Lissa

I'm lost at the "upper portion of my stomach" comment. Our sleeves are shaped more like a banana than anything else. Are you not able to swallow, so liquids and foods are sitting in your throat/esophagus? If that is the case, are you having slimies? If you are, you'll definitely know. I didn't have surgery complications, but I did/do have some difficulty swallowing. It happens when I either drink/eat too fast, or when I'm already full and try to put more into my sleeve. Are you taking an acid reducer? That might help with the heartburn and burping. But, burping is how I know that I'm full. I will be going right along, enjoying my meal and I'll have the urge to burp, or it will actually slip out. I immediately put my fork down and get rid of anything that's in my mouth, because it's not going to fit into my sleeve. I'm assuming you're on solid foods since you are six weeks post-op. Are you chewing well enough? I still have to chew everything to applesauce consistency or it isn't comfortable once it hits my tummy. Also, if I don't chew very well, I can't eat as much, maybe 1 oz of meat versus 3 or 4 oz of meat. Since my goal is to get my Protein, I chew and chew and chew. I see that you have an appt with your doc to have this issue addressed, which is good. Hopefully, he'll tell you it's something very simple that does not require any follow up. Personally, I'm wondering if you are having some swelling there since you're still pretty early in recovery. I hope it's minor and it's all cleared up very soon. So, in short, take your acid reducer and chew very well when you eat solids. Maybe switch to easier liquids for a little while. Good luck!

Welcome, Jessica!! Settle in, get a glass of water and start reading! I'm betting that if you can come up with the question, someone has answered it, or WILL answer it fairly quickly.

Ophelia, Surgery or not, you will have to face your food demons sometime. I am seeing a therapist to help me work through some issues because it was recommended in my psyche evaluation and because I want to maximize my benefits from this surgery. So far, I've realized that it IS possible for me to deal with heavy emotions without resorting to food. I used to literally eat my problems away, but, just like an alcoholic, those problems were still waiting after I indulged. Now I'm learning to speak up when I'm upset, and to realize when I'm upset with someone, rather than eating something to shut myself up. Whether you go forward with the sleeve or not, it's a good thing to deal with the food issues. I agree that most obese people do not have a healthy relationship with food. That's not our fault, but we are the ones who have to do the work to put food back in it's proper place in our lives.''\ I'm finding it very interesting that for me food is no longer divided into "good" or "bad". Now it either IS or IS NOT Protein. if I want something, I decide whether to eat it based on whether I have reached my protein and Water goals for the day. I eat what I want, but I concentrate on the protein first, usually. Just like every other human being, I have days where I don't meet my goals, but I am changing my way of living, not "dieting". That's the freedom I get from being sleeved. It lets me eat to live without the distractions of constant hunger. I no longer live to eat. Oh, and dealing with problems now? I go walk somewhere, or I get on the treadmill, or I do my version of weighlifting. Once I've done some kind of physical activity, if I'm still upset, THEN I address the person who has upset me. So I'm also building my conflict resolution skills while I'm getting healthier. It's a win win for me! Good luck with your journey!!

You canceled your surgery because a RELATIVE told you that it wasn't good to do the sleeve with polyps in your stomach? Really? You should ask your doctor about that, not your relatives. Good luck with your journey!!

My observation is that, initially anyway, those who have higher BMIs lose faster. Once they are down into the lower ranges (Say 230 and down) the weight loss seems to slow down and it becomes more an issue of what kind of diet/exercise program someone is following. I think that is because our bodies need fewer calories once we get to those ranges and that is usually when we are getting to a point where we slack off on the strict diet/exercise programs. I'm working on exercise now so I will, I hope, be capable of doing the extra exercise required to get to goal and keep me on track at that point. I'm 45, if that makes any difference.

Does your doc have an after-hours number? I recently had a round of diarrhea and the nurse was very concerned about it. She wanted me to call if it lasted more than one day because it's very easy for us to get dehydrated after the sleeve. She did NOT want me to take any anti-diarrhea medicine. Thankfully it cleared up after I ate some cheese, okay a bunch of cheese. She also suggested bananas

check out the blog "the world according to egg face". Her name is Schelly and she has TONS of muffin type recipes that are carb-free and yummy. I adore her ricotta bake. It tastes just like lasagna without the noodles!

Wow! I know he didn't mean that the way it came out, because you are pretty already!! Awkward comments come along with telling people. Just try to remember that most people say it from concern FOR you rather than something AGAINST you. I've posted before about my friend's sister in law who had WLS and is not compliant with her diet, Water, or exercise regime. She has lost her weight, but at a tremendous cost to her long term health. The sister in law is actually my inspiration for working my sleeve correctly. When I first mentioned WLS to the friend, she was horrified and made comments about it being a lot of work and not a magic wand. At first I was somewhat offended, but I finally asked her what she meant by that comment. Once I knew where she was coming from, the sting went out of her words. Maybe we are so over-sensitive from our years of dealing with negativity surrounding our weight that it's difficult for us to see that people do mean things in a positive manner. We're just not used to assuming the best of those comments. That's my thought process anyway.

I bought a bottle of Neutrogena Body Oil right after surgery. I take my shower in the morning, then slather the body oil on from the neck down, without towelling dry first. I let that air dry while I'm doing my hair before I get dressed. I use a facial moisturizer with SPF 15 (living in Fl, it's required). I'm seeing improvement even in my decades old stretch marks from doing this. My heritage is American Indian, so my family normally has oily skin, but you couldn't tell looking at me right now. I'm trying to be careful about what I use to wash my skin. I use moisturizing liquid soap for my body and shampoo for my face. My granny swore by shampoo for her face, then noxema and she died with very few wrinkles at 84. My mom followed the same routine and didn't look anywhere close to 56 when she passed away. Staying hydrated with plenty of Water helps as well, I've found. I have a tendency to have puffy under eye circles and water seems to help keep them under control. Good luck with your journey!!

I started out wanting the lap band as well, but changed my mind after my seminar with my surgeon. I did go to a doctor before that (Straxx Rejuvenation, Dr Michael Choi), who told me he would do a band on me, no questions asked. I felt like a piece of meat there, and decided to talk to another surgeon. Dr. Domkowski, whose seminar I attended, made a statement at the seminar that still rings in my mind. He said that the band was good for people whose problem is "just" that they overeat. He said the sleeve was better for folks whose main problem is being addicted to sweets, which is me. I immediately switched to researching the sleeve instead of the band. I had been reading the lap band boards for a while, and I went looking for something similar for VSG, and here I am. After reading everything I could find at both places, it reinforced my decision to have VSG. When I went for my initial consult, the surgeon went over the paperwork I had filled out for him (22 pages!) and we decided together that the VSG is/was the best option for me. At nearly 61 pounds gone this morning, I'm still convinced we made the right choice for me!

It's normal to have some fear pre-op. I know I did, but you need to weigh the risks for you. Weighing 300 pounds is taking away your quality of life, and it 100% poses HUGE risks for your health. There's a 1 in 1000 chance of major complications with this surgery, IIRC. You need to weigh one against the other and decide what you want to do. I'd rather have some loose skin, that I can have removed if I wish, versus carrying 170 extra pounds that I can't have removed. Good luck with your journey!!

Waiting a few extra days isn't so bad. I had surgery before to install a filter because of blood clots, then surgery after my VSG to remove the filter. I was a little ticked that my doc required the filter thing until the tech told me after the removal that the filter had caught not one, but two, clots! Those clots could have killed me or left me a paralyzed vegetable. I appreciated Doctor D's caution after that! So, be happy that your surgeon is being proactive and moving your surgery to a hospital that is better able to care for you if something did happen. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! We'll still save you a nice warm spot on the loser's bench!

My fibroids bother me now when they never have before. My surgeon says it's because they don't have the fat layer to protect them like before!

I'm loving Teeth by Lady Gaga these days!

Kayla, Congrats and it sounds like you are really working that sleeve!!!!

I went back to work on the 8th day after surgery. Doc pulled my drain at 11am and I was doing my thing by 1 pm.

Great job!!

jasleeve said: i realized after reading others stories that people who have drains have more pain and more trouble. i hear the drain is very painful so that may be why you had that issue. my surgeon doesnt use drains so i pray that i have a good experience. good luck to you on your journey & keep us posted! I had a drain for 8 days post-op. I definitely did not have lots of pain and problems. Just to give a different perspective for you all.

You've got my prayers. Hope they do some good! Good luck with your journey!!

I'll be thrilled when I get to the 100's again. I have a long way to go, but I WILL get there. BTW, Diva, did you notice that I stole your miles idea? I'm going to add up all my miles and figure out how far I've walked/ridden when I get done with each month. Maybe I'll make it all the way to California on my treadmill and bike!

Thanks, everyone! I'm so thrilled that I did this for ME!! It's great to know that the loss will only continue so long as I follow my plan.

SK, I just used your chart and it says that I am a large frame, at 5'8", I should weight between 146-167. So my goal weight is pretty much in line with that at 170.

I picked what I weighed when I graduated high school and before I got preggo with son #1. A former co-worker told me that I looked really good when I weighed 170, so that's my number.

My doctor's office has a sign near the check-in window about FMLA paperwork, so I imagine they would sign it.

Yeee Hawww!!! Since you're Southern like me you'll know what that means! I'm thrilled for you and I agree that LB's prices are out of this world! 68 bucks for a freaking shirt! You did great!! Oh, and enjoy that chocolate bar!