Creekimp13

Best wishes for a safe successful procedure and a quick recovery:)

I agree with you, Sparkle. I'm 210ish right now and I need to get to 170. I've got 16 months left to lose 40 pounds. I could lose 3 pounds a month and be completely on target and happy. I'm in no hurry. My bigger priority is finding a Lifelong Diet I can live with, with healthy foods I really enjoy eating.... and lose the rest slow so my skin has the best chance of catching up as I go. (I'm not delusional about this...just want the best chance) I'm also interested in finding exercise that I genuinely enjoy so I can develop lifelong habits that enhance my life. My focus is health and longterm success...forever changes.....not being a walking advertisement for how fast a clinic can reduce me so other people want to go there. I also refuse to eat an animal protein centric diet for an extended period of time because they're linked to higher cancer rates. My preferred diet is Mediterranian or Mayo Clinic Diet...both are balance with healthy carbs, fruits, veggies, legumes and nuts...and have far less meat than American diets. Right now I'm hitting my protein goals by balancing healthy low glycemic carbs, animal and plant protein...and I love my diet:) Losing slow and steady and i'm content. Not saying that reaching your goals isn't important, and you should definitely work with your nutritionist.....but keep in mind that there are different schools of thought about how to best approach bariatric outcomes. You should work with people who are on the same page you are. People you are comfortable with who have advice that makes sense to you. There are a LOT of ways up this mountain. Choose the path that's best for you, and the professionals who share your vision. Best wishes:)

Probably better questions for your doc...as your specific physical condition and healing will play a part in that clearance:) But if I had to put a number on it purely as a personal estimate? For me...maybe 6-8 weeks?

That's wonderful, Joanna! Good work:)

1000-1200 calories per day since week 3 per my nutritionist's instructions.

Had some homemade veggie soup thickened with pea and brown rice protein powder. Imagine a crock pot of veggies floating in split pea soup....and you're there. It was really good. This pic is before it cooked down...cause it's more colorful before it's cooked and made a prettier picture. As the rice and pea protein powder cook, they thicken and it looks like stew:)

Smooth Move herbal tea is the schits:) (Literally!!!) Very gentle, but works! Sold almost everywhere...Walmart and Target have it...in the herbal teas. I was a skeptic...it made me a believer:) Looks like this:

For those who enjoy religion publicly...let me illustrate why it's a bad idea: Post Topic: My Dark Lord Satan, I implore you to get my Gastric Sleeve Approved...All hail thee, and praise Your UnHoly name! Post Body: Satan, Lord of my life, controller of all I do...in his supreme and just will....has provided approval for my gastric sleeve today after I vowed to do his bidding in exchange though blood pact and ritualistic sacrifice. Blue Cross Blue Shield has been defeated in testament to his shadowy glory! All hail the dark master. Satan is SO good! See what I mean? Satanists should save Satanic comments for their Satanist friends:) not put them out there publicly. The same applies to Christians and other belief systems. Pick the right audience for that stuff....the general population is NOT the right audience.

People's beliefs are personal. Airing them publicly is weird. Talking about God randomly on a public board is just as odd/offensive/bizarre as talking about disbelief in God randomly. It's not polite conversation for public consumption, and it assumes all people share your belief system and that's why there are reactions. It's like pissing on a public tree. It's not courteous. As odd as this might seem to the religious....irreligious people hold their beliefs just as dearly...and vice versa. Your belief system may be the most amazing belief system ever....TO YOU. You might think it's the best one there is. You might want to show it to everyone. But belief systems are like your private parts....no one wants to open the internet and see that crap. That goes for everyone. Be polite. Avoid these topics in public places. If you bring one up? Don't be surprised when someone pisses over your piss. NO ONE should piss to begin with. The right thing to do in a group of strangers is to be respectful of everyone's beliefs and not go there to begin with. Save religious comments for religious friends. Save atheist comments for atheist friends. Belief systems are private, not public. (my two cents...lol)

1. your phone and charger. 2. Chap stick. Your lips will thank you. 3. Lounge pants or PJ bottoms with a loose waist. You'll have to wear the hospital gown because of your IV...but putting bottoms on will make roaming the halls a lot nicer. 4. Don't worry about slippers or socks. The hospital has color coded safety socks they'll make you wear. Yellow means you're a fall risk and need to have someone with you, and grey means you can walk by yourself. 5. I wanted to get the hell out of there...so I brought all my grooming stuff...hair dryer, make up, the works. Took a shower and shampooed the next morning bright and early and looked well groomed and ready to go when my doctor showed up....which I hoped would contribute to me getting discharged right away:) Seemed to work:) 6. Wish I'd brought biotene spray because my mouth was dry as sandpaper right after surgery...and it takes a while until you can drink enough to make the dry go away. Biotene spray would have been a nice comfort item. 7. My own pillow. It comfy, familiar, and smells like home...and that made it easier to relax.

No, but we did have to attend a fitness class and learn how to use a pedometer and talk about exercise with a trainer in a group. That was required.

I had my sleeve surgery 12/5...I can eat steak now with no problem as long as I chew it up well and keep the pieces small. (I cut it up into little teenie bites about the size of blueberries, then I chew really well) You can get protein from a lot of soft sources...Tofu, cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, beans. The first meats I had success with were very lean deli meat and rotisserie chicken. This might sound weird, but I would make a little cup of hot broth to dunk it in and kinda smash it in there to soak up a little more juice....helped it go down a lot easier at first. Very lean ground meats can work, too. I would definitely mention the problems you're having to your surgeon. At 8 weeks, I would expect you to have more luck. That said, individuals differ, so I don't want to alarm you. Worth exploring with your nutritionist or doctor, though.

A fierce healing itch is pretty typical a week out, I had a similar experience and it eventually calmed down. But it's pretty intense for a while there, so I feel for you. Try putting an ice pack on the itchy spots. That helped me like nothing else.

I'd see the doc about any nasty bugs in the first six months. It pays to be extra careful and get every medical advantage when you're a little bit compromised from major surgery. There are wonderful Rx cough meds that will help a lot.

Had a little narcotic the day of surgery and the day after. After that, regular Tylenol was fine. My pain was never bad and I probably could have gotten by with less than the couple of shots they gave me...but I compromised with the nurses and had a little to get a good night's sleep and a comfortable ride home.

I feel your joy:) Best wishes on a continued speedy recovery and an effective outcome:)

I had lovenox in the hospital, but not at home. I had the most spectacular bruises from it...looked like I'd not only been in a knife fight (seven little laparoscopy incisions), but got slugged a few times, too. LOL:)

You lost a whole person! OMG, you did SO SO SO well:) And I'd bet anything that moving into your new place will give you the motivation to lose the last stubborn few pounds. Will help incredibly to control everything that comes into the house:) Will also be a lot of fun decorating and starting a new life. Lots to do:) Busy people burn calories! Wishing you a wonderful new experience and continued progress.

Absolutely zero regrets:) Wish i'd done it years ago.

Today's breakfast was weird. I had vegetable soup. Homemade. Thickened with pea protein powder and brown rice protein powder. With crunchy wasabi peas on top like crackers. LOL. Odd breakfast, but it was good. I love homemade veggie soup. Had it for a snack this afternoon, too:)

Many people. Thrush is common with ketosis. Thrush is common after surgery. Many, many people describe this syndrome...and what it likely is, is a mild case of thrush. Brush it with your toothbrush, rinse with mouthwash and warm salt water. it should improve with a week. If it stays the same or gets worse, have your doc take a look. Pay extra attention to your brushing and flossing. Keep your mouth moist. It really should clear up on it's own in a few days.

I am so grateful I get along with sucralose. Actually prefer it to sugar these days.

There is no rhyme or reason to it. Some doctors base their practices on old information. Some doctors base their practices on new research. Some doctors use data, some use personal prejudices, some do what's easiest. Some doctors don't really care about their patients long term health or long term success....they concentrate on shockingly fast weight loss only....because it keeps the new clients pouring in.

If you have a two year history of having a BMI over 35, you'll likely be ok. If not, they'll probably make you wait until you do.

I just throw those HUGE junebug sized pills in a little warm water...doesn't take them long to soften and you can easily chew them up. They're kinda gross and taste like plaster of Paris....but it's not that offensive and they do down easily once chewed.