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I didn't know Dr. Cleveland does the sleeve. Are you self pay? If so, have you found out how much he charges (If you don't mind me asking)? Ha, I drove 4.5 hours for my sleeve and just want to make sure I couldn't have gotten it done locally for the same price, lol.

So glad it went well!!! I knew you would love him. Uhh, let me just tell you... the magnesium citrate is putrid and vile. It will be very hard to drink this stuff without vomiting. Just being honest with you, lol. It says on the bottle "Pleasing Lemon Taste"- the lemon is correct, but not the pleasing part, ha. It's almost kinda oily. This is how I made myself drink it: put a straw in the bottle and next to it, put a straw in a bottle of good tasting drink (I used some purple Powerade, I think). Take sip of mag. cit., then very quickly sip the good tasting stuff to clear the bad taste out. I know it sounds crazy, but after one bottle of this stuff, it gets harder to drink. Dr. Borland has you drink one bottle at 4 pm and one bottle at 6 pm. We left at about 4 am to get there at 9 am. By that time, most of the lovely diarrhea had passed (no pun intended!). I think I only had to stop twice.

I'm not sure if there are any sleeve surgeons in the Jackson Metro. I know I had checked in on Dr. Carroll at River Oaks, but he only does RNY and Lapband. Not sure if CMMC does the sleeve. Unfortunately, there just aren't many bariatric surgeons period in the area. I went to Louisiana for my surgery. Good luck on your pre-op diet!

I didn't have one, but I think that it would've been great to have had one. For at least a week, maybe two, I stayed hunched over when I walked while pushing a pillow against my abdomen.

Keep me updated on how the appointment goes! Good luck

I take capsules every day. I started at about 2 weeks post op and have had no problems.

I think I was so desperate I didn't think very much about complications, lol. I just prayed for the best. I never asked Dr. Borland what his leak rate was, but I can tell you from my experience that I never once had any complications/ problems. I felt completely safe because even though VSG hasn't been around too many years in the US, Dr. Borland has been performing Gastric Bypass surgeries since 1982. That was the year I was born! That's 29 years of experience in bariatric surgery. I think you are in safe hands with him. I also have no regrets about the surgery. I would do it again in a heartbeat. And take today, for example. My mom and I went shopping and ate lunch while we were out. We went to Zaxby's (a chicken tender joint) and I ordered the smallest plate they had- only 5 chicken strips. I ate 2 of them and was STUFFED. Before surgery, I could easily eat 10, plus 2 sides. I love my sleeve I hope this helps with your decision. I know I am so thankful for my opportunity!

Not until the second week. So the first week it's just clear liquids. He isn't picky about certain expensive brands either. He says you can even use the Atkins shakes from walmart. As long as its low carb/sugar, you can use it. I use the Body Fortress whey protein isolate from walmart. I get a huge tub for $21. The first time I tried it, it was disgusting. But now I add some sugar-free chocolate pudding mix, cocoa powder and about 1/4 cup of splenda, and it's not bad at all. You don't have to drink these forever, but it is a really easy way to get 30 grams of protein first thing in the morning.

Hmmmm, I didn't have a lot of questions for him because I researched night and day for 2 months before my consultation, lol. I can tell you that he uses a 32 fr bougie and does not leave a drain in you (those were my most important questions). Other than that, if you take any medications, make sure they are ok to take after surgery- mine had to be crushed for a couple of weeks. And he might be able to tell you more about how long you should take off of work.

I didn't even have a pre-op diet and my surgery went fantastic. You will be just fine

Congrats!!!!! That is soooo exciting! At least you don't have to wait very long until surgery- I must have had a dozen "food funerals" before my date got here, lol.

I am a piano teacher. I went back to work a week afterwards, but that is only because I sit down and only for 30 minute intervals. Even with that, though, I was very tired. I would at least take 2 weeks off if I were you, because I know photographers have to be up on their feet a lot. Dr. Borland's post-op diet is only clear liquids the first week. So no protein = getting tired really easily. Once you start soft foods, you will feel a lot better. Hope that helps!

I told you they were fast! You will love Dr. Borland. Oh, and you know he has you stay in a local hotel for 2 days after so that he can make "housecalls" and check up on you. I highly recommend Candlewood Suites. Anyway, Congrats on your future! Let me know if you have any questions

I have had several ovarian cysts rupture over the last several years, but usually those come with horrible cramping and pain. I haven't really had any unusual pain with this. I've never missed any periods and am always right on schedule. Flow seems to be normal now. I guess I was just overreacting this morning from the sight of so much blood. Thanks for the input guys!

No time at all. I think his office is used to people wanting the surgery asap. If I could have, they would have done my surgery the next week after my consultation. But I was still saving up so I need another month. He is great and my surgery went perfectly.

Yeah, I seem to have the same "iron gut" that I have always had. I'm only one month out and never got sick. In fact, I haven't thrown up in almost a decade, lol. Anyway, I'm eating pretty normal foods, just very smalls bites and chewing the dickens out of it

I did not do a pre-op diet, as my doctor did not require it. He never mentioned the shrinking of the liver as something I needed to do. I went through surgery very smoothly and never had a problem. My BMI was 40. It was really cool to watch the dvd of my surgery as they put in the little tool to move the liver out of the way.

Saying a prayer for you!

I went to O'Charleys and had a cup of their Chicken Tortilla soup. I took off the tortilla pieces and drank almost half the yummy juice of the soup. Then I took the rest home and put it in the food processor since there were chunk of chicken. I had two more meals off of it. Not bad for $3

It does get better, I promise. Get tons of rest for the next week or so. Sometimes when I was starting to feel like my old self, I would get up and do stuff and then be weak, wobbly and half dead the rest of the day and the next day. Just take it easy and you will feel so much better once you start eating mushies.

Wow, that is a nightmare!!! Hope you are finally on the right path for recovery! Can I ask how far out you developed your leak? Sending prayers your way!

Hey Scentsy, I had my surgery just a bit south of you in New Iberia, La. I was so excited too, and even right before surgery, I was more excited than nervous. I was also a self pay, as my husband's insurance excluded WLS. How is the Scentsy business going? I make and sell my own candles as a business, too. Just started my business last year and the economy is making it very hard, lol. Anyway, welcome to the group!!

I was intubated during surgery, but when I woke up my throat didn't hurt at all. For a few days afterwards it was a little scratchy, but nothing worse than normal seasonal allergies. HTH