Dee

I haven't posted in a while but lurk almost every day. My hunger is gone! It took a while. I bought new M&M pretzels yesterday had a few then didn't want any more so I threw them away.(So unlike me!) I can pretty much eat what I want. (Haven't had salad, crunchy fruits and veggies yet-following the Cornell post-op diet)I have even been eating fish (I would have told you before the sleeve I hate fish!) I got the panko cod and breaded halibut from costco. I eat the "guts". It totally fills me up. This board has really helped me ALOT! I am almost to goal 5 more lbs. I feel great. That band was so bad for me. I was unable to eat real food. Can take petite Calcium citrate pills (The chew kind-I think I tried them all- were awful!!).Keeping up with Biotin and zinc (crossing my fingers my hair doesn't fall out-will keep you posted) After my gummi vits are gone going to go back to my Centrum silvers. Was also taking fish oil (one a day from costco-but not ready to swallow such a big pill-anyone else take them?) Making a follow-up with my PCP soon to get my vit D checked again (I had a deficiency and took two rounds of high dose Rx) Wavering on the upper GI. I will see what my PCP says. Thank you all who post on this board. I would not have done the revision without it! Dee

Soo glad I read this..been really struggling with wanting to overeat (old habits die hard!) yesterday I managed to eat way too much. I just wanted more and more....Need to refocus..the fact is I am an overeater....After reading I could develop a leak 4 months out YIKES....Thank you Tiff for posting this!! I have thrown up twice once after eating tuna fish (sooooo gross...) Back to basics Protein first (been carb eating comfort) Love this sleeve, without this forum I would be lost! Dee

I am 5 weeks out and just started eating "solid" food. I thought just like you! but now I know that I cannot eat very much of a solid food. For breakfast I made eggs with pieces of low fat sausage I was not able to eat it all only about 1/2 (which would be one egg one sausage link)Lunch I had chicken I got at Trader Joes It is BBQ white meat (not very much sauce-just shredded chicken)I could eat less than 1/4 cup. Last night I had panko cod and was only able to eat 1 1/2 small filets (I got them @ costco) Really trying to eat fish. This was my first "3 meal day" so don't worry!!! I am loving this sleeve!!!!!! When are you able to eat solids? I think once you do you will be pleasantly surprised! let us know... Dee

I didn't know we could have our 3 month upper GI and blood work done by Dr. Aceves? How much do they charge. This is the first I have heard of this? How many others have done this? Dee

Lynda, Right behind you. You are doing fabulous. Congrats on your success. :party4: Dee

One month today. Down 21 lbs. Hard to believe. Even w/ the lap band I didn't get this close to goal. One month thoughts: It was rough the first two days post-op I am glad I chose to stay in the Hospital vice go to a recovery house. I get too sick after anesthesia. Glad to have the 24/7 care. Money well spent. Clear liquids got old fast, Jello made w/Isopure 40mg bottles saved me w/my protein intake. Full liquids sugar-free pudding made w/injury protein got me thru the full. I found out I didn't like most of the samples I ordered. Ended up ordering a jug-o-Syntha-6 Chocolate peanut butter. (it will be nice when I can blend a banana it.) Injury protien was the only other one I could stand (Even my 30 mg from Costco I don't like so much anymore-been heating them up @ work seems to make them more doable) Bought a "bullet" LOVE IT!!! Taking the blender out each time I make a protein shake is PIA. Blending it in the bullet makes it taste so much better than just shaking it in a bottle. I put the empty cup in the dishwasher. Tried to eat some Egg Foo Young. Was like a rock in my stomach. Felt like it was never going to leave! Didn't feel nauseous just very uncomfortable. (Flashbacks of the lap band nausea then the vomiting so glad I got that thing out of my body!!!!) Now I am scared to move off of soft/mushies. In case you are reading this and wonder is it worth it. He** YES!!!! I would not have been able to do it w/o this board. I know there has been some controversy lately. Don't let that deter you from getting help and encouragement here. Dee

Well I changed my name. As I am no longer STUCK I thought I'd change to my nick-name Dee. I am so..... grateful for this sleeve. I really grew to hate the band I resented that I couldn't eat healthy. Now I feel so much better. This board gave me the encouragement to get the sleeve. THANK YOU!!! Dee. (The new me)

How much weight have you lost? Why don't you divide my 5 and then divide by the weeks and see what it average out as. Look at the bright side. If you didn't have the sleeve I am sure you are like most of us you would have gained it back and then some. So you ARE doing good. Just "reframe it" ONWARD... Dee

Call your MD about your cough. I also had one also after my surgery (mostly at night). It can be a sign of acid reflux. You might need to up your Nexium (or other acid reducer) or start one. I increased my Nexium from 20 mg to 40 mg and the cough is gone. Dee

Mini, Con-grats!!!! How exciting. I too went down one size. I hauled them out of the attic. Seems unreal doesn't it??? Hope your are saving $$$ so when you get to goal you can go shopping!!! I know I am! Thank you for giving me hope and encouragement..... (I think I need to change my name as I am not Stuck any more..so glad to get the band out of me) Dee

You can get Wellbutrin in crushable it is comes in 100mg so you will have to take it 3X a day if you are taking 300XL. I would not recommended you wean yourself off! The sleeve is a major life change. I started taking meds 2 weeks post-op. Some surgeons say it is OK to take pills after the surgery, check with yours. You will do fine. I am loving this sleeve.

Just got back from my walk. Finally can exercise!! (I had surgery on my foot and finally it is OK!) Now I have to wait till I can do those sit-ups, weights etc....Dr. Aceves said 6 weeks....I started soft yesterday. Ate some instant mashed potatoes, things went ok, I can tell when to stop and eat very slow. Forgot how I don't like instant mashed potatoes so that will be my last serving of that! Today I am going to try egg salad for lunch. Trying hard to get fluid in. My protein has been 70+ gms. Taking my vits etc. I am so glad I did this. For once I really feel like this is going to work! My clothes are getting baggy. I have smaller sizes waiting for me. Not going to buy any more clothes till I am @ goal. ONWARD!!! Next weigh-in 4/18

No hunger here. But I got diarrhea because I drank a Isopure in the littler bottle (new product) it has sugar in it! I would check and see if you are drinking something with too much sugar . Hang in there WE WILL DO THIS! :confused1: D.

Here is picture of "Just one pound of fat"

One Pound of Fat Hello, do you know me? If you don?t you should. I?m a pound of fat, and I?m the happiest pound of fat that you would ever want to meet. Want to know why? It?s because no one ever wants to lose me; I?m Only One Pound, just a pound. Everyone wants to lose three pounds, five pounds or fifteen pounds, but never only one, so I just stick around and happily keep you fat. Then I add to myself ever so slyly so that you never seem to notice it, that is until I?ve grown to ten, twenty or even more pounds in weight. Yes, it?s fun being Only One Pound of fat, left to do as I please. So, when you weigh in, keep right on saying ?Oh, I only lost one pound.? (as if that were such a terrible thing!) For you see, if you do this you?ll encourage others to keep me around because they will think I?m not worth losing. And I love being around you - your arms, your legs, your chin, your hips and every part of you. Happy Days!! After all, I?m Only One Pound of fat!!!

Ok I am approaching 3 weeks (hard to believe!) I am going on a scale sabbatical starting today! I am feeling so much better I feel thinner, my clothes are getting looser, I am following the rules. We will lose weight and we will get to goal. The best thing is I am not hungry!!! I don't know about you but I could diet successfully for a while then I would get hungry and all bets were off. TRY TO STAY OFF THE SCALE!:blushing: D.

I was given 20 mg Nexium for 2 weeks (dissolvable in water) for two weeks by Dr. Aceves. I got night cough (since I had a band prior I knew that was a sign of acid reflux-band too tight) I called the Dr. Aceves and I upped it to 40 mg and have been taking pills since. (I was just gagging on crushed meds!!!) I never had acid reflux (except when my band was too tight) the night cough has gone away. I would call the MD that is doing your sleeve and ask him/her what they recommend. I plan on staying with 40 mg for 6 months (when stomach is 100% healed) and then wean myself. If I have to keep taking them so be it. The best of luck to you! D.

If you are going by yourself (I did) pack as light as possible! They will supply soap and shampoo for your shower. Wear something you can use both ways on the flight. forget the blue jeans. I didn't use my robe or nightgown I brought. The hosp gowns are fine. use one backwards for a robe. Slip on shoes. (flip flops were be good cause if you walk outside it is hot.) You don't need to take a heating pad they will give you one just ask. Bring your meds with you that are in crushable pills (no time release). Do not forget your Sunglasses! I was so sick from the anesthesia the first two days post-op were rough but the RN's took GREAT care of me! Dr Aceves and Dr. Campos are top-notch. I have never had such good medical care. The hospital is soooo clean the housekeeper will come by so much to clean your room it was unreal. (compared to US care-no wonder we have so many infections in our hospitals) side not..the RN's were amazing, some do not speak English(some of the night RN's) When changing my incision dressings they were very through and kept everything sterile. The best to you, won't need luck because you will be in wonderful hands. D.

How much is he charging?

I find this new advertising very upsetting. Ortiz, (he doesn't even do sleeves!) Aceves, both linked to another facility. It is very disturbing. Isn't there enough advertisements on here! I really have gotten a lot of advice and encouragement from this board. I too wanted an ICU and RN taking care of me. This is MAJOR surgery doesn't matter that it is laparoscopic. To each his own but geesh get rid of the hyperlinks! D.

Recap. The first 2 days were hard. nausea and a headache that wouldn't quit. The plane ride was rough got motion sick from the mountains on top of the nausea I already had. I had phenergan waiting for me when I got off the plane! I have had a cough esp bad at night called Dr. Aceves taking an extra nexium before I go to bed. Might need to up to 40mg in the am? HAVE NOT stepped on the scale I am so bloated, just taking it easy. Made myself an excel spreadsheet to track that I take my vits etc and tally my protein. I have used Sparkpeople before (in fact I got to my goal weight doing sparks-didn't last long!). I find having a piece of paper that I have posted and mark off inspires me. Making sugar-free Jello with Isopure 40 gm bottles.

I am so with you. I made sugar free Jello and used Isopure 40gm Protein drink for the "cold" water" I thought I could drink the Isopure but just couldn't do it. (eating it right now-dark cherry w/grape frost Isopure) I have been putting my soy slender in my morning tea and mixing some bioplex vanilla cream (40 gm protein no sugar) when it cools down (I put it in when it was hot yuksville) I also have found that sugar really affects me (diarrhea-not sure if that is dumping?) might be a good thing.... also feel bloated my blue jeans are as tight as ever (had to use the rubber band in the waist trick) I have not stepped on the scale!!! I don't go back to work till the 1st of June. Downloaded some other VSG post-op diets and trying to pull them all together (good to obsess about something!) Tonight I am going to explore my Vitamin and mineral optimum requirements. hang in there WE CAN DO THIS!!! D.

Glad you had such a good go of it. I had two horrible days! and the plane ride home was hell. That being said today is better not 100%. But I have faith!! have not gotten on a scale gonna try to wait one month. D.

can so relate! on day 5 clear. I bought a bunch of samples so I am trying them out. Got down a whole bottle of ISOPURE green tea yesterday. Just made a blended nectar "roadside lemonade' Yuksville threw it out! drinking Isopure chicken Soup right now, yes it is salty but I like it. Going to get some chicken/turkey broth today and mix unflavored injury in it. Put a 1/2 scoop of unflavored injury in my tea this am, couldn't finish it but got down 5 gms worth of Protein. I made myself excel spreadsheets for each of the 10 days so I can monitor my progress. I KNOW once I can have full liquids I will fare better. Since I had a revision I get the first part of the journey. (I going to try and PM you the spread sheets) Hang in there WE CAN DO THIS!!!! D.

Final weekend for me before sleeve! I am excited. Looking so forward to getting this tumor port out of me! This site has been so helpful. I was looking at the picture albums today, Tiff's is so incredible! I had no idea she was so "large" don't know any kinder word. I am going to take some before pictures and measure myself tomorrow. Pack my final things then off I go!!!!!