Ms.Cali

I have an app that I track my weight on. Started off with a BMI of 42 - the app screen was red which indicates an obese category. When I updated my weight today it changed colors to yellow - BMI of 29 - that put a huge smile on my face. Still in the overweight category - 30 pounds to go before I'm to goal. These are the small victories we never see coming.

I would say drive vs flying. With driving you can take a pillow with stretch your legs in the car. When your tired you can stop. I did the flying after surgery and whole airport check in and security than the flight (got very nauseous during the hour flight) was too much for me. I'm a few months out and drive a lot to Vegas from LA - at least once a month. It's always less stress on me to drive. But of course I have someone with me that does most the driving. I'm in the passenger seat relaxing :-). Make sure you have lots of Water and Snacks for the road. Hope this helps!

I had surgery in Dec at 237 pound. My foot size was 8.5. Now I'm down to 179 and I'm wearing an 8. Open toe shoes I fit in 7.5.

I agree with Kirk - have your dr. prescribe you meds for that. Helps within 24 hours. I also am a huge fan of these ginger candy - it coats the stomach and relieves the nausea. I get them at Trader Joes

Nothing helped me but the $30 electric heating pad from Walgreens... But of course walking is a must.

In additions to all the great items the group mentioned - I also have these ginger candy I got from Trader Joes (I'm sure you can find them in other health and whole food stores). They were a life saver when it came to nausea. They are called Gin.Gins - come in a green box or green paper bag - 100% natural and taste good too.

I had the sleeve done while I had 3 bleeding ulcers. All I can say is that I went to hell and back with months of hospitalization. Still recovering :-( Your Dr. is very smart, give your body a chance to heal even if it takes a year. It's not worth the complications to do the surgery prematurely. Hope you heal quickly!

Did you let your Dr. know what your experiencing? I had a rough start too and was hospitalized for a few weeks. Please call your dr. and discuss your situation.

I'm in

He's my dr too - had my surgery 4 months ago. I had complications after surgery and he stood by me and brought in other doctors as he saw needed. It was great to be able to call my dr directly on his cell at any hours of the day and him answer vs. an answering service. Each time I went to the emergency room - he meet me there too. It sucked that I had complications and was hospitalized for weeks - but it made all the difference having him there coaching me through recovery. PM if you want any additional info about my experience.

Please don't let such negative opinions get to you or change your mind. :-)

I find closing my nose while swollowing the crushed pills helped. It's like shutting off you taste buds.

Surgery date 12-12-12 Highest weight - 237 Current weight - 186 Weight loss = 51 pounds Still have another 50 or so pounds to go.

The reason I didn't tell anyone (other than my sister) is because by nature I'm a very private person. I had another health issue a few years ago and I decided to handle privately as well. I consider wls similar to a medical condition I needed to make a decision on. Telling everyone about it would have opened the door for so many opinions. I didn't want anyone's opinion other than the professionals. I'm also single with no children. Work wise I manage most my work remotely - so there isn't a lot of face to face interactions with my coworkers and clients.

Been feeling weak for weeks now - I got a B complex shot two days and I feel a difference in my energy. It's not to the level it was pre-surgery but better to where the normal day to day stuff is manageable. I still have to work on my protien intake - they say that helps with your energy too.

For me - it's a different full felling than I used to get. First of all - I don't feel hunger. I'm almost four months post op and I have to remind and force myself to eat still. You will know when your new stomach is full. The first sign for me is that I feel the food sitting above my oesophagus. Second sign is vomiting.

It sounds like you are in the "WTF did I do to myself" phase. I was stuck in the phase for 3 months due to complications. Only advice I could give you is to take it one day at a time. You have to find something new to occupy your time - to replace the need for food. I promise things will get better - I'm finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Once the weight starts to come off - you start to feel better mentally and physically and you will know it was the right decision.

Are there any support groups in Las Vegas? I was sleeved in Dec 2012.

I had my sleeve with Dr. Feiz as well. Hands down he has the best bed side manners from any dr out there. I had a slow recovery from the surgery and not once did my calls to his cell go unanswered - day or night he answered and helped me get through the rough days. It's was great to know my Dr. is by my side when I needed one the most.

Try gaterade - the lemon flavor. Warm tea. You have to test out different tempature of liquids from icy cold to room tempature to hot. I had luck with cold items - I had tired an icee/slurpy from 7-11 and all though it is loaded with sugar my sergeon said its okay. He'd rather I had sugar then get dehydrated. You should call your surgeon and let him know about the vomiting - dehydration is very serious. I had to be hospitalized becuase of the vomiting (it was non stop around the hour) - they had me on IVs while they tried to fix the vomiting/nausea. Hope you feel better!!

I'm about three months out and had many complications after surgery which required weeks of hospitalization. At six weeks my vomiting and nausea was at it's peak. I couldn't imagine being anywhere other than my bed during that time. But again I'm in the lower 10% of people that have complications - doesn't mean you will. You should discuss with your surgeon just to be safe. Whatever you decide - I hope you have an amazing time. :-)

Hello Decembers... Could you share what your workout/ physical activities level you are at? I just started some light weights and have increased my walking (I'm a little behind because of some complications from the sleeve) but I working harder and can't wait until I have my full strength back :-) .

Surgery day 12-12-12 Starting weight 237 Day of surgery 231 Current weight. 202 Total lost of 35 pounds - which I believe is amazing. Was hospitalized for 8 weeks on and off since my surgery from complications - during my hospital stay I was on TPN and Lipids (getting 1800 caleries through my IV). So no weight loss during those times. With my complications my dr has me on a 1200 calorie goal a day - but I only get in around 600 a day. On the topic of hair loss - I'm losing it in bunches - as if I'm on chemo. Dr said it's due to all the meds and tests that has been done to my body - not to stress about it - it will grow back. But seeing it fall out is heart breaking and scary :-( My viatimin D is extremely low as well - I've been given a priscription at 50,000 IU a week to help bump it up. With it being so low - simple tasks like taking a shower feels like a workout. Good job everyone!!

I'm sure you did the upper GI to prep you for the surgery - which i did of course. My advise if you have any ulcers or an infection that needs treatment and antibiotics get that done and healed up before surgery. I had both and dr went ahead with surgery - it's been three months of hell. After surgery taking pills isn't as easy as you think and most of them made me nauseous and vomitted around the clock. Wish you the best :-)

Hello everyone! I was sleeved 12-12-12... A date I cringe when thinking about. When deciding on SWL I wanted to do the lap band because of the thought a part of my body being removed wasn't appealing. After a few one on ones with my surgeon he convinced me the sleeve was the best option for me. Now it's 6 plus weeks later - only two weeks -on and off- was Inable to spend home. The other 4 at the hospital being tested for everything multiple times - I feel like I'm in an episode of House - the only difference - no one is figuring out what's wrong. I'm vomiting around the clock if I drink anything. (still haven't gone beyond the clear liquid phase) - all tests show the passage way to be normal. Including gallbladder. They had to put in a pick line in my left arms - its my source of hydration and protien. It will remain in my arm until I can't eat on my own. Even when im discharged - it comes along - a nurse visits and changes my bags daily. As of last week - my surgeon reviewed my case with other surgeons across the country and they all recomeeded stretching out my pouch using a stent. The stent has to stay in for 10 days. The Dr. warned me it would be the worse pain to experience. But to rest assured I would have access to all the meds I need to get me through the 10 days. Dilaudid was the only medication that made my life easier - but at this point my body cant tolerate - I immediately start to vomit when taking and does nothing for my pain - so life will be Hell until Monday where the stint is scheduled to be removed. I'm so worried that the stent isn't going to fix me - if it doesn't my last option will be a bypass. The will bypass the area in the intestines that is causing this all together. I'm scared - constant pain - and regret the decision to go through with WSL. Any advice?