BarrySue

Doctors can often accept payments. However, the hospital itself will pretty much always require payment in full before ANY services are rendered. Sorry!

Ugh, that is AWFUL! I'm so sorry. I know the doctor simply did what he thought was best, but it's like "LET'S GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD, BUCKO!"

Several of my friends have gone through the procedure, and all of them were incredibly disappointed by the results. One of them suffered extreme pain. But if you have friends and personally know patients of a doctor who has had more success, that's wonderful.

Sure, you can simply not eat, and eventually the weight will come off. However, if you decide starving yourself for the sake of a pushy boyfriend works faster than the diet plan proposed by your doctor, nutritionist, nurses, and medical team (you know, those folks who do this for a living and spend countless years in school, training, and field experience), expect to enjoy the following along with a dip on your scale: Thin, dull, lifeless hair weight lost from your muscles, the things that keep you toned/firm rather than simply your waistline diarrhea anemia weakness/fatigue depression/apathy bad/blotchy/rash-covered skin that loses it's healthy color loose teeth abnormal menstruation circles under your eyes deficiency of potassium and Calcium, the electrolytes responsible for muscle function and HEART FUNCTION Loss of ability to recognize dehydration and hunger This is not what you want. If you are starving yourself because some guy wants you smaller, you need to seriously step back and re-evaluate your life. If you had a daughter or best friend who was doing the same thing even if it wasn't for a man, what would you tell her? To knock it off and do it the healthy way (which is also the way that produces the best results). Don't go for short-term results at the expense of serious long term problems.

I was stuck at a conference and had some potatoes au gratin at 18 days out. It was delicious and caused little to no discomfort! But other than that, I *never* try them. Starchy white stuff not only stops me from losing, but it's a real trigger food for me.

I'm six weeks out and should be near the end of soft food, almost able to start eating normally again--but I hate everything. Either it makes me sick or I just have no desire to eat at all. Protein shakes give me dumping syndrome. I hate greek yogurt. I was over cottage cheese after two days. I never want to see soup again for as long as I live. Everything makes me feel uncomfortable and bloated. Forgive me for sounding like the spokesperson for Fairlife milk, but Fairlife Milk is the only reason I haven't died of starvation! It's ultra-filtered, so lactose and most other sugars are gone, and it's got extra protein and Calcium. I drink that with a variety of sugar free/diet flavors (strawberry, chocolate, PB2, diet hot cocoa), and munch low-fat cheese or occasionally a frozen yogurt bar. Some people just tolerate different things. My sleeve just happens to be a crybaby about everything, but it'll get better. Yours will too. Just keep experimenting with different foods so you find a way to get your protein.

I had the same problem after surgery! I suffered from lactose intolerance as a kid, and it came back full force after my surgery. Every Protein drink/powder seemed to make me nauseous, and anything with lactose gave me dumping syndrome. I use "Fairlife Milk." It is an ultra-filtered milk that removes lactose AND most excess sugar. Then, it is fortified with additional protein and Calcium. A protein shake netted me 30g of protein, but with fairlife I could still get to 18g with the same amount, so it helped me get closer to my protein goal. Best part is, I can add a little PB2, sugar free strawberry syrup, sugar free chocolate syrup, or diet hot cocoa mix depending on how I feel. I'll be six weeks out tomorrow, and it's still my main source of protein.

Haha, I'm a couple of pounds away from JOINING the 200 club, and I'll be happy when I finally do. Great job on your progress! That is a fantastic milestone!

Expect varying levels of pain, and poor results. It's like stretch marks: varicose veins are simply a part of your body and it is extremely difficult to mask their appearance even with surgery. Sometimes it is easier to wear thicker dancer tights instead of pantyhose, and learn to deal with it.

Under the FMLA, they cannot legally fire you for missing six weeks of work.

I usually deal with discomfort/pressure/pain for 20-30 minutes after eating something my finicky, picky, annoying sleeve doesn't like (which is like, every food I try to eat). Tunafish was one of those "safe" foods I've loved my whole life, but I can't eat it now because it also gives me trouble.

Nurse here, a few tips: 1. Don't use hydrogen peroxide! It can cause further tissue damage! 2. If it is the incision your drain came out of, it may have slight yellow/red drainage that is not the result of infection. Look for other signs (is the area swollen, a deeper/broader red than your other wounds, does it smell, does it look like Fluid is accumulating under the skin? Do you have a fever, chills, or any other sign of an infection?) 3. Use mild unscented soap and Water to clean the wound, unless your doctor prescribes something specifically for you 4. Keep it dry! Put a clean piece of gauze over it to keep moisture and sweat from accumulating. If your breast lies directly over the sight, it is especially important to keep the wound dry as there is a stronger chance of microbe buildup. 5. All of this is simply advice and should be secondary to calling your surgeon first and foremost.

Honestly, this is not a question you can have the answer to until after your surgery. Some people heal faster, some people feel more soreness, some people have complications, some people are jogging at two weeks (yipe, I wouldn't risk that). My recommendation would be to take six weeks off, and let your employer know there is a chance you may be cleared to return earlier. If you feel better and a doc agrees, you can always go back sooner. As a former waitress, I probably would've had to wait longer to go back to serving than I did at my current job. I think about squatting to pick up glass racks or sweeping under a table and it makes me stomach hurt!

Mine goes down to the upper 40's when I'm on pain meds and sleepy. It's fine. Hell, there are some athletes and super healthy people that will breathe 6-8 breaths a minute because their bodies are simply that efficient.

Gherlin is the hunger hormone, but also not the primary reason we overeat to the point that our BMIs are insanely high. They can remove the hormone producing parts of your stomach, but they cannot cure "head hunger," the compulsive, nagging, twitchy part of you that has you walking to the fridge constantly and opening it, or craving something sweet/salty to distract you. The psychological aspects cannot be healed by any surgery.

My doctor ALWAYS recommends the most expensive option first. He's pushing the 40k duodenal switch, then tries to negotiate bypass at 30k, then grudgingly agrees to do the sleeve (he does not perform lap-band). He does this with everyone starting at the information session regardless of BMI, co-morbidities, age, or any other factors. The cynic in me says it's a money thing, but he always shows the numbers where the more extreme the procedure, the greater the weight loss is (although sometimes not by much). Just try to remember that doctors see statistics, not necessarily individuals. *You* know yourself, and you have to do the research and figure out what is best for you. I personally did not want the nutritional deficiencies, and since I'm young, have no problems with mobility, and don't have any co-morbidities, I went with the sleeve anyhow. And I'm VERY happy with that decision.

If you tell one person, you risk everyone knowing. I would tell NO ONE at work. They aren't entitled to know why you need time off, and if you inform one co-worker, everyone will be privy to the information. Also, because nothing is guaranteed and the situation can change on a time, I would avoid telling anyone until the surgery date is set in stone.

banana, Soup, low-fat cheese, couple ounces of no-bean chili mixed with a bit of low-fat cheddar, few slices of lean deli meat, and fairlife milk either hot with sugar-free cocoa mix or cold with sugarfree strawberry syrup. Those are the only things I've had over the past month that didn't make me feel sick or doubled over in pain. Even yogurt became really off-putting to me (everything is suddenly too sweet!) Protein shakes make me ill. Even my pain meds make me ill. My sleeve hates almost everything, lol. Down 43 lbs, but it's pretty miserable not being able to eat anything. I think I'll feel better when I start work and school again (three more days, Jesus!)

I had pizza last night and was so surprised and scared that I didn't feel full off of one slice. I stopped after that one though. Did you feel full from 2 slices? Pizza is my favorite food. I couldn't get through half a slice of thin crust. It was so disappointing!

I will be a month post-op on Tuesday, down 43 lbs. My tastes have changed quite a bit, basically limited to three or four things like don't gross me out or cause me pressure/pain. I'm having trouble getting above 500 calories per day because of it. Ugh, can't wait for my sleeve to heal more so I can tolerate meat!

As a nurse, I can tell you that having a BM every 2-3 days is within normal limits. In fact, believing that you need to pass stool every day is what leads many people to laxative abuse. Additionally, given the extremely restrictive diet and consuming liquids, this is fine. Unless you actively feel constipation and colonic pressure and need to poop but can't, it is acceptable.

That's why we're preaching Fairlife! It's ultra-filtered to remove sugars and lactose, and it packs 14g of protein and 1/3 of daily calcium in ONE cup. For me, someone who can be sensitive to higher amounts of lactose, it's a godsend. Almond milk had more carbs and less protein for me. How you manage to find so much success as vegan is AMAZING. It's hard enough as a carnivore trying to cobble a decent diet together!

Some places apparently have an 11oz size, but I've never seen it at my local shops. Glad to know it doesn't last well. The expiration date on mine is way off, but I'm about to leave town and won't crack open a new one just in case!

It may depend on your region, but it is sold at most grocery stores and as well as places like target and walmart.

Fairlife milk with sugarfree strawberry or chocolate syrup. Or served hot with diet cocoa mix. I am seriously starting to feel like a Fairlife salesperson, lol. Beyond that, I mostly just do water.