lsereno

Let us know Vicki. I will be thinking of you. Lynda

Ruthie, Do it for those that want to see you in a few years. Do it for the person you will be next month, next year. Do it because you deserve to feel good. Do it because you love yourself. Throw out the food in the house you know you should not be eating. Put your workout clothes out the night before and set your alarm. Buy the healthy foods you should be eating and put them in convenient locations. Lynda

I eat a snack 2-3 hours after a meal when I want one. Lynda

For me the biggest difference is the change with vertical sleeve is permanent. I will always have a smaller stomach. Yes, I could eat enough junk to gain all my weight back, but I choose not to. It was a lot harder to make that choice with a stretched out stomach that demanded to be fed. And it's a lot easier to stay at a weight than lose. I told everyone it was a choice my Dr. and I made for my health because it has the highest success rate for keeping the weight off. Lynda

Thanks! I'm saving a spot for you on the goalies bench! Lynda

I exercise and I exercised before WLS. I am not an exercise nut. I began exercising because I just couldn't take the weight off with Weight Watchers alone. I didn't lose any weight because of exercising pre-op, but I felt better. Before WLS and till I got to goal I worked with a trainer 2-3 days per week and walked twice a week. After I got to goal I quit working with the trainer and began taking exercise classes 2 days per week and walking two days per week. Now I'm walking four days per week, but I want to go back to taking an exercise class again this fall. I exercise first thing in the morning. I simply will not do it later in the day. Lynda

Probably you can drink faster as soon as you are able. For many, the most they can handle is an ounce very 15 minutes at first. Lynda

Hi fellow 50s! I've posted here, but it's been awhile. I'm 56 and have been at goal weight for 14 months (BMI 21.8). I was sleeved two years ago. Pre-op, I took three BP meds and a cholesterol med. At first, my BP dropped so much I was getting light-headed and I got to go off all meds. As time went by, my BP crept back up and I am back on two BP meds but at least they are lower doses and I haven't had to go back the the third BP med or the cholesterol med. Lynda

In the long term study I found, some patients experience growth of a neofundus. Maybe you were sleeved correctly, but this neofundus may have grown since then. Here's an article with pics: http://img2.timg.co.il/forums/1_151963966.pdf The mesh is a different issue. Mesh hernia repairs are tricky. If you can get a second opinion, that would make you feel better. Lynda

Ha Christine, Finally someone has gained more than me in the hospital! I gained 16 lbs. Pretty sure they didn't want to see me for dehydration in the first few days :-) Lynda

My program allowed raw veggies after 6 weeks. I didn't eat much because things still didn't sit well at that time and it was easier to eat frozen because I could just eat a few bites at most. Raw tomatoes were too acidic for me. Lynda

I haven't tried altering how I eat. I have seen some reports, but I'm already pretty low carb and eat very little gluten. Going vegetarian would be a strain for me. I really rely on the solid Protein to fill me up and keep me full. And def not vegan. I love my greek yogurt. Lynda

I started at 254. Day before surgery I was 222 ( I had been on pre-op diet for 4 1/2 months) Lynda

I have RA. It didn't get better after surgery. In fact, I wasn't even diagnosed till post-op. When the weight came off and the Dr. could see how badly swollen some of my joints were, they did more tests and I was diagnosed. I'm on methotextrate (6 pills once per week) and 2 sulfazines, twice per day. I haven't had any more flareups since starting the sulfazine. My hands won't close all the way but the Dr said that damage may be permanent. Lynda

I've been at goal for 14 months. My BMI is 21.8. Lynda

After two years, I can tolerate everything I've tried except: Greasy foods bother me. I can eat chips, fries, buttered popcorn etc. But foods like fried chicken or things cooked with a lot of oil I only eat a bite or two. Tortilla. It took a long time before I could eat grains other than crackers or well toasted bread. Now all grains I've tried are OK except tortillas. A few bites and that's enough Milk products other than greek yogurt and firm cheese. I can now have ice cream, milk, and other products, but not every day. Lynda

"My Dr. and I have decided this is the best option for me." If they continue and you can't get away from them for whatever reason then I say "I don't care to discuss" For family members and those I cared more about, I provided more info about how the surgery has very low complication rate and how surgery success rate is much higher than diet and exercise alone. For example, my Mom was worried. I took her to two support group meetings and she went to the surgeon appt with me. Lynda Lynda

Most restaurants have a soup. I usually ordered off the appetizer menu. There are a million things you can say in case someone else brings up how little you are eating: I'm on a diet my Dr. prescribed. (Dr. wants you to not eat over a certain amount so that's true) My stomach feels a little upset (It will if you try to eat to much!) I'm full. Lots of time people simply don't pay attention to what you are eating. Lynda

Anderson Split Pea Soup or Low fat Turkey chili (dump in cup and heat in microwave) Protein drinks Starbucks Instant Decaf (great with skim milk or soy milk for 9 grams of protein) No sugar added apple sauce cups As others have mentioned: Greek Yogurt cups, low fat string cheese (great with a slice of lunchmeat rolled around it), low fat lunch meat, cottage cheese Lynda

I like hummus too. It's pretty calorie dense and light in Protein, so I only have it as a treat food. Like many others, I think of my sleeve as Sleevie Wonder. It's done wonders for me and I'm still very happy two years out. Lynda

Ah. I see the stickies are on a separate tab in the app. And lots of people really aren't good with tabs (I was UI designer in a previous life :-) My suggestion is to change the app so that stickies appear at the top of the threads in the app the same way they do on the site. It's not that much to scroll past them. Of course, people will complain about that too. Lynda

Alex, I think it's a good idea to suggest that people post reviews under their surgeon's profile, but not limit reviews to there. Maybe pin something in the Mexico and Self Pay and the Gastric Sleeve (VSG) Surgeons and Hospitals forums explaining how to post a surgeon review in the correct location and assign someone to watch for obvious trolls trying to boost a surgeon on the list. Also, a pinned topic for each of the more popular surgeons and hospitals in the Gastric Sleeve (VSG) Surgeons and Hospitals would be good. A lot of people really don't know how to use the site. I see stuff posted in the wrong groups all the time. Sometimes I suggest they repost in the correct section. I always say "You might get more responses if you post in X because this is where people who are interested in the same subject will be looking. This topic is for Y, so you might not get many responses here." It helps them understand they have posted in the wrong section without being a slam. My two cents: I'm not bothered by the Mexico reviews no matter where they are. I'm not interested, so I don't read them. To me, it's a tempest in a tea pot. People flow through this community and all the pissed off people will be gone after a while anyway. And some people are not going to find the information they need no matter how obvious you make it. Lynda

Kaiser Fremont is clears for two days, then modified full liquids (includes Protein drinks, milk or soy milk, diluted fruit juice (1 part juice to 3 parts water), strained cream Soup, strained pureed Soups, broth, sugar free Jello and sugar free Popsicles) for two weeks, then soft foods (fruits must be peeled, no beef or pork, or raw veggies), then after 6 weeks pretty much cleared for everything except caffeine and alcohol. Cleared for caffeine at 3 months if all is well and alcohol at 6 months. Lynda

It took me longer than many here, but I can eat about anything now. Tortillas still bother me but not if I only eat a bite or two. Greasy foods don't sit well either, but that was true when I was younger too. I think I spent so many years eating a lot of them my pre-op tummy got used to them, but no more! I also prefer my apples peeled now. And surgery unmasked my lactose intolerance. It was really bad early out, but I can have a little ice cream soft cheese, or milk now, just not every day. I was able to tolerate greek yogurt and hard cheese pretty quickly after surgery. Lynda

My program recommended not going over 900 calories per day while in weight loss mode. I had plenty of strength after month 4 and I got between 600 and 800 calories per day till I was more than six months out. I'm in my late 50s and have rheumatoid arthritis so that may have contributed to a slower bounce back. I was jealous of those who felt great after a week or two, but by the end of month 4, I was feeling great too. Lynda