italianlady13

My doctor told me never never to drink....I have heard people getting into cross over addictions as well as gaining a whole heck of a lot of weight because they get a "buzz" and it goes away quickly because it slides through so to acheive and keep the buzz you have to drink more than you normally would and that means empty calories....

my doctor gave me no instructions other than Protein first and lots of Water. I have read other people have other goals like 30 grams of carbs although some nuts tell them over 100 grams of carbs so I do a happy medium and try not to go over 60 grams of carbs. I have a very hard time getting my protein in because it is so dense and I get full really quickly when eating protein....I get plenty of liquids. I love sugar free koolaid and cannot tolerate crystal lite....also my doc told me excercise excercise excercise. I walk about 6 miles a day (3 in the morning and 3 at night to keep the metabolism steady)

Sweet back to my skinny caps! THANK GOD!!! Great news!

yes crystal clear...

I read that for gastric bypass patients it stretches their pouch. Is that the same for us? Will we stretch our sleeve???? Oh gosh I hope not, that's why I was curiuos about the hunger...

I have been drinking coffee and other beverages with caffeine like a champ. i have been drinking alot of iced tea(no sugar) and a coffee a day (skinny cap nescafe)....now I'm watching youtube success videos and have come across a video from a doctor saying that caffeine will stretch the sleeve.....is this true? I'm four months out and am noticing ALOT of hunger and I can put it together with my consumption of coffee and iced tea.....I never never had issues with hunger until about a week ago when I began having a cup of coffee a day. Before when I drank coffee it would supress my appetite but now it seems to be waking it up. I'm not sure if this is because of the acid in the coffee making me have more acid in my tummy or what but if anyone can give me their two cents I would appreciate it sooooo much! Should I stop drinking coffee? Tea?

By definition a procedure is considered successful in the patient achieves 50% EWL. But If you want to consider 61% a failure then the sleeve should also be considered a failure based on this information from www.sleeveguide.com

A multicenter  study of 163 patients that Dr. Michel Gagner participated in showed the average patient lost 48.97% of their excess weight in 6 months; 59.45% at 1 year (120 patients); 62.02% at 18 months, and 61.52% at 2 years (98 patients). Other studies have shown similar weight loss, with most patients losing the bulk of their weight within the first 6 months--and keeping off roughly 60% of the weight long-term. This is corrorborated by the 5 year results of the Magenstrasse & Mill operation.

In addition 5-9 year follow-up studies have found EWL rates of between 53% and 68% for the sleeves.

The article that you cited also reported that there were no major complications, no weight regain seen in the patients two years out, and that plication had the lowest rate of early complication of all WLS.

I am choosing to undergo this procedure because initial results show that this will be an effective procedure, Also there was a time when preforming the sleeve as a primary procedure was considered experimental, if it weren't for patients like me willing to take a risk the sleeve would still be limited to patients who eventually needed to have the Duodenal Switch. And finally, I am fortunate in that the banded plication is covered by my insurance unlike the sleeve because of my BMI being under 50. I don't think the banded plication is the right procedure for everyone but I think that it shows promise and I would encourage people to consider it as one of their options. If it weren't for banded plication I would either be having the band alone (and based on the reaction of my original surgeon and from what I have read on these boards I would have maybe a 50/50 shot of being successful) or no surgery at all (I did not want to have the bypass, I was not 100% comfortable with the sleeve and when I found out it was not covered it was definitely out)

It's your body shelly...do whatever you think is right. *shrugs* I don't have to live with it and I LOVE my sleeve. THAT is all that matters to me. Please argue with someone else this argument is tiresome and not necessary

I come in peace......please don't attack me:)

http://gastricplication.org/2010/10/3-year-gastric-plication-report/ I consider 61 percent after 24 months a failure. If I'm going to spend the amount of money it costs to do this along with the surgery and recovery time I'm going to do it right the first time. Also, the complications that go along with Plication are much more than that of the sleeve. It's still very experimental compared to the sleeve. I'm not trying to discourage anyone from anything, however I will speak from my own experience. Further, this is a forum where people are entitled to their opinions otherwise there would not be a forum for postings.... nor people posting questions. I believe strongly in the sleeve because it has worked and continues to work for me. It saved my life and I always always tell people about it and encourage them to do whatever it takes to make themselves healthy again, however when I know that people have suffered with other WLS like band, plication and so forth I will tell them about that as well so that they make an educated and well informed decision about something as serious as weighloss surgery.

Further more....why would you do a surgery that has "limited results". That's a huge gamble to make with your body when you could do something that, while still experimental, has more than limited results....

My sleeve loves: hamburger, steak, sunflower seeds (from three weeks out these have become my addiction), shrimp, salad, crackers (especially gold fish crackers which I now no longer buy), Soup, cheese, rice, sugar free koolaid, fish, chili, fat free fudgesicles, eggs, sugar free Jello, sugar free pudding...

My sleeve tolerates everything else but the above are my go to's

I had my surgery done overseas as well, in Dubai and my doctor was excellent as well. I'm so glad I had it done with him and I can say he was no where cheaper than any doctors in US or Canada....I would never ever, having done my do diligence, do the plication surgery as it has a very high failure rate and especially since it was done in Mexico where you have no rights as a patient. However not all of the doctors are bad it just depends on how much research you do and how much you know about the doctor who's doing it. My surgeon told me directly "no band no plication" and he performs both surgeries. I was very impressed when he told me no plication because the plication was more expensive than the sleeve, he could have very easily made more money on me but was honest enough to tell me "GO HOME AND RESEARCH" come back to me in two weeks and tell me what you want to do. Of course I chose to do the sleeve and am so happy he guided me in the correct direction. Dr AbdulSalam Al Taie was awesome and I am indebted to him:D

So sorry your surgery was no successful, when you get the sleeve it will work out much better for you...I'm 100% sure of this.

And just one note on socialized medicine...I live in Canada, however, I'm an american citizen and lived in the US for the majority of my life and have had a taste of both types of health care. I honestly say I have never seen someone in canada go bankcrupt because of medical bills and I thank God every day for the medical care my elderly mother receives....my mom just had a stay in the hospital. While there she recieved daily sponge baths, bedding changes, meals made to order and a very clean room, with nurses catering to her every whim. I have NEVER recieved that kind of care in the USA. Don't knock socialized medicine untl you have recieved it, it's not all bad as the propaganda media presents it.

wowow hot mamma! YOu are looking very spicy! Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oki. I am also a person who has dealt with Hair loss. I went to my derm to know what was going on they gave me mesotherepy (which helped to regrow new hair but it all fell out later) I too a losing my hair with the surgery but not as bad as I thought. My derm told me that they sell a hair spray with a colour to match your hair colour. You spray it on and it blends in the scalp with the rest of your hair...depending on how much hair you have lost....also I keep my hair back and use a hairpiece pony tail and gather my hair in a bun then hide it with a headband...if you look at my pics you an see it, it doesn't make the baldness so apparent....those are some of my tricks

I agree with getting your levels checked...it can also be a sign of pica which occurs when nutrients are low....like people who eat dirt, poop etc etc etc

I think you should stop trying to convince your husband and do it. Later, when he sees how it has helped you he will understand. Sometimes we have to make decisions that best effect our lives. I know he's your husband and he is a huge part of your life, the most important part, however if you die he won't be your husband anymore and if you continue to be obese you will most certainly die. He is just scared that you will harm yourself, maybe possibly die from the surgery and is not taking into account the fact that you are doing more harm being obese.

As for pcos. I would like to tell you that I too have pcos. Since my surgery, I have lost 60 pounds (in four months) and my periods are now NORMAL. I could have never in a million years lost the weight that I have with pcos. We know that whatever carb we eat turns right into sugar and gets applied to our tummy and considering that most everything has some carbs of some sort we know that it will be inevitable that you will continue to gain weight and feel terrible!!!

You are so pretty!

I definitely felt descriminated against. Even within my own family. When I gained weight my uncle always spoke to me as if I were stupid or weak but when I'm slim he speaks to me with admiration. I notice he does this alot with his own wife who when she is slender "is so intelligent she could join mensa society" however now that she has gained weight (due to ill health) he refers to her as "mamma cass" it's not just at work its all around and i indeed felt it then and I notice it's absent now which is sad sad sad!

I think that if you have the motivation to do the surgery then whether you fail or succeed will all depend on your mind set. It is very very difficult to fail when you do vsg. You WILL not be able to overeat without vomiting, however if you eat constantly all day long and do not follow the guidlines your doctor sets up for you then you may indeed fail. However if you make up your mind that you will do well and you will not fail and tell yourself that you will do it you will do it you will do it then you will do it. You already have the strongest tool, your mind now get that additional tool, the sleeve, to help you along the way.....

My goal is 125 and I'm 5'4. I think that your struggles are both psychological AND physiological. Maybe it would be a good idea to see a nutritionist who is well versed with bariatric patients and then to also see a therapist who specializes in eating disorders. I'm sorry to hear you are "breaking up" with your therapist however there are many many therapists out there who can help you set reasonable goals for yourself. If you get down to 125 on a 5'10 frame that will put you at 17 and some change BMI this is underweight and perhaps not a healthy goal. Also do you think it's possible that with the band your body just got so used to vomiting that perhaps in your head you thing this is a normal eating pattern? this is worth exploring with a mental health professional as well. I really would like to discourage you from stopping your therapy. My therapist has been a GOD SEND...and I advocate professional help any chance I can get......sorry if this sounded harsh but some of your comments about goals and weight waved red flags for me as I am a recovering food addict and had some issues with anorexia in high school....

I tried to do all that Protein junk when I was first out but I found that I did best with liquids and clear broth. I was allowed strained creamy Soups, but I noticed that I felt so much better just taking in broth. You can worry about your protein after 2 or so weeks....that's when you are really supposed to be getting in the 60 grams of protein. I never could tolerate it and get my protein from whatever I eat. The protein makes me gag....

I personally prefer sugar free cool aid packets.....over crystal light

You will feel this way for a very short time and then once you are rested and have allowed yourself some time to heal you will be just fine. Then you will look back on this and say "oh I'm so glad I got over that because this is the best thing I have ever done for myself". I had this same feeling for two days after my surgery and then I just made sure I did not lay around and let the gas collect. I went about business as usual and I felt great in about three weeks. The dizziness was the worst part for me....

CONGRATS!!!! Excellent accomplishment!

Regret 1: I didn't do it sooner, just like everyone else. I suffered alot when I was fat and I just keep thinking about how futile all of that suffering was. Feeling bad about myself, hating myself if I ate something "bad", feeling like an idiot because I would try and just couldn't lose the weight, feeling ilke I had no will power at all....but then I had my surgery and when my hunger went my will power came. I literally feel very little hunger and when I do it's not like it used to be (like my stomach telling me to eat an elephant, gurgle gurgle). I look at myself in the mirror now and feel happy so when I make choices about what i'm going to eat I say to myself "now do you really want that?" Not to say that I don't cheat now and then and eat what I have a taste for, I do which is the beauty of the sleeve, I just eat a whole hell of alot less of it than what I had in the past. I can eat just about anything and never feel like I'm on a diet....

Im a teacher and I took three weeks off but am really glad that I came home and took some time for myself the past 3 months....really great and I'm really ready to go back now

YAYYYY Go you! Keep up the good work! I'm 3 months out as well. We are sleeve sibs!