Phoenixrising

I am just a few days past my 2 year post op mark and the transformation I have made has been incredible. I lost 135 lbs in the first 10 months and have easily kept that off for the past 14 months. I went from being a total couch potato to being an avid hiker, hiking almost every day (even in the Phx summer heat). I went from size 26/28 to size 6 and some size 4. I have a different relationship with food and myself and for the first time in my life I eat like a normal person (whatever that is). I eat average sized portions, I get full faster, I stay full longer. I do not count calories or measure my food. I am mindful of carbs (average around 100 gms per day) and about the same amount of protein. I do not have a diet mentality and do not obsess about what I eat, when I eat it or how much of it I eat. I do not do low calorie or low fat. I eat full fat cheese and mayo. I love the skin off rotisserie chicken and dislike white meat chicken or turkey. I do not eat much pasta or bread but did not eat much of those before surgery. I take a multivitamin and calcium daily and all my labs and health have been great. I can still falll back in to old emotional and unhealthy choices regarding food but am able to easily get back on track. I have not posted in here in over a year, I got tired of the bull but thought I would pop back in and let folks know there is life after the sleeve and it is as great or as awful as you choose it to be.

Has anyone had their surgery done at this hospital. What was your experience like?

Maybe I am dense but I fail to see what the problem is. You had surgery you did not commit an armed robbery. I suspect he/she will notice you have lost weight, I suspect he/she might inquire about that. Help me understand what you are concerned about. Are your worried he/she will say something negative about your weight loss, are you worried he/she will not approve? The way I see it and the way I handled my post op life is, folks notice I have lost weight (135 lbs). Some folks ask how, some don't. If they ask I tell them the truth. I know my pcp has been very supportive if me.

I had the sleeve done in Jun 2008 and walked a half marathon (13.1 miles) last Sunday is just under 3 hrs and 15 minutes (about 15 min/mi). I would hardly call that NO energy. I am not sure where your family go their info from but it is just wrong. There is NO malabsorbtion so I am not sure how anyone could die of malnutrition unless they just stopped eating altogether. Please educate yourself from folks that have actually "been there done that" personally not stories from someone who knew someone that told them about someone who knew someone.....

18 mos ago I weighed over 260 lbs and could not walk half a block without huffing, puffing, sweating and stopping. Yesterday 1/17/09 I walked a half marathon (13.1 miles) in: 3 hrs 14 min and 7 Sec I wore a sweat band that said The miracle is not that I finished but that I had the courage to start in the first place. The sleeve surgery and MY major life changes allowed this to happen.

Go For It. It works like everything else in life and this journey just keep putting one foot in front of the other. I had a sweatband on that read The miracle is not that I finished but that I had the courage to start in the first place.

I saw a post elsewhere from a woman who said she developed kidney stones directly attributed to the calcium in her protein drinks. While I am by no means an expert I have been around these boards for almost 2 years and have never heard of this before. I also did lots of research on many different boards and sites before I had my sleeve procedure done in June 2008. I looked at all the protein drinks I had and have used and there does not seem to be overly high levels of calcium in any of them. Please help me understand how this can happen. I am not worried about myself but am just very curious about calcium in protein drinks after I read that post. Thanks

I was sleeve in June 2008. It was not a revision from the band, just virgin sleeve. I am currently 54 years old, 53 at time of sleeve. I am female and 5 ft tall. I lost 135 lbs in about 10 mos and have easily maintained that loss since. I had my surgery in MX on a Friday, was out of the hospital and to hotel Sunday morning. I took no pain meds after Saturday. By Sunday I was drinking liquids with no problems and even able to swallow small pills. I flew home on Monday morning and have had no problems post op. I went back to work 10 days after surgery ( I have a desk job). I could have gone back sooner but was enjoying my time off. Hope this helps

Thanks for responding. I was pretty sure what the poster had said was not medically reasonable. I appreciate the reality check.

I started this journey about 18 mos ago and weighed 263 (I am only 5 ft tall). I lost about 135 lbs in less than a year and have easily kept if off since. It has been an amazing journey.

That is part of the reason I posted this where I did. I thought the Dr might know as I had never heard of something like this.

Thanks for the replies. I know about how protein can impact the kidneys what got my curious enough to ask this question was that the poster said it was the CALCIUM in their protein drink that led to the kidney stones. I am puzzled because 1) I did not think there was that much calcium in protein drinks 2) I had never heard before that there is a link between calcuim in food products (like protein shakes) and kidney stones

I do an itemized return so I just calculated my expenses from my surgery, transportation to and from surgery and related expenses.

You will also find this posted on the thread related to my surgeon Dr Contreras. It is important that erroneous info be cleared up. This is a reply I sent to another poster based on her alleging that another physician with the same name was actually the surgeon I used. This is untrue and I wanted to set the record straight. Here is my cut and pasted reply to the other poster. Not sure where you got your "facts". Same name but totally different surgeon so far as I know. Might want to check out your posts for veracity before posting things like this. Additionally my most recent internet check (this morning) indicates it is a well know and highly rated clinic (albeit alternative medicine). The Dr Contreras that you are referring to also has a new book coming out that is edited/co-written/recommended by many well known and vetted cancer surgeons and other physicians.

I am another "oldster" with the sleeve. I had my surgery 6/27/08. I have lost around 135 lbs and have kept if off easily for the past 4 months. I was 52 when I had my surgery and was 263 prior to the pre-op diet. I have had no problems post op and have no problems tolerating any foods. I am eating "normally" for the first time in decades. I am healthier than I have ever been and generally walk 6-10 miles per day (training to walk half marathon in Jan). I don't know anything about body shapers but I am happy to share my sleeve success.

I have a history of Chron's and for the most part am asymptomatic with a 2 day flare up once every few years. I was told that the sleeve is the recommended weight loss procedure for folks with Chrons or IBS type illnesses. Since I am so infrequently symptomatic I can't really speak to what, if any, impact it will have on the Chrons itself. I do know that I have been healthier than I have in decades overall. I lost 135 lbs in less than a year and have easily kept if off for the past 4 months. I started with a BMI over 50. I am 54 years old, 52 at time of surgery. I have had no problems post op, and was off pain meds the day after surgery and out of the hospital 2 days after surgery. Hope this helps.

I applaud your efforts to get input from others but not sure it will help YOU find something YOU like. I have tried other protein drinks that folks have RAVED about and thought they were nasty and gross. On the other hand I really like Muscle Milk light which many folks find disgusting. It is all about trial and error and finding what you think tastes good or at least tolerable. The best protein drink is the one you will actually use. Most post-op folks will not be using protein drinks for the rest of their lives so it is not like you are making a life long commitment to any product. I would encourage you, and any one else looking for the "best" protein drink to go to somewhere like GNC or Hi-Health or Vitamin Shoppe and get some of the individual packs/cans/bottles/envelopes of different ones and see what works for you. As for the bullets, I agree they are not the best quality protein however if it is what someone can actually tolerate and ingest they might be a place to start. 100% of 42 gms of poorer quality protein is still better 0% of the best protein on the market. Before I get piled on, I am not suggesting anyone make the bullets their sole source of protein for the rest of their lives. I am just suggesting that something is better than nothing.

I too had some of the same concerns about the band and RNY as you did which is why I opted for the sleeve. I was self-pay so I could have chose any procedure and knew the sleeve was the best option for me. I did not want any procedure with malabsorbtion. Although it works fine for many folks the friends I know that had problems related to malabsorbtion had major health problems despite doing everything "by the book". The risk was not worth it to me. The band also had too many risks for me such as erosion, slippage, ports flipping and the "art not science" of finding the "perfect" fill amount to give enough but not too much restriction. Again I know many who have been hugely successful with the band but for me the risks did not outweigh the benefits. I had the sleeve about 15 mos ago. I have had NO problems post op. Had surgery on Friday, out of the hospital on Sunday and back home on Monday. I needed no pain meds once I left the hospital. I have had no problems with reflux, lactose intolerance, GERD etc that many experience. I have lost 135 lbs, went from size 28 to 6 petite and have been off all blood pressure meds and no longer need CPAP machine since about a month post op. I can eat anything I choose albeit in normal portions. I get full faster and stay full longer which allows me to easily maintain my loss. I do not have a diet mentality and do not feel deprived. I am heating like a normal person and making healthy choices. Do I struggle sometimes , yes I do because the surgery makes is much easier to make good choices but the responsibility is still on me. Good luck on this amazing journey

You might want to try a few different protein drinks starting now. Your tastes could change after surgery so I would not stock up just yet but at least you will know what did not work for you. I prefer ready to drink shakes both for the convenience and more for the taste. I find all of the powder ones I tried nasty and more of a hassle than simply opening a shake and tossing the container when I am done (actually I recycle them). I prefer Muscle Milk light, Atkins and EAS Mypoplex low carb. I get Atkins and EAS at Walmart and Muscle Milk light at Costco. The bottom line is that you MUST get enough protein in daily both pre and post op.

I am trying to figure out who the current admins on this board are. I know about Susan and Alex but others seem to come and go. I know that Wasa and Eliazabethsew resigned a few months ago. I may be mistaken but I thought Mac was an admin but now I see her as a registered user. How does the process work to become and admin and how does it work in reverse. I am curious.

I apologize I should not have posted what I did. Admittedly when that subject comes up I go to my "ugly place" instead of my "happy place".

Please do NOT equate me with Wasa. While it is true that we are both happy with our surgeons there are some major differences 1) I have never told an outright lie about another poster and she has repeatedly done this. I know this to be true because I was the one she lied about. 2) I have never posted anything that I could not back up with verifiable sites or information. Wasa has repeatedly posted info and when asked to provide sites or sources she becomes argumentative and hostile 3) I have NEVER accused her of being a paid poster, and in fact, have repeatedly said that I have no proof that she is. She, on the other hand has accused me of being a paid poster for a surgeon I did not even use. I just found your post somewhat amusing since Wasa is probably the one that most often is believed to be a paid poster.

Funny most people thinks Wasa was/is a paid poster. Her posts were often of questionable veracity unless it was about Dr Aceves

I have no idea who is or isn't paid to do what though I have some very strong suspicions. Folks want to extoll the greatness of their surgeons I get that. What I don't get is the need for these folks to say nasty things about other surgeons that are most often not true and/or based on highly questionable facts. I have said this from the start and will continue to say it. Some surgeons advertise heavily on this and similar other boards. Their ads work and more folks use them so they are promoted on this board by the patients who had great experiences, thus their names get seen more frequently so more folks tend to use them etc. This is all well and good HOWEVER there are thousands of surgeries being done in many countries everyday by surgeons who do not advertise on these boards. These are highly qualified, experienced, skilled surgeons who, for whatever, choose not to promote their practices/programs in this venue. Because they do not advertise here they are not as "popular" which many folks translate to to mean they are not experienced or skilled. I personally do not care who had what procedure with which surgeon. I had a great experience with my surgeon and would recommend him in a heartbeat. As I have posted before "you can argue with me but you can't argue with my results.