Momonanomo

I read somewhere it has to do with the surface tension of plain Water (forgive me if someone already said this). Anyways, thats what causes water to sometimes be uncomfortable in our tiny tummies. Just add a little something to it, anything. I like a splash of lime juice.< /p>

that means 39 people on THIS website have claimed him as their surgeon

Not every WLS patient finds their way to this particular website, or any other online group. And of those that find their way here, not all of them put who their surgeon was (I didn't).

hope that helps!

I wouldn't recommend progressing faster than your surgeon advised you to. If you had the sleeve, you've just had your stomach cut up the side of the organ, and it needs serious TLC to heal. Boredom is a small price to pay to have a safe recovery. You can make it, I promise!

In the top menu ribbon of the website there is a menu option that says 'SURGEONS'. Click on that, and you can put in all kinds of search criteria, including what state, what insurance, even dial it down to a zip code. That should be a good place to start. Then you can google them and see if their clinics have informational websites/

You can also search other members in your area by searching 'PATIENTS' and contact them directly.

Hope this helps!

For me, full feels...well, full. Like NMJG, I have learned to eat to where I'm not hungry anymore rather than to where I am full. Keeps me from getting over-full.

Over-full feels like someone punched me in the stomach And it only takes one more tiny bite to get over full. It took me a while to figure out I need to stop before I get over full -- for many months I was likely to put in my mouth that one last bite, only to think better of it and spit it into a napkin. It took a while, but I've learned. Now I can stop before over full.

And sometimes I have one super loud, unannounced, uncontrollable hiccup. That's embarrassing! but thankfully it hasn't happened in public!

lmao -- 'lost a supermodel' . I love it!

congrats!

Reduce your height when they measure your height. Bend a little. 1 or 2 inches effects your bmi. Don't try to gain weight. It is counter productive.

Oh yeah! Definitely slouch when they measure you! I apparently am an inch shorter than i used to be in younger years; i guess age and being obese so long compressed me lol. I was bugged at first to find that out. But it helped raise my bmi

Ive heard of people sewing weights into their clothes. I needed to gain 8 lbs...i knew it was worth it to have surgery before i got too unhealthhy, which i would have in the long run. I was ready to get things going....i didnt tell anyone i was purposely gaining. Ended up gaining 20 :/

BUT now im down 106....definitely worth it!

I'm not a year out yet and am still i my losing phase; I know there are vets on here with loads more experience, but I can put in a thought that might be helpful. Hoping those further out will put in their advice too, because I'm interested in what they have to say!

I think for me -- the key is to always ALWAYS eat Protein first. My recent stall & experience with sliders over the holidays (T-giving all the way through my birthday in early Feb) I truly believe was because I was allowing myself to eat processed carb-y and sugary things when I was hungry. The sliders. The evil sliders You don't really get full and they have an addictive way of making you want more. But! the whole thing was a learning experience for me so that I now know it's true what they say: eat the Protein first and you'll feel the restriction. I believe, that for the rest of my life, when I need to, I can use my sleeve as a tool by eating the dense protein first.

Other things that I've picked up on the boards in addition to protein first:

1) don't drink any beverage for at least 30 minutes after you eat

2) overall, try to limit (or eliminate) bread, Pasta, rice, sugar

3) get your exercise -- doesn't have to be hard core from the get-go, just try to always do a little more than you did before. Get moving

4) think about why you might be eating too much or the wrong things. If it's perhaps rooted in emotion, consider seeking counseling. there is no shame in getting help to sort things out. It's a wise investment!

5) Once you get to goal -- and I truly believe you can get back there! --- weigh yourself regularly. Allow a small "bounce" range of 5 lbs or so, and don't let yourself go beyond that. The sooner you catch the regain the better. I think we all know that if we allow 5 lbs to be 'ok', then pretty soon it can turn into more. That has been the story of my life. So for me, no more sticking my head in the sand and being in denial about my weight.

And hey! Congrats on losing the weight in the first place -- don't get too down about the regain. You're absolutely doing the right thing by addressing it now. I really think we will all ALWAYS have to fight this battle. It's all a learning process -- for the rest of our lives. I know that's cliche, but it's true.

You can do this!

best of luck

I definitely would call the manager. It is completely out of line for her to comment and judge. Completely inappropriate, regardless of what book is being purchased.

Absolutely, definitely I am glad I got the sleeve. It was EXACTLY what I needed. I have not had complications, I did not have hair loss.

The body dysmorphia people may get is due to rapid weight losss, not due specifically to the sleeve....

It is good that you are thoroughly researching. Everyone has a different experience. It is indeed a major surgery and therefore, unfortunately, there are risks. It is up to you, personally, to evaluate - for you - whether the risks are worth the benefits. For me it was.

You know what though?

You really should do what YOUR surgeon says is ok, not what a message board full of sleevers says. We've all had different experiences, and different surgeons.

Your surgeon is the one performing the surgery on you, not us. So I say check with your surgeon.

Hmmmm....I've heard it can cure acid reflux, or it can make it worse, or it can cause acid reflux when you never had it before (that was the case with me) OR some people remain blissfully acid reflux free. It's all over the map. My surgeon said it may or may not get better over time. I just have a mild case so I take OTC meds for it when needed.

It may be that you need to switch to a different medicine; there are different types out there I believe (PPI, H2 blockers) and maybe just like with allergy medicines one will address your problem better than another. It make take some trial and error.

I definitely suggest that you talk to your doctor about it. The doctor is the best person to help you get some relief.

good luck!

Oh and I forgot to say:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

No judgement here! I had 2 family birthdays during my preop diet, as well as my mom's birthday on the day of surgery.

But.....I stayed on the straight and narrow during my preop diet phase, because it wasn't a "diet"....it was Preparing For a Surgery. The whole point of doing the preop diet is to shrink your liver & make it more pliable so that the surgeon can manipulate it easier to get to the stomach. When you think of it that way, is it worth a couple of drinks and some mexican food? This was a surgery. On my stomach. It's serious business. I wanted to give myself every single possible chance of a complication free surgery and recovery.

You will have a birthday every year, and you can enjoy drinks and mexican food again in the future, I promise.

My goal weight right now may be rather ambitious. It's in the middle of the 'healthy weight' range for my height. I'm 5'9" and have set my goal at 150. My old WW goal was 165 -- I got to 158 very, very briefly in my mid 20's (I'm 42 now).

But honestly, once I reach the top of that 'healthy weight' range I will reevaluate -- that's at 169. If at that point 150 seems impossible I will be happy with 165 (and a bounce of 4 lbs to always keep me in the healthy weight range).

But omg I would really LOVE to see what 145- 150 is like! It may be totally doable. We'll see as I get closer to healthy weight. I think, for me, the main thing will be that I have reached a goal I've set for myself, even if I raise that goal to 169.

But you're right, green eyed, losing 50 lb WILL make a huge difference in your life. And I agree, wrapping our heads around even the possibility of getting to a healthy weight can be mind blowing. But once you're on your way, you may well find that you've built up the momentum to go for a whole 100, or whatever you and your dr feel is right for you. The whole thing is a process.

It's an evolution!

I'm the same -- never told coworkers about surgery, and when they compliment me I say thanks I'm working really hard. The weirdest thing I had was a few weeks ago an older and more senior coworker (female) said "So what size do you wear now?"

I was so flabbergasted I think I made a face at her :/ and THEN she started guessing my pant size. And no, this was certainly never a topic of conversation with me and my coworkers at my higher weights! omg! So funny!

I was polite but I walked the hell out of the room. It's hilarious to me that she thought that would be up for discussion! I know she didn't mean any harm, and she is a very grandmotherly type, but come ON. Totally. Inappropriate! LOL

I lost 10 lb during my 2 week preop diet. They called it a liver shrinking diet: every day i could have 2 Protein Shakes, 2 Protein Snacks, and a dinner of lean meat and non starchy veggies.

This is exactly what I needed to read today.

thank you

Wow, amazing pics. Thanks for sharing them!

I'm only at month 9, but if you'll allow me to put in, I can answer to my experiences.

Just in the last month I can eat a whole apple -- although I like small gala apples. However, prior to a month ago I could only eat a portion of a small apple.

I have had a bite or two of rice and Pasta here and there, and have not ever eaten enough to feel discomfort. I don't think it would bother me unless I ate a bunch. That's why I stay the hell away from rice and pasta! LOL

I do have wine before dinner occasionally, and sometimes I've had other alcohol. I just don't have beer or champagne, because the bubbles are definitely uncomfortable. I don't have wine (or any liquid) with dinner, or for 30 minutes afterwards.

I am able to drink Water quite comfortably -- usually. I've always been a big Water drinker, and when I'm thirsty I like to take several big sips. I would say after I was pretty much healed (couple of months) I could, on most days, drink water like I always have. Some days, inexplicably, big gulps are uncomfortable. Who knows why. So I always 'test it out' before I down several sips at once.

Not really an emotional eater....

And no sadness really about not being able to eat large portions. Maybe more like frustration sometimes. And it's not that I can't eat a large portion. I've learned to eat "gourmet style" -- you know, small amounts of really good food. I find that no matter how delicious something is, when I'm full, I'm full. The frustration I think is just that it is SO DIFFERENT to the relationship I used to have with food. I just have to get used to getting satisfaction from eating quality food and not from the quantity. It's such a change and takes some getting used to. But ya know, before surgery I knew I would be changing my relationship with food, and that's what I absolutely 100% WANTED -- was to not enjoy so much damn food! LOL.

The frustration is also in the cooking....I spend a lot of time to prepare a nice meal for my husband and myself, and then I just seem to get full so quickly. It seems like a waste of time to have spent time preparing the meal if I'm going to be done so fast.

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay Wags! Your hard work has paid off!

OMGoodness! You look really really different!

I love the tutu and am very impressed you're doing the color run. Way to go!!

After I had lost quite a bit I shared with him. But I waited until I had lost a bit, so I could say I used to weigh that, now I weigh this.

I've always said what a big deal it will be for me to weigh less than him (he has always been fit, trim, and athletic). We recently had a funny conversation -- he said right after my surgery when I had commented that eventually I will weigh less than him, he just couldn't imagine it, but now he sees that it's going to happen.

I currently weigh about 18 lbs more than him. He would like to add lbs to his own frame by lifting weights. I said we can wave as we pass each other -- me on the way down & him on the way up. Then I said, when we get to a point where we weigh exactly the same, we should see if we can pick each other up! Then we collapsed giggling because he added that we should try to see how far we can throw each other LOL

Yes you should go ahead and quit -- get your oxygen levels and lung function up to par. And it shouldn't be too too hard since you are only a casual smoker.

Number one risk with smoking and surgery is blood clots. And of course you want your lungs in the best possible shape for going under anesthesia. And during your healing time, cigarettes can interfere with circulation and keep you from healing properly. It's just too much of a risk to not give up the smoking if you're going to have surgery.

I was a half pack a day smoker up until about 4 months before my surgery. 9 months post op, and I have recently started up again a little.....I am being the 'casual' smoker you describe yourself as

But please, give yourself every possible chance of having a successful, complication free surgery and recovery. Go ahead and stop ASAP. This is in your power.

I've never had children -- and for me the mirena was extremely painful going in. But wow, not enough to miss days from work! That surprises me that people would have lasting effects like that. It hurt at the time they inserted it. and then I just had to be still and lay down for about 15 minutes to catch my breath. But after that I was totally fine. I just had it removed because it had been 5 years, but I will be having a new one placed in about a month. This time the dr said she will give me a couple of Valium to take before and I think I'll be fine with that.