MamaAsh

Good luck on the email Mo. Keep me posted ! Congrats Heather on the baby!!!!!!! When I was prego with my sleeve I had a lot more restriction too. Any non Kaiser's know of any trusted Bariatrics doctors in the Bay Area ? I'm now Blue Cross PPO.

Hi everyone ! I was suprised to start getting the emails again. I'm doing well. I've been up 10 lbs. but I figure that it's not too horrible considering I'm about 5 yard post op and had a baby 3 years ago. Although I can eat more then I should be able to, and I don't eat what I should, and I slack on vaitamins. I don't have kaiser anymore so I'm not sure where to go to get back on track. I'm sure I need yearly tests but no clue what to do. That's me in a nut shell. How is everyone else??????

Thanks for your reply Tiff, I know it has been a long time since I have been on the board but for some reason I never get emails anymore notifying me of replies to threads I'm interested in. Must be my settings. Anyway, I hope you had a safe and joyful delivery, and I look forward to hearing about your weight loss journey after baby. As for me I have 6 weeks left and have gained a total of 33 lbs. Most people comment around me that I still look thin, although i can tell that the weight is not just in my belly but my legs and thighs too. I am not surprised as that is usually where i gain weight first. My Iron is a little low too, but other then that so far so good. I get really nervous about losing the weight after baby and if I have over done myself and stretched out my sleeve. But I recently read a reply you wrote on how much you can eat now and it is about right on with me and i don't feel so bad lol! Still have the occasional anxiety over the fact of gaining and losing weight though.

Hi everyone! It's been a while since I posted on here. But I noticed that since I have been prego (13 weeks 5 days now) that ALL of my bad old habits have creeped back in and I have gained so far a fluctuating 8-10 lbs depending on the day. And I want to nip this in the bud before I get out of control. I have decent restriction (if you will), I can eat about a cup sometimes slightly more with less dense foods, but I want to eat all day! like more then 6-8 times a day, not enough water and more carbs too. I did get to goal 4 months before I was prego. I haven't been exercising either. There are a lot of "reasons" I can give as to why I am so far off the program (cravings, morning sickness, death in the family/depression, ragging hormones ect.), but the fact of the matter is I need to get a reality check on this before I get out of hand. I am excited to be prego, but also scared-of weight gain (at least excessive all be it this is my 3rd baby and the first two I gained 25-30lbs and I was already over weight with both of them) and scared of stretching out my sleeve...

Pat- The therapy with the Dr. who specialized in weight / eating issues sounds like a real good plus, I so need to do something like that! Let us know some of the things that they say that might help the rest of us. Glad the band is working for you! Pam- I feel for you with the vicious cycle of emotional eating and depression, I know I can get that way too. Hope things get better. Reggie- Hang in there girl! Sending my love your way Jes- I lose and gain the same 3 lbs too! Plus it doesn’t help that I eat candy all day long when I’m stressed Analynn- Sorry you had to go through so much to get where you are. I do my best as well with the sleeve and watching others eat, I know just what you are going through J I too did have a similar dumping syndrome episode but it has since dissipated and I can eat anything, although that is not always such a good thing! Tamra- sorry to hear about your accident, but glad you and your daughter made it out alive, it sounds so scary L As for me, I am pretty much at goal weight although I would still like to be 10 more pounds lighter. But I can’t complain. Although it is not done without some hard work, as I start to gain easily if I over indulge myself and don’t go to the gym. I too have had my fair share of life experiences that have been causing me a great deal of depression lately but I know that I will get through it and sooner rather than later I need to replace my urges for food with things that are more productive or I am sure that if I don’t I will push the boundaries to far and gain all the weight back!

I would love to do a get-together or walk, just let me know and I will be there

Hi everyone! I am still alive and kicking! Mo!!!! I miss you text me soon and we will go out

Hey everyone! Just checking in to say hi!

Great Job Ali! Don't worry Jes! We are all still here lol! I know that I have been supper swamped between my home day care and my school. But every now and then I check in to see what you all are up to! Hey Tina, glad you are doing well! Carmen this is a great group they will give you lots of support. Mo, where are you lady! Call me to check in girl :smile2: I am so happy with my results so far. My stalls are no longer then a 2 weeks at a time, I have only saggy skin on my belly and mostly from being prego's with my two boys lol! I can only eat a cup of food at most times. I do get off track sometimes but I know that it is a mental thing lol. I have only 25-30 lbs left to lose to get to my goal weight. I have lots more energy these days which is great for all my kiddos I have (8 daily!) So for now that is my exercise. I'm gonna join the gym next month and I will be able to bring some of the kids with me to it so that will be a good thing! I hope the rest of you are doing well too!

Just wanted to pop in and say hi and share my pic from Saturday! It was nice to meet Ali and Tina and Nicole and anyone else I forgot :cursing: Hope you are all doing well, Mo-call me I miss you girl!

Yeah! Stacey!!!!!

Hi everyone! Just checking in to say that I am soooooooo adicted to the scale as well. lol. This AM I am down though so it doesn't hurt.. 182.5 now :smile2: Any who I too need to get back on my vitamin track lol I always forget. But Kaiser Fremont actually WANTS us to take a daily protein shake for life n my Dr. said as long as i am doing that then I can sometimes "forget" my vitamins, just not always like lately lol!

Congrats Andrew on the good apt! you can do those 12 lbs. no sweat!!!! Lee, good to see you back on here! Jess, thanks! Mo!!!!! We NEED to get together asap J Sorry to hear about your hand! My loss is slowing down some so catch back up to me and we will hit the finish line together lol!

Just dropping by to say hi. Not much new, down to 184, can't wait to be in the 170's. Goal is set for not less then 145 and I need to exercise bad but been to busy. I have 6 kids in my daycare almost daily now so not time lol!

Congrats John! It makes me wish my boys did not break my Wii so I can hear the same thing lol!

I agree with John about the first 24hrs. But again it was the best thing I have done besides my boys and would do it over in a heart beat! Also, I am at 189!!!!!!

Yes they let you switch surgeons. Even facilities, like from Richmond to Kaiser. I would call them first thing Monday and tell them you are very uncomfortable with your surgeon and ask for a new one ASAP.

Hi Sherri, while I did not have the nausea, I did have the thrush, and there is a thing called "magic mouth wash" that your Dr. can have ordered at the pharmacy. It cured me in 2 days. Also to get more liquids, use Popsicle they are 2 oz each and easier to go down. I hope that helps. You also might want the prescription for Reglan (helps with nausea I heard)

Thanks everyone for the comments! Pam- My Dr. specifically told me that the part of the stomach used for the sleeve procedure (if done properly) does not stretch like the actual pouch in the by pass procedure. Riley- It sounds like an awsome program! I love HUGE too! I'm gonna call the Lodi WLS support group today and see when they meet next I will keep you all posted

ok just uploaded an album too!

Hey all, sorry I could not make it to the meeting! Issues and all with babies and vehicles lol! Anyways lets plan a meeting for walking the wetlands or something! I know I'm gonna check out the support group for Lodi because it's not that far from me. Oh and gues what!!!!! I weighed in at 190 this AM and i am in a size 14!!!!! I love this :bolt: and even though I am loesing this weight at a good pace, I have no lose skin so far! My only issues is my prego belly that I got from the babies. I'm uploading a new pic for my avatar too!

Pam- I don't remember I think she went to Mexico (Dr. Aceves?) Anywho, I personally think that each person needs to decided which surgery is perfect for them. I think that your weight loss is remark able and if you are happy with your progress then I am happy for you Tina- Just be careful with your next fill, I don't want you to be too tight! You said "Now I wonder how they decide who does good with band and who does best with sleeve and again who should get RNY?" Well from my research and my own conversation with Dr. Chu where I asked the SAME question lol, the answer is people who are prone to ulcers, & acid reflux should NOT get the band and ultimately the RNY cures most Diabetics and Acid Reflux patients. People who may need to take full advantage of medications in the future (if they have a history of cancer or family history ect,) and can NOT risk malabsorbtion should get either the sleeve or the band. And my Dr. said that if you do not have any of those risk factors then ultimately it is the patients choice. Mo- Great seeing you for lunch yesterday! Hi to everyone else :thumbup:

Pam- Glad you got the un-fill that you wanted & that we will see you @ Mimi's. Yes I have talked with people who have successfully gone through a pregnancy after the sleeve as well as read several other blogs/stories on obesityhelp.com. It is very easy to maintain proper nutrition through the sleeve. And yes I know there is no malabsorbtion with the band lol :biggrin: I had made it my mission to be fully informed of ALL the pros & cons for all 3 surgeries as well as a few other weight loss surgeries that Kaiser does not preform (just for my own knowledge!). Stacey- Hopefully I will get to meet you @ the meeting! Hopefully both Mo & I can make it too the meeting. I know that if i come I will need to bring my baby. But if he becomes the slightest bit of a distraction I am gonna wait in the clothing swap area until we go to mimis lol!

Becca, yes you deffinetly need to do your research. I am 26 (just as young as you and I have little ones so i know what worries you have) and had the sleeve/ To be perfectly honest it was the best thing that I have ever done beside having my two babies. The hard facts of the sleeve are #1 there is NO malabsorbtion. In other words, if you require more Iron, food, nutrition, you can get it in if need be with out the worries that your body is not absorbing it. #2, you can get pregnant and carry a healthy baby to term with the sleeve, again because there is not malabsorbtion. My Dr. specifically discussed this with me. I am considering more children in the future. and She told me there are several ways to make sure I am getting enough calories in, for example, 6 meals a day or 1 extra Protein shake. #3 Gerlin - SOME people do experience hunger pains early out, most of which may have acid reflux issues and MISTAKE them for hunger and just need a new or different PPI. However, with most people the hormone doesn't come back until 1-2 years back and is not as bad as having your full stomach present, besides, the simple fact is your stomach at that point can only hold 2-3 oz or 1 cup of food. #4 leaks- they are a direct result of the surgery itself not a long term complication. In other words, those who form an absess at 6-8 weeks post opt. had the leak from the first day out and it was just to small to notice therefore they got an absess. Those things can be fixed. At my 6 week apt. my Dr. explained to me that I am not at risk of a leak or one developing because of that simple fact. Also most of the people that I have found in MY research that have developed leaks are those who had either issues with their band (doing a revision) or stomach (ulcers and what not) prior to their sleeve surgery. #5 history - People say the VSG is new. It is not. It has simply been the same procedure for years that was used for the DS and for those people who have had stomach cancer and or ulcer issues. The procedure itself has changed slightly over the years depending upon the surgeon. In my opinion if you are doing research, do what i did and check out several message boards of those people who have had stomach cancer and sever ulcers and have had part or all of their stomachs removed. I had found people who have had no stomach (one formed out of intestines) who have lived 30+ years and are still thriving. #6 Complications - Since there is NO dumping, No Malabsorption, the only major complication is Acid Reflux. i personally take a PP 2x a day and will continue to do so for life. There is no side effect to this besides the occasional burping episodes that may occur. Do i think that the sleeve is a marical cure? NO. Do I belive that it is a tool that can be used right? YES. But I am also fully aware that it can be abused just like the band can. Also keep in mind, you may be able to remove the band if need be later in life but not the sleeve, but your stomach will still be altered as they will not be able to remove the stitching that they do to keep the band in place. So some might also reason that the band is a permanent alteration of your body. Ultimately this is YOUR decision. My main advise would be just like anyone else, Research and discusses it with your Dr., after all they are thoroughly educated on this subject and there is a reason that they will recommend you to go one way or the other.

Just dropping by to say Hi! Lee- I wont be able to come this Sat. because I have both my boys since their dad is working But keep me posted on the next meeting @ CoCo's !