SKCUNNINGHAM

I would follw up with the company with a formal complaint lettre on the representative that dealt with you. If you don't get the shipment, it will be an easy refund with the credit card company. Just have the details so you can fill out the credit card company's form.

Make sure you drink the recommended amount of liquids. Make sure you are taking all of the recommended vitamins and make sure your vitamins say they are "complete". I would also recommend drinking a gatorade / powerade (try to get a low calorie one) until you feel 100% back to normal. I recently had a bout with intestional flu and got myself back to normal afterwards by drinking that kind of electrolyte drink. I would also encourage you to have regular bloodwork done. I get mine done every 3 months.

Congratulations! I know for a fact those last pounds are the hardest to lose. Great Job! Sharon

You could always tell them you have been having problems with your periods, and your OBGYN wants to do a laparascopic procedure to check things out. Those have to be done at a particular point in your monthly cycle, so it couldn't be moved away from conflicting with your prom.

You have accomplished the first key step to getting back on track - you have recognized the bad habits. Now, make a plan to help yourself not continue those behaviors. I had a problem this past weekend with eating too much popcorn. So, this morning, I threw the rest of the popcorn (a decorative holiday can full of it) in the trash. And, I am going to write down everything I am eating. And, I am going to hang my goal pants where I can see them. Don't beat yourself up for not being perfect. Love yourself for recongnizing what you are doing wrong, and praise yourself for doing the good behaviors. Good Luck.

I made my own broths. (chicken, veggie, or beef) They taste SO MUCH BETTER than the boullion broths, and I could season them as I wished. The meat and veggies I used to make the broth, I used in dishes I prepared for my husband

I like the calcium citrates that are chewy squares - either in chocolate, vanilla or caramel. There are a couple of brands - I get them at Wal Mart or WalGreens. I like the nectar brand of powdered Protein the best. My favorite flavors are Chocolate Truffle, Vanilla Torte, or Fuzzy Navel. I make smoothies with them for Breakfast.

I took Famotadine (Pepcid) morning and evening, and Prilosec in the evening. Now, at 10 months out, I only take Famotadine in the morning, and usually don't take anything in the evening - unless I have had spicy food during the day. I hope you find out what works for you. It should calm down in a few months.

Like M2G, I had gallbladder surgery after having followed the Modifast diet (back in 1987). Anyone who loses a large amount of weight rapidly can have gallbladder issues - so those sleeve patient aren't having gallbladder problems due to the sleeve surgery - it is strictly due to the weight loss. In my case, I had had gallbladder problems for years before I went on Modifast - I just didn't recognize the symptoms. I knew I had bad stomach pains after eating - but I thought it was related to the quantity of food I ate. In fact, it was due to what I was eating, not how much. As Foxbins described, rapid weightloss can cause small stones to be created in the gallbladder. Unlike that, I had a single, large stone. Most people who have gallbladder surgery now have it done with a laparascope, not "open" surgery (like mine was). You will either have it day surgery or stay in the hospital overnight. It is usually not too bad a surgery. I wouldn't worry about it. Talk to your doc about the actigall if you are concerned. Good luck with your sleeve.

The sip sip sip was pretty easy to learn after surgery, because my sleeve forced me to comply. It was the only way I could drink. The not drinking until 30 minutes after you eat was way more difficult for me. I look at the clock (literally) when I finish eating, so I know when I can start drinking fluids again. I don't mind not drinking while I eat (I never really did that before surgery), but would drink right after I ate.

I have just started eating popcorn (after Christmas). It is definately a slider food for me. But, it does taste good, and it doesn't upset my stomach like it used to (bad GERD years ago - popcorn was a big NO).

Maybe that hormone is what "ups" the metabolism so you burn more calories all day, if you exercise in the morning. Lsereno, I am trying to get off these last 10 pounds by 2/22. I am exercising 6 days a week now.

Pasquini - you are outstanding! Congratulations!

When I had my hysterectomy at 33, it made me go into immediate menopause - including the incredible moodiness and horrific night sweats. I was thrilled to go on HRT and am still happy with it. I never worried about the adverse side effects of HRT.

I see by looking at your profile you are young - 31. If you have been heavy for your most of your adult life (the last 10 years) you may be suffering from insecurity based on your rapidly changing body. At 31, you may be used to defining your "self" a lot based on your physical body. If you are insecure, certainly you would not be interested in relationships, much less a sexual relationship. I would recommend you focus on finding out who "you" are, maximizing the wonderful person you are, and falling in love with yourself. Once you are secure and happy with "you", you will find it much easier to relate to other people. Have you ever considered volunteering for an organization you believe in? Go build houses with habitat for humanity, serve meals at a Soup kitchen, volunteer at a food pantry, be a docent at a museum, etc. That is a pretty easy way to ease into being with people, and it will make you feel better. Good Luck, Sharon

I'm 55 and was sleeved last February. I have been on HRT since 1991, a few months after my hysterectomy. I do not have any of the monthly cycles you are describing. Since I am now old enough to have gone through menopause with my one remaining ovary, that is all behind me. I have only the good side effects of being on HRT. Have you talked to your OBGYN? Maybe this is temporary?

I pretty much do the same things that MeginNOLA does. I try to pick lower fat cheese options when I can, but don't drive myself crazy with it. In my opinion, the body needs a little bit of fat to function correctly. I eat a baby bell lite cheese for a Protein snack mid morning or mid afternoon (56 calories, 6 g protein, 3 g fat). I might have cheese with some meat at lunch on a flatbread crisp (sort of an open faced sandwich) or have some cheese in a one-egg omelet. Cheese, cottage cheese and yogurt are the only dairy products I can tolerate. I think it is more important to get your protein in and then worry about the fat than avoid fat to the point that you are not getting in your recommended amount of protein.

I started my day out yesterday with a 20 minute session on my eliptical. This morning I did a Zumba class. Trying to do something physical every day now. Love my sleeve!

If you go tell the person who had the bad reaction that you are going to go have the surgery, and you are telling her this in confidence - no one but she and your boss know - she should keep her mouth shut. If she is in a leadership position, she has to know talking about an employee's private medical business is NOT OK and there are laws against it. Make up a plausible story to tell when you get back from surgery. I told people I was having "plumbing surgery" and that shut people up. Other people have "gallbladder" or "hernia" surgery. Once you are visisbly smaller, tell people you had to change your diet before surgery and have kept it up afterwords, you like the way it makes you feel. No one has to know your business. Good Luck!

I used the EAS chocolate and vanilla, the COSTCO chocolate, and the muscle milk chocolate. I hated the muscle milk vanilla. My go to protein drink though is ISOPURE PLUS, both the punch and the grape flavor. 15 grams of protein in 8 ounces of liquid. I ordered it from Amazon, as I couldn't find it in the stores.

It was not a pleasant feeling, but it didn't hurt. And it is over quickly.

I have a problem-free surgery and recovery. BUT, I didn't sleep through the night for probably 3 months. And now (ten + months out) I still get up once or twice a night to go to the bathroom (I really push fluids). Don't know what disturbed my sleep - thought it was either the anasthesia or having to change the position I slept in from pre surgery to post surgery. But - it is definately worth it - I love my sleeve!

One night. My doc would have kept me a second night - but I wanted to go home to get some rest. The hospital staff was so caring I couldn't get any peace and quiet. I had no kids at home and my husband took care of me once I got home.

Height - 5'4" Weight at start - 253 Weight day of surgery 240 after 3 months - lost 55 pounds (198) after 6 months - lost 84 pounds (169) after 9 months - lost 104 pounds (149) after 10 months - lost 108 pounds (145)

I was not a particularly buxom woman prior to WLS (barely a D) and now I am somewhere in the B+/C- range. My butt is as flat as a pancake - but even 100 pounds ago it was not anywhere in Beyonce or JLo's family. My shape is basically the same as it was before, only smaller. I gained weight all over my body and I lost it the same way.