Lookinupin2010

Wannalise..you are a couple of weeks ahead of me. I get very sad over my hair condition. I started out with very thin and fine hair. I now look like I am taking cancer treatments. I have to remind myself that this is temporary and this weight loss is a good thing. I got my hair cut much shorter today, and my hairdresser kinda added a lot of curl to it. It looks better, but you can see through the strands of hair (lol) and see my bald spots. Like others have posted, I get my Protein in daily, take my Vitamins faithfully, and even take flax seed oil for my skin and hair. On the 7th of August I will be 4 months out. I fear that I might be bald by the 6th (supposed last month for 'fallout') month. Oh well....I will be thinner......and healthier.

Just a question....DID YOU TIP HER ???? lol

If you are going via Nogales, you can park in Nogales, AZ fairly close to the Nogales, Mexico border. But how were you planning to get to the facility and hotel if you park? I've been to Nogales several times, though I wouldn't go NOW... But I would definately ask you surgeon about all of these questions. If they can't make you feel secure with the answers...well...that may be an indication of other things to come. (maybe, I don't know) My surgery was done in Tucson at Northwest Hospital, BUT...my insurance paid for it. I do have a friend who went to the same hospital with the same surgeon and was self-pay. I wouldn't be too worried about the SB thing on the American side...just the Mexico side. That's why we have the whole SB thing anyway, because of all the problems with the ranchers and all close to the border. But you live in AZ...you already know the inside story that those that don't live here don't. Just try to get your answers, and enjoy your new life that is about to come...and it IS a new life.

I had to do 2 Protein shakes a day with one meal of protein only. The day before surgery, all I could have was Protein Shakes. My surgeon said my liver was very small and pliable. GOOD LUCK !!! YOUR 'WHITE KNUCKLING' DAYS WAITING FOR THE NEXT MEAL ARE ALMOST OVER !!! YEA !!!

I agree...I was told to not lift anything over 10 lbs for 6 weeks. I personally use a 14 lb ball, so that cut that out. Get a sub for the couple of months, if you want to stay with the league. After your 6 week appointment, you will probably be cleared.

I personally agree with Thinoneday. I'm only 4 months out, and I tried a salad the other day of just romaine lettuce and tomatoes. I chewed it to death...till it was almost liquid. The tomato I had peeled, cause I knew better than to try to digest a peel. But the acid from the tomato got to me. I was in real pain for a couple of days. My Dr. said no raw veggies for 6 months. But I thought I could handle it !!! When will I realize that he knows more about this stuff than I do? !!!

For me, it's a horrible slimy feeling that suddenly comes up into my mouth and I have to immediately go throw up. I have had it happen 3 times so far and don't want it to happen again. As soon as I feel I shouldn't take another bite, I STOP !! If I don't...slime If I chew too fast...slime If I don't chew enough...slime Drink something to soon after my last bite....slime Eat bread, or some other starchy food.....slime If it happens to you once, you will know what it is. It is NOT pleasant !! As far as the runny nose, I never got that. Just the immediate feeling of slime in my mouth from my stomach. JUST AWFUL !!!

This sounds so good. I am anxious to try it. I try to eat a lot of fish, and I love to mix crab with different types. Thanks...

Breakfast: 1 scoop of Bariatric Protein shake with entire mango and 1/4 c strawberries. Lunch: 1 1/2 chicken Select Strips for McDonalds (couldn't finish the rest) Dinner: 3 oz. Mahi Mahi with mango sauce over it, and 1/4 c broccoli. At 16 weeks, I still can't get very much down.

WOO HOO !!!! Your hard work paid off....HAPPY FOR YOU !!!!

I'm so sorry. I know how you feel. I was denied for 5 years in a row. But that was for RNY. I didn't even know about VSG till this year. I was approved right away after I did all the appointments that they required. I don't know if you are a believer or not....but I feel that the time was just not right for you right now. I believe that God allowed it to happen for me, when it was perfect timing. I was released from the hospital on my 58th birthday, so as I was doing all the appointments feeling that I would only be denied again, I was ready to spend the rest of my life (even though it may have been a short one because of my weight) being super morbidly obese. I don't know if that helps you or not, but truly believe that I feel bad for you cause I know first hand your pain. Prayerfully praying for you to have patience and feel comfort.

Just found this website on usda gov site. It lists the Proteins in common foods. http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/SR18/nutrlist/sr18a203.pdf

Definately call your Dr. Acid can cause ulcers in our new little tummies. My Dr. said that I have just as much acid as in my full (OLD) stomach, but less stomach. He prescribed Prevacid for the first month...but my insurance won't pay for it...It was $175 for one month. He now tells me to take Prilosec. Sometimes that doesn't help either, so I examine what I ate and take Gas X strips for emergencies. You want to take care of your new tummy.

I'm a recipe junkie also. I have this book. It's great !!! It breaks it down by WLS patients nutrition and tells how much to have during the different stages that we go through. My surgeons office also recommended it. The 'Before and After : Living and Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery' also has wonderful recipes in it. I made the chicken caccitore last night, and even my pickiest eater ate it. I made rice for him to go with it.

In my opinion (for what it's worth), just be sure to drink at least your 64 oz. of Water. Sometimes when we are at work, we forget to drink. You will be dehydrated after surgery, they will pump you with fluids in the hospital, but the number one reason for hospital readmittance is dehydration. It's hard to get that water down. It took me SEVERAL weeks to get it all down, and I DID become seriously dehydrated. I became so incredibly tired it was all I could do to get up and exercise as I was required. That is pretty much where all my energy went till I was able to get myself (several weeks later) properly hydrated. Good luck...best of wishes coming your way.

By looking at your city, I think we went to the same support group. I went once and I got an 'angel visit' at the hospital. I was happy about that. I always mean to go again, but I have gotten so much good interaction on this web sight, that I don't feel it necessary. I DO like the idea of the clothing exchange. But I haven't participated in that yet either. When I went (night before my surgery) for the first and only time, they focused on the people that hadn't been approved yet. I'm not there anymore...I need answers for what I experience NOW. If they gave you a CD...do make a copy of it. It has some good information in it, but make sure your printer has LOTS of paper in it. LOL I have been thinking of finding an OA meeting also. Maybe we will meet up there. I live on the east side (Rita Ranch) Good luck, and enjoy your new life with the sleeve.:laugh0:

It has taken me a good 3 months to finally get it !!! When I eat too fast, eat too much, or don't chew my food well I immediately start feeling this slimey feeling in my mouth....kinda like a nauseus feeling....then I have to RUN to go throw up. I HATED THAT FEELING !!! I was so afraid that I would do it in a public place !!! I never did, I was always at home, thank goodness. I now use my little plates, and if something doesn't look like its enough food (cause my head is still in presurgery days, sometimes) THEN I KNOW IT IS JUST ENOUGH !! If ONE bite feels like I'm full....I STOP !!! Get rid of the plate and get the food out of my sight, otherwise I'll sit there and pick at it and get sick. Weighing my food has helped tremendously. I only eat about 2 or 3 bites of veggies and/or fruit AFTER I have weighed out my Protein to only 2-3 ounces.

I'm truly happy for you. My daughter has BCBS and they denied her last week. She has been considering self pay, but she already struggles with money. She has excellent credit and could probably get a loan...but I feel that she doesn't need the added expense. I'm hoping that when she tries again, she will be approved.

I had insurance....BUT self pay here in Tucson at the hospital and surgeon I used is $16,000. That included the 2 night stay in the hospital, and all the visits for a year.

WOO HOO ! Enjoy the moment....Great Job !!!:001_rolleyes:

The problem with relying on laxatives, is that the normal massaging of your bowels don't work as effectively when you take a laxative. My Grandmother actually has this problem. She relied too heavily on laxatives, believing that she had to 'go' everyday at least once. This ended up with cancer of the bowel. I'm afraid (because of this) to take laxatives. However, I have had so much pain from constipation, that I have broken down a couple of times over the last 3 months and took one. I was told by my surgeon to take Miralax on a daily basis. He already knows that I walk and drink lots of water. Miralax just gave me bloating, gas and an uncomfortable feeling and didn't really work with the constipation. I now, concentrate just as heavily on my fiber as I do my water and protein. Seems as though this might be the answer that I like. I also take a flax oil capsule every morning. I'm sure that also has something to do with the relief I now have.

I hope I can remember this. I'm keeping a journal of my feelings that I'm working through. Something I can look back on and be thankful that I'm not in that stage of the journey any longer. Still just starting out though.

For the past few days, I have been feeling a combination of depressed, angry, frustrated and very difficult for my family to live with. Fortunately they love me, and don't leave me. I probably would have left myself two days ago !!! It occurred to me this morning...thank goodness for new days and new understandings...that I am being quite silly. What was it in the past that I want back? food is not the answer, because it was treated as something more than just food by me. It was my (in my addicted behavioral mind) comfort when I felt unloved or misunderstood. It was my hobby (spent hours reading cookbooks and surfing the web for that perfect recipe that was going to make my family jump for joy. They never did, an occasional "That's good" would send me into joy land. It was I thought of pretty much most of the day in some way or another, but I don't ever recall thinking of it as fuel that my body needed. Isn't that what it really is. I made it my idol...my glory...my comfort...my identity. The REAL problem is: my thinking caused me to perpetuate this endless cycle of feeling like I needed it...getting it...usually too much of it...feeling miserably uncomfortable...guilt...shame....asking God to forgive me (again and again)...causing more guilt and shame...thinking I'm hopless, and knowing that I was out of control but not being able to handle it on my own. What a WONDERFUL tool I have been given. I can no longer overeat...I can no longer eat junk cause I need to give my body the best nutrition that I can with this small space that I now have...I no longer get so hungry that I 'white knuckle' till the next meal. WHAT ON EARTH DO I WANT FROM THAT PAST LIFE ??? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING...I HAVE THE ANSWER THAT I HAVE ALWAYS SOUGHT...GET OVER IT !!! It wasn't that great...it wasn't even good. My head has to now adjust to what my heart has always wanted. A healthy happy adjusted guiltfree ME !!!

Thanks again...I'm having my blood work before my next appointment in August. My cardiologist said last week that he wants to know my potassium levels. Funny that you should mention that....Thanks Tiffykins

When I went for my 6 week checkup, I was asked by the MA how I was doing with the Protein shakes, and I gave her the gagging look. She laughed and said that all of her patients give her a similar look. I missed chewing !! My taste buds had changed temporarily, and the shakes that I drank on my preop tasted like gritty poop to me after the surgery. I also took the broth out of the Ramen Noodle packs, and made broth with it. For protein, I just kept trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel. My taste buds finally came back, but not till about week 5. Until then, most everything tasted awful. I still (at 3 1/2 months out) struggle with protein. I have to have 70-75 grams a day, and that's pretty hard for me to do with food. I have to have a shake or two to make it to that number. Don't like it though.:lol0::001_tt2: