COnative

I think you need more calories per day to support your activity level. You'll likely boost your metabolism if you up your caloric intake.

Thanks for all of the great information and for sharing your stories!! I LOVE reading all the updates!!

If you feel its more deep than just the food, then you two need to have a sit down and talk it out...sometimes people do things without thinkings....like mindless eating...he can get away with it because he's at a healthy weight...but we know that we can't....that's why we had the surgery....
Talk to him, it wouldn't hurt, only help...keep the lines of communication open...because eating your problems away is no longer an option....

I am excited that reached 198!!! However, not as excited as I thought I would be. I have no cause for celebration, no back flips, no celebratory sugar/fat free cheesecake. I just feel like a little fire has been lit under my ass. Like I feel like- hey I CAN DO THIS! I am so f-ing driven to get to my goal! To the people that are 1 month or less out from surgery- it gets better, much better. I was depressed too- but that number on the scale and my sexy ass outfit I wore to a party yesterday ( I am lucky to have a real coke bottle shape) solidifies my choice. GO VST!!

Thanks to all of you who are sharing your experience with Dr. Alvarez! I meet with him on the 30th and get sleeved on Sept 3rd. I am getting more and more excited and less nervous the more I read here from you guys. I will be able to contribute soon to this topic. All the best to those who have been sleeved and good luck to those whose surgery is coming up!

I'm seeing SO many posts about the same exact thing lately and it seems like it takes half a dozen responses before someone touches on the easiest answer, one that will drastically improve quality of life for a newly sleeved person.
Expect to be on a PPI (proton pump inhibitor) after surgery. If your surgeon does not bring this up, please be proactive and ask about being on one. If he/she doesn't prescribe one as a matter of course, generic over-the-counter PPIs (NOT antacids) are available and quite inexpensive.
PPIs are Nexium, Prilosec and Protonix; antacids are Pepcid, Tums or Rolaids. Many, many people have posted that Prevacid does not help, despite falling into the PPI category. It didn't do anything for me.
The feeling of hunger immediately post op? Most often it's acid and a PPI will control it.
Burning heartburn or acid reflux post op? Get on a PPI, not an antacid.
A really noisy new sleeve? Could be acid and a PPI will help. It could also just be a healing tummy, though, and is very common.
Do you feel pain, pressure or like food is coming back up when you lie down? It's acid. Take a PPI, and don't eat immediately before you sleep. Sleep with your head inclined until the PPI controls the problem.
Everyone is different. I was only in need of a PPI for 3-4 months post op, though in times of stress (and apparently, pregnancy), I feel the need for one short term. More common seems to be 6 months of use and some people need them for a year.
If you're taking the time to research the sleeve, arm yourself with this information. Be prepared prior to surgery! I cannot express how much this one simple thing can affect your quality of life.
I hope this post makes the need for one even more visible, and leads to fewer newly sleeved patients living in pain or discomfort, and then complaining about their sleeves! Healing is a tough process with the soreness and seriously restricted diet already and there is no need to complicate matters when there's an easy fix.
Good luck and congrats on your choice to be sleeved,
~Cheri

Hi, everyone!
I had my VSG on June 6th, and so far, so good! I'm in DC, and had it done by Dr. Daniel Tran at Howard University Hospital. He, and the rest of the staff were absolutely stellar, so if anyone on here is having surgery coming up with them, you're in good hands. I haven't had any side effects like the nausea and GERD everyone promised, although I definitely overdid it with straining myself, because my lowest belly stitch is very painful inside me. You feel so 'okay' afterwards that you forget you've had surgery! I'm so happy that I'm off the liquids and onto the pureed now...two weeks before and two weeks after was too much. I ate a cottage cheese as my first 'meal' and felt like I was in heaven. Sad, but true.
About me, a bit : I'm 36, a DC area native (for real, we do exist), and I'm an executive secretary for the FBI. I've been obese since birth, basically, except for approximately 6 months in the 7th grade where I grew 4 inches and wore a size 9. It was glorious. Barring that, I have epilepsy and take medicines which keep a lot of weight on me, but I also love to eat huge portions, and that's why the VSG was great for me. I decided against the RNY when I saw my coworker get sick from taking a Sudafed because of the sugar coating. The whole dumping syndrome is really unattractive.
I'm getting used to my new stomach, and I really would like to stop overeating on accident, but I suppose that will come in time. Meanwhile, I'm in love with The World According To Eggface and all her recipes, and need to make Protein shake ice cream ASAP. I'm on the hunt for new recipes for pureed foods, because I miss cooking!
I weighed 368 pounds at one point in my life, and lost a lot with Weight Watchers...but can't keep it off. I don't know why I didn't get VSG sooner. Love.
And that's me!

Only you know what's in your heart as far as if you should do this now but after reading so little about you it sounds like you will always have a lot going on in your life. Just do it! My surgery isn't until September- I am already a little nervous. But focus on the new life you are going to have! I am so happy to know this is the last summer I am going to spend really heavy. This will be your moment. There are sooo many of us here to support you no matter what. Sounds like your best friend has a busy life too- don't we all right? She will be there, you'll see. You can do this- you are making the step to a healthier life for yourself and that in itself can only help your family and every one who is around you. Hang in there.

I agree with the above. Isn't it nice to have a solution! I am 38 and I want to live and be healthier. I want my weight to not get in my way with all the things I want to do in this life! Enough is enough! Right?