Rootman

Man, I was terrified for years that this would happen to me. I was 375 lbs with a 52" waist and could barely cram my enormous a$$ into one of those seats, surprisingly I could get the belt buckled - just. One guy from our company was forced to buy 2 seats and guess what? He DIDN'T get them in the end, they charged him for them and was given only ONE seat, they "resold" the other one or simply didn't have it to offer to begin with. He was furious. They would not give in and give him both seats and would not later give him a refund of the extra seat. I can sort of see their point, the charge was for the MASS which was basically as much as TWO adult men but dang it, he bought 'em both and should of gotten 'em both.

I'm about 6 months out and STILL have these altered tastes. Things I used to love I now can't stand, and things I never really liked I now do, thankfully they are mostly things that are good for me. Some things I like now are just variants of previous tastes, I used to love milk chocolate, a Hershey bar with almonds was the best pre-op, I tasted a Hersheys kiss a while back and thought it was nasty sweet. However I now like DARK chocolate which I used to hate, I love the bitter sweet taste now.

@MNBSleeve, I understad that part of the process. I used a few Base Metabolic Rate ( MBR ) calculators to set a goal, or limit I should say, of calories for a daily limit at about 1760 calories, which is for a 50 year old male at 180 pounds would need just to stay alive. This is nothing more than an artificial limit I've set. I will HAVE to exceed this once I reach goal and have to find a level that I need to reach in order not to lose or gain any more weight. I realize too that at goal weight I will HAVE to replace the calories I burn if it makes me drop below the MBR rate plus the caloric needs of the days activities or again I will continue to lose weight. As of now I rarely exceed 1000 calories a day, at close to 6 months post op I just can't seem to get in any more calories in my tummy in a day. I guess It's OK for now because I still am burning fat and losing weight. I really concentrate on Protein as I will need this to maintain the lean muscle mass I am hopefully gaining. I was just worried about consistently burning off not only the BMR+Daily activities caloric needs but a few hundred more several days a week, running as I said a negative caloric total. I just didn't want to end up hurting myself for some stupid reason I didn't understand.

They seem to be accurate. Pretty good reading. Pictures of 300 calories: http://nutrition.about.com/od/changeyourdiet/ig/Food-Photos---300-Calories/ A general How To Lose Weight Article: http://exercise.about.com/cs/weightloss/a/howtoloseweight.htm Burning fat: http://exercise.about.com/od/weightloss/a/burningfat.htm

Occasionally I don't eat a whole lot and exercise quite a bit - big change for me - and according to the caloric / exercise records I have been keeping I run up a negative caloric count. Like today I ate 994 calories and supposedly burned off 1505 with 90 minutes of swimming, 30 minutes on a stationary bike and 30 minutes of weight training. That says I not only burned off ALL the calories I ate today AND 511 calories more. I know the math but want to know if there is any consequences if I keep doing this. It isn't usually that high a deficit, typically 50 to 150 cals negative on 3 or 4 days a week is more typical. I know I should be eating a tad more but just can't seem to get any more down, don't desire any more and feel full when I do eat. So does anyone have any pearls of wisdom about this?

Congrats!

Good idear! I was actually thinking of about the same thing although I was thinking of a mug warmer - bet they're the same thing, probably only the labels are different

Well I am afraid that I consider the swallowing air and swallowing the gum theories to utter BS. Yes, you can swallow some air and you typically just burp it back up, you swallow a lot more saliva though. If you are that clumsy that you will swallow it then stay away, it's probably harmless but doesn't help either, you'll just poop it out in a few days.

I too had edema every night for the last several years. My feet and ankles would swell to the point that the skin got shiny because it was stretched so tightly. I started to wear compression hose which helped a lot but I would still get swelling after taking them off, the hose would get uncomfortable after a hard days work. It was that way for a few months post op till I lost about 100 pounds then started to subside. Now I only notice a moderate amount of swelling after a hard days work, nothing like what it used to be.

Well, I've seen just the one guy and like I said he was from Asia and I know they have a different view of social mores. I've seen more than one accidentally drop his drawers and pants by unfastening his belt and opening his pants and losing his grip. One guy peed all over himself, the urinal and the wall and his (unfortunately) light colored pants by accidentally dropping his pants and panicking and trying to catch them. I've even seen a few that insist on pulling their pants down over their rear and holding them up by spreading their legs and keeping them up on their thighs. To each his own but I just wish they'd keep to their own space and not intrude into mine. It's almost as bad as "peekers" who lean over to take a look - SICK!

I have a gaol of 195 pounds and have already lost 130 of those and my weight keeps dropping. I lose about 4 pounds a week since I lost my first hundred. Since then I've increased my caloric intake a bit as I can eat more now. I would also say that if you could do it depends on your initials weight too, if you weight 300 pounds and want to lose 200 it would be quite difficult to lose that last 100 or so pounds. If you weigh 500 then 200 pounds of loss should be a snap. As you lose weight the amount of food you need to support your body weight ( base metabolic rate, BMR ) lowers, you NEED less and less calories just to stay alive.

Yep, the coconut and celery are the only things that I've heard, it's not that they won't digest in the stomach - it never does - it is insoluble Fiber, it can just get physically balled up and can create a bezoar ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bezoar ) in the stomach, which is basically like a hairball, a lump of stuck together insoluble fiber that can create a blockage and create a lot of pain and digestive problems. The chewing gum and soda stuff is all BS too, I would suppose that if you were constantly swigging pop and chewing multiple packs of gum it MIGHT cause issues but as they say, everything in moderation.

I was out 4 days - took vacation - and this was not nearly enough, I was miserable for the first month. Take 2 if not 3 weeks off if you can manage it.

Yep, having both low testosterone and being overweight both put a jinx on the old libido. I've had problems with both and started taking test. injections and of course have lost 125+ pounds and my libido has risen significantly. Some prescription and even OTC drugs can effect it too. So go with hubby to the Dr's office and have him checked out and discuss it with them. It can be embarrassing so don't keep pestering him about it. Be gentle and genteel.

Yeah, maybe Estella's right, unless you tripping on them don't worry.

lilMissDiva did an excellent tutorial here: http://www.verticals...-with-pictures/

Yes, I agree, hair loss and it's growth and non-growth phases ( https://secure.wikim...h#Normal_growth ) are just natural, throw in what basically amounts to a near death experience of anesthesia and the trauma of surgery and a drastic dietary change - there is little to anything we can do to avoid it. I think the Vitamins, supplements, shampoos and conditioners are a total waste of money designed for people to lose weight - IN THEIR WALLET, but that's just my two cents. I realize this may be a more traumatic experience for you gals but it WILL pass.

Yep, what Beadingnurse sed: jump on this like a chicken on a june bug - well she didn't say that exactly but she meant it. If you really want this then PURSUE IT with all diligence. Call them, write them, supply them with every shred of documentation and testimony you can. Keep after them, they are for the most part just bureaucrats and you are just another number - put a face and voice to the number and force them to realize you are a real person and no just a number and need a better answer than what they've given you already. If possible you may also consider self pay, perhaps in Mexico. Not everyones cup of tea but it worked for me. We all wish you the best. Go Get 'Em Tiger!

For about the first month or so I could NOT lay on my left side in bed, my stomach would just make the most horrible nosies constantly. Long drawn out blurping and moaning sounds. The first time my wife and I got amorous post-op it sort of ruined the mood for a few minutes as we both busted out laughing because of all the comical noises.

Way to go grrl! Congrats!

Congrats!

Yikes! I mean mine are more visible because of not being surrounded by a pad of fat but don't hang that low. Silly question, I know, are you sure that they haven't always been that way and are not just lower because of not sitting on so much fat in your behind and like me are just more visible because of the fat pad disappearing? I don't remember much about the anatomy of that area but seem to recall there was a tendon that supported 'em, I can't picture that "loosening up" unless maybe the attachment to any supporting muscles has dropped. Perhaps a visit to a wee-wee doctor would be in order?

I choose MX because I did not want to wait or put up with being coerced into getting a bypass - the sleeve is what I wanted after a LOT of research. I followed up with my PCP for blood panels and hoped for the best that there would not be any complications after surgery. I've heard horror stories of people being denied insurance coverage but decided to take a chance anyway. Everything turned out fine. I was advised that a local bariatric surgeon will "take over the case" for a cash payment of $2000 just to cover their "risk". I've not had to avail myself of his services. So it is not without its risks and only you can decide if you want to take the chance. For me it's worked out wonderfully. I've lost ~125 pounds went from a TIGHT 3X top and 52 bottom to a LARGE top and 38 bottom. I LOOK thinner than I have in decades despite being still at 250 pounds. I tell everyone it's "all pure muscle" It can only get better from now on.

Wow, I lost track of this post after writing it. don't worry pal NO ONE is watching you pee, just try and keep your belt and pants within the bounds of your own urinal as you hop around shaking it off.

I think that you are over analyzing this. I have been a Christian for 35 years now and have had a few surgeries that have helped me in my life, some like the sleeve can be controversial. I guess he made eyes to go blind too, so we shouldn't have cataract or lasik surgery either, or made feet grow crooked with painful bunions so we should hobble around on nearly crippled feet. How about teeth that crack and open up painful fractures that make our lives miserable. When your teeth hurt seems like EVERYTHING hurts. I've had ALL of these things corrected and am glad I did. God gave man an incredible intellect to be able to help with these many painful, debilitating problems. If you CAN take advantage of them then you should. Pray about it and go with God.