Daisee68

I just didn't want to call tonight because it wasn't an emergency.

@@tacocat - My sister recently did trapeze school and told me I HAVE to put that on my bucket list. not sure that is my cup of tea but how fun that you want to try!! you will have a blast. her video of it was pretty cool!

Same here....

​Same thing here. And honestly I knew before I told her what she would say. The thing is, as someone who has never struggled with her weight, I think she just flat doesn't get it. It just makes no sense at all to her. Maybe that is the same with your friend? Or maybe you always spent time with her over a meal or drinks? I know I did previously and we are really having to adjust to spend time together not over a meal or at least over a healthy meal. Hopefully she will come around. Very good for you for standing up for yourself and your relationship and telling her she has to support you. Maybe that will sink in and things will get better....

​I have thought about same thing. I think a card / letter would be welcome by them.

​Ok I know, I know, no ibuprofen post surgery. But I had 2 cavities filled today and my jaw hurts and Tylenol isn't helping. When I was in my pre-op "class", the speaker mentioned never to take anti-inflammatories but if you absolutely had to, make sure to take a PPI with it. Well I am taking PPI still - twice per day - so do you suppose it would be ok to take 2 ibuprofen just this one time? Surely 2 wouldn't cause an ulcer if only used this once and used with the PPI. Thoughts?

@@Sophie74656 - I disagree. Addiction is fully treatable if a person wants to treat it. I have been seeing a therapist to treat this and will continue to do so for at least 2 years post-op constantly dealing with this. The problem is people think WLS "fixes" everything and you have to remember that it is just a tool to help you lose while you are getting healthy in other ways by seeing nutritionist and therapist.

​My surgeon didn't even check it - I guess since no symptoms? My insurance specifically states it won't cover removal of gallbladder if not "medically necessary", so they wouldn't automatically do it. have had some symptoms since so I really wish it had been at least checked before my surgery.

Decaf green tea. I buy different flavors from Republic of Teas. I love the Ginger Peach. I usually steep it for a minute in hot Water then pour it over ice and add water. I also like Orange Crush Water Enhancer (stick of powder like Crystal Light). Powerade Zero occasionally. Sometimes I squirt a little lime juice in my water but yea I am definitely sick of water....

Hmmm.... I don't think so. I only met with my NUT. I had to get a letter from my PCP (or doctor other than surgeon) recommending me for the surgery. You might need to get your surgeon's office and/or your insurance to clarify for you. I had Cigna.

Welcome! Not sure how those with surgery from Mexico handle their supplements. I got a prescription from my dr for Nascobal which is a nasal B12 spray and they also send you the supplements. It is REALLY expensive and even though my insurance covers it, I am considering changing to an over the counter supplement at the end of the year when my insurance starts over. Do you meet with a nutrionist? I recommend you find one stateside that you can check in with if your surgeon doesn't have that post-op after care. The surgeon or NUT should state at least what you need but really important to get follow up labs from your PCP here. Even with the recommended doses, after my first labs, we made some adjustments. Hopefully bumping this post op will get some other folks who had surgery in Mexico to weigh in. BUT bottom line is you do not have to buy the brand the dr sells. You just need to get equivalent somehow.

Lots of posts about Cigna if you do a search. I have them and my surgery was covered; however, the customer service told me about 50% of their plans do and 50% don't. It depends on the employer / purchaser of the insurance and whether or not they specifically excluded bariatric surgery. If your specific plan does cover it, then it is 3 months pre-op diet requirement, letter from Primary Care doctor (or doctor other than surgeon), over 40 BMI or over 35 BMI with co-morbidities. This link might be helpful if your plan does cover it: https://cignaforhcp.cigna.com/public/content/pdf/coveragePolicies/medical/mm_0051_coveragepositioncriteria_bariatric_surgery.pdf

Have you worked with a therapist in the past? I know the one I see specifically works with post-op patients who have gained weight (in addition to pre-op and initial post-op like me). You might seek that out....

Be really careful with nuts. Specifically peanuts. They don't really digest and I didn't chew them well enough and got a small piece stuck (and that was at 3 months). Now it got stuck because I had a stricture but my Dr said not nuts. I was confused because I thought it was a good protein source but now I think I will just avoid.

This sounds really good. I have been craving sausage. Haven't tried Morningstar yet. I tried turkey sausage and hated it but I just tried to eat the patty not chopped up in something so maybe that was the difference. Will have to give this a try.

I think a stall is really defined as 2 weeks without any loss at all (though some will say 1 week is a stall). Either way, if it makes you nuts, stay off the scale. I actually gained the first couple of weeks because of fluids from the hospital, so the fact that you have already lost 20 pounds is pretty amazing. Give your body a chance to catch up. If you haven't done it already, take starting measurements. These will be very important as you move through the process because you will often lose inches when you aren't losing pounds. Don't get discouraged. Remember this is a long journey and the pounds will eventually add up. I was thinking this morning how going from 30 pounds down to 50 pounds down seemed like forever and then 50 to 80 seemed nearly overnight as I look back on it (though it wasn't). You are doing great if you are following the plan. Stay focused on the food, fluids and exercise and it will all come off eventually.

I love the Premier Protein ready made drinks. I hated Synthrax Nectars. I also use Precision Engineered whey Protein Isolate and I really like it - both the chocolate and the vanilla. My favorite shake is Orange Crush Water Enhancer (either drops or stick of powder) mixed with vanilla Protein powder and water and ice. Farther along, I was able to add a little banana to it. Really yummy. I also will mix 1/2 scoop of vanilla powder with 1/2 container of greek yogurt (really good with key Lime or strawberry cheesecake). I have also mixed a whole scoop of chocolate powder with a sugar free fat free chocolate pudding snack. It makes it pretty runny which is helpful during liquid stage (depending on what your dr will let you having during liquid stage.) For unflavored protein, I use Doc Hale's Whey-licious. In the very beginning when I couldn't get very much down, I could mix a scoop with 4 oz (yes as little as 4 oz) of Propel Fitness berry water. it didn't taste too bad and was such a small portion that I could get it down easier (though I might take an hour to get in 4 oz that first week until swelling goes down some). Everyone's tastes are different and even things you can handle pre-op, you may not be able to handle post-op (though that hasn't happened to me). You will eventually find something you can tolerate - even if you don't love them, you can get through it.

Have you met with your surgeon yet? Mine had a referral for me. If you haven't met with the surgeon but have one in mind, I would bet you could call their office and get a referral.

You will get all kinds of responses to this. I too have a desk job. I took 2 1/2 weeks at home though I was working from home after a few days. I wish I had taken 3 weeks. I was very tired when first going back and I struggled with a lot of nausea. I had to leave early and go home several times. The thing you have to remember is that it is not just the surgery recovery but the new lifestyle. So you have to be prepared to be sipping Fluid often and pack your food to take with you, etc. If you can get longer off without an issue, I highly recommend it. You can go back at 1 week. Lots of people do it. But just be prepared that it can be tough - at the very least mentally as you adjust.

Re diet soda, I had a bad diet Dr Pepper habit pre-op. I gave it up about 3 weeks prior to surgery and then the last week (on my liquid diet), I drank a couple thinking it would be my last chance. (My soda funeral) It didn't taste quite the same. I will tell you that post-op, I probably miss carbonation more than anything BUT honestly, what I miss is the "habit" and the "choice". I am almost 4 months post-op and what I crave is that part of my old lifestyle and haven't quite found a good substitute. I drink a lot of unsweet tea. BUT it does get easier. The first month as I drove past my favorite Breakfast stop, I really had to focus to keep driving. The last few weeks, I don't even see it anymore. Years and years ago when I first started considering WLS, I said I would never do it because I couldn't have soda or alcohol. Soda will never be a good choice and alcohol can be done in moderation after the weight loss phase. I wish I hadn't let those things keep me away this long though. All the benefits make it more than worth it and the "cravings" get better. Don't let this part hold you back. Re Cookies, I have not tried this yet, but I have read lots of folks cutting up Quest Protein bars into pieces (like maybe 8 pieces) and put them in the toaster oven, and they come out like cookies. A treat and you get your protein. If it is a trigger food for you that might lead to more not so healthy cookies, then don't do it, but if you can find a substitute for that craving that fits in to your food budget (and even better helps with protein needs), then all the better.

​Shirts you can pull off different sizes for a while, but I have to have pants and they seem to be changing faster. I found one pair of jeans I like at Avenue, and when 1 size gets too big, I order the next 2 smaller sizes. When those get too big, repeat. Same with a pair of dress pants from Lane Bryant. I have been wearing a lot of smaller dresses but easy for me to do in summer in Texas. I can pull that off a little longer, but will be tougher as we get in to winter I suppose. If you haven't done so already, check out Poshmark.com. People sell their used clothes for less and you can even sort by brand (including Old Navy). You can pick up pants for $15 to $20, so maybe that will help you.

​I am a bypass patient but I had a stricture that developed same time frame. It was awful. By the time we figured it out, it was because I hadn't held ANYTHING in for 4 days. When they did the first procedure, I had only a tiny pin hole left open so nothing was going down. As the day went on, food / Fluid built up in to my esophagus and it had to come back up. I had 2 balloon dilations about a week apart and I feel so much better now! Do you have any insurance at all? I was always told any "Complications" would be considered covered by insurance. I wonder if you go to a GI specialist, if the insurance would consider it differently than procedure from bariatric surgeon? As far as losing weight faster, clearly that person did not have a stricture. it is horrible and being malnourished is a real possibility and awful.

I remember the post and recall that it was San Antonio. I will search and see if I can find it. Update: I found this post talking Dr. Fisher in San Antonio. Was this it? http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/333460-looking-for-plastic-surgeon-in-north-nj-or-mexico-cost/page-2

Don't chug Water. It may not hurt (for some reason) but it could be a bad habit to get started again. (I suppose it depends on what you mean by chugging but more than an ounce in one sip isn't a good idea. By 2 1/2 weeks it seems reasonable that you could drink 16 oz in an hour though.) Don't drink while you eat. The rule doesn't apply because "it will bother you". It applies because a) it can take up space in your stomach when you are trying to get sufficient Protein and food in and it will too quickly wash the nutrients out of your stomach. Stop 15-20 minutes before you eat and at least 30 minutes after. It takes getting used to, but eventually it becomes habit. I set a timer when I finish eating for 30 minutes and don't drink until timer goes off.

Have fun on your trip out of town. Be careful not to dehydrate. Tiny sip of fluids all day as much as you can. It may be best to stick with fluids until you can see the Dr. I agree it can take some longer to move thru the stages. I was struggling with more than soft food at 3 months and then held nothing in for 4 days. That's when they figured out the stricture. 2 balloon dilation later, I can now eat real food! Have had grilled chicken from restaurants twice this week and had no issues. I can't eat more than 1 1/2 of before feeling full but that's OK. That's how it is supposed to work! The resin I said your sounds like a stricture is that mine got worse throughout the day as I put in more and everything built up. Once I could vomit it all up I felt much better. Turned out I had a very tiny pin hole opening and not even liquids were moving thru very quickly. If that sounds familiar, try to get them to skip the upper GI especially if u have to do a barium swallow. That will make u pretty sick if u have a stricture since the stuff is thick and may not go through. I ended up in ER where they did a CT scan and said everything looked perfectly normal (even the possibility of astenosis). That was on a Wednesday. On Friday they did the EGD after much complaining and found the stricture soothe CT scan was a complete waste of time. Hang in there. As soon as they fix this, u will feel much better!