Clementine Sky

A belated thanks for your encouragement!!!! I continued to procrastinate getting back onto track with healthy eating ---- insert half a dozen excuses here ---- but decided today is the day. I'd stayed on course for four years and then got derailed. I think logging back on here, following the Instagrammers who have healthy menu prep photos for inspiration / ideas will help with the process.

Hi! This is my first time logging on in 2020. I definitely am very grateful to have had the VSG, in August of 2015. I was miserable and just receding from life. I reached my goal weight in 2016, and then my dream weight in 2017 - the lowest I'd been since I was 14. I perhaps got too thin, down to a size XS / 2, and I'm tall. But I felt amazing and began receiving compliments from strangers and friends alike on looking beautiful, and I felt beautiful. Unfortunately I regained some weight in 2019 after some dental disasters (I have several baby teeth that lack permanent roots, so they need to all be pulled and replaced with implants) required that I eat nothing but soft food. And then I regained again in 2020 after experimenting with fertility treatments (which weren't successful, sadly) and falling back into depression. I've gained a few more while quarantining since March. Grocery shopping became one of the few out of the house activities after we transitioned to working online, and I slipped into past habits of eating for joy and out of boredom. My BMI is currently 26, so I'm not too far out from being in a healthy weight range again. I just want to get back on track and prevent continuing regain. I started tracking my food again on MyFitnessPal, and cleaned out the kitchen of temptations. I am hiking more often and going for scenic drives when I'm feeling restless to get out of the house. I returned here for motivation / camaraderie. I hope you are all doing well!

Hi everyone! I am a bit of an oddity because I am in my 30s but still have six baby teeth that lack permanent roots. They'd been in remarkably fine condition, functioning well, until I used a Waterpik on too high of a setting and it broke a tooth. Then the tooth beside it decided to call it quits shortly afterwards, probably because I'd been using the Waterpik in between those two teeth (I was not using fire hose strength but the dentist said even a bit too much pressure can be enough with baby teeth since they are more fragile). I need to have those two teeth replaced with implants immediately, and it's recommended that I have the baby teeth on the other side of my mouth crowned. I have dental insurance, but have been denied coverage for the implants because it is their policy to not pay for them on baby teeth, even though my situation is incomparable to a child's who can expect to have permanent teeth grow in. They will only cover the cost of extractions, which is not feasible since these are two teeth towards the front of my mouth. The gaps would be hugely noticeable and would ruin the alignment of my other teeth. I've been to two dentists locally, and they both said it would be more than $3000 per tooth. Insurance will only cover a small portion of the crowns. I had gastric sleeve surgery in Tijuana in 2015, and the experience was as positive as possible. I live in LA, so it was simple to go down, and they offered far more scheduling flexibility than local surgeons. It was also a fraction of the cost, $4200 vs the $30,000 I'd been quoted by local surgeons (insurance would not pay because my BMI was "low"). I had no complications, and I exceeded my goal weight, and had maintained that loss for more than three years. I've only recently regained a bit of weight because I'm only eating soft foods, which tend to be higher in carbs. The point being, going to Tijuana worked perfectly for me! That decision transformed my life. I'm now contemplating going there for the dental work, but I'm actually feeling more nervous about that than I was with the surgery. For one, I can't find as much reliable information. Many sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor have fake reviews, despite their filters to block that out. I feel like this forum and other ones like it were really valuable to me (thank you!) because they're private and do not draw in quite as many people trying to market their business in a sly way (fake posts / reviews vs. clear advertisements), so I could get honest feedback from real patients. I thought it might be worth asking here if by chance anyone had also gotten dental work in Mexico. I'd be incredibly grateful for any recommendations anyone may have for dentists there. I hope you are all doing well!

It's so encouraging to read that you've already lost 8 pounds! Congratulations! This year has also been very challenging for me - our house was damaged in a fire in California, and my parents' house damaged in a hurricane in Florida, plus massive dental issues making it so that I can only eat soft food. It's so hard to stay on track with eating when your life has been derailed. But you're back on track! I don't know how much I've regained because I haven't gotten back onto the scale, but I can't fit into the tiny jeans I very comfortably wore last summer. I should eat more beans since they are soft and high in protein. Could you please share a link to some of your favorite recipes?

Hi, thread connects to the one I just created asking whether anyone who had gone to Mexico for WLS had also gotten dental work there. I have several baby teeth that lack permanent roots and have become problematic recently. I currently have temporary fillings in teeth that need to have expensive and time-intensive implants ($3000 per tooth), and was advised to avoid chewing with them. That is really difficult because the teeth are located on both sides of my mouth. I've been eating more soft foods and liquids lately, but that has caused weight gain since the food tends to be higher in carbs. I lost weight following having the VSG at quite a slow pace, and I think this helped my body to adapt. It had been relatively simple to keep the weight off. I haven't had much of a yo-yo until recently. Last summer I lost a bit too much weight while in Africa, getting down a size 0. I gained weight when I returned to the US, which was positive. I got back to the weight I'd been maintaining. Lately I've been gaining weight much more rapidly because I'm taking a medicine that has a side effect of stimulating my appetite (for an unrelated health issue to weight and my teeth) and have been eating a lot more soft food that is high in carbs. Soft bread and muffins, pasta, mashed potatoes. I'm considering going back on a liquid / soft food diet that is similar to what I followed post-surgery, but not as extreme. I typically eat a lower carb, high protein diet, and that has not been as feasible with the dental situation. I was wondering if anyone has tips on soft foods and liquids to have that are reasonably nutritious and can help me to lose the weight I've gained recently, while not causing a dramatic loss like a diet consisting of protein shakes and smoothies would. I know this is a bit of an odd question, but would appreciate any help anyone could give me.

Oh gosh, please don't be. I hadn't realized that it was exclusively for "veterans." You were so sweet and helpful to me! Thank you!

I'm sorry you've been afflicted with chronic hives! It's conceivable they are due to a hypersensitivity to the staples, though it is more likely merely a case of correlation rather than causation. https://www.elynsgroup.com/article/titanium-staples-allergy-in-a-middle-aged-female-patient Have any of the tests specifically been for metals? If you're taking any vitamins or prescription medications have you been tested to see if you have any sensitives to any of the ingredients in them? Even if they had not previously been problematic it's possible to develop issues over time. Pain medications in particular can cause hives. Insects and parasites can as well, and they can be difficult to detect. You can also develop food allergies with time. Following the surgery, you probably would have changed your diet quite dramatically.

I'm sorry your husband isn't being supportive. It's a decision you have to make about your body, for the betterment of your life, but naturally you want your life partner to be at your side encouraging you rather than discouraging. My husband was initially opposed to the surgery, incredulous that I even wanted it. I looked on PubMed, which is a database of medical research, and found studies about bariatric surgery - its safety and efficacy, how those who had it were substantially more likely to keep their weight off, and ones specific to women with my own health issues (PCOS and hypothyroidism) having it. This was significant to having him change his mind because it wasn't just my words, my emotions, but facts before him. I think you should pursue the surgery if you truly believe will better your life. I definitely count the surgery as being the best medical decision I ever made. It's transformed my life. I would continue to try to get your husband on board. The surgery is challenging physically and emotionally for the first month or two out. I had no complications and didn't have to follow a strict pre-op diet, so I had easier than many, but there were still struggles. I think while in that vulnerable state having to deal with any marital issues would have been really hard. Some things that helped in my situation were - - The money for the surgery did not come from our joint funds. I was self-pay to Mexico patient since my insurance wouldn't cover it, and so it was a lot more affordable and easier to take on the expenses without his contributions. I was the one who assured him of this. - Planning. In our household, my husband and I divide up the chores / tasks pretty evenly. We both are young professionals who come home wanting to get the chores out of the way as fast as possible, and relax. By choice I do more things like laundry, vacuuming, grocery shopping, and he does the yard work and takes care of the cars getting washed. I didn't want him to have to do all of my tasks while I was recovering. I cleaned the house top to bottom prior to surgery, and arranged for house cleaners to come in once a week for the month following the surgery. I used a grocery delivery service, and made the point of getting things that he likes even though I couldn't eat them. There was little inconvenience for him. - I understood that I was the one having surgery, and taking on the changes it required like the post-op diet. I never made him feel like he couldn't have whatever he wanted to eat for dinner, or keep foods that would be tempting to me out of the house. He was good about being considerate, but I think him knowing that he wasn't encumbered by my surgery helped him to not feel resentful of it. Best wishes to you. I hope your husband gets on board, and you have the surgery and fantastic results from it. I have never for a second regretted my surgery. I'm three years out, have maintained my goal within a small fluctuation zone for two years, and feel more vibrant and healthy now than I did as a teen.

How did it go? How are you feeling now? Best wishes to you.

Wow! Congratulations on your success! The backdrop of the second picture is stunning!!

I'll be three years out from having the VSG next month. I just popped back on here because I wanted to find a banana "pancake" recipe someone shared a year ago (it's just 1 banana mashed with two eggs and cooked on a griddle, haha) and I never tried because I've been avoiding bananas until recently. I like seeing familiar faces here like Kathy's!

I logged back on here just to find the simple banana "pancake" recipe to try out tomorrow! Since the thread is over a year old the OP might not see this, but if she does I'm curious as to whether she eats them plain or adds any butter or syrup on top.

I'm curious about whether you have any experience with taking Metformin? I am not diabetic, but have PCOS and it has been helpful in this respect but problematic in others. I first started taking it in November 2016, after having reached my goal weight in August of that year. I had the VSG in August of 2015. At first I lost eight pounds on Metformin, in part because of the nausea it caused. Then my weight and appetite remained stable for most of 2017 until traveling abroad actually helped me to reach my "dream" goal in December. In January of this year my endocrinologist increased my dosage to 1500 MG a day, and I suddenly would have these tremendous surges in appetite and feel ravenous. I'd shake until I ate something with carbs. I've gained 10 pounds this year. When I told my endocrinologist in April about the weight gain, he wasn't surprised even though most lose weight on it. He said it can cause hypoglycemia and excessive hunger. I've made sure to stock up on healthier snacks so I can grab one and not eat something else in desperation, but am still frustrated. What snacks do you eat to keep your blood sugar levels in check?

Does anyone have any experience with the plastic surgeons at CER Clinic in Tijuana? That's where I had my VSG and had a throughly positive experience, so I'm considering returning to one of the plastic surgeons. I've been fortunate in regards to not having any loose skin, but I am considering plastics to remove breast implants I've regretted ever since getting them at age 18. Since becoming slimmer it's made them more prominent, disproportionally large for my frame, and are now sagging a little due to the weight loss. I am also going to look into local surgeons but since I'm in LA they tend to be pricy, and Mexico is a very easy drive.

I had the VSG in August of 2015, reached my initial goal precisely one year later, and then maintained that for a year. I was very active traveling last summer and through the fall, and in December 2017 I hit the lowest weight I've been since the 8th grade. I was overjoyed. This year I've gained 11 pounds. It's been very frustrating and was bewildering at first. I take Metformin for PCOS and Wellbutrin due to depression regarding fertility issues, and both medications typically cause weight loss. Both can actually cause weight gain, though. I hadn't realized that when my endocrinologist increased my Metformin dosage in January. I soon became frequently ravenous, with a tremendous surge in appetite and shakiness coming on rapidly. I thought I needed to just acclimate to the medicine and so I stuck with it, but the hunger and shaking haven't abated. When I saw him again in April and mentioned the weight gain and hunger, he was nonchalant, absolutely unsurprised by it, saying that it can cause hypoglycemia and excessive hunger. He also said that Wellbutrin can cause weight gain in some people. Yet, when I asked him about both medications prior to taking them he said that I wouldn't gain weight, so..... He didn't seem to think the weight gain was a reason to be concerned because I'm still at a healthy BMI, but for me it's worrisome because it can escalate. I don't want to stop either medication because they have been helpful in other regards. I would definitely encourage anyone who is experiencing weight gain to not make the mistake I did by failing to properly and thoroughly read about all side effects of medications. Reading patient reviews carefully has also been helpful.

It sounds counterintuitive, but increasing your caloric intake with healthy choices can help to break a stall. I saw weight loss again after adding in an afternoon smoothie made with protein powder or high-protein yogurt like Fage. Your body needs to have a sufficient amount of calories to function properly. The stall is sort of like your body's way of taking a break after running a marathon. Try to be patient and keep the faith. Almost everyone has the "dreaded three week stall." For some it's very brief, and for others it lasts a month. Most of us do then resume weight loss.

I live in LA and would enjoy meeting up! I had the VSG in August of 2015.

I had tiny, itchy red bumps post-op that were due to the surgical tape. I carefully removed it and replaced it with bandages, and that alleviated the itchiness. I'd contact your surgical team to be safe.

My BMI was 32 when I had the VSG in August of 2015. I do have PCOS and hypothyroidism, but neither would have counted as co-morbidities in regards to my insurance, so I would have had to gain a substantial amount to be approved for any coverage. The least expensive surgeon in my area (Los Angeles) quoted a total cost of $29,000, and the others I consulted would have cost even more. Instead I went down to Tijuana and had the surgery with a reputable surgeon at a new, clean facility for $4200, which included two nights at the Marriott. I had a very positive experience, with no complications or concerns, and have exceeded my expectations. I lost 86 pounds. I've gained back seven pounds in the past year, but that was directly aligned with having changed medication dosages. I still have the restriction, and am still happy every day with the decision to have the surgery. Obviously anyone considering going to Mexico would need to do diligent research on their surgeon (mine was Dr. Fernando Garcia), and be willing to self-educate since you won't attend classes, but for me it was wonderful. A bonus was that I was able to choose the exact week I wanted to have surgery. I found ample information in advance from the sites for major bariatric centers in the US, such as the ones at Stanford and the Mayo Clinic, so I learned about the eating stages and what to do and not to do. This forum and YouTube were also helpful since I could learn directly from the experiences of others. Best wishes!

I had the VSG in August of 2015, and my parents and husband are the only ones besides my physicians who know about it. I never told my brother, my best friend since the age of 12, or my lovely in-laws, even though I trust them impeccably. I'm just private by nature. I felt that I had ample support from my husband and parents. Whenever I wanted to chat with others about having surgery, I just popped on here where I could retain my privacy. I never told my colleagues or HR, but I was fortunate because I didn't need to take any time off work for the surgery or recuperation due to my schedule. No one has suspected that I had weight loss surgery, either. Of course many have noticed my weight loss and complimented me on it, but they've also noticed the effort I put into losing it. I got a bike the same summer as the surgery, and started biking to and from work and on errands. I was really diligent about what I ate, even at office Christmas and birthday parties, having very small slivers of cake or whatever instead of the huge slabs I used to enjoy. The coworkers I have coffee with afternoon noticed that I switched from drinking the caloric Frappacino-style drinks to plain Jane iced coffee. My only regret with the surgery was not having the single incision so I wouldn't have scars on my stomach. They've faded so much and are tiny, though, so it's just a small regret. When I'm at the beach I just wear a tee shirt or a one piece. I definitely do no regret the decision to keep my surgery a secret!

I'm also in my 30s now, and had been concerned about potential aging effects after having surgery. I lost weight at the speed of a snail, and I think that helped give my skin more time to adjust. My doctor told me to stop showering as much because I was drying out my skin with daily, and sometimes twice daily showers if I'd had a sweaty workout. Her suggestion was to just clean under the arms, the feet - the smelly bits - daily but not fully immerse in a shower every day. I use dry shampoo to keep my hair fresh. I typically shower three, sometimes four times a week, and use an in-shower moisturizer, then as soon as I step out apply a body oil (Trader Joe's has one that smells and feels lovely), and after it has had time to be absorbed, apply body lotion. My face became softer and far less irritated and dry when I switched to Korean skincare, which is gentler. There's a "beauty guru" named Charlotte Cho has a popular site with product recommendations. I usually buy the products from Amazon or a local Japanese market that carries a lot of Asian products. I do the "double cleanse" method of a creamy emollient face wash to remove makeup, followed by a foaming green tea face wash that removes residue. Then I use Dr. Thayer's Witch Hazel, which isn't Korean, but is beloved. I actually found out about it from a woman who is also in her 30s and had the VSG, who goes by Fit Miss Bliss. She said it made her skin "fluffy", in a good way. Then I use Korean milk lotion and finally a moisturizer. I may try to add in Retin-A, sparingly, as a preventative. Before I started the Korean beauty products, I had fine lines and wrinkles on my forehead, and they've totally disappeared now, unless I'm super dehydrated. It's definitely helped with aging. I am a professor and getting confused as a student now, and getting card far more often, than I did prior to having the VSG in 2015. I definitely recommend giving it a try.

I don't really have many tips from personal experience, but I was just watching a video on YouTube from a woman in her 60s who looks soooo much younger, and she credits it to Retin A. She didn't have weight loss surgery, so I don't know how much Retin A would help with issues resulting from that, but her skin is incredibly firm for her age. I tried posting a link but it's saying that YouTube won't permit it to be embedded here. Just search for a video titled 28 Years of Retin A Use by a woman who goes by Melissa55. I've never tried Retin A for anti-aging but am tempted to try it out now!

I hope she can have the bill sorted out so that she ends up being responsible just for the amount she expected to pay. What a frustrating ordeal. If you were planning on having surgery at the same hospital I can definitely understand why you'd consider canceling. I had a really positive experience with Dr. Fernando Garcia in Tijuana in August of 2015, and am relieved that I wasn't burdened with bills from it. I paid $4200 up front, which included two nights in the clinic and two in the Marriott. My endocrinologist agreed in advance to provide follow-up care once I was back in LA. I had no complications, and exceeded my goals.

Her bill is obscenely high then. What quote was she given when she scheduled the surgery?

I do have insurance but did not meet their eligibility requirements because my BMI was too "low", so I went the self-pay route. The highest quote was $35,000 for a surgeon in Beverly Hills. The quotes from other local surgeons ranged from $29,000 to $32,000, and had a one night stay in the hospital or clinic. I ended up going to reputable surgeon in Tijuana for a fraction of the cost, and two nights. $85,000 is astronomical, but I'm not surprised by outrageous medical bills anymore. My husband is a young physician and has had patients show him bills that are insane, but he has limited control over them. I'd definitely look at an itemized bill. Unless there were serious complications that required far beyond the typical surgery it shouldn't be anywhere close to that much.