suez383

I was honestly miserable the first few weeks, but kept hoping it would be worth it in the end. I am about 5.5 weeks out down 30 pounds and pretty much eating normally. I too am still struggling with what I can eat, if it will sit ok and when my full feeling kicks in what it will feel like or what will be the signal. I dont' know that yet, like last night, we ordered chinese because I got out of work late. I had 2 shrimps and 2 pieces of broccoli and they didn't sit well and here I was in the bathroom suffering. I ate pretty slow, chewed really good but it just didn't work. I have had broccoli a lot and never had a problem before and I have had shrimp too before with no problem. Maybe it's how they cooked it, or maybe my sleeve just didn't want it last night. Who knows? I wouldn't worry too much about what's normal, everyone is different and you kinda just gotta look to yourself and what will be normal for you! You ate a whole pudding cup, but while we think pudding is thick, it's not as dense as say Protein which would make it easier for you to eat the little cup of it. I wouldn't worry too much, especially since you say it didn't make you sick so I wouldn't think your stomach couldn't handle it. I know another guy at work who had the sleeve and when we compared our portion sizes, he was able to eat more than me. Now I wonder if the surgeons make men's sleeves a tad bigger just because men are bigger in general. (I don't mean fat either, I mean taller, stockier, more muscular). Like I said, I am still struggling and I am sure I will be for a while, but it does get easier and your body and mind start to adjust. I know the bigger problem for me is mentally trying to stop myself from over eating, because mentall I know I only had 3 bites but I still want to eat more like I did post op. I have been pretty lucky with not over eating, I really do listen to my stomach, but I am still bummed sometimes if something is really good and I can only eat a few bites. Kinda depressing, but I just keep telling myself I want to be skinny, so I really don't need more than a few bites, especially if it's something I am not supposed to be eating anyway. Hang in there and good luck, you are doing great!

Ok, I know alchohol has calories, which is why they tell you to stay away from it, but is that the only reason? I am not really a drinker, but I do like to have occasional glass of wine with dinner, or if I go out dancing with my friends, I like a couple of drinks to loosen up. There are 8 of us going to a Halloween party next Friday night. We are going all out with costumes and everything. I will only be six weeks out at the time of the party, but I feel great. No issues with eating or anything. I just want to know, is there damage that can be done from drinking? I mean I was only going to have one mixed drink, like I said, just something to help me loosen up. If you all advise against it, I won't, but will one drink do damage? Thanks!

Thanks everyone, the more I thought about it last night, I think it's way too early too. I still have some trouble at times eating normal foods, so I don't think alchohol this early out is very smart for me. So, no drink for me at this party, but it's ok, I will have fun anyway! Thanks for the advice!!

Ok, so I have been at the "three week stahl" since week 2 and that was 2 1/2 weeks ago, how long does this last!?!! This is ridiculous, I just had major surgery, suffered, eat hardly anything and haven't lost a thing in almost 3 weeks! I guess I am just afraid that I will be the one person this doesn't work for. I mean I know everyone goes through the stahl's, but this is going to work for me right? right?

Ok, so I just ate lunch, and then proceeded to throw it up. I am starting my fourth week and am on mushies but am allowed as of tomorrow to start going to regular foods. Today I had a little bit of turkey with gravy and some soft brussel sprouts. I hardly ate any I am just wondering if I didn't chew enough or maybe ate too fast? The last bite did feel a bit stuck going down at which point I started getting that throw up feeling. I mean is this the way it always going to feel, or is it just because I am still so early out? Just wondering. Also, I know I am still at the point where I can have a leak, does anyone know what the signs or symptoms of a leak are? Just starting to worry cuz I know throwing up is not good for my sleeve, and if a leak starts, I would like to know what to look out for. I know they say a fever right? But is there pain? Thanks and sorry for being such a worry wart!

I am happy to report that I found something that works for me. I take either one or two Prilosec's in the morning depending on how I feel, and then before bed I take a Zantac 150. I am happy to report that for two nights now, I have been acid reflux free! Knock on wood, lol. Good luck to all of you who are dealing with this.

Ok so I am 14 days post op and on mushies. I haven't really been able to stomach much including my Protein shakes. Tonight my husband got me fat free frozen yougurt. I didn't think I would be able to eat much. I probably ate the size of a large deck of cards. Well I got the dreaded slimed n threw some of it up. I am worried I ate too much and too fast. Could I cause a leak from this? I mean when you eat it it is pretty much a soft solid/liquid so I don't think it would stretch my sleeve that much, right? I was sooo stupid, I have been starving n it just felt and tasted so good going down. My stomach feels full but not stuffed or hurting, do u think I'm ok?? Please let me know, thanks!

Can you take OTC 20mg prilosec twice a day? It does not last long enough for me and I keep waking up in the early morning with terrible heartburn. I need to take one in the morning and one at night, is this ok?

Thanks Ann, you are my hero!!!!

Ok so I don't want to call the doctor today because this isn't really an emergency. Yesterday I woke up with horrible heartburn so I took a prilosec. I was fine all day until this morning when I woke up with it again. I know u are only supposed to take it once every 24 hours but I def need to take something before bed. Can anyone give me some advice on what to take or should I just call my doctor? Thanks everyone I cannot face going to bed again and waking up with it!

I lost 19 pounds my first week post op. But the scale hasn't moved for me either in almost a week. I know my body is holding on to everything cuz it feels like it's in starvation mode. Give it a little time and I bet you see a big drop soon! Don't give up, keep hanging in there.

I took one at around 6:30 this morning but I am going to need another one before bed. I read that some people have a script for 40mg of prilosec. OTC is only 20 mg so do you think I would be able to take 2? One in the morning and one at night?

Don't worry, once I gotback in my room from it I threw it all up. My nurse told me it was completely normal and a lot of people throw it up. I wouldn't worry about it, seems to me if a smallcase of throwing up can make you leak then they would always take you back to double check.

Can you take prilosec twice a day if needed? I take it in the mornings but still wake up in the middle of the night suffering!

Thanks I needed to hear that. I know it is probably normal, but I just feel so alone and in this pain that I start to worry. I am glad this is normal and that it will go away!!

I am only 11 days out but I am tired of the twinges I get, tired of the pain I feel as I drink something and I feel it going down my sleeve!! I know it's only 11 days but damn I am at my breaking point, I thought it would get a little better every day! I don't feel it feels any better than day 1! I just want to know is this normal? I mean do you think something is wrong? I told my doc on Tuesday that I felt spasms but he said it was normal. Is it normal to feel everything going down your sleeve and have it be painful??

I am only a week out and already I am noticing things I liked preop I don't like now. Just wondering if this is because I am so early out and at this point still kinda miserable that I don't like anything or if infact your tastes really do change. Anyone have anything they really liked before surgery that they just can't stand now?

Ok, so I am just about done with my 6 month supervised diet plan. My surgery is scheduled for Sept 19 and my last check in with my PCP to complete my 6months is August 30. I stopped in there yesterday to ask them to fax over everything for the last 6months to my surgeon. I saw that they were just sending the progress notes, and honestly there wasn't a whole lot written on it. I asked to look at the one, and it had my identifying info on the top with my weight and height, puls/ BP etc...Then my doctor wrote pt is obese and is trying to lose weight. Pt is following an 1800 calorie diet, pt is trying to exercise more and a couple of other comments. That's about it. I am worried about getting denied for not enough documentation. I mean is that enough? Also, reading on Aetna's website it also says I have to be in some sort of exercise plan. Um, I have been working out at home on my own, but I don't have a gym membership or anything. My husband has been out of work since May, and it was another expense that we just can't afford. My surgeon didn't tell me anything about it, so I am worried I went through all of this for nothing. Any advice would be greatly appreciated cuz I am freaking out right now! Thanks!

thanks for the info. Just another question, will my insurance company call my PCP to verify my weight? Here's the thing, I only went to get my job required physical in 2009. They asked me my weight they never weighed me I of course lied. The weight I told them made my BMI 38 and with no co-morbidities it won't be high enough to be approved. My weight in 2010 is high enough. So my doctor was nice enough to type up all my weight recordings from 2010 and i asked her to write what i knew my weight really was in 2009. She worded it great but she didn't lie or put a visit date on it, she is hoping they don't pay close attention lol. She isn't lying she said if they call her she will tell them that I had never been there in 2009 but that I had told her my weight. We are not going to send the 2009 physical paper unless they call and verify with my pcp and doesn't accept her letter and then we will send the letter. DOES the insurance company call my pcp to verify? My only other option which my surgeon reccommended was to go back to my pcp and have them measure my height. I am not exactly sure how tall I am, I always just say 5'7" but honestly I am not 100% sure. I figured I would have them measure me, slouch a little just in case and hope I am 5'5" and have my doctor attach a note saying that I hadn't ever been measured and they did it just in case and I am actually only 5'5 or 5'6. Thanks I of course am not trying to lie, I have been obese my whole life and of course this is the first time I want to kick myslf for lying about my weight during my physical. I appreciate any help thanks!

Good luck and welcome! Get ready and prepare yourself for the hoop jumping, it's kinda inevitable. lol. Some people depending on their insurance have a lot more to go trhough to be approved, some don't. I had a ton of hoops, a bazillion drs appointments but am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I am hopefully looking at surgery the middle of September. Regarding co-morbidities, have you had a sleep study at all? I too was worried about not getting approved, and although I am not approved yet because they don't submit all the paperwork for approval until you have completed everything, I am pretty sure I will be as I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. It was a pre-op requirement of my surgeon and from what I know most surgeon's, so you may have it which will get you approval, If not, just try to stay at the 40BMI and that alone will get you approved. Although I don't know about joint pain as being a co-morbidity, but it may be. I seem to remember getting asked that all the time so maybe. Anyway good luck on your journey and feel free to post with any other questions, there are a ton of already been sleeved posters on here and they are a wealth of information!

Ok, so I am hopefully going to be sleeved in September and yesterday I went for my endoscopy. Everything went well, but the Anesthesiaologist asked me a bunch of questions about my and my family's surgical history. I never had any type of surgery before, but I remember 15 years ago, my mom who was very sick with stage 4 cancer went in for a hip replacement. It was a very long surgery and towards the end of it, her temp spiked which is a complication of anesthesia. They call it malignant hyperthermia. My anesthesiaologist did not look pleased and informed I needed to call the hospital where I will be having surgery and tell them. My surgery isn't even scheduled yet, but I see my surgeon next Friday at which point I will let him know what the anesthesiologist told me. Now I am starting to worry that I won't be allowed to have this surgery. I guess even though I am having co-morbidities it's still considered an elective. What if I get denied? What if my surgeon doesn't want to operate on me because of the risks? I did some research today on it, and I have a 50% chance of also having MH because it is hereditary. Also, the only way to check is to have a muscle biopsy done, but I don't know if it's covered under insurance and I can't afford it out of pocket. I mean, I did read that there are other type of anesthesia that you can have, but there is this one muscle relaxer/blocker that it looks like the only one around, which is imperative to abdominal surgery, but is a major set off for MH. I really want to have this surgery done, but of course am concerened that they will say for abdominal surgery, they have to use this one drug and without we can't do it. Does anyone have any insight on MH? ARe there any nurses on here that know anything about MH and if you can still have surgery?? Thanks so much for any help!

Thanks, I see my surgeon next Friday, so I will definately let him in on the new developments. I will see what his reccommendations are. Apparently, the genetic testing is not 100%, you could have it, but it doesn't show, or it will show you as positive when in fact you don't have it. I think the better way to go is to just avoid the triggering meds and just go in thinking I do have it and have them use different meds.

Ok, I hope this isn't a dumb question, but can someone please tell me the steps on this whole pre-approval thing? I went for the consult, got the instructions, but maybe I am an idiot but I am a little confused. The woman from the doctor's office whose name is Stacy called and told me a little bit about the process. I went to my family doctor on March 21 to start my agony of the doctor supervised 6month diet. I went back last week for my first month check up. I am writing a food journal, trying to drink lots of Water and exercise more all which I am keeping track of. My doctor and I discussed all this at my last appointmnet and she documented all of this in my chart, I go again in 3 weeks for my next follow up. Stacy told me I didn't need to worry about seeing a nutritionist through my family doctor cuz I could see theirs. I also see on the outline from Stacy that it says I have to exercise and have to meet with some exercise therapist to improve pulmonary reserve? I don't have the money to join a gym, but I do have an eliptical, treadmill, ab chair and weight bench and a bowflex. I am using them more than I have been. Does anyone else have Aetna and did all the hoop jumping and can kinda walk me all through it please? When do I meet with their nutritionist? Stacy has been working on all this and I kinda figured she would call me once she got the documentation she needed so I could meet with the nutritionist but I figured I would do that early on since that would be a part of the whole diet thing, right? Sorry friends, I really want to be approved and would give my right arm if they asked for it just to have the band, and I don't want to mess this part up and feel like I will!! Any help would really be appreciated!!

I have been reading on here about people who only did 3months of doctor supervised weight loss plan and got approved through Aetna. I thought it was 6months but I did see on my paperwork from my surgeon that it said 3-6 month supervised weight loss plan. Is it true that I might only have to do 3 months??? I honestly don't want to wait 6months but will if I have to. Oh please, oh please let it be true!!!!

Wow thanks so much. I think I will call the office tomorrow and check in with them to see where I am in the process. I really appreciate your help, it means a lot!! Good luck I can't wait to follow your weight loss.