least 6 months of work to lay down a foundation before you're fit enough to exercise hard. I actually ignored my surgeon's advice on exercise (which were to go real hard) - he may be a very fine surgeon, but he's not an exercise physiologist and he doesn't look like he's exercised himself in many years.

Birthdays only come once a year, so my take would be so long as it's a small piece, go for it.

I am not one who says artificial sweeteners are death - clearly they are low in calories, and that is better than straight sugar. Years ago there were some studies indicating cancer in animals, but those were using very high doses and I have yet to see any rigorous studies showing problems in humans at practical doses. But, there have been studies that indicate that artificial sweeteners make people hungry, just like the real thing, and have other similar signaling properties. In my opinion, they are okay occasionally, but are not the best for the drinking mainstay. There are some nice unsweetened green and black iced teas these days, and of course you can drink hot tea. If you don't mind a bit of prep, thin slicing an orange, a lemon or a lime (peel on) into a half gallon pitcher of spring Water tastes very nice after steeping in the fridge for at least a few hours.

I'm pureed right now. I try to incorporate different foods. Hummus is my thing. But chick peas havery alot of carbs. Next week is soft food. That is when I think it will get better for me. Sent from my SM-G935V using the BariatricPal App Veggies are very low in carbs. Fruits have some carbs, yes, but the dose is pretty low and the soluble Fiber slows absorption of the glucose liberated - so you don't need to worry about either fruits & vegetables and those two categories are really the Vitamin powerhouses. Whole fruit, fresh or frozen is best. Just avoid fruits with a lot of added sugar - like some dried fruits and canned fruits in heavy syrup. Most fruit juices are also not great, as they usually lack the soluble fiber and have added sugar too. Legumes like chickpeas are a healthy and tasty way to get a mix of Protein and yes, a modest amount of starch. Because legumes have tons of soluble fiber, you don't really need to worry about the starch though. These are a very different animal than say a potato or corn. Besides chickpeas - edamame, kidney Beans, black beans, navy beans, lentils and green peas are all healthy legumes. See the legumes overview in this Mayo Clinic article: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/legumes/art-20044278

A few more calories wouldn't hurt, 500 is really low. An average of 800 should still allow rapid weigh loss. Another question is are you eating a variety of soft fruits and a variety of well-cooked, soft-ish vegetables? Vitamins definitely make a difference, and while you should be taking supplements, they are not as good as getting vitamins in whole foods.

I was on ground pills for 5 weeks, but have gone back to swallowing regular pills. I have been able to drop one of my blood pressure medications - yes! I think you will still need your epilepsy medications, as so far as I know, there is no association with BMI. However, dose of many medications is affected by BMI, so it's possible your dose will be reduced after you have achieved significant weight loss.

Oh and by the way, I think it's very good that you are being thoughtful about this and trying to imagine what life is will really be like for you after you get the surgery and asking yourself - is it really all worth it? I think that's the right question to be asking yourself about such a big change. It's definitely not something that everyone should do. To me the answer depends on what things are like now, what you can realistically expect to come if you don't get surgery, and the likelihood of your getting to where you want to be without surgery.

I am only 6 weeks post-op, so I don't yet really know what I will think after a year or more, but these are my thoughts now. Yes, it's a big deal, and there has been significant discomfort in the transition I am going through. I don't know how much I will be eating in a year or two or five, but I doubt I will ever be able to have a big meal again, a little appetizer, then a plate of Pasta and sausage, salad, garlic bread and wine and then dessert and coffee, even occasionally - I doubt that will all fit! But here's the thing, for me anyway. I think this is all very individual, and it depends where you are coming from. I was having joint pains, serious high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, sleep apnea, and had some early signs of diabetes. I was embarrassed how I looked and had a little trouble getting around and fitting in an airline seat when I traveled. I wanted to turn that around, but I had failed dieting at least 4 times, and just wasn't getting it done, in fact overall I was gaining weight. Now, I have been through the worst of the adjustment period and combined with my pre-surgery weight loss and my exercise, I already look and feel like a different person, and I am only halfway there, so it's only going to get better! While I am settling in, I do have a good deal of focus on what I eat, but I have been purposely trying to eat with some healthy variety, not within a limited palette of a handful of foods. My portions are small, but not microscopic - I eat about 8-10oz for dinner, and I expect that will grow somewhat over the rest of the year. It is drastic, but at least for me, where I was coming from, and with my 60s looming ahead, it was worth it.

I also got the Multivitamin Patches Have had no lab work but I feel fine, haven't had excessive fatigue or anything..

Even 800 calories is not a lot, so yes, you don't want to be below that on ongoing basis. Even the smell of food makes you naseous? Have you been vomiting a good deal before this? If so, your brain may have gotten conditioned to associate that smell with illness and vomiting... Some suggestions that are less drastic than ice cream and milkshakes: 1. Greek yogurt - make it lowfat instead of nonfat 2. Find some way to eat legumes, like 2a. Bean salads like these - these are premade, but there are recipes online, you could buy vinagrette dressing http://www.cedarsfoods.com/products/mediterranean-salads/all-natural/aegean-edamame-salad-8-oz/ http://www.cedarsfoods.com/products/mediterranean-salads/all-natural/chickpea-salad-8-oz/ http://www.cedarsfoods.com/products/mediterranean-salads/all-natural/black-bean-salad-10-oz/ 2b. chicken or turkey chili with Beans - these are canned, but pretty good, if you can't find, there are recipes online http://www.traderjoesreviews.com/product/trader-joes-chicken-chili-with-beans-reviews/ 3. Soft fruit - a nice ripe banana or cling peaches in extra light syrup 4. High Protein or high Fiber oatmeal (which tend to have lower sugar as well), like: http://www.quakeroats.com/products/hot-cereals/high-fiber/maple-and-brown-sugar.aspx http://www.quakeroats.com/products/hot-cereals/protein/cranberry-almond.aspx 5. Low sugar/whole grain cereals with 1% organic milk - Original Cheerios, All Bran Flakes, or Post Shredded Wheat & Bran, 6. Light string cheese http://www.shopwell.com/lucerne-string-cheese-mozzarella-light/cheese-hard/p/2113004745