Olivia23

I wanted to know how long you took off of work to have the surgery. I sit at my job for 8 hours a day, but my job is extremely stressful. I'm thinking two weeks off, but not sure. I will not be able to even talk to a surgeon until this spring. I'm currently trying to decide between the lap band or the vertical sleeve. I'm leaning more towards the sleeve because I'm concerned of long term problems with the band such as slippage, erosion, etc. Also I'm wondering what everyone paid, and I mean self pay. My insurance will not cover any weight loss surgery because my bmi is 37 and I have to have a bmi of 40 or greater.

I had Dr. Garcia but not a revision. Anyway it was last June and they staple you and they do give you a kit of meds and bandages when you leave. They also gave me some support stockings to leave with but I can't remember about if they used them during surgery. I don't remember about socks either lol. I was hot the first night there and they opened the windows for me. Was much better then. I was in a lot of pain the first 2 days and threw up blood the first day. I didn't use a heating pad but did take gas x strips. I did have a drain which they removed on the 3rd day. Felt very weird removing but felt so much better after. No catheter. I'm a slow loser though (my fault for not eating protein first and eating some junk). Only lost 82 pounds so far and June 18th will be a year for me. I want to lose 100 pounds so I'm close.

I had surgery with Dr. Garcia last June and I didn't get a video of my leak test:( only an X-ray.

As anyone been able to claim WLS performed in Mexico on your taxes?

I'm a Dr. Garcia patient and loving my sleeve! I was sleeved June 2013 at Florence Hospital. I have lost 71 lbs. Some people standards that's slow weight loss but I'm happy. I'm not dieting. Just trying to remember protein first! I also believe I had a 32 French bougie. I remember asking the female doctor there (cannot remember her name) what bougie size before the surgery. She said do I want a loose sleeve or tighter one. I said definitely tighter lol. I guess they made it that size. I was so sick for 2 days after that I didn't even think to ask. I was throwing up blood after surgery which didn't make me panic because I read it happened to others. I also went alone. I was fine. I still don't feel hunger and if I'm busy I can go all day without eating but I still have head hunger. I see/smell food I want it. I have to stop myself and think am I really hungry? Every time I realize I'm not. I find myself eating more junk food because of convenience but my restriction is still there but it works better when I eat protein first which is what they tell you to do. I work out 5 days a week at a gym at my work. I go on my lunch break. I eat first for about 15 minutes then spend the rest of the hour at the gym. I never had the desire to work out before. I still have to make myself go sometimes but once I get there I love it. I'm usually the only one there.

I had my surgery in June 2013 and list 71 lbs so far. I borrowed from my 401k. Best decision I ever made.

I love Goodwill. Right now I'm in a size 16 jeans and found a pair at Goodwill that was too tight on me. I was upset but other pairs of 16 will fit. Weird.

I am a little over 6 months and have yet to experience "real" hunger. I have gone shopping around Christmas all day and was so busy I did not eat. That never happened before surgery. I finally near the end of the day ate something only because I was feeling lightheaded.

I was. Sleeved in June 2013 and now I only weigh about once a month. I cannot deal with stalls or weight gain and this way it have not had any!

I'm on it also for nerve pain in my leg and foot. I take it 3 times a day and even then I still have issues with nerve pain in my foot only. I had no idea that it could cause weight gain. I'm 6 months out and have lost 71lbs.

I'm 6 months out and have a sip here and there. I find I don't really care for the bubbles anymore which is great because it's just empty calories anyway.

I'm so glad to hear from someone that far out. And you look amazing! I'm 4 months out and have lost 55lbs. I'm a slow loser but as long as I'm losing I'm happy.

Be glad you are afraid. Stupid me decided to try it way to early and I have no issues with it. I still cannot eat a whole sandwich but it's getting close. Wish I could not tolerate bread. I try to stay away from it as much add I can.

I used to be a regular once a day gal and before my surgery in June I used to read about people having issues with constipation. I didn't think that would happen to me but boy was I wrong. I now cannot go anymore unless I take milk of magnesia yuck! I've tried stool softeners which used to work if I ever had any issues but doesn't work anymore. They just seem to give me gas now lol. When does the constipation stop?

Mine feels like it's gone already. I'm about 8 weeks and I can eat a lot more than I should. If course is not only Protein so that is my fault. The food I eat always had protein in it so I think I should feel some restriction but every day it's less. I'm going to go back to protein only first then veggies and hope it resets my eating habits. Had anyone else had this issue? Say like I can eat a whole hot dog with bun chili etc. but it does take me a while to eat it. If I was just too eat the hot dog by itself would I feel better restriction? I'm really worried here. I didn't want to go on a low carb diet or any diet that's the reason why I had this surgery because I cannot stick to a diet. neither can most of us on here that's why we got the surgery to help us not to eat too much.

Wow you are amazing!

I was sleeved June 18th. I have lost only 34lbs. I had lost 11lbs before surgery. Feeling depressed now because I can eat bread when most people on here say it took them about 9 months before they could even tolerate it. I ate too much today. I need to figure out how to shrink my sleeve back. Feeling like it's too stretched out right now.

I went to Mexico by myself and I had never flown before nor had I ever left the country. I did fine! You can do this!

If you are looking for high protein/low carb recipes/meal ideas just google low carb forums. They have awesome delicious ideas.

I am 3 weeks out and I have lost 25lbs (counting 1 week liquid diet also). Today I weighed and actually gained a pound even though I cannot even eat 4 ounces. I've been eating a lot of tuna fish with regular mayo and I ate some peas with it so I'm not eating low carb. I also eat yogurt and Soup for dinner. Should I try to be eating just low carb/high Protein or is it ok to not even worry about it right now? How did you lose weight? I know I'm eating way less than I ever have before and this is the dreaded 3 week stall but I cannot help but wonder about my eating. Also I was sleeved in Mexico so I am trying to follow their instructions on protein but its difficult.

I'll just have to suck it up and get in my protein lol.

Don't forget "you took the easy way out" lmbo!

I'm having some pain on my left side (I was sleeved on June 18th), and some pain on lower back. No fever though and I get some discomfort in my chest when I eat (I'm on full liquids). This just started happening yesterday. I'm really hoping it's not a leak and I know everyone will say to call my doctor but it was done in Mexico and I'm afraid my insurance may not cover if anything would happen to me from it. I know it was a risk but I was hoping I would be lucky with no issues. I guess what I'm hoping it's there anyone who had the same kind of pain and it was gas or just my body going through the healing stages? I'm a little worried.

I've been up all night in terrible pain and I'm pretty sure it's kidney stones. I was sleeved two weeks ago and I've had kidney stones before. I was up all most most the night with terrible back and side pain and horrible cramps plus blood in my urine and it is not my time of the month either. I'm starting to feel a little bit better after hours of debating should I go to the ER. I'm supposed to go back to work this morning but don't see how that's possible. I'm wondering even if I am feeling better if I go to see my regular doctor about it would they be able to tell if I have kidney stones if my pain has stopped. I'm worried they will not believe me because I had the same issue before when I went to urgent care.

It seems like whenever I eat now if I get full I get a headache and my heart beats faster. Anyone having those problems? I am 3 weeks out and I feel fine other than that.