mandems mom

I was told to wait 10 days to lift my baby (18 pounds) and no lifting weights or abdominal exercises for 1 month. He also wanted me to walk for an hour every day, but I'm only getting in about 100 calories a day (6 days post-op) and walk as much as I have energy for, but it's nowhere near to an hour.

Haven't had a movement since before surgery and wondering if this is normal while on clears or if I should add a fiber supplement? I don't feel constipated, but also never hvae the urge to go. Sorry if TMI!

I am not big-boned (think I'm considered small boned) but feel that 165 would be the absolute lowest I would go even though that keeps me in the "overweight" category for my 5'8 height. About 2 years ago, I got down to 190 with my lap band and I kept saying I still had another 25-30 pounds to go. Surprisingly, my friends and family felt that I already looking skinny and would look skeletal if I lost that much more. That might have been because they were used to me at 300+, but I don't want to look like I'm starving. I want to look and be healthy.

Thank you so much everyone!! I took a lot of your advice and started REALLY slowly last night and kept a big king sized pillow pressed up against my tummy the entire night. I rolled over to my left side just slightly with the pillow against me and it was HEAVEN!! I actually got 5-6 straight hours of sleep which is ALOT. I don't typically get more than that because I have a son who has night terrors in the middle of the night and 9 month old whose sleeping pattern is completely off since I left for surgery. Needless to say I feel soooo much better and refreshed today and I can't thank you enough!!! I think I'll be waiting until day 10 or so to get it on, but my hubby is sooo understanding and supportive that he would never complain. Thanks again...you guys are all so wonderful!

I had surgery on Sunday and I have severe tailbone pain (from a recent pregnancy) that makes it very painful to lay on my back/butt for long periods of time but I'm finding that my tummy hurts too much if I lay on my side and I won't even attempt to lay directly on it. Please let me know how long it took for you to resume either of these sleeping positions. Also, I didn't really get an idea as to when I could resume having sex although my take home paperwork said "whenever I feel able". Well, my head says I could go today, but I don't want to damage anything. How long did everyone wait before getting back into the "swing" of things?

Did everyone receive antibiotics to take for the days following surgery? I received some from Mexico that are just about the nastiest tasting medicine I've had in awhile and I'm wondering how necessary they are. I know, it sounds bad since they're preventative, but if you can barely get them down without gagging and causing pain the stomach, does it make sense? Did anyone NOT take this medicine and end up okay?

There aren't any OTC antibiotics that I'm aware of, so I'd have to see if my PCP would prescribe something. I'm supposed to take the Mexico antibiotic twice a day for 3 days and it's 5ML (1oz) everytime and horrible!! It takes me hours just to psych myself up to take it. Then again, I am a big baby when it comes bad tasting stuff so I'm screwed on the whole Protein shakes thing. BLECH!!!

I keep hearing that refried beans are okay in the mushy stage...are baked beans okay too?

I think everyone is different, but I only had nausea for a few hours after surgery and was given some great anti-nausea medication. Are you sure you're not feeling the affects of the gas? That can last several days and definitely cause pain; especially under your breastbone and in your shoulders.

Meatballs are considered mushy??? I thought mushy meant runny consistency....

Keep in mind that Mexicali has a higher standard of living than Tijuana and similar areas, so that's likely to also be part of the higher cost. Certainly the surgeon has a phenomenal reputation, but he may very well charge a reasonable surgeon fee yet have a higher priced package because of hotel and hospital fees in the area. In 2005, I had a lapband installed in Monterrey for $9500. I could've paid around $5,000 if I wanted it done in Tijuana but I was chicken and was very familiar with Monterrey and how americanized it was so I paid the additional fees. I don't regret it, but chose not to go that same route for my band revision to sleeve. This time around, as long as the city was reasonably safe, the doctor has a great reputation and good credentials, and the surgery is performed in a full service hospital I was willing to sacrifice location to save a few thousand dollars. In my case, it would have cost me $4,000 more to go to Dr. Aceves in Mexicali vs. Dr. Rodriguez in Tijuana. I definitely considered it, but then I also knew that I could've paid around $12-$14K in the states too.

I feel for you...I know how family pressures can get to a person. Just be careful with the commitment you've made to them. What they have to understand is that it's really not that difficult to lose weight....we've all done it on various fad diets. Keeping it off is the problem for most of us, so even if you reach the goal that's been set for you, there's nothing to say that 1 month, 2 months, etc you won't be right back where you were or worse..and then you have to wait to get back on the doctor's schedule if you finally decide to go through with the surgery. Good luck to you!

Why was your drain in for so long?? Mine was taken out 2 days after surgery this past Sunday...I now have a little whole that's starting to scab up nicely.

Email sent. Please watch for it!

I am so very sorry for your loss. You are incredibly strong to still go through the surgery while you were grieving. I would never have had the emotional strength to do that. Thank goodness you had your daughter with you. Best of luck to you with your recovery; hopefully your loss gets easier to deal with every day.

No offense taken...just didn't understand the basis for your post. People go to Mexico because it's a lot cheaper than the states if you don't have insurance to cover it. Believe it or not, even in Mexico you can get the same or BETTER care than what you get in the states. It's a little known fact that Mexico as well as other countries, typically begin performing weight loss surgeries years prior to the United States so that by the time doctors here are doing them, doctors from other countries have far more experience and are training our US doctors. Lots of people have a preconceived notion as to what to expect in Mexico...people have told me I was going to come back with my kidneys removed and all sorts of ridiculous things, but that's because they've never been there and never experienced it. I've had weight loss surgery twice in Mexico and would not hesitate to go back. Both times, I saved over $15,000 and was treated by highly reputable doctors with WAY more experience than what I would have gotten in my state.

Aside from the military angle, you could also check into any state programs that you may have. Here in Wisconsin, we have programs that covers pregnant mothers. They typically go after the father for some of the costs, but it's free for you and baby if your income qualifies. The baby should be covered under the father's insurance when he/she is born. Personally, I would not get married simply because you got pregnant. If you weren't thinking about it before, there's no reason to do it now. If you like the guy, then just continue what you're doing with the relationship and see if you have a chance long term. Marrying or even staying married because of a baby rarely works out. I stayed married to a loser because I got pregnant and wasted some really good years because of it. No matter what happens, be the best mom that you can be and hopefully he'll be a wonderful and responsible for father. Try to keep your stress level to a minimum and enjoy this time you have with the little being growing inside of you.

Huh? Not sure where this came from. We're suggesting that Juarez is not the safest place to go, but there are many other areas of Mexico that are very safe. And about the gas thing, people spend a heck of a lot of time in the customs line to get back to the US which wastes a lot of gas so it hardly makes sense to go there just for that!

Unfortunately, I can't help with telling you what the new normal is since I just had my surgery on Sunday, but I have to say that you have some of the most entertaining posts I've ever read. I love your candor and no holds barred, tell it like it is attitude. I hope you get over your hump quickly and adapt in no time....oh and keep posting!!

According to my post-op diet, I'm not allowed to have anything thicker than water (clear liquids) until week 2. Regular (non-clear) protein shakes are part of that. Is it possible that the thicker fluids are causing the problem?

Original post duplicated in error

It's a shame that people can't or choose not to use the "mouth" filter learned when they were younger. I'll never forget the time my best friend and I attended a first communion together and the priest touched her belly and asked how far along she was. She laughed it off and responded that she wasn't pregnant, just fat, but I felt so horrible for her! She's really only slightly overweight, but has a protruding stomach due to a hernia issue. I had gotten the pregnant comment once before but slightly opposite. I was over 300 pounds and pregnant and someone told me that they would never have guessed that I was pregnant. Guess I was just too fat to show it!!

It looks like this GNC product is geared to be a meal replacement. Is that typical of the protein drinks that the docs expect us to drink or are they supposed to sustain us in between meals? If it's being used to replace a meal, it would seem that the 15grams of carbs wouldn't be horrible since staying under 60 carbs per day is what I understand the goal should be.