Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums

Hi all I'm 10 mos out and I'm curious about what people are eating. I feel like I can eat alot. I can eat 2 taco suprems from taco bell. The last few bites of the second one are tough... but I can do it with no discomfort later. Now I know I shouldnt be eating taco supremes..... but dang they are good. Anyway.... I get worried sometimes about how much I can eat..... can anybody else eat this muc. If so, do you worry about maintenance? Thanks for you input stacey

We had a great time yesterday ...we are meeting again on May 7th. Hope to see you there. Here are some pics from yesterdays hike and meeting.

Hey... does anybody know... If you had surgery in Mexico using a US based coordinator and the surgery was elective (not medically necessary) can this be deducted from taxes as a medical expense?

I was diagnosed with an ulcer on my suture line last week :crying: Anyone else go through this?

Hey guys! I'm considering the VSG, and I'm very concerned about hair loss. I have very thin hair already, and if it gets any thinner I will need a wig. I've seen that many people report hair loss as a side-effect of VSG, but I'm wondering what your experiences are with it? How much hair did you lose? When did you start losing hair? Was the hair loss long-lasting, or has the hair grown back? Thanks for your time!! -Lizzy

I have gotten so much inspiration from reading everyone's posts and comments. I have decided to start my own accountability section as well. I will following in the footsteps of Chance and give my stats as well. Here are the measurements I took this morning. Neck: 15 1/2 inches Wrist: 6 inches Forearm: 10 inches Upper arm: 14 inches Bust: 53 inches Ribcage: 46 inches Waist: 50 inches Hips: 59 inches (My spare tire I carry around just in case it comes in handy, I really want to throw it away) Thighs: 27 inches Calves: 18 1/2 inches Ankles: 10 inches My weight this morning is : 266 Weight at first consult: 291 Total amount lost: 25 pounds :…

I was sleeved Jan. 26,2011. I have been very faithful to my post op diet... I am getting all my protein requirements and water intake. I have not eaten any carbs ( breads, potatoes, pasta etc) I have only lost 20 lbs and 10 of that was during my pre op diet. I haven't lost any weight in a week. I am taking in about 600-800 calories daily. I try to walk almost everyday for about 30 minutes. So what gives?!? I am very frustrated and feel so disappointed! Can anyone tell me what to tweak?

Not sure this is a complication... At 5 weeks I went into my Regular Docs for a checkup. She palpitated my abdomen and I was also given a shot for Tetanus and whooping cough which really made my arm sore for two days. I have noticed pain in my knees too...Don't know if this is relevant at all....Feeling fine besides that. I have had no real tenderness in my abdomen at all, only itchy staples at my lap sites. Well after I got home from my AM Dr appointment I noticed some tenderness in my abdomen. Mostly on the right side below my ribs, but also a little bit on the left. It seemed located next to my incision sites, not right on them... but could be where my new tummy is…

I'm 10 months out and it's much harder to maintain than I thought it would be, I have to get myself back on track to keep the weight loss, wondering if I should lose under goal and then it would'nt bother me? Any words of wisdom?

I was banded Nov 2007 and my band slipped and had a revision of my band March 2009. My surgeon did not replace the old band he left that one in and just repositioned it back into place. I have the old lap band that is the 4 cc band, and from what I have been told that band is prone to slips and they do not even use that one anymore. Did ok for a while had never been able to get my fills right since that surgery. My doctor is no longer in the area....long story. My new surgeon wanted me to have a Upper GI done recently to just make sure everything was ok. I had been having nighttime reflux , well sure enough my band has prolasped again. My surgeon took all the fil…

Several years ago, I was a lot thinner than I am today, and all of the boys loved me. Over the last few years, i've slowly built up to 240lbs, and it has done a horrible number on my self esteem. I don't go to the same social events i used to, because i hate being the fat chick. Every girl i work with is incredibly thin and beautiful, which makes me feel even worse. Boys don't think of me as cute anymore - I'm just the friend who's fun to party with. I have a great personality and i'm well liked by most people, but it does me no good when i hate my appearance. It's always on the forefront of my mind when i'm out in public, and i just make myself sick about it. I …

I am asking if there are any other people that have had the sleeve surgery that consider themselves addicted to food? I find that I eat anything I can find during the day. I eat when I am happy, sad, sick, well, anytime I am awake, I eat. I have my first appointment with the surgeon on the 20th. I am so excited, but yet I am wondering about food cravings. At the seminar the surgeon said that you lose a lot of the sense of hunger. I don't eat because I feel real hunger. I eat because I love to eat. Will the loss of the part of my stomach that triggers hunger also affect the part of me that just craves food? Will it even help, or will I continue to think of the nex…

Hi guys I just got back from having Breakfast with my BFF. My first time out at a restaurant. We went to Le Peep. I asked for the kids menu and it was pitiful. It was all crap food. Stuff that now that I'm highly aware is awful and I wouldn't want to feed it to my kids. I noticed the same thing at HEB when I was still in the liquids stage... I made the comment to my mother in law how awful everything was so WTF are you supposed to feed kids? juice is horrible..you might as well give a kid a coke since it's about the same. My question is...sleevers with (young) kids... what are yall feeding your kids? 2nd part of my question is... how do we TEACH our kids healthy habi…

Well I knew that it would happen someday but I didn't think it would happen this quickly. I gained weight this week (1 lb) It’s a real sucky feeling but I have no one to blame but myself! For the 4 days this past week I didn't get in enough Protein and I know a big key to my weight loss is getting in 60+g of protein EVERYDAY. I also took in a lot more carbs then I usually do and I didn't make it to the gym in two weeks now. I was sick one week and then the next I just didn't go because I would have only been able to go one day since the rest we were out of town. So like I said, My Fault all the way! I KNOW what I need to be doing now I must just do it! For whatev…

Anyone using BioSil? Reviews? Opinions?

Hi Everyone, I went to my first consult this past Wednesday and have been reading a bunch of y'all's post, but still have questions and concerns. First, do you get enough Protein post-op to retain muscle? Secondly, in the first few weeks, is there a lot of nausa and/or vomiting? Thirdly, do you have poopy problems as well, constipation and/or the opposite? Very nervous about if it helps take the hunger or not ever being satisfied feelings away. It's like my taste buds are NEVER satisfied and I can eat and eat and eat!I'm ready to look like a lady again, and not the "Michelin Man." Also, I'm worried about looking 20 yrs older when the weight comes of…

This is really starting to concern me. I have never been able to take multi-Vitamins. Not even when I was pregnant, I couldn't handle the prenatal vitamins either. I've tried before, during, and after eating, I get sick regardless. My surgery date is March 7th. I went to costco to pick up all my "get ready for surgery" supplies. The were giving out samples of Eco-Vitamin, you add the packet to Water. It tasted very good and didn't make me sick. I thought it will be better than no vitamins and maybe I could put the powdered Protein in it. It was $20 for a 30 day supply. It has 0 carbs &0 calories. Could someone take a look at it and tell me if it is ok? http://sgn…

I feel like I cannot take a full deep breath without feeling a deep sharp pain in my back right at my shoulder blade is that normal? I'm guessing it's still the gasses trying to make it's way out of my body but never know. How long does it take to heal, to get that feeling of normalcy again?

hi fellow sleevers!! i was sleeved last dec 7 of 2010, so far ive lost 40 lbs..im doin ok, sometimes i get frustrated when the weight loss stalls, ive been on 172 for 2 weeks, i hate that, i tend to weigh myself everytime i wake up..and it ruins my day when the scale doesnt change, im only human, i easily get frustrated. i find it helpful if i take 2 protein shakes everyday, weightloss is more consistent i think...im just a busy person, i work so many hours, i work as an r.n in a busy e.r and i work full time midnight shifts so yeah, sometimes i even forget to take my calcium citrate pills...bad bad bad...but anyhow, im lookin forward to hearin from you guys...its always …

So, I had my sleeve done 2 weeks ago, and outside of the initial surgery pain, I haven't had any. That is until last night. Last night my incision on my navel started hurting, and it's a little swollen on one side. Today, my stomach, right above my incision (where my actual stomach is) hurts. It doesn't hurt all the time, it's just sore when I sit. I haven't done anything. I haven't eaten anything that I'm not supposed to. I haven't been exercising vigorously. It's just irrating me. It's not bad enough to call my doctor, but if it gets worse I will. Should I just chalk it up to healing irritability?

Just wondering if there are any other tattooed sleevers out there? Anyone get a tattoo to Celebrate the beginning or end of your journey? Tell me about it! I love tattoo's and have 10 currently, but I'll be adding to that on Friday with a bird tattoo to on my arm to celebrate the beginning of my journey and to help keep me focused down the road. I'd love to hear from some other tattooed sleevers

Her lessons learned: - Avoid slider foods. They will cause you to constantly struggle with your weight. Even occasionally, these are the devil. - Never try to see if you can eat more than you did last week, or last month, or even last year. There's no reason to stuff more food in your mouth, just to see if "it stretched". Eat the same small amounts for the remainder of your life. Why even test those waters - JUST DON'T GO THERE. EVER. - Don't let other people choose your menu. You are in control of your food. If the rest of the family is pigging down on chips and high calorie dips, don't get wrapped up in that and think you need to partake in this crap diet …

Sleeved 12/6/10, lost 56 lbs from my fattest, some before pre-op diet some during and the bulk after the sleeve. Gross and vague, but here are my symptoms. This week I have noticed that I have a slight tummy ache, just a little "sick" feeling in my stomach, more or less constant. Nothing debilitating and nothing I'd really call painful just a nuisance. Something between a sour stomach and a stomach ache. It's worse at night. I wouldn't say it was heartburn either as I take a tums and it doesn't really help. Burping helps but it never really goes away. I've also been plagued by frothy spit in the back of my throat and a coated tongue. I've "overeaten" ONCE an…

i'm 7 months out now and i feel like my sleeve has stretched! i'm not eating the amounts i did before surgery, but i'm eating more than i did at 2,3, even 4 months out. i can eat pretty much an entire chicken breast and a few bites of veggies. i have eaten some sliders and notice that i can eat those and never feel restriction - so i stay away from them for the most part. i still have weight to lose so i'm hoping that my sleeve didn't stretch!

http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/2011/02/shocking-body-image-news-97-percent-of-women-will-be-cruel-to-their-bodies-today My thought was wow! So sad ... But then I thought about it. Even with my new thin body, I still do this. Why? I still look at all the "non perfect" areas and want to fix them. Why can't I focus on all the good I've done to my body and my health over the past year & stop fixating on what is still 'wrong".

Okay, so I had my gallbladder removed in February 2010 (8 months post VSG). For about 4-5 months post GB removal, I had some food intolerances, and had to switch to fat free or low fat foods, sauces, dressings etc etc etc. As the months progressed, I could incorporate more of my normal foods back into my diet. I even had to cut out tomato based products like Pasta sauce, ketchup, chili etc etc. For the last 7-10 days, I've been having that strange radiating pain in my shoulder again, and none of the normal pain reducers are helping it. It doesn't even matter what I eat, how much I eat, even drinking my coffee and/or tea, I get the pains. Today, I started having pain …

I still have 2 more weeks before I have to go back to work, but I'm already scared to death about going back. I only told a handful of people why I was going out. I told my boss a partical truth about my surgery. I told her that I had to have stomach surgery and that I had to have an ulcer removed. It's not a total lie. I did have stomach surgery and the part of my stomach that an ulcer in it was removed during the sleeve procedure but, I just didn't tell her that I was also having weight loss reduction surgery. She's in her 80s and I really don't think she'd understand or would have given me the time off. Granted, she liked to make little quips, like, "You need th…

So today makes 8 days post op. I went to the doctor today and I got told off. Apparently, I'm dehydrated. I'm not getting in enough fluids or Protein. Now, I can average about 2 oz at a time. Yet, he expects me drink 64 oz of Water and get in at least 50 grams of protein. How in the hell am I supposed to do that? The first 3 days I was so nauseous that I popped the nausea pills like candy. I drink, but I can't drink that much. My stomach won't hold that much. Before surgery, I could drink gallons of water a day. Now, 20 oz is about all I can do. He told me to set a timer and to drink 1 oz every 5 minutes while I'm awake. How am I supposed to do and get in 50 …

Good morning VST! Let's challenge ourselves and get motivated! It was a good suggestion by MINI-Me, so let's do it! Who's in it to win it during the Holidays? This will not be an easy task, but we are SLEEVERS and we definitely have the law of physics on our side. The challenge ends January 1, 2011. Here's what you do, simply copy and paste the last posted list to a new post and add your name to the bottom. I'll do my best to keep them in alpha order by screen name. GOOD LUCK!! :-) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SN..............Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.......Lbs to Goal LilMissDiva.....247..................247.............226.......…

hi everyone! just wanted to share what happend to me today. i had an appt monday to get my stitches out but over the last 2 days i developed a SEVERE itchy rash all over my stomach. i couldnt handle it one more second, so i called to see if i could get in today. i was in luck and got in. i had my stitches removed and all the old glue from the tape removed from my skin. the doctor also told me to use hydrocortizone. i am finally getting some relief from the intense itching and the best part is when the nurse weighed me today i was down 5 pounds since tuesday! thats 5 pounds in 3 days!!! the scale finally moved WOO HOO!!!!!!

I was sleeved in December and have been lucky enough to have escaped throwing up. I was wondering if it like PBing (productive burping) where it has no bile, or is it like regular throwing up?

I went to an information seminar this week thinking I would definitely be a band candidate, and found out about the sleeve for the first time. The surgeon said he had seen a big failure rate (as in weight loss) with the band--said it's too easy to get around it and many patients just don't lose the weight or can't keep it off. He seemed enthusiastic about the sleeve--both in terms of weight loss and safety of the procedure. He does both laprasocopically. He seemed to think, even though part of the stomach is cut off and it's not reversible, that the sleeve was as safe and more effective than the band. Thoughts? I need to lose about 100 lbs., bmi about 42, in my la…

Before I had my son 13 years ago, I was a size 8. I was always "thick" but shapely. In fact, I was shaped how most black women that I know are shaped (I am black, btw). I had thick thighs, wide hips, a big butt, small waist, no stomach and DD boobs. I was also 130 pounds and 5'2". One of the things I loved the most about my short frame was my long neck. Well gues what? I was just sitting in my room and happened to look up in the mirror and there it was. My neck has resurfaced. The fat is gone from around it, and I can actually see it again. It looks weird to me, because I haven't seen it in so long. Or mabye it's because I've never noticed my collar bone be tha…

Saw this today & had to share. I don't have and never had a lapband, but from those I have observed and those on here with revisions, I've pretty much come to the conclusion that it is not a successful tool. So, why is the FDA setting guidelines to let even more people have LapBand surgery??? The New York Times FDA Approves Lap-Band for Millions More Patients Publication Date: 02/16/2011 12:00 AM WASHINGTON (AP) Cosmetic drug and device maker Allergan Inc. said late Wednesday it received approval to market its stomach-shrinking Lap-Band to millions more patients who are less obese than those currently using the device. The expanded approval to patients…

I went in this morning for my endoscopy which I assume is pretty routine. However, just as I was walking into the door of my home, I received a call from my dr. He said that the biopsy of my stomach lining tested positive for H. pylori bacteria. I now have to take this antibiotic pack for the next 14 days. Does this sound familiar to any of you?

I had my surgery on 12/31. There have been some ups and downs (mostly ups) so I thought I would put a post out to see how everyone who has had surgery in the past couple of months is doing. How is the diet going ? How's the exercise?

Well folks, it's that time again! Time to sign up for the next go round!! I'd sincerely like to congratulate everyone who made their goals for New Years, those who passed and those who even came close!!! It's tough, I know that - especially being it's the Holidays and all. Not only that, the challenge still has a few days left - so good luck if you are close!!! I personally will make sure I pick a goal that's more feasible this time! I probably could have made goal if I tried a little harder. Though I always have fun during this time of year, but it's over now. Time to get serious!!! Good luck everybody!! ***Just copy and paste from the last post to…

I'm pretty new to the site. I was sleeved 7 days ago, and I am...wait for it...a lesbian! Ha! I know that I wouldn't be able to go through this without the love and support of my girl. She's amazing. I look forward to meeting people with this, too, in common.

I was changing my signature and I look at the top of the page and there is a Papa Johns ad. It just seems a bit mean on a site that is supposed to be giving support. Maybe its just me but it seems that you could get money for ads from another source.

Try out the chat room! We love to talk in the evenings and it's nice to have people to share with. Just click on chat on the top right corner of the board!

Hi all! I was sleeved 12-13-2010 and as of today I have lost 74lbs. I have been loving my sleeve! I love never truly feeling hungry. My down fall is....old habits. I have always had a killer sweet tooth. (Diabetes on both sides) actually up until about 2 wks ago I was elated because I didn't even want sweets at all. But, all of a sudden it has come on strong!!! i find myself having a nibble here, a bite there of a cookie or cake. i never endulge and sometimes as soon as it's in my mouth i go spit it out. but regardless....it is driving me nuts. i hate this feeling of not being in control.... well besides that issue things are going pretty good. I am drinking the Unjury p…

Any pre or post op people in the San Francisco Bay Area? It occurs to me I have never actually spoken to anyone who had this surgery.

These dreams are really disturbing and scary. I dream I am eating something gorging down food and then wake up and say what am I doing. I get really worried. they are happening every night and I just wish one night that I would have a normal dream!!! I am losing so much sleep because the dreams seem so real and I am petrafied when I wake up. I have to regain my composure and finally realize these are just dreams...

hi everyone! im new here and have been reading the posts for hours. i was banded 4 years ago and did get to my goal weight of 130 lbs within 2 years of being banded, but i know it was from overeating until i got sick. i have been torn apart by people on other sites over this. i know its is wrong but it worked. with that being said...my band slipped and i had it repositioned about 6 weeks ago. i have always hated my band but i hate it more now than ever and feel like i made a $5000 mistake having it fixed. i keep hearing that Dr. alvarez and Dr. Aceves are the best to go to. if anyone can give me their personal experience with either of them it would really help me. i am a…

Just found out today that a guy I went to high school died today of a heart attack, he was bigger than I was last year when I started this whole journey. He was 24 and it's freaking me out. I know I had an ECG last year to make sure everything was ok before I had surgery, I just wonder if there may be something wrong that I'm not aware of. I spent new years in the hospital for gallbladder surgery and they told me that I had a slow heart rate, nobody ever said anything like that to me before. Am I just freaking out over nothing?

I am not sure if there are other posts on this subject, but I have a terrible time with my IV start. I usually get stuck multiple times by multiple people, thus developing my fear of the whole situation. I am looking for things I can do over the next 4 weeks to help improve my odds of having an easy IV stick. I have read about trying to build your arm muscles so I am beginning to work on that right away. Any other suggestions would be wonderful to help ease my anxiety over this matter. They do say that nurses make the worst patients...so I guess I fit the bill. I am going to ask myu surgeon to order a pre-op Xanax 30 mins prior to IV insertion and lidocaine for the …

Hi All, Someone had posted a picture of a sleeve 1 year out next to one that was 4. In neither picture did I see the staples. Where are they? Do they desolve after our scar tissue builds up?

Ok, I had a phone consult with Dr. Husted today and I have no concerns about his surgical abilities and overall the call went fine- but I am struggling with one important thing.....the size of the bouget (sp?). He says he uses a size 42 whether its a virgin or revision sleeve. He further went on to talk about how he aligns it with the anatomy inside (arteries or something). Basically that he doesn't like the idea of doing a sleeve too tight due to getting the hour glass syndrome. I'm not sure whether I'm going to be able to get past this. I am glad for the 2nd chance opportunity and I know Dr. Husted is known for his surgical abilities, but I am very concerned …

Hi all I have been doing a bunch of research on the subject lately and had a question. The VSG started out as a part one of a two part surgery, the duodenal Switch. Since then has become a stand alone procedure. I was wondering, are they creating the Bougie's smaller if they expect that the patient will only likely need the VSG? What is the standard size of the pouch at this point? I would assume its created smaller? Thank you, Lisa

God is so awesome! I am so proud to be a sleever!