Rootman

Yep, I had eczema pretty bad on my arms and back, they felt like sand paper. Since my weight loss it's all but cleared up, my arms are smooth and my back has a lot less scaly patches and hard dried oil deposits - and I can actually reach around and touch dang near all my back too!

Congrats! And keep pulling that hair back!

Boy, 3 minutes? That's a new one on me. It seems not only impractical but impossible as your meal size will increase. I wait a few SECONDS between bites. I may pause after a few bites for a few minutes but then resume the same pace. I also drink while I eat too, I just cannot choke down food without a beverage. I must be doing something right, see the ticker below for my current progress.

WOOHOO! Congrats!

Pgulr, we all wish you the bast and you have are deepest condolences on your loss. I have to forewarn you; for most the roller coaster doesn't stop after surgery, there will be plenty of dips and hills to come - just be prepared. Good luck in the surgery, keep us informed of the outcome. Look forward to hearing you tell us that PHAT means Pretty Hot And Tempting

Well said Ready2bDone, well said. I also hate those thin vinyl chairs that gripped my ass and had to be pried off when I stood up. Rubbing my belly on the steering wheel even though I was already so far back my feet could barely touch the pedals. We all wish you well in your pursuit pf WLS and hope you get an answer soon!

Ahem! The name's RootMAN in case you didn't notice!

4 months, felt like crap for the first 2 or so and gave myself some more time off. Been swimming 3 days a week and working gout in the gym 1 or 2 days a week.

As they say on the internet PICS OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN !!!!!

A nice spicy apple 1 piece of Sargento Muenster cheese and 4 saltine crackers A few mixed nuts

YES! It does go away. I had an immense "collar" of fat around the back of my neck. It is completely gone and I actually HAVE a neck now. My chiropractor has remarked that my neck is a LOT easier to adjust now too.

I am 9+ months out and my insomnia is worse than ever. I had issues with it prior to being sleeved and it has gown worse sine then. I took Ambien for a while, then grew tolerant to it. Ambien only helps you GET to sleep, if you aren't asleep in an hour or two then it won't help any. I can take a nap nearly ANY day and fall right to sleep, but sleep at night? Nearly every night I sleep fitfully if at all till 3 or 4 am then sleep till I am supposed to wake up and then don't want to. It's been hellish at times. I wonder if the changes body chemistry has anything to do with it?

I'd highly wait till after you got out of the hospital {ba-doomp-tish}! But seriously folks, it's whenever you feel up to i. As far as abdominal surgeries go the laproscopic VSG is pretty small and has a quick recovery. Wait till YOU feel like it then go slow. A week or better would probably be about right.

I was back to work after 4 days and thought I'd die. I had no more vacation and could not take leave for it. More time off IS better. If you CAN take it DO IT. I felt truly crappy for MONTHS afterward and wish I could of had 4 weeks off.

The hair loss can be non-existent to fairly severe. And contrary to what almost everyone else says it cannot be prevented and NO supplement you take will really help. Hair growth has 2 phases, growth and rest. This is programmed into our cells. Excessive hair loss after WLS (or ANY surgery for that matter) is caused by the hair entering the rest phase and not emerging very quickly back to the growth phase. The body is coping with the injury (surgery), the healing process and the massive curb of caloric intake and putting unimportant stuff like hair and nail growth on hold. After a while it settles down and growth again starts as the metabolism picks back up and the "warning sirens" stop blaring telling your body it is starving. I am sure many on this site will refute the above but the fact of the matter is it will happen or not happen depending on how your body reacts to the trauma. I had very little, but then again I'm a 50+ YO male that was already losing my hair so I am not sure if any MORE happened and whether it was caused by the surgery or just the natural progression of my previous hair loss. You can take supplements but I sincerely believe they are a total waste of money and may even be detrimental.

Yep, mammas always worry about their kids. Mine was worried too years ago I was pondering WLS and she really tried to discourage me thinking I would end up starving to death. Odd, it was part the inheritance I got from her estate that paid for mine!

I'll take a stab at it, mushies are any soft food put through a blender so it is pretty much a paste, so that little to NO chewing is needed, this gives the stomach a break and not make it churn more solid food so early in recovery. Soft food is just that, soft food, Soups, etc. that may have more solid form but are still soft so as to be not such a shock to the the tummy as it is recovering from this trauma you just put it through. Mushies first, soft food after a few weeks, then on to more solid foods but still taking it easy to not burden the stomach.

Lack of acid MAY prohibit the adsorption, look here: http://www.reflux.org/reflux/webdoc01.nsf/%28vwWebPage%29/CalciumPPI.htm?OpenDocument

Normally they will NOT allow you to take it, it's classified as medical waste and must be disposed of correctly - usually incinerated. There are videos out there, a few on YouTube, while it's not "yours" it does show the amount they remove. Remember the 85% removal is just an estimate, the actual amount varies because of the size of the stomach and the size of bougie the doctor uses to "form" to stomach and determine the staple line.

Yep, squeals, groans, moans, popping, flatulent sounds - you name it my stomach did it for the first few weeks anyways. I could NOT lie on my left side for a few weeks because it would immediately start making noise and felt uncomfortable. Not sure exactly when it stopped but it seldom makes a peep now.

I would think that there should be no reason to immediately start just after surgery, as long as you are up to it. Lying on your stomach may be an issue though. Just have them stay away from your stomach area with the massage for a few months.

No Mirilax is not a diet aid, it simply helps you to eliminate what is going to come out in "the end" anyway There is no harm in being on it indefinitely, I've used it for years.

Various health and comfort issues just came crashing around me last summer / fall. I had to do SOMETHING and I have NEVER been able to stick to a diet, I was always miserable and hungry. I too was ashamed at the way I looked and could not participate in much of anything with anybody. I researched various WLS and was determined to NOT get a bypass or have a plastic gizmo (band) floating around in my gut. When I discovered the VSG I was ecstatic! So simple and virtually NONE of the "side effects" of a bypass or limitations and dangers of a band. I investigated my insurance options and did not want to wait and play the "games" they played so I ponied up the money and did self pay. A few emails, a few phone calls and a month later I was sleeved and on my way to a healthier me. Sorry for the TMI, this is just one of the BEST things I have EVER done for myself and I am so proud to have done it.

Hey, how about a before and after instead of a pic of you and your dad? WOW! What a difference! You certainly have something to be proud about!

Yes it CAN be a kidney stone, though typically you feel it in the lower back it is entirely possible that you can feel it in the stomach area. Another possibility is a gall stone. Get to the doc, perhaps even the ER if you can't see the doc right away, before something potentially ruptures and you REALLY have a problem.