Frankie

I am 3 months out and have flown at least 10 times in the last 12 weeks all over the country and nothing has been set off at any airport for me. Good luck with your journey. Frankie VSG 3/22/10

Yep it is possible and I did it. It was my first goal to have lost 30 lbs by 8 weeks. I didn't know if I was being too aggresive since I was a sorta lightweight with a BMI of 36 (didn't have to do a preop diet). But I lost 30 lbs by 7 1/2 weeks! Of course now at week 9-10 I am in my first stall and hating it. But I keep following the rules of tracking calories, carbs, protien. Eating 600-800 calories/day, getting in my protien and Water. I haven't missed a day of exercise in weeks and lately have been ramping it up (hoping to break this stall). Good Luck with meeting your first goal. Frankie Dr Aceves VSG 03/22/10

I am also 7 weeks out and am eating lots of the same foods as you. My doctor told me to resume regular food without any restrictions at 1 month (though of course I am doing low carb). I eat beef, chicken, turkey, sausage, nuts, occasional piece of toasted low cal bread, jerky ect. I haven't had raw veggies yet -I waiting until 3 months since that seems what a lot of physicians recommend and it makes sense to me. I haven't had cooked veggies since I hate them. Some fruit also but can have lots of carbs. I haven't had any problems with foaming, being stuck, vomitting or anything. I figure that I have just been lucky. So it sounds as if we are eating a lot of the same things at the same point post-op. I say we are normal. My only question is I have no problem getting in all my calories and could easily eat up to or over 1000 cal/day. I try to stay around 800 but I wonder if anyone else can eat that many calories so early out.

Angie, So glad that you are doing pretty well and made it through the final leak test and got your drain out. It seems like I was just where you are but it has been 7+weeks. I do have a question for you (just because I thought the spinal was a great thing to control post-op pain) - did Dr Aceves or the aneshesiologist tell you why they left the spinal cath in for post-op dosing? Mine was a one time injection pre-op in the OR. We are close to the same size so size wouldn't be a factor. Just being nosy! Have a good trip home - I can imagine how happy you will be to see the rest of your family. Frankie

I had 2 different drivers (Ernesto and another weekend driver -one each way). I believe that I gave them $10 each. The nurses I did not tip (just going on that I am an RN and have never been allowed to accept tips). Good luck tomorrow!!

Angie, Enjoy the ride in the van - I thought the scenery was pretty on the way to Mexacali. Today will go by fast. Make sure you have something yummy to eat tonight (I didn't and still regret that). Tomorrow will go smoothly. Best wishes. Frankie

Keep sipping your water - dehydration can increase temp. Also get up and walk, do deep breathing and if they gave you an incentive spirometer (3 little ball thing to blow up) keep using that every hour you are awake (you need to keep those lungs clear after surgery). Keep monitoring your temp (not unusual to increase at night) and call your doctor if it gets up to 101 or if you aren't comfortable where it is at. Good luck and keep us posted!

Angie- You will be fine having surgery with Dr Aceves. You did your research and decided that was the best decision for you. I had surgery with him on 3/22. I am an RN and I am extremely picky and not easily impressed. I could not find fault with anything. He is a good surgeon and the rest of the staff works very hard. Your nerves are normal. Just keep us posted on how you are doing. Frankie

MSLPR- Good luck tomorrow. You will do just fine. Just keep thinking positive thoughts. You asked about going back to work in a week - for lots of folks that is no problem expecially if it is an office job. I took off 2 weeks just because I could but I actually went on a trip 1 week after surgery. Just expect that you will be tired and may need to nap when you get home. Thinking positive thoughts. Frankie Surgery 3/22/10

Welcome to the site. I myself mostly lurk - but everyone is wonderful and there is tons of info and support on this site. I had my surgery in Mexico on 3/22. There are lots of good doctors, I just recommend researching them, talking with others, and then making your decision on who is the right surgeon for you. Good luck with your journey!

Jack - go ahead and enjoy yourself before your surgery. That is one of my main regrets that I didn't do that. I didn't have to do a pre-op diet since I had a lower BMI but for some reason I think I was just tired of eating. Now I wish I could go back about 6 weeks and have a feast! Best of luck to you. Frankie

Congrats on your date. You will do fine. Those first few weeks I kept telling myself that I can do anything for a month! Turns out I really couldn't - did about 20 days of liquids and then went to soft foods. But I bet you are stronger than I - just follow your doctor's instructions.

Jackie, You asked why I chose the sleeve as my WLS. Truthfully I am suprised that I ever decided to do any WLS - it never really had been on my radar. I would go up and down with dieting. But the last 2 years I tried to accept how I was and I realized that I couldn't do that. I know lots of people talk about when they lose weight their image of themselves does not keep up with the weight loss. Well I had the opposite problem - I would look in the mirror and not recognize that person who had gotten to 200+ lbs. So in January I quit smoking, realized that I was not ever going to feel comfortable with the person I saw in the mirror and knew that I just couldn't yo-yo diet anymore. I first looked at the lapband and that was the route I was going to take. But the more research I did it seemed like a no brainer for the sleeve - that it was the very best option for me in that I wouldn't have dumping like I might with RNY, none of the possible slipping, erosion, and bandster hell like with the band. My goal is to lose weight and have a normal life with a tool that I can use to help me maintain. I don't want to be on a diet the rest of my life - I just need help controlling how much I can eat. I never considered RNY but if I had I would have ruled that out due to all my aches and pains and the need to take NSAIDS. Good luck with your journey and I am sure you will make the right desision for yourself.

Amazing job in 3 months! 60 lbs wow. You can tell that you are really working your sleeve. And being really strict with the carbs. I am going to look to you for inspiration - I have not been that strict with the carbs - staying mostly around 30-35 (I don't count net). But I would like to be doing as well as you at the 3 month point (just 5 weeks now). Keep up the great work. I also looked at your photos and you look fantastic!!

Kelly, Congrats for doing so well just 2 weeks post-op. It should continue to get better and better. I am about 3 weeks ahead of you and I find it easier each day.

I had surgery with Dr Aceves. They do have a laboratory and blood bank (it is a private hospital that sees other patients besides bariatric surgeries). But I do not know what the standards are for blood testing in other countries. That may be something you can find out by googling the internet. I would also recommend asking the coordinator you are working with - most likely either Nina or Monica. This is a good question to ask before hand if you are concerned. Good luck!

Do you know that Yahoo site address? I would like to check it out. Thanks so much.

Dan - Way to go with 51 lbs lost :sad0:. That is amazing. I bet you are feeling good. Angie - Dr Aceves does 3 leak tests. One is surgery, 1 the 1spt post-op day and then another one on the 2nd post-op day. Obviously don't remember the one is surgery since I was under but the other 2 were not that bad.

Thanks everyone. STCYT - You will do great. Looking at your stats you are really a lightweight going into this and if you are already motivated to walk/exercise afterwards you will have no problem. sickofrollercoaster - I went to Dr Aceves - and I see that is who you are planning on going to. Good luck! It will go fine and they are very nice.

Teresa - You are just 4 days behind me and we had the same doctor. I am still doing a protein shake once a day but that is just to boost my protein - I could get it all from food. Have you tried adding protein powder to your mushies instead of doing the shakes? I wouldn't recommend drinking something that is making you hurl. How are the mushies going down? You may want to call Nina to see if she has other ideas or if you can advance to soft/reg food now that you are so close to 4 weeks. Then you should be able to get all your protein with real food. Good luck!!

I can't hardly believe that it will be 4 weeks tomorrow since I had surgery (3/22). I don't post often but lurk daily and learn lots from everyone so thank you very much. But I did want to share my experience for the past 4 weeks for newbies since when I was doing my research this is the kind of info I was looking for. I have to say it has been fairly easy considering that I left 3/4ths of my stomach in Mexico! I have been lucky that I have had no problems. Recovery was pretty good - no pain from the surgery, just some soreness on my left side where the drain had been. I was nauseated the first night but medication helped. I had no problem traveling back from Mexico by myself and walking through the airport was not an issue. My main issue was increased stomache acid and after the 1st week my doctor upped my dose of Nexium to 2x per day and that has taken care of the issue. I am hoping later on that I can reduce it and/or get off it completely. Oh and being more wiped out the first 2 weeks than I expected. I am a high energy type of person and I am used to accomplishing a lot each day - it has been hard not to be going at full speed each day. I could have gone back to work the first week but took 2 full weeks off. I am glad I did since it did force me to realize that I just had major surgery and maybe an occasional nap would be a good thing to help me heal. I started with a lower BMI since my weight was 213, height 5'5''. So I am somewhat of a lightweight. I was very excited this morning to see that I am down 20lbs in 4 weeks! Yeah!! I lost the first 15 in the first 2 weeks and then the past 2 weeks I have lost about 2.5 lbs each week. I am happy about that - just waiting for the first stall to happen. Oh did I mention that I am 50 years old - so not too bad for an old lady. I have been exercising since the day after I got home from the hospital - walking 3 miles about 4-5 times a week (sometimes more). I was walking before surgery about the same amount so I figured since I went to all this trouble to get the surgery I had better keep on moving. At first it was hard since I was so out of breath (most likely effects from anesthesia and being a previous smoker) but I would just stop and rest. It has gotten much easier and now I push my self to walk faster so I increase my heart rate. Now that I am at the 4 week mark I am cleared to start more intense exercise so I will have to start really working on getting more cardio and strength training. I have never really had any problems swallowing - I just make sure that I don't take big gulps. I have always loved Water and right now it is all that I am drinking. What the others say is true - somethings just taste way too sweet for me. I do have an issue with getting all my water in - it just seems like I run out of time with having to wait a little before and then at least 30 minutes after eating. So I will be working on that since I know it is important for weight loss. food is going down without a problem. I did about 20 days of liquids and then pretty much advanced to softs and now to regular food. I just couldn't do the pureed junk. I have been eating lots of low fat cheese, thin sliced deli meats, meatloaf and this weekend I did have some very tender beef and had no problem with that. Also had grilled chicken last night. It was pretty boring and dry but no problems there either. So far I feel pretty lucky. For some strange reason the last 2 days I have felt like grazing but have kept it to foods on the plan. I am getting in 600-800 calories no problem. I am down to 1 Protein shake a day - just drinking that to get a big boost of protein in. The rest is coming from food - yesterday I got in 80 gms of protien. Good luck to those who are just starting the post-op journey. I am so excited I made it through the first 4 weeks. Now I really am looking forward to that 6 month mark. My sister keeps asking me if I am happy that I did this. I honestly don't know the answer yet but maybe will be able to answer truthfully in a few more months.:thumbup1:

I had my surgery on 3/22 so we are about the same length out from surgery. I have a protein shake in the morning. Then for lunch usually some pudding with a little bit of protein powder added. I try to get another shake in the afternoon. In the evening I will have some more pudding with protein. I am now starting on mushies (can't stand the thought of blended foods though). I have had some rice crispie cereal in milk after it has gotten soggy and some saltine crackers with peanut butter and really chewed them to liquid. I know that the cereal and crackers have lots of carbs but I figure this is just to get me through the mushie stage and I don't have much of it.

I am a registered nurse and would strongly encourage you to tell your PCP about your sleeve. It is important for any health care provider to have accurate medical information including any surgical procedures you may have had done. This helps determine what care you may need (and could prevent damage to your sleeve). More and more information is being stored in an electronic medical record that can be shared with a PCP clinic and a hospital(s). It could be important to have this information in your record if you are brought to the hospital in an emergency and can't speak for yourself. I too have a lower BMI. I told my PCP that I was going to have lap band and she didn't blink an eye (skinny little thing that she is). I then changed my mind and had the sleeve and will be telling her at my next visit - and providing her with the op report that your surgeon should provide you before you leave Mexico. Good luck.

I just did it 2 weeks ago (surgery on 3/22). I had no problem at the airport or during my 3 1/2 hour plane ride home. I was just so grateful to be feeing OK and going home to see my family. You should be fine. Good luck with your surgery and the trip.

Thanks for everyone's replies on the hunger and gurgling. I still feel really lousy with it. But Dr Aceves did increase my Nexium to twice a day so maybe that will start to help. I also think I am just getting weak from the lack of calories and that is really making me more intolerant of the stomach gurgling and upset. I am on full liquids and can't really find anything that my taste buds will tolerate. I tried yogurt and sugar free fat free pudding and they were both yuk. I am trying to drink the chocolate protein drinks 2-3 times a day. I am just praying for this 1st month to be over with so I can have real food and start to get some energy and feel better. Sorry for all the whining.