KevLev12282012

Not too late at all. Drop me an email at kev.lev@tx.rr.com and we'll see you tomorrow.

Yes this is still on. We have 18 coming so far.. and counting!

Hi! I’m starting a very informal support group in the north suburbs area of Dallas (Plano, Frisco, Allen, etc.). Personally, I'm almost at 7 weeks post-op and have been to one monthly support group meeting here at Forest Park Medical Center, tonight being my second. While I think there's a lot to gain from these meetings, I feel that there can be a lot more to gain by being able to gather more than once a month. Also, I personally feel that the best support out there is each other. Whether you were sleeved years ago, just recently or just thinking about it, there are many of us out there and could truly benefit from one another in an informal setting. I'd like to kick this off, next Saturday afternoon, February 23rd at 12:30 PM. I don't think there are any weekend support groups locally, and for some of us, I know that weeknights aren't always the easiest time to meet. As many of the other formal support groups seem to meet in the second week of the month, maybe the 4th Saturday (or more if we want to do this more often) would be a nice compliment. I've chosen to have the first meeting at Season's 52 in Plano. Season's 52 is a nice restaurant that specializes in a healthy fresh menu where every item on the menu is 475 calories or less. The portion sizes aren't overbearing like most other restaurants. I've reserved a back corner of the restaurant where we can just sit and chat about our experiences, our concerns, our questions. If we like the location, we can keep going back or find somewhere else new and fresh that we can rotate around. I would ask that you RSVP by Thursday, February 21st so that I can let the restaurant know how many of us there will be. I hope that many of you in the area consider joining us! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSVP by messaging me, through the site.. Please let me know your name, whether you're pre or post op, and how far out you are. If you're just considering WLS, you are more than welcome too! And let me know how many there will be. Season's 52 7300 Lone Star Dr. Suite 100 Plano, TX 75024 UPDATE: We have 16 people coming so far, from pre-op patients to people who were sleeved over 5 years ago! All are welcome!

Holy cow! Do you have room left for food?

I have found a great multi-Vitamin. It's called "Slice of Life" and available at Vitamin Shoppe, GNC, etc. They're like gummie bears! I take one in the morning and one in the evening. B-12 sublinguals..Black Cherry flavored and every other day. They are 1000mg a piece. calcium citrate chews by Bariatric Advantage..carmel flavored, three times a day.

The fear it normal. I had to be in the hospital for two days before my surgery. When my kids left to go home the day before my surgery, I lost it. I didn't let them see me do that, but after they walked out of the room, I had an intense emotional moment. What if that was the last time they'd see me. Surgery of any kind always carries that sort of fear and apprehension. Knowing we'll be put to sleep and not having control of what's being done to our bodies is a scary concept. Rest assured, many of us have been there and it's perfectly normal.. and the best part, you'll be just fine and on your way to the new you!

*** New DFW Area Support Group Meeting *** I would like to form a very informal support group in the north suburb area of Dallas (Plano, Frisco, Allen, etc.). I'm right at 6 weeks post-op and have been to one monthly support group meeting at Forest Park Medical Center and while I think there's a lot to gain from that, I don't feel that once a month is really all that "supportive". Also, I personally feel that the best support out there is each other. Whether you were sleeved years ago, just recently or just thinking about it, we're all out there and could truly benefit from one another in an informal setting. I'd like to kick this off, Saturday afternoon, February 23rd. I don't think there are any weekend support groups locally, and for some us, weeknights aren't always the easiest time to meet. As many of the other formal support groups seem to meet in the second week of the month, maybe the 4th Saturday (or more if we want to do this more often) would be a nice compliment. I've chosen to have the first meeting at Season's 52 in Plano. Season's 52 is a nice restaurant that specializes in a healthy fresh menu where every item on the menu is 475 calories or less. The portion sizes aren't overbearing like most restaurants and I've reserved a back corner of the restaurant where we can just sit and chat about our experiences, our concerns, our questions. If we like the location, we can keep going back or find somewhere else new and fresh that we can rotate around. Oh and the time is 12:30 PM. I would ask that you RSVP by Thursday, February 21st so that I can let the restaurant know how many of us there will be. I hope that many of you in the area consider joining us! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSVP by replying in this forum, messaging me on VST, or emailing me at kev.lev@tx.rr.com. Please let me know you're name, whether you're pre or post op and how far out are you. If you're just considering WLS, you are more than welcome too! And let me know how many there will be. Season's 52 7300 Lone Star Dr. Suite 100 Plano, TX 75024

The next support group meeting is the 13th, so let's use that as a platform to catapult a monthly (or more often) Saturday lunch get together. My son will be in town on the 16th, so let's go for the 23rd. What part of the DFW is central to most that would be interested? I'm in Plano, myself.. and was thinking of Season's 52 nearly Legacy and the Tollway because everything there is so healthy and low calorie. I was going to call a manager there or wherever we choose and kind of work with them to maybe cater to our sleeve needs. Anyone interested feel free to respond here, or message me, Kevin

Well, I'm 4 weeks post op and the first 3 weeks I was on full liquids. Immediately post op, I didn't go at all, due to pain meds, etc....but for the remainder of the 3 weeks it was liquid in and liquid out. I would go once a day and it was almost like clockwork at 10:30 AM every morning. This last week I started on soft foods and I don't think I've gone since Tuesday. I did have a small one this afternoon but that was forced and I'm convinced there has to be more! I'm going to give it until tomorrow before I take something that may improve the flow!

Hi theamarie; First, welcome to Dallas! Secondly, there is a support group that meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month at Forst Park Medical Center. I believe it starts at 7:00. Personally, i don't feel once a month is enough and am thinking of starting a support group in the North Dallas/Richardson/Plano area. I think that an informal gathering of sleeved patients as well as those thinking about it would be awesome. The other support groups are led by Nurse Practitioners, nutritionists, etc. and that information is great, but I think talking in a smaller group setting would be beneficial for many.

I just started on soft food yesterday, Day 22. Yesterday was ok, I think i just played it safe and didn't portion too big. I concentrated on chewing well (30 times) per bite. I paced myself but nothing like waiting between bites. Everything seemed fine. I was comfortably full with each meal. Today however, I went out to watch football, and ordered some tilapia and well steamed veggies. When the food came I immediately boxed up half of it and ate the rest. I felt over-full but not really uncomfortable. Tonight for dinner, I took what i thought were small portions. Had some turkey meatloaf and mashed potatoes and even when I felt full, there were a few bites left. The difference between feeling full and those next few bites.. is horrible! I ate them and when I was done I felt MISERABLE! I tried to walk around a bit then went to the bathroom where most of it came back up! I need to get my head around pushing the plate away when I first feel full, because I don't want too many repeats of tonight's episode.

rorie, My surgery was done at Presby. Great hospital, but the accommodations are a bit outdated. The nursing care is great. No complaints!

You look marvelous!

I am told there is a support group meeting at Baylor Plano the 2nd wednesday of every month. I am also wondering the possibility of putting together our own area support group meeting. Is it necessary to have a nutrionist or a psychiatrist running these groups? Or could a group of sleeve patients just gather and sit around and talk about things and learn from one another?

I had a drain tube for a couple of days. It's really nothing to be concerned about. It all depends upon the doctor. Many doctors upon completion of the staple line, put Water in your abdomen and submerge the stomach as air is blown down your esophagus to check for leaks. The tube is left there post operatively, usually in the upper incision on your right side. I also had a timed release numbing medication pump in to the muscle area near the left side inicision. Neither hurts a bit when removed.

I wasn't suggesting the whole 40g of isopure in one sitting. I take the bottle and graze on it all afternoon at my desk at work. When I leave work it's usually 33% full still and drink it into the evening. It's best when cold so over ice, or pouring in to a smaller glass helps too.

Not shameful at all. It's your defense mechanism working just as it should. It's what won't allow you to overdo or overindulge. I think those feelings are normal. Nothing to be ashamed of.

You've come a long way and little stalls are ok. You need to do the following thing. Get the scale out of plain view. Pick one day of the week to get it out and step on it. Don't be discouraged if the change you want isn't there, as it will be the next week or the week after. Much easier to deal with one frustration per week than seven of them. While you're stalling other things are happening in your body that you can also notice. Maybe your pants feel a little looser today than yesterday even if the scale doesn't show it.

Dinora - I can understand where you are coming from. There are really no foods that are completely off limits again. Just have in moderatipon. No you can't eat a bucket of chicken, but to have a piece of fried chicken isn't going to destroy all you've worked for. Just don't do it every day. Same goes for ice cram. Enjoy a small scoop once in awhile for a treat. Just do an extra five minutes in the gym later that day and be mindful to eat helthy around those "treats".

Once you have clearance for raw veggies you can eat anything. With my doctor that's 6 weeks. i have some leftover protein bars from my pre-op diet and will supplement with those as snacks when I get to 6 weeks. The KetogenX bars are pretty good and Ideal Protein has a few that are pretty amazing too.

Grape Frost is unfortunately one flavor I did not like. Are you using the powder or the ready to drink bottles? Get the bottles.. way better! I did not like Passion Fruit either. Love: Apple Melon, Blue Raspberry, Icy Orange and Mango Peach. Alpine Punch is pretty good and have yet to do the Orange pineapple banana one.

I am the complete opposite. Then again, I've had a littany of health issues that friends, co-workers and acquaintances have known about over the last few years. A month before my surgery I started a private facebook group page sorta like a blog. My intent was to have an outlet to chronicle my journey, a place to write etc. Initially I included about 15 close friends and family. This was on Thanksgiving. Today there are close to 100 people following my blog and my progress and cheering me on with incredible support. I am overwhelmed at how well received and how supportive all of these people in my life are to me.