DownInSocal

I love Chike banana flavor. The chocolate is not great but I have been stuck with chocolate only of another brand for 4 weeks because it was the only Protein shake my stomach would let me have. So I might be just tired of chocolate. The vanilla is good, has a slight chemical after taste though. The orange cream is great, the next best flavor to the banana. I don't like fake strawberry so I have not given it a go yet. I might be the only person on the board that does not like unjury. Yech. I buy the unflavored powder to add to yogurt and such but unflavored does not mean tasteless. It does add an odd taste to things but I am struggling to get enough protein so I deal with it. I can only drink Artic Punch Isopure. The rest makes me gag. The shake that my stomach would let me have was Premier Nutrition. I think it is only made in chocolate and I buy it at costco. I would have starved during some parts of liquid if it was not for sips of this shake. Kind of thick though. I can only drink 1/3 of the 11 ounce box at a time.

Wow I am simple I guess. You guys are creating masterpieces. I am on mushies and I get these terriaki chicken patties at costco. I pull one out and heat it up. Then I blend it with 1 tbl cheddar and 1 tsp ranch. I can only eat half and save half for later. The chicken is about 6 oz each patty. I also found I like to take two pieces sliced ham, like cold cut size and blend it with one slice swiss cheese and 1 tsp thousand island. Yum. I can only eat half of that too. I have never been a fan of eggs so I have not tried them yet. Some have not had good luck so that has made me reluctant. I am alergic to most tree nuts and peanuts so that form of Protein is out.

I don't know about satire but everything is better with cheese. I love talapia. What a tasty fish.

Mac knows a lot about leaks. Maybe she will weigh in on the leaks. I asked my doctor about the staples and did research on them. They are made of titanium (at least mine are) and you can have an MRI later, in fact my tattoo has more of a chance of causing me a problem in an MRI than the staples. Also you will not set off the metal detectors. Your stomach kind of heals around the staples so within 6 months that can't be seen if someone was looking inside you.

Welcome! Be sure to update us when you find out more at your appointment next week.

Yeah I would say you need a new PCP. Let me tell ya a story: I had this feeling my PCP did not want any fat patients. I watched and I was the only one that was weighed at every appointment. When she would come in she would start talking about my weight before even knowing what my problem was. I understand my weight was causing problems but come on and at least give me treatment options for my knees hurting not just tell me to lose weight. Soon every answer was lose weight. I went on the hunt for a new PCP. My husband had been assigned one through the Navy so I gave her a try. At the end of the first appointment she scooted close to me and knee to knee she said "I don't want to offend you but have you ever thought of having bariatric surgery". I said "No I didn't think I qualified" She said "Oh you qualify, do you want a referral?" I said "Yup" Thus started my journey. If I would not have found that wonderful doctor I would still be struggling to lose weight and hating myself. You deserve a doctor who is excited about taking you as a patient because you want to be healthy! Maybe you can do a search for bariatric friendly doctors or when you call the doctors office ask the receptionist if they have patients that have had bariatric surgery and you might be a new patient. Her reaction should be a good judge of how the doctor feels about WLS.

You are normal I promise. Honestly I probably cried every single day of my liquid only phase. I did not have buyers remorse I just felt plain left out. Now that I can eat some mushies I am doing much better. If you feel you need professional help don't feel dumb or embarrassed about getting some. You have lost a huge crutch you have used for years to get through tough times. This is a major lifestyle change. What we go through before, during, and after surgery can't be discounted. You are strong! Stay out of food situations. I had to stay out of grocery stores and ignore signs for food, looking the other way. You can do this just don't torture yourself by being in those areas.

Oh I forgot I used an extra pillow to put over my stomach and hold when I coughed. That is a good thing to remember for people having surgery. That first shower is so wonderful!

You all can eat those hemp hearts and tell me how it goes. I still have not tried greek yogurt. There are some adventurous eaters here.

I just wanted to add that if your PCP is not supportive of your decision then find a new one that will be supportive. Your doctor's job is to take care of you as they find you, so if you are sleeved then they need to take care of you like a sleeve patient needs to be cared for. Labs and all.

I honestly can't wait till your next update and when you get your website up! Optifast. Yech. Remember as you are going through your liquid diet keep your eye on the prize, stay out of the here and now and look at the future. You can do this. This is so exciting. You are going to love your sleeve!

I have lost 22 lbs in 4 weeks. I would say I was on a strict diet because for 3 weeks I was on Clear liquids. Now I am on full liquids and a little bit of mush. I don't feel like I am on a strict diet though. My stomach is so small I am not hungry.

Tiff I am so sorry. Deployments suck and having them extended sucks even more. You have every right to complain. 4 deployments is a lot to go through. You have been through so much alone it is time for you guys to be back together again. Hang in there.

Are you home yet? How are you doing?

I am 4 weeks out and can't imagine returning to eating large amounts. I also panicked before surgery thinking "How can I do this surgery and deal with liquids the first several weeks when I can?t do it now?" and ?How can I live on restricted food for the rest of my life? Can I survive?? Trust me after surgery you won't want it. Your brain is driven by your hunger hormones and when that is gone it is easier to deal with a smaller diet. I still have ?head? hunger sometimes but it does not drive me like it did before. I can ignore it. Two bites is ok because I am full. My brain shuts off the desire to eat and I am done. I can?t believe the amount of food I see people consume. Some times it makes my stomach upset now. As far as chicken goes my tastes have changed. I don?t want anything sweet or fatty. I need protein and that is what drives my desires.

I am 4 weeks out and not hungry. I have some "head" hunger but it so much easier to ignore. I never was a sweets person but they really look bad to me now. I can't waste my precious stomach space on a piece of cake, I need it for protein. Trust me I doubt you will need any pills after surgery.

I think a lot of it is just plain stress. We have made major changes in our lives. For me, as much as I never liked to admit it, food was a crutch from a bad day. A nice heaping serving of Pasta or tons of mexican food after a bad day was my fav thing. I will over share too. I just had my first period since surgery. Cramps were better but I was much heavier than I was used to. I had a few clothing accidents so might want to be careful so it doesn't catch you off guard. It did come right on time though.

I had some head hunger issues when I came home from the hospital because I missed being with my family. That went away though. Just give it time. I have still not felt hunger. I *think* I am hungry when my stomach feels empty, like something going down would hit the bottom and bounce off or I start shaking. I need to set an alarm to drink (my eating right now) too because I forget and I am not getting the Protein I need still. This is my dream. I always wanted to not be hungry. I knew I could control my weight if I wasn't hungry all the time.

My surgeon does it through one incision. It is 1.25 inches (I just measured it) and it is 6 inches down from the bottom of my left breast, start measuring right where the underwire sits straight down from the nipple. That is where the left side starts and it goes to the right 1.25 inches. It has healed well and I doubt you will be able to see it in a year. I have pics from the first day and I will take some tonight and post. I didn't have any drains.

Nice! Congrats!