macadamia

Is that with MyFitnessPal? I've never used that button... maybe I should try. Thanks!

Congratz on your surgery! Way to go! Ask your doctor if it is ok to use those until you can swallow pills again.

Well, it causes swelling where your esophagus goes through your diaphragm because your doctor closed up the herniated openings. The swelling should go down in a bit but if it does not, call your surgical team's office and have it checked out. I've also heard about tightening of the entrance to the stomach after sleaving and that can be stretched by the doctor during an upper endoscopy. You are only a day post-op. It does take a bit of time. I understand that it can be an uncomfortable feeling, but it will be ok.

I am still pre-op but I was told by my surgeon that once I reach my goal weight, I will have another appointment with the nutritionist and at that time I'll get a more specific plan for caloric intake to maintain that weight. Your goal weight is set by you and your surgical team. If you want to be around 200 pounds and your doctor says that is a healthy weight for you, then that works.

Ignore those pop-up messages for nutrients and caloric intake in that app. It is set up primarily for people who work out and only need to lose a few pounds. It is a great resource because of the large food database. I prefer to use it over LoseIt! and Baritastic. LoseIt! has a more limited food database and I had to enter many of my nutrition labels for the foods I was tracking. Baritastic is a great resource for things other than just tracking. For MyFitnessPal, I just changed my daily caloric intake goal to 800 for my pre-op diet. I have been about 100 cals under each day since I changed it on Sunday. I have yet to get the pop-up for calories, but I do get them for fat and for sodium (I love jalapeno and garlic stuffed green olives for a snack). I take them with a grain of salt and use them as a reminder to watch what I am eating. If 300 calories are where you currently should be for your daily intake, screw the pop-up. It is a good app, in my opinion. I just wish I could justify the expense to get rid of the ads.

Schedule a follow-up with your surgeon and ask them about it. It never hurts to ask...

I know that you will receive all kinds of answers for this, but my paperwork specifically says that my nutritionist must advance my diet. Also, my paperwork says not to introduce starchy vegetables until after week 6. That being said, each surgeon has their own way of dealing with the post-op diet until you get to maintenance. As Tealael says, ask your team about your specific case. I do not think you have hurt anything but there is a reason for the post-op diet advances. They have the experience to know what works and has the least chance for complications. Good luck!

Are you sure that insurance will not cover it? My surgeon has said that as long as he deems it medically necessary, the insurance will (should) cover it. It is my plan to have my excess skin excised using my medical insurance once I reach my goal.

Congratz on your surgery and good luck with your journey. Thank you for delurking and becoming part of the speaking community.

Congratz on your surgery! Way to go! Did the doctor do a hiatal hernia repair? If so, it could be that it is a bit swollen there and you are just experiencing the water passing the swelling. It could also be a combination of that plus gas.

That is very similar to what I received from my surgical team.

Glad everything worked out...

If anyone else wishes to voice their opinion to the people who run this forum, scroll all the way down to the very bottom of the page and click on "contact us." Very easy and quick.

You have been reported, by me, to the people who run this forum.

From the forum rules and regulations: In addition, “bashing” of individuals is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, statements that a person is: Lazy for choosing one type of weight loss surgery over another Unprepared for or undeserving of weight loss surgery because of Deserving of complications or disappointing weight loss because of their choice of weight loss surgery Violations of these rules and consequences will be determined at the sole discretion of BariatricPal and based on individual situations. They may include, but are not limited to, the following: Editing or removal of the offensive post(s) Warning from BariatricPal staff or Forum Hosts to avoid such posts in the future Temporary suspension of membership Permanent removal of the member’s account So, just stop already... please.

I know this is an old post and you may never see it, but... I thought I'd give it a try anyway. I'm on the other side of the state in Ammon but I'd love to chat sometime if you like. I'm always up for meeting new people and I've been known to travel once in a while.

I'm thinking people like that need a knuckle sandwich, eh?

You are very welcome. You will do awesome! I see you reacting and responding to people's posts all over this forum. It is apparent that you are ready and willing to do what it takes to be healthier and happier. I'm all for that - it is also why I am here. As for the scars and trials I've battled through, I have never given up. I'm still alive and I'm still living every day. It has been hard at times; yes, at times I have felt like I was done. But all in all, I have stuck with it and here I am. Besides, no one can see all my scars under my clothes anyway...

Wow, that's short notice, but I would have done the same! Let us know how it went!

Way to go! Keep up the great work!

For starters, I'm 52 and have a full head of very thick hair. My last real haircut was last year in April. I got it cut very short, similar to my profile photo. I had surgery in May and again in August and just never felt like worrying about my hair. I've been letting it grow ever since and now it is down past my shoulders when it is wet and it bunches up at my collar when it is dry. (see the photos in my gallery for current photos) It is so thick that I have to "glue" it down with hair gel. The more weight I lose, the more comes out. It is not like what AshAsh shows in her photo from the shower drain, but it is steadily getting worse. I plan to get a buzz-cut before I go in for surgery. I know it is easier for men to go short or even bald, but hair loss is hair loss. I like my hair longer. But, I hate how much I have to clean up now after showering, and you are all saying it gets worse after a few months post-op! I do not want to buy draino every week to clean out the shower drain. I'll have the stylist/barber take before and after photos when I get it cut off. Who knows, I may even go blond again when I do it!

I was raised to clean my plate too. I do not have an issue with cleaning my plate. My issue is with the portion size. Had my parents taught me portion control, I may not have been as big as I am. I was taught to eat what I took when we would have family get-togethers. My dad's side of the family is all farmers so "healthy" appetites are good. My uncle used to say I had a hollow leg because I could eat so much as a kid. Well, never having learned portion control and having it ingrained in me to clean my plate, I learned early on to overeat. As I got older, I just kept packing on the pounds. Well, for me, enough is enough.

Hang in there, you're doing great! This too shall pass. As for ever feeling normal again... Well, you have had your body surgically altered to be different. You may never feel "normal" again, but you will get better, you will heal, you will lose weight, you will overcome, and you will succeed! IMHO, "normal" is way overrated. I have had four major abdominal surgeries over the past 23 years, with two of them last year. I have had major organs removed during the surgeries. My abdomen is scarred, misshaped, and fat. I will never be "normal" again - ever. I'm okay with that, because I am me. I like me... I'm glad I'll be seeing less and less of me over the rest of my life.

Are you asking about pre-made shakes or about the protein powder? I have not tried any protein powder yet, but I really like and can recommend the Premier Protein chocolate pre-made shakes. I've tried Atkins (both regular and with fiber) and find the Premier are better. As for other flavors of the Premier, I've tried the stawberries and cream (tolerable but just okay...) and the banana cream, which I use in my morning smoothies. It is pretty good mixed with the other flavors, but not as good as the chocolate. As a matter of fact, I'm having my lunchtime shake right now. Yummy!

Got it. I work for a government contractor and every meeting I have been to in the past four years has had people bring water or some other beverage (tea, coffee, juice, etc). Just a different culture, I suppose. I'd still bring it, but I'm a rebel...