Stacey H

Hi! I'll try to help
~ Pill sizes: I don't take anything aside from the occasional swig of liquid tylenol, but my program coordinator has said as long as it's small enough to go through the pouch, there shouldn't be a problem. Seeing as that's the size of a dime, I think zoloft should be fine
~ Soda: I've tried soda twice now since surgery a year ago, and I had no problem with it. I was told horror stories about it exploding in the pouch similar to a baking soda-volcano-science-project, but no problems for me. I just don't miss soda, so I don't tend to drink it. But a swallow every now and then shouldn't be too much of a problem.
~ Surgeon's experience: Heck, I have no idea. When I had my band put in my surgeon had only completed around 25 surgeries. Sorry, I'm no help here
~ This is a mystery to me, too. I think I remember hearing that sugar can irritate the pouch, or some other body part. I think it's all a ruse to get us to go cold-turkey against our sugar/carb/whatever addictions
~ Drinkable yogurt: hmmm. Again, I'm no help. Do you mean to drink it after surgery during the liquids phase? I don't really have yogurt that much, so I'm not sure
~ Insurance: Again, I've got nothing to help. I have Tricare, and with the first letter sent they basically ushered me into the surgery. I didn't have to do anything.. but I think my beginning BMI was 42.
Well, looks like my "help" really wasn't helpful at all. Sorry!

Hi everybody I was just curious if anyone else has the same problem I do. I'm on day 2 (of 14) of the liver shrinking diet, and I get 4 shakes and 1 lean cuisine a day. I'm hungry but whatever, I'm not tempted to cheat or anything. My problem is that I can't convince myself to drink enough liquids! I was told to make sure I get 7-8 glasses of Water or crystal light (or something similar) a day, and now day 2 is almost over.. I've probably had 2 bottles of water. I'm actually slightly sick too, with a sore throat and some allergy issues. The thought of drinking is actually grossing me out.. I try to just chug a bit of water or crystal light but I swear it's worse than taking NyQuil (ew!). So I was just curious if anyone else has/had this issue, and what you did to overcome it? Other than forcing myself I just don't see it happening. Thanks!

The first reply to your thread was amazing.. I've been having the same problem and I haven't been sure how to address it. At my heaviest, I was probably 300 pounds at 5'8. I never got on the scale after I saw the 290s though, so there's no way to be sure. Looking at pictures is shocking because I always felt like I was just overweight.. not the "morbidly obese" tag they stuck on me. Today I am 234 and the only time I even see a small difference from 300 is when I wear a girdle I bought from walmart... Even my program coordinator said, "Oh look at your waistline!" haha. Not so much without the girdle . So it's super difficult to see what other people see.. I told my mom that even though I'm down about 50 lbs, I feel like people I haven't seen in awhile are just like, "Did you get a haircut?" haha. It's nice to see the pant size going from a 24/26 to a 16/18, but I think body dysmorphia is definitely a contender in all this. The only thing that really helps me, other than monthly pictures.. which are super embarrassing.. is my measurements. I bought some cute ribbon and each month when I tally up my total lost inches, I cut that off the ribbon spool and keep it somewhere I'll see it, like right now it's tied around my rear view mirror in the car. My biggest motivation would my mybodygallery.com ... it's amazing to see the differences in the women that are my height and weight, to the ones that are my goal weight. Whenever I feel really down about my weight loss I click around on there for awhile and it helps a little. The biggest help is the guys that pay attention to me now though, that wouldn't have looked twice 50 lbs ago. Definitely an ego booster! Okay, off for my fill in a little bit.. Good luck to all of you, and congratulations on at least taking the first step, plus any weight loss you've achieved!

Hey everyone Just checking in.. tomorrow is one week since surgery, and I'm feeling pretty good. I'm still not having as much liquids as i'm supposed to (maybe half.. if that..) but things seem to be going well. My only complaint is my port incision is killer. It almost feels like it's ripping open at times. I put a big bandaid over it because the glue they used to close me up started to crack, and it was catching on my shirt. Feeling better now that the glue isn't catching, but in the shower this morning I must have bent wrong because it caused some serious pain. Still didn't take the lortab, but really considered it. There's only a little left, and I can't get Tylenol until Thursday so I've got to make it last. I did weigh myself yesterday morning at 266, and the morning of surgery I was 272... so that's cool. Hope everyone else is having a great recovery