TexasT

Welcome Jenny - congrats on your insurance approval and surgery date. You have a right to feel the way you do right now - this is the hardest part of the whole ordeal. Once you have surgery, the hunger hormones will lessen, and it will so easy to eat the way you should. I understand about the Pasta - I used to love it too. But after I was sleeved, I found I don't really enjoy bread or pasta anymore. They fill me up too quickly and make my tummy feel bad, so I prefer to stick with the Protein portion of the meal, and maybe have a small bite or two of carbs. You sound like a strong woman to have beat cancer and gone through what you have at such a young age. This pre-op stage will be over before you know it and life will be much easier. You're right - most Protein shakes do "suck" - but we have to endure them anyway. If you search this site, you should be able to find lots of shake recipes and ways to try and make them more tolerable. There are also clear liquid Protein drinks like Isopure ready-made that I found easier to get down than the shake powder mixes. Compared to chemo, sleeve surgery should be a walk in the park for you. I was back at my desk job part-time just a few days afterwards, but I work at home and could stop and rest when need be. As long as you get up and start walking as soon as you can, pain is usually kept to a minimum for most folks. I'm sure you'll do great!

I know that in the last few weeks I've increased my daily walking from 30 minutes/day to 1-1.5hr/day and I haven't lost a pound. Haven't gained any, but nothing lost either. I do feel like I'm gaining some muscle tone back though, so that's good. Hopefully we'll both have a "break-through" soon and start losing again.

I started feeling hungry about the same time post-op as you are now. Even on an acid reducer. I'm not happy about it because I thought it wouldn't be an issue anymore. But at least the good part is I only have to have a few bites of something and I'm good to go. I keep a dense protein bar with me at all times (30grams of protein) and nibble on it when I feel a pang of hunger. That and water will usually take care of things between meals.

You're already almost half way to goal at just 14 wks! Way to go! Keep up the good work :redface1:.

I have Blue Cross/Shield of Alabama and they don't cover anything WLS related. I was self-pay with the band, and again with my revision. Though I also had my gall bladder out, so insurance paid for that part and also for the hospital stay, etc.

I used to love Cokes, and tried one a couple of months or so after surgery, but it tasted WAY too sweet and I only had a few sips. I drank an un-carbonated orange soda drink last weekend with no problem though. Though I guess if it isn't carbonated it's probably not considered a soda...:redface1:

Gary - as someone married to another old gray-headed guy from Arkansas let me join the group to tell you WAY TO GO! Keep doing what you're doing! (PS - we moved from Bryant to TX in 2002). Pass by Hope on our way to visit relatives in Hot Springs Village and Benton.

I've had to buy 2 sets of "fake" wedding rings as my real one slips off my finger now. I say 2 sets because the first one I got is now too big too, so I got another one yesterday. I'm not rushing out to re-size my real wedding ring until I'm at goal for awhile just in case. I've also been mistaken for my 22-yr old daughter by 2 DIFFERENT PEOPLE seeing my recent photos. That's really cool - though I think these people need to get to the eye doc soon for a check-up:cool0:!!

I had revision band to sleeve surgery on a Friday, went home on Sunday, and was back in the office (I work from home) part of the day on Monday. I only took pain meds for a few days. I also had my gall bladder removed and a hiatal hernia repaired. The hardest part of sitting at my desk was that my back got tired pretty quickly. So just take lots of breaks if you can - get up and walk around, etc. They'll have you up and walking in the hospital a few hours after surgery, so this is something you're supposed ot be doing anyway. As for a pump - my doc gives an automatic pain pump that you wear on a halter that lasts about 3-4 days post-op. It had 2 tiny tubes running out of it that went directly into my abdomen below my breastbone. When it was empty I pulled out the tubes myself and tossed it all in the trash - easy breezy! And thank goodness you aren't having a band! Those things are a pain the booty!

My husband and I will be traveling to Italy in a few weeks to Celebrate our 25th Anniversary so I've been walking to try and get ready for the trip. I've found that I get a much better workout walking outside on the sidewalk than on the treadmill at home. Yesterday I did a full hour in the neighborhood and was nice and sweaty when I got back. I've been to Italy before and know we can walk up to 10 miles a day sightseeing, so hopefully that will burn off the calories from the wine, Pasta and gelato I plan to eat while there! I've also started keeping a set of small dumbbells next to my chair in the living room and will get up and use them for awhile during my favorite TV shows to try and build back up muscle in my arms, etc. If they're sitting there staring me in the face I'm more likely to pick them up.

I know you posted this in the "Ask Dr. Gregg" area, which is good. But I believe only a doctor that sees you in person can answer this question. You would need to have labs done in addition to a body fat analysis. Also, there may be an underlying condition causing your weight loss that has nothing to do with the sleeve. If you haven't already had a check-up with your surgeon, an internist or primary care doc, please do so. You can most certainly lose too much weight.

I'll jump into the group and say hello to all and good luck to those still awaiting their surgeries. There are a lot of great WLS docs in TX, so I feel we are all so lucky to live here and benefit from their expertise. I had to go "wedding ring" shopping today for a fake wedding ring. My old one is huge on my finger now and I'm not ready to re-size it yet. This is my second "fake" ring since my revision surgery. Just one of those non-scale victories we all talk about. Also, my husband is out of town at a large conference. We work together, so most of our business associates have met me in the past. He's been showing everyone my pic on his cell phone (the same one as my avatar), and being proud of my progress. One guy I've known for over 10 yrs mistook me for my 22yr old daughter (he's old and needs glasses - so I can understand the mistake - ha!). Living in this body just feels so weird now - weird and wonderful.

I wasn't hungry for the first couple of weeks after surgery, then it hit me. I'm on an acid reducer, but still get very hungry. I keep a dense (30gram) protein bar at my desk all day and eat a few bites of it in-between meals. I was totally not expecting this, so I'm a bit disappointed.

I also measured before my sleeve surgery in January (I had a band for almost 4 yrs - I don't know my original measurements at my highest weight). I've lost 4.5" on my waist, 3" hips, 2.5" chest, .75" upper arm, 2" thigh. This was with a 25/lb weight loss.

I had to get a pre-op cardiac clearance, but was scheduled in just a couple of weeks after consult.

I had a full hysterectomy at age 41, which really messed up my hormones. Right now, I'm not on any estrogen, but am on a testosterone cream. I finally had a gyno (female at that), who listened to me when I complained about having NO sex drive at all. She gave me a prescription for testosterone cream that my local compounding pharmacy makes for me. You apply it right to the part of your body you're having problems with right now. It will wake the darn thing right up! Plus you'll feel even friskier than you do now. I was so happy with my results I brought flowers to the doc next time I saw her - and I've NEVER done anything like that before. She changed my life for the better - my husband is thrilled that I am now wanting it more than he does! Don't worry about what your doctor will say. If they don't listen go see someone else. I complained to several docs before I found this solution. Don't waste anymore time living like this when there's no reason for it. Sex now is better than ever - you don't have to deal with pregnancy issues or menstruation. I'm about ready for this last kid to get outta the house so we can have it all to ourselves :thumbup1:. I'm looking forward to MANY more years of great sex with my hubby - thanks to the testosterone!

When I was at my highest weight, I had the band and lost quite a bit quickly. Then I was at a 3-yr stall. Now with the sleeve I am almost to goal, though the weight loss is much slower. As for Peanut Butter, I'm also allowed to eat it for Protein, but was advised to use the lower sugar or all natural versions. I don't really like the taste of those, so I just choose to have a bite or two of the regular stuff occasionally. It's not really something I prefer to eat when I need protein. I'd rather have dense protein that will be more filling in my sleeve.

I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea after a sleep study before WLS and used a C-Pap machine nightly. After losing weight my sleep apnea is completely gone. I don't know any hard and fast facts about it, but I know it worked for me!

I've also read several articles that claim this type of thing is complete nonsense and a waste of money. They said our bodies can handle expelling anything we don't need quite well all without any extra "cleansing". I've had several colonoscopy's in my life and have the seen the photos of my colon made during them. I've never seen anything "stuck" to the walls. After the typical laxatives you take before these procedures, I don't see how anything could be left in there - ha! As someone familiar with holistic health care, I'm very skeptical about some of the claims certain procedures avow. Colon cleansing is not harmful, nor do I find it necessary to be in good health.

Ditto for me too - didn't have it and didn't need it. No gas pain at all.

Congrats on setting your surgery date and getting such a quick and painless approval!

Sam, over 30/lbs in a month is a fantastic start! Don't get discouraged. And don't weigh everyday. Those 1-2/lb variances will drive you crazy if you let them. It's much better to weigh once a week (or longer if you can do it). Then you'll be pleasantly surprised to see the scale move down, even just a little, than to be obsessing over it daily. I've been there, so I know what you're going through. Also remember that our bodies are biologically programmed to conserve fat when deprived of calories. Just keep up with your Protein and exercise and your body will eventually get the message that you won't let it starve to death and it will release those fat cells. Before you know it, you're going to have one of those weeks when you lose 5/lbs and you'll be shocked and excited. You sound like you're doing everything right, so just keep at it. It WILL get better!

It's so wonderful that you are able to do this while your kids are young. My youngest is getting ready to turn 18, so I was overweight his whole life. I huffed and puffed along at Disneyworld, Sea World, and Six Flags; covered up at beach vacations, and watched from a lawn chair during ball practice when I could have been up helping and getting in on the fun. I so wish this had been available 15-20 yrs ago for me. I'm just glad that I've been able to do it though and extend my life expectancy so I can be in great shape when grandkids come along (not any time soon, I hope - ha!). Congrats on your insurance approval and being able to explain it to your kids!