Almost time...

[DogMom2Doodles 9]

So I went on vacation with my hubby- caught some kinda cold...getting to the almost better part of the cold- however still have a cough- and sometimes my chest hurts with it. So please if you are one to pray- pray this is done and over with by my surgery date ❤️

I did my preOp appointment, doctor heard me coughing- didn't really question anything....so I didn't either. Did covid test- it was negative so thats good.

Started my PreOp 2 week diet per my doctors orders. I also started watching my portions before this so it feels very manageable.

Oct 24th is my go date for Balloon procedure. I know people that did gastric bypass however I did not qualify for that. So fingers crossed my lifestyle changes will get me to my goal.

Thats my intro- looking forward to hearing from people as we progress through this journey together

[NeonRaven8919 443]

Hello! I had a gastric sleeve on Monday. So I'm still 4 days post-op! Welcome to the group!

[RuizAyres 27]

Welcome, I’m having my pre op exam today and my surgery is 10/21. I think my primary waited too long to get approval from insurance but we will see? What is a ballon gastric surgery? I haven’t read of that one?

[juliie 29]

6 hours ago, NeonRaven8919 said:

Hello! I had a gastric sleeve on Monday. So I'm still 4 days post-op! Welcome to the group!

how is it going ?? how do you feel ?

[ShoppGirl 4,879]

I imagine you with you’ll be fine. I think so long as they listen to your lungs and they take your temperature and those are clear you should be fine. I mean, some people have a lingering cough from a cold that was two months ago. But if you still don’t feel good, I would be honest because your body will be fighting a lot post surgery and better to reschedule, as disheartening as I know that would be, then take any risks. And if you have a forceful cough, still, I would ask to reschedule even if they don’t want to because coughing or sneezing hurts quite a bit immediately after surgery. My husband had somebody at work that had Covid and I made him sleep on the couch because I was so afraid after coughing one time while I was in the hospital I said no way am I getting sick.

Edited October 11 by ShoppGirl

[Spinoza 1,411]

I had no idea gastric balloons were even done any more. Unless this is a different procedure from the days of yore?

I think most surgeons abandoned balloons for the safe and considerably more effective sleeve and bypass options.

I know those mightn't be an option for everyone of course. Best of luck and I hope it works for you OP. Sounds like you're in a good mind space and that's worth a lot.

[DogMom2Doodles 9]

So I am a USNavy Veteran. I am getting help through the VA Hospital. They don't offer injections for weight loss help due to the need for those medications to go to Diabetic patients which is what they were made for initially. So not having a larger BMI, the only option available to patients like me is the bariatric balloon. They do not do lap band or anything else similar here in the United States anymore with the VA health system. They offer gastric sleeve/bypass to patients with higher BMI- they said if I was just 10lbs heavier when I was referred to the specialist, they would have approved it 😕 which made me a little upset- if my primary would have known....maybe I would have waited for those extra 10lbs ? Well, any who- I am willing to try what's available to me- so Gastric Balloon it is

So they will insert surgically a balloon filled with blue dyed saline solution. Basically, a breast implant in my stomach this will take up a majority of the stomach space- leading to feeling full and staying full feeling for longer. Basically, it is like the injection medications results, but not needing the injections monthly.

[NeonRaven8919 443]

10 hours ago, juliie said:

how is it going ?? how do you feel ?

I'm feeling better for the most part. I took a 45 minute walk today, i was able to eat twice today and I'm not feeling so tired. Only have a few pain issues where it hurts when I cough, and a pretty gnarly bruise where my stomach is

[DogMom2Doodles 9]

Things are good- really want to go to the park and walk/jog but am just focusing on getting this cough under control. I was super excited that Farmer Boys (restaurant in California) had BOGO on salads. So I had them split it in 2 containers...so technically I scored 4 containers of salad with grilled chicken, avocado, 1/2 egg each, Tomato, iceberg lettuce) So I will be enjoying them for the next 3 days- part of my good choice food for the day- and then my preOP Protein Shakes the other meals...pretty confident and I am one of those weird ones that likes salad and I also like water!

[ShoppGirl 4,879]

9 hours ago, DogMom2Doodles said:

Things are good- really want to go to the park and walk/jog but am just focusing on getting this cough under control. I was super excited that Farmer Boys (restaurant in California) had BOGO on salads. So I had them split it in 2 containers...so technically I scored 4 containers of salad with grilled chicken, avocado, 1/2 egg each, Tomato, iceberg lettuce) So I will be enjoying them for the next 3 days- part of my good choice food for the day- and then my preOP Protein Shakes the other meals...pretty confident and I am one of those weird ones that likes salad and I also like water!

Well it should be a really good thing that you like Water post op. Not sure about the salad. With the surgeries they actually cut your stomach and intestines it’s a while before your allowed salad but do they actually cut anything with the balloon or do they do they fill it after it’s in there somehow? I had the sleeve first, and I recently had a revision to the CB because of weight red and because they didn’t operate on my stomach. I had to wait like two months until everything was healed and now I can eat whatever I want so I’m back to salad earlier than those who had their stomach operated on. I’m sure you’re a doctor will tell you what is appropriate for you though. I really wish one of our restaurants would have Bogo on salads. I actually love them too. I have found that when logging all of my macros in an app that salad is actually not as great for us as we think it is as we tend to eat it. It’s mostly the dressing even one serving is pretty high in calories but if I am careful what I have the rest of the day I’m able to enjoy it on my plan. I finally figured out that if you put it in a bigger container and stir it around with the dressing, it’s easier to get a little bit on all of the lettuce with a smaller amount of dressing. Kind of like they do when they prepare Caesar salad. Of course it’s kind of hard to do that when you’re actually in a restaurant, but then I will just ask for the dressing on the side and dip a little bit as I go. With the smaller stomach, I mostly eat the toppings anyway, and just a tiny bit of lettuce to get the Protein and nutrition before I run out of room.

Edited October 12 by ShoppGirl

[DogMom2Doodles 9]

No cutting in the gastric balloon surgery. Endoscope down your throat- all done through that- no incisions- no cutting.

[DogMom2Doodles 9]

@everyone where do I get one of those cute little weightloss trackers to add to my signature

[ShoppGirl 4,879]

23 minutes ago, DogMom2Doodles said:

@everyone where do I get one of those cute little weightloss trackers to add to my signature

I can’t tell you exactly how to get it but you do Have to use a computer to do many of the features as opposed to what you can do from a tablet or phone.

[DogMom2Doodles 9]

I figured it out Thanks though