happy1957

Hi Jen.... I weigh 204 and my Dr told me this week that I have to lose 6 more lbs before she'll operate. I think it's more the discipline rather than the actual weight lose. They don't want us to go overboard and eat everything in sight. Good luck!!

Hello Lil, I am sorry that you have to endure but another weight battle. May I ask if you know the size of the boogie used. I understand that even as early as four years ago they were using a size 60. I had my first surgeon visit this past week and she mentioned the learning curve that physicians using the sleeve as a stand alone surgery have had to go through. It's still a guessing game in many areas like long term effects on the stomach with acid reflux etc. She did say the new standard size boogie is 32-34 and that the medical world has realized the larger boogie was not as successful. Also drinking while eating can be disastrous from what I've read it allows food to pass through quickly allowing you more room to eat and returned hunger. So many people at this site are successful and maybe their insight may be the tool you need. I appreciate your sharing your story. I wish you the best of luck with continued weight loss and if the by-pass is it what it takes for you to be successful, then your goal should be that. Good Luck!

I bought Creamy Vanilla "Pure" from WalMart and tried my first shake yesterday. I got a little fancy and put it in my "Ninja" with Almond unsweetened milk and ice. It came out like a Wendy's frosty.. very go and not gritty. My intent is to buy some fresh or frozen fruits to add to this. It was truly delicious.

[\I think she means do a dilatation. Sort of stretch the opening to the stomach or the stomach itself by inserting a balloon type instrument and blowing it up. This is done all the time in the elderly who have a narrowing in their esophagus not allowing them to swallow properly.

Hello Foxbins....Congratulations!!! Your story is so inspiring. I am 54 and have just finished my last nutrition class. I am planning to continue my journey with my sister by my side , she too is having VSG and we're hoping to schedule them with the same doctor and have the same surgery day. I am a very slow loser and absolutely loved your line "This has been the easiest weight loss I have ever achieved. " My past cycling of dieting, great weight losses, exercising to the extreme at times only to gain all the weight back has to stop. It was a tough decision to admit that I couldn't do this by myself and needed intervention. I want to improve my health and overall well being. Thank you for sharing, not lots of people in our age group..

I have just finished my last nutrition class and am now waiting to be scheduled with the surgeon before insurance approval. Last evening I read a disheartening story on Obesityhelphelp.com about a guy who had lost over 100 pounds after his sleeve and has gained it all back and can eat a full hamburger fries meal etc. I knew there was the possibility of some weight gain especially if you let things get out of hand, but all of it? My question is it because of the size of the bougie. This is not my first concern about this. My Dr uses a 39 which I think is a larger size by today's standards. Most people are getting a 32 or 34 these days. I would like to hear from folks who either have the larger bougie or the weight gainers and their ideas as to why? I'm afraid to go through the risk of this process, suffer with another slooooow weight loss(I'm the world's slowest loser) only to gain it all back. :-(

This is elective surgery? Are you sure the hospital stay is months not weeks? Usually after a week or so they would transfer you to a rehab center. Yikes, I wish you luck.

I am at the stage in my process that after my last nutrition visit today, I have just one more visit with the surgeon, then off for insurance approval hopefully soon after, surgery. I have been purchasing much needed protein products and have read little about this particular item. Has anyone tried this protein teeny weany ? I have read some great reviews at sport sites, I would love to hear your feedback. It's IDS Sports, Grape flavor 42 grams of protein in 3.5 ounces. Check it out. http://www.gnc.com/p...oductId=2830575.

Mana... your # 12 is my # 1. I am the family photographer, maybe it's because I have NEVER wanted my photo taken.

Sigh!! Cliff hanger... I want to hear the rest. I hope you're doing well and recover quickly.

Thank you for sharing this...very well done.

Thank you for your question. I too have huge sensitivities and get migraines with most sugar substitutes. I recently tried soy milk for the first time and that gave me the worst migraine I've ever had. I had not given thought to the hospital at all. I hope you get some good responses and possible alternatives.

Congratulations on getting your date. Keep in mind this is the rest of your life. Your eating habits at your daughters birthdays in the future may not change all that much from the liquid diet of this year. The important thing is that you become healthier and live a longer life so that you will be able to attend all of your daughters birthday parties for many, many years. You will do fine and this is one small sacrifice for the good of the future. Your daughters will be happy and so wrapped up in their birthday, they may not even notice you not eating. Have a great day!

Thanks to all those that replied. I just heard through another patient that my surgeon whom I have not met yet,uses a 39 bougie. I want the best results with the least complications. That seems rather large in todays VSG world. It appears bougie size is more important that percentage of stomach removed. I am that 5ft nothing lady. Can't wait to see if she offers me information on how she chose that size or if she offers me something differnt since I am no where near the same height as this patient. I'll let you know in August after I've met her.

Good morning, Thank you for your well constructed reply. I appreciate your time and effort. I have since found out that the dietitian is this way to many people. It's not an individual issue. I believe that I am more than prepared for post surgery. I am a diet guru. My last certified trainer taught me so much and in turn I had a thirst for the knowledge, it was always Protein first with him. In fact she said, "I guess there is nothing to teach you" , but I'm very, very, very concerned about your soda drinking. Which I admitted having four sodas in month. It was my understanding from the group nutrition class that if you had high caffeine intake you needed to work on it and cut back. No one ever told me to QUIT. Believe me, I have quit now. I believe it's in my best interest to suck up the last 30 minute appointment with her, meet the surgeon and then after my surgery, release the letter I have constructed to the program coordinator and let her know how I was treated. I have spoken with two others that had her for their pre-op dietitian, but were assigned another after. They too had issues, one to the point it was considered a "failed" visit. We are already at t he mercy of the insurance company, the bariactric program and the surgeon. I dare not rock the boat and have this surgery postponed. I need the help of the VSG and can make this a positive tool along the side of my VSG Talk friends. Thank you again for your reply. Add me as a friend and we can discuss details of our NUTS in private. .. . . uote name='1-4-Many' timestamp='1307916281' post='163176'] Happy - I am not a subject matter expert, just a poster. That said -- I think we had the same first dietitian. Even called a dietitian. (Had no idea what a NUT was when I first started reading here.) My opinion is that you need to know what is safe for your pre and post surgery. You need to understand the pre-surgery diet and the expectations for about 6 to 9 weeks after, depending on how fast or slow they phase you through your steps back to food. If you understand that process, the rest is iffy as to how important it is. Learn the basics. If you are a person who likes to try different recipes, you might check to see if they have any to share. But otherwise, I think the post surgery importance is minimal if you are ready to do this as right as you can. As you read here you will learn there are programs who believe that even veggie carbs are evil, mine wants people to get back to eating veggies as a small portion of their regular diet. So with differences that dramatic between programs, how important can it really be? At the end of the day, once you have safely moved back to food, you will do what works for you. And your stomach will give you some big hints. Good luck. (BTW, I'd love to tell you the details of my first dietitian but it's a bone of contention between me and the program right now. I paid a fortune for 8 appts. (required - 4 before and 4 after) and it was a joke. Maybe someday I'll share, but right now it's that bad that I need to keep it under wraps!)

Hello Everyone. I am very interested in how many folks continue to see their dietitian or nutritionist after surgery. I had a terrible experience my first visit. I have no idea why this person did not let me get a word in edge wise, was rude and spoke down to me the entire time. I felt like I was being scolded like a child. I have another visit with this same person and am afraid to ask for another nutritionist in fear of being labeled and having my surgery put out for months. Yet I do not feel comfortable with this lady. I feel intimidated, belittled and would NEVER ask for help. I would run from her as if she had the plague. I didn't feel she was supportive in anyway. Do I stick with her for the one more visit and walk away quietly, or do I ask for someone else in hopes of getting true support? How important is she after surgery?

Wow, sounds like we are in the exact same stage..I'll add you as a friend.

Hello... I too have Aetna and had the exact same problem. I am going through a "Center of Excellence" who has special credentialing with Aetna. They made me get a letter from my Dr showing that I was "dieting" and working with a trainer during my low BMI period, I had only 3 visits in 5 years and 2 were low BMI's. They assure me that will be ok since I have the documentation, I do have to see the dietitian three months on top of that. Is the Dr. that you plan on using part of "A Center of Excellence"? Good luck...

Thank you for your reply. I too purchase things ahead of necessity and have already bought protein drinks,powders and bullets for the pre and post diets. I will stop. I have a small,armless,folding camp chair that I used for another surgery that should work fine. I usually find before going to the Drs that I have tons of questions,but usually forget them once in the office. , again thank you

I have been lurking around here and have learned so much from this forum, but what questions did you "experienced" sleevers forget to ask your Dr. or wish you would have known before hand? Although my surgery is still far away, I'm about half way through the process, my only question is what size bougie will she use and why? I'm sure there should be other things I must ask. I would appreciate your feedback...

Hi Cindi, My name is Brenda, I too live in Maine, the big town of Oakland. I am at about the half way point to surgery. I have Aetna and they require a few extra steps. So I can't even see the surgeon until after Aug. 11th. I am having my surgery done in Bangor at EMMC. Not sure which surgeon as of yet. We can discuss who has the most experience and how she does it. I would be happy to follow along with you and compare. I've done a lot of research and read anything I can. I believe I have this process down in order to get good results. I am old so that helps .. LOL If you're intersted in an older partner, I'm here.. You may be further along in the process so you may be able to help me? :-) Have a great day!

I agree with you completely, It's a shame that professional people would risk someones life for a mere 20lbs. That is against the law in this country for a reason. Apparently this person didn't have a weight problem but a vanity issue. I can't believe it and it shouldn't happen. Most women after child birth hang on to an extra 20bs for awhile. Sounds like their metabolism is ok, hope they don't run into anorexia issues.

I am not at all trying to scare anyone, I was told by my physician that they lost one patient to a leak, one out of more than 2100 since the bariactric center has been open. Not sure if it were a sleeve or bypass patient. She was 29 years old and had 5 children. She went home, had a undetected small leak , but apparently didn't return to the hospital until it was to late. They were able to fix the leak, but she never recovered. This is the reason they tell you if you suspect something is not right, call and question the nurse etc.

Good morning Amy.... I am sorry that I can NOT answer your questions since I am not a sleever , yet! I'm also twice your age and have no diagnosed underlying ailments other than the fatigue and pain of carrying around 80-90 extra lbs. I have a question for you. In your first paragraph you wrote that things are done really different in Austria.. Please elaborate. Is it the pre-requisites or the surgery itself. I'm very curious as I have found even here in the US that things are different from Dr. to Dr. Thanks, Brenda

Good morning... I am basically a lurker, in the process, but still 3-4 months out. I have two nutrition classes left before meeting the surgeon, then approval, then surgeon again. etc. I wanted to know what you do for work and your age. Ultimately I would like to return to work in one week, but not sure I can do it. .. Thanks, Brenda p