MouseOnTheMile

I was sleeved 11.12.13 (easy to remember at least hehe) and I'm coming up on my two year sleeviversary.

Height: 5'6-5'7

Highest weight: 260lbs

Surgery weight: 245lbs

Goal weight: 160lbs

Lowest weight: 151lbs

Current weight: 158lbs

Weight fluctuates, I need to eat less slider foods and work out more, but I cook at home way more and make wiser choices. I never focused on the number or panic, I knew stalls happen so I just stayed the course. Took about a year to hit goal, and another few months to get to 151lbs. I've been maintaining (with mixed results hehe) the last six months.

I love this surgery, I was fairly lucky though and didn't have much trouble losing or after surgery. I send good thoughts out to those who have struggled, we're in this together. This was the best thing I ever did for myself, and I look at my before photos and I'm shocked at the transformation (most of them I took in the nude so I won't post those ones). It's hard to see the little changes in skin and tone and shape day by day, but those pictures don't lie. I finally look on the outside how I always felt on the inside, and I'd do it all over again in an instant!

I'm a year and a bit out, and I feel this way too. I feel like I can't stop eating and my restriction is way down. Bad food choices, sugar addiction.

I haven't regained anything but if I don't get on track, I know it'll happen. Thank you for reaching out!

Surgery Date: November 12/2013

Height: 5'6

High Weight: 260

Surgery Weight: 245

Current Weight: 153

13 pounds under my nutritionists goal for me and 7 under my personal goal

I'm a year out and past my initial goal weight I set for myself. I'll tell you my secret:

Don't sweat it!! Your body is in panic mode so don't let your brain be too. Just stick to your plan and ignore the numbers and give your body time to adjust and not panic over every pound. That will win you zero battles. I stalled for a good 2-3 months in the 170s and then in three weeks it all just fell off with no conscious change on my behalf.

So yes, listen to your body, stay calm and relaxed for it, everyone needs to stop trying to force it into something it's not comfortable with. Give it time and patience and your body will respond in its own time.

I had some increased fall out but not enough to notice, I'm a year out and I wash my hair only twice weekly, shed like a dog but it's not any noticeable loss on my head, never was. I really wouldn't sweat it, it's all only temporary and the other amazing things happening will distract you from a few missing follicles lol

Thank you everyone!

As of today I'm officially under my goal, weighed in at 158.5 this morning. Yay! Now to set a new goal

Hello every one! Last year today, I was wheeled into Dr Ortiz's OR at OCC in Tijuana. Best choice I ever made for myself. I am under the goal the nutritionist sent for me and 1.5 pounds away from my original goal of 100 pounds lost. Too bad I couldn't get rid of that last pound for today!

I even was able to buy this new tunic in size small, I can't even believe that's a thing I can do now!

I won't lie, thus far my journey has been easy. I eat what I want, in small quantities and don't have to exercise every day and the weight has been coming off consistently and without worry (but I'm pretty laid back regardless). I have excess skin and need to focus on tightening it

Stats:

Height: 5'6

Starting weight: 260

Surgery weight: 245

Nutritionists Goal: 166

Current weight: 161.5

My initial goal: 160

Yay!  

So...I have officially lost 50% of my excess weight!!! I am down 70lbs. I feel amazing but it still doesn't feel real!

Congrats! I'm down 70lbs too! I have around 30 pounds left to goal you're right, it doesn't feel real, sometimes I worry because of it haha

Thank-you briangie & kindle. My husband told me last night that I'm being a bit neurotic about the shake thing, of all the things I could be stressing about, I choose that, lol. On the bright side, it has really given my 16 yr son and I a topic to bond over! He has been doing Protein Shakes for about a year (and lots of activity) in the hopes of gaining more muscle, but I'm sure if he turned sideways he'd disappear. He certainly didn't get his metabolism from me.

I've been trying to also read all the "do's & don'ts" of this surgery, has anyone encountered post-op "don'ts" through trial and error that you never read about during your research?

I have a sleeve of steel that really only rejected Water and Protein shakes for the first 6 months (everything I wanted to have for success, go figure). Luckily, my water nausea is almost gone now and I am back to enjoying a glass of water. Yay!

If something similar happens and water is not an option, I found heavier fluids made a world of difference. Orange juice watered down and blended with ice was an absolute go to for me.

Here is the pic:

O.O I'm only 6 months out and I feel like I eat way more than that... *sad face*

Great job! You look amazing.

Yay! Congrats, I hit Onederland in march myself 63 pounds down in four months

It was my 1st personal goal I set and I never thought I would get here that fast. My nut goal is 177lbs. I would be happy if I make it there by my surgiversary but I won't fret about it since I'm happy where I am in the time frame it's happened in. It's 43 more lbs and I'm assuming my weight loss will start to slow down soon too

That's awesome! I'm five months out, just made it to Onederland this month, and I'm around 30 pounds from my NUTs goal. Go us!

SW: 260

CW: 198

My goal: 160

Wow Barb! First goal gratz! What was it if you font mind sharing, was it a personal goal or the goal the NUT set for you?

So I'm a little over 6 weeks out...so far, I can eat anything. But this week I found my first food that my stomach doesn't like- I made a simple corned beef hash. Corned beef, frozen tater tots, some cheese.....I thought when I ate two bites of it on Monday that I just wasn't in the mood for it. Then today I ate 2 bites and I feel sick again! Boo! Oh well lesson learned do you have any foods that don't agree with your new stomachs?

I have a sleeve of steel... Most things don't piss it off, really dry chicken is a baaaaaad time though. Actually starting to worry its stretched out these almost five months post op, my restriction feels way down. I know it'll relax over time but it seems early for it to be this food friendly.

Thinking about booking with Dr Ortiz in April for Plication.... What has everyone's research led them to believe about pros and cons with sleeve.... Ortiz said he would choose plication if it was a family member...? Hard to decide. All comments welcome .

Thanks

From the people I've spoken to, plication has more risks. You are folding and sectioning off a piece of tissue, I can't help think that the tissue would be susceptible to loss of blood flow, necropsy or if something got stuck in the pouch... I dunno. I also didn't like that it was reversible. I made my choice for permanency. Just IMO of course.

My 4 month post op pic. I love Dr Ortiz and staff!

Way to go! What are your stats (HW, SW, CW, height etc)

Nearly four months out. Some days I can eat more than others, today seems to be one of those days heh.

I am in beginning stages of investigating. What is the goal of the pre-op diet? How long do you need before returning back to work?

The preop diet is to lose weight so that your liver shrinks in size and makes surgery easier for the surgeon and in turn you by not being overinflated and in the way.

Everyone is different. I had three weeks off, but some people I went with went back to work the next week.

Congratulations

Hey everyone -- I really apologize for not replying sooner! Glad that you were able to find the links! Firefox did not open the pdf file for the claim for me so - but IE did with no issues.

I wonder how much it will help come income tax time -- I kept everything and will submit it to my accountant and cross my fingers it makes some sort of dent and I get something back I think with medical expenses doesn't it have to be a certain % of your income before it will affect your return? Either way - fingers crossed for April!! heheheee

I wish I could have had surgery done in Alberta but at the same time, I felt so comfortable in Mexico! I was able to drop off my kidlet in Florida with Grandma and Grandpa and then flew to San Diego to meet up with my husband (who was flying in from Alberta) and off we went to Mexicali. It was a like a mini vacation within a vacation (sick time actually). This is my second go at surgery in Mexico and would be happy to do it again if I had to..... We are up in Fort McMurray and to be honest I never actually looked into the program in Alberta - I had heard thru the grapevine that the wait times were bad so I pretty much started looking in Mexico. I'm not a patient person so waiting was totally out of the question!

Happy to report I have lost 60-ish pounds since surgery but my inches alone have been huge!!! Just last month I lost 8.75 inches! I've probably lost a total of 55-60 inches since March! From a size 18-20 to a 10-12 jeans and a S-M shirt. I would not change anything in the world and I am sooooo happy!

Hope everyone is doing well! And if you are having surgery out of country remember to keep all of your receipts and get the "bill" translated into English as well. Keep copies (I kept 3 just incase I lost 1 or 2 of them! Hahaha) before you mail them off and wait for a reply! Good luck alll!!

Alana

Hey, I'm bumping this haha!

Alana, did you end up finding out how much you're getting back with tax write off?

I brought in my information, my accountant was able to do it, and my return this year is a staggering $4400! Some of that is due to my job, luckily I get to write a lot of stuff off, but I think the surgery was 1800-2000 as a write off on its own. Needless to say I'm checking my mailbox every day!

I printed off the "reimbursement" file you posted, I'm just nervous I filled it out wrong, or that it'll take 6months for them to get back to me

Congratulations Kindle! OCC'ers fo life! Onederland is a wonderful place to be and you should be thrilled.

I'm right behind you, three months post op and I'm under 210 these days, hard to believe it. Maybe I'll be joining you there soon, one can only hope hahaha

I too am a morning weigher, after BM, before eating or drinking, getting dressed or showering (it's weird how much weight a shower can add to you, like Water and a sponge )

I just been working out.....dont get me wrong I got some skin hangin and tge stretch marks ugh but I do work out as much as possible

Fair, you do look awesome though. I'm three months post op, over half way to goal, haven't started working out yet (soon though, didn't want my body to adjust to cardio too quickly (it has in the past) in the honeymoon phase then is have to go three times as hard when the weight loss slows). I feel like my body looks the same naked, still have a lot of fat around my stomach and hips, though my legs and arms and face seem to be where it's dropped off most.

It's wondering does anyone know if there is a Dr in Canada that does sleeves??

Thanks

Ashley

There are a few, I don't know where you are. I'm from Alberta. The wait and jumping through hoops though, not good. Canadian law prevents self pay here in the country, so you have to wait in line, attend support groups and be on a supervised diets for many years before you are going to get your surgery.

I went the self pay route (I'm three months post op and loving my sleeve, and the experience I had with my surgeon) and sought out Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana, Mexico. Sure I paid around 6k for my surgery, but I also got to write it off in my taxes and send in for a portion to be reimbursed by the Alberta government. No regrets here. My father even came with me and agreed it was the best medical service he'd ever seen given to someone having surgery. Far better than what we've experience in the past with hospitals here. Well worth it.