SunnyCox

I agree. You do not need another visit. Call the cardiologist or pulmonologist office and fill out their release of medical records form. Specifically list the x-ray on the form if you must. If you ask the office staff for help and tell them you had a chest x-ray, they can make sure it is listed on the form to obtain it for you. Your PCP may not send the x-ray films, but at the least, they will send the over-read of your x-ray which could hinder things a bit.

you do not need another dr's appt to get your chest x-ray. you just need to request in from medical records or have the pulmonologist/cardiologist request it and they have to do it.

I pondered sex in the hospital, so I don't find it that hard to believe. In Mexico, you have a full size bed in the room in addition to your hospital bed. After the first night, I had no pain, never had a catheter, and I was in bed with my partner. Personally, I didn't want to sleep in the hospital bed away from the person who takes care of me everyday and loves me and comforts me. Plus, one of the things he looks forward to the most is when we crawl into bed together. Dr. Kelly even apologized when he walked in with us in the bed together early one morning when he come to check on us even though we were only sleeping. Seeing as how we both had our PJs on, and the nurses dropping in unexpectedly, I wasn't that adventurous, and my shy side won out. Hahah.
I was also told that I could have sex as soon as I felt ready. The only restrictions I was given involved dietary changes, medications, vigorous exercise and lifting weight.

Last night went clubbing.. And the bouncer thought I was using someone else's ID lmao and let me tell u he wasn't kidding.. I guess in a bit more I will have to go get a new ID pic lol
It felt GREAT!!
Update.. Starting weight 285 .. current 203 !! Down 82 lbs in 6 months 10 days.. Working out 5 days a week..

He is talking about picking up and dropping off movies at the Redbox in front of McDonald's. Not eating there.
Come on people....

Hi Everyone,
If you are sitting out there with a lot of questions like I was 4 years ago, I want to tell you that I was 63 when I had my surgery in Mexicali, with Dr. Aceves—I believe he is the very best you can find to do your surgery. I lost 105 pounds and YES I have kept it off for 3 years now. It took me 14 months to lose 105 pounds.

My ONLY regret is that I didn’t have it done sooner. It is unquestionably the very greatest thing I have ever done for myself! I will be honest and tell you that the 1st month after surgery will be the hardest month you will ever have to do. During the 1st month you will be making lifestyle changes, letting your body heal, and start to retrain your “OLD” thinking brain to the new ways in life—this is a struggle because you “Old” thinking brain has been used to ALL the food you have been eating all your life. But, it is only 30 days and you can do this! It is NOT a miracle cure, it is a tool to allow you to lose the weight and maintain it for the rest of your life.

What is a typical day in my life like now? I want you first to know that I do not ever really feel hunger anymore—again your old brain will try to tell you that you are hungry—we call this “Head Hunger” because it really isn’t real. Now I just know that I need to eat small amounts of healthy food during the day. I have now changed how I cook and I now crave healthy things—I know it is hard to imagine that you will do this, but it is true. Yes, I do have desert –but I have learned how to bake in a healthy way. I have a great Low Carb Cookbook that allows me to eat a lot of things I loved in my past life and they are healthy now.

So this is what my day is like:
· I get up about 7:00 am put on my walking clothes and shoes and go for a nice brisk walk for 2 to 3 miles with my husband. Believe me I didn’t start out walking brisk or this far. Do the best you can, but do SOMETHING for exercise. Sometimes in the evening we will walk 2 more miles.

· I return home take a shower and for Breakfast I have a Premier Protein Drink. I still to this day have a Protein Drink for breakfast and that is all I need.

· I do all the normal things anyone else does during the day, like clean the house, grocery shop, laundry, and plan the meals, work in my yard. I am also own my own business where I am an Instructor in 1st Aid, CPR and AED to people in my community.

· lunch usually is some kind of a salad or I have some protein—usually chicken, with some fresh veggies, some fresh fruit.< /span>

· I have an afternoon snack, maybe something that I baked from my Low Carb Cookbook. There are some great products that are healthy to have too. There are all kinds of things you can snack on that are OK
· dinner is always about 2 oz of some kind of Protein. I eat, chicken, fish, or Pork. I eat very little red meat—and I always loved red meat in the past, but I found out that my tastes have changed a lot after I had surgery. I always have some kind of fresh veggie, maybe in a form of salad and then fresh fruit. I eat about 1,000 calories a day sometimes a little more depending on how much exercise I do. I NEVER feel deprived.

Part of keeping the weight off is finding ways to cook that make it taste good. You can learn to convert some of your old recipes to being healthy too. I do have desert, but not every day. Sometimes just the taste of something will satisfy your need for it. Food NO longer controls me I now control the food and the amount.
If you have any questions please feel free to ask me. I just want you to know that you can be this successful too. I have written a lot of things over the past 4 years, and I have information for those who are thinking about having surgery if you want any of it. You can be successful too.
I remember thinking what if I am the ONE person this will not work for, because I failed at everything else. So you are not alone, because many of us have thought all the same things that you have. I think the best things that you can do, is ask all kinds of questions. Check on who is doing your surgery. Like anything there are good and bad doctors out there, and I want you to be safe and have the very best you can have.

Hugs,
Suzanne
Sleeve 10/21/2008
Lost 105 pounds
Dr. Aceves- Suregon

I am working hard to get where you're at. I feel tons better already but I feel the real gains are still ahead of me. I'm glad there are guys like you here posting about your success. There are not enough men on this forum, and even fewer who have made it all the way like you have. It gives the rest of us guys the motivation to keep moving forward.
But I would like to add, that old saying about a man gains an inch for every thirty pounds he loses....well, I've lost damn near one hundred pounds and.....apparently, it's true.

Well congrats on the accomplishment...lol it is true skinny sex is so much better than fat sex. I personally can bend and wrap legs and other body parts in ways I never thought possible, and the hubs is enjoying every minute of it... As am I. Heheheh

First real "encounter" since the surgery (lots of fooling around, but yesterday was... the full meal deal). And... guys... wow. GET THIS SURGERY.
Before the surgery, I was a real "one minute wonder" (if I could even get lucky; at 338, it doesn't happen much). I would be panting and wheezing and see spots, and I was lucky to even be able to finish. I was used to the woman not... finishing, either.
Yesterday.
SEVEN. HOURS.
She had more... moments of joy than I could count (maybe 12? 15? 20?), and I had... THREE.
THREE. In one night! Guys, I'm 42. That just doesn't HAPPEN to guys my age.
And it certainly never happened before the sleeve.
Good god, men, if you have ANY problems in that area at all and are pre-sleeve, RUN, don't walk, and get the surgery.
UN-FREAKING-BELIEVABLE. I thought that stuff only happened in porno movies...
Ok, I'll shut up now. But... wow.
Sore... exhausted... and happy
Edit: uh, it wasn't seven hours continuously, I should mention... 8pm till 3am, but not all, uh, action. Even at my current fitness level, that WOULD kill me. Seven hours of go... rest, chat, laugh... go... rest, chat, laugh... repeat until too sore and exhausted to continue! And NOW I WILL shut up.

I'm glad to know it is possible. I'm 5'1" and started at 279. I want to be between 130-140, and my doctor said 160 was more reasonable.

I'm glad to know it is possible. I'm 5'1" and started at 279. I want to be between 130-140, and my doctor said 160 was more reasonable.

I'm glad to know it is possible. I'm 5'1" and started at 279. I want to be between 130-140, and my doctor said 160 was more reasonable.

I struggled with the decision too. Post op, it is easier to know that you made the right decision without any doubts. Here is something I posted a few days ago about still being able to Celebrate food:
You'll still have food. It is never going to go away. Within a week post-op, I was sad about cooking spaghetti for my family. I kept thinking that I would never be able to eat a big plate of spaghetti again. Then, it hit me. I will be able to eat spaghetti again. I'll have a child's size portion one day, and I'll be satisfied like I was never satisfied before. I won't be eating two huge helpings, four pieces of garlic bread and two cokes in one setting.
I feel good about what I eat. I am not gorging myself on huge restaurant portions. It is kind of nice being the person at the table that eats the petite portion. I like to secretly think that the other women are jealous of me because I eat so little (because I used to feel a twinge of jealousy that all my thin cousins would eat half as much as I did at a meal!) I no longer feel as though I am wasting food when I can't eat an entire portion. I don't have the desire to finish off every last little bit. I also don't need dessert.
My tastes are already changing. I'm not stopping for fast food. I'm searching out fresher, tastier foods that I didn't appreciate as much pre-op. I have become a food explorer. I've been trying new fruits and vegetables from the frou frou grocery store with all the fancy food! I'm cooking Thai food at my house - something that I've never done before. I want to play with spices and fresh herbs. Don't be afraid, a whole new food adventure is coming!
How will your friends feel about your restrictions? My friends don't even notice. I have told very few people about my surgery. I've had a few people mention that I wasn't eating very much, but when I said that it was all I needed right now. There really wasn't any one who pushed me on the issue. When I go out to eat with my friends, I can always find something on the menu that fits my new lifestyle. This may be a little harder while you are on the liquid phase, but you can order a good Soup and just eat the broth. Those around you won't notice. I stayed with Soups when I was on soft foods. Once I got to solid food, there were no issues. There is something for you at every meal to eat out.
On the other hand, if you complain about your portion or your meal constantly, I am sure that your friends will notice.
Sounds like you have a lot of signs. You just need to embrace those signs, and realize that being anxious is part of the process. Come here for support from people who have made it through that part of the journey.

Great words to describe exactly how I feel. I've based a lot of decisions in all aspects of my life on whether my weight could be accommodated

I have had 226 pounds of weight loss total. Since August 16th of last year, I have lost 141 pounds with the sleeve.  

I pondered sex in the hospital, so I don't find it that hard to believe. In Mexico, you have a full size bed in the room in addition to your hospital bed. After the first night, I had no pain, never had a catheter, and I was in bed with my partner. Personally, I didn't want to sleep in the hospital bed away from the person who takes care of me everyday and loves me and comforts me. Plus, one of the things he looks forward to the most is when we crawl into bed together. Dr. Kelly even apologized when he walked in with us in the bed together early one morning when he come to check on us even though we were only sleeping. Seeing as how we both had our PJs on, and the nurses dropping in unexpectedly, I wasn't that adventurous, and my shy side won out. Hahah.
I was also told that I could have sex as soon as I felt ready. The only restrictions I was given involved dietary changes, medications, vigorous exercise and lifting weight.

I struggled with the decision too. Post op, it is easier to know that you made the right decision without any doubts. Here is something I posted a few days ago about still being able to Celebrate food:
You'll still have food. It is never going to go away. Within a week post-op, I was sad about cooking spaghetti for my family. I kept thinking that I would never be able to eat a big plate of spaghetti again. Then, it hit me. I will be able to eat spaghetti again. I'll have a child's size portion one day, and I'll be satisfied like I was never satisfied before. I won't be eating two huge helpings, four pieces of garlic bread and two cokes in one setting.
I feel good about what I eat. I am not gorging myself on huge restaurant portions. It is kind of nice being the person at the table that eats the petite portion. I like to secretly think that the other women are jealous of me because I eat so little (because I used to feel a twinge of jealousy that all my thin cousins would eat half as much as I did at a meal!) I no longer feel as though I am wasting food when I can't eat an entire portion. I don't have the desire to finish off every last little bit. I also don't need dessert.
My tastes are already changing. I'm not stopping for fast food. I'm searching out fresher, tastier foods that I didn't appreciate as much pre-op. I have become a food explorer. I've been trying new fruits and vegetables from the frou frou grocery store with all the fancy food! I'm cooking Thai food at my house - something that I've never done before. I want to play with spices and fresh herbs. Don't be afraid, a whole new food adventure is coming!
How will your friends feel about your restrictions? My friends don't even notice. I have told very few people about my surgery. I've had a few people mention that I wasn't eating very much, but when I said that it was all I needed right now. There really wasn't any one who pushed me on the issue. When I go out to eat with my friends, I can always find something on the menu that fits my new lifestyle. This may be a little harder while you are on the liquid phase, but you can order a good Soup and just eat the broth. Those around you won't notice. I stayed with Soups when I was on soft foods. Once I got to solid food, there were no issues. There is something for you at every meal to eat out.
On the other hand, if you complain about your portion or your meal constantly, I am sure that your friends will notice.
Sounds like you have a lot of signs. You just need to embrace those signs, and realize that being anxious is part of the process. Come here for support from people who have made it through that part of the journey.

I pondered sex in the hospital, so I don't find it that hard to believe. In Mexico, you have a full size bed in the room in addition to your hospital bed. After the first night, I had no pain, never had a catheter, and I was in bed with my partner. Personally, I didn't want to sleep in the hospital bed away from the person who takes care of me everyday and loves me and comforts me. Plus, one of the things he looks forward to the most is when we crawl into bed together. Dr. Kelly even apologized when he walked in with us in the bed together early one morning when he come to check on us even though we were only sleeping. Seeing as how we both had our PJs on, and the nurses dropping in unexpectedly, I wasn't that adventurous, and my shy side won out. Hahah.
I was also told that I could have sex as soon as I felt ready. The only restrictions I was given involved dietary changes, medications, vigorous exercise and lifting weight.

Btw..everything you described is" normal". It does get better with time. Give yourself some leeway! You just had a major life changing surgery! Hang in there!

As our bodies begin to shrink, hormones are released that are stored in our fat cells. Thus, sometimes women and men have mood swings. It's a common occurrence! You are normal. One thing that can counteract the "emotional meanies" is exercise! If it becomes a source of depression, seek help!!

After the VSG surgery the couple agrees to wait three weeks before having sex. After two weeks it is so unbearable, that they agree to sleep in separate bedrooms to avoid temptation. First thing in the morning on the 21st day, the wife awkens to the sound of a frantic banging on her bedroom door. "I know what you're banging for!"
The husband replies, "Yeah, but do you know what I am banging with?"

Yes really and there's no shame in it. Some people just have very active sex lives and after 17 years of marriage I am thrilled it's still there for us.
Sent from my iPhone using VST

Hi,
I read a post on here the other day that summed up my life and feelings about doing this. I'm pre-op but would have never considered this just a few years ago. Fear of surgery I guess. I wish I could remember the posters name because it made an impact on me. Being fat has stolen my life. And I mean that literally. The EVERY choice I've made for 30 years has been influenced by fat. High School, college, career, hobbies, sports, dates, clothes, vacations, relationships...EVERYTHING. Every single thought I have is filtered through fat and self loathing. I go to sleep with thoughts of being fat. I worry if I die they will find my fat ass and the medics, coroner would have to lift my fat ass. I think about how humiliating that would be --- I can even be humiliated dead. I AM DONE WITH THAT. I am 49 years old -- I want to LIVE my life, not just exist and watch everybody else LIVING. Screw it! If I die during surgery, well, it was meant to be for some reason. I have a serenity about it, which is really amazing to me. If I could do this today I would. And if I'm successful (please God, let this work) I plan to use my 401k for plastic surgery. I want the last half of my life to make up for the first half of being a shell of who I really am.
I want to thank everyone on this board who takes the time to respond and help everyone else, even when they are past their crisis or struggles. This board is an amazing resource of hope and help!