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1 night. Out of surgery about 6pm and discharged by 9am. No pain, no nausea and drank the glass of water they gave me to sip on overnight just fine.

I certainly wouldn't be one of the ones holding you back.

I'm not a big Starbucks groupie (but my sis is...luckily there was one we could walk to from the Marriott in TJ when we were there for my surgery). But I do like tea and coffee. (Luv my Keurig) When I was on my preop, I mixed my am coffee with a vanilla or chocolate protein shake for a kind of latte/mocha drink. Then I tried decaf chai tea with vanilla premier protein as the "creamer" and it wasn't that bad. The protein drink is thicker and richer than the milk I usually use.

I'm taking Solaray capsules and open them into my drinkable yogurt. Makes for gritty yogurt, but doesn't add any taste. I'm taking 500mg 2x day and supposedly the vitamin D in the yogurt helps with absorption.

It's going to be tough, and it's good that you recognize that. But truly, this journey is WAY more mental than physical. I started reading "the Emotional First Aid Kit-a Guide to Life After Bariatric Surgery" right before surgery and it has been helpful in getting my head in the right place and preparing myself for the challenges that I will face. Maybe something like that could help you. But definitely know that you WILL be hungry on your preop. You WILL miss and be tempted by everything. You might feel weak and/or have headaches. But also know you have to buck up and DO it. It's only two weeks out of the rest of your life. Not a lot of time in the big picture. Yes, you could cheat and probably do fine with the actual surgery (lots of people do). But I did not cheat even a little bit and by the time I had surgery, I was very proud of myself and it has given me confidence to succeed as I progress through my postop stages. Good Luck.

I love rules I'm such a dork!

5'5". I guess the other problem with my theory is that I was a raft guide and ski instructor the last time I was 150#, and therefore very muscular. I actually had six pack abs! So the new 150 will look a lot different. But hey, a gal can dream

My true goal is based on what I looked like/felt like/wore when I was a certain weight....150#. Of course I was in my 20's so It will surely be a different 150# experience this time around. Nothing to do with BMI, although, ironically, that just drops me into "normal" range. My nut picked 160 for me....maybe she knows something I don't?!?

This is exactly why I went with OCC. They have a total of 8 doctors and 4 RN's on staff that have been working together and taking care of bariatric patients for years. They have two surgeons (Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez) and two anesthesiologists in every surgery. Dr. Jimenez, their cardiopulmonary specialist goes over your preop questionnaire and runs preop tests. You meet with the nutritionist beforehand and she goes over all of your postop diet and supplement program in detail. My nurse and the night doc were both friendly and helpful. Dr. So does all the followup visits, including the barium swallow and drain removal. Their driver, Joel was funny, full of good info and comforting when we were all stressed about crossing the border. Gloria did a great job coordinating all of our travel issues. Everyone speaks very good English, so communication was never a problem. The most pleasantly surprising aspect has been the superb postop followup. They send weekly email surveys to track our progress. Today (Saturday) I had questions about a new antibiotic my dentist wanted to put me on. I called OCC in the morning and Dr. So returned my call within a couple hours. After speaking with him, I thought of another question and I emailed him. Again, had a reply within a couple hours. Dr. Ortiz's credentials first attracted me to OCC, but after lots of research and dozens of questions, it was the OCC team that won me over. Sorry this is so long, but There's just so many good things to say about the gang!

Hey there how was your trip home? I can't seem to get enough water either, have you tried warm tea? I had a really tough time with fluids at first, too. I was just so full and bloated. It got easier after 5-6 days, I still took GasX everyday until day 11. Even still it was still a full time job just drinking from the time I got up till the time I went to bed. Walking helps move things through. And definitely try different things throughout the day 'cause sipping on the same thing for 4 hours gets old. Vitamin water, propel zero, different flavored broths, pedialyte, herbal (decaffeinated) teas, watered down protein shakes, diluted and strained cream soups and drinkable yogurt were all things I've drank since surgery.

Coach Josh, Are you looking for permission to eat something your surgeon has advised you not to eat? (Taking the word cheat out of the equation since so many people like to blame the word for the problem). And no, sabredy12, we do not all cheat and I am not a liar. 16 day preop with NO cheats, despite attending a funeral, birthday party and Christmas party. Now 15 days postop with nothing but liquids. I even strain my cream Soups to get out any lumps. Yes, it can be done.

Have you talked to your surgeon/nut about your limitations? I'm still on full liquids and have been getting at least 60oz fluid and over 60g protein in since Day 5. Shakes, vitamin water, Mio and Dasani water, drinkable yogurt, and lots of broth soups and diluted, strained cream soups with unflavored protein added. I start puréed foods in another 5 days, but I know I will have to still drink plenty of shakes to get my protein in because Even the creamed soupd make me full at this point. Slvrsax, Are you taking GasX? I was getting really bloated by the middle of the afternoon, too. So full it was a struggle to get my evening fluids in. Taking a walk around the block or Taking GasX really provided relief so I could keep drinking.

So I've always been big on the bottom....huge butt, thunder thighs and cankles. But from the waist up I've been OK. The beginning of the end was when my torso got bigger, then my arms. I could no longer wear certain long sleeved shirts. Then my dangly bracelets got snug and my rings were too tight. Fat wrists?!? Seriously?! That was one of my "last straws". So yesterday, I noticed I could see the individual tendons in my hands (which were chubby butterballs as I watched my preop nurse look for a vein 12 days ago) So I thought I would check it out further. Guess what! My rings slide on and off easily. No ring indentation mark on my finger. Yeah! Looks like I'm going to lose in the reverse order as I gained.

Glad to hear from you and that things are going well. I made my mom read this thread before I had surgery and she now asks me "how's that barb2 gal doing?"

Thanks for the info. I've actually had good follow up from OCC. I emailed the nut once and received response the next day. I also called to ask some questions about my recovery and adding certain meds and Dr. So, the followup doc returned my call the next day (I told the receptionist it wasn't an emergency). They also send out weekly and eventually monthly surveys to keep track of patient's progress. But I'm a bit of a nervous Nellie myself, so it does make me a little uneasy not to have "hands on" followup with my surgeon.

Surgeon sent me home with 40mg Omeprazole to take daily for 2 months minimum.

Lyndsey, I'm so sorry for your loss. My family just went through Christmas #2 without my brother. I'd like to tell you it gets better, but..... I guess dealing with day to day does, but Holidays remain really tough. I sure hope you do get some answers with the autopsy. I always thought knowing the why would make it a little better. My brother died suddenly and unexpectedly and the autopsy (including full tox screen) could find no cause. It just made his death harder to accept. Again, I'm so sorry and thinking of you at this tough time.

McButterpants, what did your follow up visits consist of? My Mexico surgeon has a nutritionist I can consult with via email or phone, but wonder if I'm missing out on something by not going to see a physician. I have detailed instructions for diet and exercise and I'm not scheduled for routine bloodwork till 3 months out.

Aaaaa.. I'm 4 inches shorter so the sizes all make sense. Congrats on your amazing progress!

How tall are you? I wore a size 12 when I was 150#, and a size 16 when I was 175#. I know they are just numbers, but I was curious.

My surgeon sent me home with a 2 month supply of prescription strength Omeprazole 40mg with very strict rules not to stop early. Unlike the OTC version (Prilosec), it comes in capsule form with tiny beads inside. I just open the capsule and pour the contents on my tongue and take a drink of water to wash it down. I take it before bed since reflux often happens when we are lying down, sleeping.

Check out the thread "Dr. Ariel Ortiz and Obesity Control Center?" In this same sub forum. The OCC staff is great, and the facility is the only International Center of Excellence in TJ. I researched for 6 months before going there and couldn't find any complaints of VSG complications.

There's a zillion different non broth Soups you can try...cream of asparagus, mushroom, chicken, celery, spinach, shrimp, etc. Most of these come condensed so I dilute them and then run them through a mesh strainer. And if you are only drinking chicken or beef broths, there is also Strained lobster bisque, Tortilla soup base, hot and sour base, strained French onion, etc. I also add unflavored Protein powder to them so I'm getting plenty of protein without having to drink so many shakes. I've been on full liquids for 9 days and have had something different every day. (I'm not allowed pudding until puréed stage which is day 18) BTW, just noticed our tickers are almost identical

Thanks for your post. Glad everything is going so well and that you had as good of an experience down there as I did. I Had my surgery at OCC (with similarly friendly and accommodating staff) on 12/20 but stayed at the Marriott, too. Loved the broth and great to have Walmart and GNC to walk to. My sister came with me so she especially appreciated the Starbucks. Good Luck with your recovery. Happy 2014.

Just follow your nut/surgeon's instructions. Everyone has different protocols. Been drinking yogurt since day 4 at my nut's direction. I have been a little bloaty, but who knows from what because I'm drinking so many different things. It's not too severe because 1-2 rounds of GasX relieves the bloatiness, and it seems to be getting better. No GasX yesterday or today. Obviously people with lactose intolerances would not do good with this protocol.