JeanZ_RN

Wow, those look fanTAStic! Thanks! I'm going to add that info to my ever-expanding "WLS wisdom" file. For now I'm trying to stay as low carb as possible, but when I get near my goal weight I'll definitely try them.

Fiddleman, what is an energy square?

NO, don't erase. Your comments are always enlightening. My heart goes out to you for all you've been through and I admire the person I've gotten to know a bit through this site. You go, girl!! It does give me a twinge every time I read "Sorry, I shouldn't say this but..." in your posts -- I wish you could accept that your feelings are your feelings and you are entitled to them no matter what!! And that some of us want to hear them!!

I was sleeved in November, not a revision. I take Prilosec every day and have no problems with heart burn or acid reflux. I have some hunger, but nothing like the intensity I had for years before surgery, and now I can either ignore it (which I could rarely do pre-op) or I can satisfy it with significantly less food. And since I'm now in the habit of dense-protein-first, I'm a whole lot more likely to make wise food choices. I've had no stomach spasms, and once my incisions stopped bothering me (which was about a week after surgery) I haven't had any other pain whatsoever. The best part, though, is the safety net aspect of the sleeve: When I eventually do give in to a craving and eat until I'm stuffed -- and I'm sure it will happen eventually -- my sleeve will limit the damage I can do in one sitting. I won't be ABLE to eat the entire package of Oreos at one go, ever again! Yippeeee! Then there are the NSVs: I'm off insulin, not taking any meds for my type II diabetes now. I'm off my BP med. I no longer need a daily NSAID for my OA and it's not because I'm just putting up with the discomfort - it is GONE! I'm no longer too warm all the time; I've changed the thermostat in my house from 70 to 73 degrees. I could go on re smaller clothes, etc., but you get the idea. I Love My Sleeve! And I love the suport I get on this forum! Thank you one and all.

I have not heard of Program Fees either, and I agree they sound bogus to me.

Wow! There really IS hope... !! Thanks for posting!

So they thought you were crazy? Fffffpt. Let them think whatever they want. Your dedication to the goal is wonderful to see - yes, an inspiration! What is the web site you found? (I don't have a smart phone, so I need different resources.) I'm a registered nurse too! I work in administration - quality, to be specific - so my work is not as physically demanding and my hours are different (8-10 hrs a day, 5 days a week). And I don't have HALF the stuff going on outside work that you do. Wow!, and hats off to you for managing all that and still having the energy to tackle the weight loss journey. You ARE an inspiration!

I hope I look anywhere NEAR that good when I get to 8 mos post-op! BTW, my start and goal weights are very similar to yours, and I'm 5'3" tall ... but I think you're a we-e-e-e-e bit younger than my 60 years. And you're even in the DFW area - another thing in common! Who did your surgery? Dr. Jeffrey Henke did my sleeve at Medical City Dallas Hospital.

VSGAnn2014 said it perfectly: You should NOT worry about your family's lack of support. They get to decide what they think. But the good news is that YOU get to decide what you think. And do. And (to some extent) feel. You and your daughter can be a 2-person support group! Best wishes.

Congratulations on your terrific weight loss! Sounds like HE is the one who is insecure, and he's lashing out, big time! He told you for years that he was embarrassed to be seen with you?? That is NOT how a loving spouse acts! And now he's telling you what to wear and what not to wear? That is very controlling - not a good sign. And he's blaming YOU for HIS weight gain?? Tell him he can cook for himself from now on, or at the very least he can serve his own plate. Do NOT take his sh*&!! Please start going to counseling imMEdiately. My guess is he will refuse to go, but please don't let that stop you.

I was in the hospital just over 24 hours. I had the gastric sleeve, though, and your entry indicates lap band.

The aspect of the pre-op diet that is most important for shrinking the liver is the lack of sugar. So even if there is one aspect you adhere to most carefully, let it be that one - no sugar! In anything! A laceration of the liver can be quite serious, so it behooves you to do all you can to help avoid it.

I started with a lower BMI than most, and want to lose a total of 74 lbs. I was self pay from the get-go, because our company's insurance has a specific exclusion for weight loss surgery.

For me it's still difficult, but not nearly as much so as pre-sleeve. I know the rules sleevers live by, and I follow them 95% of the time (but I was at 85-90% during the holidays). I plan to continue that way at least until I'm at my goal weight. The reasons I don't find it as difficult are: I'm intent on losing the weight now that I have this fantastic tool. I paid $12,500 out of pocket to get here, and I'm DARN sure not going to throw that money away by cheating -- and I would only be cheating myself! I've learned that as long as I don't let myself get TOO hungry it's easier to follow the rules. I don't crave carbs as much as I used to, and I attribute that to staying away from them. It's circular - if I eat carbs, I want more carbs. If I stay away from them almost totally, I don't have the cravings nearly as bad. Although I do get hungry, it's not as intense as it was pre-sleeve and I can satisfy the hunger with just a few bites now. So for me it's a matter of momentum. When I follow the rules I find I'm less hungry and have fewer cravings, which makes it easier to keep following the rules.

Requiring fingernail polish to be removed is a holdover from long ago, before pulse oximeters were in common use. You are correct that back then, the anesthesiologist wanted to be able to see the fingernails to guage oxygenation -- pink nail beds = good, purple = not good. Modern hospitals now use a pulse oximeter (ox SIMM i ter) instead. It's a little device that is gently clipped onto a finger. It reads the O2 saturation through the skin on the pad of the finger, not through the nail, so nail polish is irrelevant. My anesthesiologist said even my acrylic nails would not be a problem. That said, some hospitals still cling to the old ways...

Wow!! Congratulations! You look TERRIFIC!

I tried several -- some powders and some liquids -- and the only one I could tolerate was / is Premier Protein chocolate. It's a pre-mixed drink available at Sam's and costco.

I only lost 12 lbs in the 5 weeks I was on my pre-op diet. Mind you, only 1 week of that time was shakes only, but still... And I agree with all of the above replies.

For working at the computer you might want to get some fingerless gloves. They leave just your fingertips out.

Kathie, how tall are you? My start and goal weights are very similar to yours, and I'm 60 years old also.

I got a Sam's membership just for the Premier shakes.