MyGastricSleeveLife

Mine is the 14th. I go to the nutritionist & psychologist tomorrow & start my pre-op diet on Tuesday.

I just added you. It's kind of tricky to figure out how to search by someone's name. You go to Community & then to "Find Members" and there is a field that lets you put in a username to find people.

I've thought about it some. I haven't had surgery yet, but I'm thinking about getting a bracelet. I thought about it again the other day when I saw the intake nurse at the hospital to prepare for my surgery. She said they're thinking about asking people if they've had gastric surgery, especially because of the food in the hospital. She said they had a patient recently come in for something completely different & they didn't ask b/c it's not currently on the questionnaire, but then they found out later when the patient asked for something special as far as food. My doctor has said no NSAIDs & no caffeine for lifetime after surgery. Therefore, I really think a bracelet is important so no one gives me NSAIDs if I can't speak for myself in an accident or something. I'm going to ask about it at my appointment tomorrow just to see what the doctor thinks about it too - but it's something I think I'll get anyway even if he doesn't think it's necessary just b/c of the NSAID thing.

I've used it in the past, but had deleted my account a few weeks ago. I just re-joined with a new user name just to start over & fresh, especially since I start my pre-op diet tomorrow. I'm now "mygastricsleevelife" (which matches my blog name). Feel free to add me!

I was told "no caffeine" for life after surgery - ever - in any form. However, I know someone else who had the same surgeon I had who doesn't follow that "rule" & is fine. Therefore, I don't know how much it matters. I plan on asking at my next appointment on Monday, although I don't drink coffee. I'm curious as to why they say "no caffeine."

I don't think it has anything to do with experience. It's just what different doctors feel comfortable with & prefer for their patients. I think it's important to follow whatever your particular doctor recommends because that's the way they're used to doing things & that's the way they know how to help you the most. I read a post the other day where someone said they didnt have any kind of post-op liquid stage. Some only have a week or two on liquids. I'm going to have 6 weeks on liquids post-op. it's what my surgeon wants, so it's what I'm going to do. Maybe I could have the same results following someone else's plan, but I picked my doctor & I'm going to trust him. If you have questions about why your doctor does what he does, I think it's important to ask him.

I haven't had my surgery yet - schedule for 5/14 - but did you do a pre-op diet? If you didn't do one or if your pre-op diet didn't consist of getting rid of caffeine and other things like that, the headache could just be from your body detoxing still and adjusting to everything. Sorry I can't help more since I haven't had surgery yet. Hang in there!

I think it really depends on your kids. I read one post where the person's child worried about things a lot, so they weren't sure what to say. I have 2 daughters, ages 12 & 8, and I've told them pretty much everything about the surgery & they're fine with it because they know it's going to get me healthy. However, I really think it depends on your children and what they can handle.

I went through Care Credit, medloanfinance.com and efinancing-solutions.com - our scores are only about 630 right now. The crappy thing with medloanfinance and efinancing-solutions is that they are loan finders & they charge high finders fees. They do work them into our loan, unlike one company that wanted us to pay the fees upfront, but the fees are high. Right now, it's the only way we could finance it though. We decided that it's worth the fees to get it done, but I know that's not the right thing for everyone!

Thanks! I'm waiting for a stress test for my pre-op stuff now. I have surgery scheduled for 5/14. This is great info. My surgeon actually says to do clear liquids for week 1 & 2 and then regular liquids for weeks 3-6, and then I can go to solids after that. I know that will be hard for those 6 weeks, but I know I'm gonna be fine! I'm looking forward to this journey!!

I have my pulmonary function test tomorrow & cardiologist visit Friday...... then nutrition & psych on Monday..... my surgery is 5/14. Good luck w/ all your appointments!!

I'm in Austin, TX. I'm originally from upstate NY though! My surgery date is 5/14.

I haven't had my surgery yet, but just from what I know from all the other things I've tried in the past to lose weight - it is best if you stick to weighing first thing in the morning after you get up & before eating anything. If you weigh at different times of the day, you will always see fluctuations - sometimes big ones - because of what you're eating and drinking throughout the day. Many people say it's better to weigh just once a week. Sometimes, when I've been on different diets, I've weighed daily as a tool to see how different foods influence my body. I know that if I have a lot of salty foods, I can gain 5 lbs overnight! However, if I drink water & watch what I eat the next day, those 5 lbs will be gone. Therefore, if I weigh daily I use it more as a tool to help me know how different things influence me instead of really stressing over the actual number on the scale. However, if you're one who stresses over the number on the scale, then it's probably better to just weigh once a week or even less often than that. No matter how often you weigh though, be conscious of what you've consumed (liquid and solid) because it can really influence the scale with what you eat, if you're gassy, or even around that time of the month! I remember reading a post on the NutriSystem forum when I was doing that program where someone felt bloated in the morning so she walked around the house "tooting" and weighed again & lost 2 lbs after she felt she got a lot of the gas out of her system! There are so many things that can influence that number on the scale - don't stress over it too much if you're doing what you're supposed to be doing!

I'm considering getting VSG surgery done soon and I've been reading a lot of posts here and elsewhere lately. I'm wondering how common revision surgeries are. If I have the surgery, I'm going to have to pay for it myself (with financing) and I don't want to have to spend $14000+ on surgery now and then have to have a revision surgery down the road. Are revisions really that common or is it possible to go through the VSG surgery and follow the diet & not need a revision in 2, 3, 4+ years later? I'd really appreciate any comments or thoughts about this.

I didn't shop around either. I'm going through a place I trust. I don't have money or time to travel elsewhere & I personally wouldn't want to go elsewhere just because of the followup care & possible complications. Even if I don't have complications (which I pray I don't), I want my followup care locally. I could go to Mexico for a third of the price I'm paying, and I'm not saying that's wrong for people to do - I know plenty on this forum who are fine with that & that might be good for them & as long as they're comfortable with it, that's fine - however, I'm not comfortable with it. I've never spent this kind of money on something like this before, but I feel it will be the best $15,000 I've ever spent! Because of the fees and interest rates, I know it'll really end up being a lot more than that even, but it's worth it for my health when I haven't succeeded in anything else in the last 12 years! Some people might think I'm nuts for paying this much for it, but I know that it's right for me at this time in my life & I'm gonna make it work!!

Thanks for all the info! I've done more research on my own too & have started going through pre-op stuff for surgery now. My surgery is set for 5/14 at noon as long as all goes well with the preop stuff. I'm excited to get going on this journey. Benjammin - My insurance is anything but "awesome" & doesn't even claim to be! They told us over a year ago that they didn't cover surgery unless the employer added a special surgery rider to the plans, which they wouldn't do since they're a small company & didn't see a need for it. I was able to get financing & even though the fees are crazy, I'd rather do it this way than not have it done!

Just the other day, I noticed a thread here that talks about samples - some are free, some you have to pay for shipping, some you have to buy - I was just looking at it again since I have to start my pre-op diet in a week. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/forum/78-protein-drinkspowders/

Welcome! I just joined here last week. I have surgery set for 5/14 if everything goes well with my preop tests. I had an abnormal EKG today, so I have to go see a cardiologist before I'm cleared for surgery. I know there's a long road ahead even after surgery. I'm enjoying this site so far. Good luck in your journey!

that's cool that he teaches Spanish. I've heard the politics can be annoying especially when they make you not teach how you'd really like to. I'm hoping I'll get past that stuff & enjoy it. It's all I've ever really wanted to do. My husband is a computer programmer. I had done some school when I was younger, but never finished & we focused on his degree when we got married. I never really thought I'd go back, but in August 2010 things fell in place & it's worked out so far. Now I've come to far to not get my Bachelor's! This is one reason I really want the surgery now too b/c it's one thing walking around a tiny community college campus & it's completely different at a university even if classes are close to each other. I've tried so many things in the past & failed that I'm a little nervous about this - and since it's major surgery - but I really feel it's the right thing & it'll get me to where I want to be health wise. I don't want to go through the university like this & don't want to have to be a teacher on my feet all day like this either. My oldest is 12 & I started gaining weight when I was pregnant with her, so my kids have never seen me thin either & that's a big motivator too! Anyway, good luck with everything! Feel free to follow my blog (in my signature) if you want also! It'll be neat to see how we both do with this!! :-)

Good luck with everything! Being a doctor is definitely an "on your feet" type of job! Glad you're doing it now instead of later! It'll definitely be a good conversation piece with coworkers & patients too!! :-) My major is Spanish. I want to teach high school Spanish. I'm getting my Associates from Austin Community College now in May & will start at either Texas State in San Marcos or UT-Austin in August. That's one reason I'm not taking any classes this summer since I'm transferring & would rather start in the fall at a university. We have 2 daughters, which makes it difficult to do summer classes too though. Last summer I did a couple online classes through ACC, but didn't do a whole lot because of spending time with our daughters. During the school year I can usually get my classes during the day when they're in school too, so it's worked out really well so far.

I just got all my financing figured out (insurance won't pay) & the doctor's office just had a cancellation that works out perfectly for me to have my consultation tomorrow for VSG surgery. I'm a teeny bit nervous since it's major surgery, but I'm really at immense peace about the whole thing now. I started a blog for my journey - My Gastric Sleeve Life - if anyone wants to follow it! Michelle

Wow, Beauty, you're brave! I'm not taking classes this summer, which is why I decided this would be the perfect time to do it because I'll have the summer to start losing & I should be in much better health for fall classes!! Good luck with finals & surgery!!

Just had my consultation today & set my date for May 14th or 15th (they have to verify with the hospital to know which day for sure). I'm at peace about the surgery, but nervous about getting all the preop tests & such done in the next few weeks since I'm in college & have finals now too, but I really don't want to wait on the surgery, so I'll make it work somehow!!

Had my consultation earlier today. My surgery date is May 14th or 15th (they have to verify with the hospital & let me know for sure which day)! I'm sure these next few weeks will go by super-quickly because I have projects and final exams for college now in addition to the medical tests that I have to get done before surgery!

I know most drugs can be used for a variety of reasons, but I'm not familiar with metformin for weight loss. I just did a quick search online & found this article that was interesting about it - http://www.drmirkin.com/nutrition/N117.htm - that might help some. I use metformin for diabetes, but haven't had any weight loss with it. However, the above article says it works differently for non-diabetics.