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Wow! You look amazing. congrats!

So sorry to hear this! Any chance that you bought trip insurance or that you still can? (sometimes you can add it on after the fact).

You both look great! Your husband reminds me of the actor who plays Tessa's dad on Suburgatory.

Yay you! You look great....keep up the wonderful work!!

I'm thinking full C cup then. However, I know that you said that there is variation even within that category. What a difficult decision! Can your surgeon show you the different implants by size on patients with a frame similar to yours, or maybe do something on the computer with a photo of you?

There's a great article on this by a physician that cites the current evidence-based studies, but I can't link to it here. It's on Thinner Times and the software for this forum doesn't allow links to that site. However, if anyone is interested, please give it a Google. I like that it's not just subjective surgeon opinion and that it's based on the current evidence. The doctor who wrote the article says that people who would like to continue taking NSAIDs should get the VSG rather than a bypass (consistent with what my surgeon said). Obviously you should exercise common sense even when following your surgeon's instructions, by eating when you take them, regularly taking a gastric-protective agent, and not over-using the NSAIDs. I think sometimes doctors give VSG patients the same recommendations as they would for GB and don't customize them. Again, everyone should follow the instructions of his or her own surgeon and go with your own comfort level--but this is where I'm at. I am very comfortable taking NSAIDs post-VSG based on both my surgeon's research and clinical experience and on the current evidence-based clinical studies and analysis.

Some people don't do well with the water viscosity after surgery. Have you tried flavoring your water with something like Mio? Glad you are doing better!

Hang in there--the liquid phase is the worst part. Just stay strong and stick to plan and try to find whatever diversions you can (walking helps bc it raises your endorphins). You should be rewarded with a pretty good weight loss during this time! Just part of the process, albeit a challenging one. Take care.

Did your doctor not give you guidelines about when to advance to certain diets? You definitely shouldn't be eating solid food (especially not food like pizza) less than a week post op. You don't want to end up with a leak--that would be miserable, and could land you in the hospital for another month at least. If your doctor didn't provide a diet, others have posted links here. You can google University of Missouri's post-bariatric diet. Basically most surgeons will put you on Clear liquids, full liquids, purees, mushies, and then gradually (very gradually) start introducing in different solids. Breads (like pizza crust) are one of those things you may never want to eat again. My surgeon says you can try well-toasted thin-sliced low-carb bread about 6 weeks out if you really want to, but I want to keep losing so I haven't been doing many simple carbs (most of my carbs come from Fiber or veggies). Can you go to a dietitian for post-op care? that would help a lot. My heart goes out to patients whose surgeon's don't prepare and guide them for this important part of the process. The surgery is just one day--the way of eating/way of life is forever! Good luck and good idea to post here.

My surgeon says just because the stomach is smaller doesn't mean there is an increased risk of the stomach lining being irritated. I believe in everyone following his or her own surgeon's advice, but I was relieved to hear this, bc I couldn't imagine life not being able to take NSAIDs!

Did you ask about Tylenol? You can even get liquid Tylenol for right after surgery when you aren't supposed to swallow whole pills.

Did your surgeon say they are off the list or did you hear it somewhere else? My surgeon does not limit the use of NSAIDs after VSG. If you take them after gastric bypass, he requires you to take a gastric-protective agent with them. That is one of the reasons I chose VSG over gastric bypass. My surgeon stays very current on the evidence-based literature, and that is what informs his treatment decisions. That is one of the reasons that I chose him as my surgeon. You should follow your surgeon's advice of course, though.

Sending you healing thoughts and energy. So sorry you have to go through this.

LOL that's how nonhumans are identified in some sci fi shows!

Miralax in a hot drink works for me.

I like to get the sprouted tofu that comes in cubes (sprouted is higher protein and lower carb than regular tofu) and sautee with with veggies and a little low-sodium soy sauce or vegan worstershire sauce (no anchovies in the vegan kind). You can bake it in the oven too. You can use the silken kind in smoothies. I like it in salads too, esp after it's crisped up in the oven, or just soft.

Yes, I use that, too--got it at Vitamin Shoppe. It's neutral tasting as well.

unjury unflavored is pretty neutral. congrats on your VitaMix!

Good point! I'm a medical editor so we tend to be black and white in using one preferred spelling consistently (lack of consistency is the editor's enemy). Members of the dietitian community--professional associations, etc.--always use the "tian" spelling. So that includes referring to themselves as registered/licensed dietitians (rather than dieticians). I actually learned this when I was a teenager working in the kitchen at a nursing home and the dietitian there was a family friend. It used to drive her crazy when people used the cian spelling--LOL! I think it just stuck in my head.

Puja, can you please post here or send a PM to me, too? My husband (a meat eater) was just diagnosed with anemia, and I've been researching it. thanks!

I think it's a really personal decision, Nate. I am really glad that I had my surgery and wish that I had done it sooner. I am a medical writer/editor who has covered adolescent medicine, and I remember hearing a saying once about so many chronic conditions (type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, high cholesterol) being "pediatric diseases with adult implications." So basically the sooner you start preventing these conditions in your lifetime, the longer, healthier your life could end up being. I think you probably could lose some of the weight on your own, but the question will be about keeping it off. Surgery could help you do that. With that said, I wouldn't begin to recommend that you get it or not get it. I can tell that you are a smart young man and your parents sound supportive, so I'm confident you will come to a decision that is best for you. I would just go into it eyes wide open and choose your surgeon very carefully and follow the post-op instructions to a "t." Even if you do that, and I'm sure that you will, complications can happen. I think everyone should go into the surgery and know that is a possiblity--expect the best, but be prepared for the worst. If you have the surgery, there may be times when you wish you could drink a beer with your buddies (when you are 21 of course) or that you wish you could eat junk food or take a date out for a 5-course dinner. I would just be prepared for those mental things, but to me, the trade-off is completely worth it. Whatever you decide, I wish you the very best, Nate. You clearly have a bright future ahead of you. Please keep us posted.

You sound like you've really thought this through. Your parents must be very proud of you. It sounds like they are supportive, which is great.

MrsG, so sorry you went thru that--really, the little girl's parents are to blame for that comment. I really hope someone corrected her or asked her to apologize, but it sounds like they didn't. And remember, she is 5--so her perception of BFL probably isn't an accurate one. Keep up the great work!!!!!!!!

Hang in there! I would say that a lot of the items that you think you might need, you may never need. My surgery actually got moved the day before so it was 2 weeks sooner than I was planning on, and I think it ended up being beneficial bc I didn't have that anxiety that comes with anticipation. The RD met with my husband and me and asked what things I had at home for post-op, and my husband said bottled water! LOL! He went to the store as soon as we got home and we just got a few things at a time as I needed them. Everything worked out fine.

What do your parents think?