Tiffykins

I agree. We're hoping to be stationed in San Antonio, but John has to change career fields in the Air Force, and it's a major process. He wants me to be close to family, and 4 hours is way better than 14 hours. I'll definitely let everyone know when we head that way. I'm not sure of the exact dates, but it will be during the kiddo's Christmas break. I just haven't decided if it's going to be the week of Christmas, or the week following. Most of my friends are in the D/FW area, and I have a few friends scattered through San Antonio, Austin and Houston. So, me coming to Texas is an event ha ha ha. It'll be great for all of us to get together. I'll leave the husband and kiddo with the fam, and we have a day or night out. This made me even more excited about our trip.

No more jaw pain. Last night, I took Caysen and 2 of his friends out for Mexican food. I don't know what it is about fajitas, but I always feel fabulous after I eat it. I did make the mistake of tempting fate, and attempting to eat a couple bites of tortilla at the end of the meal. I got to the parking lot, and the tortilla came back up. But, I didn't feel horrible. Today, for lunch I had leftovers because Caysen and I can eat fajitas for 1, and have leftovers. I feel even better today. I decided to treat myself to some coffee today as well. Overall, I feel pretty great. John is working tonight again, and will be back on a day shift starting Tuesday morning. He's just so exhausted, and I hate seeing him like this. He's pulled 12-13 shifts the last 4 nights, and he is just worn out. His sleep schedule has been so screwed since returning home. But, I know it will get better once he is back on his normal schedule. The squadron is having a Halloween function this coming Thursday, and I'm excited. I volunteered to help decorate, and make cookies. I'm making these adorable broomstick cookies. I kind of have a reputation to uphold in the baking/cooking department with the squadron ha ha ha. Last year, I made cinnamon strudel bread for a fundraiser bake sale. I made 6 loaves. The first loaf sold for like $7, but by the end of the day the guys were paying close to $30 for one loaf, and fighting over them. Everyone told John that he better "hang onto me" because of my baking. John wanted me to just pick up some pre-made cupcakes or cookies, and I told him NO WAY. I have to make sure whatever I make is a big hit. Anyways, I can't decide if I'm going to dress up or not. The commander's wife and I have chatted via Facebook, and she is dressing up and hinted that I should as well. If I do dress up, I think I'm going to be a Pirate. Nothing too sexy, or scary. But, I know that one "friend" that broke up with via Myspace after my hospitalization is going to be there, and just because she was so nasty to me, I want to look smashingly wonderful. I know that is spiteful, and completely out of character, but after her horrendous comments, I want to show her just how wonderful I look, and how fabulous I am doing. She made a surprise stop off at the squadron last week, and talked to John. Essentially, she welcomed him back, and apparently decorated their office. Her husband is leaving the squadron in 2 weeks, and has never decorated the squadron for any other holidays, but she made a special 15 mile trip up there to decorate the office that her husband, and John share. I told John "whatever, she just wanted to come up there you were there." No one can convince me otherwise. To me, it was just a bit coincidental/convenient for her to show up there when John was going to be there, not to mention with all 4 of her kids in tow. Now, logically, if she wanted to decorate, wouldn't be smart to go decorate the office, when 3 of your kids are in school, and there is no one in the office. I know I should let it go, but when someone hurts me so deeply, it's difficult for me to not see her ulterior motives, and let it crawl all over me. Luckily, 2 more weeks, and we'll be done with them forever. I told John that my name nor my child's name should never come out her filthy mouth, and he better defend me if anything crap gets started. I plan on being cordial, but I'm not going out of my way to be nice to her. I'll avoid her like the plague essentially, but I'm not going to allow her to ruin our night. Tomorrow we're going to attempt to make it out to the fair. I really want to do something fun, and get us all out of the house for something other than errands, and grocery shopping.

For me, the sample diet my program was simply a guideline for the type of foods to eat. Such as, my plan advised to eat fish twice a day, well I don't like fish, so I substituted beef or chicken. I didn't follow it to a "T", and it hasn't had any negative effects on me at all. As for the eating more than the recommended amount, your stomach is still healing. You should not overfill it, and you really don't want to feel the uncomfortable, cramping, pain that comes with overfilling your sleeve early out. You put yourself at a higher risk of a leak if you overeat. I'm not trying to scare you, but it is the truth. I'm 5 months out, and can barely eat 4-6oz of yogurt, or creamy Soups. But, I eat extremely slow, and make sure that I listen to my body. There is a learning curve early out, and it takes 20 minutes of eating for your stomach to tell your brain that you are "full". If you consume more calories than recommended, yes, it will effect your weight loss. During the initial post-op phases, the key is allowing the stomach to heal properly, and to maximize your weight loss.

That is so amazing DeeDee. If it's the pink dress in the picture, I love it.

I'm originally from Texas (out in Parker County, Weatherford, Tx), but lived in Bedford for much of my adult life. I had to get into the city after graduation. The country life was no longer for me. Anyways, I hope the seminar goes great, and I agree with Vegas, that it's great that you 2 will be able to go through this together. I've heard great things about Dr. Nick, and will be keeping up with your progress. I think when we travel back to Texas in December. All of "Dallas" girls should get together one day for lunch or dinner.

Norma, I'm so glad your day is right around the corner. I just know you are going to do fabulous, and can't wait to hear all the details. We'll all be cheering for ! ! !

I don't know about the insurance/self pay stuff, but I wish you the best on your testing and psych eval.

At your next follow-up with your surgeon, ask him what size of boughie (measuring tool they use) to make your sleeve if he didn't already tell you. Also, it takes 20 minutes of eating for your stomach to tell your brain that you are full. Try slowing down, and eating a smaller amount in 20 minutes to see if you are full. liquids, even soups, leave our tummies a lot quicker than more dense food such as solids. If you are eating the soup quickly, it's going to pass through faster meaning you can eat more than some people.

It's an awesome feeling ! ! I'm glad you had a great night, and congrats on your progress. Keep up the great work.

Since I've transitioned to eating normal food, I've had a couple of instances where I will burp little pieces of food up hours, like 6-8 hours, after I've eaten. For examples: I can eat the inside of a small chicken eggroll in the afternoon around 1pm, then eat dinner around 7, and somewhere around 9pm, I'll burp up a bit of the cabbage from the eggroll. It's weird, and to be honest pretty gross. I've had some Wendy's chili which has celery and onions, and those came back up hours later as well. I'll eat some tuna with pickle bits, chopped up tiny, and then 3-4 hours later a piece of the pickle will come completely undigested. It's happened with various Beans. I quit eating corn after one attempt because that was disgusting. Now, what's even more strange. I can eat Mexican food especially chicken fajitas with the sauteed onions, and have zero ill effects. I can eat guacamole without any of the chunks of tomatoes and onions (I hate tomatoes and raw onions). I don't know if it's not chewing well enough, or slow motility in my sleeve. I drink about 30 - 45 minutes after eating, and I drink right up to the time my first bite hits my mouth. I do chew, chew, chew, but this happens sometimes with various foods. Any ideas, suggestions or advice?

I didn't drink any coffee for the first couple of months. Plus, I had broken my 40oz a day habit, I didn't want to get it back. Now, at almost 5 months post-op, I might have a cup of coffee every other week. I just don't want to get back into the habit of drinking it again.

I won't have anything done until after we have baby #2. Breast augmentation/implants will definitely be done. Tummy tuck will definitely be done as well. Our insurance is tricky. I know of several women who have both procedures covered after weightloss surgery. I even know several female military members that have breast implants paid for because they claim mental defect from being flat chested. Our insurance requires lots of documentation, and mental health to get the plastics covered, but it is possible. Any plastic surgery for me is at least 2+ years away.

I'm glad to hear you're doing well. . .

I've heard a few my friends that had RNY that had to do a colon cleanse, but I haven't seen it for VSG patients.

Thanks Bob for asking. My surgeon just deployed to the sandbox for 6 months, and I don't have a follow-up until December. It's the weirdest thing I've ever had happen. I don't get a sensation that anything is going to come up nor does it feel like when I don't chew well enough followed by a bit of sliminess. It's just so weird to explain. It's like I'll take a drink of Water, then BAM a tiny burp with a hitchhiker pickle piece. I'll keep up with this thread to see what your doc says could be the cause.

It is super weird. It's like some foods hide out in my tummy, and then come up later. For dinner after the eggroll, I actually had some mac-n-cheese. None of it came up.

I had it happen to me. It wasn't excruciating pain, but my surgeon explained it as the air in the stomach "flipping" up trying to escape when we put liquid in. It lasted about 2 weeks, and it wasn't as bad in the evenings. Try exhaling before you sip, make your sips smaller (you may already be doing this). I had to drink in a partially reclined position for a couple of days. I would lay the recliner back about half way and sip. For me to take my Prilosec in the mornings, I have to stand up, tilt my head all the way back, exhale, fill the back of my throat with a bit of Water, drop the pill in the puddle and swallow. Then, I immediately place my arms over my head and sometimes I have to walk around the island in my kitchen. My tummy has to "wake up" in the morning. It doesn't like things thrown in there early on, so this is what I've found works for me at the moment.

Ditto, 100%. Cost, and location would have zero effect on my decision.

Woman, your big words had me googling, and checking out WebMD because I had no clue about any of it. I agree with Jane that the weightloss will help with the symptoms. I would definitely bring it up to the surgeon, and then ask if you should watch for anything specific.

That's awesome Bob ! ! ! I agree with Vegas, that we need new pictures. Keep up the good work, and I'm glad to hear that eating is getting better for you as well.

That sounds just like my husband and me. We used to bicker over the thermostat and the comforter on the bed. The other night he told me "honey, our bed is too big (we have a queen)!" I replied with "are you crazy, it's just fine". He laughed and said, "maybe it's just because your a$$ is so much smaller that I don't get your body heat like I used to, we need to get a full size so I can actually touch you without having to reach a half a mile across the bed." I couldn't help but laugh at him.

Here's a thread where I gave some instructions on how to get a ticker in their signature: http://verticalsleevetalk.com/vertical-sleeve-talk-forum-assistance-suggestions/1469-ticker-challenged.html And here is the thread Alex made for the Ticker Tutorial that has pictures also http://verticalsleevetalk.com/vertical-sleeve-talk-forum-assistance-suggestions/267-vst-tickerfactory-ticker-tutorial-pictures.html

pureed baby foods was on my list of approved solids. However, I could not bring myself to even attempt the pureed baby food meats. No way,no how. For my mushie stage, I pureed/chopped meat in a mini food processor with either mustard or light miracle whip/mayo. Chewing is essential in the mushy stage. I ate tuna A LOT, and just chewed and chewed until it was mushy in my mouth. I had mashed potatoes, and greek yogurt through a lot of the mushy stage as well.

completely set back my progress with my eating. I am having to eat only mushies, and am just down right angry about it. I should of just had the stupid tooth extracted, but I know the consequences of that decision. BUT, I'm so upset that all my progress of eating better, and more calories has been set back 50 steps with this stupid tooth. My stomach has been upset for the majority of today. I had diarrhea twice today because of mushy food. Plus, I'm tired of taking Tylenol and Motrin for jaw pain. I know this is a rant, but I need to post this somewhere. I'm just so passed the point of frustration. I want to eat some meat again, but chewing anything of consistency is absolutely out of the question. Fingers crossed that tomorrow brings less pain, and I can eat.