capecoralgrandma

I have to agree with the good doctor above that weight loss surgery is the only sure way to cure diabetes. I also heard the report on the news about the study that was done over a three year period. Of the three patients in the study, one was kept on meds and diet, one had the lapband and the third the gastric sleeve. Only the two who had the surgery lost a dramatic amount of weight and no longer were on diabetic meds and the third one on the diet was still diabetic, still overweight and still on meds. So the study proved that surgery is the only sure way to cure diabetes. I am a type 2 diabetic, 3-1/2 months out from surgery and I no longer use insulin and only one metformin in the morning. My A1c one month after surgery went down from 8.9 to 7.2...my next blood work is in May at which time if my readings are under 6, my doctor will take me off the metformin too. Congratulations Baby Sheldon...you are an inspiration.

Before any surgery, a nurse from the hospital will call you the day before with your instructions including what medications you can or can't take. They will have all your information supplied by your surgeon.

Before any surgery, a nurse from the hospital will call you the day before with your instructions including what medications you can or can't take. They will have all your information supplied by your surgeon.

Yes, if that is red around the incision and feels hot, it could be an infection and you should call your surgeon. When was your surgery?

I went by the hospital to pick up my pillow I left there and had a nurse look at it. She thinks it looks more like a local reaction to the glue. She said just keep an eye on it.

What a great achievement...congratulations!!

Can't believe I managed to lose 100 pounds so far. Gotta say though.....it's gettin tougher, slower and the stalls are getting longer. But with a hundred gone forever, I'll never give up or go back. Next milestone. ........goal.

Hi Hevnbound,
I was glad to see your post...hope your surgery goes well tomorrow. I am 74 and had my surgery on Dec. 26th. My surgeon never once felt my age was a problem; in fact he encouraged me to have the sleeve over the lapband and I am so happy I took his advice. I am diabetic, have high blood pressure, hiatal hernia, sleep apnea and also a breast cancer survivor.
Now, 2 months later, I am on half my diabetic meds, my primary physician has cut my blood pressure med in half and I no longer need the CPAP for the sleep apnea. Also, my surgeon corrected my hiatal hernia during the surgery.
I have not had a moment's regret about this surgery - it is the best thing I ever did for myself, and I'm sure you will feel the same way.
Good luck,
Betty

My physician also says i can take whatever for pain. I take T3 but was given tramadol post surgery. He said any pain killer would he fine. I also didnt have to fast or do liquid prior. I did a high Protein diet 2 wks prior with products they ask us to use called Healthwise. It was wonderful. Ate 6 times a day and only about 7-800 cal per day but was never hungry and got me off the garbage and accustomed to good foods. From MI btw

I really do not understand how bariatric surgeons can be so different with their rules. My surgeon has been doing the lap band, by-pass and the sleeve for years. He is the one who told me that there is no harm in taking NSAIDS with the sleeve. He does not allow it with the bypass, however. I was taking 2 Aleve in the morning for knee pain, which I had been using for a number of years before this surgery without any stomach problems. Within the last month, I have had injections in one knee which inserts a form of cartilage in the joint. It has helped to a degree so my primary physician has now prescribed Mobic for me. I take one Mobic a day in place of the Aleve and it lasts for 24 hours, the Aleve only lasted for 12 hours and I would sometimes wake up in the middle of the night with knee pain.
My surgeon may be more progressive as I also did not have to fast before my surgery, only follow a low-carb Atkins diet for two weeks. My surgery was Dec. 26th, so for Christmas morning I was allowed bacon and eggs and only Clear liquids the rest of the day.

That's really good to know! My surgeons office staff told me absolutely no NSAIDs for life. But I wonder if she said that because she had the bypass done. I can't exactly ask the surgeon now cause all calls go straight to her, But I'll ask during my two week follow up. Thanks!

Hello. I'm six months post op and have been on Lexapro for four months. I'm loosing slow and getting closer to my goal by about 30lbs. Just wondering if anyone is on Lexapro post surgery and are you loosing? I hear on the net that some Lexapro patients have a hard time loosing. I must admit I crave carbs like crazy.

There are several people on the board that have used and recommended silicone scar treatments which is what this is.
I scar badly (not keloid but hypertrophy) and got this based on their recommendations. I have a scar from my tubal ligation from 10 years ago that looks worse than my VSG ones from less than a year ago. I don't know for sure it was the treatment, but they are definitely smaller lighter and not raised.

I am 7months out and I have to say that I have lost motivation. I literally fell off the wagon for 6months but I have stayed in a comfortable weight range. I lost 30lbs and loved my body even though my goal was 40lbs. I see myself doing the bad habits I was doing before the surgery i.e.: bored eating, over eating, snacking a lot with bad foods.
I guess I fell off the wagon because I lost that post op energy. After my surgery I felt amazing then all of a sudden I lost it. I don't know if it was stress or I was amazed at how good I looked. I haven't gone off my docs plan in so long that I've forgot how to eat. I eat a lot of Protein and nuts and know that he wants me to eat 1/4 to 1/3 of a cup every two hours but I'm eating way more than that. I probably eat 3/4 of a cup to a cup of food every two hours. Any suggestions on how to lower my food intake without feeling hungry? Has anyone else fell off the wagon but then picked themselves up? I also cancelled my gym membership because I never went but I am trying Kayla intese workout plan now since I can do it at home. Has anyone tried joining a cross fit gym? Has anyone ever gone to a gastric sleeve support group? I just moved so I don't really have any friends here to work out with which sucks!
Does this sound about right?
Here is what I can remember my doc telling me to do:
60g protein a day
64 Fluid oz
1/4-1/3 cup every two hours
Veggies don't do any good
Work out at least 4-5 times a day

How can I cheat? Yes, I was educated and know what I am supposed to do, but heck, I'm not by any means perfect. If I had willpower, I wouldn't have gotten in this mess in the first place. But...I try, which is all I can do...and I did get on the scales this morning 2 pounds down, so my stall could possibly be broken. Keeping my fingers crossed.

I agree with the others about the fever, but I did have the numbness and tingling in my right thigh for several months. My primary doctor told me it's from the surgery when they have you laying on your side. It did gradually subside and now seven months later the numbness is all gone.

Blondbomb, Why should I use MFP? I'm below my surgeon's weight goal, at a normal BMI, and still losing about a pound/week. I feel fabulous and have tons of energy. I've maintained my muscle mass and have had no hairloss. My 6 month labs including full Vitamin profiles were all great (actually had high Iron and Calcium so I've adjusted my supplements). The OP was asking about carbs and fat, and my point was to show you don't necessarily have to track or count these things in order to be successful if that's not something you want to do. I eat balanced meals and Snacks consisting of Protein, veggies, fruits and whole grains like any "normal" healthy person. Not sure why I would need to start tracking at this point.
And BTW, I'm not knocking MFP or the people that use it in any way. If tracking is something you want to do and need to do to be successful, it's a great tool.

Thanks for posting Macman...lots of great info. We were sleeved about the same time and I think it's important for everyone to see that there's more than one way to be successful. Everyone has to find their own, personal "make it work" plan.
I was always very intimidated before surgery by reading all the posts from the trackers and fitbit folks that were so successful because I knew I wouldn't be able to do that. I just like to include my version so other newbies can see that they can be successful with "alternative plans"
Great job!

I don't measure or count anything. I keep track of Water in my head as the day goes on to make sure I'm getting at least 64oz. I get 30-40g Protein from my daily protein/fiber smoothie, and assume I'm getting at least 60g total because my 5-6 meals and Snacks always contain Protein. I don't eat the obvious carbs like bread, Pasta, rice, or sweets very often, and I never bothered to limit fat.
I honestly have no idea how many calories or carbs or fat I eat. I don't know how many steps I take or how many calories I burn. This "low maintenance" postop pan has worked great for me, at least. If I wanted to track everything I could have just done weight watchers or nutrisystem or any of the other "diets" out there. Surgery was my way to be free of all that minutiae.

If you get too nervous when you're waiting on the gurney, ask them to give you something to relax you. I was laying there, waiting for the assistant to show and suddenly I thought, "OMG, what am I doing here?" Even though I was excited about it. So my sister asked the nurse for the good medicine.
Post-op, I was very groggy the rest of the day. You'll get ice chips...chew and swallow them ONE AT A TIME!!! They wanted 4 little medicine cups an hour, if possible. Do not be afraid to ring the nurse for anything....that's what they're there for!
Good luck! I hope you have as wonderful an experience as I am.

From a former Jersey girl, I wish you the best of luck. I am almost 7 months out and it has been one of the best decisions of my life.

i think its his responsibility to convince you that its in your best interest to not have the surgery versus you needing to convince him that you should. its your body, your health, your choice. so i would turn it around and tell him that this is your choice and if he thinks its not a healthy choice, he should research proof that remaining obese is less risk than having this surgery. if he can do that, you will reconsider. until that time, your mind is unchanged.

My surgeon told me that it's ok to take nsaids with the sleeve; it's with the bypass that you can't use them. In the meantime, I also use Biofreeze on my knees...it does eliminate the pain. I'm 7 months out and have been taking Aleve all along without any side effects.

So, here'a my story. My highest recorded weight in 2012 was 276 lbs at 5'2. my BMI was over 50. Went to WW and lost 27lbs down to 249. Bounced around between 249-262 all the way up to pre-op diet. I was sleeved on 11/25/13 at 253. Weight loss has been slow from the beginning. I started grad school in January which has been stressful enough but then I lost my mother unexpectedly to a heart attack on April 1st. I didn't really start exercising until 3 months out and just when I got into a routine, my mom passed. Since then, I have only lost about 15-17 lbs. Granted, I have been stressed and grieving and maybe not eating the best. On top of it, this is the hardest semester of my graduate program (nurse practitioner) and I am so overwhelmed. I have, however, been pretty consistent with exercise for the last month or two and I seem to be losing even more slowly. I am currently 188, which is still over 50lbs away from a normal BMI. I have a fitbit and at a minimum I try to get my 10000 steps in by walking. But most days, I do a combo of Zumba, 30 day shred, C25K, and walking. I also try to eat between 800-1000 calories. Some days I am more successful than others at staying in that range. I am meeting with a wellness coach on Monday because I want to begin a heavy lifting program called Stronglifts 5x5.
I know you guys don't know me, but I appreciate any advice or wisdom that you can share. I am so overwhelmed with life. Losing a mother, a weight loss journey, full-time grad school, caring for two little boys, working a job, supporting my husband who is also a full-time student, financial strain... anyone of these things is stressful on its own, but the combination is almost unbearable. This is a support group, right?

I feel like I'm a slow loser. 4 months out down 56 pounds from preop and 47 lbs from surgery. It's okay, though. I'm 7 lbs from onederland and haven't been under 200 lbs in over a decade.