finaly4me

Hi' date='

Thanks so much for getting back to me! Hope you don't mind some rapid fire questions!

1) How was Dr. Lavin? I was thinking I may want a female surgeon because I'm so self conscious. And Dr. Lavin is relatively young AND cute! LOL which just makes it worse!

2) How are you doing? Any regrets? What are you eating at this point? Do you miss eating a normal meal? One of my main worries (it is actually probably my primary concern other than surgery complications) is never being able to eat a normal meal with my husband/friends/family. No crawfish boils, no Thanksgiving Dinners, no friends over for a BBQ.

3) I'm not a big fan of "drinking" a meal. I'd rather skip it, which of course I know is not an option with WLS. I just cannot imagine doing only liquids and mushy food. It sounds gross to me. I mean, I could do mushy red Beans or white Beans (New Orleans style of course) or creamy Soups but I just cannot fathom the thought of pureeing food and trying to get it down my throat. Any thoughts on this?

4) How long were you in the hospital? Did you have to have a catheter? Did you have any complications?

I have a ton more questions but don't want to wear you out!

Thanks again!

Dana[/quote']

Hi Dana. I too live on northshore and dr. Lavin did my surgery. He was great. Not crazy about staff but good workers are hard to fond. There is a small group of us who meet up once a month. We would love ya to join us. Just contact me.

Instead of getting my Protein in by Protein drinks' date=' can i do those protein bars?? some have as much protein as 20g, as much as my drinks which i can barely get down! Anyone know, 4 weeks post op.[/quote']

Yes. I do a combination of both. Remember to get your protein in food too. tuna chicken etc...

What is PB2?

PB2 is a Peanut Butter powder. Its low Cal fat. It comes plain Pb or chocolate flavor. Both delicious. I buy it from my des office. But ive seen it cheaper on baratric advantage.com

THe muscle milk lite is good but the nectar Protein for me is/was the best...

I went to smootie king. Bought the gladiator chocolate mix. Its great and I add whatever fruit or PB2 to it. And its low sugar and garb. Its the only one my nut says I can have. Its 50.00 for a huge container

K I'm getting Protein in and taking biotin!! Any other suggestions? I'm 4 mnths out and it has just started but man I'm losing a lot!

I'm also over 4 months out. And I started about 3 weeks ago. Had my p.o. appt with PA and my bld wk is perfect. She says its normal. Its just because of the quick weight lose. She told me Biotin and that it will eventually stop and regrow. I'm taking 6000mc of Biotin daily. I also bought garniers new Shampoo with biotin in it. I HATE the amount of hair I'm losing. It freaks me out. I have so much on my pillow and in the tub drain. My bald husband just doesn't get it. I get nervous when i wash it. Ive been trying not to but i think its gonna fall out no matter what i do or dont do. Ive always had super thick hair but not anymore. Glad I didn't have it thinned out when I cut it before surgery. So just gotta wait a bit and hope it stops. If not I'm just gotta learn how to rock a skinny body and a bald head. Ill take the trade off any day. Good luck to ya ll.

Hey Louisianans!

This is my first ever post on the site' date=' even though I have been stalking for about a month. I think I joined the sight 6/7 and just last week I filled out some of my profile info. I figure the best place to start is at home with you guy’s and gal’s! After reading up on VSG and joining this site I am now ready to take my first step. I have chosen Dr. Lavin in Covington as my surgeon. I will be talking to someone on his team on Monday about making an appointment for a consultation. I will keep everyone posted.

What I love about this site so far is (what everyone loves) the amount of support you receive. I love that Louisianans are deep in here because it shows how much we care about ourselves/ health. We care enough about ourselves to give up on the best eats in the world. (Side note- when I travel I can’t wait to get home to eat) I am totally ready to give it up and give my body a second chance at living.

I am so proud of those who have gone through surgery and have accomplished your goals. Keep up the good work and I will be joining you soon.

XOXO[/quote']

I too had Dr. Lavin. He is great. His staffing has improved though. But I'm very critical with staffing. I had surgery at Fairway. They were wonderful. I was in for 4 days. I had some complications. But they were wonderful. Good luck and let me know if you have questions.

Ladies' date=' I have a friend in the Madisonville area that is interested in VSG. Do y'all have any suggestions for an MD in that or the New Orleans area?[/quote']

I used Dr laving. Surgical specialist. I'm doing great. I would recommend in a heartbeat.

I had my surgery about a year ago..and I was sugar-free for 9 months of it..couple of months ago i started to enjoy a scoop of icecream every now n then..but now am really out of control..chocolates ' date=' Cookies ... all kinds of sweets.. how can i get back in the track???

:([/quote']

I eat Protein bars. Serves duel purposes.

Hi All' date='

I am still seriously considering having VSG done. My husband has some concerns he wanted me to look into first. So here are his concerns, and I would love to hear people's true experience/feelings.

Obviously, his first concern is the safety and any complications. He is a family doc. and I would be going to Mexico to get it done...so he knows all about the risks, but is leaving the decision up to me.

His other concerns (these are what I'm most interested in getting responses about) is how people felt emotionally after having it done. He is aware that I have a love for food and that it is a stress outlet for me. He is concerned that after I have it done, I may get headaches (from the low cals), and I may feel irritable, tired, etc. We have 4 small kids at home, and I am blessed to be a stay at home mother.

So, how did you all feel? Was it hard to sever that relationship with food and still maintain a happy attitude??

Thanks in advance for your feedback[/quote']

I too have struggled with my relationship with food. I am 4 months p.o. I have lost over 75 lbs. When I struggle I look in the mirror. Or in my closet at my much smaller clothes. That's my incentive to stick to the plan. I feel 100% better than before. I'm not as tired and I actually feel like moving. And its without pain. I love the skinny me so much more. Do it. You wont regret it in the long run. Good luck.

These are the only Protein shakes I could drink after surgery. I have only tried the vanilla and really like them. I wish my local costco stocked strawberry' date=' because I would like to try those.[/quote']

I looked Online. Premiernutrition.com has them 28.00 a case in all the available flavors. I live about one hour away from the closest Sam's. No costco in my neck of the woods. This is a great option for me.

M wondering if there are any sleevers living in la? Would like to have a face to face support pal to if that were possible lol

I'm from the Hammond area. I have found some fantastic sleevers on this site that live close to me. We lunch around every month and its wonderful. We are all in different stages and its great support. I know if i have a problem all I have to do is call. And I did. And it helped me gt back on track. Keep looking for people in your area and check with your doctor. They might have something.

Sleeved Dr. Laving covington 3/7/12. Down 65 lbs and down d

From a size 22 to 12-14. I'm rocking my sleeve. Good luck

Im down 32lbs and speaking from experience' date=' my sex drive has not gone up. Lol. If anything, I don't want to be touched at all. Lolol[/quote']

I'm waiting for it to go up. Its worse than before. I was told its from the hormones being released from the fat. Hopefully ill gt skinny soon.

Also it is a 4 hour minimal recovery time at the surgery center. They only send you home when you are perfectly ready.

That would concern me a bit. I had complications. I had internal v

Bleeding that was caught from bld work. I was in hhospital for 4 days. Don't want to scare u but id went undiagnosed it could have been bad. Just check for how he follows up. Bld work. Test etc. Do you have the drugs u need. How farfrom the hospital invade of emery. Just a few questions to think about and ask. Good luck.

I am from Zachary but had my VSG on April 11 in Baton Rouge at Oschner. My birthday present to me. Insurance required for a six month wait and all sorts of test but they finally approved. So glad I did it. My husband adimately discouraged me from having the surgery but told me it was my dicission and he would support it. He has been great since. He has even lost a few pounds and been able to cut back on his diabetic meds. I went to my dietician yesterday and she said I was doing great. Feels good to have someone confirm your success. Haven't been back to surgical dr. Have appointment May 29. Hope he is happy with my progress. Starting weight 278' date=' surgery weight 265 and today 242. Glad I found this whole forum. It has answered a lot of questions for me.[/quote']

Fyi don't lose too much. You don't want to drop under your bmi. I almost did. Scared me to death. I tealized it two days before my final appt. I ran to the computer and did it. I was 37. I ate well the next two days. It would have been be my luck to be under and they cancel my surgery. Good luck

Dr. Bellanger! Who is your doc?

Dr. Lavin in covington. We have a small group of ladies that meet monthly. We go eat in the covington area. I would love it if u want to join us. Watch for post from la girl or Kellsbells. They usually post when and where. Its really helpful and a lot of fun.

I was 5 months out last week. I can eat anything I want and my sleeve like it. At first' date=' when I was able to eat regular foods, I kept track on MyFitnessPal, but I do not do that anymore, simply because I want to think of my new eating habits as a lifestyle change and not a diet. I actually lose more quickly when I don't keep track and chart everything. I eat anything I want, but like Lissa, I don't want bread or potatoes or Pasta anymore. I am Italian and have always crave carbs, but when i do I have a brown rice cake or Wasa cracker with a little Peanut Butter and it satisfies me. I was a popcorn freak before surgery, but haven't had any since, and even have a huge box of Smart Pop I have never even opened. I eat my proetin first and try to stick to 4 oz. per meal of Protein. Then I usually don't want much more, but eat some green veggies and have a couple spoonfuls of it. My doctor told me not to go over 8 oz. I am limited to 800-900 calories per day until I reach my goal, and I really can't even get that high. For breakfast I usually have a Jimmy dean turkey sausage link, an egg, some red grapefruit sections (jarred), and maybe a spoon of cottage cheese but not always. I never measure my food and never have. I just eyeball it. I have a skinny tall vanilla latte from Starbucks as many mornings as I can. great laxative for me! keeps me regular. I have lost 44 lbs. in 5 months and I am only 9 lbs. away of his goal for me and only 15 lbs. away from my own goal. 44 lbs. may not sound like alot in 5 months, but I am consistent, when i have my monthly visit I lose about 8-9 lbs. per month which he says is good. I joined a gym and am working on my arms. I am taking a Water aerobics class in July. I have a treadmill and do a workout the doctor suggested I do. I have gone from a size 18 jeans to a size 8. I also have kidney stones so I drink alot of Water all day, but since my sleeve I cannot stand the taste of plain water, so I flavor it with strawberry watermelon Mio. I LUV my sleeve and feel so much better.[/quote']

I'm so glad someone else cant stand plain water post sleeve. I just thought I was crazy. I'm 16 weeks out. I drank plain water like crazy ore op. Mow I cant stand it. Thank god for mio's.

I'm from Louisiana! My surgery is scheduled for may 31. I'm going to cypress Pointe surgery center in Hammond!

I live in Hammond who is doing your surgery?

Ok....I "officially" start my two week pre-operative diet tomorrow' date=' but I figured I would go ahead and jump in today....MONDAY. I am MISERABLE! I have had three Protein shakes, and cheated to have a small bag of chips. I am so freaking hungry. I don't know if I can do this. I have spent so much money, and worked so hard. I don't want to be a failure. Any ideas out there in forum land to get me through this? I think I need to buy some broth to get me through, but this is NOT fun! Why do all the doctors have such different pre-op diets? My friend did this a couple of months ago, and she didn't have to do any kind of a pre-op diet...only the day before surgery.[/quote']

Drink Water or a sugarfree beverage. Dontblet your head ruin what you have worked for. When you feel hungry drink and do something to get your mind off of it. I'm 2 1/2 months out and I'm down 60+ lbs.i went from a size 22 to a 14. You can do this too. Just keep your eyes on the prize. Don't let IT win. Stay strong and good luck.

Not to worry. We will see you next time. We've changed the location to Applebee's in Covington on Hwy 190 Serv Rd right off I-12. In case anybody wants to join us!

Excited

Done. THANK YOU

Your really not hungry. Its head hunger. Drink Water. Dont over eat. Seriously. I still have head hunger and I'm 2 months out. Stay with your diet.and stay busy when you feel hungry.good luck

I meant butt. Dang that took the enthusiasm out of that statement.

I will be there with a smile on my face and size 14 on my Burt. Whoo hoo

I'm in. You know me. Just need address. I haveno.. no idea where yell talking about

hey everyone. how about Thursday 12:15 at a resturant of Beths choice since shes on a schedule. please respond so can gt this show on the road. I cant wait to see yall again. And to meet our newest member Beth. Have a great nite and better tomorrow