plantosleeve67

Hi folks, looking for other folks scheduled for March...anyone? How are you preparing for surgery? What protein sources are you planning to use?

The pain was not terrible at all...I came home with pain medication, but only used it two days, and then because I became stiff and sore when asleep. It isn't a bad pain, more nagging...but I took Tylenol and was fine.

I did not have a liver shrinking diet either, and I have a fatty liver, so much so that they biopsied it when doing the surgery. I have read (and this is my reading - not necessarily the gospel truth) that some surgeons that have lots of experience do not require it. I worried too, but all went fine. I think it is a surgeon preference... To tell the truth, I wish I had done more liquids/dieting before surgery, would have made the after surgery a bit easier...

Hi there, I wish you the best no matter what your decision... I had my sleeve 12/11, with similar stats as you...McButterpants was in my original "Sleeve" group on Facebook, and I had second thoughts too...so much that postponed my sleeve from November to December. I really wish I had not worried so...the surgery was a breeze, the recovery the first two days was sore and a bit painful, but not terribly so. And now I am down almost 50 lbs and feel SO much better about myself, my body, and my future. I agree, the weight loss through shakes, etc., can be quick, but is very, very difficult to sustain. I know, Ive done it many times. The sleeve gives you a physical barrier to overeating, and for me, it has really helped with my hunger most of the time. God bless...

My friends and family said the same...and they were comparing the sleeve to the earliest gastric bypasses...I have an aunt who had bypass in 1993, and has had trouble with strictures. I chose the sleeve because of the fewer complications, and great success rate. I know it is a difficult decision, and only one you can make. You have to know how you feel, and how much your weight is affecting your health and life. I love my sleeve...My only regret is not doing it sooner. I am 10 weeks out, 40 lbs down. and feeling wonderful.

Oh yes....very normal! I postponed my surgery once, wrote a will several times, cleaned my house in case I never returned, and said goodbye to my husband about 100 times that last two months... The worry was SO MUCH harder than the actual surgery...I had never had surgery before so I was terrified... The surgery was quick, successful, and mostly painless. I has some aches and pains at first, but nothing too bad. I am down 40+ at 9 weeks, maybe not the fastest loser, but I am very happy. I feel better, am off diabetes meds, and have so much more energy than before. love the sleeve...only regret is that I didn't do it sooner!!! All the best to you

So very sorry you are having a tough time. You have been through so much, and it sounds as if you are making a fresh start. I am only 9 weeks out, but I cannot imagine having been through what you have gone through in that amount of time. You must be a very strong person!!! One thing I read recently is that many doctors believe that you can lose substantial amounts of weight for 18+ months with the sleeve. The "six month" window" is perhaps a myth. So this means you have a lot of time to get back on track. I wish you all the best, if you ever want to chat privately, send me a pm and we can connect.

Excellent post!!! I would add....STOP READING YOUR scale everyday! Everyone, especially women, lose at different rates. This can be intake, genetics, hormones, starvation mode, too many carbs, not enough carbs, the position of the moon... It is not productive, nor is it helpful to worry about stalls constantly. If you follow your plan, work the program, exercise, etc., you will lose weight. It might not be as quickly as the neighbor down the road, but it will come, it is a simple mathematical equation - less calories means less body weight. God bless!

Hello, I was sleeved earlier this year, and I was wreck. BUT, the worries were much worse than the surgery. Im so blessed to have completed the process and very happy I am done. It was not bad at all, and I am down more than 40 lbs. I have had no regrets, except that I wish I had done this years ago. God is good! I love my sleeve. MB

Hello there, I was sleeved at UVA recently...I am about 3 hr up I-81 from you. When is your surgery? Where are you having your surgery done? Send me a pm if you want to talk : God bless...

Has anyone tried Unjury unflavored?

Hi there, is there anyone here having surgery in March? What are you doing now to prepare for the sleeve, and what is your diet like?

I also only had one day pre-op...I think it may be related to starting weight... I am not sorry I didn't have to drink those awful shakes, I drank them afterwards and that was plenty. I did very well, and am losing weight fine.... I do second what one lady mentioned above, though...if I did it over I would practice, practice not drinking before and after meals for 30 minutes..it is damn difficult to do. I also would give up caffeine beforehand, will make your first days easier! Good luck!!!

Thanks for posting these links, jujubslim...I will try some of these:)

I love the Kirkland Calcium chews...they are in Costco, and online at Amazon. They are amazingly good. I also take Celebrate vitamin B-12 dissolvables (Cherry), and Celebrate Tangerine Iron +C chewable tablets...they taste pretty good.

I am trying different shakes, have liked Isopure and Unjury so far, some are simply too chalky for me. I wish that there was an unflavored protein available...

This is a link to an interesting chart from the "Bariatric Times". http://bariatrictimes.com/wp-content/uploads/Physician-Handout.pdf

The book by Alex Brecher is excellent....

Hi there, just my two cents...I have struggled with anxiety and depression for many years...I was concerned about the psych eval, and the surgery, and then I visited my regular psychiatrist for a clearance, and he said, "Almost everyone who is obese has depression, whether recognized or unrecognized..." His experience with patients (and keep in mind, he is not a surgeon, but a psychiatrist) is that many of them feel better after surgery... Fast forward, my surgery was Dec. 11 2013. I have had very little anxiety or depression since the surgery...I feel better than I have in YEARS. I have lost about 30 lbs, and the feeling lighter and less sore has me so happy...I actually feel a sense of relief and hope~! I really wake up happy now, where for years I struggled every day. Of course, I know that this will not be perfect, I expect to have days/weeks/months again of depression, but I do not believe that just because you are already depressed the surgery will make it worse....quite the opposite in my case... best of luck to each of you

My understanding, and Im only 6 weeks post op (so someone correct me if I am wrong), is that the greater curvature of the stomach that is removed is the "stretchy" part, so eating around the sleeve is possible, but actually stretching the stomach is not a great risk. I also view this as a tool, a jump start if you will...it is working for me. I ate for many years and gorged myself in the evenings. I no longer feel the need to do that, and I am almost never really hungry. The "Reset" I received from the surgery has been awesome, I feel like a new person. As someone else said, sure, you can eat high fat foods and keep the weight on, but you cannot eat much at a time. Hopefully each of us will be able to maintain this loss through breaking old habits and building new ones! All the best to you

Best of luck to you! It is the best decision I have ever made!!!

You misunderstood, I didn't mean I do eat anything, I mean that I can. I am on a very low carbohydrate high Protein diet, and it is amazing that I do not crave those old foods... I guess I would discourage "food funerals" because I overdid it and don't want to see others do the same. You will still be able to enjoy a piece of pizza, but one will make you feel like you ate a Thanksgiving turkey! The best thing of all is that you will savor every bite once you come back to normal foods after surgery...the bite of salsa, the creaminess of a good yogurt, and the savory taste of a piece of chicken...it makes you taste your food! The best to you all!

I went to the surgery seminar not planning to make a decision yet...and was given blood tests, a first doctor visit...and a week later, an approval! I was very scared and surprised, but my insurance company (anthem BCBS) apparently decided that I needed the surgery as I had several comorbidities.... I waffled for about two months, lurked on bariatric pal, and joined some facebook groups...I learned so much and decided to have the surgery... I am six weeks post op and so VERY HAPPY!!!

Thanks for your information...Im also looking into support groups, reading a great deal, and here on Bariatric Pal...