Browneyedsouljah

Try wearing a compression shirt or vest when you start working your abs. I ahve been talking to alot of people who swears its all the difference. The problem is we loose weight and our skin strts to sag. Gravity takes over and any time we move we are jaring already loose skin away from the muscle that used to have a layer of fat on it. The compression wear will keep your skin tight to your body not allowing gravity or skin jarring to occur. So when you build muscle there is less space for the skin. I know twpo sisters who were older and lost over 150lbs each and they have no skin issues. I have also seen women who have lost over 200lbs who have no sagging skin either. I am getting sleeved at the end of summer. I have been working out and I am using a compression shirt and will soon get the body suit. I am a bit scarred of ploastic surgery. Good luck and congrats on your success

Congratulations!!! That is awesome results for the first month. Keep up the great work.

Congratulations!! Your post made my day. I was feeling a little on the fence today and your post reminded me of why I am doing this and how I hope to feel afterwards. Thanks for sharing!

I don't want to but if I need it I will get my thighs tucked. I am confident I can firm my belly and arm skin, but I worry about the thunder thighs. I am going to use compression wear during the loss and while I work out. It is suppose to help reduce the sagging skin during loss. Other than that what I look forward to the most is BUYING CLOTHS FROM A NORMAL STORE! No more plus size only stores or limited selection at a department store. I hate knowing I have fewer choices and must pay more because I am big!

This was not directed at you personally. It is directed to all of us including myself. The restriction will eventually stretch and while it is small we need to learn to eat and exercise properly. You are the one that said you felt like you were dieting ,and we all should ,but for me I choose to think of as lifestyle modification. I apologize if you took my post as directed to you and I was rude. However, I stand behind my words . Furthermore, I don't feel that anything I said was negative. I proposed a topic for those struggleing or gaining weight because it is often posted about. I just happen to mention it while reading your thread. Again nothing was directed personally at you and I include myself in this group.

Usually hunger pains are a result of not getting enough protein or getting liquids. Are you getting enough protein and liquids?

Maybe we should start a new topic on this forum for people really struggling and maybe people who have regained some weight. The one thing I am happy about is that my 3 month pre-op program is not just teaching me how to eat and giving me behavior modification, but its great that it is bariatric surgery specific. So they take in account that we will have much smaller space to food in and really show us how to eat and maintain our loss. The thing to remember is that the sleeve is a tool. It is not the end all be all. We have to work with the tool for it to be effective. If we are addicted to food or binging it MUST be addressed for you to expect success. After two years you can stretch your sleeve and if your putting bad, high calorie food in and not exercising you should expect to gain weight just like we did before the sleeve. Not to be rude, but I have empathy but little sympathy for people who complain about what the sleeve is not doing but people arent doing what they are suppose to do for the sleeve to work.

My pre op program requires a dieting and exercise piece to it. I am glad it does since you heal better the better shape you are in. I am normally pretty active anyway and I think being in the habit of working out will only help post surgery.

I think you did the best thing by requesting a refund. The doctor didnt have the experience to do the sleeve and tried to impose his will of giving you the lap band. Good for you for knowing and standing up for what you need for you!! I don't know what your financial situation but there are alot patients of Dr. Aceves on this forum and they all seem to be very happy and had great results. The one thing I knew I wanted when I started this journey was a surgeon with experience with the sleeve. I think its vital that I be comfortable with all aspects and thus far I am. Good luck!

I have pcos but I have yet to get sleeved. My surgeon did tell me that its like a magical remission tool for women with PCOS. He advised me to get on birth control within 3 months post op as he has had several women with PCOS get preggers within 3-6 months post op. Check the postings from earlier this month. There was another forum member who was maybe 3 months post op and 6 weeks pregnate. I am not sure if I wnat another child yet, but i am happy that it will most likely be my option. Sending you positive mummy energy:)

Congrats. I have Aetna PPO did you have to satisfy the three month monitored diet program?

I see on here that some people have drains. I ahve not heard abouyt this from my surgeon and I was wondering if everybody needs them or just certain people and why?

Hi Everyone, Ok so i approached my friend and just suggested that we help each other and be each others support system since we both will have simular experiences. I also advised her that I have done my research and my decision is solid. That if for some reason my insurance denied me, I will just pay out of pocket. That is how set on this I am. I shared with her my food diary and actually even disclosed my weight. My partner doesnt even know how much I weigh! I showed her how she can tweek things to work for her and how she could just track this on her phone even. I also showed her my book from my nutritionist who specializes in working with WLS patients. It had a section devoted to RNY. I don't think she had any education before she had her procedure so i thought it would be helpful. Well I think she soaked in all the information I share, but she still came at me negatively. She said people at the bariatric place she had her surgery told her all kind of horror stories about the sleeve. That I should not do this and just give myself a year. So i pulled up my surgeons information and showed her how he has the highesr designation available in this field. i also told her that he has never had a patient have a leak with the sleeve. I explained how I am in fairly good health despite my weight and how I didnt have any co-mobidities and didnt even need any additional testing or anything. I also explained my father and his death at a pre-mature age and how I didnt want that to happen to me. So i feel like I layed my case out but she was just negative. I finally snapped and explained.. look I am having a different procedure and I am not taking any shortcuts. I also am doing my part unlike you. I told her that WLS is not a cure its a tool and she has to do her part. I told her maybe she wouldnt get sick all the time if she catually did not drink while she was eating and just followed the diet somewhat. That she needed to hold herself accountable and stop thinking that the surgery is magic. So I basically told her she needed to step up and stop hating on me because of her experience. She was very upset at first but then she owned some things about her situation. She confessed how her family continues to eat the same stuff and she feels more like an outcast now tha before. I suggested that she let her family know that she needed thier support and that includes cnging the way meals are done. She has a daughter that is big and she can help her avoid getting to the point that she needs the help of WLS. So all in all it was like an up and down roller coaster and I thought we were gonna end up ending our friendship a couple times. However, I think she understands what I was saying and that my offer to be WLS buddies comes from a genuine place. Hopefully things will get better for her, but i wanted to thank everyone for the support and comments. It is appreciated.

I have not thought about it like that. I have been looking this stuff up online for a while and I admit it was the stories on the various forums that really deterred me. I think she would have benifited from doing her research online. I do feel bad for her, but I feel like we have to do our part. I will also be a support system for her. I have learned alot from this forum and I should help her make the best of her choice. HOWEVR, I am so glad I found this FORUM and feel like I have made a very informed decision. Thanks everyone!

Thank you for the reply's. It took my a long time to get to this decision and I am moving forward with it.

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on taking your first step.

Well I passed my Psych evaluation yesterday. I also started the three month diet and exercise program. So Now I wait for three months and then I am scheduled for surgery. I called my friend who had the bypass in late December hoping she would be a good support source and she was totally negative. She has had complications but should be accountable for some of them. First i think she rushed into surgery and decided to have the procedure that she could loose the most weight on. Second, I dont think she told the truth about her medical history as she has had several surgeries from previous accidents and has needed and steroroids. That is why she was big to begin with and she slound not have has the bypass with that history. So now she had the bypass, and then got her gall bladder out and they just told her she needs to have her pouch made larger. She called me begging me to leave my nutrition appoinment and not to get this done saying I dont need it. That her hair is falling out in handfuls and she is so weak all the time and regrets her choice. I was so mad! I feel like if she would drink the water, eat the right foods, exercise, and take her suppliments she would feel differently. She has lost almost 100 pounds and isnt complaining about that! I dont care if she cant eat chipoltle anymore..we shouldnt eat that anyway. I am not doing this to be skinny! Is is not an easy out for me!This is for my lasting health! My dad died at 50 years old. i do not want the same fat and thats my motivation for this. i also hold myself accountable for my failures as well as my successes and I feel like those who don't should not be on here or in the community dissing people who are considering WLS. I care about my friend but she is not helping herself by eating the same crap foods and not drinking water. I advised her she needs to get her vitamins in some how and she just said they are gross and she refused to take them. So i feel like its your choice just like this is mine, just dont discourage me because you arent taking advantage of this...SHHHHHEWW!! That is off my chest now!

Congratulations!! Now take care of yourself and that baby!!

Welcome Leah! I am still fairly new to this forum too and everybody is fantastic. Good luck with your Journey!!

Congrats on your success!!

My surgeons office said Aetna PPO was one of the easiest insurance companies to work with. My PCP doctor is linked with the same hospital and place as the surgeon so they are able to see everything my PCP has done to get me healthy in the past two years. I meet the BMI requirements for the past 2 years, but i am worried about the three month thing. I have been seeing my doctor but we address all issues not just weight. I have proposed many plans but she gives me an alternative and I go with that versus the latest fad dieting. I have been doing this for beyond 3 months but they need to see three months. I guess I can start from the initial day she reffered me and move forward from there. I would like to be sleeved at the end of June. Does it sound like I ma on the right track?

I have not been sleeved yet but from what I have learned is you MUST get your protein in. That is most likely why your hair is falling out. Lack of protein will make your hair thin or brittle, it will make you feel tired and fatigued and if let go will cause medical issues. I would start taking protein and getting more b12. That should stop the loss and it will get better the healthier your body gets. I hope it gets better for you!

Sending you positive energy and wishing you well.

I had my dietician and medical evaluation Friday. The dietician visit was very informative. I learned alot about portion control and how vital learning to not drink when I eat was. Overall he thinks I will be a successful sleever. HE made me feel so good about my decision. He even told me that the Dr. Needleman(my surgeon) has never had a patient get a leak from the sleeve. That is my biggest worry and that fact took away alot of it. I then met DR. Schuster who was fabulous. We went over my history and records in detail. She took the time to answer all my questions, and I had a complete list. At the end of it all she thought I was making a sound choice and was ready. No need for additional test or even blood work.( I have a very thorough family doctor). Basically after I meet the three month diet requirement they will apply for approval. Dr. Schuster advised that my insurance Aetna PPO was very easy to work with for this and assured me approval will not be an issue. So I am moving forward. I have been smiling ear to ear since friday just thinking of a healthier new me. My next step is to complete the three month diet and satrt assembling the items I will need pre and post op. I am gonna do the compression suit. I have seen several sleevers use them and loose more than 200lbs and have really no sagging skin issues. Any thoughts on that from Post Sleevers?

OK I go to my evaluations today! I am nervous a bit. I don't want to be the only big person they say isnt fit for the sleeve. The sleeve is really my only option. I do have serious inflamation issues and sometimes I may have to take a little steroroids to control it. I guess your not able to take those types of meds if you get the bypass. Anyway I am also meeting the dietician. Im looking forward to that. I need someone to tell me with my body and issues what types of food I should be eating. Overall i am happy I am creeping forward. Still not sure if I am gonna do this July or Septemeber but I am sure I am gonna do it if I can!! Wish me luck!!