Rootman

2+ years out, over 170 ponds lost, still keeping them off. More active then ever before. Best thing I've done for my health EVER.

Trolls, huh, yeah. What are they good for. Absolutely nothing. Uh-huh.

I simply did NOT want my digestive tract cut TWICE, which is what a RNY does. I've also seen first hand issues with malabsorbtion of Vitamins and anemia because of bypasses. The sleeve works, is simpler and CAN be changed to a full blown bypass if necessary, while a bypass cannot very easily be converted to a sleeve.

Nope saved my life, lost, 170+ pounds lost and healthier than EVER before.

WHOOP! WHOOP! CUTE CHICK ALERT!

Seriously, good job, looking very good. You'll be a long tall drink of Water before you know it. Congrats.

As mentiones, to jump start the weight loss and empty not the stomach but the colon. I would HIGHLY recommend it as it does NO harm and my make you more comfortable and shrink your liver a tad and reduce the chance of it being nicked during surgery.

Be sure to ask your doc first.

I too had Almanza and everything turned out fine. However the things others have brought up like too many surgeries a day and the Hospital Jerusalem being less than optimal are true. Had I done more home work I probably would of gone somewhere else.

Everything was just "OK", not great, not poor either, just "acceptable".

Yep, more is generally better. Walk till you are moderately tired and try to build up your stamina till you can walk for like an hour or so if possible.

STOP walking if experiencing pain, more than mild discomfort or anything else that you deem not "normal". Walking will help you burn calories, ease post-operative discomfort by keeping your mind off the surgery and help your cardio and fitness levels.

As always consult your doctor before starting any fitness regime.

As stated, Water weight, in your bloodstream, colon and bladder. Also waste retention in the colon. It happens to all of us so don't sweat it, it'll come off.

The "air" (actually CO2) is gone in the matter of hours, your body adsorbs it. However there can be irritation from the nerves being stretched and pulled when your abdomen is blown up with the gas - this pain can persist for days and weeks.

I would also check with the doc and see if you perhaps have kidney stones. Given the location you mentioned - left middle back - is close to where you might experience pain from kidney stones. Any reddish tint to your urine? I had about 4 bouts of them, they can be very painful - again see your doc.

Yes, at first it is comically loud, it settles down after a bit (SOME). I'm over 2 years out and when empty my stomach still gurgles loudly, not quite loud enough for others to hear but I do AND feel it as well.

Perfectly normal, I suspect that it's like you suggest, everything getting funneled into that narrow space.

Yes, you are correct in being concerned, it is very easy to slip back into old habits. I too still struggle over 2 years out. While I can't eat like I used to I still find myself snacking in grazing sometimes out of boredom.

Keep busy and keep track of your caloric input. It's so much easier than pre-op but still easy to defeat.

All it takes is a hundred or so calories a day extra - thats like 2 Oreo Cookies and all of a sudden you're putting on a few pounds a month.

Nope, me too. All the holiday food, gym was closed most of both weeks and I was just terminally lazy after a hectic year of work.

I sat around and snacked constantly. Not sure how much I gained but I know it is at least 5 pounds.

Back to the gym this week and hopefully riding my bike if fair weather visits us again some time soon.

I am not sure but probablyt 100 to 150 lbs, my full face mask just would not fit any more, a large was too large andything smaller was not wide enough. I SHOULD of gone back for another study but I have a high deductable insurance and I would of had to pay for it out of pocket and my wife said I was not snoring any more - just a light buzz now and then - and did not appear to be snorting and stopping breating sO between the mask not fitting and my "symptoms" disappearing I elected to just stop using it.

I would say geberally NO, unless it produces a state of malnutrition or dehydration, if you maintain your Vitamin regimine and keep hydrated then you will lose as fast as your coloric intake is under your base meabolic rate and extra caloric burn. Weight loss will slow as your caloric intake comes closer to matching your caloric needs to maintain.

So keep sipping, taking your Vitamins and keep up with the doctor visits and you should do OK.

Guys will understand this too.

Being an "official old man" I have to say that when WE do this to a younger lady we all get laughed at or branded a dirty old man

I'm out over 2 years and the PHYSICAL hunger is still gone, when I get "really" hungry I amd just the slight bit peckish, just a tiny bit of stomach emptyness, nothing like pre-op. That being said I am now having more of an issue with psych hunger, the holidays, being bored at work and stressed out, reduced sunshine due to time and not enough good weather to bike I find I want to snack even though I am NOT hungry and don't want to eat and eating makes me bloated and uncomfortable. I've gained about 5 pounds and am going to work extra hard in the New Year to lose them again, being 5 pounds over weight is a LOT different than being 200 pounds over.

I had moderate eczema on my arms and a few scaly Patches on my forhead and neck, all were gone about 6 months post surgery. My arms were rough and bumpy, now they are smooth. It just goes to show how differently we react to the surgery, in part by the change of diet and if the diet was a significant factor to our skin conditions.

It might be you would have to pursue it with your company. I would suspect that they may require documentation from your doctor to start with. Being elective is one thing but this surgery IS life saving, it's not like a nose job or something like that.

They will do it but you could do it yourself if you want.

The stomach like most other organs has no sensory receptors as far feeling their presence goes. You feel funny at first because of the surgical trauma. After that's healed the only indication of it not being there is that you can't eat as much and if you eat TOO much you can get nauseas and may vomit. You do not feel it being "smaller".

Although in this day and age it's rare there is also iodine deficiency which presents like this, since we eat mostly iodized salt it is not a common milady, although with your reduced diet perhaps it's a possibility.

Yes, they asked me to do the same, my wife as well when she had a different surgery. Although twice a day for 4 days seems a little excessive. Better safe than sorry.

Chances are it's ketosis, keytones are coming out of solution since you are burning fat. Not only can you stink worse but you also have a funny sense of small, so some of MIGHT be you and some of it might be your sense of smell thinking you smell bad.

Try a mouth wash and tongue scraper to clean up your mouth which also helps your sense of smell too.

Congrats! I'm just a few days ahead of you.