Thomas CPA

Good luck with the surgery and congratulations on surviving the gauntlet of preop yellow tape. I had sleep apnea prior to surgery. After getting from 305 down to 200 I got a new sleep study and the machine now rests in the back of a closet. The surgery should help with many issues - may not cure you of diabetes or sleep apnea but surely it will make both conditions better. I am soon to be 49, ugh! Now at 190 and happy with my surgery decision.

you look very good, just pretend I am whistling

What is the ideal weight for your height? sleeve will only get you down 50% of ideal. I was sleeved at 235, ideal is 150 difference then 85 pounds. I am starting month number 5 and down 45 pounds having leveled off at 190 about a month ago. This is it for the surgery, the rest of any weight loss (I have 10 pounds to go 180 not 150 is the best weight for me after talking with doctors for my body shape - wide shoulders and my collar and rib bones showing already) will be from exercise and diet. So having lost 46 pounds may be normal depending on ideal weight for surgery results. You need to workout - aerobic (walking, running, cycling) and resistance/weight training.

Seems you have more than one procedure - sleep study is to see if you have sleep apnea, the gastro is usually to check for ulcers or blockages. Having both - my sleep study was at home and just had to hook up machine, couple of belts and two electrodes. In study center you will get similar plus they should be filming you for restlessness, waking up, snoring. Gastro was barium solution and imaging. I would think putting something down the throat may cause swelling. Don't worry to much, you should be fine.

Yup, how long since surgery. Not unusual early out and tolerance builds over time. Cheri, 104 lbs good job, you look great, definitely a head turner.

My doctor, PA, and nutritionist all said same thing - three regular meals a day avoid snacking to avoid putting weight on. Once I started back at gym/trainer I was put on higher caloric diet to compensate avoid to fast of a weight loss and to keep stamina up. Prior to surgery you needed the metabolism boost to weight loss, you don't need your metabolism burning all the time now lest you loose to fast.

Sounds like you having swelling as your doctor indicated. Wish I could tell you something you don't already know, but until they get what appears to be a blockage fixed you may just be on straight liquids that will flow smoothly. Do they think it is swelling from the surgery or did you have this problem before. Where did you get the surgery?

Agree don't price shop. I was fortunate, Kaiser covered whole bill zero copay. Just remember on price you get what you pay for and this is a life long, non reversible, procedure. Better to save the money and get the right surgeon. I know many here post way to much on Mexico to make me think many are put up jobs by the surgeons, you don't see American doctors plastered over the boards - so consider with a large grain of salt what is getting said on these boards about the Mexican doctors and their legitimacy. All I can tell you is the doctors at Kaiser have done a lot of repair work from Mexico patients.

starting month five, foods are fine just hate losing the hair but they make male wigs so hey, not so bad. Yes you can lose 60 pounds via diet and exercise. I started at 305 lost 70 pounds to 235 surgery date through diet and exercise (personal trainer used). Lost 45 to 190 from surgery (yup that was my 50% mark for surgery results) and last 10 pounds will be back to diet and exercise. Question is can you maintain for rest of your life. We do it as a tool for life long health. Yup, no regrets now that I am on all normal foods. Just don't like hair loss but hair loss in most men is almost a given so whoopie it came off sooner than later.

women's one a day has Iron, you want to get about 18 mg/day (at least for men presume same for women). Forget cleanses, that will happen if you change diet. You want to reduce fat to make liver smaller so they can move it to get to stomach. At least use 2% milk or fat free, same with cottage cheese and there is even fat free cheese but at least change to low fat dairy. Wheat bread instead of white bread. More chicken, fish, turkey (white meats less in fat) keep some red for iron and other benefits. Vitamins - B12 is also important for anemia, do not get B complex very little if any B in them and you want B12 and B1. Cut down on juices and sugar in coffee in fact you should reduce caffeine so you can get used to it after surgery when you will initially be on herbal tea. You will be able to go back to coffee but surgeons usually want stomach to heal and best to reduce to lower risk of ulcers - smaller stomach you have to protect it. Find a Protein mix you like for shakes, you can use milk instead of Water and putting in half banana gives the vanilla some flavor and body. Protein important after surgery as rapid weight loss will cause you to lose protein and muscle mass as well as the fat. Exercise - do some resistance (weight) training to build muscle, you will need it. building muscle will help fill arms to reduce sagging skin. Biotin is supposed to be good for hair loss, usually comes in around month 3 postop. Beware of buying lots of clothes, just buy a little at at time as you will undergrow them quickly and have to keep replacing - may want to shop at goodwill and save money. I leveled off at month 4-5. Don't fret over stalls, they will happen and remember you will only lose 50% of excess over course of year. If you weigh 200 ideal for you height is 120, you can expect to lose 50% of 80 pound excess or 40 pounds. Walking good, took about 3 weeks to get back to gym and 3 weeks after that to get stamina/endurance back to last for an hour or so training. You mentioned yogurt - use either low fat or switch to greek which is higher in protein. Again, probiotic and cleanses probably not necessary but talk with doctor. After surgery for about 6 weeks you will need to avoid things with seeds, like strawberries and things that could lodge into open wound inside of stomach until it heals, after that period you are pretty much open to eat normally. I was on solids in week three, just chewed a lot. Learn to eat slowly over a longer period, yes your food will get cold but you are going to have to get used to that also.

Starts off at 5 meals, try 3 main and 2 mini eventually get back to just 3 regular meals

personally think some of the massive postings for some of these doctors appear fake put up by the doctors (not referring to anyone in particular) but it is to odd to get this many "Oh Wow" postings immediately and so frequently. Do like you have research, one death does not a bad surgeon make, there is a mortality rate it is low. I do suggest do not let cost become your deciding factor, this is still a surgery and you want it done right. Also look to after care, will your doctor include follow up visits for how long, do the blood testing that should occur every 4 to six months, etc. etc or is it have a surgery and bye bye. Do recommend from talking with the doctors who have had to fix the messes - don't do lapband and stick to the USA as they have done a lot of repairs from Mexico.

purpose of liquid diet is two-fold. First to reduce fatty tissue of liver to make surgery easier as the surgeon needs to move the liver to get to the stomach. Second, you will be on a liquid diet for two weeks post surgery before going to soft foods like poached eggs. Don't think of the food just drink Water, low fat Soup, etc. You should also avoid the drinking as you shouldn't drink for some 2 months post surgery. Smoking yeah you should quit that to. Before you have the surgery make sure you can handle the post surgery diet. You might want to consult a therapist or psychologist to make sure you are mentally prepared. Otherwise many others were in same position, you can do it.

Healthy carb balance is around 80 to 120 grams similar to Protein intake. You need the carbs to burn for energy to allow the protein to be processed by the body for muscles and nerves. Granted you get more calories from carbs but once you start exercising you will need the carbs to keep the weight loss from dropping to fast and burning your protein.

What doesn't agree now may agree later. I was sleeved August 4 and in September I tried Chili's fajita trio, between spiced shrimp and flour tortilla I was fortunate to sit near the bathroom when I threw up. Tried again in November and was fine. I snacked a lot from halloween through thanksgiving, fortunately wife hasn't baked Cookies yet. However, for some usual tips - drink Water to keep you full most of day, eat normal meals and don't feel guilty have a snack here and there, just limit yourself. Use a small plate or small bowl and go for vegetables or fruits first before the pastries. You'll do fine.

Well from a male perspective, I haven't had those problems but then again I am bipolar to begin with so nobody may have noticed anyway. At least I haven't been any more off than usual.

I do the same. Some chocolate chips and fat carbs will not do long term damage. Over this holiday period I have had my share of leftover halloween candy and apple pie for Thanksgiving. My weight fluctuates nicely between 190 to 193 even with this, I am nearing end of month 4. I drink, a little Water here and there with meal to wash some things down but purpose of not drinking is to let food sit in stomach longer to feel full longer. Try to drink a half cup 1/2 hour before and then another half cup a 1/2 hour after eating. Try not to drink during but I don't think if it is only breakfast that it is a killer. I have 10 to 15 pounds to go for final weight goal and only in month 4 so I am not worried about some treats. I have seen other postings where people are really worried about carbs, they taste so good. If you control yourself and don't let them control you, go for it. Geez, i can't imagine I did all this just to avoid potato chips the rest of my life! I could have done that without surgery.

Don't always be guided by the weight loss amount. You need the Protein to protect muscles, bones, and your nervous system. My doctor says to at least get 50 to 70 grams per day (the bypass people are recommended for 100 grams). As previous poster said you will want to avoid starvation mode and if you don't get your calories from protein then from where - your body will go into starvation mode and slow down weight loss and cause you damage.

Totally disagree. US has standards and as one other person said you get what you pay for. Your health is worth more than a knock off surgery. Want to be sleevers, put your health in better hands and best odds are US.

Sounds normal to me, at two weeks I was down 17 pounds and 4 weeks around 30. As for ounces, just depends. Around month 2 I was eating pretty normal and ending month 4 I can eat a small salad, a 1 inch cube of meat, 1/2 baked potato or other vegetables and some fruit later for desert. I prefer to think in terms of volume not ounces. Your stomach is the size of a small to medium banana and you can fit more than 2 ounces in there. Just go slow as you stomach is still healing.

Give or take 900 calories per day around 1,000 to 1,200 to stablize.

May be from change in diet you are not getting enough salt and your body is telling you to get some. It is like water, when you get dehydrated enough you will drink. Try some salted nuts and get body in balance. Low salt can cause you to be hospitalized.

Reality check, most likely the Mexico surgeons are worse which is why they are in Mexico and Not in the US where there are higher standards. I wonder every time I see so many Dr. (fill in the blank) in Mexico and wonder who is really posting them. Get Real - don't be cheap on your health and get it done right. I have heard many horror stories form Mexico Hear it Newbies save the extra couple of bucks to do the surgery right.

week 4 started with just lettuce and tomato, now at 4 months - lettuce, tomato, cucumber, squash, celery, beets, pretty much everything

Normal, didn't start regular for 6-8 weeks once real meat got into system. Just drink the water and take stool softener so when you get back to regular it won't hurt.