kyllfalcon

This is why we love Rootman!

It really sounds as if you are having trouble making the lifestyle changes that have to be made for the surgery to work. We all know how hard it is so don't fear our judgment! Just work on your head. Then work some more. Sugar has always and will always be my demon. I didn't eat fast food, chips, dips, alcohol and so many other fattening things. Just sugar. And here it is in my first post-op holiday season, and candy and Cookies and such are lying around everywhere at work. My eyes are drawn to it every time I pass. My arm actually moves to reach toward it. I will NOT let that damn sugar undo me! I will allow myself ONE piece of candy per day from now through Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day I will drink nog with my man. Then NO MORE. I have been successful, in my eyes, because I do not deny myself everything, but I absolutely CONTROL the exceptions to my normal dietary plan.

Yes, tell us what is going on, please!

I agree. I did not have pain, just general soreness. The only pain I had was that blasted gas pain in the shoulder. Better call.

Mine did change somewhat. I had already had several procedures done through my bellybutton. And now this one. It kinda looks like a frown.

Don't know her, but why don't you try to send her a PM? Maybe she will come back to us!

No disrespect, but not exactly entirely true. I am Director of Human Resources for a large multi-bank financial instituion, and we are obliged by law to keep any and all medical information we acquire private. That includes information obtained verbally or in written form, from what is included on insurance applications to that learned from doctor's excuses, FMLA forms, insurance claims reports, etc. We even have to disclose to employees in writing why we need such information and what we do with it, and what we do to protect it. However, I do not know if such restrictions apply to small employers, but I would think so.

Well said. And I am agnostic. But I can still send good wishes, positive vibes and all my hopes out to each of you. Granted, you will not consider me as powerful as your God, but surely you will take all the positive energy you can get! I will!

As I sit here with my month-old new wardrobe already sagging off of me, with my new pants pinned to keep them up, I couldn't agree with you more! Do SOMETHING about it! If it's VSG, you most likely will not regret it!! I am so happy I can't stand myself... and I'm told no one else can either! And I'm happy for you, Rootman! You have been one of my primary inspirations as well. And I appreciate your candid responses.

My "whoa" moment was that same glass window on the way into work... and even now everytime I unintentionally look into a mirror. If I mean to look into the mirror, I see what I anticipate seeing. But if I pass through my dining room and catch a glimpse in that large mirror, I'm stunned! I fell off the wagon for one week where I grazed on crap. I caught myself and quit it.

Holy Moly!!! You were gorgeous before! Now look at ya!!

Tons of middle aged and even older folks. Look in the forums, where you'll see special groups for folks of all ages. I'm pushing 60, was sleeved in March 2012 and am just a few pounds from goal. Sailed through everything. Lots of others sailed through too! Good luck!

Really greasy foods Soft white bread Raw onions Lettuce Really spicy foods (miss my chili so much!) So, looking at the above list, two all-American favorites are out: Hamburgers (on buns with the works) Chili dogs Having divulged the short list, allow me to say I don't really care about it! I am skinny!!!!

Agreed, discuss it with the surgeon. But my opinion is that no matter how heavy, the sleeve is a good place to start. No rerouting of the intestines, no mal-absorption issues. Plus with the sleeve, the stretchy part of the stomach is removed, and the grehlin-producing is greatly reduced. The sleeve, while invasive, is less invasive. My father had 75% of his stomach removed over 50 years ago due to serious bleeding ulcers, very much like a sleeve. He lived many years afterward - nice and thin!

Over 8 months out and I've been a very good girl. I've only had the slimes twices, and have not thrown up since surgery. I almost never take one bite too many. I obey "the gurgle" which is my warning sign to stop. Except last night... Today is hubby's birthday and since I still enjoy cooking and baking, last night I made him a cake of his request, oatmeal Cake. Delicious stuff!! First mistake was to have dessert immediately after dinner, which was about 3 - 4 oz filet mignon and less than half cup of green vegetable. Second mistake was to allow hubby, not sleeved, to cut my piece of cake. In he carried a HUGE man-sized portion. My comment to him was, "I could never eat all THAT!" Third mistake was, I ate all that. It was soft and warm and so delicious, and it just slid right down without resistance. The gurgle failed to happen. Five minutes later, I was sick. Very sick. I felt like that cake had grown to 20 times its original size. I was so sick I was afraid. I had to sit very quietly in the dark, and finally just went to bed. While in bed, the slimes started, so I got up to go to the bathroom. Finally I threw up several times and got relief. Lessons learned: Wait a while to have dessert. Cut your own piece of dessert. Cut your own piece very small. You can always get more if you can hold it. Throwing up doesn't produce nearly as much output as it used to! Guess I just got too comfortable and got my come-uppance!

Similar to what OTR said, my surgeon told me the body can only absorb approximately 20 grams of protein at a time.

Arm jiggle got worse for me as the pounds dropped off. But I'm old and never had very elastic skin. You may fare better.

Anyone should call their surgeon's office if they suspect anything wrong. Gurgling, yes, normal. Knots and serious pain, not normal.

My surgeon said pretty much the same thing. The stretchy part of the stomach is removed. The stomach may feel bigger upon healing as the swelling slowly goes down, but it won't truly stretch.

I was never officially diagnosed with sleep apnea, but I had it. Had to sleep sitting up just to catch a little bit of air. Bought one of those expensive beds that go up and down and all around to facilitate. Constantly woke up gasping. I snored so much I kept waking myself up throughout the night. After a few weeks post-surgery, it occurred to me that all that had just disappeared! I couldn't say just when, but it was gone. And I never get winded anymore while walking or doing housework. And I don't sweat just thinking about physical work anymore! I'm tellin' ya... it's all just wonderful!

People do this all the time. Go to YouTube and look up Kellawanda. She may be a member here, but I don't remember seeing her on here since I've been around. She recently had a lower body lift, fat transfer to butt and the arm thing, all at once. She has put up videos from prior to her VSG surgery through reaching goal through having all that plastic surgery done at once. She does a great job of telling it like it is. Go watch. She's a real inspiration.

My journey has been fantastic! I should be the poster child for VSG!! I had no complications, just a blood pressure issue while in the hospital, but that's normal for me. I've lost weight rapidly and steadily. And I tolerate almost all foods and seems I can take portions a little larger than most. I could not be happier with my journey and my results. I will say that overall my skin has fared better than expected. The boobs didn't deflate, the tummy is not too bad, the upper arms are about what I expected. The good news is that my face and neck fared very well. The bad news is I did not expect my butt and thighs to be so saggy and, well, "empty". But I haven't worn shorts in years and haven't had a swim suit on in 23 years, so I don't really care! I look good in all my new clothes! Best thing I ever did.

Mine didn't, but I'm old. Maybe it might on a younger person, or just another person, but nope, my butt and thighs look like heck.

Four days is not quite a stall. More like two weeks or more. It takes time for bodies to adjust, it takes time to lose so much weight. It is totally unrealistic to expect weight loss every single day, even with the marvelous procedure we've had. Even I, who has never experienced a true stall, and who is the most impatient person on the planet, know I cannot expect a loss every day, or even every other day, or even every week. If it happens, great! If not, it will soon.

Pipula, please take no offense, and I apologize if I missed it in your referenced article, but I don't find the answer to rootman's question there. He is asking HOW the edges of the stomach heal when the raw or wounded edges are not touching. The article explains howthe raw or wounded edges might NOT heal, as far as I can tell. Or did I miss something? Yes, inquiring minds do need to know! Rootman, I thought they also used some sort of adhesive? Or did I dream that up?