JoiaRox

You go girl!!

I was sleeved on the 7th as well! Besides the standard protein shake (which I've started to get fancy with - google "protein shake drinks" and you'll find some yummy creations to make in the blender!), I've had Cream of Chicken soup (added chicken soup protein powder to it), Cream of Wheat with Sugar Free Syrup added, Cheddar Cheese soup (Campbell's) and just came home from the grocery store loaded with other soups and bisques I'm ready to rock! As long as I strain chunks out of the soups, the doctor said I'm good to go (can't wait for the light loaded baked potato soup strained!). I've also had Yoplait Light, SF popsicles, etc. Saw my doctor today for follow-up and he says I'm doing great, so all is well for my menu!

Thanks for the info! I had to play around with MyFitnessPal on my phone before I could find what I was looking for, but I'm good with it now!

I think that if you didn't have questions/concerns/anxiety leading up to such a major, permanent change in your life, you'd be in the minority. While I was sure of my decision, I still had little flutters of "do you really need to do this?" up until the time of the surgery. I would advise that you continue to utilize this site as a source of information, reaffirmation, etc. and be open and communicative with your support system. Nerves are entirely normal and, in all honesty, I only think they pass once you've been sleeved - at that point, you can't go back!

I've read over and over of sleevers on here who stall in the first few weeks - it's normal! We've got to remember that we've just put our body through TWO major traumas - surgery and calorie reduction. Keep doing what you're told to do (although I would increase my fluid intake - my minimum is 64oz/day) and the scale *will* move again! Patience will be helpful for skin bounce back as you lose slowly .

LOL! I've never been a fan of Greek Yogurt (I hear it's an acquired taste), but I'm loving my Yoplait Light in yummy flavors - Boston Cream Pie is the best! Of course, I'm still supplementing with protein shakes, but that little extra taste is yum!

Trust that your doctor will do the best surgery s/he can and that you will get the best aftercare they can give! No one wants you in pain and no one wants you vomiting - you'll do great! P.S. I had my LB removed in March - I thought that was the best day of my WLS life until I got the sleeve last Friday. I was too excited about it to be nervous!! Finally, I was getting the WLS that would change my life...which is what I thought I was in for 3+ years ago with the LB!

While I miss food, I also know that (a) I'll be able to take a bite of everything I miss eventually - and, literally, only a bite sometimes and ( I had enough of that food for the last 32 years! I'm with futureloser above - while food smells and looks good around me (on TV, on my boyfriend's plate, etc.), I'm just over it. Cravings are temporary

I'd share, but I'm only 6 days out! I can't wait to have a side by side comparison down the line!

I vomited twice while in the hospital - once when they transferred me from recovery to my own room and the second time on Day 2 when I was returned to my room after my barium swallow exam. Luckily, nurses instantly jacked up my IV with anti-nausea meds and I was over it. I *do* have an anti-nausea patch behind my ear...they put one on before surgery and I was given a prescription for them as well (they last 3 days, so I switched to a new one on Monday). I was also given anti-nausea medication to take orally as a prescription, which I did religiously until post-op Day 4. I'm heading to the doctor for my follow up today (Day 6 post-op) and will ask him if he thinks I can go without Patches now. Apparently, this is a common side effect of surgery, but my doc wants to make sure I'm not throwing up! I was devastated when I puked after the barium swallow (too much nasty liquid too fast for my new tummy), because I was then on "puke watch" for 3 hours - they wouldn't release me home unless I could prove I could keep liquids down. Thankfully, I did. Essentially, make sure they're giving you drugs for this - while in the hospital I had both the patch and IV meds for it, and at home I've had the patch and OTC pills for it.

I had no concept of time following my surgery...lol. I was told that I should expect an hour in recovery before being moved to my own room (required to stay for overnight observation). Since I didn't have complications, I'm guessing that's what it was!

Congrats and welcome home! I'm 5 days post-op and am doing great; exhaustion is my only problem. I have been able to sleep in bed, on my recliner...everywhere I used to! I was able to start getting my minimum fluid and protein requirements by Day 3. Just listen to your body and rest...everything else will follow

I'm 5 days post-op and 4 of my 6 steristrips have come off (I'm sure the doctor will take off the others at my follow up tomorrow). I took off the exterior bandages on Day 2 post-op and have had no complications; I'm even getting all of my liquid and Protein in! Life is good! And, although I've read about drainage tubes here, I didn't have one. Spent one night in the hospital.

That's a question for your doctor... My experience was that I could transition to "full liquids," which includes cream soups that are strained of all chunks of anything, as soon as Day 4 post-op. I started introducing creamier things (i.e. milk) on the evening of Day 3 post-op and did fine. I see my doc tomorrow!

I'm so glad my doc didn't have me give up caffeine! I was sippin' Diet Coke and coffee right up to the surgery, and had my first cup of coffee again (black, no cream) just a few days post-op. I do have to avoid carbonation for 30 days post-op, but I still get to enjoy my coffee!

Not sure what you're asking, but each doctor is going to be different with pre-op requirements. In my case, my doctor isn't comfortable doing the LB removal AND conversion to sleeve all in one operation - he wants the stomach to heal from the LB trauma. I had a severe LB slip and had that sucker taken out in March 2013 after 2+ years of intolerance to most solid food (yeah, I regurgitated nearly every day). I had to wait 11 weeks for my sleeve, but that was done last Friday! After my LB was removed, I was treated by both my doctors and the insurance company as a new patient who had never had WLS before - including all insurance requirements & pre-op.

Almond milk can be found in most every grocery store (I haven't NOT seen it yet, and I shop at Wal-Mart, Giant, food Lion, etc.). I like the "Silk" brand - go check out the dairy case where cow's milk is sold (I buy that too!) and you'll find it .

Stick with it; the pain is temporary!

I finally googled "protein shake recipes" yesterday, knowing that the ol' chocolate, vanilla and strawberry flavors would get old. Here's a yummy one I drank last night: 1 scoop vanilla Protein powder 1 T creamy Peanut Butter 1 c milk 1 banana As I was low on protein for the day, I doubled the above recipe and threw some ice in for a nighttime treat. Blended it up in my blender and finished the sucker in about 4 hours...lol. It was good from beginning to end! As an FYI - I used Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk as my choice of milk, but any milk (FF, 2%, whole, soy, etc.) would work just fine as well!

I'm drinking unjury in various flavors and getting creative in how I use them!

I'm from Northern VA (work in MD) and was sleeved on 6.7.13 by Dr. Trad in Reston, VA. I'm down 16 pounds from the beginning of my pre-op diet, with 6 of those being post-op weight loss. Nice to meet ya!

Now you should be in contact with your doctor to schedule your surgery and discuss next steps!

As someone who's four days post-op and having a textbook/easy recovery, let me share a nugget with you: If you are not currently a Water drinker, START NOW! My body started handling fluids well a couple of days into my recovery, but it is a full time job getting in my minimum 64oz. of liquid every day. Yes, my stomach is healing. Yes, that means that my stomach is somewhat restricted in how quickly it allows things to get through. Yes, I'm being very careful and going through the post-op food phases with my NUT by my side. The habit of always having something to drink nearby, and choosing to constantly drink throughout the day, is NOT a habit I had practiced pre-op. Fortunately, I'm learning that habit now (and 30 days of doing something makes a habit, right?!). I don't mind the taste of water, nor do I mind the taste of Crystal Light, Protein shakes, iced tea, etc. I'm just not used to drinking fluids all of the time. No matter how soon or far away your surgery is, get in that habit now. The habit will be of great benefit post-op and for the rest of your life! Damn. How dehydrated was I pre-op?!

I use Unjury - given that my doctor/NUT are about high protein, low carb, it may meet your requirements. I'm not going to pretend to understand the ins and outs of everything you're looking for, but feel free to google Unjury and you'll find their whey protein powders. For me, they're great! Shipping was also super fast