iegal

Ah, the haters. Horrible people making you feel bad since you are making a choice to change. My aunt had gastric bypass in 2000 years ago and has kept it off. She is within 5 pounds of her initial weight loss of 150+ pounds. A couple of friends have had the bypass about 6 plus or less years ago and both of them have kept it off. No more listening to the negative nellies. Do you want this? Are you willing to commit to changing? You will change...and for the better. We all are on this board to support and cheer each other on. I have reached goal, but I need each of you so I do not eat just a bag of chips, Cookies, other junk all day. My hungries are gone but I still have the capability of bad choices. I love my sleeve, I hit goal and I have no regrets. Best thing I ever did for myself and I was a self payer in US (insurance denied me twice) Hugs to you!

Hello MeMeMEEE; Hate to say this but your surgeons mortality rate on sleeve surgery is way above national average for bariatric surgeons. But I like that he is honest about that. My surgeon has been peforming this surgery since 2003 as WLS, previous to that sleeve was used as a help for those who had gastro/intestinal issues such as cancer. Dr. Q's record is stellar - with over 14 years of WLS, including groundbreaking such as perfoming the first laproscopic weight loss surgery in US - (took 11 hours for a gastric bypass over 10 years ago since no one had ever attempted) First band placement in US. First spider (scarless) VSG in US. His saftey record is well below all national averages. Number of VSG is significant but others surgeons do have a higher number of sleeves performed. Anyhow... If it were me, I would find someone with more experience and a better safety record (7.3% death rate). Good luck in what ever your decision!

That bump is called a "dowager's hump." Now I can admit that I had it...a dear friend pointed it out to me once, so I grew my hair out longer so no one would see it. Crazy, huh? Mine is gone and yes the hair is worn up now. Ah...gotta love the sleeve.

I have to laugh here. Not all surgeons have leak tests while awake, your surgeon was not lying. Not all surgeons have drains inserted into patients. Not all use catheters after sugery. Not all surgeries use morphine/other IV drugs to manage pain after surgery. Not all VSG surgeries are overnight stay, this is becoming more common. Many of those out of country doctors perform leak tests, drain, catheders and pain balls. YIKES - the above scares me more than anything else. I had none of the above (yes, really no pain) and was also an outpatient for VSG and reached weight loss goal in 5 months. My surgeon performed the very first laparoscopic WLS in US ... a gastric bypass over 10 years ago in November which took 11 hours since he was venturing into the unknown. My surgeon performed the very first "spider" VSG surgery in US. He performed the very first band surgery. He has done surgery on a several of famous stars. He is acknowledged by multiple Bariatric Societies as the go to guy since when a new procedure is considered - medical companies seek him out. He has taught so many of the other bariatric surgeons across the country in new WLS procedures. Media seeks him out, he was last seen on The Doctors TV show in November talking about VSG surgery. (All this information is verifiable by internet search) So, do I trust Dr. Q’s opinion and his experience? Yes. Now that others have scared you that somehow your surgeon might be substandard - I do recommend asking surgeon why no leak test, why no drain, why no catheters, why no pain ball so you know why. Maybe he doesn't have a good answer...and then you will know if he is or is not worthy of your trust. Best wishes.

Get another sugeons opinion. If you really think that you have a slipped band, then you need help now...not like a newbie to WLS who needs the supervised diet. Good luck!

NONE of us had a date as soon as we wanted. As LilDiva said, once you make up your mind...... Good news is that you don't have to wait months. I am excited for you. Now you can read posts of what you will need and try some Proteins to see what you like (and don't.) I am excited for you! Congrats.

Congratulations on doing so well in recovery and welcome to the losers bench!

Congratulations on such an amazing difference already. Think about loosing another 37 lbs and how you will look then. Thanks for sharing results photos. Wow!

So sorry to hear you are sad LUNAROSE. You should be celebrating your amazing weight loss but you are seeing the side affects of tremendous weight loss. Will you skin snap back to look like a supple teenager? Probably not. We will continue to bear the scars of our weight even though weight is gone. Tiffikins posts about how her husband overlooks her saggy stomach, thighs, etc and still finds her hugely attractive. My DH loves me now in my new body too and is not repulsed by looks of "aged" skin. Be happy my friend, most of us do not walk around naked 100% of the time, so put on some clothes and go flaunt that great new shape. Hugs.

Hi kids05; No matter what you weight loss, you will be a beautiful bride. Don't do the surgery to lose weight rather to get healthy...okay and look GREAT. Can you lose 100 lbs in 11 months? Yes would be for most although some on site are slow losers and not by choice. You must follow nutritional guidelines to achieve weight loss goals. I would look at some of Tiff'ykins posts. While following my surgeons guidelines I also was always on guard to get in enough Water, Protein, take all needed suppliments, exercise (with weights too) and dramatically limit carbs to 30 or less a day. Stop gasping this is a lot easier my friends once you have the sleeve - but it does require will power to pass up the pumpkin pie, cake, Cookies, chips. Caloric intake needs to be adjusted as you move along in journey and not always my limiting calories but adding calories. Yep, I have to now add calories to maintain sometimes. What a cross to bear, right? HA HA I lost 65 lbs in 5 months and 75 by my 6 month sleeve anniversary. Good luck next week and keep us posted on your success.

Happy 6th month anniversary...glad you are celebrating such great success!

I say this with love. First of all, you have just gotten out of a major surgery... your stomach was ripped out less than 3 weeks ago. Think on this. If someone had their leg amputated, would you expect them to be able to run a race in 3 weeks with a prosthetic? You have written the answers down in your post on how to break your stall. You are smart. shake it up. at only 300 cals a day...Up your calories. Double calories, you body is in serious starvation mode. It is trying to heal and needs energy. I am getting in my water, my protein and some exercise. How can you be getting all of your protein at 300 calories a day? How many grams of protein...be honest. What kind of protein, whey or isolate or ? Are you eating any carbs? How many a day? I am jumping on the scale every few days (I know I know too often) Divorce the scale. Stay off the scale for a week, no cheating. Think of this as WW and if scale does not move "skip" a weekly weight in. Yyu are beating yourself up with this pattern. Stop it. makes me feel like a big fat f-ing failure. ARGH - stop talking to yourself like this. You can do this, you did not gain the weight in 2 months, nor will you lose it in 2 months. press on and try to keep the faith that this will work. Yep, keep smiling, you will lose the weight. Or what if you are one of the "slow" losers? We will find this out in 5 months, not 3 weeks or 4 weeks. There are some slow losers on this site. COOP & PamelaAM to name a couple. Look up their posts. They struggle often, but guess what? They keep on plan and the scale moves, not as often as others or they would like, but it does move. I will be here to celebrate your loss, whether it be a pound or an ounce. Either way - the scale has moved in the right direction. Give yourself the grace of time and patience. Start being kind to yourself and take better care of yourself.

Check with your surgeon as each has different guidelines. I was told 6 months for raw vegtables and acidic fruit. I can eat salad but it does not sit well just yet. Besides, it has little nutritional value (unless spinach salad) so I try to get protien in first. After years of chewing lettuce until I thought I was a rabbit, sort of happy not to fill my plate with salad while others enjoy a juicy steak, fish, chicken dish. Gotta love your sleeve!

Disappointed in Dr. Oz especially since so many viewers consider his word the final advice. Obviously his assistants did not do thourogh research with options. Good news - The Dr's talked about Vertical Sleeve Gasterectomy back in Nov 8, 2010. Follow link to watch show which has a disclaimer since is can be graphic (not like YouTube though). http://www.thedoctor...re&init_id=2870 Here is an article about SPIDER weight loss surgery. On an episode of the TV show The Doctor’s, they had as their guest Dr. Brain B. Quebbemann, a bariatric surgeon explaining a new surgery called the Spider System. This new weight loss procedure reduces the size of a patient’s stomach.Conventional laparoscopic techniques and equipment, which have been used in the past requires up to five separate incisions in a patient’s abdomen. With the Spider technique only one incision in the belly button is necessary. Doctor Quebbemann surgical director, of a program called N.E.W. in Newport Beach California, was the first surgeon to perform the vertical sleeve gastrectomy, Spider technique. The Spider System surgery is unlike any other weight loss surgery to date. The instruments used during the procedure are uniquely flexible. The Spider instrument rotates 360 degrees allowing the surgeon to perform the surgery at angles much like those performed during the traditional laparoscopic surgery, with more access and dexterity. The new weight loss Spider System is catching on quickly, with only one incision and a small amount of down time, doctors are starting to recommend the surgery to their obese patient’s as an alternative, to other weight loss procedures. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Congrats on being willing to shake things up to make a difference for yourself. Amazing results and love the determination to get results. WOW!!!

Hello Kurt; Welcome to an "old" pro. Congrats on amazing success with your sleeve! We have a SoCal support group who meets every few months - next one is May 7 in Riverside if you are interested send me a PM so I can give you details. Do I need a medical alert braclet? If yes, where did you get one?

WENT HOME THE SAME DAY. Yep, I had surgery at 10AM and was home by 5PM. But no way I could have handled a toddler, no matter how cute and adorable or well behaved. I had no drain, no leak test, no morphine drip and felt no pain. But I was nauseous first 24 hours. Only took my prescribed pain meds once and that was to sleep longer at night since my days and nights got mixed up. All surgeons are different, especially those outside US. Best to ask you doctor what he/she normally does. Make sure you plan lots of rest and get help in taking care of family as you heal. Best wishes on your upcoming surgery!

Some people tend to talk before they think. Now that you have told everyone, office feels they can discuss your pro/cons of decision. It is your decision, not theirs. You sound like you have already made up your mind, so now when everyone is giving you unsolicted "advice" politely say thank you for sharing and do not discuss anymore. If you discuss youa re leaving room for them to debate thier opinion. No ones opinion matters at the office, right? Furthermore, a new topic will come up and your WLS news will be long forgotten. Hugs to you. Be confident in your choices and others opinions will no longer matter.

Hi lkcraig & virginia; Okay - within 5 years of your age and horrible knee issues. I have had 3 knee surgeries this far with the weight on. I too was scheduled for the shots but ortho doc said with my extra weight shots would not be a significant help. (thanks for letting me know my knee will be sore for a few days afterwards). So, with other comorbidity issues, I self paid for my VSG surgery here in US. Back to today, yes, my knee still crackles and crunches when I move, go upstairs/downstairs, hike or ride a bike. But, I do not have the pain or aches to the severity before. Send a message to Sleeve4me - she also has/had knee issues where she was unable to walk up and down stairs prior to VSG. Two weeks ago sleeve4me was hiking the Grand Canyon. IMO the sleeve with help you simply because you will be carrying around less weight and less stress to the knee for everyday chores. Good luck!

Hi Rodger; If you have been struggling with weight for a while.. won a frequent user award at WW, JC, L or any other diet plan where you really tried...the sleeve might be right for you. Just like Blackberry, I struggled with my weight over the last 15 years, loosing and regaining anywhere from 10-60 lbs each year. Never went in my favor. As you can see below, my pre surgery BMI was 33.1, too low for insurance to cover so I was a self payer in US. Amazing results but I stuck to my surgeons plan with almost no deviations. Best thing I have ever paid for and I have no regrets. Worth every penny in my opinion since I am healthier and more active. Good luck in whatever your decision.

Learn new habits & keep your follow up appts with your own surgeon. Follow their advice but rememeber to: Eat slowly/chew well and Protein first (try to get in 70 grams of protein a day) Hydrate often during the day - no soda/alcohol, limit caffeine such as ice tea, coffee - drink minimum of 64oz a day Take your supplements daily Seriously limit your carbs while trying to reach goal - I followed Tiffykins advice of under 30 a day and met my surgeons weight loss goal in a little over 5 months - my goal in 6 months Don't slip back into old patterns - slider foods can sabotage your weight loss (chips, bread, Cookies, potatoes) Do you see my weakness here? Exercise daily! If all else fails take a 20 minute walk after dinner before you sit down to "relax." Walking is relaxing. Use light weights to tone up those arms - you will be happier Enjoy the journey of change. I was a good lady before but now, I am improved version. Good luck ... no regrets!

Mom always told me to wear clean underwear....and now we know why. LOL Congrats on the weight loss so far. But a job in a bakery = torture

Incredible and easy read. Although you had me wanting to dive inat the tag line even though I am an "old timer" now at goal. Congrats and thanks for sharing your experiences.

Yeah - surgery date ahead. Exicited for you. Maybe your trained felt like he/she failed you? Weight surgery is almost always frowed upon by trainers. I am (was) fat because I am emotional? What about my skinny friends who are high stress people who smoke...aren't they emotional too? If I could have done this on my own, I would have but I needed help. Hence the WLS. So glad to hear you will be continuing your workouts. Good habit to keep. Congrats on the date! Love my sleeve and no regrets.

Sad to hear you are disappointed. Are you disappointed in the surgery or yourself? How do you think RNY would have helped you lose weight faster? Since you did not provide - what are you eating daily now? How much protien daily? Carbs daily? Water daily? Sugars daily? All of these stats are really going to effect your outcome. You are in control now with the sleeve. Make it work for you. Can you answer questions so we can help you move in the right direction...loosing weight. Diva is right though - 26 lbs is a lot of weight to lose. Don't compare yourself and don't beat yourself either. You can do this!