kalew

I think they actually believe that big BMI people will have a better outcome with surgery and fewer complications if they exercise and loose weight prior. Some people are so out of shape they can not walk around the block and are poor surgical risks. Believe me your insurance company does not want any complications!

The pre-op diet is much harder than following the diet after surgery! The important thing is to lose weight so that your liver is easier for them to move during surgery. My doctors staff told me he once refused to do surgery on someone that didn't follow their pre-op diet. He just closed her up! So I stuck to it as best as I could, lost 12 lbs preop. Work hard, it is so worth it!!!

I'm about the same size as you and have hit a stall too. I was surprised this morning that I had not lost any more weight. Have been at 217 for a week, but I keep reading that with the lower BMIs it comes off slower. I haven't started exercising yet as I still have incisional pain and have trouble walking for very long due to that. But when I dieted I ate a lot more and lost weight, so it will come off! It has too, so I'll just keep plugging along. It's only been a little over 2 weeks since surgery and I just started the soft diet this week. I will be more conscious about my fluids, didn't get them in yesterday. Let me know how your doing!

By all means have the VSG over the tummy tuck. By experience I had one 15 years ago, due to breast cancer and tram surgical reconstruction of the breast. You get a tummy tuck with this, I was overweight (by about 25-30 lbs) but not obese then. Since, I have gained 80 lbs and you gain it all over in places you never gained before because a lot of your abdominal fat is gone. I probably have a ton of fat inside, my legs got huge, my back, rear, arms etc.

Could you put in fresh jalapenos? has anyone tried it this way? I was totally addicted to this sauce at Chuey's, tried to make it once but it wasn't close enough. I will definately try this.

Yoga is great! I used to do yoga regularly about 8 yrs ago then my club closed where I went. It really improves your posture and I always felt like I walked much straighter when I left class. It helps with that hump too as you are more aligned. You add muscle strength, increase flexability, increase lung expansion with all that breathing, and loose weight. I really want to get back into it once I recover from surgery. Namista! (or however you spell it)

I start my day with a no sugar added carnation instant Breakfast mixed with 1 c skim or 1% milk and add to that one scoop of unjury unflavored Protein powder. that equals 33 protein. You have to order UNJURY on the internet, but it is great in instant breakfast, you don't even know its there. Add one Isopure no carb drink a day and that adds another 40 gms of protein. And there you go!!!

thanks, I've not heard of this. Love new info.

Good rule of thumb, is 60 grams of protein a day, and 60 oz of liquids. kind of the KISS method (keep it simple) Eat the protein first, then veggies, then carbs if you are still hungry. I did 2 weeks of full liquids then start soft diet for 4 weeks: eat about 1/2 cup at a time for breakfast, lunch and dinner, for extra protein you can have protein shakes or drinks (I used Isopure zero carb from the vitamin shoppe) avoid fresh veggies, corn, asparagus, tomatoes, lettuce, celery, fresh fruits (except for bananas); no bread, rice, pasta. you can have about 1/2 slice of toast or about 4 crackers. good protein sources (3-4 oz) are lean chicken, lean hamburger, pork, beef, fish, etc. eggs, egg whites. The thought with the bread, rice, pasta as it tends to just ball up in your stomach and sit there, you may get nauseated or vomit. Look at labels and make sure that a sugar is not one of the first 3 ingredients listed. Made a mistake once with carnation instant breakfast (thought it was no sugar added one but it wasn't) had a bunch of strange noises then my bowels were overactive. If you want I can fax you my guidelines.

ROFLOL, I get to start phase II diet now. Can't wait, too bad the pizza won't be on it. Maybe we could just eat a cheese topping and leave the crust. ha ha

I think that you are talking about a leak test. It's like a mini barium swallow x-ray, but they use a different contrast (gaffian or something like that). Dr. did mine during surgery so I didn't know that I had one till later. I kept expecting one after surgery, then they told me he had already done it.

very funny! ha ha and a good warning!

Yea you are correct. I plan to wait 2 years and see what is going on. I have a hx of breast cancer so I've had the girls done about 15 yrs ago. I will probably end up weighing less than I did then and fear that they will be too big. I just hope I loose weight there too, since you all seem to have, that gives me encouragement.

Can't wait to clean out my closet. I have been needing to re-organize for a while, but I still have some smaller sizes that I should be able to wear again in a few weeks. Both my kids got married 3 years ago, so I had dieted and bought clothes only to get too big for them. I was posting my son's wedding pictures and when I came down the stairs I fell and broke my rt ankle (hubbie put a stack of papers on the steps) needless to say I promptly gained 30 lbs. and had not been able to get them off!!! I have now lost 20lbs of it in just 3 weeks. I am amazed. I dieted like everything last year, worked out with a trainer, etc and only lost 20 lbs in 3 mo!!! This sleeve is amazing. I am so happy!! I'm going to look forward to getting rid of these old skinny clothes as they will be too big!!! what a joy!

Thanks for sharing, I took your advice about the pain in the larger incision and rested a lot Sat. It does seem to be getting better, can get out of bed without pain, and it is not killing me to sneeze. still a little sore walking around though. So I feel like I will survive and there is nothing "wrong" going on. I may try altering my caloric intake as I start real food. I used to hit stalls a lot every time I dieted before and it drove me crazy... usually I'd get discouraged and quit.

Congratulations!!! Amazing that you are going to start diving, what a great way to celebrate! Go for LIFE!!!

I would never believe a zero percent complication rate either, people who leave Mexico and then have complications go to US hospitals for after care. I have very good friends who are from Mexico, she would not go to Mexico for the surgery. Many very good doctors in the US are now doing the self pay options for a lot less money. Dr. Nick has a very good plan for self pay.

Good luck to you, I am 57 so was looking at a miserable rest of my life if I kept on all the weight I was gaining. I didn't get really heavy until I broke my ankle 3 years ago and then promptly gained another 30 lbs. It is really much harder to loose weight when you are older. I was looking at getting less and less mobile, diabetes, and pain in all my weight bearing joints which just helps you gain more weight as you do less and less due to the pain. I've watched my cousin who gained probably 90 lbs after she retired, became diabetic, broke her hip, now is having surgery on the other hip, looking at being in a walker the rest of her life at 75. How is that a happy retirement? I had my surgery May 17 and have already lost 21 lbs, it took me 3 months to loose 20 lbs last year, just to have it all come back on after a few trips. I don't feel hungry, that is the best part! This is such a wonderful gift I have been given, it's amazing. I had my surgery here in Texas, by Dr. Nick; my insurance paid as we have federal BC/BS and it covered the sleeve due to diabetes.

I used to do appeals for an Insurance company. I had one member send in dated pictures of herself which showed she had BMI over 40 for the missing years. Sometimes you have to get creative, think about anywhere that might of recorded your weight. Weightwatcher cards etc.

What are your options? the benefits far outweighed any negatives as far as having this surgery went for me. I was on a downhill spiral, could not get control of my weight, constantly dieting and regaining. Lots of health issues creeping in and the future did not look bright at all, only pain. Now I feel that my future is bright, can't wait to get all the weight off, everyone here has been such an inspiration. I have lost 21 lbs so far since surgery and I haven't been hungry, I have an empty feeling when I get up in the morning, but no real hunger. I have to push myself a little to keep drinking, but not bad.

I had surgery with Dr. :thumbup:Nick May 17, everything has gone well. Had the surgery at Baylor Plano, very nice experience so far all around. I still have a some pain in one incision site, but that is normal I'm told as it is the biggest incision where they pull the removed stomach out, so it had to be a deeper stitch. No problems with leaking or infections, he has a very good rate on that. He is also the medical director for bariatric surgery at big Baylor too. Check out his website! Nick Nicholson clinic.

Thanks, I thought I was the only one. It is really hurting today, not sure what happened, probably trying to hold my grandson yesterday. He is only 6 mo, but weighs a lot. (I never picked him up) I'll see how it goes over the weekend. It's just doesn't seem to be getting better.

Yea, sounds like all you puppies are doing great. I'm 57 and still having pain in my side, the sleeve is great, can drink and eat without problems. But I have this stitch where they took the stomach out that is really giving me problems. Can't bend over, hard to sit down. So must be the age thing and maybe prior surgeries. But I am so glad that I have had this surgery. Getting older with a lot of extra weight just makes you unable to do the things you want, becoming diabetic, etc. I wasn't overweight when I was in my 30's, the weight just started coming on after menopause and I couldn't keep it off no matter what I did. So by having this surgery when you are young, you are way ahead of the game. Congratulations to all!!!

Congratulations! I felt better after my first post op this week just to know everything is going well. one more week of full liquids! Can't wait for tuna or scrambled eggs, yum!