Elizabeth21

Thank you all for the encouragement and advice!

Complain to your doc regularly that you have itchy flop over underneath and start building a case for your insurance to pay for pannicylectomy

I think a lot of it has to do with age and how long we've been overweight. I carried all my weight in my belly so I haven't had to deal with the dreaded bat wings. My arms and legs are pretty Jello though. But my abdomen is the worst. I definitely have jelly belly and hangover. I'm hoping the weights and the crunches will help. And maybe it will take some time for my skin to catch up. I try to lotion up my body after I get out of the shower as they say dry skin doesn't have as much elasticity. Either way, I'm happier being flabby than fat.

I miss eating a bag of Cheetos. Not gonna lie! But honestly, once I had surgery, I started noticing other heavy people around me, especially at restaurants. I got the salad, they got burgers and fries. I ate !/2 c., they cleaned their plates. Truly, it was eye-opening. I started to get it. food is about 85% of the issue--at least for me.

After 4 months I could eat whatever I want. And I pretty much do. Sometimes I wish I could eat more of something really yummy, but in general I don't really miss the larger portions. It's actually fascinating to see just how much other people eat, knowing it's not really necessary. I thought I would miss beer and getting drunk at parties, but I don't. Not ever having a hangover has been a great alternative.
I can't really think of anything I really miss that hasn't been replaced with something better.

Incredible tool to help you get where you want/need to be...both my wife and I had the gastric sleeve surgery.
Mine was May 8, 2013, hers was exactly 2 months later.
I hit my goal weight around 6 months ago and she hit hers shortly thereafter (although now she wants to keep going for a new goal!).
You will still have to work, i.e. exercise and eat right...but the surgery is one helluva tool to help you get there!
Good luck!

Welcome! I agree. I have really learned so much on this site... so many people willing to help!
I had the same feeling about the sleeve. I never felt comfortable with the re-routing done in gastric bypass. I am PO'd that my primary doctor knew I had metabolic syndrome, then became pre-diabetic and NEVER mentioned it! One day I was watching "My 600lb. Life". The doctor said that he couldn't require his normal 50lb. loss for a particular patient because her situation was so dire that she wouldn't make it that long and mentioned a "less drastic" surgery, the sleeve gastrectomy. I changed primary doctors over it.
I'm hoping that the sleeve will help me get rid of diabetes and sleep apnea for good.

Good luck to you!!

Hi All. Until yesterday I had never even heard of Gastric Vertical Sleeve procedure, much less the benefits or risks of it. I have struggled for 40 years with weight. This procedure sounds like it has the right risk/benefit balance that I am willing to proceed. (Bypass was always too invasive and risky to me.) THIS site helped me to feel like I could get information from REAL people with REAL perspective and answers. The good and the bad. So, THANK YOU ALL for participating here.