carrieann70

This sounds amazing! Is the chicken breast cooked or raw?

I found I was lactose intolerant post surgery and couldn't do creamy shakes. I bought Isopure ready made drinks at Vitamin Shoppe and would drink half at a time watered down. They have flavors like apple melon and alpine punch. They left a weird coating in my throat but if I sipped a little then took a break and came back I did OK. But they didn't hurt going down like the shakes did. I am 18 days post op and now have no trouble getting protein in. I still have another 9 days before I am allowed pureed food.

My doctor included it as part of my 2 weeks clear liquids phase. I discovered I am intolerant post op and feel much better now that I am NOT drinking milk. Every one is different so I hope you have better luck than I did.

Hello everyone! I was sleeved on 2/27 by Dr. Paul Macik at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, GA. Surgery went perfectly and I was discharged about 24 hours after surgery. Thanks to this and other forums, I knew what to expect which kept me from panicking and helped me through the tough times. I knew what the gas pain was, to use the heating pad, to take smaller sips when liquids hurt going down, and to try to find the right temperature of the liquids to make it easier. I also learned that many people become lactose intolerant and when I had horrible pain from drinking milk I knew not to panic and to try the Unjury Chicken Soup for my protein. Long story short THANK YOU to EVERYONE on these forums because I felt so prepared and calmed by knowing what to expect. With that said, I'm starting to turn the corner and feel better. I'm still on clear liquids until March 13 (ugh) and still struggling to get my 64 oz in every day (haven't made it yet but today is the day!). I've lost 20.2 pounds (every oz counts!) including my pre-op diet so I feel happy about that. Looking forward to the next phases and being able to say it was all worth it (jury is still out on that but thanks to these forums I knew I would feel that way LOL). Thanks again and best of luck to everyone!

Hey everyone! I will be sleeved in 9 days (woo hoo!) and I'm 42 years old. I had a healthy baby boy at the ripe old age of 40 and my husband and I would really like to have another. Needless to say, while 120 pounds overweight conceiving and caring for another child is just not in the cards. My fervent hope is that I can lose at least 100 pounds by October and then start trying to get pregnant toward the end of 2013. If this works, I'll be 43 when I conceive and possibly 44 by the time I give birth - and weigh a good 70 pounds less than I did when I concieved my first child. Here is my question for the forum - I'm reading lots of happy sleevers that are getting pregnant. Is anyone out there in their early forties, sleeved, and pregnant or given birth? Am I setting myself and potential baby up for a double whammy of complications between wls and being "older" for pregnancy? Just curious if anyone else is in my same boat. Thanks all! Congrats to all the soon-to-be parents out there - having a son was the best thing I ever did. Hopefully being sleeved will rank up there in the top 2!!

Hey y'all! I'm hoping for surgery in late February with Dr. Macik at Northside Hospital. I would love to hear from any of you that were recently sleeved by him - I've heard nothing but great things. How are you doing? Any complications? From your experience is there anything I should know? Thanks and best of luck to everyone! I live in Acworth/Kennesaw area and would love to meet up with fellow sleevers from this area. I went to one of the support group meetings at Northside but didn't find it very helpful or informative.

I had to share and y'all on this site are truly the only people that would understand. Today I bought concert tickets for August 2013. I'm hoping to be sleeved in February 2013. Up until now I would have made an excuse not to go because I know I would never fit in freaking seat!! But today I am certain that by August I will not only fit in the seat comfortably but I'll be able to walk up and down the arena stairs without embarrassing myself. So excited!!

Exactly! For me, though, I've been close to goal and gained everything back plus double! I know if I don't have a permanent solution that restricts what I eat that I'll gain it back again and again. I'm just having a hard time acknowledging how weak I truly am. I hope the sleeve is my solution to stay strong and stay the course. I guess I'm just worried that I'll ruin my life in the process. I hope that make sense.

I'm hoping for surgery in February. I know this is the right step - it's the only thing I HAVEN'T tried to lose weight!! But the nagging thought in my mind is what's different this time? I've read so many posts and the answer is always "stick to the diet and exercise and you'll lose the weight". Isn't that true of every diet we've ever tried? I just can't wrap my mind around how this will be different. I know this is not the easy way - but my question is this - is it easiER (emphasis on er) than all those other diets we tried and failed at? Is it harder? I've hated every diet I've ever tried - am I setting myself up for a lifetime of hating this one too? Would love to hear from some experienced sleevers on this topic....

Hello! I'm pre-op and currently have about 120 lbs to lose (ugh - I can't even believe I typed that!). Insurance only requires 3 months of preop hoops with the psych and NUT, etc. Well, I went to my PCP and got my blood test results. Only a little high cholesterol, no other comorbidities (thank God) but we all know it's just a matter of time. So....in her office there was literature everywhere on a program called "Take Shape for Life" using the Medifast plan. It got me thinking - this is the only thing I haven't tried (tried Jenny, Weight Watchers, Atkins, Paleo - you name it all of them more than once). I even had personal training for awhile then stopped going because I was so embarrased to be in the gym and wasn't making any progress. My question for you other pre-op sleevers out there - are you still considering trying another diet before surgery? Has anyone tried this? Is the food horrible? I couldn't stand Jenny Craig - is this any better? I'm just really wondering if I should try one last thing or if I'll just be wasting more time and money. I don't want to say afterward that maybe I should have tried it, but on the other hand am I fooling myself that this Medifast plan will be any better than the rest? Conflicted...so hard to know the right thing to do. Am I alone? And what if I lose 30 pounds, only to gain back 50 and now another 2 years have gone by and I'm no better off than I was before. <sigh> I feel like such a failure but I don't want to be a fool as well.

Hello! I'm still working through my pre-op doctor visits and hope to have surgery in late February. It seems so far off, but I know it will be here in no time! I'm trying to develop the habits now that I will need post op. For example, I've started drinking protein shakes for breakfast and trying to cook/eat high protein and low carb meals. Trying to get out and walk 20 minutes a day. It's been very hard - I catch myself thinking "I should eat that because I might not like it after surgery" or "I'm not going to get this for a long time after surgery, I deserve it". And the worst one "I have 4 months till surgery so I can still eat that". Is anybody else struggling with this? What are you doing to continue to motivate yourself pre-op? I don't have to do a liquid diet before surgery (just a high protein/low carb) but I've also been told I'm not allowed to gain even a pound. So, what are you doing/did you do to build healthy habits before surgery? What else should I be doing? I don't want to fail before I even get started....

I haven't been sleeved yet and 30-40 pounds in 2 months sounds like heaven. On weight watchers or jc the best I ever lost was 15 the first month and maybe 5-8 pounds each month after. Its why I always quit and gained it back in about 10 minutes.

Not being out of breath when I climb one flight of stairs. Cute shoes instead of sensible ones. Sitting up straight in a chair and not feeling fat rolls on my stomach. A single chin. Playing basketball with my son. Taking a bath with space between my outer thighs and the sides of the tub.

Hey all! One of my biggest fears is complication from leaks. I spoke to my surgeon and he says they do a leak test before they even finish the surgery, then a swallow test before you are discharged from the hospital. Is this fairly common practice? And if so, does anyone know if the risk of leak is diminished in those patients who have the test performed during surgery? I'm just trying to wrap my head around this. I've seen some awful stories on this forum as well as some amazing results. I guess I'm just trying to find some evidence or something I can do that will help me feel like I've done everything humanly possible to mitigate the risks involved.

I am saving this thread and every time I start freaking myself out I will re-read it. Nothing ventured nothing gained! Thanks for the inspiration!!!

Wow! This thread has really helped. Thanks!

Thanks everyone. You thoughts are appreciated.

Hi everyone! I have just gone thru my first round of appointments and am looking forward to the second round this month. I am hoping to have the sleeve in February 2013. I waver between being excited about the possibilities with the sleeve and being terrified that I will ruin my life. I have no co-morbidities except for pain in my legs and feet that make it nearly impossible to excercise. When I'm on my feet all day I can barely crawl home. I have a 2 year old son that I want to take biking, backpacking, hiking - all things I cannot even hope to do now. I know that one day my weight will cause major health issues and I don't want to wait until I'm sick to focus on my health. I am healthy now but a ticking time bomb for sure. I want to be there to dance at my son's wedding!! I'm about to turn 42 this week, 5'5" tall and 258 pounds. I keep looking for a sign to tell me this is the right thing to do. I guess I will see how easy or hard the universe makes the pre-op process and that will be my cue. But it's so hard to wait!!! I've never been much of a risk taker and I feel like I'm about to take the biggest leap of faith in my life!

Thank you Iggy! That means alot. I will treasure that get out of complications free card, believe me!!!!

I have been following your thread very closely and praying for you everyday. It's stories like yours that make me terrified to do this and wonder if it's worth the risk. There is no way to know when you've drawn the very-unlucky "winning" lottery number of that oh-so-small percentage of complications/death. That's what makes the decision that much harder - pay now (as you are) or possibly pay later (by staying fat and unhealthy)? Or will I fall into the category of folks who breeze through this and find all their dreams are realized? I'm so sorry for your ordeal Iggy and you are on my mind constantly as I struggle with this decision that will not only affect me but my husband and son possibly even more. I doubt if I were in your position that I would handle it with the grace and humor with which you have.

Wow! I didn't think anyone would respond to my post - I feel like I'm being a big weenie But thanks for the encouragement and support. I have to admit I've been on this site non-stop since I decided to meet with a surgeon and this is my first post. I think I will find alot of good, useful support and information here. Thanks all!

Hi Sannah! To answer your question I just had my first meeting with my surgeon on 9/18. My insurance company requires 3 month medically supervised program. Interestingly enough, it seems like the whole 3 months are geared toward the surgery. It sounds wierd but I kind of expected it to be a time when they tried to talk me out of it or something - or I jumped through a bunch of hoops and if I "passed" then I could have the surgery. But really other than making appointments and seeing the requisite doctors I'm not required to actually DO anything. The NUT said I will be on a low carb high Protein diet for 2 weeks before surgery - no liquid diet that she spoke of yet. I see people posting that they have a 2 week liquid diet before surgery. If I could do that SlimFast would have worked for me a long time ago LOL! At any rate, I'm excited but scared as hell and just wondering if I'm being selfish for wanting to do this. I want what is best for my husband and son by being the best wife and mother I can be - but at the end of the day this is what I want for MY life. I'm a horrilble person