MissKay

But that begs the question about my absorption of the other vitamins. I'm definitely not saying that you're wrong because you're right that the patches aren't a FDA approved vitamin. I'd just be super confused as to how I'm deficient in one and not others if they weren't doing something you know? Like I had to stop the biotin patches and switch to a pill because the vitamin a in the biotin patch caused me to have too high of levels.

@Berry78 thank you. I do know Stacy and a few other patients of our surgeons actually tested out the patches for months and they did as they claimed. My multivitamin is the patch one as well. I don't do well with taking pills daily, so the patches have been a saving grace. Aside frim my B12, everything else has been perfect since surgery. I'll definitely take a look at that site. @MarinaGirl I don't understand how that's any different than a pill?

Alright so I hate having to post about this because other than this one pesky vitamin, I've had no issues. See, I take the vitamin patches. I take the multivitamin with has 1000mcg of B12 already in it. On top of that I take the B12 patch, which has another 1000mcg in it. In July for my year bloodwork, my tests came back to where my B12 was super close to being deficient. I'll post an image of my results below for each test. After those results, my PCP started having me come in to get an additional B12 shot every month. I've had 3 months of that. Then, as you can see, results from the other day come in. While it's gone up a bit, she's still concerned enough that it's on the lower end to have me still come in every 2 months for a shot. Here's my thing... with my supplements, that's 33,334% of the daily value. On top of the foods I eat, and THEN the shot every month. It almost seems like my body isn't absorbing the vitamin. What the crap? I already sent my PCP a message asking clarifying questions and expressing my concern to her wondering if anything else could be contributing to this, so I'll see Monday her response. My question is, has anyone else dealt with an issue with their B12 post-op? I know thyroid issues or anemia can cause/effect it, was this the case for you? Or was it something else? My results:

I was a healthy weight until about 19 or 20 years old. Then my (at the time undiagnosed) PCOS symptoms kicked in. I started gaining weight like crazy, and the bouts of depression I slipped into were terrible. I was also going through a huge change of moving away from all my friends and family and being very isolated. I was also very poor growing up, so all the junk food and fast food and eating out I couldn't afford started to become affordable. I definitely took comfort in food. After a couple years when I started trying to lose the weight and change my habits, because of the hormonal imbalance, nothing helped keep it off. And then I'd gain everything back, and then some. It's only been 7 years that I was that big, but now as I'm getting smaller and fitting into clothes again and doing things I never could, I actually find it hard to remember that I once could do those things and just... didn't. So it's definitely something that helps me remember that I lost my health once before, and I'm trying to stay on track to never do that again.

I'm 9 months out and haven't had much of an issue with heartburn. I get it if I'm eating/drinking too many acidic things, but it's not often. I take a Prilosec and then i'm perfectly fine. On the actual topic, I had Dr. Illan and it was the best experience I've had with a doctor. I was terrified going. I wasn't a revision patient, but it's nerve wracking either way. Specifically BECAUSE there is no guarantee. There is a risk no matter who the surgeon is or where it takes place. As long as you've mitigated the biggest part by finding a good surgeon, you significantly lower that risk. And you have! Dr. Illan is amazing.

I've lost 100lbs in 9 months with my VSG, and this is including 4-5 different stalls, one being 2 months long. Which is possible, but not typical from what I've seen. So you can lose more weight over a shorter time, just depending on the body, the diet, and the exercise. Every one is different, no person loses the exact same. But it can be done, you just may have to adjust things over time to accomplish that.

I went through IMG and only had a 7 day policy for like $20 that covered me while in Mexico. http://www.imglobal.com/en/index.aspx

Okay thanks to those that posted!! Blood work came back. Iron levels are perfect. It's my vitamin D that's low and I'm on the lower end of the spectrum (but still normal) of B12. So apparently with those two things happening, it's causing exhaustion, and I'm going to bet that the heaviness of my first real period in years just took its toll on me. So now I'm just working on getting my vitamin D back up. I'm almost positive it's because our winter here has been one for the history books where there was no sun, lots of snow, and we were stuck inside a lot. Which isn't normal for around here. So I'm going to do what I can food wise, and see how it improves with more exposure to sun and whatnot as Spring kicks into gear.

Any of the Power Crunch bars. But since I don't like chocolate/peanut butter flavored ones, it limits me to this one: You can get them at Trader Joe's, GNC, or I even bought a box off Amazon cause it was cheaper. They taste like a wafer cookie.

I believe most surgeons (but check with yours for sure) say to wait at LEAST 6 months. That's how long I waited. Alcohol is harsh on the stomach and empty calories. Trust me, I still have a beer or spirit every so often. So I'm not saying ever again. But again, check with your surgeon/NUT. How fast you get drunk is dependent on each person. With the sleeve, your stomach empties of liquids much quicker, so the alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream faster. You will feel it much faster than you did before. Pre-op, it'd take 6-9 shots of Patron Silver for me to even feel a buzz. Now it takes 1 on an empty stomach, 2 if i'd had anything to eat in the last hour or two. Pace yourself. Do not take shot after shot or drink after drink.

I only ever eat the 6" Turkey breast with lots of veggies and I don't eat the bread of it. So it's basically a mini salad for $2-3 cheaper than their actual salads and is the perfect size.

The rooms are private. He only does 4 surgeries per day. The great thing about Dr. Illan being partnered with BP is that Alex is on top of providing that kind of information to be as transparent as possible. You can find most of his credentials right here: https://teammx.bariatricpal.com/pages/dr-jalil-illan-surgeon-oasis-hospital

Yeah if you gulp soon post-op, the pain and discomfort will condition you not to. I'm a chugger, so it was insanely hard for me to sip, but I think about 2-3 months out I was able to once again. Just not as much at one time.

Empty calories. High sugar content. Empty carbs. High fructose corn syrup. The list goes on and on. The biggest thing is once post-op, a lot of people can't tolerate the carbonation. I'm lucky that I can, but I stay far away from soda because there is no health benefit to it at all.

Ahhh okay, so that's good at least. So it just sounds like she's super skeptical, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. There ARE horror stories, but as long as you do your research, and know the surgeon you're working with, you should be just fine. I know mine actually sent me home with a lot of medical info and scans of everything to give to my PCP so they could see results and everything. As long as she's willing to still treat you after, you can have that satisfaction of getting it done and showing her that she was wrong. The one thing I've learned is that some doctors think they know everything, but the reality is they don't. I've heard of some docs ending up just really impressed with the work from the surgeons in Mexico. Good luck!

I don't judge nor fault you for not wanting to wait. I started the process in December of 2015, I met the BMI requirement, but I didn't have any co-morbidities aside from possible undiagnosed sleep apnea (my bf would tell me about certain things that led me and my PCP to believe this). So they referred me to a sleep center to do the test. It took two months for the referral and appointment to get situated. It was scheduled for February. Then something came up that caused them to have to re-schedule, and it was another month out. Right before a trip I had had planned for months prior. I got fed up with it and just cancelled and started looking into Mexico. I went with Dr. Illan, and I have absolutely no regrets about doing so. His team is fantastic, he's so nice and caring. I also just loved that he was partnered with BP themselves, and Alex being a long standing person in the Bariatric community backing him as well just spoke volumes in my eyes. So I said to hell with proving the sleep apnea. Because even after that, then I had to do the 6 month weigh ins, psych eval, etc. etc. My weight gain was a culmination of my PCOS, bad eating habits, and severe depression from the PCOS. I could lose 30-40lbs, but I couldn't keep it off or get under that. I got fed up and booked with Dr. Illan the moment I got back from my trip. Now I'm 9 months post-op, 48lbs away from goal, and life is fantastic. Some don't have the means to take the self-pay option, and technically I didn't either (I took out money against my car, and my bf of 9 years took money from stocks he had and paid a portion of it too). But I'll say, it was the best $4400 I ever spent, and I wish I had done it sooner. To think that if I hadn't I would just NOW be getting my surgery? The thought makes me cringe and so happy that my impatience did me a favor for once. I did get lucky, my PCP had 2 other patients who'd gone to Mexico to get the VSG and had done great, and so that even eased my mind. She wasn't a stranger to it, and that was even better. She's been very supportive. If yours won't get on board, I'd definitely think about changing to a new one.

You should be okay, perhaps tweaked a muscle or nerve, but I'd highly recommend calling your surgeon's office just to be on the safe side. They may want to make sure/know of anything like that.

I didn't allow myself rice or much pasta until I was 6 months out. Even then, I don't eat much of it now. When I have anything with rice, I usually only use about a tablespoon of cooked rice to mix in with the dish or so. Otherwise, it fills me up way too fast. I've had pasta twice in the last few weeks, but again, very small amounts. I'm now almost 9 months out. I don't eat or drink very many other carbs, so I allow myself pasta or rice every now and then. But it's usually alongside lots of veggies and meat (which I eat first).

I'd recommend talking to them about letting you try the patches and seeing how your blood work looks. I've been using them for 6 months and all is good. I admit, I only switched to them after someone else seeing my surgeon was a 'guinea pig' and tried them for a few months and did regular blood work as well. So they do seem to work, and I love that I don't have to chew anything, and it prevents me from having take them with food to prevent an upset stomach.

Maybe it's just me... but with the update, I can't seem to find the option to hide the city part of the location. Previously in my public profile and mini profile it only showed my state, which I preferred. Now it shows my city as well?

For pre-op, I'd recommend a general multi-vitamin, and biotin. Biotin will help delay and lessen post-op hair loss. I use the patches, but since you're pre-op, oral vitamins should work just as well.

This is normal, unfortunately! Especially since you're only 1.5 months out. Give it time, it can subside and get better. The acid in those items can cause the influx, and I know some people suffer worse from it. Thankfully they didn't with me. You could still have them, but would probably need to take some form of omeprazole beforehand. I do that with anything super high in acid now just to keep it down and prevent any painful symptoms. But with time your toleration for it can definitely improve.

Totally normal! The first two months mine made so much noise, it was weird. Now it mostly only does it when I eat something that I haven't eaten with my sleeve yet, or it's just digesting oddly.

Well that's good to know! Thanks for sharing that

Does your surgeon not have you on omeprazole to help with reflux/reduce it for a bit? If not, ask them about it. I highly recommend the vitamin patches. You can get them from the BariatricPal store, or you can get them from PatchMD.com. Either way both stores have them and they're great. I've been using them for about 6 months.