Edavidson

I didn't eat solid food for a good two months. The heartburn is still with me and seems to be getting worse. I hear so many people talking about the heart burn and that feeling in your chest like you are having a heart attack. I think it happens to most people who have the sleeve.

I have heartburn so bad i throw up. It hurts like crazy, I use Zantac but when I go to the Dr. I am going to get a prescription. I am also chewing tums like popping M&M's. I never had it in my life until surgery. We have to hang in there.

Make sure you go to the E.R. if your symptoms do not stop. Some of us do not do as well as most do. I threw up and had stomach pain for 4 months and I had to have two other major surgeries. So please promise you will go to the E.R. if you don't get better. It is so important that you seek medical attention. You can get severe dehydration and become malnourished. Please keep us posted on your condition. We are all here to support each other and telling our stories can help others. Take Care.

Atix: Hi, I was just wondering why they had to put you in SICU. Are you going to be o.k.? We are all pulling for you and you will be up and running around before you know it. Keep all of us posted on your recovery. There are so many of you getting sleeved at the same time. I am so happy for all of you and my hope and prayer is that you have a speedy recovery and reach your goal quickly.

glitter eyes: What hospital do you work at? I had my surgery at Baptist downtown by Dr. Hodgett. My total deduction was $7000, I will be paying for a long time. I had two more surgeries two months after my sleeve. I also have to pay $100 for each physician that came into my room. I don't regret it though, I am so much healthier and all of the aches and pains of being morbidly obese are gone. The surgery actually saved my life, I am so much happier. I still have 60 lbs. to go. I hope I will reach my goal by the one year mark. Life is good!

I live in Jacksonville, FL and I have B.C.B.S. I was approved and having my surgery within 3 months.They told me they didn't cover the sleeve but they did. I kept calling until I found someone who could help me. The sleeve is relatively new and there are many insurances who will not do it. You could try the gastric bypass. Do you have any medical problems that can be caused from obesity? You should keep trying, I know four individuals that have had the sleeve. Don't give up what ever you do. It is well worth the effort. Good luck to you.

I posted that the website I use to get my shakes and Vitamins was Ultram, that is a pain reliever. The correct website is unjury. So sorry, it has been madness at work. Their Protein powder is the best that I have used and it is more reasonable than what you buy in the store already mixed. I have felt so much better since I started taking all of my vitamins. It took about a month to really get them in my system. I have new hair growing (yeah). I am 61 years old so maybe I need more vitamins due to my age. I have to use gummy's or I will throw the vitamins up. I feel like a new person. I had my surgery four months ago and for the first 3 1/2 months I couldn't eat, I couldn't go to the bathroom, I threw up all the time. Once my bowels finally woke up and started working, the nausea went away. I wish only the best of luck and a lot of happy tomorrows for everyone who are working hard and taking their life back. Thank you to everyone who has helped me on this website. I could not have made without all of the advise.

I was on clear liquids for months but only because I had problems and couldn't eat. Each Dr. is different. They gave me instructions on when and what to do.

I take mega doses of Biotin for my hair and nails and B12 plus a woman's one a day vitamin. Every one should take Biotin because if lose really fast like I have done your hair takes a beating. Mine is finally looking better but some people lose their hair. Ultram sells a vitamin exclusively for the sleeve surgery.

Wow, I can't believe they turned you down. My friend went through the same thing. They want you to give up. This is your health and you want to live a long, healthy life. Drive them crazy and you will get your surgery. Send them so much paperwork they will be happy to get rid of you. Have a good day and keep us posted.

I would advise anyone who has had weight loss surgery to be very pro-active regarding your post-op care. Things can and do go wrong months into your recovery. This surgery is the best thing that I could have ever done for my health however, it almost killed me two months later. Keep your Doctor appointments, keep a journal of how you are doing and anything that doesn't feel right to you. Keep up with this website,there are so many good tips and advise. I love the inspirational stories and tips.

mindy79: I am so glad you are going to see your surgeon. Please keep us updated on your progress.

erinm51: I think it is hard to get the surgery if you don't have a high BMI. My friend at work was turned down because of that. I had records from the pain clinic, my Doctor, the hospital from all of the surgeries. I had high blood pressure and was on tons of pain pills. I was spending a fortune just to be able to walk. Do you have medical issues caused by your obesity? I live in Florida as well and they are very strict about approving weight loss surgeries, especially BCBS. It is like pulling teeth. I went to the first seminar in September and had my surgery on December 10, 2014. I don't know if you are as determined as I am but when I made the decision to have the surgery I didn't stop. I called BCBS every day, I would not stop. Your surgeon could really boost your chances by writing a letter to the Ins. company describing the complications you are having due to your weight. Don't give up, keep pushing. If this is what you want don't let anyone get in your way. Take it to the mattresses. Fight, fight, fight. Good luck

Everyone is different. Some have little pain and some have major pain. The healing process would depend on how healthy you were when you had the procedure. additionally, you had the lap band removed and your sleeve surgery so you will probably hurt more than those who only had one procedure done. I was in the hospital a week and out of work two weeks after and when I got back to work I was still throwing up. If you continue to be in pain you might want to call your surgeon. Sometimes things can go wrong after your surgery, don't ignore what your body is telling you. If I had waited one more day I would not be her to write this comment. Please be careful and let your body heal. If you are not feeling better in another week and you are still having pain you need to get some help. Good luck to you

I have never heard of anyone leaving on the same day. Most recipients stay two days and if there is a problem it can be up to a week. Will you have someone with you at home? I wouldn't advise being alone that first and second day. Everyone that I know who has had the surgery stayed two to four days. They actually did really well and had hardly no pain and you will probably be just like them and it will be a walk in the park. Hope all goes well for you and good luck.

You Rock, congratulations

It will get much better, you are still in the early stages of your new lifestyle. Trust me, you may think you want solid food but the pain isn't worth it. I am four months out and I am still having a hard time with solid food,especially meat. I am beginning to be able to eat a little more. Over time you really do settle into your new way of eating. I wish you all the best.

If you can't stand your protein shakes anymore I can tell you how to get them in and improve the taste. If you have a ninja or blender, fill it half full with chipped ice, pour in one vanilla protein shake, or the powder(UNJURY)is the best, put one Greek vanilla yogurt (light N lively, 80 calories and 12 protein)in the blender as well and fruit that you like. I use 50/50 orange juice which is much less sugar and an orange Greek yogurt. I swear it taste just like an orange cream ice cream. Strawberry and Mango are really good as well. Use your imagination, Try it, you will love it.

corkyg: I hurt when I first take a bite of something. The Dr. gave me a prescription for hyoscyamine I put one under my tongue 1 hour before I eat and it really helps with swallowing and it eases the pain when I eat. They did an upper G.I. and found that when I eat my stomach has spams. You might want to discuss this with your surgeon. I don't know if it is common after sleeve surgery. I hope it gets better for you.

I have light and lively greek yogurt, it's only 80 calories and they are so good. I have snack bags of thin pretzel sticks, 100 calories per bag and if I want something a little sweet I get animal crackers, 16 crackers are 120 calories. I know they have carbs, but I am still losing weight so I am good with them. Every now and then I will have 2 oz of ice cream but that is not much. I can't eat much at a time so when I want something I eat it but only a small amount. If you don't have something that you want every now and then you will get board and do things you should not. This is a lifetime change and it is not easy for any of us. It is depressing some times when I am out with family and friends and I can't eat. My family understands and they are an inspiration to me. I eat anything that I want to eat after I get my protein in and it is working for me. Try different things, I found that my taste buds have changed. I can't eat the bad things that I use to because it tastes bad now. I think that is normal to. I keep my calories at 800 - 1200.

Blazzrr: That is interesting about the headache's. This is why I love reading these posts. you learn something every day.

We have all had our days and like you we have all wondered if we did the right thing. It took me a year to get up the courage to even think about having the sleeve. Even with all of the problems I had I don't regret what I have done. It is very hard to go from eating anything that you want to only liquids and soft food. You can do this, you have come a long way so don't give up now. Reach down into your soul and pull out all of the courage and strength that you have and make this work for you. You will be able to eat again, anything that you want but it will take a while. I am only four months out and I can now eat anything I want, I just don't require much. I am pulling for you.

I had bad headaches during my 3 wk liquid diet as well as when I got home from the hospital. I was in the hospital for a week with no food so I just figured it was from not eating for so long. One of my concerns regarding surgery in Mexico was what if a few months down the road something went wrong! Would you contact your Dr. in Mexico or go to the E.R. I am happy to hear you are going to your G.P. to see what is going on. My G.P. is an internal specialist and she listens to what I have to say and acts on it which is what saved my life two months out. Keep us posted on what your Dr. has to say and don't take anything for granted that goes on in your body post-op. The sleeve is a great tool for losing weight. I am in my fifth month and all of the little kinks are finally workingout. The weight loss is great, I feel so much better. I have 50 lbs. to go after losing 80 lbs.

I am sorry that some people have to go out of the U.S. for weight loss surgery. If someone is morbidly obese most of them have complications because of it. An obese adult is going to cost the insurance companies a lot more in the care of obesity than the surgery will cost to get them healthy. I don't believe that I would have lived another five years without the surgery. I had so many problems afterwards that it would have been very hard for me to get the care I needed as well as two more surgeries just two months after my sleeve. I get so angry at the insurance companies who tell us what we can and can't do to get healthy. I wish all of you the very best that have to go to Mexico or the U.S. Take good care of yourself after your surgeries and do exactly what the Doctor tells you to do. After four months I am finally getting to where I can eat a little more solid food. Keeping my food down has been a very dramatic experience and the problem with not being able to have a B.M. for four months. I am getting better everyday now and I don't regret what I did. I guess I am concerned that others may have the severe problems that I had and will need good medical care months after the surgery. I hope no one thinks that I am ungrateful or that I am causing doubts about getting the procedure done. I just know that there are a few of us that didn't have a good experience after surgery. I want those that are waiting to enter into this with some caution. No matter how you feel afterwards, eventually you will see the fruits of your labor and will be very happy with yourself.

I'm so excited for all of you having the sleeve done in May. I know how all of you feel, it is a big decision and not taken lightly. You will all be fine and so much happier with your new body. Best of luck to all of you.