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Runny nose and hiccups, here. If I overdo it, a sense of fullness in my chest. If I really overdo it, I get lightheaded and dizzy and will shortly have to toss that last bite or two up. Certain foods like tortilla, pasta, bread and rice can take me from okay to serious discomfort in just one extra bite, so be careful to listen to your body. ~Cheri

He'll adjust. My husband likes big women - big all around, not just a big behind. I did this surgery for myself and my health. As I've lost weight his idea of attractiveness has gotten smaller with me. I'm still his beautiful wife and he's still happy. At various times on the journey we had to sit down and talk to each other so that he'd feel like his opinions were being heard and I think that's important. Because none of us would want our s/o to do something that made them less attractive to us, right? That said, losing weight is better for our health. My husband has expressed some sadness over my smaller size but he's also much more attracted to how outgoing I am, how much more confident I am and yes, a lot of the clothes I now wear because I'm not busy trying to hide my figure. And as added reassurance, what used to be a pancake butt about a year ago is now a nicely shaped behind, even if it is smaller than he'd like. Strength training (lunges and squats with weights) can help. He may like your behind. But he loves YOU and YOU will still be there after surgery. ~Cheri

Any time we eat when we aren't hungry, there's something else triggering it. Any time we "feel" hungry because we're doing a specific activity where we usually eat, there's another tie that we need to examine. There is nothing wrong with not seeing what the causes are prior to surgery. But it should be every sleever's goal to be healthier, not just thinner - and that includes mental health and dealing with any emotional or habitual ties to food. It's easier to see your behaviors once you're sleeved, I promise. And if you don't simply deny them and if you try to understand them and overcome them, you'll find yourself in a great place to maintain once you're at goal. I know you're right! And if anyone actually reads what I post (no telling, I kinda ramble on a bit!) they know that I don't even think "real" ice cream, in moderation, is a problem. I eat whatever the heck I want, with the exception of things my lactose intolerance won't allow. But Eggface is freakin' awesome, and her blog will help newly sleeved people or folks still trying to lose not feel so restricted. I still make those bites! You are absolutely right. I should have qualified my statement and I usually do. I was a fat girl from a long line of fat women, so genetics has some role. But I was also a girl that learned how to binge, emotionally eat and how to hide my feelings in my food from my family. I do think that genetics plays a role, but I also think that here on VST the vast majority of people are also experiencing disordered eating that needs to be worked on for long term health and success. ~Cheri

If it's controlling the acid, it's working for you. If you develop any of the signs that it's not doing the best job controlling acid, just switch to another brand. It does work for some folks, and apparently you're one of them! ~Cheri

I self-paid in Mexico. There really was no "routine" follow up, other than labs. I had some done shortly after surgery at a MTF and some done with Tricare Prime Remote and all were covered with problem. I had no complications so I can't share that experience. Tricare covers us, period. I was worried when I got pregnant with twins via self-funded IVF that we'd have a problem if there were complications but they cover us with no gaps and no issues. I'd say 90% of my time as a spouse has been spent on either Tricare Overseas or Tricare Prime Remote and I've never had a problem with coverage. ~Cheri

Great work! You'll hit goal in no time. Welcome! ~Cheri

Only you can really make this decision. I also never really had trouble losing a nice amount (20-30 pounds) but after that it was a real challenge to lose anything else and impossible to keep it off. And there was always some extra weight added on with the regain. Best of luck whatever you decide. I can tell you that in my experience, the sleeve was the tool I needed to take the weight off and keep it off easily. ~Cheri

How are things going? We'd love an update! I'm five weeks tomorrow and hungry all the time, feeling bloated as heck but I've only gained 1.25 pounds so I'm not worried (I'm on hormone shots so gaining less than ten pounds is success). Wishing you the best! I hope this pregnancy is smooth and uneventful for you guys. ~Cheri

This is a great thing! Here's hoping you continue to see more regularity as you near your goal. I'll be honest, taking one month to chart with a BBT and OPKs (basal body thermometer and ovulation predictor kits) might give you the reassurance that things are still working as expected and that conception won't be a huge issue once you're at goal. Best of luck. You're making swift progress with your sleeve so far and doing a great job. ~Cheri

I'm so sorry you're going through this. I hope that you get some rest and this ends soon. How long before your doctor will clear you to start another round of Clomid? Oh, and Aleve always helps me more with pain than Tylenol. If it's okay for you to take it, I'd try that with a small cup of milk and see if it helps more. You poor thing - you shouldn't have to be in pain physically AND emotionally right now. ~Cheri

Yes. I say this all the time. I am astounded at the number of people that really seem to believe that genetics and overeating are the only reasons they are fat. I say that because I was one of those people totally in denial about my food issues. People that approach the sleeve like a diet are the ones that have trouble later. I cannot say this enough times: THIS IS NOT A DIET. This is FOREVER. We cannot live on Atkins forever. We cannot tell ourselves that there is only one proper way to eat and be healthy. We cannot tell ourselves that this is *the* diet that will work and if we just deny ourselves for a few months we'll be thin and healthy for life. It simply does not work that way. This tool helps us take the time to learn about ourselves and why we're fat. It gives us a help getting past emotional eating or overeating addictions. It helps us lose the weight but if we do not work on our heads while we're losing, we get to goal as unhappy and still unhealthy people, albeit skinnier ones. This is not a magic button. You are not going to wake up the day after surgery loving exercise and hating ice cream. It takes WORK. Yes, the sleeve makes the journey a million times easier, but you still have to work at it. If you don't, you could be one of those people that hits goal and backslides into being overweight again. Because the sleeve will get you to goal, sure, but YOU have to keep yourself there. And if all you learned along the journey was to cut your carbs and not eat more than 500 calories a day you're going to be in a sad, sorry position to help yourself. Best of luck to everyone. There is one major theme to every regain post I've seen (and I've honestly only seen a few in the three years I've been here) and that is that people just stop being diligent and fall into denial about their habits. ~Cheri

Prevacid is crap in my opinion. A few people here and there like it but many of us have posted that it didn't help one bit. I was able to take Nexium immediately post op and switched to generic omeprazole (Prilosec) within a month or two post op. If you need immediate relief Tums smoothies (the ones that turn to powder almost immediately) will be fine, but they will only treat the symptoms until you're on a PPI. ~Cheri

This is fairly normal, especially when you're on the very restrictive diet post op so you can heal. A lot of what you're saying sounds like mourning food or head hunger and not actual hunger. It's hard not to even "chew" food and you're not even on real foods right now! If you're feeling physical hunger signs like a growling stomach get on a PPI immediately and it will help. Remember that it also takes some time for ghrelin to leave our systems. You'll get through this. You need to follow your diet to prevent complications at this stage. And one very important thing that the sleeve doesn't ever do for us is teach willpower. Success with this tool relies on your ability to question why you're feeling as if you need to eat and what you're choosing to put in your mouth. Best of luck. It does get much easier as soon as you're on purees. ~Cheri

I was type II and am now in remission. I took my last pill the day before surgery. I did need a few insulin shots immediately post op. Within days, my blood sugars were high normal. Within a few months, I was perfectly normal. I don't really test any longer, but when I stopped testing more than a year ago my levels stayed very constant around 80-95 all day long, even after meals. I cannot begin to express the change once the diabetes is gone. It affected so many things for me and now I am free to eat and live like a normal person. Good luck, ~Cheri

Complications are a risk of any surgery. They are rare and we seldom see them but they can and do happen sometimes. We have a number of regular posters here that did have complications and a rough start but are now recovered and happily sleeved. Many more of us never had any complications. It's easy to get scared prior to surgery. I think it's important to read a number of posts about peoples experiences - both the good and the bad, so you know both sides of the story. Too many people only read the positive and are blindsided by the difficulties we can encounter after surgery. Only you can make this choice and only you can decide if it's worth the risks. The odds of a complication, especially if you chose a respected and experienced surgeon, are very low. Best of luck. My sleeve changed my life and I'm thankful every day I had it done. ~Cheri

Great work! You should have no problems reaching goal. And it's true your skin will start to rebound a bit once you maintain at goal for a while. My skin is not resilient or flexible (stretch marks EVERYWHERE that started during puberty) and I've had twins, but after maintaining one weight at goal for six months everything is smaller and even the dreaded apron is able to be completely hidden with good shapewear. ~Cheri

I *LOVE* how people that have NEVER ONCE had healthcare outside the US love to talk about the higher standards as if they're actually knowledgeable about the differences. I have lived overseas for most of the last seven years and had excellent healthcare in Bishkek, Almaty, Garmisch, Kyiv and yes, Mexico. However, my mom's specialist in Dallas misdiagnosed an aortal aneurysm and the resulting neuropathy as a kidney stone and she's now wheelchair bound for life, on a Coumadin diet and her quality of life is absolute crap and she's forced to live with my sister. She has entirely lost her independence and can't even drive. This after she spent three months in ICU. There's a pretty little law in Texas that keeps her from a malpractice suit and she's slowly but surely paying of the six figure hospital bills that her insurance refused to cover. Does that mean all health care in the US or in Dallas is horrible and substandard? Of course not. I've been here for three years. Most of the complications I've seen for sleeves were surgeries performed in the US, not in Mexico. And furthermore, it's pretty crappy to jump on here and act is if it's someone's FAULT that there was a problem or complication when they trusted a surgeon, just because they trusted a non-American surgeon. If you don't know what you're talking about, you should probably just stay out of the conversation and keep your ignorant, narrow-minded comments to yourself. This is not directed at any one person in general, but rather to the large number of anti-anywhere-but-the-US comments here. Again, if you've never had healthcare outside the US you know nothing about it. And I've had great, less expensive, more personable healthcare all over the world. ~Cheri And to the OP - your situation stinks. I'm sorry for your bad experience. All you can do is share it with others in hopes it will help prompt them to do their research. Which is something we should ALL do regardless of what surgeon we ultimately choose. Hopefully you can revise to sleeve and have the results you were looking for.

I love Syntrax Nectars but everyone has different opinions. It takes WEEKS to get to the point where you can not only get in all your fluids, but Protein as well. Try not to stress too much in the meantime. I love the Syntrax Medical Unflavored - perhaps trying that in your own warm broth will work for you. You just have to keep trying to find the thing that works. If you try cold shakes and don't like them, try mixing the chocolate/vanilla/unflavored Nectars with warm tea or coffee (if you're cleared for coffee) and see if that goes down better. Nectars are my favorite and I still drink a shake daily, usually with warm coffee or tea in the morning, but sometimes with Water. Yes, the chocolate truffle is even good in water, in my opinion! Good luck. Congrats on your new sleeve and again, don't stress about protein just yet. Worry more about hydration. Shoot for those goals each day but don't beat yourself up if it takes a while to get there. ~Cheri

The idea is to find a way to eat like a normal person does. A balanced diet - nothing too high in any one thing. That said, in the very beginning, lower carb and higher Protein is easier, simply because you do not have room for most of the carbs we normally eat. This is not a diet. If it was, sticking to a crazy restrictive diet might make more sense because it wouldn't be long term. This is FOREVER. This is the rest of your life, and you have to be able to happily live with your choice. Every person is different, so what your body can handle won't be the same as everyone else's. I started out super low carb and was still a slower loser. I started adding in more and more carbs and surprise, surprise - I didn't gain weight. I did gain energy and my mood was improved, however. Everyone is different. Once you're totally healed, I think that 40% protein, 30% fat and 30% carbs is a nice balance. It works for me. I'm happy, I'm maintaining and I'm satisfied. I do not feel deprived or resent the fact that I had surgery. I'm happy, I'm NORMAL. And my carbs come from a variety of sources - a mix of "good carbs" and "junk carbs" because for me, moderation is key. I eat what I want, in moderation. I'm sure it's part of why I'm happily well adjusted. In the beginning, though, it's easier to focus on protein first. Don't seriously limit your carbs but don't fret about getting in a ton of them, either. It's hard to eat anything for the first few months. As for hair loss, I didn't really notice much of a difference either way. Most of us experience it to some extent, regardless of our diets. ~Cheri

Every doc is different - some require a long pre-op diet, some a short one, and some (like mine) no pre-op diet at all. There are various reasons given for the "why" of it all but it ultimately comes down to surgeon preference. If you already have a date, you should have been told about any diet requirements. It can't hurt to make a call or send an email to your surgeon's office to double check. The only thing I really think everyone should do prior to surgery is start tracking their food. It will really help you stay in the habit after surgery and will help you see what you're consuming now for comparison. Good luck to both of you on your upcoming surgeries! ~Cheri

I think that in general, there are just fewer women TTC after the VSG. A lot of folks either have their kids, or are older or are just so focused on the surgery they aren't considering increasing their family size! Very few people post here much at all, I've noticed, so I'm not surprised you didn't get much feedback. Unfortunately, there isn't much out there as far as personal experiences about pregnancy post-sleeve, regardless of age. I do know that many, many women report increased fertility once the weight comes off, and as other factors that affect fertility come under control (like PCOS) so if you didn't have trouble conceiving in the past, as an overweight woman, I can see no reason that you would have trouble now. Everyone's fertility decreases as they get older, so if you do start TTC and have a problem, see your doctor for help! ObesityHelp has a more active pregnancy post-WLS forum, but you have to remember that it's a mishmash of all the possible surgeries so it might not be as helpful as you'd like. I hope you get some feedback here, too. ~Cheri

I was told at least one year. It does happen sooner for some people, but the longer you wait, the better. It took me seventeen months to reach my goal, and by the time we started TTC I was maintaining quite well. Two big things happened in that time post-goal that I think are important when it comes to TTC. One, I finally got the point where I was eating enough calories in food alone to sustain a pregnancy. And two, my body was just healthier - good hair, good nails, no more hair loss, no more fatigue...I was totally adjusted and felt very good, not just thinner. I'd wait as long as possible, because it's VERY hard in the first nine months or so post sleeve to get enough nutrition for a lot of us. It took real dedication and planning on my part to eat enough. I still have to track occasionally to make sure I'm on track. Once we were ready I had no trouble getting pregnant, even with the lower success rates of a frozen embryo transfer. So unless you have reason to believe your fertility will be affected by waiting, my advice is to lose as much weight as possible, maintain that loss, and get yourself into a good place nutritionally before trying. Good luck with both! I love my sleeve and I know being smaller and healthier this time around is going to make my pregnancy better for both me and baby. ~Cheri

I hope you're only taking the prenatal because it has B12 and Iron and higher counts of Vitamins and minerals! I agree that it's WAY to early to be trying to conceive post op. That said, I take Bellybar Chewable Prenatals. They aren't as vitamin-y as the kids' chewbles and they include a good amount of B12 and iron, too. They're tolerable whereas a lot of vitamins make me nauseous all day long. I've been taking these for months in preparation for pregnancy and they've really helped my hair and nails a lot. It's the first time since surgery I've been able to stomach taking my vitamins every day. Remember to take your multi with food! ~Cheri

OP, what did you decide? As someone who has struggled through infertility (not related to age) I would say go for the baby first. The reality is, it might not be the "ideal" but fat women get pregnant and carry healthy babies to term all the time (just like skinny women have children with complications all the time...it's a gamble for all of us). I have a fat mom who gave birth to four healthy kids, and as a fat woman I easily got pregnant with my first and then had fertility treatments for my twins. Doctors love to scare us with stats. My morbid obesity was apparently a ticking time bomb in my 27 year old body. Whatever. Plenty of larger ladies have children and if the amount of weight you're planning to lose post surgery isn't a very large amount anyway, I am sure you can have a happy and healthy pregnancy and lose the weight once you're done. Mess with your fertility, though? That's trouble. You can always lose the weight later, but if your egg quality diminishes you're going to have a hell of a time having a baby and your odds DECREASE as time marches on, whereas your age doesn't affect your success with the sleeve. I have friends that waited for one reason or another and have invested so much time, suffering and money into infertility treatments that it's absolutely heartbreaking. Oh, and if you have one prior to surgery and want to try again a year or two post op? Do it! I've just completed my second round and am currently pregnant. Despite everything I'd hoped, this skinny pregnancy actually seems harder on me than the two fat ones! It's all luck of the draw, but I'm sick, I'm tired and I'm grumpy. I think age affects this SO much more than weight, so please, let us know what you decided and how things are going! ~Cheri

I'm so sorry to hear this. I'll be thinking of you guys. ~Cheri