lsereno

I had my last period right about the time I had surgery. I haven't noticed a direct correlation because I vary widely on Snacks and exercise, so it's hard for me to say what causes a gain or loss, other than those two factors for me. Lynda

Three years out from VSG and I don't do Protein drinks now unless I'm sick or traveling where it is hard to get enough protein in a day. But I still drink a smoothie made from fruit and greek yogurt. Yum! I'm not anti-protein drink, I just prefer food. I'm not nuts about any of the Protein Drinks, so I was glad to leave them behind. Lynda

Congrats Diva! Here's to the next 50 years! Lynda

Gretchen Rubin's (The Happiness Project) take on abstinence is to put it with a positive spin For example, now I'm free from french fries, not I can't ever eat a french fry: http://www.gretchenrubin.com/happiness_project/2013/01/want-to-be-free-from-french-fries-or-why-abstaining-may-be-easier-than-you-think/ Thanks for a thought provoking article. Great news to see you are at goal these many years later. You're my hero. Lynda

would love a telephone support group for vets. My nearby in-person support groups are not that great. Lynda

Congrats! I loved hitting onderland. It wasn't far for me either, but I couldn't get there on my own so it was a huge achievement for me to finally see it. Onderland: I'm never leaving again!

Hey Canary, let me know what they are and I'll try to find the definition for them. It's surprising what I can dig up when I try. Lynda

Yes, there are a lot of acronyms here. I've listed just the ones related to weight loss surgery, not ones in common use, such as LOL (laugh out loud). Be sure to let me know of any I've missed: BMI: Body Mass Index CW: Current Weight DS: Duodenal Switch weight loss surgery EWL: Excess Weight Loss FF: Fat Free GBP: Gastric Bypass GW: Goal Weight LBL: Lower Body Lift MO: Morbidly Obese NSV: Non Scale Victory, such as fitting in an airline seat NUT: Nutritionist OH: Obesity Help, another good online forum PB2: Peanut Butter 2 (peanut powder substitute for peanut butter) PCP: Primary Care Physcian PPI: Proton Pump Inhibitor, such as Prilosec RNY: Roux-eN-Y (gastric bypass) weight loss surgery SF: Sugar Free SMO: Super Morbidly Obese SW: Surgery Weight TT: Tummy Tuck VBG: Vertical Banded Gastroplasty weight loss surgery VSG: Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy weight loss surgery VST: Vertical Sleeve Talk, our wonderful forum WLS: Weight Loss Surgery

OK! It's on the list.

I'm a 40 too!

Thanks!

Please if you know of any other guides, list them in the comments so we have a more complete list here. Thanks!

A bougie is guide that is used to help the surgeon size your new stomach. Once you are under sedation, the bougie is passed down your throat and into your stomach. The surgeon cuts your stomach around the bougie. Typically, surgeons now use between a 32 and 40. The smaller the number, the smaller the guide's circumference. Early out, surgeons used bougies as large as 70. There is a huge amount of controversy about bougie sizes. But bougie size is not the only factor in determining how large you stomach will be. Some surgeons oversew the staple line. Some cut closer to the bougie. Some people have longer stomachs. All these factors affect how much smaller your stomach is. And your stomach size is not the only factor in your success. How compliant you are with your program and how resistant your body is to losing weight are important aspects to consider as well. The pic I've included of bougie sizes is one that periodically makes the rounds on this board and others. If you want more details on bougie size and it's effect on your success, read Carmelita's blog entry on this over on Obesity Help: http://www.obesityhe.../2011/03/31/-2/ Lynda

If your WLS program provided a guide, I suggest you use that. But many people do not receive a program guide when they have WLS. If you fall in that boat, here are some links to guides that I have saved from this forum over the years. If you have any to add, post a comment with a link. Kaiser Fremont Bariatric Program Guide (this is my program's guide and it covers VSG and other WLS) http://mydoctor.kais...rics/binder.jsp The Cornell Weight Loss Surgery Program: Dietary Guidelines for Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy http://www.cornellwe...gastrectomy.pdf Institute for Advanced Bariatric Surgery: Preparatory Surgery Guide http://www.laplose.c...urgeryGuide.pdf Institute for Advanced Bariatric Surgery: Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery Diet Guide http://www.laplose.c...veDietGuide.pdf Northwest Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery: Laproscopic Gastric Sleeve Diet http://www.northwest...ectomy-diet.pdf Ellis Medicine Program Guide http://www.ellishosp...pGuidelines.pdf Here are some additional guides posted by Misty (read her post here: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/85182-list-of-vsg-post-op-diets-from-surgeons/) Auckland Weight Loss Surgery (New Zealand) - Patient Information Book Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy http://aucklandweightlosssurgery.co.nz/downloads/Laparoscopic%20Sleeve%20Gastrectomy.pdf Brigham and Women's Hospital - Dietary Guidelines for Sleeve Gastrectomy http://www.brighamandwomens.org/Departments_and_Services/surgery/services/generalsurg/WeightLossSurgery/PostOpSleeveGastrectomyDiet.pdf Columbia University - Sleeve Gastrectomy Discharge Instructions http://obesitymd.org/postop_sleeve.html Goodnight Surgical – The Sleeve Gastectromy Guide (PDF) http://goodnightsurgical.com/doc/Sleeve_Gastrectomy_Guide.pdf HealthPoint (New Zealand) - The Sleeve Gastectromy Information for Patients (PDF,Must be downloaded, can’t be viewed online) http://www.healthpoint.co.nz/download,267405.do Johns Hopkins - Vitamin and Mineral Supplement Guide http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/johns_hopkins_bayview/_docs/medical_services/bariatrics/nutrition_sleeve.pdf London Bariatric Group (UK) – A guide to eating and drinking after Sleeve Gastectromy http://www.laparoscopicconsultant.co.uk/pdf/post-op-sleeve-gastrectomy.pdf London Obesity Clinic (UK) - Eating after Sleeve Gastectromy http://www.obesitycliniclondon.co.uk/pdf/eating-after-sleeve-gastrectomy.pdf Miami HOPE Center - Patient Education Booklet Sleeve Gastectromy http://www.miamihope.com/docs/Patient_Educational_Booklet_Sleeve_Gastrectomy.pdf Murfressboro Surgical Specialists - Dietary Guidelines Post-Op Sleeve Gastectromy Procedure http://www.murfsurg.com/dietary_guidelines_sleeve_gastrectomy.htm North London Obesity Surgery Services (UK) - Eating After A Sleeve Gastrectomy http://www.whittington.nhs.uk/document.ashx?id=1948 Northwest Obesity Center – Laparoscopic Gastric Sleeve Diet http://www.northwestobesitysurgery.com/pdf/sleeve-gastrectomy-diet.pdf Peachtree Bariatrics – Gastric Sleeve Patient Manual Guide http://www.peachtreebariatrics.com/docs/Gastric-Sleeve-Patient-Manual.pdf Pinnacle Health (Australia) - Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery Patient Manual (Word Doc, must be downloaded, cannot be read online) http://www.pinnaclehealth.org/pinnacle/media/Images/Sleeve-Gastrectomy-Patient-Manual.doc St. George Obesity Surgery (Australia) - Sleeve Gastrectomy Pre and Post Operative Information for Patients http://www.stgeorgeobesitysurgery.com.au/pdf/sleeve-gastrectomy-booklet.pdf St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton (Canada) – Bariatric Surgery Guidebook http://www.stjoes.ca/media/PatientED/U-Z/PD%206000%20Bariatric%20Surgery%20-%20Gastric%20Bypass%20February%2029%202012.pdf University of Missouri - Guidelines Before & After Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy http://www.muhealth.org/documents/bariatric/Bariatric%20Booklet%20VSG.pdf Upper Gastro Intestinal Surgery (Dr. Talbot, Australia) - Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy for Weight Loss http://www.uppergisurgery.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/sleeve-2011.pdf Virginia Hospital Center - Your Complete Guide for Nutrition and Exercise Following Sleeve Gastrectomy http://www.surgicalassociatesvhc.com/Nutrition-and-Exercise-following-Sleeve-Gastrectomy-82011.pdf Walter Reed - Nutritional Guidelines Handbook http://www.wrnmmc.capmed.mil/Health%20Services/Surgery/Surgery/Bariatric%20Surgery/Shared%20Documents/Nutr%20Guidelines%20Section%20Handbook.pdf Walter Reed – Nutrition for Bariatric Surgery Presentation http://www.wrnmmc.capmed.mil/Health%20Services/Surgery/Surgery/Bariatric%20Surgery/Shared%20Documents/Nutrition%20for%20Bariatric%20Surgery%20Presentation.pdf

After more than two years post-op and almost three years on this board, I've decided to create a blog. I never made one before because I didn't want the responsibility of keeping up with new entries and dreaming up fresh and exciting content to share. But I've come to recognize that blogs, even when they are abandoned, can provide a permanent link to some great information. So, I'm going to use my blog to answer questions that I see come up over and over in the online VSG community. I'll put each topic in a separate entry so they are easy to link to. A bit about me: I'm a retired techie. I wrote techincal documentation for end-users, administrators, and programmers. I also worked on websites and UI design. After retiring, one of my projects was getting healthy. After years of trying to lose weight including a stint with Weight Watchers in person, Weight Watchers online, hiring a personal trainer, hypnosis, and a brief fling with Alli, I decided to try weight loss surgery. At first, I wanted the band. After learning more about it, I decided on the sleeve. I had VSG through Kaiser Fremont in May 2011. I got to my personal goal in March 2012. I've been staying there since. I hope you find the information I provide useful. Lynda

Hi Butterfly, I strongly recommend weighing and tracking your food, and weighing yourself at least once per week. If you can throw out the bad foods, then do that too. I can't have certain foods around because I will just eat them till they are gone. Exercise can be a great stress reducer. I have to exercise first thing when i get up or I simply won't do it. Thanks for coming back and sticking with it! You are so worth it! Lynda

I'm about 18 months out and have been at goal for 6 months. It took a while, but I can eat anything I ate pre-op. I choose to avoid a lot of pre-op choices to keep my weight at goal, but I occasionally enjoy them. For example, candy. I rarely eat it now, but I do occasionally. Same with chips and garlic bread. I am able to enjoy spicy foods, greasy foods, super sour foods, etc. I drink with a straw, especially at night because I'm too lazy to sit up in bed to get a drink. I love the sleeve! Lynda

I was a 40 BMI to get in the program, but was 35.8 the day of surgery following 4 months of pre-op diet. I'm currently 21.8 and holding. Lynda

It slows and then stops eventually. I've heard it all - too skinny, don't lose anymore, you weigh less than me, wish I could do that for the 10 lbs. I want to lose (that one really pisses me off!!), you look old, you look sick, you're gonna blow away, bet your husband can't keep his hands off you (ahem, he liked me fat too!), and then the nicknames: skinny-mini, slim, bones, boney-moroney, etc. Whatever. Most people have quit mentioning it after a few months. Thank goodness!! And as for the rest, well, there's always a few in every bunch. Lynda

Yup everywhere! I've had to resize rings, buy shorter necklace chains, get shorter bracelets, and buy new shoes, bras and undies, coats, etc. And things feel more breezy down there without so much fat padding! Lynda

I had a six month wait. During that time I focused on getting ready for surgery. I trolled this forum and obesity help, attended a face to face support group, got all needed tests, bought the Vitamins my program recommended and started taking them, followed a pre-op diet and dropped 32 lbs., worked out 5 days a week (3 x strength training for 30 minutes, 2x walking for 1 hr.), bought or gathered stuff I needed for post op (small spoon, small fork, little plate and bowl, nightie, slippers for the hospital, books to read while recuping from surgery) tested Protein drinks, and as time drew closer, I cleaned the house and did as many errands as I could pre-op so I had less to do post-op. It seemed so long at the time, but when surgery came, I was so grateful that I was well prepared and informed. Best wishes on your journey! Lynda