2BThinAlways

So good to get an update, Capt Derel! I've been watching for it Hope that 90% is up to 110% very soon

Thanx for the responses!

May I also ask how much you invested in yourself?

My surgery will be around $19000 including blis insurance

My surgery is $4500 plus airfare and a hotel night before the surgery. I feel fortunate to have found a doctor who is both affordable (for me) and experienced so that I could just go ahead and get it done

I decided around the third week in January and scheduled for March 27 ... but I think I could have likely booked something in mid-February. I booked later because of my own scheduling needs.

I'm not saying this to lecture, but just in case there is a chance that you are unaware: eating any sorts of solid foods this early after surgery can cause your stomach to leak, which can become a life-threatening complication. I'm not judging you; every single one of us struggles or we wouldn't be here. I hope that you find the way to keep your eating safe for you and your sleeve. Hugs!

I'm thinking of growing edamame in the garden this year ... how soon after surgery were you able to start eating it?

I loved reading through this thread today, seeing the old posts and looking at the signature tickers to see how successful people had been. And then to see Holly's update! So inspirational! Congrats to each and every one of you!

Anger's a really strong trigger for me too You did well!

Btw this is just my general observation. Would one think that going from a caloric intake over an excess of 3500 calories a day to down in the range of 320-650 every day with the Vitamin deficiency incurred by the diet itself cause one to get sick. Why has no one ever mentioned this prior? They told me that I couldnt take a multi so I didnt but I should have taken something to protect myself in a liquid form

(null)

It's definitely a shock to the system! Hang in there

I used to ride horses but I haven't for maybe 25 years ... it's definitely on my to-do list when I get smaller

Capt, I'm so excited for you Sounds like you are right on track! Have you got a bunch of post-op clear Protein Drinks as well? Fingers crossed for you that your cold clears up entirely before surgery. I got a flu shot on Friday because I've been paranoid about getting sick before or after surgery ...

Please keep us posted!!

Similar dream last night, only this time it was a spoonful of mashed potatoes immediately after surgery (as if!) ... I guess my subconscious mind is really working on all my anticipation and anxiety

2BThinAlways - we are neighbors, I am going for my surgery on Mar 20, you will be right behind me.

That's so cool!

I live in Canada and to qualify for VSG here you need to not only be morbidly obese but also must have many co-morbidities. If you aren't "lucky" enough to have the trifecta then you can go on a waiting list for 10 years.

Exactly my reason as well.

I'm doing it alone too, but I'm already lucky enough to know of someone else from here who is also going on the same day

I've booked my surgery for March 27 and it's been a few weeks since I booked so I guess my subconscious has had some time to work with this ... and last night I had the craziest dreams.

In my first dream, I had just been sleeved, woke up, and was making my way home. And on my way home I was snacking on almonds. Suddenly (still in my dream), I realized what I was doing and was horrified! I was going to ruin my sleeve, get a leak, and all sorts of disastrous things because here I was absentmindedly munching on almonds hours after my surgery!

When I woke up for a few moments, I was SO relieved that it was just a dream. I wonder, did anyone else get these sorts of anxiety dreams about "what if I eat the wrong things"?

On the bright side, after I fell asleep again, I kept dreaming about life post-sleeve and dreamed about being in a thinner, lighter body with a vividness I have never had in my waking imagination

Great advice, thank you so much!!

Congratulations and thanks so much for sharing your experience! Did you spend the night in San Diego the third night after your surgery? I'm tempted to do that too. I'm also going to be flying back to Canada after the surgery. Was there a lot of walking at the airport in San Diego? I'm a bit nervous because I occasionally tend to have low blood pressure and faintness and I'm going to be traveling alone...

Loved reading your account and I'm so excited for you!

Well I am 7 days post op today! I had a great experience. The clinic is awesome and very very clean! My mom was even impressed. We arrived there and had our blood work done then went up and talked to the administrator who is awesome. Waited to have my EKG done then waited to get sleeved. I was the last one out of three of us cause I had the largest BMI. So around 4 pm I went in. Spent the first night in the clinic hooked up to the IV and trying to sleep. The gas is the hardest thing about that night and the next night. The next morning we were taken to the recovery house which is also very clean. I was very uncomfortable with all the gas pain so I didnt stay put too long but thats good cause the more you move round the more gas you pass. Keep that in mind. I walked the street up and down while still attached to th e IV. You need to get through 2 bags of IV before they will let you take it off the second day. I was the first one to get it out Ya for me! So I went shopping with some people although I spent most of the time in the van lol.,You are weak. Then went back to the recovery house and went to bed. I asked for a sleeping pill and the nurse said it would knock me out for about 4 hours. I took it at 9 pm and He had to wake me up at 7:30 lol. It was the best sleep ever. So We had to drink the purple crap and then head for the xray department and get those done. You have to drink some more stuff.... just plug your nose and gulp it down. Bring a great tasing gum with you so you can put it in your mouth as soon as your done. It doesnt taste good but the gum helps. Then you go back to the clinic so the doc can see your xrays and then head back to the recovery house. I opted to leave that day and go back to SanDiago. I went shopping for a bit then had another great sleep in the hotel. We stayed at the Hampton inn. THe beds are comfortable like you woudn't believe but there is a train that goes by so they provide ear plugs.. truthfully it didnt bother me at all. then the next day I flew home to Canada. Make sure you get wheelchair assistance especially when you have long ways to walk caues I would never have made it in my condition. Now I am still gassy so I am working on this and I am having problems getting Water down ( but I never liked Water anyway) so Popcicles are my thing... Vitamin water is good too. So I see my doctor today and I am hoping to get some of my stiches out. So I will let you know how it goes from there. so since my 2 week preop diet til today I have lost 20 pounds!

March 27 here!

I just read circa post about the surgery and I hung on every word.

So did I! I'm so excited for her

Congrats, you look great and so happy!

Great to see you here, Capt Derel!

I think circa's sleeving is today, if I'm not mistaken -- good luck, circa!

I've set the group so that only approved members can read or post on the forum, by the way. I chose Dr. Almanza because he seems to have many successful, happy patients and because, paying for this surgery out of my own pocket, the clinic is what I can afford. But it seems that whenever Dr. Almanza is mentioned, people want to jump in with criticisms of the clinic because it's small and not a real hospital. I want a safe place where those who are ACTUALLY his patients can discuss the pros and cons of their experiences honestly and opening without a lot of extra noise and controversy

I created this group to be a private place where those of us who have chosen Dr. Almanza can support one another and share tips and experiences. I am scheduled for my VSG on March 27 and I'm happy to finally be doing this for myself :smile1: Welcome!