MizzouGirl

Thanks to everyone for all of the great advice and information. I really appreciate it.
At this point, I'm done considering the Lap Band, given everything I've learned here and read about elsewhere. Still a little freaked out about the sleeve, but seriously leaning in that direction. Given that bypass is out of the question, I guess it's come down to the sleeve or nothing, regarding WLS.
I think about trying some former weight loss methods (atkins, meds, etc ..), and know that I can achieve some level of weight loss, but also know that I gain that weight back every time. Over and over ....
My next step is to make an appointment with a nutritionist, which I will do on Monday. Then, I'm attending my first support group meeting (run by my surgeon's office) on Tuesday.
Thanks again everyone.
Andrew

So excited for you. I believe the hardest part is the pre-op liquid diet. But it is a great mental boot camp for your lifestyle change. Everyday remind yourself - that this liquid diet part is NOT forever. I am 5 months out..and I can barely remember the 2 weeks of liquids. Although at the time-- it felt really hard. I have no regrets having been sleeved. Every time I pass somebody who is obese - I just want to holler out to them and say - I HAVE FOUND THE ANSWER- go get sleeved. It is a new lease on life. It makes weight just fly off your body--of course-you still have to make the right food choices. Good luck - keep us posted. And remember- if you are starting to get fed up and cranky---the liquid part is not forever.

Well I have been married for several years and don't see myself going out on a first date with a new guy ever again. However, with this new weight loss...i feel like a new person. So I set up a "date" with my hubby. We haven't gone "out" in years. I felt nervous and excited. It was so fun. You are at a great place with the new you. So don't you settle for anything but the best. Be confident- that is the trait that men seem to admire the most. Love your self and be your self and it will be all good.

Omg, hadnt even factored S.E.X in - just crippled going through door of bar. But thanks for making me laugh :-))))

Have fun, be yourself, smile often and use protection. (That last part was a joke..... maybe... ).

Have fun, be yourself, smile often and use protection. (That last part was a joke..... maybe... ).

let me preface this with the fact that i am presleeve, but i think if you are thinking about cheating you should go and read some posts on the complications board. i am terrified of eating anything too early based on those stories. They have strictures and leaks and bloodclots (oh my) and the last thing i want to do is make a surgery that should have me out of work for 1-2 weeks turn into a surgery that makes me jobless, aint nobody got time for that. Im sure many of us have failed at diets in the past but its two weeks, you can do anything for two weeks.

Couldn't agree more! I'm not playing Russian Roulette with my health or my life. It's not that long until most foods are back on the table - cheat or not.

My wife is going to have VSG on July 2nd, 2013, exactly 1 year after me. My VSG post op has been amazingly awesome and I wish the same for her. Please applaud my beautiful wife Laurie for making this decision (phoenix79). it will definitely be a personal game changer!!!

For all those considering the surgery, I'm going to give an honest assessment of my experience thus far...
Immediately after surgery: ugh the gas bloat and pain was pretty bad. The gas didn't hurt my left shoulder like most have experienced...it was killing my back! Lol. I got up and walking as soon as I could and walked on the hour, every hour that I was awake.
Day 1 post op: left hospital and survived a four hour drive home...lol. Gas pain was still pretty bad...that's truly the worst thing I can say about the pain so far---that gas pain is no joke! LOL
Day 2 post op: Gas is def better, but still a lot of discomfort...was able to sip 1 oz at a time, every 20 mins.....hoping to avoid dehydration. Belly is sore like I've done 200+ sit-ups, but ice packs have helped and I'll continue to use them.
Regrets? None so far....looking forward to this interesting journey....and my spouse is even considering having it done.
I had mentally prepared myself for the life change: I won't miss the buffets, or eating loads more than I should. I do look forward to eating food again so that I can have dinner with friends. But it will never be like it was before. My advice? If you don't want to drastically change your life, don't have the surgery. You have to approach this with the mindset that you will change forever. The pain? Temporary. The liquids? Temporary. Not eating with friends? Temporary. Not organizing life around food? Permanent. Not gorging on food anymore at a buffet? Permanent. I wanted a permanent divorce from food controlling my life...I want to eat to live, not live to eat. Please think long and do some soul searching before you have the surgery.
As for me, I've no regrets and look forward to my new paradigm. :-)

Ok here comes the bully! Cheating on a diet???
Oh my yes we've all done that!
BUT the after surgery "eating" plan is there for a reason it's not a typical diet. It is in place to give your stomach time to heal. Lets not forget that someone just went in the and cut and burned that sucker length wise, and then stapled it back together!!!
Your stomach is still swollen and numb. And chances are you won't "feel" much in there right now.
Like I said this is not cheating on a diet this is a dangerous thing to do. If you want to cheat wait until you are in the clear, trust me there will be plenty of time to cheat yourself then!

Momma say italian food is the debil

I'm 3 weeks post op and I'm still not quite hitting my Water and Protein goals but I'm moving closer. In the first week, it was all about hydration (sip, sip, sip), walking and resting for me. Those three things were a full time job.

Hey everyone...sorry I havent been on layely...work has been crazy busy.
I am doing ok...have done mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, and scrambled eggs ok. Having issues getting in enough liquid. It's hard at work to get it in. I have been having a hard time taking pills, so I am not taking my Vitamins yet. Hopefully get that figured out soon.
I have lost 15 lbs and also need to stop weighing myself so much. I told myself I wouldnt and so its time to put it away so I dont see it everyday.
One day at a time...

This is a really tough question that probably only you can answer. When my husband and I attended various surgeons weight loss seminars, he thought the band would be the best choice but said he would support whatever I chose. I didn't like the idea of something "foreign" in my body and it seems like everyone I know "knows somebody who had issues with the band" <== sounds hypocritical as I'm super sensitive to these comments about WLS in general. I also didn't like the idea of all the adjustments. While I know a few people who had bypass with great success, I didn't like the idea of rerouting stuff and dumping scared me (although this happens for some with the sleeve - so far not me luckily!). I'm happy with my choice (I'm 3 weeks post op) but the pre-op diet and first week after surgery were tough for me.
You seem to be doing the right things by researching your options and considering the pros/cons of each. I think if you pick a good surgeon with lots of experience and do your research on them, your risk of a leak or other complications should be low but there's always a risk with any surgery. Something to consider is finding a "Center of Excellence" surgeon. Oh, and I should mention that you have to do your part as well by following your Dr's orders regarding diet and other instructions as your new tummy heals. Even if your Dr does a great job, you can screw it up by deviating from his orders.
Best wishes to you as you decide what is the best choice for you.

This is a really tough question that probably only you can answer. When my husband and I attended various surgeons weight loss seminars, he thought the band would be the best choice but said he would support whatever I chose. I didn't like the idea of something "foreign" in my body and it seems like everyone I know "knows somebody who had issues with the band" <== sounds hypocritical as I'm super sensitive to these comments about WLS in general. I also didn't like the idea of all the adjustments. While I know a few people who had bypass with great success, I didn't like the idea of rerouting stuff and dumping scared me (although this happens for some with the sleeve - so far not me luckily!). I'm happy with my choice (I'm 3 weeks post op) but the pre-op diet and first week after surgery were tough for me.
You seem to be doing the right things by researching your options and considering the pros/cons of each. I think if you pick a good surgeon with lots of experience and do your research on them, your risk of a leak or other complications should be low but there's always a risk with any surgery. Something to consider is finding a "Center of Excellence" surgeon. Oh, and I should mention that you have to do your part as well by following your Dr's orders regarding diet and other instructions as your new tummy heals. Even if your Dr does a great job, you can screw it up by deviating from his orders.
Best wishes to you as you decide what is the best choice for you.

This is a really tough question that probably only you can answer. When my husband and I attended various surgeons weight loss seminars, he thought the band would be the best choice but said he would support whatever I chose. I didn't like the idea of something "foreign" in my body and it seems like everyone I know "knows somebody who had issues with the band" <== sounds hypocritical as I'm super sensitive to these comments about WLS in general. I also didn't like the idea of all the adjustments. While I know a few people who had bypass with great success, I didn't like the idea of rerouting stuff and dumping scared me (although this happens for some with the sleeve - so far not me luckily!). I'm happy with my choice (I'm 3 weeks post op) but the pre-op diet and first week after surgery were tough for me.
You seem to be doing the right things by researching your options and considering the pros/cons of each. I think if you pick a good surgeon with lots of experience and do your research on them, your risk of a leak or other complications should be low but there's always a risk with any surgery. Something to consider is finding a "Center of Excellence" surgeon. Oh, and I should mention that you have to do your part as well by following your Dr's orders regarding diet and other instructions as your new tummy heals. Even if your Dr does a great job, you can screw it up by deviating from his orders.
Best wishes to you as you decide what is the best choice for you.

...Other Than Obsessively Weigh Yourself!

Meditate
Exercise
Learn a new craft
Practice an old craft
Walk a dog
Volunteer with a charity
Plant little seed kits
Organize your sock drawer
Make fun of bad movies
Write thank-you notes to all your friends/support team
Listen to audiobooks
Take an online free course somewhere like Coursera
Dust shelves
Reorganize your library
Sing (even if you do it badly)
Dye your hair
Get a mani/pedi (regardless of your gender)
Write 500 words a day
Read a Great Book you've always meant to read
Read a totally trashy book you'd NEVER admit you read
Put all your CDs and DVDs into folders and recycle the cases
Start a blog
Watch a TV show you'd never considered watching
Make your holiday list
ANYTHING other than the scale!

(Suggestions welcome! )

That's good to know, I love PB! What I'd like to know is if there are any that taste like lasagna or chicken parm or pizza? If so, tell me where & I'll be headed there in 5!

I had to pee about every 1.5 hours due to the IV fluids - it was so annoying especially because it was such an ordeal to get out of the bed, move the IV stand and carry my pain ball. I guess it was a good thing to have to move that much but very annoying to have to get up so often at night! Good luck to you - it gets better every day. I'm almost 3 weeks out and doing a TON better. :-)

That's awesome!!! I think we are more self conscious of what and how much we are eating than our friends and family are.
I added puréed tuna yesterday. Omigosh! It was soooo good to me!!!

Do you not remember my post about undies? No, all patients have to be equally embarrassed, nurses/ doctors/ cops/ judges... It's the only way to keep the nurses who are caring for us happy!

I'm even newer than a newbie, as I havent had surgery yet. You are my first response to a post here. I am listening and learning.I have done alot of research but love hearing from real people who have done the sleeve. I like the results you have had, and I have hope after reading your post.I think I can do this. Good luck.I'll be around.
lou

Wow Mizzougirl! That is scary! I'm so glad you got it figured out! Hang in there girl. You are doing so great!!!

Mizzougirl,
I'm so glad you went to the ER. I was really concerned. Glad to hear all levels are well and you are in good shape. Continue to recover at your own pace.