sfdavid

Hey there fellow January sleevers. I was sleeved on January 6 at Kaiser Hospital, South San Francisco and I am down 40 pounds since surgery and 79 total since starting the program. I am so grateful for the weight I've lost and I know my stall date is coming soon so I am sticking with the meal plan with protein to the max and exercising like crazy. I love my sleeve!

Hi Sarah. Just to let you know, Kaiser in Northern California is quite different in their staged nutrition. I was on clear liquids until the day I went home from the hospital (so, only one and a half days total) then went to stage two which is "full-liquids" including yogurt, creamy Soups, s/f pudding,etc. Stage two lasted two weeks, until I had my follow-up appointment and then I was advanced to stage three, which is purred and ground foods and soft fruits and veggies. That's where I am now and that stage only lasts 4-6 weeks then it's to to stage four, regular food with some restrictions. I would clarify with your nutritionist as to what the protocol really is. My expierience tells me that sometimes when surgeons focus in areas where they are not expert, the result can sometimes be a bit misguided. Don't give up, the surgery is amazing and even in stage three, I have lots of choices and variety.

Congratulations! You are well on your way and you are in great hands with Dr. Alma. Dr. Le was my surgeon and I could not have asked for anyone better but everyone who has Alami says the same. Kaiser SSF ROCKS! You are in great hands.

Thank you again Tiffany for the great booklet. It was designed very well with tins of good and useful information. Where is your doctor? I'm sure you are under some great care.

I also had no sense of fullness when I was three weeks out. I could drink water just like I could before surgery. Once I started on solid food it was all different with lots of restriction.

I have not stalled yet and I'm sure I will it seems like so many people do stall at one time or another. You really can't compare your own weight loss with others. We are all so different. Just know that we all loose at different rates. I bet you are not doing a thing wrong. Follow your plan and you will be successful.

Hey LisaLisa! I know Santa Rosa Kaiser has a support group every third Thursday at 6:30pm. I hear that it is a nice size group, too. I hope you are doing great. I'm doing good. Going out to eat is crazy. I love looking at the waitreses face when I order a side scoop of tuna salad for lunch! I love it. Take care!

Here is my response taken from a previous post... I had the same issue. Never threw up once or even felt nauseous and starting on day four post-op, I found I could drink pretty normal. A mouthful of Water swallowed in two or three gulps was and still is no problem. Even when eating I had no issue getting down at least a cup of full liquid food like greek yogurt, creamy Soups, Sugarfree pudding or custard. I was worried that something was wrong. I called my doctor and he explained that nothing is wrong and that the size of sleeve is not the issue at all. Everyone's anatomy is slightly different and my anatomy orientation (stomach positioning, length, etc.) is such that allows me more freedom than many other sleeve patients. He said I should consider myself very fortunate and then he added "just wait until you get to semi-soft foods." Sure enough, when I started on eggs, purred turkey, soft cheese, etc. BURP. Hello restriction! Now I get full after eating a half a cup of food. Dense Protein is my friend. Less than three weeks out from surgery, I am down 30 pounds! Hang in there and count your blessings. Your going to do great!!

I had the same issue. Never threw up once or even felt nauseous and starting on day four post-op, I found I could drink pretty normal. A mouthful of Water swallowed in two or three gulps was and still is no problem. Even when eating I had no issue getting down at least a cup of full liquid food like greek yogurt, creamy Soups, Sugarfree pudding or custard. I was worried that something was wrong. I called my doctor and he explained that nothing is wrong and that the size of sleeve is not the issue at all. Everyone's anatomy is slightly different and my anatomy orientation (stomach positioning, length, etc.) is such that allows me more freedom than many other sleeve patients. He said I should consider myself very fortunate and then he added "just wait until you get to semi-soft foods." Sure enough, when I started on eggs, purred turkey, soft cheese, etc. BURP. Hello restriction! Now I get full after eating a half a cup of food. Dense Protein is my friend. Less than three weeks out from surgery, I am down 30 pounds! Hang in there and count your blessings. Your going to do great!!

The world met Star Jones in 1997, when she went from Court TV correspondent to one of five co-hosts on Barbara Walters' talk show The View. She was known for her quick wit and take-charge attitude, but also for her rapidly growing weight problem. By 2003, Star had reached 307 pounds and was diagnosed as morbidly obese. That same year, Star decided to undergo gastric bypass surgery. Yet, as her weight melted off in front of the national TV audience, she never addressed her changing body truthfully with her fans. In the three years that followed, Star lost 160 pounds. She also lost the trust of her viewers and, ultimately, her popularity. In 2006, Star was let go from her spot on The View. The truth has set me free.

Let's bring Pre and Post back! They are a great way to find the information that you are looking for depending on where you are in the process.

It seems odd to lump all pre-op and post-op discussions together under a generic "general discussion." We all have a different focus and needs depending where we are in the process.

Hey Lisa. I don't have hair but I still LOVED my shower. I went home one day after in the afternoon. Sleepless night for sure. I get lots of gas still but it is escaping thank god. My mid section still feels like I got run over by a truck but I'm staying on the liquid pain killer for now. You looked really great in the hospital and I'm so glad you were able to get home. Our new life,Lisa!! How is stage two food going for you?

LisaLisa you are going to be fantastic. Deep breaths and know that you are doing the right thing. We are both in great hands with Dr. David Le and they have meds to take care of any discomfort we might feel. Here's to our new and healthy life!

I'll be at the support group and the pre-op class tomorrow Lisa. Its a small group and I'm usually the only guy. Pre-op meal plan was doing great until Christmas eve but I'm back on it. I'm having surgery on the 6th with Dr Le. I hope you are doing great. Wow! This is really happening!!!

Happy (belated) Birthday, Tiff!!! Thais for all your knowledge that you share with us so freely.

I had Dr. Fallah also and my time with him was very sort as well--maybe 15 minutes. I'd like to think that was a good thing--just maybe I'm really ready for this new life and there was little in my questionnaire or in my interview that made it go on any longer. I was surprised though as I assumed that my psych appointment was going to be much more grueling.

That would be great if you can make it. Yes, it's at 12:30 in the same room as our pre-op class. It's a great group of pre and post but with the holiday, I'm not sure how big the group will be.

Lisaaaaa, my surgery sista....Yep, I'll be there on the 28th. I go to the support group that precedes the pre op class and it's in the same room. If you're up for it, come sit in on group at 12:30.

Thanks Cukie. I just checked out the comparison chart that Tiffykins posted a few weeks back and you are right, no huge difference. Wow, my stomach is going to be the size of a marking pen--AMAZING.

I love these Quest bars. You have to get them online but they are so tasty. Low net carbs and no nasty sugar alcolhols. Peanut Butter is the best. http://www.questproteinbar.com/

Me too. Thursday, January 6, Kaiser South San Francisco--The first day of the rest of my life. You know, for months I knew it was going to happen but now that I have an actual date, it's all much more real- like it's really going to happen.

Congratulations Cukie! You are doing great and it's just going to keep getting better for you. Now the real weight drop starts. Did Dr. Le tell you what size bougie they used on you? He told me he uses a 40 and I keep seeing that many doctors are using 32 to 36 making for a smaller sleeve.

No surgery for me yet--I'm still pre-op so I was able to incorporate protein shakes from the start of the Kaiser pre-op meal plan. I usually have one shake a day for either breakfast or lunch.

Yea, he better keep up his great track record. OK crazy me was getting all paranoid yesterday thinking about Dr. Le coming off his ten day holiday vacation and forgetting how to do the sleeve. "Oooops! Is this where I cut?" No, he'll be rested up and ready to go for our surgery. I'm sure it's like riding a bike for him. Currently, I am 6' at 338. I was 381 in July but I droped 38 lbs on the pre-op meal plan and I've been holding steady since November. I'd like to get to 210 even though the charts say I should be at 170. That is just not right for me. I'm not Heidi Klum. I like being a bigger guy--just healthy!