JenGator

Hello!
My name is Jen, and my hubby is Air Force. We are stationed at the US Air Force Academy, and I had my surgery at Ft. Carson. (Evans AMC)
I was sleeved 8/23/11 - 4 weeks ago today! I've lost 19 pounds, and have been feeling pretty great! The hospital stay was a bit rough, but I have been following my diet guidelines and am thrilled to be where I am right now!
mstabbi - would be happy to answer any questions about Ft. Carson! :-)
Jen

Hi turtlebutt! :-)
I joined! I'm an Air Force spouse - sleeved on 8/23/11 at Ft. Carson.
Nice to meet you! :-)
Jen

I had my surgery at a Military hospital, and I would say this - I would rather have my husband always home safely and not being shot at overseas than have had my surgery covered by Tricare. I think the Gov't gets off pretty cheap for what we give them in return!!
And you are absolutely right, Cheri... I will be much cheaper for them to treat for the next 50 years when I am no longer obese!
PS - (You are doing amazing! Congrats!)

I dont want anyone to freak out after reading my post but I wish I had been a little more prepared with hair loss as I was...
My program warned me that some people lost hair and if it got bad they could recommend a supplement. But I thought...oh i have really thick hair no big deal. I honestly lost a lot of hair on a regular basis (kind of like shedding in the summer kind of thing)
I started losing my hair at around 3 months but at about 4 months I was losing it in handfulls. I was scared to run my hands through my hair during my shower and I was scared to brush my hair. I am still losing my hair at 10 months out but not as much. Now the biggest problem is that the texture of my hair has changed completly. I started taking a supplement about 1 month ago but havent noticed any change. I have found some shampoos make it worse. I am hoping that I will begin to see regrowth soon. I have always had naturally thick curly curly hair. I am not sure what I have now.
This has been the most frustrating part of my entire journey. But I would rather wear a wig for the rest of my LONG HEALTHY life than die a young lady with beautiful hair.

I've always been sure to wear the right size bras. Its really important, and has helped me over the years to avoid droopy breasts. I think this has helped a lot with my not needing any type of reconstructive surgery and just having the breast augmentation was enough.

To properly fit your bra, you first measure around your ribcage, right underneath the crease of your breasts. Last time I measured it was 35". Then you measure your bust all the way around to the largest point. This was 41" for me. So that is a 6" difference, so then you count up 6 cup sizes. That would mean I would fit anywhere from 34 or a 36 F (DDD).

I ALWAYS try on my bras before buying them. It takes me awhile to shop for the right bra, but knowing they are comfortable and supportive before leaving the store means I don't mind spending a little bit more on the bra. I'm also always looking for deals and getting additional off at the register with coupons or whatever.

*Important to note also, your strap should be comfortably clipped on the middle hook. Also, the majority of support comes from the sides of the band and cups, not so much relying on the shoulder straps. The cups should be flush against your chest as well.

I will buy new bras once the cup gets too large or the straps. This happened several times over my weight loss months. I would only buy 2 at a time too though. Its easy to find the B1G1 1/2 Off deals. As a matter off fact, I bought recently around 6 new bras and now they're already needing to be clipped on the smallest hook!! They are 36's though, so from now on I need to go down to the 34's. I won't buy any new ones though until it's much too large around the band area.

I hope this helps!!! BTW: the only reason I know how to fit bras is I used to work at JCPenney's in the intimate apparel department many moons ago, and even Lane Bryant's. But I already knew how to fit a bra then.

This is my standard reply when this question pops up every couple of days. I won't try to sway anyone one way or another, but I'll give you my reasons for choosing VSG over RNY for my revision from the band. You can also check out the revision, failure, and food issue forums on here to get an idea of some long term RNY patients. For me, it was never an option. The cons outweighed the pros.
The VSG was my 2nd, and final WLS. I could have easily had RNY, but I fought to have VSG as my revision from the band. Some factors I considered in deciding on VSG. The pouch that RNY offers is similar to the pouch with the band. Least to say, a pouch sucks, I love having a normal tummy, just less capacity and still fully functioning.
1) No blind stomach left behind that can be difficult to scope yet can still get ulcers and cancer.

2) 2 years max on calorie/carb/sugar malabsorption, but a lifetime of vitamin/nutrient malabsorption. This process is called adaptation, and it happens with intestinal bypass surgeries.

3) I had a pouch with the band, and it sucked. I'm pretty fond of my pyloric valve and the sleeve let me keep it. I love having a normal functioning stomach, just smaller in capacity.

4) Regain stats and #of RNY patients seeking revision truly scared the poop out of me

5) I have too many friends in real life that struggle with Vitamin deficiencies post-RNY, and most of them either never got to goal, or have gained back a significant amount of their weight.

6) The long term complications with RNY were too numerous for my comfort level. Pouch or stoma dilation, strictures, vitamin/nutrient deficiencies, ulcers,

7) I researched gastrectomies that had been performed for stomach cancer and ulcer patients, and found comfort in the long term results and minimal complications of patients that had lost most or all of their stomachs had dealt with over several years.

8) I was a volume eater, and knew a restrictive only procedure would work for me. That was my thought process when I got the band, and I thought I could beat the odds on complications. Sadly, the band only lasted 8 months before I had to revise.

9) I did not want to have food or medication restrictions. I chose WLS to have a "normal" life, and I think it's normal to eat a couple of Cookies. With RNY, I wasn't willing to go through the possibility of dumping if I wanted to have a couple of Cookies, or a slice of cake on occasion. The big scare for me is medication restrictions for life. NSAIDS and steroids are a NO GO for life with a RNY pouch. I realize that I may never be diagnosed with a condition or disease that requires steroid use, but it is possible. I want the best long term results with the least amount of complications. Malabsorption is not anything to play with in my mind, and I was not willing to take that risk.

I lost all my weight in my ticker with the exception of 7lbs with the sleeve, and I did it in 10.5 months. The 115lbs fell off the first 6.5 months, and then the rest I lost as I was getting into maintenance over another 4 months.. It's been a fabulous journey, and I'm easily maintaining with zero issues for nearly a year at this point. I want to add that every WLS regardless of your choice will require discipline. Only a percentage of RNY patients dump on sugar/fat, pouches and stomas stretch, then you have the medication restrictions. I'm not trying to convince you, but these were my concerns when I knew I had to revise from the band. I started at 263 the day of my revision and today I weigh 127lbs. I bounce on the scale 125-130lbs any given week, and I couldn't be more ecstatic!

Best wishes in your research!
P.S. I wrote this before pregnancy. And, just as an update, I'm 8 months pregnant and thriving. I have zero issues consuming enough calories/protein/carbs to support my body and another developing human. My labs have remained stellar throughout the pregnancy, and life is pretty good. I am over 2 years out at this point, and couldn't be happier with my decision to have VSG over RNY for my revision. It's been an amazing journey.
P.S.S.
Since the pregnancy, I have been diagnosed with a genetic clotting disorder and the ONLY treatment (zero cure) is a daily aspirin therapy. With VSG, this treatment is possible, if I would have gone with RNY my doctors (surgeon, 2 ob's, PCM) are unsure how this condition would have been treated especially during the pregnancy. Grant it, I only take a baby aspirin every day of my life, but it is an NSAID. Least to say, when my high risk ob found out I had a partial gastrectomy and NOT RNY, he was elated because there really is zero other option for treatment at this point, and the aspirin therapy is working well with my platelets and if all goes as planned, I will be able to have an epidural for my c-section instead of having general anesthesia. Maybe a small issue to some, but being awake for the birth of my daughter is top priority for me.

Bad news. You will be buying "new" clothes often. Can't expect to 50-100 lbs and not need new pants, right? But having to buy new clothes is the good news too since it reminds us of our constant changing body after VSG surgery. YEAH. Laughing at your underwear story. I had an experience like that wearing a dress and my panties slipping down. That FORCED me to go out and spend a few bucks a Walmart for ugly but fitting underwear.
So - bargin hunt, if you can just barely fit into the smaller size - buy it. If it is a steal bargin, buy it in a smaller size. I blew right through one size in one week, hence I recommend keeping reciepts for things that are returnable. Clearance shop, talk to others at your surgical group to see if they have a clothing swap, search consignment stores and take in your barley used clothes, seek out decent thrift shops. Buy the basics only. One pair black dress pants, one work skirt, one pair of jeans. My staples until I hit goal. Tops were gathered in with a belt when too big. Belts are not longer our enemy. Oh - I tried the alteration route for an important expensive clothing piece and by the time alterations were completed, I had lost more weight so I ended up tugging up the dress (strapless) all evening long. I did not wear the dress, the dress wore me sadly.
Oh and once you hit goal don't repeat my mistake. I hit my personal goal - celebrated by buying several hundred dollars of clothes for my new desperatly needed wardrobe. Bad idea. I lost one or two more sizes (depending upon maker) in the following four months with only losing an additional 5 lbs. Body readjusts and weight distributes. When I complained at one of my surgeons support group sessions - the Dr recommended not spluring until a year after goal. Money is tight, be frugal but don't walk around looking sloppy. This journey is mental as much as physical.