i1Linda

Theresa - I asked the dietician and she said around 800 calories. However, it wasn't really the calories that were important. The daily fluids and Protein intake are what's important. FYI - I eat on average 800 calories a day. Sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more. Rarely can I get over 1000 calories unless I have a major carb craving and attack the box of wheat thins in the pantry (I really need to stop buying them). It's so funny that I feel guilty eating a WHOLE 1000 calories in a day. I good day used to be eating less than 1400.

Well put Tiffany. There are risks and benefits with every surgery, procedure, and every medication we put in our body. With our doctors help, we have to decide if the benefits outweigh the risks. But don't forget that caring an extra 50-100+ pounds is a risk factor for just about every major illness (cancer, heart disease, diabetes - just to name a few). For me, the huge benefit of having WLS and losing my excess weight FAR exceeded the risks of the procedure itself. Good luck with your journey. Take a deep breath, everything will be fine. Just a few more days and you will be on your way to a healthier you.

Yep - had a drain for a week post-op. I too was worried about pulling it out accidently. However, after having it removed, realized that it was in a LOT further than I thought and an accidental tug wasn't pulling it out. Kind of a pain to have it, but not painful.

Okay - I have one. Yesterday, I was reading the newest issue of People Magazine. Every year they have the people that are now "half their size". Anyway, I usually read this a bit envious, wishing it could be me. This year, I reading these terrific stories of weigh loss thinking - "that IS ME". Granted, I am not at goal yet - 31 lbs to go. But I wasn't envious, because I know I will be at goal soon and it WILL HAPPEN. It's not a wish but a near certainty.

CC - Congratulations and welcome to VST. It sounds like you are doing great. Each day gets better and once you are totally healed, it gets GREAT. Keep us posted on your progress. And again, WELCOME! :w00t:

Dawn - Welcome to VST and congratulations on your recent surgery. First off, follow your surgeons instructions especially these first 6 weeks. Let your knew little tummy heal properly. Don't worry about what you can't eat right now, it's not forever. It's not that you can't have it, you just can't have it now. Just 6-8 weeks. You will again be able to eat things you shouldn't occasionally, but your sleeve will help control how much. Walk - get in some exercise and get the blood moving. Sip - stay hydrated. Weight loss rate depends on how much you have to lose. I lost a little every day until the 3 week stall. Then during week 4, weight loss started up again. I seem to lose weight in a stair step pattern (if you plot on a graph), nothing for several days/week than a bunch of pounds over a couple of days, then nothing for several days, etc. You can browse through the forum and see different people's tickers and see their weight loss progression. Good luck on your journey and feel free to ask questions. I have found incredibly supportive and knowledgeable people here - we are all in this together.

Joy - I am also a Texas girl (well transplant anyway) and would love to help you. The sleeve is AWESOME! Best thing I ever did for myself.

Wow! That is wonderful success. Keep up the good work in 2010.

Yay! Glad you are feeling better and have made it home safely. Being home always makes me feel a little better. Keep walking, keep sipping. Each day gets easier.

LOL I am feeling better. Protonix helped a bunch. Thank you.

Okay - they might be a bit heavy. My tummy hasn't felt very well since I ate. I'm not sure if it was too early to eat (I usually don't eat anything but "protein coffee" in the morning), just too heavy/rich food for morning, or the actual product disagreed with me. I kind of feel "hung over" in my tummy, a little nausea, like a drank too much last night. But I didn't feel that way before I ate. I only had one drink last night, so I'm certain its not that, but it is how I feel. We ate pretty non-diet friendly food last night, albeit not much for me. Might also be that, in combination with the heavy breakfast. I took a protonix this morning, I rarely do anymore. I hope that it helps. But back to the pancakes - they sure tasted good. I will have to try them again sometime but without all the New Year's Eve stuff the night before.

Hi Gary. Congratulations on your surgery date. I know you are in good hands. What a great way to start 2010. Keep us posted.

Well for New Year's Day breakfast, I made pancakes for the family. I haven't done that in a really long time (July). Anyway, I received a sample of Wonderslim Protein HotCakes and thought I would give them a try - a treat for me. I made them as directed with water and added 1/2 serving of diced "no sugar added" peaches and served with SF pancake syrup. Yummers! Now, I think too many carbs for a daily breakfast, but a nice substitute as a treat. (one package makes 2-3 pancakes - 120 cal, carb 19g, sugars 2g, fiber 5g, protein 12g). FYI - I couldn't eat them all - I only ate 2/3 of it and am now STUFFED. Uggghh!

Hey Longhorn - there you are! We were wondering about you too. Glad you are doing well. You will be able to drink more once the swelling in your tummy goes down a bit. Just remember: walk, walk, walk, sip, sip, sip (repeat).

Hi Kai Welcome to VST! We are glad you joined. I can't help you on Dr. Aceves, but there are many here that can. Good Luck on your journey and please ask away with questions. There are lots of wonderfully supportive, knowledgeable people on this forum that are always willing to help.

Hi Kimberly, Sorry to say, working in the medical field, I have never seen an insurance company pay for a procedure retroactively. It's either covered on day of procedure, or it's not. I am definitely not an expert on this however, so maybe someone else can chime in.

Break - Congratulations on your decision to have WLS. I can honestly say its the best thing I have ever done for myself and my family. I too, have a 4 year old (and an 8 year old). I initially thought I was being a little selfish for spending all the money for ME. But now, after seeing the positive effects of the weight loss on my family, it really was for all of us. Like I've said before: happier, healthier mommy = happier, healthier family. Good luck on your journey and welcome to VST.

Well, its a New Year - 2010. Happy New Year to everyone. Of coarse, like so many others, the resolution to "lose weight" seems to always be there. But this year, it's so much simpler: to keep working my sleeve, eating right getting my exercise and loosing the last 31 pounds to reach goal. It doesn't seem daunting or impossible, just part of the plan. My husband and I together have a resolution, kind of an odd one, but one I think it's important - to waste less food. We always buy more than we can eat, it spoils and we throw it away. OR - we have leftovers that are perfectly fine, we elect for take out instead, forget about the leftovers and end up tossing them. The scenarios are plentiful but the results are the same - we end up throwing away food. My other resolution is to serve healthier meals/snacks to my family. Since I can't eat much, I usually take the easy, processed food route for everyone else. I bake chicken breasts on the weekend and use them for my meals all week - easy, lean, PROTEIN. But for them, can you say hamburger helper?

WTG Girl - you are on the down hill side. Congratulations!

I knew that...Sorry Norma. I will edit post so it makes sense. Apparently too much PT for me lately, no oxygen getting to the brain.

Oh yeah. I lived on refried beans with melted 2% Chedder, a dallop of ff sour cream and a little bit of salsa - a burrito in a bowl. Gotta love the TexMex.

Yes, you are right, but most surgeons do some type of leak test while in the OR. Many others do another 1-2 days post-op. Dr. Nick and many others do not. I think it just comes down to the experience, training and medical opinion of the surgeon.

Theresa, Dr. Nick has been great. I'm always calling for little things (especially early on), but even now on occasion. They are really good about getting back with you quickly with an answer (Bea, Kristin, or Dr. Nick himself). Glad you are recovering quickly - it's all downhill (weight loss anyway) from here.

Congratulations on your decision. Dr. Nick's pre-op diet (in August) was 4-5 protein drinks/bars a day and one meal of 4 oz lean protein and 1-2 cups veggies (I lived on LF chicken caesar salad for those two weeks). Clear liquid diet the evening before surgery (no real food that day). I hope this helps.

I will be drinking a martini or two tonight. I started drinking my occasional cosmo or dirty martini around 3 months post-op (I think a little before). Start slow, don't want to over due it.