AmberMc03

I took 2 weeks off. Surgery 7/5 back to work 7/18. We had an audit so my return was to 10 HR days and high stress so by Thursday my coworkers could tell I was absolutely exhausted. But I made it through all 4 days ( I get alternating Friday's off) and got 3 days to recover. Back to work today I felt better than I have since before my 1 week pre-op liquid diet. Still taking it easy - I have a desk job but it's hard to remember to get up and move around frequently - and concentrating on getting my water and protein in... And supplements - that's the hard one!!

A small slice is an over statement... Maybe 1 or 2 bites of pizza.... But then again why go back down that path?

My surgeon told me that after 2 full weeks of full liquids (with some purée mixed in) I could start introducing soft foods a little at a time but it also wouldn't hurt to stay on liquids longer. So I've been doing 2 shakes a day and no more than 2 oz at a time every few hours. I'm eating things like cottage cheese, string cheese, cream of wheat with extra protein, noodle-less lasagna, puréed beans, crab salad, chicken salad without onions and pickles, and Progresso light soups. Today I ate a few cooked green beans but I just wasn't feeling it. I also have had mashed baby red potatoes with Parmesan cheese. I don't feel over full, I can tell when I am topping out because the bites I swallow get uncomfortable when it hits the top of my sleeve and the air/gas tries to escape around it and is slightly uncomfortable but that's my trigger to take a break or stop completely. I don't have to lay down or walk to get my stomach to stop feeling over full. I am chewing foods more than needed just to be sure. It is awesome to be able to eat a little of what everyone else is - picking the soft and easy foods out of a catered luncheon spread. I go every other day getting on all my water or not, I struggle to get all the protein in. I'm tracking now so it helps.

I am 1 week 1 day post op and my surgeon told me that if I am tolerating the shakes well I can start introducing puréed foods slowly. This helps with the chewing! I puréed some Progresso Light beef stew and chewed the purée. It wasn't like chewing a piece of meat but it worked like a charm! Call your surgeon or nut and ask about introducing some purée foods!

Try small curd low fat cottage cheese instead of ricotta

I have struggled with weight since 2001. Growing up I was always in the overweight range and my mom always said it was because I had a booty and very chesty. Once I got out of high school and started working full time, going to college, planning a wedding in 2003 - I started gaining. At age 21 on my wedding day I was 150lbs on a 5'1" frame. My new husband weighed 125lbs soaking wet and could eat literally anything and not gain an ounce. So we did... Fried food (using a fry daddy we were gifted at our wedding), biscuits and gravy after our drinking nights, eating at strange hours and not having time to exercise properly. When I got pregnant with our son in 2006 I weighed 166 lbs and that was after a 20lbs weight loss!!! During my pregnancy we moved from Illinois to Texas to find a better career for my husband and my eating got worse and worse. Being pregnant I wanted anything deep fried and smothered in chocolate! I ate McFlurry's for breakfast, Texas style chicken fried steak lunches, and couldn't get enough of the McDonald's Hot n Spicy! Needless to say I developed gestational diabetes and weighed 190 the day of delivery. I had a c section so longer recovery and my stomach never returned to pre-Prego shape. I stayed around 185 for almost 4 years and then I started going to Zumba and eating subway almost every day. I ate off a small bread and butter plate - grilled or baked everything. I lost 35 lbs and got pregnant with our daughter. I lost 15 more during the first trimester because I refused to increase my intake of calories but that proved bad because she wasn't growing at a normal rate. So I went to the extreme again and on delivery day weighed 215lbs! C section #2 depressed me and o he no desire to work out eat right or care. Between working a high stress job and no family support in Texas (all the supportive ones are in IL) I had no me time, no husband time, no time at all! I've tried Herbalife, Nutrasystem, HCG injections, diet pills galore, I joined Curves in Feb 2014 and over 6 months I lost 17lbs and 16 inches over my body. I felt and looked better but then my grandfather hd been diagnosed with Leukemia and got worse in August. He was in and out of MD Anderson many times. So I stopped my curves ritual and was driving to Houston (1 hr each way) every night after work and on weekends. Eating fast food, hospital cafeteria food, snacking on cookies and candy with grandpa... He died in September 2014 after 1 week on in home hospice. I never left his side and ate whatever the church brought for us and didn't pay attention to how many servings I had it was something to do while I watched grandpa sleep and finally never wake again. After he died the family drama began and my already disconnected family here in Texas completely shut me out. . . Me and my sisters had always been the outcasts because we lived so far away and I think they felt invaded when I moved to Texas. Oh well, another story. So here I am in 2016 with just my husband and 2 kids supporting me emotionally and I am at 220lbs with a BMI of 41. I meet the requirements of my insurance to have the surgery without co-morbidities and have begun the pre-approval process. I told my younger sister - who is like me overweight but not many options or motivations to change - and now she is pregnant with her 3rd child. She talks too much so why I told her I'll never know. Well she told my baby sister who is the most critical person I know - mainly because she wants what everyone else has because she won't go out and get it herself. She is normally the target of our mothers criticism so knowing how baby sister operates I know she blurted it out during a recent criticism my our mom to take the heat off of her! So my mom calls me and goes out of her mind! "This is irreversible and dangerous! Why can't you just eat less and exercise? Ask your aunt Kathi how bad an idea this is!" (My Aunt had lap band in 2007 or 2008 and it was unsuccessful after 12mos). She was very upset and starting to get ugly about it when my husband said "if she's not supportive hang up the phone"! My hunny is my hero.... But I am heartbroken that she now won't talk to me. 1 of my 2 sisters won't talk to me either - but she knows she screwed up by telling mom before I had a chance to... My dad seems indifferent and my younger sister I am not sure her stance but seems supportive - if that's what I feel is my last option to get healthy then go for it - is her response. My kids keep saying "mom when you get skinny you can _______________ with us! (Fill in the blank with just about any kid play activity). It melts me heart that they can recognize at ages 5 & 9 that mommy has to change something and that I'll be able to really play with them! My aunt and a cousin on my dads side here in Texas recently went to Mexico and had the sleeve procedures. They seem to be doing well from what I can see on Instagram - the last place I've not been blocked from. I have friends at work that are super supportive, my boss seemed surprised but not critical and my best friend is also currently in her pre-approval process as well. She is about 2 weeks ahead of me on her list of things to satisfy the insurance company so I get info earlier than my appointment which helps my nerves. Thanks for reading this novel, and any tips for how to make mom see the light would be greatly appreciated.

Today was my 1 week post-op appointment! Doc said my incisions look awesome and I can start adding puréed food for another week then soft foods slowly and one at a time. No red meat, pork, bread/pasta or raw veggies for a while yet. Also said chicken is hard for many so I'll be careful there too. I can start light exercise like bike rides of it doesn't bother my stomach, chlorine pool minimal activity and return to work next week. I am so excited to finally be able to start chewing foods!!!!!! Many have said chew ice but my teeth are too sensitive so my chewing desire has been almost over whelming! Thank goodness for my chewable multivitamin and calcium!!

Jealousy is an ugly thing. I'm sure the reason for deleting was the person requesting deletion doesn't love their body the way you have come to and was jealous. You were very brave and that's awesome! Stay this way all through your journey!

Find a reputable body piercer who is skilled in pressure point therapy. There are 3 piercings that can reduce or even eliminate migraines. Google them - Daith, Tragus, Conch, helix http://www.almostfamouspiercing.com/ear-piercings-as-acupuncture-finding-relief-through-auriculotherapy/

I bought some at wal mart, generic liquid acetaminophen. Also found at cvs

My best friend and I are going through this journey together. We have the exact same insurance (except her out of pocket max is lower than mine due to it being based off annual salary and my insurance is under my husbands salary and hers is under her salary). When the surgeons office submitted her paperwork 3 days after her last weight in appointment it took a full 14 business days. My paperwork didn't get submitted correctly by the surgeons office and I called Aetna and then the surgeons insurance coordinator and threw a fit over their mistake and she submitted on a Thursday and I followed up with Aetna on Monday to ensure everything was submitted correctly and they had approved it on Friday! But I was already 2 weeks behind my BFF of approval. So now she is starting week 3 post op and back to work the last 2 weeks and I am only 5 days post op. But both the surgeons insurance coordinator and Aetna will tell you that it does take up to 14 business days for approval. Plus this surgery is considered elective so priority is is lower in the pre-cert department.

Agreed!!!!

Wow.... That's a lot. I was terrified that my period would start during surgery or my stay in the hospital! It did not but BOOM 2nd night at home it starts. I'm afraid to use my normal go to - tampons so I'm in heavy duty pads and I'm miserable. I have fibroids and very heavy flow so this is really not fun for me. I hope things improve for you. Sorry for the TMI I've been dying to tell someone. Lol

Sleeved Tuesday 7/5, pooped Friday 7/8 but it was very hard to do. I don't recommend it lol Try a 1/2 dose Milk of Magnesia before bed. But don't forget to drink water after you take it! Bottle recommends 8oz but drink as much as you can in the hours following the dose!

What is NSV?

Yes and preventing ulcers.

I wonder if I'll be on Protonox forever? It's really expensive even after insurance!

I am 4 days post op and on full liquids. Between shakes and during I have this growling feeling in my stomach like when you're really hungry but I am not sure if it's hunger or maybe acid. I am on Protonix for 30 days so maybe that will go away. Has anyone else had this? It's annoying and slightly worrisome. I see my surgeon on Monday afternoon.

I went through the same decision myself. 5"1' exactly 40bmi and 1 comorbidity which didn't qualify me under 40bmi. To be safe and ensure my qualification I gained a few more pounds before my initial consult and ended up starting at 41bmi. My surgery date BMI was 39.4 weight of 198.6 and my insurance covered.

My seminar was in January 2016. My initial consult with the surgeon was February 15. 90 days of supervised weight loss, a psych eval and test, Nutrition classes then wait on approval which was given on 6/3/16. My surgeon had vacation scheduled the week I wanted to have surgery so I was scheduled the first one of the day after her vacation on 7/5. I came home yesterday and am doing well.

My surgery is tomorrow morning and the plan is when Dr is done with the sleeve procedure before they close and finish she does a scope to check for leaks so they can be fixed immediately. No checks after unless there are issues. Hope your girlfriend gets better soon!

I am having VSG tomorrow! (7/5) packed my bag this morning and headed to Walmart in a bit to get a few things I want to have at home when I get out of the hospital. Laundry, cleaning all that so the house is good to go when we get back. My kids are at grandmas until next weekend so hopefully I will be up and around by the time they get home. They've been gone since 6/14 so I miss them terribly. Good luck to you! I'll keep you in my prayers tomorrow!

@@MissKay my BFF had the same experience she stayed a 2nd night due to some extra pain and 3 kids at home she wasn't quite ready for the chaos at home. I don't blame her one bit! Mine are at their grandmas house until about a week after my surgery (d-day is tomorrow 7/5). So I'm lucky and I hate hospitals so the sooner I can come home the better.

I am taking 2 weeks off. My surgery is Tuesday 7/5 and my department is a major audit starting 7/18 and my job is basically ensuring we pass audits with flying colors. I was really stressed out last week trying to wrap up loose ends and ensure we are audit ready 2 weeks in advance! My surgeon said some people are able to return to work after 1 week but 2 is average --- for a low impact desk job. I was supposed to have surgery on 6/21 but the paperwork didn't get submitted to insurance soon enough so 7/5 was the next available date. If I waited until after the audit my kids would be home from their grandmas house and I'd have to worry about them too!

Fruity sugar free chewing gum helps a lot! I also make sno-cones with shaved ice and the crystal light squeez-ey water flavor.