kyllfalcon

At a group meeting with my surgeon, he told us that some doctors/hospitals won't operate on the higher bmi patients. He was very proud that he had taken on and had successfully sleeved several such patients. Self pay was about $18,000.

CowgirlJane, The lady in the baggy pants looks like the one more comfortable and enjoying life! Hooray for baggy pants!! (I now have the world's largest collection of black stretch knit baggy pants - formerly the world's largest collection of black stretch knit tight pants!).

I've had a total knee replacement and have to have antibiotics before dental cleaning. But not a word was said about it in reference to WLS.

I tried them and thought they tasted good. I did find that no matter how much I shook them there could be a little chalky grit at the end. They are not available locally and the only place i could find them online was from Premier, which is in Canada. The shipping was horrendous and took forever. I did not reorder and have since started drinking Muscle Milk.

I drink the vanilla latte daily. Good Protein or bad, I'm losing weight like crazy, at least according to my standards. From their website, about the Mocha: Ingredients Calcium caseinate, instant coffee, fructose, cocoa (processed with alkali), nonfat milk, sunflower oil, maltodextrin, natural flavor, magnesium carbonate, salt, carrageenan, sodium caseinate, mono- and diglycerides, potassium phosphate, mono and di-glycerides, sucralose, soy lecithin, ascorbic acid, ferrous sulfate, alpha-tocopherol acetate, zinc sulfate, selenium amino acid chelate, niacinamide, Vitamin A palmitate, copper gluconate, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, tocopherols added to protect flavor, riboflavin, thiamine hydrochloride, chromium dinicotinate glycinate, folic acid, Biotin, potassium iodide, phytonadione, vitamin D3, vitamin B12. Contains milk and soybean. Produced on equipment that also processes peanuts, tree nuts, egg, wheat, sesame, shellfish. 150mg of caffeine per serving. Filled by weight not volume. Contents may settle during shipping and handling. Nutrition Facts

The stigma is there. Not much we can do about it, as all the explaining in the world just sounds like more excuses to those whose minds are already made up. Try not to get worked up over what others say and think. Don't worry about what you can't change - instead, spend that energy on changing you.

I have suffered with RLS since my first pregnancy 43 years ago. I had it during both pregnancies but it stopped with delivery. Then in my mid-30's it came back again to stay and has worsened over time. I had no idea what it was until a few years ago when I stumbled across an article. Mine is not brought on my lying down as with most folks, but with sitting or prolonged standing. I used Requip for about a year, then it stopped working. I was changed to Mirapex which helped for several years, then its effect started to diminish. I tried yet another drug, the name of which I forget, but it had NO effect, so back to Mirapex. I've had to increase the dosage several times. These drugs can really help with this horrible condition, but are not without side affects. Seems to run in families. My sister has it, as does one of my two sons. Now that I've done something to control my weight, my next best wish it to be rid of "The Jumpy Leg". Don't think they have a fix for that yet!!

I read somewhere that a high protein diet can give you zits. I'm dang near 60 and am having some zits on chin and neck - something I've not had in decades!!

When I had a total knee replacment a couple of years ago, the incision was closed on the outside with glue but on the inside were stitches. Dozens worked their way out over a period of weeks. Most pulled out easily with tweezers, but I had to clip a couple that had knots real close to the skin. Keep it clean and dry. And don't mess with it too much.

About three weeks.

I hate fish of any kind. But at first I craved tuna and salmon.

Yes, gummies are good, I use them for Vitamin C and multi-Vitamins. I even found some gummy Fiber, which is working well. Unfortunately, or maybe it is fortunate, my surgeon requires a whole lot more than just multi-vitamins, so I have a ton of supplement pills plus a ton of prescription meds I have to take. Just a royal pain, but if that's the worst thing I have to suffer, so be it!

Worst part for me is getting in all the supplements along with my regular medications. I have to take a handful of something several times a day. Not exagerating, taking all the pills has caused an aversion to drinking Water, something I used to do all day long. Now I have to force water down and can only drink it if flavored with something like Crystal Light. But I'd still do it all over again, stupid pills and all.

DD is a fairly decent cup size. I went in decades ago asking for implants, thinking if I could only fill out the big baggy skin envelope it wouldn't look so bad. However, the surgeon convinced me I had plenty breast tissue, just too much skin. I had a lift-only with very nice results. It sounds to me like your situation may be similar: large enough breasts, just saggy. Think how big they would be if you used implants to fill out the loose skin.... might be a whole lot worse than scars. The scars fade over time. I've been married three times and around the block a few more, and I've never had a man react negatively to the scars. Not sure what you mean by the risks of a 2-part surgery? They put in the implants at the same time they do the lift. Good luck!

<snicker>

Not be ashamed and embarrassed when I run into people I haven't seen in a long time.

Good luck - keep us posted!

Pdxman, you are some kinda guy. I mean that in a good way. You've been there, done that, wore the T-shirt home. You generously share your life experiences. We can all learn from you. Thanks.

I keep dreaming that my double-bag-o-jello-butt gets so baggy that it has rolls...

You're cuter than a speckled pup! And your family looks so beautiful.

All my surgical scars stay red for about a year or more. Eventually they turn white but it takes a while. VSG scars are no different - still red.

I tried the chicken soup and found it incredibly salty. Otherwise it would have tasted good.

You can get a six-pack of those sugar free syrups at a reasonable price on Amazon. You can't pick ala carte, but the sets have really good flavors.

I use the KitchenAid ice cream maker attachment for the stand mixer. Love it.

Be patient. I am 8 or 9 weeks out, I forget, and just a couple of weeks ago I was lamenting to hubby that food was no longer a pleasure but a big old pain in the butt. But that is rapidly changing. Yesterday the company ordered pizza for lunch, so I thought I would give it try, planning to eat just the toppings of a pepperoni pizza made by a local pizzaria. I thoroughly enjoyed pulling the cheesy tomatoey topping off and savoring it. Then I thought I might eat the thin but not crispy crust, and finished about 2/3 of it. I felt stuffed for 5 - 10 minutes, then the feeling went away. It was worth it! And lately I have been enjoying homemade cheeseburgers without the bun. I can only eat half of a cooked patty with real cheddar, but it is oh-so-delicious. And it does not make me feel bad in any way, physically or otherwise! Hang in there, it will and does get better!