Lissa

Calitrells, I don't think the WLS procedure is really a factor in how much skin we'll have left. I think it depends a lot on genetics, age, condition of the skin prior to WLS, and how fast you lose. You sound like you'll be one of the lucky ones with little loose skin. It seems that women of color fare better in this department than women who have pale white skin. (Sorry, Tiffykins, I stole your line!) I'm praying that the Native American bloodlines in me help with my skin elasticity. I'm halfway to my goal and have some loose skin on my upper arms, although my tummy is showing some improvement. I do have horrible stretch marks and I already had an "apron", so I may not be lucky in that department. If you check on You Tube, several people have posted their WLS journeys and a few of them have been brave enough to show how much loose skin they have. It might help you better estimate what your skin might look like after losing your weight. Good luck!!

I saw one on FB the other day that was hilarious. It said "If we are what we eat, then why don't I recall eating a sexy beast this morning?"

You really need to be trying to get in the Water. Protein can wait, but lack of water will put you back in the hospital QUICK! Dehydration can also impede healting of your sleeve. Try to get up to the 64 oz goal for water, although it will probably be a few days before you can hit that goal. Work on the protein along with the water...and Protein shakes CAN be counted as liquids also until you are back on regular food. Good luck!!

Kiki, I only saw the psyche doc once for about an hour. She determined that I WILL be an alcoholic! LOL I'm glad I don't have to return. Good luck! You're getting closer!!!

I need a LOVE button for BrandyMarie!!

LOL Malyss!! I cannot imagine being totally responsible for an infant or toddler at my age. I'd do it if I had to, but I would be very tempted to ask if the pound would take it! I raised mine and I'm looking forward to grandkids!

My surgeon recommends them, but I hated them. UGH. I actually just sold him 2 unopened cases of them. The diet plan he gives recommends 3 of the protein drinks per day. I couldn't tolerate the first one. YMMV

Dorrie, At you!!

This makes me thrilled that I had a tubal in my late 20's! I can't imagine being 45 and pregnant!! My granny did it, but that's one Family Tradition I can do without!!

LovingHusband, and I use that term loosely. You are being close-minded. It appears that all you want to hear from us is that you are a great guy because you're threatening your wife with divorce if she has this surgery. It's not gonna happen on this board. My hubby told me the same thing. He now lives alone and about falls all over himself every time he sees the new, improved me. I'm sure he needs a roommate if you're interested. I don't think anyone said your wife had low self-esteem. What we all said is that SHE deserves the opportunity to make her life better, and she deserves that chance BEFORE she hits health problems because of her weight. In the long run, YOU don't get to decide whether she has surgery or not. You just get to decide if you're going to support her or be a stumbling block. If you're going to be a stumbling block, you won't be married for long, especially if she's half as smart as you say she is. I'm sure that you didn't read the responses, though. So we're all wasting our time trying to give you information.

Well then, Husband, you are going to have a nice divorce in your future. If your wife is seriously considering WLS and you give her an ultimatum, be prepared for her to dump you. The fact that you compared her to others here tells me that you have done it to her. She knows, even if you never verbalize it.

Chigga, Use your pain meds. If you don't have any, call the doc now. You don't get brownie points for not using them!! I stole that from someone here, and can't remember who!! Good luck!!

Gman, First I have to say Congrats on your weight loss. It's amazing and that energy boost is AMAZING!!! I am doing a happy dance today over mine! LOL Second, I'm so freaking jealous of how fast your weight is coming off!! Mine's coming off well, but it took me 4 months to get to 283! I think this is the first time in my life I've ever wanted to be a guy, because you all lose so much quicker than we ladies lose! Enjoy your newfound energy...and save some to keep up with your wife!!

Well, Husband, I have to give you some cold, hard facts about losing weight, so please be sure you're sitting down. In 2010, I lost 50 lbs by diet, exercise, and watching every single bite that went into my mouth. I was doing terrific. Happy, healthy, running my own business, very successfully, I might add. I was a newlywed and had a great husband, or so I thought. As newlyweds, we dealt with getting sudden, total, custody of a 16 year old boy who didn't know how to do anything for himself. We also had a six month houseguest of a relative who was going through a bad divorce, my 19 year old son, and two demanding jobs. If that wasn't enough, his mother was very ill and we became the de facto caregivers because of his parents' ages (73 and 72). And my hubby is a UPS driver, so he had NO time available to deal with all of that. I handled everything that came down the pike. The stress of all that put ME in the hospital with pneumonia. The drugs used to cure the pneumonia piled that 50 pounds back onto me within a few weeks, and added instant health problems. Rheumatoid Arthritis, Asthma, Blood Clots and Pulmonary Embolisms are only a few of the health related issues I've dealt with. Being obese, I was a prime target for any and all health complications that you can get from what started out as a simple cold. I'm certain your wife isn't just a "little" heavy. If she's entertaining the idea of weight loss surgery, then she's at least a 30 BMI, so probably 90-100 pounds overweight. Dr Oz has gone on the record as saying that being 100 pounds overweight is like having a major cancer. He also endorses weight loss surgery as the most effective way to lose weight at that point. So, my question to you is this: If your wife were diagnosed with cancer tomorrow, would you tell her to "eat right and exercise" in hopes that the cancer would go away? You can read the stories here on VST about people who have everything from "just" overweight to morbid obesity. All of us have tried, and tried, and tried to lose the weight. Many people DO lose the weight. Several posters here lost 100+ pounds through diet and exercise. The thing is, then they gained it ALL back, usually with extra pounds to keep the originals company. No, the sleeve isn't magical, but it sure seems that way to many of us. My sleeve has allowed me to take off 84 pounds in 5 months, WITHOUT being hungry. Taking that weight off has made a HUGE difference in my energy level and in my ABILITY to exercise. I could barely walk before surgery. This morning, I cleaned house for several hours, walked around Walmart twice cause I wanted to, put away groceries, did laundry and remade every bed in my house afterwards, cooked food, went to the bank, etc...... THEN I came home and did my calisthenics and weights. If your wife could have that kind of energy boost, wouldn't you want that for her? You say you love and adore your wife, but then you say that you have told her she'd have weight loss surgery, basically, over your departed body. Would you REALLY leave your wife for wanting to improve her health? I'm actually assuming you're a troll, but I'm answering your post on the off-chance that you aren't. I believe you'd have a longer, more successful marriage if you listen to your wife. She didn't decide on a whim to have WLS. She's researched it, probably in great detail. It's good that you're here and looking at other people's stories. Complications DO happen, but complications to your wife's health can happen any day of the week, especially if she's overweight. My 5'0", 105 pound best friend dropped dead on January 7, 2012. That proves that life is a crap shoot. If your wife thinks this surgery will improve her quality of life and give her the opportunity to improve/preserve her health, you should be willing to listen. BTW, comparing your wife to ANY other woman is a very bad move. Especially comparing her to her sisters (sibling rivalry) and an ex girlfriend? I think you're lucky she's such a loving woman. I would probably have showed you the door if you told me that stuff. I hope you do some more research and sit down with an OPEN mind to listen to your wife. Believe me, she's not throwing out the idea of surgery lightly. Good luck to both of you.

Riss, Sounds like you might have something caught at the top of your sleeve. It's one of the reasons that we are told to chew our food to mush, especially very early post-op. The esophagus (sp?) is swollen leading into the sleeve and it is possible for something to catch there. Please call the doc/or go to the ER right away. Since you're not even able to swallow water, it may be a blockage.

You can use regular vitamin E capsules for scars. Just open them up, spread the goo on the scar and leave it alone. Works great! Mucho cheaper than all those fancy creams, too.

I've learned a lot from reading the "What do you eat" threads. One of my tricks is to cut up my food immediately and push it around my plate. That keeps the "don't you like it" folks from driving me nuts. I also try to order the smallest menu item I can that is sleeve friendly. MegInNoLa gives some great advice about eating out in business situations. She talks about ordering shrimp cocktail or soup as an entree. Those might not work for you if you have food allergies, but she seems to be able to navigate those possibly tense business lunches with grace and style. I personally have a hard time with that because I'm so much of an "in your face" person. You're doing great, though... and that's what counts!

By the time you see this, you'll already be on the loser's bench! You're in my prayers and I know you'll do great!!

Coops, GREAT new picture of you!! WOOO HOOO!!!

I think I started solids at 5 weeks out, but I moved through the other stages pretty fast, I think. I didn't push my doc's recommendations, but I think he was much more liberal than a lot of other surgeons. I was eating scrambled eggs the second week, IIRC.

Lacie, I kept thinking I should just be able to look around and see the fat flying off me, especially in the very early post-op stages!

jasleeve, I'm so sorry you're going through this!! Hopefully the acid will depart and you will heal quickly! Good luck!!

SleeveMe81, The others are right. It's very hard for him to be empathetic to you because he hasn't done what you are doing. Men often want to solve our problems, moving right into action, rather than just giving us the bit of sympathy we need right that minute. It might help you to talk to a therapist for even a couple of visits. Once you have someplace to vent your frustrations, you'll probably feel better about yourself and you'll have some of that confidence back pretty quickly! Congrats to you for moving forward and taking a huge step to improve your own life!!

Maria! Don't beat yourself up so bad!! Negative self-talk leads to negative behavior. I agree that talking to someone might help. And, lots of us find that when we eat carb-rich foods, then we crave MORE carb-rich foods. Try getting back to basics. Eat Protein only, no carbs except for green veggies, Water only. (I'm trying to remember the basics of Lil Miss Diva's Boot Camp) Once you get through four or five days this way, your carb cravings should be gone. As a matter of fact, quite a few of us have committed to starting the Boot Camp as of right about now, Midnight on February 1, 2012. Why don't you join us and let us know what your results are in a few days? Once you get back on the losing bandwagon, it might be much easier to stick to the plan. Good luck!!

Wow! They're right, you are gorgeous in both pics!! I can see a big difference in your hips and thighs already! Having that weight seem to slide right off makes you look around to see where it fell, doesn't it?