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Dr Jossart, Is strength training safe starting 4 months post-vsg in the presence of a 4 mm epiphrenic diverticulum (confirmed as present, by 4 physicians, see photo below) that extends to the left of the esophagus? Could the increase in intrathoracic pressure, and increased heart rate, possibly cause the diverticulum to rupture causing a leak? Thank you for your comments.

Hooray for you! There is more great stuff to come!

Wear a little pad...less laundry! (grin)

congrats on making a decision that will change your life forever, for the better!

Photo of normal stomach at RadiologyInfo Gallery, Upper GI Tract X-ray image Photo of inside of stomach 3 months after VSG. Healed sleeve suture line is at the bottom, a pale orange line from lower left extending up to upper right of the photo:

Mini, Looking forward to seeing you on the loser's bench...we are all scooting over for you. Keep in touch!.

There are lots of healthy hi cal foods...Pistachios have a lot of calories. So does avacado. lots of nuts. bananas. ice cream. Have fun ... I'll send you a few pounds that I'm needing to shed if you want, I'm feeling generous!

Aha, big clue...Wellbutrin diminishes appetite and causes weight loss in a lot of people.

christabel, Welcome to the sleevers world...your post made me laugh, I love your sense of humor! Even though you are not planning to go to Mexico for your surgery, due to your most impressive inquiring mind you would probably find it helpful to read the post on researching mexican sleeve surgeons. It applies to any surgeon for the most part. Look at this link: Researching Mexican Sleeve Surgeons By the way, what's the best toothbrush?

You are welcome! A lot of canadians fly down to be "sleeved" by Dr Aceves.

Read more about the program at http://www.mexicalibariatriccenter.com/ and http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/bariatric+surgeon+profile+Alberto+Aceves+lpc.html

You pay your flight to and from San Diego. His driver picks you up at the San diego airport, drives you to mexicali (about 2 hour drive). He takes you directly to the hospital where you have lab tests, ekg, chest xray, meet with Dr Aceves, the cardiologist, the anesthesiologist and the internist. Then the driver, (Ernesto) drives you to the lucerna resort hotel where you spend the night. He picks you up the next morning to take you back to the hospital for the surgery where you stay for three days. You get a leak test during surgery, and two leak tests during your hospital stay. Then Ernesto drives you back to the airport on the fourth day. A companion can come with you, and the companion pays for his/her own meals (there is a cafeteria). All you pay for is airfare, and your dinner the night before the surgery at a local restaurant of your choice. Everything else is covered, all doctors, tests, surgery, and your "meals" in the hospital, which amount to clear liquids. Their program works like clockwork and they are easy to work with. The bedside manner of the doctors is awesome, unlike any I have ever seen in the USA and the hospital is cleaner than any I have ever been in. Your companion has a couch in your hospital room, where they can sleep if they want. If they want to go back to the Lucerna hotel to sleep they would have to pay for their room except for that first night when you are there...that first night is covered by Dr Aceves.

I got in on the summer special in September, 8700 dollars. If you don't get the special I think it is around 9500 dollars.

Heavier sleevers will lose more pounds. It is more accurate to compare percent of excess body weight lost. But since you asked, I lost 63 lbs by three months out, and 78lbs by 4 months out.

Congratulations to all...great jobs!!!

According to the research that I read prior to deciding on a surgeon, the complication rate is higher until the surgeon had performed 300 or more of a surgery. It is not easy to find one with the amount of experience that was needed to reassure me. The ones with the most experience are Cirangle and Jossart in San Francisco but I could not afford them since I was self-pay. I found Dr Aceves in Mexicali. His credentials were stellar. He's done over 700, and is FACS, president of Mexican Bariatric Assoc., and operates in a beautiful hospital with ICU etc, so I highly recommend him. He was also affordable. Many on this forum have gone to him. You are smart to do your research. Good luck!

Do you have one that is from about 3 months since surgery?

I agree. Thanks Josephine.

Sounds like a normal reaction to me...just keep putting one foot in front of the other and you will come out sleeved! Congratulations.

She seems right on target about a lot of things but I do believe she is not experienced in advising VSG patients. I walk for 30 minutes three times a week at a moderate 2.5 mph pace. I don't always get dizzy, but when I do, I stop. I don't want to fall and break something at this point.

You can buy the Jay Robb Protein Powder online and have it shipped to you. If you decide to do that order some individual serving packets of the powder first, to taste it. The whey powder is what I use, not the egg white powder. I like the chocolate, but everyone has their own taste.

Follow your doctor's orders. Mine did tests that showed what I was deficient in. No need to take what you don't need!

The hi Protein lo carb diet is famous for causing constipation, so your question is a good one. I've been using a tsp of metamucil clear in my morning shake since I became constipated when starting regular food. Am going to soon try flaxseed instead, as it is more natural...but the metamucil worked. Be sure you nip this in the bud so you don't get painful hemorrhoids, that could require yet another surgery. Once you are on regular food, prunes work really well too, for some people. Hi sugar content though.

last time I noticed their advertisement it still said "in progress". It takes a while to get that cranked up for the first time.

The epidural line in the lower back is a tiny pliable plastic catheter about the size of a pencil lead...you don't even feel it is there. I slept on my back the whole time and slept fine.