kranky813

@@SHANA55 sorry I accidentally hit Mrs O instead of you on my previous post... oops!

@@Mrs_O I am a self payer in MN as well. Feel free to message me if you have questions but here is what I can tell you from my experience: I researched several doctors and hospitals and found that Dr. Jonathan Gipson from Specialists in General Surgery was the best. He works out of Robbinsdale and Maple Grove and does surgery at Unity Hospital. My experience with him was FANTASTIC! He was very knowledgeable and spent time getting to know me and my situation. My surgery costs were $18,000. How they do it is you have $5,500 down and can finance the rest through medcredit. We actually paid off a lot in the front. You have to pay the surgeon, the hospital, the anesthesiologist and the nurse anesthesiologist so there will be 4 bills that can be financed. The hospital is the one that makes you put $5,500 down because their cost is the most but it covers everything you will need for surgery and your stay at the hospital and the meds that you receive. To be fair my husband would not let me go to Mexico for surgery but after my surgery we met a few people in person that did go to Mexico and if I did it all over again I would choose to go to Mexico for the cost. If I require plastics in the future I will certainly go to Mexico. Let me know if you have any question - I am almost 4 months out. Thanks!

Best Feeling Ever!! Congrats!

@@MissRobin I love it! I should set some of those goals for myself!! I could always use clothes, boots, jewelry, a new swimsuit (yikes)!!

It's official I now have gotten over half way there! I officially have lost more than I have left to lose! I just noticed it this morning and it's a great feeling! I still remember being stuck for 3 weeks at 201 pounds and wanting Onderland so badly. For those struggling out there... It will come, I promise it will come. Just follow your program. I have been a very slow loser and have had SEVERAL stalls along the way. Just be patient!

As you can see everyone is a little different. I can tell you that I pretty much have the stomach of steel. I can eat anything I want without throwing up or having an upset tummy. The one thing I will warn you about with fried food is that it can cause a bit of a dumping syndrome - I get that. about 10 - 15 minutes after I eat fried food I have to run to the bathroom and have diarrhea. It's just that one time and when it's done it's done but any time I eat something that is fried or greasy it happens so I avoid it. My tummy isn't upset or hurt it just gives me the urgent need to go to the bathroom. Try it and see what happens but be close to a bathroom in case... good luck.

Honestly it's different for every single person. Some people actually feel great, some feel horrible and if you are anything like me you don't remember much of the first 2 days. Although day 3 was horrific So I will tell you that I am one of the unlucky ones that got dehydrated and had to be readmitted to the hospital for hydration for 3 days. But those first 2 days were sort of a drug fuled haze. I did get out of bed a lot to walk and I remember it being weird that I didn't have any urge to eat or drink a single thing but I don't remember being in pain. I know the nurses brought me pain meds every few hours even if I didn't ask for them. They wanted me comfortable. I also remember having to go to the bathroom almost every hour Gotta love those IV fluids I think the worst for me was the mental stuff that went on and not so much the pain from the surgery. I had a lot of regret the first week. I cried a lot and thought I did this horrible thing that I could never take back. I had a great husband that was very supportive at the time. He does tell me now though that he was terrified at how much I regretted my decision and how much I bawled like a baby (I am not a weak person and it was very unlike me) I will also tell you that day 9 for me was the turning point. I woke up on day 9 and immediately felt better. Every day since has been WONDERFUL. I am a little over 3 months out and it is the best decision and best $18,000 I have ever spent. I have lost 49lbs, wear a loose size 12 jeans, can keep up with my girls and am just loving every aspect of life I would do it again in a heart beat, even knowing that for me it was 9 days of pure hell, I would do it all over again.

Deb - the one piece of advice I can give you is that when you are searching or find a surgeon make sure you ask them if they are a micro-surgeon. I have not had plastics yet but my mom did and had a horrific experience because her surgeon was not a micro-surgeon. She had to have 10 years of revisions and corrections because the surgeon thought he was better than he was. Make sure you ask!!

Congratulations!!!

I am so sorry to hear about your son. What a difficult road you have ahead of you. I will tell you to keep yourself strong so that you can be there for him. Do what you have to do, set a timer, put reminders in on your phone. You still need to be mindful of what is going on with you even though it's difficult to do when dealing with something like this. Prayers to you.

So... I'm overweight. I am no longer obese. It's so weird. I have been obese for over half my life. To see that "overweight" BMI was sort of a shock to me. It's weird how the little things surprise me so much. Like the other day I bought a medium shirt. A freaking Medium. I always buy XL. Or how I fit more comfortably in the bathtub. Or wearing boots outside of my jeans. Or.... well there are so many. I just love life today

Hey everyone! I have a quick question for you. I have noticed that I have been getting a lot of bruises on my legs recently. They are all about the size of a quarter and are everywhere (probably 10 - 15 in total) has anyone else noticed this? Is it normal? I sort of freaked out last night when I went to take a bath and noticed all the little marks all over my legs. They go anywhere from my thighs to my ankles. Thanks!

This depends on the person really. Now at 3 months out if I eat too quickly or too much or don't chew enough I feel sick. I get nauseated and the food sort of sits in my esophagus instead of my stomach. It helps to walk but I usually have to wait 30 minutes to an hour for the feeling to go away. Since you are still on liquids I would look to see if what you are drinking has a high sugar content that could make you feel that way. Or you could just be getting used to the sleeve. Mine was not happy for about 9 days.

No pre op diet at all. Just nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before surgery.

I am only 3 months out but have started having some of the issues that you are having. I know that I have lost weight I see the scale go down and fit into smaller clothes. I went from a size 18 to a 12. Everyone tells me that they can see a difference... but I don't. Not really. I look at myself naked every day and I honestly don't see a difference. I even took naked pictures the day before and at 2 weeks and 4 weeks post op and still don't see a difference. I have been thinking about seeing a counselor just to make sure that I don't get into a bad place.

Thanks Guys! I did shoot a quick email to my surgeon's nurse just asking her what her thoughts are as well. My surgeon doesn't do any labs until 1 year out. I thought it was sort of weird but he's the expert. I was just wondering if anyone else had this issue.

I was in your shoes. I felt the same way you did. I regretted my decision and cried and cried for about a week straight. I was one of the ones that didn't get enough liquid in and was readmitted for dehydration. DON'T LET THAT HAPPEN TO YOU!! It was a horrible feeling. I just posted this but will say it again. I don't think a lot of us are prepared for the mental side of surgery. They gave me a little advice about it but I was a complete wreck. Up and down and honestly hating myself for what I did to my body. Now here is the upside. I am about 3 months out and couldn't be happier. At about 9 days is when things change. Things started to get better, I could drink easier, the soreness was gone and I was able to get out of the house and move around. Today I love life. Granted I a only 3 months out but I am in a size 12 pants, I bought a medium shirt the other day and everyone tells me how awesome I look. That doesn't compare to how good I feel. Not only healthier but about myself. I look in the mirror and see someone new and someone happy. It's a great feeling. I'm not going to lie and say it's not work. Sometimes I will take a bite of food that is too big and regret it for about 30 minutes because of the uncomfortable feeling, I have over eaten where I had to throw up and sometime the constipation sucks. But honestly I am 100% happy and do not regret a think anymore. It's the best 18k I ever spent and would do it again in a heartbeat. Just be patient with yourself. Sip as much as you can, walk as much as you can and the next thing you know it will be like a bad dream.

Oh I felt the same way you did. It will get easier. I just read this so from then to now (5 days out) I hope you are feeling better. I wasn't prepared for the regret and anxiety I would feel. I don't feel I was forewarned like I should have been but by day 9 I started feeling so much better. I am almost 3 months out now and honestly forget that I even had the sleeve. This time will pass. I remember crying and wishing that I could fast forward to 1 month or 3 months out. It will fly by and before you know it you are going to love the new you. I promise!

I'm on a 3 week stall right now. I just keep at it and I know the weight will come off. It's hard at times because the negative thoughts come in and I keep thinking... I am only going to lose this much... or after all the money I spent I only lost 40lbs... or even what am I doing wrong... I know how the thought process goes... the weight will come off. Just be patient and don't drive yourself crazy

Ok, granted I am only 2 months out but I am doing a lot of research and want to know if anyone had plastics done in Mexico? I am looking to have my arms and tummy done. My breast lift will be covered here in the states due to insurance (they found some lumps and want them out, the insurance approved a reduction and lift along with the lump removal - I just have to lose all the weight first) Anyway, I was curious about the other 2 areas. So, what doc did you use, what was the cost? Do you recommend Mexico.. etc.. Really anything will be helpful!

So for the most part (ok all part) I feel pretty good. I forget that I even had surgery half the time. I feel great and I look great and I am down 41 pounds so there really isn't any complaining from me. So here's the rant: I have a fairly stressful job. I am on the go constantly and my brain works in 500 different directions. So yesterday I had a meeting after work and only had an hour to pick up my daughter, feed her and get her to grandmas house to babysit. So like any overworked, overtired mom I did what we all do. I stopped by McDonald's to grab her something to eat quick. While I was there I thought to myself that a cheeseburger sounded so good. (I don't know why.. I just did) So as I cruised to pick up my kiddo I wolfed down the cheeseburger (it was a single). And I paid for it. Man did I pay for it. I honestly thought I was going to barf in my car. Afterward I verbally abused myself in my head because of my several stupid mistakes. #1 We don't eat fast food anymore (we meaning me and my tummy) #2 We don't skip lunch and then think we are famished at dinner time #3 Why the hell did I eat in the car while I was distracted #4 Why did I eat it so fast #5 Am I a complete idiot for thinking my behavior was acceptable So the question to you all is Why do I do this to myself? I have done it previously with healthy foods such as chicken and steamed veggies. I don't use the baby spoon anymore, should I? It's almost like my body is so ravenous that I can't help but cram things into my mouth. Thank goodness it's not often (only like 3 times so far) but it makes me nervous that it will become a habit or that I will stretch my pouch. Ok - come on ladies and gents - abuse away, I seriously need it for my actions!!!

So, I spend the majority of my day yesterday in the ER with Kidney Stones. From what the ER doc said they can be pretty common with WLS. Has anyone else on here had them? I honestly thought I was going to die or that my appendix was bursting. I was in the ER screaming, moaning and crying my eyes out. Worst pain I have ever felt in my whole life and I had a natural childbirth with my daughter. That was a breeze compared to this stupid kidney stone!!

@@Pillar2butterfly Thank you. It's just been one of those days for me and I seriously want to kick myself in the behind for this. UGH!

I have one of the top surgeons in my state and I felt the exact same way you do. I felt that way right up until they gave me the shot to knock me out. It is very normal to have jitters or even doubt your decision. I can tell you that the first few weeks may be hard. If you are like me you may hate yourself after surgery for the first 2 weeks because you made the biggest decision of your life. THEN.... you get to day 9. (or maybe day 6 or day 11) Then you realize that you are so happy with your decision. I am 2 months out and it is the best decision I have ever made in my life. THE BEST!!! I completely forget I even had surgery sometimes. I feel normal. I just don't eat like I used to. What you are going through is completely normal.