charitymarroquin

Hey Everybody! Have any of you tried Slim Fast Protein shakes? It says" Controls hunger up to 4 hours. 15g of protein as prepared. 24 Vitamins and minerals. Would this be good to help with the protein as well as with the weight loss or is it best just to get a protein mix?

That could have been what happened. She might have drank it really quick and it could have been right after surgery. Not sure. Anyways I just know I don't need them and like you said they are just empty calories.

I hope so happy for you that you have made the decision. I just got sleeved on Tuesday, so I'm a newbie. Not quite sure how my life is going to be yet, but I believe I made the right decision. I need to lose over 100 lbs. and I have been on diets all my life and just haven't been able to do it. Now with the help of the sleeve and the people on this forum I believe I can!

Hey Everybody! I have enjoyed reading all the posts on here. Until a week ago I was convinced that I wanted the Lap Band, but after reading posts of people on here and other sites that have had problems with it I have decided I better switch to the sleeve. Also I am self-pay and cannot afford to have more than one surgery. And I am currently living in Nicaragua as a missionary and they do not offer the lap band here. I can get the sleeve for $5,500 including everything. I visited one doctor today. He said it would be a team of 3 surgeons. He told me that I wouldn't need to do a pre-op diet. Just maybe 2 days before. Does that sound right? I'm 240lbs. and he said that because I wasn't super overweight it wasn't necessary. Also after the operation he said it would be 2 weeks of liquid, then 2 weeks of puree and then 2 more weeks of stuff like smashed potatoes then I could begin on solid foods. Does that should right to you guys? I kind of liked the idea of the band because it wasn't permanent. Do any of you guys regret getting the sleeve? Any help or suggestions that you can give me would be greatly appreciated!

I just weighed and I have lost 10lbs. since I was weighed going into the hospital on Tuesday for surgery... Wow!

Thank you guys for your prayers! I went into surgery on Tuesday and came home yesterday afternoon. I'm on my way to recovery. I can't say that I haven't wondered if I did the right thing since the surgery, but I guess that's normal. This is day 4 and I'm not feeling too bad. The worse thing is I have the drainage bag and tube hanging out of my stomach! Yuck! I don't get it out until tuesday. I think I'll feel better after then. Thanks for all your prayers!

I hope my doctor used titanium... I didn't think to ask. He did have to use 6. He said my stomach was bigger than normal... On day 4, can't wait till Tuesday when I get this drainage bag out...

I made it home today from the hospital... Day 3... still kind of rough... worse than anything is having this stupid drainage bag! I don't get it out until tuesday... :-( I think I'll go crazy before then.... Any advice about what I can drink? The nutricionist hasn't had time to meet with me yet. The doctor told me gatorade, chicken broth, water and jello. Sound right?

Hi Tara! Congratulations on having a date to be sleeved! I'm actually getting sleeved tomorrow. I hope to lose 110lbs with the sleeve. My doctor told me I have to have the drainage bag from 5 days. That really freaks me out! Especially bringing it home with me... But, I'll make it. Most people on here that I have talked to just have one while they are in the hospital and some don't have it... Can't tell you about the other since I haven't been there yet...

I'm getting sleeved tomorrow (Oct. 12th)! I'm so excited and nervous at the same time!

I'm so glad to hear that it went well! :thumbup: I have been wondering about how you were doing. I know you were really nervous before the surgery. :confused: Now I'm in the same place you were. :scared0: lol... I'm getting the sleeve tomorrow at 10am. I can't believe I'm actually doing it! We'll have to keep in touch and follow each other's progress. What do they have you drinking now? How do you feel? :crying:

Hey Guys! Thank you for all your replies! I've got a time for my surgery! Now it's official! No backing out... I'm scheduled for 10am. Need to be at the hospital at 9am. Thank you for all your prayers! I will be back home on Thursday and I'll post an update! God Bless!

I'm being sleeved on Tuesday and I have been kind of worried why my doctor isn't having me do the pre-op diet. He said I didn't need to, but I have been kind of worried since everyone else I talk to has did it. My BMI is 43. I guess I'm not the only person then... That's good to know.

This scares me! I'm going in on Tuesday for surgery and my doctor told me I don't need to do a pre-op diet. My BMI is 43 and he said because it is not that high, it's not necessary. Do you think he's right?

My doctor told me he has been doing the sleeve since it began about 4 years ago almost on a daily basis, plus the gastric bypass, so it seems like it's did alot of them. He says he's never had a leak... As far as the wii it does make you sweat. With the Wii fit it has all kinds of games and exercises that seem to really be a work out.

Hey Cajun! I am getting the sleeve here in Nicaragua by Dr. Jorge Gutierrez and his team of 2 other surgeons. It's cheaper than the U.S. or Mexico. I believe he is a good doctor, I hope I'm right. I haven't been able to find anything online about him, but he has been doing weight loss surgery for years. He's did a couple of people from the states, but most of the people he works with or from Central or South America. He's going to give me some references I can call.

Thanks guys for all your replies! I went to the hospital to have an Endoscopy, one of the pre-op requirements for my doctor. I was terrified because I had to be put to sleep and then a camera put down into my stomach. I would say that being put to sleep has been my greatest fear about the surgery, so for me this was about as bad as the actually surgery. But I did it! I don't even remember falling asleep and when I woke up I was thinking they hadn't even done the procedure yet... lol.. So now that I made it through that I am now ready for the actual surgery. I talked to my doctor and he can do it next Tuesday or Friday, so I will let you guys know for sure when I know what date I am getting it done. I was supposed to be flying to a very remote area of Nicaragua to start a children's home on Tuesday, but I don't know if that is going to happen yet. If I don't go I will get the surgery before I leave or after I get back. God Bless!

Hey Everybody! If you have considered going to another country to be sleeved you might want to consider Nicaragua, Central America. I am planning on being sleeved here next week, so I will be able to tell you if I can fully recommend my doctor after the surgery, :thumbup1:but he speaks english and the hospital that they have here is so nice. I have been living here in Nicaragua for the last 5 yrs. and my daughter was born here as well. I honestly feel more comfortable with the doctors and hospital here than in the U.S. Also the doctors here give you their home and cell no. and you can call them anytime. I know since I am self-pay that it has been really hard for me to decide what to do. If I wasn't able to get this done for this price I really doubt that I would be doing it.

I think I'm going to feel the same way... :-( I'm not as close as you, but I plan on getting the sleeve next week. I don't have an exact day yet. In so ways I am so thrilled, but on the other hand I'm terrified. The only surgery I have ever had is a C-Section and I've never been put to sleep. Tomorrow I have to go to the hospital to have blood work and and Endoscopy done. That scares me about as much as the surgery because they have to put me to sleep and put a tube down my throat. I don't know why being put to sleep scares me so much. It's not like I'm not going to wake up... lol...:thumbdown: I don't know if I'm got to be able to sleep to much tonight. I have to be at the hospital at 11am and I cannot eat or drink anything in the morning...

Hey Guys! Thanks for all your replies! I went to see my doctor again today and talked to him about a date. I can't believe I'm really going to do this! It looks like it is going to happen on Oct. 20th! That's just around the corner, but my mom is visiting from the states and she will be here and would like to be here when I get it done. She is also helping me pay for it. So, my doctor said that I really don't need to do a pre-op diet. Only the day before. The surgery will be performed by a team of 3 surgeons. Is that how they usually do it in the states? Before the surgery I need to have blood tests and I need to have an Endoscopy of my stomach that the doctor will perform. I have to be put to sleep for this... :-( My biggest fear about all of this is being but to sleep. That probably sounds crazy. I have never been put to sleep before and for some reason I've always had a fear of that... I guess it's not that bad is it? I'm so excited about this! I'm 27 years old and I have been overweight my whole life! I've been on and off diets since I was 10 years old. I have never been the yo yo dieter. I have always dieted and just never lost. Well, one time I lost 40lbs with the Atkins diet, but eventually gained it back and it never worked for me again. I think the main problem is I have hypothyroidism and even though I take medicine every day it's just not the same...

Hey! Sorry I don't know the answers to your question. I still haven't gotten the sleeve yet. But, would you mind me asking how much it is costing in Costa Rica? I am living in Nicaragua and I'm considering getting the sleeve here. I've thought about checking in Costa Rica though...