kristikay

Oh honey my heart is breaking for you. You are in an abusive relationship and you need to get our now! Please get some help if you haven't and don't wait to leave this man. The surgery is a tough thing to go through and it is not a miracle cure, you will do so much better without him. I am sorry if I am being to opinionated...

Don't forget about the staples in your stomach. :-)

GOOD FOR YOU!!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!
I just want to let you know that my soapbox comment was not about you at all. I commend you for being open and honest about your addiction and tackling it!
This is a different journey for all of us and you seem strong in mind and spirit! Keep up the good work!

To me, the important question is not, can our sleeve stretch or not. Seems like what we really want to know is, can we regain the weight? Unfortunately, the answer to that is, YES. Once you're several months out from surgery, you'll find that you don't have that much restriction when it comes to slider foods. You can easily consume enough low-quality, high-calorie foods in a day to gain weight, and to gain a LOT of weight. But if you use the post-op months to develop new habits, to change what and how you eat and not just how much to develop a new, healthier relationship with food, to find a form of exercise that you enjoy, you can be successful at this long term. Your new smaller stomach won't keep you from regaining weight, but it will help you be successful if you put in the effort, emphasize dense protein over slider foods, and sustain good habit.

Wow, great job. I bet you do feel great. Can't wait to be under 200 pounds, it has been over 20 years for me.

I wondered the same thing, and when I first got the sleeve, i thought, I'll drink when I eat, that's dumb! I tried it, and every now and then out of habit I will grab a drink by accident. For me, it HURTS! I feel like i'm going to choke or vomit when I do. It fills every last crevice in your stomach and it takes a good 30-45 minutes for the pressure to go away. Sometimes I can manage to burp and feel some relief, but it's loud and sounds and feels gross. I do find that I can drink about an hour after a meal without any pain or pressure, but everyone is different. It would be nice to drink during a meal, but for me, anything more than to wet my mouth is unpleasant.

Maybe it would help if you got a little creative with the things you are allowed...make mini casseroles (or atleast where it feels like a casserole)....like I use those little ramekins that you can bake in. The tiny little pyrex glass containers. You can put them in the oven or I use a toaster oven to cook in. Put some beans with cheese in one and bake it till cheese is bubbly...then u can use plain yogurt kinda like sour cream...I mix a little bit of taco bell salsa in it for flavor. Or make a Tuna Melt with your fish....same concept. At this point your wanting something different so dont be affriad to try things that sound kinda gross...like mix a little cream of brocolli soup with some tuna then a little cheese on top and bake it. Sounds nasty, but your getting a different flavor than the same old tuna all the time. Your only making 3-4 bites with your ingredients so if you hate it your not out much...try something else. Like mixing tuna and cheese to bake. Even make an egg bake...like a baby quiche. Scramble the egg....put in a little cheese or tuna and make a little bake. You can even use a microwave for these baby casserole bakes. Just try to come up with new ideas with what you have. Your doing great and its only going to get better as you can add more ingredients. Dont get in a rush...I know its frustrating...I still cannot eat anything I want...like fresh veggies...just to hard to digest...but I know I will someday...just like you will too!! Good luck!!

Greek yogurt I like the Fage Greek yogurt personally. Soft scrambled eggs, laughing cow cheeses, shredded chicken the dark meat is actually softer but use the beast if you prefer you just need to boil it longer so its real tender. Cottage cheese, oatmeal, cream of rice, mashed potatoes, (sweet or regular). Overly cooked veggies and then mash them, mashed banana. I did a lot of soups mostly veg and chicken broth. That's mostly all I did. Let me just say this if you cheat you will regret it . Lol!! Your brain will say i can eat that and then your stomach will remind you no you can't. I been there and done that. After I slimed for a while and then threw up I was back on track. Lol!! I'm sure everything will go well for you wishing you the best. Just take it slow.
Jenipher

I will have to try this but like Lisa said I may try it with the chocolate pudding mix
instead of making the pudding and add extra milk. I have some greek yogurt that I can't eat with out doctoring it up.

Hi there! I am 21 days today post-op as well! Woohoo for both of us! I have lost 23 lbs eating high-protein, low carb. I intro'd solids late last week and doing well...definately hear you on the sweating and nausea thing though if you eat too fast :S
I eat typically: low fat cottage cheese for break 1/2 c
soft egg whites for snack
sugar free applesauce -1/4 c
soup (broth based) for lunch..i usually can tolerate about a half cup
ground chicken meat ball or ground meat (i had meatloaf last night...woohoo...although, had about 4 bites lol)
mashed veg like squash puree, peas, etc...these are TOUGH so as much as I can handle. I want to start noshing on spinach pretty bad for the iron, going to try it today and try to combat this tiredness
shrimp-oh man, lovvvve shrimp and no issues with digestion...I find anything seasoned, overly salty, etc is what gets me.
Al lthe best!!!

WOW, great post on how people who love us can be so unaware...thanks, I will remember this when people go weird on me.....sure glad the scope was OK.

Everything went okay for me today. My psych eval went well and she is okaying me for the surgery. I have one month left and am supposed to lose 5 pounds this month which should be a piece of cake, pardon the pun. The weight loss isn't required but they said it goes along way with the insurance company in showing you are committed to the program. Glad you got the answers you were looking for and I agree that talking to them in person is much more effective.

I am on the six month supervised diet also and tomorrow have my fourth appointment with my NUT also see the PA and have my psych eval. I am nervous because I am sure I gained weight this month. I had some family issues, work issues and money issues and lost focus long enough to put back on some of my weight, hopefully not all of it. They have never told be I had to lose a certain amount but still I am so upset that I have to go in there and be a failure at losing weight again. But besides the weight gain issue I have so any questions, I first need to find out if they will do the sleeve surgery instead of the traditional bypass. Well it gave me some comfort that not everyone excels at losing on this supervised diet and still is able to have the surgery. Good Luck and I hope everything goes smoothly for you and we both are able to hae the surgery soon.

I haven't had my psych evaluation yet but I am also thinking about counseling. I know there is a psychological reason for my weight getting out of control. I am wondering if I will be successful if I don't confront the issues that are contributing to my weight problem but i have no idea what my issues are!

That was fast, I am quite jealous! I have UHC and have to be on a supervised diet for six months before I can get approval. I pray I don't have to be on the pre=op fiet to long. Congrats and best wishes for a speedy recovery!

i too went through the 6 month journey and hoops required by insurance. reading your story i sooo can relate and i pray that everything works out for you. now i know every center is different and i TOO gained 6 pounds during my journey but i was able to lose it all back by the time i was submitted.
do you know if your surgeons office requires weight loss? it really comes down to them because my insurance never specified any type of weight loss, they just wanted to see that i was cleared for everything and actually going to the dietitian once a month. honestly i would double check w/ your surgeons office to see if the weight loss is a for sure requirement before doing surgery. i am excited for you and wish you the best of luck. trust me if it is meant to be it will be~~ i was accused of possibly having behavioral health issues BECAUSE i called my insurance every day waiting on approval. lol turns out i documented every time i called and specifically why. i was finally approved and now im getting sleeved the day after my birthday~ im not gonna lie, now that im approved i am VERY emotional, my brother is getting married 11 days after surgery and i have to travel really far to see him, my parents just got a divorce 3 years ago and just traveling with my daughter, trying to decide which parent 2 travel with is hard enough BUT i know God's has a plan for all of us, he wouldnt bring us this far if we werent destined to succeed~! good luck and it will go by faster than you know. i pray that you getting approved really fast

Vanessa, You are not a failure! This is real life and it does not always go as planned. I'm sure that everyone will fall off the wagon at some time. You have done the best thing possible and that is realize the problem and take steps to correct it. I would just go back to the basics. Take time for you and get back to the gym if possible. Best of luck! I'm sure you will be back in the saddle soon!

Wow!!! congrats on the great work. I hope I can do as well as you.

I can sooo relate to eveything you wrote. I have never had any type of surgery, never had an IV until I went for an endoscopy for this surgery. I hate the unknown and have tried to read everything, and watch every video I can find. Even a full lenght surgery just so I could have an idea of what was going to happen.
My surgeon eased my mind a great deal when she told me that because of the surgery, when we eat we wiill feel full and satisfied. Because the hormone that makes us feel hunger will be drastically cut down we shouldnt' have the same physical feelings to eat. The emotional is a little trickier, head hunger is powerful, but with this uncompromising tool I think we are all off to a much better start than with a diet. I am determined not to compare my losses to anyone elses and come back to this forum for answers, support and encouragment as much as I need.
Good luck!!!

I'm sorry about your grandmother but I'm so happy for you otherwise. Looking at your pic you started about where I'm starting and I'm really happy to see the sleeve working for you - even if it is in a shock collar kinda way which sometimes is what we need. I haven't been sleeved yet but I hope that when I am, I can be as successful as you.

I am 53 and had my RNY surgery on April 9th. It was the best thing I ever did !!! I was very fortunate that my insurance paid for everything and I did not have to be on any diet. I had about 80 lbs. to loose, my BMI was 37 and I had high blood pressure. My general physician wrote a letter to the insurance which was required by my surgeon which helped as well. If you tried supervised diets in the past does your ins. accept that ? I know mine did but I did not have to go that route.
My weight has been up and down for years and getting older I cannot work out like I use to when I would run 5-6 miles a day. I just can't do that anymore.... So I chose the RNY and am so happy I did
MsCook had some really great motivators above. My little motivator was that I bought a really nice, expensive top and my 1st goal is to fit into it by the end of September. I have other goals set along the way... I'm taking baby steps and each goal I make for my self puts me that much closer to fit into my skinny clothes again. Good Luck

You're never too old to do this, KristiKay. In the very first informational meeting that I went to, there was an 80-something woman who was one of my surgeon's patients and she had it done about 10 years prior. So, don't rush into something that you are not sure of. That said, you could enjoy many, many more years of svelt, active life and do a LOT of things you probably can't or don't now because of weight. That's the way I looked at it. Not to mention, it's a good way to head off those sure-to-come health problems that result from the obesity. If you need a recharge of motivation, I suggest 2 things:
1. Go onto YouTube and search for Gastric Bypass Success Stories. There are many there and seeing their stories is motivational.
2. Go to www.obesityhelp.com and look at all of the before/after photos on their home page. They change them regularly and there are LOTS to look at. Every one of them is impressive and many are truly inspiring.
Hang in there!

I am sorry it did not work out for you. However, I am glad that you have not given up on your weight loss journey... which means while the lapband may have been fail that you are not a failure.

Good luck. I am excited for you. Right now I have an appointment scheduled next week and I can't wait to find out more on my situation. I am nervous to because if insurance says no I won't be able to have it.

OMGoodness Tanya that's exactly what I'm going through.. eating the liquids I'm like but I'm still hungry, (i'm SO not) but like right now I think I overate with my 6 oz of 1/2 broth 1/2 cream of chicken soup and then a jello cup with some greek yogurt mixed in for protein.
I keep looking at the clock like is it time to eat yet? Is it time to eat yet? LOL... but I ended up eating 1/2 of a zone protein bar because I was craving something sweet. I'm feeling "extra" full right about now.. but I'm sitting here like hmmm I could go for another jello..
NO, No I can't... I need to stop the mental hunger because physically I'm SO not. We'll work it out Tanya.. we'll work it out.. I'll add you as a friend, Keep in touch, we'll figure it out together! lol