ChaChaBurch

I have a friend who is Kindergarten teacher. She had a tremendous amount of cellulite on her thighs. She had heard about using a wooden rolling pin - the kind you use of pie crusts. She used it twice a day for 6 weeks, and almost all of her cellulite "smoothed" out. I haven't tried it, but I think that will be something I'll have to try soon.

WOW - You guys have tons of things that I think will benefit these folks. Thank you so much for sharing your ideas, thoughts, and experiences. This will really help!!

Also, don't forget about "Spanks" - which can be a girls best friend too!

My NUT and the Surgeon have invited me to speak at a meeting of people who are scheduled to have the sleeve sometime within the next 6 months. They said that I had handled the pre-op, post-op requirements really well, and was losing steadily. They and had told folks about how I was doing, and they wanted to do a Q&A with me. I was so surprised, seeing as how I've still got over 60lbs left to lose. But I told them I would be honored to answer any questions they might have to the best of my ability. My personal experience has been a complete and positive one from Day 1. So, my question to you is this: Is there anything that you wish you had know PRIOR to having the surgery? I feel that it's my responsibility to be honest, and up front with everyone that is there.

Congratulations! That's totally awesome.

I normally get the hiccups when I'm full, but for the first time last night, I had a few hiccups and then my nose started running. I told my DH, "Oh my, my nose is so runny, I wonder why?", and then I started feeling a slight bit of nausea. Finally, the light bulb went on, and I realized that I was full. This was the first time that it had ever done it. I remembered hearing some folks talk about it, but had never experienced before. It's amazing what our bodies will tell us if we will just listen to it!

My Hair loss started at about 2 weeks post-surgery. At first it was a bit frightening, but other folks don't notice it (except the lady that cuts my hair) - she said not to worry about it, she has seen this a lot with WLS folks. It DOES grow back. I had worked really, really hard at letting my hair grow out, and now it's the longest it's been since I was a kid. But for me, thinner hair is on the low end of concerns compared to my over all health. I'm 4 months post-op and the hair is still coming out, just not as much now. And again, no one seems to notice it except me. My hair is thin and still looks fine. The good news? It's starting to grow back in, and I've been considering cutting it off short again, for the time being.

I'm a little over 2 months out and so far, I would rate it a 10. I'm 45lbs down, and feeling the best I've felt in over 10 years. So much more energy, and no issues with food. This is the best decision I've ever made regarding ME!

Hi! I'm pretty similar. Sleeved the 12th and I'm down 56.4 pounds total- this includes preop diet. I too, am fitting in 14/16. I can't believe it. I've never been smaller than a 14, so I am looking forward to shopping eventually.

On another note- can anyone reccomend a good compression short or shirt? I'm not liking the jiggly jiggly when I exercise.

Have a great weekend!

Congratulations on the weight loss!

Regarding the "jiggly" stuff - I too have that, and I found a great item at Dillards (don't know if you have those in California) - but it looks like a T-shirt, but it's made to keep your tummy smooth. You can wear it under another shirt, or with an over-shirt, or just by itself. I bought one in white and one in black. My DH loves it!

chacha - what is your fitness pal name so I can make you a friend there? Mine is jonitoby.

It's the same as my name here - MommaChaCha.

I had my band in Jan. 2007. I had issues from the start, even though I lost around 45 - 50 pounds. I had my revision done just 2 months ago and all I can say is, WOW!!!!! What a difference! I feel better, eat better and have had zero complications. If any of you have a Facebook page, there's a great page called "Failed Lap-Bands and Realize Bands" and there is so much information about issues with the band and most of the folks on there have had revisions or are in the process of getting one. I would highly recommend it!

I use "My Fitness Pal" and it calculates how many calories I should eat to lose. Right now it's saying 1200 calories, but I typically eat between 800 - 900 daily.

Oh, one other thought. When I eat UNDER my calorie recommendation, I've been told that my body goes into "starvation mode" and hangs on to every single ounce!

Hey Everyone! It's been over a week since I've been able to get on the boards. Looks like everyone's doing well. I'm now at 2 months post-op and feeling awesome! Down 42lbs and the energy is amazing!! One thing that I've noticed about my weight loss is that the less I eat, the less I lose. When I get in more food, I seem to drop more weight. I know the science behind that is that more of the "right" foods helps out metabolism burn more fat, but somehow my brain just can't wrap around it. I know too, that that also mean staying within a certain caloric/fat/etc., amount, but still, it's hard to really believe. However, the scale doesn't lie. On the days when I forget to eat Breakfast, or don't eat dinner because I'm not hungry, then the scale doesn't budge. But when I eat right, the scale moves.

My surgeon mentioned them, but my NUT is the one who went through everything much more thoroughly.

Wow you guys are doing great with your weight loss. I'm down 19 lbs since 3/12. Only 2 lbs in the last 4 weeks. Its very discouraging.

I think that 19lbs is great! That's 19lbs that you won't have to carry around again. But I'm wondering if maybe you are in an early stall. How fast did you lose the other 17lbs?

@Kat1 - welcome! So glad you found us!

@tjmom - Congratulations on your success! So glad to hear your doing so well!

My restriction doesn't seem to fluctuate. About the same amount at each meal. I can eat approximately 1/2 cup at each meal.

Well, thankfully my DH had a vasectomy back in 1999. Don't have to worry about that.

That's perfectly normal! Not only have you gone through MAJOR surgery, you have several weeks ahead of being tired, low energy, and practically no stamina. It's all normal -- from the surgery, to the MUCH lower calories that you're taking in. Just really focus on Protein and hydration. Being dehydrated can cause your body to feel really tired too. I would suggest that if you don't see any sort of an increase over the next couple of days, call your doctor. They may need to give you an IV of fluids.

Okay Silver Sleevers - Ladies only please - In 2008 I had a procedure called a Endometrial Ablation. This is where they destroy the uterine lining. I was 46 at the time. I haven't had a period since. However, since the sleeve, I am having hot flashes like there's no tomorrow. I understand that I'm going through menopause, but good greif! Anyone here feel like giving me some input on what you did for this phase of your life? Could the surgery have caused my hormones to go into super-hyper drive? I sure as heck don't want to go on HRT. But I don't know if there's anything else that I can do naturally. BTW - No one in my family ever had to deal with hot flashes (or "power surges" as my DH calls them). Any suggestions, ideas, thoughts would be appreciated.

I was sleeved 3/29 and had no complications with anesthesia. Matter of fact, they gave me something in my iv before they took me to the operating room and I was out of it.

I had an IV and they gave me the "happy juice" as I was being wheeled in to the OR. Don't remember a thing afterwards. I've had 6 surgeries and haven't had any issues with the anesthesia. However, for the sleeve, I remember telling them, "Just make sure I don't wake up until AFTER the surgery". I don't remember a thing until the following day, and had a really awful headache. I think the anesthetist gave me a little too much. I would be happy to do it again in order to be sleeved as I am now! Well worth it!!

We did communion at Easter, and I remember prior to receiving it that I was hungry and couldn't wait to get home to eat. After I had communion, I wasn't hungry anymore, but I never thought of it in the way you did. That is funny!

@gingersnap - My surgeon was a "General Surgeon" who has been doing just about all kinds of surgeries for over 30 years. He expected there to be quite a bit of scar tissue, and he said that he would remove it all. The surgery lasted a little over 2.5 hours, and he did in fact remove 99% of the scar tissue. He told my DH that he felt there shouldn't be any complications, or issues. And he was right! I think because he does so many other surgeries (cancer, trauma, emergency, etc), that his experience is what made it so successful. In other words, he isn't 100% WLS - he does it all. And he is a top-ranked Surgeon in our State. Love, Love, Love him!!

Also, if you are on Facebook, you should look up a group called "Failed Lap-Bands and Realize Bands" - it's a group of folks who either had the band and got the revision, or they currently have the band and are working on getting a revision to another kind of WLS.