sbg224

I do go almost every week. The one they have at the hospital where I had the surgery is kind of far, especially with LA traffic and it is 6pm, but I have appointments up there this Thursday, so I will stay for support group. Otherwise I go to a local support group also on thursdays, and it is very close. Even if you did not use their surgeon, anyone is welcome, it is run by a psychologist. It is mainly geared to the ones that have not been sleeved yet, and usually around 30 people, but I like it.

I was sleeved 8/3. I became lightheaded around 3 weeks and the doc said I was dehydrated and he told me to drink Pedialyte 1 bottle a day for 4-5 days. It tastes nasty to me so I think i got in about 3 bottles in 5 days, but it did help. Best to call your doc, but it sounds like what happened with me, good luck.

As far as hospital, I recommend comfy loose pajamas, slippers, a pillow for ride home, chargers for phone or computer, whichever you take with you. I was in for 2 nights, 8/3 I had the sleeve. Chapstick, toothbrush, toothpaste, That's about all I can think of. Wear loose clothes to the hospital and then you can wear them to go home in, good luck

I cannot believe it is 4 months. Now the worrying and wondering for 3 years prior seems like a blur. I remembered when I finally decided it had to be done, I just kept thinking, it is like having to have my gallbladder removed, I just had to do it, but this time it was 80% of my stomach. I am so grateful for the sleeve. Sure there are times, like Thanksgiving, when the turkey was so good, I missed not being able to eat more of it, but then I was also grateful that I could not eat any more. Very hard to get used to, but I try not to think that much about it and just go with the flow. I am 57lbs down since July, so that includes pre-op. I keep feeling like I am behind, but finally I can feel and see the difference. Especially in pictures, wow what a difference. I cannot wait to be on onederland, but slow and steady and not hurrying it up, letting it takes it's course. I keep thinking, the doc did his part, I am doing mine and that's all we can do. Thanks to everyone at BP, for being a part of this.

My surgery was 8/3. I am down 57lbs, including pre-op. I am so grateful for the sleeve, and how it stops me from overeating. It's not so much the food choices, but when full I just would not stop, especially dinner, until I was so stuffed I felt sick. Now if I just take one bite too many, wow do I feel it. I train 3 times a week and try to ride my bike, walk in pool, have 2 bad knees. I am scheduled for total knee replacement 12/22, a little worried how it might affect this whole process, mostly since I will not be able to train, or ride bike for a while, but cannot take the pain any longer. 6 weeks later I am supposed to have the other knee done. Part of why I had the sleeve was to get the knees taken care of. Hope more August sleevers check in. Thanks for asking

I am right there with you. I am surprise the way I was eating I was not heavier. It sure does make you realize after the sleeve just how much we really need.

I am really assertive when it comes to this stuff. I would march into that docs office, ask for my records and tell them you need them immediately as you are switching docs. That is how I would do it, not saying that is what you should do. Most of the time, I have been a nurse over 30 years and have dealt with countless doctors offices and staff, and it is so frustrating, as the staff are not medical professionals, young and do not understand in the least what we are going through. That might be unfair to say and a general statement, but it goes for about 90% of the offices I have dealt with. Good luck and go get em.

I just tried to order like $85 worth of stuff. It would not let me use the code CM2015, said not valid, and then somehow it did place my order then refunded it. I was on live chat with someone, but they are not getting my messages for some reason. Never had this issue with other sites I order on, think I will get what I need somewhere else, even if it costs more, too complicated for me.

It is very normal to only get in that amount of calories. The Protein is what is most important. I was fortunate that I could drink protein shakes, Premier, I still drink one every AM, and I am almost 4 months out. 30gms per shake. Have you tried the protein powders, I like Bariatric Advantage, 27gms protein, and I add blueberries, or banana, flavored yogurt, fat free milk of any kind, etc. Some people really like the unjury drinks, 40gms of protein per serving. I was fortunate to get in my protein from the first week, and I think it will make a difference in how well you heal and how you feel. Try whatever you can to meet the 70-80gms of protein a day, at least that was the requirement for me in my program. I am now up to 100-120gms a day. Good luck

Ok, my journey quickly. I was terrified of surgery, had my sleeve done 8/3/15. I have lost 55lbs including preop. I contemplated surgery for 3 years. I just made up my mind it had to be done, just like my gallbladder had to come out 10 years ago. I was hungry from day 2, but the great thing is the sleeve stops you from overeating, love it. I was a big overeater, could lose the weight, but never kept it off, like so many of us. I can tolerate almost anything and could from day 2 also. I stay away from Pasta, rice and bread, and I considered myself a bread addict more then anything before. I have never vomited, occasional nausea. The pain was very tolerable, only took pain medicine one time after a 2 day hospital stay and that was really for a headache. Any other questions please feel free to ask, you can send me a message, good luck, you'll be fine.

I love my cashew butter, lighter to me then almond butter, and it fills me for the night. I have anywhere from 1-2 tablespoons

My doc said 6 weeks before any bike riding, swimming, elliptical, etc. What does your doc say. Walking was all I could do, but because I have 2 bad knees, he let me go back to bike riding at 4 weeks. I am now at almost 4 months out and train 3 days a week, bike ride, walk in pool, and elliptical. Don't push it, time goes fast, you really want to heal before you do heavy exercise, walking is best if you can, my opinion, good luck.

I was told by surgeon not to swallow pills whole until 3 months out. When I had one of my post op appointments he said go ahead and try swallowing the capsule that was beyond bitter. I was about 2 months out then. One night I did and got an excruciating pain below chest, radiating to stomach and back, just like a gallbladder attack, except I do not have a gallbladder. It lasted abut 2 hours. spoke with the on call doc, he said sounded like pills got stuck g back to crushing them. I am now almost 4 months out and have been swallowing my pills for about a month. last night, i got that excruciating pain again. This time lasted about an hour. I had not overeaten for Thanksgiving, was very proud of what and how much I ate. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced anything like this, pain, stuck pills, anything. I messaged my doc this AM, but do not even know if they are open today. So for today I am mostly doing liquids and very soft stuff like yogurt and cottage cheese.

Thanks guys, I guess I will stick to very small pieces or crushing. I cannot take the chewable Vitamins any longer either, they are so sweet they upset me. The past 2 days I am trying the Vitamin patch, and for the rest I will crush in some liquid or applesauce.

First I just want to say a very happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I truly enjoy and depend on reading how everyone is doing and answering questions to help when I can. This is my first Thanksgiving with the sleeve. I really did not worry much about the dinner, which we have not yet had, as I am not afraid of straying, but perhaps eating too much. I was always an overeater. Now I stop when I am full, and I plan on enjoying as much of that turkey as I can, as that is my favorite part anyway. Hope everyone enjoys the day, and I am truly thankful for my sleeve.

My absolute biggest problem post surgery, has been the constipation. I will be 4 months out next week. Sometimes it is so bad and painful, I almost went to ER. I was told to stop the benefiber, take milk of mag and miralax two times a day. OK did that and yes it helped, but then what. I have had a healthy BM one day, but then do not go again for 3-4 days and we are back where we started. I do not want to live on laxatives. They do not recommend taking a stool softener daily, but I have been, as it seems better to me then living on laxatives. Some people have said a year out, it does not get better, yuk. Good luck to all.

My first Thanksgiving since the sleeve also. I am really just looking forward to the turkey. That will fill me and if room may have some sweet potato and veggies. If not it's turkey all the way, to me that is the best part anyway. Happy Thanksgiving to all

Alex, I sent you a message, you never acknowledged it, just wondered if you got it, or do you get so many it is hard to answer each one. It had to do with the OAC conference in LA.

My advice is, go see a surgeon. He/she is the only one that can tell you if your mental health and the treatments you receive have any bearing on the surgery. Don't be afraid to have a consultation with one or two, or three. I met with either the surgeon or went to a seminar about 6-7 times before I decided on the one I wanted to do my sleeve. Most of them have heard it and seen it all, so since they are the ones who will determine if bariatric surgery is right for you, then that is who you need to see. Most of them are really nice and very compassionate, let us know what happens, good luck.

I know people have told me it's head hunger, it's acid, it's thirst. No it is not, it is hunger, so I really know how you feel. The good thing is even if we are hungry, and yes I feel the same way, wish I wasn't, the sleeve stops us from overeating so I am very grateful for that, but yes I was hungry from day 2 after surgery. You kind of learn how to control it, I am almost 4 months out, good luck.

I also had loose BMs 2 days after surgery it started. I do not remember how long it lasted, but it started with the Protein shakes before I left hospital. Now what I would give for those loose ones, the constipation is the worst. I was in tears the other day. Spoke with docs nurse and she said take milk of mag, stop benefiber and I eat prunes and take prune juice every night. Kind of went off topic, sorry. Call doc if it persists. good luck

My surgeon does not do labs until 6 months out, which I thought was a little weird. The NP I saw last time is having me do labs before my next appointment 12/10, and I was sleeved 8/3. Can't wait to see how I do, good luck hope the bruising goes away

Now i am craving a pickle lol

My preop diet was great, I lost 16lbs. We had to do it for 1 week, 3 Protein shakes a day and 1 meal, protein and veggies. I did my meal at dinner time. We could also have clear fluids, anytime, clear Soup, popsicles, Jello, tea decaf, diet juices like cranberry, no sugar, no calories, chrystal light. Then 2 days before surgery we had to do all Clear liquids only. Mostly so we could shrink the liver to make the surgery safer. There must be a reason why they do not require you to do this, but the sooner you give up the sugar and carbs the better. No rice, Pasta and bread for 6 months to 1 year following surgery, no soda ever, and no liquor for 1 year. Good luck. I am not recommending you do the above just giving you an example of what I did.

I have now gone from 2x pants and blouses to a Large. So grateful for this sleeve, sometimes cannot believe I did it, it feels like a blur. Hoping everyone is doing well, and to those not sleeved yet, good luck. I was/am a slow loser, that is how I feel, and you cannot help comparing yourself to others, but down 50lbs in almost 4 months, when else would I ever have been able to do that.