My revision from VBG to R&Y surgery took place on January 15 2008, and included a few other procedures, including a hiatel hernia repair.

I am staples like a winter snow suit, minus the capacity to zip. I am still tender, had lots of confusion and bumps and rough spots, and am ready to hook up to the community that knows and apparently coach and support me in a far better way than I do alone.

So I have found you and I am here... this is my voice. Hi! I wanted to join and become a citizen, but couldn't find the right button, I guess I am as far into this new land as I know how to get at this point, I am glad to be alive and to find myself in THE LAND OF THE LIVING!

Hi and welcome to the hood, I just joined a few days ago. My surgery was on January 9th. Am at the final stage of the pureed foods and can't wait. That has been the only problem for me is the texture and taste of the pureed stuff. Well, welcome and good to have newbies around.

Hi Judy, and welcome to the neighborhood! I don't know how to paste the link to join in here, but am sure one of the veterans to the site will do it! I went under my controls at the top of this page, and at the bottom of that page that comes up, it says manage paid subscriptions..that is how I got through.

Hope you post often, and let us know how you are doing!

Thanks for being my welcoming committee, I appreciate that.

Are you able to make your pureed stuff more like a good soup, in order to deal with taste and texture? It's a little different way of thinking about the liquid element?

My surgeon had me on solid food when I left the hospital. I was all ready to do the whole liquid and soft diet, but they said it was not for me. I am able to have almost anything ! Ironically, I had my biggest problem with broccoli. I spend one evening and all night paying consequences for eating cooked brocolli, while a couple bites of a taco caused no problem!

I will do whatever it takes to make this work. I am shocked that they were willing to repair my failed surgery and that my insurance would cover this again. I need to push for the energy to exercise. I need to be strategic to see that I am saving up some energy to do that. That's the peice that will make or break this new life.

Anything I have eaten and chewed well that is not overcooked or too raw is going down great. I am aware my weight loss will not be what it would have been during these early days as if I had gotten to do the pureed and other progressions. My VBG failed 9 years ago, and I succeeded in keeping off the 50 pounds I had lost, without the surgery's affect, except I did have the solastic band still reminding me I needed to slow down. Now they've removed that band, created a new surgery and I am supposed to be on my slow but steady way again. I have another 50 pounds or so to lose. I'm grateful for someone to talk to and for support and to be able to give support. It's no easy for anyone who has gotten this far and it will make us overcomers to be faithful to the good gifts and tools that are given to give us new lives.

Judy,
To become a paid member, go to My Controls, mid top of screen. Near the bottom of the left side of My Controls you will find a link to pay.

If you stick to the 4 rules, you should do well: 1) Get your protein in first 2) Drink your water 3) Exercise and 4) No snacking (eating between meals stuff that gives you non-nutritional empty calories. I think there's an article in the library about that (link to Library at top right of screen).

I hope you will be happy here. Read a lot & ask all the questions you want. Someone will be along to answer sooner or later.

Hi Judy - welcome to the neighborhood!

Sounds like you have been in the fight for a while - we will welcome your wisdom & knowledge & want to share with you as well.

Plenty of people at all stages of the game here - welcome, welcome, welcome!

Hi Judy! Welcome to the neighborhood! Congratulations on working your way back to health and on your great attitude for the future! I think you will be a good neighbor!

Glad you found us. Plenty to be shared and learned here in the hood