JeanZ_RN

I can see a difference! I can see a waist in the pic that has you smiling! You just keep working that sleeve, sista, and you gonna be FINE.

Before having the surgery I had doubts about my need for it... "Shouldn't I be able to do this without surgery?" But now I know that would not have worked for me any more than it did the other zillion times I've tried to change my eating habits. The pre-op diet - 1 week of just 4-5 Protein shakes a day and no solid food - was SO hard; I was desperately hungry a LOT of the time. The only thing that kept me going was the knowledge that the diet was a prerequisite for the surgery. I could not have maintained a very low calorie diet for long without the sleeve. I am thankful every day for the greatly-reduced hunger I now have as a result of the surgery.

PLEASE NOTE: I'm putting in my 2 cents here NOT to discourage you, but rather so you might not beat on yourself too hard if you are not able to maintain the dietary restrictions you're planning.

You say going to Mexico is a last resort... but many of the veterans on this site have chosen that option. You might want to read more about their experiences before you cross that off as a possibility.

Whatever path you choose, Best Wishes!

_{What is Braun surgery? I tried Googling it but no luck.}

Good on you!! Congratulations, and Thank You for posting. I hope to be in that same situation after I reach goal. So far I've been scared to try carbonated beverages, but one of these days the diet root beer in my fridge is going to leap out at me and I'll have to try it.

IMHO, the best of all possible outcomes is to be healthy AND be able to eat whatever you want! (Possible because of the sleeve and re-training ourselves to want different things than pre-op.)

The best revenge is living life your own way. You will be the one still on the healthy path when the holiday is over; they will be continuing their self-destructive habits.

I agree with L-in-NJ wholeheartedly: ...be firm when they insist on you breaking your diet. Just tell them you're committed to it and you would appreciate if they didn't try to deter SABOTAGE you.

Congratulations!! That means there is hope for me too!! Yipeeeeee!

_{As I've seen here said by others: The operation is only on our stomachs, not on our brains. We have to do that part ourselves, and ain't nobody perfect. I've also read on this site that our docs and NUTs expect (hope) we will make smart choices 90% of the time. Your ticker says you have been doing something RIGHT!}

_{I do understand how you'd be upset with yourself, and that is certainly valid. But don't beat yourself up - just learn from it and keep going forward!}

Surely you are not on solid foods yet, at one week out?? I know all surgeons are different in that regard but ... ???

Most people have trouble getting their fluids and Protein in for the first week or two, so just do the best you can. If a food, or the thought of it, makes you nauseous then don't eat it. When you do introduce a new food item, go slow! And if your new small tummy rejects it, wait a week or two and try it again.

When I get closer to goal I'm going to try http://www.loveafterwls.com.

I live in North Dallas, and was sleeved by Jeffrey Henke, MD in November. I never had the band, so can't speak to a revision specifically, but Dr Henke is WONderful. He and his partner Joseph Kuhn, MD, have offices at Medical City Dallas and at Baylor.

I'm a nurse, working in an administrative job in a small hospital. Another nurse was hired for a similar position in our hospital, and in the course of conversation he soon volunteered the information that he's had the sleeve surgery. I had not heard of it, so I asked some questions, did my research and decided to start the journey. When I scheduled the time off for the surgery it just seemed natural to tell my peers on the management team the purpose of that leave. They have ALL been supportive, which has helped me tremendously. My only family - 2 sisters and 1 brother - all live hours away, and while we do keep in touch by phone and email, it's great to have supportive people whom I see every work day. Now I get to hear several times a week congratulations on how great I look and other congratulatory stuff. I'll TAKE it!

How did you meet Mr Right? I would REALLY like to be in a relationship again.

I researched vit c several years ago, and the consensus I found was that since it is Water soluble and not stored in the body, there's no point in taking very high doses. Once your body has what it needs, you're just peeing out the rest. I don't remember what the threshold amount was (that is, the amount beyond which you don't need more).

I've been using Nascobol since surgery, and my blood work is fine. I have been using the $25 co-pay card too, and sure enough $25 is all I've been asked to pay for each 1 month supply.

The list I got from my surgeon offered a choice of B12 -- sublingual (SL) or nasal. I bought the SL when I bought my first supply of all required Vitamins and minerals before surgery, and THEN the surgeon's office staff told me he really prefers his patients use the nasal type. Wish the list had made that clear!!

The MPOA is a not-bad idea, but you might want to consider appointing your son or a close friend as your surrogate decision-maker since your husband is having cognitive issues. Keep in mind that if you have neither of those documents on file, your next of kin (your husband) will automatically be asked to make decisions if you cannot.

Certainly no harm in trying it. What have you got to lose? In the long run, it's WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOU. We all know we have food issues, and that they're long term regardless what surgery we have. Best wishes!

I like scrubs for wearing at home, and I've been buying them on ebay for a long time. I've never tried selling things on ebay, but now that my 2x and 1x scrubs are too big I'm going to have to either sell them or donate them.

Thanks for the reminder about the clothing exchange on here. I'm going to check it out.

Hi Ribearty! Long time... Hope you are doing well.

I've read similar articles before, and they make sense to me. Some of them mention a category of test subjects referred to as "super tasters" who (if memory serves) perceive certain tastes more intensely, like kale and cruciferous veggies. Since I can't stand the taste of those things, it all makes sense to me!

How are those symptoms now? Concerned about you....

Chewables: My surgeon did prescribe chewable Vitamins (and calcium), plus nasal spray B12. The only mineral he prescribed that I don't take fully in chewable form is magnesium. There's 100mg of that in each of my chewable multi, plus I take an additional 250mg tablet.

Crushing pills: I can't remember if it was the surgeon, the NUT or a sleeve-veteran co-worker who has been advising me, but someone did tell me to crush all pills. Thing is, I misunderstood the reason for that. I ASSumed it was due to possible difficulty swallowing pills. Since I've never had difficulty with pills, I just took my BP pill, my anti-depressant and my cholesterol med same as always, without crushing them. Then, at my 1-month checkup I discussed w the surgeon whether I should now resume my 81 mg aspirin tablet I'd been taking pre-op. He said ok to resume, but take a chewable variety. I said the tablet is tiny, and I wouldn't have any trouble swallowing it. He said his concern was that the tiny pill would get stuck in the staple line.

In the car on the way home I realized THAT's probably the reason I was supposed to crush those meds all that time. Some days I just have to shake my head at myself.

Plus, there's the possibility that whole pills will pass through the sleeve without being dissolved, due to the quicker transit time and / or less contact with stomach acid.

So I advise that you clarify with your doc WHY he/she wants you to take chewables / crush pills - and specifically which ones, for how long. Don't make the same mistake I did, which was to ASSume I knew... Best wishes!

I'm with McButterpants too, for the most part. I had several food funeral meals, but for me it wasn't about quantity - I didn't stuff myself, but I didn't skimp either. I just wanted to enjoy this or that taste since I wouldn't have it again for a while. I didn't get tired of it, though. I spaced out those meals over a week or so before my pre-op diet started, and it worked out just great in that when it was time for the diet I'd had the tastes I wanted.

Could be any one of several things, or a combination. Blood sugar low? Hyperventilating? sleep deprived?

If it's not any of those, then there are 2 main categories:

• Cardiac - Dehydration (I know, you said it's not that, but are you SURE?), heart beating irregularly, heart rate low, blood pressure low...
• Neurological - There are too many possibilities to name, and most of them are beyond my expertise to sort symptoms for.

If it persists for another day, better call your doctor.

Interesting article:

http://news.yahoo.com/stomach-acid-drugs-may-increase-vitamin-deficiency-risk-212241448.html

Medical journal article cited as source for the above news article:

http://bit.ly/1e3Oj56 JAMA, online December 10, 2013.

My surgeon recommends the B-12 nasal spray over the oral (chewable) tablets. I am SO glad there is an alternative to injections!

Every surgeon is different. Mine said this about post op diet:

• Weeks 1 & 2 = full liquids (anything you can get through a straw - but don't use straws bec they can increase gas);
• Weeks 3 & 4 = soft foods (anything you can mash with a fork)
• Starting week 5, no more restrictions

Before my sleeve I was ALWAYS too warm - sometimes a little, sometimes a LOT. Not in flashes, just all the time. Starting the day after surgery, that is gone. Now I'm just fine most of the time, even with the thermostat up a couple of degrees from where I used to keep it. Weird! I mean, the change was abrupt, and happened before I'd lost any big amount of weight. I'm happy with the change, but it does feel odd.