newbie questions

thank you all so much for the warm welcome!!  I have so may questions & the more I read all the post, I realize I have more than I thought!! 

protein & vitamins....what are your favorites?! the best tasting proteins?!?  I'm so overwhelmes right now that I don't really know where to start.  I should know Friday if I'm approved...which make me feel even more overwhelmed!! 

for those of you that did RNY...how was your recovery time?  what 'inside' tricks do I need to know about?  any tips are wanted & welcome!!


Thanks
SJ

I will try to post more later - working 12-hour days right now on a project at work, so I am more tired than usual.

The problem with protein is your tastes will change after surgery, so get lots of samples and wait to buy any large containers until after you have surgery.  My perennial favorite is GNC's Pro-Performance chocolate-caramel and I have it every morning in my coffee that I cool down with milk.  I still do 2 protein shakes a day because I feel better when I do.

My recovery wasn't bad at all and I was back at work in a little under 2 weeks and my job is a combination desk job/plant job.   I spent more time at my desk for a couple of weeks, though :-).  I was up walking the hospital floor as soon as I could after surgery and never stopped..... gets the gas out of your system faster.  Gas-X is your friend!

Will you have to do a liquid protein diet to shrink your liver before surgery?  I had to do a 2-week one and it wasn't as bad as it sounds and I have some advice for surviving that if you have to do it.

Sara, I'd venture to say many of us do it different ways.  I buy some of my vitamins at Walmart, Walgreens or CVS (I wait for them be to on sale, lots I get in the Buy One Get One Free).  My iron, Vitamin D, Vitamin E and Vitamin A I buy from www.vitalady.com.

As for protein, again there is lots of it available.  My suggestion is to check out a couple of sites that you can get samples of first, don't buy a tub as your taste will PROBABLY change.

www.vitalady.com, www.bariatriceating.com, www.unjury.com, www.bodybuilding.com are 4 chocies that have samples.  Whey is usually a better protein for absorption but some people become lactose intollerant and can't drink these. 

Once you get approved, Dr Thompson at Dr Barker's office will tell you everything you need.  I buy all my vitamins at Walmart too.  No need for fancy "bariatric" vitamins.  The most important thing is to have your levels checked regularly and be faithful about taking them.

As far as protein goes.  Don't buy a lot pre-op.  The absolute best one I've found is Max protein from GNC (but only certain ones carry it-Rowlett does).  I'm 3 years out and still have one 5 days a week.

As far as recovery goes, you'll be sore for a few weeks but it's manageable with pain meds.

 

I agree wih all the ladies so far what they mentioned to you. I was stupid and went with Bariatric Advantage because that is what the hospital recommended  that the surgeon used for the surgery. Byuying the speciality blend can be expensive especially when you add in the shipping of the products. Seriously look at getting a discount card to GNC and Vitamin Shoppe if they are near you. I have since followed these several members of the Texas Message Board with the vitamin recommendations and my 6 month blood work was fine except for vitamin D. I get my vitamins from a variety of places I found liquid B-12 and chewable vitamin C at GNC cheaper than anybody else, Iron I buy from a local Pharmacy next to nothing, vitamin D gummies from Wal-mart, Citracal petite calcuim tablets also from Walmart or Target , whoever has them on sell. My recommendation is to go ahead and stock up on this items. Also make sure the B-12 has folic acid in it. Also if I am not mistaken the iron needs to be elemental iron but you can ask there are several board members you are excellent on the vitamin issue. As the members will tell you you need to take the vitamins a certain way. Calcium and Vitamin D together but two hours after taking the iron and vitamin c because they use the same recepter sites. Also the same thing goes if you take a antacid a two hour wait.

Protein, well that is another story you are going to find that after you surgury your taste are going to change and even later down the road. Currently I am getting sick of chocolate and so I am changing things up and adventuring into making my on high protein foods. I would seriously look into dealing wirth a nutritionist that has experience handling gastric bypass patients mine has been a real life saver. But back to the protein remember you want low carb and low calorie high protein shakes or bars. My favorite bars are Think Thin protein bars and I get Whole foods to order them for me by the case and I get a 10% discount from their already low price and because the ones I ordered where not normally stocked by them they decided to satr selling them in the store and now regular stock almost the comlepte line. Protein shakes now are different as you have seen everyone has their particular brand. Mine are Bariatric Advantage meal replacements chocolate and strawberry but I do not care for the taste. So what I do is add fruit, coffee, yougurt to the protein shakes and turning them into protein smoothies. Again you will have to experiment to find a combination of flavors that work for you. I am currently looking into new ideas for mixing up the shakes and looking into making some of my own high protein snacks. The next protein shake mix I am looking into is one that is sold at Walmart which is cheap and has several flavors. Now for on the go I use muscle milk light, which can be found at Vitamin Shoppe, online, several fitness stores. If you like baking at all another product to consider getting is a product called Carbquik it is similar to bisquick and can be purchased online just do a websearch for it. The manufacturer's website is trying to get Krogers to carry it for them also so you may check that out also.

You came to the right place to ask your question the people of the Texas Message Board are the best and have alot of people that have been doing this longer than a lot of us. They also provide the best support to you no matter who you are or where you live in the state. Thank you my fellow message board members.

Michael (AKA. liquidman69)

Hi everyone! I am brand new here and have my surgery on May 4th. Any tips or tricks for pre or post op?
I started my pre-op diet today and so far, so good. Protein Shake for breakfast, lunch was broth, a popcicle for a snack and then dinner will be another broth soup and possibly a shake if I am still "hungry".

Thanks in advance!

Congrats on the surgery date!! Hang on for the ride of your life! For a change try the crystal lite sf popsicles they are really refreshing. Take listermint breathe strips to the hospital, helps get ride of the dry gross mouth you can get from anesthesia and meds. Wear comfy loose clothes that are easy to get on and off (no pull over the head shirts) to the hospital so you wi;; be comfy onthe way home. Take a pillow for the ride home to put betwen you and the seatbelt. Your gonna do great!!

See ya on the loosres bench!
Meggie