Donna4545

You had to wait--but so do a lot of us, for insurance, and appeals. I've been trying to have surgery since 2002--I finally got the right insurance and set of circumstances to have it done this year. At least for you everything is paid for, with no co-pays. That's great! I think you won't see that many US sleevers with October dates yet--they tend to schedule only a month in advance, but you'll start seeing October dates soon. Good luck to you. Let us know what it's like to have it done in England--is there much support for you? Is it as common there as it is here? Check out my blog (see below ticker) it might have some useful stuff for you (look in the archives). Congratulations on your date! Donna

I will echo another poster--I don't want to say I'm glad about it, but I'm glad I'm not alone! I do feel better than when I posted the first message--what a day that was! But I'm still bummed about the scale not moving. I'm hoping that will change when I get cleared for "real" exercise (not just walking). I'm convinced that if I could only poo I would lose 5 lbs lol--I'm going to buy some laxative today. Benefiber isn't cutting it. My 2nd post op followup appt is 8/17 so I'm hoping that they clear me for exercise then. Thanks everybody for posting, and I hope you keep us updated so we know how you are doing. Donna

Pop those potassium pills and I'll be praying for you! Good luck!

Those are gorgeous shoes! Congrats!

I use DaVinci sugar free syrups--the large bottles (750 ml) are under $5 at supplement warehouse.com

That's how I was. It seemed to surprise people. But I had no doubt. These were the steps that had to be taken, and I was going to take them. No matter what. And post-op, you won't catch me with the Cool Whip, it's straight arrow all the way. Good luck with everything!

Since you're stuck with the vanilla powder, have you tried doctoring it with sugar free syrups--you can made each shake any flavor you want, and you won't really taste the vanilla base. I use DaVinci sugar free syrups that are less that $5 for a 750 ml bottle at supplementwarehouse.com. Other places charge $7-$9 for them.

If you're pre-op and you would like a few packets of unjury Protein chicken broth powder for your clears phase right after surgery, send me a message with your address. First message received gets them. I have unflavored protein that I use for Soups, so I really don't need them any more, and it seems a shame to waste them, even if it is just a few packets.

I love Isopure's powder and RTDs. The RTDs flavor is ok, not fabulous, but I can drink it. The powders--I love those. Zero carb, zero sugar, mixes in water with a spoon--what's not to love?

I can't have solid chicken for a few days yet--my doc has me on "soft solids" this week. We were sleeved at the same time and you've lost 4 lbs more than me--my scale stopped moving completely and I can't figure out what to do--maybe more walking? The salt will make you retain water--you can afford to be picky about your Protein. Each thing is like a drop in the bucket that adds up over time. The George Foreman grill is a good idea. I was in WalMart today to get a slow cooker, and I didn't see any there or I would have bought one. So at least you know, stall-wise, someone is worse off that you lol! I hope both of us start losing again soon.

I have those big fish oil capsules and I was told I would never be able to take them. I've seen other people post that they starting taking pills immediately post-op with no problem. I would ask my doctor.

My 3rd week post op has been really weird. It's my transition to soft solid foods, which I like, but now there's constipation even though I've been taking Benefiber. The scale has stopped. I'm eating 600-800 calories a day of all the right stuff. High Protein, low carb/fat, no cheating. 64 oz of Water. I'm not cleared for any exercise but walking normally (not strenuously). I've had days of really deep depression, and then the next day I'm fine. I know I'm healing and everything, but lordy! I can easily eat 1 cup of soft solids (ground meat, cooked veggies). Is that too much? Drinking fluids is also no problem. I still feel hunger, but it's not as bad. I have a little head hunger, but it's really easy to ignore, or subvert with 20 oz of Crystal Lite. Am I the only person who isn't going to lose weight? I don't mean to be whiny, but when will the scale start moving? When will I poo? Is this normal? Should I call my doctor/nutritionist? I've already tried upping my protein (today to 100).

I felt like it was a process of requirements I had to fill--like a giant Kafka-esque health bureaucracy. Now that I'm 3 weeks out I'm less hyper about it, and am trying to settle into new habits for a lifetime. Making the transition from hyper crisis to crisis approval mentality to acceptance of a new lifestyle is taking some adjustment.

I know--I had to go for insurance purposes, to provide documentation of what they are like before weight loss--it's a unique situation, but bottom line is they will pay, so I'm jumping hoops for them. I just got curious.

Due to reasons that are too complicated to get into, my insurance is going to cover a boob job after I reach goal (I'm 3 weeks out). I went to a plastic surgeon today to get some info. What he's going to do sounds so involved--but I forgot to ask how long it takes to heal from that surgery, and how much it hurts! Anybody have experience in this dept willing to describe what the surgery process is like? I have 46Ds now. I want to end up with perky C cups.

My insurance will pay for the Panno, but I think I will want to have the full abdominoplasty. This is will be over a year from now, but I'm trying to get an idea of costs.

Bypass means more invasive surgery and lifetime malnutrition/supplements. Gastric sleeve is a simple surgery--they just make your stomach radically smaller, and remove the part that causes the hunger hormone.

Oh, and I didn't drive to Mexico, I drove 100 miles one way in my home state. I just noticed the Mexico part.

My surgeon said you could drive as soon as you were off pain meds. I stayed in a hotel for 4 days after surgery before driving home, and I'm glad I did. I went through the surgery alone. Other people might have different perspectives/recommendations, but this is how it worked for me.

I didn't get any bad reactions from the refried beans, but something did give me gas on the last day of mushies--but I don't know what it was. I seem to be doing better now, and I'm on soft solids--it's so much easier to be in a good mood when you can eat something good.

As long as you walk every hour like he says, you will probably be fine. I would let the flight attendant know that you just had surgery and will need to be up and walking.

It sounds like a thoughtless comment, but not an intentionally mean one. I think she just doesn't understand what you're going through. Maybe she won't be someone that you can share that part of your life with. See what happens if you hang out and focus on other things. It's a disappointment, sure, but people have their limitations, and aren't always as mature as we'd like them to be.

Thanks everybody. I felt 100% better today. It's funny how fast moods can change.

OMG I made this tonight and it was heavenly. I substituted yellow squash for zucchini and shallots for onions. You really have to chew the basil to break it down but it's worth it. It also makes like a week's worth, lol! Be sure to drain the liquid before adding the cheese and basil.

Thanks. I am going to bed hoping that tomorrow will be better.