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Drink an ice cold glass of Water, Crystal Lite, read a book, or do all three.

I had mine in Mexico, too, but my surgeon's office is always available via phone and email. Do you have any contact info for yours? But basically, there are many different thoughts on the whole post sleeve NSAID debate. Some say no NSAIDS ever and I've read posts from some on here that take ibuprofen daily. And then there's everything in between. We just have to be careful because of the gastric irritation and ulcers that NSAIDS can cause. I was assured that occasional use was not a problem. And in fact, I was actually sent home with 5 days of a sublingual NSAID. My surgeon feels that the benefit of reducing surgical inflammation immediately postop outweighs the risk of ulcers. And like I said, he advised taking a PPI like omeprazole if I had to take NSAIDS for an extended period of time. I actually just had this conversation with him (via email) two weeks ago because my PCP wanted me to take 10-14 days of an NSAID or steroid (which can also cause gastric irritation) for a compressed nerve in my neck. I ended up taking the steroid and Prilosec.

Does your doctor require a pre-op liquid diet? My surgeon required a 12-week pre-op liquid diet. My dietitian (RD) was pissed off and said she would set him straight and get the diet time reduced. I dunno what occurred but the surgeon won as I expected. If so, how long are you to be on it? 12 weeks. What foods are recommended? My RD actually put me on a specific diet of Glucerna (6-7 a day), 1 serving of Sugar-Free Jello, Broth, and 3.7L of water a day, along with allowing a cup of non-starchy veggies (wouldn't even know if there are starchy vegetables) What foods are allowed and not allowed? Very simple diet.. low carb (incl. sugar), low fat, high protein diet. I have deviated substantially from the diet my RD wanted me on, sticking to the premise of the diet, having less calories and carbs than even her diet would have got me, and am still dropping weight pretty fast. My fav cheating foods during pre-op are natural peanut butter (low carb, low cal, high protein -- stuff is very watery), unsalted peanuts, and string cheese (0 carbs). I had thought pepperoni was fine but after reading more studies against processed meats during pre-op I decided against it. No matter what I drink tons of water.. doing my best to be 30+ mins before/after food. Water is very important especially during this kind of diet. Is the goal ketosis (liver shrinking)? Of course. Two aspects. Advanced liver disease can crack and bleed, causing major artery/vein hemorrhaging that's incredibly difficult to deal with. So improving liver disease and shrinking it is beneficial two-fold. Secondly, large livers or ones with fat on them can make it difficult to move out of the way. The big one is slipping. Fatty livers are more slippery. This diet, when done properly, reduces the fat around it to make the job for the surgeon easier, or in some cases, do-able. I've heard of cases where surgeon went in with laparoscopic tools, saw either too large/fatty of a liver, or too much of a damaged liver, immediately patched them up and said "no". Obviously nobody wants this to happen. I had others issues that have greatly improved since. My HBA1c has dropped to normal levels.. by my next HBA1c test I likely will be tested without meds as it will drop more than sufficiently (high was 7.9mm/180 on US glucose a year ago, recent test was 5.7mm/180 US glucose after numerous drops), the swelling around my lower legs and feet has resolved almost completely, and liver function tests have gone back to normal after a year of being highly elevated. This combined with the weight loss, as my surgeon said, shows the liver is shrinking well, but most people don't have my problems so..

I had a two week liquid diet. I was allowed 3 protein shakes a day, sugar free (popsicle, pudding, jello), chicken broth, water, high protein Greek yogurt, and cream of soup drained. Was allowed to juice vegetable and fruits to drink. Each day was 900 calories. Lost about 20 pounds on the liquid diet. Surgery was less than 20 minutes long. They said my liver is very shrunk. HW: 420 (January 2016) CW: 273 (March 2017) Instagram: vsg_queendiet

I took a week off. I was still sore when I returned to work. Coughing, standing up without being hunched over, laughing, and swallowing all hurt so bad. I have a semi physical job where I chase toddlers and have to lift things normally so I was just an extra set of eyes in the room for 3 weeks. It gets better after about weeks with hernia repair I think.

I was on a 2 week liquid diet and it was very hard especially the first 3 days. I had to cook meals for my husband and 3 teenage sons too. I stayed busy and I kept telling myself that its very worth all the hunger and cramps and it was the last diet I would ever be on. With each day it did get easier. YOU can do this. Good Luck!

In my experience, it is what you make it. While yes, your stomach is gone forever, the benefits are not forever. Most people many years out have learned to eat around the sleeve so that if they did not learn good food habits while they had restriction, they just return to their old ways. I am three months short of three years out from surgery. I hit goal in April of last year and I have maintained within 3-4 pounds. This morning I woke up a few ounces heavier than usual, so today I get to pay more attention to my food and exercise. Every single day is going to be a fight for the rest of your life, although the sleeve makes it substantially easier. I am never going to get to go on vacation for a week, eat whatever I want like those damn naturally skinny people do, and come back and have gained no weight. I could easily gain 5-8 pounds in a week if I ate sweets, which is my big "gain weight fast" food. Because I like being thin, I don't eat sweets anymore. I wake up and I weigh myself every morning. I missed a day in MyFitnessPal about 2 weeks ago and broke a 230+ day streak, so the last two weeks I haven't been recording my food intake, but really I don't need to anymore. I know what I can and cannot eat. This time three years ago I was 237-ish pounds, I could not manage to lose weight, and I was ashamed and miserable. This morning I weighed 132.8 pounds, I have a closet full of clothes that are 0-4, and I feel like a different person. The sleeve is not something that will make you thin and happy forever, but rather it is something that makes it a lot easier for you to reach and maintain a healthy weight if you are willing to make the sacrifices to do so. Where I live it is 95 degree outside already, I do NOT want to go workout, but in a little bit, I'm going to spray myself with sunscreen, whine as I get into workout clothes, and get my butt outside. I'll log my food today because I gained a bit over the weekend, I'll probably do my ab video, and I won't have any dessert at the Memorial Day party this afternoon. Sure, the sleeve made it easier to get to this size, but at this point the only thing keeping me here are my own daily decisions. So, the sleeve itself is forever, the benefits it provides are great the first year or two and then slowly drop, but you have the potential to use the tool to your advantage to achieve and maintain good health. In the end, it's entirely up to you- not what happens to be left of your stomach.

Penni! Wow! Thats excellent! :confused: :clap2: And here you were posting about how you dont think you'll lose weight this week. Heck, that probably burned off 10 pounds! Now.. just dont eat until after next Sat's weigh in! LOL

I am one week postop and I am having a very hard time getting on a meal and protein drink schedule. So far I've just been able to tolerate Jell-O and only a couple of days have I been able to get down all three protein drinks. I'm wondering what works for everyone else as far as approximately what time you eat and what time you drink a shake. Thanks so much.

Hello all!! I have been pursuing these message boards for a couple of weeks now and finally decided to join. Here is a little about me...I recently turned 30 years old and am currently at 370 lbs (I'm 6', and carry my weight pretty well). Luckily I do not have a lot of medical complications due to my weight...yet! I just found out that our company is changing insurance plans next year to Medica, which will cover bariatric surgery. I've already signed up for an information session with Park Nicollet, which is next week. Currently I'm still in debating over the gastric sleeve or the RNY bypass. As I'm just starting, I'm really looking for any information that you think would be helpful. I'm not even sure if I know what questions to ask. Thank you all in advance for your support and help!

I know aspirin is not recommended for Sleeved patients, but it's the only thing that works for me in catching a headache early before it turns into a migraine. Otherwise it's Percocet and a dark room. I see my surgeon tomorrow for my 10-week check, and plan on begging then, but in the meantime, anyone still use aspirin on occasion? TIA, Lisa

I'm super excited. Only my husband knows at this point and my family will know after. Ready to start over. I started my two week pre op diet last Monday (surgery 8/16) and after a week I'm down 7lbs and feeling good. Can't wait to start tracking more losses! I'm not particularly worried about the surgery- The only thing I'm worried about is my short term disability kicking in on time.

I am so excited I can't wait and I am not sure if I am going to be able to sleep tonight. I am going alone, and that is how I want it. Just peace and quiet and recovery! Anyone else going to be in Juarez this week?

Im approved!! Surgery first week of April, super nervous

I just came out of my first stall. It started about a week and a half after surgery and lasted for 2 full weeks. The good news is that it does end and you will start losing again.

Hi I am only 3 weeks out and getting concerned. The scale dropped like lightening the first 8 days. Since then it's barely moved and in the last 3 days I've gained. Is that normal? I am following everything to the letter so I'm not sure where and if I'm actually falling short. Please help

everyone is different and what worked for me by my dr may not work for you as i was on 2 weeks liquids after surgery.....then it was mushy (used my vitamixer alot) and then a week soft....did your dr or nutritionist give you handouts of foods to eat?

Today is day 2 of my liquid diet. I feel so emotional. Thank goodness no one tells me I can't do it. As a matter of fact my sister is so supportive she is doing the liquid diet with me. I keep thinking 12 more days till I'm banded. I can say I'm not really starving I just feel so drained. I know if I can't do it for two weeks how can I change my life and eat right. Tomorrow I have a wedding to go to this should be interesting. I'm not sure if I can tackle staying away from food around others. I will also start to cook tomorrow TESTS lol

Okay so I'm about 3 weeks post op, and today I noticed that the right side, under my rib cage is is slightly tender and rock hard. I think it may be my liver, just from an anatomical aspect. I have no incisions nearby, so I know it's not my port or anything like that (that I can feel under the port incision, so I'm really sure about that). Any thoughts? Like I said, mildly sore, but really hard, so I'm not sure if this is normal or if I should worry. Has this happened to anyone else?

I was sleeved 11/29 and I hit my first stall two weeks ago at two weeks post-op. I know it's normal. I know my body is fighting what is happening. I know it is medically impossible for me not to lose more... But this stall is driving me mad. I think the fact that it is around the holidays that I began my journey and I am still struggling a little mentally definitely contributes to my current 'mad' state. I have a follow up today so I am hoping for some amazing words of wisdom!

I am now three years post op. Man has alot changed in three years. I cant believe how fast time flies. It really is crazy. I was banded on April 11, 2003. I weighed 235-240 I did awesome listening to the band and working with it. I lost down to 160 and i was feeling awesome! I started dating, met my husband and life was wonderful. I dont know where i started to slide. I started trying to eat more when we went to dinner. I started drinking with my meals and figured out if i drink with them i can eat more. I dont know what happend. I just really wanted to be normal. My husband and i were working out on a very regular basis. Dieting good. (he is into bodybuilding... so he had me eating like i was an athelete...lol) I realized that i was gonna hurt myself and my band if i continuted this way, so i went to the doctor and told them that i really wanted to try it on my own for awhile. Well it took a few minutes of convincing her to do it but finally she did. I ended up moving to Memphis shortly after that. So i was about 5-6 hours away from the doctor. So i didnt go back much. With the move we werent working out like we were. We were eating ALOT of fast food because we were tired and it was easy. I ended up gaining about 35 pounds, from when i had the band loosened... My lowest weight was 160 but after we started working out i gained 10 pounds and i was 170... after my pouch packing and drinking with meals i gained 5... so i was about 175..) So my weight now is 205 ish... I think that in the last few days i have been really reading my old journals and reading everyone elses post and i started following the rules again i am down to 200 now. WOO HOO!! We had a problem getting my adjustment right... I went for three adjustments and she wouldnt put me back where i was so we had to start over adding a little at a time. So I couldn't understand when i was supposed to have a 2.5 fill and i could still eat a WHOLE value meal... So i went back well somewhere along the line there was a mix up and i only had about 1.3cc's in my band. She said my tubing was never accounted for. So we filled that puppy up! LOL it is great now. I feel like i did in the beginning. I am doing well not drinking with my meals. It is just gonna be breaking the habit. I still reach for my drink and i have to stop myself. But things are going GREAT!! I am so excited to finally have the passion and drive that i had when i first had the surgery!

Hey everyone im Jocelyn im 26. my surgery was march 21st. I had bypass...im three weeks out and am down about 20 lbs. so far my recovery has been smooth with a little bit of bumps here and there. im currently transitioning from soft foods to regular...i having a bit of a rough time with this... Its hard for me to get enough Water and it seems like everything i eat is making me nauseous :/. My mom is my support system but she doesnt know what im going through so im kinda looking for someone to galk go about everything thats been going on whether it be food wise body image wise or anything. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

So I'm not by myself with bumps I call them this week. Also my primary has me going to a cardiologist bcause of my EKG!!! I'm due for wed 2/10! Very nervous and upset now. And people don't understand why. Because I want to be healthy and happy! Pray for release for me!!

I was wondering the same. Hope all is week keep us updated Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had the sleeve surgery in Mexico on 11/3/14, one week before my 29th birthday. I'm 5'7, my highest weight is 290 and my weight when I decided to get surgery was 261. I have PCOS and have always fought for every single pound I lost. It seemed like I could follow my diet perfectly 95% of the time and workout but that 5% would set me back every single time. I used to joke that I could look at a potato and gain 5 pounds. It's kinda true. Since I decided to get surgery I'm down over 50 pounds and over 80 since my heaviest weight. The biggest piece of advice I have for you is to follow a low carb diet as much as possible after surgery. This can make you or break you with PCOS and insulin resistance. Also, my periods have started back, although I forgot how bad cramps can be and now I miss not having one! I work at a bank so I just told my boss I needed a loan and I was approved on the spot. I didn't go through A Lighter Me or Dr. Kelly so no advice there.