stoongal

Yes, for many their new baby tummies can handle soft diets a week out, I was one of those too, I made lentil soup (see recipe section) and lived on it all thru the second week, as well as applesauce, cottage cheese, babybel cheese, poached egg, and yogurt, anything to get some variety. Now at 6 weeks I am eating pretty normally, just not very much - can get in a whole protein bar and at 300 hundred calories, use them only for a treat. Some of my breakfasts now are a few Tbsps of cooked oatmeal (not runny) with blueberries (about a rounded Tbsp) and the same amount of hemp-hearts - full of essential oils and protein. (IMO better than flax) I don't even add milk but do add a tsp sugar to make it more tasty. I had steak the other night (tenderloin done on the barbeque) a small portion only with a tiny bit of potato and several tbsps of peas. what a treat! So enjoy the adventure, if your tummy can handle the soft foods, I say go for it! I believe common sense should dictate our choices but early on we need to really chew well and go slow with new things. Cheers, Donna:001_cool:

Aren't they great? I also have my first NSV. Last night I met a woman and I ended up telling her I had had weight loss surgery 6 weeks ago, and she said, with a look of shock on her face, "You don't even look like you need to lose weight!" I did have my coat on - but still that made me feel so good!

Your own local doctor will help with most anything, stitiches removal, infections, strictures - they will refer you if they can't handle it. I only needed my stitches removed, and am healing fine. Don't let them give you an antibiotic ointment though, best treat your oozing ports with soap and Water and spray on some Bactine or similar product , let air dry and re-bandaid, is all you need until any leakage is totally dried up. Ointments inhibit drying and clogs the ports - not concusive for deep healing. Our drs. don't understand that! LOL. My experience anyway.

Hi lebyvr, I am also in Canada, and went to Mexico with Emmanuel Medical end of September, it cost me only $5000 USD including airfare. And that also included everything. Dr Almanza has performed over 400 sleeve surgeries this year alone so is very experienced and skilled. Would recommend this facility and surgeon whole-heartedly. Best of luck! Donna:001_cool:

I am now using Dr. Mercola's "Miracle Whey" protein powder, and it appears there are no artifical sweeteners in it. Ingredients state: Defense Nutrition Whey Protein Concentrate, Fibersol, Organic Non Fat Dry Milk, Organic Sweet Whey, Fiberaid, Sun Flower Seeds Lecithin, Natural Vanilla Flavoring, Medium-Chain Triclycerides, Gum, Natural Caramel Flavoring, Lo-Han. That is for the vanilla flavored one. I bought all 6 flavors when they had the free shipping to Canada promotion. I started a thread here on it about 5 weeks ago if you search for Dr Mercola Whey it will probably come up. Hope this helps. Donna

are you near Lethbridge?

Tell her I went there by myself from Canada and I am 71 yrs old. It is an adventure! You will always be safe there with escorts and medical personnel at all times. You will actually have a good time, so relax and tell mom not to fret! You can handle it! Cheers, Donna :001_tongue:

99.9% of the time, the what ifs never happen....they are equipped at the hospital where you are being sleeved to take care if something goes wrong at the time. Your PCP will likely take care of you should you need a prescription or to check you over if things are not going the way you think they should. No after care other than that is needed, this is a very simple surgery. My daughter was dead set against me going to Mexico at the beginning too, but I chose it anyway, my body, my destiny! Now she is going to get her sleeve in Mexico at the same facility in January! Fear mongering is just that, mostly from ignorance! If you can find your way to borrow $5000 or so, check out my choice in Mexico, most affordable one out there, and most everyone who goes there is happy with the surgeon and the facilities. Or you can pay almost double that and go to Mexicali and you will be happy with that choice too. Don't let people sway you from getting the sleeve, it is the easiest, least complications, and works if you do the work too! Cheers, Donna:001_cool:

Hey guys! My scales let me know that I hit the onederland this morning! Hurrah! Donna

I guess I am the exception to that rule then, have no meds to take and never get heartburn. I do take Benefiber though and Vitamins of course. I haven't even taken my high blood pressure meds and I probably should go back on my Lipitor for cholesterol though, as i understand that can be high after this surgery. Cheers, Donna:001_cool:

Cajun, can you make your fonts larger? can barely see what you are writing these days, Thanks,Donna:001_cool:

I can relate, I also don't have the money for plastics, I am 71 and more sedentary so am not losing as fast as I thought I would, which is fine with me. Many people here have stated that though the skin sags a lot at first it often snaps back somewhat, so hopefully that will work for me on the face. I can't expect my tummy will snap back much though, and I guess I will just wear Spanx or body shapers when I want to wear smooth-fitting clothes. The Ardyss line looks wonderful, hope I can afford some of those bras at least! Hope that helps, Donna:001_cool:

Welcome Pennie! Yes, this site is a godsend to newbies! I was one not very long ago, starting on here beginning of Sept and now in my 5th week postop. I still check it out everyday to see if anyone needs any advice I am qualified to give. My best advice I think is to know that this is a relatively easy surgery and not to get too worried about most aspects of it. Be thankful you have made the hard decision to undergo it and your life will then go in another direction indeed. You will love the freedom from cravings and hunger and be thrilled to see the pounds melt off, but you will also feel the frustration of the inevitable stalls, when the scales don't want to budge! In the long run, you will be very happy how you will look and feel. Once again, welcome to the family!

Well Deb, I can relate a bit with you, I too was only 221 lbs although having shrunk over the past 15 years I ended up at 5'2" instead of the 5'5" I had always been. Also had 2 knee replacements last year and this year the shoulders are arthritic. I am 71 and felt the ONLY hope for me to avoid (hopefully) hip problems down the road was to get the excess fat off my frame. So I jumped at the chance to have this surgery, am self-pay - felt I have no time to jump thro the hoops to see if our Cdn system would pay for my surgery, even tho I too have high cholesterol and high blood pressure. So a month ago I went to Mexico and had it done. Easy as pie for me. No problems whatsoever, I am now down to 200 lbs and looking forward to the future with great anticipation. As to cancer and needing more nutrients, we will know how to do that, as we lose we are training ourselves to eat properly and, really, for the first time, we monitor just about everything we put in our mouths, we track calories, and Protein grams, we take extra supplements, and if the 20% or so of our stomachs were removed even further, we would survive, lots are doing without their stomachs, they would reroute to our intestines instead. So to me it made sense to forge ahead and have it done, and now the only thing I miss is the pleasure I used to have to "feast" on fine food. Tonight we went out for fish and chips, and I ate a few ounces of the fish without the batter and was fine with that. (this was not the fine food I was referring to) But you understand - the memories of that are still strong for me and I will eat fairly normally again down the road, in much tinier quantities, but not ever likely to gorge or pig out again. Just as well, look where it got me. Hope this helps, Donna:001_cool:

I certainly am not getting that shot, even tho I am going to Mexicao in January...I have good immunity and haven't even had a real cold in many years let alone a flu of any kind. So no, for me, to such a new vaccine laden with Thimerasol - the preservative loaded with mercury!

Hi, I am pretty normal with food now, can eat a boiled egg and some banana for breakfast at 8 and eat it within 15 minute or less, can drink 1/2 or more cup of black coffee first thing at 6:30 as well. If I feel too full I stop until I feel a burp or two, and I have never thrown up, had food come up a bit into the esophagus, but it sldes down after a bit. I am a month out from surgery and have had no issues with food at all, am very happy with my sleeve, and feel it is doing what it is supposed to do and that is to restrict the volume of food. So guess everyone is slightly different, and you will learn what you can and cannot do. Cheers, Donna:001_cool:

I started at the end of week two, but I just have a half cup of black in the am. and then breakfast an hour later or less. Works for me...

Welcome home Carolyn, So glad you found the experience to be a positive one and that you were able to find such an accomodating hotel. I too heard the dogs and wished the beds were a little bigger, but it never occured to me to go elsewhere to recover, as I was alone. I too am curious as to what the extra expenses came to, as I am going back there with my family in January, and if it is not too much, that may be an option for us. Wonder if it cools down there in January? As I understand it, there are only 2 bedrooms on the upper level that share a bathroom, the others have them ensuite, with walk-in closets. Yes, the smell of the cooking was quite poignant, but with the surgery, I really didn't want any, but the food did smell delicious! How far away was that hotel? and did the recovery house staff go there more than to drive you and to take out your pouch? Thanks in advance for answering our inquiring minds questions... so nice to have you on the losing side, once again, welcome back. Cheers, Donna:001_cool:

Nice loose street clothes for coming home in as your tummy will be bloated, Your own pjs or gown and robe is nice, a magazine to riffle through, a notepad and pen to jot down things they suggest for you, a camera is nice, hairbrush, wash cloths, lip stuff (chap stick or gloss) Gas X strips, ask for meds there for acid reflux or soreness etc. Extra panties to tuck your tube and pouch into, slippers or socks for walking around the floors with, a change of clothing for getting to the hospital and any outings afterwards. Don't know where you are going or how long your stay will be but these are the basics I found I needed three weeks ago when I had mine done in Tijuana. Relax, and enjoy the experience, you'll be just fine! Cheeers, Donna

Hi Tara, Yes, you are a beautiful woman and you will only get better with weight loss. I, on the other hand, will likely look older ~sigh~ but I am on the other side of the age spectrum. Congrats on getting in with Dr. Almanza, he is fantastic. As to gas, try taking along some GAs-X strips that melt in your mouth. Yes they will give you meds for it if needed. But the best advice is to walk it off as much as you can. Are you going there alone? I did, and it was quite an adventure for me, as I didn't have all the answers for my age, but did have the support of this community. The pouch is left until day 4 if I remember correctly, you will be glad when you see how many times it needs emptying that you have it and that your body is not having to reabsorb all that fluid. For most peolple taking the tube out was uncomfortable but not painful. Mine seemed to be caught up in there so it was not pleasant at all!!! but we managed. After that it was a cinch to dress properly and go sightseeing! they are great there, you are never alone for outings, always a driver and a nurse or doctor along. My daughter is going there in January, and my sister too! They are bringing me along with them, how nice is that! All will go well, I assure you. Donna

Hopefully mine is over too, down 3 lbs this am...thank God!

:tongue2: I sure can't use THAT as an excuse! how long do these stalls last is my question?

Today I had yogurt with my crushed up pill for arthritis pain (shoulders)later 1/2 can Ensure w fiber, later a baby bel with some applesauce. A late lunch of 3 low fat Breton Crackers topped with light smoked salmon cream cheese and a top layer of salmon. Supper was 3/4 cup Wonton soup - I ate three tiny meat balls that were inside the noodles (but not the noodles) and a nice shrimp from my husbands meal. snack was whey protein in 1/3 cup skim milk. total about 670 calories and 60 grams protein. Very satisfying, Cheers, Donna

~sigh~ Now I am going through that 3 week stall. It is frustrating all right! scale doesn't want to budge this week. oh well, at least you guys warned us about that and we too shall get through it. In the meantime, however, it is no fun!

Yea Ange! It is so liberating, I know I felt that right off the bat after the surgery. You have put into words why we are doing this, and it is so true. Wonderful to get such a positive message like yours out there. Thanks so much for sharing your feelings and joy about the results you are experiencing! And only after 2 months! Terrific, girl! Cheers, Donna