Norma

Being obese in America is hard-even traumatic. We are discriminated against for being "fat, lazy slobs" and expected to be "jolly" all the time. We are treated rudely by store clerks, doctors, flight attendants, etc and considered to have no will power and to eat all the wrong foods and know nothing about nutrition. We learn to have guilt and feel shame about ourselves, our appearance, our eating habits, our sexual needs, etc. We even start discriminating against ourselves with the same mores of our culture. My experience as an obese person for 45 years and a Licensed Professional Counselor for over 20 years has led me to some conclusions about our therapy needs while undergoing a lifestyle change as is possible with the sleeve. I do not think we need the services of a bariactric specialist who specializes in bulumia or anorexia. Most of us have considerable knowledge of nutrition and don't need another diet plan or to be told what foods we should eat. Therapy needs to be centered around the traumas( yes, I mean TRAUMAS) that we have suffered through being discriminated against, ridiculed and ignored and the guilt and shame we feel about our eating, our size, our value to society, the way we have learned to hide what we eat, and the way we connect food with love and nuturance. We need to learn to accept ourselves for who we are and how we got here. Work can be done on reframing the importance that food has on our happiness and in our lives. We need to be able to "eat to live" rather than "live to eat". Food does not need to consume every waking moment in our lives; we should have other interests and activities than always planning our next meal or snack or eating. For these reasons, I suggest that people find a counselor who specializes in DBT or EMDR. We need to reprogram our thinking and emotions as they relate to food and as they relate to shame, guilt, embarrassment, intimacy and love. That therapy will allow us to strive with the tool of the sleeve. Hope these words have helped. Feel free to PM me if you have futher questions that you do not feel comfortable posting here.:thumbup1:

I told everyone (facebook, friends, employer and co-workers, extended family) and knew that most of family would not be supportive. That worked well for me but I am headstrong and independent anyway. Any resistance that I got just made my resolve stronger. But, then, I have been on my own since age 15 and limit my involment with toxic people (i.e., some extended family or co-workers). I knew that having the sleeve was the only thing that I could do to save my life and turn around my health issues. I told the nay sayers that they could shut up unless they were willing to pay for my surgery and for all my medical costs for life. Alas, I had to self pay everything, but I had no problems with people trying to talk me out of it. Some worried about the Mexico thing, but I had checked out Dr Aceves and Almater and had not concerns myself. I fowarded some posts by recent surgery patients to ease my friends and family members fears. If you have any concerns or if you want any help finding a therapist in your area for the head hunger and emotional issues that weight loss will stir up, PM me and I will help you with that. I am a therapist with 35+ years of experience. You will have all the support you want here on this site.:thumbup1:

I took a small sports bottle (wide mouthed) with me on the plane and got ice from flight attendant and mixed biggest loser protein to go or Kellogg protein powder with water. I had a 3 hour lay over in Houston and a 2 hour one in San Deigo before boarding--at San Diego, I went to a juice bar and had them make me a slushy with watermelon juice and ice. I should have just bought the small one, but my eyes were bigger than my stomach. You will do fine. You have been getting your fluids by IVs and will be tired from lack of exercise but not woosy from lack of food/nutrients on the day you fly back.

It is the day after your surgery.

The stressing out part is the exact reason that I choose not to have a scale at home and not to weigh except at my doctor's appointments or once a month at the gym. I am all for losing weight and sticking to the eating plan recommended by my doctor, but I know that I can so easily become obsessed with the scale numbers and allow them to dictate how I feel about myself on any given day.

I haven't been able to get into chat for last two days--anyone else having trouble?

Burping could be a sign of nausea. Are you taking an anti acid medication like Nexium or Rantidine or something? Jello is considered a clear liquid by my doctor as are sugar free popsicles and crystal light and broth. I would suggest that you contact your doctor about what you are eating and how you are feeling. I can start regular food (in small amounts) 31 days after surgery depending on how my stomach is tolerating it. Increase burping would be a sign that my stomach is not ready for that food yet or that I am eating too fast and taking too big of bites.

The emotional rollecoaster prior to surgery is not uncommon. :thumbup1: Why we continued to persecute ourselves for our "lack of will power" is kind of nuts--because obese people tend to overmanufacture Gherlin, the hunger hormone, we are hungry all the time. Trying to fight that without surgery is a never ending battle. We would have to literally starve ourselves indefinitely to be successful. It is our will power and determination that allows us to be successful in the short term with weight loss. Many of us have lost 50 to 100 lbs multiple times in our lives on "diets and exercise plans". However, we "fail and regain" what we have lost as soon as we allow ourselves to eat again--our metabolism works against us and our body prefers to store food as fat rather than use it. Those are the reasons that sleeve surgery is such a great tool for us--without the gherlin, we don't feel hungry all the time. That allows us to change our relationship with food and actually eat to live rather than live to eat. Keep posting and finding support on VST. You will be understood and supported here.

I did not have to do a bowel prep at all. I have no idea why anyone would need to for a sleeve.

Congrats to both of you. Even if you don't meet anyone before your surgery, the wing you will be in is all Dr Aceves patients and so you will be able to get to know each other there. I did not know that Barb and Ursula and Maria were going to be there but we found each other and are continuing to contact each other. You will have a excellent trip/experience. If you are going alone and have questions, pm me and i will give you my email /cell and feel free to text me at any time.

Unless you are getting whole foods and not eating the processed to death stuff that most of us get, I don't know that we can rely totally on getting all our vitamins from the small portions of foods we eat. I would recommend that you ask your doctor that. I know that lots of obese people are lacking enough Vitamin d. One of the purposes of the 3 month followup is to get chem profile.

Congrats, Jenn. I have noticed that the gas is gone at about 2 weeks. I used Gas-X morning and night and used a heating pad for about the first 9 days. Good luck. I agree that Aceves and Campos and the Almater hospital team are the best!

I was one of the rare ones who did not have any second thoughts or fears about having sleeve surgery. I guess it is because I researched it so thoroughly and, as a therapist, have a pretty good understanding of head hunger and the emotional aspects of weight loss for me. I was so tired of the sense of failure in regard to food in my life that I welcomed with excitement the changes that the tool of the sleeve offers. I had a list of questions that I sent my surgeon and asked a lot of questions on this site. Knowledge was the key for me.

I weighed 377 at one time. Through diet and my gym addiction, I lost 135 lbs but could not keep it off. I regained to 312lbs before having sleeve surgery.

Vitamins-for the sleeve all you need is a regular multiviamin. As there is no malabsorption issue with the sleeve, you will not need the bariatric supplemental vitamins that are recommended for gastric bypass patients.

Aimee, I am only a few weeks ahead of you but will be happy to answer any questions you have and buddy with you. I am happy to give you my email and phone as well. I will send you a Private message.

Are you talking about the pre-surgery diet or post-surgery diet? Pre-surgery I would try to limit to 30 grams of carbs and eat all the lean Protein you want. The purpose is to shrink the fat out of the liver not to lose weight. After surgery, I would be concerned if your surgeon does not give you a diet to follow as in total grams of protein to shoot for daily and a schedule of when you can add things to clear liquid diet. My doctor requires a minium of 10 days on each phase-clear liquid, full liquids, soft foods. Day 1 thru 5 ( Clear Liquids Only ) fruit juice ( apple, grape, cranberry ) Propel broth Jello-O Water Tea Protein Water by Kellogg’s Water popsicles Clear Protein drinks only ( example Isopure,

Nexium mups is a pill that dissolves in water. You can't take pills that you must swallow immediately after surgery. there were 14 tabs in a box and I got 4 boxes for the $80.

Are you taking anything for stomach acid? Dr Aceves said that I should take my Nexium Mups twice daily as I have to take APAP meds for the swelling in my knee and that will put added stress on my stomach. He requires that his patients take the anti stomach acid meds for at least 4 months. I wonder if you guys are having that type of problem? As for me, I am still on full liquids--I am falling in love with creamed soups--today's variety is Jason's Deli-tomato basil, broccoli cheese and french onion. Yummy!

Nexium mups and a pain pill that dissolves under your tongue. I walked to the pharmacy 1 block from hospital on Sunday and got 4 more boxes of Nexium mups-cost was $80 and they took my debit card. The two boxes of the pain pill lasted me for 5 days and did not need anything by that time. I did not need a prescriotion for the Nexium. Dr. Campos comes by your hospital room on your last evening and goes through all the medications you were on prior to the surgery and tells you how to take them. For me, he reduced my insulin regime drastically and told me to break or crush all my other pills and to take those one at a time. I found that crushing them was easier and taking them with a sip of water and then following with a Crystal Light popsicle. I also made a slushy out ot the softening popsicle and mixed the crushed pills wtih that like you would applesauce.

Surgery has been postponed till mid Dec. I must first heal the bursitis around hamstring so that it will be able to be grafted where necessary. Dr. Abraham wants me on solid foods prior to surgery too as he would feel better if I was a little farther along in my recovery from sleeve surgery before putting me under anesthesia again what with my severe asthma and all. So I have a follow up appointment on Nov 25th and if my pain control is not such that he and I feel safe in postponing surgery indefinetly to try to get more years out of my original knee, then he will schedule me for the second week of Dec. He is predicting 6-8 weeks off work and a hospital stay of 5 days with 2-3 weeks of daily in home PT before I start going to PT. If, on some outside chance that I can postpone surgery for a year or so, the added weight loss will be a benefit to my recovery process and the strength of the new knee as there would be less chance that the pressure would make it too loose for me to be as active as I want to be. I am impressed with my new doctor-he spent nearly two hours with me discussing the various pros and cons of the surgery and really listened to my points as well. I will also be able to have the support of my PCP during the hospital phase as I can use the hospital I want as well. Onward and upward! I ate at Granite City today--awesome cheddar ale soup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:biggrin0:

Chancie, Thanks for not sugarcoating it--I have developed an aversion to sweetness since surgery. LOL. Congrats on being pain free 1 year out!!!!!!!!! I will be much more ready for surgery because of your posts and those of others. Knee surgery is going to be lots harder than sleeve surgery and I am starting to prepare the house and myself for the changes necessary. NJ

Donna, thanks for posting your experience. I am typically pretty stoic and bounce back from surgery pretty quickly too. It always helps me if I know what to expect and so am thankful :thumbup1:so many people are willing to share their experiences with knee replacements. My house has 3 levels too. I am thinking about getting a microwave for this level so that I don't have to go 3 flights for meals.

mountain lover and Chancie, What was the physical therapy schedule for you? I am trying to see how to manage the time off from work. I could sit at my desk and have everything brought to me. My office is right next to the restroom and I know that my boss would allow me all the flexiblity needed to get to appts. I just can't be off for months. What was your weight when you had surgery if you don't mind me asking? I weigh 280 right now and am 5'3".

Verdict-total knee replacement surgery. Seeing second doctor tomorrow as guy who did my meniscus on left knee 5 yeas ago can't get me in for surgery for a month. I am in too much pain to be able to work and don't want to increase the pain meds to steroids to fill that time slot. Hoping to have surgery next week with tomorrow's doc. Anyone able to let me know what total knee replacement recovery and hospital stay is like? Would appreciate any information/experience you have. PM me if you want. I need some support from someone who has been through the knee replacement surgery.