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I named my tummy long before I had my sleeve surgery... One time my cousin Josh brought chinese food over for dinner and then the next morning he was at the house again rifeling through the fridge looking for leftover crab ragoon. He popped his head out of the fridge and was like "Where's the rest of the ragoon? There was a whole bag left?" I pulled up my shirt and made my belly talk "Mr. Josh- I'm in here" with an asain accent..... Ever since then my tummy has been Mr. Josh.... That hasnt changed with the surgery.

A lot of insurances have an out of pocket max- for me mine was $2000, but I had already met $1000. So my surgery cost me my copays plus $1000. (Which was my coinsurance of 10% until I met the $2000.) Look into your insurance to see what it would be. Also- your insurance will have a contracted rate with the surgeon and hospital. For instance the hospital billed my insurance over $33,000 but the contracted rate was only like $5300- so I only had to pay 10% of $5300 not the $33,000!

I am sipping on this as I write- it is AMAZING!! I got this off of another website but VST will not let me post the link. Next time I make it I think I will be adding a little instant coffee to it as well. Ingredients 1/2 c. Hood Calorie Countdown Skim Milk (this can be hard to find. Regular skim is fine) 8 oz. boiling Water 1 heaping tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder 1 scoop chocolate Protein powder 4 pumps sugar free carmel syrup 4-6 packets of no-calorie sweetener About 1/4 tsp of salt (Shari suggests a specific kind. I use regular table salt cuz I'm poor and it works! Usually I end up with a bit more than 1/4 tsp to get the desired effect. If you're unsure about this whole thing, start with 1/8 tsp and work your way up) Optional: fat-free whipped cream Directions: In 12 oz. mug, combine your protein powder, sweetener and cocoa powder. Add milk and stir until a thick, smoothe paste forms. Add boiling water SLOWLY, stirring while you add and then stir some more! This takes some practice but if you do it right, you get a smooth drink with no lumps. Add your caramel syrup and salt and stir. Now give it a taste. It should be sweet with a small, but noticeable, punch of saltiness. If you can't taste the salt at all (because salt, in small doses, amps up sweetness so it takes a good bit to get the salt to register), add a bit more until you get to that sweet/salty flavor. Top with whipped cream and enjoy!

It will be better from here on! I hope you just have a sniffle and it doesn't turn into a full blown cold!

Good point! Warming up from cold is next to impossible! Think they make heated booties? I'm tired of ice cube toes!!

YAY! I too just removed my bra extenders! My sister does bra measurements at Lane Bryant and took her about two weeks of telling me to take them off before I actually listened. Feels GREAT doesn't it?

I love love LOVE my electric blanket! I have one that I've had since about four days post op and I couldn't live without it! I have even taken it to work with me and wrapped it around my waist and legs while at my desk. I am thinking about purchasing a second one to actually keep at the office. Or I may get the heated mattress pad and take the blanket to work... Hmm.. I like the option of having the blanket with me if I'm in the living room though. But YES, I am cold WAY more often now then I was pre-op. I asked my surgeon and he said it could take up to two years for this to stop!!! TWO YEARS!! Our bodies are rapidly losing insulation, we've had a MAJOR surgery (doctor stressed the major part), and our bodies just need time to catch up with all the changes.

In my case it has actually resulted in me spending a LITTLE more. I can't eat most of the things my family eats now so I have to buy stuff I can eat. I don't mind doing it because I really do feel better when I'm eating healthier. Also, as someone else mentioned you do save a ton of money on eating out. The only thing I've really gotten out and about has been $1 chili from Wendys. I did do a cheeseburge and just ate the burger and cheese once too... But for the most part you just aren't interested in that stuff anymore.

I'm 4 weeks post op and had surgery for the same reasons. My surgeon says that VSG can resolve up to 85% of PCOS cases. LapBand was only about 40%!

Stalled too!! VSG 12/5/11

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You should be so proud of yourself! Yes, 250 pounds is daunting number- but remember you have support and people cheering for you! I had a total of 150 to lose and get sort of jealous when I see people who "only" had 90 pounds to lose. But we're all in this together and you will do great!

I also add some greek yogurt to my Wendy's chili. Yummy!

VSG 12/5/11 and I think I am probably eating about 1/2 cup per meal. So far the only thing I've had a hard time eating has been chicken or scrambled eggs. I can eat more then two bites and find myself not feeling hungry per say.... but more like empty a bit more frequently then I did before. However- I think this could be more to do with TOM? If you feel as though you are not getting enough Protein it is best to continue supplementing with Protein shakes.

I had to wash with antibacterial soap for a week prior to my surgery.

Lola, I too was sleeved 12/5! I'm thankful I haven't had to deal with any nausea just extreme exhaustion and at times weakness. I think you should talk with your doctor and nutritionist. Do they have you on actigal to protect your gaul bladder? Maybe it doesn't agree with you? Or it could be dehydration... Maybe going to the ER and having them do an IV would be helpful. I was almost to that point because of how dried out my lips were, but thankfully I was able to start taking bigger sips and that has helped. Dehydration can mess with us in a vast array of symptoms.

Greatest advice I have seen/heard about stalls. It is very true! I wish I only had 5 incisions! I have 7, although two of them are smaller then the others and one of them is larger.... And man do they itch!

My surgeon had me on full liquids when I left the hospital. As of two weeks I went onto mushies and soft foods. I have had a few crackers with egg salad on them and I was told this is okay. I meet with the nutritionist again in February and will be asking her about popcorn. I know this journey is about losing weight and being healthy... However if I'm ok with slowing the process to have popcorn once a week I feel as though that is my decision. Please be careful having popcorn so soon If something bad were to happen I'd be scared away from popcorn forever! Don't do that! PLEASE!?!?!? LoL Does it taste as good post op? So guess what I came home to tonight?? I guess my mother made more popcorn then she wanted and there was a big air popped buttery bowl of popcorn sitting on my kitchen table..... It went right into the trash the second I sniffed it and I poured Water over the top of it.... Suckers.

My doctor has me taking it twice a day with food. It is sort of a pain to swallow but I like the thought of swallowing the pill a lot better then I like the thought of another surgery. I don't care to ever have surgery again!

I originally took only a week off, but by the Friday before I was supposed to go back I knew I wasn't ready for it- so I ended up taking off the full two weeks recommended by my surgeon. I know everyone is different but I think if I could have had three weeks off it would have been perfect for me. Be prepared to be exhausted no matter when you go back to work. You may not be that way but it's better to go into something thinking it is gonna be that way and be surprised if it isn't. I wish someone had told me this prior to my surgery.