sharonintx

Less than $5000. In Mexico.

The statement " most doctors won't operate on smokers" is not true. if you have good insurance and are in good health you will get whatever operation you need/want for the most part. I am certain there are some doctors that will stand upon principle and refuse a smoker, but this isn't the majority by a long shot. Medicine is a business, a business is established in order to make money. That's the fact. Anyone thinking that the majority of doctors chose their profession in order to satisfy a burning need to "help people" would be incorrect. They choose to make money. I don't blame them:)

I wasn't exactly a yoyo dieter. I lost a good amount of weight a couple of times over the past 30 yrs. The weight came back after having children. I've been through having children for a while now and dieting attempts were mostly futile. I got older and just really didn't care and lacked the ambition to embark on another diet. Then one day I found myself with the means to have the sleeve. I did it, am now on a permanent diet that will continue whether I like it or not because my new stomach just will not hold much food. It was a means of self discipline on my part and it's working out pretty good so far.

Just have the chicken. You'll only be able to have a couple of bites anyway before reality sets in. The heaviness of fried foods becomes very apparent after you haven't had them in a while. I got the chicken for the rest of the family ( sale at KFC- my boys love it) and I knew when I was driving to get it that I would definitely have some. Took a small piece and started eating it. 2 bites later i say to myself "Oh. Perhaps this wasn't a good idea since I now feel nauseous and am contemplating puking".. I haven't had the urge to eat fried chicken since then. Honestly, I have done the same with every food I have wanted post op. I got it, I ate it. For the most part it only takes one time of indulging in the forbidden foods for me to decide it was a bad choice. Now the candy - that's another story. I can eat a lot of it and not feel bad at all. Go figure. So now I have to monitor the candy intake. Yippie.

Wowee! You look just great.

I started taking the gummy vitamins on day 3 post op and continues to take them until 4 weeks post op when I switched to a pill that I could swallow. Just chew it well.

I didn't quit before or after surgery. I wasn't asked to quit and I had no threats of a test before the Dr would do the sleeve. Some doctors do and some don't. Be sure and check with yours before making your decision. I healed wonderfully post op and I had no complications. This is just my experience. I am not encouraging anyone to smoke and I don't require any advice or remarks about the choices I make. I am just answering the question. Thank you and have a wonderful day.

My answer to this question is yes. I didn't quit and wasn't asked to.. Please note that I am simply answering the question. I am not a smoking advocate nor do I encourage anyone to break rules set out by a physician. I had no complications from smoking before and after surgery and I healed just fine. Everyone may not have the same experience as me, but then again they might. Again - I am answering this question. I do not require a lecture or any advice.

I'm on my 2nd Mirena. I love it. I have no periods for the most part and I never have to give it a second thought. In my experience it didn't hurt being inserted or removed. Maybe a few cramps right after it went in but nothing to worry about. In my experience it is the greatest invention ever.

I've had some frosted mini wheats, some honey bunches of oats, and some kind of grape nuts that has flakes and almonds. All were pretty good and filling too. I can eat about a half a cup of cereal with half a cup of milk. It's comforting in a way because I can take several more bits of the cereal as apposed to more solid food. I contemplated eating some fruity pebbles but decided that it would be crossing the line - but it sure looked good:)

I wish I had some chocolate right now!

I had the same thing. What a nightmare! The itching is maddening and I thought it would never stop. It took over a month to heal. It is almost certainly a reaction to the bandages. I took mine off when the itching became unbearable and things slowly got better. Try some cortisone cream on the areas around the incisions and loose the bandages. I think you will get some much needed relief.

Thanks for the sentiment. I actually haven't had the steak yet but when I do I'm pretty sure it will go down easy enough. I did have more popcorn yesterday. It was delicious. I suppose all of us had the surgery for basically the same reasons. If your new eating habits don't include popcorn or steak - well great. I'm sure all of us wish you nothing but success in developing your new eating habits. Fortunately, some of us can incorporate popcorn and all kinds of other foods into our new eating habits with no difficulty. As far as rewarding ourselves with food, I think it's just terrible that you are unable to do so and I'm sorry that moderation in rewarding yourself isn't an option for you. Some of us can manage, some of us can't. That's why we do the best we can and try to refrain from thinking one size fits all as far as eating habits after surgery. Hopefully one day everyone can be moderate in choosing how to reward themselves. Until then, some will have their cake and eat it too and others will not.

I know a lady that used Dr Nick. She has nothing but good things to say about him and his staff, She has done great and over 3 years has lost 160 lbs. She looks great. I bet you will too:)

Me too. I still can't get the liquids down. It seems like liquids fill me up faster than food. I'm at 9 weeks out and I just can't drink it all. Hopefully will get better.

Yes. Now - don't be like me and eat a bunch of chocolate, but a little is fine:)

There hasn't been even one day post op that I got enough water. Or any other liquid for that matter. And the chewing/taking small bites thing is a huge challenge.

My mother bought me some hot pink capri pants for my birthday. I knew when I looked at them they would be too big. So I took them back and exchanged for the next smaller size, which was a L. It's been many years since I bought some stretchy pants that didn't have an XL or XXL on the tag. It was awesome.

I finally started taking my usual 5 hour energy each morning about 3 weeks ago. Until then I wasn't sure I could actually swallow them because I think they taste nasty. I have always had one each morning up until surgery. I am very happy to have my morning friend back:) It has caused no problem and the extra energy is a welcome change to the 6 weeks I went without them.

Eating slow is one of the hardest things for me. You have to change your whole way of eating. I'm not finding it fun at all. I suppose it is a self-discipline issue. So far I haven't managed to discipline myself at all about this issue. I'm trying but it sure is hard. Oh - and I take bigger bites than I should as well.

Everything that has been said on this thread - that's what I wish I would have known. You can read about it, hear others struggles after surgery, and think you understand but you really don't. The mental and emotional changes are the worst. I'm a pretty strong person and I normally can handle anything that comes my way without having my emotions get in the way. Well - I was wrong this time. It took weeks for me to come to terms with what I was feeling. It's a lot better now although I am still an emotional eater and grab cookies and candy as comfort way more than I should. I would say be prepared for the emotions and recognize them for what they are. They do pass with time and you will certainly smile again.

Haha nope it's not bad at all. There;s a lot worse things you could be taking comfort in:)

I'm looking forward to the rest of your story. Just the simple act of telling is liberating, isn't it?

At a little over 2 months I feel a whole lot better and nearly normal. I still get tired though. I quit having to take naps 2-3 weeks ago but sometimes I sneak one in anyway. Now I can make it through the biggest part of the day without feeling exhausted but around 3 - 4 in the afternoon I'm tired. Hang in there. The term "it will get better" probably sounds like a broken record but just like all the things your mother told you - it's true:)

Every morning I have 2-3 cups of coffee. The morning after surgery the nurse brought me some coffee. I could only take a couple of sips that day but now I'm doing much better. If the black tea was what I wanted then I would certainly have some.