Food_vs_Life

I will be financing plastic surgery eventually also. I know for me when I had to finance my sleeve we were only about to get about $3,200 from Care Credit so we went to our bank and requested for a personal loan. We did not qualify for enough with a personal loan so we then were able to basically use my husband's truck as collateral. It was well worth it! Talk to your credit union or bank and let them know your needs... someone should be able to show you your options.

I also used Dr. Shillingford in Boca Raton, Florida! $10,500 and it covers the first year of follow up. I traveled about 5 hours to use him. His office staff and himself made for an outstanding experience! I felt very comfortable every step of the way. I am now 7 months out with no complications and down 95 lbs.

I live in Yulee and my surgeon is Dr. Baptista.

You picked a great surgeon! I wanted to use him but I his cost was too much for me since I was self pay : ( I live in Green Cove Springs just outside of Orange Park and travel your way sometimes since I have family out there.

Hello Florida Sleevers!! I have my surgery scheduled for this coming Friday July 19th and am super excited :-)

Hello Florida Sleevers!! I have my surgery scheduled for this coming Friday July 19th and am super excited :-)

Congratulations! You will love your sleeve : ) What area do you live in and who is your doctor?

I'm a newbie, first posting. I've been reading the boards for months, but never posted until now. I was sleeved on 6-11, and am 5 days post op. Everything went amazingly smoothly. Very little pain, I didn't even need pain meds, just Tylenol. I didn't have any nausea, which is a miracle for me because everything makes me nauseous. I only vomited once in the hospital, after my upper GI, that stuff was nasty. My fear is that I feel TOO normal. I keep waiting for something to go wrong. I have been able to get in my Protein and liquid requirements since I got home two days ago with no problems. I am on liquids only, and have only done Protein shakes, crystal light, broth and yogurt. But today I drank too fast, instead of sipping, on accident from old habits, and it didn't hurt. It does hurt when I first swallow, as it hits my stomach, but that is all. I can eat 5 ounces of yogurt, a tablespoon at a time, and a bunch of liquid with no problems. I shouldn't be able to do that yet right? I'm definatly not hungry, no hunger at all, but other than that, and my sore stomach, everything feels the same as before surgery. I'm guessing the problems with eating will come later, when I progress to solids?

My doctor allowed me to eat mushies after leaving the hospital! I never had any problems eating or drinking and worried just like you. I worried because everyone else that was sleeved around the same time as me was required to be on liquids for atleast two week after surgery. Everyone told me I was risking getting a leak etc. I listened to my body and my doctor (Dr. Shillingford) and my body had no problem processing the foods at all! I never had any problems in the bathroom either and I think that is because I was eating a normal diet.

When I asked my doctor about the possibility of a leak he told me that the only way a leak will happen is if he the surgeon did not do his job properly. He said there is nothing I can do as the patient to cause a leak. I feel like he would not put his neck out there and put all the blame on himself if it were not true. Just a thought. I am just over 3 months out now and have lost 67 lbs. I have been eating solids since 1 week post op.

If you are in Miami my doctor is in Boca he did a fabulous job and I know 4 other people who used him and none of us have had any complications. He is fantastic and truly cares for each of his patients. His office staff bends over backwards to help people. If you are self pay he only charges 10,500 for everything!! His name is Dr. Kahlil Shillingford google his name and you will get his phone number. I have had no problems with getting my liquids in or trouble with food. I am on day 15 post op and feeling great!

I just wanted to add that Dr. Shillingford was my surgeon also. He is and was awesome! I was a little weary because there was no mention of him at all on the boards before I had my surgery but after researching I verified and found out the he is a fabulous surgeon.

I have not had one problem with eating or drinking either. I have not even puked once since surgery. I was sleeved 03/29/2013 and I have lost 67 lbs. I traveled from North Florida to use him due to his excellence and his price for self pay!

Who did you decide to go with? I see Dr Uchal at St Vincents and love him.

I ended up going with a doctor out of town. I traveled to Boca Raton, FL and had my surgery performed by Dr. Kahlil Shillingford. He was wonderful and his office staff is amazing! I can call Dr. Shillingford's cell at anytime also and EVERY TIME I have ever called his office the same person (Nancy) answers. She coordinates everything and will talk with you for as long as you need her. She goes out of her way to help and educate you in any way she can. I ended up choosing the sleeve over the band and I am SOOOooo completely happy. I am only 5 days post op and I can already eat and drink with no problems. I have had no problems with getting stuck or throwing up etc. I feel so normal that it is crazy. The greatest and wierdest thing is how I have yet to experience hunger at all even after 4 days of only liquid (no Protein shakes) and even crazier is that all of my food cravings no longer exist. I read that a lot of people report that once they have the surgery they no longer crave sweets and foods they loved the way they used to but I never thought that would actually happen to me. I am sooo shocked that cutting that hunger hormone out of your stomach could so such an amazing thing. I am just excited to continue on my journey and see where things go from here.

Dr. Baptista is still a wonderful doctor for sure!

Hello ladies! I'm March 29th in Jacksonville, Florida! I have a YouTube BuriedBombshell. I recorded my Hcg journey, but haven't decided if I will share my VSG journey just yet. SOOOO glad to have some Sleeve Sisters! Let's K.I.T!

PS- how is everyone doing on their pre-op diet?

I am in Jacksonville too!! Well technically I am in Green Cove. I am down in Coral Springs now and will be having my surgery tomorrow morning. I pray all goes well for you and the rest of us! Who is your doctor?

I am now on day 9 of my liquid diet and I can say that it is much easier then I thought it would be. The Protein drinks really do keep you satisfied. I don't really struggle too much with wanting food unless someone is eating something really yummy (like pizza) in front of me. I did cheat and eat a slice of pizza on day 3. I can tell you that as of Day 7 I was down 14 lbs!

I would recommend making a good broth. It taste like real food so you get that satisfaction since everything else is sweet. I recommend This Hibachi broth Soup... very good. http://cookingwithcarrie.blogspot.com/2009/06/hibachi-soup.html?m=1

OOOOPPPppps I mean Jello not pudding : )

@Christie - I am still going to check with my Dr. when they open because your right, it is possibly I understood it all correctly to begin with : (

@Jay- YES!!! broth is a BIG help with getting that "food" taste. I made a really good Hibachi broth that has helped and is less sodium.

I am now on day 7 of my liquid pre op diet and I did not know that I could have sugar free Jello and popsicles. I am excited and mad at myself at the same time!!! My pre op diet instructions state that I can have:

"Sugar free clear liquds (like Crystal Light or sugar free Kool-Aid) and water"

That is it... that is all it says. However, tonight I was reading another paper that was for post op and it described Clear liquids as being a, "Fluid or food that can almost be seen through" and they actually list the jello and popsicles!

I have a feeling that they are allowed for the pre op diet also and they just did not list them as an example. Going to call the doctor's office in the morning to verify. It would be soooooo much easier to bear the next 5 days if I could eat Jello and sugar free pudding!

Hey everyone! I'm new to vst and also just started a vlog on YouTube as vsgLulu. I'm going to have my sleeve on march 29th with dr. Cirangle and am so so ready!

Ohh and I am on Facebook if you want to add me. https://www.facebook.com/Food.vs.Life

Hey everyone! I'm new to vst and also just started a vlog on YouTube as vsgLulu. I'm going to have my sleeve on march 29th with dr. Cirangle and am so so ready!

I just subscribed to your channel. We are twins... definitely will follow your progress alongside mine : )

Hey! I am in Green Cove Springs, Florida but I am always in Jacksonville doing things. I would really love to find a support group around me so please pass on any information you have! I am having my VSG surgery this Friday the 29th.

I am traveling 5 hours away to Coral Springs to have the surgery done and that is why I would REALLY love to find a local group!

Congratulations! I will be sleeved this Friday and also have a You Tube channel. I will be following you and if you are interested in my channel it is FoodvsLife.

This is a little rant.

I went to my doctor 1 week out for the routine post-surgery check. She was talking about my daughter's wedding, and she said, "you are going to look so good for her wedding!" I replied, "what do you mean? I look really good now!"

I am a beautiful girl (my husband tells me this everyday!). I was before the surgery. I am now after surgery - over 50 lbs lighter. I realize that I look "better". I do. But this surgery isn't a guaranteed fix to everyone's self esteem. If you had really low self esteem before surgery, losing weight may or may not fix it. If all of your self esteem issues were related to your weight, then maybe it will. If you have been skinny before and had low self esteem issues then...chances are you will have self esteem issues after your weight loss. Unless you work on fixing them!

At my heaviest, I always knew skinny girls that I had more confidence than.

You are beautiful, too! In all honesty....this forum is loaded with beautiful girls at all sizes. No matter where you are in the weight loss journey, embrace who you are at this moment and take a minute to feel beautiful and amazing. Don't wait until all the weight is off before you start loving yourself. Do it now.

That is all.

Yes, Ma'am!! I agree completely. I am already tired of people telling me how happy I will be. I am like... the one thing that scares me is not being happy after. I am completely happy in my life and though I do not LOVE LOVE my body I have grown to be okay with it and love parts of it... accept the rest. I am scared that if I have complications that I may be miserable and that may in return make it hard to be happy with my life after surgery. THAT is my biggest fear going into this. I also worry about how bad the lose skin will be. Again, I am completely okay with my body now and I feel attractive... I know my husband finds me attractive and that is what matters to me. I worry about him being attracted to me with tons of loose skin. I have to keep reminding myself that it is for my health and that I can have plastic surgery done to take care of some of the skin I end up with. I really deeply feel that it will all come out okay though and I will learn to love my new body just as the one I have now

: )

Yeah, it is hard and that Is why I am not sure if I will keep the video's up or not.

Hi yall! I am scheduled for March 29 and reality is hitting me! This time next week I will be flying the friendly skies headed to get my sleeve done. I'm getting very excited :-)

I am a sleeve sister! You are the first person I have seen on here with my date. I will be sleeved on the 29th down in Coral Springs, FL. I am traveling also but only 5 hours out. I hope this time before surgery passes by quickly and that we both recover well. We will ROCK the sleeve for sure. If you are Facebook you should ad me https://www.facebook.com/Food.vs.Life

I also started a YouTube Vlog. I may end up stopping or taking that down I am not sure. Either way this is my account on YouTUbe http://www.youtube.com/user/FoodvsLife/videos

Thank you for the link. I will definitely subscribe and watch! I am scheduled for my VSG on the 29th! I actually started a YouTube vlog also. I love watching other's experience. Thanks for sharing. You look great!

My surgery is on the 29th and I am on day 4 of my liquid diet. It really has not been too bad so far. Definitely not hungry since the Protein Shakes do seem to keep me satisfied.

I am in the same boat with you. I have learned that those little heating Patches work really good. I have had abnormal pain in my sides. My doctor informed me that as my liver is shrinking during pre-op that you will experience some strange pains.

Good luck with everything!

PS: Heat Theraphy Patches - .97 cent at Wal-Mart

Ohhh okay. Reading this makes me feel much better. The crazy thing is that I just weighed myself and I went from 376 lbs to 365lbs in 3 days!!! I did not expect such a large number. No wonder my body is hurting : )

I know I would be a mess. Even though I have my date scheduled for the 29th of this month and I have been cleared, I am still fearful that something will come up and the surgery will be postponed.

However, with that being said I am self pay and now that I have my surgery paid for by actually handing over the check I have a great since of relief because I know that it may get postponed but IT WILL HAPPEN! Hold on...CHANGE IS COMING!

I'm so sorry! That sounds awful! I know from past experience that liquid diets can cause some muscle fatigue and/or cramping, but in just one day that seems odd. I would definitely talk to your doc about it. I know you're on liquids, but are you drinking enough Water? Drinking plenty of Water can really help with muscle cramps, though it would seem you'd be getting plenty on a liquid diet! lol But upping your water intake for right now, may help some until you can talk to the doc tomorrow!! Hope you feel better soon!! It'll all be worth it!

Thank you for your reply You are sooo right. I wonder if I am getting enough water. I was sitting here thinking about it after reading your post. I am definitely drinking water but not nearly as much as I was before the liquid diet. I am guessing because I am drinking my meals I have not been sipping on my water the same. I could be wrong but looking back it is very possibly I am not drinking as much. Still going to check with the doctor though.

Thank you!

Sleeved yesterday March 20th been up walking moving around cant wait for swallow test so i can ha e ice chips.....

Hi fellow sleevers : )

I had my Pre Op stuff done yesterday and I am scheduled for surgery on March 29th! I am extremely excited. I live in Green Cove Springs, FL (Right under Jacksonville) but will be traveling 5 hours to Boca Raton, FL for my surgery.

I have a Facebook that I made for my weight loss. If anyone would like to ad me it https://www.facebook.com/Food.vs.Life

Praying that we all have wonderful outcomes : )

I am going to call my doctor in the morning but thought I would post my experience and question here. I am new to the forum but have been in a Lap Band forum for about the past month. I have since decided to get sleeved instead of banded.

I just had my Pre Op work ups done yesterday and I am scheduled for my surgery on March 29th!!! Very excited.

Here is my question. I am now on day three of my liquid diet which has not been bad at all. The Boost Protein Shakes are doing a good job at keeping my hunger at bay. The problem is that the Evening of day 1 that I started the liquid diet I started having really bad cramps pretty often. At first I was not concerned but now that the cramps have continued I am trying to figure out why they are happening. I am assuming it is from the liquid diet but found it strange to start so soon after being on it???

I am getting cramps in places that I have never had them before and that makes me believe that it is the diet. I have had the cramps in my back upper thighs, my chin/neck area, and one each side of my stomach. I seems that if I bend or stretch at times my sides will cramp up. I have never experienced these type of cramps.

Has anyone else experienced or heard of this? Any suggestions? Obviously my body is probably lacking something... would it just be potassium? I just had blood work done last week and everything was perfect and in range.