HDubSleevery

It could be an allergy to the fillers that they use in the vitamins (to bind everything together and give them color/flavor). I'm allergic to just about everything and there are certain generic drugs that I can't take because the fillers give me rashes and headaches. Perhaps check with an allergist? Good luck!

I had my surgery with Dr Aceves and his team 2 years ago. I think I blogged about it here and I definitely remember posting. Dr Aceves, Ernesto, and Sergio were all there when I had my surgery. The hardest part was being so nervous the night before and the flight home. I was going to Georgia so I had at least one layover and was too proud or stubborn to ask for assistance. I will probably get in touch with them for a plastics referral in the next 18 months. The entire team is friendly, caring, and knowledgeable.

My scar isn't very noticeable and apparently mine is a little longer than most. My thyroid had "calcified" I think is the term they used. He literally had to do some sort of tough stuff to get it out. The notes from my surgery: 1 - 100+ SPF sunscreen ALL THE TIME. I'm so bad about sunscreen but I made sure to keep this one covered. I didn't want it changing colors and being noticeable. 2 - Really pretty scarves tied in all different combinations. People thought I was very chic! They covered the bandages really well! 3 - Necklaces annoyed my scar for a while because they weren't soft. 4 - My boyfriend at the time was scared to hug me because he thought my head was going to fall off like in a horror movie. 5 - When people asked what happened to my neck, I told them "Bar fight. You should see the other guy." and walked off. It was incredibly fun. 6 - I wasn't prepared for my voice after surgery. I was hoarse for months while I healed. It didn't hurt but it sounded like I was always in recovery from strep throat. For a month I couldn't speak above a whisper. This made going through drive thru's and talking on the phone almost impossible. I don't think this is the norm. I had a lot of trauma when they were removing things. 7 - Make sure your doc puts you on high doses of Calcium and Vitamin d immediately after. They will be messing with your parathyroid glands. Mine stopped working for a few days because they were moved all over the place. My understanding is that they help with your absorption of calcium & D. If you don't get a ton of that stuff in right away, you will have severe muscle cramps that can seize you up and send you back to the ER. 8 - I am apparently allergic to one of the many fillers they put in generic Synthroid. I was living in an allergic state for months until a specialist figured it out. I now take Tirosint (a hypoallergenic levothyroxine). It is a gelcap. Lots of people don't know about it, but if you have problems with Synthroid you may want to try it out. Good luck and you will be great! My endocrinologist says I am doing so well that he doesn't need to see me for 6 months. If my bloodwork is good, I won't see him for another year. Yay!

I've been gone for a while, but it's Saturday night and I'm on the net. So here's my 2 cents... I was sleeved 2 years ago. Do I have hunger now? Yup. Is it the mind-numbing, all-encompassing, wake me in the middle of the night so I can get a Krystal type of hunger that it used to be pre-sleeve? Nope. I haven't made it to goal yet. I have 20 lbs to go. In the last two years, I've had my thyroid removed (it was leading to an overactive heart rate and had to go). I learned that I have a rare autoimmune disorder shortly after that. I lost my job. I moved across the country by myself with my little one to a place I knew very little about. I quit the new job that was crushing my soul. So where am I now and what does it have to do with the post? I only have 20 lbs to go. I have passed my first belt test in my martial arts classes and am training for tournament next month (with my little one)! I am training to do the Race for the Cure 5k walk next month too. I have a new job that I really enjoy with a lower stress level than I have ever had in my career. I am gluten free and pay much more attention to what goes into my mouth. I still underestimate the amount of food I eat (I pulled out my food scale last week). I still have a hard time getting my Water down (I'm trying a lot of new/different tactics). I am back to my Protein shakes at least once a day. There are things I am working on, but not making it to goal yet doesn't keep me up at night. I'm so much better than where I was 2 years ago, and I'm ok with that. One gift my surgery gave me (and I have to keep reminding myself) is that I am more than numbers on a scale. (Wow, this got long!)

Feel free to add me. I've been sleeved for 2 years. I'm hdubsleevery on MFP as well.

I am 2 years out. I spend 60-90 minutes doing martial arts twice a week and 45-60 minutes walking twice a week. I have a sedentary office job and a 4-year old at home. I try to get between 8k-10k steps a day.

I started with a FitBit but when my clip broke, I moved to the Up. I really enjoy it. I like how it sits on my wrist and looks more like a funky bracelet than a fitness tool. I don't need to keep my bluetooth active to sync with my phone and it seems to be very accurate. What I don't like: 1) You have to use the app on your phone and not your desktop. 2) Until you get the hang of how to use the 1 button on the device to do different things, it can be a bit overwhelming. 3) I can't migrate my Fitbit friends to my Up feed for motivation. Note: I contacted Fitbit customer service and with very little drama they sent me a new clip. I gave my Fitbit to a friend who would get a great use out of it. I really think it all comes down to your preference. Either device is great! (I synced both with MyFitnessPal and had no real trouble judging calories.) Good luck!

Who had even a little bit of a crush on Ernesto, Sergio, Dr. Aceves, or Dr. Campos?

Does anyone use this product? I have been using it because I like the way it tastes. I am trying to figure out if anyone that has gone through VSG has used this product for 3-6 months or longer? Thanks!

I subscribe to a local food co-op so every two weeks I get a bag of fresh veggies delivered to my door. This week's box had some fresh yellow squash but other than sautee it, I had no idea how to prepare. Since I am on mushies I started looking for a casserole that had a lot of flavor. This is what I found: 2 lbs of squash (could mix with zucchini if you like) 1 medium onion 1 can cream of mushroom soup 2 eggs 2 cups of cheddar cheese 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs Here is where I made some changes... 1 - Slice the squash and onion either steam or boil or sautee until soft. I chose to steam the squash in my microwave steamer until it was soft. I didn't have any onion so I swapped for a packet of onion soup mix. 2 - Drain the squash/onions and mix with the soup, eggs, and cheese. I wanted a really mushy texture so I used one egg and mozzarella cheese. I love garlic so I used a can of cream of mushroom with roasted garlic campbell's soup. 3 - Spread the mixture in a casserole dish (I used 8x8 but I doubt it matters much). Bake on 350 degrees for 25 minutes. 4 - After 25 minutes, sprinkle the bread crumbs over the top and bake for another 20 minutes or until brown. I had plain bread crumbs and seasoned them with onion and herb Mrs. Dash, parsley, and cracked black pepper. I spread them on the casserole and then sprayed them with ICBINB spray. It was kinda ugly to look at but it was a great flavorful departure from cottage cheese, yogurt, pudding, and applesauce. Plus I used up my squash!

I was so bad with Christmas dinner but I learned my lesson quick. I had what I thought was a small amount of turkey, mashed taters, corn, and stuffing all mixed together. Well, I ignored my "slow down" triggers and ended up sliming it all back up. THEN because I am hard headed I thought 20 minutes later I could eat a rice crispy treat that was huge. Yup..slimed it again. While the after dinner experience wasn't fun, I am glad it happened. Part of the reason I got the sleeve is to permanently stop the binges. Last night was a physical reminder of how I allowed myself to get to 207 lbs and how I am not going to get there ever AGAIN! Today has been a much better day. I have vowed that I will not get on a scale this entire vacation. I want to see if staying off the scale for a little while will allow me to focus on other changes. Wish me luck! Happy Holidays!

I had a breast reduction a few years ago. My plastic surgeon told me that in order to know how much you will lose or gain in your breasts is based on their composition. Some women have more fat and some people have more breast tissue. You can burn fat but not tissue. So if you lose a lot of weight and your breasts don't shrink, it means yours are made up of more tissue than fat. At least that is what she told me!

I moved to a new PCP after I had surgery. My old PCP had a terrible manner with patients and the office staff left a lot to be desired. A friend told me a story about his doctor. My friend is morbidly obese and his doctor gave him suggestions and asked that he lose 5 lbs before their next visit (3 months later). My friend didn't lose the 5 lbs and the doctor laughed with him and said "Man, 5 lbs is just one good s***!" If you know me and my friend, we had a great laugh over this and the next day I asked to switch to this doctor. Fast forward to my first appointment. I am having trouble with my left knee. He does the exam and asks about prior surgeries. I told him that I had VSG. He was interested and said "With who?" I smiled and told him I went to Dr. Aceves in Mexico! He smiled and asked me why I chose Dr. A. I rattled off all my reasons and he asked how much I had lost. I told him 49 lbs in almost 4 months. The doctor gave me a big smile and said "that is fantastic! I am glad you made the decision that was right for you." I have to see him again in 6 weeks for my knee and I will bring him my records from Dr. A just so he has a copy. I truly believe that if your current PCP isn't going to partner with you in this journey and share your enthusiasm then you have to find a doctor who will. Good luck!

I have tattoos running from my shoulder halfway to my elbow and I haven't seen a difference yet. I have one on my back and I don't expect that will change. If I had them on my thighs it would have been a mess. I carry a lot of my weight in my thighs and stomach so I figured my arms and back would be safe spots!

I have been having hot flashed during the day for the past two months. I thought it was related to my thyroid meds but now that I am off of them...I'm still sweating a couple of times a day. I had totally forgotten about the estrogen release. It explains a lot! Thanks!

I was at a Christmas party last night and had a couple of drinks (Malibu Rum and Pineapple Juice). I have never been a big drinker. I may have something twice a year. I didn't find that it hit me faster than before, but I was very careful to sip slowly. My doctor said I could have alcohol in moderation but that I needed to be very careful because it would take much less for me to get drunk. I never liked the aftereffects of drinking so it isn't something that I miss.

As soon as I drink them, I have an IBS type of reaction. They taste yummy but even pre-sleeve, I couldn't drink them. I never thought of used powdered milk with my shakes. Does it have any aftertaste?

I tried at least 20 different protein shakes and the one that I like the most is the Jay Robb brand. I found it at my Kroger, Vitamin Shoppe, and online. It is a bit pricey, but it is worth it for something I can drink either for breakfast or for desert. I think I will go have one now!

What?! They will add protein? I think I will start with the skinny vanilla latte. I haven't had Starbucks in so long I forgot about this! YUM!

Oooh this is fun! My sleeve loves chicken but hates hamburger. My sleeve loves Jay Robb Protein shakes but hates lactose. My sleeve loves scallops but hates shrimp. (Pre-sleeve I was opposite) My sleeve hates bread but can tolerate tortillas.

I LOVE my straws. It is strange because I didn't use them often pre-op. I have a box of straws on my desk at work and in my kitchen at home. I find that I get my liquids in much better if I am sipping out of a straw all day.

Do you mean Click? I LOVE coffee and for some reason I didn't like the Click (even though I was sure I would). You can buy sample packs on their website. I am glad I bought samples before I spent money on a whole canister. I buy the Starbucks Via. I get the kind that is made for cold drinks. I put a half a packet, a couple of splenda packets, a scope of Protein powder and 12-16 ounces of Lactaide milk. I blend it up and pour it over ice. I drink them a lot faster now than I did directly post-op. Good luck with finding a shake you like!