@RealScoobyDoo

Re: Amish. Please keep in mind that the Old Order Amish do not carry health insurance or take public assistance. Who can afford to self pay for cancer treatment in the United States?

Damn. I couldn't convince my wife to have a baby...but she promised me a tummy tuck if I had them! So I had three. Babies, not tummy tucks. Sent from my iPhone using VST

Raa...most of us going out of country don't have a psych eval at all. I'm not sure why, but perhaps the surgeons believe we are grownups and can make up our minds about having drastic surgery without a cursory visit with a psych/therapist, whatever. In my opinion, for what it's worth, come up with a reasonable diet/exercise plan that you can present....outlining where you "failed" with the lapband and what you will do differently. You are okay! The lapband didn't work, not you. Keep in touch. Deborah Sent from my iPhone using VST

Wow, you lucky girl. Best wishes. Sent from my iPhone using VST

My two older boys, ages 5 and 7 will scream out "it's Bobby Flay!" or "it's Freitag!" if they see his or her picture on a magazine at the store. It's so funny, because they don't know any TV or movie stars. Just famous chefs. Some call it food porn, but I still like to cook, even of I can't eat it for a while. Can't wait to be able to be satisfied with just a taste of something. Deborah Sent from my iPhone using VST

The "spider" refers to all the instruments coming out of the same hole. Looks like a spider. Sent from my iPhone using VST

One of my greatest fears is getting dehydrated after surgery. We are supposed to drink 64 oz/day, but I don't come close even now. I challenge everyone to start drinking 64 oz of Water a day BEFORE surgery And no, Protein drinks don't count towards the total. Good luck!

Essential Spanish phrases to translate for hospital stay... Does this gown make me look fat? Does my hair look like a rooster?

http://m.obesityhelp.com/profiles/hospital/oasis-hospital-tijuana-bc/reviews#rev_anchor-139035 These are some o the opinions. For those of you wondering, those of us who booked surgery with Dr. Garcia were just notified that we could choose either Mi Hospital or Florence hospital. I'm switching to Florence for March 29. Deborah Down 11pounds since starting preop diet 1 1/2 weeks ago Sent from my iPhone using VST

Do your shakes have sucralose (Splenda) in them? For some people it causes lots of bloating, gas and or/diarrhea. Even of you haven't reacted to it before, when all you're getting are the shakes it can start up on you. Sent from my iPhone using VST

Hey food_vs_life....welcome to march 29! There's stevie07, me, cindysc, prettyinpink and pantela...and albertagirl on the 31st...and then all us march sleeved will be done! Sent from my iPhone using VST

I'm having sleeve surgery March 29 and am going on a cruise with my partner and 4 little boys May 6-10. I could have done the sleeve after the cruise, but I knew I would eat like a piggie and feel like crap. Now I'm down 9 pounds after startng the preop diet with a week to go. So maybe by cruise time I'll be down 20 pounds or so. That would feel amazing. Sent from my iPhone using VST

Lisa...you look great and have kept all the right curves! Sent from my iPhone using VST

We use a sublingual vitamin d manufactured by Superior Source. You can get it on Amazon. They make several different strengths.

I've been on 10,000 IU Vitamin D for a month in prep for surgery. I was also low and getting up to a more decent range will help with healing. Not sure about helping weight loss. I'll get my level rechecked in 3 months. (I wouldn't recommend that dose unles you have already been tested and are low.) Sent from my iPhone using VST

Thank you for posting kimkai and glad you ate doing well. Sent from my iPhone using VST

Mlecompte I have a little Moleskin notebook where I write down everything I eat. I always have it with me. When I'm on the way to Mexico I'm going to write notes to everyone...kids, family, best friends telling them all the important things. Just in case. A bit morose, maybe, but it will help me go under anesthesia in peace. Inside the front cover it says, in case of emergency contact ****.

Re: Clear liquids as opposed to, let's say hot chocolate, which is a "full" liquid. Clear liquids pretty much pass right through your stomach. Full liquids require digestion and stuff sits in your stomach longer. They are just trying to give your gut a rest before surgery. BTW, we eat more buffalo/bison than beef and it's yummy! Sent from my iPhone using VST

#3 there is no special privileges for the gays "the 'gays'..." That is sooo funny! Deborah One of "the gays" Sent from my iPhone using VST

Yeah, surgeons can specialize in orthopedics, eyes, neuro, plastics, cardiology and general surgery, which includes burns and abdominal surgery. There's quite a bit of variation, like a general surgeon or a plastic surgeon can do a breast reconstruction with proper training. But our surgeons would all most likely be general surgeons, but in the states your surgeon might also be board certified in bariatric medicine. It's a good question to ask. Sent from my iPhone using VST

Yeah, the Paragard IUD is great birth control and hormone free,, but it's primarily the estrogen in the birth control that makes women bloated. Some good progesterone-only methods are Novasure ( goes in your upper arm and lasts 3 years) and the Mirena IUD, whih lasts 5. The mini-pill is progesterone-only, but in my profession we call it the "see you in 9 months" method. Next to impossible to take it right. (I'm a nurse-midwife) Sent from my iPhone using VST

Oksleever, I asked the other day and in this practice they do a complete blood chemistry, which includes liver function test and kidney function test, cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, coagulation labs with INR and CBC. Sent from my iPhone using VST

Heavendly, About 7 years ago, in the middle of my pregnancy, I developed terrible reflux. Around 28 weeks along I had worsening heartburn and was eating Rolaids like candy. I had sudden onset of chest pain and had a barium swallow. The pain was worse than anything I had ever experienced. On the barium swallow you could see the narrowing in my esophagus when I was sipping the contrast. Because I was pregnant they treated me with huge doses of Prilosec (20mg 4x/day). After I delivered I was fine, only to have it reappear in my next two pregnancies. And then a year ago I started to feel like a had a lump in my esophagus whenever I ate or drank anything. I talked to a GI guy who thought based on my history and symptoms that I needed an endoscopy and dilation. So, this was unrelated to any WLS..just a result of long term crappy eating. Oh, the culprit this last time was mint chocolate Protein bars. Turns out mint is very irritating to the gut. Edit...the barium swallow was only painful because of the stricture, not from the barium.

Reading this post is very educational for me. I'm committed to the couch to 5k program. We recently moved to the country but have a bike trail at the end of our driveway, so I have no excuse. Sleeve date is march 29..,how long to wait after surgery to start running? Sent from my iPhone using VST

I didn't walk at my nursing school graduation, my bachelors or my masters. I didn't go because of kids, childcare, etc., and I really regret it! Im getting another masters in fall of 2014 and will walk FINALLY May 2015. (and will have to fly back for it) Sent from my iPhone using VST