notsofluffy

Well..... I went into the VGS process knowing I would have to have my pannis removed. Pre-op my pannis hung 4 inches above my knees (445 lbs pre-op), no amount of AB work is going to shrink that! (Hmmm, wonder if I can throw it in the dryer, worked on my clothes!) I have seen a girdle type product shown on TV that reduces the size of the pannis by several sizes, anyone tried it?

I am 4 weeks out and I found that I have no interest in carbs at this point (tried a peice of donut from my brother this weekend and actually spit it out since it didn't do anything for me :thumbup:). I tend to eat about 1/3-1/2 cup of food per sitting, with the occasional between meal Protein craving. Breakfast usually one poached egg and a few bites of banana. lunch / dinner about 1/3 of a cup of chicken salad or a chinese dish with chicken. Beef has to be chewed so much that their is no flavor by the time it gets to the right consistancy to chew. I found that I tend to spit it out rather then swallow it at that point. Lamb is a good protein as it keeps it's flavor through the chewing process. I LOVE tuna salad, but I have to put mayonaise in it to get it down from the texture, it likes to stick (trying to avoid since mayo is evil :sneaky2:). I always supplement with at least 1 Protein shake daily to get my protein intake abover 60, I like Jay Robb whey protein with 1% milk). I had a bad pre-op food bindge last night. Felt hungry at midnight and grabbed tuna salad and ate without paying attention, that HURT. I think I prefer the denser Proteins since I don't forget to eat slowly. One fun thing is going out to eat (I travel for my job so I have to eat out a lot). The waiters keep wandering by your table eyeing your plate and waiting for you to complain or send it back! They look so surprised when you ask for a togo bag!!!:001_tt2: Tracy

I love Jay Robb! I am 4 weeks post-op and still enjoying my Jay Robb shakes daily. I sometimes supplement a little fruit or greek yogurt in the shake. I found I really don't like the egg white Protein, it gives me a bad after taste. In the vanilla shake I like to add a little sugar free International coffee in it, very tasty.

That is outstanding! I am needing to loose 291 total to get to my target weight. How long did it take you to loose the weight?

I was down 10 lbs in the first 3 days and now 34 at 3 weeks out. I started above 400 befpre surgury. It is easier for tose of us with higher BMIs to loose at a faster rate, it's a % of weight loss, not pounds to consider. Tracy

Hello Wendy! I hope everything went well with your surgury. I am really enjoying things so far. Just started on the blended foods and have enjoyed some "real protein" that isn't mixed in the blender . Only problem I had post-op is a stitch came loose and one of my incisions has not healed, but doing much better now. I am very excited at the weight loss and am currently in an outfit that I haven't worn in 2 years and it's baggy! Tracy

We are going to have to make a whole new forum just for pre- and post-opers with Dr. Aceves! Down to 50 lbs loss, 20 pre and 30 post op! Tracy

Hello everyone, Been a bit of time since I last posted, but things went a little weird in Mexico, weird good though. My surgury with Dr. Aceves in Mexicalli on April 10th went so well that my step-Mom decided to go for it, so we stayed 3 more days while she was sleeved as well :biggrin2:. Meet several people from this forum down in Mexicalli as well. :crying: I am 10 days post-op, just going to start full liquids today (started shopping the organic baby food isle yesturday for the puree stage, that should go over well at work :w00t:) But I am happy to say that I'm still excited and happy after surgury, especially today as I have meet my first Post-Op goal of dropping below 400 lbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is a total of 46 lbs lost since starting my pre-op diet. I think it was worth the trip to Mexico, don't you? Tracy

Hello Everyone! Things are still going great! I have not lost anymore weight, though since I am finally able to drink the amount of Water I'm suppost to, I think its just water weight keeping me at 399.5. At least it's below 400!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was wondering where you went Kathy, I seriously thought the drugs where just messing with me post op and I lost a day . The docs where unable to get the spinal in for me, so I was on IV pain medication only post op, so I was kinda out of it for 2 days. Though even with that I had very little discomfort. It was great to meet everyone down in Mexico. Ernesto even gave us his e-mail Bree is on here too, nickname Breezy. It is very nice to be able to share the fun of post op VGS. At least I have someone to go share a kiddy meal at a resturant with when we get to regular food. It's also fun to tease her about the foods I can eat 3 days before her :crying:. Tracy

The couch in the private hospital rooms are very comfortable. Though their is only the cafe to eat from. The beds at the hotel bring a whole new meaning to "hard as a rock". Nothing is really nearby for dinning. Though the resturants at the hotel are very tasty for your last meal.

Most doctors recommend an PPI post-op to protect the suture line in the stomach. Their is just not enough stomach left to store the acid, so if finds a place to go, usally up! I also received Nexium Mumps from Dr. Aceves post-op, though I upped the dose to 40 mg since I had pre-op acid issues. Untill the suture lines are healed be sure to take some sort of PPI, Prilosec OTC is a good one, but it must be taken daily or 2 times daily. It will not work as an immediate fix as it takes 24 hours to get up to theraputic leves. If you are still having issues with Prilosec talk to your doctor about a Nexium prescription. I had a co-worker that ignored her acid production post-op Gastric Bypass and she ended up in the hospital due to a ruptured gastric ulcer. She was a nurse as well and knew better then to ignore her stomach "talking" to her. Tracy (RN when not on vacation )

Dr. Aceves is a great choice for surgury. Our procedures cost $8750, which does not include airfair, but it does include a ride from the San Diego airport. If you use a debit or credit cards their is a 3% extra charge. Have no worries about the facilities, the nursing care, or the doctors, they are comprable to the US. (think small town hospital). Dr. Aceves' staff is very helpful and check on you often. My step mom has already been up to walk and is feeling good, if sleepy :thumbup:. Tracy

Well all sleeved and feeling GREAT! I am feeling so good that my Step Mom, who came down to support me, is going for the surgury today! So I am staying to Mexicalli for 3 more days. :mad: I lost another few pounds after surg, down to my lowest weight in over a year! Woo Hoo!

Well I as sleeved Saturday by Dr. Aceves. Everything went so well that my Step-Mom who came down for support is set up for surgury Tuesday! So we are switching roles tomorrow! I am doing great, a little post-op pain since they couldn't use a spinal on me, but I was up and walking that evening and feeling good! All the drains and IVs are out today, so tomorrow i get the couch and my S-Mom gets the bed (we are even keeping the same room!) :sad0::lol0::lol0: Tracy

LOL, just go back and read any posts your do while on the happy pills! I said some off the wall things on facebook after my surgury Saturday :sad0:

I'm Tracy! Is their any damage from the earthquake?

I will see you their! I am driving down tomorrow for my procedure Saturday! I'll look for you! I will be the chubby girl with red / brown hair! Their is another member from here that is having her procedure done Friday. Good Luck to you! T

WTG Lost! I know the feeling, I have lost and re-gained hundreads of pounds over the years. I have yet to be sleeved (April 10th!!) but I feel very optimistic reading every one elses comments. What I love about the VGS is even if you have a "bad day" that bad day can never be anything near a bad day without. (can you say "pizza night") I could always stick to a diet for 2-3 weeks, then I would jump off that wagon into a binge. I think that not being able to do that will help me to be good. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress!

What is really irritating is that MediCAID will cover WLS.

EdZinVA, I travel for my job and I actually take my blender with me. You may consider investing in a bullet blender or borrowing from a freind while you are on the puree part of the diet. I used mine when I did Medifast (that diet was horrible), and I use it now for my pre-op Protein shakes, if it can blend ice, it can surley blend soft foods.

Made the mistake of trying to mix the Jay Robb Vanilla Whey powder with vanilla Hemp milk, it kinda tasted like Krispi Kreme milk (ugh!) waaaaayyy to sweet. Just the right sweet with Water as a base. I did try adding just a touch of unsweetened orange juice concentraite and it had a very Orange Julius flavor that was rather tasty. I think an OJ extract would work as well. Enjoy your Dallas trip NtvTxn!

I tried the egg white Jay Robb, it didn't taste so hot. I like the Vanilla Whey much better. I did find to change up the flavor a bit I added 1/3-1/2 cup greek yogurt and 1 tablespoon sugar free peach preserves (Splenda so only 5 carbs). Added some good flavor depth and extra protein, also a bit more filling.