NtvTxn

Does there have to be a point? I tend to have a flight of ideas. LoL I guess it would be a touchy subject to say 'I see you're from Washington' Yikes!

Hmmmm, well, it means 'I see you went to Mexico'

Boy, mention south of the border and everyone's panties get in a wad. All I said was, well, you know what I said. If someone looks at my stats, and says, I see you went to Dallas. It's an observation, a statement, that's all. I wouldn't choose to take it as a jab, but boy, are those folks sensitive and boy do they promote their doctors. I'm pretty convinced some of those patients aren't patients at all, but employees, paid to come on here, post, participate and advertise. If you'll notice, I don't think I have ever, in the past three years seen a patient that has had anything go wrong. I mean seriously, everything done in Mexico is perfect, 100% of the time??!!!! Give me a break!! Anyway, I traveled from Wisconsin to Dallas because I trust the doctors here, it was way less expensive and....well, Texas is home, and we're a pretty arrogant bunch. As far as I was concerned, I wouldn't have dreamed about going anywhere but Dallas, Houston, San Antonio or Austin.

It has never crossed my mind about 'getting around' anything. Around what.....I don't like the word "CHEAT" because that makes it sound like pre-op, when we'd cheat on a diet. Nothing bad is going to happen to us if we drink cokes, some may get gassy, some may even be uncomfortable, but we don't get grounded, smacked on the hands. I know I ate a couple cookies too many during Christmas, and I didn't feel good, and I felt guilty. I think so far, I'm pretty darn successful, I've been lucky.....but that let me know, it is a slippery slope and I need to always be on guard. I like it that I can walk away, I like it that I can make a home made pizza, have a piece, my husband have several, and the three left over pieces.....I can throw them in the trash. I KNOW ME, I know I can be tempted, I also know I am pretty good at resisting since surgery, but why have that temptation there. He wasn't going to eat it and pizza is something I really like.....but not often and thank God I cannot eat but one piece, two if they are small. Before, I'd have NEVER thrown good pizza away.

At the seminar I got what I refer to as my 'Bariatric Bible' - it isn't just Dr. Davidson I don't think, it is put together by a slew of Center of Excellence doctors that are not "IN" together, but they all preform surgery at Forest Park.....or heck, maybe they are all in together, but Davidson is the ONLY one in his office, the only name on the door. I got my bariatric Bible in April 2010 and it is STILL in the drawer in my bedside table. I like to refresh my memory on things occasionally. If nothing else, I have my weight/dates recorded, I can refer to it when a newbie, someone here, asks me a question. It's priceless to me. The most profound thing said at the seminar was this 'Dr. Davidson wants you to forget the word diet, this is not a diet, it's a new way of life'

I said NOTHING was off limits except coke, you know, in Texas, all soft drinks are cokes. I'd like to change that, just because Dr. Davidson said 'NO', that does not make it 'off limits'. It is off limits to me because I CHOOSE not to. Just because I can, doesn't mean I should. Make sense? He doesn't follow me around, he isn't the 'coke police'. For the record, I was a self pay patient, to the tune of almost 13K. I learned 'everything you need to know, but are afraid to ask' at the seminar, which is required.

I've "given up" nothing. Prior to reaching goal, I treated this like the most serious, important diet EVER.....but I've been maintaining for 2.5 yrs now and I think I eat like a naturally thin person. There are things I choose not to eat, or to indulge in once in a blue moon, but to me, NOTHING but cokes are off limits. I will eat a few, and I mean a FEW French fries or chips.....every few months, maybe.....a piece of cake, ONE small piece, occasionally. I do not ever feel deprived and I never feel like I'm on a diet since I reached goal. Life is good.

I wasn't raised that way either, but I've always been a rebel, even at age 53 - some times the BS flag needs to be thrown down.

I see you went to Mexico.

I never asked prior to surgery, I also didn't ask about anything else specific to what I can or cannot or should and should not have post op. It was laid out there, said without anyone asking about soft drinks.....at the seminar. I have to pause for a minute and try and IMAGINE any reputable doctor giving their "blessing" - but stranger things have happened, I suppose. "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should" 'Nuff said

Then by all means, drink a coke.

Stay positive and enjoy the ride, every second of it. It's wild and it is fun!!

I simply cannot understand going under the knife, having 85% of your stomach removed and a few months (or less) later, asking....."How long before I can have a soda?" That's simple, never. Or at least you never should. At the seminar I attended prior to surgery, I knew cokes were the ONLY thing he said NO to, no as in not in six weeks, six months or six years. I know there are some that cross that line, but why? I quit smoking fifteen years ago, a bad habit, an addiction, just like soft drinks are for some people. I have never wondered or considered going back. I did not stop smoking, just to start back up again a few months later. I was not a 'coke' person before, so the thought of NEVER drinking a coke again, that was not a deal breaker. I maybe had six cokes a year, and I had 'rules'.....crushed ice and out of a fountain. I can't believe anybody can think it's a good idea to consider this, I went into starting this new life knowing that I'd have to make lifestyle changes, changes that I can make because it is much, much easier to resist when I need to or want to, but my new life has a new look, besides wearing size 4's and 6's....the new me weighs every morning, religiously. When at home, I weigh and measure my food. I log my food on line. I make it a point, when I'm measuring a half cup of cottage cheese, I don't quite fill it to the top of the measuring cup. Almost but not quite, I under eat my sleeve, meaning I stop before it is filled, it is way more comfortable this way. I hate that 'Thanksgiving' full feeling. I am not deprived, I eat anything I want to eat, but there are things I CHOOSE not to eat, at least not often. Seriously, when it doubt, err on the side of caution, it's a slippery slope we are walking on. Failure is NOT foreign to any of us. It's easy to get in the gutter and not nearly as easy to climb back out. Ok, 'nuff said. I'll quit preaching!

Is this a SERIOUS question???!!!! I'm three years out and I knew PRIOR to surgery that cokes.....carbonated drinks, were the ONE thing I was not EVER suppose to do. Someone else asked you and I didn't take the time to see if you responded, but why would you WANT to. There is NOTHING about a soft drink, regular or diet, that is good for you.

Different doctors use a different size tube, I think. A bougie is a thin tube that is sized in a measurement known as French. Mine is a 32 and here in the Dallas area, that is the size normally used. Some use a 34, but I don't know anyone whose had surgery in the past three years that has one any larger.

I had a super easy time. I only took pain meds for ten days total and after being discharged from the hospital, I only took it at night. It was uncomfortable turning over and the meds helped. During the day I used Tylenol and a heating pad. I never felt sick, the worst problem I had was trying to get the nasty shakes down and getting enough water. I started drinking the little 3.5 oz protein shots, not any better tasting really, but MUCH LESS of it to get down. A few sips in the AM, noon and PM, holding my nose like a kid and rinsing my mouth afterwards. Pretty easy way to get 43 grams of protein. We went to Galveston the 2nd week post op and I am pretty sure salty sea air aids in healing!!! LoL I'd get out and walk on the beach a little bit and a little more every day. I was just so darn excited to have had this surgery, every day was a new adventure! I never regretted my decision, not from the time I woke up in recovery. I was thrilled beyond belief. I'm three years out and I still cannot believe it, I cannot believe how easy it's been. Maintaining for 2.5 years now. Problems here......not at all. I have a few things I recommend that I started at day 3 or 4 and STILL do. I weigh every single morning. I weigh and/or measure all my food when we are at home. I log my food on line. I don't always manage to "under eat" my sleeve, but I try, it is uncomfortable to eat 'one bite' too many. Eat a little less than you can hold. I eat off a salad plate and I use a seafood fork many times when I'm at home. Good luck, this is a wild ride, enjoy every bit of it!!!!

I am so sorry, it will get better. The rumbling is not because you're hungry, at least I'd guess it's not. Slow down, under eat your sleeve. Of course you're "eating" broth, not even full liquids yet, but early on, the first few weeks, I could NOT eat more than 1/8 cup of anything at a time. I started using the protein bullets or "shot" - only 3.5 oz, I got the ones from GNC. They don't taste good, but there is so little to drink and to me, not nearly as bad as the shakes!! I'd hold my nose and take a few sips in the morning, at noon and at night......rinse my mouth after sipping! I did this until 2.5 months out and then was getting all my protein from food.

I just saw that you were sleeved on April 30th. You should be able to eat anything, but not for a while. Small, small amounts is all you'll be able to eat for a few months. I am three years out and cannot eat 1 cup of food and in fact, my surgeon doesn't want me to EVER eat more than 1 cup at one time. You are only a month out, what are you eating. Be gentle, your new little tummy has been through a traumatic event!!! Measure and/or weigh EVERYTHING you eat. I was measuring my 1/8 cup of broth the first week and 3 years later, I STILL weigh and measure my food. I know how much I can hold, and I try and under eat my sleeve, it is a lot more comfortable. At your stage, I'd recommend nothing veggie wise and not even chicken, pork or beef other than maybe ground beef. Half a scrambled egg with a few sprinkles of 2% cheese. An 1/8 cup of 1% cottage cheese, tuna in water, again, about an 1/8 of a cup. Steam some shrimp, good protein and easy on your tummy. Skim milk, I start every morning and end every day with a cup of skim milk. This too shall pass, but make sure you are starting new habits, good habit. Don't drink when you eat, and wait for 30 minutes afterwards before drinking. Eat on a salad plate, I do this too. Weigh, measure and log your food. I use a seafood fork when I'm at home. Make these things part of your new life, it helps.

You're more than welcome!!! Bon Appétit.

I do the very same thing! To get all my calories in, I have to eat a snack two or three times a day....when I know we are going to get ice cream or do something out of the ordinary, I will cut the morning and afternoon snack out.....it all comes out good. I do manage to keep my protein between 60 and 90, and that is my 'daily goal'.

I agree with you.....I want to know where I am calorie wise. I have my daughter doing this and she is not a WLS patient! She'd gained a little when she had her baby 4 years ago. She has been on myfitnesspal for 2 months now and is 15 lbs lighter. Fifteen was her goal, now she is going for a five pound pad!! Hey, I know I'm obsessive, actually my nurse said I was a 'bit rigid', and early on, while I was losing, I was......but I "freak out" over very little! I never have. Up and down, up and down, that is what normal people do.....this is all a game to me, I have fun, it's part of my life. Weighing daily, weighing or measuring food and tracking calories.....is my new life, as natural for me as breathing. I can't imagine paying almost 13k, out of pocket to have 85% of my tummy removed.....and then, that's it. I am very aware of everything I do. I am not deprived of anything, but I am much better at resisting and making wise choices when I need to!

So tracking calories is bad, why?

Giving up chips and soft drinks are a good thing, surgery or not!!! You will have to make very wise choices during the honeymoon period, to make the most of that time. After you reach goal, you can eat what you enjoy cooking. You may change the way you prepare food though. If you are use to frying food, high calorie gravy a lot of bread, those are probably things you'll want to do much less....healthier for everybody. I cook and eat like I did before, nothing is off limits other than cokes, but there ARE things I CHOOSE not to eat. I seldom eat chips, I do not keep them in the house. We were at a church bar-b-q two months ago and along with my hamburger patty, I had six or seven Fritos. I have been maintaining for 2.5 years now, you'll get use to your new life and you will be in control, food will not be!!!!

Go to the El Paso Times, the Juarez section - http://www.elpasotimes.com/juarez or just do a search on Juarez. It will scare the bejeebers out of you!! LOL

Ditch soft drinks, chips and bread. Cut out ALL snacks, that was hard for me, but I did it and lost 23 lbs prior to surgery. I only had to lose 15 lbs. LoL