mswisdom

Ramadan Mubarak. My name is Jamila from Norfolk, Va. I had my sleeve done on November 5th 2013, so this is my first Ramadan post surgery. There are a few other Muslims on here.

Hi, I am 45 yr old female who is 5'11 with wt of 346lbs as of 1/17/2014 when I had my consult with the surgeon. I went in looking more into the lap band with curiousness of the sleeve. The surgeon had told me that if I was his sister he would recommend the sleeve for me due to my weight. The thing I am more worried about is the complications of one more than the other. I have always been interested in the band since it came out and just now as of last year my insurance covers the WLS. I would like more info from ppl whose wt was around what mine is and with any complications, success, trials, wt loss and any other topics that you may think I need to know before I decide what is best for me. I have been reading on this site for the past 2 days and figured it would be best just to ask...Thank you all for any comments and god bless.

I'm a sleever and as I read your question I noticed that you said that this is the last year that your insurance covers wls. You may need to ask them will they cover the visits of maintainance of your band, it may turn out that once the rudder is removed you won't be covered for your 'fills' and adjustments.

I myself never thought about the band and surgeons in my area are starting to explain that they are having to do more revisions or removals. I couldn't see myself with the port sticking out of my body, or the fact that I would have to continue to see the doctor for maintainance, I'm like "Cut it out and throw it away".

But like others said, do you're research. You are the only one that knows what's right for you.

Good luck on your journey!

I think I found my sweet spot this week. Since I went to the doctor last Wednesday and was told I was behind I decided to tweek my diet. He gave me a list of do's & don't's and told me to follow it. I have a problem with the 'avoid fruits' part since I prefer to mix my own non fat Greek yogurt so I chose to just weigh two ounces of fresh pineapples out each morning. I've had 1/2cup fage 0% Greek yogurt with 2oz pineapples, 1 scoop Isopure unflavored Protein and 1tsp Trivia (35g protein), then I make a Protein Shake of 12oz 2% milk (should be using skim but its what I have in the house), 2 scoops Champion Nutrition Pure whey chocolate and 10oz ice (54g protein) then eat something simple depending on what I have in the house......Results: 9lbs gone as of this morning-7 days later. I even went out for the first time to the Chinese buffet with my girlfriends. The lady was nice when I showed my card and asked can I buy the the takeout out but I will bs eating with my friends. Cost:$2.25....ha ha and it taste just as good as if I spent the $8 dollars. I think i've found my sweet spot. The morning yogurt I think for me is really letting me release this weight.....and I am so full after I eat it. Looking forward to my next week.......Oh! I only worked out once at the gym this last week, need to be more but you know what I'm saying.

Thank you for all of your tips Kindle. I really appreciate it. I just ordered a few things from unjury to try. The Protein shake powder I have now is from GNC and they are not agreeing with me at all, not to mention they were very expensive. Your stats are great! I hope I am as successful as you!

You can return opened items to both GNC and The Vitamin Shoppers but you have to have the receipt.

#UKCathy. I thought that was the case. I went online and fixed it. It also took off my 'before' picture and I had to re load it.

Sorry Mswisdom--I thought you had the Lap Band because that's what it says in your profile to the left of your posts. Again, best of luck!

It does? I have to change that. I haven't been logging in from my computer in months, but I swore that I put the sleeve. I never even thought about the lapband and I don't see anything next to my name but how many post I have made.

Thanks for letting me know that tidbit of information.

I go to a support group once a month. I have a few numbers but no one I really 'click' with. I also have a support group on FB for November sleevers.

PB2 is the answer to your Peanut Butter woes, definitely. I bought it on Amazon. There's a chocolate version too. I mix it with skim milk. It's not as sticky as regular Peanut Butter, but the taste is excellent!!!!

Also, did your doc look at your percentage of weight loss? I have lost 18 pounds in my first month. (low starting BMI) My NUT told me yesterday that it is 14.6%, which fits between their 10-15% guideline the first month. It looks like you had the lap-band, not sure what the expectation is for that but you may check with them to see what it should be after 6 months out.

Best of luck. You can do it!

I had the sleeve done not the lapband. I may look into PB2 not quite sure yet. I admit I could have done better once they let me loose to regular foods, but this too shall pass. I made egg salad, but almost changed my mind because I wanted those two crackers. Ha ha, but without them I was able to eat two eggs instead of one. Took out some cod and a whole turkey that I will bake once thawed so I don't have to think about Protein. Yes, I won't want to see another gobble gobble for the rest of 2014 but it'll do the job.

I went to the doctor yesterday and was told that I was behind on my weight loss. The first month was great (weight wise. Surgery Nov. 5th 2013 and by Dec. 1st 39lbs was gone) during November I pulled/popped a duties, then again in Dec. something popped again. So I backed off working out to let myself heal. During this time I had went through the 'mushy' to 'whole food' stage. I started testing different things to see how much I can tolerate, some things weren't the best for me I must admit and I started playing with the same 5-6lbs. I didn't really worry about it since I was in so much pain.

While this was going on the days were still going by, having my weight loss go from great-to average-to behind (the doctors scale is 5lbs different than mines and they don't take into account the 10lbs of Fluid I walked out of the hospital with, so right there that's 15lbs to them doesn't even exist). So looking at the numbers I'm below where I should be. And when I really looked at it I agree.

So he gave me a list of things I could eat and things I couldn't. For the next two months he wants me to give it my all saying that since I'm no stranger to the gym and my knowledge about food he knows that I can get this scale to go down.

So no matter what's going on in my life (my mother went to the hospital New Years Eve, and she's in rehab now so she can walk again) I have to continue to work on me. If I wait for the days to ve smooth before I start it'll never happen.

Sorry this was so long, but I needed to talk about it. I will say, my night spoonful of Peanut Butter is going to be the hardest thing to put down, but Doc said it's too high in fat.....oh well.

How is it so many of you have haf such a great outcome. Where I am struggling, guess just the luck of the draw.

Please don't feel bad about the rate that you lose weight. I can say for myself that I worked my tail off for each lb that I loss. It took 7 days to get the ten lbs of Fluid off me that I gained during surgery. After that I have hit the pool each day swimming from a mile to two (which takes me 1 1/2hrs to 2hrs 45 minutes to do). I wanted each day off to mean something. I've only had 3 days off out of the 26 post-op from working out and one of them is because the gym was closed Thursday.

The weight will come off, how quickly is up to you.

Surgery date was Nov. 5th (came home 10lbs heavier at 373.4lbs).

Been having trouble with a pulled stitch on the left side but other than that no other problems.

Today I weighed in at 338.6lbs

Lost 34.8lbs (Day 26 Post-Op(

Here's the mobile link to the page. Let me know if it works.

https://m.facebook.com/?_rdr#!/groups/175311402675585?ref=bookmark&__user=744419250

Try Premier Protein shakes you get 30g Protein and they are 160 calories and the best one that I have tried and I have tried a lot of them. You can them at Sam's, costco, and BJ's. Really Good!!

FYI...you can get premier Protein Shakes at Wally World now (Walmart)

I keep seeing PB2. What is this? Thank you!

PB2 is Peanut Butter powder. They took the fat out of it (I think). My nut showed it to me.

I'm in Norfolk, had my surgery in N.News with Dr. Terracina on Nov. 5th

I'm from Norfolk, got sleeved with Dr.Terracina in Newport News. He's the director of baraitric surgery for Bon Secours with over 700 sleeves under his belt. He only does baraitric surgery. I am more than pleased with him. Had my surgery done Tuesday Nov. 5th. He staples you, then goes back and hand stitches you, then applies surgical snow (sealant) to your sleeve. I love him.

I heard about Dr. Fontana, he came highly recommended from the surgeon that removed my gallbladder, I just couldn't get an appt. with him. Haven't heard about the surgeon you're asking about.

You can get them at Walmart now, I paid $6 and some change for a 4-ok (so about $19 for a 12pk and no membership cost).

I'm in a lot less pain that I thought of, as a matter of fact its more of a discomfort than pain. Went down at noon and was in the recovery room at 1:50pm.

Nurses are saying that I am doing really well. I get my leak test in the morning and if everything pans out I'll start on Water & Proteins.

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Today is the day and I'm in route to the hospital. Really numb right now, just want to get this done with. Right now I would love a tall glass of Water.....but that's not in the cards for me.

I'm making a video blog that I'm posting on YouTube and sparkpeople (wish I could post videos on MFP) recording my journey.

www.YouTube.com/mswisdom2007

www.sparkpeople.com/mswisdom

See ya'll on the losers bench.

very excited for you I am 48 hours behind going out for a drink steak dinner and probably cheesecake!!! keep us posted prayers go with you

I am so jealous of you at this moment (steak dinner...umm) lol

But I can't really complain, today is the only day of preop that I had to do. Enjoy your meal....I sure did!

See you on the other side.

Yes the excitement is constant ' date=' from the whole beginning to end .. Everyday is just thinking about it .. Gruesome sometimes , good luck to u both[/quote']

I'll be with you tomorrow, I'm so excited!

By this time tomorrow I will officially be on the losers bench. Had my last real meal yesterday at 5pm, started Clear Liquids this morning and planning to record myself gulping down my last glass of something (juice, Water etc.) at midnight since I won't ever be able to drink that much at one time again.

Then its just the waiting until its time to get ready to head out the door.

I'm as ready as I'm going to be, but I will tell you that Walmart was not the place to be today. I had to go shopping before tomorrow but I didn't realize how many tasty new things are out on the market...ha ha.

I made it through and now I'm finishing up the last of the clothes so everything will be done.

I can't wait!

Had a good cry and now I feel better. If you read my post I said I already appologized for it.. how many times should I have to own it? And for someone who tells everyone they dont judge or want conflict iamfatpat seems insistant on judging me and stirring it up. I certainly hope everyone had fun ripping me a new one at my expense. I was already struggling and now I just feel like total and complete crap. So' date=' fatpat abd laura... congradulations... I give up... you are the queens of this blog and I am nothing. Hope that's what you wanted to hear. And I hope for your sake you don't ever say something stupid when someone like you is around because you all were so hurtful to me tonight that I just don't giva a ... about anything anymore!!![/quote']

Honey don't give Anyone in cyberspace that much power over you. And you don't have to keep apologizing. You think that just because we're all sleevers makes us nice people......well it don't. And you still having people saying things to make themselves feel better.

I went through this last week when I posted about my daughter, people gave their unwanted opinion even after i figured it out....I just wanted to vent, that's all. Anyway they will not stop me from being a part of this group for like you I found it very helpful and I even talk to people through private messages.

Don't leave this group....do you baby! No one else can do it for you.

Nope....this surgeon doesn't require one, just the day before clear liquids. He didn't say to flush out, but I'm doing that anyway. I went a bought some hello out of the Kosher section (don't eat pork and Gelatin is pork) to eat throughout that day. I'm going to make it tomorrow.

My old surgeon had a 14 day diet though.

Another fellow sleeved #behealthy. Are you ready? Did you have to do a liquid diet?