MissCK

Hello! I'm 1 week post op and thinking about adding Biotin to avoid hair loss. Any experience with this supplement? If so, how much do you take and does it work? Also, is there anything else for hair loss you are taking that works or doesn't work? I already have fine hair so I can't lose any! lol

Men practically fall over themselves trying to help you with ANYTHING at the office, home depot, grocery store, you name it! Not used to the stares, smiles, and flirting. It used to make me self conscious and I would think people stared because I was chubby. Now, if a cute guy is staring at me, it takes me a second but I realize oh, he thinks I'm pretty!

When you become focused on counting calories in order to prevent further weight loss!!! First time ever in my life! Or, making sure you cook eggs in real butter and ordering the full fat caramel frapp with whip cream because you need the extra calories. I'm 18 lbs from my goal weight and have started tracking calories to slow the loss.

Way to go Cherylet! I'm down 60 lbs as well. Had my surgery on March 3rd. I'm happy I can actually eat more than 2 bites now. Lol it's about 6 bites, but still nice to enjoy food once again. I'm consuming about 800-1000 cals a day. I'm just 18 lbs from my goal weight so trying to eat hight fat/more cals now to slow it down. Trying to get to 1200 cals a day so I'm not losing do fast.

Hi fellow Mexico sleevers! My surgery is in five days! March 3rd in Tijuana with Dr. Lopez. I am going through Mexico Bariatric and my coordinator is Christy. I've been preparing for months but now I'm gettting a little scared. Has anyone went through Christy with Mexico Bariatric? I'm paranoid now that I could be getting ripped off although I'm sure it's fine. Just starting to get a little scared and questioning everything as the date quickly approaches. I'm trying to double check with references here as I haven't seen hardly anyone mention Mexico Bariatric. I've seen a lot of people go through A Lighter Me and others so I'm just checking. If anyone has gone through Christy with Mexico Bariatric and had surgery with Dr. Lopez recently can you let me know how everything went? It would really put my mind at ease. I'm picturing me showing up at the airport in San Diego and being totally stranded and ripped off through a scam. It's just so much money and scary to go to Mexico for this you know? Thank you and good luck to everyone!

I am 3 weeks out and it is the hardest thing I've ever done. But do I regret it? No way. Each day gets better. I struggle with weakness and I'm a single mom with a 50 hr a week career so the weakness is really hard to manage. I know it will be exponentially better in a month so I'm just hanging in.

Hi veteran sleevers! I was just sleeved 12 days ago and I'm not on solids yet but I want to know when it stops hurting when I eat or, for now swallow. It hurts bad when I eat pudding or drink a Protein shake sometimes. It's usually after a few drinks. I want to know when that pain stopped for you. I have about 2 weeks to go before I can eat food but I'm curious. Thanks!

Well said almosthome. Thank you!

Wow look at all of you in here judging! get off your soap boxes! Unbelievable! We are all human. I guarantee you will all have a cheat, many actually. We know our own bodies better than anyone.

Always - I'm sorry to hear it's still hurting you to drink water. Hang in there it will get better. Hugs.

Shadowsmom hahaha "she". I have found that I was drinking too much too fast. . I give myself 1 hr to finish my morning smoothie and it doesn't hurt. Thanks love!

Hello, I just put my deposit down and bought my plan ticket for surgery in Mexico for gastric sleeve in March 2014!!! I'm really excited! I did a bunch of research and landed on Dr. Lopez in Tijuana. I chose this route as my insurance doesn't cover these types of surgeries at all. $4,700 plus airfare and my passport renewal fee so right around $5,000. I'm a 35 year old recently divorced mom to a beautiful, funny, and smart 3 year old daughter. She is the reason I made it through this hellish year with the divorce. I have a career that keeps me very busy along with being a single mom. I'm getting a little cash settlement from the divorce that is paying for my surgery. Hey he was good for something, lol! No I shouldn't say that. He's a wonderful father. Not a good husband, but a great daddy. My current weight is 198 and I'm 5'5", BMI 33. I've struggled with weight my whole life and I'm just done with it. I know I have a lot of work to do in these next 3 months to prepare my self mentally and emotionally so I don't revert back to "eating my feelings". My divorce this year was rough and I put on 20 pounds. I gained 65 pounds during pregnancy and have had a tough time losing it. I was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia and I've got a bulging disc in my back and a tear in my shoulder muscle. Also suffer from anxiety. I'm in physical therapy and getting injections for the pain which is helping but losing this weight will really help me with my energy level and the pressure on my joints. I've told my sister and my best friend but I'm terrified to tell my mom. I know she'll just freak out and judge me. She works out all the time and she's prettty obsessed with eating healthy and staying active. I feel like she looks at me with disgust sometimes. I get that she's going to worry that it's in Mexico, that will take a lot educating her on my part, but it's the judgement that I'm worried about. "Why can't you just watch what you eat, why don't you go on a hike with me, blah blah blah." It's hard because before I had my daughter I was in great shape. I was about 145 pounds but that took a TON OF WORK! That was hitting the gym for an hour 5 nights a week and eating 1200 calories most days. I just don't see how I can do that now with a kid and everything else going on. Anyways, I'm super pumped to start this journey. First thing I want to start doing is being more active, but in baby steps. Not going balls to the walls at the gym for a week then hating it, or tagging along with my mother on an 8 mile hike. I'm talking walks with my daughter on the evenings and trips to the park on the weekend instead of sitting on the couch like a bump on a log. Where I live it's nice this time of year. I want to start living my life again!

Ahhh I want to eat so bad. Just 1 more week until soft foods are permitted. Really struggling with weakness. I went back to work Friday. I lasted 3 hrs and I was so tired and sick to my stomach I went home and slept for 4 hrs!!! Not good. I had a Protein shake before work and sipped on one while I was there. Next week I'm back full time. I'm on a liquid multi vit but buying separate b12 and Iron as I think I need more than what I'm getting of those in the multi. Started blending spinach in my smoothies to get more iron. Can't even taste it! Next week at work will probably be rough but I'm stepping up my Vitamins and praying it works better. I'm down 15 pounds. Tomorrow will be 2 weeks post op. I was hoping to lose 20 lbs the first month and it looks like I will surpass that.

Thank you Vixy

Hi everyone! Looks like our group is doing well and having good experiences! I'm so happy for all of you!!! I'm pleased to say I am down 14 pounds after 12 days. Woohoo! I put away my size 16's and am donating them this weekend.

Last night I ate rice. Yes rice. And today I can't even sip on a smoothie without it hurting and wanting to come up. I had no idea how hard this was going to be. The craving just to chew on something won last night. I had about 6 tiny bites of rice and chewed it to a pulp but it's still too early for that and my stomach hates me today. I did so well yesterday too up until the rice. Took my daughter to see the Lego movie and what do you know! I can go to a movie and not eat popcorn???? Lol. I just enjoyed the smells and of course my adorable daughter giggling at the movie. Going to sip on Gatorade and try my protein smoothie in a few hours.

Thanks McButterPants! When did you start the Biotin? I'm hoping if I start it now it will prevent hair loss. I'm silly though, I just read the ingredients on the liquid Vitamin suppliment I'm taking and it has biotin in it already so I don't need to buy any, bonus! I'm taking VEMA. Started it on Friday, 5 days post op. It also has folic acid. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Thanks Texas! Wow, well done you! A big reason for my surgery was my daughter as well. For me though it was mostly that I don't want her having body issues from having a bad role model. I have always gained and lost weight and I don't want her doing the same.

Down 10 lbs 1 week post op! I'm struggling getting in my Protein and liquids but I'm up and about and peeing so it can't be so bad. Today I ate like a tablespoon of mashed potatoes but it started hurting so I stopped. I know I'm not supposed to have them for another week but ooooh they smelled so good.

Wow surprised you tried to go back to work so early. Tomorrow I will be 1 week post op and I feel very week. Still sore at incision sites too. I have 2 weeks off. If there is any way you can take more time you should. Very important that you let your body recover. Big hugs. I hear things get better when we can consume protein drinks. For me that is tomorrow so really hoping I feel better soon!

Well here I am 6 days post op! Got home from TJ yesterday. Today was my first day if feeling really week and blah. Been in bed pretty much all day. I was running around like crazy in TJ post surgery. We walked to the mall and around there and other little trips like that. Got up this morning and made my daughter, niece, and nephew pancakes and had a cup of Jello and felt like I had been run over. My sister is here with her kids for the weekend helping me so I just went back to bed. Also had horrible diahhrea today, first time that happened. Sorry TMI. Got on scale yesterday when we got home, down 5 pounds which doesn't surprise me being on liquids only. I've been drinking/eating full calorie Gatorade, jello, and broth to get some calories in me. Once I can start eating food I will change to all sugar free, zero cal drinks. Can't wait to start on full liquids tomorrow. pudding and Protein shakes yay! I definitely have the desire to eat but I'm not hungry. My body wants to eat for the energy and I'm just used to it! I almost took a bite of my kid's pancake out if habit! Wasn't thinking and put it to my mouth. Realized just before I ate it what I was doing. Still tender and sore where incisions are. Took bandages off so they can breathe now. Bought some Maderma for the scars. Have to wait until they are fully healed to use Maderma but that stuff works! I used it on a previous surgery scar on my stomach and it cleared up the scar in 3 months. That scar was much larger than these tiny incisions. Well I'm going to get up, shower, and take the kids on a short walk.

Yay talked my way into an earlier flight with no fee. Hint; if you fly southwest and tell them you just had surgery they will give you a disability pre board pass at the gate.

Update - at the San Diego airport super early. Boooooo. I was told to book my flight around 1 pm so I booked a 2pm to be safe and they picked us up at 8:15 am. The border took 30 minutes so a 4.5 hr wait at airport. Tried to get on earlier flight but no such luck. Feeling ok today but very tired. I did a lot of walking yesterday and had to wake up at 6 am so I'm exhausted.

New momma - I don't think they provide underwear. I didn't have that happen and I didn't hear it was am issue for anyone else I was in the hospital with. Maybe buy some cheap ones you can toss if it does happen.

Hang in there. The waiting is rough but it will pass. You are almost there!!!