lsereno

A bougie is guide that is used to help the surgeon size your new stomach. Once you are under sedation, the bougie is passed down your throat and into your stomach. The surgeon cuts your stomach around the bougie. Typically, surgeons now use between a 32 and 40. The smaller the number, the smaller the guide's circumference. Early out, surgeons used bougies as large as 70. There is a huge amount of controversy about bougie sizes. But bougie size is not the only factor in determining how large you stomach will be. Some surgeons oversew the staple line. Some cut closer to the bougie. Some people have longer stomachs. All these factors affect how much smaller your stomach is. And your stomach size is not the only factor in your success. How compliant you are with your program and how resistant your body is to losing weight are important aspects to consider as well. The pic I've included of bougie sizes is one that periodically makes the rounds on this board and others. If you want more details on bougie size and it's effect on your success, read Carmelita's blog entry on this over on Obesity Help: http://www.obesityhe.../2011/03/31/-2/ Lynda

I'm a 40 too!

You're welcome! Hope all goes well and you are scheduled soon. Lynda

I went through Kaiser Fremont. They had us return at two weeks, six weeks, three months and one year. It's annual after that. During the annual visit the review blood tests, check in on how we're feeling, and schedule a bone density test. To me, follow up is most important in the first six months. Your regular Dr can schedule blood work and bone density tests. Lynda

Thanks!

Try this one if you like Italian and don't put it on the bread: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/tuna-gribiche-crostini-50400000120571/ This one looks good too if you like asian: http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/asian_tuna_salad/ I also like mine with a little mustard and green onions. Sometimes I shred a hardboiled egg and add it for flavor. Lynda

Yes, when you are early out and drink a lot, the chicken is a nice break from sweet stuff! Lynda

Here's a thread where people have posted who had their surgery at Kaiser West LA. I would PM them and ask. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/79144-is-anyone-going-to-the-west-los-angeles-kaiser-for-their-surgery/page__hl__%2Bkaiser+%2Bwest Lynda

Please if you know of any other guides, list them in the comments so we have a more complete list here. Thanks!

If your WLS program provided a guide, I suggest you use that. But many people do not receive a program guide when they have WLS. If you fall in that boat, here are some links to guides that I have saved from this forum over the years. If you have any to add, post a comment with a link. Kaiser Fremont Bariatric Program Guide (this is my program's guide and it covers VSG and other WLS) http://mydoctor.kais...rics/binder.jsp The Cornell Weight Loss Surgery Program: Dietary Guidelines for Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy http://www.cornellwe...gastrectomy.pdf Institute for Advanced Bariatric Surgery: Preparatory Surgery Guide http://www.laplose.c...urgeryGuide.pdf Institute for Advanced Bariatric Surgery: Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery Diet Guide http://www.laplose.c...veDietGuide.pdf Northwest Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery: Laproscopic Gastric Sleeve Diet http://www.northwest...ectomy-diet.pdf Ellis Medicine Program Guide http://www.ellishosp...pGuidelines.pdf Here are some additional guides posted by Misty (read her post here: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/85182-list-of-vsg-post-op-diets-from-surgeons/) Auckland Weight Loss Surgery (New Zealand) - Patient Information Book Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy http://aucklandweightlosssurgery.co.nz/downloads/Laparoscopic%20Sleeve%20Gastrectomy.pdf Brigham and Women's Hospital - Dietary Guidelines for Sleeve Gastrectomy http://www.brighamandwomens.org/Departments_and_Services/surgery/services/generalsurg/WeightLossSurgery/PostOpSleeveGastrectomyDiet.pdf Columbia University - Sleeve Gastrectomy Discharge Instructions http://obesitymd.org/postop_sleeve.html Goodnight Surgical – The Sleeve Gastectromy Guide (PDF) http://goodnightsurgical.com/doc/Sleeve_Gastrectomy_Guide.pdf HealthPoint (New Zealand) - The Sleeve Gastectromy Information for Patients (PDF,Must be downloaded, can’t be viewed online) http://www.healthpoint.co.nz/download,267405.do Johns Hopkins - Vitamin and Mineral Supplement Guide http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/johns_hopkins_bayview/_docs/medical_services/bariatrics/nutrition_sleeve.pdf London Bariatric Group (UK) – A guide to eating and drinking after Sleeve Gastectromy http://www.laparoscopicconsultant.co.uk/pdf/post-op-sleeve-gastrectomy.pdf London Obesity Clinic (UK) - Eating after Sleeve Gastectromy http://www.obesitycliniclondon.co.uk/pdf/eating-after-sleeve-gastrectomy.pdf Miami HOPE Center - Patient Education Booklet Sleeve Gastectromy http://www.miamihope.com/docs/Patient_Educational_Booklet_Sleeve_Gastrectomy.pdf Murfressboro Surgical Specialists - Dietary Guidelines Post-Op Sleeve Gastectromy Procedure http://www.murfsurg.com/dietary_guidelines_sleeve_gastrectomy.htm North London Obesity Surgery Services (UK) - Eating After A Sleeve Gastrectomy http://www.whittington.nhs.uk/document.ashx?id=1948 Northwest Obesity Center – Laparoscopic Gastric Sleeve Diet http://www.northwestobesitysurgery.com/pdf/sleeve-gastrectomy-diet.pdf Peachtree Bariatrics – Gastric Sleeve Patient Manual Guide http://www.peachtreebariatrics.com/docs/Gastric-Sleeve-Patient-Manual.pdf Pinnacle Health (Australia) - Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery Patient Manual (Word Doc, must be downloaded, cannot be read online) http://www.pinnaclehealth.org/pinnacle/media/Images/Sleeve-Gastrectomy-Patient-Manual.doc St. George Obesity Surgery (Australia) - Sleeve Gastrectomy Pre and Post Operative Information for Patients http://www.stgeorgeobesitysurgery.com.au/pdf/sleeve-gastrectomy-booklet.pdf St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton (Canada) – Bariatric Surgery Guidebook http://www.stjoes.ca/media/PatientED/U-Z/PD%206000%20Bariatric%20Surgery%20-%20Gastric%20Bypass%20February%2029%202012.pdf University of Missouri - Guidelines Before & After Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy http://www.muhealth.org/documents/bariatric/Bariatric%20Booklet%20VSG.pdf Upper Gastro Intestinal Surgery (Dr. Talbot, Australia) - Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy for Weight Loss http://www.uppergisurgery.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/sleeve-2011.pdf Virginia Hospital Center - Your Complete Guide for Nutrition and Exercise Following Sleeve Gastrectomy http://www.surgicalassociatesvhc.com/Nutrition-and-Exercise-following-Sleeve-Gastrectomy-82011.pdf Walter Reed - Nutritional Guidelines Handbook http://www.wrnmmc.capmed.mil/Health%20Services/Surgery/Surgery/Bariatric%20Surgery/Shared%20Documents/Nutr%20Guidelines%20Section%20Handbook.pdf Walter Reed – Nutrition for Bariatric Surgery Presentation http://www.wrnmmc.capmed.mil/Health%20Services/Surgery/Surgery/Bariatric%20Surgery/Shared%20Documents/Nutrition%20for%20Bariatric%20Surgery%20Presentation.pdf

There are a lot of kaiser patients here. Which kaiser are you using? Every locations program is a little different. I went thru kaiser Fremont.

My tap water was hot enough. I used an instant read thermometer till I got used to the right temperature. Then I poured powder into cup, added enough water to blend, stirred well, then added the rest of the water.

Dani, I see from your earlier posts your surgery was July 7. I would call the Dr. if I were you. It sounds like a stomach bug, but your Dr. will have better advice and know what questions to ask. It's important to not become dehydrated. Lynda

Early out I ate the Hormel Turkey Chili and when cleared for beef at 6 weeks, the Dennison's Fat Free Chili (formerly known as 98% fat free). I also make my own, heavy on the meat so it is Protein dense. Lynda

Heh heh. I'm hoping it saves all of us time in the future! Be sure to add any good info you have about a topic in the comments. Thanks! Lynda

I have started a blog so I can have a permanent place for answers to many of the questions I see here. My second entry lists several VSG guides that are available online: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/blog/2552/entry-6419-bariatric-program-guides/ Lynda

Yes, everyone is different. Some people have the swelling go down sooner. This doesn't mean you will be able to eat more solid food than anyone else. Lynda

Here's an interesting article about why some may have a hard time losing or maintaining (spoiler alert: it's gut bacteria!): http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2013/04/gut-microbiome-bacteria-weight-loss?page=1 Lynda

Congrats! Lynda

Coops! Congrats on 21 months of no regain! I've loved sharing the journey with you. I'm hoping the 5:2 will be the silver bullet for you. Either way, I'm with you: I like Coops! Lynda

I went cold turkey. I was miserable but so glad I got it out of the way pre op. I love my coffee. I drank decaf till I was cleared for coffee again at 3 months post op Lynda

Congrats Grace!! I like the occasional odd outfit and I just wear it loud and proud no matter what anyone says. Can't wait to see a few pics of the new you. Lynda