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Anyone from Minnesota



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I'm just a step across the border in WI!

Ha! Me too! I'm in the way northwest part of the state. :)

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Welcome to the forum! I'm still relatively new to the process' date=' but will be happy to tel you what I know. I'm in the Twin Ports area, so I am going to Dr. Bettendorf at Essentia. Frown at I have seen so farther have a really good Bariatric Center (it's also a COE which was required by my insurance). The staff there is wonderful and want you to succeed.

I'm sorry I don't know anything about the docs in the TC, but there are definitely others here who can give you that information.

Again, welcome and best wishes to you![/quote']

Hello! Dr Bettendorf will be my surgeon as well! He took out my band in 2012, and I will be sleeved September 12. Good luck in your journey!!

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Hi Minnesota Sleevers! I'm from Northern Minnesota. Haven't picked a Dr. yet' date=' but I have a couple in mind. Wondering how you all picked yours - there's a lot in the metro area - and I'm not opposed to driving to see them. I have a good network of physicians up here to have follow-ups with and whatnot. Also thinking about maybe Duluth.

Any input is welcome![/quote']

I am just starting the process with Dr Daniel Smith Essentia Health in Park Rapids, MN feeling pretty confident as they are fantastic! Everyone on your team is supportive, understanding, and well educated in the process.

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Hello

I'm from Mn had my sleeve done by Dr Laura July at unity. My sleeve was done on 7/15.

Doing ok get to have pureed foods next week. So tired of cream Soups and Protein shakes.

I am scheduled with Dr. July for Sept. 16th. I'm not nervous about the surgery at all, just the subsequent diet of liquids for three weeks. Any advice for liquids? Which Protein do you like best?

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I had Dorothy for my other visits and I'm sure you could ask to stay with her with her when you schedule.

I'm doing well. I struggle some with eating. I just have no desire and nothing sounds good. Otherwise I'm doing great. I did not have a pain pump at the hospital. They have meds via IV and the later started me on liquid oxycodone. I was lucky and had minimal pain. I had some nausea but minimal pain. I'm sure you'll do great.

I am going to ask about the pain thing. I had a hysterectomy last year and had horrible post op pain. Don't want that again this time.

I go back Wednesday morning and see Dr Demattia, physical therapy, and the NUT. It's the last of my requirements for ins. Hoping to be sleeved by Halloween if possible!

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I have tried about 8 different kinds including Isopure. My doctor has advise me to stop trying to drink Protein for a week. I either gag and throw in up or have an extreme stomach ache all day long if it goes down. I have tried mixing it with milk' date=' Water, almond milk and soy milk. They just want me to give my stomach a break. We will see how it goes.[/quote']

Hey, have you tried the no sugar added carnation instant Breakfast mixed with skim milk? Doesn't have as much Protein but some is better than none right?

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Hey' date=' have you tried the no sugar added carnation instant Breakfast mixed with skim milk? Doesn't have as much Protein but some is better than none right?[/quote'] yes, nothing has worked, so I have up

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How are all the Minnesotans doing? Are we gearing up for winter?

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I'm from the metro area. Not sure when I'll get the sleeve. Hopefully sometime Dec/Jan

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How are all the Minnesotans doing? Are we gearing up for winter?

All set for winter! I've missed the cold temps! Bring on winter!

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All set for winter! I've missed the cold temps! Bring on winter!

Oh no, I am not ready at all. I am in Omaha for the week, wondering if MN will get it's first snowfall while I am gone.

How far out from surgery are you? How has it been going for you?

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Ahh yes the Minnesota section. Hello everyone. I'm from the northwest suburbs and was at Unity Hospital with Dr. Baker for my sleeve on August 29th. Not quite ready for the cold weather as I have been freezing lately (due to weight lost, so not a bad thing) Just going to have to layer up. Definitely looking like the cold weather is here.

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Ahh yes the Minnesota section. Hello everyone. I'm from the northwest suburbs and was at Unity Hospital with Dr. Baker for my sleeve on August 29th. Not quite ready for the cold weather as I have been freezing lately (due to weight lost, so not a bad thing) Just going to have to layer up. Definitely looking like the cold weather is here.

I went to Unity too, but I had Dr. July. My surgery was Sept 16th. All is going well thus far. How is it going for you?

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I went to Unity as well! Dr Baker on November 21st! Not excited about snow, that's for sure!

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Ahh yes the Minnesota section. Hello everyone. I'm from the northwest suburbs and was at Unity Hospital with Dr. Baker for my sleeve on August 29th. Not quite ready for the cold weather as I have been freezing lately (due to weight lost, so not a bad thing) Just going to have to layer up. Definitely looking like the cold weather is here.

I went to Unity too, but I had Dr. July. My surgery was Sept 16th. All is going well thus far. How is it going for you?

Deb0316

I had Dr. July too. I really like her. I was Sleeved on 7.15.13.

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    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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