CowgirlJane

@@CanyonBaby how is your hubby? I want to follow your story and not sure this is the right thread.

I was depressed after my band removal. Makes no sense as I had long since admitted defeat. My port site hurt , I felt feverish and had headaches. .but it really was nothing. Sleeve is hard because at first you can't hydrate well but I was armed with knowledge and positive energy so it was fine! I expected much suffering but really it was not as bad as you might think. Important part is 3.5 years down the road and I am so happy with my body that I never experienced with band!

I had the band for 10 long miserable years. It left me with trauma too. Even so, raise your concerns with your surgeon. ..just in case. It's funny that I thought the band was "no biggie" - not really bariatric surgery (i know I was queen of DeNile) while sleeve was scary life changing dangerous stuff. Hmmm. .. I might have gotten both slightly wrong. .a bit exaggerated!

I did not experience this bit that port site was weird and unpleasant for quite some time after band removal. First there was a "gap" where it used to sit and then it filled with Fluid. Luckily it is.now j us t a distant bad memory. As unpleasant as it sounds. ..guessing it is not serious

@@amytug remember me? I am 3.5 years post sleeve...1.5 years post reconstructive plastics. I lost over 150. ..so also went to the kind and talented Dr Sauceda! Welcome back!

There is a maintenance forum now but I see the vets forum as a maintenance forum! I am 3.5 YEAR'S post op and finding maintaining harder now...more than ever! I think we still need to support each other!

FYI - my surgeon gave me these following, very rough guidelines. I was able to lose 100% of my excess but it took me more than a year! 3 months: 20-30% of EWL (I had lost 57# at 3 months) 6 months: 40-60% of EWL (I had lost 95# at 6 months) 12 months 60-80% of EWL (I lost 133# at 12 months) It took me 14 months to lose 150 - and another year to lose about 165 total. I kinda bounce around there now.

100# is alot to lose and more importantly keep off.

I wasn't afraid of that in advance I was more focused on "survival" since my obesity was slowly killing me... however, i have experienced a big change in this area too. After a bit of an adjustment i have to say i really really really like the new "me" and my new life. Perhaps you will too... think of it like the upheavals of your teen years turning you into a more settled adult. You might go through some upheavals after losing weight, most likely to settle into a healthier, more active, happier person when all is said and done.

Hi welcome. There is a singles forum but nobody posts to it. I am 3.5 years post band to sleeve revision single, enjoying life!

I dont completely understand. Gastric sleeve doesn't have ports, lapband does. I was a band to sleeve revision and had drains too. I don't recall the output but it was not excessive. I hope they figure this out soon. The forum rules ask people to not post the same message multiple places...thanks.

Heck, since most people use mobile devices they don't see the signatures and can't actually tell if they are getting advice from a preop, someone deeply in the honeymoon phase or a vet. The "tone" can often be quite different based on our experience level. I am considerably more jaded and straightforward about what works and what doesn't 3.5 years of wrestling with weight loss and then maintenance does that to you...

The reason i suggest posting details not just a general statement is because the "devil is in the details". At about 8-9 months out my weight loss slowed way down - and I had alot more to lose (I lost 150 in total). The NUT figured out that I was getting alot of carbs in my protien bars and eating too many of them... they had become a snacky slider for me. Point being even something that is "on program" can interfere with losses. As you get closer to goal, it gets tougher and tougher. I had to go low carb and high intensity interval training workouts to get the last 30-40 pounds off.

Are you tracking your food? Mind Sharing a few days worth? It is really hard to lose the last of the weight!

Glad it is improving but don't be afraid to call your surgeon. ..

I had the band for 10 years. I chose 2 separate surgeries to revise because 3.5 years ago there wasn't that much evidence but it seemed safer. I had no complications. What does surgeon say about risks in 1 surgery vs 2? I think revisions have "about" double the complication rare as virgin sleevers but it's still low.

I hope someone has explained that the hunger reduction doesn't happen immediately and for many of us it wasn't permanent.

Just got back from the hip injection - it was xray (floroscopy) guided. I don't feel good at all, but i suspect it is just that I am not coping well with the pain. Over the last 2 weeks I have found myself eating more - I just hurt so damn much I can't get relief. They numb you for the injection, but when they get to the bone... it still smarts. Anyway, right now everything just feels weird. I think I am gonna play hookey from the rest of the day at work and just go take a nap since I am not going to be productive anyway. Keeping fingers crossed that this helps. Denise, everybody has "issues and drawbacks" that is absolutely right. What has happened with Scott is that when we first met he expressed that he was so ready for a relationship but i wondered about a few things - like his divorce was final over a year ago and he hadn't dated anyone yet...hmmm. I called it correctly from the beginning - and he has now told me that I recognized right off the bat some realities that he didn't realize until recently. He is essentially traumatized from his ex wife/divorce - it was off the hook bad deal. On top of that, he had something very negative happen at work about a month ago that continues to plague him (and due to divorce settlement, the financial stress of keeping his big paying job is a big deal). So, what he wants is for me to wait for him to sort some things out, but doesn't want to ask me to do that because it isn't fair to me (his words). I am okay - what i mean is that I am not in a big hurry or anything. The problem I am experiencing is that even though i KNOW why he is pulling back emotionally, I am experiencing it as rejection. I am having a hard time talking my heart into understanding it the way that my mind does. I am very encouraged that he has started back up with frequent counseling and is taking seriously the emotional issues that have been stirred up by our growing relationship. Gotta admire a man who is willing to "deal with his shit" so to speak. We see each other often, we do active and interesting things together (camped together all weekend, I went over for dinner and made beer together Tuesday night, we go fishing on Sunday etc)... for now, it is okay but I know that if I continue to feel rejected in any way I won't fall in love. It is a self discovery for me too... quantity of time together isn't really that important to me, it is more the "feeling" I have when I have interacted with a person and right now it isn't all that loving. His daughter arrives for the summer at the end of May. 3 months ago, I know he was scheming how we could meet without it causing big drama but at this point, I don't think I will meet her at all... things have moved to that level of uncertainty. She is horse crazy and I of course have an extra, very safe horse... so it could have been a pretty fun summer for me and a little girl but I don't think it is going to happen that way unless I really step up and make it so. I am not sure that is the right thing and he is pretty damn confused right now. anyway, all that is second fiddle to how much my damn hip hurts right now.

I am a sleever... and I am following topics on this new procedure with no angst.... I think some are a little over sensitive - just because people ask questions or make statements doesn't mean they aren't adding to the discussion. I think it is productive to express doubts and concerns... When I was sleeved in 2011 - i had some trepidation due to lack of long term success data. I was duped into believing that the lapband was a good solution (in 2001) and i paid a heavy price for that mistake for 10 years so I was gunshy about repeating that "error". However, I also think you need to research and make the best decision with the data you have at the time... and go for it. For me, the revision to DS has always been my "backup plan" should this sleeve deal not work for me. It is great to hear that there is an updated version of the DS that is becoming widespread. I look forward to hearing ongoing success stories!

when was your surgery?

Eating 4-5 times a day is what my program called for...all mini meals. Protein first, veggies next, then fruit and then a bite or two of carby food. Veggies and fruit have carbs in them too (so does yogurt, Protein drinks etc.) and that is fine as long as it is moderate. Be sure you are drinking enough Water and taking an acid inhibitor because acid mimics hunger. Are you exercising? To me sounds like you are doing just fine!

I had a cortisone shot in my hip over a year ago. It helped tremendously but it does not solve the underlying problem. Sometimes, it does solve a problem because it just calms things down and gives it a chance to heal. you don't heal from severe arthritis. However, the shot will help with problems like the muscles all "tightening up" - right now my right leg is significantly shorter then my left which is causing back, knee and other pain. This is just a reaction to the pain and stress. So, I need to actually talk to the doc, but my cortison shot is scheduled for Thursday, I am researching surgeons etc for replacement (Valley General in Renton is one of Healthgrades top 100 facilities for hip replacement for example) and thinking it might be as soon as this fall. I simple refuse to become disabled at age 50 over this. This last weekend I had a wonderful time, but it made me sad that even a 3 hour ride was nearly unbearable. I had to walk alot of it and was heavily medicated with tylonol to even do that. Things are going good with Scott - we are compatible in many ways. He is a true outdoorsman and came with me on the horse camping trip with some of my friends this last weekend. He was really a pleasure to travel with and to spend 2.5 days with. He isn't too horse knowledgable, but held his own and we had a good time. I guess we have been together long enough to become aware of some possible concerns regarding a long term relationship, but I CANNOT bear the idea of going back to a dating website, I enjoy our time together, so not motivated to make any changes right now... we shall see. In fact, going over to make beer with him tonight and this weekend we are going fishing again! I love having a man to do things with - not just go out for drinks and dinner, but to actually do real life things with! I have been looking for this for quite some time! A few pix from this weekend!

Taco bell's fresco style soft tacos... and i only eat the insides. I don't think that most fast food is very palatable, I would prefer to go to a grocery store deli (not much more time over fast food) and buy something like: -3-4 oz of really nice deli meats (boarshead) and a slice of yummy cheese... and have a meat and cheese rollup -a small box of sushi. more rice then I should have, but I love it and it is fresh wholesome food -a small veggie pack or fruit bowl

This is an example of the garments I wore for many months post op... at first I wore them alot, and over time just when I did intense exercise: http://www.classicshapewear.com/rago-capri-shaper-pant-liner-medium-shaping-6265-p-5225.html?utm_source=pricegrabber&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Rago&utm_content=5225a1z11a2z436&gdftrk=gdfV23800_a_7c3407_a_7c13217_a_7c5225a1z11a2z436

What you might have read is that sometimes we have "advertisers" who just post a link with no explanation and no clear relationship to topics BP members might be interested in. As a host, i tend to get rid of those without clicking the mysterious link.... and encourage others to report them for moderation etc.