Tiffykins

Glad you are doing well, and at home recovering. I look forward to hearing more from you.

Protein supplements (when I think shakes, I think of the ones mixed with milk which are considered a full liquid) that are mixed with Water are considered clear on some surgeon's postop list. SF Jello is see-through. I don't know anyone who ate jelly through the post-op diet considering it's high sugar count. Plus, my surgeon was not concerned about my protein intake until the mushy food stage. So, I didn't have to worry about consuming any sort of protein shake/supplement during the first 22-23 days. My surgeon is a big advocate to getting all of my protein from food sources instead of shakes/drinks/supplements. I am supposed to eat 4 meals daily that contain at least 15grams of protein per meal. Right there, you get in the 60grams of protein as recommended by my surgeon. Plus, my body doesn't like any of the protein supplements. I found one that I could tolerate taste and texture, but I puked the times I tried to drink it. So, I give up and will stick to what my surgeon suggested. Of course, I'm almost 5 months, and can eat pretty much anything I want so 3 meals a day of 3oz of lean meat gives me my protein. Some surgeons do not require a clear liquid phase, and I'm not sure why some choose to make patients endure the clear stage, and some move straight to full liquids and mushies. As for juice, I avoided juice because of the sugar and acidity of most juices. Apple juice is see-through, but the one time I tried it, I had horrendous gas. I wanted to protect my stomach as much as possible with little irritation. I would of done the same thing even without having the complication of a leak. There is no way I would of advanced to full liquids earlier than 14 days post-op. My stomach was traumatized, the staple line needed to heal, and I was hell-bent on protecting it as much as possible. The band damaged the top portion of the stomach, and I was not going to push it.

I'm so glad to hear that you are doing well. As for the milk question, I drink fat-free half/half in my coffee. Grant it, I rarely drink it, but when I decide to have a cup here and there, I use the half/half with a couple of splendas. For my post-op diet, I had to do clears for 17 days because I had a leak, and then I transitioned really slowly to mushies for about 2 weeks. Regular coffee with or without is not considered a clear. If you can see through it then it's a clear. Milk, coffee neither are considered clears.

I am always cold now. I was an extremely hot natured person pre-op, but now, I snuggle up to John more, and keep a blanket with me in the living room. My thermostat in the house is set on 79 degrees. It's gotten a bit cooler here in Florida, but apparently the boys in the house complain that I keep it too warm.

I haven't tried them, but I'll be keeping my eye out for your review once you receive them.

Have you told the hospital staff about what is going on? I didn't have any type of Soup until after I cleared 17 days of clears. Not everyone can progress as fast on the post-op diet. Your body has been traumatized, and it may not like what you are putting in the sleeve. If the hospital staff knows what is going on, demand to have a ct scan, or a leak test performed, something because you are your best advocate for excellent healthcare. Do NOT allow anyone to tell that it is 'normal' or that you are 'fine' when you feel like you are not. You do not want to get dehydrated, as you mentioned.

I'm so elated for you Judy ! ! !

I never weigh my portions. I eyeball everything as well, and have gotten pretty good at it. I figured that the quantities I am supposed to eat are based on volume and not actual weight of the food.

I have 3 tats on my back. 1 at the top right below the collar, 1 over my right shoulder blade and the infamous tramp stamp (lower back) I've lost 87lbs in 4.5 months, and none of mine have really changed at all. The one on my lower back is the only one I'm really worried about. I'm afraid it'll end up looking like an ink smear after I get to/pass goal ha ha ha. But, I can have it redone, touched up, or removed it becomes a nuisance.

I ordered the Lifetime strawberry flavored Calcium Citrate/Magnesium/Vit D supplement last week from vitacost.com I received it today. As per the reviews, I dumped the bottle into a resealable plastic container to pop in the fridge. It is thick, and has a slight chalky texture. No worse than a Tums. It's only 1 ounce once daily. I tried to swig it all at once, and instantly had a gag reflex. Spit it out, and then sipped it down in 4 sips. Not too bad, taste/texture wise. I have to do something and this is better than chewables or the huge multiple horsepills per day. Here's the link from vitacost.com liquid calcium citrate - Vitacost I ordered the 3rd one down the list. I will probably try the NSI brand Orange flavor next month. For now, I will tolerate this one. Also, you can mix this in yogurt, pudding, and baking recipes from the label directions.

Febrile = just means fever. I'm extremely cautious when it comes to pain, and would contact my surgeon.

Are you febrile? Any vomiting?

This almost made me cry. A huge driving force of me having WLS was so we could #1 conceive #2 have a normal, healthy pregnancy for me and baby. I'm so elated for you, and I can't wait until my periods even out. They've been scattered since surgery, but my surgeon and PCP told me with the stress, and the deployment, it's going to take some time for them to regulate. We'll be trying late April-May of next year.

Best wishes for tomorrow. Ask plenty of questions, I even took notes. Let us know tomorrow how it goes when you get home ! ! !

I'm hoping things went well for you today. Let us know how you are doing.

Today was so much better. John is having to work mid-shift. It's technically 5pm to 5am, but he's been able to leave early between 2am and 4am all week. I had just gotten used to him being home, and in bed with me so sleeping has been a challenge this week coupled with the tooth pain. Anyways, last night I tossed and turn until 3am when John got home, and then had to get up and go bowling. I had such a great day. I bowled 2 great frames, and 1 crappy frame. Afterwards, 10 of us headed to lunch at TGI Fridays. I ordered the pot stickers, and was so amazed that I only ate the stuffing of 3 of them, and the shell of 2. They tasted amazing, and I tolerated them really well. One of the other ladies was hinting at "loving the pot stickers" so I told her to help herself because I couldn't even remotely finish the appetizer. I felt great when I left Fridays, and swung by the pharmacy on base for my Prilosec refill. Since I had to go to the pharmacy, I stopped by the surgical clinic to check my weight on their scale, and I was so excited that it matched by scale at home. The receptionist at the surgery clinic didn't recognize me until I showed her my dependent id card. She was shocked, and told me that I looked great. I love her to pieces. My surgeon has already deployed, and won't be back for 6 months :cursing: I don't have a follow up scheduled until December. At that time, they'll pull more labs, and monitor my weight. I received my calcium magnesium citrate with vitamin d today from vitacost.com. I'm so excited to try it. I'll post a review of the taste/texture and so forth tomorrow. I really need to get better with the calcium supplement, and hopefully this will do the trick. Overall, it was a great day. I came home, hung out with John for a bit, Caysen got home from school, and immediately copped major attitude. It's pre-puberty, and it's going to drive me insane. But, we're nipping it in the butt because I'm not going to have an unruly child. My jaw still hurts. Chewing meat is out of the question unless it's pureed/super mushy, so I'm sticking with soft foods for the next couple of days. Hope everyone is doing well.

So, yesterday I had to break down and have the root canal done. They gave me a sedative that made me absolutely "wasted". I fell asleep at 7:30p, woke up at 3:30am, John got home at 4am, and we went back to bed at 4:30. I got up with Caysen to see him off for school, then I slept in until 11am. I've felt horrific all day. I've got a lot of pressure pain, my entire jaw hurts. I wish I would of just had the dang tooth pulled, but I know the consequences of having this particular tooth pulled. Anyways, I'm crabby, and moody, and sore. The endodontist called me to check on me, and told me to expect pressure pain, and discomfort for the rest of the week. YAY isn't that exciting. I can't eat anything of substance. Everything has to be mushy, and it hurts even trying to get that stuff down. I'm not happy. I feel like this entire situation has set me back after making such huge strives in being able to eat, FINALLY. I know I'm just frustrated, and just want to feel good again. I'm sorry to whine, today just sucks, and I needed to vent it out.

Ewwww vomiting under water sounds icky. I'm so glad to hear of your progress, and that you had such a great vacation.

I am a band to sleeve revision, and knew that I would not be successful in my weightloss efforts without surgical intervention. I chose the sleeve vs. RNY for these reasons: 1) instant restriction (no maintenance, fills, unfills) 2) No malabsorption issues 3) Little to no stomach stretching 4) Portion control with the ability to eat what I wanted I couldn't be happier with my results with the sleeve, and know in my heart of hearts that I made the right decision for my life. I wish you the very best, and welcome to the forum. There are a lot of band to revision patients on the board, and you'll probably get lots of input.

Hi and welcome to the board. Congrats on your date, and can't wait to hear about your progress. My husband was a little insecure about me losing weight, and "finding" someone else. After talking about it in depth, and him realizing that I was truthfully doing this to better myself, extend my life, and lose weight so I could conceive and carry a baby to term, he realized I wasn't going to leave him just because I lost weight. I made sure to tell my husband that my pant size did not define me as a woman, and that regardless of my size, I was still the same person he married. Now that I am 4.5 months out from my revision, and 84lbs smaller, he absolutely loves my confidence, our sex life was always good, but now it's pretty phenomenal, I don't get tired when we go out running errands, or shopping. He's seeing the benefits, and that I haven't changed except for the better.

A lot of people recommend a heating pad, robe, slippers, chapstick, lotion, and a comfortable button up gown or lounge pants. Good luck and we'll keep you in our thoughts ! !

Congrats on your progress thus far ! ! !

YAY YAY DeeDee, I'm so happy for you ! ! !

I was thinking of her and JaGator this last week since neither of them have been posting. I just hope they know we're all pulling for them.

Hi and welcome to the family here. I almost cried hearing your story, and I'll definitely keep you in my thoughts with your liver doctor, and pray for good results. Keep us posted on your progress.