mattr2

Started out at 217 lbs, size 38" waist, XL shirt. Was sleeved on 8/13/2012 Went shopping TODAY. 184 lbs, size 33" waist, large shirt. Friends are really starting to freak out that havent seen me in a while. Loving it! Probably time to update my profile pic!

I was sleeved by Dr. rod in Juarez on Aug 9th. I also used BeLiteWeight. The entire experience was a breeze. Here are actually three doctors at the facility. All speak perfect English. All three check on you every day. The staff at Star Medica was excellent, better than what I see in the US. You are in good hands. Please feel free to ask me anything.

I sometimes feel a dull pain where my full stomach used to be. I am 8 weeks out and the morning is when it is the most noticeable. I think it usually happens when my stomach is completely empty. I also get nauseous a little when I brush my teeth. I had read it takes a full three to six months for everything to heal up completely so I am hoping those things subside. When I feel it at night, I usually go eat a piece of lunch meat with a slice of cheese and it does the trick. Good news is, I am down 34 lbs and get compliments every day on my progress. I am over 1/2 way to goal and feeling great (Bmi was 33 preop) Hang in there!!

I am seven weeks out and have had air popped popcorn a few times with no issues at all. It's really not that bad for you if you are selective in how you prepare it.

Same for me. Happened about 10 days post op and lasted about two weeks. It's completely gone now.

I had the same thing 2 weeks out. Developed a rash on my chest and back. Two weeks layers it's almost gone. Weird.

I had the same issue. The surgery was a piece if cake, a month later, the vein in my hand where the IV went is still inflamed and sore. It is getting better slowly. The part that is most affected us right above my wrist.

I was a 32 BMI and lost 20 lbs in the first month. I feel great but and still adjusting to the extreme low quantity of foods. I expect to lose may 1-3 lbs a week from here on out. Surgery was 8/13

Good to hear Ali. Yeah, the weight comes off slowly which is great for me. I have a little less to lose and I am not watching calories at all. I figure with how little I can eat, as long as I get Protein and Water, how could calories be an issue. I may have a bite of ice cream or a few bites of a twix bar from my kids every once in a while (or while at a football game.) Life is for living right? Tell me what you mean by it gets better....... do you mean volume, tolerance, social awkwardness ....... ?

Doing just great! I am down 24 lbs and still losing 2-3 lbs a week. I expect that to slow down a lot, maybe to 1-1.5 a week simple because I only have 35 lbs to go. I am only 3 1/2 weeks into it and I feel a lot of restriction. Actually I'm concerned about too much restriction. Hopefully things open up in a few months alittle more so I can enjoy more than just a few mini bites of Protein or Beans. Overall it's been easy, just very awkward when out to eat with friends or family, very awkward when it comes to the main entree. liquids go down fairly easily, but once I eat any protein, it takes a long time to be able to drink again, several hours and I seem to fill up quickly throughout the rest of the day. I try to drink my protein in the morning and get it out of the way.

Wow Cara, I was actually hoping to be able to eat more at 6 months out. I dont know if I can survive on Protein shakes and 500 - 600 cals a day forever. When do we start to get more eataing capacity back.

without any problems or discomfort. It keeps me full for at least 2-3 hours. I can also eat about 1/2 of a small can of tune with a little olive oil mayo + pickle relish. No problems with liquids. They go down pretty easily. Of course, no eating and drink at the same time. How does that rank up there, in terms of volume, with others in that stage?

I stayed in the hospital the normal, recommended time. Arrived on Sunday, surgery on Monday, leave for the airport Wednesday around noon. There were no problems traveling. I was nervous too, that's t be expected. Excited at the same time though. Is anyone traveling with you?

Hi Yaz, The first week was great, but I've been in THE dreaded stall for the last 8 days, even gained a pound. I am hoping it's over soon. NO problems with getting my Protein, but once I switch to shakes, things slowed. It has to be a coincidence becuase my caloric intake is very low. Probably need to increase my Water, but I am getting at least 60 oz a day. Sometimes when I am working outside or get distracted, it tough to remember to keep drinking.

I was sleeved on the 13th by Dr. Rod in Juarez. He was great and I never felt unsafe. The hospital is about 5 mikes over the boarder is all. I have had zero problems since being banded. You are in excellent hands. There are actually three very good doctors taking care of you while you are at star medica and a staff that is better than anything I've had in the states.

I was sleeved on 8/13 and was down 14 as of 8/22, no weight losses over the past few days. One thing I am noticing though is my body composition is changing while the scale is not. I have one of those scales that takes your weight and body fat percentage. When I was losing weight quickly, my body fat percentage went up slightly. Made me wonder if I was losing a lot of muscle even though I was getting plenty of quality Protein (80-100g) and exercise per day. I noticed through that when the scale hasn't been dropping, my body fat percentage has been going down. I track both daily. Changes are still definately going on, just not always measured by weight. So, just as you read, you body is catching up to the rapid weight loss, it's true. To me, both number s are equally important. Has anyone else measured and notice the same thing?

Awesome replies! Thanks for sharing. I agree, the scales are not accurate but may show a trend over time. I know things are still changing even thought the scale isn't dropping. My clothes and feedback from my wife and coworkers are proof. I notice now that I have moved on the mushies, I seem to be getting more hungry. I think my body is fed up with liquids only and wants the real stuff. 500-600 cals a day or so just isn't cutting it.

Try to go with a whey protein isolate. You body can absorb a very high percentage that that type of protein. I know you can buy the premixed clear Isopure from GNC which includes 40g or pure protein, or you can buy the powder that make 57g of high quality protein.

Thanks for sharing NtvTxn! I think I am kind of ahead of the recovery curve on this one. I am able to take in much more volume on liquids that what I am reading from other posters. I don't know if that's because I was a lower BMI or if he made teh sleeve slightly larger. Either way, I was hope for restriction, but not an extreme amount. I have not felt hungry yet at all so I know there are parts that were removed that did the job. I am thrilled with the way Dr. Rodriguez perfromed my surgery. Very, very little pain, and able to get the liquids down with a could of ounces at a time every few minutes. I have to keep telling myself, liquids only! I finished most of a 12-16 oz protein shake this morning (over the course of an hour) and feel very full. I have also not really had any tastes changes. I am sure extremely sweet stuff will make me sick, but the proteins and other liquid foods all taste the same to me as they did pre surgery. The question I have for myself is, what will my capacity be in 1-2 years. I hope to be able to eat an amount that is accept socially only when needed and then exactly like you said, a cup or so regularly as each sitting. I'm down 14 in 10 days and very, very please with how I am recovering, and how I feel!

No offense here, thats true. It just seems like the Water is going down easily. I was told I could sip 2-3 ounces at a time (no more than 3oz.) and it just flows right through. I bet I could take a drink every 30 seconds and not have a problem. But, now that I think about it, the drive is 15 monutes each way and I take a 10 minute break in the middle, so it is a little longer than what I said. I know, I am a little surprised. The problem is the air buble that comes when you try to drink too fast or too much. At one week today, that is rarely happening. If you notice when you have the leak test, liquids just basically flow right through when you drink in small amounts. I would say 2 oz would be close to a gulp. I am careful that when I do get a mouthful, I let it go down in mini swallows.

K, so I was sleeved on Monday, August 15. The entire experience has been waaaaaaaaay easier than I expected. Much easier than what many have reported on this board, so I thought I would share my daily routine with community. Maybe it will help, maybe some replies will help me improve! I am 40 years old, was a 32 BMI, was always active, and never ate a lot of food but could never maintain any weight loss. I have lost 8 pounds since surgery (boooooyeah!) and the pre-op diet was successful so I know it's not just Water. I am still on the clear liquid stage of the post op diet. I have no problems getting enough liquids. At first I would feel a moderately painful bubble about 5 seconds after each sip/gulp of water. The larger the sp, the longer/larger the bubble. That has lessened just a bit each day. I still feel it now, but maybe only 1 of out five and the pain is almost gone, but the "pressure" is there. I drink, wait for it, fist pump when nothing comes and go again. I was able to drink about 20 .oz of water in 20 minutes while driving my daughter to soccer practice today. I think just making sure you get the water as much as you can in the right quantities trains your new sleeve to be more comfortable with the water workout. I have also found that Isopure premade clear liquid Protein drinks are KEY in the clear liquid stage. I buy mine at GNC and they are pricey but not too bad with the deal GNc is offering right now - buy one ($5.50) get the next half off. I am not sure if it just my store, but if you spend $50, they give you another $10 off. The result is 12 bottles for $38. The babies have a whopping 40 grams of whey protein isolate in a 20 oz bottle and they taste fantastic. There are two types, one with 25g of carbs, and several with 0g of carbs. I drink one of each a day. The "Apline Punch" includes the carbs and taste the best by far. We need carbs so this is what I drink mid morning. I drink the zero card for dinner. This equals 40 oz of water and 80 grams of protein alone and they go down EASY. Here's the rest of the routine: Vitamins : - adult gummies from costco, 2 per day. Chew up until its nearly dissolved - sublingual B12 fromo Costco, small pill dissolves under the tongue, awesome for energy - Calcium chews from GNC, 2 per day Protein supplements : - Isopure whey protein isolate bottled clear protein, 20 oz. each, from GNC. After discounts about $4 each. Goes down easier not refrigerated. ---- 25 carb in morning ---- zero carb in evening - powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury chicken broth protein, not that great tasting, but if you mix with organic chicken broth and dilute it 2x with water it works. Gets your daily protein total to 90-100g - Gatorade recover drink Other food : - sugar free Jello - apple juice - sugar free Popsicles - 40 - 60 oz. of water throughout the day I have zero energy issues, in fact I have a hard time falling asleep, usually midnight and wake up around 6:30. I walk constantly and can barely feel the incisions. The "other foods" are getting very old, but only 5 more days of that which I think I can handle, then full liquids will be much better, creamy Soup, tomatoe soup, regular Protein shakes, ect......... That's about it. Like I said, no one even can tell I had surgery. I feel like I could have easily gone back to work on Thursday (but didn't to be safe.) I need to watch myself now so I don't over do it. Fellas, share you pr go to foods!

(1) They are the VitaFusion muti bites from costco. Here is a link to the same on Amazon. My cordinator said not to use gummis, but my doctor said they would not be any problem at all as long as you chew them up. The doctor said any good multi Vitamin will do. (2) I know if you go into the stores, they are seperate so you can choose your flavors. I hope that helps!

I was sleeved by Dr. Rodriguez in Mexico at the "Star Medica" facility. It was great. Very clean and the service was BETTER than what I see in the U.S. No complaints. The total cost was $6800. Booked through www.beliteweight.com

Thanks for the heads up Dez, are they cheaper though the website than in the stores? The store have the buy one, get one half off, PLUS the additional $10 off for spending $50. I may just go order some cases too to save the trips. Nice find!