sasicas

I was told no straw and no gum however I always use a straw and I drink more because of it and I chew gum all the time. The reason i was told for the straw was because we suck in too much air, well I don't seem to have an issue with it and with gum, again air was mentioned and the possibility if swallowing it. With gum, I chew one little piece as I always have of Trident original and once it's good and chewed up it just sits in my mouth, almost like a mint until the flavor is gone,then I spit it out. I am not one to smack away at gum because it grosses me out to see it ha.

Thank you so much! Voting is open until tomorrow

A stricture is basically a narrowing in your sleeve or esophagus. For me they took me to the GI at the hospital, put me under a light sedation, stuck a tube with a camera down my throat and when they saw the stricture they ballooned it open. Sometimes the dilation works on the first try, sometimes it takes several times. With my first stricture, it closed so much that I could no longer eat or drink, so it's important to have it checked out.

Have you been to your surgeon and talked about getting a scope done on you? It sounds to me like you might have a stricture. Or you could have increased swelling. I had both, as well as a few other issues in the first few months of my sleeve. Definitely not somehting you want to put off.

No it does not unfortunately I'd love to know where I am in the contest but the position for each person changes every time you refresh the screen. It will be announced the first week of April though so I am trying to be patient lol.

Thank you everyone! The top 3 with the most votes will a trip to LA for two, hotel and travel included. They also get a head to toe makeover. A consult with someone on clothing, a $1000 card to be used for clothes, $1000 cash card to use however they want and tickets to the Bigger Loser Finale Even if I am just a runner up I still get a $100 cash card, either way I am super excited

Thank you again everyone! The contest is open a few more days, it closes on March 25 and I should know early in April if I was one of the grand prize winners. So "souper" excited hehe. With just having had a panniculectomy done on Monday and even retaining Water like I am, I am certain I will be down another size once healed up so winning this would be such a blessing Thank you again! Cassie

Well ladies, it's done! I had my panniculectomy on Monday and got home yesterday. Most people stay a day but of course I had to be difficult haha. I ended up with the scar from hip to hip and up to the belly button. It sure isn't pretty but I am just glad the skin is gone. if you all are interested I have the link to my youtube channel in my signature and I just posted a video showing what my stomach looks like now. Thank you all for being so encouraging!

Thank you all so much! Voting is still open until March 25th

Thanks ladies. I am at the nervous yet excited stage and just trying to prep myself for yet another surgery. All my preop stuff is done except my lab work. THe skin just drives me batty and I knew deep down it had to go one way or another. I will definitely share pics and I am sure I will post a few vids on my youtube channel too.

Well I thought I would give an update on this. SOOOO...things are 10000000% better with my husband. It took a lot of counseling and a lot of tears with our Pastor and his wife but our marriage is in a place it has never been in the last 10 years. Amazing how God can work even the worst situations out for His glory. We have quite the testimony of what He has done for us now SO that also means I am moving forward with the gut tuck!! We were able to get my insurance to cover it and surgery is next week. THank you all for the encouragement!

I would guess it is the hormone fluctuations as well. I only had them in pregnancy randomly until surgery, then I had a couple. THe only thing in common were crazy hormones

Thank you so much everyone!!

That is great! In person support groups can be so helpful

Awesome!! You look great!!

YAY! Thank you all so much!

WoW! Amazing!! You look so fantastic

YAY! Awesome NSV!! That was one of my favorites Especially fitting on the couch with room to spare with my husband

You look fab!! Great job! Now try to ignore that scale, those numbers don't matter, it's all about how you feel

WOOT! That is awesome!!

You all are awesome! Thank you so much, I really appreciate it

I can't even tell you all how beyond excited I am for this It's been making me crazy trying not to go crazy announcing it before the voting time actually started haha. Sooooo I follow Shelly, aka the world according to eggface, blog. Well a couple years back she was a grand prize winner in the Progresso Souper You contest. Well she posted about it a few months back, encouraging people to enter. Well I did and GUESS WHAT! I was picked as a finalist!! WOW! Crazy right? This time last year, I was laid up in bed, in pain, miserable and 115 lbs heavier than I am today at just over a year post op. The 3 grand prize winners get an amazing trip to LA, a full makeover, cash cards, clothing cards, and the best part?! Tickets to the finale of the Biggest Loser. PLEASE, please, please go vote for me. You can vote daily from today through March 25th. I would appreciate it so much! You can either search Progresso Souper You to find the site or use this link http://www.souperyou.com/Finalists.aspx And so you know who to vote for...look for this picture of me holding up my formerly tight size 20 pants Thank you

That is a great NSV! It's such a wonderful feeling to not be ashamed of our weight!!

So wonderful to hear of a 40 year marriage and so great to know you can fly in comfort now

WOOHOO for heels! It's a great feeling, isn't it?!