BitterSweet*

Baking soda.

Second opinions are a really good thing.

@@Smye, You left out the single most important factor. You're a male. Boom. Consider your goal achieved. Men lose weight quite faster than women. I think you're going to do fantastic.

Thank you. ????

What is it? And yes, I'm feeling some type of way right now and don't feel like Googling. ????

Same question. Did you transpose the numbers in your starting weight? I think your goal is totally doable and with you being as active as you are, it probably won't take 2 years to lose. You're being realistic and that's great.

I like my 600 lb life and Biggest Loser. I will confess to watching both shows while eating a mound of Chinese food and thinking to myself, that's a damn shame to be THAT big. Like I'm any different. Smh. Just shameful. Those shows demonstrate some of the terrible behaviors, excuses, and lies we tend to tell ourselves, so I find them helpful in that regard.

Yes, my suggestion is to stay off of the scale. Also, walking is important and should be done but not at the expense of causing pain for a day or two afterwards. Take it easy and just focus on Protein and hydration. Oh, and stay off of the scale. =)

@@BloomingLotus, the hospital won't care who it is, as long as the person is an adult. You can simply introduce the person as "family"; an explanation any further than that isn't necessary. Let us know how it works out for you, and good luck with your surgery!

@@Kindle, nice! I can barely make them out! You look awesome!! ????????

A prescription strength PPI will work much better than an OTC one. I'm glad you're on top of this and I hope you feel better soon.

Take a bunch of photos of yourself and measure your body parts. Take the pics in the same outfit and in the same place (like in front of a door) to provide a good frame of reference as your weight loss progresses. I agree with staying off of the scale too. Good luck!

No, and I'm worried too. God bless him....

Thanks @@Kindle! Btw, where are your incisions? All above the navel or no?

I've done lots of research about him and I'm at 100% with my choice of him. What I'm not 100% about is the plane ride home. That part worries me a bit. @@Kindle just had her surgiversary and Dr. Ortiz was her surgeon. There's a really lengthy thread on here about Dr. Ortiz and the OCC, but I don't remember the name. I'm sure Kindle does and she's usually kind enough to post the link when a question like yours comes up. Good luck!

Very brave and courageous of you. I hope everything turns out well for the missing person.

@@Jen Sull, All patients in the pre-op area receive IV Versed, a med that causes relaxation and amnesia. Folks who are super nervous or teary get more Versed until the desired effect is achieved. Unless you are allergic to it (in which case a different med like Xanax would be given), you'll be sufficiently calmed. No worries. Good luck with everything.

@@mi75, I've had a breast lift as well and had a JP drain in each breast. If I remember correctly I had them for about 3 days and the abdominal ones around 5 or 6 days. None of them bothered me except when I took a shower, and I didn't find them painful or uncomfortable at all; even when they were removed.

Awesome! Congratulations!

This is a pretty big decision to make and it's one that you should reach after lots of research. I'm in the medical field and there is a lot of talk about Lap-Bands getting pulled from the market, and many bariatric surgeons simply aren't doing them anymore because of the failure rate and complications. Good luck with whatever you decide and Happy New Years to you!

Call your doctor and at a bare minimum go to urgent care if you are unable to reach him or her. Happy New Years and I hope you begin feeling better soon.

@@Tauruslady5, a JP drain collects A LOT of bloody drainage after surgery. When a JP drain is not used, where do you imagine that drainage goes? There isn't some special technique used by some surgeons and not others that eliminates the need for it; the drainage will happen regardless of whether a JP is used or not. Personally, I'd rather the pain and discomfort of a JP rather than letting all of the sanguinous Fluid just drain into my peritoneal cavity. That's scarier to me. Btw, anyone who is considering a tummy tuck will get not one but two JP drains after surgery. And, they are tunneled and exit through the mons pubis (top of the va-jay)! Happy New Years to all of you!

Lol! Happy New Years and congrats on bringing in the new year in style! Rock those TED hose and that hospital gown!

Yay!!!! ????????????

@@Mumsicle, Dying laughing at the description of your sisters!! ????????