NtvTxn

Full liquids. Cream of chicken soup and other cream soups, I got the 98% FF - I liked Celery and chicken the best, blended or strained. No chunkies. Yogurt, SF Jell-O, skim milk. These are the things that come to mind.

Believe it or not, I got a "steal of a deal" with what I paid. We were living in WI and sleeve surgery wasn't popular at all up there....at that time. I attended a support group, pre- op and post-op. There was ONE lady who'd had it and her surgeon had to battle with the insurance company for it to be approved. Anyway, IF you could find a doctor that did our surgery, it was between 22K and 28K. Shocking, because it was so much less in the south, TX, TN, LA, GA. All over down here it was between 11K and 15K. I'm not sure why, but it is the most popular surgery here, with most of the support group people having had sleeve surgery, with 1 or 2 RNY and seldom ever a lapband patient. Before I decided to come to Dallas for sure, I check Madison, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and even Chicago, all were about double the price, some more than double and that is for cash pay! So, I was thrilled with the price, it felt like Christmas morning when I discovered there were options when insurance wouldn't pay because I wasn't big enough and didn't have pre existing health issues. Oh well.

There is also http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/ I like it, but I didn't find it as useful as this one.

Today is THREE years for me, and thank you! Actually it's only been less than a week ago that all the nastiness began, I THINK - although it may seem like longer. Nothing is wrong, but all the Mexico posts just kept on and on and on....when I saw one post praising some doc down there and acting like it's the best medical care they'd EVER had, basically putting down the U.S. doctors, I had just had enough. After a few posts, it was like a free for all. Forgive me, the 'filter' is in place again! Have a great day!

No, don't leave and don't think it's always like this. It is not. Welcome to the VGS forum!! I was on it for seven months prior to surgery and I got a lot of valuable information.

I am not sure if you're asking me, I THINK you are! If so, I am doing great, three years today. Right now I was in surgery, or at least I was "out of it" and headed that way!! I reached goal in six months, MY goal, which was five lbs less than my physician's....I got to his goal, 150, a month earlier. I'd say YES, the first six month is a real honeymoon period. Follow the plan, under eat your sleeve. Log your food, weigh and/or measure your food and weigh daily so you'll know where you are at. Develop these good habits, let them become your new normal, your life. To me, it's habit, just like breathing. Good luck to you, you'll be shocked at how different your life is a year from today!!!!

Welcome to the loser's bench!!!! Take it easy and enjoy it all, you won't believe where you'll be a year from now!!! Go you!!!!

I have to be careful with pasta and rice, it's like these two things swell up!

I don't know if this REALLY helps, but go to Wal Mart or somewhere and get some Biotin, it's suppose to be good for hair and nails. I started taking it a couple of months prior to surgery and I still take it off and on. I never lost any hair, it never thinned out at all. Did it help me, I don't know for sure, but it won't hurt you. My nails are healthier than they've been since I was on prenatal vitamins 31 years ago!!

You obviously haven't read the majority of my over 1400 posts over the past three and a half years. I have nothing but terrible things to say about other people? Seriously? Stop being a victim and spreading nasty rumors. If what you say about me is true, then others don't need you to point it out.

I was 50 when I had surgery three years ago (tomorrow). I've lost 85 pounds, 23 prior to surgery. I reached my goal in six months. I've been maintaining for 2.5 years with no problems. Life is so much different now. Just wait. Go buy a disposable camera and have someone take a picture of you the day before surgery, then take one on your surgery date every month. After your one year anniversary, take the camera to be developed. Lay those pictures side by side. It is shocking to see the transformation there laying in front of you. It was one of the most "fun" things I did!!! Good luck, you are in for the wildest ride you've ever been on, enjoy every single minute!!!

The best thing is I have a collar bone and hip bones that I can see and feel. Very weird. I love shopping for clothes and they look good. The worst thing. I can eat one bite too many and be miserable, which is not a bad thing, but it is. Pasta and rice are the most common culprits!

Thirty pounds is great, more than average I'd say. I've lost 85, 23 prior to surgery. The other sixty came off slow and steady. I reached the 85 lb mark at six months out, five pound below the doctor's goal. On average, ten pounds per month!!! Follow the plan and start making life long changes, you cannot help but lose!!! You'll do fine! Make sure you are logging your food, if you aren't, think about it!!! Keep track, I'm still doing it, it's habit to me now!

You've done great and with a few changes, I bet you'll see the last 26 leave for good!! Cut back a little, up your protein and liquids. If you think carbs are an issue, cut back a little. Do you still have good restriction? Log your food, keep track!!! You can do it, I'm sure of it!!

Walk as much as you can, a little more every day and when you're sitting around during the day, use a heating pad, it feels really good. Hang in there, you'll feel better before you know it.

Welcome to the forum! All your feelings are normal. Let me suggest something "FUN". Go buy a disposable camera. Have someone take your picture the day before surgery, then have somebody take your picture every month on your surgery 'date' for a year. After the last picture, on your one year anniversary, take the camera and have it developed. Lay the pictures side by side and see the transformation. It is really, really neat to do this, to see how far you've come!! Good luck, you are going to be on a wild ride, enjoy it!!!

I think my first question would be, why do you hesitate? The surgery or life after the surgery?

I'm three years post op tomorrow, I still have trouble with this. I'm not ever hungry, my "new" hunger is an empty feeling...and I make it a point to always try and under eat my sleeve. I stop before the full feeling. I measure or weigh my food when I'm home, because I know what is safe, and it makes logging it easier as well. If I wait until I feel "full", it's too late and I'm miserable and uncomfortable. When I stop, I feel satisfied. If I've eaten a bite or two too much, my nose runs, just like when I eat something spicy! I hope this helps.

Without hesitation, I'd do it again in New York minute!

Go shopping and go often!!! Have fun, even if you're just window shopping. It is so much fun to go because you want to and not like it use to be, because you NEED something and MUST go!!!!! Enjoy the new you in progress!!!!!

A brilliant idea, two thumbs up Alex!

Some might think you are the same. You know what they say, birds of a feather, flock together.....and here you are. So you can post your humble opinion and say anything nasty you want, but when I post, I am policing. Ok, I'm getting the picture. It's very unbecoming and ugly. Lol

I think you're probably fine, but I totally 'get' freaking out!!!! All I have to say is congratulations, just sip, sip, sip and count your blessings!!! I had a HORRIBLE time getting enough liquids in!!

I'm not sure what you mean by questionable. You'd have to explain. Over and over again, huh? Are you reading my other posts on other topics? I am not the only one, you're correct and I am not really asking a question in most, just making statements and posting my opinion.