klus263

73 pounds is AWESOME.....They also did not weigh me before surgery. I weighed 232 when I visited PCP for my first supervised visit. I was down to 212 when I had surgery and 224 the day I came home. This morning I was 181. I am so pleased of where I am after only 2 months!!! Keep up the good work and theose 2 pounds will disappear quickly to never come back.

This is standard with most doctors. I had one week of liquid diet prior to surgery and then the one day of clear liquids only. I had to start mine the day before Thanksgiving. But I would do it all over again to get where I am right now. I have lost a total of 51 lbs since I started my journey and 43 since surgery. I was sleeved on Dec 1st. I can say i am halfway to goal and only 2 months out. This has been an awesome journey so far.

I found after surgery, I had a intolerance for anything with nutrasweet or aparteme-basically most sugar free stuff. It made my stomach very unsettled-not throwing up but just something was not right feeling. The first few days after surgery things were a little metalic but that is from the anesthia. I find now I look at protein first and prefer it. I used to be a carboholic but I have not induldged hardly in any bread, rice or pasta. Today I had a peice of chocolate candy and felt it was way to sweet for me. I have not had anything like that since prior to Thanksgiving. I am so much happier and even though it is just a little over 2 months from surgery-I am already halfway to goal.

Here is my experience. I had liquid diet 7 days prior to surgery. The last day was Clear liquids only. That evening I had to take an entire botte of Miraliz mixed with my choice of liquid (gatorade) for a bowel prep. Not everyone has to do that. I arrived at the hospital at 5:30 am. I got into my gown and had to to give myself a lovanox shot (blood thinner). Again not everybody doctor's required this. I was wheeled into the prep op with to receive my IV and answer questions-this is standard that we understand what surgery we are having along with them having the correction patient. They gave me shot which relaxed me then I was wheeled to OR. I remember moving to the OR table. Then next thing I was in my room with my husband and they were putting on the leg thingies to prevent blood clots. I do not remember the breathing tube, the catherator and they were all removed before I got to my room. I never had a pain pump but was given pain medication via IV very 4 hours. They had on file additional pain meds if needed but I never took anything more. I did not have any serious gas pain nor any nausea. Again I had IV anti-nausea medication, acid reducer and antibiotics. After a short nap. My husband and I walked up and down the hall with my IV pump. He left by 2 pm. By 3pm I was walking up and down the hallways every hour (when not walking remember to plug in the IV pump or the battery will go low later that night). We were not allowed any food that day and could get only a dixie cup of ice chips every 2 hours. The next morning, I saw the doctor, received breakfast-chicken broth, apple juice. I was able to drink about 2 ozs. I was feeling really good and was released by 10 am. We took a drive to Walmart to get my liquid nexium and liquid pain medication filled. I walked the store while waiting. Went home and took a nap and later that afternoon, my husband and I went to a local park and walked around the lake (about .5 miles). I did have some pain when I extended myself but the pain pills helped with that. Others have different experiences, but I am so grateful for this surgery. Today i was in the store and was able to try on a size L and it fit. .

My favorite thing right now is getting one of the roasted chicken from Walmart. They have several flavors and I cannot cook a chicken for the price they are selling one, here is $4.99. It is very moist and it smells awesome. For other meals, I dice it up and then use 1/4 cup of a jar of chicken gravy to 4 ozs of chicken and this gives you about 20 grams of protein. This helps to keep it moist later and makes it easier to go down. I do not eat the skin and I can barely eat 4 ozs yet. Sometimes I place 1-2 Tbsp of mashed potatoes on the bottom of the dish, add the chicken and top with gravy. This is a comfort food for us, as I grew up eating lots of casseroles.

Hey Ann, I was only in the one night (that is all the insurance approved) but I did not have any complications. I also went the insurance route as I could not afford self-pay. My insurance (Aetna) approved me in one day. You may want to call them to make sure they have your papwework and see if they can tell you the status of your case. Good Luck.

I use to use the Bare Minerals. As for dry skin, I was told to put on a moisturizer and wait about 10 minutes then apply your base or powder. I finally could not afford to keep using the Bare Minerals but found that Avon's was very close and cost half the price. I am noticing my chins are gone but it is a bit loose in the skin so I am still looking for that miracle lotion to firm or tighten that doesn't cost and arm and a leg.

This is a very special time for your daughter and you. I don't see anything wrong with taking a small bite. My daughter is getting married in October but I live 350 miles away and we dont' get to share thiese special moments. Focus on her, asking her opinions of which flavor she liked the best. Maybe when she narrows it down to 2 choices than taste. Next month I will be heading to New Orleans for Mardi Gras and food is definately a big part of the weekend but I plan to make good choices but not get crazy. I want to enjoy myself and have a good time with all my relatives I will be seeing that weekend.

for a change of pace, I had a package of French onion soup and dip mix. I made it as the soup and strained out the bits of onion. It had an nice flavor for a great change from chicken. I could do any soup minus the chunks for the first 2 weeks. I also liked the progresso tomato and parmesan soup. I used my blender to puree the tomato bits.

Hey Wareagle...I am also in Birmingham . I was sleeved Dec 1st with Dr Schmitt with Alabama weight loss surgery. I don't know what his selfpay price is but I am very happy with his office staff and the hospital. They have a great monthly support group also.

I work from home so I did not have to deal with a commute but I do work 4 -10 hours taking calls. I had surgery on a Wednesday and returned to work the following Wednesday. I did get up often during the day and walked for a few minutes around the apartment to loosen up and to prevent blood clots. A few days more would had been nice but I could not afford any more time office.

I knew when I started my 6 month prep, that it wouldn't last. I had 20 years of failed diets in the past. To be honest I did not try very hard during my 6 months that if I lost too much weight, I would go below the qualifications. Look back in your past, how low did your dieting last and what happened. I knew that I had to do the surgery, it was the only way for me to become healthy. I have not regrets. I did lose a few pounds during that stage but after surgery I have lost over 40 pounds. I could have never done that with dieting and keep it off forever.

My doctor office submitted late on a Tuesday afternoon. I called Aetna on Wednesday morning and confirmed they had the paperwork and they were fowarding to medical review. My doctor's office called that afternoon at 2 pm and I was approved. Granted not all Aetna offices work the same but hopefully it will go quickly for you.

When I first started my journey, I was planning the lap band. My husband was supportive of this. Then when I met the surgeon and he suggest the sleeve as my insurance now covered it, so after doing my research, I switched to the sleeve. My husband let me make the final decision but I shared the information I found to support my decision. Just before my surgery (he was planning to control his with diet and exersice) he realized he needed surgery also so he is currently in his process for getting insurance approval for his sleeve. He has been very excited seeing how I have changed both physically and mentally after surgery. I would have never had the success that I have had in the past 2 months with a band. Good Luck.

my go to breakfast right now is 1/4 c eggbeater scrambled with 1 tbsp of real bacon bits and 1/4 c of cheese. I am still not able to eat more than this for breakfast yet. This is 150 calories with 17 grams of protein and only 2 carbs. I cannot do all that bread/toast at this time as I can look at carbs and I will go into a stall.

What are you eating? Knowing that can help us give you some suggestions. I am only 60 days out and have lost 41 pounds since surgery. Everybody does lose weight differently. I am focusing on my 60 grams of protein and keeping my carbs down under 30 per day. And of course, getting in all my fluids. Sometimes you need to vary your diet if you have been eating the same things all the time. I have just been able to increase my calories to around 700 daily. Before I was only getting around 500. I am hoping that I can continue my trend or close to it.

We could do like melba toast or the WASA crackers. They turn to mush as soon as you start chewing and my doctor allowed them. It definately helped with the crunch need. I spread them them with the laughing cow cheese.

It is not easy in the first few weeks, okay, maybe months. I was not able to eat alot only about 1/4 c. Only just this past week I have been able to get to 1/2 cup of food and finally getting around 700 calories a day. The only exercised I got in the first 2 months was walking. I was not cleared for anything else until 6 weeks out. Just keep contentrating on your fluids and Protein. I worked on getting my Proteins to 60 then worked on increasing the calories.

I had to take lovenox for 2 weeks after surgery. The bruises will fade. I think some of mine took about a month.

Hi All, I am hoping to find some variety here, B: 1/4 c egg beater, 1 Tbsp Bacon bits, 1/4 c cheese-scrambled L: 1/2 c Hormel Turkey chili with no Beans, 1/4 c cheese s: possible slice of deli roast beef and 1 wedge of laughing cow D: Protein style sliders-very lean hamburger wrapped in lettuce for my husband-plain for me with cheese. S: 1 pc of 7grain Wasa cracker with 1/2 tbs of Peanut Butter. vits/cal-in process water-not near enough yet exercise: none today.

Cuddle Duds, thinsulate, thermals.....even a pair of skintight leggings or a pantyhose can give you a little extra warmth from creeping up those pant legs.

I also work from home for an insuance company as customer service, which can get stressful especially as we have quotas to meet. I was only off work for one 1 week. But I did get up every hour just for a few minutes and walked around. This was important for me as I was taking Lovanox (blood thinners) to prevent blood clots. If I took any more time, I would had to take FMLA at reduced pay and I couldn't afford it. I do have a high tolerance of pain so it wasn't to bad for me. I think 2 weeks would be good.

I was on metformin 1000 mg twice a day prior to surgery. My sugar would still spike to 250 at times even with the medication. They had back in July double my dosage. I weighed basically the same as you, 232 lbs. Prior to surgery working with my pcp, I had a week liquid diet-very low carb. I closely monitered my sugar several times a day and did not take any pills during that week. In the hospital, they did give me one shot of insulin due to iv fluids. Since I have come home my sugars have been in the normal range with 120 after a meal. I am still keeping things very low carb to keep losing weight consistently. I will be checking with my pcp next month for my A1C which I am hoping they will have me in a normal range. Good luck. I never would have been able to stop my pills without surgery and most likely in the future would have been taking shots.

You might be able to take like cheese sticks and jerky. I haven't traveled yet but will be doing a 5-6 hour road trip in March to Mardi Gras. I am thinking what I can take with me as I use to stop for fast food. Good luck.