BabySpoons

Good point I forgot about. I asked for a binder at the hospital before I left the hospital. I had a long, somewhat bumpy ride home. It really helped. At home, I just wanted it off so I used a pillow and held it against my tummy when getting up or down to take pressure off my incisions and I also slept with a body pillow.

Rays has a sweet and spicy SF version along with SF Original and Hickory. Ray's Honey Mustard Dipping sauce is amazing too. I am never without a couple bottles. Sweet Baby Ray's Expands Popular "Ray's No Sugar Added" Line with Two New Sauces (prnewswire.com) Skinnygirl also has a line of SF/FF products. Salad dressings, preserves, drink mixers and snacks. I love the Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing and was gifted a bunch of drink mixers I have yet to try. With the popularity of Keto, there are now tons of SF options. Even ketchup. Too bad though that healthier choices are all so overpriced. 🤔

I took the shots Semaglutide quite a few years ago before it was called Ozempic. I was on it just a short time for weight loss and help with insulin resistance. I remember it made me feel ill and nauseous most of the time. I stuck it out for a while longer until I read it caused cancer in rats. I don't remember losing any significant amount of weight either. But then I might not have taken it long enough. I too have heard that it is now used in addition to WLS post for those with slow weight loss. I say give it a try as long as you are not worried about long term use side effects. Everything I've read about it up until now says you will regain the weight when you stop taking it though. GL

When I first started calling around to find info on getting the surgery, I called a place in Omaha that told me the process from initial consult to surgery date was a year on average. The second call was to my bariatric team in Lincoln that told me best case scenario was 3 months. So, depending on the facility. It could be a matter of how busy or just how efficient they are??? Your insurance will also dictate any mandatory time requirements for diet counseling sessions. Also, if any pre-op testing isn't medically cleared, that can hold things up too. I had a whole hella lot of pre-op testing done and still had my surgery at that 3-month mark. I made sure to cross all my Ts and dot my I's in fear of not getting approved. I even thought maybe it was a ploy to scare patients into doing everything right and in actuality plan to approve us regardless. But after reading other people's stories here, I see that's not the case and doctors will postpone or cancel a surgery for various reasons. I ended up going with Bryan Bariatric because they were the only one listed as in network through my insurance and are designated as a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Here's to hoping they move things along for you OP and Godspeed.

^^Agree^^ I haven't lost 100 pounds yet but getting close and all I've done is stick to my diet plan and walk outside, I'm up to 2 miles a day. (6-7xs a week) Walking is considered weightbearing exercise and is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself. And it's free. Pre-op I was completely sedentary and on disability. When the weather turns colder, I'll start doing some weights in the gym. And possibly a rower to switch it up. Vary your routine otherwise your body adapts, and your gains will slow down. At least till you reach maintenance. And most importantly, find something you enjoy doing or you won't stick with it. GL!!

I can drink milk till the cows come home. ❤️ I wonder if OP @bob_behn there and back? I would have a hard time in France with all the endless pasta. Lots of good travel advice here. I'm thinking small baggies of protein powder could get you temporarily detained??? Curious for future reference.

Same here. I'm usually kind to others, male or female but if they cross me all bets are off. xD I used to work in an all-women's health club and have never seen so much competition and cattiness firsthand. Sad but true. I have since adopted this methodology.

That is unprofessional and scary to think if you had needed medical attention. Of course, if serious you can go to your nearest ER but your bariatric team should be available to you 24/7 for advice and to answer any and all questions you may have. You have every right to request a different doctor for follow-up care. Especially when he tells you he can't help you and doesn't answer emails. Recovery is hard enough without having to worry if he's got your back or best interests at heart. GL!!

It's too bad that people don't view Bariatric surgery for what it is, a medical intervention. Nothing is easy about it except that the tool we are given causes all our efforts to finally actually work for us. People are plain ignorant about the medical reasons behind weight gain. After all the years of working out and dieting with no results, I say we deserve this. But it's easier for them to think we chose surgery over doing the work. No one has said anything negative to me yet, but if they do, I guess I'll have to school them. LOL

Believe me, I know the feeling. Before WLS I struggled to move just walking across the room. People kept telling me my life's about to change after surgery. They were so right.

I have been cleared for most exercises but walking outside is so enjoyable to me, I'm sticking with that for now. I started on a treadmill straight out from the hospital for 5 minutes working up to fifteen over a couple weeks. Then took it outside. I walked a mile for a couple months. Now I walk 2. I don't push myself timewise or speed wise. I average a 2–3-pound weight loss a week so I'm satisfied with that. I get up and walk early before it gets too hot. Usually in the 70's. If weather is bad, I stay in and ride my recumbent bike while watching My 600 Pound Life. Never watched that show until after surgery. And never was a morning person till now. Odd. Nausea will usually happen from pushing yourself too hard too soon. Ease into it. Stay hydrated and don't get overheated. Just move. GL

The only aversion (taste wise) I've had so far, early on, I couldn't drink Crystal Light. Just plain clear water. It was too sweet. Now I drink CL Raspberry Tea and half a packet of different flavors in my protein smoothies. My tummy on the other hand has major aversions to raw veggies except for baby carrots. Unless they are fully cooked and peeled. I really miss cold crisp salads. Someday....

This is how. And it's Ricky Gervais not Ramsey. LOL

I had it day 2 or 3 post-op. I stood up and felt the whoosh. A lot of blood running down my legs and a very large clot. My mind was racing. I thought I was hemorrhaging at first, but I tried to remain calm. I remembered reading somewhere about our bodies releasing blood after surgery and also hormonal shifting so I told myself to keep an eye on it and if it continued, I would contact the doctor. It stopped the next day, so I was relieved. I'm not sure what would be considered abnormal, but I'd say if it continues for any length of time, it wouldn't hurt to call your bariatric team. Congrats on your recent surgery and speedy recovery. {{hugs}}

Nah but the candied bacon definitely sounds better. LOL

If you are having milk with your cereal and able to keep that down, drink that. Any liquid will count towards your daily hydration needs besides water. Find things your body won't reject within your doctor's food plan and concentrate on those things, no matter how limited it is. For now, at least, till you get further out and past all the nausea. Also, you might need to wait longer than 30 minutes after eating to drink. Sometimes I have to wait an hour or more or else I can't keep any liquid down. As I was allowed more options to eat, I found out quickly that my tummy wasn't having certain foods. Chicken is a big no for me. Try not to introduce things too quickly. Your body sounds like it's just not ready for most things. Good luck!

I'd be concerned about squeezing my internal organs before total healing. Here's a discussion from 2015 about waist training after WLS. Waist training - Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums - BariatricPal

So true. I knew what to do to lose the weight. It just stopped working. The WLS tool we have now is amazing in reversing whatever that hindrance was. Age, insulin resistance, meds, slowed metabolism??? Now I just want to use it as long as I can without breaking it.

Not being able to feel restriction is usually pretty common till you get past the soft food stage. I remember thinking the surgery didn't work for me either, till I started eating regular food at 5 weeks. It was then I really felt the I'm full pain. I have since learned when to stop before it gets to that point. Liquids and soft phase were pretty easy for me. I still go back to it sometimes when my tummy is not feeling so good. Just be careful that you don't eat more than you should. Especially this early out. You don't want to pop a staple or blow out your stomach. Extremely dangerous. Nerves have been cut too during your WLS and can contribute to why you aren't feeling that restriction. Give them time to heal. At this point you want to go by how much your Dr recommends eating because you can't trust that not feeling restriction phase. I could always eat more than 2 TB of food but never allowed myself over 1/2 C early on. Also wait 30 minutes to an hour after eating to drink. If I don't, liquids won't stay down. I would concentrate right now more so on getting all your liquids in. Good luck!! Here's what my nutritionist recommends: 5 weeks to 6 months: 600-800 calories, 65-100 g protein, less than 45 g carbs, less than 30 grams fat. 6 months to 12 months: 800-1000 calories, 65-100 g protein, less than 60 g carbs, less than 35 grams fat. Over 12 months: 1000-1500 calories, 65-100 g protein, less than 75 g carbs, less than 30-60 grams fat.

I buy this in bulk at Walmart but you can buy a smaller amount to try. I never have mixed it in with food. Doesn't sound appealing to me. I enjoy it because I can vary the flavors of my drinks and never get bored with it. I'm in food phase now but I still drink one every day to help ensure I get my protein in for the day. I mix it with Peanut butter powder, cocoa, stevia or various crystal light packets, SF flavored yogurts, skim milk and ice. New World 100% Whey Isolate Protein Powder, 26g Protein, Servings & Flavors Vary - Walmart.com

I had a pretty good amount of pain week 1 but then I was in surgery for 4 hours for RNY and a large hernia repair. The pulling sensation was the worst at my right incision site mainly when I transitioned from lying to sitting or sitting to standing. Even at week 2. I sipped on my liquid Oxy that first week and when I ran out I called the pharmacy for a refill week 2. I was told I needed a doc to do that so called him and was told by his nurse they don't normally refill that medication. I was like OK, I'll survive. I guess I didn't realize from the labeling (Hydrocod Acetaminophen) what I was asking for till I googled it. Oxy. I felt bad then for asking for more. After that, I never used anything else for pain. In fact I still have a tad bit of that liquid oxy left over if ever needed in the future. I'm guessing if I hadn't had the hernia repair I wouldn't have needed it at all. Like a superwoman

Last week I did an inventory of smaller sized clothing I kept over the years "just in case" someday I could fit into again. I found a few items still with tags that I optimistically bought hoping to wear but never could. I'm looking forward to finally being able to wear them sometime soon. Especially some of my old favorite jeans. And yeah some of my big clothes are hard to let go of. I lost a good amount of weight in the past and got rid of thinking I was done with them then regained and regretted. But that was during my yo yo dieting phase. Surgery changed that for me. I don't plan on needing them ever again. Good luck on surgery day!!!!

I was cleared to drink alcohol at 3 months post-op which was right on July 4th. I made a mix of sugar free Cranberry juice and a shot of vodka. Tasted good, didn't make me drunk, sick or passed out. But made sure I ate something beforehand and drank very slowly. Have fun!!

Timewise I was under for 4 hours instead of 2. Doc told me before surgery that the Endoscope didn't tell him how big the hernia was and wouldn't know till he was in there. As far as complications there were none. Week one was a bit of a blur since I was prescribed Hydrocodone for pain. But I think a week is pretty common for most WLS patients to get past the worst of it. Surgery was a big game changer for me. No more reflux and I can breathe again. Good luck going forward @GrannyMaggie !!