SusanB55

I am now almost 6 months post op and have lost 90 pounds. While the first few days were rough and uncomfortable, I can truly say that I am so thankful to have had the courage to take this step. I am so happy with the results and do not miss the binging behaviour as I feared I might. Instead, I am so grateful for the chance to live a normal life. I get all of the nutrition I need and I get bites of various things that look good. But what I find is that those old foods like bread, potatoes, fast food, pizza, really have no attraction for me. I just got the go ahead to have a small salad and boy was that good. sometimes if I want to eat a small salad and I need to make sure i get my 75-80gm of Protein in for that day, I will use the bariatric hot chocolate drink and just supplement. Thank you Dr. Matthew Johnson, Barb and all of the surgical team at St. Vincent's in Green Bay. You have saved my life.

Thank you all!!! You made me feel better I'm 2 weeks out and almost regretting this surgery... I've been feeling depressed...
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Definitely.
Can't think of anything that I can't eat now. Or that I don't eat.
The deal is that I just don't eat very much of "everything."

I wish. My stomach needs to have a talk to your stomach.

I'm starting to worry this post is going to be taken down, which is unfortunate, because there is some interesting info and commentary here. I hope that if the post is closed, the OP will still post back about her progress and what the surgeon says.

Actually, no.... 3 Jack Daniels, 1 Dewar's, 2 twisted teas and several shots of Apple Crown later, I was just starting to feel better after my flight delay from hell. And not an inkling of a hangover the next day. Not only am I really good at eating, I'm really good at drinking, too.

Way to take one for the team @@JamieLogical !
I wanna be next . I'm actually at the airport headed to my first vacation in 7 years so now is a perfect time for me to shoot for 3000 calories! Unfortunately my version will not be much help since they will mostly be in liquid form.

All right...I've just spent the last I-don't-know-how-long getting all caught up on this thread, and (ignoring the squabbling - what the HECK?) I keep having the same question.
What's the big deal with carbonation, anyway?
As a lifetime lover extraordinaire of fuzzy liquids, I went through the whole 5 stages of grief on the lifetime carbonation ban, eventually making my peace with it. But I'm wondering, if liquids won't do diddly squat to stretch out my sleeve, WHY is there a lifetime ban on them? Does the gas itself not get moved into the intestines along with the liquid? Does the carbonation somehow manage to expand itself like grains in Water once it's in your tummy? How on earth would that even happen? How would it "stress" the staple line if you're more than a month or two out from surgery? It's not like the total volume would actually change, so if you're drinking it at the same pace you'd drink other liquids, why would the carbonation be problematic?
I get that the good folks at my center don't want us drinking sugary sodas, or non-sugary diet sodas (something something fake sugars seem to affect weight loss so don't drink diet soda, but have all the fake sweeteners you want in sugar-free Jello, pudding, popsicles, or Protein shakes HUH?) BUT: I like plain carbonated Water. Used to make it myself with my beloved Sodastream. Wha??? What gives?

toler the main thing when you are out of surgery is Water and walk, the more you walk the less gas you will have and the faster you will heal., I went to dr burbee . also your doctor can give you a card that says you has surgery and cant eat a lot and they can give you a child menu or smaller meal.. usually i just tell them i had a operation and if i can have a plate i'' share with hubby and they are fine with it or i have a appatizer instead of meal.. but you can order and just take whats left home.. believe me you don't want to over eat when you have had enough stop.. feel full stop. and do wait till at least a half hour to drink after you eat . the pain isn't worth it.. the first time i overate i felt like i was having a heart attack. it was no fun and believe me one time and you will never do it again. any questions you have i will be glad to answer if i know the answer..
I live on wilmot, between speedway and broadway so we aren't that far away.. i don't do FB sorry

Patsy, I'm on the far east side, at Broadway and Houghton. You can go to my FB page, Cathleen Spiller.
Don't have surgery date yet. They have submitted for Medicare approval, I should know in another week or so. I'm still hoping for a Sept date. I am SO ready.
I go to Tucson Bariatric, Dr Jeffery Monash. I really like everyone there.
Since it's been a year for you, any tips you can pass along?

Tucson Arizona, had surgery 3/22/16
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I enjoy alcohol when I go out on weekends.
I'm 4 months and my surgeon is okay with it.
I used to be a big beer lover. More accurately....i was just BIG....and loved beer. lol.
Now, I drink high grade liqueurs with low calorie mixers. I try to avoid anything carbonated. If I'm mixing something at the house, then I"ll use a really good vodka or tequila mixed with Ocean Spray Diet Cranberry (5 calories per serving) over ice. Smooth and tasty.
Prior to surgery when I'd go out....I didn't do well with nursing a beer....it was normally 6-8 beers with some tequila shooters over the course of an evening. Watching a football game at a sports bar.....more than that.
Now....a couple of those "skinny" liquor drinks and I'm good to go.
I had this surgery to improve my health....and quickly. I'd have agreed to anything.....any terms or conditions in order to do that.
What happened over the course of these 4 months post-op, though, has been much more than simply my health being improved.....but my state of mind as well. I truly enjoy every aspect of life in ways that I'd just forgotten about.
Going out and having fun with others.......or just lone-wolfing it and flirting with a hot bartender or two.....fun stuff that helps in many ways. It's almost therapeutic.
If having a few occasional drinks is fun......then so be it. I didn't have this surgery to live like a monk. I did it to feel better......and feel better, I shall.
Hell.....two weeks ago....one of the gals on the surgeon's staff...who was a tremendous help with me getting throughout my pre & post op.....met me for a couple pitchers of skinny margaritas. We had a blast and were able to laugh about all the crazy stuff related to my case and then with her job. Fun stuff. I seriously doubt she would've bought the second pitcher had she been worried about it hurting me.......thusly, I consider it part of my ongoing care when we do it again.
All things in moderation...........

Then mines must know something that so many others don't know...lol I'm running in the opposite direction. Sleeve all the way. Sent from my SM-G935T using the BariatricPal App

I'm one weigh in away and I'm trying to decide between the sleeve or the band. When I initially started the process I wanted the band. But after speaking with my PCP, friends that's have done weight loss surgeries and general research. I decided on the sleeve. My surgeon is saying now to the band because I've been having problems with acid reflux. My personal thought at first was, he knows what's best, but ultimately I feel that the band will be an inconvenience, and lessen my weight loss goals. I'm new here, and welcome any thoughts, advice etc... thanks

I had my band removed and revision to sleeve on 3/9/2016. I lost 66 lbs with the band, then started being able to eat a little more than I should so I had 1 cc of Fluid put in my band. After 6 months of throwing most of my meals up. I made an appt to have the Fluid removed. After that the vomiting continued and I wasnt even able to get applesauce through the band. I had good days and bad days. When the doctor took my band out he said that it was into my liver and my esophagus was a little elevated, that is probable the reason why I was having such a hard time eating. I went into surgery at 194 and am now 184. Having that band removed was the best thing I have ever done. The only thing that makes me nervous is learning how to eat with something new again. I think it helps that we are already in the wls mode. I dont drink soda, I dont drink 30 minutes before and after my meals, so dont have to get used to that. haha.

BTW, this is completely silly to feel or say, but ... your mom really pissed me off.

Once again thank you everyone for your kind words and support. @Twinkle Toes I actually feel really good I had to ask the nurses several times if I even got the surgery and they said yes.
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Never mind, I just got the call from my coordinator that I was approved!! It was approved in five days! WOOOHOOO!

As mentioned in my profile, I currently have a lapband in place. I am having complications so I am looking at my options, along with familiarizing myself to my ins co requirements. However, I also know my surgeon's staff have the approval process down pat. They had my lapband approved in one day. Even the legal advocates like Lindstrom will say one of the top reasons procedures are denied is not meeting criteria or not providing sufficient documentation.
The insurance industry is so heavily regulated by both the state and federal governments, that neither would allow the nefarious process of compensation based on denials. I, too, have been in the insurance industry for almost 30 years. I have assisted folks in understanding their Bariatric benefits and what materials they need. I have seen the lack of the dr office not wanting to provide that info and dealing with frustrated members. I'm fat,too, so, my empathy is with the member. I helped them finally get their surgery covered and didn't get fired for getting the surgery covered and costing money! Instead. I got a pat on the back for helping our member and making them happy.

I called and was approved today. It was sent monday and was approved yesterday but didn't call till today. If you guys don't call them they will not call you and you will be waiting to get a letter in the mail.

So it's been a few days since surgery, the gas pains that I thought I had miraculously escaped found me at home on the 3rd day and haven't felt the need to leave me yet. I'm dissolving gas strips on my tongue at a rapid pace, I think my tongue is now a pretty permanent blue. The gas from the procedure is annoying at most, not painful to me in the slightest. My belly is a perfect little basketball shape under my clothes, if someone asked me if I were expecting I'd probably say yes just to enjoy a conversation about something other than weight loss for a moment. As soon as I came home from the hospital, my body gave me another surprise and my period started. According to my calendar this shouldn't happen for another 2 1/2 weeks, but apparently the surgery wreaks havoc on a womans hormones & I can expect to be out of whack for a little while. Now remember those nice little blood thinners they give u in the hospital to prevent blood clots.... now remember your period...enough said!! My belly has taken on a language of its own and I'm eager to catch up and learn the language, but it's tough. Its making all sorts of sounds all day long, I don't know if it's mad at me or just wants to eat, but if I pick the wrong one I know it's going to let me know. It's become quite vocal, I didn't make it the boss, but apparently it is cuz it now tells me what to do all day long! At night to get some peace, I tried putting it to sleep with the prescribed pain medicine, but no one told me that the pain med's would wake my brain up instead! So for 2 nights now Ive suffered with some horrifying and mentally debilitating nightmares. Not the boogey monster under my bed kind, but some real vivid, action packed fighting for my life, waking up in a pool of sweat kind. I spoke to the nurse today and apparently some narcotics have that effect on ya. who knew?? I would've preferred a kind warning. If ya didn't know, now you know. I think i will stick to regular tylenol from now on. My mother keeps reminding me to drink my fluids & my belly keeps reminding me not to drink too much! Everyone has their own journey and so far this is mine. Everything I read in preparation for this surgery equipped me with what to expect & so far it all has rang true, except these minor little things....It's 3:54 a.m. and I think 5 days out, for the most part I'm doing pretty good. I'm thankful for outlets as such that I can share, read, and learn about others experiences as well because so far not much has shocked me. Good luck to all those upcoming and those who just had it, I look forward to reading ur story as well.

Hi. I'm 3 days out and trying to figure out how I'm supposed to fit 64oz in a day. The gas isn't too bad. I keep dreaming about Popeyes and little Caesars and fried chicken and spaghetti. It's very odd. Not using pain meds aside from Tylenol. Overall surprised that I'm not in excruciating pain. And yes my tummy has lots of things to say! But I haven't figured out what it's saying just yet...

I kept my BCBS Federal when I retired. Between Medicare as my primary and BCBS as my secondary, I pay very little for anything. BCBS Federal is the best insurance I have ever had, ever. When my surgeon sent my compliance packet in, BCBS approved it in two business days.

Switch to BCBS as soon as you can. They are very supportive of bariatric surgery. My whole process was a breeze. It took 3 months and a couple of appts. Cross the t's, dot the I's sort of thing.