Tex Slim 66

hope4momof4, thanks great to hear from you. no meds since about 2 days following the procedure. I take gummy multi vitamins and a separate gummy calcium supplement each day. On the sleeping thing, I did the first two nights on the couch, almost upright. My Dr. explained that if we lay down fully horizontally to sleep there's a greater chance of fluid progressing back up from the stomach towards the esophagus. His recommendation was to be more vertical (doesn't have to be fully upright) as a way to reduce the chance of reflux or getting that feeling of reflux, etc. Particularly in the first couple of days following the procedure when the sutures are still new this is a big deal. Good luck with the countdown!! Tex

hope4momof4, good question, I had very similar meds to Creekimp13. Main drugs were for anti-nausea, I did use Emend, also had a patch behind my ear for anti-nausea the day of the procedure and Zofran for 2 days post procedure all together they worked awesome. I did not have any nauseous symptoms. Tex

Sheila, hi I had the ESG procedure November of last year, just before Thanksgiving. I'm early 50's and yo-yo dieted for the last 15 years, gradually gaining 10-20 pounds per year since my mid 40's. I chose ESG because I wanted a permanent change (not the balloons) and felt more comfortable with the endoscope procedure (no incisions) than a vertical gastric sleeve. ESG procedure went very smoothly, I was not in pain, did not get nausea and was up and about within a day or two following procedure. After the long weekend I went back to work on Monday and there were no complications. I'm looking to lose about 80 pounds. As of late January I'm down 34 pounds and since the ESG it has totally changed my appetite and desire for food. I eat much less, don't have cravings and have eliminated most sugar from my diet (no processed foods, sweets, alcohol, etc.). Check some of my earlier posts for more details on diet, etc. Let me know if you have more questions, on this forum we're always glad to help and share our experiences! Tex

Amy Alexis, thanks for the great advice on pre-op prep and not over buying. Awesome progress! So cool you are getting close to your goal !! Very exciting! I also agree better to ty some different shakes ahead of time. My fav was Premier Protein, 2nd best was muscle milk IMO. Hope4momof4, thanks for kind words, glad you are feeling more positive now. Re: pre procedure I liked Premier Protein Chocolate shakes (Sam's club) did those for 3 days and then the last 2 days before procedure was clear liquid diet. For clear liquids I liked chicken broth (bouillon) and not a big water fan so drank Crystal Light flavored iced tea (Red Raspberry is my fav). This only last a couple of days after procedure as well and then moved to yogurt, chicken soup and back to Protein shakes. I was up and about as well within a day or so, clear liquids phase is so short you will be surprised. Also definitely feel I have more energy now in addition to not being hungry, a great combination. Good luck! Tex

hope4momof4, pre-ESG I also had the expectation of "restriction" limiting my eating. It may seem hard to understand however right now the "restriction" is showing itself in a different manner than I expected. Pre ESG I felt like the restriction would be a physical sensation, but as of now I just don't "want" to eat large portions or frequently. Mentally I'm also much more selective (no processed foods, absolute minimum sugar, no alcohol, no caffeine etc.) about what I eat. These choices are driven by the lack of my "cravings" for food and learning from my bad choices what "works" with my new stomach and what foods I need to avoid. I lost 2lbs/week over Christmas and New year's vacation and while we were traveling one night I decided to "splurge" on sautéed mushrooms, one of my favorite dishes. I did not have a good reaction the next morning, upset stomach and many visits to the toilet, so no more sautéed mushrooms for me. I'm still experimenting what works, for example, for a Friday night "splurge" tonight I had 2 onion rings tonight with dinner (grilled salmon). In the past if I started eating good onion rings (and these were delicious) there's no way I would have eaten less than 6-8 of them. I loved the flavor this evening but just had no desire to eat more than 2 of them. I'm hopeful all will go well tonight and I don't have to ban small quantities of Onion rings in the future! The rest of the day I had 2 yogurts (80 cal each) and 2 premier protein shakes (180 cal each), so 520 calories for the rest of the day. The procedure is going to help you a lot and your willingness to be open and committed to changing your life is what will ultimately make you successful! Keep going and sharing, we can all make this change for the positive!

Hey hope4momof4, you will get there. I had a "bad eating" trend too several weeks before my procedure (go real excuse or reason for this) and added 10+lbs. before finally got it under control. I had the same diet before procedure (2 days liquids). ESG and days after went smoothly and now I'm down 30 lbs in 2 months! Keep the faith and believe in yourself, there is a healthier happier you just waiting to be uncovered. Keep posting, we'll be with you all the way! Tex

Mel, great post, I am also working on staying in ketosis. It's not easy, but I still have a long way to go (>50 pounds) for my goal and need the help of Ketosis. It was a good holidays for me health wise, no sweets, no drinks, only once or twice ate a bit too much food, but generally stuck to my eating patterns. Continuing to lose 2+ pounds/week. I'm back for 6 week check in with Dr on Tuesday and am down a total of 26 lbs since my ESG procedure. Walking more and more and will start to introduce the gym work again after doctor's appointment. Hope all can have a healthy 2018!

Hope4momof4, so sorry to hear about the loss of your mom, I hope her passing was peaceful. Great advice for the rest of us with mom's still here. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, I hope you can find solace in the time and experiences you had together and her impact on the life's around you. Take care!

Zaa, agree with Creekimp13, Johns Hopkins is a world class medical facility so I would have no concerns about the hospital performing this procedure. It's an endoscope, relatively minimally invasive, so there's no incision to heal or be concerned with. What is more important IMHO is the doctor who will be performing this procedure on you. Do you know who this would be? Are you familiar with their experience with ESG or Vertical Sleeve Gastronomy? Typical questions are how many procedures they have done? What is the rate and type of complications that their patients have experienced? Feel free to ask questions we would be glad to help. Thx Tex

Melesg and hope4momof4, wow, I have never been so touched as reading your most recent posts about motivations other than weight or clothes size to get our lives in a much healthier state. Very deep and so important to many of us, maybe we're a bit hesitant to be so clear. You were both so eloquent and strong in how you want to experience life to the fullest with your children, it really meant a lot to me. There's something about us as parents wanting to show our children how they can grow up to be people we admire and respect. We have to model in our behavior and I believe for many of us who struggle (and feel like we're losing the battle with our weight) that this same issue is present. So cool that you both are so open to help us all share in this motivation and realize it applies to many of us, even if we haven't openly acknowledged it. Thanks for this blessing during the holidays! It makes me even more determined to be successful this time in changing my life to a much healthier and active one and becoming the parent I have aspired to be for a long time. PS. I stopped coffee three days before my ESG (Nov 21) and haven't had any since. After the first week I was over the headaches and really haven't missed it!

Bubbles, so sorry to hear of your friend's tragedy, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your friend in these difficult times. Something none of us as a parent should ever experience. I hope you find spiritual comfort and a way to continue the positive progress in your life. Sometimes (often) we take for granted how finite our lives are and that there may not be a tomorrow. This makes the steps you are taking all the more important. Take care, survive the busy holidays and find your routine to continue to move in such a positive direction. Tex

Thanks, melesg and hope4momof4, I'm no hero, same person I was before my ESG. My body and mind are reacting very differently (in a positive) way to the new diet. I was not capable of doing this either pre ESG. Before my ESG, I tried a 2 week vegan cleanse twice, but it was not like this. I felt hunger and the desire to graze in the evening. As soon as I finished the cleanse within a couple of more weeks I reverted back to my old unhealthy eating and drinking habits. It was strange, but the reverting back did not make me feel any better, yet it still happened to me each time in my yo-yo dieting cycles. It was like the irresistible pull of a strong magnet! I feel so much better physically now that I do not want to lose this and really believe I can make my goal, about 65 lbs more to go. I'm enjoying the holidays and not missing the drinks or snacks and not "feeling" any physical need to eat more. I hope both of you are able to do this as well. This forum has been so helpful to me in making my choice for an ESG and learning thru others how to adapt. Just trying to give some back and help others. Merry Christmas!

Great job Luv life keep going! you're off to an awesome start! So good that you're exercising so much, key to sustaining your weight long term!!

Happy Monday, getting in the holiday spirit (no alcohol, snacking or cookies this year!) Tomorrow is 4 weeks from my ESG procedure, I lost 4 pounds this week for a total of 20 pounds since ESG!! Great questions and answers by hope4momof4 and melesg here are my answers as well: Typical daily food intake, since week 3 averaging ±1000 calories and ±100 g protein: Breakfast 0600 - Premier Protein Shake, 160 cals, 30 g protein, multivitamin and calcium supplement Mid morning 0900-1000 - Danon Non fat Light n fit Greek Yogurt Cherry, 80 cals, 12 g protein Lunch 1200 - Either Premier Protein Shake or 4 oz protein chicken or salmon (baked) 250 cals, 25 g protein Mid afternoon 1500 - Premier Protein Shake Dinner 1900 - Either 4 oz chicken or salmon (baked) or Danon Non fat Light n fit Greek Yogurt Cherry, (if protein at lunch) Drinking >1,5 liters of water each day as well, between meals, no coffee/caffeine/alcohol 1) No hunger pains or feelings, no evening urges to graze that I used to have every day. 2) I didn't follow the puree stage myself as digestion has been very stable, solid foods haven't been a problem. I have stayed away from leafy items and whole fruits/veg. I'm staying with the protein shakes a bit longer to keep ramping down my weight. Started walking and feeling stronger this week, taking the ramp up easy, will introduce weight lifting this week as I hope to go skiing over the holiday period. 3) I'm right around 1000 calories, still a bit extreme and not long term, I have lost 20 of my ±90 pound targeted loss and want to continue this pace for another month or so. When I get below 275 (13 more pounds) I will start to transition to a more long term diet. More than 20 years since I was below 275. 4) No cravings, the head hunger thing is real for me. I don't desire sweets or salty munchies (honestly thought I would never utter these words!). My portion size is <1/5 of what I was previously eating at meal time and that's before not taking seconds. 5) Emotional eater - yes to all the above. If you would have asked me before the procedure I would have denied it and said it was based on my need to get calories due to being "a large body" with any number of related excuses, I'm big boned, I weighed this much when I was in my teens, etc. It just isn't the case. I really believe there is a positive effect from the reduction in stomach size and satiety (feeling of being full) and hormone reduction that is driving this. Hope4momof4, don't be stressed, I would not have predicted any of 4) of 5) before I had my procedure. In fact I gained about 10 pounds in less than a month from the time of my consult to completing the blood work and dietician visit. I thought about changing my eating and lifestyle before the procedure but never could have understood beforehand how much my willpower is stronger now after the ESG. Keep going, stay strong, there's lots of hope coming your way!!

Bubbles, great post, don't get stressed too much. We have all yo-yo dieted for decades and it is extremely frustrating and demotivating. There is a path out of this to a healthier and happier life. Keep looking at different alternatives and stay positive that you can change your future. Regardless of Vertical sleeve or ESG the procedure's impact of reducing your stomach size is going to help you get to a more disciplined and healthy eating/lifestyle. We will still support you regardless of which procedure and path forward you choose, in the end you need to select one that you believe in the most. AmyAlexis, great advice as always, your such a great influence on this forum. For me, after a great first two weeks post ESG, I'm in a bit of a stall this week only lost one pound. I'm not changing my eating discipline and still don't "feel hungry" like I used to. I'm recognizing that my snacking and grazing was focused on different issues and the feeling that I can manage this now is much stronger following my procedure. Gonna keep on the right path and I will lose more in the weeks to come!

Good to hear on the anti-nausea meds. I had a patch from the evening before surgery and several different drugs I took for about 4 days after the procedure. My Dr. said, "don't wait to be nauseous, just take the anti-nausea meds until they run out and you won't have a problem". He was so right. Don't get stressed, the procedure is a blessing and it truly helps with your decision and will power to be a different, slimmer and happier person following the ESG. You can definitely do this!

WOO HOO!! So cool you had a great consult and got your date!! Sounded like a really good dialogue, I received similar info on scar tissue supporting keeping the sutures in place. Also heard from my doc the gas pains just after surgery don't "damage" the new stitches, the one activity to avoid to protect the stitches is not to get your stomach so upset that you vomit. I was never close to this after my procedure. Stay calm and get the ESG done! you will do great! Happy for you!!

Hey, hope4momof4, great idea with this thread, really cool way to keep us all getting positive messages each week. I'm now just over 2 weeks after procedure and down 14 pounds. I'm still primarily doing a liquid diet with protein drinks and soups. Have added yogurt and tried some small portions of chicken and fish (both ±2 ounces). Lots of chewing, so far so good, no reactions from my new stomach. Average 600-800 calories a day. Lots of water. I'm down one size in pants and that feels so much better, moved all my "larger" pants out to the garage and will be donating them to charity. I'm not going back. I just don't get hungry like I used to, sounds difficult to believe, but I have zero urge to munch at the end of the day before/after "dinner". This used to be the worst hours of the day for me, mentally I look back and think it was more like grazing (emotional not physical eating). I'm going to try going back to the gym next week and building up my cardio and strength, will let you know how that goes. Have a great weekend!

Wow, great week! good job BubblesCT you're working some important challenges and making progress! well done!

Well my procedure date is Tuesday, really looking forward to it! I have done all the prep, on liquid diet now, have all the meds and protein drinks for after. Thanks to all who have been willing to share their experience. Your openness about the procedure, what is needed to be successful afterwards and lack of complications played a big part in my deciding to proceed. I am looking to lose about 90 pounds and get back to a weight I haven't seen since college. My wife is supportive and that's such a blessing, thank you god, she's more than I deserve! My procedure will occur in Houston at Memorial Hermann Surgical Center, if anyone wants more info about Dr. Todd Wilson or the procedure/process, just let me know I would be glad to share and help others. Special thanks to AlCzervik, JimL, Belle3 and AmyAlexis for your open sharing and frankness!! Regards, Tex

Happy Day! Won one of those little battles today and went down one size in pants from 44 to 42! Yi Ha!!! It's working, keep the faith, there is hope for a new you! TGIF!

hope4momof4, what a great note by melesg on what to ask during initial consult! Amazing how similar her list was to mine. Weight loss experience, time to lose weight, complication rate and what were they were all the key questions for me in the initial consult. One thing I covered in addition to ESG was to find out from my doctor how many other bariatric procedures he had done. I asked this as ESG was still quite new here. Apparently there's a similar suturing method (Overstitch) and instrument used in ESG as VSG. My doctor was very familiar with this technique and made me more confident. In the end we agreed ESG was a better fit for me than VSG (less recovery time due to no incision and less invasive technique (not removing part of stomach) was a big factor in my decision for ESG). I also asked about ESG reversal and my Dr. was quite clear ESG is permanent procedure, in the initial weeks as new tissue builds up around your smaller stomach. The diet plan they shared with me during the dietician consultation later, covered a lot of post procedure eating questions. Think you're in a good place to be ready for this one! Good luck and let us know if there's anything else we can share to help!

Hey Bubbles, thanks for sharing the extra info, really helpful to others. Sounded like a great discussion with your Dr. in the midst of a really stressful day! I was impressed with the candor and quality of feedback you received. I heard a similar message about not "falling back" on doing a future tightening to get the results we want. I was laughing with you when I read your Starbucks comment, I was seriously there on the caffeine intake and haven't had a coffee since Nov 18th! No headaches or signs of withdrawal, never thought I would say that! Very positive your history with scar tissue or immune disorder/foods wasn't an issue for an ESG. Really cool for the forum how transparently your are sharing your experiences! Keep going!

MikeThaBull, welcome and great question. I recently had ESG, I haven't had any reflux issues before or after, but do remember my head nurse and doctor asking about my history of acid reflux during my initial consult. I would encourage you to bring relevant medical records or detailed history to your consult so you can have a well informed discussion with the doctor. Great suggestion by James about other potential procedures, be sure to ask about this as well. Sorry couldn't provide more specific info, please let us know how the discussion turns out. Good luck!

Mel, thanks for all your info and continued support. Totally agree about the value of sharing our experiences, definitely a new procedure, I found no one near by to share these with. I think the uncertainty from ESG being new increased the feeling of isolation. In my research phase and after my initial consultation in July this forum was a big part of how I gathered the information and positive experiences to make my decision to proceed with ESG. I'm so pleased that I followed through and have completed the procedure, now the behavior choices to sustain my weight loss are being supported by my much lower desire for food (both quantity and frequency). I asked my Dr. about this and he said it was a combination of hormone changes (smaller stomach volume) and a much quicker response from our nerve cells in the smaller stomach to indicate satiety (fullness). Pretty interesting to me even if I don't totally understand it. I'm doing great, had my one week follow-up appointment yesterday and all was well. I'm still on liquid diet for the next week and then I shift to puree. Gas pains are gone and no complications following the procedure. Starting to see signs of weight loss, off to a good start in that regard. Really having no issue with following the new diet regime to the letter, I am in such a different (better!) place mentally. Next appointment in early Jan (6 weeks). Hope you continue to do well, great to see your weight loss progress!! Keep in touch, Tex