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I will tell you something about myself..I was the odd person on here. I could not wait to have this surgery and counted every moment until it would be done so I could have a second chance at life...I read everything I could. Watched videos on You Tube and was pacing wanting to get the show on the road...... Most people are like you, afraid panicky and worried. That is the normal response. Mine was not...You are going to do great...You really are feeling the new life that you are about to embark on and the responsibility it will put on you. But there are going to be so many wonderful changes so quickly that you will have a hard time keeping up with... i look forward to hearing your Non scale victories..Because you will have many!!!!!!!! Okay!!!! Actually, I was like you. I researched and read and watched videos. I was so excited to get on with the rest of my new and improved life I moved my surgery up from Jan 10 to Dec 20 and even started my preop diet 2 days early. My only doubt was 2 days before surgery when I had a little panic attack at the grocery store because I was SO hungry and refused to cheat on my preop diet. But I got over it and haven't looked back. You got this Dragonsmate!

How is that possible? IV fluids and swelling. I didn't weigh myself right after surgery, but 1 week postop I was still up 5 pounds.

I was allowed 3 protein shakes and unlimited green veggies. Lost 22 pounds in 16 days.

Sorry you are having a hard time....what about self pay? I knew within 5 minutes of reading the WLS exclusion in my insurance policy that I was on my own. So I put my energy into researching my options, finding a great surgeon, saving my money and preparing myself mentally for postop success. All that was much more productive than worrying about meeting insurance requirements and jumping through hoops. It meant not getting the new truck I was saving for, missing out on 2 years worth of vacations, and cutting back on a lot of other expenses, but well worth it to be in control of my own destiny, rather than at the mercy of some insurance auditor's pen stroke.

WombatVSG said... "The other thing I wonder about, though I haven't read any research... So my stomach isn't producing the hormone ghrelin any more. Does that mess with my other hormones in some way? Because I won't lie, I've got some crazy-making hormones. " The hormone thing was one of my biggest concerns, too, because our endocrine system is so intertwined. Unfortunately my research only uncovered that they know ghrelin is more than just the "hunger hormone", but they aren't really sure what all else it does. (Some links to memory and even Alzheimer's). So I'm sure there's some unknown effects from losing the major source of production. And along those lines, estrogen is stored in fat cells, so as we lose weight, that estrogen is released, turning us into major hormonal whack jobs. A lot of people's menstural cycles get screwed up not to mention the emotional aspects. Hang in there. I'm only 7 1/2 weeks out but I have faith in all the advise from the veterans out there.

Obviously my "secret" is the worst kept one on the planet, so not sure what to tell you. Like McButterpants said, this is such a personal decision. But I, too, have a hard time lying to people I see everyday and I would have to keep lying to them as I lose weight. Quite frankly I was a little relieved when the four people I told blabbed it all over. It took the pressure off me having to say anything. Maybe don't volunteer any info. Take each inquiry as it arises and ask others to be discreet if you do tell them. Obviously, you will get more questions when you really start losing weight, but by then it's too late for anyone to criticize your decision because you will already be a success. As for people's individual opinions, you really can't control them and you have to remember who you did this for. I personally have only had positive responses, but I have read posts how some people's "friends" and relatives were very negative and even mean towards them. Tough decision.

As for your growly, hungry tummy, when are you cleared for puréed or soft foods? The liquids go right through your sleeve pretty quickly, so don't help you stay full. Once I transitioned to more solid food I would get very full for 1-2 hours after eating and even had a hard time getting all my liquids in.

At seven weeks out I've only lost 14 pounds post op, and that's fine. I only weigh once/week and don't worry too much about it. I'm eating healthy and If it takes a year to get to goal that's fine, too. This is for the rest of my life, so I'm in no hurry to "keep up" with everyone else. And beside the scale, I have the mirror and my baggy clothes and my loose rings to show what a success I am!

I brought packets of propel zero to mix with water. But security actually let me through with my 2 bottles of pedialyte after I told them I just had surgery and they ran it through their little scanner to verify it wasn't explosive. You could also purchase something once through security. I saw vitamin water and muscle milk in the little shops. On board, they usually serve apple juice and tea.

So I was going to be very discreet about my surgery and only told 4 people.... my business partner (to explain the time off), a friend here in Idaho who had gastric bypass years ago (for some insight and support), my sister in Wisconsin (she accompanied me to TJ for surgery), and my parents in Arizona(because my sister convinced me how pissed they'd be if they found out afterwards). In the course of 3 weeks, my partner told her whole family and any friends that asked why I wasn't around at Christmas time. My friend told a number of mutual friends because "it's no big deal and they will all see you losing weight anyways", my sister told most of the rest of my family, including brother, nieces and nephews, and my mom told any family members that my sister missed -aunts and uncles, and everybody she talks to in her retirement park down in Arizona. Today I walked into my beauty salon and my nail tech insisted on knowing how I lost so much weight. I'm a terrible lier so ended up telling her about the surgery and kept the entire salon of patrons entertained with my tale of bariatric surgery in Tijuana. One of them ended up getting the name and contact info for my surgeon! So my original plan to keep this a secret has gone all to shit, but Luckily I have had nothing but supportive feedback. If anyone is saying anything negative, at least they are doing it behind my back

As a quick recap, Besides my family, I only told two people about my surgery. But they ended up telling a lot of other people, so basically almost everyone I know now knows. Fortunately everyone has been very supportive, asking How I'm doing and congratulating me for doing this for myself. Well today I went in to get my nails done (the one girlie thing I do for myself ) and as soon as I walk in my nail tech says "you've got to tell me how you've lost so much weight and don't tell me it's exercise and diet 'cause that's crap" Well with a salon full of people, I tried to hum and haw around it awhile but finally told her about the surgery. She and another patron were intrigued and full of questions. After the gossip session was all over she asked me why I never said anything before (I had actually been in there 6 days postop ) and I told her it was embarrassing to me that I was such a big fat cow that I had to have surgery to lose weight and I didn't want people to be watching my weight loss and gossiping about me. She exclaimed it was nothing to be embarrassed about and if anyone was gossiping it's because they would be jealous of me getting skinny and they didn't have the balls to do what I did. I seriously can't believe what supportive responses I've gotten from everyone so far and I'm so grateful I don't have any horrible, jealous haters in my life.

Yes! Play the pre-op diet game! You are making this work and will definitely hit your pre-op weight loss goal. Way to go...cannot wait to watch you kick butt with your sleeve!Thanks, Hoosier, I'm trying. Today was a hard first day! I have a headache now because I didn't drink enough water! And when I went out to dinner tonight, I ordered a side of steamed broccoli and a mixed greens salad with fresh sliced tomatoes. But since I didn't have my calorie free dressing I used 1 teaspoon of balsamic vinaigrette So tomorrow I will try better not to have extras that I'm not supposed to have. How did you do on your pre-op when you did it? Did you stick perfectly? How much did you use in your pre-op?.Sounds like you're doing fine. Besides lettuce and broccoli, I also ate mushrooms, brussel sprouts, green beans and tons of spinach. I had unflavored protein powder that I mixed in broth and substituted that for one of my daily shakes. Beef broth, mushrooms, spinach and protein powder made a yummy soup. I also got the Unjury protein cheese sauce and poured it on the veggies. It was also really good mixed in tortilla soup broth. The closest I came to "cheating" was when I was at a birthday party at a Thai restaurant. I ordered soup and only ate the broth...none of the noodles or shrimp or other stuff. I lost 22 pounds preop, so I probably would have been OK had I cheated. Good Luck!

Totally normal zoumommy. I was super excited and knew I wanted this surgery....even started my preop diet 2 days early! Then 2 days before surgery I pretty much had an anxiety attack over my decision. Shaking, crying, could hardly breath. Then literally sitting on my hospital bed with an IV catheter in my arm just 1/2 hour before surgery I had doubts again. My sister volunteered to sneak me out of there if I wasn't absolutely sure. But in the end I knew this was the best decision and at 6 weeks out I have no regrets.

I love your "back alley fill doctor" image my friend (who talked me out of the band) does exactly that! Not the back alley part, but the fill/unfill for convenience thing. She's had almost no restriction and has needed a fill since October, but finally scheduled it for the end of February. She wanted to be able to eat through the holidays and then her mom scheduled a visit for the beginning of February "I'm really going to need my comfort food to get through that". Lol. I'm with you, hevnbound, I wanted permanence.

Didn't know we weren't allowed. I've had a cup of decaf camomile tea every night since I had surgery. The warmth soothes my sleeve, helps me relax and sleep. I also make my protein shakes with skim milk for the added protein and other nutrition in milk. Not to mention yogurt, cheese, and cottage cheese. Luckily I haven't suffered the postop lactose intolerance that some others have, since so much of my protein comes from dairy.

I'm jealous. I never got my food funeral. I wanted to go out and stuff myself with Pad Thai the night before I started my preop. But it was a long day at work and I was too tired to go out after work and ended up getting subway and going home.

Carolyn had told me no more than 20 pounds for three weeks when I asked before my surgery. If you have any questions, call or email OCC. Dr. So has been great with post op questions and concerns.

I had cream of shrimp, cream of asparagus, cream of spinach, cream of mushroom, tomato, split pea and potato leek soup. I diluted them 1/2 and 1/2 with water, ran through the blender, strained and added protein powder (20-25g/serving). It was a great change from the sweet protein shakes during my 17 day post op liquid stage. When I got to puréed food I skipped the straining step. Didn't even bother with the low fat part because my nut said my calorie intake would be so low, not to worry about it. Besides, we need some fat in our diet in order to make cell membranes, nerve sheaths, hormones, healthy skin, and to absorb fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, K, etc.

Are you on a PPI or antacid? Acid often feels like hunger pains. Even on 40mg Omeprazole I would sometimes get hunger pains and 2tsp Maalox immediately stopped the "hunger".

I, too, was originally looking at the band. A friend that has had the band for 5 years was the first to talk me out of it. She had to have emergency surgery when it slipped, and the ongoing fill/unfill maintenance is an inconvenience to say the least. She still has it, but has never lost as much weight as she really wanted because she has become an expert at "tricking" her band and eating unhealthily (which she would probably do with any WLS) On the other hand, the sleeve is a scary, permanent thing. If you have problems or don't like the new lifestyle, there's no going back. If you don't like the band, you can always get it removed, but then you are still in the same boat with weight issues. Short term, the sleeve has more complications, but long term I'd say the band probably does. You will not be able to have it in forever, so you are looking at another surgery down the line. Good luck with your decision.

Good news is the C. diff test came back negative! I definitely have a GI infection based on all the white blood cells in the culture, but it is responding to the flagyl and probiotics. Pulled my IV catheter yesterday after getting 5 liters. Managed to gain 3 pounds in water weight and it's the best 3 pounds I've ever gained I worked 1/2 day today and was actually hungry this afternoon...and I'm never hungry.

So I had diarrhea 3 days ago, then seemed better the next day. Then yesterday my bowels went into overdrive! I got up a dozen times in the night.... A severe cramp was my 5 second warning to get to the toilet NOW! As soon as the local mini mart opened at 6am I picked up some Imodium and pedialyte. I also contacted OCC to see if I should be concerned. I had no pain (besides the cramping accompanying the actual BM), no fever, and no vomiting. Dr. So didn't think it was a sleeve thing but thought I may have picked up a bug and recommended Imodium, pedialyte and Probiotics. Advised me to call again if things weren't better by tomorrow. As the morning went by, it was obvious oral fluids was not cutting it. I had only managed 1/2 liter pedialyte in 4 hours and I was getting very light headed. So I tracked down an EMT friend of mine to have her put in an IV catheter. I've got all the fluids and lines, so no sense paying for an ER visit, right?! She said there is a bad GI flu going around, so I thought Dr. So is probably right. But after 3 liters of IV fluids and continued nasty watery, greyish, mucousy diarrhea, I decided to call another friend who is an ER doctor just to get another opinion. With the combined risk factors of GI procedure, multiple antibiotics ( both for surgery and a tooth infection) and being on a PPI, he suspects a C. Difficile overgrowth. I will take a sample in to the lab tomorrow to confirm. He advised to continue IV fluids and to start metronidazole. If the metronidazole doesn't work within 48 hours then IV vancomycin is the only thing that will work. Bummer.

Just left you a message on the other forum. I went with Dr. Ortiz and OCC and they were great. Pretty much a fun 3 day vacation with my sister (minus the tequila ) Definitely check out the OCC thread on here under the Mexico and self pay sub forum for hundreds of posts from OCC patients. PM if you'd like anymore details.

Thanks. I will discuss with my doc. In any case, Things have already improved in just 3 doses of flagyl. Still have diarrhea but much less volume and frequency. Started a higher powered multi strain probiotic as well. Still no word from the lab despite being assured they would have results today.

Then try 1oz at a time. I'm 6 weeks out and that's about all I can eat. Yogurt, thin soups and shakes go down fine, but I can't eat more than 2 tbls of anything "solid" .