iegal

An early welcome to the losers bench. Wishing you a speedy recovery!

Wow - good for you recognizing all your victories. Congrats!

Hi all; Just a reminder that there is a So Cal Sleevers group (see top tab) for you to join. Great place to talk to other local VSG patients in various stages of sleeve journey. Good luck to you all and remember we are here to cheerlead you onto victory. Hope to hear about your success!

Stairs weren't a problem for me, but being weak cause me not to be totally steady on my feet for a few days. Never had an issue but if your bedroom is on floor 4, a backup plan might be in order. Don't forget to ask you doc about how much weight you can carry after surgery since you will be lugging laundry / other items up and down stairs. VSG was much easier than my c-section.

I felt what you felt - uneasy stomach and a light cramping. No gas but a lot of rumbling. Best way to find out is to cut out dairy for the next 48 hours and see how you feel on day 3. Good luck! PS - my lactose intolerance went away at 4 months, until then - soy milk or lactose free milk from the health food store

My surgeon made me promise that I would never drink sodas again...and I haven't at almost two years out. Now, I have had champagne and sparkling wines but not until after 6 months out and I have a single flute. Why do you drink things that are questionable? Are you drinking for your heath and weight loss or for your tastebuds and old habits? Remember the goal...to hit goal so even if okay I would stay away from anything in the gray area until in normal BMI range. Remember your goal is to hit goal weight. Best wishes!

1. I can sit in the airplane without an extender for the seatbelt. 2. My refrigerator has room in it 3. Even my underwear size decreases 4. Employees at Taco Bell thought I had moved away

Thank you for such a uplifting, postive post. Happy days!

I agree, go back in to doctors. That is crazy. Tell them you think the scale was off or go to another doctor. You are so close!!! Can't believe they didn't say something to you. 6 months wait for about 3 lbs? ARGH

Good for you! You know you are a slow loser (remember this is not a race of you against another sleever) and you still keep to the plan. Way to stay positive and recognize how far you have come. 56 pounds gone forever! Down to size 14 jeans. Now that is something to celebrate!

Now that if fun...when you can fit into your spouses jeans. So glad you updated us on your great progress thus far.

WOW, you are almost swimming in that dress already. Amazing results. Keep up the great loss.

Stalls suck. Stick with the plan, you body is pissed off and could be in starvation mode. Think about it - a few weeks ago you were having probabaly 2000 calories a day & 100 gm of carbs. Now, you deprive it. So, it is fighting back thinking you are never going to give it food again. Next you need to remember than this is not a race against other sleevers and how fast they lose in comparison to you. You are unique and will lose if you eat/drink correctly. Have you tried increasing your calories by 100 each day and reducing your carbs by 10 gm a day? Difficult to do, but you might need to take some measures if this stall lasts another week. Good luck and stick to the plan!

I told no one but a select few girlfriends and my DH. My mom was not told until 3 months after surgery which was a hard secret since she only lives a block away. Daughter only found out after she found paperwork in my bedroom. My dad still does not know. Slowly I have told a few trusted family members. Glad I faced my demons on my own and was not scrutinized at every bite I took...or didn't take. At almost two years out - I have no regrets of having VSG surgery. Wishing you the best!

Our next meeting will be Saturday, JULY 7th at 10am Send Sleeve 4 me a message for details

Welcome to VST! Sure you will find a lot of great people offering advice and support here. Hope you get through Options quickly.

I would scroll down and read the thread "Band to Gastric Sleeve revision". There you can get info from people who had the band...failed and now are in line for the sleeve. You can read about their storeis with the band, the frustrations, the second surgery due to failure of band. You are a wise lady to do your research before deciding. I love my sleeve and have no regrets. PS - I went in for a band too and surgeon suggested VSG. So glad he did

Almost everyone I know who has been sleeve experienced some hair loss. Biotin suppliments, Biosilk shampoo...nothing helped. I limited my brushing of hair so I was not yanking on it often. I washed my hair once a week and used dry shampoo (from Walmart) rest of time. Good news is my hair regrew and is just as full as it was before. Hairloss is a small price to pay for the results you can get. Hugs...I know it is difficult.

Caution. I bought a lot before hand and threw away hundreds of dollars in protien shakes, Vitamins and the like. Most of us have taste buds that change after sugery. So plan for just those first few weeks. Don't buy a lifetime supply of protien. There are places that offer sample packages of Protein for a small fee. Next, go to thread "what you will need for surgery" and I think you will see a lot of suggetions from experienced sleevers. What worked for me might not be best for you but here you go. Decaf Peppermint tea to calm my tummy - drink tepid (sensitive to hot & cold) Lipton chicken broth (cause I was so sick of the sweet protein drinks) Barriatric type cuppacino drink with 15gm protien. About $11 bucks for 7 pouches. LOVED them. G2 gatorade/Zero Powerade to keep me hydrated those first few days at home Heating pad for my tummy those first few nights at home. Really it was a PPI that fixed rumbling tummy. A lot of reading material about sleeve from many sources. Google is my friend. A list of why I did surgery - to read when I had a relapse thinking "what did I do?" Wishing you the best of luck and a speedy recovery. I love my sleeve and have no regrets.

Have you Googled "VSG diet plan" or similar words? Many surgeons post their diet plans and offer a variety of suggestions. As for the suggestions for soft fish on previous post - you can go to a local Trader Joes for all of these options.

Welcome to VST and hope you find a lot of great support here. Suggest you scroll down a little and look for the "Band to Gastric Sleeve Revisions" thread. Wishing you the best of luck!

Seems most of lifes social interactions involve food. So - when you go out for those first couple of dates here are some tips. First date - go for coffee/tea Order a Skinny Decaf vanilla Latte (160 calories & 10 gram Protein - order Soy if lactose issues) and go for a walk afterwards. You would be amazed at what you find out about a person in a book store. Second date - go out for appitizers. Tell date you don't drink on worknights (no alcohol) or say you have an early morning next day. You pick the place. Do your research going on the internet to search menus that have protein items you can have like fish, wings or another protien. At PF Changs I eat the chicken in lettuce wraps. NUMMY Date three - By now you should be able to feel comfortable enough to go out and do something. It is summer, so find a local park concert, bikeride, beach walk or go to a farmers market. You pack the Snacks. Remember, dating is about getting to know someone. Eating is just another way to have fun. You will know when it is time to approach the subject of - "hey, I am actively trying to lose weight so where would you like to go to do something together?" Now, get out there and have fun!

No drain, no catheder, no morphine drip or pain pump. I had VSG as an outpatient procedure and slept peacefully in my own bed that night without hospital staff or other patients waking me up often. Yes, I went home with liquid perscription pain meds to take as needed ... which I only took once to get to sleep.. Number of incisions can vary, how surgeon closes incisions - staples or glue is different also. Good luck on this journey to a new you.

The preop diet is torture. Accept that nothing is going to make this part of your weight loss journey any easier. But you are strong with all you have gone through to this point and surgery is so very close. Remember that, okay?. Just like any addict - take one day at a time. Today you will choke down protien drinks. Today you won't consume any anything not allowed on preop diet. Today is your walk towards a new life. Grab this opportunity (with a small price of preop diet) and be happy.

IMO all frozen foods have too many preservatives, salt and carbs for your new lifestyle. Even though you hate cooking - commit to attempting to cook once a week, freezing or storing in your new small meal size portions. A cooked chicken breast (20 min @ 400 degrees) will last me 2 meals minimum even now at almost 2 years out. Throw in 3 breasts with different seasoning in oven. When done, cut into fourths. Freeze for 12 mini meals. Take out as needed - add to greek yogurt for a high Protein chicken salad. Add to Lipton broth for a wet chicken Soup. Sprinkle low fat cheese for a modified chicken quesadilla. Put in a teaspoon of BBQ for a modified pulled chicken taste. YUM. Get a can of tuna or crab or salmon, drain, add greek yogurt & season. Will last you several meals for 3 days due to freshness of meat. Boil 4 eggs. Make egg salad by adding greek yogurt and salt with two eggs. Other two cut in half - put yolks with greek yogurt and season making 4 deviled eggs. Get turkey meat and low fat mozzerlla sticks. Wrap turkey around mozzerella stick for lunch. Now, you have six ingredients to purchase and a weeks worth of meals. Costs less, better for you. Maybe 30 minutes of your time to invest in your health. If you truly hate to cook and would prefer never to cook again - grab a friend to cook for you trading services. Or look up "Dream Dinners" If you did this surgery to be healthy, start now. Time to get new healthy habits.