LisaMergs

congrats! I'm in the Chicago area too, and I have BCBS PPO IL. My first appointment was just before Christmas and I originally had my surgery scheduled for March 4- but moved it to go on the road for a few days to see our Hawks play in St. Louis and Dallas. Doc wouldn't let me travel a week post op lol. Priorities!!! So I ended up March 23rd- 3 months after first appt and that was mostly due to scheduling with the NUT, psych and the endoscopy. Where was your surgery? I was at Evanston. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Omg I have heard it all now. Headline- " How Hilary and Trump Will Screw Up your Bariatric Surgery- Full Story on the Evening News" Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Love the idea of grating the apple! Thank you! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Nutritional yeast? Explain please? Is it different from the stuff I use to bake breaks and such with? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I haven't looked into the muscle milk, but see it everywhere. Is it whey Protein? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Good luck and WELCOME!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Omg! I found these suits online and LOVE them! Great upper support, high waist and super cute! What's best is that I can mix and match them!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App The brand name is on the top of the pics. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

OMFG Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@ I'm pretty sure it still involves putting them in your mouth! ROTFLMAO Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Omg now I am spitting my drink out laughing! Thanks!!! Love this post!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Most of us wonder the same thing about calories. My NUT said not to worry about them! Lol. Basically put, if you are following your plan for Protein, liquids, shakes, etc. you will be fine. For me, that adds up to about 800 calories a day, as well. I'm 5 months out. I don't include "snacks", because I don't experience hunger. Have I had them? Yes. Usually a piece of raw veggie or a couple small pretzels (gasp!!!!!). I've even had a handful of plain popcorn without any repercussions. But that's me. And those occasions happen maybe once every week or two. I don't eat bread or waffles or pancakes. My diet other than those two things is to the T, so to speak. NOTE-I AM NOT SUGGESTING that anyone else do this, it is just me. I have really good will power and can stop after three or four pretzels lol. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Worst part post op is dry mouth. They let me suck on a wet cotton swab yuck! Walk walk walk!!! Get up as soon as possible and round the halls. Had pain meds- if you need them, use them! I stopped 2 days post op and then maybe took them once on day 4. I was walking around the block by day 5. And haven't stopped. I did not have a catheter but it's not that bad if you do- have been cath'd many times no big deal. Never stop sipping liquids, either. They will have tiny medicine cups you can use. I think they measure about an ounce each. Bring some home for the first few days. We are all different, but for me, warm liquids the first week or two felt the best for me- warm tea especially. Good luck! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Also find walking around after a meal helps, and you're getting steps in!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Absolutely!!! and you need veggies!!! I eat pretty much any and all -including asparagus which I LOVE but thought would be too stringy. Begin with cooked, steamed veggies- carrots, and other root veggies. Then try the flowering kind like broccoli and cauliflower. From there it is like anything else- trial and error. And if something doesn't work one week it may the next. My biggest fear was the raw salad. Happily, I can eat it with all the raw veggies I wish- albeit a small amount! Lol. Cucumbers- no problem!!! Now, I'm a bypass pt so I would think these things would be harder for me, but heck, we are all different. Just start trying a little at a time and see where you get. Fwiw, I would always choose veggies over fruit and was admonished by my NUT that I needed fruit too. The key is to make balanced meals that are Protein heavy so if you do veggies at lunch and dinner do fruit in the morning with Breakfast. Good luck!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Depends on your surgery, your surgeon, your medical history, etc. I was given Coumadin in the hospital by the nurse but that was it. Nothing afterwards. It is not a cookie cutter surgery- we are all different! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

James hit the mark here- and one of the points- adding powdered milk to things- is something many overlook. Using that- or a good unflavored Protein powder, can be a godsend. I will typically add a half scoop to my flavored shake mixes to hit my protein requirements. At 5 months out, I'm rarely hungry, can only tolerate no more than half a cup of food at a time, but am fortunate in the liquids aspect as I can drink constantly. FWIW, the unjury chicken Soup Protein Powder is actually pretty good, and a nice alternative. I've begun using it as a "broth base" for steaming my chicken too Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Obviously see your docs immediately as our friends here have suggested. If you have any unflavored Protein powder, like unjury, maybe try and mix that into your Water. Basically disappears and doesn't thicken it much. Even a half or quarter scoop will give you something. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm 5 months this week and down 90 lbs! Hoping to hit 100 lost by 6 months!!! ( RNY surgery). Started 272 and I'm 182 today. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Are you bypass, sleeve, band? Goodness get the doctors connected! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Oh my poor you!!! I'm living in reverse of you- RA and all the years of high dose (60mg day) oral pred plus monthly decadron on IV along with not being able to move PUT my weight on!!! Since surgery I've been (knock wood) in remission. Good luck and if you do find the no-skin poof button let me know!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

So, since I've lost 90 lbs, I've been enjoying wearing flirty skirts all summer. Knowing that fall is around the bend, I wondered what size jeans I'd be in now. Off to the mall for some size- tries I went. Grabbed 16's- nope! 14's--NOPE!!! 12's--you betcha!!! <--- me doing a happy dance!!! That's from a solid size 24!!!!. Sorry- it's humid here and my hair was messy from changing tops in the dressing room lol. Ladies, this skirt is from a company called Haystacks. It is reversible!!. These are the two prints on this skirt. Most importantly, no waist band, super cute, and very forgiving as you lose weight. This is a large I'm wearing- bought it while I was still an 18/16 and still fits beautifully. They are made in Michigan, and also have an online shop. The reversible print ones are called "Switchstacks". A bit pricey at $52 but being reversible I get tons of wear out of them. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Congratulations! Well done_ as I know, it's not "easy" but it kind of is tee hee hee!!! Love my bypass! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I have been so ridiculously busy for the last 5 weeks- family vacation, a gas leak in our house AND a flooded basement while we were gone(!!!!!) and finally packing up and taking my oldest child to college last Sunday. Whew! (Not to mention the start of school for the two high schoolers last week as well!) All of that said, I just realized that TODAY I am exactly 5 months post op RNY. WHAT a journey it has been!!!! HW 282 Surgery day- 272 Current weight 186 (ish) lol I'm teetering the last three days 187-185 That means that I am only ...drum roll please... 3 pounds from being down 100 lbs from my HW and 13 lbs from 100 from surgery day! Omg!!!!! I'm 46 lbs from my goal!!!! That is less than half of what I've lost so far! Good luck peeps! This has been and continues to be the best decision ever. Oh, still can't eat any beef products, gets stuck. Never had dumping syndrome as I completely avoid sugars and fried foods. Ok. The pics- for reference- my wedding day (20 years ago!!), next me at my HW, then with youngest son 5 years ago. Then the one with my hubby, son and me at 2 months post op. The one with me and hubby 2.5 months post op and finally with me and my cousin taken this weekend- only a selfie of our faces but you can see the difference. I'll grab a full shot in the am and add it Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

This is true- but my surgeon sees me for the entire year post op at no additional charge- including co-pay- and it is HIM I see. The nurse specialist sees me first, goes over things with me, then he comes in after and spends an appropriate amount of time with me. Last visit we chatted about plastics and he examined my "flab" and thought my skin was going to tighten pretty well and possibly not require skin removal. Not a hit and run appointment by any means. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Need to drink it SUPER cold lol. Fake banana taste Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App