NancyJerry

Wow! Sounds awesome! Will you come cook for me?? LOL! How fun that you and your husband both have the sleeve - I mean I've got great support but to have someone who "gets it" from the inside would be awesome! Thanks for sharing!

You'll get a lot of opinions on this topic! What people can tolerate after surgery really varies. My NUT said to "work up to" 50grams within the first 4 weeks. I was fortunate and able to get 50grams in my first day home and within a couple of weeks able to easily get in 70-80. I'm now 3 months out, as long as I'm thoughtful about what I eat I get 80-120 daily.
This is so true!!
During my pure liquid phase I used products made by Health Wise -hot chocolate and hot tea were awesome. But Premier Protein shakes offer 30 grams of Protein in 11 ready to drink ounces. Love them!
Good luck!

MY FAVORITE - Best bang for your high Protein, low cal option is PREMIER ready to drink shakes. I get a case of 12 from Sams Club for about 18 dollars.

Leighx,
Of course you know there can be complications with any surgery. If you look for it, you'll find people that have gone through horror stories. I've had many procedures in my life that haven't "worked." I had In-vitro and 4 miscarriages (my friends all got pregnant the first time), I had a bladder sling 1 week before my sister (her's worked perfectly, mine did not), I have periods from hell that never stop and so got and IUD that stops "most" peoples' periods (guess what? mine did not) - don't even ask about my bunion surgery! LOL. This is NOT pity-me parade, just stick with me here. So when I went to have my surgery, I was so scared (certain really) that I would be that ONE PERCENT of people with complications. I just knew it wouldn't work for me. When I woke with gas pains (because you will have these and nauseous - which you MAY be), I figured this was it and I'd made the biggest mistake of my life....
Here's where the story gets good, I got home and within a couple of days I had ankle bones!! YES - I said ANKEL BONES. I was so excited to have the edema go down in my legs and feet. And I could WALK, and I STOPPED hurting! My feet, my legs, my knees, my back. Within a couple of weeks I was already happier and healthier than I'd been in a very long time. I'm now more than 3 months post op and I RUNNING. I started the Couch to 5K program, I joined a gym and I can do things my body has refused to let me do before. I don't need daily naps, I'm happier to be around. I can go into stores and by a LARGE shirt and know it will fit when I get it home without trying it on. I could go on and on, but people here have already done this - find the good!
If you still want this and need this, then please spend some time searching success stories and find the reasons to have this surgery, not the reasons to not have it. IMO you'll be much calmer about the whole thing! :-D Best of luck to you while you make this decision!!

If you care to share your requirements for pre-approval, and your personal stats (BMI, comorbs, etc.) we might be able to help you pontificate things you can use should you choose to appeal.

I had to spend a weekend camping (tortured) to do it but I finally dropped down below 200!! I haven't weighed this in more than 12 years. I'm wearing a dress I wore to work in the 90s and I feel great!
Thank you sleeve!

I lost 100 pounds through diet and exercise before and people did treat me differently when I was smaller. I think, however, that it was only partly because I looked better and the other part was that I acted different. I walked with confidence and looked people in the eye and smiled more than I do when I am large. People respond to confidence.

Emily
Malabsorption is one of the reasons I chose the sleeve over any other WLS. I take a lot of medication and there must be no question that my meds are properly going through my system.
Since this is the sleeve board, i can safely say most everyone here is happy and glad they had the sleeve done over any other WLS. There are exceptions of course.
As far as "the DS being the fastest most powerful, not sure about that...." I'm a believer that slow and steady wins the race", and all those other cliche' that I can't think of :(but on the other hand we all lose weight at our own speed, we're all different, not good or bad.
Good luck on your decision
hope we see you in sleeveland
kathy

Your before and afters are great!! Congrats on your success!!

OH! VERY EXCITING! Congrats to you and enjoy that trip!!

LOL Nancy. Thanks for the visual.

When I'm done eating I seem to give birth to a "pterodactyl"as my husband has so kindly dubbed my burps. They are significantly better when I keep up with my Nexium! Good luck!!

You seriously crack me UP!! LOL - THANKS for sharing!

This is the reason I got the sleeve! In all the diets I have ever been on I would lose weight at a wonderful rate for 2 to 3 months and then would hit a stall. The stalls would last 3 or more weeks but usually until I got frustrated, said screw it, and went back to all my old eating habits. Of course the weight came right back on.
Now, with the sleeve I will just have to wait it out because I can't go back to eating like I did before.

Thanks, Nancy!

I never did get nervous. When you know the decision is right, there is no need for worry!! Good luck and speedy recovery to you!!

Do wonders never cease. I've only been sleeved for the past 3 months and in that time have already seen 2 or 3 varying ways for these to be done! Medicine sure advances quickly! Thanks for sharing!!

OMG I just got a call from my doctor office I have cigna as well. My surgery is July 11th. I am nervous as well. Good luck to you

A few other random things about fit that might be helpful to folks loosing weight. The shoulder seam of a shirt or jacket should always be at the top of the shoulder. If it's further down your arm the garment is too large.
The cuff of your shirt or blazer should be where your wrist watch would be. If your jacket cuff covers the top of your hand it's too big, or if it shows your wrist watch when your arm is relaxed at your side (if you don't wear a watch just imagine where one would be lol) then the garment is too small.
Pants- if we're talking dress pants... the hem of the bottom of your pants should never touch the ground- if it is it's too long. And the pants should never revel the top of your shoe. The pants should cover the top of the shoe and just come a smidge above the bottom of the back of the shoe.
Just some random tips that may help someone out (or might not lol) but I think my professors would be proud to know I actually paid attention in my classes lol

I'm still pre op but it's a common misconception that loose clothes make you look smaller. It's actually the opposite, clothes that show the natural curve of your body (In a flattering way- obviosuly not a spandex bodysuit that's 2 sizes too small lol) but things that accentuate your waist actually make you look smaller. If you're wearing something that hangs on you, you will loose the shape of your body under the clothes and it makes you look larger.
There are rules to fashion, I know they can be confusing lol. With pants (a dress slack especially) you don't want it loose in the butt. There are diferent cuts to different types of pants though (wide leg for instance) which will 'skim' the butt and continue straight down the leg, that is not tight in the butt area. That cut can be good for someone with a larger butt who wants to make it look smaller. Generally though, you want the pants to hug your tush (no baggy booty) but not so tight that they fit you like your skinny jeans. (fashion major, I can't help myself lol)

Milk is good for you! Remember those sugars are naturally occurring sugars (it not like you are eating a candy bar every night), and your body does require carbs to function. Everything in modration will help keep everything in balance. You are lucky you can drink milk at all- a lot of people become intolerant of milk (I'm super glad I'm not one of them, though). One glass of milk at night is not going to sabotage your surgery. The fact that you are so aware of what you are eating and what is in the food will only help ensure your success!
Keep up the great work!

Well, you said it! Truly, stalls are completely normal and I dare say even an important part of this journey! I have gone through several myself. You're body needs this pause to catch up! The gain is just Water weight, I guarantee you! It is incredibly frustrating and emotionally it sucks!!! Instead of focusing on the numbers, take this time to monitor yourself in other ways. Make sure you are getting in your Protein and Water and vitmains. Feel how your clothes are getting looser. Feel how you can walk further and faster and how you hold your head up a little higher every day. Look at pictures of where you were and see how far you've come already. Avoid the scale for a little while. You cannot let it get you down. This sleeve is NOT a diet. It is not going to fail you. You are taking care of it by following your diet and it will take care of you! It will move, just be patient. I bet as soon as you accept that you are in a stall and relax and stop worrying about it... the scale will move lol!

Great job BrandiMarie! I'm glad to see you set a new goal and I can't wait to Celebrate your victory when you blow the doors off this one too! Woo Hoo!!!

I had a neck lift along with a face lift. My double chins turned into saggy wrinkles after my weight loss. The incisions for the neck lift are right under my chin, hidden in shadow, and in my hair around the back of my neck. I used to have a mole right under my chin and now it is about 2 inches further back toward my throat, so my surgeon removed a lot of saggy skin. I have a 90 degree angle now and a beautifully defined jawline. It was not painful for me and recovery was pretty short, about a week and I could cover the bruising with scarves or a turtleneck. I am very pleased.

Your thread is so bitter sweet. I know what you mean about for the first time ever WANTING to run (without someone chasing you with a weapon)! I started the C25K and will be starrting week 3 tomorrow. I'm sorry you ran into this snag! I'm sure with the right medical interventions you'll be up and running in no time!!