KarenLR75

OK, when I first was struggling with keto diet 15 months ago, I had ordered some protein powder to make protein shakes with. Flash forward to today, I ended up finding premier protein shakes ready to drink and got a good subscribe and save deal via Amazon. Now I'm scheduled for gastric sleeve surgery on 7/1/19 and am taking stock of what I can still use that I had ordered before but never opened. I have choc celebrate protein powder - expired as of Feb 2019 and I think a cookies and cream one that 'expired' Dec 2018. We all kind of learn what we can/cannot use, taking our own risk of course, throughout adulthood but when it comes to protein powder, I have no idea if it's a definite 'MUST TOSS' as it could cause all kinds of problems or...'CAN STILL USE'. Anyone have any experience with this? Since the one that expired as of 'Feb 2019', well NONE of them have ever been opened...I am SO TORN.

My doctor doesn't let his patients start on the pureed stage until Weeks 3 - 4. The amount of calories he expects us to max out at due to our restriction (mine was a bypass) roughly works out to around the same amount the Mom_of_Chaos mentioned. If your doctor gave you a post op diet to follow, I'd check to see if the calories were supposed to be limited. If it is not clear, but sure to call your doctor's office and ask. I know the first 3 to 5 weeks after surgery is a time of healing and adapting so I'd ask sooner rather than later about the number of calories you can consume, but that is just my own thought. At least you would have peace of mind based on checking. Best of luck!

I have sent a message to my Dr's office asking what they want me to take/do. My abdominal cramps are worse today - maybe it is from the 'need to go'? Going to keep drinking water and staying hydrated.

I'd say YAY for sure. This has been such a nice way to see things about people, places and things. It has been very encouraging to read even on days where I missed participating.

Thanks everyone. I've just been taking Dulcolax/Colace and nothing has happened. I'm on day 3 post-op but I had not have a BM 2 days prior to surgery. We just found some MOM that is still sealed (never been opened) but it expired in 2016...sigh..

Had RNY surgery on the exact same day. My surgery took twice as long as expected but I'm home now. Dealing primarily with discomfort, hoping it approves substantially within the next week..

Still in some discomfort which is frustrating to me as I usually have a decent pain tolerance. I figure most of it is gas as my stomach is still distended and tight like a drum. Just how much nitrous did they use?? I am also getting headaches which I figure are related to the low # of calories I'm taking in. Hopefully these issues will subside in the days to come.

Yeah..same here. I'm still showing a GAIN of 2 to 3 lbs vs. when I went into the hospital. Let's see, my surgery was 7/25 and I was discharged 7/26. On PM of 7/26 I tried sipping my first 'post-surgery' premier protein shake and got 1/2 down. Outside of that the only thing I 'sipped' was water so I was definitely under 200 calories on 7/26. On 7/27, I was able to sip an entire protein shake over MANY, MANY hours. In the evening, I tried some broth/protein soup. Was only able to sip 3 oz's of that. A few hours later, went to a new Premier shake and sipped down about 1/3. Maximum calories would be 300 and it was probably much less. I think I may have husband hide the scale for a couple of days. When you know absolutely/with no doubt that your calories are definitely under 500 (& less than that, even), then it starts to trip me out when I step on scale and that stupid number hasn't moved away from the 2 lb gain I've been carrying since I returned home.

Side question: How many days did you wait before getting on the scale?

1 day post-op here from RNY surgery. Was up and walking within 3 hrs of surgery. I knew this was important to help with gas but also to help prevent me from throwing additional clots (DVT's, etc.). I was surprised that they only kept me one night.. Have had an extremely hard time alleviating the 'gas issue'. My stomach is swollen and very tight feeling. During my 24 hrs at the hospital, I did the 'walk' they required 9 different times and am just now am barely getting the gas to leave my body. It's one thing reading about how much pain this type of gas pain can bring, it is totally another thing to go through it yourself. At home since about 2 hrs ago and am sipping water primarily. Have just started sipping on Premier Clear Protein drink (Tropical Punch). Goal right now is to hydrate...and then work my way up to the # of grams of protein that my dr. wants me to be at (as a minimum, I think).

Thank you, sweet GreenTealael! You are right, I'm still very excited and this journey is for me. I will/have totally forgiven them. I love my little family. Thanks for the vibes!!

@Deedee12 your words were completely uplifting as was @cristobal. Thank you for taking time to write such and encouraging and sweet message. Your take on the situation seems...so right. Seriously - I don't have words to tell you how grateful I am for your reply. Time to get ready to go to hospital - I'm so very grateful for everyone here!

Well, tomorrow at 7 am is the "big day". I'm a bit disappointed that none of my family has come home before now (it's 9:33 PM) as I have to be at the hospital by 5 AM. My eldest daughter flies back to PA tomorrow (mid-day) and originally she was coming with my husband & I to the hospital and then hopefully I would get to recovery before he had to drive her to the airport. Youngest daughter was going to join us @ the hospital closer to my surgery time. My husband called and announced that they have made things "much easier" (not his specific wording but the gist)..and that youngest daughter is going to pick up eldest and drive her to the airport so "they don't have to get up so early" and then..after youngest has dropped her off..she will stop by on her way to work. I am realizing now I'm actually VERY hurt by this. When my parents were alive, we made sure for any major surgery to be there with them no matter WHAT time the surgery was. To make sure we could see them before they went back. I am...stunningly hurt by this and I'm just now realizing it. My husband and eldest are out drinking beer..they said they'd be home early..but it's almost 10 PM and I need to be up by at least 4:15 AM. I have been patient and understanding and ALONE most nights as everyone goes and does the usual 'food socialization'. My eldest doesn't get good Tex-Mex where she lives so this was a long standing tradition. I HONESTLY don't begrudge them that..but what is a SCARY and very important day for me...it's like my husband is only showing up as he HAS to be there. I don't understand my kids..I really don't. You could not have paid me any amount of money to not be by my parent's side...both of them. And I always was. I don't even have my parents left to be there with me..I know many do not. But I am very disappointed and I feel very very alone. Sorry, am not handling this well. To everyone else still upcoming in Week 4, I wish all of you the very best!

I have appt this coming week, they are working me in so am not sure what date it will be on - for final meet with dr. I've been working on researching bypass vs. sleeve to make sure that I feel like I concur with what the dr. has suggested. I'm torn on some of the pros/cons of both surgeries based on following about co-morbidities/health situation: I do NOT have high blood pressure I do NOT have high cholesterol I do NOT have diabetes I do NOT currently have ongoing heartburn/acid reflux (get heartburn 3 or 4 times a yr, and acid reflux..maybe once a year if that) My BMI started out at 60 and is now 54? I am 50 yrs old (not young) I have long clotting history but NO clotting disorder EVERY episode of clotting (DVT's/PE's) had known causation. Have permanent IVC filter since 2011. Knees have severe arthritis and need replacing - have to get to 40 BMI to have kneed surgery Here are some generalities I've gathered on sleeve vs bypass from searching here, google searches, and many youtube videos watched. If anything is wrong, please let me know. It's amazing that despite how much you read/watch, you can come away with questions still - maybe my retention is shot with long pre-op diet?: Bypass – possible chance of bowel obstruction later after surgery Bypass – possible chance of twisting bowels after surgery (don't know %) Bypass - less chance of reflux/resolves reflux for many Sleeve – chance of developing reflux (do not have more than 4 episodes a yr of heartburn, maybe 1 of reflux) Sleeve – chances of clots forming in previous ‘stomach/fundus’ area - not able to get specific % (this was also something dr. mentioned) Bypass – chances of clots/DVT's? (haven't found specifics yet) Bypass vs. Sleeve - hair loss - tied. Rapid weight loss causes this and can occur with either surgery Bypass vs. Sleeve - more long term data on bypass than sleeve Bypass vs. Sleeve - overall amt of weight loss tends to even out for both at around 5 to 6 yr mark, but bypass has 10 to 20% greater chance of 'initial faster weight loss" Bypass vs. Sleeve - chance for hernias, ulcers, etc. %? for both (need to find out) Bypass vs. Sleeve – likely to cause more time in bathroom? Bypass due to dumping/vomiting (some see dumping as a 'pro'?)? Sleeve due to vomiting /diarrhea? Bypass vs. Sleeve - % of Vomiting / Amount of Nausea (same?) Bypass vs. Sleeve - easier to stretch out sleeve pouch?? Bypass vs. Sleeve - lesser % of chances or regain with bypass in long term? Statistically significant? True or False? Bypass vs. Sleeve - sleeve has more reduction of hunger hormones ghrelin & leptin as fundus removed? Anyone know if bypass has statistically significant reduction in 'unger hormones'? Bypass vs. Sleeve - more chance of malnutrition with bypass - what happens with my long term meds & how they will absorb/not absorb (take 2 anti-depressants and 1 is 'slow release' - take 2 diff meds for sleep due to shift work disorder)?? Bypass vs. Sleeve - bypass surgery longer Dang..i feel like I'm missing some obvious stuff on this list!!!! Going to go look at snippets saved in Word doc.

Whether you are having a bypass or a gastric sleeve, anyone else out there on July 1st?? Pre-op is pretty much what I expected....blah I know I've seen some other July 1st peeps out there....would be nice to be able to keep track and talk, especially when some of the 'night before' and 'day of' jitters kick in. Heck, I'd be happy to hear from anyone around the July 1st date (clarification: AM happy to hear from ANYONE - I like people...most people..like..90% of ppl..LOL) Have some lovely ppl who have already been through this that have been SO SUPPORTIVE like frustr8, AZHiker (did I get that right) and then peeps on the July 2019 surgery topics... Man, July 1st snuck up on me!! How about y'all?? Unsure if we need to cancel our traditional July 4th swim party. I don't do the food, and we have very little family left but my folks, before they passed, had asked that we keep some of the traditional gatherings going. I don't care if I happen to be in hospital and hubby always cooks. I want my brother and nephews, etc. to have somewhere to go..wow, that was a rabbit trail I wasn't expecting..sorry!

My CIGNA policy required now back to back nutritionist visits even though my dr's office insisted they did. I was so glad mine didn't require it as I had already spent 15 months preparing myself and working with CIGNA before I ever walked into my surgeon's office.

Sigh...I'm going to take my body out to the pool and work on my arms and legs..(1 leg actually, the other knee is torn out so I'm limited as to what it can do). I'm in funky mood. There are leftovers from eating out that my family has piled in the fridge and I'm on pre-op..but it has never bothered me until today. Long story, but basically I've been thru 2 rounds of pre-op dieting.. This 2nd time is so much harder! I actually had a strong impulse to open one of the to go containers so I shut the fridge door and I'm walking away. I'm going out to the pool as I don't know what is going on with my head. Surgery is this Thursday and I refuse to mess this up. I have to stay strong. I have a pic of 1 thing orange-ish..but will look for something better outside. PS: I think I'm grumpy because eldest daughter is in town and I haven't gone with them out to restaurants as that is just too hard when I'm on the pre-op diet. So much of the socializing truly does revolve around restaurants..and I feel left out and lonely I think

If I can ever rock a jumpsuit 1/2 as well as you do....I will be a very happy woman! Awesome job..awesome outfit

Allergies have hit hard. Have been coughing all day. It needs to go away as this surgery needs to happen!!

Best wishes to the remaining July Week 4 group (I added a few people who have commented recently that are in this same week). 22- @ARMoma45 (RNY) @NancyLF @Jackie Escalara – DONE! Wishing speedy recoveries!!! Week 4 Still to Come: 23- @New_Me2019 (VSG) @kbee88 @MeowAMR (VSG) 24- @LessFee (VSG) @mrsbrown12115 @sshrader1208 @fer211 @Stephanieanne7 (VSG) 25- @KarenLR75 (RNY) 26- @Tbaby503 (VSG) @becoming con_fit_dent (VSG)

Welcome to week 4! VSG or RNY?

Did arm exercises in the pool. Was SO HOT today. Even in the pool after a couple of hours, maybe it is a combination with the very LONG pre-op diet, but I felt a bit wilted. My perfect climate/weather? LOL...60 degrees or colder..and here I am in TX (was born WAY up North and lived there during my childhood. Dad retired to TX and a kazillion years later I'm still in shock at the heat. Ooohh...all dolled up...um..not any pics that I'd care to share.

@ARMoma45 - I hear you..but you got this! Just think by this time tomorrow it will be done and you will be recovering..and visiting with our post-op July surgery siblings. Thinking of you, @NancyLF and @Jackie Escalera tonight! Best wishes for smooth sailing, ladies!

Hey! Oh..LOL...I have a 3 week pre-op. It is focused on shrinking my liver as much as possible before surgery. This is common for most ppl on these forums, I think. I probably weigh a whole lot MORE than you. My BMI is over 50 so I can understand my dr's need to get that fatty liver shrunken up some. Crossing my fingers that it is working!

I don't care for ice cream type things in general and not a big fan of popsicles...UNTIL..I started PRE-OP. I have been converted to a Popsicle fan!! My fave are the Outshine bars but as we've discussed, there are calories involved and they have a couple of grams of sugar. I alternate between them and the Popsicle brand.