A Newbie Jumping In

Hello everyone! My name is Sharon and I live in Saint Matthews. I am 41 years old and I am so anxious to get started down this road to a healthier life! I haven't started on anything yet because I have just been thinking and praying about this. Today at the Rose Festival in Orangeburg I ran into someone I know through our kids attending the same school. She had WLS and she looks FABULOUS!!! My husband is so afraid that something will go wrong during surgery.....but I am more afraid that something will go wrong later on. 3 out of 4 of my grandparents died from heart disease......the other from emphysema. I want to be healthy and not repeat this trend in my own life. A bit more about me.... I'm a mom. We have 5 kids. Our oldest is 21 and our youngest is 2. 2.5 of the kids are still at home. You see, we have my husband's son half of the time. Mom has him half of the week and we have him the other half. He is our oldest at home and he will be 13 in October, our next son is 8 and then there is our youngest and she is 2. We adopted her from China in December. She is our sweetheart! I never thought I could travel half way around the world and bring a child home and feel like she was a part of our lives from the very beginning but when God says, "GO!" you GO. LOL I knew I would love her but I had no idea what those little almond eyes would do to my heart! :) I want to be around for a long, long time to enjoy her chortling little laugh! I work from home and we attend Cornerstone Church in Orangeburg. Back to WLS....Dr. *****ett was recommended to me by this friend I saw today. I've been reading here a lot this evening. Can anyone tell me when he has his info meetings? I have so much to learn about all of this. I'm sure I'll be asking a million questions....hope you all won't mind!!! Thanks! Sharon

Lisa, It all depends on your surgeon's protocol. I could not have food for the first 12 weeks. I was on creamed soups or anything that could fit through a straw and that was it. If I couldn't sip it, I couldn't have it. After that I could have soft food. My first soft food was Alaskan King Crab leg, boiled. I couldn't even it a whole one but, it was pure heaven. I could also have broiled or baked fish but, realized after surgery I didn't like fish anymore. I would wait on the shrimp since they are course. I sometimes have trouble with them a year later and sometimes I don't. I guess it just depend on the mood my pouch is in. I ate my first crawfish this year, and I do well with them. I eat them at least once a week now. Gina

Crawfish work really good for me. I started having them around February. So that was approximately 3 months after surgery. I have a lot of problems with shrimp and I'm not sure why. It's getting too late for oysters anyway, but I haven't tried those yet at all.

Pam I am like you. I cannot eat chicken. It get caught everytime

I have sworn off Triscuits. I seem to be unable to control myself around them... Somehow the idea of an egg at 4 p.m. is not very appetizing (as in I'd rather starve) but this has started me thinking of some ideas... maybe I can have a small banana handy or an apple. I have been lucky with chicken from the beginning. Pork and beef are another story. One bite and that is it for me. Thanks for getting me started thinking of good healthy snacking ideas. Claire

I had my surgery March 6th and my doctor gave me the OK to have shrimp/crawfish, baked fish, and baked chicken (dark meat) around 5 to six weeks post op. I haven't had any problems yet as long as its moist. I got sick a couple of times but it was because I reheated my food in the microwave. Sandy

Hmm... I was eating fish at 3 weeks and crawfish shortly therafter. Only 2 - 3 oz portions but I've been able to keep it down with no issues at all. I guess ask your surgeon what you can have. Mine has been pretty liberal saying "Try it and if it doesn't come back up you are good to go". The seafood market thought I was an idiot when I asked for 12 crawfish though.

Can't tell you about Dr. *****ett, but welcome! There are lots more newbies on this board than old-timers (like me), so information will be quite fresh in their minds and they are always willing to share! For my part, I can tell you that this was one of the best decisions in my life and I'd do it again in a heartbeat! P.S. And I'm glad you went on to explain the 2.5 kids part. I was wondering where the half a kid came from until I kept reading!

Ask away, girl, that is what we are here for. I am two weeks and two days post-op. I had Dr. byrne at MUSC, so I can't answer any questions about other doctors, though. Sorry! As for the procedure and so forth, ask away! And WELCOME! Christine

Welcome Sharon. I too had Dr. Byrne (and think he is the best) so I don't know about Dr. *****ett, but I do know this is the best decision I have ever made - just wish I had done it sooner! Good luck and keep us posted. Susann