Rootman

I too have insurance but elected for self pay in MX, I simply did not want to wait 6 mmonths to a year for the surgery, I was miserable and had to get faster results. I agree it's a hell of a risk and should complications arise you might be in triuble. I did it and have had fantastic results. Only uout can wiegh the risk / reward and make your own decision.

I second the PPI suggestion, I too was "hungry" till I went on a PPI, seems my poor little tummy confused the excess acid feel for hunger and was sending my brain the wrong signal. After a few days of a PPI I was fine.

Yeah, as mentioned above pica is really craving stuff like dirt. Reminds me of an incident my wife talks about, seems one April 1st (April Fools Day) someone made cupcakes out of potting soil, they looked scrumptiously like moist dark chocolate, they even put a bit of icing on them. Well most took a bite and spat them out and immediately knew the prank - one fat dude (fortunately NOT me!) went back for SECONDS! He said they tasted "a bit funny" but he couldn't resist. Man, he really had food issues. Back OT: craving stuff isn't really an issue, we all have that, being UNABLE to resist the craving is the REAL issue. As long as you can control yourself don't fret about it. If you really can't resist go back to the doc first and maybe a psychologist if it still persists.

I vote for the pre-op diet too. I was in San Diego the night before surgery waiting it out and watching TV, some local pizza joint had this 4 cheese pizza that looked absolutely fantastic. I almost caved and ordered it. I also had a lot of nausea post-op and felt like crap for about 2 months afterwards, but it was a small price to pay. I am now healthier and feel better than I EVER have been as an adult. Just had my annual checkup last month and EVERYTHING turned out well, blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol (down from the high 200's to 133!) and all other standard lab tests were aced. It was the BEST decision I ever made.

Yep, in a flash! It saved my life. I am now healthier than I have been since childhood.

Yes, I felt the same, partly due to the general crappy ill feeling I had and due in part I suspect to the after effects of anesthesia and the sudden decrease in caloric intake coupled with being thrown into the state of ketosis and your body burning so much it's fat stores all of a sudden. it's natural and will pass. Just stick with it and tell people your just a little tired. Seems to be an answer everyone can accept.

Yep, ask the doc, while it is certainly possible that your vitamins are doing it, get checked to make sure. Also TEST to see how much water you really ARE getting. Set a goal, like 40 or 60 ozs and fill a jug up to that amount and pop it in the fridge. Make sure you drink it ALL over the course of the day, that way you are not guessing how much water you are taking in.

There were MANY "last straws" for me. Getting my ponderous a$$ stuck in one of those cheapo vinyl lawn chairs was one of them. I actually had to pry it off, it got hooked on my belt, cell phone and hips. Then I busted one, it crumpled like a leaf under me left me sprawled on the ground like an over turned turtle.

Julie, congrats on the success! You are very close to your goal and are sure to make. OK, now I realize you ladies will probably beat me up for this, but here goes. I realize every story has 2 sides and you didn't include much background information about your ex and the relationship but as I guy I'd have to say that I too was miserable about myself for DECADES about my weight, and to tell you the truth I was a literal bear to live with and have to give my wife credit for staying with me through "thick and thin" (pun intended). Had we not been married we probably WOULD of broken up because I was fat and my attitude about it totally sucked the life out of the relationship. Yes, I was obese and making myself more obese and more miserable till I did the "something about it". I did and our relationship is stronger now, not so much because of the weight but because of my attitude and well being. I have to wonder was the breakup at least in part responsible for getting you to do the VSG. While his attitude may have been crass please take pleasure in your accomplishment and not in the fact that you proved him wrong or bested him in any way. Maybe I'm just reading your post wrong, sorry if that's the case.

Well 1 1/2 years out and I chew gum on occasion, I also drink with a straw, drink when I eat, drink diet soda and eat bread on occasion - all so called no-no's. Lost 170 pounds and have kept it off. I would say that there could not possibly be enough of ANYTHING in gum to effect you any which way, especially sugar free gum. Remember ALL THINGS IN MODERATION.

Yes, bread this early is a no-no for most. It balls up in the stomach and sits there like a rock. Stick to liquids for 2 weeks, mushies for 2 more weeks and then soft food for 2 more weeks, after that whatever you want but watch the caloric count.

We all felt the same way, more than once I thought I was gonna puke my nerves were so on edge. No one CAN or should try and convince you of this, this is entirely YOUR decision. All we can offer is the proof of results from the operation. I used to weigh 375 pounds, now I weigh 205. I went from a size 52 (tight) to a size 36 (loose) pants. ALL my medical issue either went away or are greatly reduced. I exercise now, feel great and look, well, {blush} FANTASTIC - at least compared to what I USED to look like. I have in the space of a little more than a year TOTALLY reinvented myself for the better. IT SAVED MY LIFE. You can do it too.

I had it, about 170 pounds ago. I did NOT bring it to the surgery although by rights I SHOULD have. I was traveling alone and the thoughts of lugging that thing around AND my luggage all by myself on the return trip just made me worry. I have issues with getting to sleep anyway and true to form I hardly slept at all the few days I was there. Post-op the headgear started to get really loose and my hard to fit face (I have to use a full face mask) got even harder to fit as my cheeks went away and the fat melted off. The mask would leak awfully and keep me awake. I should of gone back for a sleep test but decided to just wing it and am seemingly fine now. My wife used to hear me stop breathing pre-op and that's what really got me on the sleep apnea / CPAP trail to begin with. She now claims that I breath easy and don't stop and snort, so I guess I'm OK. I also don't snore like I used to either, which is a big NSV too.

Great, I find it fun , informative and best of all encouraging. Jump in with both feet and start to contribute. The more the merrier!

This has been a life long issue for me and the sleeve has made it WORSE. This is the routine I've settled in to. I drink 1/2 cap of Miralax and eat 4 prunes in the morning. I eat an apple a day. a Fiber bar and drink a ridiculous amount of Water, like almost a gallon and this keeps me hopping to the restroom a lot each day to urinate but keeps my bowels moving. Even then I take 2 Dulcolax 2 times on the last week of the month to get a thorough clean out. It is literally a "crappy" situation but stay ahead of it and you'll do OK.

Congrats! I wish you the best and looking forward to hearing from a slimmer you in the future.

It sounds like you are asking specifically about a Protein shake correct? There is no real answer, what tastes good to some taste like barf to others. I tried half a dozen brands and settles on Boost! by Nestle, not the best choice as far as content but it was all I could stomach at the time. Just keep trying them and eventually you will find one that's at least tolerable.

Yeah, I had it too, the foamy spit is just gross! I was hocking up lugies all the time too. Not sure what causes it but I'm glad it did clear up, although occasionally I have a bout - but not near as bad.

Yup, I agree about the crackers, they actually can help if your tummy is upset, after all that's what expecting mothers have been doing for a century or more At three weeks it's kind of early for dense Protein like tuna, I'd stick with the diet that your doc gave you. It was 4 weeks before a ate soft foods and typically stuck with Soup and stuff like that. Typically most people do NOT experience hunger at 3 weeks out, they either have a lot of excess acid which makes you THINK you are hungry, and the crackers can help with that, or you are "head hungry" which is a psychological issue you should get help with.

Same here, I order small amounts sometimes don't finish or even take some of it home. And remember guys nearly EVERYTHING is permissible - just use good common sense and eat in moderation, something the sleeve FINALLY allows us to do. At one restaurant we visit we split an entree, take half home for a meal the next day - that's FOUR meals from "ONE" serving. Portions are just WAY outta control. Another thing I notice is that I am enjoying food MORE now that I am eating LESS. I just enjoy the FLAVOR now rather than just striving to fill myself up.

As the others pointed out - this is a TEMPORARY solution. The yo-yo wieght gain and loss cycle is sure to catch up with the users of this device. While I would certainly wish anyone making this coice the best I think this device is going to ultimatly fail.

All the best to you! Looking forward to seeing "less" of you in the future

Same here, I used to HATE smaller theaters that had the old fashioned fixed seats, I really needed to lift that arm up to get breathing room, now I rattle around in the seat with the arm down. The cheapo vinyl lawn chairs used to cling to by big butt when I got up too, how humiliating having to pry it off my hips when I got up, and more than one chair broke under my ponderous weight. Keep at it, more NSV's are on your way!

Yeah, and did you ever notice it's typically the FATTEST people who "warn" you the most Oh, and the old "My brother-in-law's cousins roomates sister's friend had bariatric surgery and it didn't work! She's fatter than ever and started to turn green" (or some other stupid "side effect". Hey, I appreciate their "concern" but just like it was entirly MY choice - or series of choices - to get morbidly obese it was MY choice to get bariatric surgery.

Shoudn't be any issue, you didn't mention how far along you are but anything after a few weeks should be OK. Just be careful of the calories as wine and other alcohol is pretty high in cals. About a year ago I started drinking 3 oz of red wine each night before sleep. It helps me to sleep and it supposidly has healh benefits for cancer prevention and cholesterol reduction. Something besides general diet is working in that respect as my last months check revealed my cholesterol was 133, pretty rediculously low! I didn't realize how much I HATE the taste of alcohol though, it really turns me off, so no danger of over induging here!