carolnphx

Hi everybody, I have been out of state for almost 2 weeks and even tho I took my lap top there was no Wi Fi to tag into. I felt so lost not having VST to check every day or should I say several times a day.

I see several new friends have joined and I missed saying welcome. So here is one big welcome to all those I have missed.

I was concerned about my food and eating while away from my comfort/safety of home but did OK. Was hard/interesting because all we did was eat out with friends/family 2 meals sometimes 3 meals a day. Was a true test to say the least. No one there knew or will know about my surgery.

My wt is down considerably since they saw me last but when questioned I told them I just watch my portions, eat no fried foods, white carbs or sweets. Often their reply was ...well, that is a hell of a way to live. My reply always was it might be for you but I love it and I love the results.

I go for my 3 month check up Monday. I am anxious to see Dr A and everybody again. We are staying a couple days at hotel so I can enjoy everything there. I kinda missed it in April. ha

So bottom line this is what has been on my mind for 2 weeks. Again, welcome and good luck on your WL journey to all that have joined while I was out of touch.

Carol

I am scheduled for my 3 month follow-up (late) with Dr Aceves on August 10th. Is anybody going to be in Mexicali having surgery on the 10th? carol

Jill, So glad you are home and everything is OK. Some people on here have gotten results with their gas by applying a heating pad to the stomach or shoulder area. Give it a try it might help. Good luck with your post-diet.

This was last Tuesday, right, not yesterday? carol

How did the rest of you do before starting the pre-op?

I did alright on my pre-op diet. My co-ordinator told me to just do the Atkins diet and I would be fine and I was. If your dr did not want you on liquids pre-op, I would suggest staying away from liquids because you are going to get so sick of liquids post-op for the 2 weeks or whatever your doc requires.

I had several last meals too. Dumb to do because you just gain wt but I wanted to be sure I had my fill of my favorite things. I knew I would never be able to eat as before.

Good luck, and success with your surgery. carol

Ok this is great. It will be here before you know it.

Oh my, you will be able to eat off your canned goods and freezer all winter. My bother still lives in Indiana and they have a huge garder. My mouth waters every time he mentions something. He keeps talking about the tomatoes and I tell him to remember I like 1/2 # of bacon on my sandwich. Guess that won't be any more. Let's see how many weeks would it take to eat that. ha I eat turkey bacon now. I can hardly gag down regular bacon. I guess that is good.

Sorry about your husband's job. Hopefully after a short rest he will be able to find work. Take care and enjoy your garden. Wish we could all come there and enjoy it with you. carol

I only have 5 more lbs that I want off and I will consider myself done.

Wow, Congrats. I guess I missed that you were almost at your goal. That is fantastic. I am so happy for you.

Hopefully by end if year I will be pretty close. I don't have a # yet. I will go more by appearance.

I am sure you will get your last few #'s off. carol

Does the eye liner hurt? That kind of freaks me out having a needle so close to my eye. Would it be cheaper if you only did the top lid? Also, the line is not really thick is it?

Yes, it hurts but is very tolerable. Is more pressure than hurt because she puts that numbing salve on prior. You are laying back in like a dentist chair and she has this magnifying head gear thingy on.

You set up ahead of time shape of brow etc and the thickness of liner. Mine looks just as if I penciled it in. I'm sure just doing 1/2 would have to be much less $$. I will ask when I go on the 20th and let you know. carol

Sounds as if your body has finally accepted the surgery. I am so glad you were able to eat and keep down food. Your wt loss is great. Hopefully you will be on a smoother road now. Take care. carol

It doesn't require a lot of strength. You take one bite too many and you suffer the consequences.

To me if I over eat that 1 bite I have not ever vomited or slimed etc all I get and believe me it is enough is I am just "stuffed " like over eating at a Thanksgiving dinner. No pain or any thing just stuffed. It takes maybe 1/2 hour to pass but is definitely something that I don't like. carol

Congrats on your date and your future WL journey. carol

Good luck, I know you will be really glad that you have made this step toward a healthy life. I will keep you in my prayers and thoughts and I know many others here will also. When you get able, please let us all know how you are doing. carol

It really and truly does get better guys! At nearly four months out, I have very few, if any problems and absolutely love mine. The key is listening to your body. Stop eating when you are no longer hungry, don't wait until you have that full feeling because you will probably end up being uncomfortable later.

I am 3 1/2 months post sleeve and I have had NO problems with eating or getting my fluids in; however, sometimes I miss food. Example...We were out with another couple Saturday and it just hit me all of a sudden as to how much I missed eating and enjoying food. I can only eat 2 oz of hard Protein and then maybe 1/2 cup steamed veggies at a meal. I had ordered a side of crab stuffed shrimp and ate 2 of the 4 and was "at my full". I got real teary and had to have a private talk with myself.

I know and believe all the... this is what I HAD to do to live and get my health back, I love having lost 65 # in 3 months, I enjoy the conversation when eating with others, I can eat 2 oz of anything that I want except maybe some beef etc, etc BUT I do miss food terribly. I know is a mental thing however it hurts. Carol

Permanent eye make up sounds like the way to go! How expensive is it to do eye liner?

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I called and made an appointment for touch-up. This is the pricing: eye liner $400, brows $400, lip liner $350 and full lip $500. I forgot to ask the cost for touch-up. Guess I will find out on the 20th. Looks like I have done touch-up about every 2 years. What I remember is $75 for each area. Like I said I really like it and would hate to not have it. carol

It seems to work better than Benefiber! (I've been lax about taking my benefiber because I haven't been doing a shake every morning for breakfast and, even when I do, I have been trying different powders and I keep forgetting to put it in.

I have a cup of tea every morning and I put my Benefiber in that. It is easier for me to remember that way. About 10 then I have either an individual portion size Jerky or a Premier Protein drink. carol

I would love to meet you too. I go on the 60 all the time. I love AZ Mills.

Daisy,This is so funny. I live maybe a mile from AZ Mills. Sounds like a plan to me. Let's definitely get together on your next trip. Will be fun. carol

Let us know Carol -- never been to Phoenix or Mesa so might be worth the trip -- and $1000 over 3 years isn't all that bad when you think about it ...

I will schedule an appointment and ask prices and let you know.

Like I said in the earlier post she works with burn patients. One time at a touch-up she called and canceled my appointment. When I went to my re-scheduled appontment she said this surgeon called her for emergency pigmentation for a burn patient. She put areolas on this ladies "new breasts". As the surgeon took skin/tissue from wherever she gave her areolas. That story put me over the top. Just think how that made that lady feel. Made me cry.

I really don't have a problem with not being able to gulp liquids but my issue is that I cannot do cold. If I take a drink of anything with ice I get spasms like when you eat ice cream to fast. Room temp Water etc is kinda blah. I am able to get minimun of 64 oz in tho. Usually is in the 80 or 90 ounces range. carol

Daisy, actually I live in Tempe just to the east of Phx. Everyone knows Phx so I just started doing everything "carolnphx". When you come over here to work on your Dad's house you will have to stop by. I am maybe 2 miles off US 60 maybe 5 minutes from the airport. We will go do lunch or whatever. That would be super. Sounds like a plan. I'd love to meet you.

I can't remember what the initial cost was for the medical pigmentation. Seems like I paid around $500 for eye liners and brow. Is $100, I think, for touch-up. Then when I stand looking at myself in the mirror and I want to add a pencil to brow or whatever I know is time to get touch-up. It is time now. I have been thinking of getting an appointmnet so maybe this will push me into making the call. When I call I will ask for current pricing and report back. Sounds kinda spendy but it lasts for a very long time.

My friend does her lips too. I couldn't do that because when I am stressed I get cold sores on my lips and tech said that it would not be a constant color because of scaring left from my cold sores. Oh well, can't have everything, I guess. ha

She puts numbing salve on areas before but still hurts but not bad. Is like blood draw pain maybe. When I was working I did on Friday and was fine by Monday to go to work. I just had to put Neosporin on the areas then several times a day. Is something I will not be without.

Is definitely worth the $$ and the discomfort of getting it done. Her salon is in Mesa on corner of Baseline and Mesa Drive.

I hate to do make up too. Maybe 10 years ago a friend of mine told me about Medical Pigmentation. It is like "tatoos". I had my brows done and top and bottom eye liner. The lady that did it works for a burn center and does unbelievable reconstruction. She has all kinds of credentals. It lasts for probably 3 years and then fades to the point I go back and have a touch up. It was a life/time saver when I was working. So I put on some lip stick and away I go. If dressing up I do Bare Minerals foundation and I am good to go. I love it. carol

Renee, I looked at your pics. You have done great. What a difference. You have to be pleased with your WL journey. Keep up the good work. carol

Hi Jeff, Welcome to the forum. This is an awesome site with lots of good information and support. I know you will find answers to questons here. Thank you for sharing your story. Good luck in your WL journey. Carol

Welcome to the forum. I am so glad you had such a positive surgery and fabulous results. When did you have your surgery and how much wt have you lost. Kicking DM and getting off your meds is fantastic. Keep us posted on your WL journey. Carol

Oh my, what a visual.

One of my sayings is: If you look, there is always something to be thankful for no matter what the situation. Well in this visual it would be that someone invented swimming suits to keep things where they belong and not let things float.

Can't you just see a public pool pic of all us WLS winners. Oh my. Love it...!

Hi Barb. Good to have you join us here. Is so fun and we can learn so much from each other, get support and answers when we have doubts or questions. Will be waiting for you to share your journey. Super that you got your date. carol

Judy, that is super. I wish I had a place to use like that. My house is small and no room for exercise equipment. I have a stationay bike and an eliptical Gazelle on patio that works OK but is so hard to get me out there when it is 110 degrees. Any excuse, I know.

Bob it sounds like you found the best of all places. Everything a person could possibly want to do and oversight too. Awesome to both of you. Good luck with wt loss & exercising. carol