JoiaRox

I'm 3.5 weeks out and stopped to buy Prevacid on my way to work yesterday - although my acid reflux isn't as bad as it was with my slipped LapBand, ain't nobody got time for this!

I went to a follow-up with my doctor on Tuesday, just a few days into the "puree" stage of my post-op recovery diet. I expressed frustration at not having lost weight in the past week as I stepped on the scale (despite my head understanding all of the reasons why stalls happen, and knowing that the weight will come off eventually as I continue to do the right things). What shocked me, though, was the response from my doctor.... "I don't care about weight loss right now, it'll come off eventually!" I absolutely LOVE my doctor and appreciate that he's more interested in me making a full recovery (it's been textbook so far) than in dropping pounds as of yet...his response made me recognize that my new "tool" isn't quite ready to do it's job yet. Clearly, the post-op diet is in place to help your stomach heal and to transition slowly through diet phases in order to re-acclimate your stomach to various foods in the world. Just. Hard to wrap my "gut" around the fact that I'm not losing weight at this point, despite my head knowing what's going on. I will say, though, that it makes me excited for things to come! Anyone else had this type of response from their doctor? When did your brain reconcile with the rest of your body? I'm reminded, often, of the sentiment that "the weight didn't come ON overnight, and it will come off the same way."

In all seriousness, I just did a Google search on the mortality rate - websites vary, of course, depending on where they draw their data from. Any surgery bears a risk, from basic complications to death. I trusted my surgeon completely, and was well researched and prepared before I committed to this. That being said, I've been in the WLS community for awhile now, having first had a LapBand installed in January 2010 (removed in March 2013 and sleeved in June 2013). I am an active blogger with many friends and family members who have either the LapBand, Gastric Bypass or Gastric Sleeve. While I know of one person who's had complications, I know no one who has had fatal issues with any WLS.

I'd guess that if someone had passed away from the surgery, they wouldn't be able to respond here...

Most gas stations, Wal-Mart, etc. all sell e-cigs (Blu and nJoy, to name a couple of brands) - go buy one now! No excuses!

I've thrown up twice post-op...once from a multivitamin my tummy didn't like (that reaction happened quick!), and once last night from drinking a larger sip of Gatorade G2 too soon after eating some refried beans (also a relatively immediate reaction). No bueno!

In my experience? You know instantly. The "rumbly" stuff is your tummy digesting the food! The "rumblies" diminish as you get farther into the journey

If I knew then what I know now (including the information gathered from the medical community)? I wouldn't have wasted over 3 years of my life with the LapBand. I'd be thin and healthy already from having gotten the sleeve done!

Ask your doctor if s/he's okay with electronic cigarettes! I quit smoking using these, with my doctor's blessing ("vaped" in the hospital in my post-op recovery room) using liquid nicotine. Every doctor is different, but both my surgeon and PCP are quite happy with the switch. I'm 3.5 weeks post-op now and have had a textbook recovery, all while continuing my nicotine habit.

I had to do two visits - one for a chat, one for tests. When I got a copy of the 6-page report? I laughed and posted excerpts on Facebook. My friends/family were telling me that they could have given the diagnosis for free

I agree with Jersey - this surgery is too major, too important, etc. to mess with. Go into the psych exam honestly and openly! If there's something that needs to be addressed pre-op, it's definitely worth the investment in yourself. No one's perfect and everyone has some "baggage" they carry - if it's going to prevent you from being successful in the sleeved stage of your life, you need to know about and address it BEFORE you have surgery!

I don't do much different than what was listed above - I've been fortunate to be able to reach my daily protein, liquid and vitamin goals since pre-op Week 1. I still have a protein shake each day (but I have fun with the blender and recipes!), and focus on protein I can handle at this stage - Greek yogurt (only the flavored ones - that unflavored stuff is nasty to me), fat free refried beans with lowfat cheese, turkey chili (blended), various Campbell's Healthy Request soups (blended), etc. When I grocery shop now, I look for higher protein foods that I know I can handle. I'm still in the "puree" stage and found that food still needs to taste GOOD for me to want to eat it!

If you're in pain, call your doctor. No offense, but everything else is just you throwing yourself a pity party. You've lost 33 pounds and almost in "onederland!" I'm jealous! Not only that, I'm 24 days out of surgery now and you're able to eat a larger variety of foods than I am! You may be "burnt out" on what foods/liquids you've been using, but start using the internet to search for healthy variations - Protein shake recipes have become fun for me, for instance! All of this will be a blip in your memory soon enough...and when you're thin, healthy & enjoying your new life, you'll laugh at the depression!

While I'm in a similar boat as ladylaura, my NUT and doctor also told me to listen to my body...sounds like you're doing exactly that! If you're not ready, you're not ready. Caution is a great thing

Sure do! My doctor said I can have anything I want that doesn't require chewing. I've blended up Soups, Protein shakes, etc. Mainly I stick with fat free refried Beans with some lowfat cheese, Greek yogurt, Protein Shakes (google some recipes - there's yummy stuff out there!) and blended soups that I sometimes enhance with chicken soup flavored protein powder. Use your imagination, but stick with the protein guidelines you've been given!

I just did! I took a Campbell's soup (Mexican Tortilla) and spun it up in my bullet! One serving for dinner tonight, one to take to work tomorrow. Yum! Also made a protein shake in it earlier (strawberry protein powder, frozen strawberries & fat free milk) - the thing has a ton of uses!

I just broke a post-op stall today (fingers crossed that the number doesn't go up tomorrow!) - I started stalling about 10 days post-op and today is day 23. Regardless, my clothes ARE looser - even my boyfriend commented on my loose pants today! Our bodies are adjusting and things will change...slowly but surely. Try not to be frustrated and keep to the plan - it WILL work!

Call your surgeon first thing tomorrow and tell him your concerns - you need to be fully prepared for this!

As long as you have a way to get in touch with your doctor, why not? Be sure s/he knows you'll be out of town and unavailable for follow up appointments during that time. You may be a little sleepy, and will need to plan how you'll get your food with such limited options at that time in your recovery, but I could have gone!

I'm taking Opurity's Multivitamin and Calcium + D each day (have been since Day 3 or 4 post-op). They're chewable and optimized for the sleeve! You are correct in that you have to take the Multi and Calcium at least one hour apart to maximize absorption. I usually take my Multi earlier in the day and the 4 Calcium later/throughout the day. FYI - I tried Bariatric Advantage chewable Vitamins at first, but (a) didn't like that there were ELEVEN to eat in one day - 6 Multi and 5 Calcium and ( Around Day 10 post-op I began to get nauseous and, eventually, vomit as soon as I ate them. All's been good since I switched to Opurity!

Agree with the above poster! It wasn't until I could start "eating" something with more thickness that I learned what full was. Granted, I'm still healing (23 days post-op now), but I'm amazed at how little I eat...and how long it takes me to eat it!

Although I returned to work on post-op Day 10, my energy was still markedly lower. It wasn't until I was 2 weeks out and finally able to transition to "smooshy" foods that I felt human again - something about using a spoon to eat my foods, coupled with the renewed energy and using my brain at work again seemed to help! I spent 2 days house hunting on Days 15 and 16 post-op in a neighboring state - all good!

Perhaps you need to UP your calorie intake? 750 calories, on top of that much working out, is starving your body...whoa! Try it, you may be surprised!

1. Depends on the type of work you do - I went back 10 days post-op with no problems, and my days consisted of a 3+ hour commute (total) and meetings, meetings meetings. Since you're a teacher, just know that two weeks out you'll still be exhausted easily...but keep up your Protein, liquid & Vitamins and you'll soon get back into the habit! (As a side note, I went back to teaching after 10 days of "recovery" after my LapBand surgery - piece of cake...I'm just not a teacher anymore!) 2. Losing happens in the kitchen - fitness happens in exercise. Get some kind of activity in and you'll be just fine! 3. I wouldn't have needed help - my surgery was relatively easy and my recovery was quick...only sleepiness and low energy were my enemies! You DO need someone to drive you home from the hospital, so make sure you have that! If you clean your house ahead of time and stock up on liquids, you'll be fine! My boyfriend lives with me and wanted to take care of me and, honestly, he was bummed I didn't "need" him more! I let him make me smoothies/protein shakes 4. Follow your doctor's rules and listen to your body - my rules were no carbonation until 30 days post-op and no alcohol until 6 months post-op. Even after those timelines, I'll go slow and see how my body reacts!

With those stats, it's something I would incorporate into my diet! I choose to use unjury powders versus "ready to go" options because of the price difference. Most days, I throw some powder (and PB2!) into my Blender Bottle and take it to work...about 2 hours before I leave, I fill it up with Water, shake it up and put it in my office's freezer - it's a yummy treat for the drive home! I'm just cheap