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I was required to lose 12 pounds on my 2 week preop and I ended up losing 22. My preop diet was 3 Protein shakes/day and unlimited green veggies (spinach, kale, lettuce, Brussels sprouts, green Beans, zucchini). I substituted one of the daily shakes with broth with added unflavored Protein powder for variety. SF popsicles were also allowed but I didn't really like them. And yes, my surgeon has turned someone away the day of surgery for not losing. It makes for a riskier surgery. Don't starve your body it will only stall your weight loss. Read the labels on your protein shakes, some of them are actually loaded with carbs. Take your Vitamins and drink LOTS of water!

70 pounds is a HUGE amount to lose especially before surgery. Congrats! Your body may just be taking a break. Stalls are normal postop, I don't see why they wouldn't be even preop when you're dropping so much weight so fast. And yes, it's very likely you won't lose quite as fast postop. As for me, I was only required to lose 12 pounds on my 2 week preop diet. I ended up losing 22. But then it took me 7 weeks to lose another 17 postop and 3 months to lose 30. You may want to reconsider the weighing everyday thing, in case the slower loss upsets you. I only weighed at the doctor's office for the first 4 months, then I started weighing weekly at work. Don't even own a scale. But slow initial losses and not weighing myself did not stop me from reaching and even passing my goals. You will do great....it's all about attitude and eating right.

No pain, no nausea, well hydrated from all the IV fluids, and sipping my Water just fine. No reason to stick around in a hospital bed. I was out shopping by 11am, took a little nap, then walked to Starbucks and GNC. Too chilly to lounge by the pool that evening, so rented We Are the Millers and lounged around nibbling pineapple popsicles and sipping chicken broth. Good luck!

You could bring string cheese and Starkist to go lunch packets and have tuna salad minus the crackers. You can also check the menus of the various restaurants online. I know there are some places that serve soups, chowders, veggie quiche, egg salad or tuna fish sandwiches, hummus, chili, grilled chicken, and even fresh fruit.

Cottage cheese with Muscle Milk cake batter protein powder tastes like cheesecake. You could probably do a lot of fun things with gingerbread or pumpkin spice Torani syrups. Protein ice cream? And if It doesn't have to be an "original" recipe, there are a lot of good ones on the Quest website using their protein bars.

Probably depends on what's in the protein bar. Some, like Quest have a pretty soft chewy texture, and some have a lot of nuts in them. The former is probably OK, but not the latter. I'd also take a shaker bottle and protein powders you can mix with water. And other than the "fast food stands", there are actually a lot of restaurants that would give you good options....especially in Epcot.

I had surgery in Mexico and had two surgeons (Dr. A. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez) an anesthesiologist and two nurses in the OR.

I had surgery at 3pm, discharged at 9am next day.

The day you are discharged as in the day after surgery? Is this OK'd by OCC? Normally they want you back day 2 for a drain check and bandage change and another visit on day 3 for drain removal and barium fluoroscopy. Unless you are getting this stuff done in Atlanta.....

Tfarr, yeah, I'm really surprised to see how different the incision placement is for everyone. I had one tiny incision right at my bra line that I can't see at all anymore. The rest of mine are 2-3 inches below my belly button. Pretty much the same exact placement as my work partner's hysterectomy incisions. And they are completely covered by any pants other than low rise "hip huggers". Just one more thing surgeons all do differently.....

I had a FaceTime conversation with my sister when I woke up from surgery. She said she almost peed her pants. I remember face timing, but not the actual conversation. Sure wish she'd recorded it as I'm sure it was similar to the OP. ???? Glad your surgery went well!

I agree with Beaglelover. Since bypass statistically has better weightloss results than either Lapband or plication, what is your doctor expecting to accomplish by giving you a "less successful" revision (no offense to banders or plication patients, I'm just speaking statistically). In the end, it's your lifestyle choices that make or break any WLS. Have you been able to assess what caused your weight regain? Is there an actual medical or physiological reason or is it more due to eating habits, lack of exercise, etc.? Whatever it is, that's what you need to focus on changing, not necessarily another surgery. As for plication, there is a plication forum on here you could check out. But it has only been performed in the US for a couple years, so you will not find any long term success/complication rates.

I've had abnormal PAP smears for at least 7 years. Everything from atypical to high grade dysplasia. I also tested positive for HPV which is the virus that causes cervical cancer. Despite all the standard treatments (multiple LEEPS, biopsies, conization, folate and immuno-stimulating supplements), the HPV and abnormal cervical cells have persisted. I had a PAP about a month postop and it was, of course abnormal. Had a repeat PAP at 9 months postop and it was normal! And my HPV test was negative. My healthy postop diet and reduced stress from no longer being obese has no doubt strengthened my immune system so it could finally clear the damn virus.

There are fast food items that wouldn't be too bad...just stick with the Proteins and leave out the carbs. Burger without the bun, grilled chicken, chili, fajita burritos (just don't eat the tortilla), Etc. I'm single and not a fan of cooking, so I get a lot of stuff from my local deli. BBQ ribs, broccoli bacon salad, turkey curry salad, egg salad (served on a slice of tomato), meatloaf that I cut up and freeze into individual meal portions, sushi. Also, I don't get a lunch break, so I always keep Protein Bars, mixed nuts, pumpkin seeds, and Jerky around to snack on while I'm driving. For sweets, I'm a fan of frozen pineapple chunks, frozen blueberries, and I make ice cream with protein powders, Greek yogurt, milk and Torani syrups. Just finished a batch of banana protein with peanuts and started a batch of muscle milk red velvet cake, caramel syrup and chopped walnuts. Frozen vanilla protein with OJ or mio tangerine drops taste just like a dreamsicle. If you do like to cook, but are bored with the same old stuff, there are great recipes on bariatricfoodie and the world according to eggface. And If you haven't tried them, Quest bar banana nut muffin or cinnamon bun flavors might make a good accompaniment with your coffee.

The only exception to the sugar alcohol rule is erythritol. 90% is absorbed in the small intestine and excreted, unchanged in the urine. It has no affect on blood sugar levels and therefore none of the sugar addiction affects. It may be hard to find things sweetened only with erythritol, but it is available in powder form, so something to consider using in baked goods or if you want to make your own sweet treats. Personally I've just stuck with real sugar from the get go. I don't seem to have a carb addiction. Oddly, my ultimate postop craving is for nuts.

I'm 5'5" and started out at 238 (BMI 39). I am exactly one year out and am very pleased with my skin. I initially had saggy jowls, turkey neck and bat wings that fortunately tightened up after 6-7 months. I have very little excess tummy skin that I really only notice if I bend over. My boobs, butt and legs are another story. I went from DD cup to B cup, but most of that DD skin is still there. I'd probably be in a training bra if it weren't for all the skin stuffed in the B cup. I carried most of my weight low and completely lost my ass. All that skin is now sagged at the bottom of my former butt and my thigh skin is kind of pooled at my knees. But basically, as long as I don't wear shorts or mini skirts, none of my saggy skin actually shows. Not bad for a 48 year old! I don't weight train or work out, (which, BTW is supposed to help) but I did use body lotions that are supposed to promote collagen formation (DMEA and stretch mark formulas for my thighs, tummy and arms, and Q10 anti-wrinkle sensitive skin for my face and neck). Don't know if it made any difference, but at least my sagging skin is super soft ???? For aesthetic purposes, my before and after shots don't show the saggy parts

I had no problems....no pain, etc. I wore the compression stockings provided, and sipped water, muscle milk and pedialyte the whole time. Walked a bunch in the airports to help prevent clots. I was traveling alone, so I had to ask people for help lifting my bag onto the X-ray belt as well as in and out of the overhead bin on the plane because of my weight lifting restriction. It had wheels, so I had no issues pulling it through the airports. The only dilemma was how to get it in my truck in long term parking? I ended up unpacking it, throwing everything in the back seat and then putting the nearly empty bag in.

My original flight into San Diego was cancelled due to a snowstorm and I had to drive 5 hours to another airport to fly standby on the last flight out (I was seriously contemplating driving the 15 hours to San Diego). Got in at 1am, day of my surgery, so I ended up having to stay in San Diego and went back to the airport at 7am to meet my shuttle. So my credit card definitely came in handy!

My insurance didn't cover WLS under any circumstances, but even if it did, I wouldnt have qualified. I was a relatively healthy fat person, too. BMI of 39.5 with none of the comorbidities listed. Grandmother and grandfather that lived to 101 and 95. Other grandparents that died of pancreatic cancer and an accident. Both parents overweight/obese but alive and kickin. My chronic back, knee and ankle pain, fatigue and unhealthy eating habits certainly didn't count. Thank goodness for skilled Mexican surgeons....they cured all of my non-comorbidities!

I agree with the moderation thing....a couple Hershey kisses or a square or two of dark chocolate won't derail your weightloss. In fact, it's a lot easier for me to be good 90% of the time as long as I let myself be "bad" the other 10%. Actually had a small handful of chocolate chips with a teaspoon of peanut butter this evening. You just need to be able to stop after a small taste. Find a balance you can live with....cause this is for the rest of your life!

Well, your bariatric team is partially correct. Yes, "true" teas including black, green, and oolong do contain caffeine, but most herbal teas absolutely do not. The plants they are made from simply do not contain caffeine so the teas are naturally caffeine-free. They do not go through a decaffeination process. And there are dozens of herbal teas to choose from.....Rooibos, camomile, peppermint, blackberry, roasted chicory, sage, lemon balm, ginger, honey bush, and hibiscus, to name a few. I never drank tea before surgery, but have thoroughly enjoyed discovering the world of herbal teas. So much more variety than coffee.

One of my surgeons (dr. Martinez) explained the risks of long term PPI's....pretty much everything stated above. He wanted me off of them after the mandatory 2 months, if they werent absolutely necessary. Luckily I have not had long term reflux. I did get C diff 6 weeks after VSG....but infection mostly came from my high risk exposure in the veterinary field and antibiotics for a tooth infection, but GI surgery and PPI's are also risk factors, so I was essentially set up for a "perfect storm".

Obesity Comorbidities..... Family history of heart disease Family history of stroke Family history of diabetes Family history of heart attacks Hyperinsulinemia Diabetes High blood pressure Coronary-artery disease Hypertension Migraines or headaches directly related to obesity or cranial hypertension Congestive heart failure Neoplasia Dyslipidemia Anemia Gallbladder disease Osteoarthritis Degenerative arthritis Degenerative disc Degenerative joint disease Recommended joint replacement from specialist Accelerated degenerative joint disease Asthma Repeated pneumonia Repeated pleurisy Repeated bronchitis Lung restriction Gastroesophageal reflex (GERD) Excess facial & body hair (Hirsutism) Rashes Chronic skin infections Excess sweating Frequent yeast infections Urinary stress incontinence Menstrual irregularity Hormonal abnormalities Polycystic ovaries Infertility Carcinoma (breast, colon, uterine cancer) sleep apnea Pseudotumor cerebri Depression Psychological/sexual dysfunction Social discrimination Premature death in the immediate family (But your insurance company and surgeon may have different criteria.)

I'm 10 days shy of 1 year postop. These are the only three scars you can see. The drain hole and incision at the bottom of my sternum are not visible. Oh, and the scar at the top of my belly button is where my belly ring got ripped out when I got it caught on a tie down hook 4 years ago (cause my belly stuck out too far!)

Congratulations! It's so great that you have not only helped yourself, but that you are reaching out to help others. And I love your kitty pictures....she got bigger and fluffier while you got smaller and un-fluffier.