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My BMI was only 39, but I have 3 major co- morbidities. Several people said to me that the didn't think of me as fat -- but I always felt like the fattest person in the room. So I lead my explanation of my decision to have WLS with the out of control diabetes and high blood pressure. And, after that I really don't care what people think.

I needed the salt. The protein shakes generally don't have any salt and the body needs salt. Drinking broths gave me energy -- because of the salt!

Yeah, no ibuprofen is tough. I am injury prone and am trying to tough it out. Walgreens has an arthritis-strength Tylenol (625 mg each). I pop 2 of those and it seems to help some. I did get permission from my surgeon to take ibuprofen for a hip injury. I took 2 and was hungry for a couple of days. Guess it was really eating my stomach. So not worth it.

I don't eat seafood -- even the smell turns my stomach. So if there is some tempting food, I start thinking of it like seafood and I don't want it anymore. Can you do something like that? Can you think of some disgusting food whenever you see pound cake and see if that turns you off? You aren't on pre-op liquid diet yet, right? If you can eliminate sugar and caffeine now, it will make the pre-op diet that much easier. I've heard from other sleevers that the first 3 days of the pre-op diet are hellish with the sugar and caffeine withdrawal. I eliminated sugar and caffeine from my diet years ago, so the first 3 days of pre- op were okay for me. I had a slight headache from other carb withdrawal, but that's about it. By the way, I am no angel and don't want to sound preachy. How does someone who doesn't eat sugar end up needing a gastric sleeve? By substituting lots of other food in very large quantities for the eliminated foods. Ate my way up to 258 lbs, with out of control diabetes, high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. Since my sleeve 2 months ago, my life is completely changed! Diabetes and HBP gone! No more chest pains. Exercising every day. Eating good foods in tiny quantities. NEVER hungry anymore. Don't miss that old life at all. Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

I am 2 months out and haven't vomited once. Could you have picked up a virus or eaten some bad food? Odd that it would have started now without some non-VSG cause. Hope you feel better soon.

Are you taking iron supplements? I was taking iron that was NOT supposed to cause constipation -- but it did. So I have switched to Feosol, a plant-based iron. And I take it only every 3 days. That helps. I also added in an evening stool softener. Things are returning to normal.

Try taking 1,000 mg of Calcium, and 250 mg Magnesium (magnesium citrate is best) before bedtime. It helps make you sleepy. I avoid Melatonin as it makes me nervous. I can always fall asleep. But I keep waking up at 5 am. Guess my body is telling me to go exercise.

I've been diabetic for 20 years. My surgeon actually was concerned that when you've been diabetic for more than 5 years, you might not be able to get off the medication. I was on 20mg of Glipizide XL a day, but should have been taking other meds as before my surgery my A1C was 10! That's mostly because I was eating everything I thought I would never be able to eat again (I called it my "dead man walking diet"). During the pre-op diet, I cut the med by half. That was 2 months ago. Now I am down to 5mg a day of Glipizide and my blood sugars are running 90-130. I am due for another round of blood tests in a couple of weeks and my doctor is telling me my A1C should be about 6. My doctor is so funny -- I think she is more excited than I an about the surgery. Finally, I have to tell you -- I feel fabulous ! I am exercising every day, I am down about 35 lbs and I have energy like I haven't had in years! Good luck in your journey! It's going to be amazing!

Love it! And your new pic too!

Wow, that's tough. My doctor was great. If you are anywhere near Chicago, I can give you her name. Otherwise you might ask your insurance company if the can refer you to someone who is WLS friendly (that's how I found the psychologist for the pre/op psych eval.). Or your surgeon 's office might know someone. Hang in there. I had to do 6 months of doctor's visits and got through it. I am now 2 months post op, feel fabulous and know that this was the right choice for me!

Hi gamergirl: I was able to get 4 weeks of medical leave from my job, because of my travel schedule. I couldn't lift my heavy-ass suitcase for at least 4 weeks after surgery. I then got another 2 weeks because my project contract wasn't signed yet. Heaven is sleeping in my own bed! Now it's back to the grind, but I feel really good now. Not lugging around 35 extra pounds helps a lot when walking through airports!

Slimfast? Are they joking? Get on the web and go to Unjury and or Bariatric Advantage sites. Order yourself some REAL protein powders, mix them in a blender with some skim milk and I think you will be amazed at the difference in how you feel. Spring for the overnight shipping. You don't have to be that miserable.

Yeah, that's what they recommend. I personally went on the "dead man walking diet", you know the "every meal is my last meal" syndrome before my pre-op diet. But, I don't eat sugar or drink caffeine. And I didn't add those in for my dead man walking diet phase. Because I didn't have to break the sugar and caffeine addictions during the pre-op diet, I think that made it easier. I had a slight headache for the first couple of days, but otherwise it was pretty easy. So you might want to use the pre-pre op time to break those addictions. Good luck! It's going to be amazing!

I travel all the time and eat out even when I am home. Restaurants are very cooperative. It you ask for plain, grilled chicken or fish, with a baked or mashed potatoes you should be fine. Soups are generally available, and scrambled eggs and cottage cheese go down really easy. Just concentrate on the Protein and getting in your liquids. I found out something else when going out with friends and co-workers: I actually enjoy my friends more when I am not obsessed with the food. While they stuff their faces with chips and salsa, since I know it is not an option for me, I don't obsess over it. I can sit back and converse with people. Hope that helps you get through your vacation.

Sorry friend, I would not EVER let anyone take pictures of my muffin top. And, 8 weeks post op, my weight loss is showing in my face, boobs, my hips and legs -- but the stomach is always the last to go. I am an apple also. Good luck on your journey.

I had the same kind of recovery. No pain, no nausea, no vomiting. Went out shopping with my sister 2 days after surgery. Moved real slow, Took a lot of naps, but that's about it. Tingling? Are you taking Vit B12? My mother had a problem with tingling in hands and feet. Turned out it was B12 deficiency. Might we worth looking into.

WHAT??? You mean that the acid in the Diet Coke doesn't burn off the calories from the dripping, double cheeseburger? That could explain the extra 80 lbs I was carting around, huh?

Step away from the scale. You'll make yourself nuts. Just concentrate on getting in your Protein and Water. The weight will take care of itself. If you want to gauge your progress, go try on your clothes. To me, when something that was formerly tight is now hanging off me, that's more important than what the fickle, lying scale says.

You just had surgery -- you should be doing nothing by sleeping. My first two weeks were spent going from the bed to a nap on the couch, back to bed after lunch, back to a nap on thr couch. Then back to bed to sleep all night. Give yourself a break.

I got really lucky, because I met a chef in my pre-op meeting who was a sleeve patient herself. She has started her own company and has the most wonderfully satisfying pre-op Protein shakes, and broths. I also bought the Bariatric Advantage powdered shakes for when I traveled and couldn't take liquids through the airport ( I travel every week). I could always find skim or 2% milk to mix with the powered shakes. Plus, I used a lot of flavorings to mix with vanilla shakes (pineapple and coconut flavoring makes the most wonderful piña colada). Don't forget to make yourself some broths. The salt will help with your energy levels. Hang in there. It only gets better from here.

Do you ever go through a food court at a mall? Disgusting! Not just the food choices ( if you can call that food), but the way the people look eating it. And I used to be one of them. Do you ever look at really overweight people and want to take them by the hand and tell them there is a better way? It's a bit like a religious conversion, isn't it?

When I had my endoscopy they gave me that drug that causes a complete memory blackout. Here's an article about the procedure and the sedation: http://www.mygiclinic.com/procedures/egd-upper-endoscopy When I had my procedure, I had actually never met the doctor until I walked into the procedure room. He was GORGEOUS! The last thing I remembered before the endoscopy was the nurse taking my glasses saying she would give them back to me when they were done. The next thing I knew was she was handing them back. The cute doctor came in and gave me the results. Plus he said I had done really well during the procedure -- and that I talked through the whole thing. OMG -- what did I say??!!?? I probably said things like, "you're so gorgeous, would you like to come home with me?" It was mortified. I was pretty funny.

Have you tried broths? They don't have Protein, but they do have salt and a different taste. When I was on post op liquids, I used to go to a restaurant and request just the broth from chicken noodle, or French onion or vegetable Soup. It always gave me an energy lift and counted towards liquids. I guess a lot of people do this, as the restaurant staff was always very nice about it. I will even confess to having some strained broccoli cheddar soup, but not very much as it didn't go down as well as the broth. Hang in there. It will get better. I am 8 weeks post op and into soft foods now, but I have to keep them really soft in order to not upset my little tummy.