M2G

Ooooh, I hate to throw up. I'm almost 4 months out and never once has something come back up. I did eat one bite too many early on (homemade turkey meatballs) and I experienced the sweats and lightheaded, and *thought* for about 20 minutes something was going to come back, but it never did, and my sleeve pushed everything through. I don't think it is too rare to find a sleever who hasn't tossed anything up the tube yet. I am pretty sure it is a very common experience with the band. (Just from reading, not from experience!)

Myori did a good explaination. I had a JP drain (that is just the name for the type, but maybe you can google it for a visual) so I had a hole in my upper stomach, with a tube coming out of it (where the tube was coming out my surgeon had stitched the tube into place) and the tube ran down to a little bulb (about the size the bulb used to squeeze air into a blood pressure cuff). The bulb attached to an adhesive strip on my lower tummy that had a clip on it. So every couple of hours I would unclip the bulb and empty the drain, and then reposition it. I had my drain for 6 days post op. I don't want to scare you, and everyone's experience is totally different, but in my opinion, that was the worst part of surgery. (I had a super-easy recovery with zero complications, so hey, I had to find something to complain about!) Having to live 6 days with the drain and emptying it (yuck). When it was time to come out my surgeon snipped the stitches around the tube, and pulled the tube out. He left that hole open (no glue or stitches) and it finally closed on it's own (last of my scars to heal.) But even though I wasn't a fan of the drain I was glad it was pulling excess Fluid out of my body cavity.

Julie, I watched your video yesterday and I *almost* had tears listening to you. Beautifully done, I'm SO glad that your extended family and friends are being supportive. You are looking gorgeous and skinny too. WTG!!!

Tomorrow will be day 22 of my latest stall <sigh> and yes before the sleeve I would have totally given up. If the scale didn't move down then I would have thrown in the towel. But not with the sleeve. This stall sucks and don't think that I don't hate it (because I do) but I keep putting good healthy choices in my mouth, I refuse to let the scale be the only indicator! I did the same thing and tried on a pair of jeans that I had previously been to big to wear. Guess what they fit. Even in the midst of this bugger of a stall, things are a changin'.

Irene you said it best (as usual!) I have told a limited number of people about my sleeve and no one has asked me point blank what exactly I'm doing to lose the weight. If they did, I would probably tell them. This is my private medical information, and I don't need to tell people all of my "business." Again if asked, I tell. The other thing is that no one else is as "interested" in what I'm doing, as I am. That is why I love VST b/c we all have a common thread and we "get it" when we complain about stalls or get excited about new food. To other people, it just isn't that interesting (from what I've found) and so I tend not to blabber on about VSG with just anyone. I get all my blabbering done right here. :lalala:

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

WOW, amazing difference! And great advice for pre-ops who are on the fence about having surgery. It is well worth doing this for yourself!!!

Yes, absolutely follow your surgeon's guidelines. The trainer's guide is about what I can eat (except make the 4oz down to 2oz) but I'm almost 4 months out. Also I don't do very many Protein shakes as my surgeon is absolutely against using shakes after the 6 week post-op mark. I have to eat at least 6 times a day to get in the required protein. Sometimes more. But there is a difference between snacking and grazing. Grazing means you are eating food all day long and not sitting down at an appropriate meal time to eat an appropriate meal. Make sure you understand your surgeon's intention when he says no snacking. There is NO WAY that I could get 65-90 grams of protein a day with 3 meals and nothing in between (an no shakes either!) Definitely call your surgeon or NUT for advice. Although I don't think the trainer's plan is a bad post-op VSG plan but it probably is better suited to someone who is farther out from surgery. Just my 2 cents!

Okay, Paul, I really don't want the dollar...but here you go. The pegged jeans are NOT pictures of ME, but the big hair is. Oh and as you can see back in the dark ages, we didn't get color yearbooks (I scanned these from my HS yearbook). Circa 1990

OMG, you are going to make me dig. lol. I will try to find it...no promises. I know I can find photos of the big hair, though. :shocked: So I guess pretty soon we have to move to the 40's board. For me not until Jan 2012!!!

Congratulations on being at ONEDERLAND (even with the camera!) :photo: I am so sorry that you have had such a hard time wtih the leak and now a second surgery and drain. My thoughts are with you, and I just know with your amazing positive attitude you will make a full 100% recovery. I hope Monday gets here SOON for you! Hugs!

Best of luck with your removal (s)! Keep us posted on how things go and definitely pamper yourself with some rest following surgery!

You are right. I should have said that it can increase the production of acid, and the stomach acid can contribute to inflammation and ulcers. It is very simplified to say "caffeine causes ulcers." Again that is what many NUTs will tell you, but in my research there is no clear definition of linking ulcers to caffeine usage. With that being said I clearly don't NEED caffeine in my life, but do like coffee. If pushed I could give up coffee too. Everyone is different and every NUT/surgeon has different rules, so I just tend to follow the advice of my personal NUT and surgeon.

The statement that you can eat around any type of WLS is soooooo true. Every WLS still requires effort and I truly believe that we need to keep working sleeves, even after we reach goal. The losing part is so easy to focus on and it does require a lot of effort, planning and it is a huge lifestyle change for many people. But maintaining is always going to be an effort too. Nothing worth having is ever effortless. I agree with Rootman...I will never be one of those naturally skinny people who can claim "oh I can eat what I want and never have an issue" ...that simply does not apply to me. So, Doug, thank you for posting this an reminding us that you can out-eat any type of WLS. I hope the person you met can get some help like Irene mentioned. Oh and I bet is was cool to meet another RL sleever.

OMG, that is hysterical!! Not just *any* box, but a box that only us women would be interested in. I'm sure whoever opened it got a little surprise...certainly no what they were expecting in that type of box. :embaressed_smile:

Congratulations!! You are doing an amazing job! Great face shots, your whole entire face has changed...what a transformation!

Well, I'm glad you complained and glad they did what they could to rectify it. I hope you did just get a bad batch. I have a bunch of the old ones (with the arrows) so the only "new" one I have experienced is their vanilla flavor and I love that. And just my opinion, I did see chunks with their old formula (again haven't tried the new yet) so if the new is chunk-free I'm thinking that would be an improvement. I don't use them much anymore, but DH is getting sleeved next so I have been stocking up for him. I hate it when I love a product and they go and change things.

Yay! The jeans thing in combination with getting checked-out is definitely NSV worthy!!! :thumbs_up: I've been married for almost 15 years...not sure I would "recognize" getting checked out anymore. But I'm thrilled for you! And the Ensenada chicken platter is my all time FAVORITE Red Robin dinner. I used to eat it pre-op (yes, all of it) but now I only pick at the salad and order one chicken breast, and save half of it for later. :wink_smile:

Oh my goodness! That is indeed scary, but I'm so thankful that you caught this early. Having the right attitude and frame of mind will give you the ability to fight this. Thank you for sharing this with us, and please keep us posted on your progress! I will be thinking of you as you go through this all! HUGS!

CONGRATULATIONS IRENE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are looking fabulous from all angles! And I am seriously thankful for bandsters who dared to share their stories, it is because of those brave souls that I became a virgin sleever...I too was headed down the band path and I'm so thankful that today I didn't have to endure what you did to get to where we are today. I'm positive that everything happens for a reason, and I know all the experiences you have had play a part in who you are today. Even though you had to go through a torture device to get where you are, I know you learned something about yourself along the way. I'm so happy for you, keep rocking that sleeve!!!

SN..............Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.......Lbs to Goal Mommy2Girls............229..............229............210................19 I am going agressive on this as well, we shall see. I've been stalled for 3 weeks now and it's getting on my nerves! lol

I drink a cup of decaf every day (I used to drink reg. but made the switch prior to surgery.) The other thing (besides it being a diuretic) is that caffeine can *sometimes* cause ulcers. I think the last thing that anyone who has been sleeved wants is an ulcer. However, from my own research it seems to be inconclusive that caffeine can cause ulcers. But for me, I would just rather not take the chance. I buy "flavored" decaf to help combat the flavor difference and I use full-fat cream (half and half) and splenda.

You and me both. Class of 1990....seems like forever ago! LOL, if I dig hard enough I might be able to find a photo of those pegged and rolled jeans. I know I had big hair in the 80's. :mullet: I plan on living up my last year in the decade of my thirties!!! My forties are going to be so much more fun since I plan on having a healthy BMI.

No calorie guideline...just 65-100 grams of protein a day, all from meals (not shakes) and 75% of my intake is to be protein with 25% coming from complex carbs (veggies, fruit, whole grains, etc.)

SN................Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.....Lbs to Goal Avilda...............275.....................187............177..............10 BlackBerryJuice.........208..........145..............145................0 Brendasgonnalose...335............224.............225................-1 BonnieEJune . . . . . 325........................271.............275............-4 bugwitch....................291..............286.4...........283..............3.4 Cherice95405..........248...........177............ 164...............13 Chilo1.....................216...........158.............154................4 Cludgie................235..............210...............209..............1 Coops ...................238...........183...............177..............6 Cwalker.................250...........180...............170...............10 Daisy......................237..........138...............130................8 DJackson..............229.............213..............215................-2 HollyW...................259............214..............215..............0 Ibejjo.....................249...........249...............229.............20 Juliarh...................230............211.2..............215................-3.8 Kimmes................239.............197.8..............200..............-2.2 Kgremmy.............225.............190.8..............199...............-8.2 Laylasmojo...........242............180...............170...............10 LeslieH.................212...........204................199..............5 LilMissDiva...........235............221.8.............220.............1.8 livelovelaugh.. ...236............ ..207........ .....189..............18 Mellifrits...............210............132..............125................07 Meriteri................240............177..............170...............7 MichelleLee..........252...........222................199...............23 MINI-Me...............203.............124.6...........125...............0 & holding! mlr777................200.8...........174.6...........160.............14.6 Mommy2Girls.......275...............240............228..............1 Moniluv.................190.............181...........178...............3 MRSKOUBIK...........317............252.............255..............-3 NannieG . .............250. ..........153........... 150............... 3 OregonDaisy . . .. . . ................135 pattimomof3nj......203.4...........157.3............155................2.3 missed it by that much! PlannerGirl………..…327…..……..275…….........255………….....20 Sailorgirl................240............220.............200..............20 Secret Surgery34....205............174...........165................9 Seniorsleever........290.............279.............260..............19 Sleeve 4 me.........166...........159..........159....................0 Sweatinitout..........245............170.............160..............10 tlang262 - Texas.....240..........240..............230..............10 Yolanda240.....236.................191..............170..............21 CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE WHO MADE GOAL!! And to everyone who participated and lost something. I missed goal by 1 stinkin' pound. Oh well. I've been in a 3+ week stall that normally would have me off the wagon (before the sleeve on a regular diet, I would give up at the 3 week mark with no movement!) But thanks to my little sleeve, I'm just plugging away and hoping that someday soon this stall will break!!! :bored: