jeffrey

I don't think my sleeve is small or picky either one. I targeted losing about 100 lbs. so, we are close to the same. I have not been vigilant about exercise and when I am better, the weight falls off more quickly. Guess I am just grateful that it helps so much if I am tempted to eat too much at once. Its a huge help. It is too easy to eat chips and snacky food, and of course things like ice cream are too dangerous to try. But, overall, while I may not lose as fast as some, or as much, I am so much happier and healthier now, and do believe I will continue to lose. Thanks for your encouragement.

Congratulations! Had mine 4/18 too. I am jealous of your weight loss--I am down about 45 lbs. including a week of presurgery dieting. I am learning to pay better attention to signals that I have had enough, and now know some foods just don't make me feel as full as other, but it is such a blessing during moments of weakness. I too am into an easy 16 pants and size XL tops--still do a double take at the mirror. Exercise is so much easier, and "onederland" is just over a 7lb. hill--in sight! Could not have envisioned all of this 3 months ago.

Really check out their experience. The surgical techniques -- laparoscopic surgery in general, gastric bypass, and sleeve are critical. The cutting and stapling for the VSG are similar to the first stages of gastric bypass, particularly Roux en Y. Experience with lap-band is different. So, get someone who has done hopefully a couple of hundred VSGs and many, many more bypasses. Ask about leaks and other bad outcomes and make sure you get a report of any statistics on mortality and serious problems post surgery. How long will you stay in the hospital? I stayed one night but probably should have taken Dr. J up on his offer to stay a second. Make sure you are covered for problems for at least 90 days post surgery and followup visits. Good luck!

So glad you are taking this so seriously and looking after your health. Being your own informed advocate is so important. I decided against going to Mexico for some of the same reasons, and because I learned about how there are differences in their hospital system should a true emergency arise than U.S. hospitals. I am sure if there are no problems there are many skilled and sensitive surgeons there, but those uncertainties plus being that far from my surgeon the first week or so made me nervous. Plus, if you have problems develop which need a good experienced bariatric surgeon to fix, many U.S. doctors, understandably, will not jump in to take care of you. Dr. Mohammad Jawad of Ocala/Orlando is my surgeon, and I can't say enough good about him and the hospital (Ocala Regional Medical Center) and his staff. They were extremely careful. He has done thousands of laparoscopic and bariatric surgeries, including over 200 sleeves, and has only one mortality over those thousands. I would trust him to help decide it all. And, I believe a self pay is around $12-13K, hospital included, plus whatever clearances are not covered by insurance. Not sure how long I would stay in the area before going home, but a few days to a week might be a good idea. There are hotels, and suites hotels, which have great hospital rates. I believe Homestead Suites in Ocala has an under $100 a night hospital rate, and it's across the street from one and around 3 miles from ORMC). Have the post-op doc visit and get the staples out while there would be super careful and conservative. Good luck.

OK--8 weeks out, dropping from 22/24 jeans to everything fitting well in a 16!!!!. Not limited to the plus size dept! Lost enough tummy size that my boobs enter the room before my stomach does! So, so, so, happy to have done this and just want to hug Dr. Jawad every day! BMI down from 40 to 33 as of today--two categories of fat down, two to go. Thanks for letting me brag a bit. Have had several week + long stalls, but just waited them out. 40 lbs. since starting the preop clearances, a little over 30 since surgery 8 weeks ago. Why didn't I do this sooner?

Wow wow wow!!! Congratulations!!! I have dropped from a 22 to a 16 pants in 8 weeks! Almost 40 lbs., and walking miles at a time. Isn't this just the most amazing life saver? So happy for you!

My NUT has allowed soft scrambled eggs and pureed soups during the full liquid phase. I was sleeved 4/18. Next week, I move to "mushies". The week after I have a multi-day business trip which will involve restaurants and a fundraiser. Ideas on how to handle the transition and the trip?

Dr. Mohammad Jawad of Ocala and Orlando, FL. I was self pay. He is a marvelous surgeon. I encourage anyone to come here for the surgery. He has done around 200 sleeves, and is a pioneer in bariatric surgery and laproscopic surgery in general. 6000 bariatric operations and only 1 fatality! Amazing record, a Center for Excellence, and rates #1 in FL for safety. It is important to pick a surgeon with the appropriate experience. He has done so many laprascopic by-pass operations, and, unlike banding, the sleeve relies on the same technique as bypass--making the staples laprosopically. So, that experience counts, banding not so much since it doesn't require stapling. This is an important decision. Even though I was self-pay, I decided I wanted to have my surgery in the U.S. with a very well recognized surgeon in a highly rated hospital. Dr Jawad and his system is all that and then some. I have hard that if you have surgery in Mexico and have serious complications when you get back that it can be really difficult to get a suitable bariatric surgeon to touch you. Give the aftercare and possibility of complications a lot of serious thoughts. Ask questions.

I paid around $13,000 with Dr. Jawad in Ocala and Orlando. The presurgery blood work etc was an extra, but my insurance paid that. The quote you were given is the full freight paid by insurance companies. Get in touch with Dr. Jawad's office. If you need more local time after the typical one or two day hospital stay, there are good local hotels which offer hospital rates for nice comfortable suites. (Like Residence Inn, Homestead Suites) within just a few minutes of the hospital in Ocala. I was sleeved 4/18/11 and am self pay. Very happy that I choose Dr. Jawad. Good luck. It is money well spent!

This isn't like before where cheating is some sort of power struggle within yourself and the consequences were a pound not lost. I encourage you to get into some sort of talk therapy to help deal with the food issues. But for now, STOP eating food which threaten your sleeve and could lead to serious consequences. If you had cancer, would you avoid the meds and ignore the doctor? This is really serious and important that you not screw around with your sleeve healing. For around a month, you should not be on more than full liquids. Period. I know each doctor has a little different program, but mine has emphasized that for the first month or six weeks, your job is to take care of your new stomach. That means following the plan and not stressing this new organ--let it heal!!! The tissue needs to have a chance to grow back together and heal before you stress it at all. Good luck regaining your focus. You have a new normal. A bit of cheese and crackers is fine when the time is right. Ask yourself why you are willing to risk so much for a few bites of something which will still be available when your body is ready for it.

Sounds normal. When you start vitamins get plenty of sublingual B-12 for energy. try Jay Robb protein powder. So high quality and tasty and not so thick. Just concentrate on hydration for now, then add protein and build up over a few day period. Good luck!

I am so confused. I was sleeved on April 18 and am on full liquids for the first four weeks. No thought of tuna, chicken, green beans for a while. Pureed soups in restaurants is it for now. "Mushies" start after a month. Was supposed to wait for stomach to heal before stressing it with "real" food unless it is totally pureed, like baby food. Thoughts?

Thanks for your honest and thoughtful post. I am 19 days out and it's great to hear such a success story. I too have not told many people and am glad. Kind of a private person. And I swore my husband and daughter to secrecy from my MIL--judgmental , gossipy bitch that she is-that she is to never know. I too tell the truth--have reduced food intake, lots of protein and low carbs, exercise. I just keep some of the truth to myself. Hope you get where you want to be with this. I am optimistic and wish you and everyone else the best of luck.

Also, you are not getting enough calories! Vary them, up and down so your body doesn't think it is being permanently starved. And, exercise Do what you can--even a little walk a few times a day,moving around the house or office--whatever works for you.