melvin5ft2

I also get Calcium chewables from Walgreens. They are not the citrate kind.

https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/walgreens-calcium-soft-chews-caramel/ID=prod6331924-product

I had recent labs and all my blood work is looking really great. No deficiencies.

I'm taking soft chew Vitamins from GNC.

http://www.gnc.com/GNC-Womens-Ultra-Mega-Soft-Chew-Multivitamin-Mixed-Berry/product.jsp?productId=21655186

Nothing. Except maybe being invisible. Once in awhile, its nice to be invisible, but I got tired of being invisible all the time.

Wow! Awesome progress. You must be feeling better. I know I am and haven't lost as much as you. Wishing you continued success.

I'm 51. Had gastric sleeve on July 12. Felt pretty bad for a couple weeks. Took awhile longer for my energy level to get back up. I feel better than I have felt in years. I'm thinner than I have been in over 15 years. I still have a distance to go to get to goal it seems unbelievable that it is working. I have been on very strict regimen's in the past and couldn't take over about 30 pounds off. Very happy to have had the opportunity to do this. This is the first time I've had insurance that would actually cover my surgery while also being just heavy enough to qualify. Can't wait until I can actually be light on my feet and very active.

Lap band and gastric sleeve are VERY different. Gastric Sleeve is not reversible. The very long incision that we have internally is at risk for rupture for some time after the surgery. The negative side effects that made the overfilled lap band uncomfortable will be experienced and more (and much more serious) if you over eat or eat the wrong things during the first several weeks after gastric sleeve surgery. You will experience salivation, mucus, pain, extreme discomfort. You may have to throw up. Wrong foods/too much food can rupture the sleeve. This is not a surgery to go into without the knowledge that you will drastically modify what you are eating and how you are eating.

The people here that have made this decision with full knowledge of the behavior modification they need to engage in have done so because their weight is very unhealthy and they have made many attempts over an extended period of time to eat healthy, exercise and try to lose weight. For many of us, our body/metabolism/chemistry has worked against us in sincere efforts to lose weight. We are not talking 15 vanity pounds here, but weight that affects health and longevity to a significant degree.

The OP will probably rupture their sleeve if they have the surgery. This is a young and naive person with no real life experience. I don't know that they have the ability to understand that what they are seeking to do is not only completely unreasonable but dangerous for someone with an inability to restrict their own behavior. That is too bad, but not our problem.

I suggest we all move on and spend our time supporting those who are truly trying to be healthy.

Congratulations! So excited for you! I was almost numb when I got the approval news because I almost expect to be defeated. Now my whole world feels full of so much promise and possibility. Enjoy!

Feeling great. Hit onederland last week. Have to be careful eating certain things because one bite too many of chicken or other 'harder' foods causes tremendous pain and discomfort. I can drink fluids with a bit more ease, but I'm still challenged to drink enough. Drinking seems to come at the expense of eating because of the waiting period after every meal. But I can't complain. Happy with the weight loss so far and I'm feeling much better than I have in a long while.

Congratulations! See you on the other side!

I've been taking a womens mega Vitamin soft chew from GNC. Some Calcium soft chews from walgreens, an Omega 3 packet (coromega) also at gnc, an Iron pill, and a separate b6, B12, and Biotin sublingual combo from wonder labs. I won't get updated blood work until my 6 month appointment. Will see then if anything needs to be adjusted. I started with a chewable multi from opurity, but after surgery just couldnt stomach chewing them... so I went with soft chews.

Had a sore troat for days after surgery. Much better now. Part of it is just the breathing tube I'm sure That and being unable to drink much. Should pass.

I had surgery July 12th. I was just remarking to a friend how delicious my chicken and brocolli were for lunch today. All 4 or 5 bites of it. Being on liquids and puree makes you appreciate eating something solid. While I can't eat much quantity, food tastes great and I'm super happy with my weight loss so far. So much so, that i don't regret a thing. Taking my life back.

Sent from my SM-G900P using the BariatricPal App

Hope you are out of surgery and recovering! Wishing you the best. Can't wait to hear how you are doing.

I may have a unique experience... I have suffered with Interstitial Cystitis since for 36 years. I have dealt with it by consuming large amounts of plain Water very quickly. Whenever I don't get enough water through my system, I am in pain that feels like a urinary tract infection. My biggest concern, was how I would deal with this after surgery, when I can't drink 20 ounces of water in 5 minutes. Decided to burn that bridge when I got to it. 5 weeks post gastric sleeve, I have, for the first time in 36 years, been pain free. wow! It happened right away at the hospital. I could tell coming home that I was dehydrated and I was waiting for the pain to start. Struggled to drink and waited some more. Couldn't understand where the pain went. It dawned on me that I have been a coffee drinker since about age 15 and I hadn't had any coffee yet. So I waited to have coffee. Waited to see if the pain came back without it. Still no pain. Terrified to drink coffee now. I never thought I would be rid of this condition. I've had herbal tea. No issues. I'm keeping an eye on what I eat/drink and waiting to see what happens. But as long as the pain doesn't come back, I will not drink coffee. I was a MAJOR coffee drinker before surgery. No more.

I have Cigna but not APWU Cigna. Don't know how it differs. I had to do 3 month supervised nutrition/diet education program, psych evaluation, diet history, recommendation by my physician, etc. It took a month after all my paperwork was submitted for Cigna to approve. I had surgery over a month after getting approval or about 7 1/2 months after my initial meeting with a bariatric surgeon for a consult for the first time. I had BMI of over 40 with no co-morbidities unless you count osteoarthritis of a weight bearing joint (I need double knee replacement).

This whole thread made me chuckle. Thanks!

@@pdallariva there are a lot of different things that could be causing the problems you are experiencing. Has the doctor that is treating you done blood work to check your Vitamin levels? If you have not seen a doctor other than your surgeon, I would see your regular doctor and see who they want to refer you to based on your symptoms. Its been long enough and you need to get to the bottom of what is really happening to you so that you can get appropriate treatment. Many things can cause nausea including Vitamin b1 deficiency and damage to your vagus nerve. You want to see someone who is going to take the time and do the necessary tests to get to the bottom of it. Good Luck to you!

@@GettinSlim80 Congratulations! After awhile all the pre-op requirements become tedious. But I'm glad I stayed the path. It was so worth it. You don't have long now. Good Luck!

@@pdallariva Have you been nauseated since the surgery? Or is it just recently and only when you try to eat?

What is APWU?

@@SarahElizabeth Congratulations! I had to wait a month to find out and then my surgery was schedule more than a month out after that. The waiting was hard, but I couldn't be happier now.

@@Suziesue1706 I was sleeved 7/12. My current capacity is about 4 tablespoons or 1/4 cup. I eat with plastic baby spoons I purchase at the dollar store. I was told to take bites the size of a dime. Then put your spoon down and wait between bites. It gives you a chance to let the food hit your stomach and that way you will better sense when you are full. For me that is a feeling of pressure at my sternum. Or the feeling that I am full up to my throat. It is definitely a different feeling of fullness that a full normal stomach felt like. The nut gave a class and explained that our 'plate' once we have progressed to solid food is about the size of the bottom of a tin of Altoids. Have the tin should be concentrated forms of Protein. The other half the tin should be 2 portions (one small portion of vegetables, one small portion of starch or fruit). It was a real eye opener to watch him hold up this little tin and say 'this is your plate'. So this limited capacity is pretty normal. It will change over time. For right now, my Protein is coming from Protein drinks. I sip one all morning, then have my 'lunch' (a few bites), then i sip a second Protein Drink all afternoon, then dinner same as lunch basically. I also sip liquids (Vitamin Water zero, or poweraid zero or herbal tea) all day in between the other stuff. I've heard some folks on here say they don't really feel a lot of restriction but I definitely have. Major restriction. I'm only have a few hundred calories a day at this point. Your capacity does increase. I'm not real worried about it as long as I'm getting my protein, fluids, Vitamins and I'm consistently losing. The two easiest purried/soft foods I have been able to eat have been instant mashed potatoes prepared with soy milk and some cheese thrown in, and refried Beans from taco bell (with cheese). One tiny order of refried Beans is 2 meals for me. Some things will agree with you and some won't. Try giving something else a try. I am now finally able to eat some chicken. Got some grilled chicken tenders at PDQ today. One of them was my lunch (they are pretty small), one of them was my dinner, and the 3rd one will be my lunch tomorrow. I'm a cheap date. Ha ha!

@@GinaCampbell You want to take the Probiotics during your antibiotic treatment and continue it on after you stop the antibiotics until you have had normal bowel movements for at least a couple weeks. Make sure the loose stool is done for awhile before cutting back or stopping. We always keep some of the little liquid probiotic shots in our refrigerator because of my husband's C Diff. Because once it is in your system, it is probably still there even in minute quantity. He tries to drink one of those little bottles regularly just to keep everything balanced out.

@@solea78 I can only speak to the arthritis. I am also bone on bone in left knee and very close to it in right knee. I picked up a second hand Gazelle (Tony Little). Doesn't really require bending knees, though you can if you want. You can work up a good sweat with no impact. It is allowing me to get moving. Used to run on the treadmill (miss it). I also was doing exercise bicycle (with very low resistance) but was concerned it was just tearing up my knees more. You may want to give Gazelle a try. I tried to do Water aerobics. There are still many moves that require bending the knees, which hurts, and the logistics of doing a Water class several times a week was too much of a pain for my schedule.

I've been waiting for my insurance to process the claims for my surgery which was a month ago. I know they were submitted, because I can see them on the cigna website, but they just say 'processing'. Problem is, I paid my deductible to the surgeon in a deposit for the surgery. I have other claims coming in and they are being processed and saying I owe for my deductible when it has already been paid. Its a real pain. I need to have a synvisc gel shot in my knee. Its over $700 if I haven't met my deductible, so I am waiting until my insurance has processed my surgeons bill to set an appointment to have my knee shot. Did it take much longer than a month for your insurance to pay/process claims associated with your surgery?