iegal

I puked for about three months if I ate too quickly or too much. Slow learner on listening to my new tummy signals of full tummy. Are you puking even with mushies & liquids? If yes, contact your surgeon ASAP. Agree with previous poster, you need to speak to your surgeon and get some follow up. The scarring of the stomach internally may restrict anything other than liquid passing through. Be vigilant not to become dehydrated as this will put you back in the hospital quickly.

At closer to two years from surgery (Sept 2010) I am not as disciplined as the other wonderful responders. Goal was quick for me, so I did not keep all of my great habits during the weight loss. Today - I still battle my mind and it is a good thing that my sleeve restricts me. Yes, I can eat more than I think I should - throwing in slider foods (chips/candy/sauces) in with meals which allows me to eat more than I think I should. I snack between meals. I still eat too quickly a bad habit that has come back. This tricks my stomach into allowing me to get more in since my full signal (I sneeze about three times) is overridden when eating quickly. I need to drink more often rather than grab a snack. VSG surgery has turned me into a sugar a holic. food is not in my every waking thought. I don't plan my day around food anymore, dreaming of my next meal. I eat because of smell, texture and social reasons. Sadly-a few recent emotional downturns have caused me to slide into some bad habits again. Working on being better. No I do not measure food, what I do is at every meal...every meal I eat on a small plate. If out to dinner, I eat off the bread plate. So others at the table do not feel uncomfortable, I place my plate on top of a regular dinner plate, using the dinner plate as a charger. Tricks my mind into thinking I am getting a lot of food. People do not "watch" my portions too. My problem prior to surgery was volume and using food as a cure for everything. Guess what my problem is after surgery? Same thing but my "sleevie wonder" stops me from overeating...as if I could over eat now. HA HA. Surgeon made my stomach smaller and did not fix my brain. Although I do not feel physical hunger I suffer from snacking urges due to boredom, bad habits or neglecting to drink enough. I am maintaining my weight - within 5 pounds approx but I still need to make better food choices. The sleeve did not fix my mind - food is still a battle but now with VSG I can win the war. I win more battles than I lose. Need to stratagize daily to win more battles. I am the enemy. I am the victor. No one is responsible for my future long term success of VSG but me. Stay vigilant with your good habits even after goal. No regrets, I love my sleeve.

Agree all surgeons are different, but I agree with your initial reaction. I have read many post op diet plans for VSG and not one suggests it is okay to drink soda. At 1 1/2 years out not one drop of soda has passed my lips still. Not one VSG diet plan allows you to eat anything and everything you feel like at 2 weeks out. Even with a very expereinced surgeon, I did not follow everything my surgeon said to the letter. Listen to common sense, what your body says is okay. Maybe troll the internet for other surgeons diet plans and modify to what you feel is best for you and your needs. Although I could go to mushies at 2 weeks, my first taste of real food was at 5 weeks - 1 tablespoon of applesauce. It was what I could handle mentally as welll as physically. Let me know if you would like any surgeons diet plans that I have collected. Or better yet, just go to google and put in VSG diet plan. Congrats on your sleeve!

An early welcome to the losers bench. Remember to sip often, walk often and rest in between. Wishing you a speedy recovery!

I am 1 1/2 years out - no revision needed. Think you need to talk to your surgeon. When you get VSG - the portion left of your stomach does not have the elasticity to stretch back into normal size again...you can't grow a new pouch. This is not the old stomach stapling surgery of decades ago. Now I can eat more than I did at three months out. But I know how to trick my stomach with slider foods (not recommended) But in no way can I eat a lot of gorge as I did before as a volume eater. Talk to your surgeon, you will be happiest with a medical response. Good luck - I love my sleeve even today.

Oh honey, this journey is not easy. I will tell you that I did not feel "normal" with energy levels until about 6 months out. Think about it ... your body was probably getting 2000 calories a day with 200+ carbs plus all the sugar. Now you are lucky to get under half of those calories and carbs (hopefully little sugar) and you expect your body to be happy? My body was angry. i was lethargic, low energy for at least three months even with adequate liquids, taking Vitamins. I was detoxing, eliminating soda, no caffine, minimal carbs and so on. Boy did my body rebel. Stick in there. I promise things will get better. Stick to the diet plan. Maybe UP your calories - really. Sometimes body is in starvation mode. You are learning about how to eat and what to eat. This is a journey, not a script to follow to the letter. Hugs and feel free to contact me directly if you ever want to vent one on one. No regrets - I love my sleeve!

Yes, you’ll need help those first few weeks since you can't lift baby right away. Can a family member or a friend come and stay with you? Recommend a minimum of that first week someone around constantly during the hours your kids are awake. You will need to rest and recoup. Ask during your consult what surgeon recommends for support. Your kids are important so a delay would be better than a potential you not being able to care adequately for your babies.

So - are you already on your pre-op diet? Or is your NUT going to give to a plan?

So adverse to pain. I filled my pain perscription (liquid) prior to surgery - so ask your surgeon what they recommend for pain management. Honestly - no pain for me. None. Nausea was really bad but no pain. I had VSG as an outpatient so I was home comfortable in my own bed that night. I did take the medication one night since I was not sleeping. I slept a lot that first week. Make a list of what questions to discuss with your surgeon on that all important pre-op appointment. Wishing you the best! No regrets - I love my sleeve!

Most of us are scared before surgery - this is an optional surgery. Remember, human kind is afraid of what we do not know about. Some people are scared before learning to swim others were scared of transplant surgery. People are ignorant and it sounds like your doctor does not have all the facts. This does not make him a bad doctor but to threaten dropping you because you are pursuing something to make you healthier? Is that good medicine and in your best interest? No, he is not up to date on his information to advise you properly. I only had a 33+ BMI so insurance would not cover me. I was a healthy fat person considered obese, just not morbidly obese. Every physical for years my doc would suggest losing 75+ pounds. Wow, but surgery wasn’t an option to me without a weight gain of 25+ pounds – which is crazy. Knew what my future was...more weight, less activity, lower self esteem, inability to do the things I wanted to do physically, shop freely in normal size stores and so much more. Can I suggest you make a pro and con list? What happens if you do have surgery? What benefits do you get? Do research; ask others why they are doing this. Ask a person who has VSG for a while...are they still happy? (YES I AM) Now the cons - what happens if you don't have surgery? What is your future health going to be like? (take a look at your family who are overweight) This is not a decision to make lightly since VSG is non reversible. Move forward with confidence. Hugs to you!!!

Hi Delby; We are meeting first weekend in May in Rancho Cucamonga. You are welcome to come and join us! Send "sleeve 4 me" a message to get details or you can always contact me directly. Congrats on upcoming surgery! iegal

Hi; Congrats on your decision to have VSG surgery. Now about those kids...not knowing the maturity level of the kids or if they are worry warts you will be the best one to know how to approach them. Kids don't need to know every detail and they will learn more details as they get older. Balance what is need to know information. Remember they are your children, not your friends with adults minds able to rationalize pros and cons of this major optional surgery. Adjust according perhaps just small bites of info, not a data dump. I did not tell my adult age kids since I did not want them worry about my recovery while they studied at college. You and your husband know what is right for your family. Again, congrats! I have no regrets.

As WL surgeons will tell you - they do gastric surgery, not brain surgery. Many of us battle head hunger even after VSG surgery. I am 1 1/2 years out from surgery and have slid into eating in between meals not because I am hungry, but because I am able to do so and food still tastes good. Today I had chips with ranchy dip for a snack, and a few handfuls of candy hanging around from Easter. No dinner yet. Really I know better. Take your time to learn good habits and be vigilant. No regrets - I love my sleeve! Signed - need to take my own advice.

I can get a nasueated feeling every now and then. If you are doing a lot of yard work, may I suggest taking breaks more often and sipping more slowly? Sleevers have to plan ahead, so drink all morning before you begin working. Glad to hear you are out and moving. The sleeve is great!

I was told no, too much acid and you are trying to reduce stomach acids prior to surgery. Mine was almost an entire liquid protien diet with one protien bar a day so I had something to chew. Lucky you might have it easier. Best best? Ask your surgeons office in the morning. Good luck on your upcoming VSG surgery!

Congrats on your upcoming surgery date! 1. How long did your surgery last on average? under 2 hours - Oh I was an outpatient too, so I went home that day and got to sleep in my own bed - YEAH 2. How long did it take you to wake up from the anesthesia? I was awake within one hour of coming out, but not ready to go home since I had a lot of nausea. 3. I know everyone is different but on a scale of 1-10 how much pain did you feel once you woke up? Um, is 10 high pain and 1 no pain? I felt no pain - none. But I have a lot of buddies in SoCal group who felt a lot of pain. Don't think of me as wonderwoman, I avoid pain at all costs. 4. How soon do they have you start walking around once you wake up? As soon as you can - within an hour after waking up. I was not attached to any pain meds or pain pumps or catheder or drain or heart monitor or etc. They wanted me moving right away. I was just another normal girl, minus most of my stomach. The nausea was bad though. 5. If there are any ladies out there who had PCOS, did it go away or improve with time after surgery? n/a i have so many more, if you have any other info other than what i asked...its welcome! Ask away - that is what we are here for to share and cheerlead each other onto success. Remember we are all different, with different surgeons using different methods & tools. Hugs!

I didn't try to freeze the Isopure 40gm clear protien (love the apple melon-think jolly green rancher) but I did try to make a shake with ice. Did not work at all as it became frothy and undrinkable. Great idea, but you might not want it. I did not do well with SF popsicles. Oh - and I could not stand anything cold after surgery as it upset my tummy. Found with trial and error that room tempature drinks or slightly warm were best and I could get in more liquid. Highly recommend peppermint tea, luke warm or lipton chicken Soup (strained & slightly warm) Had to take a PPI since stomach acid was really high for first couple of months.

Depends entirely upon your surgeon. Would be great questions to ask. My surgery covered first 6 months follow-up. I went at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months. Blood work at all to make sure I was getting in all my nutrients and losing as expected. Oh, I also have free support groups every Tuesday with either with a nutritionist leading the session or one of the surgeons or PT for life. Follow up is EVERYTHING in my opinion. Wishing you the best of luck!

It is okay to be nervous but I think you are more feeling a sense of excitement for what is coming...a new you! Good luck on this exciting journey!

Wishing you a lot of future successes!

Oh hun, you are seeing results and maybe possibly sabatoging your weight loss? Are you tracking your food? It is a real possibility that you are not getting enough calories and this can cause a serious stall. Body then thinks you are starving and will hold all weight. Reevaluate all of the possibilities. You can do this because you are strong. Hang in there, we are here to cheer you onto your goal weight.

Congrats! Hope the days go by quickly.

Okay; Hate to give some tough love but really? Show was about a 600+ pound man so you can not really compare. Now, about loose skin. Would you be willing to be skinnier and have some loose skin you can cover most of the time or be your current size? Agree with previous poster, your age, ethnic backgroud, genes will determine what you look like. Excercise helps during weight loss. You can build muscle to help a little. Today I have loose skin which I bear as marks of my "previous" life just like my stretch marks from pregancy. I am not ashamed of either. Yes, I wish I had neither but where I am today is so worth any minor imperfection. Courage on this journey friends. Love my sleeve.

Papa Jack; Congratulations to you and your wife on success marital success, even more so than the sleeve success. Thank you for the smiles today. Not just the sleeve victory but to hear how your love spanned so much. Hugs.

Sleeved Sept. 2010. Surgery changed my direction of life and I have no regrets besides the standard "wish I had done this sooner" which is so true! Stairs do not scare me, my joints feel better, food is no longer my enemy, the self hatred cycle is gone,and I no longer beat myself up for not being able to master my volume eating. Yes, I hit goal quickly by being a trooper and sticking to the diet plan like sleeve surgery was my last hope in under six months. Now I am fairly steady within 4-5 pounds of personal goal weight. If you are considering sleeve and are serious about follwing a a new way of eating, go for the sleeve. Yes, I struggled and there were times I cried during the VSG journey. Sleeve is as must mental changes as physical changes. Wish I had listened more at seminar and gotten more involved prior to surgery. I went in so naive but blessed to have a great support group here. Thank you VST friends past, present and future.