kellyw74

i am required to take the following: 1 Centrum multi 1 B-12 subllingal 1,200 mg Calcium citrate (i take 1,500mg) 30mg Iron chew ( I take more because I am anemic) I also take the following for good measure daily: 2,000 mg D3 2 gummy Vit C Mega Red 2 Fiber Gummies Kelly

i am not supposed to eat corn either. kelly

Nothing, it is none of their business and because it is medical, they can not ask about it! I took PTO and that was that. Kelly

I can only speak from my own experience but I will tell you what I think!! I chose VSG for these reasons. I too, like many lost and regained MANY times!! I needed something that would help me stop that cycle!! I have a huge problem with portion control and the sleeve DEFINATLY controls that for me! I CAN NOT physically eat more than 2 oz of ANYTHING at a time. How can I possibly get fat or stay fat on that??? I didn't always eat bad stuff, just too much of anything at one time will make you gain weight. I could eat 10oz of chicken and a salad and a baked potatoe. That would kill me now!! If I want a cookie, I can have one and I will not get fat on one, but I can not eat 10 like before! I could eat a piece of pizza (although I choose not to) and only have one and know I will not gain, but before I would eat 4-5 pieces. I do not eat rice, Pasta, bread, or any complex carbs at all. My carbs are from veggies and fruit. I might, one day eat them again, but for now, at 3 months out, I want to take full advantage of my losing stage! The sleeve works if you work it. I did not want my guts re-routed and did not want to be sick if I chose to eat a cookie or something fried! I love my sleeve and would do it again tomorrow if I had to! Good luck to you in whatever decision you choose! Kelly

My copay for the surgery was $25. I had several labs and test and meds after surgery probably about $75 all together. It all depends on your plan and what it pays. I have a friend that had the surgery done and her co-pay was $400 for the surgery. Look at your benefits and see what your copay is. Kelly

Yes, I do track my Protein. I use myfitnesspal.com and I usually get about 65-90gr of protein a day now that I am over 3 months out. Kelly

I was hungry, but on liquids and not getting anything solid of course I felt hungry. Liquids run straight thru and don't stay with us long! Kelly

If you are not losing, up your calories for a few days. That will get your body to not hold on to everything you are giving it because it wont think it is starving with the extra calories. I have to up my calories on the days I exercise or I will not lose. Seems kinda crazy to exercise just to eat more!!! Weird, but very true!! Kelly

I orignially wanted to have the band, but my surgeon said "NO WAY"" he hates the band and will not do them. too many complications and needs for revisions. He told me about VSG and told me to research it. I did for a few months and I am so happy I chose to have this procedure. I love my sleeve!! Kelly

You definatley rocked your sleeve!!! GOOD JOB!! KELLY

My plan called for 3 full days on clears, 2 weeks on full liquids, 2 weeks on purees, 8weeks on soft foods, and then modified regular diet. No protein drinks!!! Kelly

That is AWESOME!! Good for you! Kelly

The whole reason for the pre-op diet is to lose weight and ultimatley to shrink your liver. When we are extreamly heavy, our livers are huge!!!!!!!!!!!! It makes it really hard on the surgeon when our liver is big and it gets in the way. They have to put camers in there and long things with stapler's on them and grabby things (they all have names, but I dont know what they are LOL). Anyway, when we lose weight, our liver shrinks! That is the reason behind it. If you have lost some weight, I am sure you have shrunk your liver some, how much?? I don't know. Try to be better for the next few days until your surgery and you will be o.k., I am sure!! You need to think of the reason you wanted this in the first place. Do you really want to start all over and have to wait again? I think not and we all have been there and scared! I am sure you will be fine. Don't worry. KElly

The first few days are hard, but remember you just had MAJOR surgery!! My case manager said next to heart surgery, this surgery is next in line! People fail to realize it because they don't really feel that bad, but it is MAJOR!! They remove part of your organ!! Of course you will feel poorly!! I didn't really feel bad, just tired and sore. Everyday is an improvement. Hang in there!!! Kelly

I think they like to do bypass on people with really high BMI's. People with BMI's under 50 are usually suggested the sleeve. I think it is because with the bypass you tend to lose faster. However, with the bypass it seems people can gain back easier than we can. We can gain, but not as easily. It is ultimatley up to you, if you don't want a bypass, then say NO WAY!! I told my surgeon in the beginning I didn't want that, eventhough he never wanted to do it, I made it clear I wasn't doing it. It is your body and if you don't want to do it, you don't have to! Good luck to you!! Kelly

That is a great NSV and made me smile!! good job! Kelly

The good thing about the sleeve is nothing is really "off limits". If you can tolerate it, you can have it. I personally have not had rice, but others do and are fine with it. It is just really carby and takes up a lot of room because it swells. They do make rice-less sushi, could you try that? The only things that people say you shouldn't eat is celery and coconut because it doesn't digest well with our new tummy, but many still eat it. Good luck! Kelly

Congrats on your sleeve!! Yes, it does get better, hang in there!! SIP SIP SIP!! Just little sips, not drinks!! I was supposed to sip 1oz every 15 minutes for the first week and did not really have any trouble drinking. Lots do tho, just sip, sip, sip all day if you have to. It sucks, but you don't want to get dehydrated. Keep us posted on how you are doing! Hugs, KElly

WOOP WOOP!!!! Kelly

That is so awesome!! good for you. Kelly

AMEN!! Kelly

For the first 4 weeks you should be on chewable Vitamins, including the calcium. Bariatric Advantage has calcium chews that are soooo yummy. bariatricadvantage.com and Calcet makes some that taste like cake. The chocolate, lemon and carmel from BA are the BOMB!! Also Calcet's lemon and chocolate are good too. After 4 weeks you can take Citracal and Centrum. That is what I take now, but wasn't allowed to until 4 weeks out. I still do the chewable calcium and Calcet once in a while just because I like them. Good luck to you! Kelly

YAY for you!! congrats on your sleeve. for some reason, i thought you were already sleeved!! i was really bruised on my left side for a few weeks and looked like someone beat me with a ballbat!! it was freaky! everyday gets better, hang in there. i can't believe that you are on mushies already. i did not get to do that until week 4. I also gained 12lbs after surgery. It did go away fast too. take it slow, you will do great! Hugs, Kelly

I am just speaking from my own experience but I want to tell you this: I was sleeved on May 9th of this year. I prayed and prayed that my hunger would go away after surgery because I was always hungry before surgery and could literally and did eat all damn day!! After my surgery, I still was hungry. I was sad!! I thought for sure, I would always feel this way. I have taken Nexium since 2004 when I was diagnosed with GERD! I read and read on here about "false hunger" from acid. I asked my dr. about it and he told me it was bologna!! I couldn't stop thinking that maybe, just maybe there was something to it. I would eat, even with my sleeve and an hour later be hungry again!! My dr. swore I was eating the wrong things, but I knew what I was putting in my mouth!! I took it upon myself to get some Prilosec OTC at Walmart and took the 14 day trail. In about 10 days, I noticed a HUGE difference in my hunger! Now, I still get hungry, but I am not hungry all damn day like I was before on Nexium! I bypassed my surgeon and got my PCP to write me a script for the Prilosec and I now take it daily all the time and don't have to pay an arm and a leg for it! Ask your dr. to switch your PPI. It could just make all the difference in the world. It sure did for me! Kelly

I don't super low carb, but I keep mine between 40-60 daily. If I want something I have it and don't pay attention to the carbs. I don't eat that much for it to make a difference anyway!! I get most of my carbs from fruit and veggies because I do follow the protein first rule. I have a protein bar usually as a snack and mine have anywhere between 18-20 carbs each. When I super low carb, I don't loose. That is why I don't do it. Kelly