CowgirlJane

I felt pretty crappy the first few weeks - so I think what you describe is pretty normal. Please take a proper PPI even if you don't think it is helping. I genuinely believe that getting the tummy reflux/acid under control in the early months is key to success because acid feels like hunger! I only needed to take it for a few months (luckily!) but it made all the difference. Also, another reason to feel el crappo is low grade dehydrations. If you still feel really bad, consider asking your surgeon for IV fluids. I never needed it, but mine told me to not be shy about asking if I felt bad. Dehydration makes you feel like you are gonna die, it's a horrible feeling. You can be dehydrated even if you are drinking, but just not enough. If your urine is not pretty light colored, I would immediately suspect that issue. Hang in there!

Reason I didn't consider plication is that in 2011 when I was deciding there really wasn't much evidence on plication. I felt like I was experimented on in 2001 when I was banded and that did not work out well for me. Is there good evidence and studies on plication yet? I have done very well with the sleeve but can understand why people want reversible. However, every person I know who removed the band or even eliminated the fill regained so reversible lost its appeal for me as I faced my own realities.

I am with swim on the Protein. I don't believe the kidney issue is really that big of a concern. My surgeon recommended 60 grams of protein minimum when i was sleeved. When i was a year out he told me that research indicated it should be 80 for WLS patients. Last I saw he said to do what is working. I think that the point is we don't NEED the super high protein but it makes maintenance easier. Daisy is maintaining fine so I guess she f o under the right balance for her, and I do believe different bodies have different needs.... Truth is there are 3 sources of calories. ..protein fat and carbs. Since carbs fatten me up like a steer for slaughter and I don't want a super high fat diet...well... that leaves protein. I actually think that is why I do well getting lots of protein. . Keeps me from overindulgence of carbs. Not everyone has my same response though.

I like your hubby chim. So I am doing good avoiding horrible depression over Bettys brain tumor and all the horrors related to it ... at least so far. I chatted with my counselor who put it in a spiritual context that it doesn't seem fair but this is her "path" for this life. I thought about it...and she has never gotten over my sister, the love of her life. I have never gotten over losing my sister and best friend either. Maybe this sounds horrible but I felt peace thinking that they will be together again soon and that Betty will be relieved of the pain. Not just the pain of losing Linda but whatever has driven her to alcoholism. It is still horrible and sad but I can at least feel some sense of finding a bit of good in the nightmare.

At 47 BMI I personally think your odds of success are better with the bypass. Of course individual results vary but I only lost 70# with the band over my first year. 30 of that was during the first month liquid diet too! I was high BMI.

My surgeon and PCP both told me some people need iv fluids during the first 3 weeks...I wonder if that would help you. Dehydration is a horrid feeling. My surgeon office was very supportive and encouraged me to call and be seen as needed.

Sarah, I think your results are just amazing. I knew they would be since you are so fit! You must be very happy. All that are struggling - I guess we knew that we are in this forever, right? Wish it were easier, but I think we are all so much better off than preWLS and need to remember those victories even as the struggle continues!

Swim posts in the vets forum alot, just click on the link in her siggy and you pretty much get the picture. I thought I had a lot to learn from her but it is more conspiracy theories then anything useful to me. Stopped seeing Tino a bit ago. It just wasn't working out. I am not sure if he intentionally misled me in what he was looking for or perhaps he didn't really know or perhaps he just found me less appealing after all but I didn't want to be just dad's girlfriend... I want someone to do fun stuff with as a couple. Had a blast this last weekend, went dancing and stuff. Family tragedy has happened though, I am just sick over it. Someone I used to be very close to but who has sorta let alcoholism drive a wedge in her relationships has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. I am getting a bit of post traumatic stress due to my history of dealing with my sisters illness and death. This is just ugly and horrid and I will spare you all the details but it's really bad. I am immediately aware that I need to be very deliberate about not returning to depression, like, I just feel so emotionally overwhelmed by it that I just don't know. Right now I want to sleep but I need to work.

If it were me, I wouldn't use this technique during the weight loss phase.

I am 8 months post op. I still have some belly numbness but otherwise no real "after effect" of the plastics. That might be permanent and I do have sensation it is just slightly numb. For awhile I felt like I swelled alot but everyone around me told me I was crazy. Then I realized that the "numbness" is what made me feel that way. I really don't get any more swelling then a typical woman - salty food and a bit of heat and I get a few pounds. Not much has changed except I lost 10 pounds since my plastics. I lost 5.5# of skin but that took like 4-5 months to show up on the scale due to post surgery swelling... that and I was so darn hungry that I ate alot while healing. I was kinda frustrated comparing measurements but i realized that one of the reasons they didn't compare well is that all that excess skin made it hard to accurately measure. sorta like putting a measuring tape around Jello... how firmly do you hold the tape? Now I am firm so measurements are consistant. According to the tape measure I didn't lose that much from plastics but I wear a way smaller size and I look smaller so I think that I pulled the tape firmer with all that excess skin I guess. Bottom line - I am SO GLAD I did this. It really changed my appearance and makes me feel normal looking. I went out dancing with a social group last weekend and i just felt like a normal woman in the crowd - without shapewear...woo hoo!

Nobody is perfect and makes bad choices from time to time - even skinny people! So, don't obsess over it, but eat very gently and very lightly until your tummy is ready to get back on track. I will say that greasy food makes me sick as all heck. My joke is that I need to be in "training" to eat junk food. If you eat pretty clean then a big dose of crappy junky fast food about kills ya. I also want to mention that 2 pieces of chicken would be a HUGE amount for me to eat and I am 2.5 years post op. I do not have a tiny sleeve. i am only mentioning this as a caution for long term maintenance. The #1 success factor long term is controlling your food intake quantity so that means stopping before being full and not grazing. I am not a doctor but based on what i have read, this isn't about the sleeve being stretched, it is more about what feels normal, what is familiar, what is the habit. That is why I keep saying to everyone to "eat small".

The wiki post misses one of the key points which is to have an extended fast on the two "fast"days. You do that by stopping eating at say 6pm the day before and not consuming food till say noon on the fast days. I also want to mention that going low carb also works to restart weight loss.

If you read the 5:2 thread it is explained and many of us have mentioned how we adapt it for sleevers. The original purpose of intermittent fasting is that it extends lifespan. Those of us that follow it (post goal, use it to work off a few pounds in maintenance) benefit from the fasting period (ie longer durations of no food) as well as 2 days of lower calorie. You must ensure your normal days don't become overeating days. It works...I had been at goal for 6 months and about 5# had crept back on. I lost that plus a few more in just a month of 5:2!

You've done great and your post illustrates why maintenance is a who new ball game sometimes. I do want to comment about "full". My NUT stressed to me that eating to absence of hunger rather than aiming for "full" is a key long term strategy. I am only 2.5 years post op so only time will tell but I never seek that "I am so full I can't have one more bite" feeling. It is like retraining my brain about how it should feel when it's time to stop eating.

Swim I have visible ribs and o am normal and healthy weight. Think it's sometimes a body type thing. [ATTACH]46357[/ATTACH] My upper chest is even bonier. My lower front chest also has visible ribs.

Good advice but much harder post age 50. I am not currently looking but I went to a social dance and had 2 men interested. unsure that is any better... but I really hate online dating

I hit a major slow down at same time losing 2-3 a month. Scared me because I still had so much to lose. For me the culprit was Protein bars. As soon as I eliminated them and changed my workout routine I returned to losing 8-10 a month until I got to my goal at 14 months post op. I suspect it is the nuts, trail mix and crackers in your case - all pretty calorie and carb dense food. What's wrong with being full after a small portion of red meat? I don't particularly love sandwich meat but that is my main snack...I treat myself to a bit of cream cheese to help it taste better. Filling dense protein keeps me from snacking. If i eat crackers bread nuts Peanut Butter etc I can eat hefty portions either by grazing or too much at once. Does not happen if I focus on dense protein.

I am not small on top but it is normal to see bones. Look at trim women and depending on body type it is often visible. I originally thought I could learn from her but I no longer even understand her. [ATTACH]46301[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]46302[/ATTACH]

You are in the three week post op stall that many many people experience. Patience. Maybe you need more Water. My doc let me count Protein drinks toward the Fluid goals. I found herbal teas to be soothing to my newborn sleeve.

Sarah, I am SO Happy for you!! Have you had that moment when you cry in disbelief how much you are transformed? You look wonderful, as I knew you would. Keep updating us. Ok, I have to ask, do you guys read posts by swimbikerun? She has a link in her signature...wow. As best I can gather she is starving due to the sleeve but nobody believes her because she is normal BMI. She mentions evidence of starvation as being able to see upper chest bones. I am 23-24 BMI and you can see my upper chest bones, ribs front and back etc. which you would expect. I thought had things to learn from her but her story doesn't add up.

Yeah, waist measurements are important. And I understand the ratios too. My waist is about 29" so I am okay on that front, but it is really more about finding a comfortable, maintainable weight....now that my appetite has returned I am finding it to be work to maintain at 140. It would probably help if I resumed my workout routine.

I want to share another thought. I was pretty fit ... until I started working with a pesonal trainer. I was injured in about 3 weeks - overuse. He could tell that I am strong and aerobically fit and just didn't think I was pushing myself hard enough.. I could do "more" What he didn't factor and what this quack isn't factoring is that a lifetime of obesity has left hidden damage. I have arthritis in my knees and as a result of my overuse injury I found out in my hips too. I walked around like a cripple for a few months due to this kid personal trainer .. it was painful and I lost my exercise mojo. i do believe in high intensity workouts, but this leaving the gym like a cripple is BULL! Don't buy into it - respect what your body tells you. Keep moving, keep active and be open to new ideas, but overdoing it and hurting yourself = major setback!

EArly on, getting the hydration is top priority. I would ask your surgeon or NUT but those first few weeks I was on liquid and I sipped small quantities of Protein drinks all day long. It was later that i structured more around meals. Longer term you absolutely MUST avoid grazing to maximize your results.

I think "sugars" - and fruits have a lot of them - is a very individual thing. I don't eat much fruit except berries even now in maintenance. My reason is that they make me hungry! I am very sensitive to carbs and in particular foods that have a high glycemic index. If eating fruit works for you - do it - many health benefits but i would avoid juices and try to eat the lower glycemic indicator choices. I should note that when i eat fruit/berries it is almost always in a salad or something that has greens and Protein too. I am in maintenance though so my eating patterns are going to be different. fruit alone is bad news for me due to the sugars.

AzDee - have you ever posted your face before and afters? I went to your surgeon's website and the face before and afters weren't that exciting. The surgeon I had my body work done has lousy pics on his website too... Dr S does facework and I have seen some amazing results, so not ruling that out. I am much more gunshy about face work though and even considering staying local for it. Just starting my thought process and research... thinking 1-2 years out for facework so just getting educated. for now I am going to do a face filler/injection.