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i have taken 3 nsaid the last few weeks due to some nagging back pain issues no problem btw way my bariatric doctor and surgeon said you can occasionally take them thank goodness i choose the sleeve over the bypass

You can do it! sounds like You are emotionally grieving right now hardcore. Keep your eye on the prize do your liquid first don't freak on the protein part yet. Outshine no sugar added popsicles r wonderful very tasty, and count as liquid. Contact your bariatric team for some support. Try learning meditation and try listening to DR. Duc Voung or BJ FOGG, both are great. You will feel amazing soon!

Hi Everyone, I’m scheduled to undergo the gastric sleeve surgery next Monday, December 2nd. I’m anxious and scared about this life changing decision but I’m also excited about the journey ahead. I’m on day 4 of my 11 day pre-surgery diet and the Protein Shakes are gagging me. I’m limited to using shakes from Bariatric Advantage and Bariatric Fusion. Any tips on how to make them taste better? I’ve tried using extracts and drink mixes. I’m also hoping for some encouraging words for this surgery. I hope I’m making the right decision. I have this fear that I’ll feel nauseous for the rest of my life and I won’t be able to enjoy food ever again.

Has anyone else just eased into a life that makes you think “wait, this is what everyone else was experiencing all along”? I don’t particularly track or restrict my diet, but I stop eating when I’ve had enough, which used to be unheard of for me. I can tell when I’m three pounds over or under my average weight just through body awareness, which again, I used not to be able to feel physically or predict. I’ve nailed the social interactions bit and no longer feel guilt for eating little or anger at splitting a check when my portion was much smaller (I see it as paying rent for the restaurant space and good conversation, rather than an exact percentage of food ingested). I can gauge food intake and plan for events almost unconsciously. When my coworkers order an Uber, there’s no weirdness around where I can sit, because I can be the third in the backseat and we can all still buckle up. i can sit in the middle, even. That constant mental calculation is gone, as is the paranoia when I catch someone looking at me, as is the constant obsessing about food. I realize my experience isn’t everyone’s, but it really is like I broke a chemical addiction and am now experiencing life like the majority of people do. And it’s INSANE to think of the gap in understanding between people who are obese and people who never have been. One side can’t understand how the other lacks an iota of understanding or sympathy, while the other side genuinely has NO IDEA and no life experience to remotely contextualize the reality of obesity, but THINK the human experience with food in general is universal and so feel comfortable basing their reaction on what they know. Like right now, in this moment, I can sympathize with some of my past tormentors who just said in exasperation “well, stop eating when you get full!”. Because for them, it was truly that simple. In fact, it was so alien to them to keep eating past that “full” trigger, so it seemed like anyone obese had to actively and obstinately keep pushing past that trigger deliberately. Hell, it’s easy for me NOW to obey that trigger, but it used to just be invisible. I like this life much better. It’s easier, it’s mentally more healthy, I get a constant wash of approval from society for conforming. But it also constantly reaffirms that obesity is rarely a choice, should be treated as a disease, and society needs to shift to stop valorizing weight conformity as a sign of personal willpower and control. Some people luck out with their factory setting when it comes to food. You don’t get a gold star for taking the easiest path and obeying your programming that happens to regulate caloric intake well, while the person whose factory setting has no “I’m full” switch and who also constantly gets bombarded with marketing messaging and economic incentives to eat large quantities of high-calorie food gets cast as some sort of slothful glutton. Again: life now is good. But there aren’t many of us out there who have genuinely experienced both obesity and the factory-reset of bariatric surgery, and it’s surreal to realize how few people on either side of that divide know what the hell is happening here.

I don't know that anyone on here is qualified to advise you one way or the other (maybe a nurse? We have a couple of nurses on here), so I don't know if anyone will want to risk telling you "it's fine" when it turns out it isn't, but I DID just do a search of this site and another bariatric forum (using "echinacea" as my keyword), and I did find that there are some post-op patients who have taken it. They didn't mention any particular issues with it. Another option would be to ask a pharmacist if you want a more professional opinion. They know more about drugs (and sometimes supplements) than doctors, although they wouldn't know as much about bariatric surgery as a doctor would (and vice versa!). They'd know more than us, though...

Not drinking enough water can really be a problem. I know that I don't drink near as much water post-surgery as I did pre-surgery. (No idea why though. Pre-diabetes? Habit? Filling the stomach with water to avoid feeling empty?) I can really tell especially in the morning when my urine is darker than usual. In fact, I have to take a water bottle with me for my morning dog walks or I get light headed and feel really off. I like really cold water and tend to put the bottle with just a little water at the bottom in the freezer to give me a nice piece of ice. Then I just pop it out of the freezer and fill it up before I go walking. My high-vis jacket has big pockets, so I just keep it in there to easily get at it while the dogs run around all crazy like. Another thing I do is drinking a meal replacement shake with extra water for breakfast and have a bariatric vitamin that takes lemonade-like and makes the water fizzy. I have to watch out for that one though since I love the taste so much that if I want more I can get constipated from all the iron (which I learned the "hard" way if you know what I mean). Now that I think about it, these habits really help me to keep hydrated. I never thought about it that way before. Get the water in though. The body has no way of metabolizing fat otherwise. (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322296.php#six-reasons-why-drinking-water-may-help-you-lose-weight)

I've used the Hot Chocolate from the Bariatric Pal Store right here. Right now it's on sale for $13.99 for 7 packets. Here's the info on the basic Chocolate. There are other flavors available. BariatricPal Classic Hot Chocolate Protein Drink Highlights: 15 grams of protein 80 calories 15% of the daily value for calcium Suitable for the Pre Op and Post Op Liquid, Mushies and Pureed Foods, Solid Foods and Maintenance diets Suitable for gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, duodenal switch and gastric band patients Suitable for anyone watching their weight Enjoy anytime Aspartame free 7 X Classic Hot Chocolate Protein Drink Packets Per Box Ingredients: Calcium Caseinate, Hydrolyzed Gelatin, Non-Fat Milk, Cocoa Powder, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Salt, Potassium Citrate, Titanium Dioxide, Sucralose, Soy Lecithin. Allergy Information: Contains milk and soy. All products listed have been manufactured on equipment that has processed milk, wheat (gluten), soy, egg, peanuts and tree nuts.

Well, I tell you what - NYC is definitely hailing there's a new hot girl in town!!! You must be over-the-moon happy and as you noted, life is good! Feeling lighter on my feet everyday no longer carrying all the baggage. This morning, I moved into a new decade of 139 lbs. Yay! I'm still in loosing mode BUT if you'd let me borrow 2 inches, I'd be at goal today! Haha. That would leave you a nice 5' 7" tall and me 5' 2" taller! LOL. I really don't count calories and eat 75% raw like salads, shrimp or lobster bites, cottage cheese, lots of veggies, nuts and fruit. And, baked crackers with high quality thin slice of cheese for a treat with fresh tomato salsa. Eat very few processed foods. 80 - 100+ oz. water a day, decaf hot tea in the evenings. Cold shrimp cocktail appetizer is my go to for dinner's out socially. Not a big fish girl. I'll bring that dish with me to a friend's in Boca for Thanksgiving dinner. I remain very strict, and never wish to return to the carte blanch eating coma. I walk Bobby (the wire fox terrier) three times a day and my profession keeps me very physically active. How's your riding? Do you feel more flexible in the sport now? Do the horses respond to you differently now? I do have ample excess skin front side that really weighs down + off balances posture on new, very petite frame. i.e. The jacket below is a 10 petite, but really should be a 6 or 8 if not for extra abdominal skin. Clothing sizes, of course, vary with each garment style. I interviewed plastic surgeon's and found an excellent one here in Jupiter. If all goes well, Lolo, surgery is slated for late January 2020. Oh boy! It will be an arduous timely recovery given the fleur de lis tummy tuck - the breast lift, not so much. However, I knew this phase was to follow, and I desire to look my best going forward and in the gown I designed for our May 2020 - vow renewal and gala on mainline, Philadelphia springtime. So excited! So, I am a women on a mission. Planning holidays here? If in town, let's definitely get together and compare notes + celebrate our victories! I'd really enjoy that. We are decking the halls this weekend, even the car. Haha. Good to connect AND I am so very happy for you, Lolo. Your beauty, resolve and determination just radiant. CONGRATULATIONS! Life is good. ;]

I’m sorry I’m tired so I forgot to add that the card is available on the BariatricPal store, I got it free with a purchase at some point. I think some surgeons and nutritionists offer the medical card as well (I’ve seen it mentioned here) not all restaurants honor it but it doesn’t hurt to ask. It specifies that you’ve had bariatric surgery and can only eat very small portions and requests the ability to either order a smaller portion at a regular price, an appetizer or a children’s menu item. Though the buffet was the same Food options as anyone else just a children’s portion price. Not all children’s menus are just junk food. And it helps to learn to navigate restaurants for healthier options and smaller portions. I rarely eat out so don’t have much experience post op. But the card just helps show that you will eat less and hopefully be able to pay less.

I forgot to mention that I'm a 55 yr. Old female and that I'm having the bariatric Bypass Surgery Sent from my moto e5 plus using BariatricPal mobile app

Thanks for the referral, @sidvicious, I will take a look at the book. Maybe it will help both me and hubby. Right now I'm working through Bariatric Mindset Success, which is fabulous.

Why do i still feel so ill. I have awful nausea even on meds for it and my tummy just seems to be in hyper gurgling mode & feels empty. I am not enjoying food when i can eat and am on very low cals. Most days around the 300 cal mark, not getting close to my 80g protein and my hair is vacating my head. I've spoken to the bariatric nurse but not very helpful and can't give me a ball park figure for how long the nausea will last. So over it because i just can't function as a normal human being because i have to lie down so much! Bonus is that my weight loss has been steady and i am almost in the healthy weight range [emoji4] Any others have nausea issues? Sent from my SM-G935F using BariatricPal mobile app

@Kimberly3 my pain also started in my back and traveled to my chest under my rib cage. Dealing with chronic pain I actually tended to downplay it. I have high tolerance but at some point I was like enough is enough please do something because pain is exhausting. to the OP. Persist in getting answers and a solution that works for you. Mine was having my gallbladder removed during my gastric bypass surgery. My doctor almost didn’t want to because of the risk but thankfully he did. it is extremely common for rapid weight loss especially after bariatric surgery to cause gallbladder problems that need surgery to remove it (cholecystectomy)

Does anyone know where I can get a bariatric psych evaluation in Birmingham AL that take BCBSIL insurance? Sent from my SM-J737A using BariatricPal mobile app

I forgot writing last night and wanted to avoid a doctor appointment this morning, meeting the nurse for a treatment for interstitial cystitis but I had a really bad reaction the last time and had to discuss possible alternatives. The nurse in my doctor office felt bad leaving me with nothing for the severe pain from IC but bariatric surgery means I need to change my approach to some things. Which my body isn’t keen on medication anyway. I have severe chemical sensitivities. so I had to postpone what to do until I see a spine surgeon, and other doctor appointments. I’m exhausted. To say the least. And needed to get some errands. In before I crash for the rest of the day. I was able to exchange shorts for a smaller size in Kohl’s and return a jacket that was suddenly too big . And needed groceries since I’m trying to listen to my nutritionist and try new foods. I got dr praegers veggie burgers, pollock burgers because they are a blend of protein and soft vegetables. And some egg frittata things not as much protein but low calories with egg and vegetables. I am still having to eat very soft foods but working around it. i mix plain yogurt with protein or BariatricPal pudding mix. I buy good culture cottage cheese cups because a small cup is only 110 calories and 19 grams protein. I definitely can’t drink enough water but doing the best I can. With tea. Hot or iced. Even though drinking even thin shakes is basically the sensation of being waterboarded. Because it keeps wanting to go to my lungs .... I just needed to ramble before I crash for a while. Literally crash as that is what m.e. Does (post exertional malaise) And no one in my life understands. I had a very late breakfast lunch. i had to organize the freezer and finally donated a few bags of too big clothes. This is the most I’ve done in months and I will be paying for days to weeks for it. hoping I can at least be helpful by checking back here sometimes.

Thank you so much for saying this. One of the reasons that I post in here is as a mental exercise to battle dysmorphia. I’m not the type to look in a mirror and give myself positive affirmations, but taking pictures of my outfits is something I can do. It helps with mentally mapping out my body. I’d have to say the dysmorphia is still there, but I suspect it’s far better than I would have if I didn’t participate here. My hope was that we’d have more people posting as they lose. I think it’s so important to love yourself where you are now, spend even a bit of money on some nice thrift store clothes as you shrink so that you feel confident in your skin, and celebrate the work you are putting in. I chose to have bariatric surgery not because I hated myself and where I was, but because I love myself and wanted the freedom that not being MO brings. Like it or not, the world is cruel to people who are MO. It’s personal as well as systemic. Anyhoo, enough rambling! Here is today’s outfit. I need to tailor the blazer’s sleeves a bit, but I think otherwise it hits well on my hips, and I can officially close it over my chest now! So, I got to pull it out of my “to shrink into” bin last night.

What do you mean mixing a lot and making your own do you still buy the bariatric ones or you just buy other ones and just mixing fruit in it and stuff

How does everybody like the bariatric protein shakes I just ordered one from myself to check it out I am starting to get sick of Premier shakes and I wanted something different ,

When did you have surgery? You may want to check with your dietician and hire a sports medicine dietician. Trust the professionals over my two cents 😉 What works for me, may not work for you. I carb load (seven days) and do a pre race and taper. I eat low glycemic carbohydrates. Sweet potatoes, fruits, veggies, oatmeal, whole wheat with my protein. Hydration NUUN tabs/electrolytes added to my water in my hydration vest. I add powdered carbs to my water for calories. I run fasted race day. (I don’t eat products with sugar - example running gels/Gatorade) these links will give you an idea of how athletes fuel. https://www.foodcoach.me/eat-runningbiking-weight-loss-surgery/ https://keepmovingweekly.com/2015/06/11/nutrition-for-the-bariatric-athlete-endurance-events/ Running taper: https://www.teamhotshot.com/blog/tips-taper-race-day/ https://www.runnersworld.com/training/a20072822/marathon-taper/ runners stomach https://www.bucketlisttummy.com/5-nutrition-tips-to-help-runners-stomach/

Hi, I would absolutely LOVE to see Alaska! All the wildlife. Yes I am a July sibling lol. July 8th, 2019. I am doing well. Went from start 203, surgery 198 to 166 today. I could... should be better.. I am 53, an do enjoy a little wine etc. I feel so much better. I have fine but a whole lot of hair. At 3.5 month I did have some come out more than I wanted. It appears it may have slowed down now at 4.5 months, I think me and my husband are the only ones to notice. I am going to cut my hair medium length in the next couple days as it isn’t as full. I started bariatric vitamins months prior to surgery, I take the bariatric vitamins, biotin, hair skin nails with vitamins, sublingual d3, sublingual b complex, collagen, msm, protein either shake or powder daily. It is frustrating. I guess it is normal to lose up toll 6 months. Hoping it doesn’t last that long. My nails are ruined from my psoriatic arthritis so I couldn’t tell you if that is affected. the issue with my liver was 10 years ago when I was just diagnosed with my autoimmune disorders. That is why I try to double check everything from my doctors. I made certain I hit my goals. It is confusing because some say you cam only absorb a certain amount at a time. I added peanut butter powder, collagen powder to my shakes etc. So all of that may have been a waste. hope you hair loss stops ASAP as it sucks. No other way to say it. Hope you are hitting all your goals!

I had a lapband in 2012 that did almost nothing and finally slipped in 2015 where it was revised to a sleeve. I lost a tiny bit then started steadily regaining within a year. It turns out that my sleeve surgeon left my sleeve very large. My final and third surgery will obviously be my last, and I am going to be serious and dedicated. I had my sleeve redone plus the SADI-S procedure at 166lbs (5’1”) this morning with Dr. Wihelmy at Mexicali Bariatric. I am in pain but already standing and walking around. Please feel free to ask me any questions. I intend to become an active forum member to hold myself accountable and make some motivational buddies!

Hey @Midnightsun - lol..every time I see your name I think of the time when I was a child and lived in Alaska for 6 years! Thanks for sharing the additional input on liquid protein and its absorption. I feel bad that you are having to deal with liver issues on top of everything else. Sounds like you may be well rid of that doctor that wasn't listening to you back then! So you are also a member of the 'trust, but verify' club. I think it is interesting information that I personally am going to look into a bit more as that is literally my nature..I'm curious as the proverbial cat. I think you are one of my July surgery siblings, right? So we are roughly about the same place in our journey? Hope you are getting in your protein in the way that works best for you with no issues. I've sadly started having some of my hair..literally come off in my hands which is making me a bit blue. That is one reason why protein targets freak me out so much, or rather I should clarify..the thought of NOT HITTING my protein target freaks me out because of everything that starts to break down/fall apart if we don't get adequate protein. I do take some comfort in knowing I did everything that I HUMANLY COULD to try to prevent/or reduce the loss of hair. I hit my protein goals since surgery..about 98% of the time. I took the amount of Biotin and some other supplements recommended by 2 bariatric surgeons and supervised by my surgeon's team. I've taken my daily multivitamins....I have NOT been consistent on my calcium. So...am really nervous of the next 60 to 90 days..wondering how much more hair I'm going to lose. I have VERY thin hair and literally teared up last night looking @ the hair in my hands. It may be thin hair...not even really pretty hair..but it was MINE...am I making any sense? I noticed about 3 or 4 weeks ago my fingernails which had been GROWING OFF THE CHARTS suddenly became brittle and breaking again...so I knew in my heart my hair was probably next. I hope things are going well for you and all of our other siblings! My weight loss is stalled but that is on me. I have not kept up with my water and I've eaten at the high end of my calorie goal and multiple times I was NOT hungry so off to search for a therapist again.

I wasn't sure (I just knew that a lot of us were told not to take them), so I just googled it. The bariatric program at Johns Hopkins was one of the first to pop up. It said to avoid them because they don't contain all the vitamins & minerals that we need.

I got approved with a BMI of 33 for medical reasons. A previous surgery to fix a hiatal hernia failed after 12 years. My esophagus was in an L shape & half of my stomach was above my diaphragm. Food was getting stuck 5-6 times a week. Because of my circumstances I didn't have to do any of the prerequisites & my doc was a Thorasic doc & not a Bariatric doc & he told me to get all my info from the internet.