Lee

Heather, congratulations! I've been following you over at verticalsleeve talk, so I know how excited you are! I couldn't be happier for you as you have waited longer, and been put through more hoops, than any of us. Keep on fantasizing because what's ahead of you is simply fantastic. What date is your surgery? I'm going on vacation, returning on June 27th. I'll be around for any Sleevie support and to answer any questions that you may have, if you're looking for that. Just remember to sip sip sip, walk walk walk and know that everything is going to be just fine. During the first few days I had a lot of phone calls so I got up and walked while I was on the phone. It took my mind off any little pains that were there. During the first few days I had lots of Dreyers No Sugar Added popsicles to help get the fluids in and it felt good on my swollen Sleevie. I kept a glass by the sink and threw the sticks in so that at the end of the day I counted 2 oz of fluids for every stick. A lot of people find it hard to get down plain Water, I used a lot of warm herbal tea in the beginning. Crystal light has just been too sweet to me. Now I can tolerate the Peach tea flavor of Crystal light but only in small quantities. Sobe 0 Fugi Apple Pear flavor was my fav drink becuase it was like diluted apple juice without the calories. Be ready for your taste buds to change. Everything is so sweet in the beginning. Kaiser Richmond doesn't recommend any shakes, but I know that SSF does. Beware that shakes may cause lactose intolerance in the beginning. I had the runs something fierce while on full liquids until I discovered the culprit and went to Muscle Milk Light which has no lactose. GNC has a lot of good brands with enzymes that counteract the lactose in the whey Protein. sleep raised up on pillows those first nights. I never had heardburn a day in my life until day 3 post op when I slept on 2 instead of 3 pillows. Woke up with a mouthful of acid and learned my lesson. The PPI's will kick in soon enough and you'll be able to sleep laying down. Be excited, be happy and wait for the beautiful changes that are about to happen for you.

This month the guest speaker is a Plastic Surgeon. I believe the Chef is in July. I'm looking forward to that one as well. Neil, you're not that chef, are you? The speaker chef sat right in front of us last month, but he's already had his surgery.

Darlene, those feelings will go away. The nerves were cut during surgery and what you're feeling probably isn't real hunger. Isnt' it great that 1 sip takes it away? You may have some excess acid at this point. On night three I woke up with a mouthful of acid and had to add an additional pillow under me until the PPI's really kicked in.

Yes, the one at Wells Fargo. Heck, SFDavid, can you join us for the meeting?

Were you at the last meeting in Santa Rosa? I was there, sitting up front with some other Oakland people.

At 15 months, I'm still taking my Protonix 2x a day. Sometimes when people go off their PPI (protonix or other) they experience what feels like more hunger when in reality it is acid building up in the stomach. When I tried to go off it, I discovered that I had heart burn for the first time in my life. I also felt hungrier than I did when I was taking it. I'm one of those that had the hunger feelings return early. I think with the smaller sleeves more of the gherlin is removed and you don't get that hunger back so quickly. Not sure, no science behind those thoughts. But the statements of more acid, more hunger feelings when going off have been talked about extensively over on Obesity Help.com. Congrats to those of you in early recovery!!

Is anyone going to the Santa Rosa support group on Saturday morning at 10am? A few of us from Oakland will be there.

It's different for all of us. I have a good friend who was tired for what seemed like forever. Thankfully she didn't have to go into a job for work so could really honor her process. We each have our own path. The main thing that I learned in the early days was not to compare myself to other people. Everyone lost so much faster than I did and it drove me nuts when I thought I should be just like them. We all have so many factors: Where we started from, age (I'm 60), physical condition when starting (I was already a walker), male or female (I'm female). Men shed those pounds so much faster than us women!! Just know that you'll eventually get exactly where you want to go.

Time off work. Here's what my process looked like. These are consecutive days during the first few weeks. Take into account that I work a desk job. Wednesday - Surgery Thursday - Go Home Sunday - walk on treadmill for 20 minutes, drink 64 oz fluids Monday - last day off work Tuesday - Friday - Work from home for 4 hours a day. I was tired during that week. Monday - Tuesday - Work six hour in the office. So ready when it was time to go home! Wednesday - Friday - Work eight hours in the office. I wanted to be in bed by 8pm each of those days. I'm not a napper so I'd get up early and be awake until bedtime.

Congratulations and good luck to all of you with upcoming surgery dates. I bet you'll agree with us post-ops that it's the best thing we ever did for ourselves. My only regret is that my doctor took so long to recommend it to me! I've met some great people on my journey who I think will be life long friends. Find people who live close to you and establish mini-support groups if you can so that you'll have that voice of reason should you ever start to get off track. I keep in the forefront of my mind that 1 in 3 people gain their weight back so I build in all the support that I can get. Along with my Kaiser support groups, I go to other support groups as well. I also have WLS friends who I walk with, take yoga with and also pilates. Along with all of this I go to Weight Watchers once a week and have promised myself that I will always continue. While I have weighed at home everyday since surgery on February 17th, 2010, I know that if I ever got off track I might want to go into denial and not weigh myself. Going to WW makes sure that I can't do that. I've enlisted a very close friend to go with me so that it's another buddy system that I've built into my life. Good luck team!!

I too find it annoying about lumping together the RNY and Sleevers. They do that at Kaiser Richmond as well. I think they're all trying to catch up. I've always found it strange that the three Kaisers (I'm including Fremont) all have different food plans for post op. I think SSF and Fremont both recommend protein supplementation at the beginning while Richmond is stricly no protein powder or bars. The beauty of it is that regardless, it all works and we all lose weight if we follow whatever the guidelines are. I'm 15 months out now and I can tell you that if you just follow the rules, the weight will stay off. Love my Sleevie!!

I am very pleased with my surgeon Dr. Baggs at Kaiser Richmond. I would go back to him in a heartbeat and I feel that the follow-up is also very good. Those that have him as a surgeon really rave about him. There are support group meetings the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month. 6pm - 7:30. Come if you can so you can ask questions and see people who are both post-op and pre-op and see how we've all done. You will get weighed when you go to orientation and that is your starting weight. You will then be given a 1200 calorie diet to follow that most people find to be effective. Kaiser Richmond does not use Optifast or any other Protein supplements. It's very helpful if you've lost some weight between orientation and meeting with your surgeon to show them your commitment. Your surgeon will give you a goal weight for surgery. When you get to that goal weight, you'll meet with the case manager and be assigned your surgery date. My PCP referred me to the Bariatric Program in October. I went to Orientation mid-November and had surgery on February 17th so it was around 3months to surgery. Keep asking questions. Good Luck!!

Welcome Chef Neil. Your surgery date is getting closer. Are you excited? This thread has been quiet for awhile. How's everyone doing on their journey?

I'm so in for that party! Good luck with your job search. Is anyone going to the Santa Rosa meeting on the 14th? I've never been, but I'm planning to go on Saturday. Lee

Congratulations Heather!! Pam, I'm sorry that eating is so tough on you. I can so relate to not feeling great about yourself. I have watched so many people breeze through this surgery process and get to goal so quickly, while shedding each ounce has been torture for me. I honestly thought it would be easier than this has been. Last summer doing 3 hours of exercise daily with a trainer and I was still only able to shed 3 pounds a month, was so darn tough. I'm still fighting my way towards my goal. In January I decided to go back to Atkins and did get 10 pounds off in 3 months. Lately, I find that I'm doing a little better with adding in more veggies. I'm not a bander so I don't know how dense Protein feels to you, but I'm so sorry that it hurts you. Riley, hang in there with your ulcer. Are there less carby foods than oatmeal that you can eat and still feel good? Aren't tofu scrambles pretty easy on the system? I was a vegan/no sugar/flour for over 10 years and ate a lot of tofu. How does that work with your bank? Have a fun weekend everyone!

Great news about the upcoming surgery dates. I'm so excited! YAY!!!

opps, double post. Sorry

Hello, What Kaiser does offer are twice a month support group meetings. The people who continue to come appear to be pretty successful. It's a great bunch and there's a lot of accountability. If you're on Facebook, you can look for the Richmond Bariatric group. People post there looking for, and giving support. They keep saying that people who attend groups tend to be more successful so I've been going 2x a month for the last 16 months and intend to continue. I'd love to see more people there. I know it's too far for many of you, but if you're close enough, give it a try. 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month. Sometimes we have a speaker and it's fun and informative. Third floor conference room.

Heather, this is fantastic news! I can't wait to hear your date so that we can all start visualizing you on the Loser's Bench!!!

Hey Ash, Wednesday night is the 8th anniversary of the Kaiser Bariatric Department. Maybe you can grab one of the girls and come on over to the meeting. It should be fun. I'd love to see you!

Hi Heather, I'm so darn excited for you. I've been watching your progress over on the lapband site for over a year. You of everyone I know deserves this surgery so much. I'm really glad you're getting the Sleeve. You're going to love it! Get those darn 1.1 pounds off and get scheduled so we can all start celebrating.

Lisa, I'm not at goal yet. I have 11 pounds to "normal". I had my surgery 2/17/2010, so I'm further out that you all are. It's a great ride, enjoy the journey. You're doing great!

Congratulations LisaLisa. I remember when my surgeon told me that. I was over the moon happy!

Cherice, big big congratulations for hitting your normal BMI! That's such a cool accomplishment. I hope you're really proud of yourself.

Pat, it's great to see your face on here again! it looks like you're doing really well. I may be coming up to the Santa Rosa meeting with some friends in April. I'd love to see you there. I just wanted to mention that the Richmond meeting now has a Facebook page. I don't really check into FB very often but wanted to put it out there that it's available. It's something like Richmond Bariatric and it's a private page so it won't show up on your regular FB if you participate.