OnTheFenceMomma

WOW! I'm not the only one! I was sleeved on Aug. 17th, last year and I've been stuck for almost 2 months! I've upped my exercise, I'm watching what I eat and I'm still stuck. I do notice that if the plumbing gets backed up, I get stuck and that's a bad pattern. :cry_smile: I've been stuck in the low 180's for too long. So frustrating. :banghead: I'm starting my fitness class in 2 weeks and will be doing an hour and half of zumba twice a week plus the walking I already do,and hopefully it will break this stall.

HI!!! I just got sleeve on 8/17. LIterally, a week and 1 day. Had breakfast(greek yogurt & pineapple) and then had my Vitamins and other meds. Well, as soon as I took the multi(celebrates straw/pineapple chewable) I got a gurgling in my tummy and then it all came up. It wasn't as bad as i thought it would be, feeling wise. It was dry and there was no stomach acid at all. Anyway, sorry, I'm probably grossing you out by now. Should I retake my vitamins? Or my prozac, which I saw floating in the bowl? LOL Not sure what to do. Thanks!

Hi, Just wondering if anyone out there is or has been sleeved by Dr R. Li at South San Francisco Kaiser? What were your experiences with the staff?Post op experiences? My surgery is August 17th. I'm very excited but also a bit anxious. I have my pre-op class on Tuesday. Was supposed to be last Tuesday but his schedule changed. Wishing everyone success!

I'm finally post op! I never thought I'd get there! It almost feels surreal. My surgery was on Wed. the 17th at S. San Francisco Kaiser. I'm glad to be home but I'm in more pain than I was expecting. The incisions going thru my abdominal muscles hurt the most so i take my lortab every 6 hours, on the dot. I can eat about a 1/4 cup of yogurt or applesauce at a time. I'm actually having a nectar protein shake right now; pink grapefruit. It's not bad. Not fabulous but considering it's a PROTEIN shake, it's pretty good. ANyone have any tasty mush food recipes? Just wondering.

That's my whole reasoning. As a single mom, this is an extremely difficult decision to make and an even more ballsy thing to do. My surgery is on Wed. and I'm going thru the whole spectrum of emotions. We are starting a new life and a huge change like this is anxiety prevoking. I'm calling it the "REINVENTING OF ME". I can't say much more than anyone else here already has. I'm trying to keep busy and reading, posting and absorbing all the info I can about post-op life. Pretty much what I've been doing the past year! Good luck and see you on the other side.

Sending virtual hugs!:girl_hug: That's pretty much exactly how I feel! I'm one week away and it's stressing me. I can't focus on anything! And it's not the surgery itself, it's after ward when I have to focus, that's worrying me. :sad_smile: Will I get all my Vitamins in? Will I gag on Protein shakes? Will I be nauseated? Will I be hungry? OMG, my head is spinning!!!:bowl: Can you tell I like smillies? I know I'll be on this board a lot this week!

AWESOME!!!

Thanks for asking this question. I'm allergic to nickel as well. I can't wear any metal watches and earrings have to be sterling silver. This was very helpful. Thanks so much!

So frustrated. This impending surgery for a cyst removal is depressing me and seriously side tracking me from my goals. I've gained weight, a few pounds the last couple of weeks. I'm making bad decisions and it's hard to care. I've just been so bleh, so scared and anxiety wridden that I don't focus on my meal plan at all. Every time I make a bad choice I feel bad, then I swear I'm going to be good from then on. Then something bad is presented or in my face and I say, screw it, I'll do it after I eat this pizza. I did eat the entire salad first with vinigrate dressing to compensate, but I still ate a whole slice of pepperoni and sausage. Maybe that's not so bad. WHO AM I KIDDING. I'm waiting for the ob/gyn to call with a surgery date and praying it's in the next 2 weeks so I don't have to postpone my sleeve date. How do I get back on track?

I got my surgery date, I got my surgery date! I'm officially a pre-op-er! I feel like I accomplished so much just getting to this stage. I'm so excited and yet so scared. I know I'll probably, most likely be just fine, but there's always that nagging voice in my head going, "hmmm, are ya sure?". I am so glad I started watching YouTube and all the WLS community post oppers who have been so successful. They really gave me the courage to find this path and take the first step on this journey. I was so dead set against surgery til I found them. Messagegoddess, BetheBestMe, EmmyRNY; all of them are so great. So first, I have to get this little ovarian cyst removed in the next couple of weeks so my sleeve surgery can proceed on JUNE 16TH. Apparently, losing 20 lbs pre-op made this cyst(i call her Gertrude) jealous and it decided to get very angry and painful. So laying in my stomach was not an option anymore and I must have it removed. That's nerve wracking enough. All this while going to school, raising my kid and trying to find a job. But now that I have my date, all is right in my world. I have no complaints. Only gratitude for this board, my health and the staff at South San Francisco Kaiser. WOOOHOOO!

I did a sleep study and they found I don't have sleep apnea but I do have a very mild case of restrictive airway syndrome. They gave me a machine anyway and want me to use it before surgery. I do when I can. I also have horrible hay fever so if my nose is stuffy, it doesn't get used. Good luck with your journey. No one ever said it was easy and it will make you stronger. Take care!

CUTE!

I watch A LOT of video's on Youtube. Seeing everyone's success and gave me the courage to seek out the vsg. i continue to do research using YT, this forum and anywhere else I can find info. If I hadn't found all the youtubers, I doubt I'd be on this journey. So I'm grateful to them all.

According to my surgeon, the sleeve is replacing the lap band, in regards to what patients are requesting. Mine is covered by my insurance. (still crossing fingers with budget cuts and the changes to health care in CA)

What Kaiser are you going thru? Each one develops their own process with the basics. The South San Francisco is different than the Fremont location, which is only about 40 minutes apart from each other. At SSF, we had an orientation, than a nutrition class. Then based on your first psych evaluation, you may have to take a mindful eating class, which I enjoyed. The surgeon I chose asked me to get under a certain weight, which was only a 9 pound loss from when I started so that wasn't too hard. I'm getting scheduled for surgery in April, as soon as the calender is open. I do talk to the psychologist, who specializes in bariatric patients on the phone and thru email. The nurse and dietician are all available thru email and all answer pretty quick. I think what differs mostly, is their process of classes and program set up. They all have to have the same insurance requirements, it's just what they do with them. I've learned a lot about eating habits, how to deal with cravings, Vitamins and such. I could have had my surgery sooner, but I'm in the middle of my semester and want to wait til summer. So I'm scheduling for the beginning of June, I hope. Good luck and good vibes!

Right there with ya. But I have found, that the more protein rich the meal, the longer it takes before the beast complains again. I hate my stomach. It's always whining and bi**hing at me for something.

This is a tough one.There's definitely people in my life who wouldn't understand. I've mentioned it to some close friends and family. My parents know because we live with them and I'm counting on their support(so far, so good). My brother; I have not told and I"m not sure I will. He's recently developed type 2 diabetes and has lost a lot of weight on his own with exercise and diet. He's always had more will power than me and I don't know if he'd understand. I know my sister in law wouldn't like it, or wouldn't care but they all live with my Grandmother and I'm not telling her. She's 80 and I don't want her to worry about me.

What I'm really, really looking forward to is finding a spouse. It's very hard and disappointing to search for a boyfriend in my current weight, especially since I'm NOT into dating someone who wants me just because he has a "fat fetish" or mom-complex. I want someone who likes the same music and movies and books as me, and who'd like me because of that - not because of my weight. I can relate to that. Although, dating scares me cuz I'm not used to the attention and tend to not trust men. I will never understand those chubby chasers. I don't care about getting married, but I wouldn't mind having someone love me back, they way I love them. Never had that.

Thanks for the laughs! LOL!

I'm not a person to take risks and all I'm saying is, really; for me, going to Mexico is too risky. And expensive, out of pocket which is not an option for me right now. I'm half Hispanic/native American, I'm afraid they wouldn't let me leave. LOL And I'd get picked on for not speaking spanish. (no, i'm not illegal) But anyways, I was just stating an opinion. There's so many loops that we have to get thru for the insurance and surgeon and I don't mind them because I know I'll be ready. For example, Kaiser requires a full psych evaluation and group/individual sessions. I like that. Being able to vent to a psych who specializes in bariatric patients and has probably seen it all, is very comforting to me. CUZ I'm scared! I want to do it but I'm so scared about the surgical complications, not being able to stay away from my old eating habits, or gaining it back. There's a whole team I'm accountable to; dieticion, nutritionist, a nurse who calls me periodically to check in, the pshychologist and the surgeon. I was born with no thyroid so having this team, for me, is what I feel I need. I'm sure it's not everyone's preference. I was dead set against this surgery til a few months ago. Actually, I was set against the gastric bypass but then they told me about the sleeve and I jumped on board. I've watched so many youtube videos of people who have had the courage to do this and they inspired me. As for the money, I know they all make a mint, here and all over the world.

I know you're just thinking and writing, not really filtering. I can accept that. I do have a couple of things to say though. 1. Most people I know can't afford to pay out of pocket for trip to Mexico for surgery which is paid for out of pocket. Insurance is the only way to get this paid for and if that's what it takes, I'll kiss their butts and make them a sandwich. 2. I wouldn't want my surgeon so far away. I want access for follow up. 3. Most of the posts and video's I've seen from people who go to Mexico say how easy it is. This scares me. It seems very "assembly line-ish". I'm sure they are great surgeons but they make A LOT of money that way. Well, I've said my peace. I'll get off my soap box and let someone else have a turn.

Love those ideas. Thanks for sharing!

Torani sugar free helps, a lot. I actually use greek yogurt in place of sour cream. The Fage with fruit is my favorite but there's too much sugar. Never tried freezing it. Might have to do that.