KellyL

Awwww she's PERFECT!!! What a precious little angel!! I love all the pics, but the one where she's smiling truly did melt my heart. Congrats on her arrival!!

It's definitely difficult during the liquid stages, but it gets easier when you move to solids. Even without hunger, we still MISS eating food, it does sound weird, but eating was a big part of our lives, socializing, and entertainment. It's completely understandable that you're feeling this way. It gets better as you adjust to it too. Hang in there!

Yes it does!! You're rocking that sleeve Gorgeous!

:welcome: Hi, and congrats on being a Sleever!! You are doing great on the weight loss, and you also have a great attitude, it makes a world of difference on your recovery. Glad you joined, and I totally agree about the forum, it's a wonderful source of knowledge and support. I'm happy to have you here, and looking forward to sharing this journey with you.

Wow, congrats, you look awesome, and have done really well!! What an accomplishment, thanks for sharing. :cheer2:

Congrats on being sleeved!! I'm so sorry for the rough start with the complications, but sounds like you're home now and ready to get on with your recovery. Wishing you all the best!

I like it so far, but reserve the right to gripe later if I discover something I don't like hahaha I'm doing great, y'all have a great weekend!!!

Wow, you look great, congrats on your success so far! :cheer2:

I think NUT = nutritionist

hahaha sorry you aren't feeling the love quite yet! The love part usually comes in for most when you discover than you can eat a couple oz of solid food and be completely satisfied. Or when you don't experience hunger, or at least the same ravenous hunger that you felt pre-op. Or for the best part, when you start losing the weight or getting into smaller sizes. It gets easier on the family meal thing when you get to solid foods also. Because you can eat the same protein/meat that you're feeding your family. You may have to fix more low carb sides, at least for yourself, or just skip the sides that your family may want. But it all does get easier and you may just fall in love yet!

I got little 3 oz condiment bowls at Walmart, as well as a set of 4 glass bowls with lids from Walmart too. They are great to use to measure and/or eat out of. Popsicles, egg flower soup pkgs, and I couldn't do any kind of protein drinks except the Atkins Ready to drink vanilla flavor. They were more bland than the chocolate ones and not as "protein" tasting as the ones that had more protein or came in the mixes. Even tho I was a chocolate person pre-op, post-op, I preferred the more plain taste of vanilla early out especially. I agree with the other person on using this forum for support, seeing others were going through the same thing did/does help me so much. Good luck!

I absolutely love Fall and the weather too! Have a great time this weekend strutting your stuff in that new dress, I know you are gonna look fabulous AND have a great time! I love corsets but have never worn them, the ones you describe do sound hot! Have a lovely time!!

You are already back on track by coming here and posting and making yourself accountable. You can do this, look how far you've come!! And you are very close to reaching your goal!! I used to be so addicted to Mt Dew, but I kicked the habit of them months before surgery. I love the Lipton Diet Green Tea Citrus now, almost as much as Mt Dews. Good luck!!

Sorry to hear you're having a rough start! Did you have a complication? Wishing you a speedy recovery from here on out!

It is a difficult decision to make to self-pay for surgery if you don't have insurance for this very reason, the risks of complications. That is why I chose the Sleeve over other procedures, less invasive, not a lot of aftercare, etc. But in the event of a complication, I would have had to go to the ER and paid out of pocket there too, which I am sure would be expensive, but they can't refuse to treat you, regardless of where you have surgery. I spoke to my PCP briefly about going to MX before, and she was kinda surprised but not negative. But now she's thrilled with my results. She knows how I struggled pre-op to try to lose and knew about my Type 2 Diabetes. I am grateful that I didn't have any complications, but I knew going in, that even though the risk is very low, it could happen. I was nervous, and did think about it alot, but ultimately felt I had no choice where my health was concerned. You would want to have blood work post-op every few months or so. Some people have them at 3/6/12 months.

Laura, congrats on your weight loss, you're doing awesome!! I'm sorry to hear of your problem, I haven't read of anyone reporting this issue. It very well could be the meds you had to be on. I hope your Dr gets the issue figured out and resolved very soon. I remember your signature quote from before, and I just love it! Sending your prayers and positive healing vibes!!

Wow, she looks great, I hope the Band works for her, and she doesn't wind up struggling like so many do with it. And yes, I was just reading a thread on a different forum of a girl having to gain weight because she was denied by her insurance. I think she was only had to gain 10lbs. I can completely understand the desperation to have WLS, and people gaining a few lbs. I just wish people weren't pressured to do such things to try to have surgery to improve their health and lose the weight, it's sad really.

I'm so sorry for what you're going through, I would be highly upset too!! Did your surgeon ever say whether you had a lot of scar tissue or anything that may have prevented him from doing a typical sleeve? Did he mention what your bougie size is suppose to be? When he did the leak test, if there was one, did you get to see it on the screen? When I had my leak test, I got to see it on a screen myself, and they provided me with an x-ray of my new sleeve. Even if they didn't give you a copy of yours, perhaps you can ask if they have one? If not, you will have to do the contrast study to know for sure. How much dense protein can you eat? I think I saw one girl over on OH (obesity help) that complained about the same thing and found out she really didn't have any reduction in size of her tummy, but I'm sorry I can't remember her name, perhaps you can search over there and find her. I think she is both suing her surgeon and having or had a revision to DS or something. She posted it on the VSG board over there. I would investigate fully and find out what has happened. Good luck!

:cheer2: :grouphug: :party4:

Wow, you have done an amazing job with your weight loss, congrats on your success!!

I agree, start small with something like walking, or as Ren suggested the Wii. That is my favorite thing to do, and I know I will stick to it because it's fun. I have all the Just Dance games except for Just Dance 3, which was released this month I think. I plan on trying to catch it on sale. I also have the Michael Jackson one. I have also seen people rave over Zumba, and you can also get this for the Wii. Good luck!

Congrats, you look great! 130 lbs is very impressive!

I started losing, and pretty heavily at 4 months out. I lost a good bit of hair in a 2-3 wk period. I did notice my multi didn't have iron in it, so i switched multis to one with iron and take 1 in the morning and 1 at night. I had done some research and besides not enough protein, iron deficiency can also cause hair loss. But I am just over 5 months now. I was already on Biotin, and started getting 80+ grams of protein, pretty early post op. It may be a coincidence but the loss has slowed way down. It may start again though I hope not!!

The infected hematoma sounds more likely and makes sense why it just made you feel overall bad, but also took a while to find. I hope you feel much better soon and glad they found the issue!! Sending you prayers and positive healing vibes!! Hugs!

I use the St Ives Timeless Skin Moisturizer even before surgery and it seems to have helped a really deep line I had on my forehead. I saw it on an episode of Dr Oz, they were talking about cheaper alternatives to Wrinkles/Aging that were good. I am happy with it now, but still have a lot of weight to lose, so I may get more wrinkles before it's all over with. It says it is "collagen elastin" on the jar. I got it at Walmart for a little over $5. I think they had other stuff, maybe a scrub? While looking at supplements, I also saw where you can get collagen supplements to take orally. Seemed like it had some good reviews. I am 47 so I thought I needed to start some kind of regimen. I just had no idea what to get either, but the price was reasonable on this so I thought I'd give it a shot.