Zane's Mom

Hello all!!! I'm 9 months post op and hit my goal weight yesterday exactly on the day. 138 even. I'm not exercising nor following anything extreme except I do have a protein shake daily. The initial weight loss was great. I stalled a lot and the last months have been slow. But like I said I have not been working out. I think if I stepped that up I would see more results in tone and shape than just a number. It has definitely been a year like no other.

I had to add topimax to my medication list twice a day to help prevent them. When they come on I have to take imitrex and if needed something for the nausea. I was getting daily tension headaches as well and I was using the heating pad on my neck every day. I take Tylenol for the daily. So far I think it's helped. The side effects have been noticeable but manageable. I'm thankful my neck pain is greatly reduced and the migraines are fewer. I think you just have to be proactive about your care and trust yourself and your body in what's best for you. I have a great team of doctors too. Good luck to you.

I'm in mesquite too. I'm 9 months out. Message me if you would like to talk. Congrats on your success and insights.

I woke up in the middle of the night in horror that my wedding ring was not on my hand. I NEVER remove it. So I'm about at goal at 141 and have lost 2 pounds in the past two weeks and it must have come off my fingers too. I have retraced my weekend steps and left my number with every place I went. I posted on CL and lets just say I'm not holding my breath. And I'm not stressing over it either. My wonderful husband said .. Well it's been 16 years and we should Renew our vows anyway. What a man. It means a lot to me because I had it made for me from family jewelry. But I am realistic about getting something like that back. And just knowing that it slipped off my skinny finger kind of makes me giggle. Very expensive lesson learned.

I drink a monster muscle every morning. Love the chocolate with 25 grams of Protein.

I still have a shake every day. I did go through the period where I thought I could never drink another one or I would die. But now that I am in the swing of things, I have one first thing in the morning. It is my pick me up. My 3 month and six month follow up I was told what ever I'm doing keep gm doing because everything was great. My Protein levels were excellent. I don't try to get my total intake without it. All the other posters are right with excellent suggestions. But ... shakes seem to be a staple for many.

I'm going to say congrats. And if that was just a one time treat then it wasn't a horrible choice. Cereal isn't the worst choice. You didn't have a whole bag of chocolate. So look at it for what it is. You wanted it and you enjoyed it in moderation. Just record the things you are eating so you can look back and see when there is a turning point. When does a treat turn into a regular occurrence. When does a small amount turn into excess. I think life is a balance in every aspect and you seem to know that you've come a long way and worked very hard. But you can handle making some decisions to keep your weight in check and enjoy your food as well. I'm not a die hard shamer here. I just say do what you know you can do. And you are under 140 and for anyone here that's fabulous. Congrats!!!!

I'm not sure what your out of pocket would be but my insurance did not cover vsg no matter what. Health care marketplace. They did cover my psych eval and the edg. And because I had a hiatal hernia they paid to repair it. My doctor has a cash price no matter what my deductible was to follow up after the hernia repair and do the sleeve. My out of pocket was $8200. However in my area many doctors are advertising out of pocket as little as $2500. You should check that out in your area. And... Because I was technically self pay, I was sleeved within 1 month of my consultation of the surgeon I ultimately chose. I say better now than later!!!!

It's also done to check for a hiatal hernia. Many times that is repaired during the vsg procedure.

I chose mine right off the doctors chart in their patient handbook

I'm with all the others. I'm 43 and started at 190. Self pay Surgery 6/17/14. I'm at 143.4 this morning. I lost the first 40 pounds quick within 4 months. I have no regrets. To know that I will probably never be over 150 again. I don't agree about trying the new eating lifestyle before. Why? Because I never could have sustained under 1000 calories for a prolong period pre-surgery. I would have been starving and felt so defeated. After surgery, it is what it is. You are not as hungry due to the removal of the part of the stomach with the hunger trigger and you physically cannot eat as much. So with these limitations, I'm never starving and I get full very fast. It is a lifestyle change. The work you put into this will be one of the most demanding things you have done in life. That said, I love it. My husband loves it. My kids don't care ... Mom is still mom. Go for it.

Here is a response straight from a dentist. It may have to do with an imbalance of nutrients but usually bad breath and dry mouth go hand and hand with excess bacteria on the tongue, often associated with not having enough saliva due to medication or dehydration. We always first recommend a tongue scraper to mechanically remove bacteria then something like Biotene which is a saliva facilitator.

I don't go out to eat much. I have 4 kids at home and it's always too expensive to go out. But on the occasion i went out with family I ordered a kids meal and my sister in law looked at it and said "that's way too much food for you". And I said "yeah I know." We were both serious. And so far with work, we have eaten more buffet style and I just get small portions or turn down the sweets. I flavor my Water and have sonic style nugget Ice and I drink/chew it all day!!!

Forget the hypothetical, here is my situation. I’m 43, and 5’5” and my highest weight was 190, which was my pre-op diet weight in June 2014. I was thin as a child, and my weight has gone up and down, and up and down, since my 20’s. I have ACA insurance, so coverage was not available no matter how much weight was involved or which procedure. I decided the weight was just getting higher and higher and my doctor said my cholesterol and triglycerides were too high. I have dieted every type of diet, some with great success for a while and other not. I went to a group that advertised Lap Band locally. I was told that if I had a hiatal hernia that insurance would pay for some, and I would have to pay out of pocket for the rest. I told them that I probably didn’t have a hernia, because I did not have reflux, pain, or anything like that. I left doing more research and I chose another doctor to go see for the Band. I met with the surgeon on the first visit and I told him I wanted the band. I started my process and began meeting with the nutritionist, having the psych exam, etc. I was told the same thing about the hernia and I was scheduled for the EDG one week before surgery. I was given two out of pocket costs depending on the outcome. In the meantime I went to my OB, PCP, and Psychiatrist. All three were 100% on board. My psychiatrist was concerned that with the band, the size of the stomach opening was altered to smaller than a pencil width. I take three medications daily for MDD and she wanted to make sure I could continue to take my meds. She asked why I did not consider sleeve because the opening was not changed, and I told her that I thought I was only a candidate for Band. She said she had another patient about my size that did sleeve very successfully. So, I went home and really did some research a comparing band to sleeve. I was also concerned about the band slip and erosion, and possible additional surgery for a revision. I called the surgeon’s office and asked them to talk with the doctor and see if I could have the sleeve instead of the band. I told them my concern about the medication and band failure. They called back and said I could switch to sleeve. I did the EDG and when I woke up they showed me images of the procedure and said: You do have a hernia and quite a few ulcers on your stomach. Many of those will be removed during the sleeve procedure, and the rest should heal with the PCP. I was shocked. I had no idea and no symptoms. One week later, and about 2 months into the entire process, I was sleeved. Was this my last resort, no. I could have tried dieting and failing again and again until I gained more and more weight. This was my decision, and I made it after doing enough research to make an informed, educated, and more importantly, right decision for myself and my body. Believe me, if you read my other posts, you will know that there were so many other reasons for my decision. I wanted to leave those out of here though. If blanket statements are going to be made, then go ahead, judge me. I’m the exact subject of this post, but I stand behind my decision, and my surgeon, and everything about the sleeve. I am willing to be anyone’s friend in this journey, no matter where either of us started. It’s the common goal we all should share.

10 grams. They have banana nut and cranberry almond. C

Momma_d, I think you just don't get it. Look at most of the success stories. Look at the ideal weight and height charts. Aren't most women shooting for about 135 to 145 as "normal" and most of all obtainable with the sleeve. If you have someone who cannot successfully lose weight for whatever reason, then why is surgery not an option. A medically proven procedure with long term results. I think the decision is very personal. Do you look at obese people and say "I found something that changed my life, so I recommend it to you because you deserve to not be obese." But you say to an overweight person, "you just aren't trying hard enough". Are you kidding me? At 6 months out I look at society as a whole and think how sad that food rules and ruins so many lives. I think, why doesn't everyone who needs this surgery get it. It's so life changing. Doesn't everyone deserve to be as healthy as they can both mentally and physically. I think this shouldn't be so hard to get through insurance and I say the people who have gone outside the U.S. Did not do so carelessly. They made a major decision that effects the rest of their life. I personally commend all who consider, commit and continue in this journey that happens to include a WLS tool. No matter where you started . . . Getting to a healthy you is a win every time.

I also have a shake for breakfast. If I want a treat I eat Quaker high protein oatmeal.

Ky89 I'm with you there. I made my surgeons nurse read me the procedure notes. In the hospital I had no pain and I could almost sprint around the entire floor. I could drink with no issue no pain immediately. Plus my husband said "your doctor came out and told me your band went fine ". I freaked out and said what. I didn't get the band. Are you sure that's what he said? And he said I don't know. So just wait until you start solids. Omg. I just loved your post because that was my anxiety and I'm glad I'm not alone. 6 months out and lovin my sleeve.

im doing great. 6 months down 45 pounds to 145. Really slow loss past two months but I feel and look great.

I could take normal amounts from the first try. I was thankful. Nothing is wrong with you. When you start the solids you will feel the restriction. Strange thing is when I started Protein bars, I can eat one fairly quickly and I can drink with it. It just was never a trouble for me and my sleeve was not bothered by it. I'm six months out and I've quit the bars but still have a shake every morning. And I use genpro with my evening meal. I take a bottle of Water with me everywhere I go and I keep a flavoring in my purse because I can only do plain water when I'm working out. Even though you can take normal sips, make sure you stay hydrated. Even today at 6 months I can tell if I'm not getting enough water. It messes me up inside awful.

I was on Depo for 15 years without a period. In 2009 when I was hospitalized for 11 days and had surgery to have a lung drained from pneumonia, I had a period while in the hospital. My doctors decided to get off the Depo to see if it would help with the weight loss. I was sleeved in June, and had the Merena in October, and No longer had Depo since November end. No period at all since the one in 2009. So, no periods for 16 years except 1, and doing well with Merena. It seems that many women have a period around the WLS date and after. So I think it's quite normal. Even if mine return, I'll take it in stride!!!!

My hair started shedding extreme in month 4. It had happened years before with a medication, do I was used to it. The ponytail got smaller and smaller. Now at 5 & 1/2 it has slowed almost to normal. I have been getting all my Protein all my Vitamins the extra Biotin. So to my fellow sleevers it is possible and probable. Keep a positive attitude and know if it happens to you ... It will pass.

I'm sorry. Were you being serious about "nuts". If I read right, the post was referring to the nutritionist (nut). Not food nuts. If I got it wrong, then my eyes are failing me. If it was sarcasm, then I got a good chuckle.

Paloma How far out are you!!

Congrats. Just tell your family that you had some bloodwork done and the doctor was concerned about -----. Then tell them you have to do this regimen and then redo the tests. Tell them you want to be proactive about your health and nip everything in the bud. Let them know you met with a nutritionist and you really have to make some serious modifications to your diet. They will commend you and when you start dropping they will have a reason as to why. It worked for me!!!