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I'm dealing with some issues with my pouch now, 9-10 months out. I was eating chili (that I made myself) almost every day for the last 6 months or so since surgery. Now I think it was too spicy / the tomatoes too acidic. My lesson for the week is "Variety". And I've yet to find a pre-packaged meal that has a good level of fat, carbs, sodium, and Protein for what I want to eat. I have purchased pre-made meatballs, the small ones, (turkey or beef), and they are great to pop into sauce for a meal. I have also done well with the Green Giant just for one veggies with cheese sauce - they work well with a protein. Or the pre-cooked chicken or steak strips for on top of salads. So you can do convenience food, but not all in one package. Kathy

Hi all, new to this app. I originally had sleeve in 2014 and lost almost 100lbs. I maintained my weight for a year, happy, healthy and exercising. I was diagnosed with Epilepsy and put on medication. I became very depressed and started packing the lbs back on. After several years of getting seizure meds regular and 10-15 lbs gain each year plus Covid.... I gained 65-70 back. I have my final appointment 4/14 hoping for surgery date ASAP. Can anyone share pros and cons from VSG to Bypass? Thanks Tiffany

I wanted to write a review about my hospital experience. I had my surgery October 24, 2013 by Dr. Charles Huddleston. Every appointment I had with him, before surgery, was informative, helpful, and considerate. He was extremely willing to talk about the different surgical procedures with both my mum and I. He was never rude and he never belittled my weight problems. On the day of surgery, I got to see him an some of the team. I was able to voice all my surgery concerns with the team, and had reassurance. After surgery, I was told he did visit me after I got settled in my room. (( I don't remember him visiting, due to the surgery meds. )) Later that day, he visited me again, when I was more awake. Again, he told me follow up care, he told me how surgery went, etc. He then told me he would see me tomorrow morning. Sure enough, the next day I got to see him. Later on the second day, I got to see him again I saw my Dr. Huddleston a total of four times, in two days. He's very concerned for making sure his patients feel safe and secure. He doesn't want you to feel out of the loop. In all honesty, I rate my entire experience with him as a whole 10/10. If you're wanting a bariatric surgery, I urge you to make a consultation appointment with him!!

I just posted this in the Aussie room and thought I'd ask here as well to get a wider and hopefully more help Hi guys, I need some help please. I had two weird "attacks" last night, first one about 8 and lasted around 10 minutes, then second about 10 that lasted nearly an hour. Had the ambulance here, I thought I was gonna die. Both times it happened within 10 minutes of me eating. I haven't had any previous problems. The pain started dull in my stomach them progressed until I was doubled over and I was screaming. I couldn't help it and I'm not a wuss, I can usually handle pain quite well. The pain went right across my stomach and then up under my right ribs, it was difficult to breathe and it was the same whether I layed down, walked or stood up. I was scared as I thought it may have something to so with my Gall but because the pain wasn't present when the ambo'a arrived, they couldn't help me. Also I noticed that last time after the pain subsided, which was quite quick, I kept bringing up thick saliva. I am going to my GP this morning, I am very scared to eat now though, I am sipping on drinks and trying to build up the courage to have a Protein shake, does anyone have any ideA what this may be? I wasn't sure but thought I'd read Puppyphat had problems recently and wondered if they were at all similar? Thanks in advance, I hope you can help me out. And YES I am going to Dr this morning but any ideas I may be nle to give her would be helpful as she is just a GP Ta Jen

Start back on pre-op diet and keep up with the Protein shakes. Before I had the surgery, I had to do a 4 month required visitation with a dietician and I just cut back and did Protein Shakes and dropped 52 lbs! 10 lbs can be easy to knock off if you just go back to it! You can do it! Good luck! Sent from my iPhone using VST

I drive a 40 ft bus for a living I'm a lil nervous. .I'm looking to go bk in a bout 9/10

Hello all you VSGers! I am 1 week post-op, and I learned a very important lesson the hard way today. It was my first day back at work, and I was drinking fat-free chicken broth with unflavored protein powder (delicious). I must have not been paying attention, and drank too quickly. Suddenly I had excruciating pain in my abdomen, chest, and left shoulder. All I could do was put my head in my hand and whimper. My poor co-workers were standing over me wondering what to do. The worst of it passed in about 10 minutes, and now about 1 1/2 hours later it's still painful but bearable. I came home and took pain meds. I realize how very important it is to pay attention when I'm eating or drinking! I can't do the mindless thing anymore. I hope I can save someone here from going through this.

I recently went on vacation and thought that my sleeve was on vacation too. It wasn't. Please don't do what I did. You will be in pain and you will regret it. Learn from my mistakes. http://www.scrapbookoftruth.com/2013/10/17/your-gastric-sleeve-doesnt-care-about-your-vacation/

Ok, I'm home and loving it so far. I remember wondering what all would happen when i was in the hospital. So, I thought I would write down all I remember about being in the hospital I arrived at the hospital about 9:15. I had my surgery at Doctor's Hospital at White Rocks Lake in Dallas. As soon as I got in, I was registered and went almost immediately back to the first surgery waiting area. The nurses were great. They started my IV with just 2 sticks which I thought was amazing since I was so dehydrated after being on liquids for a week, and then having some diarrhea the day before surgery. While I was in holding, my hubbie got to come back and kill time with me. The anesthesiologist came and talked to me and he told me they were running behind. My surgery was scheduled for 12:30, but he thought I wouldn't be back until about 1-1:30. About 1:30, they came and got me took me to another holding area up by the OR. (Good thing I brought a book). While I was in the second surgery waiting, I didn't have my book or my hubbie, and I waited until 3 before they took my back. During that time, the anesthesiologist came back and the pain management doc came in and talked to me some more about what I would need for pain afterward. FINALLY about 3, they came and rolled me int the or Suite. I remember getting on the bed... then nothing!! The next thing I knew, I was rolling into my room. My husband had been sent to my room when I went to the second holding area so he was waiting there for me. I don't have too much memory about what happened that night. I do remember seeing the hosiptalist I got there about 6PM and I don't remember much. I got up to the bathroom about 10 and I has bled thru my dressings so they had to be changed. I was not expecting so much blood. I went for a short walk that night late with my husband. Later that night, I went to the bathroom again and had bled thru my dressings again. The nurse replaced my dressings and then we went for another walk about 1AM. Then I crashed. The nurse's aid came and checked my blood pressure and the respiratory medicine folks were in and out. I had to stay on oxygen because my oxygen saturation kept staying low. Then the lab came in about 5am and drew my blood. I slept very well considering I was in the hospital. The next morning started off with me soaking my dressings again. I got up and went to the bathroom, and when I got thru it looked like Freddie Kruger had been in the bathroom. The poor nurses' aid had just changed my sheets and then I got back in bed and got blood all over my fresh sheets and my gown. The day nurse came in and put a very tight pressure bandage on my abdomen. I was getting up to go to the bathroom, but I just couldn't go. I would pee about 50-75cc at a time. My bladder was feeling like I needed to pee a river, I just couldn't go! The nurse came in and did a bladder scan and found I had almost 800cc in my bladder (1000cc=1liter). Shortly after that the Hopitalist came back in and told me that my blood count had dropped significantly and that they were going to give me some blood, and that I was going to get a catheter. So, I got 2 units of blood. They put a catheter in and boy that felt better. Some people have urinary retention after anesthesia and I am one of those people. Just cant let your pee out. Catheters are really not that big of a deal. While all this was going on, the nurse started me on drinking water. She brought me 5 small medicine cups and filled each one up with water. She said each cup was 1oz of water and that I had to drink all five in 1 hour. I was pretty thirsty so that was wonderful to get to drink something. She also gave me a sheet to track how many oz I drank each hour. I got up and walked with my catheter and my blood going and I made 2 laps down the hall and back. I was walking around with all the other patients that had their surgery on the same day... comparing notes I guess! The respiratory therapy lady came in and worked with me for a long time on my incentive spirometer. (that is the thing to make you breath deeply) I had my gallbladder out at the same time as my surgery because it wasn't functioning well. The area where my gallbladder was removed was so tender it was hard to do this. I was taking my liquid Lortab every four hours and as the day progressed, I started having gas pains and started asking for gasX pretty regularly. I also had a OnQ pump put into my incisions while I was in surgery. My husband called it my "Christmas Ornament" because it is about the same size and shape of an ornament. This delivers local anesthetic to the incisions for up to 72 hours to help with the pain. I don't know how much good it is doing, but I don't want to know what it would be like without it. As far as pain, the pain was pretty bad any time I moved. On the 1-10 scale it would get up to an 8-9 when I was moving, but when I was sitting still it was usually about a 2-3. Not horrible, but not so great either. Again, I slept pretty well the second night. I had my catheter in so I didn't have to get up and go to the bathroom. The next morning about 5, they came in and drew my blood again checked my vital signs. I was doing very well with the liquids and could pretty much drink as much as I wanted, but I tried to keep it under 10oz an hour. Usually about 8 oz an hour. The hospitalist came in about 10am and we talked about getting a third unit of blood. My blood count had come up, but not very much. So, I got another unit of blood. I was able to pee afterward with out any problem. The list of allowable foods included diluted juice, broth, sugar free Popsicle, De-caffinated tea water and protein drinks. The only thing I didn't like was the popsicle- for some reason that just didn't taste right. Also, I am a coffee addict!! So, I snuck 1/2 a cup of coffee from my husband just to avoid having a caffeine headache. My use of pain medication started to drop off. I took a dose at 1AM this morning, then didn't ask for more until about 9am, and then I only took 1/2 a dose. After I had my last unit of blood, I had to wait for the lab to draw my count before I could leave. Once they drew my blood, I took another 1/2 dose of medication before I walked out the door. I know several people are worried about what to bring to the hospital. I packed really well, and used practically nothing!! I stayed in the hospital gown the whole time- mainly because I didn't want to bleed on my pj's. I did wear my robe over the backside as I walked the halls. I didn't put on any makeup, but I did brush my hair and my teeth. The hospital provided me with some slipper socks to wear , but after the first day, I just put my flip flops on. Also, I wore the same clothes home that I wore into the hospital. So, after I left the hospital, we ran by the pharmacy to pick up my prescriptions, then hubbie and I drove home. We live in Lubbock which is about a 6 hour drive. I had my last dose of pain meds before we left the hospital and I was really glad. Every bump was a bit uncomfortable! My doctor had delivered leg compression devices to our room in the hospital so I wore those all the way home. We stopped and walked around 3 times on the way home. I slept most of the way home and I did end up taking my second dose of pain meds somewhere along the way. Today has been good. I haven't taken any lortab, but I did take some Extra Strength Tylenol liquid. I really hate taking narcotics because they make me have weird dreams. I hope that I won't have to take any more, but I will if I need them. I went outside and walked to the end of the block and back with my dogs this morning before it got too hot and when I got back I took my first most wonderful shower!! I've been taking it pretty easy ever since. I have noticed that I am having to go slow on my liquids because when I drink too much I get this really bad pain in my chest. I also have been passing alot of gas.. which is GOOD! I still have my onQ pump in and I am supposed to pull it later today so I hope it doesn't hurt too bad. I also got a prescription for phenergan for nausea, omepresol to keep the acid down, and Lovenox injections that I have to start daily for the next week. I haven't started any of those yet, but I guess that is next on my list.

this is a repost from my other blogger site on google...I decided I want to use this site more. so don't be confused by the dates. original post date...12/19/2012 My dinner is cooking and my two year old is occupied so here I am. I left off making my phone call to a weight loss surgeon named Dr. Fowler. The basic run down for someone considering weight loss surgery is as follows: call doctor, attend basic information seminar, appointment with doctor, pay program fee, see psychologist, see nutritionist, see exercise specialist, get approved by insurance carrier, see nutritionist again, see the surgeon one last time, liquid diet, and then finally...SURGERY!!! I have done all of this and then some. My appointment date is scheduled for February 01, 2013. According to the surgeon it takes two to three months to be able to schedule a surgery date from the time you see him the first time around. It has taken me a little bit longer because of some "bumps" in the road. I had to get a sleep study done because I might have sleep apnea. I also was diagnosed with a binge eating disorder and was mandated to get help first from a psychologist. I was extremely frustrated with the bumps in my road. I am not a patient person and when I set my mind to something I basically want it now. I didn't want anything to get in my way, but I am relieved at the way things turned out. I turned out having a mild case of sleep apnea and have to use a cpap machine every night. Like everything in life, this was a change that took getting used to. I have been using it only a couple of weeks now, but can sleep through the night with it on and actually sleep through the night. My psychology appointments have proven an asset rather than a burden. My regular sessions with my psychologist have helped with my binge eating disorder and other elements of my life. I have known for sometime now that something must be off if I keep gaining weight and fail every time I try to lose any. I tried to think of what it was because I didn't think I was a typical emotional eater. I was forced to examine my eating. What I discovered was I was an emotional eater. I didn't eat when I was sad or mad, but when things seemed out of control in my life and I couldn't do anything to change it. The feeling of helplessness. Since I was little I always believed that if I put my mind to something I could change it if I wanted to. This feeling of helplessness was quite new to me...well new meaning the past 5 years of my life. As far as my binge eating disorder goes...well according to the book: The Weight Loss Surgery Workbook, most overweight people considering weight loss surgery suffer from binge eating. Great book by the way! I highly recommend buying it. It organizes the wealth of information. It is quite overwhelming coming into this process and receiving so much information. This book definitely helps and puts it in a nice organized pattern. It took me awhile to accept my diagnosis. I just couldn't see past my frustration of possibly having an obstacle to my goal. After about a week, I looked at it with new eyes. If I had a problem, then I wanted to be aware of it and fix it...long term. What I discovered? I did binge eat. Let me just say that binge eating is relative. I can binge eat, but it is way less food than my husband eats, but way more than I normally eat. The more I was aware of my binge eating, the less frequently I binged. I also discovered new elements of self. I consistently found excuses to eat. Thanksgiving, Christmas, a birthday party. These were all excuses for myself to lose control and eat anything I wanted to. I have lived my whole life controlling what goes in my mouth. I wanted to lose control. I didn't want to have to watch what I ate. I didn't want to read food labels. I don't only control food that goes in my mouth, but I control what goes in my daughter's mouth and my husband's mouth. I control pretty much every aspect of my home life and work life. I am always in charge. I am always the responsible one, and my binge eating was my way of letting go. It was my way of being irresponsible and care free. I still see the psychologist. She helps me with general things now. Do I have my binge eating disorder under control? I think so. Just like weight loss it is a daily struggle, but self-awareness is a great tool. I love going to the psychologist. She is someone that helps me see things from a different point of view. I used to be a self-aware, carefree, relaxed individual. I somehow got caught up in all the little things and became the person I am today. I know who I am, but I haven't been her for awhile now and hopefully this path I am on will lead me back to her...the better me.

The pain meds make me sleepy.:notagree So if I take the pain meds then I don't even feel like getting out of my chair. I just took 2 Gas-X's, prior to today I could only manage 1, as I had such a full feeling. I wasn't able to eat or should I say drink much. I just sipped all day and did the best that I could. Today, my tinkle was really yellow, so I know I need to get the Water into me and soon. Good thing I can drink better today. So the goal is to get the water down and see if I can get my Protein drink in too. I have managed to eat 10 oz of cream of chicken soup and about 8oz of water. Just opened up a new water. Cheers!:mad: How are you coping/doing with your band?

I have the same question! My surgery was 7/10. Some of the edges have pulled up, but overall the glue is still holding on. I thought it would be long gone by now. :biggrin:

Hi there and welcome! As you research more and more your choice should become very clear for you. There are tons of threads on both of these surgeries and both can help you meet your goal. I chose bypass in the end mostly because I suffered from severe reflux and type 2 diabetes. Bypass has a proven record in curing these diseases and getting to better health was most important to me. By the way, I have never had a single episode of heartburn or reflux and my diabetes is completely gone! I have lost 135lbs and have 10 to go to hit an ideal weight. 1 pound to go to no longer be overweight. I do not get dumping syndrome at all although on occasion if I eat too much sugar at one time I do get a tummy ache. Also I cannot eat eggs, those make me sick. Other than that I have no complications whatsoever. Having bypass was the best thing I have ever done for myself. Good luck and feel free to reach out with questions!

My firsts... (I have had my band for 6 months so far) 1. Most memorable: fitting into a standard airline seat and then NOT having to ask for a seat belt extender!!!! 2. Tied for most memorable: going to my yearly "spread your legs fest"--aka yearly OB/GYN exam--and NOT getting a weight lecture from my doctor. (getting these lectures is exactly why overweight women do not seek out healthcare professionals!) 3. Being able to cross my legs. (not possible when you weigh over 300 pounds) 4. Buying my first pair of size 16 jean in over 10 years.

I didn’t change much before my liquid diet. On day 10. My doc said loose half a pound per month. The hospital said I could gain a pound. My insurance only required 90 days, and I was approved quickly. My understanding was that I needed to go through the motions but not be too successful. I guess all plans are different.

Ferrer. Here’s a link to their website http://www.c-ferrer.com/en/spanish-artisan-and-traditional-products#cate70 Lap band 10/2007 revised to RNY 12/22/2017 HW 270 SW 263 CW 257

I'm a woman and I love lifting heavy. I am doing it now to build more muscle before my surgery. Intermittent fasting also helps. Not sure it works with WLS, but I think I read someone doing IF and weights too. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App The only way to build muscle requires the intake of carbohydrates with the Protein. And also try carb cycling. One day higher one day lower. it plays with the insulin levels on your blood and helps promote muscle growth. Lot of this. Carb cycling throws your body into a guessing game and can help break up plateaus. Do your weights on higher carb days and cardio on lower carb days. If you can't break it up at least save cardio for the end. My rule of thumb when lifting is that regardless of how many sets you do (3x10, 4x8, etc) you do not want to be able to get all of your reps on the final set. People think if you can't get all your sets you're lifting too much. The idea is to keep at that weight until you can do all those reps. Once you don't feel challenged then go up in the weights (only 5-10# depending on the lift you're doing).

Sounds like gallbladder. 10 wks after my RNY surgery I had severe pain right under my breast and under my rib cage. I called my surgeon and they had me get a ultrasound ASAP. Turns out that I had gall stones and had to have my gallbladder removed... that was not fun. 2 major surgeries in 10 wks not my idea of fun !!! My doctor also had my on a prescription pill that prevented gall stones but I had gall stones prior to RNY.

My main strategy is to fill up on low-calorie foods. Once a week, I buy and prep a bunch of snack veggies (celery, carrot chips, cucumber slices, pepper slices, and cherry tomatoes). I portion them out in meal prep containers, one for each day, and I have a saved meal that I enter in My Fitness Pal at the beginning of the day. Then I snack on the veggies whenever I want (I usually split them between mid-morning and mid-afternoon), knowing that they’re already accounted for. I use Walden Farms “calorie-free” dressing as a dip. It is a LOT of food for ~60 calories. If I’m in the mood for something warm, my go-to is cauliflower rice with Flavor God cheese seasoning and Mrs. Dash. Or I make a soup with cauliflower rice and chicken broth. 20-30 calories and very satisfying. I have a great substitution for ice cream! Whip pasteurized egg whites (safe to eat without cooking) with cream of tartar, calorie-free sugar substitute, and flavoring of choice (vanilla is delicious but I like to experiment with different flavors of One-On-One) and freeze. It’s best to eat before it’s frozen solid, or after letting it soften for a few minutes. It makes about 1 cup for just 25 calories, and it’s dairy-free and high in protein. I also use it (without freezing) as a substitute for whipped cream and put it on 10-calorie sugar-free Jello. Sometimes just looking at the nutrition information is enough to deter me. One time someone brought donuts to work and they were calling my name. I looked up the nutrition info to see how bad a small glazed donut would be, and it was 280 calories! I could eat two Built Bars for that and I would enjoy them more, and once I looked at it that way, I had no desire to eat the donut. Not worth it!

I had a c-section and waited 10 months after my daughter was born to have this surgery. Personally I think you should weight until she is about 4-6 months old and have it done then. Our bodies go through a lot w/having a baby and I honestly don't think my surgeon would have done it so soon after delivery especially with my c-section.

If its a matter of gaining less than 10 pounds to qualify - I say go for it!

I have pair of size 14 jeans I bought when I lost a bunch of weight 10 years ago. They are at the top of my NSV list (but about 120lbs away). Gettin my band December 18th. Congrats to you on your NSV!

Every now and then I get a PM asking me how I have lost so much weight so fast and what do I do for exercise. Let me tell you honestly I have lost a significant amount of weight just by simply doing things that I couldn't do for a very long time. Things that most people do daily. When I was 488lbs I could hardly stay on my feet for 10 minutes at a time without sever muscle cramps in the back of my legs. I couldn't even walk the grocery store with my Wife. I used to sit in the car and wait for her to do it and then I would get out and help her load the car. We would get home and carry the groceries into the house and I would have to sit and catch my breath, rest my legs before helping her put stuff away. It was no way for a 45 year old man to live. So to say I lost a lot of weight with no exercise is not completely accurate but the exercise I was getting is stuff that some folks may take for granted and I never will again. At my heaviest everything but sitting and lying down was a task. I was a home body as much as possible and even going out to a movie was a task. I even reached a sad point where taking a shower was a real chore but I did it every day because not taking one is just unacceptable not mention gross. So as my journey has progressed so has my physical activity but yet I am still having a problem getting in actual exercise and sometimes just a simple walk is hard to get in. Last week I committed to 10 hours of cardio and came up way short not even reaching half. This week same thing I committed to 10 hours of cardio and I didn't get the walk in yesterday. Today I am going and this time no excuses. Exercise needs to become a daily task just like taking a shower is a daily task.... So far my weight loss has not really started to slow down but I am starting to see the signs that it might. I figure as I am inching closer to goal it will only get more difficult/slow. My initial goal that I was shooting for was to weigh 220lbs. That would still put me into the obese BMI but I can accept 220. I am on track to hitting my goal of 250 for Christmas which I set last Christmas. Starting to wonder if 199 is possible. Excess skin is really becoming noticeable but there is not much I can do about that. Insurance is not going to cover plastic surgery. So you choose to live with the excess skin or be fat. I'll take the loose skin just as long as I don't start having problems. Anyway if you read this far then thank you. I hope your day is going well and that your scale is being friendly to you!

My sleeve was done 8/1/14. I had my hernia and esophagus repaired 12/2019. Bypass was the best option. However, not covered by my insurance. I knew this after months of appeals. Now, my surgeons and other doctors would like me have bypass. However, at this point I am not sure that is my best option. My sleeve is "perfect." I just don't want to have more complications. I just want to get healthier and lose more weight. That is happening because I can again barely eat. So, I am going to wait. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using BariatricPal mobile app

I had this procedure 10 plus years ago....(Since I have lost 53 pounds, my hour glass figure is starting to re-emerge ) Deb Circumferential abdominoplasty An circumferential abdominoplasty is an extended abdominoplasty plus a buttock lift. The resulting scar runs all the way around the body, and the operation is also called a Belt Lipectomy or Body Lift. This operation is most appropriate for patients who have undergone massive weight loss.