Glendaaus

That is great information. I will definitely make note for when the time comes - I probably have enough stomach skin for the third world (joking).

That is great information. I will definitely make note for when the time comes - I probably have enough stomach skin for the third world (joking).

First let me say I feel fabulous! I've lost over 70 pounds in just over 5 months. I went from a 22 to a very comfy 12. The road has not been easy and for all you newbies...here is my list of amazing highs...and of not so sunshiny lows.
Disclaimer: This is my experience...it may not be yours.

It will be uncomfortable for a few days post op
I was not hungry for weeks after surgery
I was scared to eat or drink and I didn’t drink enough...thus Constipation and weakness
I didn't feel normal for about 6 weeks. I needed naps and I took them
The weight literally falls off...seriously I was looking for pools of fat in bed when I woke up in the morning
I hit the 4 week stall and it lasted two weeks. Expect it and don't stress
On day three, I had a massive freak out…seriously threw a four year old fit…pissed off my stomach was gone.
No one noticed for months and that irritated me.
EVERYONE notices now and it's all they want to talk about.
Don’t tell anyone you are going to Mexico to have your stomach cut off unless you trust them completely.
I threw up alot...just slime mostly...while I was learning my new tummy. It will scare you and if you are like me…it will happen a lot when you transition to solid foods.
food addiction does not magically go away...if you have a problem before..you will still have it. I think about food all the time, but I finally have a way to resist it. I am a sugar addict. I never crave carbs, but I crave sugar like a mad woman.
Going out to dinner is awkward. I hate watching people eat
Put the lotion on the skin! My skin got really dry.
I’ve lost half my hair at 4.5 months post op. Mine came out in chunks. Freaked me out! Our Golden Retriever and I are in a competition for shedding. It will be ok. Take your Vitamins and buy Nioxin. It doesn’t help my Hair loss, but I feel like I am at least doing something about it.
Don’t take a powerful laxative when you are constipated…especially before your child’s school performance. It may say “See results in 2-4 hours” but it means 30 mins and then you’re stuck on a mini toilet with both legs numb, crying to everything holy to save you.
Shopping is amazing! I still feel like people are looking at me like I don’t belong there…but that’s all in my head.
My shoes no longer fit. they are too wide now!
Your pre WLS Spanx will look huge in a couple months
Trust me…put some Granola bars in your glove box and a few packs of mixed nuts. Sometimes your hungry and there is nothing that you can eat.
Handy meals from the market or gas station when you didn’t plan ahead. Single string cheese, an apple, mixed nuts, readymade hard boiled eggs, The inside of California rolls- no rice, campbells Soup at hand or ready made Soup in a coffee cup.
Handy items at fast food places that sit ok on my tummy include: Taco Bells refried Beans or the inside of a chicken taco. Wendys chili, McDonalds oatmeal, McDonalds yogurt parfait
I feel guilty in front of my heavier friends. I always try to wear a sweatshirt so I don’t rub the weight loss in their faces.
You get drunk really fast...like a half glass of wine. Be careful...it sneaks up on you...and before you know it, you’re waiting for your hubby to pick you up...from less than a glass. Its crazy. I don't really even try anymore to drink.
I crave raw fish, cooked fish, broiled fish, grilled fish...any fish really and it feels amazing on my tummy.
I cant eat steak
I love that I have collar bones
I update my Facebook pictures and secretly love the compliments
I own a woman's North Face now
I can buy bras at Victoria's secret
I pack all my food for work in snack bags and the little tupperware containers for salad dressing.
I can still have M&M's...its just like 9...instead of the king size bags
Take heartburn medicine everyday...don’t wait until you get heartburn.
Buy stock in Maalox
You can have a full meal at Costco- samples + WLS = Cheap Date!
Food Portion jokes get really old
Fast food burgers makes me want to vomit.
At 5 months...salad is wonderful. I can eat about a cup of greens...which takes me a while and I feel a tiny bit normal.
Post-op, If you can swing it, buy a Vita-Mix blender and make your own soup. Canned soup was nasty right after surgery. Freeze them in 4oz canning jars. It will be two servings.
Quit Smoking before surgery. I waited and it slowed my healing. It also gave me terrible heartburn. I am 5 weeks smoke free
You don't have to "confess" you had WLS. It's ok to say thank you for the compliment and not feel guilty. I'm just now starting to accept that I had a little something to do with this insane loss. I tell people when they ask now how I lost the weight, that i exercise and use Portion Control.< br /> People will treat you different. Salesladies ask if I need assistance, men hold open doors and the skinny girls at work talk to me now. It's shallow and pisses me off, but it's nice to not be invisible anymore.
WLS is very difficult. For me, it’s not physical, but the mental. Sometimes I just want a cheesecake like before. It goes away very quickly, but it still comes and goes. Sometimes I get angry at my sleeve because I can’t eat something I see others eating. Most of the time I have to hide my expression when I see people shovel food in the way I used to. It’s shocking to see when you’re on the other side of WLS. I used to inhale my food like a tiny food thief was going to come in and take it away from me.
You will have to say no to your family when they all want to go to a Chinese buffet. I’m still not ready to walk in and be near a buffet.
It feels awesome to give your clothes away, however, do not offer them to your heavier friends. It’s insensitive and they won’t return your calls for a week.
Last one...I played laser tag this past weekend with a bunch of 9 year old boys. It was soooo Much fun!!!

Please feel free to add any other thoughts or tips...

The fact is you will probably never know exactly what happened between Dr. Kelly and the coordinators. I used obesitysolutionsinternational.com for Dr. Garcia and was totally happy with the experience. Dr. Garcia is a wonderful doctor and his staff is truly some of the best people I have ever seen. I am totally happy with my experience and would not change anything. With that said Dr. Kelly is also from what I have heard a great doctor as well. You will not make a bad choice with Dr. Garcia or Dr. Kelly. Do not let someone that will not be involved in your actual surgery deter you from making a decision on a surgeon. Either one would be able to change your life for the better. I have personal experience with Dr. Garcia recently on May 7th and he was very imformative and compassionate. He did a great job. I am happy with my decision and cannot imagine going to anyone else. I hope this helps and I am sorry you experience with an unprofessional coordinator has made you doubt Dr. Garcia and his capability.
Good luck.

Back home safe and sound. Love dr.Garcia and other doctors but that is all good I have to say. Hotel was nice. Healing nice.

I'm so glad you gave me that reassurance as I get closer I get more nervous, and to hear I'll be in good hands is really what I needed to hear. Thank You!!!

I was sleeved March 7th. I'm down about 74 pounds. I'm eating pretty well, although I had two bites of macaroni and cheese with my catfish and green Beans for dinner tonight. I'm still eating a scrambled egg with veggies and cheese OR Weight Control banana bread oatmeal for Breakfast. Something like tuna fish with splenda sweetened relish, tomatoes, and olive oil mayo for lunch, and usually something grilled for dinner. chicken or steak medium rare. I can't leave leftovers because reheating it the next day makes it too tough, so I either make a little for myself or enough to give the rest to someone else. And I'm working out 4 times a week, weights and cardio.
I feel fantastic, everything's working right, and I couldn't be happier!

Hope everyone is going well from this thread. Good luck to those coming up.

You can just ask for a copy of all your records! They do not have to know your getting second opinion! They can not deny you a copy, they are your records, just let them assume it's for your own records

Doctor told me I could have 1 cup daily so I have been drinking it since surgery. Nothing in it of course at first. Just make sure you drink extra Water.< /p>

I went to Dr. Garcia in Tijuana. Everything went wonderfully and smooth I'd recommend he and his staff to anyone. I believe the website is called WWW.OBESITYSOLUTIONSINTERNATIONAL.COM

One year ago today, I was given one year to live if I didn't get a lot of my extra weight off me in a hurry. It's only 6:40pm, but I'm hoping I'll live until Midnight.
Just thought I'd share that huge milestone with my family here. I'll Celebrate with an extra long workout tomorrow morning! And a cup of Decaf coffee!!

Love me some kegels
Well, I think my coochiewa appears smaller and I don't have any camel toe's going on. My husband and I "front spoon" much easier and we fit during the sha bang bang better. OMG,,did I type all that out loud?lol
Seriously, I think if you do crunches, it helps lift the muscles that support that area.

Yea, unfortunately, women can be mean and jealous! I don't like this aspect of our kind!!
I have too have experienced this first hand ... I've told the story before, but I will tell again (now I find it amusing).
Just after my sleeve - nearly 2 yrs ago - a friend of mine saw how I was losing weight. She had just had a baby and was caring extra weight. OUt of the blue, like so many other stories, she became a diet and exerise 'expert'. She worked out 7 days a week and hardly ate a thing - her mother had her two kids for her to do this btw.
She kept telling me how many inches she was losing, howmany pounds she had lost and what size she was. This would be followed by a half hearted question about my own weight loss. She knew about my sleeve.
She used me as competition. She couldn't stand the thoought of me being smaller than her... I have ALWAYS been the biggest in our friendship group.
She even gave me her clothes that were 'too big' for her, these included several maternity trousers. She explained this by stating that: 'I know your problem area is your tummy, so these are perfect!' Implying that I looked pregnant!
Anyway, fast forward two years... here I am currently maintaining at my 72lb weight loss and I fit nicely into a UK14.
My friend however, has put a lot of weight back on and is now a good 14lbs if not more heavier than me and at least one clothing size bigger.
I have not said ANYTHING about her weight gain. I have been tempted to pay back her back handed compliments, but I am being the bigger -metaphorically of course - person!
Try to ignore comments with negative undertones and outright negative elements... this is your experience. This is your time to get healthy, fit and happy.... bugger everyone else!!
Good luck to you ... =]

I can totally relate to this. I find that as a rule women are vicious and jealous creatures. I was sleeved on 4/11/12 and began my journey in Sept 2011. I have lost 80# since then. Last week my husband and I saw a couple that we haven't seen since last fall. The woman said " I didn't recognize you with short hair." Seriously--- my haircut is all that is different?? My husband finally saw firsthand what I had been telling him. You just have to ignore and keep on keepin on.

I find it a point of pride to send my husband with yummy, healthy, food to work for the few months that I am home. This is tomorrows lunch:
Ivy's Protenacious fruit Salad
Submitted by: LADYIVY79
Great lunch, high in Omega 3's.
Minutes to Prepare: 5
Number of Servings: 5
Ingredients
Cottage cheese, 1% Milkfat, 0.5 cup (not packed)
Almonds, 0.25 cup, ground
Walnuts, 0.2 cup, chopped
Grapes, 0.5 cup, seedless
Blackberries, fresh, 0.2 cup
Strawberries, fresh, 0.25 cup, halves
Cinnamon, ground, 0.5 tbsp
**Flax Seed Meal (ground flax), 2 tbsp
Tried something new yesterday so going to make the edit right here. Half a scoop of GNC Unflavored Protein Powder and 3 tblspns greek yogurt really raises the level of Protein, fills it out to 6 servings and is somehow even yummier! I served it to my son last night with a honey graham cracker and a tiny bit of Peanut Butter and he didn't want to share his "dessert"!
Directions
Mix all ingredients.
Serving Size: Five half cup servings
Number of Servings: 5
Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user LADYIVY79.

Awww you are too sweet! Yes I am 44 years old and will be 45 in November (gulp) lol! I am Mexican/American , I do get mistaken for Persian at times lol.

Well here I am 21 months post op. I am so thankful to God for my sleevie, words can not express.

Highest weight 234, lowest 144...I am 148 today and that's with tom lol. I am a perfect size 6 (actually even have some 4's)...if I can do it, YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!

Here's some before and after pics

Hello May Sleeve Buddies!!!
Today I am 1 month in and I am excited to announce I have lost 21% of my excess body weight
1 month before surgery: 268 lbs
day of surgery: 261 lbs
TODAY: 239 lbs

You have made the right decision with dr Garcia...good luck...so far I lost 2lbs a day since surgery, no pain, all healed just tiny little scratches where the surgery was...I manage a jewellery store and was back exactly one week later and now added 3 miles walking a day for 3 days.
Keep us posted

My decision is made due to the fact that it is a full service hospital. I am certain I will not need the services but grateful they are close by just to be safe.

Thank you for the responses, I think I have decided on Dr. I.C.Garcia in Tijuana. Waiting to see if I am approved and if he is available on the dates I would like. I am very excited, watched a few vidios of the procedure as a nurse it is just a little gross. I have read the good the bad and everything in between. My real decision came when I watched as my poor 73yr old mother start yet another diet. I decided that I had to do something. I have 2 aquaintences who have had the sleeve only for a couple of months but they said they wish they did it sooner.
Talk to you soon
Gail

Gail....i did an international standards project for 8 years in Sydney australia.....I think I have some knowledge of what is and what isnt. I found my Lapland removal experience here in canada a nightmare.....no nurses to attend to anyone.., I was taking care of patients myself....it is not the nursing staff it is the system. With dr Garcia his nurses had time and. We're patient and caring the facility was spotless and cleaned thoroughly everyday....just my experience though.