istytehcrawk
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Everything posted by istytehcrawk
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Today is the first day in a week that I haven't had some sort of bowel-related issue. I'm actually feeling pretty good, especially compared to how I've felt the last few days (actually sleeping through the night without waking up to run to the bathroom helped considerably, I think).
As such, I'm actually hungry and want to eat. There's just one problem: I'm absolutely terrified to do eat. I've technically been on regular foods since Thursday, but I haven't been able to actually enjoy it because of said bowel issues. I've been reverted back to a liquid diet for the last two days, and before that I was sticking to safe/soft foods for what little actual food I consumed (I was miserable and protein shakes/water were about the only things that didn't seem to make things worse).
I want to try eating, but I don't want to end up miserable again.
This is frustrating, to say the least.
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What have you done for yourself lately?
istytehcrawk replied to Apple203's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
Dyed my hair last week (upkeep mostly). Will probably cut it to around shoulder-length once it gets closer to summer, depending on how much it's thinning by then (it's already thin, but in May I'll be three months out from surgery, so probably starting to thin even more). -
Isopure ice cubes
istytehcrawk replied to LyricSoul's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I get mine at Hy-Vee because that's the only store I've found near(-ish) to me that carries it. It's nearly $5 a bottle (counting tax), so I don't buy it very often, but it's handy for days I'm struggling with my protein. -
It's taken two miserable days of Miralax, stool softeners, and reverting back to a liquid diet, but I am about 95% sure I've managed to stop a would-be bowel obstruction in its tracks.
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I’m six months post op . I have to take a Senna every other day ... it’s the only thing to keep me on track . It’s one of the issues I’ve had and it is so discomforting. I hope you feel better soon !
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istytehcrawk reacted to this
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I use Isopure unflavored powder. “Unflavored” doesn’t really mean “no flavor,” it means “no ADDED flavor” (like fruit or chocolate). The Isopure is undetectable when puréed in foods or mixed with other protein shakes for a boost, but I don’t like it in water or crystal light because it does have a protein-y taste.
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My favorite pureed meal was a few meatballs with marinara sauce and a sprinkle of parmesan, mixed up in a blender with a scoop of unflavored protein powder. Tasted like the meat sauce left on a plate after eating spaghetti.
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I'm actually really surprised (and a little jealous if I'm being honest) that you didn't dump, because your surgery was almost a month after mine, and I tried just two tiny bites of 100% whole wheat bread and THAT caused me to dump, so I can only imagine what an entire soft pretzel would do. Like you said, though, one wrong turn doesn't ruin the trip. You just have to let your internal GPS reroute itself and get back on the main road. Sightseeing may be enjoyable, but sometimes it can be dangerous if you're too close to a cliff! (This analogy went off-course long ago, but I'm sure you get my point.)
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Doctors in St. Louis, MO/Hannibal MO/Quincy, IL
istytehcrawk replied to Snapple's topic in Weight Loss Surgeons & Hospitals
I definitely like it better than the one I was in previously (Memorial Weight Loss and Wellness Center in Springfield, IL), which wouldn't even consider doing surgery unless I was under a BMI of 60/65/70 (it varied depending on who was talking to me that day), so even at my current post-surgery weight, I probably wouldn't be eligible! That program also made me see the physical therapist, dietitian, and nurse practitioner or bariatrician EVERY MONTH. (I think they were after my money more than anything, and my PCP is no longer referring patients to them for that and other reasons.) -
Doctors in St. Louis, MO/Hannibal MO/Quincy, IL
istytehcrawk replied to Snapple's topic in Weight Loss Surgeons & Hospitals
I went through the Washington University program in St. Louis, with Dr. Arghavan Salles as my surgeon. I couldn't be happier with that program. It's worth noting that the WashU program is different than most others I've heard of - no pre-op liquid diet, and the post-op food stages progress more quickly than most other programs. I'm only 5 weeks out and already past the liquid/puree/soft stages and onto regular food. In addition, you only have to see the psych/nutritionist/nurse practitioner/physical therapist once each to get cleared, then meet the surgeon, (and have various tests done, of course) before surgery; after surgery. After surgery, follow-up visits are only required for the surgeon, not the rest of the providers (though you can schedule them if you choose). -
My last insurance claim was just processed, so I did the math and figured out that I only have to pay $1,351.60 out of $63,966.50, or roughly 2.11 percent of the overall cost, and my portion includes the $1,000 deductible. I can handle that.
(I just made a whole post breaking it down in the Insurance & Financing forum if you're interested.)
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I'm 0/2 with new foods (fish sticks and 100% whole wheat toast) agreeing with my stomach, so the last 24 hours have been FUN.
Not.
No more new foods until tomorrow (going to attempt some cubed ham).
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I was on phentermine for quite a while pre-op and was told to stop it 1-2 weeks before surgery (I stopped 12 days before simply because that was when I refilled my daily pill containers).
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February bypass buddies?
istytehcrawk replied to RunningLibrarian's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
I’m five weeks out and specifically asked about salad, etc. yesterday, and my surgeon said I can try it whenever I want but it may not sit well right away. Yes, all my measurements are by volume, not weight. Oh, and the fish sticks definitely backfired. Dumped for the first time last night. It was not pleasant. I don’t ENTIRELY regret it though, because the crunch was A+ (not that I’ll repeat it for that reason). -
Savory Options to get protein in
istytehcrawk replied to TheSirBeardsley's topic in Post-op Diets and Questions
Celebrate has a chicken soup one, too. I bought it (well, actually bought the tomato soup one, hated that, and exchanged it for a chicken soup one) but haven't tried it yet, so I can't say whether it's any good. -
Somewhere along the line ...
istytehcrawk replied to Mattymatt's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
Today, my surgeon said I can probably expect to lose at least 60-70% of my excess pre-surgery weight (though she also said it's common to regain a little after hitting the low and then stay at the slightly higher weight). I did the math, and if she's right, my end weight will be in the 200-225 range. I'm hoping I beat that, because I definitely want to end up quite a bit below 200 (which is still obese at a BMI of 36). Ideal weight for my height is about 120, and I doubt I'll get THAT low, but I'd like to get to about 150-160 so that I'm at least out of the obese range. -
February bypass buddies?
istytehcrawk replied to RunningLibrarian's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
So I talked to my surgeon today, and my only dietary specifications now are to keep working on meeting my liquid (48-64 oz)/protein (60-80 grams), keep my diet low sugar and relatively low fat, and work toward getting into the 1000-1200 calorie range per day (I have no idea what I'm at currently because I didn't have to monitor that in the first few stages). White bread/pasta/rice is not recommended but not flat-out restricted, but I've made a goal for myself to stick to 100% whole wheat and brown rice for as long as possible (and still not very often). I can introduce other foods whenever I please, and if they don't work, just put them aside for a few weeks and try them again later. I do not have specific carb/fat ranges to aim for. After I got home, I went to the store and bought salad fixings (spinach, crinkle cut carrots, cubed ham, and fat free French dressing); fish sticks (I ate three for supper); and a box of that bacon you just have to microwave (it's a little high in fat if you eat a full serving of three slices, but I'll probably only be able to eat one at a time). I was so happy to have something CRUNCHY! I can't wait to make a piece of toast topped with a little bit of reconstituted PB2 and sugar free strawberry preserves tomorrow. (Don't know that I'll even be able to eat a whole slice, but that's okay.) My recommended size for meals at this point is 4-6 ounces or 8-12 tablespoons, but I still can't even eat half a cup sometimes, depending on the food. Still working up to that. -
Maybe get some zero-calorie, sugar-free flavor syrups (such as Torani) to flavor it up so it's not just plain milk? Or the flavor drops (like Crystal Light) that are specifically made for milk -- I think Johnny Moo and Milk Magic are two brands. They're also zero-calorie and sugar-free and come in a lot of flavors.
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I didn't feel hunger at all for the first few weeks, but I've noticed that over the last two weeks or so, I'll occasionally (maybe 2-3 times per week) actually feel hunger rather than thinking that I do (or thinking that I *should*). It's not quite the same as pre-op hunger, either. Not sure how to describe it, but the sensation is different.
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February bypass buddies?
istytehcrawk replied to RunningLibrarian's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
Five weeks out from RNY tomorrow. See my surgeon tomorrow and get to move to full/regular diet instead of just soft foods! Ready to crunch. HW 427.4 (Jan. 2) SW 413 (Feb. 15) CW: 378.4 (down 34.6 since surgery and 49 overall. Had a bit of a stall last week/this week and actually went up about a pound and a half, but I think (fingers crossed) it's finally breaking because I'm back down a pound again. I miss the 10 pounds per week average I was maintaining the first three weeks! Still having a bit of trouble getting both protein and water in every day, so some days I end up prioritizing one or the other. Mostly sick of my protein powders, so I've mostly switched to Premier Protein and Protein2O (protein water) for boosting (if I drink one of each a day, that takes care of 45g protein and 28oz water, which is a big help) and am working on getting more protein out of my food instead of drinks. Also getting sick of eating a lot of the same things over and over, so I'm especially glad to be able to expand my diet tomorrow. -
Went through the five trash bags of too-small clothes I have accumulated (some are mine from when I was a little smaller, some were my mom's, some a friend's, some yard sale finds, some bought at store closeout/clearance sales). One bag ended up being a bag of to-donate items that had gotten mixed in with the others inadvertently, so I don't have as much as I expected. But it's now separated into two bags of pants and two bags of shirts, organized by size.
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Do You Attend Support Group Meetings in RL?
istytehcrawk replied to FluffyChix's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
I would like to attend them (even though, from the one I attended pre-op, they seem to be MOSTLY pre-op patients), but 1) they're over an hour away and 2) they're only held once a month on a date/time when I have to work. -
I progress to a "regular" diet on Thursday, and I'm eager to be able to start eating crunchy things again (and fibrous, though I know I'll probably have try those gradually - I miss broccoli)! The thing is, I don't know WHAT crunchy things I want to eat. Obviously chips are a no-go (though I do have a bag of Quest protein chips to try). Baby carrots will probably be on the list, but I don't know what else! (I see my surgeon on Thursday afternoon, so I will find out then if I have any specific restrictions or things I need to wait to try -- I'm expecting salad to be one, though I reallllllly have been wanting a good spinach salad lately.)
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Ready to crunch... but WHAT?
istytehcrawk replied to istytehcrawk's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I've already passed the puree stage (read: sick of applesauce), and I'll be finishing the soft stage tomorrow and advancing to regular diet on Thursday. I'm already eating poultry, cheese, soft veggies/fruit, etc. -
I've heard that, too. Hopefully it holds true. And yeah, I'm definitely glad to be really getting going on the weight loss as the weather (supposedly) starts to warm up, rather than the opposite.
