mommyradd

I'm almost 2 months out, too. You look like you have shed a lot of weight and inches! Cograts

I was told to prevent an ulcer, and that 6 weeks out, I could stop.

Funny, I hated her on The Apprentice, LOL, but I find her an inspiration now! Knowing how heavy she was before, and how the surgery has helped her lose weight, makes me feel assured that I will do it, as well!

I was on two meds prior to surgery. I have had Type 2 Diabetes for about 15 years. My surgeon told me that someone who has had it that long will most likely not be "cured" after WLS, but it could significantly reduce the risk of other diseases. That being said, I went home off of the meds. Two weeks later, I had to get back on Metformin 500 MG twice daily because my levels went back in the 150's. Now that I'm almost 9 weeks out, I check my sugar, and only take the Metformin if it's over 120. My A1C was originally 9.8 in early 2012, then down to 6.5 prior to surgery. I don't know what it is now, but I'm pretty confident that it's lower;)

I don't know about MOM, but my doctor sent me home taking fiber everyday the first month. Now I take it every 2 or 3 days, and it has helped keep me regular.BTW, I stopped for a week, thinking I didn't need it anymore. I was so wrong! Had one bout and now I'm back on the fiber a few times a week. Hope this helps. Hang in there:)

I'm with you girl! I feel so bloated all day long, that it's so hard (and unappetizing) to eat my Protein. So...I up'd my Protein Shakes as to get in more fluids and protein, at the same time. It worked for about two weeks, then I got sick of shakes:( My new strategy is drinking different things (16 oz each) . I give myself a time by when it has to be consumed. About 4-6 ounces per hour.It's still hard, but the variety has helped. I aim for 11 AM, 3PM, 7PM, and 11PM (I watch the 11 PM news). If I add a shake, the last drink is only 8 ounces. Hope you find something that works for you! As with everything else in this process, I suppose this too, shall pass:)

Wow, awesome to take this step together.Congratulations! You will have a built in support system when you get home:) Good thing you like broth, LOL.

Thank you for all your responses. It is so good to know I am not crazy or alone in this. Those of you who survived this "phase" inspire me to keep following the plan, difficult as it is. I guess I'd rather not want food, than crave a bunch of food that isn't good for me! I'm going to hang in there.

I have CIGNA, and they said the same thing to me. As it turns out, even though they state that they have no specific guidelines,they use the standards recommended by the Lung Heart and Blood Institute. The LHBI says greater than 40 without comorbities.They also talk about supervised diet, etc.. You can google them, and there are many BMI tools online to help you determine your BMI. Hope this helps.

I have been a slow loser, and Fitness Pal told me to add 160 carbs daily, too. I'm scared to death to add carbs. I added "healthy carbs" to my diet prior to surgery on the advice of my Nut. and gained 8 pounds in one month! I'm sticking to protein and fluids, even if it's low and slow. I'm 8 weeks out, down 3 sizes, and 23 pounds.

You look fantastic! Thanks for the motivation .

Most plans cover high BMI's without comorbities. You have a high BMI, you just need to familiarize yourself with your insurance plan, as to what it's requirements are. Also, it's great that you have all your appointments scheduled. Sometimes paperwork cannot be submitted for approval because we haven't finished all the requirements. Good luck.

Wow, I love the curves! I was wondering if I will look okay because I have curvy hips, but you look fantastic and sexy! I'm stoked:)

Okay so here's my two cents. I have had 4 C-sections, and my gallbladder removed. My last 3 C-Sections were recent, 2008, 2010, and 2011. Like you, I had little to no pain after them. I did not take morphine in the hospital after the births,and only took pain meds at home, very sparingly. I was back to normal in a couple of days and only felt sore when I climbed up into my bed. The gullbladder was not as easy. I vomitted, and felt sick and in pain. I stayed in the hospital for 4 days, and only a day and a half after each C-Section. Now my sleeve surgery. I was suprised at how uncomfortable I felt afterwards. I felt a little nauseated, but with meds, it passed within a day or so. I went home the next day, and I walked as much as I could for fear of gas pain that I had read about. It helped, as I only had two bouts with gas, and that was the worst of it. I had a soreness where my incision was, closest to were my C-Sections had been, for three weeks. It hurt to bend over, but all else was fine. I have a 15 year old, 4, 2 and 1 year old, so I had no choice but to "buckle up soldier." So I would rank it as the hardest surgery I have had to recover from, but by no means beyond normal soreness and minor discomfort. It has also been worth it. So glad I did it. Best of luck to you!

Hey Guys: I'm 5'1. My first pre-op weight was 205. The next month, my Nutritionist told me to add "healthy carbs and startches" to my diet, and at my next pre-op appt. I weighed 213! I had to work the next 4 months just to lose the 8 lbs. I gained. I struggled. Finally, at my last pre-op, I had gone back down to 203, and my weight at surgery check-in was 199.5! I am 8 weeks out, and I weigh 178 right now. I had a 3 week stall. I up'd my protein to 70-80 grams of protein, and just started exercising last week. My stall broke, and I lost 3 pounds! Slowly but surely, and I have gone from a size 22 to an 18, sometimes a snug 16. LOL For the record, I haven't had any sweets, or breads of any kind. I thought following my meal plan strictly would promote faster weight loss. I am still sticking to the plan, despite not having the fastest results. I think the lack of exercise, slowed down my loss...Good luck everyone! We didn't put our bodies through this to fail:)

I am so sorry that you feel down. I am early out, so I have not yet experienced what you're going through, but I am well aware that it can happen one day. Please be encouraged, and know that you are not alone. Many of us take it one day at a time, and you are stronger than you think. You can always turn it around. It starts with putting one foot in front of the other. You will be in my prayers!

I'm in Hollister California and I have a great support group. I have to drive an hour to Monterey, but it's worth it, as I get to see the ocean!

I was in a 4 week stall and had not excercised other than chasing my 3 kiddos all day long, and making sure I had 80 grams of protein and 64 oz. of fluids daily... I started doing 4-1(4 minutes walk, then alternate a minute of running) miles 5 times a day (takes me 27 minutes) on the treadmill, and my scale finally moved! Down 2 pounds after a month of not moving, and all I did was add the treadmill.

The first two weeks I ate Cream of Chicken and added milk because it felt more hearty. Broth did not do it for me. My doctor even said I could have a string cheese (if tolerated) as a snack because it has 7 grams of protein per ounce. The cheese helped me get through the hunger. Popcicles and sugar free jello did nothing for me, they felt like empty foods in my body, plus no protein so what's the point? I prefer to drink my sugar free fluids and make snacks protein based. Whatever works for one may not work for another. Best of luck to you.

On Tuesday I will be 8 weeks out. I had my follow-up appointment yesterday. Doctors orders are the same as my last follow-up appointment. Eat every two hours, 2 ounces only. Drink in between, including protein drinks. I'm to aim for 600-800 calories a day, 80 grams of protein, and 64 ounces of fluids. My typical day of eating includes 1 egg, 1-2 ounces of cheese, 2 protein shakes (drinking in 4 intervals), and 2 ounces of whatever soft meat I can tolerate. I drink water and iced tea all day long, until I reach the 64 ounces. I measure everything, because I don't want to know how much I can eat, I go by what the doctor says is a portion for me. Since my sleeve is only suppose to hold 1/4 cup, two ounces of food is all I should have. Once my food settles, it is always enough. If I feel those "hunger pains," I drink twenty or thirty minutes later, and it subsides. And fluids, I drink as much as feels comfortable in 30 minutes to an hour. My sleeve can take in more drinks at once than it can foods, which the doctor says is perfectly fine. Hope this helps.

I am 7 weeks out, 5'1 and I was 199.5 on day of surgery. I'm at 180, and went from a size 22 to a size 18. I would love to have lost 30 pounds by now, but I know that in a years time, I will be where I want to be, or sooner. I am staying the course, and eating within the perimeters given to me. Feels like a job sometimes, but I still feel like it's the best decision I ever made for myself! Having a lower BMI and less weight to lose, it's easy to get discouraged when seeing others pounds shed in short amounts of time....but I just tell myself that many are taking months to get to 200 pounds; so it makes sense that it's going to take time for me to get down, too. Best of luck to you.

I had my paperwork submitted on a Tuesday (faxed), and by Saturday, I received a denial letter. A week later, I appealed it. Within 3 days of faxing that paperwork, I received my approval (I called them every day) over the phone. It all depends who you speak to. I was told by some of the CIGNA Reps. that it would take 7 to 10 days, and others told me that they respond in 3-5 days! So I just kept calling until I had an answer. I would ask for the department that actually reviews the paperwork, as the Reps. that answer the phone, don't have the most updated information. Good luck to you!

I love lengua, so I cook it in the slow cooker. I add a little bit of chile and it goes down fine. Sometimes I will add some beans "de la olla" but then I can only eat very little. I also do a lot of shrimp and crab meat with salsa, lemon, and avacado. Eating out is one soft chicken taco with sour cream (so it's not so dry), and I never eat the tortilla. I get full with the chicken and fixings. I'm early out (7 weeks) so I could not tolerate posole or a tamal, but I tried at Christmas and New Year's. I take 2 shakes everyday and an egg, to make sure I get in my protein, and the other things are extra protein!

Hi Guys. I'm a "lightweight" going on 7 weeks out and down about 18 pounds. I really need to maximize my weight loss, as I feel like I am not losing as much as I should have by now. So- I am trying to increase my protien intake to 80 grams a day, usually with shakes, since everything else has so little grams of protein. However; drinking 2 or 3 shakes a day makes me feel so bloated that I don't always get in my 64 oz. of water. I sometimes fall 10 or 15 oz. short. Does it defeat the purpose (uping my protein) if I can't get in all 64 oz. of water? Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Congratulations. I hope your recovery goes smoothly.