SlimMissy

Hi Julie6,

I use a natural senna laxative every 3days. I found it at my local Kroger/houston and it keeps me from holding the extra 3lbs waste in....eeewwww I know !

My OB seems to think its too early out after childbirth for me to set a 165lbs goal.....and since I'm breastfeeding, she advised no strict diet.

Yes I still try to do a high Protein diet...u know, fat free greek yoghurt with peanuts for Breakfast, baked white meat (chicken/turkey) salad for lunch and any kind of Beans for dinner but some days I find myself opening the multigrain cheerios cannister more than twice a day with 2% fat milk. I try to convince myself that adding peanuts to the cheerios makes it appropriate for breakfast lunch and smtms dinner .

While I try to keep doughy foods at the barest minimum, (not including pies and cornbread of course ) I still have trouble with the density of any wheat product......feels like bricks in my tummy.

I promised myself to take it one day at a time and do better than the previos day by keeping a daily food/snacks diary, we'll see hw that goes.

I was sleeved July 15, 2010. My highest ever weight was somewhere around 280 but when I had surgery I was 242 pounds. My weight is usually between 134-138 and I'm fairly happy there. I'm currently experiencing some other issues so I'm concerned about putting on more weight but I think if I stay on top of it I'll be able to control things. I started in a very snug 18/20, XXL and I'm in a 4/6, S (sometimes XS, sometimes M, so it's all relative) so I cannot possibly complain.

I had really hoped to lose just a little more weight with surgery, despite the fact that somewhere in the 150s I started to realize that it wasn't going to happen very easily. I'm very short and really should lose a few more pounds to be safely in the "normal" weight range. Right now I'm on the edge of overweight. That said, I know I'm having plastics when I get back to the states and I know my weight will be right where I want it once those are done. I'm sure that if I really buckled down and put on my patience cap I could lose the weight before then, but I'm worried about looking too thin and bony after plastics if I do that. Honestly - I really am very small under all this extra skin and if bones poke up all over the place now I can't imagine I'd be very happy fifteen to twenty pounds smaller. Not to mention my poor husband, who was disappointed I chose to get so small in the first place!

I think the biggest surprise for me was how EASY this all has been. I hate to say the sleeve is a magical solution, because it's really not. But once I got a handle on my food issues and worked them out it became almost effortless for me to lose and maintenance has really been an absolute breeze. I feel like if more people doing VSG would do all the head work while losing, they'd have a much easier time maintaining. Learning to eat like a regular person was a challenge and yes, sometimes I do have to stay on my toes so it won't get out of control. But I'm so glad I got it all figured out and don't have to weigh daily or track my calories every day. I weigh in once a week and only hop on the scale every day if I notice an upward trend (like currently, with my hormone issues). I log my food about four days in a row each month just to be sure I'm still in the right range. It works for me.

I'm very happy these days and a totally different woman than I was just 20.5 months ago. I would do it again in a heartbeat and I don't think I'll ever really regret choosing surgery.

I'm glad all of the other 2010 sleevers are also doing so well! There aren't many of us around here. It's easy for me to disappear for weeks on end because yes, once you stop needing support it's easy to forget to come back here to help the new folks.

You guys all look fantastic, by the way.

~Cheri

Hi clk,

just wondering if you are having a baby. i was sleeved around the same time as you (july 1st 2010 at 242lbs, size 22/lane bryant) and i went down to 169/medium before i got preg. i had my baby 2mths ago at 200 but am down to 174lbs/still medium and sometimes even small now....some days i get scared of going back to where i used to be but when i remember everything that i had gone through in the past 17mths, i wont change a thing......i'll have the surgery all over again if i have to.

Hey, its been a while since I've checked in. Since the last time I've gone only a few more lbs. Got down to 159. Struggling to stay there. Today I'm 163. I seem to hover around 161-162. I still have dreams to get to 150 but I don't think its going to happen. I wake up every day with fresh determination to do really good and seem to only barely maintain. Overall I am happy to be where I am. I went from a size 24 to a 12. I wear size medium and look pretty good. My dh and I are going to Orlando in a couple ofweeks and for the first time in my life will feel sort of attractive. White legs and all. Lol. (I got a spray tan to at least look a little tan.) What about you guys? How's it going for you?

Hi Julie6,

I was sleeved July 1st 2010 at 243lbs and as of today I am hovering between 174-177lbs. Well I had a baby 2mths ago but before pregnancy I was 169lbs. I had gone back to wearing my pre-pregnancy size 12, I twas a size 22 pre-surgery. Overall, I am grateful for where I am even though sometimes I feel like I could do better....but what can I say, my metabolism sucks and nothing seems to work.

Hi there,

Got sleeved by Dr Rodriguez in Juarez July of 2010 too. Starting weight was 240lbs/size 20........a lot of struggles, stalls,loose skins and a recent Tummy Tuck w hernia repair later, I'm currently stuck at 170lbs/size 10 and just found out am also 10 weeks preggos.Dat was a total surprise!

I must admit, the results justifies the pains and I will do it all over again in a heartbeat if I need to.

Good luck ladies.

I've been on MultiVite gummies ever since my surgery July 1st 2010 and I never have to worry about size because it's the easiest way for me to take Multivitamin without having to worry about how its goin to affect my sleeve. You might want to try some. CVS carries them and they are affordable.

I've been taking 1/2 of a chewable bariatric Vitamin each day. An entire one makes me sick. So I'm now 2 months out and I decided to try an entire one today and within 5 minutes I was sick. I'm glad I didn't order more. I feel like I wasted a Sunday.

So after the worst of it passed I went to the store and looked at Vitamins. I can swallow a pill pretty well so I think I just need to get off of these chewables and onto a regular Vitamin. So I picked up a liquid SoftGel Multi for Her by Nature Made. I should have noted that there was no guide on the bottle that showed the ACTUAL pill size. Well, this thing looks like a horse pill. It is literally over 1 inch long and pretty big around. Honestly, I would think it would be considered a choking hazard.

So I tried using search on this site but didn't come up with any details that would help me. Can anyone suggest a brand of pills that are easy to swallow? I have the good old standard "One A Day" and I'm thinking about falling back on it with additional supplements. I'd rather take 10 pills than try to take one huge one.

If you are using a reasonably sized multi vitamin that is easy to swallow could you let me know the name. I don't want to waste any more money trying to find a single pill that will work. I'd rather just go buy the lot.

Hi Angie,

Just saw your post. I started off a size 22 bu I am now juggling between 16P and 14W.

I gave away most of my 20P, 18P and 16W but if you are still interested, I still have a couple that I 'm holding on to mainly because they used to be my favorites. Here is a list to give you an idea of what my style is, let me know if its something you might want to wear. I live in Houston, TX.

A Casual Khaki Jacket (Avenue 18/20)

A Casual Khaki Capri (Counterparts 18/20)

A chocolate Colored Safari Style Belted Jacket (Sherry Taylor 18/20)

A Smoke Colored Dress Pant (Lane Bryant/Valencia 18/20)

A Bootcut Levis Denim-Washed Jeans (18)

A Tommy Hilfiger Straight Leg Dark Denim Jeans (18)

A Valerie Stevens Grey/Scarlet striped Dress Pants (16W)

A Black Dress Barn Dress Pants (16W)

BTW I'm 5'3, I always have to hem some of my pants at least 1 and half inches at the bottom but all changes are totally reversible.

* (All clothes had been laundered)

* Recipient pays postage

I am now in a size 18 20 and looking for some clothes. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Hi everyone. I'm actually seeing this forum for this first time. Imagine all the money I coulda saved myself.

I am 5'3 and currently in a size 16 bottoms/14tops, I shop at FashionBug and Lane Bryuant a lot but recently I found out that I dont stay in a size for long before I start shopping again. I started from a size 22 and had since given out all my big sizes to a fellow sleevr at work who started from size 30.

I need size 16 pants (no lining) and 14/16 tops. (Will pay shipping charges).

And I promise to recycle as soon as I'm ready for the next size down.

I live in Houston TX. (I check my VSG inbox once a week)

Thanks ladies.

Sounds like a good idea, I was thinking of taking everything to a consignment shop..but, maybe this is a better idea.

I am 5'2" and have a lot of fall/winter clothes in good shape, some never worn, I would be happy to send to a sister sleever. I bought most of them at Macy's Womens dept on sale, 1x, 2x, nice brands too like Style & Co., Jones NY, and Ralph Lauren. A few from LB and Dress Barn 18/20, 22/24. Mostly tops. I have 4 pairs of size 4 black pants in short from Fashion Bug. All I ever wore was black pants. Oh, and a pair of corduroy pants in a dark burgandy from Walmart size 20 I never wore..They were too long and I never got around to hemming them. A pair of jeans from LB in size 20. I can take pictures and post if you want. Oh, and more..I forgot about. I buy this stuff super cheap on sale..a pair of beige capris super cute size 16 from Macy's..too dang big and a beige cotton skorts, size 20 from WM again, never wore. They were both too tight and I though I would lose wt and they would fit, well...I lost wt and they are too dang big.

Hi adokes,

Travelling after the surgery was not as uncomfortable as I thought it will be. Of Course I had to move a little slower than normal but not to the extent that pple will give me worried glances at the airport.

I had the carry-on luggage with the wheels so all I had to do was fit everything in it, including my laptop, and just tug it along.

Once I got through baggage check-in, I found my gate, (I was there early so I didn't have to rush), got a bottle of apple juice, and perched at a comfortable spot facing the window.

With my feet on my luggage and my laptop on my laps, I must have looked like just any other traveller trying to kill time....lol!

When I felt bored, I chew some sugar free Trident gum, read a book, or just took a nap (it was abt 2hrs flight so b4 I kew it I was in Houston).

One word of advice, follow all the instructions to T.

Take your pills as prescribed

Take a break when u feel tired

Take your time to chew everything thoroughly

Take your Water by the sips

Take with you some comfortable clothings

Gastric Sleeve is not a solution to Obesity, it is a tool for maitaining a healthy lifestyle, so Take control of it and use it accordingly.

Good Luck to you :thumbup:.

Hi everyone.. I know it has been a while since I have gotten on here.. For the first two weeks I really didn't have internet since I was recovering back in Missouri. Life is much better now days. I am finally able to eat real food but I find myself wanting to stay with the soft foods instead. I tried to eat a few chicken nuggets when I took the boys to McD's and I will NEVER EVER EVER do that again. (I have a bad habit of lying about how much I have eaten so I am laugh at myself when I want to lie right now) I ate four chicken nuggets (Why would I care so much about that??) and of course that was way too much for my new stomach.. When in 15 to 20 min I was in the bathroom in pain.. I felt so stupid since I had been doing so well.. Has anyone else does this?

HI,

I was sleeved by Dr Rod too (07/01/2010) and isn't he wonderful? The whole team actually.

In response to your little episode....lol, I made the same mistake in my 3rd week out too and guess where I ended up...yup, the bathroom.

I was chatting with a colleague who had the gastric bypass and she said she wished she had opted for the sleeve because this tool as aginst the bypass, will act as a reminder that you are getting ahead of urself, in other words, be grateful that your tool is there as a reminder for you not to mess up your brand new stomach.

I'm in my 5th week now and I still spend abt an hour eating one medium size chicken- drumstick. Beef is out of the question for now. Popsicles are my best friend while bread, pasta,rice had been long forgotten. Not because I can't eat them but because I simply ended my love affair with them and have no desire for them anymore.

My advice, do as much liquid, syrupy,soupy, diet as you can, (I know sometimes this is easier said than done, esp when we have pple eating around us) it's easier to digest especially now that you are still recovering.

Good luck.

WildIris,

I was reading ur post and nodding my head until I got to the "overcooked noodle" part and couldn't help but burst out laughing....because I've been there...lol!

Today marks my day 10 since surgery and life can never be better.

I had to struggle a couple of times when I was too greedy and had a couple of chicken from my husband's plate around day 8 (ended up in the toilet), but as long as I stay on my liquid diet, I was doing fine and my clothes are starting to fit looser.

Today I will graduate to creamy liquids, more Jell-O, Protein Shakes, and more Crystal Light.....notr that I have a problem with it because most of the time I have to remind myself to eat something. The only thing constant is thirst. I always have to have a sippi cup around me, but that's cool.

I had my surgery done by Dr Jose Rodriguez & his team in Juarez Mexico (Star Medica), came home July 4th, went back to work July 6th, didn't stop to use the elevators,been taking the stairs since my pre-op, and now I wonder why I ever took the elevators...lol!

So far so good. My incision sites are no more fresh and now I just apply a little Mederma on it and that's it. You have to look closely to even know they are there.

I enjoy your post, just thought I'd share my experience so far.

Thanks.

I just came back from there last week. I had the sleeve done by Dr Rodriguez on the 1st of July and came back home on the 4th.

You can read more about my experience under the thread :July Surgeries".

One word of advice, don't you worry about a thing, you are in good hands.

Good Luck.

Didn't realize how much I missed my husband and baby until they picked me up at airport...I was so excited I forgot I just had surgery (smooches, kisses, picking up baby and stuff...didn't even feel a thing), until my husband said something like..."I was assuming you will need a wheel chair coming out of the plane"...and I burst out laughing!

Summary: My pain was waaay tolerable and I was not hungry at all. We stopped at CVS pahramcy to pick up some Centrum chewables and that was it.

Once I made it home, I took all my prescribed medications (already filled in Mexico for $50) and had one sugar free popsicle for dinner which I had to share with my 20mths old and still didn't feel hungry.

One of the drugs (a little bitty capsule) I had to take every 6hrs and I forgot to use a straw for the Crystal Light, must have swallowed some air cause I felt some gas in my lungs and it was sooo painful like a bad Constipation, but after a few large and noisy burps (ooops!) I felt better. I guess I have to be careful in future.

The doctor had already warned me about gulping liquids, at least for the first few weeks, liquids had to be sipped or drank with a straw until my new tummy is accustomed to to it.

So here I am, after a good night rest, with my morning cup of chamomille tea (in my baby's 40z calibrated sippy cup), enjoying my 4th of July holiday with my toddler (& Sesame Street), and thinking to myself.....this is the best Independence ever!

I made the trip alone and it wasn't so bad. The driver was very friendly and once I got to memorize the doctor's names, I flowed really well with them. You won't be able to help it, they were all really cool! If you are having Dr Rodriguez, you are in for a treat. He will make you feel like a celebrity, period!

You might want to bring a packet of Gas X strips with you, it really helped with the gas pains (it was similar to the feelings you get when you are constipated). Plus a pack of breathable band-aid, cotton puffs (say 3 or 4 puffs), your travel size toiletries of course (even though the hospial provided lotion and Shampoo, I don't play with my Dove, so I went to Wal-Mart and got me some 3oz sizes), I also brought some Crystal Light pouches with me. They cleared me for ice chips on Friday by 12am so I just added a little to my ice to make some Slushees, you know, something different from the Water, Jello and teas they give you at the hospital. In the evenings, I requested for chicken broth because I wanted to go to bed with something warm in my brand new stomach........!

They will give you some terry slippers, clean towels, kleenex, shampoo, lotion, bottled water,etc (of course, this hospital got my 5 satrs) so you dont need any, but you might want to bring some comfy slip-ons for those walks around the hall ways.

The doctor told me my stomach size is a 32 bougie (whatever that was) but he also explained that its abt 250mls and that is the smallest size so I guess I got the best.

I took a shower the very next morning with my back to the shower to avoid any oversoaking on my incision areas and they will give you pain meds so it wont hurt to was your feet.

I'm at the airport (El Paso) no waiting on my flight back home to Houston and my summary of the whole experience is, why did I ever wait so long to make this decision?

Ok. I am back in TX. Just crossed the Mexican border to El-Paso about 20mins ago and please do not belive all the horror stories. All you need is your passport or a valid photo ID.

I was able to roll my hand luggage with my laptop attached to the check-in gate without any hassles. Now am waiting for my flight and sipping my Apple Juice

I've been taught how to change my dressing and I did that this morning before leaving the hospital. All it involved was a breathable band-aid, an antibiotic ointment, a new washcloth/cotton puff, and my germ x ( although the doctors said anti bacterial soap but didn't have that so I made do with the hand sanitizer).

I have three small incisions (abt the size of pen tip, which I had been told I dont have to change until they fall off by themselves because they'd been glued shut.....relief!!!!!), the fourth one was the one with the catether drain and they took the drain out yesterday so they can show me how to clean and put a band aid on it by myself, that one is about the size of an erazer at the bottom of a pencil and its not deep at all.

You have two choices here, stay overweight and stand the chance of living an unhealthy life or go for the surgery and live a healthier life. I belive that we'll all die one day but I'll be damned (excuse my French) if I have to die due to some preventable health issues or something remotely connected to beign morbidly obese.

I've got only one life and I'm going to live it to the fullest.

Good Luck.

You are going to be just fine, Theresa.

I just had mine on Thursday 1st of July and right now am at the airport on my way back home, sipping a Minute Maid Apple juice and relaxed like I didn't just had a major surgery 3days ago. Its that tolerable! I was out on the hospital room patio listening to music from my laptop and dancing the very next day!

I must admit I was scared at first, mainly because of the state of things in Mexico, but once the driver picked me up from the airport and he answered all my questions, I felt right at home.

You can go ahead andf ask me any questions you may have, but I can assure you, it will be over before you know it.

Hi! Just wondering if anyone esle out here will be in Juarez that week? I will be scheduling my surgery today!:thumbup:

that would be week.. not weel.. clearly I also need some kind of spelling surgery

Hi, I just had mine done yesterday 07/01/2010 by Dr Rodriguez Jose and what can I say....the hospital is straight out of a magazine, the staff are so professional and couteous, the facility is ultra modern, everything is all inclusive (laboratory, radiology,etc) plus it is the approved medical facility for the American Consulate which is about a stone throw from the hospital.....so no violence here! I will be here till Sunday before leaving for Houston,TX.

I can't belive its my 2nd day out and I'm here lounging on the patio with a cup of ice chips chatting on the internet with my husband, took my own shower by myself, listened to some music earlier and actually tried a FEW DANCE STEPS...LOL.......:lol0:

After the initial gas pains immediately after surgery, its not so bad. I mean the pain is absolutely bearable. Believe me, I've done C-Section and that.....is painful!:mad0:

I am also connected free on Wi-Fi so I dont have to worry abt verizon sending me a humongous bill when I get home....lol

Now all I have to worry about is how cute I going to start looking in my pre-pregnancy clothes all the way down to a 10.....Yaaaaayyy!:mad0:

I am thinking about getting the super sleeve and have Dr. Jose Rodriguez do it. How did yours go? What was the process like? Who did you use to book with Dr. Rod?

Has anyone heard anything about the super sleeve also known as Laparoscopic total gastric vertical plication (TGVP)?

I just got sleeved in Juarez Mexico by Dr Rodriguez yesterday July 1st and I am loving it. Haven't eaten or drank anyhting since Wednesday nite and I dont even feel hungry. He explained that my stoma size is now 250mls and I dont have any problems with that.

The entire staff here at Star Medica are so nice and couteous I can;t ask for a better reception.

I'll be here till Sunday before I go back home. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to ask.

I know many people are worried about the pain, belive me it's tolerable plus they will give you medication for that.

If you have a laptop that is Wi-Fi enabled, you may bring it with you to kill the boredom as half the staff don't speak English.

I can't say anything about insurace because I am paying out of pocket. Weight loss surgery or any treatment associated with weight loss is an exclusion to my policy.

Make up your mind and start a new life.

Good Luck:thumbup:

Do u have any idea what your pouch/stomach size is? I placed myself on a low carb high Protein diet in order to get used to my pre-op diet starting 06/20 and I already lost 7lbs. First time I'll loose so much weight in all of my adult yrs without any execise,diet,pills.

I have a good feeling abt this already.....of course there'll be bad days, but I'll look at my fat pictures to help me get over it. Someone suggested resistance bands training exercises for the biceps/triceps. I'm thinking of trying it. Its cheap, low impact and u can use it anywhere.

Will keep u posted on my progress.

No I havent. My surgery had been scheduled for July 1st, in abt 2 weeks plus. Dont know abt the Supersleeve but I'll appreciate a 3-4oz pouch.

Hi Stcyt, a. walker...

I am scheduled to be sleeved by Dr Rod July 1st and I've been walking on air ever since I got confirmed. Even though I had done a little research on my own, plus a thorough inquiry session through my Pt facilitator (Joyce/Belite),coming here had always been a delight. Real people, real experiences! :scared0:

Now I know I have to have at least 80-100 bucks in fives, tens and singles for either tips or purchases. I was thinking of bringing my laptop with me so I can stay connected with the rest of the world but my service provider promised to charge me EXTRA for any browsing or calls outside the borders, so maybe I'll just buy a calling card and leave my laptop at hm.

Okay, quick question Stcyt, I am kinda worried about loose skin and flab. How have you been coping with that (if u have any). I had a C-section done in 2008 and as I loose the baby weight, I have started experiencing a lot of jiggles around my tummy area (not pretty at all)...any advice?

Hugh! if I can just squeeze myself into a 10, I'm good.:thumbup:

SlimMissy, I'm on a pre-op diet. It seems they are very varied depending on the surgeon.

Your diet sounds just like my post-op diet requirements. I guess it varies by surgeon like you said. My concern is how to keep my carb intake at 40grms/day for my pre-op, how do you measure carbs in food like banana,apples, boiled eggs, etc ? I can live on bananas for the whole 2 weeks but how will I be certain I'm not cheating?

I'm scheduled to b sleeved by Dr Jose Rodriguez at the Star Medica in Juarez on July 1st. I did all my research and background check and he seems like a good doctor with a lot of experience. My patient facilitator at Beliteweight is Joyce and she was a patient herself. It sure makes one feel better to have some information about the surgeon, even though I havent spoken to him personally, I feel better each time I email my questions (dr's bio, travel safety, flight info, financing, diet, hospital hygiene, staff friendliness, etc) to Joyce and she calls me back with some more info.

She even gave me a list of Dr Rod's Sleeve and Band patients with their emails and after emailing a couple of them with my inquiries, I felt readier than ever. Juarez via El Paso is my preferred location since I live in Houston,TX and I was made to understand that the hospital is about 10-15 mins drive across Mexican border from El Paso airport, plus a driver will be there to take me straight to the doctor's office once I get to the airport. Good luck on the 29th VaMom, I belive you have taken the most important step and that is making the decision to go for it.

Uh, I'm a little confused here. I'm new to the site and scheduled for July 1st. I know that I am required to go on a low carb 2weeks diet pre-op and high Protein clear liquid diet post op for the same duration. Are you guys talking about post or pre-op diet?

By the way, it's great to be here. I've never felt more at home with people I haven't even met before.