teaqueen

My BMI was 35 when I had surgery last year (1/5/16). I did self pay with a great surgeon here in Michigan. Went from SW of 215 to CW of 130 in a year. Best decision ever! His name is Mark Pleatman. He does have a program for out-of-state self pay. His website is DrPleatman.com. He is not as cheap as Mexico, but the hospital care I got was great and his price includes all followup. He doesn't force upsell gis own food and Vitamins (which I see a lot), but does have a nutritionist in house that works with you before and after. I'm thrilled with my results. Good luck! Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

I had sashimi at about 4 weeks. I'm a full year out and still find sushi rice is not my friend. It expands a lot once in the stomach and puts a quick end to a good meal. I love a sushi place that does a version of palapala. That's tuna and avocado chunks in a rice wine vinegar sauce (usually served as an appetizer.) The amount is meal sized for a sleever, and there is no rice to bog down a great tasting Protein source!! Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

I'd give swallowing your pill without opening or crushing it a try. I could get small and medium ones down pretty well at 1 week out. Large pills and gigantic Vitamins, not so much. Good luck! Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

Sargento makes those nut, cheese and berry snack packs. Nice punch of Protein and properly portioned. I am a year out and have learned I always need to stash one in my bag before going to a food/family gathering. While we don't get hungry like before, ya still need to be able to eat on a consistent schedule! Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

Well done! And Merry Christmas too! Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

GERD is a pretty common reality for many of us sleevers. I used meds for the first 3 months to help with the dragon fire that creeps up at night. I was on Nexium, but am not a big fan of long term use of PPIs. They are useful to get through the first 3 months while things are healing, but not as a forever med. Talk with your doc and do what is necessary early on. In 3-6 months, you'll want to consider options for getting off meds for GERD. I had great success using orange peel oil capsules (d-limonene) as a therapy to improve my GERD issues and have been med free for about 3 months now. Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

I travel for work, so I had to figure out how to do restaurants pretty much from the start (I'll be a year out next week.) My game is to 1) check appetizers as a meal choice, 2) look at the gluten free options as many will be low carb, 3) order a cup of Soup only, 4) make a share plan with whoever I'm with, or 5) box up most of it. I have learned that not ordering makes the waiter and your meal mates uncomfortable, so I always order something. At buffets, I always look for big slices of watermelon. They make your plate look fuller, but are actually not much content. Lastly, don't be shy about asking for what you need. A lot of restaurants wont put plain chicken breast on their menu, but if you ask, they'll make it for you. (That's where going with the gluten free game pays off!!) I found Panera was super about just giving me chicken breast with no stuff for about $2.00. You can do it...and it's fun to feel like you can socialize normally again. Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

Day 5, back to sleeping on my stomach! Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

I found it really does depend on the type of food too. It was about 3 months out before I could say I knew what comfortable full felt like. And that was when I ate real food like fish. During the liquid and puree stages, i had to measure and pause a lot to evaluate how things felt. Remember to take your time with food and savor your bites. If you used to be a speed eater, it can be hard to break the habit. Put your spoon down between bites and do a fullness check before the next bite. You got this...and yes, it will start to feel normal in time. Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

There is so MUCH food on the ship, you'll find lots of choices! I took a cruise at about 6 weeks out. My suggestion is make sure anything you try is very wet, chew chew chew, and stop as soon as you are feeling full. Drink tons of Water. I did bring my own Protein shakes too. I found they have lots of good fish on the ship, which is easy to digest and a fantastic source of protein. Take advantage of the variety! And chew chew chew! Have fun! And try not to look at people with crazy full plates from the buffet line with pity. It will shock you how much folks eat and you'll be trying to control your urge to recommend a good bariatric surgeon! Enjoy your trip! Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

Wishing you a safe and speedy recovery! I am 1 year out next week and I can tell you, this qas absolutely life changing! I look forward to pictures now. I share size 6 clothing with my 18 year old daughter. I don't even think about what I am hiding or showing in my clothing selections anymore. I actually wear leggings and yoga pants and my husband says things like "what a cute little bottom you have!" Enjoy this journey, and enjoy a new you. By Christmas next year, you will feel so good and so much more like the genuine YOU! Hugs! Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

You go girl! Wishing you a safe surgery and a speedy recovery! I'm 1 year out and having a VSG last January was the best gift I could have ever given myself. My kids are super proud of how I look today...I even shared clothes with my 18 year old daughter for Christmas Eve! Who'd a thunk! Enjoy the journey and know it is truly life changing to just enjoy your family without always thinking about your weight! Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

Are you sure it's not just skin glue lumps? I had skin glue lumps for about 2 months post op. They itched, but were not painful. Hope you heal up soon! Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

Hi! I had VSG 1 year ago (Jan 5th) and was SW of 215. Today, I weigh 131. I don't have a single regret and frankly feel fabulous. I opened Christmas presents today and happily received size 4 skinny jeans with a smile! This is a journey, and there will be cheerleaders and naysayers the whole way. For me, having normal blood pressure, normal cholesterol and a normal A1C level is the greatest gift of all...ok, and my skinny size 4 jeans!! Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

Welcome Robin! I found Day 5 was my "turning point" day too. Getting up and moving around does a lot to make the body feel normal! Sip sip sip on the fluids. Hydration is the key to feeling good and helping your body heal! Good luck and enjoy the change this next year will bring! Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

Don't beat yourself up...and be glad you didn't send it all back up. You likely didn't do any permanent damage to your sleeve, but be thoughtful about what you are doing to your healing suture line. (As in, don't do that again!?!) It takes months to rewire your brain about food. You'll have moments where your head hunger and cravings get the better of you, most of us do. You'll also have that day where you lose your entire meal because of it. Pause and examine how carbs (like pizza crust) make you feel. In general, carbs make me feel like crap. When I have pizza today, I take one normal bite...and then I just eat the toppings on the rest of the piece. Same with burgers...1 normal bite with bun just to enjoy the moment. Then I just eat the meat and no bun. I have found that having one normal (well chewed) bote satisfies the head..then i take care of getting the most Protein out of the meal. Big pointers at this stage: make sure food is very wet, chew it to death, stop as soon as you feel full. I'm 1 year out next week on January 5th. Just keep marching and you'll get through this! SW: 215 CW: 131 (size 4 jeans baby!) Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

Wishing you a safe and smooth recovery! Take it easy, keep Water by your side at all times and sip, sip, sip! Hugs! I'm just about a year out and can honestly say this surgery was the best thing I could have ever done for myself! SW: 215 CW: 132 Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

Yay!! Sounds like you are off to a great start! I will be one year out on January 5. I still have a Premier shake every morning. It starts my day on the right foot and helps me hit my daily Protein goal. I was probably 7-8 MONTHS out before I could put down 100 Gms of protein a day without a shake. Just letting you know my journey. Good luck! SW: 215 CW: 132 Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

Sending you a big hug. This is a rough time and it's not something that is over in one day. Focus on taking care of yourself and loving yourself. Do the little things that make you happy and Celebrate each success, no matter how small. Hugs. Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

Staying off the scale every day after surgery is important too. You'll have stretches where the numbers move, and you'll have stretches where they don't. Funny, your body changes the most during the times when the scale is stalled. So says a girl who is 11 months out and down more than 80 pounds. Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

I will admit that I have become very biased against ppi's. The rebound effect when they wear off is 10 times what the pain was that got me to take them in the first place. That said, for the first 3 months post-op, take what you need to take to heal. Once you are healed and eating mostly regular food, you may want to consider how to get off your ppi. I tried orange peel oil capsules (d-Limonene) after a variety of efforts to decrease my dependence on Zantac and Omeprazole. It is not a symptom treatment for when you have active heartburn, but rather a therapy to change how your motility and stomach acid work. I took 1000 mg every other night for 20 nights and managed to stop all other meds. I now take my orange oil twice a week and am good all night without heartburn. Check it out...if you don't want to take ppi's forever. Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

I was eating fish at about 3 weeks. It's an awesi.e Protein source. Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

chicken and ground beef were easier for me early on. Pork was often to dry and too dense. I'm 10 months out and still approach pork with caution. Fish...I could eat that easily at about 4 weeks and still find it the easiest Protein to consume. I particularly like sashimi which is very easy and soft! Whatever meat you try, make sure it is wet! The more moisture, the easier it is to handle. I still count chews when eating dense meat like steak or chicken breast. Small bites and lots of chews is key! Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

I had surgery on 1/5/16. I'm down to 135 now and feel Awesome. To be honest, the first 5 days are the roughest. I'd time your surgery so that Christmas is not in the 1st 5 days post op. Either go earlier or ask to go after the 25th. You can do this. Really, you can! There is a lot of learning how to eat again, but your sleeve will be your guide. It will tell you what feels right, so listen! You will be shocked that carbs suddenly taste bad and you really don't miss them. Protein is your friend...and your sleeve will let you know that too! Your sleeve will be a tool that changes your life. You got this! Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

I did 2 Premier shakes a day in the first month post op. I could only drink a little bit at a time, so an 11 oz shake took about 1.5 hours to get down. I highly recommend you take a Biotin supplement if hair loss is a concern. costco sells a gummy version (pink container called hair, skin and nails). I chew 2 a day and have since the very beginning. I am 10 months post op. I had a little fall out at 5 months, but not too bad. (And I have had bad hair loss in the past, so I know how awful it can be!) Biotin gummies are the best defense in addition to Protein. Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App