CowgirlJane

I also think that there is something about the disease state of obesity...I took lots of it D and was always deficient until I lost weight.

You will be fine by yourself 5 days post op. The hardest 2 things...in my opinion. .is getting your fluids in and watching other people eat while on liquid diet..ha! You might actually like being alone about the time that gets annoying.

I lived in Germany for 2 years back around 2000. What I observed is a shift away from daily bicycling for errands etc, or from walking to the grocery everyday that was a traditional lifestyle to something that looked more car reliant. Younger more affluent Germans were more likely to drive for errands. The small town near us had a recently opened McDonald's, and while my colleagues said only Americans went there it wasn't true. Everytime I went in there were young families or young Germans either inside or doing the drive through. I personally think that it is a combination of easy to get crappy food combined with reduction in day to day activity that bumps a population into higher obesity rates. I spent alot of time in the Netherlands too and as a general statement they are a tall people who ride their bikes everywhere. The people I knew ate alot of bread cheese and milk but for some reason that milk and bread based diet doesn't fatten them up like it does me. Anyway my observation was that they are less into cars and even younger affluent people seemed like they were still walking and biking alot.

Well, I posted a separate thread but I will repeat here because I remember as a preop loving these before and after threads! There is a typo in my collage - but my stats are: Sept 2011 lapband removal after 10 years Weight at start of 2 week preop diet: 308# size approx 26-28W or 3X December 11, 2011: Sleeve surgery 300# February 2013: Goal 158# size approx 8 or medium October 2013: Plastic surgery in Monterrey Mexico by Dr Sauceda 150# Procedures done: Lower body lift, breast lift/augmentation, arm lift, small thigh lift (ie groin only incision) Spent quite a bit of time in the mid 150s from Oct 2013 to March 2014 Current weight as of June 2014: 140 size approx 4 or small

Well, it is of course not related to the sleeve unless you are one that gets yeast infections from antiboitics. However, yeast infections do not cause a yellow discharge - maybe you should see your general practioner doctor?

I completely disagree. Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure are "disease" conditions and yet management of the condition is very much in the person's control. I think very similar situation. For me understanding obesity as a disease made it much more logical and takes away much of the blame and shame.

My surgeon said something to me that has been very empowering and stays in my mind as I live in maintenance... "You have the disease of obesity. Right now your primary symptom of excess weight is under excellent control but never forget you still have the disease of obesity." I think that viewing it this way, as a chronic condition that needs assertive management is the way to remind ourselves that maintenance is just as important as the losing ....

I liked this article - true words. I think that one thing people don't seem to fully realize is that for the formerly obese, you have to strive harder than someone who was never obese. We need less food, regain easier etc. It is not that you suddenly have the metabolic system of someone who was never obese. My doc put it like this "you still have the disease of obesity even though the main symptom, excess weight, is currently under very good control" That kinda gives you something to think about....

I agree with the basic theme that we should be here to support not bash each other. I in no way troll on any other forums with any intention of causing someone any distress. The way it is laid out, sometimes I have accidently posted on a forum I didn't realize was in the bypass or lapband area, but i have gotten smarter about it over time. I think we all have the right to make our own choice of WLS, what we think best suits us and our lifestyle... and hopefully based on some sort of surgeon recommendation. Once somebody has had surgery, it is absolutely pointless to be negative about their surgery. At that point, it is about supporting each other to be as successful as we can. What I have a problem with is the idea that it should be all candy and roses... when people are preops and they are asking for people's experiences I feel it is the right thing to honestly share my personal experience. I am a revision from the band to sleeve after 10 years of "failure" with the band. One of the disappointments i had in my banded days was that the online support group I was a part of hid the vets forum from preops and recently banded. It wasn't until I was a year out that I realized how many people had the same struggles i did. After a decade, most (but not all!) fellow bandsters had either revised or had their bands removed. In fact, i have in my paperwork info from bioenterics that the band was intended to be temporary and would likely need to be removed. That is my personal experience and maybe it is based on how they used to do bands (I was banded in 2001) but it is what happened. I wish i had really understood the implications of all that before i was banded, but i didn't. I think it is a big mistake to not let people hear people's experiences - positive and negative. BTW, there are aspects of being sleeved that are negative too, and I am forthright about that as well. Like, I have a dairy intolerance that has pretty much killed my ability to eat ice cream (okay, that is probably a good thing - ha!). I like that the veteran's forum here is available for all to read, there is much to learn from people who are years (or a decade) into a procedure. Congratulations to all of us who are working to improve our health through maintaining a healthy weight loss... no matter the means!

There is already a huge long thread dedicated to before and afters.. but it is such a fun topic I don't mind repeating!! This is what losing 150 pounds does for you! A girlfriend of mine said the sweetest thing "I didn't know you had a teenage daughter"...LOL. I do feel like I look younger being trimmer. Taken within the last few weeks This was taken in December i believe - I think I was 20# away from goal,back when I was a bit curvier. I was feeling pretty good, but, I like how I look better now even if my T&A disappeared since this photo was taken. This is my before picture at over 300#. I don't have much to say about it but I KEEP looking at my befores to remind myself how far I have come.

So it was otr that corrupted all these innocents???

Okay, you just knew the title of this one was going to bring some specatators. hahaha

I can't really answer your question but I have seen little evidence that it makes much difference in the way you are mentioning. I do wear shapewear now, but that is because it makes such a difference in how I look and it is no longer uncomfortable! I am a 14 without shapewear, but more like a 12 with it. Immediately post op i certainly did not wear compression garments and feel like it would have made me feel miserable. I was all about comfort during the healing process. My skin has tightened up much better then i expected, considering I have lost 123# and that is without daily use of compression garments.

I would be discouraged too - but I guess one of the things i am learning through this journey is to just keep on keeping on. If you are doing the right things, the weight loss WILL happen. I had a month long stall and wasn't discouraged exactly, but not too excited about it. Somehow, during that weight loss stall I dropped another clothing size and people who hadn't seen me thought i had lost alot of weight during that month. Go figure. I am going to suggest that you try something really radical - just because i believe in changing things up when things aren't going as planned. What about not weighing for a month, but keep following the plan? How about during that month, change your exercise routine and possibly back away from the Soups (salt?). Sometimes something new and different causes the weight to start coming off for no explainable reason. As far as food goes, check that you are getting enough Protein, but it sounds to me like you are eating pretty on target.

I think you can define exercise as "more then you used to do". Not all of us can run marathons, but as has been mentioned, even people in wheelchairs can exercise. It gets easier as the weight comes off and you might be surprised how much you can do later! My opinion, it is a mistake to let your self consiousness interfere with your health improvement. I did Water aerobics last winter, and my inner thighs were/are terrible. I just wore biker shorts under my suit and looked fine. From the waist up, I looked great in my new pink trimmed black zip up suit and got tons of compliments! Waiting for plastic surgery before being willing to exercise seems to me the wrong order to do things. You will have better results if you are somewhat toned. Not to mention, there are other health benefits to "exercise" besides weight loss.

I did not have alot of pain. I describe it as feeling like I had done 1000 situps - sore abs. I didn't notice it unless I tried to use those abs! for me, it wasn't pain that was hard. It was more like "most of your stomach is gone - wow that is different". consuming Fluid and Protein early on is not easy. I would also say that I was so incredibly tired.... not just for a few days but for weeks. I went back to work after 3 weeks, and I have a desk job. The main issue i had was exhaustion. I think taking 2 weeks off would be okay but I am glad I had 3. I did not have the exhaustion thing with the band.

My weight loss has followed the high end of the expected range given by my nutritionalist - I am doing as well as a typical "virgin sleever". My weight loss is slowing way down, but still chugging along....these are my cumulative losses. As you can see, those first 6 months is when the fastest weight loss happens. Lost after 1 month 36 Lost after 2 month 45.8 Lost after 3 month 57 Loss after 4 months 69.2 Loss after 5 months 81 Loss after 6 months 94 Loss after 7 months 100.6 Loss after 8 months 105

I know, me too, but you will be glad later if you take a few shots once a month. Like I said, it is hard for me to believe I ever looked like that "before" photo - and without the photo, I would not realize how far I have come. Even though I feel better, move better and know I look better, I still feel really fat. Sounds crazy, but in some ways I feel just as fat as I ever did. Seeing the pictures progression helps me to "process" that I really have changed ALOT.

Try different Protein drinks - I lived on the premade Premiere Protein chocolate bought at costco. I can't drink them now, but they were a lifesaver the first few months post op! Drink slowly. Don't worry about anything but fluids and protein. sip sip... tiny sips all day long. If you get dehydrated, go get an IV to get rehydrated. Be patient with yourself, take it easy. Recognize that you had a big shock to the system, and your former "friend" food is not currently available to give you comfort. As you start to lose weight, hormones will release which may make you even more emotional. Your reaction is normal - many people go through this sorta weird feeling for awhile. I experienced it as an emptiness inside. To add insult to injury as the saying goes, nobody even noticed my weight loss for months. So, I was a little sad, alot tired and still fat.... I never regretted the surgery because I had read enough on the forums here to know it was normal, and I just needed to get through it - and i did. Look at me now with 100# off!!! It is so worth it. I am finally living the life I want and you will be too. Hang in there - and keep your eye on the prize. You will feel better over time and you will be thrilled with your results.

When I started this journey, I set in my mind that I would consider the sleeve a success if I got under, and maintained under 200# within the first year of surgery. Well, I am just over 8 months out, and am now seeing "1" as the first number on the scale. I have not been under 200# since the late 1980s!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG, it is hard to believe I am finally here. I never got under 200# when I was banded - and I had that band for 10 years!!! The sleeve really does work. I attached a photo from 2 days ago - and one from a month or two preop. When I showed my son the before photo, he was shocked, he didn't remember me being so big. It shocks me too, so I get it. Before: Current:

I always had people assume I was younger then I am too. Now, I have lost more then 100# and I don't think my face is too old looking - I am 48.

I am not sure when your surgery was - but beware, early on you may not have all the "sensations". Your stomach was cut, there may be certain nerves and such that have not recovered yet. Eat by the measuring cup and scale if you don't feel full!!! You do not want to stretch / lose your restriction so early. Not sure what your nutrtionalist has told you, but early on I was only having like 1/4 cup servings. I can't stress this enough, live by the measuring cup while you are figuring out that "feeling" of satiation. This isn't forever, it is a temporary way to make sure you aren't overdoing it. Don't get into a negative thinking that this is a big waste of time - the sleeve works for alot of people and I think it can work great for you too.. I am now in the 190s - started in the 300+ range - it has transformed my life in a pretty short period of time.

I suspect everybody that posts here had a bad experience with the band and are happy to be sleeved. I sure am!!!