Foxbins

I returned to work after 3 weeks, BMI 35.9, (about 33 when I returned to work) and I am 56. I walk quite a bit for my job but don't have to lift anything. I was really tired at the end of the day for the first week but did okay.

Take a deep breath, and another...and another. The risk of complications is very small and I am sure you will be fine no matter what happens. Let us know!

I don't know much about the Lap-Band...can you lose 85 lbs since December with one? Isn't December when she went in the hospital?

I had no complications and haven't seen anyone else here who reported complications. There was a post a while back that Dr. Aceves admitted having his first leak but as far as I know the person who had the leak didn't post. I don't believe the guy who said he had complications because he came, posted, said he would be telling the whole story "next week" (that was weeks ago) and as far as I know never came back.

I think they were trying to make you feel better. Some of my friends told me, "Oh, you're not that overweight" and "I can see that you are big-boned." What I said was, "Thank you, I know I carry my weight well, but I weigh more than a LSU linebacker and it's not healthy for me to stay at this weight." I think someone should consider weight loss surgery when they have repeatedly tried conventional diets and failed and the risk of remaining obese outweighs the risk of the surgery.

Yes, you do. I couldn't swallow the tiny pills until day 4 post-op but after that it was fine. My doc said 3 days without was okay. Also, your dosage will decrease as you lose weight.

First of all, how long are you planning to be off work after surgery? I ask because the 2oz/2hr thing is something you need to do early out when your stomach is really swollen and you can't really drink all that much. By the 4th week after my surgery, I had basically gone back to my old drinking habits, which were Water and coffee in the morning, a big glass of water 15 minutes before lunch, another big glass of water mid-afternoon, and drink most of the hours after dinner before bed. I get in at least 64 oz a day but you need to be able to take normal swallows to accomplish it. If you can't do that, maybe get a letter from your surgeon saying you need to be excused to drink during work hours? It really is important, I had the flu in Feb. and couldn't believe how quickly I got dehydrated--one day of no fluids was enough to make a huge difference in the way and felt. Fortunately I was able to drink loads the following day and catch up.

I finished menopause at 42 and must say it was a massive relief to be done with monthly periods. No more planning around them! I didn't have any mood swings or food issues. I did have hot flashes that disturbed my sleep and so I had hormone replacement therapy for about 8 months. I did notice drier skin and an annoying patch of hair under my chin due to reduced estrogen levels. I am hypothyroid and have a slow metabolism anyway, so I hit the gym and tried to build some muscle mass to keep osteoporosis at bay. Being postmenopausal doesn't seem to have affected my ability to lose weight, albeit not as quickly as my pre-menopausal sleeve (and similar BMI) sisters but it is coming off with the low-carb diet. Really, I sailed right through menopause without a problem. Congrats on the 55 lbs loss!

My bed is high, too. I was in the hospital for three nights and was able to get into my bed the first night home. Turning from side to side was more uncomfortable than getting in, but since I'm a back sleeper I was okay.

I have Kaiser and they are doing the follow-up post-op. If you have immediate complications I would imagine you would stay in Mexico for treatment. If you were here in the states and had a life-threatening emergency, every hospital emergency room must treat you. Hopefully, your surgery will go well, you'll have Kaiser, and just tell them that you had a VSG before you were a member.

Have you consulted your surgeon or PCP? I would start with them.

I, too, was told not to chew gum by my NUT because I might swallow it and it could cause a blockage. I haven't swallowed a piece of gum since I was five. If I want gum I chew it. Jeez, treat me like an adult, will ya?

If it's not red, swollen, or oozing it's not a problem, it's normal healing. All my incisions feel bumpy underneath. It goes away in time and gets smooth again.

My Dr. found and fixed my hernia while he did my sleeve. So no problem hernia-wise. The esophagitis---the sleeve can make that worse, so I hope the meds clear it up for you and a PPI regimen after surgery keeps it at bay. Talk to your Dr.

Most of the CO2 comes out of your incisions while they are sewing you up. There is usually some residual CO2 that is absorbed by the body over time. Most surgeons test for leaks after the staple line is done while in surgery, others do that plus a post-op leak test with dye and a drain and some with dye and fluoroscopy. Leaks are signaled in most cases by pain and fever above 101 F. I left the hospital with sublingual pain meds, others have liquid. I didn't have to take antibiotics. The staples stay in for life and scar tissue grows over and between them. (You will not set off metal detectors, some people worry about that.) Early out, you have to keep sipping, sipping, sipping and your protein shakes count toward your liquid total. After you can eat solid food, you can also take normal-sized swallows of liquids pretty fast, liquid just runs through your stomach. I don't have any problems getting my liquids in.

I do, although I have less stomach upset if I take the multi-vitamins with food, but when I was on liquids I took the multi with a protein shake and the calcium with water or tea.

I'm with Swizzly--I have significantly less gas post-op than before. I think it's my diet, not much to get gassy when it's all protein. If I were a vegetarian I expect things would be different.

Now that the scales are back out, weigh once a week. Stop pigging out--you aren't saying goodbye to your favorite foods forever, just temporarily while you learn better habits. Start drinking Water when you think you are hungry but if hunger continues, have a Protein snack instead of Cookies or whatever your particular weakness is. Remember your goal is to be healthy. If you start changing your habits now, it will be easier for you post-surgery. If I have one regret, it is that I didn't do a pre-op diet. I figured I would let the surgery do its magic, and it IS magic, but I'd have lost some weight pre-op that won't be coming back and I'd be that much closer to goal.

I started at 232, didn't do a pre-op diet. Tomorrow will be eight weeks and I have lost 28 lbs. One third of the way to goal in two months!

One of the insurances is called BLIS. You might try googling BLIS surgeons and see if you can get a list of those who participate and then go from there. Good luck!

...you can only eat 3/4 of an egg for breakfast!

I did and had no problems in Mexicali. I might not in other places, though.

How much do you weigh? If you are a lightweight (200-250) you will probably lose less compared to people who are heavier. Also, could you post your daily intake? Seeing what and how much you are eating will help us help you. Don't give up!

I am 57 and got the sleeve as a self-pay. Have you considered that option?

I had surgery in Mexico and I have 5 small scars.