sasicas

Here's my view on these surgeries. I did this for the restriction of how much I can eat, not for what I could eat. I eat whatever I feel like without guilt. I have candy, ice cream, Cookies, etc that are specifically mine. I have self control and can go a month without touching them, but if the craving comes I eat it. I refuse to deny myself treats. The key now is that I can have a bite and be satisfied instead of downing half a gallon of ice cream or half a loaf of french bread. I didn't do this surgery so I would have to be on a life long diet. I REFUSE to eat like I am on a diet. Yes I go for Protein first, but it's not for a matter of dieting, it's a preference now because I got used to eating that way. I also refuse to count calories, have never once counted them, nor protein, nor carbs or anything else. If I have a week where the scale goes up, so what. We all fluctuate. If the scale bothers me, I just reevaluate my choices and go from there. Don't beat yourself up for enjoying life.

Like you mentioned we all lose at different rates. It depends on how your body reacts to surgery, your age, the way you eat, etc. Personally I don't find the rate you have lost to be slow at all, it just might not be as fast as you would like Make sure if you are hungry at night you stick with Protein, don't go for the chips or anything else, just stick with protein. A string cheese is normally my go-to item. Or drink some decaf tea, I drink it nightly before bed now, it fills me up and helps me get the Water in. For me, I hit goal of 90 lbs lost between my 2 week pre-op and surgery by 6 1/2 months. I do not count calories, carbs, protein, etc, so I can't help ya there. I am also in my 20s which I know contributed to my weight coming off like it did.

Remember, you just had major surgery. Not only that but you DRASTICALLY changed the way you are eating, cutting off the carbs, the real food, all that will lead to being weak. The first several months as my body adjusted and the weight loss was the most drastic I was very weak. Over the last couple of months (I'm 9 months post op) my energy and strength has started to return.

Another thought, are you eating often enough? I know for me, if I do not put something in my sleeve every few hours, I get extremely nauseous.

What med are you on? You might need to try another one, or have your dosage increased. I started on Prilosec and it did not work well. Because of some issues I had I switched over to Nexium twice a day and Zantac once a day and it worked wonders for my nausea.

I used a couple of big pillows under my head and one under my knees. My bed is also very high up so I put a step next to it as well.

I agree, it would be far too rough on the hair. I went from washing daily to only being able to wash twice a week. I only style it, and use no products either on those days too, I generally try to let it air dry and go from there. Brushing has proven hard on my hair now and thankfully I can get away without brushing it daily. Even putting it in a ponytail makes a ton of hair come out. Nevermind using hair dye I've done that twice in the last 8 months, once was a few days ago and I lost a ton of hair with it. I use the temporary colors that never caused an issue before surgery. If your hair is already thin, I suggest just getting a wig once it starts falling

No problem! I will absolutely ask them next time. One of the biggest discussions is when to go through with the skin removal surgeries and all have said to get through the first few years because of how much the skin will change. They think I am insane for looking into a tummy tuck already but in my case, my stomach won't fix itself because of damage from all the c-sections, they said I had age on my side (I'm in my 20s, but there is NO fixing that without surgery ha!). Everything else though seems to be changing daily, and I don't exercise either.

I have heard from numerous people in my local WLS group that skin continues to change and fat continues to move to different areas up through 2 years post op and most people in our group are 40+.

It depends on the thickness of your hair. I have seen people in our WLS support group with thin hair to begin with having bald spots. My hair was REALLY thick. Enough so that I could not layer my hair because it just looked like a mushroom. My hair is so thin now. I have one area on the back of my head, that is quite bare. I had dh look at it the other day and he said it just looks like my part goes straight back to that area. It was not like that before. As much as we try to prepare ourselves, there is just no preparing for this until you experience it. I try not to let it bother me but my hair is still falling out in large amounts and I am almost 8 1/2 months out and I've lost all my excess weight and then some. If I lose now it is a very slow gradual loss. It has been falling out for 6 months now *sniff* I can only wash my hair twice a week now because washing makes it so much worse. I don't even brush my hair every day because of the amount that comes out. If I run my hands through my hair I get way more than I like to admit. It sucks big time.

Yes. We are pumped full of gas during the surgery and it needs to work it's way out, walk, walk, walk! I can't stress it enough to help move that gas. The top of your sleeve is in the middle at the bottom of your ribcage so it can be very sore in that whole area.

Hang in there, it WILL get better. Make sure you are walking a lot, it really does help. We were encouraged to use a medicine cup and drink one every 20 minutes in the beginning. Time consuming and annoying but worth it.

I did early out. Now I use regular silverware but I do use kids plates and bowls, just because it is pointless to use regular plates.

I just came here to post about this very topic. I am FURIOUS over this news report/article. I was informed about it tonight at a WLS support group. I am also a military wife and YES I had my surgery though the military. This idiot reporter made it sound as if the military wife just sits around eating and not exercising, just getting fat and popping out kids. OH I AM MAD!!!! Dr. Sebesta, who was interviewed for this, tried to keep this article real, but this idiot reporter just wanted to make the military wife as mooching off the system. Dang it! I have spent years holding down the fort, wondering if my husband was going to come home alive. My husband suffers from PTSD and I have to help him through that. I have to be here to support him in every way. I have ALWAYS sat back while he fought for our freedom, I gave up so much for this country too! YES I DESERVED HEALTH! I didn't just sit around stuffing my face. I tried my hardest! Here is the article if anyone wants to see it http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/military-spends-363000000-weight-loss-surgery/nFTB5/ , I think we should all bombard this site until they apologize and make this right. I can't even understand how they could have the guts to post this and try to make us look bad in a state FULL of military. And really, trying to make it out as if they just hand out plastics?! NOT TRUE! It is SO hard to get plastics approved. Even though I was put on a wait list 2 years ago, WAY before considering WLS for a medically necessary panniculectomy, I was informed by a new plastic surgeon at the same hospital that he felt the pain I have, the rashes I deal with, the increased back issues caused by my stomach was not medically necessary and he took me off the list! My need for a panni has nothing to do with my weight either, it had to deal with my 3 medically NECESSARY c-sections and having carried twins. UGH! I am really mad about this whole thing.

Thanks everyone! I still can't believe it

Oh my gracious! She is just precious! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

YAY! That is great and you look fabulous!

YAY! Congratulations!!!

Well to be perfectly honest I do not exercise, I know, I know, bad girl I did begin exercising a few months ago but am dealing with dizziness so I had to stop. We have no idea why I am so dizzy since my labs look great so far, we could only assume it is from the lack of calories and my body still adjusting even 8 months out. I am not typical of most VSGers, I don't and never have counted carbs, calories, Protein, etc. I cannot drink Protein shakes and have been unable to do so since surgery so I have to get my protein from food. I always eat protein first, I fill up on it, then get some veggies or fruit and if there happens to be a room a bite of bread or rice or whatever else I cooked for dinner. I eat every 2-3 hours as well, I simply cannot get enough in if I just ate the normal 3 meals a day. I drink Water, coffee and tea and that is it. I won't go back to sodas. I do eat what I want though, I find allowing myself treats keeps me from feeling deprived and I really just wanted to be normal anyways which is why I went with this surgery

Well it has been just over 8 months since I was sleeved. I cannot believe how much weight I have lost! As of today I have lost exactly 100 lbs since the beginning of my 2 week liquid diet...down to the ounce! That puts me 10 lbs below my goal and sitting at 140.8 lbs! I went from wearing a tight 20 size and 1x shirt down to a 4/6 and size small! I did my measurements a few days ago and has lost a grand total of 100 3/4 inches off my body!! NEVER did I picture myself wearing these sizes. I was always very size goal oriented. I really just wanted to wear a size 8 and a large so it amazes me just what the sleeve has done for me :smile1: Even with all the initial issues I am SO glad I had the sleeve done. Thank you all for all the support you have shown over these last few months and a huge thank you to those that really laid it all out there for me a week before my surgery when I was ready to chicken out!

Most people I see on a weekly basis know I had the sleeve done. In the beginning it was just close friends and family that knew but the questions kept coming and I decided based on the relationship with the person and whether I thought they could benefit from the surgery. The reason behind telling most people I see weekly is because it looks like I have an eating disorder. I noticed many people watching me eat and since I eat still such tiny portions it looks weird, especially since I have lost so much in a short period of time. Generally I just tell people if they ask what I am doing to lose weight.

I can't possibly just choose one Crossing my legs was huge, seeing my collar bones, hitting my size goal of an 8 (and even better now having 8s being WAY too big and actually was able to put on a size 4 the other day!!), not being scared of the camera and allowing people to take pictures of me now, just to name a few

I had my gallbladder out 5 years before having hte sleeve done. I had no dietary guidelines to follow post op and was able to eat anything and everything that I couldn't eat with that awful gallbladder in.

About a week before surgery I nearly chickened out. I started thinking I could do it on my own without having to go through with surgery. Even sitting in the waiting room to go back for surgery I wanted to get up and run. But I went through with it. I did have complications, though rare, they can happen. I had a small hole in my sleeve, a kink in my sleeve (it's more like an L instead of a banana), I have a hiatal hernia now instead of pre-op like most people, I had increased swelling and did end up in the hospital for nearly 2 weeks between the 5-7 week post-op range. I couldn't eat, I couldn't drink. I was miserable and regretted having gone through with it. HOWEVER, once I was able to eat food and the weight was coming off fast I was so glad I went through with it. At 8 months post op, I am over 9 lbs below my goal and sitting at 99 lbs lost as of this morning I look like a different person, I can wear normal clothes, I can get up off the floor/couches easily, I can play with my kids in a way I couldn't before, there are so many things I can do now that I couldn't do at 240 lbs. Even if it meant going through with the complications again, I would still do it. The end result was worth the pain and misery at the beginning.

There is no way to tell when it will stop/slow down. Most people seem to lose between the 3-6 month post op range. Mine started at 2 months post op and is still going strong at 8 months ugh. I went from washing my hair daily to only washing it twice a week and trying to only style it once a week because of the amount that falls out each time