Kristina J.

I love the premier premade shakes too!! I've only had chocolate and vanilla since that's what they have at Costco! Lol But they're so easy to grab and go and they actually taste good. I even have my husband hooked on them now!

I understand not wanting anyone but your husband to know, but please tell your doctors!! There are so many different things that could go wrong during any surgery and since we're not doctors we really can't decide if being sleeved would be a factor. And with your primary doctor, its important that they have your full medical history so they can properly diagnose any health concerns that come up! When you tell your doctor and surgeon just express to them how private you have been about this. There may be a way for them to notate your chart that the staff wouldn't even have access to it. But please, for your safety, tell your doctors!!!

MrsGina... Maybe try cutting out the milk!! I've been fighting reflux for years with my lapband in and know way more about it than I ever wanted to lol, but milk can actually make it worse. Milk is a trick when it comes to acid reflux. The milk is immediately soothing on your throat and stomach but as it sits in your stomach will actually increase acid production!! Instead of milk, I chew a tums before bed and take my PPI (Protonix has been the best for me) religiously!! I still get burn through sometimes, but not as bad since I found out about the milk thing and quit using it to sooth the burning!!

Xoxoxo

I can't link to it on my phone, but I found a couple threads by searching "Puerto Vallarta" Start there Most of us went or are going to TJ or Mexicali so there's not a whole lot of people that can answer this for you! But do the search, there were some good trip descriptions in there!

Lol I love how only women have answered you! Hahaha Speak up boys!!!

My best friend is a crazy shallow guy (so vain in a lovable way lol). He is hot, knows it and wants everyone else to be too! lol But his ex had a VSG and he always said to me, "who cares about a few small scars... have you seen how hot he is?!" Lol Once you go through this and reach goal, you'll look better with a few small scars than you do now without them!! If you're worried about shallow guys, I'd worry more about being overweight and unhealthy than I would the scars! And if you don't want to reveal to someone right away that you've had WLS, the gallbladder excuse would definitely work! Whenever I was asked about my incision scars from lap band, removal and replacement, I usually just deflected with a joke, saying, "Oh, that's from a knife fight. You should see the other chick." Which avoided a direct lie, and left open the option of revealing it later in the relationship once I felt comfortable.

Not sure what pain meds you were on in the hospital but narcotics definitely make you itch like a previous poster mentioned. Morphine is notorious for it (I was itchy for days after stopping the morphine from my c-section) !! But even pain meds like Vicodin and Percocet can do it too. So if its all over, it could definitely be that! If its local to your incisions it could be an allergic reaction to the adhesive (I will even welt from certain adhesives). Either way, a half a dose of Benadryl can really help and it comes in a liquid children's version. Of course double check with your doc Congrats on such a successful surgery!!!

Amanda I am SO excited for you. I love reading your posts and am so happy for you that your turn is finally here!!! You'll be in my thoughts during your trip!! I grew up in San Diego and spend about a week a month or so there still, so I happen to agree that San Diego is better than LA! lol Love LA, but San Diego is definitely less crowded and just covered in beautiful views!! Enjoy your visit. If I was there now I'd force you to meet up!! Best wishes for an easy and successful surgery!!!

Yeah, I've been thinking about you since I answered earlier. I really think you should go ahead and do the ablation right away! It will make everything easier and the recovery is quick so you really could have surgery the next week if that's how it worked out. I definitely think you'll be better off getting some relief from the bleeding, before you get sleeved! Some people say there is no pain with the ablation, but in my experience, the first day/night I had really painful cramping and I was very thankful for my pain meds, but after that first night I was fine! I think it will really help you physically and emotionally with the VSG if you get the bleeding controlled first!!

I did an ablation before my hysterectomy. I had horrible cramping that night and some the next day, but then I was back to 100%. I would do the ablation. I don't think it would effect your surgery date! You'd possibly be spotting up to a couple of weeks, but plenty of women have posted about having surgery on their period, so it won't be a big deal! My ablation didn't help me very long, I ended up getting the hysterectomy less than a year later, but my Mom's ablation 8 years ago is still a success!!! Better to clear up the bleeding if you can with a simple ablation, then do the VSG. Honestly, the recovery isn't bad at all! And hopefully the ablation, combined with the weight loss will be a permanent solution for you!! Good luck!!!

Lol oh and yes, I lost a ton of hair with the lap band too. Losing weight rapidly can do that, no matter the surgery you choose.

Add me to the list of band to sleeve revisions. Not all weight loss with the band is slow. I lost 100lbs with the band in 14 months. However, even if you can follow the rules and be successful with the band, the risk for complications, even years after reaching goal is insanely high. I was basically at goal (7lbs away) when my lap band slipped. When they tried to adjust it, I was punctured in the stomach and it was removed. I gained everything back and could never lose it again when I finally did get a band back. My second band was more typical... Slow to lose and awful reflux. Had an awful time eating healthy foods and relied on slider foods. I lost 40, gained 20... It was no more successful for me than weight watchers! And then last year, it started to prolapse (where the stomach pulls up through the band). Unfilled it to try and fix it and only gained more weight!! After I refilled my band it happened again. Just constant complications over the 10 years I was banded! If you have choices, please do research on lap band complications. Most patients that are 2+ years out have had some form of complication! I am counting the days until I can get this thing out of me!!

It was a combination of the two. She was underweight (even for 36 weeks), and her lungs were underdeveloped. That's why she was in NICU. My OB wouldn't ever say anything to blame me, but she said "the stress of pregnancy on MY body" was what prompted the early labor. So I took it to mean that my body wasn't handling pregnancy well with my low intake and weight loss, which prompted delivery at 36 weeks and 5 days and since she was under weight at that point she ended up in NICU. (A lot of babies born at 37 weeks are perfectly fine without NICU) But again, I want to stress... She is almost 2 and perfect!!! But if you can get in some extra calories to help the baby out, it's not like you're going to gain like crazy and it could make for an even healthier baby!! Maybe adding a Protein shake each day or something!

I was so worried about weight loss and didn't follow my doctors orders to get more calories in. I wish I had let them stuff at least a little more food down me, just in the hopes it would have kept my daughter out of NICU, but, she'll be 2 in May and she's perfect! And I ended up needing to get sleeved anyway! Lol

Is your surgery on Monday or just a weigh in? If so you may not be able to the Adkin's right now. May be a safer plan to go with Protein shakes and clear liquids! Or, I know, crazy thought lol but, why not call your doctor and let him know the position you're in and ask what diet he would prefer you use. I'm sure you're not the weight loss surgeons first patient who's had trouble dropping pounds!! He may be able to suggest a liquid solution that will drop the pounds fast, or he may say that he wants you to keep doing what you're doing and just try and get as close as you can!! Good luck!!!

But to the OP... I second the soup suggestions!! I always did that with my band. Even with people who knew I had it, I would eat soup when we went out so I didn't run the risk of getting "stuck" and having to run off to puke!! Lol

So you people are the ones backing up the lines for free samples when I'm just trying to get protein shakes, chicken, diapers and leave!!!! lol I LOVE me some Costco (Sam's too) but even at my heaviest, the sample lines drive me crazy!! Haha I'm so my Papa's granddaughter. A 29 year old curmudgeon!!! Hahahaha

Oh wow! I was heavy when I had my daughter and when I lost 30lbs everyone was freaking out and putting me on high calorie shakes for geriatrics lol!! I had a lap band at the time and with the baby and the band in, my tummy just had no room and when it did, morning sickness shoved everything out lol! I stopped losing around the last 3 months or so, but still didn't gain any before delivery. My doctor would have flipped if I lost as much as you have!! lol As long as the baby is healthy though, that's what matters My daughter ended up 3 premature, they said from the "stress on my body" but after 4 days in NICU she was able to go home when I did. Oh and don't worry about me getting to skinny!! Lol as soon as that baby was out and the pressure was off my band, it quit working again! Lol I easily gained it all back after she was born! Ugh!!!

Just reading your story Scotty. My heart breaks for you. My grandfather was a functioning alcoholic for over 40 years. He quit drinking and smoking January of 2000 with AA. By 2004 he was facing stage 4 lung cancer and late stage cirrhosis of the liver. It was too late for him. I will never forget my last conversation with him a week before he passed. He told me, "the drink and smoke may have killed me, but G-d dammit, I quit. And no one will ever take that away from me." You started this thread saying that you needed fear. You are burning your stomach from the inside out. You are at serious risk for internal bleeding and stomach cancer if your ulcers are both left untreated and compounded with alcohol use. THIS is the fear you were looking for. Those are life altering and in a lot of cases life ENDING complications. I know this is hard, especially as a functioning alcoholic. Functioning so well keeps you from many of the immediate consequences that could come of your drinking but it keeps you from dealing with the long term consequences that are building up in your body. Keep going to the AA meetings. Use the resources around you. The recovering addicts that are reaching out to you. Don't let your massive weight loss be your grand finale. It is not too late for you!

Work it girl!!! Good for you!! I've had a few surgeries where they pump you full of gas, and the best/only way to keep it from hurting or get it to stop, is walk your butt off!! Lol Plus, I always found it kept me from getting stiff, which is no fun with new incisions!! I'm so happy for you! You'll do great!! keep up updated... between naps!! Lol