Carrie

with this problem. I feel like I have been totally honest with everyone about how I feel. I really regret having this surgery, that's my experience. I feel like when I state this I am rediculed (sp) and told to deal with it. Well obvioiusly I have to deal with it because I have no other choice. I can't turn back and change what my body is these days. My husband and I continue to argue, I'm still covered with the nasty ozzing rash after almost two weeks. I've tried everything on the rash. But beyond that, I'm starting to question if this forum even benefits me anymore. I am purposely avoiding answering people's question because I don't want to be the bitch who regrets or the one to pops everyone's balloons at their birthday party. It's easy to say do this but your experience is totally diffferent than mine. I'm not happy and I don't know what to do in order to become a whole person again. I think with that said until I can somehow become a whole person again, to avoid opinons of those saying deal with it, I'm going to deal with it my way and steer away from here for a while. I'm happy everyone else is happy with there CHOICE but I'm not, it's the worst fucking thing I have done in a very long time. At this point it has destroyed my life and it's working on my 10 year old marriage. So with that being said, I wish everyone the best sincerely.

Pretty much what Christie said. So get used to being hungry.

I'm hoping that's not another thing I have to deal with because I'm at the end of my rope with new changes for this time period. So that's good news to hear, I have an appt with my GYN in a couple weeks because she is holding my BCP's hostage, we don't agree on pap smears. I've had 10 years worth of normal pap smears in her office, why can't I skip one or two? I feel it's more about covering her butt than what is actually needed 2 weeks post op from VSG. sorry for the complaint

I'm glad to hear you are doing well. I was about to send you another PM to check on ya. I hated my Vitamins so my doctor told me to take the "kiddy vitamins". So I am eating two Fred Flintstones per day. I haven't had a chance to look at the individual Vitamin amounts but I heard somewhere along the way that 2 Freds are good enough. Every now and then I get a Barney but I give him to the kiddo. lol. Glad to hear you got to go on vacation. Sorry it was stressful with the food. Have you thought about having a "Daddy's Only Yummy Cooler"? Basically a 6 pack cooler with ice or the compress stuff to keep it cold and pre-make some rolled up different types and combinations of meat and cheeses and other high Protein Snacks. So that when you do find something you "want" you can perhaps get the kids to share it as a group with you getting a bite or two and that satisfy you. Because with kids they will scarf it down and it's gone almost to the bare wooden table as you know. :cursing: Take care and keep in touch!

I don't want to take over your thread. But for those of us who are interested in hormonal Birth control aka the pill, I asked Dr. J about the effectiveness of the pill post VSG in his area of this forum. I am awaiting his response as I noticed it hadn't been asked to him. Here's the link to the question and hopefully his answer: http://verticalsleevetalk.com/ask-dr-gregg-jossart/8778-effectiveness-birth-control-pills-after-vsg.html

My Question: Does VSG cause any problem with the effectiveness of most birth control pills? I am currently on Seasonique and besides the "no kids for XX number of months rule" I am fairly sure we are out of the baby business. Thanks!

I noticed he didn't get to respond but I did a search as I had never heard of your surgery. I found the website below that states, "The JIB fell into disrepute due to the overwhelming side effects and health complications. As a result the JIB is no longer a recommended Bariatric Surgical Procedure and it is currently recommended that patients who still have a JIB in place have it converted to a gastric bypass." Bariatric Surgery Hope this helps.

Hi Jackie, I'm sorry you are having such a difficult time. If you have read any of my posts it's been rough on me as well even though this is my second time around, first time was with a Lap Band. I am VERY concerned about the vomiting. Did your surgeon offer any type of program to follow as far as what to eat during certain weeks? Mine has a certain diet for the first 7 weeks he makes all of us use as he has found it to be the mose successful. You have to remember you have a brand new tummy. You would not feed a 6 week old a steak or hamburger, you have to think of your stomach and eating as a newborn, which stinks but it's the truth. Please let me know if you have any booklets or material to help you. When you eat are you chewing it down to almost nothing? I know that from my Lap Band and it's true with the Sleeve as well. You have to be careful on chewing and even where you are there are still foods my surgeon would not allow. Please keep in touch with all of us and keep your head up. You have made a big decision to have this surgery. Now you must make all the changes necessary to be healthy and successful. It's a challenge and not so fun sometimes but that's part of the decision we all made in order to become a better healthier person. ((((HUGS))))

Everyone needs a break sometimes. I hope you had a wonderful time with your bestest friend.

Thank you so much for posting this! I'm still coming out of the WTF did I do stage as you know.

I'm a stay at home mom and about a week out. I used to work in a doctor's office. I can say honestly if I worked outside the home I would be ready to go back on Tuesday (after Labor Day holiday) without a doubt. That would be 12 days off total including the day of surgery. The main thing would be to avoid the others in the office who can eat "normal foods". I would want to murder them if a stressful day or a good meal came in.

I was told the more you walk the more your guts move around and work in the hospital and if you don't do what you're supposed to you could damage or kill part of your intestine. I don't know if that's true but I didn't question it and walked. That being said I know anesthesia slows everything down and any opiate pain meds they might have given you will also slow you down poo wise. I had surgery on 08/26 and today was the first time I got the ball going.

Thanks everyone. It's nice to know things will only get better.

I'll agree the ones who lost weight will definately regain within a year or two as the odds are stacked against them, they are just too ignorant to see it.

Welcome to the forum! My highest was 303. When I had Lap Band surgery in 2005 I was 297. I originally lost 140lbs and got down to the 160's. That didn't last that long because the band didn't work well. It totally messed up about a year ago and I spent the past 6 months on a liquid diet. My weight had stayed in the lower 230's for the past couple years even through a pregnancy. I had my pre-op for the sleeve 3 weeks ago and since then I have lost 9 pounds. Of course I gained 7lbs off IV fluids in the hospital. This website if full of wonderful and supportive people no matter what route you choose. In the end it's whatever you can live with. Best of luck.

When they tell you that, ask them how many people who had a band put in 5 years ago still have a band? Most refuse to answer or don't recall actual numbers. Odd isn't it?

My insurance company approved me for the Lap Band removal but denied the Sleeve Procedure as it was "experimental". So I spoke with the office at my surgeon's office and it took a day or two but I got a final quote of $8,000 for the additional surgeon's work, additional anesthesia, and 2 days in the hospital because of the band removal being day surgery vs the sleeve being inpatient. Of course I am still appealing the insurance companies decision but with the problems I had with the band I feel I had no choice but to do it and pay out of the difference until I could convince my insurance company to see things my way..lol

I'm sorry you are having such a hard time with the doctor and the Canadian Health System. As far as me, an "over-radiated Texan" I haven't been back to my PCP post-op. My surgeon is here in Dallas. I'm sure though with the way my PCP acts and as long as I have been with him, he would tell me to Fudge Off and not come back if I had been to Mexicali to have the surgery done. Honestly it came down to either Dr. Castro here in Dallas or Dr. Aceves. The ONLY reason I didn't see Dr. Aceves was because my insurance was covering the Lap Band removal portion and Dr. Castro's office had set up a cheaper than Mexico price for the sleeve part for me to pay out of pocket. I am of course still appealing my insurance company which I could not have done if I had gone with Dr. Aceves unfortunately. I believe if Dr. Aceves practice 20 miles north (however far it is from San Diego) nobody would think twice about his abilities. It's the fact he's in Mexico. Dr. Castro, the surgeon I used, was educated in Mexico and I feel very much like he is an "old school" what's best for the patient not MY wallet kinda doctor which makes me respect him more and more. Take care and get to feeling better!

Yes, each visit I have with Dr. Castro the more respect I have for the man. I told him I wanted whomever decided to use the betadine written up for it because the rash has been horrible. He looked at my rash and I told him I noticed when I got home the rash and a fake tan look to my entire abdominal area. He said most of the preps they use these days are alcohol based because there are more and more people with questionable iodine allergies and alcohol based preps are just as good if not better than iodine based preps. He also said the preps they use do have a fake tan look to them. I have no doubt he will have an answer for me by the time I go back in 3 weeks for my next follow up. Best of luck to you in your soon to be surgery!

I am 8 days out and becoming more and more incorporated with my family than before. I believe my problem was the fact that I avoided meals in order to avoid food, which made me miss dinner outings with my kids. The last two nights we have made sure to get out of the house for as long as I can stand it. Last night I thought I could make it through dinner at the food court with my family. Hubby and 5 year old get Chinese food. I admit it looked tasty for about 3 seconds then suddenly the idea of getting my eye brows done sounded like a much better and successful idea. Did I mention that the eye strings hurt? No where near as bad as last time when they burned me with wax but it's a bit sensitve especially a few days out in the wicked chair you have to sit in. I was cool as long as I didn't sneeze, cause sneezing = pain. So by the time I got done with my eye brows (which is something as a SAHM I NEVER HAVE TIME TO DO!) they were done eating. I stopped by GNC and grabbed my dinner of Muscle Milk. I had my first post-op with my surgeon yesterday. He is very concerned as to the rash from hell I have and wants a full investigation because the next person who is allergic to iodine may not walk away with just a rash. Plus he wants to give me the name of the prep so I can tell additonal surgeons NOT to use it. According to his scales I had lost 7 pounds. After walking miles around the mall last night I lost another pounds. So I am again in the 219. Plus I am no longer on broth that makes me want the meat that goes with it, but on Creamy Soups which I can live with. Next week I can have Wendy's Chili. So there is an end in sight. I appreciate all the support ya'll have given me over the past week or two and wanted to let folks know you will adapt. Our bodies adapt through pregnancy adapt through weight gain, weight loss. It's our brains that take a time to catch up and say it's not going to kill me.

Those who have been sleeved for a while, I was wondering if there are any common foods that aren't as easily eaten as others. I had the Lap Band previously and when it functioned correctly anything that expanded was out. I know bread isn't always the best idea but I love toast every now and then.

It's nice to have you here April. I had a revision from Lap Band to sleeve about 6 days ago. The members of this forum are awesome and very supportive. They are also full of wonderful information from someone who has been there done that. Best of luck to you!

I went in and saw Dr. Castro for the first time since leaving the hospital. I showed him the itchy and annoying rash on my abdomen where they "scrubed me". I told everyone and it was written on my bracelet that I am allergic to Iodine/Shellfish. I have full confidence he will find out what bothered me and if in fact they used the wrong pre-op prep. I had a very small amount of creamy chicken soup made from Soup on Hand. It was sooooooooooo good! Next week I get to start eating mushies and soft foods. I am really wanting red kidney beans and specifically Wendy's Chili. I figure at that point if I only eat and chew chew chew the beans and meat I should be fine. I've had zero nausea during this whole thing. Dr. Castro wants me to get 60 grams of protein each day based on my body structure and goal along with water of course. He wants me to set a goal to lose 10 pounds each month, which I believe to be reasonable. I know from past experience with the band that my body has a hard time with me being around 160 and any ounce I lose beyond that I will HAVE to work for. Dr. Castro said to start walking as I feel like it and move up as my body tells me to. He wants me to listen to my body in what I can and can not do. He basically said as long as I don't have pain or pressure during exercise all will be well. So it looks like eventually I will have to join a gym. Overall the visit went well. I am to return in 3 weeks for another follow up. I really like Dr. Castro and the fact he keeps up with all his patients. :thumbup1:

I hope I feel like you do in at 10 months. Right now I feel like I should have never had this surgery and I'm full of regret and have been for the past 2-3 days.

Yep as the title states I am smack dab in the middle of buyer's remorse. I am 6 days out from surgery and down two, yes ONLY 2 pounds. My thyroid refuses to budge anymore weight off at this time. I know I should be concentrating on healing but it's still no less annoying or upsetting. I had some beef broth last night and all it did was make want to eat the roast that goes with it. I have my post-surgical follow up today with Dr. Castro. At this point I regret having done this. I continue to feel like I was pushed into this surgery for other folk's convience and the fact that we are moving cross country in the next few months. I'm not necessarily upset that I can not eat, it's the fact I miss having dinner with my family. I miss being able to console my kid if she starts crying because I am still under weight restrictions as to how heavy I can lift. I was sent home with the On Q Painbuster ball inserted into my areas near my incisions and told to take it out the next morning. I wish I hadn't listened and kept it in as it was still mostly full and I started to regret taking it out. One thing I did learn is even if you say, I changed my mind stop touching me, they will only knock you out and keep on cutting. So make damn sure you can live with this before surgery day. Some asshat who had no idea how to read my allergy bracelet put Betadine all over my stomach to prep me for surgery. I'm allergic and I've had this annyong, itching, oozing rash all over the area they sterilized with this. The most sensitve is right at the area below my breasts at the bra line, making it very uncomfortable to wear a bra or go out. I've taken Benadryl and it's helped some I've put an ointment on it and it only goes so far. Well that's all for now. I hope everyone has a better post-op time than I have.