barrbdoll

LOL!!! YES that's ME!!!! I used to be a plus size model when I was younger (20 years ago) and even then I was 230lbs... I'll be 39 this year and I feel better now than I did then!!! I think I may have submit my pics again and try to pick up a few jobs!!!! Thanks Everyone!!!!

I've never counted carbs and I am down 130 lbs in less than 11 months...... All in moderation!

Surgery FIRST!!!! I am also 38 with no children... No way was I getting pregnant at 332lbs!! I am 11 months out and am down to 203... I feel great and ready to conceive... Just my two cents!!!

I also had my surgery done at OCC with Dr. Ortiz... My surgery date was April 16th 2012 and I have lost 129 lbs!! I had a very easy recovery and I feel amazing!!! Congrats on scheduling with Dr. Ortiz.. He is simply the best!! Keep us posted!!!

I had my surgery with Dr. Ortiz on April 16th 2012 and I just wanted to wish you well!! Dr. Ortiz and the staff at OCC are simply the best!! I am down 129 lbs since surgery and I feel amazing!!! You have made the best choice!!! You are going to do great!!!! Keep us posted!!!! Emily

and yes... Tums are fine.. I used them a lot post surgery... I also take generic Prilosec once or twice per day if needed. Good Luck!

Ask your surgeon for Antacid meds... I am shocked that you were not prescribed anything.....

YES!! I can totally relate.... It was 11 days after surgery before I finally "went".... I had to start drinking "smooth move" tea each evening to get regular again.. I definitely don't go as often as I did before surgery but the tea really helped. You may want to add some stool softeners to your diet as well. I highly recommend the tea though! You should be able to buy it in your grocery store... Where all the herbal teas are located. Good Luck!

I had some pain when swallowing right after surgery.. Each day got better and I would say by day 4 it was pretty much gone. Is the pain in your throat or down further? If it's a strep or sore throat pain it could be from when you were intubated. My pain was down further and it was from the swelling. Because you were a revision patient you probably have more swelling.. Give it a few more days and you should feel better... Good Luck!

You are going to get suggestions and advice from all over place.. LOL We all have different experiences... I have always known what I needed to eat in order to lose weight... My issue before surgery was control... and yes.. I probably ate some things that I shouldn't have eaten BUT.... the beauty of this surgery is the fact that it has given me what I didn't have before.. C O N T R O L!!! I enjoy pretty much the same foods as I enjoyed before.. Just very small portions... Now granted.. I do lead with Protein first which definitely fills you up faster but I also enjoy my carbs. I can eat rice, Pasta, etc.. but I do so in moderation. If I crave a cookie I eat a cookie... The difference is that before surgery I would eat 8-10 oreos... Now I have one or two and am completely satisfied. I make better choices because I now eat to fuel my body versus out or boredom. My philosophy is this..... I didn't have this surgery to be on a diet for the rest of my life.. For the past 20 years I have counted points, carbs, exercised 5-6 days of week, etc... to only lose at the most 40 lbs before plateauing... My body was just too comfortable being fat and I needed to do something drastic to shock it into losing weight. Because of this surgery I have finally won my weight loss battle! My surgeon says I was the "perfect" candidate and honestly... my entire experience has been pretty easy and nothing short of amazing!!! I LOVE MY SLEEVE!! Best decision I have ever made and best money I ever spent!!!

I can only speak from my experience... At 2 weeks post-op you should be worried about getting in your nutrients and that's it.. Whether it's from soft foods, purees, etc.. I am over 10 months out and I have never once counted carbs.. I'm down 129lbs... When I was 2 weeks out I was eating things like mashed potatoes, baked potato Soup, grits etc.. pretty much all carbs but the amounts are so small and frequent that your metabolism should speed up which makes the weight come off. Hope this helps!! If you still feel the need to watch your carbs then speak with your surgeon of nutritionist for direction. Good Luck!

I have no problems with rice and enjoy it along with pasta, breads, etc... but I would wait a bit longer before trying it..... It's definitely very filling and there is really no nutritional value.. BUT... The key is moderation..... You will have to reintroduce foods back into your diet and what you liked before you may not be able to tolerate now. Protein should always be what you put in your mouth first... supplement with veggies and starches....

I'm a lil over 9 months out and I have lost 120 lbs.... I drink coffee with creamer and splenda usually every day and enjoy a glass of red wine at least once per week. I've enjoyed fresh full sugar lemonade and iced tea on occasion but don't make it a habit. I've never been one to have a sweet tooth either but if I want something sweet I eat it! The difference is now I have CONTROL!!! Before I was sleeved I would eat 8 or 9 Oreos and today... maybe 1 or 2... The same with chocolate.. I have miniatures from Halloween still laying around and I will have a couple and there but nothing like before. Ice cream is the same.. Before my sleeve I could eat a large bowl. Now?? maybe 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup and am completely satisfied. But usually if I am craving something sweet I will eat a few slices of an apple with Peanut Butter or some yogurt. In general... I can eat everything that I ate before my sleeve... except bananas.... they make me puke for whatever reason... LOL Hope this helps!

nope.... you can do flavored.... I used chocolate.....

yes.. the bathrooms are VERY well appointed.... Marble everywhere along with Hairdryers and high end toiletries..... Very Nice Hotel!

Also... a good idea depending on when you are flying home...... Take a blender bottle with you and some protein power in a ziploc.... That way you can mix up a drink if needed and not have to worry about taking liquids through TSA.. The sublingual pain meds are called "Supradol" which is the equivilant to "Toradol" here in the US. It is NOT a narcotic pain pill and they are available to purchase at OCC for an additional $25.00 or so... You can also purchase additional nausea meds if needed. I had no nausea, no gas and just a general soreness in my mid-section so I didn't have to purchase anything additional to what I had to purchase when I was discharged (around $100.00 I think). Dr. Ortiz also has his own line of vitamins and shakes called Enspira. I bought 4 bottles before my surgery and started taking them about 3 weeks before my surgery. I still take them today. The bottle says 4 daily but I only take 1 - 2. I personally don't see a need to take more than that. Just a tip... I also take an additional B-12 supplement not because I have too but I want too.. The benefits of B12 are amazing and I have felt great ever since taking them. Good Luck Ladies!!!!

I drank protein right up to the day before my surgery.. You can start adding drinkable yogurt on day 4 post-op and if you feel up to it... protein shakes.... by day 7 post-op you should be getting in a good 60g's of protein a day.... You will receive a packet that has all of your post-op info in it along with a calendar that will tell you what stage you can eat on each day. They really are very thorough at OCC... I had a great experience. As far as the pool??? It's nice and private with lounge chairs, waiter service, etc.. BUT... it's still pretty chilly. My surgery was April 16th 2012 and the water was wayyy too cold.. Even for my feet.. But I did lay on a lounger while in my maxi dress and ate a popsicle that the waiter brought out to me! You guys are gonna do great!!! The staff at OCC are superb!! Love them all!

who is your Dr?? You can always type their last name in the forum search engine and see what populates..

Just found this thread... I had my sleeve surgery April 16th and two weeks before Christmas I started having terrible pains under my breastbone. I called my surgeon (Dr. Ariel Ortiz) and he told me to ask my PCP here in the states for an Upper GI and a Gall Bladder scan. My PCP agreed and I was when the tech was scanning my gall bladder she said that it was full of stones... My stomach and everything else looked great!! So, I saw a surgeon and we scheduled to take it out on January 16th. 9 months to the day of my sleeve surgery. I had lost 120lbs since my sleeve surgery and from what I gather a lot of folks tend to have gall bladder issues after a rapid or large weight loss. I will say this.... I was in terrible pain after my gall bladder surgery... for the first 2-3 days I could barely move my midsection was sooooo sore plus I had a few gas pockets that had to break loose. My sleeve surgery was a piece of cake compared to this!! I had no pain, no gas, NADA when I had my surgery in Mexico. So.. today is day 5 post-op and I haven't had to take any pain meds in 2 days... I feel pretty much back to normal. I have 4 small incisions but they are bigger than my sleeve incisions which I only have 3 of. I am just glad to have it out.. I was having daily attacks for about 3 weeks and it was honestly the worst pain I have EVER felt..... Just wanted to add my two cents! Take Care!

BEST decision I have EVER made and BEST money I have EVER spent!!! Minimal pain, no gas, no nausea, no issues, NADA!! I'm down 120lbs in less than 9 months and I feel FABULOUS!!!!