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I'm so excited and just have to share the news that insurance has approved surgery! I have been going through all of the motions since January and am so excited! A little about me: I'm 46, mother of two kids (10 & 7), and I teach 6th grade. I had medullary thryoid cancer and my thyroid was removed in 2008. Even though my thyroid hormone levels are within range, weight has been a problem ever since the removal of my thyroid. Have I mentioned that I am SO EXCITED?!?

I noticed today that I actually weigh 5 lbs. less than the wild lie that has been listed on my driver's license for the past 25 years! 🤣🤩 I guess it qualifies as a NSV.

Clear liquids (according to my diet plan) are water, broth, sugar free jello, calorie free gatorade/powerade, sugar free jello, sugar free popsicles, unsweet tea, decaf coffee, calorie free- non carbonated drinks, and clear protein drinks. And if it is really needed, pedialyte.

Unfortunately, apart from what you are doing, you just have to wait it out. I had no gas pain with my sleeve (don’t hate me) but with my gall removal oh yeah. I walked, I stretched (though because my abdomen had been distended with the gas & gallons of fluids they pumped me full of to up my low BP I had a lot of strained tummy muscles it wasn’t easy) but I totally forgot the gasX. It does ease a little more every day. Took about a week. You can have shakes, broths, soups, clear liquids. As long as they are completely smooth & free from any residual bits of meat, vegetables, herbs, etc. I strained all my soups just to make sure.

It took me about a week and a half for the gas pressure to go away. I used gas-x, walking, sitting as straight as possible while resting (don’t know why but it made me feel better) and sleeping on an incline. I also found that only drinking clear liquids during this time helped. The creamy protein shakes I liked before surgery were disgusting and hurt my stomach after surgery. I am not sure if this assisted in the gas pain but it helped in my overall pain and discomfort. I stuck to the Isopure Protein Drink Powder (tastes like vitamin water to me). I hope your pain settles soon.

Hi Garay, after my sleeve surgery I didn’t weigh for several weeks, and now, a year out I only weigh once a week. Back before I had surgery, whenever I was on a diet (many, many diets) I weighed daily, and my mood was dictated by the scale. I’m determined to get away from that mindset now. Sorry, I’m rambling…..you’re doing fine!

Some do have a tougher time post surgery & I’m sorry you are. But it does get better. The pain subsides, the swelling reduces, you’ll move more easily, …. Just give yourself time to heal. Honestly, there will be days in the future when eating or drinking may be tough or your tummy/body will throw you a curve ball. There’s a lot of learning & new things to discover about yourself & your body. It is soooo worth it.

Getting sleeve to bypass in August as well for Gerd/esophagitis. It's horrible to feel gnawing pains that feel like hunger but it's uncontrolled acid. Equally as bad that I can't lay down, even hours after a meal, because it rushes back up once I drift off the sleep and a burning throat even during the day. Look forward to have that fixed as all of you do. Scared this time around since I'm worried about abdominal adhesions from my previous surgeries. Cheers to all of you.

I drank decaf the first year after surgery, then was told it was ok to switch back to regular. I drink a lot of regular coffee now...no issues. It's true you can't take a lot of NSAIDS, but my surgeon allows us to take a couple of doses a month for things like migraines and bad periods (After we are a year out....the first year of healing is completely restrictive) I take my ibuprophen with an antacid now, and never more than a few doses in a month.

If I were in your position, I would honestly go with what the insurance pays for. I wouldn't want to, but for me, cost would be very very important. But if you can afford it and you really don't want the bypass, then go ahead and self pay.