TheCurvyJones

Low low low. My doctor kept me on pain meds for the first day thru the first night then tapered off. By the end of day 2 I was off IV pain meds and didn't take another pain pill till midday, day 3. I never felt pain per se.... an annoying soreness, like I was kicked in the belly. I believe Dr Alvarez numbs from the inside, which was really effective for pain management. I feel like some of the numbness is just now wearing off. It's important to discuss your surgeon's approach to pain management.

Oh NOW they show up! Ha.Oh wait, now it's gone. I'm confused.

I noticed that my patient info link and my surgeon is no longer listed under my name when I post in the forums. It was there... but now it's not. Did I turn something off? I've gone through my settings and all the info is there but those links are now gone.

I feel like surgery puts us at our most vulnerable. You know how folks say that weight gain is an outward representation of an inner issue... the surgery goes RIGHT TO THE CORE of that issue and forces us to work on it. I feel way more exposed right now than I did before surgery. Losing my safe cocoon of fat where I became invisible is almost terrifying to me. How long is your husband deployed? He might not recognize you when he comes back.

Wait, what? You dropped like 20 lbs in 8 days? DANG! We were sleeved on the same day. I was 250 day of surgery, 240.4 today.

I wasn't in any pain at all while in hospital. They kept me pretty drugged up the first day. By the end of the 2nd day I was pretty much off of any pain medication. I was sent home with pain meds to take if needed and I've taken maybe 4 since I got home. If I am doing too much moving around, I get a little sore. I'd say the feeling by day 3 was more like I was punched in my belly from the inside. Not really noticeable pain. Just sore.

Even if you don't want to go to Mexico there are surgeons in the US that you can look into. I.e. Dr Umbach in Las Vegas... go when it's cool, take a few days ahead and make a vaca out of with with your hubs. Check out MedicalTourism.com... there are some docs in the US that are self pay. More than Mexico but less than the full cost of a VSG surgery, which is what the insurance covers. I knew that if my insurance even covered it that I wouldn't ever make it through the 6 month hoop jumping. I'd give up halfway and still be fat at the end of the year. I pushed myself to move past any 'NO' I heard and I made it happen. I was sleeved a week ago w. Dr Alvarez who is AWESOME as is many of the MX surgeons that some of us have visited. You still have options! Get to work!

This situation is so funny to me *and maybe ONLY to me* but my mother was an RNY patient many moons ago back in 2001. She has gone from the high 260's to as low as 119. She's now leveled out at about 150 lbs and is really happy with her body. She is 5'4" and has a medium frame. I am 5'3" with a smaller frame but I have more... assets Bigger breasts, hippier hips, more booty. Our shape is virtually the same though. I was looking at her this week (they came to visit for Christmas) and ....if her shape is any indication of what I might look like at goal, Ima'll be "thicker than a Snicker!" She has a great natural shape. Now I am excited to see how much I will look like that when I get down there. If I even get close I will be happy. Now, it took a long time for her to get to her current weight. She lost very slowly and she doesn't have much loose skin. *sign of the cross that I won't be too different from her*

Wow your photos are amazing. Congratulations and great job!

Welcome! Fingers crossed for a good mtg with your surgeon. As for vitamins, I got all that info from my doc's nurse when I scheduled my sleeve and also at discharge.

Same with me.. week 1 weigh in ws 8.8 lbs and I am thrilled. Sounds good to me!

I asked about pain management both during the hospital stay and post op. I also asked if he used a drain, which he did not. I asked EXACTLY what was he going to do during the procedure so I'd know how HE planned to perform it. I also asked about past patients and their general success rate. Dr. A has an excellent bedside manner so he answered everything succinctly and to our satisfaction (I brought a friend with me who'd had the procedure) and was quite conversational.

Fantastic week. Long but busy and active. I feel GREAT since my surgery... really. Last night I actually almost ran up my steps. It usually takes me a minute to get up or down the stairs. My knees already don't hurt and that's worth the cost of surgery right there. My numbers: Highest weight- 273 in March 2012 Day of surgery weight 250 Week 1 weigh in: 241.4 Loss: 8.6 lbs I am THRILLED with that number! I will be in the 230's next week! WOOOOT! NSV's: I like the way my doc did my insicions, to where they're not in my bra line at all. Most are at or below my waist, one at my breast bone so I've been wearing my regular Lane Bryant underwire bras. I couldn't hang with the sports bras. The UniBoob just wasn't happening. Anyway, I feel like my band might be a bit loose and the bra is pulled as tightly as possible. It'd be nice to get rid of these G cup mamas. My size 22 jeans need to be retired. Already. I felt like they might actually fall down the other day. My size 20's, which I haven't been able to wear for a while, fit just fine. Not tight, not cutting off circulation, they zip right up. Like I said earlier, steps are no issue right now. I still get a backache from shopping, etc so can't wait until that goes away. Overall I am THRILLED.

7 days clear, two weeks full liquids, two weeks mushies and soft foods. It will be the end if January before I can even try a real full meal.

Hope all went well!!

You don't have much willpower because there is no such thing. We make a choice and we stick to it or we don't. We must focus on Protein and foods that will nurture our bodies, fuel our engines. There are no magic words or techniques that we can give you to make you decide to do it the right way. Get your protein in. Stay hydrated. Our sleeve only hold 4-6oz of anything....fill it with good things. Grazing = weight gain. Decide to stop doing it.

Not everyone responds well to Tough Love. People can speak truth with tact and respect. To the OP today is a new day. You cant UNeat that stuff, but you can change how you act going forward. There is no such thing as willpower... It's a decision we make before the food hits our lips. Decide. Today. That you're going to continue down a safe healthy path so that you will be here for your friends and family. If it helps, tell your family what you can't have so they know not to offer it, not to have it around and to give you the evil eye if they see you going for it. Your Mileage May Vary, so your story is yours and not anyone else's. What happened to Iggy may not happen to you.. What is more likely to happen is that you will fall into a pattern of bad eating post op and will stall and then gain back everything you've lost. I have seen this happen and that is more frightening to me than the scare of a leak. Don't let that person be you.

Take your anti acid and try gas x or Tums chewables. I asked my doc about the cramps and he said that was fine, expected and necessary. He wants to see/hear movement. It's a good thing. Also keep up with your ice chips/ cool Water to help reduce swelling. Lastly if you're on pain meds continue to take them. Don't be a hero.

My doc said whenever I was comfortable. Though, I've heard that people get pregnant VERY EASILY after surgery. Women are very fertile post op so BE CAREFUL.

I went through MedicalFinancing.com and chose Dr Alvarez. By all means avoid No Patient Left Behind. SCAMMY.

I am five days out. I'm not hungry at all. Do I want to eat? Yes. Just like I wanted to eat before the surgery. But I'm not hungry.

I live in Marietta. I did check to see if there was a current group but the only one that I see that really needs with any regularity is real results.

You're still in pain? Have you spoken to your doctor? If you have your surgery in a clinic, is that outpatient? It just seems odd that you'd still be in pain. I had my surgery a day after yours and I haven't been in much pain. My doc manages pain well.

I never sleep on my tummy but I probably could right now. I'm a side sleeper and have been able to sleep on my side since around day 3.