made2beme

Thanks for all of the idea, especially the "cheese nip" I loooooooove cheese!! Unfortunately we do NOT have a Trader Joes around here...I so wish we did. They are supposed to be opening one in a city a little more than an hour from me and thats as close as I get, not even opened yet!! That Stinks.... I will try some different ideas though....I do find the jerkey nuggets are softer, but I still dont really like eating chicken because it just "sits there" not sure about jerkey yet...for me anyway?

Hey guys, I am 5 wks out this Friday and I am pretty much eating Breakfast, lunch and dinner with 1 maybe 2 Snacks through the day. Just wondering what you all pick up when you are a little hungry in between that is good, Protein rich and quick/easy? I have been having a slice of turkey lunchmeat or a reduced fat string cheese or babybell, etc. Pretty much feels almost like a meal to me because I get full, but I know it is not. So, just curious what else do you have just during those in between....especially if you are busy out running around or something, you are hungry and frankly it is time to eat but you arent home and cant eat a real meal? Ideas?

Hey everyone - I am sorry I am asking this question without doing too much searching as I am sure it is answered. But, we are about to hit the grocery store and I have some recipes I want to make from Eggface, but not sure if I can eat it yet? I am on soft food (beginning of 4th week post op) and wondering if Pepperoni (I would get turkey pepp) but chopped up like in the pizza bites, Almond flour in a lot of her recipes and Multi grain pancake mix and/or Bacon (turkey as well) is allowed? I mean, obviously I know that pancakes are soft....but I know they will be sooooooo filling, so just wanted to make sure our sleeve is ready to digest something dense at this point. Also, can you find Almond flour at Walmart or is that just a health food store type food? She has so many good recipes that use the pancake mix to make mini muffins with all kinds of things in them that sound so yummy. I am excited to start cooking things that my whole family can eat....so just want to double check before grocery shopping for things I cant have yet. Any help??

Yes, the choice is definitely with who you feel most comfortable with. I can say yes, Dr. Garcia may not have the same years of experience as some...but it is also not like he has only been doing it for 6 months. He is actually a teacher at a local University also and has been the speaker at several Bariatric seminars (as I am sure others have). Not trying to convince you on Dr. Garcia....but just take into consideration everything youve read and heard....evaluate based on your personal convictions and chose the one that you have peace about. By the way on the personal individual insurance policies, you will most likely NEVER EVER find one that covers any type of bariatric surgery. It seems that its only the corp plans that do. I have an individual plan that is killing my pocketbook and covers hardly nothing, but I do it for my kids.

There is a self-pay/Mexico forum with a load of info....lots and lots of people are self pay and/or go to Mx for the same reason you have.....dont give up hope, it CAN happen!!!!

Ooops, so sorry...meant peanut "flour". It is the peanut crushed and ground without all of the oil, so it is just flour consistency. So, you can add it to recipes, Protein drinks, etc. with all of the good fat, the protein but not all of the calories and oil.

Not that I would encourage aquiring debt, but one option is to finance the cost of the surgery so you can have it sooner. I know for me, there was no way I was gonna wait longer than I had to. We didnt have the money, but my mother in law loaned it to me....so I do have to pay it back, but without interest of course. I went to Garcia and had a great experience, he is typically $5,000 which includes 3 nights in the Marriot. Unless he is running a special like in August for 4,700. In the end, it is up to who you feel more comfortable with.....I honestly can say, even if I didnt go to a "less expensive" surgeon....I really dont think the amount of $ we pay has anything to do with the way we are cared for or the surgery itself. Funny you should say your family feels safer going across the Tx. border. I live in Tx. also and I felt safer going across from Cali. The Tx. border seems to have more activity going on right now....but thats just me.

I started taking my chewables the day after I got home on day 6. But, I also have other medication I had to start up again while still in the hospital....although I did cut one in 1/2 for a few days I never had any trouble getting them down. Still will take chewable Vitamins for a while though because those do tend to be larger if in pill form.

Yes, Premier are pretty good and also convenient being already prepared. I mix mine in magic bullet with ice and some peanut flower - its as close to a reeces pieces cup as a Protein drink is gonna get, lol. When I do this - I am getting 42 grams of protein in one drink.....love it!

So far, I dont miss it either. I know my kids love it though.....every time I eat anything like a cup of Jello or pudding or even if I measure out my 1/4 cup of puree's they know they WILL end up getting the few bites left over. My hubby had bypass going on 3 yrs ago and they have been eating his leftovers already...now they get mine too

So happy for you - you will not regret your decision! I was sleeved by Garcia on 8/3 and had a great experience! Im not sure where you live...but one of the biggest enjoyments for my husband and I was the weather! We live in Tx. and we left 107 degrees with 90% humidity to lows in the low 60's and highs in the mid 70's with a breeze the entire time....it was great! Any questions Id be glad to help!

OK - probably just freaked myself out reading the thread about would you do it again? and several of the responses that are a NO because of complications. I am 17 days post op and I feel like I am doing great. I have been able to tolerate everything I have tried to eat or drink. I have felt a little nausia when I have eaten a little too fast because I went brain dead for a sec and forgot, but that passes quickly. I am able to get all of my liquids in most days (not gonna say every single day) and I can actually take a "drink" now, not a sip. Granted, I can only take 1 without it making my stomach cramp a bit...but this is a huge improvement from right after surgery when I could barely let the liquid touch my lips before it would hurt. My incisions on the outside are almost completely healed, they have scabed and most of the scabs have already come off. I have more energy every day although I cant say I am ready for heavy duty exercise being as I just started pureed's yesterday....not enough cals to do that yet in my opinion. Those that have had complications say Listen to your body, dont ignore complications, etc. So, Q is....how far out do we have to be to stop worrying about a leak, stricture or infection? At this point I have told myself.....Yea, no infection because I am almost healed. No stricture because I am able to eat all I have tried and can "drink" a good size gulp with no problems. No leak because I do not throw up, again can tolerate anything I eat, etc. But,am I being naive? Is there still a chance after Ive felt good and had my experience that one of these things will hit me like a ton of bricks and I will miss it? Those that ended up in the ER at 4-5 wks post-op with infections....how could this be? Is it an infection on the inside that you can not see, or was this incisions? Those that did not have a leak the day after surgery but at 3 wks ended up in the ER to find out they had one....did you ever have a time when you felt things were going welll or did you always know something wasnt right? I guess my main Q here is....when is it that we can finally say, we had a successful surgery without complications (not talking about getting to goal with weight) just the surgery aspect. I dont want to sit around thinking I am ok and then one day boom....something comes up. If I am extra tired one day or what if I do happen to get sick after I eat something I cant tolerate....should I be worried something has happened, leak, etc? Yes, just freaking a bit......responses will help (maybe) lol

Not cottage or ricotta, but things like BabyBells, Laughing cow wedges, Mozzarella, Provolone? Can I just cut off chunk of cheese and take a bite? I am totally a cheese freak....been missing it for weeks and had some melted monterry jack on my refried Beans but it just melted right in, not like cheese by itself. If I can have cheese.....aaahhhh, I will be in heaven!

I believe it to be both that you listed.....

On my post-op plan pureed and mushies are not the same thing. But, I am on pureed right now and can eat refried Beans with some cheese and sour cream, egg salad, chicken salad, yogurt, ricotta, cottage cheese, pudding, Soups that are pureed, etc. I didnt think we could eat straight cheese yet, like a slice of cheese (I am a cheese freak). But, I have put some on my beans and melted it.

I have 5, but honestly....I have plans for tummy tuck, breast lift, etc. so Im not done with scars. These are minimal compared to what I know I will have. But, honestly at 16 days post-op mine have already lost their scabs and are looking great, so may not be a big deal anyway.

No final meal allowed, 3 last days pre-op you are on a clear liquid diet and that doesnt change until you are 2 wks post-op. But, as Sky said...they do have broth and popsicles at the hotel...only tried the broth. I ate it the night before I think because I was so hungry....but the first day we arrived back at the hotel post-op I could not even think about it. Straight broth still makes my stomach turn

From what I have researched the procedure that is most covered for "medical reasons" (but not by all ins co's of course) is called a panniculectomy. A panniculectomy is just removing the excess skin if it is causing medical issues, but does NOT include any type of muscle tightening which is the actual Tummy Tuck. So, most likely Tummy Tucks which remove and tighten ab muscles is not covered by many ins co's because that part is considered "cosmetic" not medically necessary. But, check with yours to find out for sure! I'll be getting one too I am sure of it, but I am already saving because I know mine wont be covered....even my VSG wasnt.

I have also been using summers eve body wash and the summers eve powder. It is formulated especially for women's sensitive areas. It removes the bad bacteria while keeping the good so it is not harsh on your skin. I have not had the same issue with the lower area, but let me tell you....I have suffered for YEARS with yeast infections under my breasts. There were times it would get so painful I could barely put on my bra or move. Well, literally I tell ya the very first time I used the Summers Eve wash and then put on the powder (it is NOT like baby powder) I have not had a single rash since and thats been about 3 months. I have not gone this long without a rash/yeast infection for probably 20 yrs. So, it may be worth a try. I found it in the feminine hygine section at walmart. I hope you find something that works!

I think they are just all different - I read the my surgeon used 3 incisions on another patient that was much smaller than me and I have 5. Although that does include the drain...so really only 4 actual incisions that were used for surgery. I would ask your surgeon if you are concerned.....I always thought I would have 5 incisions so I didnt think anything about it.

Yes, I received those from my surgeon too. I will probably keep 1 in my purse just in case....but most likely will do the same as Chitowngirl and order regular meal, take home leftovers for later. But, if I need it....I will use it!

Yes, you have nothing to worry about....I just returned last week myself. I did go with my husband, but would not have felt unsafe without him. It is also so great you will have a buddy having surgery the same day because even though my hubby was there, we made some great friends while there. Another lady with her husband, she had surgery same day as me and our hubbys totally hit it off and hung out and her and I hit it off too. When we returned to the Marriott, we relaxed by the pool together, went shopping together and had so much fun! We have kept in touch and I am sure we will for a long time.....we just really clicked and it was GREAT! So, I hope this is the same for you.....making a great friend on this journey is definitely a plus!

So glad you had a great experience and feel so motivated already! I felt the same when I left last Tues from TJ. I had to laugh out loud about the fiesta outside, you must have been in my room because we had the same thing...but it was during the day and ended when it got dark. Honestly, if that is the only thing we have to complain about then I say we did really well! Ive heard that the rooms around the corner on the other side of the building do not hear it....so maybe if that is an issue one could request one of those rooms. Much luck to you....you will do great!

Incisions with Dr. Garcia - you have 5 of them....one is very high (it is in between my boobs) and smaller than my pinky nail as well as the one from the drain which is the farthest to my left. The other 3 are almost in a straight line, pretty much in the same area of my stomach about 3.5 inches above my belly button. They are healing nicely and the largest one which is where they pulled my stomach out is approx 1.5 inches or smaller. Ive seen lots of pics of people a few months to years out and you do not even notice them if you arent looking and counting them. My hubby had laproscopic RNY 3 yrs ago and I literally can not even see his scars. To me, it is a very small thing to worry about compared to being my goal weight for life. Plus, I do plan to have some plastic surgery down the road and I am sure those scars will show more than these.

Incisions with Dr. Garcia - you have 5 of them....one is very high (it is in between my boobs) and smaller than my pinky nail as well as the one from the drain which is the farthest to my left. The other 3 are almost in a straight line, pretty much in the same area of my stomach about 3.5 inches above my belly button. They are healing nicely and the largest one which is where they pulled my stomach out is approx 1.5 inches or smaller. Ive seen lots of pics of people a few months to years out and you do not even notice them if you arent looking and counting them. My hubby had laproscopic RNY 3 yrs ago and I literally can not even see his scars. ok, so I posted this to the wrong thread someone else was asking specifically about insicions....but thought I would leave it up since it is something I am sure you guys may want to know, lol