amysue512

Hi everyone! I'm doing great, I guess I shouldn't be fixated on a number considering if I stayed the weight I am right now forever I'd be ecstatic! I say I'd like to be 150 but then 15 more pounds means a little saggier skin and I'm really looking good right now. I guess I'll just not think about it and see what happens naturally. My doctor wanted me to get to 160 so there ya go. I did have plastic surgery on Dec 1st. I had my eyelids done and a brow lift. I've wanted to do that forever and also I had to fill out my now non existent breasts!! So, I had implants put in. I'm really pleased with how everything turned out. I think the only other surgery I will do is an arm lift. Legs aren't that cute either but I don't want the long scar down my thigh. My arms bug me more so they will have to go. I have found that I have began to drink red wine quite frequently and I'm a little nervous about that. I have read about patients that turn to alcohol after this surgery. Anyone else drinking a little more than they did before? Not a lot but I didn't used to drink a glass of wine every night. I know they say a glass of red wine is good for the heart but I don't want to become dependent on anything. Hope everyone is doing awesome and we are going to love this summer in our new thinner bodies!

Hey March 2015 peeps! How's it going??? I've just recently started the darn hair loss crap! Luckily I have very thick hair but I'd like it to stop!! Other than my stricture and a couple of endoscopy's that were really no big deal, it's all good and I've never regretted it for a second. I just got back from 12 days in Cancun and it was really nice being able to buy clothes without going to the plus size section. The selection is a little intimidating. I didn't do too much shopping since it seems like after a week and a half the pants I buy are too small but a girl has to have shorts in hot weather. I'm just buying things a little more snug than I usually would purchase because I know I'll get a little longer use out of them. I'd love to hear from others that had surgery in March and see what everyone is up to and if anyone has any awesome recipe's they'd like to share??

I'm hoping the 2nd one will do it. I didn't know they would have to do more than one but I'm starting to feel like it's getting a little tighter than when it was first done.

Surgery 3/16 Hey everyone, I hope all is well and you are all dropping weight like maniacs!! I just wanted to post a note to tell you all if you are not feeling "right" trust yourself and your body. I had been feeling like something was really not quite right with my eating even when I went to my post op. If you see my post a few above you will see that my doctor told me to take smaller bites and chew really well. Well.....after getting dehydrated and having to have IV fluids on 5/5/15, I had an endoscopy on 5/6 and they found that I have an esophageal ulcer and a stricture. I KNEW IT!!! The ulcer is from food not going through fast enough and sitting in my lower esophagus. After the procedure, I was back to liquids, pureed, soft...etc and could eat much better. The ulcer really hurts tho I'm having a repeat endoscopy so they can do the balloon thing again on 6/19 to make sure the stricture is fully open. Trust me, don't suffer through something.... If it doesn't feel right, talk to your doctor! I wish I had insisted in this sooner. I wish all my March friends much success!!

Good luck with your surgery! I don't understand the difference between surgeon's and the pre-op diets. They seem to vary widely. I had bypass on 3/16 and my surgeon only required 3 days prior to surgery. I could not imagine 2 weeks. It's easy to do the liquid only after bypass but before it would be hard. Just keep looking forward to the surgery and all that that means. You'll get your groove with it. Just try to make sure that the liquid has lots of Protein and hopefully that wards off hunger but I'm sure the only drinking gets boring.

Surgery 3/16 Had my post op yesterday and the surgeon was pleased with my progress. I asked her about pain not with swallowing but afterwards and thought maybe it was due to the hiatial hernia repair and she said the opening to the stomach is smaller and that my "bites" of food should be about the size of your pinkie finger tip to the first knuckle. Very small...she said chew about 20 times or very well, swallow and wait a full minute before I take another bite. I tried this and it's working. I was taking too big of bites and even though I was chewing thoroughly it was painful trying to get into my stomach. My calories are still too low, I'm pretty weak. She suggested another Protein drink (ugh!) or a glass of milk. I bought Unjury's chicken Protein powder and it's excellent! I'm really picky with Protein drinks and this tastes just like chicken broth and has 21g of protein. I got the unflavored as well and I'm going to put that in light mayo, add it to black Beans and whatever else I eat to boost the protein. Hope all you March 15'ers are doing awesome!

Well March Bypassers... How's it going? My surgery was 3/16. I'm still home from work. I'm not getting enough calories in yet so I'm pretty weak and get tired easy. I still have belly pain...anyone else?? I had hernia repair too but I think due to many other abdominal surgeries I had a lot of scar tissue to get through. It's the only thing I can imagine. I still haven't had my post op (next week). I did have a "What in the hell did I do day!" I was pretty tearful and just decided I needed a nap so I took a long one and adjusted my attitude. I would imagine that's pretty common. So far I've been able to tolerate soft scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, pureed peaches, green Beans, pureed black beans with melted mozzarella cheese and tonight I tried to put roast beef slices from the deli with beef broth in the blender. It chopped it pretty fine, not quite a puree and I was careful to chew forever. No side effects so that's good. I'll keep scouring the internet for other phase II food ideas. Tomorrow I'm going to boil a chicken and try to get some of that pureed with broth. I need to get some small ziplock storage bowls for all my little treats in the fridge Anyway, just wanted to check in and see how everyone is doing. Have a great day everyone!

hoping for my future It is so nice to see a new post today! I am 1 week post op today and having my own little pity party... My PA's advise was to not take naps so that you are awake and don't get behind on drinking... well today I had to check out a while! My back hurts still and I know this can be a sign of dehydration and I am trying so hard but drinking something every 15 minutes all day long is so exhausting and painful! I am not getting anywhere near the protein/water in I need and can't seem to get into a good groove without it just feeling like a lead brick under my breast bone. I also feel like I have intestinal gas build but can't seem to get rid of that. Does anyone that has had surgery in the past week or so have a menu they have been following that is helping? I got down 1 greek yogurt today and 1 Protein drink and Water. No where near enough calories. I'm going to call my doctor in the morning as well.

What is everyone's secret to getting the Protein and Water in? Do you just sip right from the premixed Protein Drink? (Premiere Protein) How much at a time? Water? How much at a time? I had bypass on 3/16 and I have not been able to hit two shakes (60g) Protein drinks and only about 16 oz water. I'm constantly full and can't decide if I've pushed it too far or it is pain but I'm uncomfortable all day!

Hollie it will be here before you know it, Good Luck and post some feedback as soon as you can. I love having a support group! Amy

HI foodfighter78! I'm in pain too and find that If I slack on the tylenol it's not good. My doc has me taking children's liquid tylenol round the clock and oxycodone on top. I need both I have found out. I'm having trouble with the liquid today. I only got in one Premier Protein shake and started another. I couldn't tell if my pain was being too full or just pain so I didn't push it. But, I'm supposed to drink 3 per day to get at least 75gms protein in. I was really tired and took a nap so that put me behind. I'm trying to do 1 oz every 15 minutes but when I do the liquid tylenol I have to count that too because it takes me 1/2 hour to get that down. I just don't want to get dehydrated. I had 2 c-sections and hysterectomy and a tummy tuck before too and this is some other kinda pain. But I know everyone is different. I also had hernia repair so???? Stick with it, you are not the only one struggling to get it in. Tomorrow's a new day!

Well, how's everyone doing? My surgery went fine. I had hernia repair while my doc was in there, which makes sense now. I have insomnia now but otherwise so far so good. How bout you guys?

I had my bypass Monday the 16th and ended up with a hernia repair as well. Surgery went well, but my bladder had a really hard time waking up. I really didn't want to spend 2 nights, those nurses bug you all night long. I know they are just doing their job but I couldn't get more than 1hr of sleep at a time. Surgery was at 8am and I went home at 2pm the next day. Problem is now I have insomnia!!!! I'm all comfy in a recliner that can go as far back as a bed but I'm up every few hours. Congrats to everyone else that has had surgery or is scheduled this month.

I'm on day 2 of 3.... I check in for surgery Monday morning the 16th at 5:30am! I don't have to do clear liquids, so I've been drinking Premier Protein drinks, Low Cal G2 and water. I looked at the chicken broth but I don't want to have that much sodium. But, if I had to do 2-3 weeks of liquid diets I'd do it. I got V8 juice from Costco but thought I'd better wait on that until after surgery even though I don't have to do clear liquids. Good luck to everyone, were in the home stretch now!

Wow! My doc said 4-6 weeks before going back to work. Hopefully you will only be slightly tired sitting behind a desk and not hurting. I'll be praying for ya! I am self employed (husband and I own business) so I don't really have an restrictions but I'm sure my husband wants me back to work like the day before I have surgery Lol!!

My surgery is in Portland, Oregon. I go in tomorrow for my Pre-Op appt, labs and class. Two weeks from today…hurray!!

I just got scheduled for March 16th too! It's fun to have surgery buddies costco has "Premier Protein" premixed and ready to go drinks that have 30g Protein 160 calories, 5 carbs and 3 gm of fat and they are really good. Trust me I gag on some Protein Drinks if they are to gritty or have a nasty protein taste. I only have to do a 3 day pre-op diet, but I have been drinking a lot of these drinks just to prepare myself and lose more before surgery.

I'M APPROVED!!!!! I have Tricare Retired Reserve which is managed by United Health Care. My paperwork was received on Friday, Feb 13th. Monday the 16th was a holiday.... and it was approved on Thursday the 19th! So, only 4 business days. Now to get the surgery scheduler to call me back....ugh! Tricare has a 6month managed weight loss requirement + Psych + sleep study.