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Let me see. So far so good. I went to my OBGYN and found out that I will be going in to get an ovary out. Will be getting the date soon. When she gave me the dreaded exam she kindly asked if I had been having constipation problems. I actually was feeling OK and told her not that I know of. I did happen to take some herbal Lax just that morning. I was getting concerned because I was on my 3rd day of not going.  By that afternoon it kicked in and I was feeling bad. So here I take some more herbal lax and nothing. Then I remember that I bought some tea that is suppose to be a big help. It says that it would work in 30 minutes. AH no help. I drink another nasty cup of tea. Still nothing. So I get a small rabbit pellet to come out and then the pain hits me. So I wait until the next morning and take more herbal Lax with no help. So on the way to the gym I stop at Wal-Greens and get some of the stuff you clean yourself out with for the colonoscapy. I think, I will just stop and put it in the frig and let it get cold and drink it when I get back from the gym. I get this feeling on the way back to my house that tells me that I just might have to hang out for awhile. Needless to say no big surprise. So I go to the gym and think I will go and work out. I do my work out and come back home. I start drinking the magnesium drink remembering how quick it worked last time. So I'm thinking I better just drink half. I do not want to over do it so half it is. I wait very nicely and I feel like my stomach is just getting heavier. I read the bottle and think 30 minutes and it will kick in. It is about 12 pm so here comes 2 pm and nothing is happening but very uncomfortable. So I continue drinking my so delicious drink and finish the bottle. Finally about three hours later I start feeling things move. It finally happened relief. I would never of thought that I could go so much . I know that I can not eat that much food so where did all that crap come from. Now I'm getting concerned again because I have not gone since I had that drink. So I have taken some more herbal lax.

Now for the good news and some bad.  When I went in to the doctors of course you have to be weighed in. She tells me to get on the scales and I do. She is like checking the scales trying to see if something is wrong. Then she shows me my weight from the last visit (not sure on the date) 230 lbs. she shows me that the scales is on 194. She asks me if I'm trying to loose weight. Then I tell her about my procedure. She doesn't ask any thing else. She was surprised. This was the nurse. Then the doctor comes in and I tell her about the procedure do to the fact that I will be having my ovary removed and thought she should know. She did not ask any questions or comment one way or the other. So I do not know if she is for or against the sleeve.

Now for some of the bad news. I do not know if I'm on a stall or not. I haven't really learned this process yet. I got down to 191 lbs and then started the constipation thing. Went back up to 194 lbs. After my ordeal I went back down to my low weight of 191. So I'm thinking cool I can handle that. But when I weighed in this morning my official weigh in day I was back up to 194.2. It is 8 weeks for me so I could be in my first stall. So that was the bad news. LOL I'm not giving up I will still keep on trucking and moving forward. I'm walking 45 minutes on the treadmill a day and working out with some weights trying to keep up with the wings, I can see a difference with my muscles but not the wings. But Lori gives me hope. I will keep up with the work outs. and see where it takes me. I can see my levels on glucose is slowly dropping even lower. I have been off of my Glyburide since I left the hospital. So the Metformin is keeping my sugar in control. It has been between 85 and 180. I'm off the HBP meds. This is great considering I could not get it below 200 before the sleeve. So who knows I just might get off the Metformin soon. When I have a date for the ovary I will let you know. Can't wait to lose that so that way I can do more abs work. Now it is to painful.

One of the things that I wanted to write about today were the differences in my legs and feet. For some reason I got side tracked and forgot to mention it. On the way to Houston to get my surgery my feet and legs were so swollen (which I did mention) that I could hardly walk. What I wanted to bring out was the drive home after. I could not believe the difference so soon with my legs and ankles. They did not get swollen on the way back to Wisconsin. I used to walk 5-7 miles a day. I had to stop walking because of the pain in my feet and legs. Well I walked 2 miles this morning and had no problems. I also walked another 2 miles this afternoon. I can't believe the energy that I have so soon after also. OK I will close now just wanted to add this good news.

It has been 9 days since I have been sleeved. I was thinking of my drive to TX to get my sleeve. After being in the truck for 25 hrs (Drove straight through) I could hardly walk. My ankles were so swollen and my feet hurt so bad. We had plans to go to San Antonino on Tuesday after getting there in Houston on Sunday. I was worried that I would not be able to walk. We did go and I did walk around not very fast but I made it. Chased after my 2 grandsons. Was hot. Anyway I had my surgery on the following Monday. Slept most of the day used the pain pump. I had surgery at 7:30 am and was up walking at 11 am. I used the pain pump before I went walking because I was afraid I would start hurting. Went back and rested or I guess you could say that I went back to sleep. I got up about every 2/3 hrs to walk. I was not in to much pain after getting up and moving around. It was weird. I was in pain before walking but after I would walk the pain would get better. I got to chew ice and drink water until 12 am then it was NPO until the leak test the following morning. Boy did that ice taste good and was refreshing.  I was scared to take the first swallow because of all the pain I read about here on OH. I was shocked how easy it went down. No pain at all. I got into trouble for taking in to much ice to fast. I was told to slow down.  The next morning they came and got me about 9:30 am for the leak test. They give me this cup of clear liquid. I was thinking to myself why would they give me water for a leak test. Guess what it was not water.  I have no idea what was in that glass but I can tell you it was nasty. After the clear liquid I was given the milky liquid and it was great compared to the other. Shortly after getting back to my room I was told that I could go home. I did not have any pain meds since the night before. So the nurse came in and asked if I wanted something for pain for the drive home. I was going to Houston after surgery in Victoria for recovery with my DD. So I said yea that would probably be a good idea. She came back with a pain pill and I swallowed it down and then about 11: 30 am we were off to Houston. Stopped at a Wall Greens to get my meds filled that they gave me. They said that it would take 1 1/2 hrs before getting it filled. So we decided to go get them filled in Houston instead of waiting. We get into Houston still not in pain but worried about the night to come. So I send my DH ans DD to get the pain meds for the night to come. After 2 places not having it they finally find one that had it (Target), the problem is it was in the ghetto  so they would not fill the meds without talking to the doctor that wrote the prescription . So now we are trying to call surgeon so that way he can talk to the pharmacy. Needless to say we did finally get the pills and then guess what I did not even take them after all that. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones and have not had any troubles with the liquids going down. I have been worried that something was going to creep up on me and go wrong.  I had it so easy. I actually worry that I did not have the surgery that is until I start drinking the full liquids. Then I can tell the difference. I can take about 2/3 swallows with out pain. I actually stop because I'm scared of drinking to much. At this time I have not had any acid problems.  I was released to full liquids for 2 weeks. I'm suppose to call him for a 2 week conference to give him my update. So I will  be calling him next Wed. He said that I should call that day so that way I would actually get to talk to him.  So I will give an update after talking to my surgeon. 

I went in for pre-op on the 20Th. Everything went A OK. I was not put on a pre-op diet so I just went ahead and did  one. I started at 237 lbs and I weighed in at 221.8 on surgery day. I started eating better the first of June when I had my consult. I so wanted to do the last supper but I would not allow myself to do it. I felt like if I was going to do this I needed to show my family that I was serious. I know that when I arrived at the hospital the morning of surgery I was hungry. When I woke up after I was not. So far I have not had any hunger. I really think that the pre-op had something to do with that. JMO.

So they offered for me to go to the hospital at 12 am to avoid an early 3 am drive. I did not do it but wished I had. I was just to tired Sunday and was afraid that I would fall asleep driving there. It was only an hour and fifteen minute drive. Not that bad. Just wished I could drink. I arrived at the hospital at 5:45 am. (Husband got lost. I feel asleep on the way . So I had to wake up and show him the way.) They took  me in saying they were expecting me at 12am.      I apologized and said that I was to tired to make the drive.   They took me in to get my IV started. The first nurse tried to find a vein and she said that she could not seem to find one so she asked someone with more experience to find one. So the next nurse came over and was having a hard time finding one in my left hand. So she says that she will look at my right hand. I tell her that I would prefer it in the left because I was right handed. The expression on her face said it all. She did end up finding a vein in my left hand.   The knock out doctor came in and introduced himself and let me know what all he was going to do. He put something in my IV and soon I was out because I do not even remember going to the OR. I slept most of that day.    When I did wake up I started walking/. My first walk was at 11 am. Then I was up walking after every nap. I had a pump to control the pain. I was in pain at first but as the day went by it slowly decreased. I would use it before taking my walk just so I would not start hurting.

One of the main things that scared me was the drinking after.    By the way Ice never felt so refreshing. I could have ice and water after I woke up then nothing past midnight for the leak test. So they came and took me for the leak test at about 9:30 am and boy was that stuff nasty.   They said that everything looked good.  Oh by the way I'm not having any trouble drinking. Small normal drinks but no gulping. Waiting in between drinks.

After the leak test I ran into my surgeon on the way back to my room and he told me if I wanted to go home. I said that I was ready when he was ready. He said that everything looked great and that I could go home. So off to the room I go and start getting my things together. So I was sent home with instructions to not take any of my meds. BP  Metformin and glyburide. Still taking my Armour Thyroid. All others I have been taken off of. I only needed a shot of insulin once. The morning after surgery. All other days my sugar has been good.

Drove to Houston after I was released. My daughter is a manager in an apartment complex in Houston so she had it fixed so I could recoup there in peace and quite. So the 25Th I got to Houston and just vegged out. I bought a band to help support my abdomen after surgery because I knew that I had a long drive going back to Wisconsin. It made a big difference. I loved it. Tried it with out it and was just to sore when I would cough and get out of bed. With this band I had no problems. I even was able to sleep on my side. So I highly recommend it. I will be using it on Friday when we head to Wisconsin.  

Now for the good news. It has only been three days and I feel fantastic. I do not even feel like I had surgery. No bruising.  I can take more than a sip. So I'm doing good in getting my fluids in. Working on the protein. I was released on full fluids. So I went to Kroger's yesterday and found some cream of broccoli soup and blended it and it was great. Also eating cream of chicken soup. My two favorites.

When I was released I was told not to take any of my pills that I had at home. So on the 26Th I checked my sugar and it was 175 so I was a little concerned. I went ahead and just took half a dose of meds. Woke up with my sugar at 110. So I thought I would take another half dose. NOT  a good idea. I took a nap and woke up with my sugar at 50. So I'm trying to find something to eat that has sugar in it. Everything that I have is sugar free. So feeling shaky and sweating I fix some of my cream of broccoli soup. So far it is still at 70. So I guess I will not be taking my meds again. I have seen on these boards where it took 2-3 months before losing the meds. So I was Leary about not taking them. I learned a valuable rule. Listen to your DOCTOR. So my NSV is already getting off of all my meds excluding my thyroid pill.  I will monitor my sugar and if it gets above 170 I will take a half dose. Anything under that I will leave alone. Who would have ever thought that I would get off my meds so soon after getting my sleeve. That alone is worth me self paying. So now my journey begins.

My surgery is going to be on the 24Th of August. I was told that I did not need a pre-op diet but I'm trying to do one on my own. The funny thing is I started on the 4Th. Did ok till the evening came around. BUSTED. So I woke up the next morning and brushed myself off and started again. One thing that is helping me out is my DH is working nights. He is working 12 hrs right now. So what I'm doing is drinking (chocolate mint Isopure) 1 shake for breakfast. Then when my husband gets up I eat a reasonable lunch (mainly protein). Then I'm drinking another protein shake for dinner. I also found a powder vitamin that you make a shake with at GNC. It actually has a very nice taste. Better than the protein drink. I was looking for something that would be easy to take so I would not have to chew my vitamins. One thing about this is it does taste good but the draw back is, it is a little gritty. If you do not mind that I would recommend it. It kept me more satisfied than the protein drink. I do not know if you start feeling the loss of the carbs so soon or not. I have been on this for 2 days and I feel a little different. It is hard to describe. I have a slight headache and my head feels weird. LOL. So I'm thinking it might be the low to no carbs. The protein drinks that I'm drinking has no carbs. I'm not making them with milk. I have discovered that they are way to sweet when I mix them with milk. So I just mix with water. So if you find yourself with your protein shakes being to sweet try mixing them with water.  I can't believe that I'm complaining that they are to sweet. I'm a sucker when it comes to sweets so that is something I will have to try to stay away from until I get to goal. So I'm praying that I lose the sweet tooth.



The chocolate mint has a very mild flavor. Does not have any mint taste. Very smooth. I'm thinking that it will be better after getting the sleeve. Everyone says that their taste is stronger after getting the sleeve. So I'm thinking that this just might hit the spot when the taste buds are sensitive. This is something I guess I will just have to wait and see about. I know that I also have the Matrix powder by Syntrax. So far this is the best protein that I have found to drink as of yet. I was just wanting to see if there might be another one. I also have the Isopure clear for the clear stage. I have tried it and it was ok. I also have a bottle that I got from my previous surgeon of pro-stat 64. It is similar to the bullets. I have not tried the bullets so I do not know how the taste will be different. It is wild cherry. I have tasted this in a sample at the support group. They actually had the strawberry but I have not been able to find that flavor.  I figured that this would be an easy one to add to the water on my drive back from TX. The only thing that I'm worried about is my 26 hr drive back to Wisconsin after my procedure. There is a possibility that I will be getting my gall bladder taken out at the same time. One other thing that I have gotten is a band for my abdomen. The link is below.
www.ezywrap.com/c-149-bariatric-abdominal-binders.aspx
It was recommended that I get one of these by someone on the VSG board.  Thanks pilot Phil. So I will come back and give updates on my pre-op diet. I just want to make the surgery as easy as I can especially due to my long drive. I will be stopping and walking a lot. Thank goodness that I will be traveling with my dogs so that way it gives me a reason to get out and walk along the way. Two small Chihuahua's so I should be able to handle them and I'm sure that my DH will help also.

Lori G giving addvice on what to do post-op.  So much for me worrying about getting a 40 bougie.


No matter what size bougie your surgeon used, everyone has slightly different sized stomachs. Mine used a 40 Bougie ( considered medium to large size) and I can still barely eat significant quantity, it seems.  A cup of Greek yogurt. Cottage cheese- 1/3 cup. TriTip Steak- 2 oz. And this at over a year out. If you are eating consistently to an uncomfortable full feeling, you are not listening to the "full" clues your sleeve is giving you.

So you should focus on following the rules, which are:

PROTEIN FIRST, 70+ g/day: In your meal, for example, I'd eat as much of the pork chop as possible. You should be filling up on that, not the other stuff.  Maybe a few bites of cooked veggies sich as green beans. No potato or only a bite of sweet potato if I had room. Sandwich- eat the turkey and cheese, not the bread. I was hitting 70g protein per day by 3 weeks out, and by 5 months out upped it to 100 g per day when I began weight training.

NO BREAD RICE PASTA REFINED CARBS: I still do not eat any of this stuff ( except the sweets since I am under goal and trying to up my calories to maintain- things like frozen NS added yogurt, NS Added tapioca pudding, chocolate covered edamame. I still do not eat bread rice or pasta because they  fill me up with empty calories, and I do not miss them at all- again, protein first. If I do eat simple carbs such as fruit, it's with a handful of nuts or string cheese or Greek yogurt- something protein laden to offset the blood sugar spike caused by the simple carbs. Because that causes a resultant insulin spike, which drops the blood sugar rapidly, causing us to crave more carbs.

WATER: 64 + oz per day. No carbonated drinks, no caffeine. Helps clear your body of toxins, avoid constipation, prevent kidney stones.

VITAMINS, CALCIUM, JOURNALING or SUPPORT GROUP: Get in the habit now of prioritizing your vitamins and calcium. Journaling or tracking your calories helps you see where you might be slipping or lacking in protein or water. Support group reinforces that we are all very different, but people have terrific ideas there.

EXERCISE: I urge you to start this now, or if you have already, be diligent about it. You don't need to exercise every single day but you should be getting in 300 minutes per week for weight loss. This should be a combination of cardio and strength training (such as weights, resistance bands, Pilates, pliometrics or Gravity machines). Cardio is not a leisurely stroll on the treadmill at this point-  try mixing it up so you are using different muscle groups- cycling on stationary bile vs outdoors on real bicycle where your balance, wind reststance, hills make for a tougher workout. Walking on treadmill inclined vs walking up hills with hand weights. Swimming laps vs intervals vs aquasize. Keeping your body guessing prevents it from becoming  efficient and "cheating" which will actually burn fewer calories per workout. Adding strength training wil build lean muscle mass while accelerating fat burning, and raise your resting metabolic rate, and make you look better.

The first six months are when it comes off the fastest- you will continue to lose well after this, but if you are one of those scale junkies who gets motivated by those big weekly losses, you will be disappointed after six months as it slows slightly. Take advantage of it now.

Good luck- get that protein in first and you will be too full for the other stuff! XOXOLori

To Break A Plateau:

BEFORE DOING ANYTHING-
Realize many, in fact Most Post-Ops
Share this common experience-
Done everything right and lost weight steadily,
Suddenly- the scale won't budge.
Like many others, you've reached a plateau.
When weight loss slows and comes to a stop.

Before you get discouraged and abandon
Your long-term weight loss Strategy of life-style change,
Understand that plateaus occur in any slimming-down process.
Stick with the program and your weight loss will kick in again.

Before you rush to "prosecute,"
And take drastic action,
Do some investigation.

Figure out if you really are on a plateau.
The scale may be a less than least reliable reflection of fat loss.
Look at other indicators. Are you feeling better?
Do your clothes feel looser?
If you're losing inches but not pounds,
Your fat cells are still shrinking.

Figure in the duration of the stall.
You're only on a "plateau" if there's NO change at all
For more than four weeks.

And even at 4 weeks, don’t "assume" anything.
There may be a very Tangible Reason
For the slowdown and Plateau.
If you Truly want to BREAK a Plateau,
Identify and understand the true "Culprit"
Before you just "Open Fire!"

Get this one out of the way first
By being scrupulously honest with yourself.
Are you "Cheating?"

Cheating? It’s not a Diet!
Correct,
But weight loss is directly the result of –
Calories in versus Calories Used.
Are you putting in any "unplanned" nutrition?
Empty Calories?
A little thing will be the "tipping point."

Emotional and compulsive behavior
May allow you to "sabotage" yourself.
It certainly does so many Pre-Op.
Yes?
Look at what you are doing with extreme scrutiny.

Then-
Check for hidden sources of –
Calories / Carbs / Sugars / Un-wanted Fats-
Read Your Labels Carefully!
Sugar goes under many different names
And in some cases does NOT appear as "sugar" on the label.
Many vitamin tablets have sugar fillers. CHECK!

Conversely, Are you taking in too Little Nutrition?
Many times you carry over habits from other diets & eat too little.
EAT UP... Food is Necessary Fuel, not the Enemy!
Don't skip meals. Just eat Protein First,
Higher nutrition, Lower Calorie Foods.

Don't cut your caloric intake to less than 1200 calories per day.
Increase the amount of protein in your meals.
Don't starve yourself.
Cutting calories to an extreme will Not help you.

Try cutting excess fat and calories to a reasonable level
(usually 1200 to 1800 calories a day, but determined by YOUR Size.)
And divide these up into frequent small meals
(of about 200 to 300 calories each) every few hours.
Eat a decent amount of protein with each meal
To help you feel satisfied longer.
If you keep your carbohydrate intake to no more than 20 grams a day
Your body will go into a state of Ketosis and it will be Hard Not to lose.

A frequent eating schedule will provide a constant source of energy,
Keep your metabolism higher without the insulin rebound.
Six small feedings a day are better at maintaining level metabolism
Than 3 large meals.
(notice I did not say that 6 meals are better than 3, just better AT...)

Perhaps aim for foods with a lower glycemic index.
Check into it at-


"http://www.glycemicindex.com/

You may have a mineral imbalance.
How’s your blood-work?
Such as zinc/copper. Or a trace mineral shortage.
Such an imbalance can definitely slow the metabolism
Reducing your "resting consumption" of calories.
Certain nutrients are often recommended to aid in weight loss,
Including chromium, pantethine, selenium, vanadium
And biotin to help stabilize blood sugar and metabolize fat.

Getting enough Potassium?
Potassium shortages are common
For early out Post-Ops. How’s your blood-work?

Exercise? Exercise can improve circulation,
Stabilize blood sugar & other important metabolic benefits.
If you’re walking, great.
But at some point in your loss,
Walking becomes just Activity
And no longer "Exercise."
Are you Breaking a Sweat?
If you have been only walking or cycling,
Try doing some weight lifts and vice versa.
If you are not yet exercising
Try to add some sort of activity to your regular schedule.
At least 20 minutes a day is recommended for beginners.
Walk, Walk, Water, Water...
There’s a reason for that "Mantra."

Increase your water consumption to stimulate lipolysis
(The breakdown of fat stored in fat cells )
And clean your system of excess ketones.

Many Nutritionists recommend
Avoiding eating within 3 hours of bedtime.
Especially avoid any foods that are higher in carbs
As this can trigger insulin production which in turn
Will inhibit fat-burning while you are asleep.

Have you considered Food Allergies?
These may cause all sorts of problems, fatigue, headache, etc...
Check possibility of such causes by dropping out one food
From your diet and checking for changes in how you feel.
The most common culprits are-
Milk, Eggs, Nuts & Peanuts, Fish, Shellfish, Soy and Wheat.
Perhaps checkout- "http://www.foodallergy.org/allergens/index.html


Maybe you have issues with food additives.
Some food colorings cause metabolic responses
Such as sluggishness or hyperactivity in some sensitive children.
Example- YELLOW 5 ... Artificial coloring found in
Jell-O, baked goods, etc... Causes mild allergic reactions,
Primarily in aspirin-sensitive persons.
Check some of the food additives that show up on your labels.
Perhaps a look at- "http://www.cspinet.org/foodsafety/index.html


Caffeine? Yes, it’s a "fence sitter" when it comes to "Dieting"
But-
Coffee, cola & tea stimulate release of insulin
With a temporary lift in energy followed by hunger,
Fatigue & slower weight loss.

Are you Drinking Alcohol?
Empty Calories and Alcohol stimulates insulin.

While we’re on "the bible-belt vices,"
Smoking? Smoking uses up vitamin C & stimulates the adrenal gland.
Although quitting smoking is classically
A cause for weight increase,
Long term non-smoking, actually aids
The metabolism to remain a constant fat-burning, healthy machine.

None of the above?
It may be medications you are taking.

Many drugs, even aspirin, can cause or increase incidence of hypoglycemia.
Watch out for hormones, amphetamines, diuretics, antihistamines,
Anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, anticoagulants, anti-diabetics,
Antibiotics, tranquilizers, clofibrate, acetaminophen, and propanolol.
Beta-blockers, can make your body extremely resistant to weight loss.
Sometimes it isn't what you ARE taking
But what you WERE taking that slows you down.
Different meds last month?

Hormones? They can slow down weight loss
And stimulate the production of insulin.
Estrogen (used in birth control pills) and
Testosterone have much the same effect.

Too much Salt? Typically early on this is not an issue,
But later, excessive salt can cause some water retention.

What about ‘plain old’ portion sizes?
Many people misinterpret the instructions regarding
Eating as "Just Eat till you are Full!
The pouch size will ‘tell you’ when it’s too much."
That assumes you have "re-learned" the feeling of Satiety
As opposed to "Full."

You may need to track your caloric intake and exercise more closely.
Many people find "tracking at fitday.com" a very useful tool.
Check it out at- "http://fitday.com/

So you’ve made it through this long list and EVERYTHING
Checks out. Perhaps you have a metabolic resistance to losing weight,
And if that is the case, you must consider EVERYTHING –
EXCEPT GIVING UP AND ADMITTING DEFEAT.

Your Plateau, if it continues, could possibly require
Medical attention.
Continued thyroid problems would definitely call for medical solutions.
Excessive yeast infestation may be part of your problem.
Overgrowth of yeast in the digestive tract has been shown
To provoke food intolerance, headaches and immune-system weakness,
And can keep you from losing weight
By causing unstable blood sugar.

If your plateau WON’T Break,
Enlist your physician to help find the problem.

Done all of this and still looking for the "short list?"

Then what can I say-
"Eat Meat, Cottage Cheese and water for 10 days!
– NOTHING ELSE! NO EXCEPTIONS!
Just try Not to Think of it as a Diet."

You will most likely get a "Bang!"
That will jolt your metabolism into losing.

But if you want more than a bang,
If you want a real "Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster"
To make your system Un-inhabitable for excess fat,
For generations to come,

Since the Insurance game did not happen I have decided that I would start my blog all over. I tried to get the sleeve through Aetna and was denied. I also tried to get the DS in 2 parts. Was denied. I really feel like if you have a GOOD SURGEON that is willing to fight the good fight you will get approval. My surgeon was not one that wanted to fight. He wanted to push the By-pass. That is a no-go for me. So I'm in the process of getting my sleeve Through self pay. I will be going to Victoria TX. Way south TX. for my sleeve this August. August the 24Th to be exact. So my journey will start at that time. I was thinking about waiting again but BTDT. I waited for the INS. to get in the game this year and it did not happen. So I'm hearing reports that Aetna is suppose to be revising. Will here it is July and nothing as of yet. So do I wait until 2010? I do not think so. I have been on this road since September of 2008. Was told it would get approval in 2009. So far not so. So here is to self pay and hoping my husband will get another job when this one is finished. If not then I will be healthy enough to get out there and get one to help him out. So the count down begins. Will be leaving to TX on the 14Th and get my sleeve on the 24Th and will be coming back to WI. on the 29Th. One thing that worries me is that it is a long drive. 26 hrs. So here is to no complications. 

 25 tips after wl surgery...

You will be making many changes to your lifestyle after you have weight loss surgery, which will include following your surgeon's instructions to the letter. Check out these 25 tips for success after gastric bypass surgery:

Know when to call your surgeon.

In the weeks after surgery, you should call your surgeon if:

You develop a fever over 101 degrees

You have uncontrollable pain

You cannot keep fluids down

You are short of breath or have difficulty breathing

You notice dark or tarry (bloody) stools

You suddenly begin to bruise easily

Your incisions begin to leak pus or bleed heavily

You develop unexplainable severe leg pain
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Don’t drink calories. Your caloric intake will be very limited after surgery, which should help you lose weight. Don’t work against your surgery by taking in liquid calories that provide no nutrition and slow your weight loss. Make every calorie count by focusing on protein, fruits and vegetables.

Avoid sugar. Sugar is the ultimate empty calorie. Sugar will make your blood sugar climb, cause hunger pangs, provide no nutrients and, for patients of certain types of gastric bypass, cause dumping syndrome. Avoid sugar and any foods that list sugar in the first three ingredients, whenever possible.

Avoid carbonated drinks. The bubbly nature of carbonated drinks, such as soda, can cause gas pain and increase the pressure in your stomach, which can be harmful to staples and sutures, especially in the months immediately after your surgery.

Don’t drink fluids immediately before, during or after your meal. It is essential that you reserve the small amount of space you have in your stomach for high-quality, nutrient-rich food. Drinking before and during your meal will fill your stomach with fluid, instead of food, and drinking immediately after your surgery can “wash” food out of your stomach, making you feel hungry sooner. Separate food and fluid by at least a half an hour, whenever you can.

Keep your follow-up visits. After surgery, your progress will be closely monitored. Skipping appointments may mean that a nutritional deficiency, surgical complication or other issues may not be discovered in a timely manner. Also, appointments are a good motivator for staying on track with your goals.

Don’t stop taking any medications without your surgeon’s approval. Many diseases can improve with surgery and weight loss, but that doesn’t mean you should stop taking your medication. Talk to your physician prior to stopping any medications.
Don’t snack. Snacking is a habit that can slow your progress and hurt your long-term success. Stick to high-quality meals and avoid junk foods. If you are hungry, have a meal, but don’t snack between meals.

Protein, Protein, Protein! Protein should be your primary focus when sitting down for a meal. Not only will it help you maintain your muscle mass while losing fat, but it will also help you feel full longer after your meals.

Skip alcoholic drinks. Alcohol is full of empty calories that provide no nutritional value. It can also contribute to stomach ulcers, which you are already at risk for because of your surgery. Weight loss surgery also makes you more sensitive to alcohol than you were before, so a little goes a long way.

Chew and then chew some more. Chewing your food thoroughly is essential to preventing nausea and vomiting during and after your meal. Large chunks of food can have trouble passing through the digestive tract after surgery, and if it gets stuck along the way, it can cause pain.

Avoid pregnancy for the first 24 months after surgery. Your body will be in high weight-loss mode for at least a year after your surgery. During that time, supporting you and a baby would be unhealthy for you and disastrous for a developing fetus. If you are sexually active, use a reliable method of birth control, and consult your surgeon before attempting to become pregnant.

Find a support group. There are more than 140,000 people having weight-loss surgery each year, so people who have walked in your shoes are not hard to find. Not only do support groups offer emotional support, but they can also provide advice on the wide range of changes you are facing as you lose weight. Support groups are available in most areas that have a bariatric surgeon and are plentiful on the Internet.

Don’t take over-the-counter drugs without your surgeon’s approval. Over-the-counter drugs can pose risks after surgery that were not a concern prior to surgery. Pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen increase the likelihood that you will develop an ulcer. Remedies for constipation shouldn’t be taken without physician approval, as constipation can be a sign of complications or a need for a change in diet.

Listen to your body. Don’t eat if you aren’t hungry. Just because the clock says it is time for a meal, doesn’t mean you should eat one. Learn to listen to your smaller stomach and only eat when your body wants you to.

Avoid simple carbs. Simple carbohydrates are highly processed foods such as white bread, pasta, sugar and white rice. The rule of thumb is this if it is white, it may be a simple carb. You are better off with more wholesome alternatives such as brown rice that contain fiber and nutrients that white rice does not. Simple carbohydrates can also elevate blood glucose levels, triggering hunger pangs and cravings.

Exercise. From the moment you are able to after surgery, exercise. Even if you can’t walk far or for very long, get started. Your results will be better, and you will be encouraged by how quickly your stamina improves as the pounds shed. Walking also helps prevent serious complications, such as pulmonary embolus and blood clots, if you start immediately after surgery.

Eat mindfully. No more eating while watching television. Focus on what you are doing when you eat, and stop the moment you feel full. Giving food your full attention will help you learn to say when and develop new healthier habits.

Stay hydrated. Drink lots of water. This will help you feel more energetic, and it will prevent you from mistaking hunger for thirst. Many adults confuse the two sensations, so if you are well-hydrated, you won’t ever wonder if you are truly hungry.

Surgery won’t fix your life. Remember that surgery is a way to lose weight, but it is not a miracle fix for every problem in your life. Being thin won’t make your children clean their room without being asked, it won’t fix a bad marriage and it certainly won’t make your nosy relatives behave themselves. Be realistic in your expectations of life after surgery.

Say goodbye to caffeine. Caffeine is the most-used drug in the world, and it is a drug. Caffeine alters your mood, increases your heart rate and is a diuretic. If you drink caffeine, you will be working against your efforts to stay well-hydrated and increase your risk of a stomach ulcer.

Find healthful coping skills. If you need bariatric surgery, the chances are high that you used food as a coping mechanism for stress. It is time to find a new way to cope, whether it is exercise, reading a book, talking to a friend on the phone or whatever works for you other than eating.

Milk? Maybe. If you must drink calories, skim milk is an excellent option. Be aware, though, that many weight-loss surgery patients develop lactose intolerance after surgery, even if they didn’t have it before. Go easy on the dairy products until you know how your body will tolerate lactose.

Kiddie meals and doggy bags. Restaurant portions are going to be massive in comparison to your needs after surgery. Plan on taking food home or ordering a child’s portion. If you aren’t sure you can resist joining the clean plate club, divide an acceptable portion away from the meal and have the server remove the rest before temptation sets in.

Stop using straws. If you are going to drink, don’t use a straw. Straws not only allow you to drink too quickly, so you may end up with an uncomfortably full stomach, but they also allow air into the stomach that can cause serious discomfort.


Sources

Bariatric Surgery For Severe Obesity. Consumer Information Sheet. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. March 2008. http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/gast
ric.htm

Frequently Asked Questions About Obesity and Bariatrics. American Society of Bariatric Surgeons. 2008. http:// http://www.asbp.org/siterun_data/faq/news.
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Jones,Nicolas V. Christou, MD, PhD; Didier Look, MD; and Lloyd D. MacLean, MD, PhD. " Weight Gain After Short- and Long-Limb Gastric Bypass in Patients Followed for Longer Than 10 Years." Annals of Surgery 2006 November; 244(5): 734–740