Orchids&Dragons

I just don't count caffeinated beverages toward my total. Since I'm over 100 oz. every day, I don't worry about it. You will be strongly encouraged to give up caffeine before surgery. If you can handle the switch to decaf, you've got it made. Decaf does count toward your 64 oz.

I'd call the doctor's office. You should at the very least be able to tolerate most purees by now. Are you able to get your water in?

64 oz. might be fine for the rest of the country, but it won't cut it for a Texas summer. I had a lot of dizziness, turned out my blood calcium levels were way too high.

I love this, but I'd start out with ground chicken until you see how you handle it. https://tasteofhome.com/recipes/white-bean-chicken-chili/?_mid=2385320&_rid=2385320.977035.251498&pmcode=TXC91VH189

Thanks for the heads-up, Pamela. And congrats on your long-term success! You are an inspiration!

Check out these articles to help you decide if you have real hunger or head hunger. They may help! https://bariatricpal.com/topic/416996-hunger-or-craving/?tab=comments#comment-4661702

I also find it much harder to be "good" at home. There's just not much available at work unless I go down 3 floors to the snack room which has vending machines. It is totally off limits for me. But at home, omgosh. . . smorgasbord! Tedious tasks set me off, too. They just seem so much more manageable when I've got a party going on in my mouth! That's when I make my chai lattes. They satisfy the sweet need and delish taste without going off plan.

From more than 40 years of yo-yo dieting, I know that I have to abstain from sugar entirely, at least during the weight-loss phase. It is a slippery slope covered with banana skins covered with ice for me.

Yeah, they pretty much got straight to the point! So many people post questions about hunger, I thought I'd share.

Sounds like your head is definitely in the right place! You've got this!

The Devil!

Hope you feel better soon.

You lucky dog! If you overeat (and it can be that one extra bite) your mouth starts to fill up with foamy spit. And fill up and fill up, etc. It makes you very nauseous, but you can't throw up, you just have to wait for it to stop. It can go on for an hour or two. Absolutely gross.

Sadly, it could be your new normal. It's too early to say. At only 11 days post-op, your stomach is still swollen and angry. It could be that as the swelling goes down, you get some relief.

How many days has it been? My instructions were to call the doctor's office if it lasted 5 days or more. Otherwise you can get dehydrated.

Wow, so sorry to hear that! Hope you get some relief soon!

I'm glad to hear that your surgery went well and that you are progressing nicely. Keep up the good work! Congrats!

Snap out of this, woman! You've been doing great, you have a doctor you like who will do your surgery. You're finishing the final requirements to be a go! Stop looking at that glass half empty and look at the one right next to it that is overflowing with possibilities!

Wow, that's fantastic! Congrats!

In my experience, there was nothing that made me swallow more air than concentrating on not swallowing more air!

That's a shame that you don't have a pool handy. Where I live, pool water is already bath-temperature. Not particularly refreshing!

I've pretty much settled into a reasonable routine. I wish I were better with the exercise though. I just don't go to the gym unless my bowels have behaved for at least 2 days straight so that I don't humiliate myself! I do walk, especially at work. But I need more strenuous exercise. I am hoping to cross into One-derland next week. That would be awesome. Body-wise that's like going back 20+ years!

Yes, the shakes are very sweet. The protein waters are not quite so bad and still have 15-20g of protein per bottle. Broths or decaf coffee or tea are other, non-sweet options. You can use the protein shakes to make lattes. You can also dilute the shakes with either milk or water so lower the sweetness level. Good luck!

It would be a shame if you left, Creekimp. Your advice is usually spot on and everyone has to understand that we all have different docs, different meal plans, etc. You've said many times that there is more than one way to get there in the end.

@Frustr8 I don't understand the concept of not doing the surgery on anyone over 60. Maybe there are just so many candidates out there that they can cherry-pick? People, overall, are living so much longer now and for those who do, the surgery is a cost-effetive option compared to the long-term costs of Type II diabetes, heart disease, strokes, even joint replacements. And, hopefully, it will dramatically affect the quality of life. You know I'm 100% supportive of you girl!