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Choose the path that fits today. We’ll take you to the most useful discussions.
- GLP-1 medication Zepbound, Wegovy, access, side effects, progress, and support.
- Before surgery Compare procedures, plan ahead, and get honest pre-op answers.
- Post-op Recovery, food stages, symptoms, and support.
- Long-term Regain, labs, habits, and life after the honeymoon.
- Revision Explore revision options, complications, and next steps.
Everything posted by BeautyVGSJourney
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What Did You Wish You Knew Before Surgery
I have not had my surgery yet (its May 10th) but with my experience dieting no, it never affected me with my previous diets. I used to get the Depo shot and that killed any diet I did, I was always super hungry! and always gained a lot of weight on it. I have read that Mirena has little to no effect on weight loss. (~5% of women do gain weight in it but that is very small number compared to other contraceptives, and the study that found that was not a very good study because it did not compared it to woman not using it, so the same 5% might had gained weight regardless).
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What Did You Wish You Knew Before Surgery
I have Mirena, have had it for about 2 years now. I had a previous Mirena but had it taken out because I thought I wanted to get pregnant again, then started school again and decided it was a bad idea LOL.... I have not had any problems with it. Beautifulme you don't look old enough to have a high school student! Could it had been that your Mirena was misplaced? I have never had pain with mine other than the cramps shortly after it was put in. And I love not having a period!
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What Did You Wish You Knew Before Surgery
yes definitely be careful. you may want to talk to your doctor about other options of birth control that have less associations with blood clots. I have an IUD and love it! The least amount of estrogen in the birth control the lower the risk of blood clots. So definitely talk to your doctor before stopping them, because you also do not want to get pregnant right after surgery.
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What Did You Wish You Knew Before Surgery
Warfarin = Coumadin® are anticoagulants and yes you are correct feedyoureye they work with Vitamin K (meaning they stop/inhibit vitamin K epoxide reductase which is required for vitamin K to do its job of helping in coagulation, and it inhibits/stops the conversion/changing of some Proteins (clotting factors) that are required to clot blood). So since it stops vitamin K, when you eat “green” veggies you are putting in vitamin K, so that means that you would need more warfarin to give you the same effect of anticoagulation. Lissa trust me I get confused on this too! and I am in med school and have a final exam on the subject in two weeks! Warfarin is super tricky, specially since it can have so many drug-drug interactions with other medications and foods. Its why its not often prescribed unless you absolutly need it! And like you both I am sure already know they often check your blood to see its levels because it can cause a lot of problems if the levels are too high or too low. For everyone else, this is not the medication they put most people on for the surgery. Most of the drugs used are also anticoagulants but they are most often Low Molecular Weight Heparin or other anticoagulants that do not work the same way. (they don't work against vitamin K so you don't have to worry about eating or not either greens). Someone else (sorry can't remember who right now) how long do you have to worry about blood clots. Well if you have no other problems and are not a smoker and do not take birthcontrol pills, for the most part most blood clots happen within two months or so after surgery. If you are a smoker and take birth control pills you are at a much higher risk. I would say like Lissa said talk to your doctor, but walk, walk, walk. Blood clots do not happen very often, they can be fatal when they do, so its good to know about them and worry a little about them. But if you do all you can to prevent them (walk), its highly unlikely that you have to worry about them very long. If you want more specific information feel free to ask, or you might want to read some of the journal articles that I put on my youtube video.
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So Disappointed!
My insurance will not cover either but I have done a lot of research and I decided to go with Dr. Ponce De Leon in Mexico. He has been doing the sleeve a lot longer than must USA surgeons (well over 5 years) and has been a surgeon for over 20. There are definitely other avenues to make this happen. My surgeon charges $5500 with flight tickets and all will be less than $6000! Good luck and don't give up!
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What To Tell My Children?
Mine is May 10th, and the wait is killing me!
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Has Anyone Read The Gastric Sleeve By Dr. Alvarez ?
I think you go thru his site and buy it then follow instructions to open it on your ipad/phone
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Any May Sleevers Yet?
I miss mine with water and ice, I don't think you are doing it wrong. I know that many doctors require a clear liquid diet right after surgery, so you could not use milk or most shakes. But it all depends on what your doctor tells you.
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Gain Weight Before Loss?
The water sounds like a better idea than the gain weight, just don't throw up LOL I would definitely research both places and their surgeons before making your final decision. Good luck!
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What Did You Wish You Knew Before Surgery
Christin they most likely gave you those drugs in IV along with pain meds and other staff. I agree with you!
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Gain Weight Before Loss?
I would gain the six pounds in a heart beat!
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Guilty!
It should not but you want to limit the cheats as much as possible for your benefit. I completely understand I am also Hispanic and love food! Just forgive yourself and go on, you can do it!
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What Did You Wish You Knew Before Surgery
unfortunately most people have no symptoms until its almost too late. some of the symptoms include pain in part of your body such as a leg (normally only one and most blood clots after surgery are from the deep veins of the legs). Because of this is super important to do everything possible to prevent blood clots from forming. There is no scientific evidence that suggest that the injections for a few weeks after surgery help significantly, there are also side effects to those medications. Some surgeons feel comfortable using them while others do not. Until there is more scientific evidence on the subject the guidelines only state for them to be used very short term. There are people who are at much higher risk for blood clots (and yes obesity is a big one) but the higher the BMI the more likely the doctor is going to want to give the injections long term. Do not be afraid if your doctor does not recommend them (has long as he is using them during the surgery and shortly after as well as you are walking and they are using the machines or compression stockings you should be fine). I would ask what his stance is in the whole thing though. Some of the journals I posted are easy to read while others not so easy, but its a good place to start. The best you can do for yourself is not smoke and walk, walk, walk, walk, walk, walk, walk.........................................................................................................walk
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What Did You Wish You Knew Before Surgery
About the muscle cut, yes there are about three muscle layers that they cut thru to get to the stomach. Not to mention the skin, fat and other tissue. Muscles do not regenerate, so only scar tissue can form. Thankfully the incissions are very small and most people heal well.
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What Did You Wish You Knew Before Surgery
My YouTube video this week was about bloodclots and the guidelines for preventing them. In the comments I put links to the medical journals if anyone is interested. It's BeautyVGSJourney (the second video and is VGS). I am also terrified about bloodclots it's why I did the research.
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Has Anyone Read The Gastric Sleeve By Dr. Alvarez ?
How much is it?
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Has Anyone Read The Gastric Sleeve By Dr. Alvarez ?
Great question! I have been thinking of reading it too,Debly also read it and she loved it. I will probably get it in the next week or so, I am just so busy with school that I am afraid I will get it and not read it or spend too much time reading it!
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Need Help/advice On Surgery Type
Good luck in your journey!
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Need Help/advice On Surgery Type
I suggest a second opinion, specially since he is suggesting the lapband which has horrible reflux associated with it. There has been research that shows that the sleeve and the band both can aggreviate reflux, so if you endup doing it you might have to take a pump inhibitor (such as prilosec) for the rest of your life, or at least for a while. But being obese is also a risk factor for reflux, so which is the worse of two evils? I would definitely seek another opinion. My surgeon in Mexico does mostly bariatric surgeries but also hernia repairs and other stuff like that, I can give you his information and I am sure he can give you his opinion (the best part is that he will not charge you for it LOL). IF you want it please message me. Good luck!
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Small Blenders/smoothy Maker
if you have a costco membership or know someone who does they have the 20+ piece for the magic bullet with their monthly coupon! Here in Texas I paid ~$35 plus taxes for it, it comes with two take along mugs (along with sipping lids) as well as many other things. I am going to buy me another one to keep at school. It works great! I tried the Bella one from Target too but its not as good so I am taking it back.
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Eating Myself To Death
Yeah I am planning on starting mine two weeks (my surgeon only requires 3 days for me) but I think if I start a little earlier it might be easier when I have to drink only liquids. The good thing is that my last day before I start my preop it's my birthday, so I an planning on eating chinese food (my favorite) until I am sick! Lol
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Eating Myself To Death
I am afraid of that too but I try not to think about it! lol. I am trying really really hard to take this one day at a time, that is super difficult but I hope it keeps me from going insane!
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I Want This Sleeve!
Congratulations!
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Any May Sleevers Yet?
Stephanie many USA doctors have the misconception that only USA doctors are any good. They also hear all of the horror stories from people who go to Mexico without doing their research and find themselves in a lot of trouble. I have heard nothing but great things about Dr. Aceves, don't let anyone scare you like that. I can tell you that for myself I am having my surgery May 10th with dr. Ponce de leon and after having done my homework I know for a fact this is the best surgeon for me. Like I said I have heard nothing but great things about Dr. Aceves so I am sure he is as qualified or even more likely more qualified than the bariatric surgeon who is telling you not to go. Some of the fears of some of our clinicians here are well founded but unfortunately they often don't realize that there are many wonderful surgeons outside of here. IF you have done your homework, found out everything good and bad about your surgeon and are 100% confident in his skills and ethics then you have all of the tools to make the right decision for you. You should definitely worry about the risks and other things about the surgery itself and keep in mind that there are real risk asociated with any medical treatment, but if the benefits for you outweigh that risk, this will also help you in your decision (YOUR being the keyword). Best of luck!
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Eating Myself To Death
I am having the same food funeral but like DDFin I feel that eventually I will be able to eat what I like with moderation. So right now I am trying not to overeat but I an definitely eating what I want. I lost three pounds this week and I am not even trying, what I have changed is that I am trying to learn to log what I eat and I ask myself "do I really want that?". I am working very hard at logging my food, that is a real challenge for me. Definitely enjoy yourself!