Earwood

I didn't tell a lot of people but for those I did, I prepared for the negativity upfront so when it happened, it didn't seem to bother me so much. They don't have to live in my body and have not been thru my 14 year struggle with weight so I could care less. I decided to do something for myself for really the first time in my life and made up my mind NOTHING or NO ONE would stop me. 3 weeks post-op and I'm already down 28 lbs. Good luck Alenr!

Thank you for your post. Can you share what your eating habits are now? Does the sleeve stretch over time where you feel you can eat more than in the beginning? I"m only 3 weeks out but feel like I may never be able to eat 'real food' again. When I try and eat or even drink a protein shake sometimes I get a 'stuck' feeling in my lower esphogus.

When were you sleeved? In all my research I've never heard of the straw theory. I have heard the carbonation in sodas can stretch you out over time. My surgeon used a 32 bougie so I can't get down anything more than 3 oz at a time.

Very cool...yes I had a good experience. We stayed in the clinic upstairs the first night and then moved to the Hotel Ticuan the following day. They had just shut down the recovery house that week is what Melissa told me so we had no choice but to stay in the Hotel. It was relaxing and peaceful and had some good local shopping right around the corner and a nail shop next door Feeling pretty good almost ready to move on to some soft foods I think. So what's up with the pictures they come take before surgery w the Dr? Do they keep or do we ever get a copy?

I have been taking my kids Flintstones with Iron chewables since surgery bcuz I thought chewables would be nicer to my tummy...Now that I'm almost 3 weeks out thinking about switching over to an OTC prenatal. Looking at One-A-Day, it has Biotin and ZInc which I heard helps prevent the dreaded hair-loss side effect. Also, would like to hear what others are using.

Congrats everyone!

I saw that article too...wondering now how many celebs have gotten VSG

Are you getting enough Protein? I read this and thought it might be helpful: The amount of quality protein in your diet is the single most important calorie that influences your metabolic rate, favorably influencing weight loss. Quality protein also helps you sustain muscle during weight loss, improve muscle fitness, immunity, and antioxidant function, build HDL Cholesterol, and enhance insulin and leptin function – all of which contribute toward optimal weight management efforts over time. http://www.wellnessresources.com/tips/articles/how_protein_helps_weight_loss/ As for me, I've also always retained a lot of Water for about 2 weeks before my cycle so I'm not stepping back on the scale under after I know I'm in my 2 weeks during the month when I shed my water weight. Anyway, down 17 in 3 weeks is great! Good luck going forward on your journey

Oh I forgot oatmeal and I've heard many eat cottage cheese although I've never liked it. Also maybe some turkey w a little turkey gravy vs broth to make it thicker.

I'm in the puree stage and what am I eating? Protein shakes still (totally sick of them so trying to switch it up with different recipes) refried beans w cheese, mashed potatoes, cream of brocolli soup, tomato soup, french onion soup, pudding, greek yogurt, applesauce, jello, avacado. Thought of blending up some chili and also maybe some chicken noodle soup but haven't yet. Soft cooked veggies like carrots or peas sound pretty good too. I'm having a hard time getting too much down and getting that stuck in the throat feeling so still not eating too much.

Good luck...sending prayers your way. Keep us posted!

I'm 2 and a half weeks post op and overall I'm feeling pretty good. 1st day I was tired and had terrible gas pain from the gas they inflate your tummy with during surgery. It caused me nausea and at times felt I couldn't breathe (first night only) and it hurts when it moves around your back and shoulder. To get rid of you need to WALK WALK WALK and take gas X dissoluble strips. The more you burp the faster that goes away. By day 2 I was up and out shopping but not everyone in my group was doing the same but I was one of the younger ones. They mostly seemed tired. I took pain meds for my incisions for the first 4 days maybe and then I was ok. Went back to work within 5 days of surgery. Mentally is the biggest change. You can't even imagine pre-op how small your stomach will be! If you have emotional eating issues it may be hard to cope as your feel good food buddy is no longer available to you. Watching other people eat what you use to love in front of you is hard also and when feeling good you might try to take a bite of something you shouldn't...DON'T cuz it will hurt and you will get sick. At first just to drink an 8 oz bottle of Water seemed like an impossible feat. A normal plate of food becomes a mountain. Very different from before. One meal I used to eat before would probably feed me for a week now. I had a small mourning period for my little feel good buddy (yummy un-healthy food) but just focusing on the long term now. I've already lost 23 lbs! Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions. Hope this helped.

OK also I know this is a dumb question but I'm new to this site...how to I start a new topic?

WOW that's awesome congrats! But you have to give us more info! When was your surgery, starting weight, weight now, etc...Also what are you eating and doing for excersize? I'm only 2 weeks and a half weeks post op and need to start getting myself in gear for the long haul to my goal

How long post op did your hair start to fall out? This is the first I've heard that I should be taking biotin or zinc so I better start doing my research. I'm only taking one daily multi-vitamin at this point

My mother definately didn't want me to have the surgery either (mostly think she was just afraid of her daughter having surgery in Mexico) but I also kinda sensed she felt the same also about 'taking the shortcut' because she said well if you have to diet after why don't you just diet before? Duh if it were only that easy for someone like me...up and down battling this problem for 14 years. She is thin and has amazing self control and very into diet and nutrition. My apple fell FAR from that tree lol. Maybe I rebelled as I got older watching her eat rice cakes growing up haha who knows. Hang in there Amanda Rae...YOU DESERVE THIS! Don't let anyone make you feel bad about your decision. A whole new AMAZING life awaits you dear...keep moving forward and don't let the naysayers win by getting you down.

Started at 233 DOS 8/30 & down to 210 for total loss of 23 lbs...of course 10 of that at least is water weight but I feel great anyway! Those who I've talked to say they hit there goals anywhere between 8 to 12 months do dropping 23 in 2 1/2 weeks is well on my way to total goal of losing 83 lbs...now I only have 60 to go. Woo hoo! Still on purée but not getting down much been busy & forgetting to eat or drink (which I NEVER would have forgotten to eat before lol) I don't notice till I start feeling weak or get dry mouth...sick of protein shakes yuck. Yesterday I had a yogurt & glass of water & a flintstone vitamin. Thinking of getting a juicer & getting a good portion of my nutrition that way. Gonna try scrambled eggs this next week...sounds really good to me Don't want my hair to fall out

Good luck Nae! Keep us posted

Good luck!

Sure Liz, you will be added to my prayer list. Any questions leading up to your surgery, please let us know.

Just joined the group and wanted to say hello to introduce myself. I live in Topeka and just got my sleeve on 8/30/12 in TJ with Dr. Almanza. Just curious to see where everyone else is from.

Yes I've had the same problem and it sucks. I'm on pureed foods and it happens even when eating mashed potatoes or I tried some refried Beans today to get some Protein. Burping helps get it down but realized I need to eat very slow and then the food seems to get down better. I'm only 2 weeks and 3 days post-op and heard this issue gets better with time. When did you have your surgery?

Same here...my husband and I have been pretty rocky for the past year and now that I'm post op he just made the comment the other day that once I lose the weight he knows I'm planning on leaving him. I was just like what that's crazy. All I could think about before the surgery was getting back to a weight I was happy with and looking good for him. He always told me I was beautiful before and didn't need the surgery and felt he even tried to sabotage my financial ability to get the surgery as I was self-paid. Guess time will tell and I will try what I can to make him feel secure in my journey but it would be nice to have his full support. As for friends, family, & co-workers, I only told a select few who I really couldn't hide it from. Not because of the procedure itself but because I was going to Mexico to do it and didn't want to deal with all the typical 'omg you're going to have surgery in Mexico are you insane?' comments. Didn't want to deal with all the negativty leading up to my procedure. Now that it's done and everything went well, I'm not going to run around like hey guess what I did but figure the questions of 'oh what are you doing to lose weight' then I'll be open and honest. Hoping I don't have any insecure friendships that will be lost over it but if so then I'll be ok and keep moving forward regardless. I have some pretty amazing and supportive friends in my life so don't think I'll have any issues with that. Just pray for me and my hubby.

Geez now I want a chili cheese burrito knowing my poor little tummy could never handle it (2 weeks post op here) LOL...I had my surgery on a Thursday and came back to work the following Tuesday but I have a sit down desk job so no problems there. SItting on my butt at home or at work is all the same to me Haven't had any problems at home though keeping up with my household and mommy duties. Just make sure to keep up on your protein to heal and get plenty of REST when not at work...take care of yourself to heal quickly I always push myself and 'over-do' it and then pay for it later...I've done good with this surgery not to repeat that pattern and I'm feeling really good.

When was your surgery? The gas was very painful for me right after I woke up and the remainder of the night of surgery and the 1st day after. Walking walking walking and gas X strips that dissolve in your mouth helped me with the gas finally. I didn't have a support device or itching so no advice to give you there sorry...when I itch in general I usually try a thick lotion may help the irriation or provide some type of barrier between your skin and the support device you have. I like Gold Bond or Avon's Moisture Therapy. Anyway...good luck