KellyL

Hello and congrats on the 90 lbs, that is fabulous! I'm so sorry to hear about the GERD. Have you ever been diagnosed with a Hiatal Hernia? I was on a PPI but just stopped taking it, because I don't have an acid problems it seems but I wanted to take it during the initial healing period to help protect the staple line. I didn't want the PPI to affect absorption of vitamins for me. Some Drs suggest only taking for 1 month and some up to 6 months but I know some people never stop taking them at all. So far everything seems to be fine without the PPI, but I do wonder sometimes if I shouldn't go ahead and continue with them. I wish you luck with getting the problem resolved.

How exciting! Congrats and good luck for an easy surgery and speedy recovery!!

I lost some weight prior to my surgery by sticking mostly to low carb, low sugar, no sodas or candy, etc. On occasion if I had a carb on the weekend, I would eat it with protein and just eat a way smaller portion than previously of the carb. I actually tried to get used to all the "rules" that I knew I would have after getting sleeved. I stopped drinking with my meals and waiting till 30-45 mins after I ate too. I tried to get in a good bit of protein everyday. I lost 35 lbs doing this and it prepared me for life after surgery too.

I would absolutely do it again, no doubt about it! I haven't had one second of buyers remorse or regret. I had no problems or complications, not much pain at all, no nausea or throwing up, As soon as the leak test was complete, I was able to get fluids in pretty easy, nothing has tasted bad for me, no food intolerances, everything I eat goes down fine, stays down, and my hunger is gone, which is one of the advantages of the Sleeve over the other WLS. I have had such an easy recovery, I feel truly blessed and grateful for having my life back. My type 2 diabetes is gone or in remission, my mobility has improved SO MUCH. I am out doing things and living again, and don't feel like a prisoner in my own body. It has been an amazing journey so far, and I am only almost 4 months out. I LOVE my sleeve!! A lot of folks in the beginning do have regrets or buyers remorse, because it can be overwhelming adjusting to a completely different way of eating. But most of the time they change their minds over time. The pre-op liquid diet was the roughest part of the whole thing for me. Good luck!!

I've seen Melatonin at Walmart, and also look into 5-HTP, I have found success in helping with my insomnia with it. It's at Walmart and other places too. It increases serotonin which helps with mood as well as naturally increases the melatonin. Serotonin affects sleep, mood, appetite, etc. It is said to possibly help with insomnia, depression, weightloss, fibromyalgia, and a lot more. Google it, but it seems to help me with my sleep too. Disclaimer: I am not a dr lol. So check with your dr before trying new meds or don't take it if you take other sleep or depression meds, without medical advice.

A lot of them just feel a lot better and become much more active in their lives, which is basically most peoples goal and one of the reasons they have the surgery. Some people just want to live a normal life, and want to move on from being overweight and everything that includes, and for some being on these boards was part of their "obese" life. They want to close that chapter in their lives. Then you have others who stay on the boards for support. They find it helpful to ask questions and share their daily struggles, during their losing AND maintenance phase. They may enjoy helping others and "paying it forward". A lot depends on their circumstances such as jobs, family, ability to get online, etc.

It's not being selfish, it's an investment in our health and future. And also, we SHOULD love and care for ourselves as we would love and care for our family. And it truly does benefit the whole family when we become happier and healthier. I am much more active already, and we do a lot more family type activities. And I am only half way or so to goal. My type 2 diabetes is cured or "in remission". This surgery could have very well prevented me from having limbs amputated, going blind, stroke, heart attack, dying. My quality of life has already improved so much, can't wait to see how much more it will improve when I reach goal.

Yes, I would search all the gastric sleeve forums, here, OH, Gastric Sleeve and also google. I've seen the name but I don't remember or know anything about his reputation or skills. I would verify whether or not that price is for the sleeve or lapband, cuz a lot of the drs do both and sometimes the quotes are for the lapband. Good luck!!

I was losing a lot of hair before my sleeve surgery, not sure why. Just aging, maybe vitamin deficient due to lack of things in my diet. I didn't eat very healthy. I started taking Biotin, because I knew hair loss was common with this surgery and I wanted to see if I could see a difference. I had a lot of regrowth after taking it a short while. So while I can't say whether it will prevent hair loss, I know from experience and FOR ME it definitely helped me with some regrowth before surgery. So I am willing to spend the $4-$5 to see if it will help me with regrowth. Maybe it will make up for some that I lose. Worse case scenario, I have very very hairy legs lol.

Amazing!!! Congrats, you have done a great job and you look so great!! I'm very happy for you! :cheer2:

Wow, that's amazing in 5 wks girl, congrats!! How many calories/carbs/protein do you get in a day you think? You are getting sexercise haha, good for you!!

I'm sorry you're not feeling well! Are you running fever? I haven't had this happen since surgery so I am afraid I can't help you, but hoping you hear something back from your dr soon. Feel better!

As others have stated, things that can cause hunger are 1)acid- you can get a generic prilosec otc at Walmart and other places now 2) carbs-causes hunger and cravings for more carbs- eliminate all carbs for a few days or wk to get them out of your system then only add back in "good" carbs like veggies. 3) protein-it keeps you fuller longer so you need to increase 4)water- I think a lot of us don't get enuff, myself included, but it helps satisfy hunger, flush out fat and toxins, and we do eat sometimes when we are actually thirsty. If you have been drinking sugary drinks, I would eliminate them and only drink sugar free liquids. Also don't drink with meals. 5) Exercise--find something that you love to do, but doesn't feel like exercise. Something you enjoy. I use the Wii Just Dance 2 and other dance games and exercise videos. This is great for me, cuz I am usually without a vehicle most of the day, saves gas,no heat/cold weather concerns, and I can jump up and do it without a lot of effort, planning, and do it anytime I'd like. The food tracking sites/apps are wonderful for showing you what your getting in as far as calories, carbs, protein, etc. myfitnesspal.com is a good one with apps for your phone and a huge database. Good luck!

This is a cool NSV really, and I think a lot of it has to do with the way we seem to lose weight. The scales don't drop for some of us but we're losing inches galore so we think we're not really getting small enough to be able to fit in way smaller clothes yet. My scales seem stuck but my clothes still seem to get looser all the time. haha The other thing is losing faster than we've ever lost weight in the past. It's really difficult for the brain to catch up sometimes lol. So you're absolutely right, we need to get in the habit of trying on our closet clothes fairly regularly! Thanks for the reminder! Congrats!

In the beginning, I ate very slowly and very small bites and stopped way before I probably had to. It wasn't til solids that I really felt the restriction of my sleeve, so I did measure everything and didn't rely on any kind of "full" feeling. I have read that we may not even have a full feeling for a while, due to the trauma/cutting of the stomach. But I did sometimes have weird feelings and sensations that seemed improved if I made sure to take my PPI/acid reducer. Acid after the sleeve doesn't feel the same as my heartburn or acid indigestion before surgery, so I wouldn't have known that was the problem if I hadn't read so much about it on the boards. You may be on a PPI already, but if not, give it a try and see if it makes a difference. At 3 wks your tummy is still healing and probably still have some swelling, which contributes to the acid problem. The PPI also helps protect the stomach lining while your sleeve heals. I am 3 months out and am off the PPI. I haven't had a problem with Acid yet, but there have been a few evenings I have felt hungrier, so I may have to go back on them a bit longer. A lot of drs recommend 6 months, and a lot of patients stay on them for longer than that. It just takes a while to adjust to everything too.

Congrats and welcome to Sleeveland! Glad your recovery is going well.

Wow, you have done so well with your sleeve, congrats! You look great! :cheer2:

A lot of us go thru the last min jitters!!! It's natural. Good luck for an easy recovery!!

I have Trishs contact info, but I didn't finance thru them. She should be able to direct you how to apply. WLS4betterlife.com or 619.955.6771 or 619-395-5347 Good luck!!

Sandy lives in the US as far as I know, but perhaps she has been to TJ and visited Dr Kelly and the hospital. She is a patient coordinator, who takes your deposit and gives you a date. Trish is Dr Kellys assistant and a patient coordinator and does a lot more than collect your money. She lives in MX. She works right there at the hospital, transports you from the hospital to the hotel, takes patients shopping if they'd like, and she and Dr Kelly visited at the hotel a lot. Trish was very helpful to my sleevesisters when their travel companions didn't return from getting dinner, and they couldn't be reached on their cell phones. They became concerned after a long period of time passed. Trish spent hrs driving my sleevesisters around looking for them. All turned out well, the companions turned up on their own. Time had just gotten away from them. They decided to shop and see a movie, they just couldn't call to say cuz no signal on their cell phone. But this made me very glad I went with Trish, in case something like this had happened because she's there in MX and was so willing to help people on her own time. She is truly a caring person and is there for the whole process. I don't think many other coordinators would have done this, especially if they don't even live in MX. So to correct the above post, Trish does a lot more than transport you from the hospital to the hotel.

What an amazing success story!!! You do definitely look happier, healthier, and yep hotter!! I agree with the others, you seriously look 20-30 yrs younger. How inspiring!! Congrats!!! :cheer2:

I'm sorry, I know you're disappointed, but very realistic too! You def want a good healthy surgeon. Keep us updated!

I hear you!! Haha. Woooohooo!! How exciting and wonderful, congrats!!!!! :cheer2:

:welcome: Hello and welcome!! Wow, you had a difficult time with the band. I've read this a lot on the boards, but maybe not as bad as your case. You may have already asked, but does Medicaid cover revisions? If so, do they cover the sleeve as a revision to option? I know all states are different, but my state would not cover the sleeve, only Lap Band or RNY. They would also only cover WLS one time. Your case and your state may be different. I also agree, you should find a good and experienced surgeon that has experience with a patient that had a lapband. Make sure you are healed enough, and how extensive the damage was and how much scar tissue you have. As far as acid reflux, this can be a problem immediately post op. I would try to find out if you have a hiatal hernia and most drs can repair at the same time you get sleeved. Most drs put you on a PPI for 3-6 months while your sleeve heals to protect the suture line and to reduce any acid problems. I am 3 mo post op and have discontinued the PPI. So far no problems. Good luck!!

Congrats, you look fabulous!!