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I totally agree cause u could eat around the sleeve yes it helps w portions but if u eat lunch then 20 minutes it again and again then it's possible the you could feel at the sleeve

How true. You can gain/regain weight with the sleeve or any type of WLS. Everyone needs to stop pretending otherwise.This is why getting the head in gear along with the body is so important.

I picked up their version of Ranch at Kroger's, cannot wait to try it!

I know surgery was the best option for me as my eating was out of control and I was at a top weight to prove it. On the other hand, the skin issues as one goes past the 100 lb pound loss point are no joke. Watching the pounds drop while my skin sags right along with it has been an eye opener. The fact that I will probably never have the funds for reconstructive plastic surgery is a very depressing realization.

Now add the little medical mysteries I keep encountering: dizziness, light headedness, high cholesterol, moderate to high glucose readings, random muscle injuries (NONE of which I had prior to surgery) and I am now on the fence about WLS in general. I refuse to be one of those people where the only thing that matters is weight loss - I want the excellent health that should go along with it. I had it prior and I want it back.

Now should my doc find a way to alleviate all of this, then I will probably become the biggest cheerleader out there! Only time will tell.

Thanks for the link!

I called the Dr nearest to me this morning. They said the ins I expect to have will only pay a surgeon at a center if excellence. One is about 90 miles away and I haven't gotten to speak with them yet ( answering machine). The other is over 100 miles away. They have daily seminars followed by a one on one with the surgeon after(if you have ins.) So I am going to wait until I have secured coverage so that I can speak with the doc the same day. Its not every month but I frequently have to travel to Indy for my special needs kids' medical care so perhaps I can work it so that I can see whatever surgeon I choose the same day that I am already up there. My kids are my priority so if anyone is going to go without a needed appt it will be me, but if I can hit two birds with 1 stone that could work...

Do you know anyone that has had WLS? If so use them as a guide. If not, then definitely start with your insurance company as they can give you a list of in-network physicians/facilities. I will also second the suggestion to attend local seminars. If nothing else it will provide additional real time information. Once you compile a list of name, use the search function here to see if anyone has experience with them. There are tons of way to locate a surgeon but in the end, there is nothing better than a face to face meeting.

If I am not mistaken, weight loss surgeons are usually general surgeons with a specialty in bariatrics. I am quite happy to have the experience of a general surgeon for exactly the reasons Iniysa stated above. In addition my doctor is a teaching surgeon, training the next generation of bariatric surgeons and they are learning from one of the best.

At almost 8 months out my weight loss has seriously slowed down with a major plateau from month seven to eight. The scale has finally started moving again with a drop in size as well.

It is my understanding that vertigo presents like the "room is spinning" where my symptoms where more like I was just unstable, eyes crossed and would not focus, light headed. Was the room spinning for you?

There were two major incidents in December, no actual room spinning but there was a tilting feeling. I was very unstable, dizzy, light headed and feeling as if I was going to pass out without actually doing so. First diagnosis came from an urgent care physician, almost week later when the same symptoms presented again with the addition of being freezing cold with uncontrollable shaking, I visited an actual ER where the doctor came to the same diagnosis along with moderate dehydration. He even performing a CT scan of the head as a precaution. He prescribed different meds from the UC physician. All was fine until last week.

The latest incident was an instant onset of dizziness, light headedness and passing out in rapid succession. No room spinning or tilting present. My PCP has ordered labs, ekg, echo, 24 holter monitor and another head CT. All results should be in by my visit with her late next week.

I am currently dealing with the dizziness/lightheaded issue. Had an attack in December which was attributed to Vertigo. Took meds and all had been fine until last week when it happened again and I actually passed out. Thankfully I was at home and only received basic falling injuries. My PCP is running a battery of tests, including cardio related to rule out any heart issues. I told her about my continuing struggle with Water intake so a number of labs have been ordered as well. I go for a follow-up next week to receive the results. I have no idea what is going on but it is comforting to hear others going thru this as well.

I have to find a resolution as I cannot function with the dizziness and/or fear of passing out hanging over my head.

Skin issues/results depend on age, amount of weight lost and the amount of time being overweight. The younger you are when losing weight, the better the results will be. People touting special creams and other amazing items are usually fooling themselves (and those they sucker into buying such items). Once your body has been abused by being overweight for extreme amounts of time, it just cannot bounce back. That is just reality.

At how many months out did he suggest you take ursodiol?

Six but I stopped at 4.

Looks like that's just Calcium and Vitamin d though. I'll call for samples if thy actually have a multi.

All of the items they sell are listed there, including the multi. Do inquire about the samples from Wellesse. They came within a week of my request.

Yep, mine has been steadily climbing since surgery (July 17th, right ahead of you!) and no one has a good reason for it. I have not been put on meds yet but i am terrified of what my PCP will say/do at my next lab check. That happens in April....

It is an awful feeling but you'll remember it next time you eat, forcing yourself to slow down.

You look great, love the captions! lol

I am almost 7 or so months out and no gallbladder problems. My surgeon had me taking ursodiol for several months after surgery to offset such issues.

Where do you get this? I just looked on Amazon and vitacost and don't see it.

They sell via the website but I purchase mine from costco (great prices but very large size). I know they have samples so try for those first. I was able to find the Calcium at Walmart but never found the multi in store locally.

http://www.wellesse.com/

It is sold on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=a9_sc_1?rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Awellesse&keywords=wellesse&ie=UTF8&qid=1363224445

Interesting and somewhat surprising. I have no idea if it is good or bad medically but maybe you can avoid it in the future.

I am taking the Wellesse liquid multi-Vitamin which uses Erythritol (I looked after reading your question!). A web search shows that to be a natural sugar alcohol with the least impact on blood sugar. Maybe give it a try once you run out of Centrum.

What brand are you using?

Hehe.. i just went to costco and had a nice lunch

of samples (tilapia, salmon, sausage)

One of my fave meals - costco sample lunch! lol.

You need help. That soon after surgery you need to be taking care of yourself plus children require time and patience which you may be short on.

That's a hard one I know! But I've been thinking about buying stock in these because most people end up liking them! I've actually have gone to costco and they have been sold out!

My his husband even drinks them...

Maybe if you have a friend interested in them split a case?

No friends to share with. Of my close WLS friends, one does no Protein shakes and the other uses another brand. Maybe I will get lucky and be in store one day when they are offering samples.

This is not abnormal. I have had an extremely heightened sense of smell since surgery. Little smells that previously would not have bothered me can make me very ill now. It was much worse immediately post-op so at least it is getting better with time.

Very good question! I am not at goal yet but at this point I need to make new friends and really have no idea of how to go about it either. The majority of my long-time friends are married with childred or otherwise occuppied which means they are not available to do much anymore. In addition, 99% of our activities were/are food based. I no longer want to be the eating, watching tv couch potato but am not really so outgoing to just make new friends at the drop of a hat.

When you figure this all out, do share with the rest of us!

Premier ready made drinking one now!

I want to try this but can never find them for sale as singles. I do not want to purchase a case, not like it and waste money.

I wondered if they just wanted me to buy from there.. They sell Celebrate, Bariatric Advantage and unjury brands

This is your answer. Personally I stopped buying anything from my nutritionist/hospital store after a discussion/disagreement concerning Vitamins. In the end, you have to do what works for you, not what your nutritionist sells.

Keep trying until you find a shake/drink that you can tolerate. Hit GNC or other such stores and see what they offer in the way of samples/individual sizes or jump online and order some sample packs. That way you can try without wasting large amounts of money. Here are a couple of links but there are more out there.

http://www.mybariatricpantry.com/SYNTRAX_NECTAR_PROTEIN_POWDER_SAMPLES_p/nectar-sample.htm

http://www.chikenutrition.com/chike-variety-pack.html