Meow999

Hmm.. soup is a good idea. It's hard especially this early in the game since we are so restricted. Will you still be on clears? Maybe just sip tea and tell her you don't feel well because of nerves. If your diet allows the eggs I would just go for it. It's so weird how every surgeon has a different diet to follow. It is so weird. Mine was liquid only 2 weeks pre-op and Clear liquids 2 weeks after. Then, full liquids for another week! I also had a 41 BMI, some of his patients have to do 6 weeks pre-op!

For the RTDs, i favor the chocolate from Muscle Milk (light variety) The taste is actually not bad and it's handy for on the run, for those of us who can't get our butts out of bed on time... For the powder, I tend towards the GNC. I used to favor the Isopure drinks, but unless it's over ice and really, really cold...it tastes like a cross between milk and Gatorade, both of which I loathe. The unflavored unjury is quite good for mixing into stuff. just be careful (like any Protein powder) to not mix it into anything that will be boiled. Denatures the protein and then is kind of a waste. Many moons ago (like ten or so, in my first trip through WLS), there was this lo-carb/high protein milk that I mixed the Unjury with and tossed into the freezer. It made a fairly decent ice cream sort of concoction. Unfortunately the milk is no where to be found anymore. Overall, my advice is to sample a number of the protein supplements (like as suggested above while you are pre-op (don't buy a full case of anything in case it's gross) settle on something for post-op and go with it. By the time you are sometime out and back on regular food, the supplements should not form the entirety of your diet. Handy to help or for maybe one Meal Replacement, but form those good habits with regular food that you will stick with for the rest of your life. FYI-soy based powder looks, smells and tastes like old sweat socks....bleccchhhh!!!!

I didn't go through TGH (insurance crap), but I am in the Tampa Bay area and am very familiar with the majority of the docs and programs that do this surgery. TGH is one of the best in terms of both. You will do great!! Youv'e got a lot of good people looking out for you!! Here's to Day one of a healthier you.

I honestly do not think i am required to prove a damn thing to anyone. I once had a co-worker (who conveniently was a stick) tell me that "she doesn't approve of these kind of procedures." Well that's nice, when you weigh 300 lbs and are on your feet all day, you'll get an opinion. Until then, bite me! I may not be the size of a truck, but that doesn't mean I won't benefit. At 5'4" and 262 starting, I carry all my weight in my chest, upper arms and thighs. If i turned around too fast I'd sprain one of those things. To all those twits with inappropriate, unasked for opinions. Picture that and I bet that'll be that last question you ask me...lol.

Alcohol causes pregnancy? Really? Well gosh, i never knew that. If that's the case, I'd have popped out a dozen kids before finishing college. Does the surgeon know what this goofball is telling his/her patients? I do know that alcohol is generally a bad idea post-surgery (at least with the bypass, not sure about the sleeve) primarily because we all become really cheap dates as it doesn't take much to be sick from alcohol. I had a bypass 12-something years ago and had to have it taken down (long story for another thread), which is how i know this. I will not be finding out with the sleeve because i no longer drink anyway. Alcohol causes pregnancy....snort!...

My sleeve was done on 9/9. I did well, and I was started on clears the day after.. Now I did clears for 2 weeks prior to surgery, but I also had the Optifast for something to offset that. I stuck primarily with popsicles, jello and water, water, water. Now post-op, per instructions, i am to be on clears for 2 weeks, then full liquid for 2 weeks. I never thought I'd look forward to a protein shake but hey... Now with nothing but clears...I've have come to the conclusion that I loathe canned/packaged chicken broth. Gagghhh!!! Just can't choke it down. I find it way too salty. This stuff is for cooking, not drinking. What is other's thought's on making a big ol' pot of chicken soup (the kind my grandmother put matzo balls in) and straining out the broth, not leaving any veggies, etc.. I'd freeze the rest for a later date. It would be relatively clear but does anyone think it might be too much, too soon?

I was done on the 9th. Almost through the 2 weeks of clears. Bad issues with the head hunger. I have leftover Optifast in my fridge and that is looking tasty, lol. Hell, the cats wet, canned food is almost looking good (just kidding). I will start full liquid on Thursday. That means some shakes and other stuff with a little more substance. My current worry is that I am supposed to have lunch with my mom tomorrow and the parents do not know I did this.Trust me, it's better this way. I'm not sure how I'm gonna get through this. I'm in town for a job interview so maybe I can just get some soup and pawn it off as nerves. There's also soft boiled eggs (she's got celiac so we usually do breakfast places) but that's not exactly clear. Ideas, anyone?

The first "nutritionist" I saw (my insurance and surgeon required a clearance from one or the other) was a complete and total corn flake. I'm a nurse and she scared the hell out of me!! i told her what I needed and she completely ignored me and tried to sell me on some package of multiple visits, measurements and counseling. i think she fancied herself some kind of therapist. I actually see a real therapist for other reasons. This whack job said "she'd be glad to speak with my therapist, here just sign this release." Um, how about NO! I told my therapist this and she replied, "oh, hell no!" I wrote off the $140 as a loss and told her to go fly a kite. The RD (registered dietition) that i found (and paid out of pocket for, again!) saw me and we spent some time clarifying what I knew about appropriate protein/carbs/ etc.amounts, portion sizes and so forth. She did her report the same day, gave me her card and said to call her if I had any other questions. Much, much more relevant!! "want a different nutritionist but I don't want to seem rude and I am currently not having any nutrition problems that I can't figure out on my own." As far as being rude, nevermind that. It's your body and you need to do what sounds right for you. if unsure...see your surgeon. This person should NOT be dictating a darn thing about your pills. That is wayyyy out of her scope of practice. Does she have any clue as to what may be crushed or not? I doubt it.

update on the broth issue. It turned out rather decently. I can cook, I am just used to it being the variety with a whole chicken, garlic, rosemary, carrots and onions. i simmer it for a few hours, pick out the bones and toss in the matzo balls. This time I skipped the matzo balls (oh the humanity!) and actually just spooned the remaining chicken and veggies out (freezer for later). Definitely better than the packaged stuff. It was'nt what I would really describe as "clear" but......the tummy tolerated it, so i'll go with it...

Definitely food porn!!!! I am 48 hours pre-surgery. It's been clear liquids/Optifast for 2 weeks. I look forward to my morning vitamins becasue I can chew something....LOL So I make the crazy even worse by drooling over cool recipes that I'll get to try later on down the road?

Regarding easy weight gain with the sleeve, I am not big into carbs anyway. My routine diet is primarily Protein and veggies anyway. Granted I picked up the weight over years of really bad dietary choices. I just have a horrible time getting it off. My issue is quantity, pure and simple. I don't comprehend full. I don't know who said this but..."How much Healthy Choice ice cream can you eat before it's no longer a healthy choice?"

Countdown to surgery is 72 hours. I've survived the beastly pre-op diet thus far. two more days of it. Today and tomorrow. down something like 9 pounds. My OCD has me organizing this down to the minute......does not help that I am an OR nurse....I dare ya to try and control that aspect too....hah! I work in the field, I know what I'm getting into....something, something.....yeah, still nervous..... So far as worrying about screwing up afterwards? Remember that you have a tool. Use it thusly. Follow your doctor's rules and you will be fine. I suspect the idea of any of the stuff we ate to get us this way will be rather repugnant. Your body will help you initially....use this time to develop good habits. I had a RNY about 12 years ago. Had to be reversed due to other health problems. I had to force myself to eat the little bit I was allowed. For the first time in my life, I was told i was not eating enough....after about 18 months though, it's all you. That's why this time right after surgery is where you work on your head....your body will adapt naturally.

Lakeland, Florida, going to St. Petersburg....and back

I have a couple of friends that know. Other than that....No One! I have a brother but we are not close at all. My parents?...let's not go there...at all. Up until two weeks ago, I worked at a job where everyone was in everybody's business.They knew because of all the Drs appts I was going to. When I refused to discuss the particulars, I got frozen out. Then I got fired. Personally I think it had something to do with it because the reasons for canning me were pretty flimsy. There's a corporate complaint in there too. Plus their COBRA will be paying for this, so there! (my own little revenge, probably meaningless but it amuses me.) I do find it a depressing that I will be going to the hospital alone and arranging for a ride back home (I live about 55 miles from where my doc is) On the other hand, no family support is better than toxic family support. This was a big enough decision to begin with, i don't need crap from them too.

Did it for 4 months. Worked great, definitely not hungry. Lost almost 20 lbs. Went off of it because the price was obscene at best, criminal at worst. Promptly gained the weight back.plus another 10. I could have bought a used car for what I spent on it. Now opting for VSG,