pumpkin07

I'm so glad you have that support. The Protein drinks suck. I had such a hard time with them. The taste, the texture. It is so aversive to me. Ugh. I ended up with a fuzzy navel one or something like that and I stuck with that. Ugh. They are grossssss. Even the tasteless ones were intolerable for me. I hate to be the one to tell you to cheat BUT my friend suggested I eat one protein meal a day. She did that and she did fine. She just stopped 2 1/2 days before surgery and no one knew. Some people in her support group suggested this and she shared this plan with me. The bottom line, she said, was as long as you stick to protein it doesn't matter as far as shrinking your liver. I don't know if that was true, but honestly I did this a few times and it got me through. I saved it for when I could not handle it any more or if I got somewhere and didn't have any shakes with me. So with that said I hate a couple meat patties, drove through Chick fila a few times to get just a grilled breast, etc. It isn't worth cancelling your surgery, because as far as I know a lot of people are NOT perfect. I even had a last supper during the two weeks which I never regretted. I just didn't tell my husband til like 6 mos. later, because he would have freaked out, but I totally don't regret that last feast with friends. I meant to do it before the 2 weeks but they changed my date suddenly, so whatever, I did it a week before surgery. Look, you don't have to be PERFECT before surgery, just do the best you can to stick with protein and don't get dehydrated!!!. I got dehydrated and it made my veins very difficult when I was in the hospital - at least that is what they kept telling me. YUCK protein drinks!! A necessary yuck though. The only thing positive, other than the liver thing, is that it jumpstarts your weight loss and gets you in the right frame of mind for not being able to eat after surgery. I was on a liquid diet for 6 weeks once, and I did it for 2 weeks before surgery and that experience helped me have confidence that I could go without eating for an extended period of time. You will be satisfied enough if you make a lot of chicken broth, which I know I always repeat myself on this because it was so helpful to me.. My thing after surgery, honestly, was 1 protein drink a day (couldn't drink it at once) and a hell of a lot of homemade chicken broth and weak koolaid, Jello. I had minimal sugar and didn't do the artificial thing much bc I prefer to not do that. I used agave a lot, just a very natural healing for my body. Eventually cottage cheese, refried Beans, pureed meats and veggies, etc. Before very long I could puree chicken and drink it with the Soup. That was so awesome. I could just find protein in many forms to make it through. No sense gagging all the time choking down drinks - but they are helpful to get at least half your protein down. You will want Proteins that are not sweet, because you just get so sick of sweet from those drinks. For me the chicken broth was absolutely the trick. I sipped a lot on hot tea and broth. Also high protein milk is a good thing to use with your protein drinks, just more protein. You'll figure out something that works for you. If you tend to have low Iron, boil meats and sip on that broth. No sense to cancel your surgery. You will be fine. It is not easy, but you can persevere. As long as you have a good doctor, go forward. Your doctors job is the most important part and then would be your willingness to stick to liquids after surgery, then mushies, etc. Take it easy, don't lift the kids, and allow yourself to be cared for like you would take care of your own child. This is a lovely process actually. A real gift to yourself.. .

Congrats on your decision. If you have a great doctor, follow his advice, and stick around here you will do absolutely great. costco and Sam's usually have Vitamin D gel capsules very inexpensive.

You were beautiful before, and still are. Your body type does look completely different. You look like you've lost all of your weight, even that last little bit. You look like a very lean body type person now. That must feel incredible. I am very happy for you!!!

I drink a lot of coffee with creamer and a tsp of sugar. It is so great. I don't make it super strong and I never ever do Starbucks. I keep it simple. I sometimes switch to agave. I never heard no coffee, no caffeine coffee. I try not to go crazy with it. But I have a lil every day, sometimes more. I think OLD coffee gives reflux the worst. I always drink it fresh, and pretty much ALWAYS at home. Restaurants generally do not know how to make good coffee, right?

I buy the lil packets of sugar kool aid and put it in a very big jar of water, like almost 30 oz. SO that is only 60 calories. That isnt bad. I don't do artificial...personal preference. I haven't been a model sleever, but I've done ok.

I have found eating anything not cut up is a bad idea bc I take too big of bites.

Best wishes to you and your brand new tummy. Sounds like you are going through the process and taking care of you. Bless you.

Lord please don't let that be any of us. I think focusing on lean protein is a good habit, but I do think my metabolism is trying to slow down making it very hard to lose the remaining lbs. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr I need to exercise. I want Blackberry's ABS!!!!

No problems except reflux, but a year out it is so much better. I take Prilosec very occasionally and a lot of times I just take 1/2 of one and that seems to work just as well. Walking after meals helps the food go down. I count my blessings, truly. I have heard you can buy complication insurance. You could post it on a separate message and someone could give you the info. I attribute my success to homemade chicken broth and koolaid. It got me through. Nothing is more important than the right doctor in my opinion. I was self pay and did not go through all the classes, big mistake. I should have gone to a bigger clinic here in Houston so I would have more before/after support groups just for the sleeve patients bc I had some problems initially and needed support. In Houston Dr. Robert Davis and Dr. Garth Davis is who I recommend for that reason and because he is a great surgeon and a nice man. I didn't know about him before so I went to a good surgeon, but even though he is a Center of Excellence it is small with minimal support. But he did a good job on my surgery. In Mexico everyone seems to recommend Aceves mostly. But personally, I would find a good doctor in the states, pay the money, and buy the complication insurance because if you have a problem you don't want your doctor in another country. Many times bariatric surgeons do not want to treat patients with complications if it is not their patient. I'm sure you understand why, they probably are highly irritated already that you didn't have surgery here in this country and then if they have to fix you...I would not choose that route unless I had to. But lots of people go to Mexico and do great. It is just a personal thing of knowing I have care in place near my home. My insurance paid for NOTHING, and my surgery was $14k. I have probably saved a lot of that back on food and medicine, so I consider it an investment. Oh I did have one problem...nothing fit anymore from underwear to shoes to bras to t-shirts to jeans to dresses to jewelry (my neck is smaller now). SO I had to do all this shopping over and over again. It was so hard I had to change and not shop at Lane Bryant anymore too, and find new stores. For me it was a great experience. I am having a lot of trouble getting off the last lbs but if I would exercise it would help.

Yep, been waiting for this day. I even remember wondering the day of surgery what will it be like in one year and I was scared...would I be alive, feel well, be successful with weight loss, have any hair, etc. After surgery I cried after a few days bc eating less was so foreign. I mourned my tummy in the trash, my friend, my companion, my reliable partner in crime. I was a bit sad, strangely. End of an era. But I must tell you I am alive, I feel really great, I have been successful in losing a huge amount of weight, and I do have hair that I grew out kinda long. Today my health is much better than a year ago. I wear a 30" waist pant now or a size 8Petite or a Small or Medium shirt. A year ago I was wearing a size 20WP and a 2X. I looked so swollen in every way. What is next during the next year? Well...definitely losing the rest, not regaining, firming it up, lasiks eye surgery, and giving the girls a lil lift.

DId you hear of Dr. Robert (or son, Garth) Davis in Houston. They were on that show BIG MEDICINE. Everyone I know that used Robert Davis LOVED him. He is a very skilled surgeon. Their practice is big. My friend had a complication after bypass surgery and he came up to the hospital at 10pm and he knew exactly what to do and calmed her. She was throwing up bright red blood. It happened after they started her blood thinner back or something like that. But he was very calm and available and diligent and she did absolutely fine. My friend adores him. I heard the son, Garth, is excellent but I don't know him. My cousin had Dr. Robert Davis for a revision from band to sleeve and it went great. Dr, Spiegal did her band, and she totally does NOT recommend him.

I think the preparation that many of the larger clinics have for 6 mos is a good idea prior to surgery. Then you will have time to mentally prepare. PLus counseling the first few months. I don't think you will fail, but you will do better with extra support.

Biggest bang for the buck so far with the lease disruption to your long term health.

This was a nice discussion. I had the sleeve bc that was the best I knew of at the time and not a lot of regrets. However, if there is something better for the next person I am so open to that. I am convinced that there will always be more and more surgeries good and bad. I'm still confused if the plication is progress or not, and not I'm not a great researcher...I really appreciate the conversation and debate.

I have one of those Cuisinart blender sticks kind of things. It is so easy to clean!!! Much easier than taking out a blender when you need to puree. Just do it right in the pot! I just don't know what it is called, but it is beautiful!

Oh wow, so how did you know something was wrong? How far out when you had symptoms. I am so glad you are recovering well.......why do you think your recovery is going so smooth??? Did you have surgery near you or far away? How did you get help? So many questions.

Really???? Plication is a gimic? I've been telling my brother to research it. He probably has 100 lbs to lose. I thought it is better b/c your stomach stays in. I'd like to know more about how it is a gimic. I haven't read anyone unhappy. I'm not being sarcastic, I don't want to spoint bro in the wrong direction. That was my one problem with sleeve is that what if I need my stomach later for some reason and it is gone? I thought the fact that it is reversible is good. I'm very confused now.

Lolli - This will work sweetie..It will. I was wondering how much you have to lose. Also, did you just start working out after surgery or were you working out before. BC we all know muscle weighs more than fat. Just apply COMMON SENSE. You did just get a crap load of stomach cut out of your body, you are eating 600 calories a day, and you are jogging. You are gonna lose the weight, NO DOUBT. But our bodies have a lot of special functions and protections and sometimes it doesn't come off exactly when we want it to. I hope you can cry today, and then tomorrow reinvest in this process. It will work. Maybe your doc was thinking out loud, but there could be a reason the doctor couldn't find in that moment. People seem to lose at different paces and those that have not been able to lose as much usually complain about not having enough restriction which just might mean it was a surgery problem like too much tummy left. And usually people with just a little bit of weight to lose seem to get a slower start, but they still lose about 1/2 of their weight around the 3.5 to 4 month mark. Hang in there girly.

Tomorrow is another day.. Just take a breath, have a good cry...and move on to Plan B. You are worth the effort...you really are. And one thing I learned in life is when you are down, you cannot give up...because you have to love you more than anyone loves you. You deserve the best. Have you ever read any of Joel Osteen's books. He helps me think positive and expect good things. I use those books in these times. Turn it around, get another doctor, and vow to someday BLAST HIM in a letter and let him know just how you did find success in spite of him. I think if your surgery is a successful tool, it should be working, right? Otherwise he should be looking at metabolic issues, etc. Give up for today, but come back fighting tomorrow.

Congrats! I have the cutest NSV related to this ever...if you heard it I apologize. My son is was 2 when I had the surgery last February. A few months later, he might have been 3, he woke up during the night in his room, next door to ours. The house was dark. I found him quivering on our bed, obvious he had been awake for some time but never cried. I was like "Benjamin! What is wrong baby?" My husband jumped up, he was so upset, just shaking and could barely talk. He finally cried and said "I LOST MY FAMILY!". I was like, what? No you didn't baby, we are right here. And he is still quivering and says, "But I couldn't HEAR you.". My husband and I looked at each other like WHAT? and we both realized at the same time it was because I wasn't snoring anymore. I was his sonar in the night I guess...who would know he would find out bed by listening for his momma snoring. I asked him later how he finally found our bed, and he said his nanny (he called her by name) came and got him by the hand and brought him to our bed. She wasn't even there! But I knew then she is his angel, or maybe my grandma was his angel and he thought it was her. But how sweet his guardian angels watch over him while he sleeps. He was very scared.

You got good advice. We are not doctors, of course. The fullness sounds normal, mine was more in my chest for a long time...seemed like with the swelling I could never get the food straight into my stomach I guess it trickled in. The first time my sleeve was actually full it was like OHHHHH there it is. I'm not sure of the soreness. I don't recall having soreness that far out except if I over did it. But everyone heals differently. Plus I had the incision only at my belly button which probably makes a difference.

Welllll...the worst part for me was nausea but I was throwing up brown blood. I slacked off the nausea medication and let it roll...and once it was all out the nausea stopped. Other than that I think I was very typical recovery. I felt like the anesthesia was just too much for me - very groggy. Best thing is sleep it off. Your bowels may be asleep longer than the rest of you...but eventually they perk up. It was not painful exactly to me. It was a bit scarey, but not overwhelming. Just very different as I had not experienced general anesthesia before. You'll do great.

Sue You look so great, and you have a wonderful outlook. Congratulations on your success. Wondering how the road was for you - how long ago, when did you reach goal, etc.

Such great news!!! I wonder if it was there the whole time? Do you think something happened that made you leak so late or it just didn't heal right? I remember my first C-section I had a stable get twisted and it opened up within a few days. Could have been something like that.

You have done such a great job...look at you, almost there. I wish I could say it never happens to me, but it is just a battle. I wonder if we are self sabotaging like we don't deserve to lose these last few lbs? The reason I say that is i lost 2 lbs and ever since I find myself looking toward things I shouldn't have. I'm not at goal, but I act like I am. I sometimes succeed in spite of myself. I am so thankful for the restriction though. And for the fact that if I eat something like a Baby Ruth (did that) I feel sooooo sick like too much sugar/want to vomit. I can nibble, but not gorge on sweets. But I need to stop nibbling too!!! I'm not at goal.