Congratulations on your surgery. Sharon

I don't know that I would be "trying" to get in 800 calories at 14 days out. Sounds like an impossible mission to me. As far as the food choices that you currently have to select from I assume that the doctor gave you a list? The best that I could offer would be to vary your choices from that list. Only time will allow you to incorporate different food items. And then it becomes a series of trial and error to find out what your new stomach can tolerate and what it will not. I would keep trying to find something else to drink if the Powerade is high in calories as you do not want to drink your daily allotment of calories in high caloric beverages. It is a big change. Something that I don't think one can be totally prepared for mentally. However, with weight loss comes other changes that offset the food changes. Sharon

Liquids do go through the pouch faster. If you think of pouring water in a sink depending on the speed that you pour the water in and the opening that the water is traveling through will determine how fast the water goes down. Because you are basically just out of surgery it will take you some time to get used to your new stomach pouch. Re-learning what/how/when to eat does have a learning curve to be accommodated. It is certainly a try, try again process. If you "feel" that you can only take in 1-2 tablespoons of food then that is probably right. One thing you want to try to avoid is overfilling your pouch. I know that this may sound weird/gross but you need to save enough room in your pouch for all of the "spit" you will swallow before the food passes through. When I didn't save enough room for the "spit" I would get terrible pressure and would sometimes vomit what I call "dog foam and jellyfish". Basically I was vomiting up the "spit" that didn't have room to be in there. It really just looked like dog foam and jellyfish. After your pouch has healed you will begin to notice certain signs that you have eaten enough but not too much. I can "feel" when I have had enough. I can "feel" when I have had too much. In the beginning I could eat perhaps up to 1 oz of food. Slowly as the pouch has healed I was been able to increase my intake. At 1.75 years out I can now eat an open faced sandwich at one sitting. It did take over 1 year before I could eat bread. So don't try that too soon. One last thing that I would like to say is if I had this one part to do over again I would make a better choice. That one part is Exercise. Exercise as soon as your doctor gives you clearance to do so. I wish that I had got off as much weight as I could have during my first 5 months (my honeymoon period). After my honeymoon period was over it has been up to me to lose weight. Just a thought. Best Regards Sharon 340 start 210 now

I saw this in the news if your in the Dallas area worth checking it out. FARMERS BRANCH, Texas -- Mark Nelson gets around with the aid of a wheelchair because walking causes pain in his knees. The pain stems from the 359 pounds on his frame. Still, at 359 pounds, Nelson weighs less than he once did. "Total weight I lost would be about 270-something pounds," he said. OBESITY SURGERY In Depth: Different Types More: Considerations | Risks, Benefits Survey: Would You Consider It? Resource: About Gastric Bypass Resource: Are You A Candidate? Nelson also looks younger than his age. The weight loss and youthful look can be attributed to the gastric bypass surgery Nelson had in November. The procedure not only made Nelson look and feel better, it cost him nothing. The pro bono surgery was performed by Dr. John Alexander, a bariatric surgeon, and his medical team at the Alexander Center for Obesity Surgery in Farmers Branch. During the past three years, 15 patients have undergone free gastric bypass surgeries at the center. The patients were medically qualified for the procedures but lacked insurance or were denied coverage by their insurance companies. "We thought it would be sad, actually, for these patients not to have the procedure done for financial reasons," Alexander said. Other doctors who work with Alexander at the center said the free surgeries are a way to reinvest in a community that has supported the surgical center. "We've gotten so much benefit from the community, it's important we give back, too," said Dr. Charles Loehr, a family practitioner. "We get a lot of satisfaction out of this," thoracic surgeon Dr. Bill Taylor said. Doctors at the center consider the severity of a patient's obesity, related health problems, and the patient's age and financial situation to identify candidates for the pro bono surgeries. Neither the center nor RHD Memorial Medical Center, where the surgeries occur, charge the patients. Mark Nelson is pictured after the surgery (left) and before. The doctors also follow up with their patients after the surgeries. Nelson, for example, eventually will lose more than 500 pounds. The weight loss will leave him with excess skin, which Alexander will remove. The follow-up procedure is free. "I'll be forever in debt to Dr. Alexander," Nelson said. "He saved my life." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information about the pro bono gastric bypass surgeries, log on to: On The Net: The Alexander Center for Obesity Surgery. Or, call the center at: On The Phone: (972) 247-7767. A free seminar on bariatric surgery will occur July 26 at Medical Center in Dallas. A panel of physicians will discuss gastric bypass, laparoscopic gastric banding (also called lap-banding) and open gastric banding. For more information call Suzi Prokell at: On The Phone: (817) 598-1556. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2005 by nbc5i.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Hi...I had the VBG on 5/24/2005. I have no regrets, am learning to eat differently, have lost 38 pounds and would do it again in a heartbeat. It took almost two years and many tests and visits to different doctors for the final decision to be made on which would be the best surgery for me. Because of my age, numerous medical problems, the final decisiion was made because the surgery process would be less stressful on my body and if down the road it could be undone if the need should arise. The best advise is to research, research and research some more. Talk openly with your doctors, visit some support groups and meet with others who have gone through weight loss surgeries and remember that whatever you decide....it is a change of life decision and only you can make that decision and there is a committment involved with that decision. It is not only having the surgery, but learning to eat properly, exercising regularly and making sure that these are your decisions and no one elses. Good Luck!!!