mariecarmen

Boy, this advice couldn't have come at a better time for me. I've been struggling mightily. You've eased my mind, now I'm refocusing. Thanks

Okay, I'm feeling better now that I'm hearing from others. I woke up this morning bound and determined to just have a 3 shake day and so far, so good. That little donut tasting (which turned into a full donut consumption) really shook me up. Those are demons I definately want in my past. Onward and upward, right?

My surgeon told me I'd be drinking my protein, at least in the mornings, until I reach my goal weight. I find my stomach does not tolerate solids at all in the mornings. It's a quick 20 grams of protein, whether via a shake or half a bottle of diluted Isopure. One less thing to deal with when trying to get ready for work.

This might help someone out there. You know those free turkeys that accumulate from the supermarket when you spend X amount of dollars? It's $300 at Shop Rite and I can pretty much do that in my sleep. I defrosted and cooked on last weekend. My husband was delighted to have an unexpected Thanksgiving meal, that was nice thing #1. I removed all the meats, seperated it into light and dark, and put each in a ziplock bag in the freezer. I guess you could further divide by 3 oz individual ziplocks. Nice thing #2. I made fresh no salt, low fat turkey broth from the carcass and froze it for use in future recipes. Nice thing #3. All in all, that turkey sure made me happy. MC

I've been on vacation since my procedure and will be returning to work Monday. My normal routine used to be getting up and checking email with my morning coffee. Now I get up, make some decaf tea, watch the morning news, make my AM shake, watch Martha Stewart and Carol Duval, then start doing projects--cleaning, organizing. I've only been haphazardly doing my treadmill program and that needs to tighten up. I wonder what everyone's AM/before work routine is. Do you get up early, have your shake and exercise? Or do you exercise in the evening? I normally get up around 5, don't have to leave for work till 8. No kids at home, so it's just me to worry about.

I went to the local natural food store and bought all the individual packets of Protein shake mix I could find. I tried BioChem, Jay Rabb, Hank's (free sample from the internet), Spiritein, Designer whey, Carb Solutions. None thrilled me. A friend recommended NitroTech from GNC. They come in ready made cans to try the flavors. She was right, they all taste like melted ice cream. A little pricey, but with a sale and the gold card 20% discount, wasn't too bad for large containers. I also bought a bunch of Isopure flavors. Milkshakes get a little tiresome when that's all you can consume. Sometimes you just want a different taste.

I am seriously craving real food. I did the 5 days of water/tea/Crystal Light/dilute applejuice and now am on 3 Protein shakes/day till 10/10. I'm having more and more trouble getting the sweet taste down. I went to the store and got individual packets of 15 different brands/flavors (big choice--chocolate, plain, vanilla, strawberry and one that says GREENS). The nectar flavors of lemonade and berry are a little easier, but I'm really craving something salty and spicy. I'm not missing chewing, just something other than sweet. I never was a big sweet eater before. Anyone with similar problems, anyone with advice?

SandraNoelle, My doc has me on only 3 protein shakes a day after my initial 5 days of clear fluids post-op. Some days it's not easy. I think as my stomach heals and the swelling goes down in there, I get hungrier. I'm finding that if I keep myself busy and distracted, I'm less likely to be thinking about food. Hang in, we're all in the same boat. MC

I've been making Soups from the Bariatric Cookbook and freezing them for when I go back to work and come home too tired to think about preparing meals. I've learned that advance preparation helps enormously. I've also learned that TV food commercials are not good for me.

Larry, I found that leaning against a pillow while lying on my side in bed, helped me be more comfortable. I'm a side-sleeper and the back-only position was making me crazy. Also, I took my pain med at bedtime to ensure a good night's sleep, although it did give me some weird dreams. Chin up, you're getting healthier every day. MC

So much for cooking, huh Pebbles? Are you on 2 weeks of 3 shakes/day like me?

I had that massive lump feeling in the middle of my chest for 5 days after my surgery. Couldn't burp it up. I found walking and lifting my arms up and down made it go away for awhile. Must have been surgical gas. On my post-op visit, my surgeon told me to take MOM as I hadn't gone and didn't feel the need to. Worked like a charm and my barrel-shaped torso went down considerably, too. I'm a little disappointed. I was looking forward to advancing to liquids after my post-op visit. I bought the cookbook, went shopping for ingredients and made and froze 5 different soups in 1/2 cup containers. Not to be. 2 weeks of 3 protein shakes/day. No apple juice, no broth. Oh, well, like the pain and discomfort, this too shall pass. Feeling better everyday, MC

Jgandg, I'd call your doctor with this question. I had the procedure on the 20th and have only taken one dose of the liquid Lortab to sleep. That's not to say because I don't have pain, you shouldn't. Just be safe and give him/her a call to ease your mind. That's what you'll hear on your post-op visit, If you were concerned, why didn't you call me? Have you tried a heating pad to the area? Mine's been a life-saver with the gas. Or chewable Tylenol tabs? It may help you, too. If it makes you feel better, I'm still very swollen. Especially right below my breasts. MC

Chrissie, You sound so discouraged and frustrated. I was told not to expect ANY weight loss for the first 6 weeks, but to concentrate on healing from the surgery. Any weight loss during that time is a bonus. Right now I look like I'm ready to jump over Niagara Falls in a barrell from the bloating and gas. I know it's best I remain far away from my scale right now. Have you contacted your surgeon's office and asked to speak with the dietician? You may be doing everything EXACTLY right but your body's just not ready to shift into weight loss gear. Look, at least you haven't gained anything, right? This surgery is the best thing you've ever done for yourself and it will work. Because you will make it work! Keep plugging along and keep away from your scale. You may not be losing right now, but you're getting healthier every single day! And stay out of the cookie aisle, for your sanity's sake!

Pebbles, I just bought the cookbook Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery by Patt Levine and Michele Bontempo-Saray. I got it from Amazon.com for less than $10 used. It has over 140 recipes for all stages of our diets, fluids, puree, mushies, solids. Although I'm still on water, applejuice, Crystal light and tea till Monday, I've been window-shopping through the book and making lists for when I can progress in my diet. The soups look delicious. PM me if you want me to send you a specific recipe. MC

Ahh, another day of liquid cups, walks and naps. Took some liquid Lortab and had two horrible dreams. That was really weird because I rarely remember any of my dreams. Looking forward to tomorrow--I can take my first shower. The heating pad is helping a lot with the shoulder gas. I still have control of the remote and it's been a non-stop CSI marathon here much to DH's dismay--he's strictly a news guy. MC (dreaming of waistbands made of something other than elastic)

Hi, everyone! Got home from the hospital this afternoon after an overnight stay. Coming from someone who doesn't sleep well, I really enjoyed the anesthesia and frequent naps. Aside from some pretty intense nausea in the recovery room, I' feeling generally okay. If I could only move this gas from between my shoulder blades I'd feel perfectly normal, just a little tired. So here I sit in my satin I Love Lucy pajamas, sipping my 30 cc of dilute applejuice every 20 minutes and taking walks and naps throughout the day. And I have control of the remote! Does it get any better than this? MC (dreaming of shopping in a normal clothing store)

I'm a geriatric nurse, have been since 1977.

Ah, a last supper. I went to see my mother this past weekend to tell her and my sisters about the surgery. And to have my mother's cooking for the last time in a long while--rice, homemade bread, anisette cake. But surgery's tomorrow and it's all protein shakes today. Anyone else hear that the company that manufactures Carb Solutions is going under? Is the product still available anywhere? It's the only one I've tried and like it very much.

4 sticks of butter weigh a pound. A pint of Water weighs a pound. A sack of sugar or flour weighs 5 pounds. I tend to visualize boxes of butter when I consider weight loss.

I had my surgical consult Monday. The doctor told me flat out I would not be able to eat solids for Breakfast as the band is tighter in the mornings. Granted, the band is inert and cannot actually tighten or do anything on its own. So something must shift or change viscerally overnight that causes the stoma to actually decrease in circumferance or just feel that way. Perhaps laying flat all those hours, perhaps a Water build-up. I now wish I'd asked him why, but my head was swimming with other questions and just took his word for it (no solids in the morning). From reading other threads, my surgeon seems to be more strict than many others and his admonition about NEVER tolerating solids in the morning may not hold true for me or anyone else over time. I'm just passing his words on so those experiencing problems with solids in the morning don't think there's something terribly wrong. He also said after each fill I would be going back on a Fluid diet for awhile until my body adjusted. I'd call your doctor and discuss the issue with him/her to ease your mind.

I also have a regular large group that I go out to dinner with. I consider them all good friends and won't mind telling them about the band when asked. I've already confided to one about the pre-op testing and her reaction was exactly as I expected--supportive, interested, understanding. I remember one time we were together and someone mentioned how much weight the mayor's wife had recently lost and how great she looked. One of the diners who works in the mayor's office said she'd had the bypass surgery and kept telling everyone she was "just dieting and exercising." For me, I'd rather be upfront than try and concoct a story that would embarrass me later if the truth came out. Who cares, really? People will talk regardless.

I'm on day 7 of my Must-lose-10%-of-total-body-weight-before-meeting-with-the-surgeon diet and it's not too horrible. I tried my 2 scoops of Vanilla Carb Solutions instead of milk in my coffee today. What a mistake! Okay, lesson learned. Don't play with your morning coffee. Get the protein in like a normal person--in a shake. Also hit the treadmill today for the first time. I burned a 30 minute CD with fast-paced songs, hit the Program button on the treadmill and off I went. Until the treadmill mistook me for Jackie Joyner-Kersee and started going so fast I had to jump off or be thrown into the back wall and be killed. I never thought it would turn on me like that. I think I'll go for a walk with my husband (he has no ill intent) and keep on going for the 10% loss. Only another few pounds to go! I think I underestimated my goal weight on my ticker. Anyone know how to change that?

Just a thought: I uderstand that during plastic surgery/revision/tummy tuck, about 20-25 lbs of excess skin can be removed. Could that last bit of weight be mostly excess skin? Your loss so far is inspirational, Bravo!

I need a kick in the behind to get me motivated to use my treadmill. My mind knows I need to do 30 minutes each day, but my bones and fat arse keep whispering in my ear, "Hush now, isn't it soooo much more warm and comfy here on the couch with our good friend, the remote? We'll start that exercise nonsense tomorrow . . . " I saw this on another site and love it: http://www.q104.com/morningshow/images/audio/treadmilldance.wmv How about some suggestions for motivational music for at least 30 minutes? Anyone?