RaginCajun

You ladies look awesome! There are some fellas out there who better raise their game to treat you right -RC-

Eating a high Protein / low carb / low sugar diet is essentially the Atkins diet. When your carb intake is reduced to about 50 or less per day, you body will go into a state of Ketosis. This is a VERY GOOD thing, because your body will burn fat for fuel and you will lose weight. Combined with caloric diet < 700 per day during first year, and your body should stay in a constant state of Ketosis. This results in a sense of feeling a constant level of high energy and also that you may not need as much sleep. The net result is that you will wake up after short periods of sleep and your body may be fully rested. As always, this is highly dependent on the person and how their body reacts to the diet and the low caloric intake each day. The proof point of this is when you eat a heavy meal with lots of starch and carbs, you want to do what: SLEEP!!! -RC-

You can probably tell that it REALLY DEPENDS! For me, I had no pain and no discomfort and was working (albeit at home) 3 days after surgery. Could easily move around, walk up stairs, drink liquids, and was eating soft foods at DAY 8 post op. You might ask your surgeon if he has any prediction for someone of your size and shape and body anatomy, as to how you might fair - recovery wise. However, I suspect that the answer will be 'it depends and we really cannot predict'. My Doc - a good one with lots of experience and does 300+ WLS a year - told me that his patient outcomes were about 50/50. 50% had no pain, no discomfort, no problems with drinking or eating post-op, and recovered quickly going back to work no more than one week post-op. The other 50% had any number of issues AT FIRST. But in all cases, over time, things stabilized. It may simply be a toss-up and its not possible to predict. Good luck, hoping you are in the lucky 50% bucket -RC-

As a 15+ year veteran of using CPAP, I would recommend Philips Respironics WISP >>> it is the newest and best out there. The problem with masks and cushions is that you can't really try them. You have to purchase it and try it. The WISP is very comfortable, using soft headgear, a frame for the face, and then the cushion itself. Make sure you get the FABRIC FRAME. My insurance plan allows for: New headgear every six months; New frame every three months, New cushion 2x every month. So, I am getting a new cushion for the nose every 2 weeks, and that means no weakening or leaks. Of course, as the insurance goes, YMMV. As for the CPAP machine itself, newer models can be an AUTOSET machine, which will vary the CPAP pressure based upon what your actual breathing is during the night. It is set up with a small pressure at power on, and then adjusts the pressure as you need. AUTOSET machines are a great CPAP solution for WLS patients, because over time the weight loss will certainly have a positive result in reducing (possibly eventually eliminating) the CPAP pressure need. -RC-

Thats why WLS makes one an immediate member of 'Constipation Nation' -RC-

If you are talking about steamed shrimp dumplings as in Chinese dim sum, yes I eat those and have no problem. The wrappers do have carbs but the ones that come with dim sum are very thin. The ones that are fried dumplings or have the thick outer wrapper, would be very bad since they are loaded with carbs. Plus, since the rapper is very sick, may be hard to digest. -RC-

Amen to that!

My understanding on diet soda, is that the carbonation can create gas and that most contain caffeine which which is an appetite stimulant. Not so much about the potential to stretch the sleeve. -RC-

See post in General Sleeve Forum.

I was told that the actual VSG surgery is approx. 1 hour. If hernia repair is required add 30 mins. Recovery is 1 hour. If you use CPAP, they may add an hour (depends on your breathing and O2 levels). So, from when you are taken to the OR, from when your family can see you varies between 2 hours and 3-4 hours. -RC-

Speaking from the vantage point of an elder sleever (55+) ... I think the key consideration is that one can simply not hold as much when eating. By that I mean after a lifetime of being heavy and yo-yo results (I personally have lost and gained back the equivalent weight of several small people) its the consummate solution. In the past, I would simply eat every meal as a giant meal. Buffets, eating out, fast food, heavy calorie deserts (think DQ) ... etc. But now, its simply a physical barrier to 'pigging out'. Mentally, I think those of us on the north side of 55 may have a greater capability of not experiencing mental hunger (or keeping it at bay). Simply because we are so so tired of being obese. So, the end result of VSG is simple ... we now have a physical throttle to simply force us to stop eating after a small quantity. To be fair, I am only a couple of months post-op, so perhaps that skews my perspective at this early juncture. I don't anticipate longer-term issues with grazing, and even if I am tempted to snack on something bad down the road, it is simply a physical limitation. Great question, anxious to hear what others think. -RC-

Congrats on hitting your target (whats a few days among friends). Don't worry about the cost of the shoes, just consider it an 'offset' for all the money you are saving on food! -RC-

I found that mixing Premier Protein chocolate and vanilla 50/50 makes it taste close to chocolate milk. I start every day with that as my morning Breakfast 8 ounces. One hour before bedtime, I make a mixture of three-quarter cup skim milk with 1/4 cup low-fat chocolate milk. Helps to settle my sleeved stomach before sleep. Combined counts as 16 ounces of Fluid intake, so I drink 48 ounces of H20 during the day to get my total 64 ounces of liquid in each day. -RC-

Just stay away from the FriendZone ... recently heard it referred to as 'Palcatraz' -RC-

Honey Maid Grahamfuls Choco & Peanut Butter 100% Whole Grain Per Pack 120 cals 5 fat grams 17 carbs 2 Protein grams Great for when most of your eating day has been protein-based. -RC-

Very common, most ins pays if they are paying for the WPS. -RC-

Crazzee - I have similar experience as you. I have not had a lot of restriction and have been able to eat more than I expected. Could immediately drink large swallows 2 days after getting sleeved. Had no problems with eating a scrambled egg on Day 7 post-op. Was put on soft foods at that same time (my NUT does the 'egg test' and releases sleever to soft foods if they can eat an egg within 20 mins). Was able to eat shellfish after 2 weeks. No problems with anything. Upon discussing this with NUT, I was advised to just set a timer for 30 mins, and stop eating after that. Since, I have started to notice a sensation of needing to slow down after eating about 4 oz of food, so it became a little more apparent of when my new sleeve was telling me 'stop, your full'. Given some of the stories we read here about folks who can barely drink or eat, I think we are blessed to have no issues. My working theory is that folks who had an 'Iron stomach' before sleeve, may have less issues. Or, maybe its the length of the stomach, or maybe the Doc leaves a little more stomach in some than others. -RC-

Don't give STUPID PEOPLE the power to make you miserable! -RC-

Very cool site for the BMI Visualizer, thanks for sharing!!! -RC-

I think anyone who thinks this is the 'Easy Way Out' doesn't have a clue: 1) It aint easy (or cheap) 2) Its permanent and not reversible 3) There are many physical challenges involved (WLS universe could be named 'Constipation Nation') 4) Most of us had previously either been heavy life-long or had lost/gained-back weight equivalent to many small people during our lifetime 5) Most of the folks saying this are any of: 1) Skinny; 2) Average; 3) Heavy and want to justify. So, just 'Keep Calm and Ignore Fools' -RC-

For me, there were no issues with liquids or food post-op. I had little restriction and could easily drink/swallow immediately post-op. Further, my program moved me to soft foods at 1 week post-op. At 5 weeks post-op, I am now easily to eat 4 oz (or more) each meal. BUT ... I do have, every now and then, a feeling of regret about not being able to eat a large meal (say going to Outback and having Bloomin' Onion, Bread, salad, Rib-eye, backed potato, 3-4 glasses of sweet tea). BUT ... once I start eating, I immediately recognize that I could NEVER eat that much even if I tried, and then immediately feel so gratified with my choice. -RC-

That I want to live a longer life - more than I want that next big meal -RC-

Re weight loss ... You didn't reveal if you had a 2 week pre-op liquid diet, which is important to understand what your EBW (Extra Body Weight) goals should be, post-op. Also, most programs will give you a chart of what the EBW loss by percentage should be at 1 month post-op, 3 month post-op, 6 month post-op, and 1 yr post-op. Did you get that? If so, how are you tracking against those goals? Re eating ... I am approx. at same point you are, 4-5 weeks post-op. Also have been given guidance to eat about 4 oz. For me, I have little restriction and don't get to point of spitting/throwing up if I keep eating. So, I could keep eating beyond the 4 oz. and not have any discomfort. When discussing with NUT, I was told to eat for 30 mins (set a timer) and then stop. Small bites, chew well, no liquids, etc. as we all know. Also have been told to keep calories between 500-700 and to keep carbs < 60 per day. Connecting the dots ... At this point in VSG journey, you are in the critical period of time (first year) where the chemical that makes you feel hungry is not present (grhelin). So, you can eat as little as you want, your body will not feel physical hunger. If you eat more than you need (60-80 grams of Protein per day, 500-700 cals) you are only reducing your weight loss opportunity. So, eat what you need, not as much as you can hold ... to maximize your weight loss potential Cheers! -RC-

Doesn't sound wise to have a non-standard procedure in a foreign country. Playing with fire, perhaps. -RC-

Now thats impressive!!!