I also had my surgery there Dr. Stickler preformed it 8/22 everyone there was very friendly and helpful I would highly recommend it!!

I just grab something when the time comes to eat since my husband is never home

Hi all! I know that there are folks out there who have local support available and they don't even realize it! Let's compile a list of all the local support groups we know about here in WV so that others can find this info! I am working now to establish a Central WV Support Group in the Sutton or Flatwoods area. BUT, as that is still in the works, I currently attend the Medabolix support group that meets at Dr. Daniel Stickler's office in Charleston, WV. They meet on the second Friday of each month (this month's meeting is tomorrow evening) at 6 pm. The address is 600 Tracy Way, North Gate Business Park, Charleston, WV 25311 and the phone number is 304-347-4313. The meetings usually last till 7:30 or 8:00. I know that they (Medabolix) are also establishing support groups in other parts of the state as well. I will try to get that information tomorrow and will post it this weekend if possible. Dr. Shin's group at Charleston (Mtn State) meets on the 3rd Tuesday I think?? Anyone know for sure? I have the email address for Dr. Shin's nurse who does the support group meetings if anyone would like it in order to obtain that info. I also know that there is a great group meeting in the Beckley area... Let's get all this info available in ONE place for folks to browse and find the group closest to their location! Thanks, Lea

Hi guys! It's nice to see some posts on this site for a change!! I'm about 4 months out from RNY and still don't really want to eat much of anything. I get my protein in - have been using Unjury powder and also ordered some protein bullets that are about 3 ounces of liquid with 25 grams of protein each. I ordered them from www.bulknutrition.com. I like these because they have so much protein, no sugar and few calories. Other than that, I do drink a lot of 1% milk, eat beans with shredded cheese, and a few other things. I have yet to be able to tolerate meats and salads which I'd really love to have now. In time, I'm sure. My best to both of you and maybe we can get this site energized!!

Protein powders..... I am one of those folks who just can't find one that they like! I get most of my protein from foods. Every once in awhile, I will add some chocolate protein powder to some sugar free hot cocoa. Or, I add unflavored Unjury protein powder to other foods such as soups, yogurt, puddings and anything with a bit of liquid to it--even casseroles, grits, oatmeal, etc... Unjury's unflavored is the only "unflavored" or "flavorless" protein powder I've tried that was truly tasteless. Now if you stirred the unflavored powder into plain water, you'd know it was there! But, in any sort of food or drink with a flavor or taste of its own, you won't usually notice it unless you leave lumps of protein powder in the mix. But, I am not a protein drink or protein shake user. I just have not been able to get in that habit. And, now that I am 4 1/2 months post-op and am able to eat about anything I want food-wise, I really don't plan to continue to try to develop a shake/protein drink habit unless at some point my doc sees it as very necessary to suddenly up my protein intake. I'm averaging 60 to 80 grams of protein per day from food alone. As for trying proteins before your surgery... No, I would not recommend it as your tastes change SO much after surgery. Things you LOVED before surgery can make you gag afterwards. And, you will also tolerate some stuff that you couldn't stand before surgery. It is funny how it works sometimes! I have found that I have a greater taste tolerance for spicy stuff than I did before surgery. I was never one to do hot and spicy. And, since surgery, my daughter has complained several times that a dinner dish I fixed was just "too danged hot!" So, while I'm still not adding chili peppers and tobasco to stuff, I can tolerate a bit more "heat" than before. I would definitely invest in a container of the Unjury unflavored (they have a link down the left side of the main message board pages!) so that you can use it in cream soups and such in those first post-op weeks. It will make it much easier to get your protein in each day without choking down stuff you can't stand to eat! I think it is $18.95 for the canister. What I WOULD recommend is that you round up as many different sample sizes of various protein powders as you can before your surgery. Just round them up and have them available for after you come home so that you can start trying them and seeing which ones will work for you. There are many websites that sell sample sizes of different powders. I ordered mine from www.vitalady.com and there are links here on the OH site to other sellers as well. Also, if you have a GNC nearby, stop in there and see if they have samples of anything. I know that mine gets stuff from time to time and they also repack some stuff into samples occasionally... Never hurts to ask!