suzilouise

When I was given Water in hospital after my op it was given to me with a straw. I have not had any problems drinking with a straw since.

Hello all, I think the last time I posted I was really down in the dumps as I was having a lot of post op health issues. My latest update is that I am 56lbs off (4 stone for those who work in stones) and feel amazing. My confidence and mojo are back! I still have a long way to go, but I am so proud of my achievements so far.
This operation was the best thing I ever did and for all the problems I have had it was still worth it x 10.

Hello all, I think the last time I posted I was really down in the dumps as I was having a lot of post op health issues. My latest update is that I am 56lbs off (4 stone for those who work in stones) and feel amazing. My confidence and mojo are back! I still have a long way to go, but I am so proud of my achievements so far.
This operation was the best thing I ever did and for all the problems I have had it was still worth it x 10.

I am happy to report all 6 pounds are gone, and I have even lost another 2.6 pounds. Whew.

OA can really help a lot of people. There's a great book, a very short read, about overeating called "Hungry" by Allen Zadoff. He's not a surgery advocate and didn't have surgery, but it does address his journey with overeating and how he overcame it.
The sleeve WILL prevent you from eating massive amounts of food and it will do it from day one for the rest of your life. Eating enough to stretch it even the small amount it will give will cause you pain and you will simply toss the extra bites of food back up. This is not a pouch that will slowly give way to overeating. It will never stretch out to anything remotely like a preop stomach.
That said, it's possible to eat just about any food with the sleeve, and we have no malabsorption. So if you make the choice to eat massive amounts of, say, ice cream or pudding, there is nothing to stop you. Nothing in the sleeve forces you to eat less calories, at least once you're healed. If you make the same poor choices after surgery, you will not succeed in reaching your goal. Sure, you can't eat a whole pizza, an order of wings and drink two liters of soda. But you could easily consume over 2,000 calories a day if you made them slider foods.
I've seen very few people post about regains on here. I've seen a small number of people come back here because they've only managed to lose a third of their excess weight and need help getting back on track. There could be a larger number of people struggling and they're simply not admitting it out in a public forum. There's no way to know.
Just like any WLS, the sleeve can only take you so far. I think the most important part of reaching and maintaining goal is working on the emotional/mental issues that make us fat in the first place. Beyond that, the sleeve really is only a tool that gives us the restriction we need to feel satisfied with less food.
Don't hold me to it, but I'm pretty sure that every single time someone has posted on here with real issues losing, they admit to not really following a good diet. I know that every regain post I've seen has had to do with people not working on their issues prior to goal and being unprepared for life in maintenance. You would have to WORK at eating the wrong things to fail at the sleeve. But the most important thing any of us can do to ensure a fully healthy body and mind after surgery (and for the rest of our lives) is working through the baggage, not just aiming for a number on the scale. So OA, counseling, coming here - whatever it is that you need to do to work on things - you have to do it. If you don't, you'll get to goal and have learned nothing more than how to lose weight restricting calories and you won't have the tools you need or the healthy outlook to easily maintain.
I, personally, LOVE my sleeve. It got me to goal. It took away my hunger and let me stick to the restrictive diet I needed for the 17 months it took me to hit goal. It gave me the time I needed to work on my emotional eating and overeating issues, which was much easier to do when food wasn't as appealing and it was difficult to eat much. I'm maintaining pretty easily and I now eat pretty much whatever I want but I do it in moderation. I'm normal, and I couldn't have done it without my sleeve.
~Cheri

My op was on 6/26. I posted yesterday as I was feeling very sorry for myself with quite a few post op issues. I got some lovely comments on the thread, some private messages and I met some friends in the afternoon which really cheered me up.
I have had a good think to myself on how to turn all this into a positive. I have lost 34lbs which seems to be a lot less than some, but I know I would never have the motivation to do it myself and at the end of the day that's a great weight loss. I am going to join the gym after work tonight and stop feeling sorry for myself and take some control.
I have been given the privilege of being allowed this op and I am going to make the most of it.
Good luck in whatever you decide.

Thanks so much to everyone. Seriously, they are all great answers. Well, I went ahead and told get the partial truth last night, and something just don't feel right. It's been bothering me all night and today. =/ I never wanted to be this "spokesperson" or peoples deciding factor for thier weight loss problems (or solutions), I do feel good about when people ask me for advice I can steer then in the direction of high Protein, low to no carb, but to call my Dad a liar when in fact he was happy for me and told the truth; I feel wrong for. Soooo with all that being said, I'm just going to write my story/journey and post it. If it helps someone, great; if someone thinks differently of me, welp, not my problem. =) At least i'm free, by sharing the truth.
Love you all.

Hi, no we don't get shots for shingles in the UK just a 5 day course of tablets. I am on day 2, so they should hopefully start clearing up soon :-)

Thanks people, it's much appreciated.
I do take multi-Vitamins daily, but I think the colonic irrigation is a great idea - thank you.
I think my body has not taken well to the surgery and has left me feeling run down and therefore open to getting these things.
On the brightside I have lost 36 pounds, the sun is shining and I am going to put a nice dress on and meet friends for a cuppa this afternoon :-)
Thank you so much xxx

When I was given Water in hospital after my op it was given to me with a straw. I have not had any problems drinking with a straw since.

I have been told no soda and I love diet coke. Do you guys get Soda Stream in America? If so, I bought the diet coke Syrup that you buy for the soda stream and mix it with Water. Hey presto, completely flat diet coke.

You look amazing, congratulations. I bet you will look fantastic in your wedding dress :-)

Going back to work this morning so I start getting dressed and damned pants fell off! Holy cow! Guess its time to go buy new work pants. Thank god for a good belt. I look like MC Hammer but oh well. Lol

Hi Everyone,

Recently I have heard of a couple of people who have backed out from having Weight Loss Surgery with Dr. Aceves. I think to myself what a shame. For the most part they backed out because their “own” families had been giving them such a bad time about doing this.

I consider these family members “Adult Bully’s” they are the worst kind of bully. Your very own family should be there to support and encourage you to make your life better and most of all healthy.

You are going to DIE so much faster from being fat. You have an illness or disease and it is called Obesity. If a Doctor told your family that if you did not have your appendix out you were going to die—they would say go ahead and take it out. If you do not have Weight Loss Surgery, you are going to be in poor health and it could result in your death Please think about what I am saying.

You are an adult and you DO NOT owe them any explanation of what you are doing. Stand up for yourself and your health and be a hero and save your own life. I know it is hard for you to stand up for you—if you can’t then I will stand up for you. You do not need their permission to have weight loss surgery.

You have earned the right to make these kinds of choices for yourself—you are an adult. Most of us have experienced a little of this negative kind of remarks and comments from someone before we have weight loss surgery, but we learned we had to do what is best for us. STOP giving away your power to make good and healthy choice for YOU.

This is NOT about them, this is ALL about you. Take back your power and control—YOU can do this. If you need someone to talk to them and educate them, I am more than happy to talk with them. I find that most of the time people who are these “Adult Bully’s” when it comes to weight loss surgery are misinformed, scared, have all the wrong medical information, and just need a little education. Some are also scared they will lose you if you become skinny and they remain fat. They are being selfish and that is really sad.

I want you to take back your power and put yourself first. It has been years since you have done this. There are so many of us out here who support you and will be there every step of the way with you. So if you are sitting out there and reading these posts and someone has bullied you, this message is directed to you. They want to keep you under their power and control—that is so wrong!! You NO longer need to fear what they think. I am here to help you in any way I can. You can be very successful and healthy and take back your life. Again this is ALL ABOUT YOU AND NO ONE ELSE.

This is my private E-mail—please send me a note and we will start talking. I will call you also if you would like.
Suzannesh@AOL.com

Together we will get you through this.
Hugs,
Suzanne
Lost 105 pounds

Sending my thoughts and prayers to all the June 26, 2012 Sleever's!! Good luck and see you on the other side!
locoladi
Trista1975 -- Dr. Almanza-reyes, Mexico
JTmoas
s.ledbetter17 -- Dr. Edwards and Lane – mcg.
Nardelkn
cherryseven
chuckles -- Dr. Keith Gersin
Misslorlor
MsPerry
1920-Zeta
tumblersmom
glocks90
suzilouise
rudekitty
ShrinkingBellyKelly
loulou123

I had my sleeve done on Tuesday and just got released and home today. I had tears on the day before surgery, more tears the morning of surgery, some in the recovery room and some more today. My emotions are all over the place.
However I know that I couldn't continue with the weight I was. The back pain and being uncomfortable in my own body. I am glad I had the surgery done and look forward to losing the weight and feeling great again :-)

Johnathan,
I hope you really use the search bar on this forum as there have been a ton of excellent conversations about just this topic. I've not had both, but my sister had/has the band and I the Sleeve. I don't want to "convince" you to go either way. This is a VERY PERSONAL decision. But since you've asked, allow me to share MY point of view and observations of my sister and myself.
My sister had her done 3 years ago. She's lost about 60 pounds total. In the first year, she lost like 30 or 40 and put that back on. She got serious and re-lost it again with a little more. She is very unhappy with the amount she's lost. In the medical world you only need to lose 50% of your EXCESS weight for them to consider your loss a success. She cannot eat "normally." Everything she eats is "slider" foods so stuff covered in gravies and syrups. Pasta dishes and Desserts. Go figure she isn't still losing. When someone fixes a meal or she goes to a party of some sort, it's all about what "can" she eat, versus what "should" she eat. She has to go in constantly for fills and, when that makes her sick, un-fills. This process is on going. That's a lot to maintain, IMO.
I had my sleeve done on 3/27 (12 weeks ago) I'm down 50-52 pounds. I have no foreign body in my body for my body to absorb or reject. There is no maintenance. I "can" eat most anything without problem. As time goes by, other than carbonated beverages, I will be able to eat whatever I want. Of course, this sleeve is a tool and we need to always be mindful about what we eat, but if I go to a party and it's all foods I wouldn't normally eat - I don't stress. I love to work out and if I overindulge I just work it off. I am happier and healthier than I've been in over 20 years. And my sister wishes she had had the sleeve done.
I pray that you find the answers you are looking for and get peace with the decision you make!

Wheetsin, didn't mean to imply that those not losing rapidly aren't committed and following the rules! As I said, I like to take credit when I can!
But now that you mention it, I did have a metabolic rate test pre-op, and I came out on the super-human end of the scale. Now, that's a good thing post-op, but it also points out that I really had to work hard to pack on that extra 100 pounds. Shame on me.

Well it's the big day tomorrow for me. I have had my band in and out a few years later and was fine, but for some reason today I am really tearful. Maybe it's because it's a bigger op and a bigger recovery time, I don't know. I am just really worried this time round :-(

26th June in Bristol - England

You really need to tell them even if it delays your op for a few weeks. It will affect your anaesthetic and would also imagine you have a cough which will be sore on your post op scars. Good luck x