woo woo

It has been a week or a month?

I think it's tough being only 4'11". At that height even just 5 pounds makes a huge difference in how one looks. I think it's best to select a weight that you think you can maintain for the long haul. If it was me, and this is strictly my opinion, I would probably shoot for at least another 10 to 15 pound loss just to give that extra bit of room when maintenance starts. Congrats on your success so far!

You will do the 6 month diet before they submit to insurance. They'll set you up with that. As far as the weight history, as mentioned you want to get in touch with any and all docs you have seen in the past 5-6 years and get the records as most do take your weight when you go in and it's recorded. I have also heard of people using pictures as proof, but I don't know exactly how that works.

I don't have any suggestions but let me just say (voice of Miss Clairee/Olympia Dukakis) *sniff* "You were brought up right!"

@@Eclectick my thoughts are that he is telling you straight up, he just wants you as a friend and not as a spouse or real relationship. Move out, get your own place. You can stay friends with him if you want, but you're not giving yourself a chance to find a real relationship as long as you are living with this man in this quasi-relationship/friendship. Just my thoughts!

I made it a point to stay on top of my anti-nausea meds and took them every 4 hours like clockwork (every time I took pain meds or liquid adult tylenol once I stopped the narcotics on day 3-4) and I never had any nausea at all. Regarding liquids: I drank G2 (low cal gatorade), Apple juice (good quality 100% juice), herbal tea (I used sleepytime), 1% milk (plain and mixed with premier shakes to thin out), no sugar added hot cocoa. The warm drinks were and are still easier for me. I had pedialyte on hand for emergencies but only used a little as it's very sweet/sugary.

Yes phenergan for sure, ask for it specifically.

38 pounds in 5 weeks is amazing. I'm at less than that at 7 weeks and I'm ecstatic with my progress thus far.

I would really wait on the eggs at least 2 to 3 weeks. Most (not all) plans don't allow them until either day 15 or day 22 (mine was day 22). The longer you wait and stay with the liquids, the less likely you are to have nausea or vomiting with solids.

7 weeks out tomorrow, so I have no restrictions. I've been eating a lot of deli meats and cheeses, boiled or scrambled eggs, egg salad, tuna salad, grilled chicken eaten with some kind of sauce or dip to add moisture, meatballs with red sauce, grilled hamburger patty with marinara or brown gravy, shredded beef taco meat, shredded briskit taco meat (both with salsa or a little queso dip), plus twice I've had 2 or 3 roasted almonds. ETA: Oh just remembered several times I have had sarimi which is the imitation crab meat that they sell at the grocery store. It's actually a mixture of fish and crab. Really tasty and very good Protein. I have eaten plain or with either cocktail sauce or mayo.

Add a bit of healthy fats to your meals or snacks, such as avacado or nuts. An easy way to add calories in a healthy way.

During the first couple weeks post op we went out to eat a few times and I ordered soup and asked for only the broth portion. I found that all of the restaurants were more than happy to bring it to me that way.

I ate a lot of meatballs in red sauce during the soft foods stage. I would add a small scoop of cold ricotta cheese with it. Really tasty and lots of Protein. Also I made egg salad with real mayo. Also turkey and cheese rollups using high quality deli meats and cheeses from the deli counter. The P3 Snacks are nice and very convenient but they do all come with nuts so not soft.

For me, I realized that I was ready for a real and permanent solution. I had dieted so many times for so long, since the age of 15. Lost and regained probably hundreds of pounds over the years. I just couldn't do another "diet" and I couldn't stay the weight I was and continue to gain. My health was starting to suffer. Three years ago I briefly thought about surgery. I remember googling it and seeing a diagram explaining the gastric sleeve. I took one look and was like Yikes! No way! and that was that. Turns out I wasn't ready then. Now I was. Monday I'll be 7 weeks out. So far doing great and haven't regretted it for even a minute.

Slouch when they measure your height. That will buy you some free pounds for sure. Phentermine? I wonder what was the point of that exercise. Did your doc tell you why she thought this was a necessary step?

My doc had a patient that got a leak from too thick greek yogurt. He doesn't allow it until after three weeks (day 22).

@@Elode 1000% YES on the binder. The nurse and assistant came in with it once I was feeling lucid enough to stand up after surgery and getting back into my room. They strapped me right into it. It really made it possible for me to get up and down every hour to walk the floor all night which made me feel so much better. It was a lifesaver and I used it for almost a full week, probably 4 to 5 days after I got home as well and it really helps with getting in and out of your bed at home (which is difficult for a the first few days at home).

I too am thrilled. I loved your blog and have read it twice too! Once over a year ago and once last month. Super excited!

Bring drawstring or loose waisted pants. Yoga pants might work if they do not dig in at the waist at all. You will also be wearing an abdominal binder underneath your shirt and pants, so lots of room will be needed. I wore the largest pair of velour track suit pants I had. You will change into a gown as soon as you are there, so just plan to wear the same outfit home that you arrived in because it will still be clean when you leave. After surgery (once you are home) you are usually allowed to use milk of magnesia or miralax as needed. Things in that department will be odd/off for a while after your procedure.

Next week? Wow fast. I'm hoping you have done a lot of research. This is a HUGE change. I researched for a year and still am surprised by some things, for example by just how little I can eat. Make sure you really think about how irreversible this surgery really is.... That being said, it sounds like you have made up your mind, so I wish you the best of luck.

At the very least I would think it would enable you to eventually reduce the dosages on some medications. That can't be a bad thing, given that many of the bipolar meds have some fairly bad side-effects.

You aren't going to need as much food as you think at first. You will be eating very, very litte. I'm sure you will be fine with all the stuff you have. You will also feel fine going out to the store for short trips after a few days.

Did you try Dr Nicholson in Dallas? There are also a couple other docs in his practice. Nicholson did mine 6 weeks ago, and I had literally a textbook perfect recovery. I attribute this to the skill of him and his team. Same price as Kim. http://www.nicholsonclinic.com/

Dress 100%. Dancing + Dress go together perfectly!!!!!! I also agree that a splash of femininity is really appealing in the early stages. Have a wonderful time!

You can use it when you are in your room and want to sleep. They will have him covered with oxygen etc during the actual surgery and recovery period. I brought mine and used it for about 2 hours during the night. I ended up getting up several times during the night to walk around on the floor so I didn't bother putting it back on, I would sleep sitting up in my chair in between walking.