doxieville

Basically, it's the luck of the draw; or blame genetics. I had all my Protein plus, drank, took Biotin, my supplements, AND am a slow loser....and my hair fell out in my 4th month. Sorry- i wish there was a magic potion, but there isn't. Some things work for people, but I honestly have my doubts that a product really helped. :-) So...buy cute hats, get a snazzy haircut, buy a volumnizer product. It won't last forever. .

For your wife? Maybe she'll snore the Star Spangled Banner!!

Hugs!!

Geez frye! You've been thru the wringer! I hope we get a good report soon! Your 'boo' is a cutie! I'm glad you called him that nite. Don't go thru those things alone. Hugs! Judy

Geez frye! You've been thru the wringer! I hope we get a good report soon! Your 'boo' is a cutie! I'm glad you called him that nite. Don't go thru those things alone. Hugs! Judy

Hey Frank, good job on the meds!!! So, what I've learned is our bodies are really good at adapting to whats going on. So that is why we need to change up our exercise to keep building muscles. Same as w food. Your body has probably adjusted to the low calorie and has said 'ok, i can live like this!' And stops losing. I do agree that you still should be losing kinda fast. A stall here and there is expected, but that seems to be more when people are within about 100 pounds to goal. I'd honestly suggest upping your intake. What cal/fat/carb/pro grams are you currently at?

Sure! Let us know what you decide!

You physically can do it. However, no way was I mentally ready to take a class so soon after my surgery. I was so tired and my brain was in a mental fog. So it depends on how difficult the class is and how do YOU feel physically, emotionally & mentally?

That's funny!! PostSleevers w PMS...beware 'cause she's got a gun!!! J/k!! Nobody blast me. Yeah, it can be rough. I'm 5 months out and every once in awhile my husband knows just to duck & get outta my way. And pre-sur i was as steady as a rock.

I have to take little sips while i eat bcs i have dry mouth syndrome. But if I get distracted and drink more than tiny sips I get full quicker but get hungrier sooner (bcs too much liquid pushes food through faster.). Also, sometimes if I take a bigger sip sometime it hurts. So i need to be really aware when I eat. If i didn't have to drink while eating, i really wouldn't, but it's not a choice for me.

Hi! I was officially diagnosed w RA 28 years ago. I was in my 20's. It was so severe I needed knee replacements in my 40's. I was put on Enbrel as soon as it came on the market and it probably saved my life. Inflammation was starting to go into my organs. Had my sleeve surgery 8/21/2012. Went off Enbrel 3 weeks prior to surgery to build up my immune system. Six weeks after my sleeve, right about the time I was going to go back on Enbrel, I needed my gallbladder taken out. A month later I went in for bloodwork and requested sed rate & inflammation tests to be added. I was suspicious bcs I wasn't having any RA Pain and i'd be off Enbrel for so long!! Well, my sed rate back at 3. I'd only ever been that low w medication!! And I had no inflammation! Docs were/are stunned. My RA has gone into remission and they have no idea why, or how long it will last. All I'm on for now is Celebrex. What meds were you/are you taking for RA? Do you know what your sed rate & RA factor were prior to your surgery? If you had a positive RA factor that won't change, but you should follow your sed rate & inflammation (CRP) when you get blood work taken for the follow up of your sleeve. My fingers are crossed for you! RA is a horrible disease and really changes peoples life. It is not 'just arthritis.' I really wish it hadn't been labeled Rheumatoid ARTHRITIS. I don't know how many people over the years have said 'oh, i have a little arthritis here and there and I'm fine so you'll be fine.' I've tried to gently inform the world, one person at a time, that RA is nothing like a 'little bone ache.' Take care of yourself! Judy

I like the Jergens lotions that 'tan' your skin more w every application. Very moisturizing.

Hi NevadaDave, Try different kinds of antacids. What works for one person, might not work for someone else. Talk to your doc about it too. You shouldn't have to suffer & be uncomfortable. Also, always have something w you. I never leave the house w/o something that I can munch on. Protein bar, RTD Protein shake, almonds, or a cheese stick. Good luck! Judy

Wow, that sucks! Sorry you went through this!! At 6 weeks i had a few pains and my doc took out my gallbladder. No hoops. No fuss. I hope you continue to recover nicely! Don't overdo it.

I was like that too. And it was a horrible cycle. I wouldn't eat, get nauseous, eat carbs (bcs they are easy to digest when a tummy is upset.). I was so worried about this pre-sleeve. I'm now 5 months out and if i forget to eat for over 5 hours, it kinda comes back. But if I drink something it goes away, and then I eat heathy. Do make sure your doc sends you home w anti-nausea meds after surgery, bcs you won't be able to eat. I took them for about 2-3 weeks postop and was fine once I could eat mushy. U can PM me if you want the name of the medication. I'm not at home right now to look for it.

I'm putting my money on TheCurvyJ!! You go girl!!!

I'm stalled at 198. So it's not that I'm not participating, it's that i'm still at 0! Good job so far, everyone!!

This week starts my 8th week stalled at 198. Congrats to all the losers on here! :-). My time will come.

Me either. We have both here and it's not a temptation to me at all. I even bought the PB2 for a shake and hated it. It's just sitting in my pantry. Cheri, remind me where you are? Judy

This question has been rolling around in my head for months. I've mentioned it once, but the thread was more interested in flaming IggyChic than having a real discussion. So here goes: Do the veterans on here think that the sleeve is a good way to prevent obesity? Let's take away the danger part of it, let's say if it was 100% safe. (Just go with that idea for this question; we all know that no surgery can ever be 100% safe.) From what I've been reading, I'd say it is NOT a good way to prevent obesity. It seems like the only thing that the sleeve is good for is relearning how and what to eat, and it does a great job of that. But if someone hasn't conquered their issues during the 'restriction stage' then how can this surgery help them in the long run? I love my sleeve. I am in a 7 week stall and pre-sleeve I would have given up by now and regained the weight. I am so pleased with 4oz and I'm full! I am comforted in knowing that when this stall breaks, the weight will drop off. With that thought, I'm not saying 'screw it, i may as well pig out.' And at 5 months out, I can pig out. I was one of those people who would only eat once a day. Now I can't do that because I get that empty feeling. The sleeve has taught me HOW to eat. So for me, if I weren't conquering my food demons, I think this sleeve would be pretty worthless. I could easily graze on fattening & sugary foods all day and gain weight. I am not bringing this up to judge people, or to start ANY arguments. In fact, if anyone flames me or this topic, I would ask that the thread gets shut down. I just want honest answers from veterans, and I hope that this is a safe environment to discuss this topic. Thank you, Judy

I love my sleeve. I really do. I had a bad 48 hours right after surgery w nasty dry heaves, but that was it. I followed the rules to a 'T' and feel great. I've lost 55 pounds pre/post op. 7 weeks ago my body stopped losing. I've been stuck on 198. Stuck hard. But ya know what? I can remember in the past, many times i've lost 30,40,50 pounds and I got stuck. And I'd get frustrated. And then the weight would creep back up. And then i'd give up. So while this stall feels very familiar to me, I am not panicking or getting frustrated this time. I know that when my body is ready, it'll start dropping again. That's why I so love my sleeve! Those 55 pounds I lost are gone forever this time, and that feels so rewarding. So liberating. I am of the same mindset as Cheri. I refuse to give myself a time limit on losing weight. There is no clock ticking and after 6 months, 12 months, even 18 months, my sleeve is going to expire. That's nonsense. I'm 51 years old and my body has been through so many yo-yo diets that it needs confirmation that I'm not going to do that to it again. If it wants to stall until it can be convinced that my days of binging and splurging and shoving gobs of Pasta down it's throat are over, then I need to be gracious and let it take these breaks. Are stalls fun? Heck no! But, I can do this. There are too many success stories on here for me to even consider that I might fail. :-) Judy

I've always been a lap swimmer, when I did exercise. My sis came for a month long stay over the holidays and dragged me to a Water aerobics class. I kinda went kickin' and screaming. I have to admit, she was right. I love it! I am sick this week and can't go, and I can't believe that I am going to admit this either, but I miss it! I really do! If you'd told me that I would have felt like this a few months ago I would have laughed and laughed and laughed... So, yes! Go join your Y and start swimming. Good luck!

I'm only 5 months out....so technically I don't really qualify to be here. However, I'm going to sneak in anyway because I qualify by post. 1391!! I have to admit, I was suprised when I went back to see if I'm at the 6 month mark to find out next week it will only be 5 months!! Geesh! I feel like I've been sleeved forever! I did start the process back in April, so maybe that's why it feels longer? I am also becoming a wrinkly sack. I may do a boobie lift down the road, but I kinda doubt it. I think i'd look pretty darn funny w a wrinkly body and cute perk boobies. Butter, I agree with you about the bans....up to a point. We may need a place to complain when things get rough. But i do agree that that shouldn't be the focus of this forum.

Yep! I did that at about 5 weeks out... And again last week at a Zumba Water class, and I'm almost 5 months out. As long as the pain doesn't worsen, your back is ok, and it only lasts a few days, you should be ok. Some docs recommend a light massage around the area and a heating pad. But, please consult your doc if you have any concerns or it's not better soon.