Elisabethsew

I'm very happy to finally be off the plateau and losing steadily. I do very low fat, carbs from one fresh fruit a day and veggies, and protein from poultry and fish. Protein is a challenge but I did finally find a protein bar I can tolerate... Atkins. It's 200 cal and 17 g of protein. I had the first one at work last night. My desire is to lose as much weight as I can before the knees are replaced in Sept. I know I'll get daily workouts in rehab after the surgery but am looking forward to being able to do all the exercises post rehab that I can't do now.

I was born allergic to milk so I know what I can and can't tolerate... cheeses (yes), milk (no), icecream (no), frozen yogurt (yes). Try staying off dairy for a few days and then gradually introduce things back into your diet and see how it goes.

Thank you! I'm going to give it a try!

Have a safe trip home!

Good luck tomorrow with the insurance company. As the success of the VSG procedure becomes more "known", insurance companies will have to step up to the plate and cover it more. Like WASa, I had the band (3 years of misery) and wish I would have know about the sleeve back then. I definitely got my life back when the band left my body and I revised to a sleeve. Keep us posted on what you decide.

Welcome and thank you for posting! Congratulations on your professional and personal successes. As a "recreational" baker, I feel your pain. LOL.

Hi Janice, I've got 125 to go. Since I can't swallow pills/vitamins, my Breakfast is coffee, pills/vitamins, and a pretzel stick to gag them down. Sad, I know. LOL. I have a big cup of coffee and am full after that so breakfast is basically a non-meal. I find salads go down easily so I take those ready to eat lettuces and toss some into a bowl. I dump a drained can of tunafish (3 oz) on top of the lettuce, add a few grape tomatos, 2 tablespoons of chopped walnuts, and use Walden Farms fat free/carb free/cal free dressing. If I feel hungry between lunch and dinner, I go for fresh fruit. Dinner is a either poultry or fish and some steamed veggies. Drinking fills me up so I try to always drink at least 8 oz of Water or crystal lite or coffee before going for Snacks. I use www.fitday.com to track my food. You can definitely get the rest of the weight off and have done great.

(June 12) -- Popular diets have long pushed the benefits of lowering your carbohydrate intake to lose weight, and a new study suggested that eating a high-carb diet -- with foods like cornflakes and white bread -- could also raise your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Researchers at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center in Israel gave 56 overweight but otherwise healthy men and women foods with different places on the glycemic index. High-glycemic foods include cornflakes, white bread and instant potatoes, while lower-glycemic foods are things like oatmeal, most fruits and vegetables, and nuts. The researchers measured the functioning of a layer of cells that line the inside of blood vessels. If that function, called the endothelial function, is poor, it's thought to increase the risk of heart disease. Blood sugar levels were also measured. The study concluded that high-glycemic meals impaired the endothelial function. "We do urge consumers to have low-glycemic index carbohydrates instead of high-glycemic carbohydrates for better health and less potential hazards for the vascular endothelial function," said Dr. Michael Shechter, senior cardiologist at The Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University in Israel. "High-glycemic index carbs are dangerous since they reduce or inhibit endothelial function ... potentially leading to heart disease," he said. The study is published in the June 16 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

The Acute Effect of Various Glycemic Index Dietary Carbohydrates on Endothelial Function in Nondiabetic Overweight and Obese Subjects -- Lavi et al. 53 (24): 2283 -- Journal of the American College of Cardiology

What you're experiencing is not normal and you should definitely see your surgeon to have the problem evaluated. An esophagram or an endoscopy would rule out whether or not you have a stricture.

Well said! There are good and bad surgeons everywhere and that's why we've got to research before placing ourselves in the hands of these people.

I believe any complications from VSG surgery done in Mexico are treated and covered by insurance in the U.S. If you have a leak while in Mexico, it is treated there. Dr. Aceves has done over 600 sleeves and has no leaks.

Lisa and Vicotria, What size bougie do you have? How many more pounds do you have to lose? I felt like a total failure with the band because I never felt any restriction with it. I revised to VSG and finally do feel like I can be successful. Unlike others who seem to drop 20 pounds or more in a month, I am losing more slowly but steadily... 26 pounds so far. What works best for me is NOT eating in between meals. Do you track your intake of food?

I haven't had that experience but I have felt nauseaus after eating past the point of being full. It also happens when I eat too quickly. It's strange, but I get the hiccups and that's a sign to stop eating.

I got it in a quart size but will buy non-Greek style next time to see if there is any difference in the end product.

What size bougie do you have? You're right about everyday being a struggle and the surgery not being a cure. It's all about choices.

I'm so sorry to hear of the complication but am glad that you got through it all and are on the road to recovery. Keep posting to let us know how you're doing.

One of my good friends (73 years old) had WLS the second week of April and is doing wonderfully. She has the gift of long life in her family and said she wanted to live those years at a healthy weight. I'm an RN and I see patients in their 80's coming in for open heart surgery and doing wonderfully. Why should WLS have an age limit? I applaud you for deciding to have a surgery that is going to add quality and quantity to your life and I bet your friends will have a definite change in attitude when they watch you evolve into a "hot" senior!

Most surgeons want their patients on an acid medication for 3 to 6 months post-op. I am taking Nexium but any PPI medication is fine.

I know what you're saying. At one point (prior to WLS), I went from 440 pounds to 193 pounds. At 193 pounds I fit into a size 14-16. I would look at the clothes in that size and was convinced there was NO way I would fit into them. My head just couldn't see the new me. I also had friends and family members telling me I lost enough and looked fine. Since I was still obese, I knew "enough" was not their perception and that looking fine was very different from being at a healthy weight. You're doing great and will be at goal in no time!

The next time I make it, I'm going to try the regular non-fat yogurt (as opposed to the Greek kind) and see if it makes a difference.

I agree with Mac but it also depends on the size sleeve the person received as well as the skill level of the surgeon. When it comes to eating, you can have a full portion of food that is 300 calories or you can go high fat & calories. You're in control of what goes into your body.

Welcome and congratulations on your success! You truly have turned your life around. Thank you so much for posting your story.

Congratualtions on your surgery! I'm glad to hear you're both doing well and look forward to reading more.

I had the band removed and was revised to the sleeve by Dr. Aceves and had no problems (unlike the band). I love the sleeve and don't regret my decision.