BigToeVSG

Awesome!!!! Good luck!!'

That should not have any impact on your surgery but they will probably fix it during your procedure.

As I am sure you have heard before, try not to weigh but once a week. Also, remember your body is going through some major changes where your weight, healing body and water levels will be all over the place. Be patient and you will be kicking arse in no time.

Drains are optional and all depend on your surgeon. I was glad to not have them. One less thing to worry about post-op.

Be very careful with solid foods so close to surgery. You have to remember the inside of your stomach is still healing and the grinding function your stomach provides to solid foods can slow or hinder the healing process. Lots of doctors have different schedules and you should always follow what they recommend.

I guess I have been lucky. My wife and kids eat whatever they want in front of me and don't seem to feel guilty about it. The first couple of weeks, which was around Christmas, they were all very concerned about eating christmas meals and treats in front me. It was hard not eating that stuff 5 days after surgery but that was more my adjustment than their behavior. Besides, I couldn't eat it even if I wanted to at that point. I am responsible for what I eat and food dropped out of being somthing I enjoy to being something I need. Probably not the best attitude but thats what it is. I don't look at eating out or eating a big meal as "special" anymore. My relationship with food is more nutritional than enjoyable/social and more in line with how a relationship should be with food. I still like food and enjoy food. But its more about taste and quantity. Communicate with him about eating out and how its not important to you. Maybe try communicating that he won't worry about how you eat and you won't worry about how he eats. My wife went through the entire process with me from research, to seminar, to doctor's appointments and obviously pre-op and post-op. Because she shops for our family and cooks, she was nervous about cooking for me and shopping for me. But with 2 1/2 months under our belt we have learned the routine of what works and what doesn't. Hang in there you guys will figure it out too. It has only been a month or so.

I had and Upper GI instead of an endoscope. Nothing going down my throat and I was glad for that despite the fact that the reflective material they make you drink is NASSSSTTTYYYYYY. As for foods I think it would be similar to what you will eventually eat after surgery. Protiens in general keep you fuller longer. Tuna with light Mayo, Cottage Cheese, Greek Yogurt and String Cheese are all easy high protien foods. Oatmeal seems to be filling as well and has much needed fiber. Hope this helps, good luck!

I have not heard that you "can never have alcohol again," but obviously alcohol is empty calories. I have been sleeved for 2 1/2 months and have not touched any alcohol. For some reason "for at least six months" rings a bell. Alcohol is going to impact your weight loss since it had been proven to slow down your metabolism. Also, having a 4 oz stomach, therefore distorting your food absorbtion, it is something you want to be very, very careful of. Prior to be sleeved, I liked "Diet coke and Jack" and beer. No more carbonated beverages so those two drinks are out but I too like wine and burbon with water. Curious what others know, think and/or have done.

First off, the pre-op diet is the hardest..... That same diet will seem much easier after you're sleeved as one of the major hormone's related to hunger is drastically reduced with the sleeve. As mentioned above, rely on the various logical decisions that led you to the sleeve during the emotional times leading up to and shortly after surgery. Doubt, fear, anxiety will make an appearance both before the surgery and after. Knowing that they are coming will help you recognize them when they do. As for anti-depressants.... I am still on an anti-depressant. I don't want to be and a lot of people have obseity induced depression. I am hoping to get off those meds but at the same time I don't think I am quite ready. I have tried going off and I DO see a negative change. I will try again as the weight comes off. I'm ok with being on anti-depression meds but I am not OK with being on blood pressure, diabetes and cholestorl meds which are all gone except for the BP meds which I am waiting to talk to my cardiologist first.

Can I name my sleeve, "Oh shut up!!!!" Maybe then some of the gurgling will stop. lol

Well, I finally got sick from not eating right. It wasn't what I ate, that was fine. I was eating a salad with chicken, cheese, some tomatos and dressing. The problem was I ate too much, too fast and didn't chew properly. Wow, that sucked. Last night was one of those nights where I got home, only had enough time to change cltohes, grab a Bariatric Advantage protien bar and then head out to coach my son's lacrosse practice. Three hours later, I was starved. Like I said, I ate too much, too fast and didn't chew the recommended 20 times. I had no nauesua or vomiting at any time after my surgery and consider my self very, very lucky. After last night, I hope it doesn't happen again. Oh well, live and learn. Take care all!

Love it!!! 50lbs is a great "zero" to accomplish. Keep up the awesome work.

I did a lot of research before I would even consider the sleeve and so did my wife so she could properly help me. And then it was STILL A LOT OF INFORMATION..... some people probably spend more time researching a car than thier procedure.... BTW - I also research my cars.

That's great. Can you teach my wife? lol

Ok, so I don't weigh except once a week and today is six weeks since my surgery. I got on the scale this morning and I was up 4lbs. WHAT???? I don't know what the heck happened...... I have been following the program and I track my calories each and every day and my intake is consistently between 800 & 1000 day. I'm taking my vitamins and getting my protien. I feel like I get enough H2O but I don't go to the bathroom very much. The only thing I can think of is that I stopped taking my BP meds last Saturday. They contain a dieuretic and maybe I'm retaining water. The only thing I haven't done is work out because fatigue has been a problem. Well, I will be hitting it hard now..... I expected a stall to be coming after dropping 36 lbs in five weeks but not a gain. Has this happened to anybody else? How concerned should I be? I am seriously bummed out and worried.

First off... Wow! I am sorry you are going through that. It is a difficult decision for all of us to begin with. I know a lot of pain, effort and thought goes into the process and going through it with out the much needed support makes it even more difficult. Ultimately, it is your choice. I know its not much consolation but there is a group of people here who, no matter what, will support you as best they can. I wish you the best of luck and sincerely hope your dad will come around to be supportive. Best wishes and prayers!

My younger son, 9 yrs old, had similar issues. He didn't want his dad to look different than what he is used to. Change can be hard on kids but I also think they are so very adaptable. It doesn't happen over night and they adjust as we change. For a lot of people here, our kids or loved ones are a major reason we have the surgery. We simply want to be with them as long as we can. Good luck and best wishes.

Lucky you!!!! I still feel hunger but it is not nearly like it was before surgery when I felt hungry a lot of the time.

I took Zantac almost every night before bed. In addition, when I had my upper GI prior to surgery, the radiologist said my reflux went very high so it was clearly a problem. Post-op, I don't take any acid medication. I did take a PPI to keep stomach acid down and to help the inside of my stomach heal but I am off that now and have no problems. I think poor eating habits prior to surger contributed to my problems and now after the surgery, I obviously eat SOOO much better.

The sleeve most certainly restricts how much you can eat. You feel it when you over-eat, even if its just one bite too many. My perspective is, that if I am only going to get in a single cup of food for a meal, it better be something that is going to help my body, provide nutrition and give me energy. Another positive aspect is the reduction of the hormone Ghrelin. Ghrelin is one of the major appetite stimulants in your body and it is produced by the stomach. Therefore, when 85% of your stomach is removed via the procedure, your appetite should lessen. Some people say they are no longer hungry. I don't find that to be the case but my hunger is usually real hunger and I don't have the cravings for carbs that I used to. On the sleeve, I have three meals and two Snacks. At least one of my snacks or meals is a protien shake and I strive for 80g of protien a day. In total, I take in between 700 & 1000 calories a day. When I exercise, (burn 200+) calories, I then end up netting between 500 & 800 calories. I hope this helps. There is so much information and helpful people on this forum so keep reading and asking questions.

We had two different groups of scouts at the door, both daughters of friends so we try to be helpful. What we do, however, is freeze them or I bring them to work. Then I can push them on my co-workers instead of eating them myself. Although I still get hungry, I have successfuly avoided all the sugar. My kids and wife will eat the Cookies but they don't have the "control" issues that I had prior to being sleeved.... Good luck, stay firm. When you only get to eat a little, you better make sure your calories count.

Ok, this will be my first challenge........ I was sleeved 12/21/11 and I'm still riding the post-op weight loss but I am expecting the slow down to come. However, with my first challenge, I am trying to motivate my self to really kick butt. Setting a goal is kind of hit-or-miss but here goes. Surgery weight: 35.6 Current weight: 319.2 Valentines goal weight: 312.2 Final goal weight: 200

Are you getting enough protien? Are you sick of people asking you that? :-) Seriously, hair loss and nail growth could be a sign of not enough protein.

I'm with you!!! Yesterday was five weeks post-op and I have been dragging the last two days despite getting my protien, fluids and Vitamins. Howevr, with the help of some others here I feel that I'm not getting enough B12. So I'm going to work on that. I think part of it is mental for me. I see at being bored but to tired to do the things I want/should be doing.... I hope you get better soon.