Berry78

Well, my FIL needed emergency open heart surgery 16 years ago. He had no insurance. Racked up an ungodly bill.. he was hospitalized for over a month on top of the surgery. They are still paying the hospital (or collection agency) every month. It's just another bill. I have health insurance, but if it wouldnt cover a problem, I'd get treatment and worry about the cost later. (Wing and a prayer). Dr. Illan did say that if I wanted to go back to him for treatment that that would be a possibility. Of course distance means it couldn't be a life or death situation.

I don't have problems with straws either. Just drink one sip at a time, separating the air from the liquid in the mouth. A straw with a hole in it can bring a ton of air, but that's pretty easy to tell. I think the problem is only for people that guzzle with the straw.

Insurance hoops are a PITA, if spending $5k- $6k is do-able, you (*probably) won't regret going with Dr. Illan. Surgery was the best vacation I think I've ever had! *probably is because everyone is so different, and every procedure. Revisions can have tougher recoveries than virgin procedures.. but after the first couple days things get better. Those photos of people enjoying Tijuana after surgery are real. Many of the people shown are family of the patients, but it's the real deal! It's hard to tell which had surgery and which didn't!

I went to Dr. Illan and had a very good experience. Give them a call to see if they can help. His is the face advertized all over this site The longest part of the process for me was getting my passport. That can take 6 weeks unless you pay for a rush.

It's a long time comin', but it'll be here before you know it! Good luck!

The general trend should be each day things are the same or a little easier than the day before. A single day or two of extra fullness is no biggie, but if the trend reverses for a week, it could mean a stricture is getting started. For example, someone would say.. last week I could eat 3oz of cottage cheese, but now I can only eat 1oz. This is the sign of a problem. And another reason why weighing and measuring our food is so important early on. Most likely everything is fine for you. I just put what to watch out for (for you and others reading the thread).

I'm sorry to hear about this, it sounds very painful I don't have any experience with this, so can't help much. Would it be possible to just undo this surgery, let you heal and gain a few pounds back, and revise to a bypass later if you needed it?

I think this is pretty common, but as always, feel free to contact your team. Congrats on your surgery!

I live with 6 other people. Chips, cookies, ice cream, cakes. Every day, all the time. It's a mind game for sure. I make sure I have easy-grab food for when I need something NOW. Cottage cheese, hard boiled egg, nuts, berries. Lunchmeat. When I start roaming the kitchen, I'll eat something, then busy myself making a hot cup of tea. By time it's ready, I'm no longer craving anything, and I have something to drink in a little bit after I digest. Convenience snacker. Don't know if I've heard that before either

The most important thing is for you to be aware. That way if you start feeling sideways, you'll know what is going on. Not everyone reacts badly, despite all sorts of mental health histories. I've always been emotionally labile. Surgery actually has calmed things down for me. So there is hope!

It sounds like you are a convenience snacker. Make sure veggies and protein options are the easiest things to grab. Try to get rid of chips out of the house, or at least behind a locked cabinet door.

Those rashes are the pits. I haven't had them myself yet (touch wood), but my mil did. They can get awful. She got a panniculectomy because of them. Baby powder and compression wear... would be interested to know if there are other solutions...

Ok, in my "random stranger on the internet's" opinion, any of the procedures will do you well. My BMI was almost 48, and I have the sleeve. Got it in Mexico, and couldn't be happier. With your history of ineffective diets, I can understand your concern. Your surgeon will know more about the procedure best for patients that couldn't lose on a traditional diet. (That wasn't me). I said if I needed a bypass, I'd go locally... for a sleeve, Mexico was fine. Bypasses and DS's might need more after-care, and local surgeons dont like dealing with Mexico patients. But that's just me

Ok fine. Here is a definition. I guess I got confused because meat + spinach is definitely ketogenic. What’s the difference between a ketogenic and a low-carb diet? What is the difference between ketogenic diet and low-carb diet? Who has to follow a ketogenic diet and who needs to follow a low-carb diet? Please let me know the main difference between the two diets above? Thanks, S.Kumar Ketogenic is an ultra low-carb diet, which causes production of ketones. Ketones are produced when the body runs out of sugars (carbs). The blood glucose is saved for the brain, and the body converts fatty acids into ketones. These can cross the blood brain barrier to fuel the brain. The muscles do not use ketones – instead they can directly metabolize fatty acids. So you can still follow a low carb diet but not be ketogenic. You do not necessarily need to be ketotic to lose weight, but it is something that people can measure through breath testing or urine testing to ‘confirm’ they are following a low carb diet. Dr. Jason Fung

Ok, so what is the difference?

Oh, and are you currently in counseling or therapy? Food addiction won't be cured by surgery, it takes therapy.

Do you currently have gerd or frequent heartburn? Do you have access to bariatric care closer to home if there were a complication? If so, what procedures do they perform? How keen are you in taking daily supplementation? (Vitamins) How enthusiastic is your primary care physician to take care of you after surgery in Mexico?

What are considered starches?

I'm sorry for your loss. [Hugs]

You are welcome! It can be a lonely journey. I think that's why this board is so active

By the time you are on chewable foods.

I don't know how far out you are, Constance, but I'll assume at least 8 weeks post op. First, is it possible to clean out the no no foods from your house? I know most people share a house with non-dieting folk. Many of us are very carb-sensitive, particularly for wheat and sugar. If we eat some, it sets off huge cravings. Once we figure out what does that to us, we cut those things out completely. The general idea postop is to eat 4-5 times a day, about 4 ounces of food each time. Protein should be about 2-3 ounces, with vegetables making up the rest. I'm 10 weeks postop (and today marks my 50lb down mark!) Here is my meal plan. I eat basically the same thing each day. 1. Coffee/milk/vitamins 2. Fruit or v8 or spinach/fruit smoothie 3. Egg and 4oz beans 4. 4oz cottage cheese 5. 4oz meat or fish 6. 1oz nuts It's 70g protein and around 1100-1200 calories. 60g carbs unless I go crazy on the fruit. I find it easiest to have a plan and stick to it. If I'm hungry I go ahead and eat or get a cup of tea or coffee. Others have their own meal plans posted around the site. You can compare to see how different we all are... but we each stick to a plan that's working for us. That is the important thing.

Everything sounds fine.. but keep working to get your water up. Everyone loses 10 pounds virtually immediately because it is 2 pounds of glycogen (sugar in the muscles) plus 8 pounds of water. So, you've only lost a few pounds of fat. From here out, you can expect the losses to slow down.. but it can still be 1/4 to 1 pound a day.

I guess I'm confused why people would ditch their tiny dishes and flatware. I love mine so much! And at what point should I be eating more than 4-8 ounces of anything? (The answer is never! Except bulky salad). I'll add a second or third dish (protein, veg, starch), but no reason to go back to big plates and bowls. The thing I want extra big are cups. I got rid of all the little mugs. Only kept those 14oz and larger. 16 or 18oz would be better. Bigger cups help meet fluid goals. (I like hot herbal tea and 1 cup of coffee). I'm still looking at a couple partial tubs of protein powder.. will probably use them eventually. I use my kitchen scale every day. I didn't buy much before surgery, or after. You're right that you don't need much.

Michelle, you bring up a valid point. In the rat studies, the rats that get the surgery go back on a regular diet after the healing period and they lose weight. But, I think our problem is we don't really know what an ideal human diet looks like.... and the very real possibility that what is ideal for one person isn't ideal for another. I like the idea of the caveman diet.. and though it isn't certain how much protein was available, we can be sure things like grains and sugar were in limited supply. And refined versions were unheard of.