istytehcrawk
-
Content Count
240 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Everything posted by istytehcrawk
-
Safe to sleep on stomach?
istytehcrawk replied to Acts238girl's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Update to this: I was able to sleep on my stomach most of the night, without pain, on March 5. I'd managed for a little while a couple nights before that. -
When do you bite the bullet....
istytehcrawk replied to TakingABreak's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
I'm only 31 pounds down so far, but I've noticed that some of my clothes (especially pants/jeans) are starting to get loose. Thankfully I've been stockpiling some cheap clothes (from thrift stores, yard sales, and a Kmart that went out of business) in smaller sizes since I started this journey (three years ago), and also have been given some free hand-me-downs from my mom and a few friends who have also had the surgery or otherwise lost weight, so I'll have less to buy as I shrink. Unfortunately, it's MOSTLY shirts that I have in smaller sizes, and pants are more expensive! -
Watched the whole series the other night (it's quick, as there are only 10 episodes that are each about 20 minutes long). Was a little taken aback by how much I identified with certain behaviors.
-
I hate eating out now!
istytehcrawk replied to TakingABreak's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
This is my card. Got it at my pre-op group refresher class two weeks before surgery. Front is the note for the restaurant; back is a reminder of foods to eat and those to avoid. Edit: should note I haven't used it yet, as I'm only three weeks out from surgery. -
February bypass buddies?
istytehcrawk replied to RunningLibrarian's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
Three weeks post-op as of today, and down 31.4 pounds since surgery day (though I came home roughly 7 pounds heavier due to fluids/gas, so technically I've lost about 38). Amazingly, no nausea/vomiting so far, though I occasionally get air bubbles. Started soft foods today, finally. Puree stage was a week of hell (even liquid stage was better) because I'm big on texture and can only tolerate certain things in the puree texture. Two weeks until I can start with regular foods again. Updated my profile/status with post-op highlights that I intend to keep updating periodically, if anyone's interested. -
My surgery lasted six hours because I developed a leak before they closed me up. Surgery was on a Thursday (Feb. 15, 2018) and I went home on that Saturday (Feb. 17). I had five incisions, plus a JP drain, which I went home with. I also had some sort of allergic reaction to the hospital's no-slip socks, which apparently runs in the family.
Notable: So far, I have not had any nausea/vomiting. Sometimes I get air bubbles in my chest after taking a drink, no matter how small; usually they just feel weird, but sometimes can be painful. Attempted to drink from a water fountain three weeks post-op; that was a BAD idea because even with a tiny sip I took in way too much air, and it gave me a very painful air bubble, though it went away within a couple minutes.
Some post-surgery highlights:
- Feb. 18: bought a new mattress because my old one was so worn out it was too hard for me to get out of without help
- Feb. 22: post-op appointment; down 9.6 pounds (all weights per home scale for consistency); got drain out; started puree diet
- Feb. 23: switched from Norco to Tylenol, which helped more with the pain
- Feb. 24: slept on side for the first time
- Feb. 25: discontinued Tylenol; down 18.2 pounds
- Feb. 27: attempted to chew gum (OK per surgeon), but it gave me LOTS of air bubbles
- March 1: down 25.4 pounds; drove for first time since surgery
- March 4: was able to bend enough to get tennis shoes and socks on
- March 5: slept on stomach for the first time; scabs started to fall off incisions
- March 6: down 30 pounds; had hiccups for extended periods three times over the day
- March 8: started soft foods; tested (steep) steps up to my office at work (success); down 31.4 pounds
-
-
Thanks! I seem to have hit the dreaded week three stall now, but I'm hoping it's short-lived.
Hehe, it's a series of typos that occurred in a group chat in college, and my best friend strung them together into a nickname (Isty = Misty, Teh = The, and Crawk = Crawl). It's stuck for...going on 14 years now.
Gum is my favorite thing, so it makes me sad that it makes my stomach feel all weird and bubbly now.
-
FluffyChix reacted to this
-
I was on the 1400-calorie diet all the way up to (and including) the day before surgery, then nothing to eat or drink after midnight that night. The program, I was shocked to learn, does not require any special pre-op diet other than that.
-
Pretty good for the most part. I haven't had any nausea/vomiting, and my pain is now gone other than occasional sharp pains from the scar tissue forming under my stapler incision (my cousin had the same surgery nine years ago and said she had the same pains off and on for nearly a year). Having some trouble getting in enough protein and fluids, but protein water is helping with that. The liquid stage wasn't as bad as I expected, but the puree stage has sucked because I'm such a texture person. I'm excited to start soft foods on Thursday.
-
Mine was at Barnes South, on the campus with the Center for Advanced Medicine. My only complication with the surgery itself (as far as I know) was that I sprung a leak before they got me closed up, so they had to repair that. They also apparently had some trouble getting my feet positioned on the bed/table AND it turns out I'm allergic to the hospital socks (which were on my feet for 7+ hours), so the bottoms of my feet seem to have some nerve damage. The surgeon says she expects it will resolve itself, and it seems to be, but very slowly.
-
I'm not FROM St. Louis, but I had my surgery there on Feb. 15, with Dr. Salles and Dr. Eagon from the Washington University program, at Barnes-Jewish. That was two weeks ago, and I'm down 25 pounds as of today. My surgery was long (6 hours) due to complications, but I couldn't be happier with Dr. Salles (I still haven't met Dr. Eagon). She's great!
-
Pureed /blended stage
istytehcrawk replied to lucylu1313's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I'm in puree stage as well (ugh) and my two favorite things so far have been 1) frozen meatballs pureed with marinara sauce and a sprinkle of parmesan and 2) sugar-free instant pudding. I include a scoop of unflavored protein powder in both (I use Isopure) to boost the protein content, and it's not noticeable at all in either one -- blend it with the sauce, and stir it in with the pudding powder before adding the milk. -
February 2018 Success Stories
istytehcrawk replied to kakatlady612's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Two weeks post-RNY as of tomorrow (March 1). Down 20 pounds since surgery day. Halfway through the two-week puree diet, and I hate it; having trouble getting in enough liquid and as many meals as they want me to get in, because if I eat/drink as much as they want me to, I feel (uncomfortably but not painfully) stuffed all the time, though that's gradually improving. Mostly pain-free except random sharp pains from the scar tissue forming under my stapler incision, which my cousin (who had the same surgery several years ago) said happened off and on for her for nearly a year. Going to try driving tomorrow because I want to get out to see a movie this weekend; only concerns are getting in/out of the car and whether the seatbelt will cause any pain on my incisions. -
Mini spasms after RNY?
istytehcrawk replied to MsTipps's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I noticed a different kind of spasming a few days after I came home from the hospital -- my stomach muscles started twitching randomly, enough that it was noticeably moving the material of my shirt. I couldn't even feel it, though. -
Safe to sleep on stomach?
istytehcrawk replied to Acts238girl's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
My surgery was on the 15th, and I've been sleeping on my back ever since because it was the only thing that didn't hurt. Now that I'm feeling less pain overall, the night before last I tested out every position I could think of, and each one made SOMETHING hurt. Then last night I was able to sleep kind of partway on my side/stomach for about two hours before it became too uncomfortable. I'm REALLY looking forward to being able to sleep on my stomach, because I hate sleeping on my back. -
Surgery Date Frustration
istytehcrawk replied to Little Green's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I don't know yet. I have my last pre-op appointment tomorrow, so I'm guessing soon. -
Surgery Date Frustration
istytehcrawk replied to Little Green's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Make that triplets -- bypass for me on the 15th as well. -
Honest opinions on Syntrax Nectar?
istytehcrawk replied to teach2017's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
Oh! Also, on mybariatricpantry.com you can buy a mix-and-match sample pack of up to 10 of the Nectar flavors of your choice (not the naturals - that has its own sampler of all six varieties). You can opt for up to three of the same flavor, and since you get to choose your flavors (depending on availability, but I've never had a problem getting what I wanted there), you can avoid ones you know you won't like. Mix and match: http://www.mybariatricpantry.com/SYNTRAX_NECTAR_PROTEIN_POWDER_SAMPLES_p/nectar-sample.htm Naturals sampler: http://www.mybariatricpantry.com/SYNTRAX_NECTAR_NATURALS_PROTEIN_POWDER_SAMPLES_p/nectar-natural_sample.htm -
Honest opinions on Syntrax Nectar?
istytehcrawk replied to teach2017's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
I had that problem with the crystal sky and the apple ecstasy, which was part of why I didn't like them (and the blue color of the crystal sky was just weird). -
Honest opinions on Syntrax Nectar?
istytehcrawk replied to teach2017's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
For me the Syntrax Nectar ones REALLY vary depending on the flavor, from delicious to gross and everywhere in between. Some I like with milk, and some with water. Of the ones I've tried, my favorites are the double stuffed cookie (milk) and cappuccino latte (milk). Good: roadside lemonade (water), strawberry kiwi (water OR mixed berry Diet V8 Splash), lemon tea (water), Caribbean cooler (water) -- but I find I get sick of it far before I empty a tub, vanilla bean torte (milk), pink grapefruit (water), wild grape (water), chocolate truffle (milk), strawberry mousse (milk), naturals chocolate (milk), naturals orange (water) - a surprisingly good OJ substitute to say it comes from a powder. IIRC, there also used to be a dragonfruit one that was decent mixed with water, but I think that was discontinued. Gross: crystal sky, apple ecstasy (which surprised me because green apple is usually a favorite flavor of mine) -
February bypass buddies?
istytehcrawk replied to RunningLibrarian's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
I've got my insurance approval and a surgery date of Feb. 15, as long as everything goes according to plan at my final appointment on Jan. 30 with my lab work and all that. -
Protein shakes no flavor and flavored. What's best?
istytehcrawk replied to SexySleevey's topic in Pre-op Diets and Questions
Yeah, the thing with "unflavored" protein powders is that they're not actually flavorless, they just don't have ADDED flavor (like chocolate or whatever), so they still taste protein-y, just with nothing to mask it. -
No caffeine? Ever?
istytehcrawk replied to BabettesFeast's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
No, that is not true. (Source: Mayo Clinic, which has a chart.) -
Have any of you tried the Celebrate tomato soup meal replacement protein? Tomato is my favorite kind of soup, so I'm curious about it. Also, are single-serve packets of it actually available in a 5-pack? They're not available on the Celebrate website, and though they show up on the shop here, they say they're out of stock. I'd like to try it before buying a tub, if possible, but I don't want to spend $35 on a variety pack of samples.
-
Celebrate Tomato Soup Protein?
istytehcrawk replied to istytehcrawk's topic in Protein, Vitamins, and Supplements
Follow up: I now understand WHY they're discontinuing it. It doesn't taste like tomato soup; at best it tastes like regurgitated tomato juice. It's NASTY. Of course, I discovered that AFTER spending $40 (counting shipping) on a tub of it, since I couldn't find sample packs of it in stock anywhere. -
Anyone scheduled for February 2018???
istytehcrawk replied to TooNuNu's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
RNY on Feb. 15 here.
