Bluesea71

I found an awesome 32 ounce insulated Bubba cup at Target over the weekend. It comes with a straw, but I took it out and use it how you would if you were drinking a hot beverage. It closes shut for travel. The best part is the insulation keeps the ice frozen for hours and hours and the cup doesn't sweat. I preferred straws but with this thing, I almost don't miss them! I think it was around $14

I have Comcast. PBS is channel 9 in the San Francisco Bay Area. It's likely on at 10pm and listed as "Independent Lens" if you're looking for it. If you google "all of me" documentary you will also find links to the website and trailers showing the film. Hope that helps!

I have been limiting most carbs and all processed food from my pre-op diet the past month and i'm just shocked how quickly my stomach is shrinking. I echo what others have said about eating Protein first as the sleeve will fill quickly and you want to get that in. i think this is a perfect example of how we need to alter our lifestyle for long-term success. The weight will come off with little effort post surgery.... For awhile. But listen to the long-term veterans on thiis board. At some point we WILL be able to consume more food at one sitting. We WILL be able to snack if we wish. We WILL be able to tolerate more foods than we will in the beginning. And we WILL gain some or all of the weight back IF we choose to do those things. My biggest fear isn't the surgery itself. I'm pretty certain I will loose all of the 80 pounds I want to loose to get to goal weight. But will I be able to maintain my weight? As a general rule, I'm not eating anything that begins the digestive process in my mouth. Most carbs break down before they even get into your gut. Luckily, this is a lifestyle choice I have already been implementing most of my life - most carbs are potential binge foods for me, so I've never kept chips, crackers, bakery goods, etc in the house. As a side note - we need carbohydrates to survive. That's what fuels the brain! But as you stated, complex carbohydrates are the best choice for brain food.

Only you can make the decision that is right for you and your family. My significant other was initially opposed to me having WLS. He successfully lost over 70 pounds on his own in 2011 and has kept it off. He didn't see why I couldn't do the same. What finally convinced him was taking him to the orientation class with me at the hospital where I'm having surgery. They encouraged us to bring our family members and it helped! He was impressed with how holistic their approach was - I would have a team of dietitians, nurses, educators, doctors supporting me on this journey pre-surgery until 3 years plus out! There were a lot of classes I needed to take before my surgery day to prepare. I wasn't jumping on the surgery table the next day! Now if I told him I was flying to Mexico to have the surgery, he would likely have me committed. There are too many unknown variables there and I wouldn't have the bariatric team to support me post-surgery.

Great post. I am scheduled to have my surgery In 4 weeks and like a expectant mother, I am reading these boards with eager curiosity everyday. What scares me, is reading about the emotional struggles people continue to have with food and the twisted things they do to "cheat" the sleeve. I know people poo poo the idea of the psychological evaluation on this board, but there is a legit reason for it! Frankly, it seems a lot of people have been allowed to have the surgery who were not emotionally or mentally prepared to make the lifestyle changes. I think we are all going to struggle at times (and its great to have a forum like this for support) but every single person in my bariatric program has made it clear - this surgery is a tool that will make it easier for you to loose weight. Over time, it will become more challenging and you must develop new lifestyle changes during that time or you will gain the weight back. I'm sure Its hard to grasp this idea in the beginning when the weight is falling off. People just assume they will continue to loose weight at the same rate. My bariatric team told me that the biggest mistake people make is not take advantage of that 6 month window after surgery. Start exercising right away! Statistics show that people who continue to work with a dietitian and attend support groups have better success rates long term. Someone on bariatricpal pointed out yesterday that these forums are mostly filled with newbies or pre-op patients like me. Why is that? Is there really a way to know how many people succeed and fail with the sleeve long term? I wouldn't think those who are gaining weight back are eager to share their story on these forums. So Thank you for your honest post. While its great to hear how successful people have been, we need a reality check once in awhile. I want to be one of the successful long-term statistics. What can I do today to prepare me to beat the odds? Ready, set, go......

I haven't tried any of the unflavored brands yet, but noticed that the unflavored Protein supplements have less protein than the flavored varieties. 10 grams of protein per serving (vs. 20-30 flavored!). Someone mentioned a brand called bipro (biprousa.com) so I did some research. Their unflavored variety has 20 grams of protein per serving. The person who recommended it said it was the only brand they could tolerate and it mixed in nicely to foods. Personally I will stomach anything to help get more protein into me post surgery! It's more expensive than the other brands, but you're getting more nutrients for your buck! Update: ok, maybe I don't know what I'm talking about. I looked up unjury to compare and their protein is equivalent. Maybe it was the other brand that had less protein? It's almost midnight, I will look into it more after I'm well rested!

Awesome! Maybe we will run into each other at one of the support groups sometime! What was your experience like in the hospital? Did you stay more than one day? I assume they have you share a room? I attend the pre-op class on April 1st, so I assume I will learn more information then.

My dietitian recommended I take Iron made up of Ferrous Fumarate or Ferrous Gluconate. NOT Ferrous Sulfate as it causes constipation. Problem is, every single Iron supplement I have seen in stores is ferrous sulfate! I have found one by bariatric advantage. I'm having a hard time believing that's the only one available! Any suggestions? I'm hoping to avoid some of the post-surgery pooping issues I read about on this website!

You two are two days ahead if me (I'm scheduled for the day AFTER tax day, April 16th). I will be following your progress closely!

Click on the gastric surgery support group forum (fourth one listed of the 4) and then select monthly groups and then 2014 and click on April

My surgery is scheduled for April 16th. I got all of my tax information to the accountant yesterday so it will done long before the deadline! There are quite a few posts like yours regarding April sleevers. Also join the April 2014 forum on this website. It will be great to follow everyone's progress!

I pay anywhere from $12-$14 for a 12 pack box through amazon (free shipping with prime). Do you know of a place to get them cheaper?

The vanilla is my favorite!

My surgery isn't until April 16th and I'm not required to do any pre-op diet! Just the usual no food or drink after midnight the night before. I asked the dietitian about it and she said it wasn't standard practice and if it was, as a center of excellence, they would be mandated to follow suit to keep their standing. I have elected on my own to eat a high protein/low carb diet and I'm amazed how much my gut is already shrinking pre-surgery!

Carnation instant Breakfast drinks do not contain enough Protein or adequate nutrition. Did your surgeon recommend those? I find myself feeling quite full if I drink a high Protein Drink. My go-to Protein Drinks are Isopure zero carb (50 grams of protein) or ready made Premiere protein (30 grams) from costco or EAS AdvantEDGE carb control (17 grams). Plop the ready made ones in the freezer and they taste like a thick milk shake!

What state do you live in? Individual states determine if they cover wls or not. I would suggest you call the 800 number and ask them directly what benefits your plan covers. I don't have medi-cal, but I am a medi-cal provider. Many states, such as New York and California now require insurance companies to cover WLS but other states like Minnesota and Connecticut do not. Good luck!

My surgery is scheduled for April 16th. Join the April 2014 sleevers board on bariatricpal as there are more people there! Wow- I can't imagine going through all of this process and only knowing a few days/weeks before your date if insurance will approve the surgery! I guess because Kaiser provides the coverage and care both, I knew I could have the wls as soon as I was accepted to the bariatric program. There is plenty I don't like about Kaiset, but they have an awesome bariatric program! Can't wait to follow everyone on their journey!

Let me share a personal story with you that may have you second guessing if you really need to tell everyone you had weight loss surgery. Back in 2004, a woman who is a friend /mom in my son's playgroup lost a lot of weight. She claimed she was doing Weight Watchers and lost over 100 pounds in a really short amount of time. Now of course I couldn't really tell you the exact time frame of her weight loss, because I was too busy leading my own life and attending to my own family and career to pay attention. This friend has successfully kept over 100 pounds off (sometimes going up/down 15 pounds) over the last 10 years. I have found myself jealous on occasion. How has she been successful when statistically speaking, most people regain their weight over time? Never once did I even consider she had WLS. It wasn't on my radar because WLS wasn't a part of my world.......yet. Flash forward almost 10 years later. A few months ago I met this friend and a few other moms for a mom's night out. A few days before this, I had attended a WLS orientation at my hospital. Fresh on my mind were the eating habits I would have to implement after WLS - eat Protein first, chew slowley, don't drink while eating, etc. I watched my friend eat her dinner. She ate her chicken breast first and left most of it on her plate. She ate some veggies second and avoided the rice. She didn't take a sip of her drink. Not even once. Could this friend in fact had WLS back in 2004 and chose to only tell a select few? Maybe. I could ask her, but at this point I've decided not to. If she chose not to tell people, I'm going to respect her decision. Not once in the 10 years did it register on my radar that she may have had WLS. Not. Even. Once. Here's the point I'm trying to make Weight loss surgery and the process is kind of like buying a new car. Once you buy one, you suddenly become more aware of every car on the road that looks like yours. People tend to be egocentric and aren't as focused on what we are doing as we may think. I am so much more than a woman about to have weight loss surgery. I am a mother. I am a wife. I have built a successful career. I have many hobbies that I enjoy. I am a private person, in general. I don't want my weight loss journey monitored by everyone in all of my social circles. For me, I'm telling close family and that's it. These are the people who live with me day to day and who I really need support from. Who knows, maybe with time (and proven success) I may choose differently. For now, that is a decision that I'm comfortable with. If someone asks about my weight loss and asks how I did it, I plan to answer with a very simple, "I made some lifestyle changes and the weight is falling off" or "With a lot of hard work!" That's the truth, right? Trust your intuition and make a decision that's right for you.

I would be curious to hear what other people's surgeons say. My surgeon said the only time he would use a drain is if there was an internal leak. In other words, I'm praying I don't have drains when I wake up from surgery!

A boogie is the tool they put down your throat and Into your stomach and it is used as to gage where the surgeon cuts and staples. Someone on this site had posted a helpful pic showing a comparison of the boogie sizes to compare. It really isn't that much o a difference between the sizes.

My surgery is scheduled for the same day! April 16th!

Hello all! I am a little less than 6 weeks away from my sleeve surgery on April 16th. This whole journey has been a whirlwind and happening much faster than I had anticipated. It was less than 2 months ago that my PCP at Kaiser submitted my referral to the bariatric department and I was approved right away. I have mixed feelings about Kaiser, but after reading about the anxiety and wait many people have had to experience awaiting insurance approval, I'm grateful I was approved early without issues. Kaiser is a center of excellence and I have been thrilled with the wholistic approach they take with their clients. While Northern California Kaiser does not make you take 6 months of classes, they did have me take an orientation class, lifestyle and nutrition classes as well as meet with a psychologist to assess how mindful I was of the lifestyle changes I was about to make and a dietitian to evaluate my current eating habits and make a plan for the future. I also have meet with my surgeon to go over my medical history. Post-op I will be seen at 3,6,12,24,36,48 and 60 months. There are also support groups and mindful eating workshops offered weekly if I choose to participate. I feel so fortunate to have a team around me that supports me as I make this huge change in my life. In reading the posts on this forum, it has become apparent to me that wls is not a guarantee of success. It will take a lot of commitment on my part to make long-term lifestyle changes. I feel so fortunate to have found this website pre-surgery to add to my support. Thank you to all of the unknown faces out there in bariatric pal land!!! Who or what else makes up your support system? I'm especially curious about those electing to have surgery out of the country. What aftercare Is available to you back home? It takes a village, and I'm so glad we have each other for support along the way! Xoxo

I'm a very private person and my Husband and parents are the only people I am telling. I haven't even told my children yet. I hate to admit it, but I have began to set up the scenario now by telling people that I have started attending lifestyle/weight management classes at my hospital and am working closely with a dietitian. This way when the weight starts falling off post-surgery, it wont be a surprise! It IS true... It's just not the whole truth!

My doctor at Kaiser isn't requiring me to loose weight before surgery (I suspect because my BMI is "only" 36) but I have incorporated all I the lifestyle changes I will be expected to make post surgery. As a result, i've lost 12 pounds. In speaking to others I've met in the bariatric classes, losing 20 pounds pre-surgery seems to be the norm. I think its their way to see how committed you are to making lifestyle changes that will lead to success post-surgery. Kaiser also doesn't make you follow a pre-surgery liquid diet. Just the normal no food or liquid after midnight the night before. They are a center of excellence so I'm not challenging it, but I find it odd that it seems to be the norm to do it on this site!