1Day1Life4Now

Well done. Slow and Steady wins the race said the turtle to the hare.

Yayyyy, well done. Best decision I ever made too.

Yes, they are one and the same. That is the generic name for them. The brand names are Prilosec or Protonics. Presciptions ones are more effective. Take them..... they make all the difference in your digestion. When I miss one... I am so miserable. My stomach likes to produce lots of acid and then I have reflux. If you take the PPI, it will prevent the acid.

Hi Paula and welcome to this site. You will meet many nice folks here that can provide you all the information you need. As for me, Oh yes I would do it again and I am so happy I did it. I had been looking into weight loss surgery for about 10 years but I never really discussed it with anyone. I went to about 4 or 5 different seminars at various hospitals in town but I guess I just wasn't ready. My husband talked me out of it twice. Finally last summer it hit me... I had been fighting this obesity for most of my adult life and not only was it not getting better, it was getting worse. I could not get a grip on it. Nobody in my family is overweight so they did not understand and at family get togethers I always felt like the elephant in the room. So one day while researching diets and weight loss on the website for the local teaching hospital, up popped an informational advertisement on WLS. I made a call that day. I went to see my PCP and she was all for it but directed me to another facility and another doctor who had more credentials in the WLS arena. I go an invite to their seminar about a month or two later and that's when the process began. Many tests were done to ensure I was healthy enough for surgery and then the pre-op diet before surgery. My insurance company mandated a 3 month physician monitored diet before they would approve. Thought there can be very real complications with any WLS, mine was pretty text book. I had the surgery on a Monday, went ho on Thursday and I have progressed according to plan. I just had my 5/6 week check up and I have been released to do anything I feel up to and to eat anything I can tolerate. Life is good. I'm losing weight (I did have a two week stall) and my clothes are starting to fall off of me. I have closets full of clothes in smaller sizes I can wear so not time to do too much shopping yet. I didn't want any complications so I did exactly what the doctor said and I could not be happier. Social situations can be sticky at times but when I remind myself that my health is my priority it all gets put back in perspective. We still go out to eat at restaurants with friends and my husband and I share a meal. I didn't tell any of my friends or family I was having the surgery so they don't know and by sharing meals no one is the wiser. Some times my daughter goes out with me and we will share a meal. Both my hubby and daughter have now lost weight too so they are keen on sharing our little secret. I would never tell someone to jump into this... but if you are thinking about it, do your research and find out everything that is involved because it is a permanent alteration to your stomach and will only work if you make a life style change. Weight can always come back but if you alter your life style and your choices you will be fine. Go to some support groups at the surgeons office prior to surgery to give you an idea of what's going on and buy some books on WLS and read them a couple of times. Read everything you can on the Internet and go in to this as informed as you can be. My only regret is that I didn't do this 10 years ago. I wish you all the luck in the world in whatever you choose to do. Janet

That does not sound normal to me. What does your doctor say? You have checked your list of possibilities right? Not eating too fast, not eating too much, not drinking within 30 min of eating, etc? If your doctor is not helping you maybe you should see another doctor and get a second opinion. throwing up everyday is not healthy or normal. Something is not quite right.

Bjay, please call your doctor and tell him/her that you are having twisting pains in your stomach. If you can't reach your doctor, go to the emergency room. That kind of pain is not normal. Check back in with us and let us know how you are doing. :-(

I too was told to eat my protein first, veggies second and then if there is room...eat the carbs. I can honestly say that I've had very few carbs. I eat sugar free pudding, dehydrated fruit, and SF applesauce for my carbs.

BJay, it does get better but it's a slow gradual progression. I hope you have gotten over the nausea because that's not good for your sleeve or for you hydration issues. Could some of that pain you are feeling be gas pains? The only way to get rid of that is to walk walk walk and it will move on out and give you some relief. Don't let ourself get dehydrated and if you think you might be, go to the ER for an IV. That will make a big difference. You also need your sleep so maybe if you could prop yourself up with some pillows you could relax and get some sleep. Take it day by day... it will get better.

Mississippi Girl, Congratulations on your Surgery. Haven't seen you on the site much. Hope you are doing well. Hi Sunshine, you are in the right place. You will receive lots of support, info and help on this site. Good luck to you.

Hi Rebecca, I'm 6 weeks too (come this Monday) My clothes are falling off of me, I am down from a size 22 to an 18 but the weight has stalled. I work out twice a day so the doc says I'm building muscle. It is so strange how this is working. Congratulations on your progress. You are looking great.

I'm not sure where you found your stats but the sleeve has the least problems of the 3 surgeries. My surgeon is getting out of the business of doing the bands now because of the complications associated with them but you have to do what you feel most comfortable with. Yes, the sleeve is not reversible but we chose to alter our life style, not just go on a diet because life style changes are permanent.

Lyn, I just wanted to say how proud I am of you and your accomplishments. Becoming a NP is awesome. Good job. Stopping this family history of diabetes, obesity, and other things for your children is like being a Super Hero. You have already lost a tremendous amount of weight and I know you will continue. You will be healthy and most importantly you will be around for your babies to grow up and then for their babies. Keep up the good work, fight the ignorance but keep your private info to yourself. Thanks for your what you do. The nurses I had in the hospital during my sleeve surgery were so good to me and it made the process so much more bearable. Take care and good luck.

The process takes about 90 days anyway with all of the preliminary tests you have to do and then the pre op diet. If your insurance will pay at 100% (which is phenomenal) you might want to wait on that but start the process right away. During this 90 days, do your homework, do research and read everything you can get your hands on. Go to some support meetings and talk to some other patients. I had the VSG "sleeve" so I am partial to that surgery but you should know that if you have the lap band, you will have fees associated with maintenance and fills. I think they run about $250. If you lose this job with that insurance, will your next insurance pay for that? Its something to think about. Once you have had the sleeve, other than diet and exercise, there is no maintenance. Money is always an issue so don't necessarily make your decision on that but it is something you need to consider. Congratulations for thinking about WLS and good luck with what ever you choose.

I have taken xanex before surgery before but it was for skin cancer and they weren't putting me completely out. You should have asked your surgeon earlier if it was okay. Don't be nervous, it will be okay. They will do everything they can to make you comfortable and relaxed prior to surgery. They'll put you to sleep for the surgery so what is there to worry about? You will be fine. Just take a hot relaxing bath and drink a cup of hot tea. Read a book and go to bed. It will all be okay.

mine had Durabond too. They itched like crazy but I put Neosporin on them and it helped a lot. Of course I had to keep applying it abut every 6 or 8 hours but it helped stop the itching and the redness seemed to go away.

mayonnaise / fat free = oxymoron.

Throw that darn scale out the window!!! How dare it malfunction in that manner. I know you lost weight....it's the scale.

I had been researching WLS for the last ten years and attended many seminars but just wasn't ready to pull the trigger. About 10 years ago my boss' wife had WLS and she put together a packet of information and sent it to work for my boss to give to me. I was embarrassed and humiliated. I threw the packet in the garbage. Now, I had already been thinking about WLS but to have it flung in my face just didn't seem right, it was very uncomfortable. I think that is how it would be for most people. If there were some brochures or something we could anonymously (sorry can't remember how to spell that) leave around for people they might then be more comfortable receiving the information but when it's face to face it just feels more threatening. Now that I've had the surgery, I think its the best thing since sliced bread. Do I share it with others? NO, I'm still very private about it but if I had brochures to leave behind... I'd do it.

Weight loss journeys are as unique as the individuals going through the journey. What is right for you will happen for you. You will get out of the program what you put into it. Good luck.

Yep I had my upper endoscopy (EGD) and the colonoscopy all at the same time. The only thing that hurt was paying for it. It's all to ensure that everything is okay before you are on the surgery table. I'd be afraid of a doctor that didn't require it. Good luck.

Welcome Amanda. Glad you're here, we've been waiting on you! As proudgrammy said, this is the best place to be pre or post surgery. YOu will learn so much and everyone here has lots in common. Many nice folks here and you now have a lot more friends. Hope you are healing well.

You are the writer of your own story so you determine what is right or wrong. I personally think the journey starts the moment you make that decision to change your life, since nothing else could happen without that first life defining moment. Good luck.

I can't believe you were able to do all this on your first day at the gym. That is really awesome. I'm 5 1/2 weeks post op and I just started working out 2 1/2 weeks ago. I can only do 15 minutes on the treadmill, 5 minutes on the elliptical and 10 mins on the stationary bike. I do it twice per day but still....

Only my husband and my daughter know. I haven't even told my son or daughter-in-law. I haven told anyone else in my family or my husband's. I wanted to keep this private so I wouldn't have to discuss it with them and suffer from their judgment. Yeah they could possibly be supportive but I don't need it, so why take the chance. I am the only over weight person in my family so nobody understands what it is like to be overweight or how difficult the struggles have been. If I had some other medical procedure I wouldn't share that either. I'm a private person when it comes to certain things so if it ever comes out...they will have to understand. Sharing or not sharing is such a personal decision, I would never try to influence anyone either way but my choice has worked very well for me.

I saw this online in another site and thought I would share with everyone. It got me to thinking about ways to insure my success: 1. Not taking Vitamins and supplements. 2. Assuming you have been cured of "obesity". We have to live a healthy WLS life-style for the rest of our lives or the weight WILL come back. 3. Drinking with meals. The tool of not drinking with meals is a critical key to long term success. 4. Not eating right. In today's society it is a challenge to eat right. Make it easy on yourself. Don't skip meals, don't keep unhealthy Snacks around, feed yourself at regular intervals so you won't make poor choices about meals. Consider having some personal absolutes such as: avoid all fried foods, avoid all sugary foods, always use low-fat options, or only eat in a restaurant once per week. 5. Not Drinking enough Water. Most WLS patients are at risk for dehydration. Drinking a minimum of 64oz per day will help you to avoid this risk. Drinking water flushes out your system, helps you lose weight and avoid kidney stones. 6. Grazing. Nibbling small amounts here and there throughout the day can make your weight creep up. Make a plan for what you will do when you crave food so you will do something constructive that will not involve eating. 7. Not exercising regularly. Exercise is one of the best weapons a WLS patient has to fight regain. It boosts your spirits and keeps our metabolism running strong. When you exercise you build muscle. The more muscle you have the more calories you will burn even at rest. 8. Eating the wrong carbs (or too many). Face it, refined carbs are addictive. If you eat them you will only crave more of them. Eat complex carbs. 9. Drinking Sodas. Some people claim that drinking sodas stretched their pouches. What we know for sure is that sodas keep you from getting hydration you need after WLS. Diet soda has been connected to weight gain in the general population. Find other drinks to fall in love with. 10. Drinking Alcohol. If you drank alcohol before WLS you will probably want to drink it post surgery. Most surgeons recommend waiting one year after surgery before drinking. Be very cautious, you may get drunker quicker which can cause health problems and put you in dangerous situations. Alcohol is connected to weight gain because it has 7 calories per gram where Protein and vegetables only have 4 calories per gram. It is noted that some people develop ad addiction to alcohol after WLS so be very cautious. If you notice a problem, contact your doctor.