NewSetOfCurves

Tu-shea 2muchfun! I am happy that you have had so much success with yours! I agree about the foreign objects. I have a 4 year old whom has undergone many heart surgeries and is alive today because of foreign objects. I agree that the lap band has been a successful tool for many people and that there are many, many more people walking around with the band vs. the sleeve; so, there are a greater number of people out there with their anecdotal success and horror stories. However, anecdotal or not, they are real experiences and experiences that can repeat themselves. If you look at the national percentage—which is the ratio that takes into account the number differences—the complication rates for the sleeve are a lot lower. When I shopped around for doctors, they all sided with the sleeve. One of them said that he would not perform the band. Period. Also, the sleeve does not have malabsorption issues; that occurs in bypass patients. All that being said, every surgery has its risks; you have to weigh your options and the risks and decide which RISK you are willing to take, if any. When my 2 ½ month old daughter (at the time) went into heart failure and they told me the horrible news and that she needed immediate surgery, and said that the survival rate of that surgery was 92%, and her chance of surviving was without it was 15%... guess what I chose? Anybody going into weight loss surgery needs to do their research, they need to talk to doctors and ask their opinions, they need to talk to people with weight loss surgery experience and ask about their experiences because each one of their stories holds a possibility…the possibility that you might experience the same thing. I went into this with my eyes wide open. I knew what the risks were, I knew the varied experiences that were out there and that I might experience them myself. I prepared myself for the worst and I hoped for the best. Again, good luck with whatever you decide and your weight loss journey!

Congrats to you! Hitting wonderland is the most wonderful feeling in the world! Super happy for you!

I too was adamant about the lap band. It was something that wasn’t permanent, I could remove it later if I wanted to, make adjustments as I pleased, etc. My doctor, like yours, was an advocate for the sleeve. He said he would do the lap band if I wanted, that it cost the same as the sleeve, but that the complications and the eventual removal of the band was of greater risk. He also said that at first doctors believed that the band was something that could remain permanently in the body, but with new research and the countless cases of slippage and erosion, that the band now has a limited life span (I don’t remember what the number of years was). I did the research and sure enough there were MANY horror stories and fewer successes. After I became a member on this site, I searched and searched, read and read through people’s experiences, the good and the bad. I didn’t come across that many horror stories, and I liked that the national percentage of complication rates were below 2%, and even lower than that for mortality. My doctor’s numbers were far below the national average, which I loved even more. Ultimately, I asked myself: do I want a tool that will help me out for a lifetime? I have been struggling with weight for a great deal of my life already. Will I be able to control it with a non-permanent solution? Obesity runs in my family. Am I doomed like many of them? With the help of this forum, especially the veterans who were 2, 3, even 5 years out, I made the best decision of my life. I LOVE my sleeve and I haven’t looked back!

Yes! Check out my weight chart. I stall several times and even gain a pound or two a couple of times. Totally normal!

Congrats on reaching your goal loseitsoon!!! You look GREAT!

Thank You!!! Thanks for the compliments everyone!

Woohoo!!! Two pounds closer to goal! You "geaux" girl!!!

I'm glad Gettingsexyback! LOVE your sign-in name by-the-way, You know part of our human nature is to have the need to be validated, and finding others with similar experinces is definitely validation that your progress is okay/normal/(even) great. You look like you are doing very well so far; honing in on that sexiness!!!

Welcome! Take advantage of the plethora of useful information that the members on this site offer!

WOW!!! Those are fantastic numbers! Congrats to you!!!

Yup! WOW!!! What a transformation!!! You look like a completely different person! I'm happy for you and your daughter...CONGRATS on a job well done!

Awe...what a great success story! Congrats...but I can't see your pic

There are several weeks throughout my weightloss that show no weightloss and even some gain. Stalls are MOST LIKELY GOING to HAPPEN due to a variety of reasons: water retention, lack of bowel movement, your body retaining calories because it is in starvation mode (meaning you need to eat more calories), etc. However, I like keeping track because it shows me the BIG PICTURE, which we cannot see on a day-to-day basis. You seem to be doing well and your caloreis are excellent for 7 weeks out. I wish you--and everyone here--the best of luck!

My daughter was a little over two years at the time of my surgery (I know not as needy for carrying as a 9 month old). The doctor said ABSOLUTELY no picking her up. But, to cater to the intamicy that child and mother need, I would lie down next to her and hug her, or my husband would put her in my lap. It wasn't that bad, and--before I knew it--the time had past and I could lift her again. As long as you have help, it'll be okay; but DO NOT risk your sleeve or your health. The time will pass quickly, it is not worth the risk. Make sure to ask you doctor about the weight limit and the time period!

I know that when I was researching this surgery and this sight, I wanted to get an idea of the type of weight loss I could expect. I learned that EVERYONE is different and that EVERYONE loses at a diffrent rate--some faster, some slower. However, I wanted to share this with those who want to have some idea of the type of weight loss that can occur with the sleeve. I was sleeved on a Tuesday, so I weighed myseslf every Tuesday; those are reflected in the weekly weigh-in's. I was sleeved on the 18th, so the monthly weigh-in's reflect my weight on the 18th of each month. Surgery Date: June 18th, 2013 Height: 5' 6" Starting Weight: 248 / BMI 40.2 DOS Weight: 228 / BMI 36.8 (-20 lbs) Week 1: 214 Week 2: 208 Week 3: 210 Week 4: 208 Month 1, July 18th: 206 / BMI 33.25 (-22 lbs) Week 5: 204 Week 6: 201 Week 7: 201 Week 8: 198 Month 2, August 18th: 196 / BMI 31.63 (-10 lbs) Week 9: 194 Week 10: 192 Week 11: 188 Week 12: 185 Week 13: 182 Month 3, September 18th: 182 / BMI 29.37 (-14 lbs) Week 14: 181 Week 15: 183 Week 16: 180. Week 17: 177 Month 4, October 18th: 178 / BMI 28.73 (-4 lbs) Week 18: 176 Week 19: 176 Week 20: 173 Week 21: 172 Month 5, November 18th: 172 / BMI 27.76 (-6 lbs) Week 22: 172 Week 23: 171 Week 24: 170 Week 25: 169 Week 26: 168 Month 6, December 18th: 167 / BMI 26.95 (-5 lbs) Week 27: 167 Week 28: 165 Week 29: 163 Week 30: 164 Month 7, January 18th: 163 / BMI 26.31 (-4 lbs) Week 31: 162 Week 32: 161 Week 33: 161 Week 34: 159 Month 8, February 18th: 159 / BMI 25.7 (-4 lbs)

I experienced the shoulder pain until I was 5 or 6 weeks out. It was bad initially, but then it would act up after I ate or went walking/slow jogging. Heating pads helped tremendously for me. Thankfully, it did finally go away.

All my tummy really tolerated were the sugar free Popsicles. They were my lifeline in that first week, well first few weeks due to the difficulty in consuming water or liquids period.

Congrats! I'm glad to hear that you are not in too much pain. I wasn't so lucky, even with all the morphine they pumped me up with. Keep walking, and if need be when you go home, use heading pads on your tummy and back to help with the pain from the trapped air--if you have it. If you have trouble with the fluids, sugar free popsicles are a life saver. Anyway, congrats again on commencing yout new way of life!

Check you out in that swear suit! Looking good Ms. Angela!!!

You looking pretty smoking hot yourself burtie! Lol! Thank you!

7 months post op

Oooo girl! You've got some curves! You look great!!!

You look AMAZING!!! Congrats!!!

I didn't mean it that way dressie. Sorry if I came off rude. I was just trying to push the fact that if you searched you could find several threads with people's commentary to help in your quest for information. As far as searching, go to the "more" button on the bottom, far right. Good luck to you.

Didn't mean to offend anyone. I'm sorry if I didn't elaborate more. I meant if your younger you have a better chance, but genetics and size have a lot to do with it also. In my support group, I've met several younger folks in their 20's, some in their 30's (more men than women) that don't need plastics because of their genetics, youth, or they were at the bottom of the obesity chart. There are folks on here too that have abs and no plastics, but they are few and far in between the majority of us. I always had that "stretchy" skin, even as a youth. Get it from my father. My brother has it too. I'd probably still have to get plastics even if I didn't have my 4 kids. I plan on getting plastics once my weight has stabilized. My advice would be: (mentally) prepare yourself for the worst, hope for the best...that way you're not disappointed. I prepared myself ahead of time that I'd most likely have it and I wasn't devastated when that belly skin started to sag. The good thing--for me personally--is that you can't even tell with clothes on. Good luck to you all.