BigZ

At that stage 1 can of soup was 3-4 meals. And it would take 45 min to an hour to finish 3-4 oz.

As a BCBS users, I ended up doing self pay and going to Mexico....it was a joke to try and use BCBS.

Yes, I felt that way until I was onto the puree stage and could suffice the hunger/growling with a little bit of food with consistency. I am assuming you are still on liquid only at this point? You are used to eating food, and your stomach is looking for it, liquids pass through pretty quick, it is essentially a funnel, it comes in and out pretty quick (~5 minutes). Once you get puree foods they last a bit longer in the stomach so the growling etc will go away.

Sorry you are going through this. At this point it is mind over matter. If you are struggling it might be worth looking into a therapist. 10 day pouch reset - day 1 clear liquids, day 2-3 full liquids, day 4-6 puree, day 7-9 soft foods, day 10 small healthy meals, continuing forward.

Your stomach is still healing (6-8 weeks PO), and it still hasn't adjusted to your smaller stomach size. It will get better over time.

My surgeon run's specials, I think my overall cost was 4200. My daughter had it done same day with me and she was 3700.

It is a brain game for sure on those road trips. There are a lot of protein snacks that are good. My last road trip I took Quest Protein Chips with me, they hit the spot for a snack. As far as restaurant eating, and there isn't a healthy option, most restaurants will give you a burger wrapped in lettuce, or a grilled chicken sandwich and hold the bread/mayo etc. There are ways to eat healthy on a trip even going to McDonalds. I typically will find a sit down place if I need to eat lunch/dinner etc, even if it means driving another hour to the next town. Gives me time to get that leg stretch in and find something that I can eat that won't break my weight loss goals. I will say I was super worried about hunting last year, we always eat all the junk non stop, and meals aren't exactly great. I was able to keep everything under control, only junk I had were chicharrónes, and some sugar free jerky. I kept a protein shake with me every day as some days we hunt through meals.

Don't worry about calories for a while. Once you are on the last phase for maintenance etc you will monitor more. I want to say by the time you are around 6 months you should have up to 1000 calories a day, and then with maintenance it is 1100-1500 calories a day. You aren't going to be able to eat enough (if you follow their guidelines) for the next while to worry about it. I am 5.5 months PO and I am between 600-800 calories a day. I only have my 3 meals, plus a snack if I am low on protein.

Yes a holter monitor or something similar, they will have you strapped up to an ECG monitor that you wear around your neck for 24 hours, with ECG pads/wires. If you show signs of anything, they may have you wear it longer. Hope it isn't anything serious and just your body reacting the surgery!

My cousin just had the surgery plus the hiatal hernia surgery 2 weeks ago, she still struggles with liquid intake. She still has to set a timer to sip sip sip. Try walking more for the gas pains, it helps get rid of them. Every hour walk for 5-10 minutes. I am 5.5 months post op and the first week was hard to drink anything, cold or hot. Even when I hit the puree stage it was hard enough to get liquid in let alone something with a thicker consistency. It will get better over time. I agree, contact your surgeon, see if they have any other options.

I did the Mexico self-pay, even with my insurance the process was almost a year long before approval, and estimated costs out of pocket were still more than going to Mexico. I wouldn't touch semaglutide with all the issues with it and weight loss. It works for some, but the friends I know who have done it have all put back on all their weight and 20 pounds after they quit it. Too many issues that can happen with it, stomach paralysis, rotten food in your stomach, etc. If you have HSA/FSA there are ways they will cover your surgery in Mexico or go towards the cost. I had a lady in my surgery group in Mexico that was able to use her HSA/FSA completely, I know she said she had other paperwork etc she had to do and get approval before hand as it was out of the country. I believe Go Light Bariatrics has a financing option, and I want to say it was interest free.

You have got this! One of the best steps/tool towards your weight loss goals! I am now 5.5 months Post Op, and I wish I would have done it sooner! I won't lie, the first few days are uncomfortable, but it will go away pretty quick!

Go see your Dr ASAP, don't forum this. Go get an ECG done. You may have AFIB, or it could be something else. If it happens consistently there could be a big issue, if it is just a once in a great while thing it may be ok. I went into AFIB for over 24 hours a year ago. It happened one time, and hasn't happened since, and by the time I got to the Dr it was cleared up. If you have a newer fitbit they have the ECG app, when you are feeling the palpitations run a check. But make an appt with your Dr and/or see a cardiologist. However, it is normal to feel a missed beat or something on occasion, but nothing that lasts for even 10 minutes.

Unflavored isopure is what I used, or the gatorade zero protein drinks. I struggle with enough protein on food alone at 5.5 months PO. I find myself having a protein shake. I am trying to wean off the shakes, which means eating more protein snacks (Quest Protein Chips).

5 months P.O. and I haven't bought new clothes yet. I luckily had some old clothes that fit, the rest are way big. Pants I wear a belt that pulls it all together. I am waiting until the 6 month mark to buy a few clothes. 156.2 pounds down total. 137 since pre op, and 117.2 since surgery.

Exactly why I didn't tell many people beforehand. I think 5 people knew I was having it done, not including my parents. They all found out after, and I still haven't told people (family/friends) that I have had it done, if anyone asks about my weight loss then I will say something.

I have had more friends/family tell me now that they were worried for my health etc etc. Of course only a couple close friends told me they were concerned before I started losing weight. It is what it is, fat jokes etc don't bother me, I made them when I was at my heaviest. I know people talked behind my back, it is human nature.

Dr gave me Allopurinol that I took for 3 months. My last blood check was good, so he had me stop taking it. I haven't had gout before, but this weight loss is bringing it out.

I am 4 months since I started pre-op. HW - 469.8, Pre Op Weight - 450.6, 12/4/23 Weight - 340.4 Pictures are Pre-Op to today (12/4/23) Down 129.4 Overall, 110.2 since Pre-Op, and 90.4 since surgery (Aug 15, 2023) Still have a way to go for goal (250).

Thank you!!!

I never did Wegovy (Semaglutide) but a few of my friends have done it. I went straight to surgery. As soon as my friends were off, their body put back on the weight and then some. Too many horror stories about Semaglutide, rotten food stuck in stomach, stomach paralysis, to name a few. My best friends daughter has been on it for 3 months and has only lost 5 pounds, she needs to lose well over 100. Found out her thyroid is messed up so she is on thyroid meds and has lost 10 pounds in 2 weeks. She is still considering surgery, but will let her body adapt to thyroid meds first.

You will get through it! Seems quite a few get feeling off. Our body's hormones have changed, not eating comfort foods, lifestyle changes are apparent. It should wear off before too long, but if it doesn't then you should talk to your Dr about it. I was in a humdrum for a week, it all seemed to change once I was able to start even eating puree and getting other food in.

I did not have a stall either.

I am 3 months PO, and I am around 600-800 calories a day. My dietician claims by 6 months I should be around 1000/day. I do have some days where I am below 300/400 calories. I avg 80+ g protein a day. I still need to drink a protein shake every day.

I am allergic to Tylenol so I have had NSAIDs this whole time. However, it is very sparingly, when I had a fever my surgeon told me to only take 600mg max every 8 hours. I had to give up my knee meds as they are NSAIDs and a 3 time a day pill. I had the gastric sleeve. Talk with your surgeon about it to get their recommendations.