Hanir

I'm 3/4" shorter than you. I've set my goal at 135 based upon sizes I could wear during previous "diets" when I lost weight (though couldn't keep it off!). I have closets full of old classic clothes in various sizes that I want to wear again. When I've been in the 150's I was a size 12 and I'm pretty sure that at 135 I'll be an 8 -- which is how I arrived at 135.. I don't think you'll be feeling as hungry at your lower goal now as compared to the past before being sleeved. Before you had a big stomach waiting/demanding to be filled, while now you'll get alot fuller on a lot less food. Hope this helps!

Sounds like he's having problems with your success. Maybe he'd go to a session of couples counseling with you?

I'm only a week and a half out from surgery. The worst part for me was all the apprehension and worrying I had/did before surgery! I didn't have any gas pains, extremely limited nausea, very minor pain (more soreness than pain, per se). The most difficult thing was sipping Water the day after surgery and the 1st day I was home: watching the clock to make sure I drank 1 oz every 10 minutes -- for hours -- to ensure that I got enough fluids in. Since that day I've come up with a routine to make sure I get my 64 oz in.

I had surgery a week ago tomorrow and I'm feeling really well. However, -- okay, here's a wierd one -- there's a huge divot right where the largest incision was. It's acout 2" in diameter and 1" deep. It shows up when I'm sitting or standing and disappears when I'm lying flat. My abdomen also pooches out above the divot. I'm going to call my surgeon today, but does anyone know if this is normal? Will it go away?? Thanks!

I wouldn't take any nutritional supplements without my surgeon's permission. The contents/quality/dosage of supplements are not monitored by the FDA and you really don't know what's in there...

I don't think we do the "before and after" meals counting while we're still on liquids. I sip my Protein drinks throughout the day and alternate with other liquids, Jello, ice pops and I'm not waiting time in between one and another.

I'm out of surgery one week tomorrow and when I started drinking Protein shakes I felt much more energy. I've been choking down 3 a day (81g protein total) to feel good.

2 nights.

I had surgery on week ago tomorrow. I've had almost no pain. No gas pain. Very little nausea -- and only in the hospital when I 1st started to sip liquids. I was getting some sort of pain meds in my IV. I also had a Morphine drip which I used maybe 2x the 1st day after surgery (just to experiment!) and none after that. The worst pain I had was "mild" about a "3" on a scale of 1-10. I didn't have any gas pain. I haven't taken any prescription pain medicine since I've been home. I have tightness where my internal stitches are but it doesn't really hurt. Strangely enough every night my forearms ache to the point where I have to take liquid Tylenol in order to be able to sleep -- this is the biggest pain I've had. I'm really surprised at how painless this has been!

You've got to force yourself to have the protein. If you don't, part of your weight loss is going to be muscle and loss of muscle will slow your metabolism. I used to be able to drink "Muscle Milk" shakes and now if I even look at one it'll make me gag. I'm now using Bariatric Advantage shakes (look for them on-line) which I mail-order and they're tolerable.

KayyyBeee are you being sleeved by Dr. Roth at Lawrence? If so, when??

Does anyone know of any support group or forums for spouses of VSGers? My significant other is very supportive of my doing this but he's anxious about it (as am I) and he wonders abou how other spouses view it and how they're dealing with it. Thanks for any input!

Please add me to the list. I'm scheduled for July 19th. Thanks!

BMI of 40; Aetna PPO (not an ***).

Sounds like I have the same job as you do and my surgeon also recommended taking 4 weeks off, which I'm going to do. (Under Family Medical Leave Act I believe, by law, you're allowed to take up to 13 weeks off.) I'm having my surgery in July. I'll try and remember to let you know whether or not the 4 weeks turns out to be too long.

I just joined the group today. I'm located in Hudson Heights (that's the A train to 190th St...right next to the Cloisters Museum) in Manhattan.

I am being sleeved by Dr. Roth at Lawrence Hopsital Center on July 19th. I'm plenty anxious about it!

Hi there. I started in all the preparation phase (visiting Dr.'s, supervised diet, nutritionist, support groups, etc. etc.) after the new year. I hope to have surgery in late May, early June. My PCP and DH are very supportive. I originally was thinking of the band, but my surgeon's office said that they have much better success with the sleeve for "older" folks [which is how I found out I'm considered old, at 52! LOL!] I'm a 5'6" woman and am currently around 245. My goal weight is 135. During the month that I've been on the nutritionist supervised diet I actually gained 4#! The nutritionist told me not to worry about it. Like some others, I wonder "Can this really work? Can I really stop eating like a horse and be satisfied with (what seem to me now, pre-surgery) as teeny tiny meals? Will the removing the ghrelen secreting section of my stomach stop me (finally) from being a sweet fiend that I've been virtually my whole life?" I'm looking for support here, folks!

Your date is tomorrow. I wish you a speedy complication free surgery!

I'm also in NYC and the $35,000 seems pretty in scope for this part of the country. I'm insured by Aetna and they say the typical bariatric surgery in NYC including hospital costs $31,703. This is compared with St. Louis which came up just below $21,000, and San Antonio which was around $23,000. Life in NYC is very expensive!!! Personally, though it's expensive I wouldn't travel to have the surgery. You want to be close to home for the surgery and aftercare plus follow-up doctor visits.