Tiffykins

Dang it, I don't know why the pics won't show up now, they were earlier. I guess I'll have to upload them through photobucket. . .

YAY YAY those are wonderful NSV's. . . Keep up the great work, and enjoy the successes in 2010.

It shows up now ! ! !

Hi joyfuljoy, I'm an easy-going, Texas girl as well. Welcome to the forum, and I'll be more than happy to help you with you any questions, concerns, pre-op and post-op. Feel free to contact me here through private messaging, or you can find me on Facebook using the email address tifjb1@yahoo.com I'm by no means an expert, and if I don't know the answer, I'll find it for you. Plus, everyone here is extremely helpful, and insightful, don't ever hesitate to post your questions, someone will answer you. I'm off and on here most every day.

Barbann, I'm so happy to hear you are feeling better. Each day gets a little easier, and you'll start feeling more like you. Cheers to your new life in 2010 ! ! !

I hope you feel better soon. I kind of have that hungover feeling this morning, but with good cause. I had 3 glasses of wine last night spread out over 5 hours.

It's definitely different than dieting once you get past the all too necessary post-op diet. Once you're regular food, you can enjoy just about anything you desire just in smaller quantities. My entire relationship with food has changed, and I am more normal now than I have ever been.

Great success Shontel ! ! ! I hope 2010 brings you more success, and great blessings.

I make John, Caysen and Hank (the basset hound) pancakes at least once a week. I'm not sure how I manage to not eat them because I used to love pancakes, but now they seem so "heavy" to me. Thanks for the review on these.

With laproscopic procedures, they fill your abdominal cavity with CO2 gas so they can manipulate around in there with the scopes. Some of the gas releases, but some of it gets trapped. Walking helps move the gas pockets around, and helps them "release" or dissipate. Don't freak out over gas. I had a gas bubble trapped in my shoulder for a couple of days, but stretching and walking resolved all my gas issues quite quickly.

I'm an insurance agent, and have never seen a claim be paid for an excluded procedure retroactively. Tricare does cover the procedure at MTFs that offer the procedure just to let you know that is how I had my revision covered 100% by Tricare Prime.

You are most at risk for leaks immediately following surgery, and then another 6-8 weeks per my surgeon. That is why the post-op diet is so important. I had a leak 2 days post op with my revision. I had zero symptoms until I took a sip of the contrast liquid, and then I had a horrific burning sensation in my abdomen. Before that I was up walking around, no fever, nothing. Leaks can happen for several reasons post-op i.e. advancing your diet too early, overeating early out, profuse vomitting.

You'll be having peacock poops for a couple of days. I swear my toilet bowl looked like an irradescent rainbow for awhile during the liquid stage. Hang in there. I also stretched my shoulder quite often to try to get that gas bubble to move.

Edit your AVATAR picture. The profile picture shows up on your profile when someone clicks your username. For us to see a picture when you post/reply in threads, you'll need to update your avatar picture. Hope this helps.

LOL, I loved mojitos before surgery well those and rum/cokes. I haven't tried anything stronger just because I'm a wuss now. You need to come around more ! ! ! I don't want to give medical advice, but if you are eating regular food , and think you may be able to handle it, my surgeon's words to me were "take it slow, don't overdo it, alcohol is wasted/empty calories".

There's little difference between 32, 34, 36 boughie size in all honesty. If you do a google search on the sizes, you can find images and read that there is minimal difference. The big difference comes in when you compare a 36f to say a 48f or 52f. Boughie size is just a guide, a lot of this surgery's success is dependent on the surgeon's skill level. Removing all of the fundus, making a tight sleeve with the boughie as a guide, and it really depends more so on the surgeon's techniquie rather than just the size of the guide tool he/she is using. Technique gets better, and more "honed" with practice, and number of procedures just like complications decrease substantially after a surgeon has performed 300+ sleeves. I have a 32f, and I can eat the same amount, if not a little more than Linda and she has a 36f. I can typically get in about 3-4oz of meat, with a couple bites of carbs like potatoes, or rices or a few bites of salad.

I was cleared for alcohol consumption at my 3.5 month follow up. I've only had a couple of white (Riesling) wine with zero ill effects. I didn't get drunk quickly, I didn't catch a buzz, I didn't get nauseated, but I did eat in between the 2 glasses. I haven't attempted hard alcohol, and I never enjoyed beer. Do you still have any paperwork from your post-op diet when they indicate alcohol consumption is "okay"?

Glad to hear you are doing well. Rest, sip and walk when you can. Thanks for updating.

I've been checking up frequently as well ! ! ! I hope they are both doing well, and recovering smoothly.

WOOHOOO, what a way to ring in the New Year ! ! !

Hey Shannon, and welcome to VST. Congrats on your success this far, it only gets better ! ! !

Try ordering from Vitalady.com for samples You can order the absolute only Protein I could tolerate by a sample pack of 16 flavors for $18.99 Bodybuilding.com - Optimum 100% Whey Protein - With Faster-Acting HYDROWHEY! On sale now! On the right hand side of the page it's about 1/3 way down the column. I liked the extreme milk chocolate flavor.

I haven't ever been able to figure it out either. My surgeon did 1 leak in the OR, one the day after, and a 3rd on the 2nd day post-op. I am sure Dr. Nick has his reasonings, maybe he is confident in his ability because of his success with low to no leaks.

It's recommended to take a chewable multi-Vitamin with Iron. I tried Flintstones (icky), Centrum chewables (grodey), and then I tried some adult gummies, they didn't have iron, and I was fatigued/exhausted so I switched back to the GNC Solotron with bioavailable Iron. I take one GNC Solotron chewable with bioavailable iron twice daily. It's fabulous tasting, and is better texture wise than flintstone's or centrum's chewable. Calcium is never a bad thing to take. With the sleeve you need to take calcium citrate not the carbonate. I use a liquid calcium citrate that I purchase from vitacost.com I prefer to take the liquid because it's dosage is 1oz instead of 3-6 capsules or chewables of calcium citrate. I also take a sublingual B12, not out of necessity, but I found it gave me more energy.