suzcomptime

Lissa, Thank you for being a source for the rest of us. Sorry for all of your tragedies and losses. It takes strength to not fall back to our old ways during these times of sadness and/or stress. I just started back on my heavier schedule (summers are lite, school year crazy busy) and have not made it to the gym this week since I've been getting out at 6 or 7 everynight from work. Now is the time to buck up and do the right thing. Thanks for the inspiration. Also, for you or anyone that is willing I have started a poll that I would love to see people that are 6 months or more out to participate in. I belong to a group of sleevers that were all done in May this year and we have all started our hair loss journey and they brought up some questions and so I decided to start a poll to see if I can get some answers for them. THANKS http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/51194-hair-loss/

I had the single incision. The Dr. mentioned it to me and I said: "at my age I'll never wear a bikini again so go ahead with single incision BUT if it makes the procedure harder for you, than just do it the regular way". He inspected my stomach and thought I was a good candidate (I am short-waisted so that makes sense based on the previous poster who mentioned long torso being an issue for si). I do not feel I had any more pain but of course that is hard to say. My incisions did not bother me at all except they itched as they healed and when mine were healed other posters who were sleeved around the same time seemed to be having issues with their many incisions. I think there is less chance of infections etc because less incisions. I actually had 3 but two were just little dots that had a surgistrip over them, you wouldn't know they were even an incision. I think that is where the camera and something else go in.

Hi, I think I posted in here earlier but wanted to do an update. I turned 57 about a month after I was sleeved. I was sleeved 5/21 and it has been one of my best life decisions. Last winter I weighed 225 (230 at Dr's). I lost about 8 from then until my pre-op liquid diet. Lost quite a bit pre & post op, (was on liquids 4 weeks). I don't think my age was a huge factor in the process or the healing. I feel great, I just started working out at the gym. Yes there is saggy skin on my stomach, upper arms and inner thighs but I just started working out so it will improve a little with that. Honestly in clothes it doesn't show. I have lost a total of 58 lbs since last winter, I have 32 lbs left to go to get to a normal bmi. I am quite happy and am not going to stress about the last 32. To be in a size 14 and heading toward a 12 is so much better than 20-22 and 2X that I'd think it was worth it, even if this is as far as I got.

Where did you get this information? I have read other articles about the link of increasing ghrelin in lab mice, increasing memory. Yours was the first post I have seen that said the opposite. Can you provide a source? That being said, I haven't really noticed a loss or gain either way. I still forget things but before surgery I was putting it to "old age"....but I really don't think it is much different than any one else. I was glad that I didn't have some type of obvious memory loss or I probably wouldn't be able to do my job....I have to keep a lot in my head! Almost 3 months out and it is a non-issue.

I belong to another group that were sleeved in May. People talk a lot about stalls and slowing down. My theory from scanning through the profiles and signatures that provide enough detail from members a few months out, is that you lose fastest the first couple of months but then things slow to more of an average of around 10 lbs. Can you comment to your personal experience? I feel that many are getting discouraged and may be expecting to keep up their 14 lb per week weight loss. How did your weight loss go? Thanks

Like someone else said, being able to eat more is normal at the beginning because you are very swollen after surgery. Also, just think of this as temporary. Where you are right now, is not where you will be in 3 or 4 months. It is a temporary price to pay for a life changing choice you made for your health. You will be able to eat regular food again, just in smaller quantities. Of course, making healthy choices is start part of the plan in order to reach your goal. Get 60 Protein a day and you are set. If you buy powdered you can mix it double strength to have less too drink but it may taste too sweet. That is the biggest problem I am having that things taste too sweet or too strong. The other option is mix it weaker and just sip for a few hours and do that a few times.....gives you your protein and your other liquid. Oh, and my birthday is in a few weeks and I will not be eating cake. I may make some protein icecream though: The World According to Egg Face

I would suggest getting Unjury unflavored protein to supplement. You can put it into soups, yogurt, etc because some of the mushy/puree food does not have enough protein without supplementing with 1 or more protein shakes. If you can't stand the shakes, than at least try and get some protein in with the food you can eat.

Thanks for the responses. I hope I can be patient as well.

Unjury chicken broth has been my life saver as warm is what I tolerate best. You have to be careful not too overheat the water as I guess it can make the texture weird. I actually use my meat probe thermometer and make sure it is 130 degrees or less before I add the Unjury to the cup of hot water.

I was told to leave the surgistrips on the two small incisions until they fell off. When I shower, I don't srub them, just let Water wash over and than pat dry gently. For my big incision, which I can't even really see since it is inside my belly button, he said to take the large bandaid off, pull out the gauze stuffed in my belly button, take my shower and then gently pat inside my belly button dry, put fresh gauze in there and recover with another large bandaid. So far, so good. I am 8 days out. Sue

So sorry about this tragedy I am sure your surgeon will be understanding and may help get you in when the time is right.

I hit onerland today, it sure does feel good.

I already switched to decaf well before surgery because I didn't want to deal with too many things at once. I was told that caffeine is hard on your stomach and it would be best to do decaf from now out. Since I've switched, I think I'll try to stay there and not go back to caffeine. I am surprised Candyman that your Dr. said it had to be cold. Why would that make a difference? In fact, I am 1 week out and warm liquids work much better than cold for now but I am not drinking anything hot, hot because my stomach is still healing.

Ha, good try on using mind over matter I am going to try egg face's homemade Protein icecream: http://theworldaccor...-ice-cream.html

Wow, just starting my journey but I am inspired by all of you and your transformations. I saw a cute LRD at TJMaxx recently and almost bought it as an inspiration outfit. However, I have not been down to any kind of reasonable weight since around 1990. I remember the sizes I wore in High School but not really after that and from what I understand a size 4 today compares to a higher size back then as manufacturers make clothes larger now as far as sizing is concerned. So I passed on the red dress with ruffles and I will patiently wait.

Pizza soup.....now maybe a tomato based soup with some pizza spice and sprinkled shredded pizza cheese on top might work. I've bought some cream soups, potato leek and butternut squash there are a few out there premade and they are in my cupboard waiting.

Haha, great mind control.....It reminded me of a book I read years ago that talked about mayo and how much oil was in it and other unhealthy foods. After reading the book that visualization kept me from eating mayo for quite some time.

Sorry but I realize how you feel. Even though I didn't eat McDonald's hamburgers before, someone was at my house eating one when I was on the liquid pre-op and I thought to myself "I could so lick that".....so you're not alone in the licking impulse, hopefully once we eat solid food, we can add flavor etc so we aren't quite so compelled.

Find a beautiful place to walk, that is close enough so you can do it daily. Don't just walk for the exercise at someplace that might be near by unless you won't walk otherwise.....find a few places that you can walk that actually add to your mental state as well. There is a college in my town that allows locals to walk their football field/track....doesn't sound very pretty but the whole outside of the track is filled with perennial beds and in the background are these stately brick buildings, the largest with a state capital like dome/cupola. The grounds are meticulously groomed and I just like walking there. I do tend to walk there with someone else but if you find your own "Zen" spots and walk daily, you might budget that last little bit or at least have an enjoyable time.

I am trying to get my liquids in and wondering what other people had the best luck with. Did you find cold, hot, room temperature worked the best? I don't have a problem with what taste good or what I like but I get these little spasm after a few sips and I am hoping to find something that works the best. It kind of feels like when you get those big air bubbles that hurt going up through your chest. I will be on Protein drinks and Clear Liquids for two weeks but today I'm just working on getting in some liquids. (Surgery date 5/21). I haven't dared try more sold like sf popsicles and sf Jello.

Looks pretty much like warm is the way to head so that is the direction. I thought I'd ask first to avoid a spasm if I could. I am off to try some Unjury chicken broth. Thanks for all the replies/help.

I just sent a friend request. Hopefully I have the right group. Sue Ellis Lambert Thanks