New Orleans Lady

Wow, honey... I 'm so glad you're alright now... We just never know what the case could be....Thank goodness your okay.... I went into this knowing something like this could happen... i just decided to take the chance, since I would have been worse off if I didn't.....

I started on full liquids this week and drank some milk for the first time. Also, I had yogurt, and noticed a huge chance with the gas.... I guess dairy just does this to me... I may need to resort to lactaid or something....

I'm taking Bariatric Advantage brand for all of the following: Multi vitamins chewables with B complex, Calcium Citrate chews, Dry Vitamin D3 1000 mg, Iron 30 mg, sublingual B - 12, melts under the tounge. In the morning I take all except the D3 and Calcium, because the Calcium and iron cancel each other out, as per my dietician..... So, hours later I take 2 calcium chews and the D3, then at bedtime, I take 2 more calcium chews... I looooove the caramel ones best, but lemon are great, too. The multi's taste kind of chalky but at least I know Im getting what I need since they are specifically for bariatric patients.

It's strange how some doctors will allow certain foods before others. My surgeon's instructions indicate week 5 for eggs. I can't imagine why that would be the case, but it is....

Hello Everyone, I am 12 days post op and am averaging about 500 - 600 calories per day. I am feeling a little weak at this point, but I am more concerned with the long term effects of such restricted calories. I don't want to mess up my metabolism any worse than it already is. I'd like to know when it is appropriate to add more calories in. I started full liquids today. Can you tell me how the progression of increased calories goes? Thanks, Lorna

Hello Everyone, I am 12 days post op and am averaging about 500 - 600 calories per day. I am feeling a little weak at this point, but I am more concerned with the long term effects of such restricted calories. I don't want to mess up my metabolism any worse than it already is. I'd like to know when it is appropriate to add more calories in. I started full liquids today. Can you tell me how the progression of increased calories goes? Thanks, Lorna

I love to hear success stories such as yours.. I pray that I get there soon..... thanks for sharing....

Congratulations on your success... You look fantastic! I wish you the best for your future weight loss journey...

Thanks y'all.... I guess I'm doing ok right now with the calories I am taking in.

$13,600. includes everything in Louisiana

I understand that some people get what is called "head hunger". It will ease up on you soon.

June 13th in Louisiana

what size is your bougee? I understand that the smaller the stomach size, the more nauseated you can get? Just wondering if that has anything to do with why you are throwing up so much. I haven't vomited yet and I am 12 post -op. I haven't had any nausea either. just curious about whether size has anything to do with that or not.

Surgical Specialist of Louisiana are located in Covington, La with another office in Slidell, La. They are an awesome group of doctors, and have very low complication rates, I believe less than 1%..... I was extremely happy with my doc, James Redmann, but they are all great doctors. Other doctors travel here to watch them do surgery since they are known for their low complication rates and successful surgeries. Good Luck with whoever you choose to go with.

Hi Pagie, If I were you, I would take what your trainer told you to heart. Muscle weighs more than fat, so when you are building muscle, your weight loss may slow down initially, but once you build more muscle, the muscle will help you burn fat and you will start dropping weight again. Muscle speeds up your metabolism as well. The goal is not to lose weight, it is to lose fat only.... so anything you do to help improve fat loss is the right thing. Building muscle is the right thing to help improve fat loss, even if the scale temporarily doesn't drop as fast as you would like. Overall, you are doing exactly what you should be doing, and in the long run, they weight will come off even better with more muscle. Don't worry about the scale so much..... Listen to your trainer.....

My husband was against me having the surgery as well. I felt that this was a life or death decision, and I needed to take action whether he wanted me to or not. It's expensive to get this surgery, but I was looking at what the expense would be if I didn't. Heart attack, stroke, etc.... is far more costly, and at 52 years old, and being well over 100 pounds overweight, I knew that is where I was headed. I got a credit card with zero interest for 18 mos and charged it. I did this with it in mind that once I was feeling better I would get extra work to pay it off within that time. I know I will be more productive financially once I am feeling better. The weight had me in jail, and I couldn't get out. Carrying around all of this extra weight at middle age is just too hard for most, and I could not function well doing it. I went against my husband's wishes, and did it anyway, and now he is okay with the idea and tells me how I am looking better and better each day. I'm so glad I did it, but I was over 50 BMI... I needed it desperately. Good luck in your decision making.

Hi Tracy, I'm Lorna, and I am 11 days post-op. I would love to be friends, and I am happy to offer you any information that I can. For me, this whole process has been a cake walk..... no kidding! Last year, I had gallbladder surgery, and talk about a difficult time. I was anticipated another difficult time with this, and there was none. The hardest part for me is taking the necessary time to recuperate after major surgery. Just having to rest and take it easy. I have been up and about since day one, but it's normal to get tired for the first month, I guess due to not eating food, esp carbs. But my whole experience has been soooo much easier than I anticipated. call me if you want....985-882-3927, and I'll be glad to talk to you anytime. I know how you feel about now, because that was me just a few weeks ago...I am loving my sleeve. I'm not on solids yet, and start full liquids on Monday. I have lost a total of 43 lbs since i started my pre-op diet. I did that for a couple of months before surgery and lost 22 lbs. I was over 50 BMI as well, but I was not on only liquids. My doc gave me a choice of diets to go on, with liquids for 1 week prior to starting the regular pre op diet. Since surgery 11 days ago, I have lost 20 lbs more. Not being able to eat isn't bothering me at all because I am not hungry. I am getting all of my liquids, Protein and exercise in each day, and resting as needed. This is the best thing in the world.... loving it....

I would not schedule anything for 1 week after surgery. This is major surgery, and although I had almost no pain, and felt really great, I am a little weak, tired alot right now. I guess it's normal considering major surgery and no food for the past almost two weeks. This is a time for rest, as much as possible, to let your body have the time it needs to heal. I am 11 day post op and still in need of rest time. I wouldn't push yourself to hard to fast. I am trying to get my exercise in regularly, but also my rest time as well.

Do y'all know what size your new stomach is? As I understand, it goes from Bougie size 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, and up to a 40. I asked my doc what size he made mine and he said 34. I am 11 days post op as well. I was able to consume alot of liquid from day 1.

To Souledout.... My doctor also recommended box meals as well. The reason is to keep the calories controlled. I found some box meals that had a substantial amount of whole grains and protein.... some are pretty healthy.

You look great! Congrat's on your success..

Yes, my surgeon recommended me to start vitamins upon discharge from the hospital, as long as you aren't nauseated and can tolerate them.

Congrat's to you on your successful weight loss. I hope all goes well with gaining your muscle back. Sorry to hear that you lost some in the process. Hopefully, others will learn from your mistake.

I kInow my weight gain after surgery was due to fluids... It came right off once they took me off of the IV that delivered fluids to me. I was able to take in my clear liquids pretty good and with the IV delivering fluids as well I gained 7 pounds.... But that didn't las long....

Hi Everyone, I had my GVS surgery on June 13, and all went well. I remember laying in bed waiting for surgery, and the next thing I remember is waking up in my room with it all done. I had a mild cramping in my chest, but it went away as soon as the nurses gave me meds. I remember walking down the hall soon after I woke up to insure that gas wouldn't get the best of me. The nurses kept me comfortable and gave me meds on a schedule. I also had a medicine ball for incisional pain. I never felt any incisional pain whatsoever. I walked the halls a few time the next day. I didn't have any complications at all. They wanted to let me go home on the second day, but I said that I wanted to stay one more night. It was included in the package deal, and I felt more comfortable sticking around a little longer. Today is my first day at home post op, and I have been comfortable here as well. I cleaned up the kitchen, walked a little outside, washed a load of clothes, and Sip, Sip Sipped all day... I did my Clear liquids and no problems. I didnt do everything at once, just a little at a time as I felt that I could do. I feel very blessed and very happy and to me, this experience was a cake walk... I realize everyone's experience is different, so I don't want to downplay the realities of others. My prayers are with you all that have suffered and had complications. A couple of weeks before surgery all the way to surgery date, I made sure to exercise by doing weight resistance, and aerobic activity. Not sure if it helped, but I figure getting the blood flowing in the body couldn't hurt. I feel so happy that this is done and over with, and now, I can watch myself deflate. I can't wait...