Brittanysiemens

This is great to hear from everyone- perhaps I'll have him look at this thread. I found several doctors in southern CA that perform VSG, but none of them have as much experience in VSG as Dr. Kelly, nor do they seem as thorough with pre- diets, after care (some just send you home!). Carrie- how was your surgery, did you go yet?

That's good to hear about the gum! I was fearful the ingredients would somehow be abrasive or irritating, but considering dentyne fire is fairly intense, I'm not too worried. My thyroid pills are small and taste slightly sweet- I could easily chew them if need be. I've had times where I've ran out of my thyroid meds, and substituted with supplements- very bad idea. I know I won't be ok without them, so I'm glad crushing will be an option. Sorry to hear about the pneumonia, I hope you're ok now and recovering well.

Good to hear Kelly! Youre always quite helpful. I was concerned the menthol or peppermint oil could be a tissue irritant (like alcohol) and therefore possibly not allowed.

Shellinsons- sorry to hear that, I am in a similar boat! Please pm me so we can keep in contact- I'll likely be there as you're recovering. My mom is my companion, my husband could not get all the time off work as it is, and it's a nice time for she and I to hang out.

Wannasleeve: 13 lbs is still plenty of weight! I'm glad to hear your friend had such an easy surgery, I hope mine will be too! I am very optimistic. When was your surgery?

I'll be getting sleeved by dr. Kelly on the 7th- we will (kind of) be getting sleeved together pm me if you'd like

Thank you Tara! I am just 3 weeks away from surgery, and he is becoming concerned and skeptical. I do not want to have him trying to sway me away from surgery at the last minute! I have been doing months of research on VSG and Dr. Kelly, and though I'm quite confident with my choice, I know he will find things about him he is unsure about.

*Please send me a private message if so, he is quite easy to talk to. He is mostly worried about my safety and possible risks.

Thanks Cheri! I will likely try the agar idea, as thats something I will feel like I'm "chewing", trader joes has a lot of good things- we are lucky here in California. Did your surgeon allow you the agar Jello for the 2 days leading up to surgery? I'm assuming I'm allowed jello because it dissolves into liquid in the stomach, I'd figure the same for agar.

Thanks Cheri! I will likely try the agar idea, as thats something I will feel like I'm "chewing", trader joes has a lot of good things- we are lucky here in California. Did your surgeon allow you the agar Jello for the 2 days leading up to surgery? I'm assuming I'm allowed jello because it dissolves into liquid in the stomach, I'd figure the same for agar.

I'm a pescatarian too, I just figured saying "vegetarian" was easy to understand for the sake of the question. Thanks for the juice + isopure idea, that will be quite helpful and nourishing! I have a box of myoplex EAS original for when I can do protein shakes, I do not have a juicer so I plan to just buy broth.

I am seeing Dr. Kelly (who is very well reviewed and has 11+ years experience, as well as US training in trauma) for closer to 6000$. I made this choice after massive, extensive research for 2 years. There are many doctors in Mexico who perform this surgery far more often than doctors in the US, with little to no major complications. I don't consider Mexico the best option because it's less expensive or requires less paper work, I consider it the best because of the level of experience some of the surgeons have. If I won the lotto, I'd likely still be set on Dr. Kelly, and from my research Aceves is a great surgeon as well. Best of luck to you!

I do eat dairy and eggs, so I've got those along with Beans for Protein. I am mostly concerned about options during the "clear" phase, I may be stuck with Popsicles and veggie broth :/

it's very encouraging to hear coffee may be ok fairly quickly! Coffee has been a part of my families life for a long time (were English, maybe it's ok to give kids coffee in England?! ) and I don't see being able to give it up entirely, my dad roasts his own Beans, my husband and I do too. Realistically, I only have 1-2 cups a day, but it's nice to know I can enjoy coffee again after. I tried a 100% alcohol free night at our night club (all the way until 4am!), and it was great! I never get genuinely "drunk" at our club, but its nice to know I am fine interacting with our drunk customers while completely sober. I agree that alcohol is not conducive to healing, so I'm gonna lay off that one as long as dr. Kelly recommends, perhaps longer.

I adore coffee (black, no sugar), and figured I would be able to drink it again a month or so after surgery...BUT, I keep reading about people taking several months to be allowed coffee. Really? Why is this? I'm fairly certain I'll miss the ritual of coffee, I don't even care about the caffeine. Alcohol: My husband DJs at a night club, and though I'm happy to wait a couple months to drink..I've heard people say their Dr.'s say "never" or "a year"...this will be odd to do, I can do it...but will there be harm in sipping the same drink all night? I don't want our friends to think I'm pregnant or intentionally sober due to alcoholism, which I think they might. Success is my priority, and Id rather be healthy and at the right weight than have 1-2 drinks a week. Does anyone manage to drink small-moderate amounts if alcohol? Does anyone still enjoy espresso and coffee daily? How long did it take?

Thank you, I'm happy to hear that! I don't intend to be a total non-drinker, or have to avoid coffee forever!

Thanks! I plan to just go for juice in a glass, no one will question it. I just hope in the future I can enjoy 1-2 drinks and be ok, but ultimately I'd rather have my healthy weight. I'm hoping my stomach can do coffee eventually, but we shall see :/

Thanks for the ideas! How do you handle your "clear period" as a vegetarian? I wish there was something to substitute the chewing action of jell-o, 2 weeks seems like a very long time for veggie broth and popsicles, but I guess I'll have to do it!

I booked with Sandy for Dr. Kelly, I'm taking my mom with me as my companion for my VSG. I'm an active "lightweight" (BMI 31), and I decided on VSG after researching plication and deciding it wasn't the safest and most effective option for me. I'd like (ideally) to do one WLS in my life if possible. Questions for everyone!: What "hurts" after surgery? The surgical site and your stomach? I've never had organ surgery (but I've had liposuction) and I found I was sore but able to function within a day. What about VSG is uncomfortable and keeps you out of work? Will (likely) I be able to drive the 2 hours back to la after I'm released and rested? When you were able to excersize or take long walks? I enjoy excersize quite a lot. Any other low BMIs out there? What were your results like? I hope I lose 1-2 lbs a week, but I'm trying to not set expectations. I know with low BMIs you lose slower, as you have less to lose. What were the 2-3 days in the hospital (or clinic) like? How out of it, and immobilized were you? Completely hooked up to IVs the whole time, or just simple drains/catheter? Do you have photos of your scars? I am not

That is so wonderful to hear, and I really appreciate you posting about your long term results for us! I think its common to lose interest in these forums post surgery and recovery, but you're truly doing everyone a service. 1/4 is encouraging, I think there's got to be a "happy medium" for life long maintenance- if you eat too little, your metabolism drops. If you eat too much, obviously you gain weight. Best of continued luck and health to you and your wife, please keep posting!

The death was in June, I beleive there is detailed info on the circumstances in the "drs and hospitals" section. This was his only death, and as an experienced surgical tech myself, I can tell you it was a very unlikely occurrence that lead to her death. No surgery is 100% safe, no matter who you go to. I am taking a whole week off. My current job is very low impact, I essentially sit and talk to clients and use my arms lightly (I'm not currently doing surgical tech work). If I'm still sore, I'll call and get more time off. I base this on knowing how I've dome after liposuction and a breast reduction (4 days off), thigh liposuction (2 days off), and breast lift (2 days off). Though I tend to go back to work quickly, I don't want to assume I'll be just fine to sit and talk to clients (I really really love my job), I know I tend to be fairly quick with the time off. If I am in far too much pain, or my Dr. advises otherwise, I will obviously take more time off.

Thank you all for the responses! I feel very confident about my choice to see Dr. Kelly, I've yet to hear any genuinely bad reviews about the quality of his work or care. I am happy to hear that you werent too uncomfortable after surgery, I was really concerned about the drive but this has calmed my nerves. My mom and I are actually planning to spend the latter end of the week in palm springs before we head back to la (home), and I'm optimistic I'll be ok to lounge around and sip fluids.

It warms my heart to hear that, I am so happy you're doing ok and already happy with you decision! Keep us updated, I'm so excited to get sleeved November 7th.

Thank you KellyL! I am hoping that is the case, I just have my fears as I'm slowly but surely losing weight on my current strict routine, and come November 7th its possible after a week of pre-op dieting and 2 days ofclear fluids, that I'll be firmly under a bmi of 29. I realize it seems ridiculous to even want surgery at a bmi of 31 to some, I know for many people they took an entire year to get to 31 after being sleeved. I don't mean to sound ridiculous in my fears of being "too thin". Part of my fear comes from knowing they will meet my travel companion (my mother) who has developed severe anorexia after the death of her husband. I just worry I'll show up with my tiny mother, and me looking "not toooo heavy" and it may look like I don't belong there, given my mothers size.

I work extremely hard to stay at my 31 bmi (almost a 30!)- 5 tiny meals a day, no starch or sugar, and at least 45 minutes of intense cardio a day. My concern is, that after the pre-op diet for Dr. Kelly, I may drop weight and be (hopefully!) at a bmi of 29...BUT, that would make me too light for surgery, right? Is it expected by doctors that after two weeks of the pre-op diet that you are "already on the road to weight loss" and this is acceptable? I know this sounds like a ridiculous problem, and chances are, knowing how strict I already am I won't likely lose a ton of weight on the pre-op diet, but it's a fear I have. I have not been this " thin" in 10 years, and I'm not interested in going back to my old ways.