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I so wish I could have had this surgery at 18! I just turned 30 a couple of weeks ago and I bet my 20's would have been a whole lot better if I had the sleeve done at your age! Go for it!

I use generic Flonase as well and it works great. My doctor also gave me a sinus rinse bottle (http://www.neilmed.com/usa/sinusrinse.php) to use morning and night, and it's actually made a huge difference in my allergy symptoms.

Thank you all for responding and giving me some great ideas. Reading my original post now makes me feel kind of silly, I really wasn't looking at the big picture of all the weight I've already lost. I'm still in a fight with my insurance company about paying for the sleeve. Long story short, I was denied coverage on 2 appeals so I borrowed the $12000 for the surgery and had it done as a self pay with the possibility of reimbursement if my appeal was approved. I just found out my third appeal was denied, but the denials are all based on out of date studies and an out of date statement by the ASMBS so I actually think I'm going to use my last option and go to court to fight it. My father-in-law is an attorney and he thinks I have a shot. I was just so stressed out thinking that I paid all that money and my weight loss had stopped... which I realize now is irrational. I took some of all your advice and relaxed, started exercising, and added some calories and fat. I was down 2 pounds today, and while not a lot, the scale has started moving again! Yea! Thanks again for the help!

I guess I'm an odd ball with this, but at 4 weeks out I can basically drink like I did pre-op. Cold, warm, and room temperature liquids are all fine, and I can take a pretty good pre-op sized swig. Haven't tried really hot liquids yet, but I have had decaf coffee that's been really warm with no problem. And to answer your actual question, I've had ice water with no problem either. I've been lucky that I haven't found a food or drink intolerance yet.

I think the new Lane Bryant sizing is stupid and confusing. I wear an 18 in Old Navy pants and a 4 in LB. Hope that helps.

Hi, I'm 3 weeks post-op and I've healed pretty fast. At this point I can drink almost 100% the way I did before surgery. I don't have any hunger (just head hunger sometimes), and sometimes I forget that I even had major surgery just 3 weeks ago because I feel so good. While I'm happy that I can drink normally, I'm a little worried about the amount of food I can eat at one sitting. I can eat a 4 ounces of mashed potatoes or yogurt in about 15 min (I'm cutting those foods out though, because they are too high in carbs) and 2 ounces of chicken salad or refried beans in about 5-10 minutes. I've been reading posts on here where people further out than me are eating 2 ounces in an hour. I limit myself to these quantities, but in all honesty, I could probably eat a couple more ounces of these foods at one sitting. Is it just because I'm on mushy foods that I can eat more/faster, or is this the normal amount/way to feel when eating mushies? My surgeon used a size 32 on me, and he told me my sleeve was "nice and small" but I really feel like I'm eating more than I should be. thanks

Before surgery I took one Centrum chewable daily. Now that I'm post-op I take 2 Centrum chewables daily and a sublingual B-12. I tried to use the Bariatric Advantage vitamins, but they were like chewing on sawdust, yuk!

I've been taking these prescription Prevacid tablets that dissolve on your tongue since day 3, and I haven't had any problems with acid at all. They're quite expensive without insurance, but if you have prescription insurance maybe you can ask your doctor for a script.

I weighed 295 when I started my pre-op diet on 3/16. I'm female, 5'4", 29yrs old. I lost 15 pounds with the pre-op diet, and 20 since I had my surgery on 3/30. So total weight loss is 35 pounds. I'm very happy with the results so far!

We are total opposites. I had a 2 week liquid pre-op diet that was awful. I would have killed to do low carb! At least you can eat! Just stick with it, and you will feel okay. I know from doing the Atkins diet so many times that it takes about 3 or 4 days to get all the carbs out of your system, and once you do you will feel much better. Also, once you're post-op you probally won't be getting in that many carbs per day. I'm 2 weeks post-op and I'm averaging about 30-35g of carbs a day, simply because I can't eat/drink that much. Stick with your diet so your surgery has the best chance at success! Good luck!

Wow, you look fantastic! I have a lot to lose, but you inspire me and make me feel like it can be done. I've also never been able to wear cute dresses like that, so I can only imagine how excited you must be!

It was given to me for nausea, but this is what I found online: "Metoclopramide increases muscle contractions in upper digestive tract. This speeds up the rate at which the stomach empties into the intestines. Metoclopramide is used short-term to treat heartburn caused by gastroesophageal reflux in people who have used other medications without relief of symptoms. Metoclopramide is also used to treat slow gastric emptying in people with diabetes (also called diabetic gastroparesis), which can cause nausea, vomiting, heartburn, loss of appetite, and a feeling of fullness after meals." Also, I guess if you take it for a long time it can cause some weird disease...

I'm 2 weeks out today, and have been problem free except on days 9 - 11. I too was having stomach spasms/cramps anytime I drank anything. They have since stopped, and I think it's because I started taking my Reglan prescription that I should have been taking since surgery, but wasn't. Maybe you could ask your doctor for Reglan to see if it would help? I was given a 2 week supply to take 3x's a day when I left the hospital, but I thought it was for nausea, which I didn't have, so I didn't take it. After researching, I found that Reglan helps the stomach empty faster. Anyway, I'm not 100% sure if that's what made the spasms go away, but it might be worth a shot. I feel really bad for you, I totally know what you are going through. Good luck.

I'm at 12 days out. The first 3 or 4 days I had some hunger. It wasn't as bad as pre-op by any means, but there was hunger. The hunger is basically gone now, and my desire to eat real food is just for the taste and chewing sensation. I understand what you mean about the "grazing" because I feel like that's what I'm doing too. Pre-op I planned on making an eating and drinking schedule, but I never did that. My plan calls for 3 weeks of liquid, so I still have another week and 2 days of this phase. I'm going to make an eating time chart so I feel like I have more control over what I'm eating right now. My estimation is that I'm currently drinking about 24 to 36 ounces of Water a day, and getting in 2 to 3 8oz Protein shakes a day. I know this is not enough, so I feel a schedule would help me get everything in. The last time I weighed myself was on day 6, and at that point I'd lost 10 pounds since surgery, 25 total with pre-op. That was totally exciting, but I'm also really fat and have a lot to lose. Since then, I have put my scales out of reach. The next time I weigh myself might be in a month or so. I figure there is no point in weighing right now because I know the weight is going to come off (it has to, I'm eating hardly anything) and I can't do anything more than I'm doing to speed it up.

My doctor told me to use a laxative to get things going. He recommended Dulcolax suppositories. Also, there is a All Bran sf pink lemonade that tastes just like Crystal Light and has 10g of fiber

Thanks the replies everyone. It feels really good to know that this is a common problem. I did talk to my doctor and he didn't seem too concerned. He thinks the cramps are probably just part of the healing process. If it doesn't get better by Monday I can go in for a swallow test. I hope it does so I don't have to drink that awful test liquid crap again! I will try the warm drinks tonight and hope that helps. I'm finding life with the sleeve to be a different experience everyday. Three days ago I got in four 16oz Protein drinks and 36oz of Water, and it all went down super easy. Now today because of the cramps, I've only been able to get in 75% of a Protein Drink and about 10oz of water. I hope these cramps go away soon...

Thanks for the info. I called my doctor and am now waiting for a call back. I'm getting worried because I've only been able to get in about 8oz of water and 1/3 of a protein drink in today. I don't want to end up with dehydration or malnourished. I'm so confused as to why this is happening now, the last 8 days have been pretty much trouble free. I'm starting to have those "what have I done to myself?" thoughts.

I'm on liquids right now too, and I keep thinking about eating something real, even healthy foods. It's the fear of a leak that stops me as well. I can't wait to move on to mushies. I think it will be different this time around for me because, although I am craving some junk food, the cravings and hunger are only a fraction of what they were pre-op. Before I was like an out of control animal with food, now I feel like I have the power to make the right food choices.

Hi all, I'm on post op day 5, and the last couple of days I've been really hungry. This is rather troubling since I thought the surgery would take away my hunger, especially in the beginning. Or could this just be what I've heard people call "head hunger"? Will it get better when I move on to mushies? Also, (possibly TMI) I've been having some cramping and loose stools. Does anyone know if pepto bismol is alright in the all liquids phase? Thanks, you guys help me out so much.

It's an hard to explain empty feeling mixed with "that sounds good". I'm on an acid reducer so I don't think it's that. Hopefully it's the ghrelin. Also, I guess I didn't realize how much I liked eating food. I miss it now. Will that feeling pass?

I've been using the GNC brand 100% whey and I can't taste it. So far I've put it in malt-o-meal, cream of potato soup, and a smoothie with no aftertaste at all.

Has anyone here ever appealed to a Independent Review Organization? My second appeal has been denied, and according to my insurance company this is my next option. Just wondering if anyone has been successful with this. Thanks

There is another kind of these out there called Nu Whey that are 100% whey. They are 3.4oz, have 42g protein, around 190 calories, and 0 carbs. I got mine at GNC, but you can get them cheaper on the internet. I have the fruit punch flavor, and they are barely drinkable, but I think it's the only way I'm going to meet the protein requirement at this point (4 days out). They taste like super thick, sweet, salty Gatorade.

We are allowed to have Italian Ice and Fruit Sorbet in this stage on my program.

Hello, I about 34 hours post op, and not doing so good. I was feeling okay about 3 hours ago and decided to leave the hospital. Now that I am at home I can't get down my anti-nausea med and pain med. There is just no room. Every sip feels like it get stuck and there is pain in my chest. Also, I feel like the gas pain is getting worse my chest too. Will all this pass soon? Should I wait it out at home, or go back to the hospital? Thanks