allnewme

You have made a decision that will change your life. Some days are difficult but you can do this. Dr.A will take excellent care of you!

You really do look great your face has changed so much all ready! That us awesome.

So... I was working on cooking food for this week and decided to venture off into some new territories with the infamous "cupcakes" we all seem to love so much here on VST... Have to say, they were both fantastic! Give them a shot and let me know what you think!
They're prepared just like the Lasagna or Cheeseburger Cupcakes so I'm going to shorten the directions a little. (There's plenty of places to find those full recipes but my favorite is where I think they all started at... Emily Bites)
First... Sloppy Joe Cupcake (makes 12 servings)
- 1/2 lb Lean Ground Turkey
- 1 cup Canned Sloppy Joe Mix (I like original Manwich the best)
- 12 Wonton Wrappers
- 6 tbls Freshly Grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 oz Shredded Skim Mozzarella
- 12 Dill Pickle Slices
Brown the turkey and mix with a little salt and pepper and add the Sloppy Joe mix.
Place one wonton wrapper in each cup of a cupcake pan.
Place a tablespoon or so of the turkey/sloppy joe mix in each wonton wrapper. (Evenly split the mix so you can make two layers in each cup.)
Place a small amount of grated parmesan cheese, a dill pickle slice and then the mozzarella cheese.
Repeat the turkey mix and cheeses (without a pickle the second time).
Bake at 360 for 15 mins and watch to make sure they don't brown too much or too quickly.
132 calories, 5 grams fat, 12 grams Protein and 8 grams of carbs. (Carbs can be a little lower if you hold back a little on the sloppy joe mix which I think you could probably do.)
Second one may seem a little weirder... My favorite pizza is shrimp and artichoke heart and I've been craving one pretty bad so...
Shrimp and Artichoke pizza Cupcake (12 servings)
- 8 oz Cooked Baby Shrimp
- 1 cup Light Marinara (I use Ragu Light)
- 1/2 cup Chopped Artichoke Hearts
- 12 Wonton Wrappers
- 1/2 cup Skim Ricotta
- 6 oz Shredded Skim Mozzarella
- 6 tbls Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
Mix the shrimp, marinara and artichokes together (no need to heat up).
Place one wonton wrapper in each cup of a cupcake pan.
Place a tablespoon or so of the shrimp mixture in each wonton wrapper. (Evenly split the mix so you can make two layers in each cup.)
Place a small amount of the ricotta, then the grated parmesan cheese, and finally the mozzarella cheese.
Repeat the shrimp mixture and cheeses.
Bake at 360 for 15 mins and watch to make sure they don't brown too much or too quickly.
108 calories, 4 grams fat, 11 grams Protein and 7 grams of carbs.
Hope you enjoy!

You can also have LF Ricotta cheese . I tried "Shelly's Baked Ricotta" from The World According to Eggface. It's slightly famous on some of the WLS blogs, and didn't disappoint! You can also find a recipe to add pumpkin puree to it and spices for a dessert. I love pumpkin
Boxed mashed potatoes
Hummus
Cottage cheese

I was sleeved in Mexico and had to fly home on the third day after surgery. It was exhausting but that was expected since it was so soon after having surgery. I rested up for a day or two and was fine. I still could not go to Chicago and walk a lot and I am 5 weeks out now. I still have a lack of energy most days. You may be totally fine, we all heal differently. Hope you have a great trip to the Windy City!

If you are having a TT its best to stay there at least 10 days. I stayed at Beauty Care Recovery House. Dr Cardenas was my surgeon. The recovery House is hers and she also has other Dr patients. It is fully licenced, staffed by nurses who take care of you 24/7. They provide nutrisious food, do your laundry every day, they have hospital beds and they bathrooms equiped for recovery with high toilets with handles and chairs in bathrooms, nurses help you shower. I loved it. Going back for face lift.
Here is a link to my picshttp://www.makemeheal.com/pictures/liposuction/freespirit-before-and-after-tt-a3667?password=newstart

Hi All! I'm 55 right now and will be having my surgery the day after my birthday, September 21st. I'm so excited and nervous, and really really happy I found this forum! I felt like I was the oldest one on the whole site! I've never had any kind of surgery either, but the closer it gets the more calm I become. It's exciting to think about what I will be doing this time next year, when I turn 57 and hopefully am 100 pounds or more thinner!

I use the Unjury and I have never tasted it in anything. I add it to low carb chocolate milk for Protein Drinks, to Soups and yogurt. I love the Unjury chicken, chocolate and unflavored. It is high quality medical Protein and so much better than the RTD canned drinks.< /p>

Out of the hospital and back at the hotel, no complaints here, feeling great!

Hang in there y'all!! I'm 8 weeks post op tomorrow and down 43lbs!!!! I even had complications and had to have the open procesure because my doc nicked my colon when he began the laporacopic procedure.. I had to stay in the hospital for 5 days and have a scar from my breast bone all the way past my bellybutton!! But I finally made it to Onederland and it feels amazing!! The first few weeks are rough! I'm not gonna lie! You will cry, mourn food and hate yourself for doing this but when you get on that scale and it says 199 for the first time in over 10 years, you will be over joyed!! Hang in there it WILL get better!!! It IS better!!!

So happy to hear that it has worked out for you to be operated on!! Yeah!! Wishing you the best of luck. You have had enough stress before you get to the hospital!!!

I had surgery with Dr.A on 8/02. Crossing the border was no problem at all out of Eagle Pass, there were 3 checkpoints on the way back into the USA, they each took about 2 minutes. The hospital is about one mile across the border, no long drive to get there. I felt completely safe in the van, at the hospital and in the town. Dr.A would not be having people cross the border for elective surgery if our lives were at risk. He lives in this town, it is his home. While there could be some random act of violence, as there are daily in most American cities, there was no sign of any violent activity anywhere near the border or the hospital. Jessica goes with your travel companion when they leave the hospital for meals or shopping to interpret for them since most people in this border city do not speak English. She took me to a store right next to the hospital to buy candy for my daughters boyfriend. He was raised in MX and I wanted to take him some of his favorite treats from home.
Dr.A is absolutely an amazing surgeon. He has a truly wonderful, caring staff. I would make the trip there and back again in a heartbeat. I had wonderful care there. My PCP has no problem doing my lab work for me, if he did, I would go to Dr. A to have it done.

I took my one month pictures this morning since I won't have time to do them before church tomorrow. I measured and cannot believe the inches I have lost in one month. I have to have some time to calculate the total but it was several! It amazes me! So thankful that I had this surgery. I am wearing pants today that would not zip or button before surgery. Now I can hold them out from my waist. Whoo-Hoo!
Best of luck to all the August sleevers Hang in there and know that everyday gets easier. I can't wait to see how we all look at Christmas!!

I took my one month pictures this morning since I won't have time to do them before church tomorrow. I measured and cannot believe the inches I have lost in one month. I have to have some time to calculate the total but it was several! It amazes me! So thankful that I had this surgery. I am wearing pants today that would not zip or button before surgery. Now I can hold them out from my waist. Whoo-Hoo!
Best of luck to all the August sleevers Hang in there and know that everyday gets easier. I can't wait to see how we all look at Christmas!!

So glad to hear that you are doing well. It will really get better every day. Take care and rest up as much as you can.

You are doing great Giina! Almost one month out for us! This month has flown by. I am such a slow loser but as long as I get to my goal, I try not to get too worried over it. Stalls come and they go, we just have to go with the flow...

Mamamelly, I understand. I stalled for a few days too. It has to happen. Hide your scale sweetie, weigh in once a week on Thursday since that was our surgery day. You are doing great. Just keep on doing what you know that you gotta do and you will be fine.
You gotta friend me on myfitnesspal too
We are going to win this battle, my sleeve sister!!

So happy to hear that it has worked out for you to be operated on!! Yeah!! Wishing you the best of luck. You have had enough stress before you get to the hospital!!!

Hey there...
Lisa's back and ready to chat, chat, chat.. Where O where do I begin ??
My "last meal". I felt like Jesus at his last supper. The Friday before my surgery after eating very good for two months I had the wonderful " I will never eat like this again meal". I went with my daughter to Hurricane Grill and had 3 Conch fritters, 1/2 chicken wrap, few chips, 1/2 chicken fajita and OH YES a Sangria... TOTALLY off my diet but I was going to go out with a bang if I wasn't going to eat for the next two days.
Saturday was an OK day. I got to have a "no chew" diet of Yogurt ( with no fruit in it), Protein Shakes and sugar free pudding.< /p>
Sunday was a little harder as it was a "clear liquid" diet of Chicken broth, Water, sugar-free Jello and Vitamin waters.
I ate my last bite of jello at 12:02 and then that was it until after the surgery. I didn't have to wash with any special soap or use listerine to cleanse my mouth. I showered, shaved and went to bed.
OH on the bag note.. YOU will pretty much need NOTHING in the hospital. What did come in handy was pull-up toilet wipes ( for personal hygeine), Lip Balm b/c you can't eat anything at all for two days, No slip shoes b/c you will be walking and about 20.00 for the phone/tv hook up. Other than that you are provided with a gown, socks, tooth brush, tooth paste, lotion for your legs and arms, any "food" your allowed to eat. You sleep 75% of the day and the rest of the time you are being poked, prodded and bugged by nurses.
Woke up early on Monday morning, dropped my daughter off at cheer camp and had my husband drop me off at the entrance to the hospita at 9AM. Some people invite people to sit with them.. I just wanted to have peace and quiet. He was a nervous wreck. Advice... if your spouse/parent/sibling is more nervous than you don't have them with you unless necessary. I walked over to admitting and got my paperwork put throu, went to the admittance area and had my urine tested for a pregnancy test ( NOT ). Ended up waiting for 4.5 hours in the waiting area. About 8 other people were taken for various surgeries before mine. UGH what a LONG wait.
Finally was called at 1:20. Was given a great comfy cozy blue gown with these terrific interesting slits in them ( for surgery ??) and some fuzzy "no slip" socks. My stuff was put in a bag and labled with my name. I went to sit in the nurses office where I was poked and prodded trying to find my vein. And this was the "good nurse". Finally the officer came to take my things, I was given a blanket and reclined back to take a nap until my name was called to go back to the Operating Room (OR). Apparently my name was called but they couldn't find a stretcher for me b/c the next thing I knew the OR nurse came to the front nurses station asking how long I was going to take. UH.. I had been ready since 2:10 and it was now almost 3PM.
My Doctor and Anestesiologist came to the nurses station to ask if I was ok. Doc made me sign my last consent form to do the surgery and the anestesiologist asked if I had any concerns. I said " Uh yeah. When are we going to get this show on the road?? Can't I just walk to the OR ".. He laughed and said in his Russian accent " I like this one. You want to walk... well lets go". What a nice little parade it was me being led by the Doctor, Anastesiologist, Head OR nurse and an assistant. It all seems like a dream but I walked right into the OR, smiled at the attending nurse as she said " SHE WALKED ??!! Never in 10 years have i seen a patient WALK into the Operating Room" LOL. I hopped up onto the table and said " Now what??" They told me to lie down with my feet against the foot pads, I put my arm out onto the extendable arm rest and the anestesiolagist said " We're going to give you a cocktail mairtini now" I said "Sir... If its a chocolate martini give me a double".... AND THAT WAS THE END OF MY PRE SURGERY LIFE...
According to the calls to my hubby from my doctor I went into surgery at 3:20 and was out by 5:10. Apparently I got the 2 for 1 special... I had a hernia in my abdomonial wall and my intestines were poking out... in addition to the gastric sleeve. Come three hours later I wake up super groggy like "Holy Cow it was over !!" I looked at the clock and it was about 8PM. I was not feeling any pain at all just super groggy from the anestesia. I woke up about an hour later with a clearer head and just remember asking for my cell phone. I planned to call my hubby to let him know I was OK and tell my daughter goodnight. By 10:30 the phone still hadn't come so I asked the nurse to wheel me to the nearest phone and let me call my daughter. LOL Persistant little bugger I was. She got me a phone and I spoke to the hubby. Daughter and mom were sleeping. I have NO IDEA what my conversation was about I was still out of it. My throat was a bit sore from the breathing tube they put down my throat but not worst than a dry throat.
Next thing I know I was being wheeled into my room and my roomy ( who was one of my nurses at the baratic center who also had her's done the same day) was calling my name. I said " Hey Stacy.. welcome to the other side" and passed out again. The nurses do not leave you alone for the entire first night. They check your blood pressure and temperature every two hours. They poke you will small needles every six hours to give you medicine to thin your blood ( choice arm / belly ) and you are not allowed to eat anything. UGH. Thank goodness my "swallow test" was the next day. I was given 3 cotton swabs flavored with Lemon that tasted delicious ( but later when I tried them taste HORRIBLE ). I slept on and off that night and the next morning. Funny thing was.. there was no pain. I read this on another persons report but really aside from the "fear" your going to rip something you don't feel any pain. it is mostly just an ache. Mainly in one area where they remove the remaining stomach from. Mine is still tender three days later. You do get a little button to push to get meds when you need them but for the most part the only real uncomfortable feeling is the gas left in your bloated stomach. Oh the other gross thing was the catheter. I mean it didn't really hurt persay but its not comfortable. When they wake you up in the morning the nurses made me sit up in a chair to get my blood circulating and that damn thing hurt when I sat down with it.
In the morning the doctors came in and looked at my gross belly then it was time for my test. Woo Hoo. The swallow doctors took a general xray of my belly area. They then handed me a cup, laid me on a tilted table and told me not to drink it until they said. They left the room and I swallowed it. The doctor could see the gross tasting 1oz of liquid run down my esophogus and into my stomach. She repeated the test and then it was over. I was cleared to eat. NO leaks. YAY !! Good news one.. good news two I got to get the damn catheter out. OK so we don't feel it going in ( for ladies) b/c we are sleeping but when they deflate it and pull it out feels like a burning UTI. So not comfortable but it's only for a second and then its gone. Only sucky thing is its replaced with peeing on a "hat" thing that fits into the toilet so they can measure how much you are peeing and how much fluids you are intaking.
Back up to my room. More blood pressure and more temperature taking then it was lunch time. Ohhhh what's for lunch... Oh joy... a 3 oz cup of yellow jello, a 3 oz cup of chicken broth and 3 oz of crystal lite lemonade. Ohhhh before you get so excited you can only have 3 oz TOTAL of these three. So the first meal was 1 1/2 oz of chicken broth and 1 1/2 oz of jello. I was also allowed to drink water non stop as much as possible. That night I was able to sleep a little better and was only bothered twice in the night by the nurse. The day passed pretty uneventful with another visit from the doctor and not too much sleep.
The next morning my doctor cleared me to go home so after another Breakfast and lunch of broth/jello I got to go home. WOO HOO !!! And so begins my new life after Vertical Sleeve surgery...
Short recap of since I've been home... Got out of the hospital and told my hubby to go to McDonalds... ( GASP.. Not for me silly people for him... LOL). He ordered a Big Mac meal with a soda and large fries. I sat there with my bottle of water and watched him eat. What I used to love now became disgusting. I have been eating just my Protein shakes for the past two days and haven't been hungry at all. It's all been fine and you will be fine too. Still a little sore on my biggest scar but it will pass in time.
Hope you all enjoyed my story. Take care and Good Luck to all..
OH BTW... I've lost 8 pounds since Monday. WOO HOO !! I'm on my way !!
Oh kind of what to expect after surgery. The two incisions on my left ( close to each other ) are where they took the rest of the stomach out and are the ones that bother the most. The other 4 I don't even know are there. I was closed up with surgical glue so it will fall off over the next two weeks. No scars except 1/2 " to 3/4" lines. YAY !!!

I am close to 3 months out and get a whole lot of pleasure from my Protein chicken noodle Soup - it is probably 97% liquid (in those first post surgery weeks I strained all the little noodles and veggies out) so hearing that your doc says you can stay on liquid a long time is good to hear. Now dont think I am crazy, but I am one of those that the moment it is time for me to eat - I want to drink and have to make a hard choice - so the Soup is like two bangs for the buck
The not drinking and eating thing is by far my hardest challenge.

Glad to hear that you had a great surgery, Dr, A and his staff are so kind and take good care of us Glad to hear that you are doing well !

You are looking so great! congrats!!

Mamamelly, I understand. I stalled for a few days too. It has to happen. Hide your scale sweetie, weigh in once a week on Thursday since that was our surgery day. You are doing great. Just keep on doing what you know that you gotta do and you will be fine.
You gotta friend me on myfitnesspal too
We are going to win this battle, my sleeve sister!!

I'm sitting at Mi Doctor Hospital waiting for my turn and listening to music on the laptop. I'm last to go in of the 4 of us here today. Leprechaun is first! The hospital is clean and the staff are super nice. I met with our surgeon Dr. Lopez and he was ready for questions but I told him Leprechaunmomma already had that covered and I'd get the answers from her, hee hee. Last night the broth and popsicles were like a buffet with soothing tea after. I don't feel deprived or very hungry at all. The popsicles were pureed cantaloup melon frozen on a stick , heaven to my tastebuds! I'm missing my family but loving this trip. Yesterday we sat by the fountain out front of the hotel and watched traffic. The breeze was light and cool and the sun felt great. I really want a palm tree but customs won't let me Good luck and best wishes on a speedy recovery to all of us going in today. I'll check back in after surgery.