janep

Driver63 - I'm sorry about your leak. I didn't have any complications, but I replied here because I saw you were from Vero Beach. I'm from Vero too and had a sleeve done here in October. I hope your problems will all be resolved soon.

I was 37.1 BMI and self-pay. My surgeon also follows the guidelines and required 2 co-morbidities. I had high blood pressure, so that was one. For the second one we had to get a little more creative. I had higher than normal cholesterol, the program coordinator asked me if I ever had joint pain, and of course, EVER encompasses a lot, so that was a yes. I was able to get surgery within about a month of making the decision.

That formula actually worked for me. It came with a target BMI of 25.1 and I am at 25.2 right now. Two more pounds will put me in the normal range at 24.9. I am very happy with how I look at this weight and want to maintain here, so for me the formula was right on target.

I don't regret the surgery. Just over 3 months and 54 pounds down. However, I did get have to find what I could and couldn't tolerate. At first eggs and milk made me sick - I can do both now. I burp a lot - but they are dainty burps and I don't think people around me really notice - I get acid reflux at times which is new to me - but my Prilosec pretty much takes care of that. I would do it again even with the burps and reflux. I can eat small amounts of whatever I want and for the first time in my life I feel like the weight loss is permanent and I won't go back to being that fat person I was before.

Yep - I would be concerned enough to get it checked out. Swelling of the leg could be a sign of a blood clot. Not meant to scare you - but just get it checked out by a doctor to rule that out.

My program guidelines for Protein is that once you can eat three ounces of dense Protein three times a day, you no longer require protein supplements. On average, they say you can achieve this during the 3-6 month period. If you can get the 3 ounces 3 times a day that is about 60 grams and that doesn't count any additional protein sources like milk or cheese.

You do need Vitamins for life, but most people should be taking them for life anyway.

Good luck.

Congratulations on turning 50 and on your weight loss. You've done a great job and I'm sure you will reach your goal before you know it.

It's hard to imagine anybody regaining weight with a stomach this small. I've seen a few people on OH that have had the sleeve and experienced regain. The surgeon told me the sleeve would be about the size of my thumb, but this visual really helps to see what a difference there is. It doesn't look like the bougie size is going to make that much difference. The difference between a 32 and 40 - the most common sizes - seems pretty irrelevant when you see what they actually look like.

I had very high blood pressure before surgery. During my pre-op diet I ended up off the BP meds, and stayed off for about 2 months after surgery. My BP started creeping back up a bit, so I started back on meds - but only 1/3 of what I took pre-op.

Unfortunately, all the exercise in the world isn't going to tighten loose skin. It will build muscle, but not tighten the saggy skin. Instead, you will probably need to accept that the new you includes saggy skin - but it's much healthier than the excess weight. I know this because I'm right there with you. That's why I was so adamant that I not go below 150. I know from past experience that everything including my calves, sag horribly at less that 150. I will still have excess skin that I need to deal with, but it can be hidden by clothes. I won't be getting plastic surgery either, so I will have to count on my clothes to cover up. I can give up wearing shorts with my saggy thigh skin, but I want to at least be able to wear capris, and under 150 I can't even do that. I understand how hard this is. The one area on me that can never be hidden is my neck. It sags already and I still have 25 pounds to go.

You will be very pretty. And you will still be you - but with a lot more confidence. Your inner self will not change but people may see you differently because of the confidence you will gain. I know for me when I am heavy I tend to stay in the background, but I am much more outgoing when I am thinner. You will not lose yourself in this journey. You will be you, but better.

How far out are you. It could just be a temporary stall. I had one for 3 weeks, but then it broke and the weight started coming off again. You can't survive on 400 calories so if it's only been a week or two I'd up the calories, up the exercise and ride the stall out.

I'm 8 weeks out too - surgery was 10/15. I feel just as good as you do - isn't it great. I've lost about 40 pounds and I love it. Congratulations on the first 8 weeks.

Why aren't you eating avocado if that's what you are craving? I had avocado's during my mushie stage instead of mayo with things like shrimp salad and chicken salad. They have fat, but they also have a ton of nutrients. Did your nutritionist tell you that was something you couldn't have?

Mine used a 40 on me also, and when he was describing the new size also used the thumb as an example. I'm only 2 months out so don't know long term, but so far a 40 is working just fine for restriction. I can't eat more than an ounce or two at a time. My surgeon does do a lot of oversewing which can make the size slightly smaller, and helps prevent post-op leaks.

From the time I was on pureed two weeks out I have been allowed to use full fat foods. I use full fat mayo all the time.

Is there anything wrong with the Viactive Calcium? Those seem to taste pretty good, but I haven't seen anyone who says they take that.

I had surgery a week after you and am having the same experience. I have been stalled for the past week and am actually up a pound. I also have about a 30 pound loss total (including pre-op). I'm trying to be patient because with the small amount of food I am eating it seems like eventually the scale has to start moving again.

I just now got the OK to eat strawberries and raspberries. I had surgery 10/15. They want to make sure the staple line is fully healed so seeds can't get stuck in there.

I never really get hungry either. I've also never had a "full" feeling like pre-op. I feel like it's time to stop, but not because I'm full - it's usually because I've started burping.

I take Centrum pills without a problem. I'm six weeks out and have been taking them for three weeks. I also take a B-12 pill and a Protonix pill. This hasn't been an issue for me. My post-op pain medication was Darvocet which is a huge pill, and I took them starting day 2.

There are over-the-counter products available. I had never had heartburn until after surgery. I was put on pepcid but it didn't work. The surgeon switched me to to Protonix and that did the trick. I was still burping, but the acid reflux and heartburn went away. Now the burping is subsiding a little, so I'm hoping and 3 months I'll be able to get off the Protonix.

This story points out the importance of using a surgeon who provides follow-up care. My program has lifetime follow-up along with monthly support group meetings all at no additional cost. The coordinator and nutritionist are there for life - I call them all the time and see them at regularly scheduled follow-ups - 1 wk, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and yearly. In addition, my surgeon instructed me that if I ever have to go to the ED for anything, he wanted to be called so he could see me. My surgery was out-of-pocket like many others, but I stayed here close to home for this very reason. I know other doctor's don't want to "fix" what another doctor has done and it can get very sticky if you have complications. I'm so sorry for your mother-in-laws problems. I hope something can be learned, and I appreciate your post. I pray things will work out for her.

My pre-op diet was 2 Protein supplement, 4 oz. protein, 4 oz fruit and 4 oz vegetables and 8 ounces milk products per day.

I never had the band - only the sleeve, but I do participate in a couple of forums that are full of success stories with band to sleeve revision. They seem to have been able to accomplish with the sleeve what they weren't able to with the band. From all the posts I've seen I think you will do just fine. Good luck.