skiingj

Chrissy - For Purees I had some soup but mostly chicken and ground beef pureed with gravy, mayo or broth. It was by far the worst stage for me. I hope April is doing well!

Hi Heather – Sorry to hear! I hope you stick with it and maybe he will change his mind at some point. Keep up the hard work as it will pay off!

Hi Chrissy - I can eat about 1/2 - 1 cup. It just all depends on what and when. I'm not measuring which is a no no but it’s impossible to measure all the time. I think I have a good eye and my stomach sure tells me after the second or third bit that I can only have a couple more bits. The stages get better but a couple really $uck.

Hi My Ladies!!! I thought some guy joined a week or so ago. I must have scared him away! :scared2: Heather - Glad you spoke with Doc Who! Sounds like he has stayed firm. Keep at it! Pat/Pam - You are so right with the emotional eating, hardest part for most of us. I agree whatever surgery you have it’s only a tool. Grazing/snacking will beat any surgery. Any newbie’s should highly consider the Sleeve. I’ve been saying for months that I think it will become the surgery of choice. Sleeve has less maintenance issues but does have its own risks. Having most of my stomach removed was not my first choice as most of you know but in the end I think I’m better off. If I was offered the Sleeve initially I’m not certain I would have done it. As crazy as I think it is (three surgeries) I would do it all over again to have the Sleeve and be where I am today. The first band failure was an emotional hell, the second was shock. I've gained so much from this thread from friendships to the vast knowledge and comfort of knowing how the Kaiser program works. Without it I certainly would have had a more difficult time. It’s a great thread as we are mostly all Kaiser and see the same group of docs. Three cheers for us losers!!!!!!

Evening Everyone! At work... Pat - Thanks for the kind comments! Not complaining about 1-2 pounds a week just though it would be a little more… It’s my fault, lack of exercise and a little snacking. I used to have a ticker but the thing was a PITA to maintain so I just update my signature. Good to hear from you! Thanks for sharing your update. Keep truckin!

Hi Donna! Can't make the meeting. Have to work all weekend so I can have a longer July 4th weekend without taking vacation... I'll miss everyone!

If I remember correctly the new location for EKG's at Eureka is the top floor of the new building. Take the elevator next to the first floor pharmacy up and its right there.

AWESOME ASH!!! CONGRATS!!!! SO COOL!!!!!!!!! Sherri - Welcome to the other side!! Glad everything went well!! Rest and water!

Thanks Pam! 17 pounds is awesome!!! You’re right it all adds up.

I just realized today would have been my one year Band anniversary. Wow does time fly....

Added an avatar pic. I know finally after nearly a year.

Ali - I don't have Gerd either but was told to take Protonix for the first year and probably for life. I hope your hunger never comes back as well! I do get some temptations to eat more but the stomach capacity always wins my mind over so it’s easy to just eat a little. It’s an awesome feeling being satisfied with such a small meal! Pam – Great article thanks for sharing!!!!!!!!! Donna – Can’t make the meeting this weekend. Working so I can take a longer 4th weekend. How is everyone else today?

Hi Tina! Yes like Ali said heartburn (Gerd) is one of the more common issues. I take Protonix to help the stomach out. Ali do you take the Protonix daily? I was told I should take it for life. I haven’t had any signs of Gerd but I can say that my small stomach is more sensitive to spicy foods so I try and take it easy. But they do stress that this type of Sleeve procedure (titanium staples) is new and does not have much of a history. The old Sleeve procedure has a history and because it inserted a Sleeve type mesh around the stomach it had erosion and rejection problems like the band. Even though my hunger has gone done significantly from what I understand the Ghrelin is more of a theory and is not proven. The hunger may come back as I’m still in the honeymoon phase… Chrissy – Glad you are a looser! Haha

Hi swrktp (sorry forgot your name, maybe you can add it to you signature), Not sure there are any of the complications you mention except sometimes the stomach can be too small after Sleeve surgery then a procedure is performed to stretch the stomach out slightly. This is not very common. Once you fill your new small stomach up with food or drink there is no room so if you eat or drink too much it will come back up. Not sure puking has caused any swelling with me that caused further complications like some have with the band. Remember the band is a fixed object and swelling directly causes problems. The Sleeve is just a much smaller stomach so your plumbing/absorption works just like normal but with greatly reduced input capacity. I have only spit up some liquid once in the past six weeks and I’m now four months post-op. Hunger is greatly reduced still which really helps me out. I hope this all made sense as I’m tired and getting ready for bed. Have a great night!

Hi Everyone! We are all doing so well and on the right track! Ash – I ate deli meats, eggs and chicken mostly. You do get so tired of the food and I was not good with mixing it up as I’m a picky eater. It gets better! I’m loving my Sleeve, it’s doing exactly what I want/need; portion control. I’m eating a little of everything I like and loving it. 130 pounds total lost and closing in on onederland. Hopefully by the end of the summer I’ll break into onederland, about 15 pounds to go. Still getting satisfied with small meals and I’m not snacking much. Need to exercise more, I’m not good in that department… Good job Pam putting down the ice cream and cake!!! Sherri – Best wishes for a speedy recovery!! Let us know how you’re doing when you can. Happy Monday!!!

Hi Monique!!!!!!!!!!! Ali - Yes I need to space my drinks out as I used to gulp down a glass of water and now can't do that. Have to learn/retrain myself to take a couple gulps then come back 5-10 minutes for another round... Takes awhile to get used to this. Glad you are doing well!

Sorry to hear you had to go to the ER. I would check with your doc but I've been told I can use either Metamucil or Benefiber. Sometimes I down a shot of MOM.

Hi Everyone! Been so busy it’s hard to keep up. I’m back working at Beale AFB and busy with lots of house projects… Weight loss has really slowed down as I’m only loosing 1-2 pounds a week now, but hey still losing so that’s good. Changed my work schedule around the next couple weeks so I can have a long July 4th weekend in Oregon with some friends so I won’t be able to make the meeting. I’m bummed as I missed the last two being on the East coast. Ash – Congrats on the car! Chrissy – Welcome back and to the other side! Keeping things down the first couple months is a challenge. It will get better. I burped a lot the first couple weeks but no hiccups. Lots of stomach grumbling the first couple weeks with every sip… I drank some lemonade yesterday to fast and some came back up so it’s a learning lesson still four months post-op. Congrats to all the losers! :smile2:

Hello Everyone!!! Chrissy – Congrats and welcome to the other side! Post soon and let us know how you’re doing! Analynn – Sorry to hear! I hope you feel better. In regards to dropping weight before surgery every situation is different but my second (Band) and third (Sleeve) surgeries I was below the BMI they usually want you to be above to be on the program. Co-morbids can make a difference but in my case I didn’t have any as my Sleep Apnea was cured with a surgery a few months before my first Band attempt. I would send a email to your doctor to find out for sure. Happy Thursday everyone!!!!

Hi Pat! Great pictures! You look great!!! How is everyone doing?

Hello Everyone! Happy Friday!! In case some are not receiving Angel’s email’s or are new I thought I’d share this from Angel about the next Kaiser Point West meeting later this month. PM me if anyone needs Angle’s email to sign up. Support Meeting Saturday June 26, 2010 11-1pm conf. rm 2 Workshop 1:30 - 3:30pm Workshop Dr David Kaufman will be speaking the first part of the meeting. He has a fabulous presentation with pictures and plenty of question/ answer time. He is a plastic surgeon with an office in Folsom. You can check out his web site before hand if you are curious. www.thenaturalresult.com Author Gail Engebretson " Fat No More" will also be attending our June meeting. She will be speaking for about 30 min. After a break she would like to do a workshop for us. ( I am so excited!!) The cost is only $25 per person. Please email me if you are interested in attending the workshop. ( Only $20 for the first five people to register ) The workshop will be limited to 17 participants. Even if you are not interested in the workshop, Please come to our regular meeting. The meeting is FREE. YES!!! We will have our clothing exchange. Happy Shopping. On Saturday June 26 the Kaiser WLS support group is privileged to have Gail Engebretson, author of Fat No More, Long Term Success Following Weight Loss Surgery, and Life Coach to WLS patients across the United States, conducting a mini workshop. The workshop, Fat No More is open to all WLS patients – past, present, and future. This workshop will help you assess your areas of strength and weakness, pinpoint barriers to success, provide a blueprint for change, and teach an exercise for overcoming fear. The workshop will be held at the Kaiser Point West from 1:30 to 3:30 PM on Saturday June 26. Registration is limited to 17 participants. Costs: Advanced registration (before June 22) $25 At the door $30 First 5 registrants $20 .

Ash - WOW! Glad you are doing better! Rest, rest and more rest.

Sherri - I'd call.

Now that I’m back in town need to go have my three month labs done, my phone appointment with Doc Who is next week. Lee did you ever get advanced to the final food stage? I never did, well officially. I had steak last week with no problems. Hope everyone is well!!