SouthernSleever

Shes a brick house that's why. She's way smaller than me but weighs more. Her's is muscle...mine ain't

Before 272 After 157

Doesn't get easier but it's short lived. With every hunger pain just think of your body stripping away a layer of fat and eating that instead.

UGH! My backside needs help but I have a nagging injury on my knees (left moreso) so many traditional exercises I can't do. Thoughts?

I might be wrong but I think that's the same wording used to say you have to try other programs which are supported by your doctor (ww, adkins) before we will do surgery on you. Press on! PRESS ON!

I think you need to do A LOT of research before going to him. After 2 years of being on this board, and then the board was wiped clean after a format change a lot of good (not so good) info on him has been lost. Read read read and look for answers outside of this board.

My point in mentioning those other mishaps was that I had researched those Doctors and trusted them. I'm saying start with the internet and forums and THEN go to your doctor. Their time is limited and you should have your specifics in a row before you see them so you can get the most out of their visits.

Man, I'd take every last cent of any extra money I had and pay it every month for the next 10 years if it meant getting my sleeve. I paid 8750 plus airfare and some extra money so all together I took a loan for 11,000. It was worth every single payment. I went to the best Doctor in the world and I'm almost at goal. Wearing size 6 jeans, feeling confident wherever I go. Can't put a price on that.

Where's my freakin check? Nah, I didn't get paid or even any promo or anything of that sort. I tell about my surgery and surgeon as honestly as I can. Now there are plenty of Doctors I can certainly tell crap about but I don't. You could get paid if you were a coordinator but you would have to live in Cali or Mexicali and they don't really do promo stuff as far as I know.

Actually I had a blood clot in my lungs in 03 and I went to my orthopedic surgeon 6 times to say I had pain that the pain killers wasn't taking care of. He threw another script (threw literary) and said not to come back asking for more. 3 days later I was coughing up blood in the ER. How did I find out I had a blood clot? Well I was in nursing school at the time (was taking a couple weeks off for broken ankle) but I went onto the internet and did a search for my symptoms. I went into a walk in clinic and they sent me straight over to the hospital. They were pretty shocked I wasn't dead. When my son was vomiting over and over again, gaining weight like crazy, and screaming for hours on end his pedi said it was reflux or colic. After two months of not knowing I posted on a Mothering forum and the next day a story was relayed where the baby was having the exact problems and it was whey allergy. Sure enough, I quit drinking milk or dairy products other than goat's milk and my son was a million times better. My second son had the same aversion/allergy (whatever you want to call it) When I was so full of self hatred about my weight and having been through countless diets and feeling defeat over and over I went to my PCP. He told me "Eat less and move more". 60 bucks well paid. I started reading on lapband forums and that led me here. Voila I'm 120 (almost) pounds lighter. I could go on and on. I dropped all 3 (well the pcp dropped me after finding I went to MX for surgery) of those practitioners and since I've found pedis, and pcps. I actually bring in what I've learned on the internet regardless of if it's about vaccines or weight loss surgery and we discuss it. Via forums I get the opinions of hundreds of other people who are in the same situation I'm in. I also get the library of knowledge of what they have researched. I get personal experience and unlimited time to ask/answer questions. So....If I had to pick internet forums (and you are making the assumption that people rely solely on the info they find in the forums and do no other research) or a Doctor. Well I'll be right here on the forum when I need info. I understand what you are saying. Don't read a forum topic that says you need 60 grams, run off throw 60 grams into a shake and think you are done. This is being straight lazy and the few people who actually do this don't want to be their own advocate. Your post won't help them either because they won't read the whole thing. My point is that a NUT or MD isn't the end all be all either. A little of both is needed. Editing to add I hope my post doesn't come off as snarky. I do not hide the fact that I am disenchanted with the medical system after having experienced what I have and working in the field. It is valuable to have a discussion of both sorts IMO.

It's my opinion that just relying solely on a NUT for information or even a PCP for info is not a good idea. The reason why is because some of these professionals do not keep up with the latest info. They get their degrees get a job and are fine handing out the same information they learned 10 years ago. The best way is to be an advocate for yourself. It used to be that all the info was in libraries or by professionals but it isn't that way anymore. We are connected to a huge web of knowledge and some of it is published by very reliable sources. You must sort out what is truth and what isn't and just reading a forum on the internet doesn't cut it. However, I find I get much better and more complete information by doing my own research and then if I have any confusion or want clarity on a specific topic to then ask a professional since their time is usually limited. If I learned anything in nursing school it's that most of what is said in the medical field is pulled straight out of an old text or your ass. I, at least, choose who's ass I pull it out of.

At 5'8" i think you can say confidently "girl I'm not on my way, I HAVE ARRIVED!" I wouldn't think going lower would be needed for someone of your height.

Wait till you see. It's not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. It was less invasive or hard to recover from than my c-section, vaginal birth, ankle surgery, or ankle revision. Piece O' Cake ( or bite now rather Mind you I had no complications.

So true. I don't put my extra food on hubby's plate but he eats it anyway.

I know we have all done diet after diet and I'm not saying this surgery is without consequences/risks/costs however for me this has been the easiest way I've ever lost weight. No white knuckling and no real gain so far. Now implying that we took the "easy way out" is condescending however to me it feels like the easy way, the smart way too.

Being the "smallest" one who has to climb through the window to unlock the door when ppl lose their house key. To have the ability to shop anywhere, kills your budget.

You look amazing! Doesn't it feel wonderful!?

I loved Dr Aceves. I've heard good things about Dr Kelly too. Dr Aceves practices out of a private hospital which is very up to date and you spend 3 days there. It's right across the boarder and also your hotel the night before your surgery is paid for. I would go with Dr Aceves because of his rep but I think you will do well with either.

There are lots of whys this happens stress/diet etc. I read an article about hairloss post op and what it said in a nutshell was When you are going through those first few weeks after your surgery where you can't really eat a lot your body puts all your nutrition toward maintaining muscle mass and just getting by so your hair suffers. You don't see break off right away because it takes a few months for your hair to grow to the length where breakage will occur. So think of your hair strand as a time line. scalp Thick strand, thick strand, thick strand (surgery) thin strand, thick strand, thick strand. The hair will break when it's about an inch long. Blah this isn't making sense but it's kinda like an hourglass the skinny middle is the period in which you had surgery, where it will break off. But YES you will more than likely lose a lot of hair no matter what.

Good to see you back! Throw us a couple of those sweet baby pictures would ya? Hugs

You probably are thinking of DS not VSG. I was never told to take vitamins thought some doctors do. We still absorb all the food we eat so we aren't malnourished like some other surgeries. (BTW no vsg patients have passed away from not taking their vitamins)

Hells yes I took the easy way out after spending 20 years in misery and struggle and anyone who has a problem with me taking the "easy way out" can kiss my skinny ass

Used to happen to me all the time when I ate too fast or too much. Doesn't much anymore. It scares me, I don't even know if it's safe to take any uppers or drink energy drinks.

I gained 10lbs when i went on a food binge for about a month before surgery. I also gained some stretch marks on the outside of my arms (not inner arms). Now I regret my food funeral

Oh hell guys. My Mom bought these for me and they are unsupportive as a mofo. They are like a really flimsy sports bra. Stay away!