lyndynojo

I have had a million happiest post op moments. I have to say probably the most memorable was when a guy I have known for years, very conservative, very polite, professional type relationship says to me "holy ****, you are HOT!" On days when I feel low, I remember that moment and smile...lol.. I have come along way from the 300+ pound woman who hated to be seen by others.
So, early on, your tummy sensations are not mature. I don't have time to type a novel about this, but bottom line, don't believe the bull that you are somehow not going to be as successful since you are a revision. The REASON for that is bandsters have learned how to cheat... lets me honest... that band trained us to go for sliders etc. If you take that lesson "how i failed at weight loss surgery without really trying" and be determined to learn from it and have a different experience this time - there is no reason you can't rock the sleeve and have awesome results.
I beat the odds - started at 50+ BMI, was banded for 10 years with crappy results... and here I am now... at goal and feeling great. You too can do this and it doesn't matter if the weight comes off fast or slow... steady and smart choices wins at this race.

I hate to see things like this because it makes me angry and sad. If your eating 1000 a day sweetheart your still eating half of what normal people (people without gastrectomies) are. It's nothing to beat yourself up about. Remember that we all are different and have different mentalies so therefore we all do things differently. I personally feel as though if someone is only getting 500 cals a day then something is wrong. Much success to darling

I agree 100% carbonation has NOT stretched my sleeve and I am 20 months post-op. I drink 2-3 20oz sparkling waters like La Croix everyday.. I have good restriction and have maintained my weight with in 5 pounds. I think whatever works for you is good. Give the concoction a try! :-)

I started taking regular ol pills on day 2. Not sure why you have to crush anything.

Amen to Gman and Rycherchick! It's called growth and evolving......my mother always told me everybody is not going to be your friend, no truer words have ever been uttered. My friends and family have all been supportive no matter what size. My work colleagues have been amazing. For me the physical size of my friends and their support does not even fit into the equation.

Going for an interview and Dave was like we can't afford new fat boy clothes and I was like true so we only bought some new pants cause the ones I use to wear were HUGE like elephant huge which costs tons more cause 3 little Chinese kids have to sew them together instead of just one. So I bought a semi less huge pair for 60 and Dave was like you can try and fit into my shirts. That skinny b***h told me that and I was like me in a two x hell no. And we debated so I put the damn shirt on to prove he's an idiot and damn it the shirt fit! So now I'm the idiot lol sometimes being wrong is a good thing!!! So that's me wearing a two x shirt.

What I don't understand about this thread is why both sides of the debate get so sensitive about it.
Some of the people who are open about it, get so judgmental about those who aren't. If you can be open about it, then be blessed that you have a support system that allows this...or you have reached a point in your life where you don't care what anyone else thinks.
On the other hand, if you have made the decision to not tell anyone, then stop being so defensive. Who care what anyone says or thinks about you deciding to keep it private. No one walks in your shoes.
I personally am very open with anyone who asks me. I am not offended when people notice my weight loss and ask me how I am doing it! It makes me feel great, and I want to share it with them. I had a friend who lied - out right lied - about what she is doing to lose weight after she had the sleeve. It wasn't because she doesn't want to tell anyone, it is because she is using her weight loss to make money! That anyway you look at it...is so wrong. I am blessed with a great support system all the way around me. If the people in my life weren't supportive.,,I would be all about moving on without them.
So stope being judgmental, defensive, angry...life is so short. Choose to care about relevance.

I agree 100% I tell everyone that asks and most people do.... By the way a few people are having VSG bc of me! So it's worth telling!
Love the long re-post about telling some that you are on a high Protein diet which is true... I'm an open book but I do get that some people aren't and that's ok too

I really don't understand why these threads continually turn into fights and personal attacks.
I think it is fine to state your opinion and the reason you feel that way, but I am finding this site is turning into a school yard of bullying and name calling.
Things get taken out of context, the barbs go flying and we are off on another 100+ post thread that has little to do with the original subject matter.

I personally just get lost in all of the posts and tired of the same questions. Then there is the drama on how people respond to one another (really they send you hate mail in PMs? what the.....?). Additionally, there are certain hijackers that would always take over a thread. Those things just made me come to the general conclusion... I'd rather spend my time elsewhere.
On the positive side, another contributing factor is that I get support through my weekly meetings that I am fortunate to have here in the DFW area.
But I still come here infrequently....

I think they get tired of the same o same o.

Just to clarify, I think the reason WifeyMaterial worded her question this way is because VSG patients don't have a "pouch". That is terminology that is used for Gastric Bypass patients, primarily.
A pouch is when a smaller portion of stomach is formed from the existing stomach and the existing stomach is left in the body. A "pouch" or smaller pocket-sized stomach is created, but no stomach organ is surgically removed from the body.
VSG patients actually have approx. 80% (+/- 5%) of their stomach surgically removed. There is no "pouch". The stomach is reshaped into a long narrow shape (like a banana) and then stapled and resewn.
While you CAN damage your stomach (especially in the early post-op days), it would take considerable force and generally speaking, that force would usually come from INSIDE the stomach, by overeating which strains the staples and/or sutures. A leak is life-threatening and any symptoms such unexplained consistent fever greater than 100.5 degrees farenheight, pain: left upper torso shoulder/back, left ribcage, tachycardia (fast heart rate) also increased abdominal pain, shortness of breath, sweating, chills, general malaise could be indications of leak. Make sure you are investigated immediately if you have any of these symptoms (especially if you have more than 1 concurrently).
In terms of lifting objects, bending, etc. It is important that you give your abdominal wall time to heal and not strain your abdominal muscles. Even though you most likely had a laparoscopic procedure (you don't specify), you still had incisions (as many as 8 or 9!) through the muscle layers of your abdominal wall that are now trying to heal. There are absorbable sutures in there keeping things together, but excess bending, straining and lifting will tax those sutures and they could burst, causing problems.
So take it easy! Don't lift anything (your surgeon will have given you guidelines for weight and how long you have to be careful). Coughing should be fine (especially if stabilized by a pillow), unless you have very serious prolonged coughing. Most precautions you've been given are more aimed at preventing pain and increasing the speed of your healing time. If you follow your instructions, there is VERY little chance you can damage your new stomach or abdominal wall!
Just keep moving (walk as much as you can) and sipping (in small sips, but throughout the day). You'll feel a bit better every day and in a couple of weeks you'll be in great shape!

I think it would take a long time. It took me a year to regain 10 lbs and that was eating lots of sweets and just crap. Before sleeve I would have gained 40-50 back in that time frame. I learned my lesson though, I've lost 11 lbs this month and am going to lose an extra 15 just for insurance. lol

I started at a very high BMI - over 50
My surgeon and NUT refused to set a goal for me. They told me that too often they have seen people lose MASSIVE weight but because it wasn't some number on a scale, feel bad, get discouraged which can lead to the whole regain cycle. Started my preop at 308#, my highest weight was 332 - big girl here.
Anyway, I shared my initial goal of getting under 200# - they felt that was very do-able.
When I shared my ultimate goal of getting under 158# - they were worried about me...lol
I took their feedback to heart and in truth, I almost stopped losing when I was in the 190s. I thought long and hard about the challenges of maintenance and the risk of regain. I appreciated what they were saying - weighing under 200# is just a crapload better then weighing over 300# so count blessings and don't freaking let it get you down!!! I would rather weigh 190-200 and maintain it then get down to some other number and start the cycle over again... regain and feel bad.
for those of you that aren't quite at some magical number, consider that maybe it is "okay" for your own mental health. You already know you have extended your life by reducing your obesity so much.
Anyway, after a few months of "resting" and having very slow losses I decided to "go for it" and have made it to the 150s 14 months post op. This morning i weighed 155, not a light number but very close to a normal BMI. The thing of it is, I look a good healthy size, i have a big frame and I can't help but notice that I look a little older as I get even thinner. I think I like looking healthy and younger over skinny and older - I didn't know how freaking vain I am ...LOL
So, I am saying all this because while I understand acheiving goal weight is very personal, and not a decision someone else can make for you - I encourage ALL OF US to not let some damn chart or a number on a scale drive how we feel about ourselves. Sometimes I feel huge around the very petite Asian women I know and then I just have to tell myself that I am living my own life, not theirs. I like how I look, it is appropriate for the body God gave me and I need to not worry about other people's dang business!!!!
One of the reasons I am having the lower body lift and boob job is because that massive skin makes me feel obese even when I am not.
Coop, if you declared yourself victorious, everybody would see it that way too. Honestly, I don't think people over look your posts because of what a number on a scale says... seriously... we judge ourselves much more harshly then anyone else would even consider doing. and if anyone else does - well they can take a flying leap - tell em I said that!

I really do not know if this includes me or not. I am VERY imperfect. But I also am aware of some of the so called "common sense" recommendations and practices. If people complain or fuss about something, but it is a direct result of a contradiction to what they would likely know was not appropriate, then what do you say?
I have a glass of wine, I eat a piece of chocolate, I have bread sometimes, I eat out a lot, sometimes I snack on crackers, or sometimes I eat fruit when I know I should eat Protein first. Neither I nor anyone else is going straight to hell for any of this. But if you elect to indulge in things that slow your weight loss or cause you discomfort, then ask for advice or input, then you can expect responses relating to that.
Support does not mean a blanket endorsement for anything and everything. That would be enabling. The line between enabling and support may be different depending on your perspective.
I do hope that I never judge anyone because I don't need advice when I elect to do something that I know is contrary to what I "should" be doing. When I read about someone posting a question or stating their feedback on what they know is a poor choice and I make a direct statement, it never meant to be directed at a person, it is about the choice and what might have been a better choice.
So again...I really don't know where my perspective falls. Within my own mind I don't feel controversial or judgemental, but others may perceive it to be so.

Hi everyone!
I had a nutritionist appointment last Thursday where she told me to increase my overall caloric intake and especially my carbs. I was one of those die hards staying between 20-50 carbs a day. She told me to not worry about it. To add fruits and veggies and some whole grains, too. She also told me to get my Protein but don't obsess over it. She claims I am healed and dont' need 100g protein a day... for such a shortie like me 50-60 is perfect she said. So happy to rid of those nasty protein shakes!
Well, since doing this for four days, I'm happy to report I think she was right! I have dropped 3 pounds since Thursday...in the 170s woop woop!!! This could be a coincidence as I typically do lose in a stair-step fashion, but I don't think so.
It's been fun to add in some blueberries and raspberries and peppers, onions, broccoli. Funny how I've been missing this healthy food more than chips and Cookies (don't get me wrong...some days I crave these too!).
Anyway, thought I'd follow up from my Thursday post to let y'all know upping my cals and carbs helped. The lesson I learned, however, is to add variety to my diet and not obsess. This is a lifetime process, and it's crucial for me to develop a healthy, normal relationship with food now. I've spent so many years dealing with disordered eating, and I'm ready for food to just be food...nothing more or less.
Courtney

I also felt very weak until I could start eating some real food. I dont know what your plan calls for but maybe some chicken broth or beef broth would help. sorry I just saw your post about broths. I also did sugar free popcicles, no sugar added fudgcicles and regular Jello ( i hate sugar free jello and I don't think it hurts at first just to help you keep something down.) I also used my snow cone shaver and make shaved ice with lemon juice and a little salt on it.

You're misunderstanding. Fed Ex may have an employer-sponsored health plan as many large companies do, but legally they cannot administer the plan themselves. They contract with a company to do that, and that entity is the one that is subject to HIPAA regulations. I have worked in the medical communications field for 20 years and have been covering these issues for physicians and health plans for over a decade--so this is based on professional experience in this area as well as the clarification from my attorney friend who specializes in this area. I'm not trying to get into an argument about it, I just want people to have the correct information, because if someone did want to submit a complaint, it wouldn't do any good to file a HIPAA complaint against a company that isn't a covered entity. I'm sure there are other ways to let concerns be known, though. I feel badly this happened to the OP.

I like the vet board bc, as stated above, life is totally different for vets than it is for newbies.
Personally, I think a vet should be at least a year out. The majority of the weight has been lost by this time and things are not "new" anymore. At this point, for me at least, is when things were finally becoming normal for me. I was starting to really live my life and not worry so much about what I ate, how much I ate and how I felt when I ate it. I had that under control and could really start living!
I don't post a lot on VSG, I don't even know how many posts I have made, I just don't pay attention to that. I do come on and read posts almost every day. Like other vets have said all of the newbie questions have been asked over and over again and sometimes I don't feel like responding to them so I don't. This isn't a bash towards the newbies. I was there once and was so thankful to be able to ask those same questions and to be able to find answers.
One thing I was thinking about the other day when I noticed a newbie had posted in the vet board is that I think bc the new posts automatically come up on the right hand side that some people just answer and don't even know what group that post was posted in. I know that I have done that plenty of times. The right hand side new posts is what I look at first when I log on.
So I guess I am trying to say that I like having a vet board. It might be nice to have a closed board. Maybe that would make it easier on the ops bc there are so many peopel on this site it has to be incredibly hard to moderate this site plus make sure every single post is from a vet. Especially lately with all of the craziness that has taken place on VSG.
Sarah

back to topic now, to me a veteran is someone who has lost his/her excess weight and has been a member on vst for a period of time. I definately don't want to get advice from a newbie when I have lost my weight and am in maintenance. A 100 post does not qualify anyone to be a veteran. It's the person's experience with the sleeve and where they are. I do get frustrated if I'm on the veteran's post here and a newbie wants info. I'm more interested in information from a veteran because they have the experience of it. I don't care if newbies read the posts here, but please don't ask questions that should be asked under question post op. So what is a veteran and who makes the definitions of a veteran?

Um, well for one thing, a slower HR is a good thing. Your recent HR is normal. Your other one tachycardic- too fast. Your heart is healthier- not lazy.
-Kendra

Hi everyone. It's been a long time since I've dropped by, but I just want to give an up date and a word of encouragement. I had my one year post-op yesterday. It was a bit late (2/14/12 surgery), but anywho. I was down #160 (335-175), twenty dress sizes (28-8) and over 252 inches. If I can do this, anyone can. I had my toes in the grave. I was on 21 meds and the doc told me I would die that way...whether I lost weight or not. Because of my problems he (my PCP) didn't think I would lost a huge amount (50-60#), but he encouraged me to have it do so I could 'feel a little better about myself.' Well, I'm glad to say I proved him wrong. I did lose weight and a lot of it. I also lost all of the meds and the cane/walker/wheelchair. I am a WALKING miracle. I give praise to God for my healing. Now because I was instantly miraculously healed, but because he allowed me to find the path and the means (insurance) to get what I needed to be healed. I do believe God instantly heals somethings in some people, but I also believe he uses the hand of good physicians to administer healing. This is the way he chose to give me mine. I encourage anyone that has had a long, unyielding struggle with obesity to talk to a doctor about WLS... Sleeve in particular. If you are on the edge trying to make up your mind, take my advice. Do it! You are sick? In pain? Lonely? Depressed? What are you holding on to! You have nothing to lose, but all of that. Are there risks? Yes. Is it hard? Yes. But come on. We all know the fat has a 100% chance of causing complication/death. Is it really that much of a gamble to take a 1% chance with a surgery. You're more likely to get killed in a car wreck on the way to get your next fast food burger. Do yourself and your family/friends a favor and choose life. I did and I would do it again and again.

Before surgery (28, 335#) and on my 1 year Surgiversary (8/10, 178#)

At my 1 year post op (8, 175#) holding my old size 28 skirt.

Side view. Now a size 8.
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