valgirl

I don't think these are like super high in Protein like some of the powders, but I absolutely LOVE the Bolthouse Farms "Perfectly Protein" drinks. They are packaged like Odwalla and usually sold near them, but taste sooo much better. Not like Odwalla is bad, but I would drink these even if I didn't need the protein lol, they're like a treat. I think they have like 20 grams per small bottle and 42 for the large bottle if I'm not mistaken. There is 178 calories and 2.5 fat in the small bottle. There is one called Mocha Cappucino that tastes just like those bottled Starbucks Frappucinos they sell in 4 packs. The vanilla chai tea one is also yummy good, as is the hazelnut. I buy mine at Target usually but my grocery store also has them, just less of a variety. Good luck!! Welcome to Bolthouse Farms Val

I was wondering this too! I was on 1500 Metformin and 100 Januvia before the surgery. Right now I am only taking 500mg of Riomet (liquid Metformin) a day and I'm doing fine. Most of the time when I test I'm at 90-110. I can't believe it! I haven't lost that much weight, and even when I tried to "eat right" before it never kept my numbers this low. I'm curious, but definitely not complaining! lol

I was worried about that too, I used to get bad heartburn. So far I haven't had any, but I don't eat right before bed either. However I had my prescription of Nexium redone to the oral solution, just in case! They are packets of granules you mix with water instead of having to take the pill. I've found that most of my meds were easily changed to liquids or chewables actually, I was quite surprised! But anyways I haven't had to use one dose yet. Crossing my fingers!

I have a little bit of the first bite syndrome too. What confuses me is, why is that food trying to force it's way through the band right after I swallow it? I thought it was supposed to be sitting in my pouch for a while :thumbup: So confused still, but I am definitely eating less.

I dunno, I disagree that it's just about the money on the fills. I have heard of people reaching their sweet spot with just 1cc. I've also read that some people get a LOT of swelling at the band site after their fills, and if you can't keep Water down they unfill you more than you were. So I dunno, I want them to go slow so I know when I'm at my sweet spot and don't totally overshoot it and have to go backwards. :thumbup: That being said, I'm still starving lol.

omg I was just logging in to post something very similar. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO and am almost in tears. I had my surgery exactly a week ago, it was textbook. He said I didn't even bleed inside. I hardly needed any pain meds, I didn't have any of the dreaded shoulder pain from the gas. I'm doing *great* considering I just had surgery. I went from clear liquids to full on day 2, and to pureed foods on day 5. I went to the movies 3 days out and to a college football game on Saturday. All of this while feeling restriction and not being hungry. People ate popcorn and all kinds of stuff around me and I was fine. But all of a sudden yesterday, day 6, complete STARVATION. It just hit me all of a sudden, any restriction I had (from the swelling) was gone and my stomach wants food. I'm still on pureed foods but was wondering when it would be safe to move to the mushy "real" foods. Like maybe scrambled eggs? All I'm eating is creamed soups, hummus, yogurt, mashed potatoes and of course protein drinks, and I'm sure to put on weight with all that starch. The biggest problem is, I don't know what to do after I'm back on real food! I'm scared, I'm terrified, my doc doesn't give the first fill for 6 weeks. Is that normal? I went to the nut. info thing and it all seemed reasonable.... provided I have restriction, which I don't and won't. I used to be on Nutrisystem and have tons of food left, i was thinking maybe I should just do that again till my first fill?? I am literally starting to freak out, helpppppp.

When I went home today (about 4pm) the nurse gave me some little medicine cups and said I could slowly sip Water out of them tonight. I'm doing fine with that, but I'm starving, so I had a sugar free popsicle. I did fine with that and now I want another lol. Is that ok? Will I somehow over do it on my first night? I'm probably being silly but I am so scared I'll screw things up lol. Thanks in advance! Val

Thank you that makes me feel so much better. I figured they didn't mean for me to just have water all day but I was too groggy to ask lol.

Well this is it! My surgery is scheduled for 12:30pm tomorrow with a check-in time of 10:30. Aside from being starving since I'll had to eat today was Jello, broth and popsicles, I'm doing ok. Nervous of course, also excited. Wish me luck, and good luck to anyone else going in!! xoxo Val

I have BCBSTX through my employer. On my plan I pay 20%, plus I have a $250 deductible and an out of pocket max of $1800. So I am planning on being out over $2000. However so far I've just been out some office co-pays, the nut. fee of $110, and I got a call from the hospital Friday saying I need to bring $1350 with me tomorrow. I may get some other bills later though?

Hi everyone :tongue2: I've been waiting to post till I actually got approved and a date set, it didn't even really seem real to me until now. I've been lurking and researching my butt off though lol. I'm 34 years old and have been overweight most of my adult life, though I never had a weight problem growing up. I am a mom now and I have diabetes and sleep apnea, on top of other problems. I just want to be the best mom I can be and feel better again. Anyways my date is October 5, I'm excited and nervous at the same time. I'm doing a 2 week low carb diet right now. Wish me luck!!! xoxo Val

Hey everyone :biggrin: I am having surgery in a few weeks and I have been debating on what to tell my 4yo daughter for a while. I asked my doctor and my family and they said to be as honest as possible while not giving all the details. So tonight my husband and I sat down and talked with her about mommy going into the hospital, and how I would be there possibly overnight and when I came home I wouldn't be able to pick her up for a little bit and wouldn't be driving her anywhere until I felt better, etc. I thought I was doing the right thing but she started asking all these questions that I was clearly not prepared for lol. She's a very curious child. So we went into a little bit more detail and explained that the doctor would be helping mommy shrink her "big tummy" (those are the words she always uses) so that mommy could be healthier and do more, etc. I told her it would take a while but mommy would be eating less and we wouldn't be eating out as much, etc. Well anyways I thought it was going ok but then she got really upset and started crying, I felt terrible! I assured her I was going to be ok but she just kept saying she didn't want me to do it, etc. THEN she said she wanted to come with me and be there while I was "with the doctor" and wait with daddy. So I guess my questions are... Are there any magic words I should say to ease her mind? Did I do the right thing? Have I completely scarred her for life? lol And the biggest one, should I let her come? I am having the surgery in a small, private hospital that is typically used for plastic surgery patients, only 20 beds in the whole place. If it were a bigger hospital I would be worried about all the germs and stuff but I don't think people are going to this place with infectious diseases if you know what I mean, so I'm not worried about that part. I just don't want her to get freaked out by seeing me in the hospital bed, but on the other hand it sure would be nice to see her when I wake up. She's what I live for and most of the reason I'm doing this you know? And now that I've let the cat out of the bag I'm afraid she'll worry about me at daycare all day if we don't let her come. UGH what have I done? lol But seriously what have other people done? Is it just a horrible idea to let her come hang out with my parents and my husband in the waiting area? Thanks in advance, just trying to do the best I can for her :mad: xoxo Val

I just got my date - October 5th :thumbdown: The first day of the rest of my (healthier) life!

Yeah I'm on pretty much a sugar busters thing too, for 2 weeks. I am not restricted to liquids or shakes, I just can't have more than 30 grams of carbs a day and no fried foods. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful I can eat food, but I'm starving and weak. I don't know how people do Atkins or Sugar Busters long term, maybe it gets better the longer you do it?

My surgeon makes you do a 2 week low carb diet before surgery, no more than 30 grams of carbs a day. I started that Monday. I'm eating LOTS of meats and cheeses lol. My surgery is happening way sooner than I expected so I didn't get to have my "last meals" so to speak lol. Oh well, I have to stop my love affair with food right? I have to do liquids 24 hours before and then that's it. I am curious to see what other people's surgeons want them to do before surgery. My doc says the low carb diet shrinks your liver and makes surgery easier for him. If my BMI was higher he would have made me lose weight first he said.

Cool! There aren't too many of us are there? :thumbdown: