lizonaplane

Congrats on your surgery! I'm 2.5 months out and I will say that I can swallow a fair amount of water in one gulp now. I can't chug a whole bottle like I used to, but it doesn't interfere with my life. PACE: that's the hardest thing for me. I can't seem to get the hang of it, and most meals I'm in pain afterwards. When I'm at my parents' house my mom will remind me when she sees me eating too fast, but I eat most of my meals alone, and it's hard to remember!

Like another poster said, no one can force you to have a surgery. My semi-ex-boyfriend has a BMI of 18 and he's extremely healthy, and eats healthy too. He's just naturally very thin. I would consider getting a DEXA scan to see how much muscle mass you have. You don't have to go in for a "clinical" one, but there are some private DEXA scan centers that can give you a pretty good idea. I went in for one right after I started losing weight pre-surgery to get a baseline. It was about $100, but their usual price is $150. Good luck!

I have to learn to eat more slowly. As much as I tell myself I'm doing better, I'm really NOT THERE YET. I have thrown up a few more times recently, but not after I'd eaten more than a few bites. I haven't figured out that I'm full until I start hiccuping, and someone told me that's when I've eaten TOO much...

I was obsessed with refried beans. They tasted so good! I often added some shredded cheese and FF greek yogurt. I don't know if you're allowed this yet, but ground turkey and chicken were great, too. I added taco seasoning or other spices and ate them with ff greek yogurt. Also mozzarella cheese sticks.

I felt hungry all the time and everyone kept telling me it was head hunger. Nope, the psychologist at the surgery center said about 20% of her patients don't lose their hunger. My doctor put me back on metformin to help with that, and it's definitely better, but I'm still hungry a lot. Hot tea helps me.

That's exactly what I dealt with. Eventually my doctor put me back on metformin. I don't have diabetes, but it can help with weight loss by making you not hungry. I was so upset that I was hungry after surgery, but the psychologist at my surgery center says about 20% of her patients don't lose their hunger. Good luck!

I was 5'3" and over 290 lbs and I never got an extra seat. Sometimes I needed an extender, but I fly a lot and there's no way I was buying an extra seat or that my work would pay for it on my many work trips. People might have been upset by sitting next to me, but no one ever said anything, and I was definitely not the biggest person using one seat. I think you should be fine (unless SouthWest is drastically different from American, United, Air Canada, and Jet Blue)

It took 2 months or more before I got the date for my surgery after finishing my nutrition classes. They were waiting for my doctor to call them back, but they never told me that, or I would have pushed him. I would make sure you're not missing anything (call the scheduler) and ask them how long it will take you to get scheduled. It varies a lot!

If you are on any blood pressure meds, you may need a lower dose. I was dizzy for a while after surgery, probably low blood pressure (mine has always been on the low side, but was normal at my heaviest, now it's low again). I ended up passing out last week and messing up my ankle when I fell, but I think that may have been a reaction to the booster shot. Definitely sit down if you're feeling dizzy!

I have been hungry since right after my surgery. I didn't care what I ate as long as there was some food in me. I can only eat a few oz of meat at one time, but then I'm hungry again right away. Metformin has been helping some, but some people DO still have hunger after surgery.

My surgery center says they can't tell us how much we should be eating as each person is different and will have a different experience after surgery. I can't eat much more than 3 oz and I'm two months out, but I'm hungry all the time!

These are exactly the ones I take. Glad to know they work!

I also found that the GasX did nothing, but the heating pad seemed to help (or maybe it just felt comforting?). It dissipated within a few days.

My voice teacher (I'm not a professional singer, but I enjoy taking lessons) told me to ask for a child's tube, but the surgery team said they use a small tube all the time. I had a sore throat only when I first woke up.

It might be the chives not the cottage cheese. I have trouble with any type of onion, although I always have. Have you tried a different flavor of cottage cheese to see if it might be the chives?

I have been hungry since right after surgery. I don't want a specific food or taste, and I feel like when before I had surgery if I hadn't eaten all day. My bariatric therapist said about 20% of patients still have hunger after surgery. They prescribed metformin and it has helped a lot.

I agree - the cooking shows don't make me crave food, but on the rare occasions I have to see commercials (like at a hotel, although I rarely watch TV there) it's ridiculous how the food looks so much better than it does in real life!

You might have to get up to pee less because your stomach is pushing less against your bladder. I found this to be true, too. Now I can sometimes sleep through the night, whereas before I was getting up at least twice.

After surgery you will be able to eat very little at one time, but you might not feel "satisfied". I have been hungry since right after surgery and I can't eat enough to be "satisfied" even though my tummy is full. Being satisfied is more emotional.

Water is not acidic at all: Pure water has a pH of 7 and is considered “neutral” because it has neither acidic nor basic qualities. Alkaline water is a marketing scam. Your body is EXTREMELY good at maintaining homeostasis, and if you have an acid/base issue, you would almost certainly be in the hospital.

I just take one ProCare health capsule that has 45 mg of iron in it. I take it at night, because it makes me nauseous. I've tried taking it with meals and it was worse. I only take calcium on days I don't get enough from my diet (protein shakes, yogurt, etc have a lot of calcium). I haven't had blood work done, but my surgery center had a list of acceptable vitamins, and the ProCare health is truly one a day.

I was always hungry since the day I got out of surgery. I had been on metformin for weight loss (I don't have diabetes) and it made me less hungry, so after I couldn't stand being hungry all the time, they put me back on it, and it has really helped a lot. Some people get nausea or diarrhea from it. I also would talk to your nutritionist about how much you SHOULD be eating. It could be that you're eating too little and actually need to increase your calories. I haven't tried contrave but make sure your insurance will cover it because it's going to be very expensive most likely.

Your husband seems really supportive; that's great! The weight calculator is at the top where your user name is, there should be a down arrow. Hit that, then go to "my surgery" then go to "progress" and you can change the weight there. You can also add "tickers" like I have below. Good Luck!

It's really hard. I still think about food (especially sweets!) more often than I'd like If you are pre surgery, I suggest eating more protein and fewer carbs. For many people eating simple carbs like bread, crackers, pasta, rice, etc or sweets like cookies and ice cream, can cause cravings for more of these things. I found that fruit did not cause these issues for me, nor did artificial sweeteners. But your mileage may vary... I would keep a drink in your hand and drink when you want to eat. It helps a bit. Also, I find that I think about food more when I'm bored, or doing something I don't like, like work!

I definitely would NOT use Herbalife for all the reasons listed above. I also find the powder shakes really gross so I use the pre-mixed liquid. I have heard that if you use a blender for the powders they dissolve better, but I haven't tried that. When in doubt, talk to your nutritionist Good luck finding something you can tolerate.