Tiffykins

Ash, you look so fabulous ! ! !

Interesting formula, but it didn't work for my stats. My surgeon's goal weight for me was 150 with a BMI of 27.4 My current weight is actually 132 with a BMI of 24 just barely normal. With that calculation, my BMI would be over 29 kicking almost back into the obese category.

I agree with DeeDee ! ! ! Have a great trip, and be safe.

Awwwwwwww Joanne, I'm so glad you posted. I hated the hairloss phase, but my hair is growing back with a vengeance at this point. I used Folicure extra care shampoo to help with the regrowth. I honestly think it helped because I was getting new growth within a month to 6 weeks. Hope you are doing well other than the hair loss ! ! !

I've always heard that being obese can decrease the effectiveness of hormonal BC. I was told to go on BC pills, but I refuse to use hormonal BC at all. Maybe post this questions in the Dr. Jossart forum, and he'll get back to you with an actual medical reply.

I'll pipe in and hopefully Bernadette will too for her experience with the band as well. I had a band for 8 short months before I revised to VSG. Those 8 months were pretty craptastic. I was miserable from 2.5 months post-op. I had the normal lapband issues, food getting stuck, not being able to eat certain foods EVER, puking on Water, let's not mention all the time I spent in restaurant bathrooms because eating out always led to a "surprise" attack of the productive burping regardless of how well I chewed, and how slow i ate. Then, the pain was nearly unbearable from the flipped port that was causing the tubing to pull on the actual band that was sutured around my stomach. Life with the sleeve is pretty fabulous. I got to goal in less than 7 months. I've dropped 130 pounds in 9 months with the sleeve. It's been pretty amazing. The post-op diet is a bit more strict with the sleeve, but it's so worth it to let the staple line heal properly. I can't tell you how horrible the band is compared to the sleeve. My mom has a band, and had it placed in Nov 2007. She pukes 2-4 times a week, can't eat some days, she can't get a fill and has been stalled out for over a year with 75lbs lost. She just deals with it because she thinks it's "okay". Technically, the band has the lowest and slowest weight loss stats. 1 in 4 band patients need a second surgery within 5 years to either revise, fix a flipped port, change port position, replace port, repair a slipped band or put in another band. The complications are on the rise with the band while the complications with the sleeve are minimal compared to the long term issues of the band. If you have any specific questions, feel free to contact me.

Well, my program with our military insurance gives me full access to a nutritionist, and labs pulled at 3,6,9, 12 months out, then yearly labs are pulled. That is the standard procedure for all bariatric patients through our military hospital here in Florida. My surgeon likes to do a endoscopy between 9-12 months out, earlier if there are any issues. So, there is another anesthesia procedure plus the scope cost. My PCP (is a civilian), and while he is not well-versed on VSG, I can easily go to him, have him pull my previous labs, or take him one of my copies, and have him pull my labs again if he thinks they need to be. I just dealt with this situation bc I've been having low blood pressure issues. Not really related to a complication of the VSG, it's essentially just my body trying to adjust to my drastic weight loss. Also, there are several patients that dealt with severe nausea post-op. It hits some of us, and others aren't bothered by this. Everyone is different. I honestly think if you can be that close to home, have that follow up care, and love your surgeon, there is NO pricetag that you can give you that reassurance. I'm super picky. You couldn't pay me to have this surgery, or any other major surgery, where they are removing 75% of a major organ in a "surgical clinic" without an ICU, and emergency facilities and capabilities on the premises. A lot of PCPs are willing to do follow up labs for patients that travel to Mexico, but those labs can run patients without insurance a few hundred bucks. The labs we need pulled are more extensive than just a normal Chem 12 and CBC. So, the out of pocket cost can be astronomical.

For me, the changes mentally weren't that difficult to deal with during my losing phase. I think I was too focused on being successful, and optimize my honeymoon phase that I didn't really mourn or grieve food that much. Of course, there were days that I wanted to cave, but staying focused on my end goal was more important than getting off track. Now, at a little over 9 months, I honestly eat anything and everything I want. I haven't found anything that doesn't set well except overcooked, dry chicken. But, I'm not sure I know anyone who enjoys over dry chicken? Today, I went out to lunch with my best friend to Uno's Chicago grill for lunch. I ordered the Sirloin Steak tips with onions, rice pilaf and french onion Soup before my meal. I ate all of the broth which was about 3/4 cup of broth. None of the onions, bread, or swiss cheese. Then, I ate 5-6 of the steak tips (cooked medium), and about 1/4 cup of the rice. It took me almost an hour to eat, but it was absolutely fabulous. I'm still never hungry. Literally, I never feel physical hunger so eating is just something I do for fuel. I still love food and eating, but having the sleeve really helps me make better choices. On my way home at the Atlanta airport, I stopped at the chinese place at the food court, got lo mein noodles and bourbon chicken. The noodles were horrific so I only had 1 bite of them, but I ate about 6 little chunks of the bourbon chicken with one bite of a spring roll with some soy sauce. So, I never feel deprived, never feel like I am dieting, never feel like I can't have something. Of course, during the temporary post-op diet, your choices are limited, but it's temporary, and every week, month get better. Your restriction decreases as the swelling goes down. I can eat a lot more than I could just 4 months ago. Now, that being said, that doesn't mean I'm chowing down on huge portions. I can only eat 5-6oz of dense meat, and that takes me forever to eat. I can eat 1 cup/8ounces of more mushy/liquid foods. But, nothing compared to what I ate pre-op.

YAY YAY Kim, glad to hear you are home, and recovering. Keep sipping and walking, of course rest when needed, and take care of yourself.

Home from my amazing trip to VA, and thought I would chat for a bit tonight.

That's a good price for all of that after care especially if you have access to a nutritionist. You're gonna do fabulous ! ! !

Cravings are normal for even naturally thin people. The great thing about the sleeve is that you can control of the choice. It's head hunger, not hunger from your stomach that's giving you the craving so don't think of it as wasting your surgery. They operate on our stomachs, not our brains. You just have to either fight the craving, or allow yourself to have a cookie, don't get guilty over it, and then tomorrow is a new day. I'm a little over 9 months out, and cravings are a weekly occurrence. Luckily, the sleeve helps me make better choices. Eating Protein first, then leaving little room for sweets. For a sweet craving early out during my losing stage, I bought high protein/low carb Protein Bars. I could only eat 1/4-1/2 of the bar, and that helped tremendously. Stayed in my carb limit, and fixed the craving.

Insurance covered my revision from band to sleeve. If insurance would have denied my revision, hands down, no second thoughts, Dr. Aceves would be my only choice for Mexico surgeons. His reputation, the fact that you are in a fully licensed, certified hospital with a full ICU and blood bank on site. You remain in the hospital for 3 days with round the clock care. Your companion can stay in the private hospital room with you at no charge. Do your research, make sure you choose based on all information, and best wishes during your research.

That is an absolutely awesome idea. . . Honestly, my reward is clothing, jewelry, shoes and socks. I don't have anything specific to show my progress except the smaller sizes on my clothing tags.

Jerky is still a staple snack for me. I absolutely love, love, love jerky. I've been eating it from early out once I got to regular food.

So, many of you know I've been trying to maintain my current loss. Well, this week I've actually gained 2 pounds, and I'm not the least bit upset about it. Grant it, I won't allow myself to gain more than 3 more pounds as I am very happy with myself at 130-135. But, I thought it was cool to not get upset over a 2lb gain. I've been eating anything and everything. Literally, and I'm feeling better and better every day. My low blood pressure issues seem to be resolving with the fluid increase, and activity increase. It could just be water weight as I'm drinking more and definitely having more carbs. But, I'm not worrying over 2 pounds. I know I could lose it overnight if I wanted to do so, and for the time being, I'm just going to enjoy living this normal little life I have now. A size 6 feels pretty damn good to be honest, and I don't want to get back into 8's, but I know that I'm in control, and I can lose it if I feel like I'm playing with fire.

I'm so glad your bp issues are panning out as well. I was really shocked today when I was my PCP and their scale weighs me 2 pounds heavier than my home and surgeon's scale. So, it actually looked like a 4 pound gain. John was all excited. I think he misses the plump wife he had. He loves me regardless, but he is not digging my bones sticking out. But, it just feels good not fretting over a couple of pounds. Before, I would have been devastated, and pissed off. Now, I'm just like okay, I can low carb it for like 4 days and lose 5 pounds again. BUT, I didn't have this surgery to diet, and fret over 2 pounds. I realize it's a slippery slope, I could easily slip back into some bad habits, but I actually feel like I'm more aware of everything I put in my mouth, and how my body feels with certain foods. French fries are now off my list. I love the way they taste, but I literally feel icky afterwards. It's gotta be the oil/grease factor. I realized just recently this will be a lifelong journey. Just because I got below/to goal, doesn't mean I can just toss all my hard work out the window. I'll still have to mindful, but not obsessed. For the first time, I'm enjoying life with food in a healthy manner.

Absolutely fabulous, congrats on your new jeans ! ! !

I'm leaving for the airport in a mere 5 hours, and I can't sleep ! ! !

After the leak repair, my lungs would not recover. That landed me in ICU for 5 days, on a ventilator. I had the revision, then 2 days later the leak repair. Myself and my surgeon knew that I was higher risk because of my surgery being a revision, and my complications. However, I had zero other health risks, zero co-morbidities, nothing else was wrong with me. I had 3 leak tests. 1 in the OR, one the following day, and then the final one that was performed when the leak was found on my 2nd day post-op. I was in the hospital 10 days total. During the final leak test is when the leak was found, 2 hours before my discharge. I was up talking, walking, laughing, feeling good, no fever, no pain until I drank the contrast Fluid. I swallowed the gastrographin solution and had immediate pain radiate across my abdomen, they performed the ct scan and confirmed the leak. My surgeon does not oversew as there is a great debate on whether it stresses the staple line or not. Some of the most noted surgeons oversew, some don't. The reason for the cost is because of the ICU stay, the additional testing, and medications used, the additional doctors that came in on my case, the central line, the additional diagnostics performed. The reasons for my 2cent comments is because you stated that you were scared, that you didn't want to ruin the rest of your life because of this surgery, your concerns with complications especially since you are self-pay, you asked for advice and what our concerns were so I answered honestly and openly. If I were in your situation, I stated what my concerns would be. I wasn't trying to be negative, I was telling you my honest opinion. It isn't always the thing people want to hear, but it's what I thought I could offer. If you are at peace with your decision, and trust your surgeon, then I promise I have nothing but best wishes for you, for your surgery and journey.

It gets better, I dealt with a lot of little burps, not hiccups early on, but it subsided after a couple of weeks. I get hiccups now as a full signal, or if I talk a lot during my meal. It's embarrassing especially when I'm out with my girlfriends. We talk a lot, and laugh even more. I hope it gets better for you.

YAY YAY Lynda, best wishes for a speedy recovery, rest, walk, sip ! ! !

It's so true. I had a really difficult time grasping talking to some of the veterans on OH, but they kept telling, 'you'll just have to see for yourself.' It's extremely liberating isn't it?

I am so proud of you and your success. You have done amazingly well, and will have continued success ! ! !