Kfree401

So relieved to hear back from you AvaFern. I was actually a little anxious to be able to get back online tonight. I was really afraid I might have offended you and others with what might seem negative. It does sound as if you have done your research very well. And our family has since found out that the 5-6 hour time limit is all any reputable surgeon and anesthesiologist would consider for an elective surgery.
I am going through the process myself to get sleeved. I hope to get over all the necessary hurdles in the next few months. I wish you all the best and I will keep following your journey!

AvaFern, please, please find out everything that you can about your surgeon. I almost feel like I shouldn't say this because I don't want to unduly alarm you, but I feel compelled, so here I go...my beautiful 49 year old sister died 3 days after having all of the same procedures done at one time. She was a successful sleever and she decided to go for this body sculpting about 2 years after her sleeve. She was in surgery for about 10 hours and they removed about 1500 ml of fat. She went home from the hospital and went into cardiac arrest the very next day. A very fine team of skilled doctors and nurses could not save her.
Maybe there are a lot of details that you have left out about your decision-making process, but it sounds like you went in for a consultation with a few modest requests and left with a long list of stuff to be done. I am really not trying to discourage you with my horror story, I'm only begging you to be as fully informed as possible. Please make sure you are going into this with your eyes wide open. I can't change what happened to her, but I think it's important to share her tragedy with other good people so that plastic surgeons (not all are greedy and unethical) can't harm innocents. My heart is heavy as I write this, and I'm wavering as I prepare to post the message, but as I said earlier, I feel compelled to do so. Good luck and may your journey take you where you are happy.

Ok, so this is the current thing I'm obsessing about. Still a month away from starting my 2 week pre op liquid diet, but want to make sure that I'm prepared. Is stevia okay to sweeten thing with? I can't imagine eating oatmeal without some sweetness added. And as for broths, are you making your own? I looked at a few kinds of broth or bullion cubes, but they have MSG which is a big trigger for Migraines for me. I did see that Swanson's brand of prepared broth is MSG-free but, yuk! Is that what you add your spices to? It's just bland chicken or vegetable. Has anyone tried an unflavored Protein powder that work in broths? I'm sorry this is so long, but I'm worried about this and want to feel more prepared.

I have just started this journey to WLS. I have had my initial consultation with the weight loss team. Blood work, PFT, EKG, etc. done. I have an my initial consultation with the doc in a few weeks. I am excited to find this site so that I can read about others going through the same things. I was told during my original appointment that this surgery could happen as early as late July, but we shall see. I have set my first goal all ready. I WiILL stop smoking before I have the surgery. I want to stop and it makes absolutely no sense at all to take this drastic step for a healthier me and keep smoking. So wish me luck with that part!

Hi, my name is Kelley and I have been an RN for 14 years. I have only ever worked in peds. First as PICU then critical care internal staffing, so PICU, NICU, ER, etc. for the last 5 years I've been in our endocrinology sub- specialty clinic. I have not been sleeved yet, and don't have a surgery date. Still going through that process. I laughed when I read some of the comments in this thread, because my husband swears I'm the worst patient ever! I am glad to have found this thread and will keep in touch as things progress.

I love coffee too. I gave mine up 1 month before surgery so I didn't have to deal with caffeine withdrawals along with being post-op.
I like the Pete's Italian Roast Decaf and the Starbucks Via Instant French Roast Decaf.
Lynda

My doc allowed coffee after 6 weeks. I was not a big coffee drinker but liked diet coke. I have had both starting about 4 months but I found I like coffee now. It doesn't bother me at all. The first few months you'll do fine till your tummy heals and the inflammation goes down, hang in there.

Thanks all for the encouragement and advice. I think going the weaning method will be best for me. I definitely get the dreaded "no caffeine" headache. This also reminded me I will have to go the Decaf tea route as well. As a true Texas girl, I switch to iced tea at lunch and that's all I really drink. Methinks some pre op planning and changes are in order.

I have been careful about who I share with - a very good friend let me know that eventually everyone would figure it out since the weight would come off - I am very luck that where I work we are all very supportive of each other, as I began to share, some before and some after, I have received excellent positive support from my co-workers. Outside of my department I haven't talked about it much, but I know I will get questions eventually as I am usually involved with other departments. And my customers - they will notice too - especially since we only see each other about once every two months or so... I have a friend that brags about self-control (She lost about 30 lbs while going through a divorce) and about how she is now a hot cougar, I can't imagine telling her - she would immediately say why can't you do it like I did? I don't have the balls to say "you mean get divorced?"

So relieved to hear back from you AvaFern. I was actually a little anxious to be able to get back online tonight. I was really afraid I might have offended you and others with what might seem negative. It does sound as if you have done your research very well. And our family has since found out that the 5-6 hour time limit is all any reputable surgeon and anesthesiologist would consider for an elective surgery.
I am going through the process myself to get sleeved. I hope to get over all the necessary hurdles in the next few months. I wish you all the best and I will keep following your journey!

I am a smoker and have set a goal to quit before I get sleeved. I want to lose this weight because I want to be a healthier version of me! Just can't see going through all this and continuing the dreadful, stinky, expense, socially unacceptable habit! Sound like I'm ready?

I am a smoker and have set a goal to quit before I get sleeved. I want to lose this weight because I want to be a healthier version of me! Just can't see going through all this and continuing the dreadful, stinky, expense, socially unacceptable habit! Sound like I'm ready?

It's ironic, I know, that I am replying to a post which will not be read by the original person posting. I did feel, however, that I wanted to chime in with the rest of y'all and say that I love this site. I haven't gotten my sleeve yet, and am probably a month or two out. I am so interested in what others on this journey have to say about the whole process. Who knows what will be useful to me? I surely don't, but I'm an information sponge at this point! What would be the point if everyone had the exact same experience? Just sayin'!

One month apart first is the day I started walking the second one is last week

Personally I do not know where I would be without Bariatric Pal. It is not perfect because we are not perfect. I always say, we have different doctors, different plans, and use common sense. I have asked our NUT questions and she doesn't know, I asked the surgeon's nurse some questions about meds and diabetes, she did not know. Without the support I get here I would be lost. I can only hope I can help someone with the health issues my husband and I have because this can be a scary journey. I tried about 6 FB groups and there was no support there. This is the best we have here thanks to Alex, and I will take the good with the bad, and am learning not to post if I am in a growly mood because I sincerely do not want to hurt someone's feelings. I hope to always be a friend here.

I am so very sorry that you lost your sister. Thank-you for telling me your story. My doctor has a 5/5 on RealSelf and he's probably the best in my region. I actually went to him after I had already scheduled Lipo with another office because I wanted him to do my augmentation. The first time I met with him I mentioned I was doing lipo elsewhere and he did not mention having anything else done at that time. I then went back 2 days later and asked what he thought of the lipo recommended and at that point he suggested the Tummy Tuck. Everything that was suggested by him was something that I brought up first, so I did not feel as if they were selling me on something I didn't need.
I am nervous about the surgery, but I did research it and the surgeon very well. Again, thank-you for your post and I'm sorry that your family lost your sister.

Kfree I am so sorry for your loss and it is a good reminder...
Ok, it's well known I had multiple procedures at once. I don't take that lightly however. I wasn't sure how to reply because I want to be supportive,I had multiple procedures,but there is something uncomfortable for me in your description. I have no idea if my comments are on target but it is what I would mention to a friend to encourage her to seek more information.
Let me start by saying none of the USA surgeons I consulted would do a 10hour surgery due to the risk of general anesthesia. My surgery was 9hours and was done with a twilight sedation combined with an epidural. The surgeon and his anesthesiologist specializes in this situation and had done hundreds of similar jumbo procedures before me. I was healthier and fitter than many. He has never lost anyone, never had someone go into ICU, but I still recognised it was a big deal to do so much at once.
I had no Lipo and I am concerned with how much you describe. I have talked to several people who had lots of lipo and it is very painful and does not always deliver results. Have you seen before and afters of patients who are similar to you that had all that lipo? I know very little about lipo but I thought the garments are key to lipo results so it worried me that he is doing so much but you expect to wear the garments only 2-4 weeks. I was required to wear garments for 6 weeks and then voluntarily wore stage 2 ones another 6-8 weeks on my tummy for my own comfort.
Do you have realistic expectations of results-that comes from looking at similar people.
Why not wait until you are at goal? You were sleeved less than a year ago. I am unclear if you plan to try to get to goal between now and Aug 20th but now is the time to be building up strength, having lots of Protein, preventing anemia etc. It really isn't the time to try to crash diet lose weight. Now I did lose a few pre op because I was a bundle of nerves....but I was getting lots of Protein, wholesome foods and exercise.
How many consults did you have? I had several and was shocked by the range of opinions and recommendations....very educational. Does your surgeon have great reviews on real self.com?
I had a breast lift and augmentation. I was lucky that he was able to do it without the T scar...just the lollipop. 8 months out and breast scar is invisible. For me I wanted to see tons of breast pix for fear of looking artificial. I am pleased with my results.
On the pain topic...I experienced very little. I had strong meds the first 3 days while I was in the clinic and after that Tylenol. However,ladies who had lipo hurt more. The recovery was long slow and difficult because of the severe restrictions on activity. I found that harder than expected.
So I apologize if I offended and it could be that my concerns are way off base. All I know is what I learned going through my journey and the year I spent researching, doing consults and most insightful was the time on social media with fellow patients of my surgeon Dr Sauceda. I followed stories of perfect outcomes and a few complications. It's why I was hardcore about following Dr orders.....I wanted to do way more activity but that is strongly correlated with certain complications so I went stir crazy instead.

AvaFern, please, please find out everything that you can about your surgeon. I almost feel like I shouldn't say this because I don't want to unduly alarm you, but I feel compelled, so here I go...my beautiful 49 year old sister died 3 days after having all of the same procedures done at one time. She was a successful sleever and she decided to go for this body sculpting about 2 years after her sleeve. She was in surgery for about 10 hours and they removed about 1500 ml of fat. She went home from the hospital and went into cardiac arrest the very next day. A very fine team of skilled doctors and nurses could not save her.
Maybe there are a lot of details that you have left out about your decision-making process, but it sounds like you went in for a consultation with a few modest requests and left with a long list of stuff to be done. I am really not trying to discourage you with my horror story, I'm only begging you to be as fully informed as possible. Please make sure you are going into this with your eyes wide open. I can't change what happened to her, but I think it's important to share her tragedy with other good people so that plastic surgeons (not all are greedy and unethical) can't harm innocents. My heart is heavy as I write this, and I'm wavering as I prepare to post the message, but as I said earlier, I feel compelled to do so. Good luck and may your journey take you where you are happy.

AvaFern, please, please find out everything that you can about your surgeon. I almost feel like I shouldn't say this because I don't want to unduly alarm you, but I feel compelled, so here I go...my beautiful 49 year old sister died 3 days after having all of the same procedures done at one time. She was a successful sleever and she decided to go for this body sculpting about 2 years after her sleeve. She was in surgery for about 10 hours and they removed about 1500 ml of fat. She went home from the hospital and went into cardiac arrest the very next day. A very fine team of skilled doctors and nurses could not save her.
Maybe there are a lot of details that you have left out about your decision-making process, but it sounds like you went in for a consultation with a few modest requests and left with a long list of stuff to be done. I am really not trying to discourage you with my horror story, I'm only begging you to be as fully informed as possible. Please make sure you are going into this with your eyes wide open. I can't change what happened to her, but I think it's important to share her tragedy with other good people so that plastic surgeons (not all are greedy and unethical) can't harm innocents. My heart is heavy as I write this, and I'm wavering as I prepare to post the message, but as I said earlier, I feel compelled to do so. Good luck and may your journey take you where you are happy.

AvaFern, please, please find out everything that you can about your surgeon. I almost feel like I shouldn't say this because I don't want to unduly alarm you, but I feel compelled, so here I go...my beautiful 49 year old sister died 3 days after having all of the same procedures done at one time. She was a successful sleever and she decided to go for this body sculpting about 2 years after her sleeve. She was in surgery for about 10 hours and they removed about 1500 ml of fat. She went home from the hospital and went into cardiac arrest the very next day. A very fine team of skilled doctors and nurses could not save her.
Maybe there are a lot of details that you have left out about your decision-making process, but it sounds like you went in for a consultation with a few modest requests and left with a long list of stuff to be done. I am really not trying to discourage you with my horror story, I'm only begging you to be as fully informed as possible. Please make sure you are going into this with your eyes wide open. I can't change what happened to her, but I think it's important to share her tragedy with other good people so that plastic surgeons (not all are greedy and unethical) can't harm innocents. My heart is heavy as I write this, and I'm wavering as I prepare to post the message, but as I said earlier, I feel compelled to do so. Good luck and may your journey take you where you are happy.

AvaFern, please, please find out everything that you can about your surgeon. I almost feel like I shouldn't say this because I don't want to unduly alarm you, but I feel compelled, so here I go...my beautiful 49 year old sister died 3 days after having all of the same procedures done at one time. She was a successful sleever and she decided to go for this body sculpting about 2 years after her sleeve. She was in surgery for about 10 hours and they removed about 1500 ml of fat. She went home from the hospital and went into cardiac arrest the very next day. A very fine team of skilled doctors and nurses could not save her.
Maybe there are a lot of details that you have left out about your decision-making process, but it sounds like you went in for a consultation with a few modest requests and left with a long list of stuff to be done. I am really not trying to discourage you with my horror story, I'm only begging you to be as fully informed as possible. Please make sure you are going into this with your eyes wide open. I can't change what happened to her, but I think it's important to share her tragedy with other good people so that plastic surgeons (not all are greedy and unethical) can't harm innocents. My heart is heavy as I write this, and I'm wavering as I prepare to post the message, but as I said earlier, I feel compelled to do so. Good luck and may your journey take you where you are happy.

AvaFern, please, please find out everything that you can about your surgeon. I almost feel like I shouldn't say this because I don't want to unduly alarm you, but I feel compelled, so here I go...my beautiful 49 year old sister died 3 days after having all of the same procedures done at one time. She was a successful sleever and she decided to go for this body sculpting about 2 years after her sleeve. She was in surgery for about 10 hours and they removed about 1500 ml of fat. She went home from the hospital and went into cardiac arrest the very next day. A very fine team of skilled doctors and nurses could not save her.
Maybe there are a lot of details that you have left out about your decision-making process, but it sounds like you went in for a consultation with a few modest requests and left with a long list of stuff to be done. I am really not trying to discourage you with my horror story, I'm only begging you to be as fully informed as possible. Please make sure you are going into this with your eyes wide open. I can't change what happened to her, but I think it's important to share her tragedy with other good people so that plastic surgeons (not all are greedy and unethical) can't harm innocents. My heart is heavy as I write this, and I'm wavering as I prepare to post the message, but as I said earlier, I feel compelled to do so. Good luck and may your journey take you where you are happy.

I have just started this journey to WLS. I have had my initial consultation with the weight loss team. Blood work, PFT, EKG, etc. done. I have an my initial consultation with the doc in a few weeks. I am excited to find this site so that I can read about others going through the same things. I was told during my original appointment that this surgery could happen as early as late July, but we shall see. I have set my first goal all ready. I WiILL stop smoking before I have the surgery. I want to stop and it makes absolutely no sense at all to take this drastic step for a healthier me and keep smoking. So wish me luck with that part!