Foxbins

Same here. I apparently had a wide hiatal hernia that took a while in surgery to fix, but I recovered quickly and easily, no pain, regular food progression. I wouldn't worry if I were you.

Can you tell us your stats? Height, surgery wt? Comorbidities, age? What are you eating and how much? If we know these, we may be able to help the sleeve help you. Also, maybe you have it a stall a little later than most folks. Still, 25 lbs in six weeks is nothing to sneeze at.

5 days--My Dr.'s instructions actually say that drinking from a straw may help take smaller sips and get the fluid in. I tried sippy cups bu straws are way easier.

I didn't tell ANYONE and still have not. There was a letter in my house to be opened if I died that I destroyed after I came home (I live alone). I was scared for a few days beforehand but came here and posted about it, people were very supportive. You can do it on your own.

I am eating low carb because it's the quickest way for me to lose my weight. I would lose, but slower, if I ate a more varied diet. I like protein and don't eat white carbs because I just want the bad kind--donuts, waffles, cake. I eat green vegetables, tomatoes, mushrooms, etc. in moderation.

I second what the others here have said. Most (not all, but most) major complications occur shortly after surgery. Dr. Aceves keeps you hospitalized for 3 nights versus some U.S. surgeons who keep you one night, but if there are complications they are close by. If you have any kind of life-threatening complication, you are an emergency patient and any ER is obligated to treat you. If you look at the statistics, however, the risk of complications is very low, and even lower for an experienced surgeon. Dr. Aceves offers a 3 month follow-up in person, but of course you have to go back to Mexico and there are hospital fees to pay ($150 for the flouroscopy, I think). If your US insurance has a bariatric program, maybe you can pick up your aftercare from them. You generally cannot sue a Mexican surgeon for malpractice (you sign a waiver) and if you tried, you would spend a lot of money on Mexican lawyers and you would not receive anywhere near the kind of cash settlement that is given out here in the states, so it's just not worth it.

I count all the carbs, too.

Not so bad, was it? Glad you are done and well enough to post. Feel better soon!

I don't believe so. If they make it from the syrup it's not, and the machine stirring would release the CO2 if it's made from the soda. It doesn't taste carbonated.

Caffeine irritates the stomach and coffee is acidic, don't want acidic things on a healing stomach. My surgeon said no coffee for 8 weeks but I drank one cup in the am at 4 weeks and did okay. I think 2 weeks is a little early.

I have urges to eat junk in the evening as well but there isn't anything in the house. Can you get rid of the junk food? If it's gone, you have to think twice before going out to get some. I think that for some of us, Cookies, pretzels, crackers and chips will always be so tempting it's better to eat them outside the house--at a party, or out to dinner. That way, they are not a constant temptation at home but not totally forbidden. Your rationalization that you are eating so little that junk will not hurt is also familar to me--I also added the thought that I might be "malnourished," although in my clear-headed moments I realize that junk is not really nourishment and that I got to be obese by overeating, in part, to prevent "malnourishment." What a trip our heads play with us! Congrats on the 115 and keep going!

My surgeon said clear liquids you could see through--juice, sf Jello, tea, boullion, water, Isopure, sf Popsicles. It turned out for me that I couldn't get in much more than weak tea and water during clears. Then I went to THIN liquids--which were all the clears plus things made with milk like protein shakes and then THICK liquids--pudding, yogurt, applesauce, pureed soups, thinned-out oatmeal. But each surgeon is different it seems, and you should ask why no milk but stick to what is directed.

Yes, I was nervous the night before too. It will be fine, the time goes so quickly to prep for surgery and then when you wake up it's done. Have a nice dinner if you can and a glass of wine. Let us know how you do afterwards.

Thanks loads! I ordered English Toffee, vanilla, pumpkin Pie, and Brown Sugar Cinnamon.

Solution for San Diego to Mexicali? Ativan. Nah, you'll be okay. Ernesto will show you his "before" picture (he lost 100 lbs. with the sleeve, but don't tell him you already knew) and will point out areas of interest on the drive. Besides, if there are more people than you in the van you can all chat together.

I felt scared, too, and thought of backing out...but the plane tickets were paid for, and I thought, "If I don't like anything, I can always say 'no' and come home." But after I got off the plane and Ernesto picked me up, things moved very quickly---pre-op EKG, bloodwork, chest X-ray, talk with Nina's mom, and I was very calm. Started getting a little nervous again around dinner time, but had a glass of wine and some yummy ribeye tacos, went back to my room and took the Ativan they gave me, and slept soundly until 6:30 and time to get up. Took a shower, Ernesto picked me up, took me to the hospital, I changed into the hospital gown, they put in the IV and gave me a heparin shot, and because I was the only surgery that day I was wheeled in by 8:00. I was very calm during all of this, not scared at all, I knew I was doing the right thing. I smiled at Dr. Aceves and the next thing I remember, vaguely, is being asked to move from the gurney to my bed. I fell asleep again and when I woke up I felt pretty good and it was done! Just take it one step at a time, you can change your mind at any time, no one will force you into anything, but I am really happy with my surgery and recovery and weight loss. I hope you will be, too. Edited to add, I didn't need much in the way of luggage--nightgown, robe, slip-on slippers, HEATING PAD (very important, slept with it under my shoulder all three nights post-surgery) lip balm, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush. I had a book and an Ipod but never used them, watched TV in the hotel room for a little while and dozed most of the time after surgery. I wore the same clothes home as I wore to get there.

I was between 150 and 155 for many years and felt and looked good, so I picked that. If I don't like it, I can go up or down. It's just a ballpark target.

I like the SF Black Cherry in plain greek yogurt and SF Peppermint in chocolate protein shakes. I tried the SF Classic Caramel, too, but it smelled like gasoline to me so I poured it down the sink. I get mine at Smart and Final here in California.

I used to be like you, hungry all the time. Since my surgery, I have not been hungry. I have wanted to eat things, but that is head hunger rather than true hunger and I can distract myself so much easier now than before surgery. It has been a revelation and a blessing not to think about food all the time.

Just my thoughts, I have no idea if I am correct, but as long as you are mixing your protein with water or fruit juice I think you're okay. Many RTD protein shakes have milk solids in them, maybe your chocolate powder one does too, I don't know...but I think it's whatever opaque components are in "thin" or "full" liquids that we are supposed to watch early on. Stick with the fruit-flavored ones until thin liquids and I think you're good. I couldn't get protein down until thins, anyway, so you're lucky!

I vomitted when trying new food. My stomach did not like Trader Joe's salmon patties at 7 weeks or trout at 9 weeks. I have not vomitted from eating too much or too fast.

I actually DID go to The Biggest Loser camp in Utah for a month. Cost me thousands,exercised six hours a day, less than 1200 calorie diet, lost 13 lbs. 13 LBS! Now, I was stronger, more flexible, and had more energy and endurance at the end of the month, but I was not thin, and over the next year the 13 lbs came back with 10 more added. My first month with the sleeve I lost 18 lbs and walked about a half-hour each day. I am still losing. Crosswinds, you are doing the right thing.

I had surgery in Mexico so my PCP is doing my followup. At 8 weeks I weighed in and had loads of bloodwork to test for deficiencies and thyroid function (I am hypothyroid). She wrote me a prescription for Prilosec (cheaper than OTC with my medical plan) and asked what vitamins I was taking. My labs were perfect so I see her again in July for a six month checkup unless something comes up sooner. That's fine by me, I am not a big go-to-the-doctor sort of person.

I started a topic about this when I was about two weeks out called, "Sip, burp, sip, burp" because that was all I seemed to do. Every swallow was followed by a burp. It goes away, thankfully, otherwise I could never go out in polite company. I think mine started to decrease around week four, and now I burp less than I did before surgery.

I could just swallow pills and tablets at 4 weeks out, but if you're worried it might get stuck, cut the tablet in half.