michellemartin961

I'm having issues with soft foods at week 4 per my surgeon. Can't get more than 1oz in then it comes back up. Been trying the past 4 days so going back to liquids to give my stomach a rest per my discharge instructions if this happens. Don't be in too much of a hurry for solids, take it slow with maybe one soft food at a time. Some people don't have this problem and others do for longer periods. A friend told me his coworker took nearly 6 weeks before being able to do other than liquids without vomiting. Michelle

It is Water retention. I went in to surgery at 232 and the day I was discharged I was 244. Now 18 days later I'm at 221 so don't give up or feel bad....this is normal due to the IV fluids and the distention is from the gas to enlarge your abdominal cavity for ease of maneuvering the scope and tools to perform the surgery. Congratulations on your decision and WLS journey! Michelle

My daughter and sister (who is an RN) told me about a young woman from our hometown who died from complications of bariatric surgery 3 days after the procedure. My sister the RN advised was due to a blood clot. As an RN myself I know those risks. During my hospital stay I was given Lovenox to prevent clot formation and knew early and frequent walking reduces chances of blood blot formation and breaking loose. It is natural to worry as a parent or loved one. As another poster mentioned death related complications to the sleeve are rare and in most cases never arise. Being 241 at 21 with your experience of exercise lose weight, stop and gain back plus weight is something I'm familiar with. Do what is best for you and even bring your parents in to speak with your surgeon. He or she may be the perfect voice to minimize your parents anxiety and yours as well. Good luck in what ever decision you make! BTW....I had mine and the only regret is I waited until 53 to do it when I needed it in my 30's but of course Gastric Bypass was the only available bariatric surgery then and I didn't qualify because I didn't have BP or diabetic issues, just high cholesterol and asthma. Michelle

That may be the reason my doctor said 4 weeks no if, ands, or buts! My manager wanted me back the week after surgery because the unit had an unexpected shortage on night shift....my partner was out due to an MVC per her doctor's orders do that left day and evening shifts to cover. I had provided a solution when my doctor told me 4 weeks 2 weeks before my surgery but my manager dropped the ball then expected me to be "Johnny on the spot" and come in. My doctor was not happy and said unconditionally "No!" And writ a second excuse in case they tried to deviate from the FMLA paperwork she signed previously. Board, yes a little. Very tired though on some days to the point of napping like a baby while other days I have tons of energy! Still on full liquids until next week then it's soft food in week 4 post surgery per Dr. Camelo. Everyone is different and ultimately the PCP and or surgeon decides based on the individual. My PCP is not the generous type but neither is she too relaxed....she is straight forward and a "no holds barred" with her patients! LOVE her!!!!! Michelle

I'm the same date in Tijuana with Dr Garcia. Who's your surgean?I am with dr. Jesus Lopez. We will be flying in on Sunday from Texas.I will be flying in too from Louisville, Ky on the 14th too staying at the Marriott You will love the Marriott!!!!! We stayed there Feb 2014 when my daughter was sleeved by Dr. Cabero at Mi Doctore hospital. They have a wonderful restaurant downstairs that caters to bariatric patients and guests. It is very secure and not far from the hospital. This year I stayed at the Sage hotel on the 5th floor above florence Hospital and Dr. Camelo was my surgeon. Again, wonderful group of people!!!! Enjoyed the hospitality of Tijuana. A word of advice to interact with the hotel and hospital staff....be pleasant, smile and joke with them, and if comfortable leave your hospital room door open (encourages visits by the nurses and other patients). Both times we've been there this is how we were and the staff seemed to respond very positively to us! Of course this is how we are normally and some are not comfortable being so open....that's okay too. The nurses and doctors were fabulous! Good luck on your journey! Michelle

I don't really have a problem with who knows or not myself. I occasionally post status updates on FB for those able to see my posts. This is to encourage and show the ups and downs of my journey. A cousin was a bit of a wet blanket but even that has changed to encouragement. My daughter kind of freaked out that I was so "open" because she isn't herself. I know people judge. I also know some who want to do this but are afraid of the unknown do perhaps my openness can be a beacon? There is no right or wrong way to be....only what makes YOU comfortable! Best wishes! Michelle

Welcome to this site! I'm a newbie but did have my sleeve 5/26/15 so now on the other side of the journey ????. Yes there are some passionate people here but to everyone's credit the caring makes up for some of the stronger opinions and sometimes we need the kid gloves off to shake us out of the dumps ????. I too live in San Antonio. Your wife is doing what spouses do when facing a loved one's surgery. Keep including her in all discussions and encourage her questions for your surgeon and team. My family was and is very supportive and soon my sister will transition from the band to the sleeve herself! That will make my daughter, sister, and I being sleeved with an aunt banded. Family thing going on lol ????????. My gentleman friend has also been supportive and very helpful post surgery. His daughter had the sleeve last year. I also have a very good friend sleeved in 2013. That is the key to success....support! Best of luck! Michelle

Don't be discouraged from having the surgery based on some of the bad experiences found in the posts on this site. Everyone's journey is so very different! I have always done exceedingly well after surgery (c-section and gallbladder) so I though this would be a breeze too! Right after the surgery I was up and moving around pretty quickly. The day of discharge my daughter, friend, and I went shopping on Revolucion Street in Tijuana just as we did last year when my daughter had hers. I pooped out 4 stores later ????. Then the border crossing that Friday was delayed for 2 hours! No pain meds, stuck in the back of a 16 passenger van in the heat! Yup, you guessed it rough ride to San Diego Airport and even rougher ride home! I kept wondering why my experience was so much worse than my daughter's. Well she was 33 then and I am 53. The wonderful thing is that now it is getting better and I lost the 12 lbs of Fluid gain from the hospital and an additional 8 lbs as of Friday! Eating is different and I've tried things like hummus, scrambled eggs, deviled ham, and chicken salad perhaps a bit early but in small amounts ( 2-3 tablespoons at a time). I am using Fitness Pal to track my food which helps. What I am getting to is....make the decision that is right for YOU....not anyone else! Realize it isn't an easy thing but the benefits of utilizing every tool at your disposal, including this site as well as FB, family support, books, and recipes for bariatric weight loss are, in my opinion, crucial for success! Wishing you the best! Michelle

I use Fitness Pal too! It really helps keep track of carbs, protein, and fat consumption for me. I've been reading books on VSG as well as potential Carb grams, Fat grams, and Protein grams essential for healthy VSG patients. I try to get between 60-100 grams of protein, <30 grams of fat, and roughly 40-100 grams of good carbs for energy. I've set my goals in the app for 27g fat, 60g carbs, and 80g protein daily for roughly 803 calories daily. I usually don't make the full 803 calories but try to make 40 plus grams of protein with the addition of an unflavored Protein powder to some foods. That's just what I'm doing. Everyone is different. Good luck! Michelle

I am an RN too but my job is a desk job....still my PCP ordered 4 weeks post op recovery. I was sleeved 5/26/15 and won't be released to return to work until 6/23/15. Your doctor should tell you as being a floor nurse is much more demanding with 12 hour shifts. Good luck with your new stomach and journey! Michelle

My daughter told me the same thing that a straw puts too much air in and prevents enough nutrition in. I haven't checked in in a while but I'm on Full Liquids now. I feel good most days but poop out quickly. My PCP put me off work for weeks to rest and heal. Some fluids go down ok and others do not but it changes day to day ????????. I move on to puréed foods next week though I can have plain hummus now with no ill effects. Protein is my problem....I'm not getting enough as I can do a protein shake occasionally but other times it comes back up. May be due to thickness but not sure. Still eat sugar free Jello and sugar free pudding cups as well as sugar free Popsicles. Trying to get in 64 oz of Water but some days it only comes up to 32 oz. No cravings for pre surgical food but do have recipes for when I'm at that stage which are high protein low fat and yummy. My HW 250, SW 232, PSW 244, CW 226.

My daughter had her sleeve 2/25/14 and has helped me to understand that what you are going through is normal. It's much like the 5 stages of grief and should pass over time. She did so well with her surgery and postoperative I thought I would too but the truth is mine was different and is a bit of a challenge though my sleeve was 5/26/15. I see food commercials and they gross me out! I'm on the full liquid stage and one day I can have something then throw it up the next. My daughter encourages me to not give in to depression and "this too shall pass." Eating a "normal size portion" is a misconception and part of brain hunger. Soon you will eat more than 3 bites but with that you will need to be careful to not overeat because of brain hunger which stretches your new little stomach out. I won't take a moral high ground attitude but I will encourage you to keep a diary of your feelings and explore why food means so much to you. That might indicate areas of emotional eating and hunger rather than eating because you are truly hungry....rumbling stomach and all ????????. Read up on gastric surgery, join a Facebook bariatric support group or one in your local area, purchase bariatric weight loss recipe books (Amazon has several including Kindle versions), and know you are not alone and this is a normal reaction which should get better with time. Michelle

linzdiane try Jay Robb Protein found at HEB....so far it tastes pretty decent and comes in vanilla or chocolate egg protein or whey protein. Michelle

I have been home since Friday. The trip across the border was 2 hours long due to a secondary search. Plane ride home was awful but I'm so much better today! I tried the Protein shake today too...so far so good....That makes 32oz Water, 60 oz broth, 1 Jello cup, 1oz Protein Shake plus 1 chewable Multivitamin....sipping each like it's too hot to take a regular drink lol ????. That seems to help. I also flavor my water with Crystal Light or Dasani flavors....makes it easier. Pain is tolerable, no longer having headaches, and the dry heaving stopped! Only had 2 bad days so far...the 28th and 29th. I'm glad everyone made it to this side of surgery and rooting for those who have yet to get there! Michelle

Ok I got done and back in my room around 11:00 this morning. Had some nausea and vomiting upon waking up but gone now. I've been up and walking twice so far. I feel really good. I wanted to wish everyone belated good luck!!!! I hope each of you comes out of recovery doing well and comfortable. Not hungry but my mouth feels like cotton due to dryness. No real pain just sore. Throat rough due to intubation but even that is more nuisance than any real pain. How is everyone else doing? Michelle

May 26th in Tijuana Mexico at Florence Hospital! My daughter had hers 2/28/14 in Tijuana at Mi Doctore Hospital.

Hi there....I am a bit nervous the closer I get too. I worked Saturday night and all I wanted to do was sleep lol...liquid diet messing with my energy levels ????. As for the hibiclens I think you do it the day before but no later than the morning of the surgery. It works for up to 24 hours. I'm a former ER nurse but I seem to remember this from my OR rotation. I also checked the website just to make sure. Hope all goes well with my fellow 5/26/15 sleevers! ???????? Michelle

I'm playing around with different brands but I've really enjoyed the whey Isolate Protein found at WalMart for around $20. I'm doing Greek yogurt for the high protein content in plain or vanilla....watch the sugar, keep it under 7 grams for sure and 4 grams if possible. V8 Energy drinks are good for after according to my daughter but again read the labels. Adkins shakes are a great on the go source but I find I need them chilled ????. Went to the movies Saturday night and I'm so proud of myself for not caving and grabbing handfuls of buttered popcorn from my boyfriend....not one bite....yay me????????. Creamed soup also allowed until Wed 21st then yogurt or sugar free pudding the only yummy Snacks allowed up to the day before surgery. Oh and V8 low sodium great for the veggie juice! It is hard but I keep telling myself this will be my life after surgery (for several weeks anyway) so the more conscious I am now of what passes my lips the better my success! Yup juicy cheeseburgers have haunted my thoughts passing Whataburger or Wendy's and Mexican food is not far behind but that is what got me here in the first place ????. 9 days and I will flip from preop to postop....I can't wait until the 26th!!!! Michelle

Lol just going to the grocery store the other day was a test of my willpower! I forced myself to walk past ice cream and chocolate (my weaknesses) but I did it and only got the items I need for preop and postop. My boyfriend brought over a Reuben last night with fries because he forgot my liquid diet started but I didn't touch it thank goodness. This is hard but even if you cheated getting back on track is the most important thing! As many others have said in posts....this is not easy by any means and takes a great deal of work! Keep on going and now you are postop hopefully you will find it somewhat easier to stay focused. ????????????

I'm 53 and my sleeve will be May 26th in Tijuana. I live in San Antonio. My daughter is 1 year post op sleeve and my best friend is going on 2 years post op sleeve so feel very confident! We can do this????????????!!! Good luck to each of you fellow sleevers! Michelle

I forgot to add my doctor in Tijuana is Dr. Carmelo Ramos. I am a nurse too. My daughter had her sleeve 2/25/14 in Tijuana with Dr. Cortez and it went very well. That is why I am going there for mine. Most of the nurses and the doctors and PA's speak English so this year my friend is going to support me and wait with my daughter. We had a great time....the people are so kind and courteous!!!! My email is michellemartin61@hotmail.com to join FB.

My surgery date is May 26th. I'm starting the 3rd phase of dieting. Had 30 days liver shrinking and 10 days of semi-solid. Now I'm on 5 days if Liquid Diet #1 and then the final 5 days of Liquid Diet #2. I'm so ready for this! I'm having mine done in Tijuana as my insurance doesn't cover any bariatric surgery. Just had my preop clearance from my PCP so everything is a go....now the countdown begins!????????????. Good luck all May sleevers and future ones as well!!!!!