Karishero

Congrats... I am happy for you and hope to join you soon.. any day now i hope to get the call!!!

congrats that's a lot of weight in such a short amount of time.. Do you have before/after pics.

I just did mine yesterday and mostly they want to know that you have researched the procedure that you are aware of the risks and complications. Unless you are very unstable you are going to do fine. I have anxiety and depression and she just said that i need to change my med to one without weight gaining possibility and that most people that have had the worst life changes (deaths, child abuse etc) tend to do the best with this surgery. Basically we survived worst things..

exactly what I was thinking...lol

I also know what it's like for everyone to try n talk u out of it. My grown kids say ill have saggy skin my guy friend says he wont talk to me which leaves me w one friend. I have prayed about this and though I wouldn't want it to go wrong n my family have to endure it I really am the one who has to deal with me if I don't. Congrats beth. Hope to b right behind u.

i saw a couple of ppl suggest to sip every 15 min or if watching tv every time a commercial comes on. As far as how much it should be 64Oz of fluid, doesn't have to be all water but should be half water then the rest could be tea, crystal light, etc.

I think a lot of us suffer from depression just from being overweight. But then there are those of us that have it chronically not related to weight. I am one of those ppl. I spoke to the doctor about it and they state that to maintain taking your phych meds and therapy during your journey and as you are doing to become educated on what to expect. I think in the long run once our stomachs get used to the hormone adjustment initially we will be happier ppl not to mention the weight loss won't hurt.. hope this helps!

I found this online- 4 weeks after surgery-Cold cereal with less than 5 grams of sugar per serving (examples: plain shredded wheat, original Fiber One®, Rice Krispies®, plain Cheerios®, corn flakes.) is fine.. you may want to let it soak if you have apprehensions, and of course use skim, soy or fat free milk.

I found this online for VSG patients and thought that i would share it for the newbies like myself or someone who is just beginning their journey.. Feel free to add to the list! How to Prepare for Surgery Start preparing for surgery today! Accomplishing just a few of the following suggested changes will make it easier to transition to new eating patterns after surgery. 1. Start taking a Multivitamin plus Iron and Calcium plus Vitamin D supplements before surgery. This will help you prepare for taking Vitamins after surgery and improve your nutritional health. 2. Practice not drinking fluids with your meals. 3. Take small bites and chew very well. Use small plates and utensils and practice eating from these. 4. Reduce your caffeine intake, but do so slowly to avoid harsh withdrawal symptoms. 5. Reduce or give up carbonated beverages. Try to get down to only one carbonated beverage per day before starting the preoperative diet. Once starting the preoperative diet, you are no longer allowed to have carbonated beverages. 6. Carry a beverage container with you at all times. This will help you get in the habit of drinking Fluid throughout the day. Do not chug fluids. Practice taking small, frequent sips. 7. Identify your trigger foods. Trigger foods are different for everyone. These are foods you turn to when you have cravings, are stressed, bored, etc. Once identified, think of ways to help you handle your triggers better after surgery. 8. Eat more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains to improve your overall health for surgery. Aim to have 1 to 2 cups of fruit, 2 to 3 cups of vegetables, and 3 servings of whole grains each day. 9. Practice eating 3 meals each day. Planning your meals ahead of time is the easiest way to help you change habits. Identify ways to help you avoid skipping meals or grazing between meals. 10. Keep a food record to help you identify ways to improve your current diet and prepare for after surgery changes. Research shows people who write down what they eat and drink lose more weight! After surgery, a food record will help you keep track of how much Protein and fluid you are consuming each day. 11. Go shopping. Purchase products you will need for the first couple weeks after surgery.

Hi jenna, I am also just beginning my journey i had my consult on jan 15th and just waiting on my approval letter. I have composed a list based on information i have found online and here to help with pre op and what to expect. (copied below)Sleeve Stomach Comparison/Concept: Stomach is going from the size of a Football to the size of a plastic Easter egg. Your stomach has to learn to eat again just like an infant, first liquids, then puree, then soft, then normal food. What to take to hospital: Eye Mask/Ear Plugs Lip Balm Shampoo, conditioner Toothbrush Phone Charger Gas X strips or chewable Robe Personal meds Blanket Heating pad Stomach Binder to support stomach/Pillow Things to have at home POST OP: Multi-Vitamins chewable/liquid-Don’t take at the same time as Calcium and Iron Biotin-hair loss prevention Vitamin D Iron-B12(sublingual)/Calcium-Don’t take at same time or with Multi take at least 2hrs apart or they will contradict each other. Clear liquid Protein shake (Isopure, Muscle Milk, whey Protein etc). Popsicles/SF Fudge Pops SF Jell-O SF- Hawaiian Punch/Kool-Aid Italian Shaved Ice-SF Diet V8-Splash Decaffeinated Tea Torani flavored sweeteners for shakes Broth-cubes Water-Gatorade G2-Smart Water-Propel Zero 100%juice Crystal Light-varieties Mio-flavor for Water Full Liquids Cream Soups Almond Milk/Soy Milk/Skim Milk Cream of Wheat Yogurt Carnation Breakfast-SF with skim milk SF- pudding (skin or soy milk) Do’s & Don’t s Don’t drink with a straw Don’t drink while you eat or 30min before or after Avoid carbonated drinks Avoid caffeine Avoid gassy or greasy foods Chew food and eat slowly Stay upright for 30 min to hour after eating or take short walk after meal Eat at least 2hrs before going to bed Sip, Sip Sip 48-64oz of Fluid daily Stop eating at first sign of fullness Avoid hard candy and gum Things to remember after surgery: You are learning how to eat all over again so spitting up or vomiting from time to time is ok. This actually can last for up to 8wks post op or longer if you eat too much or too fast. Swelling in the abdomen, It takes approximately 7-10 days for the swelling of the sleeve to go down. During this time you may have trouble with your intake but it will get better.

If you type milk of magnesia into the search bar and change the field to forums you will find several posts on this subject.. looks like most ppl don't like it so they try colace or smart fiber from target or dulcolax.

Maybe you can try room temp milk..? Ijs

I would also be interested in this knowledge.. i am just beginning my journey and hopefully i won't need it but i am willing to do so if i do..

That's me too.. they submitted mine today but i'm ok if it takes two weeks.. gives me more time to come up with the 10% i have to pay..

That sux! Sorry to hear that. I know how discouraging it can be. The first time i went to get my consult in Oct i never made it past the insurance person bcz mine didn't cover it at all. Now i'm under new insurance and it does so I'm excited.. but initially i was crushed. Just learn what you can now and get prepared as much as you can and that way when it's time you'll be ready!

I appreciate all of your responses and support.. After careful research of facts and ppl's experiences. I have decided to go ahead with the sleeve. Based on the facts that in a case study of 135 ppl that were divided into groups part of them sleeved the other plication. Success rate with plication was 78%, with sleeve was 97%. The weight loss is faster with the sleeve and also it has been around longer and therefore has been proven at this point to be more successful. The plication is literally still a "clinical study and investigational" which is why information on it is so limited. I just want to make an educated decision for what is best for me, it doesn't mean i'm judging anyone else on their decision. I just found that there is more knowledge "whether good or bad" with the sleeve by far then with the plication. The pro of the plication was the reversibility,. however if i lose my weight, at what point would i want to reverse it? Thanks, Kemi

Anyone heard of iband procedure? My doctor recommended this for me instead of sleeve? Any feed back?

Thank all of u for the info I told him the same thing but at least now I got facts from the horses mouth (ppl who been there)... love u guys thx for the Support

76132

So I am 5 days away from consult appointment to b sleeved n it seems like everyone is trying to talk me out of it..friend today who is licensed nutritionist told me that ppl lose weight w sleeve because they are starving themselves and its not healthy..any feedback? I'm still stuck on getting it but want to make my point w him..

How r u?

Hulen

I too have been looking for folks in Fort Worth to get with to share this experience with. I am just beginning my journey but would enjoy getting together with ya'll and learn whatever I can.. let me know.

Funny that you asked this because for the past 2-3 years I was waiting for "the moment" and it never came. I was content being depressed and depressed being content so i guess it worked at least for awhile. Then a friend of mine about a year ago suggested that if i was so unhappy why didn't I look into the lap band. I shunned the idea off because I felt like that was admitting i was a failure. Well in the last year I have prayed to God to make me more discipline and help me with my desire to be healthier and smaller. Once again there was no defining moment, and then all of a sudden I got hit with a plethera of moments that seem to last weeks.. just a few examples: um my grandson told me I wouldn't be able to fit in the back seat with him because I was too fat, (he's 6 mind you), my guy friend whom i had developed feeling for but wasn't sure if he felt the same told me indirectly that he could never be with someone of my weight because he wouldn't be able to stay faithful. (Couldn't be mad but I so want to get fine so i can show him what he'll be missing.) , never have energy to play with my grand babies and i used to be the life of the party!!! Felt like if don't do something soon I will end up dying at an early age as my great grandmother who raised me died at age 74 at 400lbs. Not going to be me, not if i can help it! I want to break the cycle and start the healthy trend in my family and perhaps serve a purpose bigger than me by helping others obtain knowledge to achieve their goals and become happier and healthier too!! Thanks for letting me talk your ear off.. lol

Wow!!! Wow!!! Let me start by saying that you look incredible! Then let me follow that with your husband is right.. you don't need to lose anymore weight you look super the way you are... thanks for the pics they really make this real for newbies like me.