iegal

Oh - I think they notice, how could they not? They just don't think your weight is the most important thing about you. Obviously you are incredible and your weight never was part of "who you were/are" Congrats on your weight loss thus far!

Rootman, I am so sorry about all the loss. Big changes in your life. Please stay away from the food - I let that back in my life and have regained 9 lbs. Yikes. We had surgery on our stomachs, not brains - therefore move forward wisely. Hugs to you and praying for strength in the days ahead.

How much fun that you are already experiencing the joys of your new sleeve! Keep up the wieght loss and remember - you can stain your own soups. When you get to mushy stage you can use an emersion blender to mix everything up. Congrats!

Here is a June 18th article. Please click on LIKE in corner if you read this. Gastric bypass for weight loss increases alcohol use, study says: Patients who undergo a gastric bypass for weight loss are 30% more likely to develop problems with alcohol. (National Library of Medicine / National Institutes of Health / June 18, 2012) By Thomas H. Maugh II June 18, 2012, 12:11 p.m. A major new study confirms previous sporadic reports that weight-loss surgery increases the risk of alcohol abuse, researchers reported Monday. In the second year after having a gastric bypass, technically known as Roux-en-Y surgery, patients were 30% more likely to have problems controlling their alcohol use, a team reported online in the Journal of the American Medical Assn. and at the annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Previous reports have suggested that alcohol abuse could be a problem following bariatric surgery, but the studies have been small and generally involved collecting data at some point after the procedure. In the new study, a team led by epidemiologist Wendy C. King of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine began studying 2,458 adults before they underwent bariatric surgery at one of 10 hospitals. Of those, 1,945 could be monitored for one to two years after the procedure. The team found that 7.6% of the patients suffered from alcohol-abuse disorders (abuse and dependence) in the year before the surgery. At the end of one year after the procedure, the percentage was about the same, 7.3%. But by the end of the second year, the prevalence of such disorders had climbed to 9.6%, a 30% increase. Virtually all of the increase occurred in patients who had undergone gastric bypass, with no increase among the roughly 30% of patients who had a banding procedure. Some research suggests that the increase in problems arises because the metabolism of alcohol changes after gastric bypass. "Given a standardized quantity of alcohol, patients reach a higher peak alcohol level [in the bloodstream] after surgery compared with case-controls or their pre-operative levels," the team wrote. In other words, bypass patients get drunk faster and with smaller amounts of alcohol. The excessive drinking may be a greater problem for bariatric surgery patients because alcohol abuse can affect Vitamin and mineral status and liver function, which are already potential problems for the surgery patients, King said. She urges clinicians to perform a better job of screening patients for abuse before surgery and to offer counseling to help them combat the problem. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ I love my sleeve and have no regrets.

How long did you up for calories for? You need to keep up calories for a min of a week to even see a difference. How many carbs are you getting? How many calories? Sounds to me like your body is adjusting to starvation mode and conserving itself. Don't give up, continue ahead but make changes. What worked for me during first 5 months was: no more than 35 carbs a day (I was carb sensitive and more carbs=less weight loss) 60 plus grams of protien a day Calories above 600 a day. I sometimes would be 600 and then would be 900 a day a few times a week. Then my body was not in starvation mode. You need to find what works for you. Everyone reacts differently,so don't give up. At goal, my carb limit and calories went up as I can now eat everything I did pre surgery, just less of it. Today I consume somewhere from 1200-1500 calories a day.

Depends on who your surgeon is and how you have reacted to other surgeries. What type of work do you do? What does your surgeon say? I was back within a week, traveling across country even but I had surgery as an outpatient. Biggest concern is making sure you stay hydrated and get in protein/calories so you are not overly weak. I was really tired each night for the first month and usually went to bed early. Congrats on your upcoming surgery! I love my sleeve and have no regrets.

You are awesome! Wishing much future success.

Okay - stop the worrying. Many surgeons are moving to no overnight stay. This is NORMAL. So I'm almost two years out and had VSG as an outpatient too. My surgeon has done this for years. No drain, no morphine, no staples, no cathedar, no nurses waking you up at night and no pain. Yes, I had someone spend the first night at home with me. I slept right through the night and most of the next day. Only took my liquid pain meds once during that first week and that was to sleep since I messed up my sleeping patterns - sleeping in the day and up at night. Just make sure you have an emergency phone number to call and since you are out of town know where he would meet you (what hospital) and have a map from hotel to hospital. You are okay but I would not have both of you having surgery at the same time.

I didn't find much I liked. I used clear Isopure 40gm drinks from GNC. One a day at 4 bucks each was still less than my old fast food budget. If you want protien powder I suggest cuppacino. I look forward to drinking those...well at least they taste good. Glad you are trying to keep up your Protein up.

There are medical loans here is the US or you can see if you can borrow against your retirement. That is how I self paid. Again, this is in US not the UK. Good luck!

Be patient with your body and allow some time to heal. I drank via a shot glass every 15 minutes (dribbled liquid down since I gulped) to make sure not to dehydrate and end up in a hospital with an IV. Give yourself a break and get as much protien in as you can. I think I was getting in 30 grams that first week and 40 grams by third week. I used clear Protein since the protien shakes were too thick for me. Giving you permission to rest. Get up and walk around every hour you are awake even if just laps in the house. Then take a drink again and rest. Repeat. Congratulations on your sleeve - things will improve...promise.

Is your surgeon okay with you eating normally? Liquid diets are for your own saftey and the top of your stomach is extra sensitive to leaks, which is why purees and liquids for first couple of weeks. As long as your doc is okay with your food, good for you. Otherwise, don't push - you will be there soon enough.

I napped a lot that first week. Not normal sleep patterns. I do not have a medical background so can not speak to morphine possibly affecting your sleep. My VSG surgery was outpatient so I was sleeping in my own bed that night without a drain, no morphine, no nurses waking me up and no staples. I only took pain meds once and that was to sleep. Did you have poor sleep patterns prior to surgery? Are you napping often so you sleep patterns are off? Have you called your surgeon to see if they have anything or advice to help? Good luck and congratulations on being sleeved.

Your mouth fills with drool only sometime a little thicker and it dribbles out. It was my full signal after surgery. I got over the slimies (although every once in a while I get them) and now I sneeze when full. Gotta love this sleeve. Everyone is different. You may or may not experience them.

HA HA You are the only one who can get off the fence. Dr can't pull you the fence, tests won't pull you off nor can I. You are the captian of your future. Where will you be in one year without this surgery? Dream a little. Now, where will you be in one year with this surgery? What opportunities can be opened with surgery? What limitations will surgery give you? What did it for me? I was tired of really trying every diet and being a failure. I knew my health was in jeopardy. I wanted to hike unlimted again. I wanted to shop in normal clothes. I wanted all that I could be without excuses. Today I have achieved a dream. Oh, there are struggles and being sleeved is not a perfect life. This is a permanent surgery so you can not do this for anyone but yourself. I love my sleeve and have no regrets.

Measure everything. Some people do not get (or learn) a full signal right away. Just stick with the portion size.

Everyone is different about what they can and can not eat after surgery. At almost two years out I eat the same diet as I did before surgery, just much smaller portions. Nothing bothers me...spice, bread, rice, potatoes. But I have not had one soda nor eaten at my favorite hamburger place - In N Out Burger since surgery. Saying all this - I eat way to much slider foods and have gained back about 9 pounds from my lowest from eating more often. BAD BAD My advice - stick to a healthy diet and don't try foods just to see if you can tolerate them. This surgery is what you make of it. Stay away from trouble and do not wish you can have what you had before. My Breakfast is usually caffine free vanilla latte I make at home. I use a straw with drinks now. I am still a oenophile and have an occasional bubbly. Moderation in everthing. I get drunk very quickly. One glass is my limit and generally after one glass I will not drive. HUGS - I love my sleeve and have no regrets

PMS is horrid and even the sleeve does override these urges. Just want to echo previous statements. My sleeve wants sweets all the time, not just that time of the month. I have to say no but too often I give in. Don't follow me into the dark side. As a dear friend tells me "it is not what you do right now, but want you do repeatedly"

I was timing my drinking to make sure that I got in enough liquid daily. Every 15 minutes during my waking hours I had a shot glass of sugar free gatorade/poweraide that I dribbled down my throat. As I got further out, I learned to take a sip every 15 minutes and then earlier as I went along. Now I don't leave the house without a bottle of Water or something to hydrate me. You will learn the new you as you go along. Stay strong and keep your self healthy and hydrated. Congrats on being sleeved! I love my sleeve and have no regrets.

I so agree with PDX man. Don't go there. I have found mine and an extra 8 to 9 pounds from my lowest. Still well below goal weight but it is scary. WARNING - don't go looking for trouble for you will surely find it.

Normal. Talk to your surgeon about gas-x strips or anything else over the counter before putting in your new tummy. Most people have that "noisy" stomach and yes, it does help yet does not eliminate. Um, not much in = not much out. The less liquids you take in also can make you constipated. So make sure you are well hydrated. Think I remember a weekly BM for the first month(s). You are learning the new you and will have a new normal. Learn to listen to your body, dont' be afraid to ask questions of your surgeon's office and understnad that things will settle down to a static normal within a year. Sounds like a lot, but the time will go by quickly. Congrats on your sleeve!

SoCal meeting - July 7th. Please sent "sleeve 4 me" a message to get details including location. Looking forward to meeting you!

Advice you already know. Sip often. I used a timer for every 15 minutes I slowly dribbled a shot glass full of sugar free gatorade/poweraide down my throat. Difficult but I never went to the ER. You need to take charge of your own hydration. Um, toast already? Bread is often a no no for many sleevers until 6 months out. Is this on your diet plan from your surgeon? No matter what, hang in there, things do get better.

I am almost 2 years out - sleeved in 2010. My struggles are that I can eat whatever I want. This has helped me to regain a little weight from my lowest (9 lbs ago) Post surgery is all about choices once you are healed. Because slider foods are easy (chips/candy/junk) goes in and out of the stomach with little resistance, now I can eat more than I hoped even with the sleeve. If I stick with the plan and make great choices, I don't gain weight and can even lose weight. Decisions - good or bad food. This is what maintenance is all about. I have no regrets save not doing this sooner for myself. Best wishes in your choice ahead. Edit for another post: It is really hard to confess when you have gained back some weight. Ignorance is not the reason I gained weight back, my stupidity and gluttony is the reason. I allowed sweets along with unlimited sliders back into my life. Working towards losing back the weight. I am still well within normal range of weight even with weight gain. Just don't want to get out of hand, so I progress towards my lowest (Think I was too skinny though for my height)

I haven't found books, but will wait to see what suggestions come up. You are smart to deal with any physc issues up front because the surgeon only does surgery on your stomach and not your brain. Suggest the internet and of course this forum. Many great topics to help you go and get more insight on challenges you will face and items you have not yet considered. Best wishes!