Thanks Kristy! I am a week behind you in surgery date.......I'm not sure when I can try a protein bar but hopefully soon so I can find other sources of protein! Are these really chewy? Thanks. P.S.....I am a fellow adoptor. I adopted my son last year and he is the love of my life!

Hey Paula, I know what you mean about the protein supplements, I've had a hard time finding some that I like or that won't argue with my pouch. Slim Fast Lo Carb tastes good and has 20 G of protein per 11 oz can and only 180 calories. I suggest instead of drinking Crystal light you switch to the Special K Protein water, it has 5 G of protein per bottle or drink mix and only 25 calories, every little bit helps. Mix your protein Supplements with fat free milk 8 oz of milk adds 8 more grams of Protein. Carnation instand breakfast Sugar free is another good option it has 5 G of Protein, add that to a cup of FF milk and you have a 14 G protein drink. These are the things I have been doing, hope it helps. Also don't try and get all your protein in at one sitting we can only absorb so much so spread it out over your day. Best of Luck, Shelia

I had surgery on May 20, 2008. I need help finding a good protien supplement. Are there any protien shakes tht actually taste good? i am doing premir nutrition chocolate shakes and they have a bad after taste. I also am doing unjury, but it makes my crystal light taste like...i dont know what but it isnt good and the unjury is "unflavored". any suggestions?

Hi Nancy - I had the same "fear" that you had. I considered both, but my doctor helped me to make the decision. I had the by-pass surgery. I have had several stomach surgeries, but still had a laproscopic surgery....and I think I had 7 small incisions. I have a cousin that had this surgery several years ago, and she passed away also. My mom was devastated when I told her I was going to have the surgery. I did a lot of research, I even researched the doctor. I had a lot of confidence in him. I also came to realize that my surgery was a matter of life and death. I was either going to die because I was overweight and my BMI was nearly 56. My blood pressure was sky high and my sugar levels were out of control. The bottom line is that I was only 55 years old in a wheel chair and using a walker to get down a grocery store isle. I was unable to get any exercise at all - so death was lurking nearby. The alternative was to get the weight off immediately. My surgery was not cosmetically based - it was based on health. I had to come to terms with that. The lap band was an alternative, but the weight would be slower to come off...so my husband, daughters (adults), the surgeon, and my internist agreed that the gastic by-pass was the better option for me. I think both the lap-band and the gastric by-pass are good surgeries. I think it depends on how much weight you have to lose, how fast you need to lose it based on your personal health issues and what your doctor suggests. There are risks in surgery....that is all there is to it....your decision is not an easy one to make, but it looks like your doing the right thing by asking questions of others, and researching. I am glad I had the gastric by-pass. I didn't have any major problems other than needing to have the esophogus stretched twice. I threw up a few times, but mostly because I made the mistake of not chewing my food well, or eating things that didn't work for me. I quickly learned what I could eat and what I couldn't. I am so glad that I had the surgery...but I am pretty sure that if I would have had the lap-band, I would be happy I had that too.....I am just so happy to have had the opportunity to lose the weight - I believe it saved my life....and my life is so much more than it was in past years. Good luck in making your decision! You'll be fine...just don't be afraid to ask questions, don't be afraid to contact your doctor or his staff is you have questions after the surgery.....that is the key. You don't need to be brave or not want to bother your doctor if you are having some side effects that are unusual....communications is the most important. I called my doctor and his staff several times with silly questions...but I was glad I asked!!!!

I started out last August and thought I wanted lap band. Not entirely sure why except that it was "reversible" sorta and for some reason that gave me some reassurance. Most of the ppl I know have had bypass though and after going to the information meeting and actually SEEING what they put inside you for lap band, I was like "ewww, no way I dont' want that "thing" inside me". Then I met with my surgeon and he actually stopped doing lap banding b/c as he put it the "jury was still out" on the benefits of lap band vs. bypass. He has had better success rates and faster lose with bypass. So I figured if he's done this enough and feels this way and neither one is really reversible, AND insurance does not cover the fills to tighten the band...I just put two and three together and went with my surgeon's advise and what my gut was telling me. Good luck and just make the best decision for you!