OKCPirate

@@Yanabron - Don't miss this post...http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/376285-1-year-later/ Ahh, it will give you something to strive for. Good luck in your journey.

It's a tool. Yep you can self sabotage it as 20-40% of WLS people do by drinking or eating crap. But if you embrace it, it is wonderful reset button. Your choice.

For bypass or sleeve? That was what the insurance paid or self pay? Seems like so much! No kidding. I was quoted $18K here in the states. You are paying insurance company rates. I self pay everything, and get everything much cheaper.

Nothing more to add, but just wanted to say, very good question.

Learning to flirt is a skill. It can be learned, honed and practiced. Once you demystify it can become fun. It get's creepy (IMHO for women in particular) when you take it too seriously (this is "all or nothing"). Practice just enjoying time with your fellow human's. (One guy suggested taking notes after each flirt attempt, with the idea that with better feedback, you get better). I am introvert. But I have learned to be an outgoing introvert. I have learned to make it fun. It wasn't easy, but I now have a good time with it. Get comfortable with the idea that you can look like an idiot to a complete stranger and realize, "they don't really care and it will not effect my life at all." And that is reality.

Strange, I can't stand that stuff, but I'm the odd man out who likes Isopure. Well there is a butt for every seat I guess.

The only one's not nervous are the one's who are not doing it right. This is permanent body modification, not to be taken lightly. After years (ok, decades...ok a lifetime) of struggle with up and down weight I chose this path as a reset button. While it is theoretically possible to keep the weight off via behavior modification, the odds are against it (8% success rate). The odds are much greater with the WLS. Look at the cost of being overweight (health, relationships, wealth et.al.) and factor that in to your decision.

They allowed it in my checked bag.

A complete list of all contingencies for worst case. Since you are self pay, you may be on the hook for any complications from the surgery. KNOW how much that could cost. [NOTE: I'm a single dad, I needed to know what could happen so I could plan out contingencies for my kids. Finances are important, and I needed to understand what insurance would cover even though I self paid the surgery in Mexico]

@@marchmellow - "I don't want a blind stomach. (With the bypass they seal up your stomach. So if you get an ulcer, stomach cancer or other ailments you will not be able to have a scope go in and check it out. You will have to get an operation in order for the doc to access the blind stomach." This is new to me. It sounds right, but do you have a reference?

Why have they not come up with a female Viagra? Because first and foremost with women, you have to feel it in your mind. Check there first. After that I can't see any reason why WLS should have any effect.

Try isopure clear at GNC.

Not on this forum

Indeed. I have no interest in her private life except to know generally she is happy and healthy, nor would I hope she have any interest in mine. "That is all?" Does this mean your explorations are done?" Umm, no, these are just the most interesting FAILS todate.

Congrats bro. I hit my wall after 7 months. I have a friend who is a plastic surgeon who told me those last 20 pounds are the dang skin that just has to be cut off. I'm happy where I am. Look I'm wearing the same size clothes I did in High School so no complaints. Goal weight is arbitrary. If the GF is happy, so am I.

That is kind of a loaded question. Sleaver's don't have the same malabsorption issues that others surgeries produce. I do a chew-able Centrum in the morning and an off brand soft gel in the late afternoon. Blood work has been fine, but I do add magnesium (umm, it helps you poop regularly) and a couple of extra things I think are important to my personal health goals.

As far as I can tell the Ghrelin levels decrease in both: http://www.medpagetoday.com/endocrinology/obesity/43097

I wish I could have gone home as soon as the drain plug was pulled. I was bored to death, but I really couldn't change my flight. I was a healthy fat guy, I'm not sure what shape you are in, but being in the best shape you can be in seemed to make it very easy.

@@mi75 - you might want to follow this thread: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/374743-so-this-fasting-stuff-works/ I think lipstick lady has good idea and it might be useful to you.

Go to GNC and try Isopure clear drinks. Not everyone likes them, but I did (the green tea). 40g of Protein per bottle was great. Kept my energy level up. NOTE TO THOSE PRE-SURGERY - Taste test in advance of surgery. (@@Crystal Ann Keister - I'm not casting aspersions on you, just making a point to those who have not gotten as far as you. I wish you the best).

@@okiegirl1980 - I was actually leaning toward the lapband initially. It seemed like a good "starter" way of seeing if this worked for me. I ended up rejecting it because of need for follow up with the surgeon (who was in Mexico) and revisions and slippage. I was not interested in getting my bowls worked on (the idea of dumping just scared me, since I teach so much). But I warmed up to the idea of the Sleeve when I read about the Cleveland Clinic research where they were following patients for four years. The need for follow up care was low compared to the other procedures. So, it seemed like the most bang for the buck, and cheaper on the back end. All of the procedures are tools. You still must do the work. If you do, it will change your life. Much tougher as a woman than a man. You are 36, which means you will start getting new attention from guys, which will alter your relationships. If you have not dealt with your food issues, you will be at risk of switching from food to alcohol (or something else). But if you work this on the nutritional/spiritual/emotional levels in a couple of years you will eventually find a new normal, if you are serious. I hope you really appreciate the many thoughtful responses here. I was scanning through the comments, and they were first rate and very fair descriptions of the ups and downs of the procedures. My last bit of unsolicited advice is to Google "WLS fails." There are many videos and blogs of those who didn't do well on this (statistically 20% or so). Look at them carefully. I found most of them failed because they thought this was a magic wand. WRONG. It's still work. But it can change your life in very good and profound ways if you are committed. I have done things I have not done in decades and I am still enjoying the ride. I wish you and my fellow Oklahoman's the best of luck on this. Always feel free to reach out if you have a question.

You're right there. Until you began this topic, I knew only of your 16-year old. Your respect for your children is palpable and will always take you far. You know that. I have four kids. The two boys are in college, and for the moment the two young ladies are living with me. And they are great kids. Very blessed indeed. They all have their own lives, but I'm glad they still enjoy staying in touch and we all want to be part of each other's lives. That is vitally important to everyone: http://www.techtimes.com/articles/174528/20160822/close-family-relationships-more-important-than-friendship-in-extending-seniors-life-expectancy.htm

@@Babbs - No kidding young lady. I'd rather talk about hair and boobs than weight.

If you have a friend who works at a drug store, get a few prescription labels. I slap them on liquids over 3oz and TSA is supposed to let them go through. (Consider that they miss 90% of contraband items anyway but they do seem to be really good at finding benign liquids). Its a short trip, but I have found that most convenience stores have great stocks of Protein drinks now. Two of those a day is more than enough to get me through a couple of days of travel.

Thanks for the input. She is settling down in her new job and staying with me a few weeks during the transition. I can pay for it if she wants to have it. She is kind of surprised by how little I eat. But she knows where I was, and where I am now. I'll keep the ball in her court. I thought that just being a good dad was the best course, but glad to get the insight from others (esp. the ladies).