Tiffykins

I had my gallbladder removed at 8 months post-VSG, and after 120ish pounds lost. I never ate low fat during my losing phase either, but I was doing super low carbs, and only between 600-800 calories per day. I refused to take Urisidol/ACtigall because it carries some contraindications for liver enzymes. During rapid weight loss, our livers are working double time, and there is NO guarantee they will prevent gallstones so I wasn't willing to task my liver even more with only a small decrease on losing my GB later on.

1) Measure your portions RELIGIOUSLY(measure by volume, not weight), do not try to eyeball it early out. Stick with the recommended amount, no more regardless if you feel full or not. Eating until we're full got us fat in the first place. 2) Follow the post-op dietary guideline, and tweak it when necessary to do what works with your body. 3) Drink your fluids, eat your Protein, take your Vitamins 4) Move more when you can 5) Common sense will be your best friend through this journey The sleeve works. The lack of hunger (or decreased hunger that many experience) is fabulous, and that is what I contribute to a lot of my success and continued success in maintenance. I rarely exercised, and hate it. I'm not one of the workout, dopamine junky, I don't get that feel good feeling. It is nothing more than a chore to me, just like scrubbing a toilet in my mind. I know I need it, but I don't do it. You'll love the sleeve compared to the band.

Dr. Wade Barker and Dr. David Kim both in DFW along with Dr. Nick (he was the priciest out of the 3) when I was researching self-pay in Texas if I could not have had it done here in Florida with insurance.

WOOT WOOT ! ! ! You look amazing ! ! !

First off, congrats. Secondly, start eating carbs, not necessarily white carbs, but don't be in ketosis. You need to get into see a doctor immediately so they can pull blood levels, and type your blood. They may not want to see you until you are 8 weeks, every doctor is different. I was advised to eat 1700-1800 calories a day of a well-balanced, nutrient dense diet. You do not necessarily have to see a high risk ob. I have to see one because of my clotting disorder and because of previous miscarriages and my age, VSG plays a very small role in my pregnancy. You'll need to continue to take Vitamins. I'm actually allowed to stay on my Celebrate bariatric vitamins because they have more folic acid, and Iron than some prenatals which are the 2 they look at for pre-natal vitamins. As for the concern of weight gain, believe me, I 'm right there with you. I've gained about 5lbs in 12 weeks, and my belly has popped so none of my regular clothes are fitting, and I'm back up to a size 5. Which is a total mind f*ck, but it's getting better, and I don't want to hear that I'll lose the weight, I effin know I'll lose the weight, but that doesn't make the fact that I'm gaining any easier. I can not comment on getting married. I personally do not believe in getting married out of convenience or pregnancy. But, if you love the man, and want to marry him, then that is what is important. I'm an Air Force wife, and let me just say that if you have not experienced being married to or dated someone in the military or have zero military life experience, it is a total bitch. Believe me, I love the life that the Air Force affords us, but we sacrifice a lot. You and the baby will come second to his career, the military in general does NOT care if you have a baby while he is deployed, his schedule won't change because he's married, nor will they accommodate him in any manner other than giving him more money for his housing allowance, and you'll get insurance that is not all it's cracked up to be. I have learned to maneuver the system, but it is not fun, and there are a lot of regulations that you might or might not like. Being a military wife is by far the most frustrating thing I have ever done. But, I am grateful for the guaranteed paycheck, and benefits, the sacrifices that we make do not compare to the amount of time we spend apart, nor does any of it get any easier. I've adjusted well, but being pregnant, and my husband working 12-15hours a day, 5-6 days a week is exhausting and it's very draining. Marrying a man in the military is not as romanticized as TV or movies it, there are 3 wars/conflicts going on, my husband has a 72 hour bag, and 90 day bag packed and ready to go at a moment's notice, and I have to stare at those damn things every day of my life knowing that if the call comes in, he's gone. My husband has been in for almost 11 years, and is an E5 about to sew on E6, and believe me, military pay sucks. You'll qualify for WIC, and possibly other gov't assistance, and you'll need it. I know I'm not being positive polly, but being married to the military is just that, you're married to the military. There is an old saying " if we( the US military) wanted you to have a wife, we'd issue you one." And in some regards that is 100% true. There are tons of services available to you as a military spouse, and it is a great community, but there is a lot of negatives that come with it as well. I could tell you that it's all sunshine and daisies, but that's a complete and utter lie. With the new administration, they have cut funding, my husband's allowances were cut this year, as were health benefits, and regulations are stringent. BUT, there are a lot of positives. I have zero regrets being a military wife. I'm proud of my husband, and the job he does, but I can tell you that it is stressful, and draining. I use every resource, and available benefit the military life offers. There is spouse tuition assistance, and the Post-911 GI bill can be used for the spouse or children. We are actually using John's GI bill for the kids. He gets an annual tuition assistance from the military, and that is what he uses for online classes for his degree instead of using his GI bill. I am a stay at home mom/wife, but I do major couponing, I shop on base, I stretch every dollar we have, and by no means do we live paycheck to paycheck, but that will all change when the baby arrives. We do live very comfortably on my husband's salary, and I supplement by working part time with my lia sophia business. I really do love the Air Force because of all the resources and services that are available to us, but I won't lie and tell you that the long hours, deployments, TDYs, and exhausting shifts are easy to manage especially with children. If you have questions about the insurance, how it works, or anything else, please feel free to message me. There are 2 different options for the insurance, and it truly depends on how you want to manage your healthcare. There are pros and cons to both options. You will need to sign up for military dental insurance for spouses/children. Again, there is a lot of information, and stuff that you'll have to do if you get married. It's a great opportunity, but go in "eyes wide open". Also, know that the plication surgery is not a covered service with Tricare, nor is VSG, so you might be limited to the first Tricare Prime option which is the H M O option, and Tricare Standard which is the PPO definitely will not cover anything related to your plication. I can explain all this to you in more details, but it's extensive and might be easier to explain via a phone call.

1. I have no idea how many calories I should be eating. I asked and they told me that I don't need to count calories or carbs! I should only look at fat grams and sugar grams and make sure they are under 5 grams. And of course, I should look at Protein and it should be as high as possible. Hmmmm I thought that was interesting. I didn't have to watch fat intake at all, sugar was pretty non-existent because I stuck with sugar free stuff. I watched carbs and protein. Calories were between 600-800 calories, no more than 30-40 grams of carbs, and 60+gr protein. I avoided all fat free products because the carbs and sugar counts were almost double. When they remove the fat, they load with other crap to make it taste better. To this day, I refuse to eat low or fat free. 2. Advil! They told me I could not take Advil....... Tylenol only. I finally had my cycle this week. Most all of my cycles are quite debilitating. They always have been and Tylenol doesn't even scratch the surface for pain. Do your doctors advise against Advil? If I knew I could never ever take Advil again, I would have thought twice about this surgery. They told me never to take it again. I thought it was just while my stomach was healing. Many people win appeals for VSG against insurance companies because NSAIDS including Advil are allowed with VSG. We do not have a pouch that can ulcerate with NSAIDS. Our stomach is just like before, just smaller. It's advised to take NSAIDS with something on your stomach, so I eat a couple of crackers or a few bites of yogurt, pop whatever NSAID I need be it Aleve, Advil, or 800mg RX Ibuprofen, and a little sip of Water to get it down. I've never had issues with NSAIDS. Some surgeons, err on the side of caution with NSAIDS and the sleeve because of their RNY experience. It's well-documented by the pioneers of VSG that NSAIDS are allowed, and just to protect the stomach just like we would if we had our big stomachs. 3. I have a horrible sore throat and cold coming on. I love my Nyquil for just that. They told me no Nyquil. Anyone have experience with Nyquil after the sleeve? I've taken Dayquil and Nyquil liqui caps for nearly 18 months out of my 22 months post-op and I've never had any issues with either. I've taken the Advil sinus/allergy as well. 4. They released me to eat all foods. I am so excited I can eat salad! Did anyone have trouble when they started eating fiber again? They told me that in the beginning to eat it only at home, it can go right through you. Anyone have problems with salads at first? I wasn't released for salads for 3 months. I still avoided them for the most part because they did seem to be difficult to digest. I burped up little partially digested pieces of raw veggies like pickles, carrots and the lettuce. Plus, it took up room that I needed for protein since I got all my protein from food sources. ** DISCLAIMER** this reply is based on my own personal experience and directions from my surgeon. I'm not advocating to take NSAIDS, or go off plan, but to offer my experience and what I've been doing for the last 22 months.

The only reason I'm not using it is because the 2nd or 3rd ingredient is propylene glycol. I understand we aren't consuming huge amounts of this stuff, but I try to keep certain things out of my body. This is one of them. It's kind of the same thought process I use for other things like MSG and other artificial stuff, I believe in moderation, but this one ingredient just kind of freaks me out. I don't know why, y'all know I'm far from "granola" or totally "organic", but I can't bring myself to use this stuff. It could be that we used propylene glycol in the vet world when I was a tech for 12 years. So, when I read the ingredients, I was immediately turned off.

Ohhh how I wish I could give you this rave review that the boobs stay around. BUT, that would be an utter lie. I went from a perky, round, full, beautiful 40-42D/DD (depending on the bra), and today, I'm a TINYYYYYYYYY 32/34 B (well except pregnancy is plumping them out some, not much, but some). And sadly, they are just skin bags now. They fall over to my armpits, my sternum sticks up above them when on my back (that was interesting the first time my husband and I ever "sternum" bumped while humping), I held onto my boobs with a solid C cup, and they still looked good even with 115lbs lost, well least to say another 23lbs lost, and I guess I lost all it all my boobs because they just kept shrinking, and sagging. After this baby is born, and hopefully for my birthday the following year, I'll get new ones. A good bra really helps with what they look like in clothes, but naked, it's not pretty. Honestly, I wouldn't trade my saggy socks with half lemons that I have today for the back fat and thighs touching and rubbing that I had at 270lbs.

Everyone is different. There is not even an average really from what I've read on the boards for over 2 years. For me, I was stuck at 2oz of dense Protein until I was over 4 months out. I stuck to mushy/soft protein such as deli meat with cream cheese, chili, ground meats with some sort of sauce, chicken/tuna/egg salad well into my 3rd month post-op because I could get in the calories and protein goals without having to use shakes which made me puke so I stuck with what worked. I was moved to "regular" food on week 4 of my post-op diet, but I really had a tough time getting in a decent amount of food until 3.5-4 months out. I could eat puree meats, or chili, or meats with some sort of condiment, so those are little tricks I used to get in more protein from food sources. Some don't really struggle after the first 6 weeks, or they just supplement with shakes. I didn't have that as an option so I stuck with what worked for me. A lot of it was also the fact that I did have a leak and lost additional stomach tissue with my revision from the band so I had more trauma than most, but then there are others that report the same thing and they had zero issues with their sleeve nor had any complications.

I'm almost 23 months out, and while I am by far not the furthest out, I had maintained my weight loss for a year until pregnancy. As for long term vets on here, go to the Member listing at the top, go to the "L" and look up the member named Luck. I have maintained my loss by making best food choice, not grazing, and eating Protein first, but I do not diet. If I want potatoes, I eat potatoes. I am not strict with my intake of any particular foods, I eat what I want, just in smaller quantities. I recommend you visiting obesityhelp.com as there is a VSG maintenance board with some 3-5 year out patients with longer term stats than mine.

Extremely normal, and that's why you'll find so many us on a more conservative post-op diet. I was still on liquids at the 3 week mark, but you can try some greek yogurt, refried Beans, mush up chicken/tuna and add greek yogurt to it with a little dry ranch dressing and chew chew chew and when you think you've chewed enough, chew some more. Your stomach is way swollen, and until that trauma subsides, your capacity is going to be super limited.

I just ate for the pure hell of it so it didn't matter what was going on, I ate. For me, keeping myself distracted was my coping skill when I couldn't eat. I would journal, clean house, go for a walk, throw myself into a little project, or I would just wait it out. If you have no restrictions on snacking, or tossing in a snack (within your caloric/protein guidelines), try a cheesestick, some beef Jerky, pork rinds something Protein focused that you can at least eat that won't be considered junk food.

I did look horrible for awhile. Plus, my family totally freaked out because they had never seen me "smaller' than 200lbs. So, it was shocking to see my collarbones, and see my bones protruding. I did go through the gaunt/sickly looking phase, and it was very difficult. Some never experience it, but I sure did, and it was kind of difficult to manage. The hair loss stage and regrowth stage was definitely difficult for me because I lost a lot of hair, and I had chia pet head for several months. I agree she could have used different words, but it sounds like this is just "her". Try not to let her get you down.

Stacy is dead on with this one. It's not the insurance company that necessarily excludes bariatric services, it's the policy itself that was chosen by your provider/employer. Unfortunately, the appeal process will be futile if the insurance policy has the exclusion even if you started the process before the exclusion became effective.

I am more than willing to help you if you'd like to talk. Just shoot me a message.

Personally, I think RNY carries far too many long term complications, and far too many patients are seeking revisions because of 1) complications with pouch/stoma 2) massive regain for it to be considered the gold standard for much longer. I refused to have RNY, and fought for VSG as my revision. Of course, I'm biased, but my results do not lie either nor do the 1000s of others that have revised to VSG from the band. This is my standard reply when people ask me, or pose the question of why VSG and not RNY. Just some food for thought, and my personal reasons on why I went with VSG over bypass. The sleeve has been performed as part of the DS for 20 years, and as a first stage for patients over 500-600lbs as the first step to help achieve weight loss to make bypass or DS safer. They started doing it as a stand alone procedure almost 10 years ago when they noticed some patients didn't need the 2nd surgery to achieve their weight loss goals. The procedure still not standardized because there are variations in technique, but it's getting there. So, the sleeve is only "new" to the WLS world, but has been performed for 2 decades as a first step for 1000s of patients.

I dropped weight incredibly quickly post my revision. I had 115lbs to lose, and did it in 6.5 months. So, I'm a firm believer that weight loss after revision can be just as quick as virgin WLS patients. Stalls will happen after any WLS and they'll pass too. Just keep plugging away, push fluids, Protein and stay positive.

I didn't get protein in until I hit mushies and was able to eat chicken/tuna/egg salads, and other mushy proteiny foods. It's not ideal to drop low on protein as it helps with healing and will help with energy, but you're doing your very best. Stay hydrated, and keep adding it when you can. Unflavored protein doesn't mean "tasteless" and that's what I struggled with the most. To me, the unflavored was the worse tasting and smelling ever. Hang in there, it gets better ! ! !

This too shall pass. . . I honestly love food, the flavor, the texture, the entire experience, but I went through the same thing you are describing. For me, when my capacity was so limited, and I was so focused on Protein and just those tiny portions, it was more difficult to enjoy. But, something changed, and clicked after about 6-9 months. I really was able to enjoy going out, and eating again. Plus, not being focused on the food really helped.

Have you seen the UpCal D crystals? It's a powder that some really love. I've never personally used it, but it has good reviews, and many people that can't handle chewables or pills rely on UpCalD. Just make sure to take it 2 hours after/before any Iron supplement. The iron impedes the calcium absorption.

Perfectly normal. Even when I was dropping down in the size 4-6 range, I was still reaching for 8s and 10s. I can't remember when it finally "clicked", but it was definitely way after I hit goal, and my weight had stabilized.

WOOT WOOT many congrats and best wishes on your continued success ! ! !

I get a to go box for buffets and pay by the pound, it's cheaper and I have leftovers, DOUBLE SCORE ! ! ! I can't bring myself to use a card, I know some have zero issue with it, and I'm glad it works for some people. Just for me, they didn't charge me triple when I ate enough for 3 people, so I'm not going to ask them to accommodate me because I chose to have my anatomy altered so I'd put the fork down. Plus, I'm not one to share my medical history with complete strangers much less that I had bariatric surgery so I wouldn't be fat anymore.

Bread swelled up tremendously for me early out. I tried a couple bites of bread around 3-5 months out, and it was immediate discomfort. I feed it to the birds. Not really wasting it, but it wouldn't be a food I'd even try to eat that early out.

I've eaten it for a year without issue. I did hold off for a bit just like I did with rice, pasta and potatoes, but now it's just another yummy option for me.