JustSkinnyMeInside

Yes it did! Thank you for sharing! I truly think the more I read posts on this board, that really every body is different, and if you don't do anything you're not supposed to do, in time, the weight will come off. Thanks for sharing your workout routine as well! That's my problem, trying to figure out how to get it all in without spending my life at the gym. I like how you're alternating different muscles (weights) but still getting in plenty of cardio. Thanks again and congrats!!!!

I loved this story. While reading it, I also feel for you, deeply, of these feelings and rituals involving food, as I can only assume this has been hard for you. I, too, came from a large English/German/Irish Catholic family with lots of memories around the table and cooking. My grandmothers (both) and my mom, all of whom taught me to cook, are all deceased. It seems whenever I make their recipes or celebrate holidays/occasions in the same manner, that in some way I am bringing them back to life (in a memory, not literally). This is an issue for me, and I'm assuming for you as well. I was also raised to clean my plate, and I had to eat what was put on my plate. I had to think about these things in my decision to have this surgery. Then I also have to remember how so many in my family were obese and later had diabetes and heart disease as a result of these rituals. I have come to the realization that I will have to keep telling myself that even though these are strong family traditions, I cannot keep doing that like they did, or I will die before my time (like they did). You are a great story teller and I can't wait to read more!

Quest bars are high in protein, low in sugars and carbs. But they are also pretty high in fiber. I didn't have the wrapper with me to ask my NUT about this. I'm not sure how much fiber you can eat after you have the sleeve. Here's the nutrition label from a chocolate brownie quest bar. (you can also top it with peanut butter for extra protein) 1 Bar Calories 170 Calories from fat 50 Total fat 6 gm Total Carbohydrates 24 gm Dietary fiber 19 gm Sugars 1 gm Protein 20 gm Other Ingredients: Protein Blend (Whey Protein Isolate, Milk Protein Isolate), Isomalto-Oligosaccharides (100% Natural Prebiotic Fiber), Almonds, Cocoa, Water, Natural Flavors, Sea Salt, Lo Han Guo, Sucralose. Hope this helps. It's not been easy for me to find a protein bar that is low in sugars and carbs.

While I haven't been sleeved yet, I read some other posts that your period gets all outta whack for a few months after surgery. The reason being you're losing weight, and as you lose, all of those stored up hormones in the fat are being released. Some girls reported having a period sometimes 2 weeks after just having one, with varying lengths each time. I think I read these posts under "The powder Room" in Forums. I'm sure it's the most unpleasant thing because you are still trying to heal and adjust to everything, but hopefully it will be over soon! Yuck! I think we all hate our period!

Yah!!! You are in the century club! Wow! I know you feel great! I'm still struggling through my pre-surg diet. It's so hard with all of my cravings! I have my hope date set (and penciled in, I might add ) for Oct. 8th. Do you have any tips for being so successful? Are you working out? If so, how often? I'm so happy for you! I will have to check out your pics!!!

So nice to hear you're doing so well! Hopefully you'll get to go home on Wed. Please keep us updated....it's so nice to hear from you so soon after surgery. So glad all went without any complications!

Yah!!! I guess today will go by slowly for you . Good luck and hope all goes well! Don't forget to take measurements and weight today (they say taking measurements helps to keep you motivated during stalls). Oh, and a full body picture.

I know you're still in early diet stage, but I bought a cookbook called "Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery" by Patt Levine and Michele Bontempo-Saray. It has all kinds of recipes that focus on flavor, so that they taste good if you have to blend them in the blender (for mushies), or as a regular meal. The point is, you can make these foods for dinner, serve to your husband, and YOU can eat the same food as well. Every recipe lists the portions and calorie/protein, etc. breakdown for a regular person portion (ie., your husband) or for post-surgery portion. This cookbook is older than the gastric sleeve procedure, so it doesn't specifically reference the sleeve, but you would use the same portion for the sleeve as for lap band referenced in the book. Hope this helps! Just hang in there!!!

Oh my! You look fantastic! Sounds like you feel even better! I can feel your vibrant energy even through this post! ha ha ha Thank you so much for sharing . . . what an inspiration!

My psychologist told me to remember that when you gained the weight, you would gain a little, then maintain that weight for awhile. Then gain a little more, and maintain it for awhile. So the opposite is true when you lose. You will lose a little, then hit plateau (maintain a little while), then lose a little more, and plateau. You can plateau for anywhere from 3-4 weeks even. Please don't lose hope! 27 lbs. lost is awesome, even if you only lost 7 lbs in two weeks. At least the scale is heading in the right direction (not up). Think of where you will be come holiday time. . . . and next Spring . . . . and next Summer!!! I know we all want instantaneous results, but you will get there. Sounds like you're doing very well (no complications). That's awesome!!!

Under the Pre-Surgery Questions in the forums, the very first topic is what to bring to the hospital. There are at least 3 pages of posts where people listed things to bring to the hospital. I read through them all and created my own list for myself. Here is the link (if I did this right). . .. hope this helps. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/10081-the-official-what-you-will-need-for-your-gastric-sleeve-surgery-thread/

It is placed in the inferior vena cava, which is the large blood vessel that returns blood to the right side of your heart. It will catch any clots that may be in your blood before the blood enters your heart.

Yeah! Only 3 more days... I quit smoking the end of January this year. I used the electronic cigarette (greensmoke) to help me. Quitting smoking will make a huge difference in how well you heal. It also makes food taste so much better. While I'm still pre-surgery, I understand your fears because I've had those myself, including the fear of not being able to eat what I want. I have a friend who had the sleeve last summer and she looks and is doing great! She doesn't have the appetite to eat as much food, but she still likes good food. When she goes out to eat or has a family function that involves food she loves, she just eats a little (starting with protein), and takes the rest to go to eat leftovers the next day or 2. I think she is able to consume 1 to 1 1/2 cups of food at a time. So you really won't miss out, you will just consume less. I also think over time your food tastes change and you make healthier choices. But for me, it was reassuring to know that hey, yeah, that's a good idea to take a plate to go (for family) or automatically pack a "to go box" at a restaurant. It seems that after having the sleeve, over time, you don't really have the need to eat as much as you did pre-sleeve. . . . at least that's been my observation from both my friend and all of the different posts I've read on this board. Good luck and we are all here for you!!!! Please keep us updated! I think it is normal to be scared.

So excited for you!!!! . . . . . and happy birthday!!!

Hmmm....interesting. I'm going to ask my surgeon about this. I hope you can get some sleep without it. And yes, you are right about our heart. I few weeks won't hurt anything I wouldn't think.

Yeah....you're up and about!!! I'm just curious, why are you restricted from using your C-pap? I can't sleep without mine, so I'm certainly planning on bringing mine with me to the hospital. Your body (esp your heart) has to work so much harder if you have sleep apnea and don't use your machine.

And I'll have to remember that in case my ginger tea doesn't work if I have nausea post-op.

How about some hot ginger tea? There are some teas already flavored that way, or you can simply use your own favorite tea bag (Lipton, Luzianne, etc.) and cut up 3-4 thin slices of fresh ginger root and put in there to steep with the tea bag. Add some splenda and let it cool just a bit so it's not too hot...yummmm...and soothing for nausea.

I would guess they are placing it now simply for scheduling reasons. Maybe just to "getherdone" lol! (if I spelled that right). It won't hurt anything having it in early. It's just a mesh (you saw the picture posted above) that catches any clots that pass through it before the blood enters your heart. It's a wonderful little tool, and once it's placed inside, you never even feel it or know it's there.

Justine, no heparin for you!!! The compression stockings they use in the hospital also help to prevent clots. Please make sure your surgeon knows about the clots you had during PG. Even if you have to have the filter, you won't really care (like Lissa said). While I'm not giving any medical advice here, I'm a nurse and take care of patients who receive IVC filters all the time....and it's not that big of a deal. It's def worth it vs. the complications you would get from a clot should your surgeon feel the need for you to have one. Just make sure he knows. Either way, you are on your journey to a "new you."

Not everyone needs to have an IVC filter placed, only high risk. My surgeon uses subcutaneous heparin injections (blood thinner) to prevent any clots from forming, so I will get those shots in my stomach while I'm in the hospital. My surgery date is not scheduled yet, I'm still going through the hoops.... :-) I believe these shots are used frequently as I've read where others on this board have gotten them during their hospital stay as well.