homersmomma

I have osteoarthritis of both knees and hips and at three weeks post op and the amount of weight that I have already lost I have seen an improvement.

I had my sleeve with Dr. Alverez in September of 2013 and like you I am not made of money either. My experience with him and his clinic was positive.

I had my sleeve with Dr. Alverez in September of 2013 and like you I am not made of money either. My experience with him and his clinic was positive.

I have osteoarthritis of both knees and hips and at three weeks post op and the amount of weight that I have already lost I have seen an improvement.

I'm 5'3". Do I look unhealthy yet?

I was one of the lucky ones who did not have any pain at all. I did help out some other people who were not as fortunate. We had a great time there shopping (we tucked our drain inside our pants) then meeting some of the locals, who were real characters.
Some people will complain that the medical care is not up to par with the US but I got the precise care I needed and have a nice tight boughie to show for it. I continue to have great restriction and easily maintain my weight loss,

Stay Positive and keep up the good work. You can do this.

I think to myself , wow you still have a lot of weight to lose, I just can't picture myself in months where this all comes together started 250 now 228 never can get pass the 200 , just staying focus , getting all Protein , Water, walking, it's a little scary , in back of your mine , hope this all works , good luck 2014

Yes he did with my group. I am 2 yrs post op and have lost 100 lbs. With 40 to go. Every one heals differently. I have absolutely no complaints about Dr. Almanza, his staff, or his clinic. My hope husband, who did not have the surgery was allowed to stay with me through it all, except in surgery, he slept with me in my recovery bed. The staff also helped him find a dentist for his toothache...had a root canal and gold cap in one afternoon and 650.00. They also provided him with meals while we were their. We felt very safe...you are never left alone. They were very compassionate and clean. I know about his negative reviews but I can say if you look at doctors in the USA, I am quite positive many of them will have the same. You must choose for yourself. I also knew some people who also had there surgery there. I would do it all over agsin without one bit of doubt.

I tell you what. Every day after the surgery gets soooo much better, you'll be surprised. One day I was only able to drink 14 oz of Water, the very next day I could drink twice that.
You'll be astonished how quickly you'll feel better so just know that what you feel today is NOT what you will feel a week from now.
As others have said just keep sipping, worry less about Protein than Water, and just accept that you had MAJOR surgery. It's okay to feel like a truck just ran over you.
Rest, sleep, pamper yourself, take long baths if you can, watch tv, distract yourself, drink things that taste/feel good to you--just don't eat. Too dangerous for your poor new tummy.
And also if you call your doc, they might prescribe something for the nausea, if the antacid mentioned above doesn't cut it.

I just told my PCP that I was having the surgery. I brought back the films from my leak test for him to see and that was it.

With more than 100 lbs lost, it's cured for me.
Lynda

Yesterday, I hit 140lbs for the first time in many years - and because I am still there today, I am claiming it as hitting my target, lol! I have now revised it down by another 5lbs but I think that those will go when I have my cosmetics done in 2014.
So I have achieved what I set out to do on 26 April when I was sleeved. Pre and post op, I have lost 83.5lbs, a number I used to look at and never really believe I could lose that. At 5'2", with two comorbidities and others looming, my sleeve was really my last throw of the dice to sort a life long problem and restore my health.
But I am surprised that I am not doing the wildly happy dance or calling up everyone I know to tell them. So i've been thinking - why not?
Partly, it's because I have had the compliments on the way about my weight loss and don't feel like stating the bleedin' obvious in case it sets off everyone on the "ooh, don't lose any more" commentary (which has started). (Maybe I don't want someone to unwittingly do down what I have achieved with a careless comment...)
Partly, it's because it's really the beginning not the end of this journey - now I have to maintain.
Partly it's because my doctor told me last week that I was to be applauded for saving my own life. That was quite a statement that drove home to me the significance of what I have done.
But the biggest reason why I think I am not leaping around is that I did this for me - and for me alone. No one told me to, for the first time in my life I was selfish, paid for the surgery without discussing it with anyone and put me first.
So I know inside what I have achieved because I know the pain, pleasure and the crazy roller coaster ride I have gone through to get here. I know of the doubts, the fear and tears on the way. I know the highs and the lows, the dark days - and the good days. Of the support and friendship on this site that kept my head above the Water even if the people responding didn't realise the good they were doing. My thanks to each and every one of you.
I have been fully present every step of the way, I haven't run away, I have lived it and I don't think anyone who hasn't been sleeved can fully appreciate this journey. For the first time in my life, I am going to do something different - I am going to give myself a pat on the back, mean it and accept it graciously.
Well done Jacqui, you are a success, the rest of your life lies ahead - and there are now no excuses for not living it to the full :-))))))
Here's to a an amazing 2014 for us all x

I need to certainly increase my Water intake. I am so bad about that.

Prior to surgery I had trouble with bladder leakage when I laughed, sneezed, or coughed. Now that I have lost a good bit of weight I am glad to report that I am not having that happen anymore.

Bought my first Victorias Secret bra! I've never been measured, I've always winged it due to not wanting to be embarrassed. I've gone from 350 lbs to my current 225. I still want to get to 185, but I just wanted to share with people who would grasp the gravity of this NSV! I am working hard to get to goal hope everyone is doing well!

Hit onederland today..Actually maybe I was there before but I actually weighed my self so it is official....182 lbs. down and gone......yup I can't believe it either!!!!!
28 to go to get to my goal......come on RJ you can do it....rah, rah, rah!!!!!!

My relationship with my former best friend and comfort has changed. The way I think about food has changed the way I feel about it has changed. It is weird to me at times that I for once in my life am not obsessed with what I am going to eat, or where I am going to eat. I think about eating to live now not living to eat and it feels so great. I think about making good food choices over hurried convenience over processed foods. I taste food, experience it and savor it in a new way.
Has your feelings about food changed?

My relationship with my former best friend and comfort has changed. The way I think about food has changed the way I feel about it has changed. It is weird to me at times that I for once in my life am not obsessed with what I am going to eat, or where I am going to eat. I think about eating to live now not living to eat and it feels so great. I think about making good food choices over hurried convenience over processed foods. I taste food, experience it and savor it in a new way.
Has your feelings about food changed?

I was a HUGE foodie (in every sense of the word). I was always ready to try new cuisines, new foods, new recipes and for the last 3 years, I've been working (and eating) my way across Europe, Asia and Africa. I was sleeved in September and spent October-Christmas in 6 different countries. My husband and I also do dinner out whenever I get home to help us reconnect. AND I've now survived Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day with family meals. So, for me, the realization about how much my relationship has changed with food and what I find comforting is "in your face" obvious. I am still amazed by it. In addition to being able to objectively look at food as "what does it bring nutritionally to the table" rather than "ooh, you're new/delicious, I must eat all of you", I'm still amazed at how easy it is for me to "waste" food. I was always a clean your plate eater and now I eat what I can or what I'm supposed to and anything extra that can't be recycled into another meal is either offered to others or thrown away--and that bothers me not at all. Now, I find comfort in my daily workouts, a bubble bath, and slatherings of skin lotion.

My relationship with my former best friend and comfort has changed. The way I think about food has changed the way I feel about it has changed. It is weird to me at times that I for once in my life am not obsessed with what I am going to eat, or where I am going to eat. I think about eating to live now not living to eat and it feels so great. I think about making good food choices over hurried convenience over processed foods. I taste food, experience it and savor it in a new way.
Has your feelings about food changed?

My relationship with my former best friend and comfort has changed. The way I think about food has changed the way I feel about it has changed. It is weird to me at times that I for once in my life am not obsessed with what I am going to eat, or where I am going to eat. I think about eating to live now not living to eat and it feels so great. I think about making good food choices over hurried convenience over processed foods. I taste food, experience it and savor it in a new way.
Has your feelings about food changed?

I used to eat things because they tasted good, and every time we went out to eat, I think my poor husband wanted to cry because I could easily spend 30 minutes discussing WHERE we should go to eat. How about Chinese? Okay. No, how about Indian? Okay honey. Wait, wait, how about that Thai place we were planning to try? Okay.
Then I'd go, where do YOU want to go? by this time I think he would rather have starved than ever asked me if I wanted to go out to eat
Now it's like, I don't even care. Wherever we go, I'm going to eat a few ounces and it will all be over anyway, so who cares? I still enjoy eating tasty food, but the decision is a lot easier knowing how little I can eat.
Just the time we've saved from not having to discuss that, I have other good things he and I can get up to

I need to certainly increase my Water intake. I am so bad about that.

I found that upping my exercise helped a lot, but it wasn't sufficient. Finally, I asked my doctor for a sleep aid while my body adjusts to so many new routines.
So, I'm taking Lunesta and it's great. Getting 8-9 solid hours. It's not as crazy as ambien, so there's not sleep walking or eating like ambien.