a.walker

Congratulations! Beautiful ring!

I had gastric sleeve done with Dr. Rodriguez in Tijuana and went through Beliteweight, as well. Everything went just like they said it would. I am 1 month out, have lost 21 lbs. in that month. I also have a lot to lose, but didn't really consider the bypass something I wanted. I don't like the idea of malabsorption, and I also liked that with the VSG, they remove the part of the stomach where Grehlin is produced. I haven't been physically hungry once since having this surgery. Good luck!

Ok, so I have weighed the same for 10 days. I'm 4 weeks out, and of course I'm starting to worry. I log my food, I get my Protein, I am getting 500-700 calories a day, and I'm just frustrated. Tomorrow is my one month surgiversary, so I'll do measurements and maybe that will make me feel better, but right now I'm seriously down about this. I tried putting away the scale, but that gave me anxiety, so now I'm back to weighing once a day in the morning, and the same number just keeps showing up. I HATE 289!:cursing: And of course it's hard not to compare myself to my husband (who got sleeved the same day as me). He had a small stall as well, but now is back to losing 2 lbs./day the past few days. He'll soon weigh less than me at this rate! Do I just keep doing what I'm doing, or is there something I should try to break this? I'm willing to try something new, but I'm not sure what:confused:

That's awesome! I'm a little jealous of your 45 lbs. in 4 weeks. You're doing fabulous!

Welcome to a wonderful forum and congratulations on having a surgery date! I had surgery in July, so I'm a relative newbie myself. I don't think you're crazy for blogging your experience; I find lots of helpful advice in some of the other blogs that people have about weight loss surgery, in addition to feeling like someone really does understand what I'm going through. I don't blog myself, because I'm super boring in day-to-day life. I'd love to read your blog, too, if it's one that you're willing to share!

It will get easier. I still hate taking pills, because pre-op I didn't take anything. My post-op instructions said that I could take pills the size of a pencil eraser whole, but if they were bigger, to open the capsule or break them. I did that for a couple weeks, then started taking the small capsules of Omeprazole whole, because I couldn't stand opening the capsule anymore. I still have chewable vitamins, and I use Viactiv for Calcium, because it actually tastes decent. I will switch to Citracal when these are gone. That's all I take, but it still takes me much longer than it would have before surgery. I plan on a good 10 minutes in the morning just for those silly little pills. I really hate chewable vitamins. I may go buy some of the gummy ones instead.

Christie, I love looking at your blog and reading as well as watching your updates. I think you look fabulous, and I love your attitude toward the whole thing. Congrats on doing so well! I am almost a month out, and I have looked up to you since I saw your one month post-op post. Thanks for updating and being so open about some of the struggles on your blog, while staying positive about the journey. That's hard for me to do sometimes! I look up to you.

I am 29, and just had surgery last month. I'm hopeful and glad that I will be looking better at 30 than I ever did in my 20s. I actually started looking into weight loss surgery when I was 20ish, and since then, I had just gained more weight before having this done. I'm glad I'm youngish and having this done. I don't want to be fat anymore, and although I would have liked to get rid of the last 9 fat years of my life, I think this was about the perfect time for me.

I think it's really a personal decision. There are probably people who would never consider it and others that would jump at the chance. I think you just have to weigh YOUR pros and cons. If I were to lose a lot, and someone wanted my pictures, I'd give it to them in a second, but that's because I would really feel like I accomplished something to be proud of, and also someone to sort of be accountable to, if that makes sense. But I'm not keeping this surgery a secret really at all, so I can't say if it would make you uncomfortable. I know when I was making the decision between the VSG and the TGVP through BeLiteWeight, there wasn't enough info. on the TGVP to convince me, so if there had been someone like you who was ahead of me, it would have been nice to see that it really does work. I think it's awesome that they asked you; it proves just how good you have done so far. Clearly, you rock!

I have been adding in some Peanut Butter, which has Protein but quite a few calories, and then topping things with low fat cheese, which also seems to have more calories. I have been under on my calories every day until adding these things in, and it's helped. I haven't been staying to 5-10 grams of fat, though. Usually I have about 10-20, it seems like. My carbs have been under 30 every day, and I usually get in 50-70 Proteins. I am trying to do it without shakes, but I still have to have one a day, usually. I'll keep reading for other people's comments as well, as I'm interested.

Way to go! Under 300 is nice, and 50 lbs in less than a month is awesome. Congrats! :001_unsure:

Actually, I know for sure that Dr. Rodriguez, who works with BeLiteWeight and out of Tijuana and Juarez both, does call this procedure "Super sleeve". This may be the wrong terminology, but that is what they refer to it there. I was very confused at first, because I got a lot of mixed information on what they were. I'm not sure if this helps you or not, but if you get something from Beliteweight about the "super sleeve", that actually is the total vertical gastric plication or TVGP. Hope that helps!

I'm glad you're latest endoscopy was perfect, and you'll hopefully have a perfect surgery as well. Congrats on the new date, and luckily it's not too far away. Good luck with the pre-op diet; I would hate having to do it twice!

Yesterday, I checked out lots of threads on gum-chewing, because I really was wanting a piece of Orbit gum. I am one week post-op. I saw that it can cause air and that it's important not to swallow it because it can mess up a staple line. I decided to chew some. It felt nice to chew something after a week of only drinking. Even though I haven't really had any hunger, it still was a good thing. Today, I had another piece of gum, and my child was driving me crazy in the grocery store, and somehow while speaking in my mom voice at him, I swallowed it. I felt it sliding down my throat, and literally tried to hack it back up, thinking back over all the threads that said "Be absolutely sure not to swallow it!" :scared0: Now I'm nervous because I am so freshly post-op, and I'm feeling stupid because I shouldn't have done it in the first place. I'm definitely not trying it again, but is there something I should do? Just be aware, and report problems? Drink something hot and hope it goes through the sleeve faster? I can't decide what's best! Anyone have any thoughts?

Well, I'm a nurse, and so I talked to one of the surgeons at work who I know well, and he told me pretty much there's nothing he'd do about it now. He said as long as it makes it past your esophagus, it will nearly always eventually get through. He did tell me if I felt any sharp pains, or even anything weird to let him know. I haven't had any problems, but I can tell you that I am absolutely not doing that again! Thanks everyone for the replies. I was really worried, but now I just know better!

I'm glad it went well for you, and you're both feeling good. My husband and I also had surgery the same day, so I agree, it's not crazy.

When I flew before and after my surgery, I didn't need an extra seat. I was 309 at 5'8". The seats aren't big or comfortable, but they work for a plane ride, and then after you get back and get some weight off you won't have to worry about fitting in seats anymore. That was the best part of the plane ride; thinking about others where I wouldn't feel embarrassed or nervous that the seat belt might not reach.

That sucks; I'm sorry. I drank a protein drink too fast the other day just trying to get it down, and for about an hour I was praying I would throw up, but couldn't. I feel your pain. The learning curve is rough.

My husband and I both had surgery on July 22nd. We definitely recommend him and the whole team. If you have specific questions, you can message me, and I'll be happy to tell you what I can. I will tell you everything went smoothly for us, and we are happy to be sleeved!

I guess I really need to be better about getting in my protein. I keep thinking when I get to mushies I will try to get more protein in my food, but even then it will be hard to get enough that way. I have been having a really hard time trying to choke down protein shakes, and I just need to do it. I think I'll go have one now, as I do know that can affect weight loss.

That's awesome! I bet you look and feel amazing. Congrats!

I'm glad it went well, you had a good experience, and you're feeling good! Congrats, and I hope it remains smooth sailing for you.

I self-paid even though I had insurance. My insurance generally sucks, and I have no faith in them, though. The minute I found out they require a documented 6 month diet and exercise plan within the 12 months before surgery, I decided I would look into self-pay. I went to Mexico and the self-pay price was about the same as what I would have paid out-of-pocket with my insurance. Maybe less, because I didn't have to pay for a sleep study, EKG, labs, psych. eval, etc. None of those things were covered with my insurance, which is ridiculous but true. I'm not saying this is necessarily something for you, but just that it isn't completely crazy (I hope!).

What a great appointment! I'm glad things are going well, and I think 12 lbs. lost is great! I know what you mean about wanting the weight gone now, though. I feel the same way. I'm sure everyone does.

Congratulations on your surgery date. I hope all works out with the airplane tickets. It was a good feeling when we were coming back from Mexico to think my fat might not hang out over the sides of the seat when I fly next time. Your dream made me laugh, just because that sounds like something I would dream about. The second night post-op for me, I had a dream I was shoveling Cookies and pretzels into my mouth, and then they were coming out my tiny incisions, while all the doctors were yelling at me that I couldn't even have liquids yet...bizarre! I think it's normal to be a little scared, but hopefully the time will fly between now and then, and you'll be home and post-op before you know it! Congratulations again!