Justinh125

I live in the Ann Arbor area right now.

I hated the preop diet. But now I feel great 2 months out, and no known complications so far. Seems like things are healing well.

I think you'll be fine. Certainly make sure you don't have anything the day before. You want everything to be empty/moving in the right direction the actual day of surgery. But a burger today will have already processed far past your stomach by your surgery date, so as long as you don't make a habit of it, you should be fine.

That's what it's done for me as a 32-year-old, so I think it does make a difference.

My surgeon personally cleared me at 6 weeks post-op to basically do whatever kind of exercise I felt comfortable with. That being said, I had no complications or problems, so it might be slower for someone who did.

Amen! I never used to eat popsicles of any kind. Yet I've also mysteriously become addicted to sugar-free popsicles since surgery. Go figure. Sometimes I even have two

PS, I am 32, and I've been shocked at how quickly my skin shrinks with me with no visible effects except the awesome one of watching myself shrink in the mirror.

First, ask your doctor about the chewing. Next, the fact that you are 29 will be a major help in your skin just shrinking back into place. I am also 5'4" and was about your size at my largest. Now I'm a little less than 190 and I've been amazed at how I'll have flabby skin for maybe a week and then it will just kind of snap back into place. Jared the subway guy was in his 20's when he lost all that weight, and did not need skin removal or cosmetic surgery because of his age...the skin just sort of shrunk right back in to place.

Depends on what I eat. Plus (and I was like this before surgery,) I get extremely nauseated when I'm sleep deprived, so sometimes it's just a matter of that.

10 to 11 days is do-able though it might take a few more weeks for you to really start feeling 100%, if that makes sense. At least for me, I felt kind of drained for the first few weeks....I think my body was still healing. Did you mean to say as a mom you were leaning towards the band? Most surgeons seem to maintain that though the band is about as close as you can get to "0" risk, it's long-term numbers don't seem quite as effective. My surgeon basically said he only recommends the band if someone is asking for something with almost zero risk. At the same time, the risk associated with driving your car to the hospital are probably higher than the risks associated with any bariatric surgery. Modern bariatric surgery is very safe, so it's important to keep that in mind. The sleeve has worked wonders for me, but I understand that results vary...and I'm just getting started!!!

These are wise words!!! You will be a patient, but also a "customer" of sorts. You would just be calling to tell them that you want to purchase the "product" that they sell....what business wouldn't want that??

I'd go with the Black Plague....I find it fascinating that modern scientists aren't certain what specific bacteria or virus was responsible. It would be really interesting to see what modern medicine would do, and even more interesting to see if it would quickly eliminate the Plague.

I'm sorry to hear you are ill. On the other hand, if I had to get an ancient disease, I would want it to be scurvy.

What was your starting weight/size? Your size now? That would probably help understand what is going on if you're willing to share.

Not sure if this counts but I've had to deal with a girlfriend feeling insecure once I started shrinking...At the end of the day, I didn't do this for cosmetics. This was not a cosmetic surgery. I did this because I felt like I ran out of other options and was desperate for a solution for a problem that was likely going to lead to my death before the age of 40. I didn't want that, so I took this drastic measure.

I remember reading somewhere that one of the "winners" from one of the early seasons gained it all back plus more. That was always my problem. I hired a personal trainer for a while and also a personal dietician, and took Alli when it was called Xenical. The 3 things combined worked...for a bit anyways...but then I found an excuse to skip a week...then another week, and eventually gained it all back and then some. Mind you, for a while I could do like 100 push-ups and wear those obnoxious tight muscle-boy shirts....I almost had a 6-pack. But I was always so hungry....always all the time.

I saw my doc shortly before surgery on Aug. 13. Yesterday, I saw my (regular primary care) doctor and I've lost 37lbs since then! He was impressed. I was pleased as well...plus no more diabetes meds!! I only wish I'd done this sooner. It was a fantastic decision

If you're self-pay, they'll do it whenever you want, because (ironically,) only the people whose insurance won't pay have to pay the full "sticker price." If you have insurance, they all pay a negotiated rate that is frequently less than half of the listed cost. So with self-pay, they're getting a lot more money from you, and they are much more willing to play by your rules instead of theirs. I got to go 3 months ahead of people who had been waiting much longer than me, but I literally paid the price. I'll still undoubtedly end up saving more than I paid in reduced healthcare costs for the rest of my life. Not to mention not having to shop at "fat men" clothing stores anymore.

I totally forgot about this thread, and now it starts to get good!! I always miss the good stuff.

You have to take it slow at first...remember that the sleeve will be swollen for some time...gotta let it heal.

I loved the way he put it: "Its not bigotry if we deserve it." I was just recently arguing with someone who discriminates against the person that I used to love because of that person's large size. Apparently they don't see it as discrimination because they perceive it as a health issue, even though this person's health is absolutely fine. Thank you for sharing this important article

My surgeon said he didn't care, but I find it too painful unless I drink it reallly really slowly....so maybe I'll have like 1 soda a month or something. I doubt at that frequency anything bad will happen (plus doc's approval).

Go look at a tape measure and measure off about 10-11mm. That the entire diameter of the whole thing....trust me you probably won't feel it at all when you wake up. At least not that part.

I found that Mio tasted pretty good with ice-water to change up the flavor a bit. I still use it sometimes and I'm allowed to eat regular foods now.

Don't eat pizza.