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I had my sleeve July 12. I'm doing pretty well. I struggle drinking. It hurts when the liquid enters the stomach unless I take the smallest of sips. I have been drinking about 96 oz. of Fluid per day. That's what is required by my doctor. I have to sip about every 5 minutes to get it down. It seems like my day revolves around a bottle! Other than that, I feel good. I'm a little sore around the incision lines, but my energy level is slowly improving.

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Maybe. I did a lot at first from elation at not being dead. Then like a week later it all caught up with me. If I had it to do over I would just walk and take it easy and rest.

I was just sleeved on the 12th and had very little nausea. Good luck! It's a wild ride. [emoji4]

2 weeks post op and today finally my surgeon said I can move to the pureed stage. Plus down 16lbs plus the 10 I lost in my 2 week preop diet so all together 26lbs so far. It hasnt been easy but everyday gets a bit better.
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I don't remember how long (maybe a few days).
Just keep walking. You may also want to try a little easy stretching. Try raising your hands over your head. I had some shoulder pain with mine and a heating pad seemed to help.
It gets better.

My surgery went great! I was out if recovery 3 hours ago. Feeling fully coherent, dinner of broth and sugar free cranberry juice (which I thought was to sweet), and ice chips.
So far so fabulous, day one down!

I went through lapband surgery in September 2011, and was successful with the lapband. When I got pregnant they removed all fluids in my band. In September 2015 I went to get a fill to learn that my port was inverted and my band is slipping. I made the decision to convert from a band to a sleeve, and will have surgery tomorrow. I'm nervous and excited, hoping for a speedy recovery.

If all the tests come back good, mine is on July 12th. Can't wait!!!!

If all the tests come back good, mine is on July 12th. Can't wait!!!!

If all the tests come back good, mine is on July 12th. Can't wait!!!!

Luckily my husband has requested 2 weeks off to help manage the household while I am down and out.. I'm really hoping that helps some..
Thank you for your response
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]For whatever reason, a doctor should treat a patient if they need it no matter what the circumstances. Their obligations should be to the best welfare of the patient, not their own self interests. The US surgeon who removed my gallbladder had nothing but bad things to say about the fact I went to Mexico for my VSG. Despite the fact I had a completely easy, pain free recovery with no complications and successful weight loss, he was clearly prejudiced against a non-US surgeon. Ironically, he created a hernia during my gallbladder surgery. I've already talked to a different surgeon about repairing that hernia. He doesn't care that he wasn't the one who caused the problem. Another friend had complications from a colonoscopy and a different gastroenterologist readily accepted her as a patient and took care of everything. I realize everyone makes mistakes, but when there are complications, why should someone be forced to go back to the doctor that caused the problem in the first place?
I am a vet tech and we don't turn our patients away just because they were previously cared for by another vet. We give second opinions and treat animals with complications from other vets all the time.

It's not so much which insurance companies cover it, as which plan includes it. Each insurance company offers dozens to hundreds of different plans, some for individual purchase and some for employers. When employers purchase a group plan, they have to affirmatively include a special rider for bariatric surgery coverage. So my employer offers plans through Cigna and Blue Cross that do cover bariatric surgery. Someone else I know works for a different company with a Cigna plan that does not include bariatric surgery. Most plans for individual sale do not include bariatric surgery. I think your best bet is to work with an insurance agent and tell him/her up front exactly what you are looking for. Make sure you see the plan documents (member benefit handbook etc.) up front before purchasing so that you can see for yourself whether weight loss surgery is included, what the requirements are for approval, and whether there is a waiting period.
If you purchase insurance through a government exchange, some states require that bariatric surgery be included. However, I see you are in Alabama, and Alabama is not one of those states as far as I can determine.
http://www.bariatric-surgery-source.com/obamacare-weight-loss-surgery.html
Good luck!

Update from OP:
I'm writing this from work on post-op day 8. I needn't have worried at all! I was sleeved on a Wednesday afternoon and discharged late the next day. I easily could have gone to work Friday - post-op day 2 - and almost did. I ended up taking it easy for a week and working from home, until today when I started back full-time. No difficulties at all. Brain was a little impaired for say 18 hours post-surgery (from aneasthesia; I didn't use the painkillers but they would have extended brain fuzziness if I had). As long as you have a desk job, and no complications, you can probably go back to work right away. But it was fun taking off a week and getting stuff done around the house.
Hope that helps other pre-sleevers in their planning.

I just brought Protein Powder and a shaker and ordered Water when we went out to eat during my pre op.

Gosh I love these!!! So today is my 10 month post op surgiversary. I'm down 142 lbs so far and feel so much better. But these pics make rainbows and glitter shoot from my heart!!! Loving how I'm starting to look. My skin is an issue but it will not take my happiness from me. I've come a hell of a long way and I'm damn proud of myself. Please post all your pics, I love seeing all you beautiful people!!!!!

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I went to the Keyport Fishery in NJ and had a full platter of fish--fried, baked, broiled and raw---and of course souped.
Do I regret having my "food funeral"? Not one damned bit! I'll have those memories for a life time.
There will be foods that you will not ever eat comfortably again. --and if you are one of the WLS people who experience dumping, you will never be able to eat those foods again without retching--ever.
Enjoy your "food funeral". I did.

I had fair type food on 4th of July.
Then my real last meal was just the stock of some onion Soup at a very nice French restaurant. I was on Clear liquids before surgery, but I was going to dine in style just in case I died the next day.

If all the tests come back good, mine is on July 12th. Can't wait!!!!

Juices are full of sugar and can be acidic. I'd avoid them at all costs.
Right now your diet is a very, very simplistic formula to follow. Protein shakes and Water. That's it for the next 2+ weeks.
You have to get past the desire to eat until you are full. That is over with. You will get that full feeling later on once you are eating real food. For now, though....it's just those liquids.
You'll not be dealing with hunger anymore from this point forward. Use that to your advantage in losing the weight.
I I remember correctly....they suggest I have an ounce or two of Premier Protein ready mix shake every hour along with the same amount of Water for the first two days home.....after that I was to work my way up to 2-3 Premier Protein Shakes each day along with water. By the end of the first week I could handle 3 shakes a day with no problem.
Now is a great time to stay out of the kitchen and really break away from a food focused life.
Be patient and allow your body to heal. Try to get up and walk every two hours and be disciplined on getting in your water. Sip everything carefully and stay on track.
You had the surgery for a reason. Get your mind wrapped around that start to enjoy the weight loss that you'll be seeing as soon as the post op inflammation eases up.

When I had my first child, she came a month early so my pedicure was a hot mess, I hadn't shaved my legs or cootch for 6 months or so (couldn't reach or see) and I had eaten enchiladas the day before so every time I pushed, I was "productive". To make matters worse, my baby nurse was a girl I despised in college and they were short handed so I couldn't switch.

Seriously. It could be worse and they have SEEN worse.

At the practice where I am having my surgery, I honestly don't think it has anything to do with my medical history and the details of my particular procedure. I was told on the very first day I was there, attending a support group/info meeting, that BWLS patients are NEVER allowed to have alcohol again. Now... the surgeons weren't even there. Only one of the five NUTs was there, along with a bunch of post-surgery folks and about a dozen of those of us who were just starting our journey There is absolutely no way anyone there knew my medical history or my procedure. Heck, I hadn't even decided IF I was going to have BWLS, much less what type of surgery. I just think this practice is opposed to "wasted" calories and also cautious about the effects of alcohol on the body due to a redesigned/rerouted digestive system, so they say, "Nope, nada, never again" when it comes to alcohol.
I can promise you that I'm not going through this surgery (VGS) to find ways to cheat the system, to try and eat all the crap that got me this fat without gaining weight, but I also know that when my daughter gets married or I'm at a family celebration or something of equal import, I am more than likely going to have a glass of wine or other adult beverage. I can avoid carbonated drinks if I must (although I love a good stout beer or Dark&Stormy), but I am 99% sure that I will not abstain from alcohol forever. Therefore, it's helpful to hear about the experiences of others who've already been down this path. I appreciate the opinions of those who have gone against what might be recommended as much as I do the experiences of those who stick to the straight and narrow. It's all information- not permission, not judgement, not edict- just information that's always handy to have.

Think of it this way -
If, right now, you're as much fun as, say, a night at the circus, then after the weight loss, you'll be like a night at the circus followed by three days at Disneyland, a free pass to EVERYTHING at the fair and a day just hanging out with little horses (the second happiest thing in the world!!)...
Yeah...
You'll still be fun...

If all the tests come back good, mine is on July 12th. Can't wait!!!!

If you go into the bathroom and say it three times while spinning in a circle, the bougie man will appear and scoop your eyes out. Just a head's up!
This is my favorite bougie chart: